"Thank you again for everything." Sakura said lowering her head to Karin.

"It's fine." Karin said with a shrug though the smile on her lips was evidence of her true feelings. "She's gorgeous. Go ahead and contact me if she ever has any health issues. Uchiha tend to be a bit on the bizarre side genetically."

"Hopefully my mediocre genes cancel out some of that." Sakura replied with a smile adjusting the sleeping infant strapped to her chest in her carrier.

"Mediocre huh? That describes you perfectly." The redhead quipped.

Sakura arched a brow at that. "Oh really? Have you already forgotten how this 'mediocre' girl left you in a crater in the ground?"

Karin smirked and then reached out hugging the pinkette as tightly as she dared with her precious bundle between them.

"For the love of the Gods, stay safe, both of you. Keep daddy Sauce in line too." Karin said.

Sakura giggled at the silly nickname Karin had christened her husband with after catching him whispering to a drowsy Sarada about avoiding men until she was eighty while rocking her to sleep.

"Are you ready?" Sasuke said walking up to the trio with Sakura's bag slung over his back and his own bag across his chest. "We need to get moving." He draped a black cloak over her shoulders securing it with clip at her throat.

Sakura gave her one time rival, now dear friend one last squeeze before she stepped back into her husband's light but possessive embrace. His gaze moved to their daughter still sleeping peacefully in the carrier wrapped around Sakura's body.

"Alright. Goodbye Karin. We'll be in touch." Sakura said.

"Right back at you." Karin replied before she vanished in a flash.

"Come, our escort will be arriving any minute." Sasuke said.

"Escort?" Sakura repeated her hands instinctively cradling Sarada against her chest over the carrier.

Sasuke nodded. "I arranged for us to have an escort help us back to the village. I want to get home as fast as possible."

"Why not just fly us there in your Susanoo if you're worried about time?" Sakura asked.

"It would attract too much attention." He replied.

Sakura nodded but tensed a little. The last time they'd been in the village, anti-shinobi spies were still at large. Was it safe to bring in an outsider?

"Don't worry Sakura. I made sure to think of everything." He said giving her shoulder a squeeze. "The one we're meeting can be trusted. I also received word that the last Anti-Shinobi spy was caught and is currently being transported to the Hidden Grass prison. Naruto also said that he would guard our house until we return."

Sakura cocked a brow but nodded. He was very picky about who he trusted. If he said this escort was to be trusted then it was true. Knowing Naruto was actively prepared and waiting for their arrival was also a comfort. She felt reassured in spite of her lingering physical weakness.

"The meeting place isn't much further. Are you sure you're feeling ok?" Sasuke asked.

Sakura nodded. "I'm just tired. I did push a five pound human being out of my body week ago, though I suppose I should consider myself lucky she's so small." She said stroking a finger over Sarada's downy raven hair. "The doctor in me is worried though. What if… what if I hurt her by using that jutsu?" She whispered her lingering doubts escaping her lips now that it was just the two of them. "I was only trying to protect her but-"

Sasuke stepped in front of her and took hold of her chin forcing her to meet his gaze.

"None of that." Sasuke said firmly. "You did the best you could with what you knew. Sarada wouldn't have survived if you hadn't performed that jutsu and you know it. Karin and you both checked her from head to toe multiple times and found nothing abnormal. Even if a complication appears down the road, it doesn't matter because she's alive. Sarada is here because you did everything in your power to give her the best chance at surviving and succeeded."

Sakura blinked a few times and then beamed at her husband leaning up to gently press her lips to his.

"That's right. Brooding is your thing. Heaven knows you do enough of that for both of us." She said with a smile. "Lead on husband. I want some anko dumplings and Ichiraku ramen so bad it isn't funny."

Sasuke gifted her with one of his rare full smiles and kissed her. "With pleasure, Tsuma."

They walked hand in hand through the cool late winter forest until a clearing appeared up ahead.

"Wait here." Sasuke said motioning to a large tree. "I'll signal you when I've made contact and confirmed their identity."

Sakura nodded and ducked behind the thick trunk pressing Sarada to her chest as her heart picked up it's pace. It was a little silly perhaps to be so nervous but this newly awakened maternal protectiveness combined with her weakened postpartum physical state made her extremely anxious. Gods she just wanted to be home.

