A Moment of Weakness

Part 4

Another note, huh? Classic Sasuke' Sakura laid back. 'I should have known after what happened last night.'  She was in bed, Sarada swaddled next to her, Sakura knowing she didn't plan on sleeping more after she had added to the pile of notes. Her bedside drawer was getting fuller every time he left. It never hurt less. 'Up to two years? Sarada will be so big by then!'  It didn't feel quite real just yet. He always left at night so it felt weird this time. How long would it take for Sakura to feel abandoned though?

Not long at all. A week into having Sarada and being alone, she realized that Sasuke giving her a break however short, was essential. She was only a month old, and the most work she had ever put into a kid. Doing regular tasks, and having the energy or time to do tasks, was more than a chore. But she did it anyway because there was no one else to do it for her. Every grocery store run and every meal made added to the never-ending pile of things to do.

She wasn't a single mom, she had a husband, and all the time off she needed because Sasuke made enough money to support them. But raising a child is lonesome and as exhausted as she was, she wanted to go back to work to be with other adults, talk to people, and get drinks. Sure she could hire a sitter but how could she leave her baby with another person for a whole day? Even longer since she should be working every day.

Not many people had visited by the end of the second week, Ino and Sai stopped by at one point just to check in on her since Sakura hadn't been to any of the outings she had been invited to in the past month. She was more surprised that after all Lee had done for her, he hadn't come. 'I guess he must still feel bad. I should tell him it's alright.' As the thoughts of Lee passed through, a knock at the door came, and the largest part of her hoped it was him since it was early in the morning and the sun had just risen. She opened the door and was pleasantly surprised by the sight of her old Sensei.

"Hello, Sakura!"

"Tsunade sensei!" Sakura had Sarada in her arms but moved her to one side to hug Tsunade. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to see you and the baby. Check up on you, you know?" Tsunade was let into Sakura's home. "Can I hold her?" She asked gently.

Sakura nodded, "Yes, of course, come sit first though." Once sat on the couch, Sakura handed the sleeping baby to her sensei. She looked around and began to panic. There were dirty dishes piled up in the sink, and baby stuff just lying around. "I just realized how much of a mess this place is, I'm so sorry."

"Listen, babies are hard work, don't worry about the state of your house. I'm not offended in the slightest." Sakura smiled, seeing Sarada sound asleep

"I'm not much better. I haven't gotten a proper shower since Sasuke left so I must look pretty rough."

"We fought in a war together, it's no problem at all." She sighed, "And, I'm here, I know a thing or two about babies. If you want to go shower, go relax, do whatever you need to do."

Tears started to form in Sakura's tired eyes. "Thank you, Lady Tsunade, I just need a few minutes, I won't keep you long."

"Don't bother rushing."

Sakura exhaled, never understanding just how gross she felt and how tired she had become until she was able to shower, 15 minutes later she emerged with a new aura and a newfound energy. Tsunade sat and had been rocking Sarada while Sakura showered. "I feel much better, thanks again." Tsunade handed the baby back over before looking off to the side and glancing at the door. "Do you need to leave?"

"I'm sorry, Sakura. Shizune and I are heading out of town again. She wants to travel again, and I need time away from this place. I came to check on you before leaving again. I might be back in a few months, but for now, this is goodbye."