title: Born to Be Three
prompt: SASUSAKU MONTH 2015
rating: K-M
summary: o31: Sasuke sees a new life—a perfect life—in baby Sarada.
dedicated to: my baes on tumblr - i love you all!
NOTE THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE MONTH: I wanted to add Sarada in many of these prompts, because she's a part of this beautiful family too /sobs forever at my babies having babies/ but sometimes I either couldn't find a way to fit her in and, to be honest, I have little experience writing about her! Hopefully that will change.
.o31.
Reincarnation
.
Sasuke sees a new life—a perfect life—in baby Sarada.
.
The birth is quick and nearly painless. Sakura goes into labor at ten, right as he's about to cradle her to sleep, when she gasps and jumps out the bed.
"I need to go the hospital."
Sasuke does not hesitate. He helps dress Sakura, making sure his wife is warm and comfortable, and slips on some clothes for himself. His hand is secured onto her belly, protecting her from all sorts of harm that could possibly affect their child.
"Don't worry," she gasps through contractions. "You're so overprotective."
"I have to be." He kisses her ear and leads her down the stairs. They have no car, it's too late to call a taxi, and Sasuke can't afford the risk of teleporting her there.
"Ah, Sasuke-kun!" she squeaks. Sasuke scoops his hands underneath her back and knees and carries her out the door and towards the hospital. It is empty outside, a cold breeze fluttering through the city. The only sounds accompanying them are the chirps of crickets and the pitter-patter of Sasuke's footsteps against the dirt.
Tsunade, of course, is called to the room to help deliver the baby. She brings along Kakashi, who, in turn, has an overeager Naruto clinging to his arm in sleep-deprived excitement.
"When is it coming?" he shouts. "Come on, Team 7 baby, come on!"
Tsunade knocks the hokage-to-be upside the head and urges the other nurses to fill the IV, get the epidural, and provide the utmost comfort for Sakura. Sasuke holds Sakura's left hand, Naruto the right. She cries out at Tsunade's order to push, hands suffocating around her boys' fingers. They can take it though; they are strong, and Sakura is stronger than the pain. She can do it.
"You got this, Sakura-chan," Naruto says. "Come on, just a little more!"
Sasuke wipes the sweat off her forehead and kisses her seal. His eyes fill with worry at the strained expression of his beloved wife. He hates that their beautiful coupling needs to make her go through this suffering, this hurt, for him. He does not want to cause her any more pain.
"I'm okay," she smiles. Her eyes shine, even through heavy-lidded eyes. "I can do it, shannaro!"
"Almost there, Sakura," Tsunade says. "Push hard, harder—!"
Sakura lets out a final cry before she hears the sound of a wailing infant cradled in her shishou's arms. She struggles to look at her baby, the proof of her and Sasuke's love for each other, and begins to cry.
"You did it, Sakura-chan!" Naruto kisses her cheek. "I'm so happy for you." His own eyes begin to tear.
Sasuke says nothing. He continues to hold her hand, eyes staring ahead at his child. His mouth parts just the slightest as if he wants to speak, but no words come out. His eyes glisten, too.
Tsunade finishes all the necessary procedures to make sure the baby is healthy and then wraps her in a warm blanket. She hands the child to Sakura, who, in a fountain of tears, cradles.
"She's beautiful," Tsunade smiled. Her hand brushes through Sakura's hair in pride and then tickles the cheek of the new Uchiha clan member. The first, everyone knows, to continue the line.
"Sasuke-kun," Sakura sobs. "We made this. We made her."
Sasuke leans over the railing of the bed and takes his baby from his wife. Tsunade, Naruto, and Kakashi immediately rush over to Sasuke's side—they're afraid that his one arm will pose as a danger to the new addition.
"Hello, Sarada," Sasuke hums. His eyes soften. "I love you."
Sakura wishes she could capture the moment forever. Her husband, now a father, filled with love for his newborn daughter and wife. The girls who have made his life whole once more.
"Sarada? Is that her name?" Naruto asks. "Hi, Sarada-chan! Coochie coochie coo!"
Sarada smiles, eyes still sealed shut, and Naruto wants to grab the baby from Sasuke. "Look, she likes Uncle Naruto!"
"Give her back, dobe," Sasuke growls.
Kakashi ushers Tsunade and Naruto out of the room, much to all of their dismay. But the Uchihas respect their privacy, and Sarada is sleepy after leaving the warmth of the womb. Sakura cradles the child to her chest. Sasuke embraces his wife and kisses her damp hair.
In Sarada's sleeping face, he sees his own dark hair and what he knows are his dark eyes. But she has Sakura's distinct forehead and beautiful skin. She is at once two people, the product of Uchiha love.
But he sees more than that: Sasuke sees the opportunities of hope, of unbridled potential, of family dinners and top academy marks. Of gardening together in the yard, watering flowers, or shopping for groceries to make Papa a bento for the travels. Uchiha family history and forehead pokes brimming with love.
There is the life he didn't get to cherish with his family that Sarada will never experience. For her, there will only be happiness. Mama and Papa will always be at her side, protecting her—she doesn't have to worry about a thing.
Sasuke feels like he has been reborn when he kisses Sarada. He has a family again, the one he always searched for to fill the hole in his heart. With Sarada, he can start anew.
With Sarada and Sakura, the Uchiha name lives on.
thanks for joining me in yet another sasusaku month. It's a big improvement from last year, where a lot of you know I was going through a lot of shit and couldn't write. This has been the first somewhat serious thing I "wrote" since this time ago in 2014. A lot of things aren't perfect, but I'm trying to get back on my feet.
Truly, though, I appreciate all your support, love, reviews, follows, faves, reblogs, anything and everything. It means a lot.
I hope you guys have enjoyed this year. Stay tuned for more to come.
xoxo