A whistle sounded and Sakura breathed a sigh of relief and stepped out from behind the tree trunk. She moved cautiously forward until she recognized the pale man standing close to her husband.

"Sai!" She exclaimed happily beaming at her former teammate.

"Sakura." He returned with his signature smile moving towards her. "It's wonderful to see you. We've all been so worried about you." He extended his arms to hug her but froze when Sarada whimpered and squirmed against Sakura's chest. "That's-"

"Now you understand the urgency and secrecy." Sasuke said walking up and adjusting Sakura's cloak to better protect both her and the baby from the lingering winter cold.

"Of course." Sai replied immediately. "Are you sure this is the best way to travel? Wouldn't it be easier to take it slow and easy by foot?"

Sasuke shook his head. "Sakura needs medical rehabilitation and testing. We can't do either of those on the road. Besides, the faster we return to the village where we have protection the better. You know better than most the lengths some would go to in order to get their hands on such a prize." He said brushing a hand over Sarada's back.

Sai's expression hardened slightly and he nodded. "Right. Time is of the essence then. Let's get going." He said whipping out a scroll and bringing two massive birds into being with a wave of his brush.

"Careful." Sasuke warned as Sakura climbed up onto the ink bird.

"I'm pretty sure I have way more experience riding these compared to you." Sakura said with a smile as he hopped up and settled astride the winged apparition in front of her.

"Humor me." He said reaching back to pull her arm around his waist.

Sakura blushed and then giggled and leaned against his broad back ensuring Sarada secure but comfortable between them.

"As you wish, clan leader." She quipped.

He squeezed her hand and she settled against him prepared for the long flight back to The Leaf.

SxSxSxS

Sasuke slid from the back of the ink bird and carefully lifted his sleeping wife and child with the help of a temporary susanoo arm. The feathered beast behind him exploded into chakra ink splattering black on his garden but he paid it little mind.

"I'll help you." Sai said jogging ahead and opening the back door of the Uchiha house.

"Thank you." Sasuke replied walking quickly inside and up the stairs to the bedroom he hadn't seen in more than a year.

The room was spotless and the slight scent of lemon hung in the air; a sure indication that his mother in law had been by recently to clean. He gently untied the bands holding the baby sling in place around his wife and carefully removed it. Gently he slipped it from her prone body and removed the baby from the sling and laid them both on the bed. He covered them with a throw blanket and was about the leave the room and return to Sai, who was waiting downstairs in the living room, when he sensed another presence land on the terrace of his bedroom.

The vision of his wife being stabbed in the stomach by the mad Lord Sakamoto flashed in his mind's eye and he immediately armed himself. Fierce protectiveness surged in his blood amplified by the trauma inflicted on the woman he loved and the recent birth of his child. The terrace door opened and he leapt, blade poised to kill only to sheath his weapon mid flight as he recognized the crop of blonde hair.

"Damnit, Naruto!" He snarled as he landed pinning the other ninja to the ground. "I nearly killed you, dumbass."

"Rough year?" Naruto replied with a grin his hands raised in surrender.

"Tch!" Sasuke hissed jumping to his feet. "You have no fucking idea."

Naruto nodded and stood up himself. "I was doing a perimeter run of your property when I saw you fly in. I came as fast as I could." He followed Sasuke around the bed to where Sakura was facing still sound asleep. "How is she?"

"Exhausted. Let them sleep." Sasuke snapped.

"Yeah I bet. When Hinata was that far along with B-" The blonde idiot froze in his tracks as his eyes fell on the tiny raven haired babe tucked into Sakura's chest. "That's-! But how-?!" He nearly shrieked.

"Shut up, you loser!" Sasuke hissed, his jaw clenching as Sarada startled at the burst of unfamiliar sound and let out a wail.

"Shh." Sasuke cooed as he rushed forward and scooped his daughter into his arm tucking her up against his chest. He rocked her gently nuzzling her cheek with his nose. "There there." He murmured softly as the baby cried. "Don't cry. Papa's got you. Shh, Sarada. Don't wake your mama."

The raven haired girl quieted and burrowed into her father's chest. After a few more moments, she breathed out a mew of contentment and drifted back to sleep.

Sasuke carefully carried her out of the room and downstairs with Naruto following close behind vibrating with excitement. As soon as they hit the main floor, the blonde could no longer contain himself.

