🌸The Journey🌸

Day 1

"Good morning."

Sasuke rolled over onto his side and blinked a few times.

Is this... A dream?

"Can you say 'papa'?"

"Sakura, she's a day old... She can't talk."

"I know, but it doesn't hurt to try."

The two women laughed as Sakura knelt by Sasuke's bed and Karin stood nearby.

"He looks so peaceful when he sleeps." Karin snickered.

"Well, when he doesn't snore." Sakura chuckled as she moved closer to him, "good morning, sleepyhead. It's already noon."

Sasuke's vision cleared and he recognized the small baby, staring up at him, "mmm...."

"Come on, Sasuke." Karin laughed, "I even made breakfast for you guys and everything. It's about time."

"We'll wait for you in the kitchen." Sakura patted Sasuke's head and left the room close behind Karin, leaving Sasuke laying under the covers.

Heh... He sat up and chuckled to himself, his hand clenching the cloth of the blanket.

This isn't a dream. This is real.

We really have a daughter.

_________________

"Finally!" Sakura smirked as Sasuke drowsily walked up to the kitchen island where Sakura sat and Karin stood setting plates of eggs and pancakes out, "I guess you win, huh?"

"I kinda figured it'd take a while." Karin laughed, "Here. You're probably exhausted after yesterday."

"Yeah..." Sasuke rubbed his neck and plopped down in the chair next to Sakura. He glanced over at the small blanket she was holding and his eyes met the small child's, "good morning, Sarada."

"She's been awake all morning." Sakura chuckled, "I didn't know how to get her to sleep, so I just kept her company until now."

"Ah..." Sasuke looked at her, "aren't you tired?"

"I'm exhausted. But I just can't sleep, either." Sakura looked down at Sarada and kissed her small forehead, "I just talked to her all morning, hummed to her, and kept her company. She's a quiet one. Not too much to handle."

"That's good." Sasuke smiled as he rubbed Sarada's head. Her tiny mouth spread into a smile as she reached for her father's hand, "hey."

"I think she recognizes you." Karin sat next to Sakura, "you should try holding her."

"M-me?"

"I mean," Sakura laughed, "she needs some quality time with her papa. She probably wants it, too. Here."

She stood up to carefully transfer the tiny baby to Sasuke's arms, "hold her tight against your body, but not too tight to the point of suffocation. Physical contact like that is important."

"O-okay."

She's so light... Sasuke studied Sarada's calm face as she looked back up at him. She looks so curious. Like... Like someone who sticks their noses into other peoples' businesses. An image of Naruto soon made its way into Sasuke's mind. Oh no... What if she ends up like him? Even worse... What if she looks up to him? That won't be good...

"Sasuke?" Sakura laughed, "are you okay?"

He nodded, "yeah. Yeah. I was just thinking."

"Yeah? Me too." Sakura turned to Karin, "I want to stay true to my word. I've been telling everyone that we wouldn't return to the village until after our baby was born."