A little late for Christmas, maybe, but I hope you all enjoy! Happy New Year!

-0-0-0-

It was two weeks before Christmas in Konoha. Decorations colored the village in red, white, and green, and the first snow had just fallen. Sakura was in her home, preparing curry for dinner. She was cutting vegetables when she heard a small child-like whisper from the doorway.

"Psst, Mama!"

Sakura turned in confusion to see her seven-year-old daughter peering cautiously into the kitchen, half hidden behind the door frame.

"Yes, Sarada?" she asked with a smile and one raised eyebrow. Her daughter crept forward silently, almost ashamedly. Her hands were both tucked behind her back.

"Ne, Mama…I…um…"

Sakura waited. Her daughter was uncannily like her father in that it could sometimes take a while before she found the right words to say.

"I…have a letter."

"For me?" Sakura inquired, wondering why her little girl would be so secretive over a letter.

"No…it's…um…it's for Santa."

At this, Sakura had to struggle to maintain a straight face. When all the other children in the village had begged their parents to take them to the city to see Santa Claus at the shopping center, Sarada had remained quiet, mulishly pressing her lips together and claiming she didn't believe in such childish things.

"I thought you didn't believe in him," Sakura said casually, willing her lips to remain in a straight line.

"I don't!" Sarada protested. "But…there's something I want, and I think he's the only one who can give it to me. Bolt said something stupid the other day about Santa and Christmas miracles, and…just promise me you'll give it to him!"

Sarada thrust the letter towards her mother with both hands. Sakura took it with a gentle smile.

"And you can't read it, Mama! Absolutely no peeking! Only Santa can read this letter, okay?"

"Alright, Sarada."

"Pinky promise?"

Sakura linked her pinky through her daughter's proffered finger, and they shook on it.

"Now, can I go outside? Stupid Bolt challenged me to a snowball fight."

Sakura nodded, and straightened Sarada's glasses. She helped the little girl into her coat, and let her run off to play with her friends (with a strict warning to be back before sundown). Sakura then went into her bedroom and promptly opened the letter.

Dear Santa,

I know I always say that I don't believe in you, but that's not really true. I just don't want stupid Bolt to think I'm on the same level as him. I know I haven't ever sent a letter to you before, but I write one every year. This year, I'm really...(here the word despert was scratched out) desperate. (I had to look that one up in the dictionary).

I don't want what all the other kids want. I don't need kunai or dolls. I don't want new shuriken or a race car. Santa…all I want this Christmas is to see my Papa. His name is Sasuke Uchiha. I know he likes to travel a lot. Mama says he's looking for something and he hasn't found it yet. But, I look for him all the time, and he's never around. Even stupid Bolt gets to see his dad more than I get to see mine. Ne, Santa…I don't really know my Papa. I've only met him once. Sometimes I don't think he knows I exist. (There were a couple tear stains on the page here, and Sakura had to blink rapidly to keep from adding more to the page).

So please, Santa. Please bring my Papa home this Christmas. And…please bring him home to stay. I don't know what it is he's looking for, but maybe you could put it in his stocking or something? Or maybe you can just tell him that me and Mama miss him a whole lot. (Mama never says it, but sometimes I see her staring at the one family picture we have and she always looks really sad).

And if you can't find him, or if he says no, then SHANNARO!

Yours truly,

Sarada Uchiha

-0-0-0-

When Sarada came back with flushed cheeks and wet hair, Sakura quickly ushered her into a hot bath, then gave her hot cocoa after dinner was finished.

"Ne, Mama?" Sarada asked as her mother brushed her hair before bed. "Do you think…Santa will get my letter?"

Sakura paused for a moment, then a secret smile crossed her face, before resuming her gentle strokes with the brush.

"I'm sure he will, Sarada."

-0-0-0-

I might do a part 2…someday… Leave a review if you enjoyed. This is kind of a headcanon for me, since it never specifically says in the manga that Sakura and Sasuke get married. Apparently even Kishimoto hasn't figured out how they got together, which is…kinda sad. But, I just ran with this idea that Sasuke is never around and doesn't really know that he had a daughter by Sakura.