"Let me see!" He squealed cringing at the sharingan accented death glare Sasuke sent his way. "Sorry, I'll be quieter." He promised pressing his palms together.

Sasuke sighed and walked over to the couch and sat down adjusting Sarada in his arm so that he could use the support of the arm rest.

Naruto crouched down in front of them and studied the ink haired babe with awe written on his face and warmth in his eyes.

"So cute!" Naruto sighed. "What did you name him?"

"Her name is Sarada. Sarada Uchiha." Sasuke replied his eyes flickering briefly to Sai as he too entered the room. "She was born a week ago today."

"Wow." Naruto whispered. "She's so pretty. Just a few days younger than Boruto too."

Sasuke cocked a brow. "Boruto?"

"My son." Naruto said flashing his signature fool's grin. "Everyone says he looks just like me." He said brushing a finger under his nose, his cheeks glowing a little with pride or embarrassment, Sasuke couldn't quite tell which.

Sai moved a little closer and studied the little girl. "She looks like she's a great deal smaller than Boruto." He commented.

Sasuke nodded and looked down at his daughter who had just fisted her tiny hand in the fabric of his shirt.

"She was born quite early. There were…complications." He said willing his temperature not to spike at his rage and frustration over the entire ordeal that had taken place over the past several months.

Naruto nodded. "We guessed something serious was up when your reports slowed down." He said reaching out to gently touch the girl's plump cheek. "Lady Tsunade is in town and the Haruno couple are on standby."

Sasuke sighed and nodded. "Go ahead and get them. Sakura needs Tsunade and her parents deserve to meet their granddaughter."

"I'm on it." Sai said bowing and then moving a little closer. "She looks just like a doll." He remarked quietly before vanishing out the door.

Sasuke sighed and leaned his head back allowing some of his muscles to relax. Finally, they were home and safe. He was ready to fight anyone that tried to pull him away from his wife and daughter anytime soon.

"How bad did it get?" Naruto asked sinking onto the couch next to him.

Sasuke glanced at his closest friend. When he noticed the young man didn't have a trace of mirth or mischief in his eyes, he decided to be unusually honest.

"I nearly lost them both." Sasuke said softly his grip on his daughter tightening while his gaze swept up to the spot in the ceiling where he could sense his wife's chakra through the planks.

Naruto nodded sagely and for once didn't pester him for details. Maybe becoming a father had knocked a bit of maturity into him. The pair sat in companionable quiet for several moments before Sasuke's eyes suddenly flicked towards the ceiling.

Sakura's breathing had changed and the bedding was shifting around. Sasuke focused his hearing harder and frowned. Her heart was racing and he knew damn well it wasn't good for her weakened condition.

Sasuke immediately placed Sarada in Naruto's arms and sprinted upstairs arriving just in time to watch his wife arch upwards tangled in the blanket he'd covered her with and scream his name, her hands splaying protectively across her middle.

"Sakura. Sakura!" He exclaimed rushing to her side shaking her by the shoulder. "Wake up Sakura!"

He felt her muscles twitch beneath his fingers and immediately knew what was about to follow. She'd had a seizure in the past while recovering from her ordeal with the female demon and he had no desire nor intention to watch her suffer in such a way again.

Thinking quickly, he pried her eye open with his fingers and activated his mangekyou sharingan, taking control of her chakra network. Working quickly he used his own electric chakra to pull and then discharge the little sparks of Sakura's aura that was her own electric pulses going haywire. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he worked to keep her stable with the gentle pulsing of his own electric chakra until he felt her nervous system stabilize.

Carefully, he entered her psychic plane and was relieved to find that it was undamaged. Good, he'd intervened in time then. He walked across the grassy field to the ever blooming sakura tree and smiled at his wife who was lying against it with a serene expression on her face, her eyes closed. He knelt beside her and brushed a stray petal from her hair before gently cupping her face with his palm.

"Tsuma." He murmured softly.

Sakura's eyes fluttered open and she smiled warmly at him. "Darling."

"It's time to wake up. We're home now and Sarada is hungry." He said.

Sakura's eyes lit up. "We're home?"

"We are. Everyone is waiting for you. Wake up, Sakura."

Sasuke opened his eyes just in time to watch Sakura's flutter open. She smiled softly and reached up to cup his face.

"Welcome Home, Sasuke." She said.

