Tests of Heart

🌸Chapter 13: Reconciliation

Sakura was still struggling being a single parent, but just slightly. Gaara and the others were a great help, watching Reiko when Sakura was overwhelmed. It was around this time, six months into motherhood, that Sakura let the Akatsuki back in. It started with just Kisame and his team visiting her in Konoha now and then.

It then evolved into visits with Konan, Yahiko, and Takaru to see the baby and exchange tips the two learned about their seven year old. Itachi, seeing as he lived in Konoha, occasionally watched Reiko when something in the hospital needed Sakura's attention. He was a perfect babysitter and she couldn't have asked for better.

Eventually, after a while, Sakura finally let Nagato back in. Just like with the others, it started with supervised visits and he always had something new for her, the baby, or both of them. After so long, his visits evolved into him taking Reiko for strolls, food, or even taking her for the night. Lately he had been forgoing getting an inn on his visits and just stayed in Sakura's guest bedroom. This was one such time.

Sakura woke to the quiet sound of laughter and shushing sounds. Smiling softly, seeing the cradle empty, she could only conclude that Nagato had her daughter downstairs where the noises came. She slipped on a robe over her nightgown and made her way downstairs to find the wholesome sight of Nagato with their daughter, feeding the girl.

Nagato heard Sakura's steps before he saw her. She never covered her soft footfalls in the house. When he saw her it was like the day he went to her bedroom in the Akatsuki base all over again. She had on a light pink nightgown with a matching robe over top, the outfit causing his breath to catch in his throat as he looked at her.

"S-Sakura," he greeted as he looked back at his daughter.

Sakura hummed a greeting and smiled gently as she watched the two, Nagato feeding Reiko mushy peaches as the little one tried to grab the spoon Nagato held in his hand. She nearly succeeded when Nagato brought the spoon to her lips, but he quickly pulled the spoon away and laughed. It was like nothing ever happened between them.

It was like he never left, and Sakura didn't know how to feel about it. She was happy, she was sad, she was angry, and most of all, she was relieved. She knew, even when they were apart, she could always count on Nagato. She was too blinded by her anger before to see that, and she kept him away from Reiko for almost six months of her life.

She finally concluded, in her mind, that she no longer wanted to be apart. It hurt too much and was too hard, on her and when it came to taking care of the baby. She could do it by herself, there's no doubt about that. It would just be easier on her mental health to be with him, because no matter how she looked at it, she still wasn't over him and she didn't think she ever would be.

"Nagato..." Sakura said, her voice a whisper.

Nagato looked up at the woman he loved in her cute attire to find she was looking off to the side with a pink tint on her cheeks. She looked as beautiful as the day he lost her.

"Yes Sakura?" he asked as he put Reiko's spoon down, the little one refusing the rest of the peaches.

Sakura's face took on a darker shade of pink as she struggled to get out what she wanted to say. He thought maybe she was sick and that's what was wrong so he got up from his chair and walked over to her. He put his hand on her forehead finding she was exceedingly warm and worry creased his forehead as she took a step back, startled by his actions.

"You're warm," he commented. "Are you sick?"

Sakura's face became even more red and she shook her head as she looked down then up at him. She couldn't say her feelings so a more direct approach seemed better. So she leaned up on her toes and kissed him.

At first, Nagato didn't realize what was happening. As Sakura started to pull away though, his brain caught up to him and he pulled her into him in a crushing embrace as he kissed back fiercely. The only thing going through his brain was how lucky he was to have such a wonderful woman still want him after all of his mistakes.

"I thought I'd never see you again," he admitted softly as they finally broke apart. "Then you sent me a letter telling me to come meet our baby. Then I thought I'd never feel you again, and here we are."

Sakura laughed softly, ruefully at her mistakes. She had a baby with this man, a child, and all she had thought about at the time was how vexed she felt learning his involvement in her parents' passing. It was proved that her parents hadn't suffered. It was a quick and painless death for both of them, but she felt angry and resentful at the man who didn't even know the significance the two's lives would hold.

War was a horrible thing after all, and people did horrible things in the name of peace in wars.

Sakura shook her head at the man's words. "I think, at some point or other, we were going to get back together," she said softly. "After all, I still love you."

Nagato couldn't have been more happy to hear her words. His only response was to kiss her again. It was then a small voice interrupted them.

"D...d...dada!"

The two looked at each other in surprise.

"Was that a fluke?" Sakura asked excitedly.

Nagato shrugged his shoulders just as excited as Sakura was and they both looked at Reiko who was looking at them, giggling and smiling.

"Dada!" she squealed again.

Sakura squealed in joy herself as Nagato looked at the little one in happy surprise.

"I don't think that was a fluke," Nagato laughed as he moved to the little one to pick her up like she wanted. "Even if it was, I'm still happy."

He looked up at Sakura as she made her way over to the two of them and opened his free arm to her. She gladly melted into his side as he held her and Reiko, his two very loved girls. Their love was always just tests of heart.