Life's Journeys - SasuSaku Oneshots

Mama's Smile

After the Uchiha family finished dinner, Sarada set to cleaning up, shooing her parents to the living room to relax while she cleaned up. Once Sarada finished washing the dishes, she hummed her way to the living room. Sasuke, hearing his daughter approaching, turned his head and laid a finger over his lips; she saw and immediately quieted, confused by his need for silence.

Walking around the couch, she quickly understood why. Sasuke was leaned back in the corner of the sofa while Sakura leaned against him, head gently resting on his chest while her legs stretched out along the length of the couch. The remaining half of his left arm was over her shoulders, the sleeve hanging down over her as one end was lightly grasped in her hand. Her eyes were closed; she'd fallen asleep like that.

"Mama works so hard," Sarada remarked in a low voice, taking a seat in one of the chairs. "Don't you think so, papa?"

"Yeah." His voice was curt as always, but there was a softness to his voice and expression as he looked down at his sleeping wife. He could feel his chest swelling with emotion the longer he looked at her. He watched her chest slowly rise and fall with each breath, her expression peaceful. Still, he couldn't miss the faint dark circles under her eyes or the way her hands seemed thinner than the last time he'd seen her.

"Papa?" Sarada asked, chewing her lip.

"Hm?" Sarada's voice drew him out of his trance, looking in the direction of his sweet daughter.

"You know... mama smiles a lot more when you're around. I mean, she smiles almost all the time, but... her smile is always brighter when you're here. Has she always been like that?" Sarada had only known her parents when they'd been married, so she had no contrast.

Sasuke did. Thinking back, he tried to remember the times he'd seen her smile. Perhaps a brighter smile wasn't what she'd always had, but he could remember how her demeanour had always changed, just slightly, whenever she was in his presence. She looked lighter. She did smile brighter. She seemed... happier.

"Yeah... she has." He felt it, too. He felt the warmth that was her presence every time, even when he'd been far, far away from her.