"That is my line." He replied leaning down to kiss her gently before pressing his forehead to hers frowning at the heat radiating from her skin. "You have a fever."

"I do?" She said lifting a hand go her own forehead. "That isn't good. I'm sorry Sasuke."

Sasuke sighed. "It isn't your fault." he said straightening to his full height. "I'll go get Sarada so you can feed her. Your parents and Tsunade should be arriving any minute now to check on you."

Sakura nodded and Sasuke quickly made his way downstairs. He stared for a few minutes at the sight before him. Naruto was bouncing his fussy daughter with a serene smile on his lips. He hadn't seen such an expression on the loser's face before. The idiot really had changed so much while he'd been away. Then again, Sasuke had done a good bit of changing himself.

"She needs to eat." Sasuke said as he walked up to his friend.

"I could tell." Naruto said handing Sarada over. "Is Sakura alright?"

"No. She needs a medic, but I know for a fact she won't even let Tsunade touch her without seeing to Sarada first." Sasuke said mounting the stairs.

"Has motherhood made her even more stubborn?" Naruto asked.

"You have no idea." Sasuke muttered.

Naruto chuckled softly. "I'll send them up but remind them to knock before barging into your bedroom."

Sasuke didn't turn back but nodded in silent thanks as he carried his fussing daughter to his bedroom.

"Sarada!" Sakura exclaimed reaching for the tiny babe. "You're starving aren't you? I'm so sorry sweetheart." She made quick work of the buttons in her top and urged Sarada to nurse.

Sasuke watched in facination as his daughter suckled at his wife's heavy breast. He'd found that part of her anatomy attractive from the time he'd first seen her after years apart at Orochimaru's hideout. His appreciation for them had grown exponentially during their courtship and marriage. However, now they were beautiful in a way he'd never imagined. Watching Sakura feed their daughter filled his chest with a warmth that could not easily be contained.

Sakura glanced up at him, a pleasant, almost dreamy smile on her lips as she cradled Sarada and Sasuke's sharingan activated searing the image into his memory forever. Sakura was home. Safe in their bed with their daughter in her arms and a smile on her face. He could see her clearly, smell her slightly floral scent, sense her potent yet gentle chakra and she was close enough to touch. After months of desperation, fear, anxiety, rage, self-loathing and fighting; his girls were finally exactly where he wanted them. Safe and sound in the house he and Sakura had built on his family's land in the village they loved surrounded by people who would protect them.

Sakura's smile dimmed and she reached towards him with slightly shaking fingers until they rested against his cheek.

"Sasuke? What's wrong?" She asked softly.

"Nothing. Why?" He replied confused by her sudden mood change.

Her fingertip slid gently across his cheek stopping at the corner of his eye. "You're crying."

Sasuke blinked in surprise and lifted his own hand and was shocked to find that he was indeed crying. "I… I don't understand it myself." He said softly taking a surprisingly wobbly step towards the bed. "I.. I just." His knees suddenly gave out and he crashed to the floor his body slumping forward partially across the bed.

Sakura shifted his head into her lap near Sarada's plump belly and stroked his hair.

"I think I understand." She said softly. "We're home. We're safe. No one can hurt us because we have allies who will protect us." Sarada reached out with her little hand and fisted a raven spike of his hair between her tiny fingers and cooed softly. "You saved us, Sasuke. It's finally over."

It was like a damn inside him broke. Months of pent up emotions came rushing out in a flood of salty tears and body wracking sobs that he simply could not contain. It was embarrassing, mortifying, and completely humiliating but he couldn't bring himself to care. He'd nearly lost the only family he had and damn it, living in constant fear for a quarter of a year was fucking exhausting on a level that not even he had been able to cope with well. If he fell apart here in the privacy of his bedroom, that was his own business.

"It's ok." Sakura cooed softly as she continued to stroke his head, neck and back. "Everything is just fine. I love you. I love you so much, Sasuke."

The amount of strength it took was embarrassing, but Sasuke managed to pull himself up onto the bed and slipped his arm around Sakura's waist, his hand resting on Sarada's back, marveling at how big his hand looked compared to her tiny body.

"Please…" he whispered laying his lips against Sakura's temple. "Please don't do that to me again. I thought that-" he paused to swallow over the lump that had formed in his throat.

"I know." Sakura said leaning into his embrace. "I was scared too."

