Her low groans were interrupted by staccato pants, making a rhythm—like some bizarre Morse code.

"Just a little more, Sakura."

Sasuke had one of her bare feet in his hand, helping her push. He'd discovered that holding her hand led to being crushed in her monstrous grip, so this was a less dangerous alternative. As he bent her leg up higher, he leaned close to her ear and tried to encourage her.

"She's almost here. I can see the top of her head."

Hearing that, Sakura clamped her eyes shut and pushed with all her might. Sweat dripped from her wet hair down her contorted, beet-red face.

He'd never seen her look so…beautiful.

Sasuke found it hard to breathe as a thousand birds beat their wings in his ribcage. What she was doing for him—for them—filled him with a profoundly moving sense of awe for the woman he loved with all his heart.

He was so lost in wonder, he almost didn't hear Karin's warning.

"Hey, idiot! Look alive over there. The shoulders are the hardest part."

His daughter! Her head was out already? He would finally see her face! Just as he tried to lean over his wife's knee to catch a glimpse of his little girl, Sakura grunted and pushed her foot against his hand for leverage.

Future arguments would contest whether it was the sweat from her exertion or the anxious moisture of his palm. Regardless, her foot shot out of his hand like a bar of slippery soap, her heel connecting hard with his nose. Stars danced across his vision as blood poured like water.

Sasuke hit the floor.

Fading in and out of consciousness, he felt strong hands yank him up by the shoulders. Something—an arm?—was shoved into his mouth. He resisted, but was forced to bite down before darkness overtook him. He resurfaced to bright lights and the sound of a cat mewling loudly.

Wait. A cat? That couldn't be right.

Sasuke shook off the cobwebs and found he was lying in bed next to his wife…and daughter.

"Your child's first look at you and this is what she sees?" Sakura giggled at his swollen nose and purple shiners.

He struggled to sit up—there she was! So pink and round with a shock of black hair standing straight up on her head, howling for milk. Sakura tutted as she tried unsuccessfully to smooth the downy spikes. Despite the pain, he couldn't help but smile.

Together. They had made this life together.

Years later, when silver mixed with the black in his own spiky hair, Sasuke would smirk and Sakura would kiss the small kink in his nose as they remembered Sarada's birthday.

A/N: Hi everyone! Yeah...I know. It's been a while, right? My only excuse is post-manga blues, I guess. But now, I feel ready to write! So, hopefully, you'll be seeing more from me soon. I hope you like my tiny entry back into the wonderful world of fan fiction. I've missed you all!