Sasuke nodded and felt himself fully relax for the first time in almost seven months. He closed his eyes and focused on the sensation of Sakura's weight against his chest and Sarada's heart beating beneath his palm. The warmth of home that had left him when Sakura had been torn from his grasp was finally back again.

SxSxSxS

"They're upstairs. Sasuke said that Sakura needs a medic but won't let anyone examine her until she feeds the baby." Naruto said as he led the small entourage including Mebuki and Tsunade up the stairs.

He stopped at the paper door and tapped his knuckles lightly against the wooden frame. "Sasuke, Sakura? Can we come in?" He called out.

When there was no answer he frowned. Quietly he slid the door open and stifled a gasp at the scene before him. Sasuke was sound asleep leaning against the headboard, his head resting on Sakura's. The pinkette was nestled up against her husband's chest with her knees tucked and draped partially over Sasuke's extended legs. Cradled neatly in the cozy space where their hips touched was baby Sarada who dozed with her own hand on her cheek. The complete Uchiha clan was quite actively engaged in a well earned rest.

Naruto smiled and wiped a traitorous tear from his eye at the tender scene. His two best friends safe and happy with tangible proof of their strength of their feelings, their ironclad love sleeping between them. It was a beautiful sight, one that he was positive he would remember forever.

"Is everything ok, Naruto?" Tsunade asked.

"Yeah." The blonde replied leaning back and sliding the door shut. "Everything is perfect. Let's head back downstairs and wait."

SxSxSxS

"Well, it's a week late, but congratulations Sakura, Sasuke. Your daughter is perfect, just a bit on the small side." Tsunade said removing her glowing hand from Sarada's plump belly. The baby mewled and Tsunade smiled at the girl. "Yes, you did very well little Sarada. Now it's your mama's turn for a check up."

Mebuki all but bounced forward and looked down at the raven haired babe. "She's absolutely gorgeous!" She squealed. "Can I hold her now?"

"Of course you can, mom. You are her grandmother after all." Sakura said with a slightly breathless laugh from where she sat against the headboard of her bed.

"I thought hearing that would make me shudder because grandma means old, but this little darling is so cute I don't care." Mebuki said gently scooping the girl into her arms. "Oh you are seriously such a doll! Grandma can't wait to spoil you rotten! Let's go introduce you to grandpa! You'll make him swoon, I just know it!" She said all but bouncing out the bedroom door.

Sakura chuckled and offered her exasperated looking husband a sheepish smile.

"You can go with her. You don't need to stay in here with me for this." She said as Tsunade's green shrouded hands moved to hover over her womb.

"I'll stay." Sasuke said as he shifted closer to her bedside.

Sakura nodded and closed her eyes as her mentor's familiar chakra washed over her, warming and tingling the places it touched. A long sigh prompted her to open her eyes and she found Tsunade looking down at her with a furrowed brow.

"What happened, Sakura?" Tsunade asked.

"What do you mean?" Sakura replied.

"Don't play dumb with me young lady. Every cell in the body tells a story that a skilled medic can read. Your uterus and abdominal cavity aren't healing well because it appears they were strained beyond their natural limits. Considering how small Sarada is and that she's the only child that was conceived, there shouldn't be this kind of strain unless her growth was accelerated at another point in the pregnancy by unnatural means." Tsunade frowned. "I understand you were working with Orochimaru. It's possible with his obsession with the Uchiha bloodline that he tampered with your pregnancy as part of an experiment. When I find that snake-"

"It was me." Sakura said cutting off her teacher's rant.

"Sakura!" Sasuke said giving her a sharp look. "You don't owe her an explanation."

Sakura shook her head. "She's my medical provider, Sasuke. In order to make the most effective treatment plan, she needs all the facts." She turned her eyes to her teacher. "I used my seal to accelerate Sarada's development in my first trimester. I was in a dangerous situation and knew that her chances of survival were low. Forcing us both into the stable phase of pregnancy was the best option I could come up with at the time."

Tsunade stared at her for several moments with her jaw agape before she clenched it shut. "That was so incredibly dangerous! Do you have any idea what might have happened if it had gone wrong? Your recklessness-"

"Saved our daughter." Sasuke said firmly draping his arm around his wife's shoulder and squeezing gently when he felt her start to tremble. "She made the best decision she could in the situation she was in."

"She should have come back to the village immediately after realizing she was carrying." Tsunade retorted.

"If the village hadn't been infested with spies, I would have carried her back here myself the we found out!" Sasuke snapped.

"Do you not understand the gravity of the situation?" Tsunade demanded. "Sakura nearly died! She's going to need months, maybe even years of treatment if she ever hopes to have another child again!"

Sakura's face fell and Sasuke felt his stomach flip and his heart stutter in his chest. He already knew. He'd overheard Karin and Sakura whispering about it a few days after Sarada's delivery.

"What if you can't have any more?" Karin asked. "Whatever you did to speed up Sarada's development wrecked your insides."

"Sarada is here and safe." Sakura said stroking the infant's raven covered crown. "That's more than enough for me. Besides, Sasuke never mentioned wanting a big family in the first place. I'll focus on this one before fretting over if I can have any more later."

Karin frowned and stepped closer to the pinkette. "What about you? What do you want Sakura?"

Sakura sighed and then smiled. "As many children as Sasuke wants."

Karin sighed and raked a hand through her hair. "Ever the dutiful wife. So devoted you won't even breathe a word about how scared you are about potentially losing your fertility or how you actually want more than one child."

"Your perceptiveness is a little scary." Sakura said with just a hint of edge in her voice. "You and Naruto are amazing. So dense about yourselves but amazing at sensing the true feelings of others."

Karin blinked, blushed and then sighed. She reached out and gently patted Sakura on the head. "Sorry. I crossed the line. You're right. There's no sense about worrying about having other babies when the first one isn't even a week old. Besides, for some reason that Ice Prince loves you and considering his legendary stubbornness, I doubt something like your fertility is going to change that." The red head smiled and then reached for Sarada. "Now, let me have that sleeping beauty so you can get some rest, mamma-bear."

A tear slid down his wife's face bringing Sasuke back to the present and he reached out to catch it before it fell to her lap.

"Enough!" He snapped leveling a glare at Lady Tsunade before bending down and cupping Sakura's face with his hand. "Look at me, Sakura." Blurry jade eyes full of despair and shame met his. "Tsuma," he murmured his entire demeanor softening, and pressed his forehead to hers. "We talked about this. No tears; no guilt. Not for protecting our daughter with everything you have." He kissed her forehead gently and then straightened to his full height and glared at his wife's mentor. "My wife needs treatment, not a lecture." Sasuke said, his voice dripping with venom as Sakura slipped her fingers between his and gripped them tight.

Tsunade's eyes widened before they softened and she lowered her head. "Of course." She said gently touching Sakura's shoulder when she turned her head into her husband's side in a rare expression of fear and low confidence. "I'm sorry, Sakura. I know you never would have done something so reckless without carefully considering all of the options. I also know that maternal instincts are incredibly powerful and can urge even the most level headed women into making decisions that put themselves at risk in exchange for the safety of their children. I'll do what I can to help you recover. For now, I need you to take it easy and rest. No training, no working, no pushing yourself in any way until I say so, do you understand?"

Sakura nodded. "I understand. Thank you, Lady Tsunade." She said softly.

The blonde sighed and ruffled Sakura's hair gently. "Post-pregnancy hormones are nasty buggers. It seems yours decided to manifest by dousing your fire. Better get that re-kindled before that raven haired doll of yours starts showing her talons and teeth." She chuckled and then leaned down and pressed a kiss to her student's cheek. "Congratulations again Sakura. Your daughter is healthy and happy. I'm so proud of you."

Sakura gasped and then turned and wrapped her arms around her mentor's waist. "Thank you, M'lady."

Lady Tsunade smiled and hugged the pinkette back before stepping back again. "I'll come back later with some monitoring equipment and a few other things so that you can be treated at home. Get some sleep now while your parents are here to help with Sarada."

Sakura nodded and allowed her mentor to lay her back against the pillows. Sasuke frowned at the paleness of her skin against the red pillow case and the purple half moons beneath her eyes. Even with Tsunade's healing, his wife was still quite fatigued.

"Would you like some of that tea Hinata sent with Naruto?" He asked brushing a lock of blush colored hair away from her face.

"Yes please." Sakura replied.

Sasuke nodded. "Do you think you can eat?"

Sakura worried her bottom lip between her teeth for a moment before she answered. "Maybe."

"Alright. I'll be back." Sasuke said before sweeping out the room with Tsunade a step behind.

"You're quite the dutiful husband." The sannin said with a little smirk.

Sasuke didn't answer. He wasn't about to confess to his wife's mentor that part of his devotion was because he felt crushing guilt over the suffering Sakura had experienced during her pregnancy and delivery because of his failure to keep her safe. Admitting his failures wasn't something he did often to anyone and it wasn't really the old woman's business anyway.

"Wait, we need to talk." Tsunade said stopping at the top of the stairs.

"About what?" Sasuke replied turning back to face her.

"Sakura's condition is more serious than she thinks." Tsunade said "I need you to keep a close eye on her. Make note of any new or worsening symptoms and report them to me."

Sasuke cocked a brow. "She can do that herself."

"But she won't. She's stubborn as Hell and hates showing weakness." The legendary medic smirked. "She's like me that way. That's why I need you to keep me informed so I can help her heal. Do you understand?"

Sasuke studied the woman who had helped mold his wife into the powerful warrior she was and saw nothing but concern in her chocolate eyes. Slowly he nodded and then continued downstairs intent on making his wife's tea and finding a snack his wife would be able to eat.

Sasuke bustled around his kitchen brewing the tea and filling a small plate with some cakes his mother in law had brought over along with a couple of rice balls Sai had returned with. As he waited for the tea to steep, he watched his in-laws ooh and ah over their granddaughter who was sleeping peacefully on a rolled out futon on the floor. For a moment, the image shifted and he could see his mother kneeling next to Sarada stroking her cheek with the warm smile he so missed on her lips while his father stood beside them with a rare softness in his eyes. When the image of his older brother smiling down at Sarada with his hand on her hand appeared in his mind's eye, it was too much.

His eyes stung and he quickly turned away, assembled Sakura's tray and carried it up the stairs.

She was leaning against the pillows, her gaze fixed on the book in her lap. Her head lifted as he entered the room sliding the door shut behind himself.

"Darling." Sakura said as he sat down on a chair beside the bed and handed her the tray snatching the book away and setting it on the bedside table.

"Reading is not resting." He scolded.

"Sure it is. Reading is a wonderful, proven method to relax." Sakura retorted lifting the steaming cup to her lips.

"Maybe, but I'm pretty sure that 'Genetics Based Healing Techniques' isn't the kind of book experts recommend for such things." He said glancing at the book title.

Sakura chuckled and then shifted in bed and patted the space next to her. "Come here." She said picking up a rice ball. When he cocked a brow at her she giggled and jerked her head in another invitation. "I promise to clean my plate if you do."

Sasuke sighed and sat down next to her. Sakura leaned against him and sighed. "What are you worried about?" She asked.

"Everything." Sasuke replied.

Sakura laughed and bent forward covering her mouth with a rice ball filled hand. "You're a new father, I guess you would be worried about everything."

Sasuke smirked and nudged her gently. "Eat." He prompted.

Sakura wrinkled her nose at him before obediently taking a bite of a rice ball. "Seriously, what's bothering you darling?" She probed again gently. "If you really don't want to tell me what you're thinking, that's ok, but at least be honest about how you're feeling."

Sasuke sighed and laid his head on top of hers. After several moments of comfortable silence and one rice ball vanished, he sighed.

"I was just imagining what it would be like if they could meet her too. My parents and Itachi." Sasuke said looking down at they dark blue comforter that had the Uchiha crest stitched into it.

"I see." Sakura said softly before she reached out and covered his hand with her own. "I wish they were here too."

Sasuke nodded nuzzled her hair gently. "I know. Thank you, Sakura." he kissed her temple gently. "Eat so that you can sleep."

Sakura hummed as she munched on what he'd brought her and as she'd promised, cleaned her plate.

"Sleep with me?" She whispered softly as she stretched and yawned as he helped her lay down in bed.

Sasuke shook his head and smirked at his wife's sleepy pout. He reached out and gently tapped her forehead over the blue diamond on her forehead. "I will next time." He said before leaning down to kiss her gently feeling just a little spark when Sakura deepened the contact, sipping his lip between her own for a moment. Reluctantly he pulled away. "Sleep Sakura."

"Ok. I love you." Sakura replied her voice already thick with sleep.

"I know." He replied before slipping silently from the room.