More Than Words

Staring at the Uchiha sigil in front of their house, he can't help but release a sigh of relief. He just got there after meeting with Naruto at the Hokage Tower, giving his report and a bit of catching up with his old friend.

The Hokage grabbed him immediately after he perched on the office window in a tight hug. Of course, he returned it reluctantly. Hokage or not, he's still Naruto. And to Sasuke's eyes, he's still an idiot. After a few minutes, Naruto finally releases him to finally go home and see his family.

"Sakura-chan might find out and I know she will punch me in the face," Naruto added with his trademark, no-holds-barred, annoying grin. Sasuke just replied with his signature smirk of his.

And now, there he stood. It's been what? Almost 2 years since he last step foot in Konoha, and only God knows when since he had been inside their house. He felt a slight pang of pain in his chest. And yes, a bit of excitement as well. He missed his family.

His daughter.

His wife.

He wonders now what they look like. They last saw each other when they had that little incident with Sarada and her curiosity about her real parentage. As if you couldn't tell with his trademark raven hair and eyes and Sakura's strength and optimism that Sarada possesses. He smirked at the thought. Sarada really took almost all of his physical features but she definitely got her spunk, determination and her loud mouth from her mother. Her stubborness and wit, maybe a little bit of his and Sakura's combined, though he really wouldn't admit that he's a bit stubborn aloud.

But overall, he believes his daughter is more like Sakura than him. Both strong, powerful, and so so good.

Beautiful, he added to his thoughts.

Sighing again for the nth time after standing in front of their house like a stalker, he quietly approached the front door and opened it slowly and quietly. He silently praised his wife for placing few but strong genjutsus around the house for protection. Some of it are quite tricky he must say but if not because of his Sharingan, he might have missed it because of his overwhelming feeling inside him to see his family again. It's late in the evening and he knows Sarada might be sleeping. His wife, he's not yet sure. He haven't checked their chakras yet. He wants to be spontaneous, even for just now. He's finally back after all. He can finally relax and enjoy.

Their house still looks the same from the inside: a wide foyer greeting him when he opened the front door, a faint smell of flowers in the window sill, an old family portrait on the wall when he entered the living room. His eyes roam and he is suddenly engulfed with a calm feeling, one that he is more uncomfortable with. But not in here. Not in their home.

He walks around the house, passing through their kitchen, to his daughter's room. He decided to check on her first before he went to look for Sakura. The feeling of seeing his two girls after a very long time almost knocks him off his feet. The excitement of being able to brush Sarada's hair while she sleeps is palpable now that he's on his way to her room. The anticipation of being able to hold, let alone see, Sakura in the flesh is enough to make Sasuke choke.

But first, Sarada.

He quietly opens her room and peers inside. It was dark but nothing will be amiss in his powerful eyes. He can clearly see his daughter, sleeping on her side away from him. He sneaks inside and closes the door gently. He looks around his daughter's room and noticed that it is neat and organized. Her books in a color coded manner, her study table clean with a picture with her team, and a lone picture of them three on her bedside table. He softly smiled when he saw it.

My family, he thought.

With his chakra still reduced to the lowest for stealth, he approached the bed quietly, not even a sound can be heard. His daughter's back is still to him and he could see her even breathing.

He smirked.

When he was gonna place his hand on her, Sarada suddenly lunged with a kunai in hand, probably taken under her pillows. Her black and crimson eyes fierce as she attacks the unknown 'intruder'.

Sasuke, as he effortlessly hold his daugher's wrist away from him, gazed at Sarada with proud eyes. The moment he stepped foot through her door, he already noticed the change in her breathing and the subtle spike of her chakra. To hold out until the unknown presence makes it's move to attack is quite impressive.

When their eyes met, Sarada gaped at him with wide eyes and even wider mouth. She looked absolutely precious in her father's eyes. Sasuke felt his heart melt. He missed her terribly.

Before Sarada squeals and alert Sakura of his presence, he put his index finger against his lips and smirked at his daughter. Sarada picks up and immediately shut her mouth but launched herself to him, almost knocking him out of his feet, thanks to his quick reflexes.

"Papa!", Sarada half-whispered half-screamed against his chest. Her arms are looped around his neck with her kunai still in hand and her feet still on the bed. Sasuke snaked his lone arm around her and kissed the top of her head.

"Sarada," he whispered. "I'm back."

She suddenly looked up to him, her eyes now back to normal and seemed to have widen more. "For good?"

He simply smiled and said, "Aa."

Sarada smiled even bigger and hugged him even tighter. In return, Sasuke put his hand on her hair and ruffled it. It's soft just like her mom's. He shifted so he could sit on her bed so Sarada immediately detached herself from him and sat beside him. She crossed her legs so she could look at him directly. "I missed you Papa," Sarada mused. Seeing her father again after so long makes her want to cry. Thank God she's not as crybaby as her mother. She is as emotional as Sakura, but she can also be as stoic as Sasuke.

Sasuke reached out and poked her forehead, "I know."

Sarada shyly touched her forehead. "I can't wait to show you all of the jutsus that I have learned! Boruto is so envious," she said proudly.

Of course you're amazing, Sasuke thought. You are your mother's daughter anyway. You are our daugher.

Sasuke just gave her a small smile and asked, "So when did you notice I was here?"

"Right when you opened my door," Sarada answered, confirming Sasuke's thoughts. "Mama just checked on me a few minutes ago and I have always been a light sleeper anyway. I noticed your chakra before you entered but it feels kinda familiar to me so I just ignored it. But you opened my door and I was startled for a second."

"I noticed that as well," Sasuke told her. "I'm glad you don't let your guard down. It's only the two of you here."

Sarada smiled at him, "No. Now we're three."

Warmth spread in his chest as he looks at Sarada's face. As much as she took his features from her raven hair and eyes, he can also definitely see his wife in her. Her warmth and her glow and her light and her energy and her smile – it's all Sakura.

It will take his whole life to thank Sakura for all that she had given him, and for all that she's still willing to give to him despite of his shortcomings. As a father. As a husband. This bundle of fierceness and love looking up at him will always be his reminder that Sakura never gave up on him.

And in return, he will always come back to her. To them. To his family.

Sarada hugged him again right after, her kunai probably back under her pillows. She will definitely be a clingy daughter now. Her father is back for good! She thought to herself that she will never let him out of her sight again. Well, unless the Hokage sends him again to another mission. But she hopes it's not as long as this last one. She's tired of seeing her mother miss him. She's tired of missing him.

But no worries, because he is back.

She pulls away and said, "Have you seen Mama?"

Just the thought of seeing her just across the hallway makes Sasuke's skin prick in anticipation. He was never the touchy type. He was never the vocal type too. But he is an Uchiha, and Uchiha's feel more deeply and strongly. And he misses her.

And he loves her.

God, he loves her.

Sasuke smirked, "Not yet. I want to suprise her."

Sarada smirked back and laughed softly, "Oh she's gonna cry. Mama cries so easily sometimes. I can't believe that she's so strong yet such a baby at the same time, you kno-"

Her sentence was immediately cut off by a small yawn. Her eyes are slowly slipping shut but she's fighting it because her dad is finally home and they're talking. But she's so sleepy now. Sasuke smiled softly and tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, "Sleep now. I'm not going anywhere."

Sarada leaned back to her pillows as her father places a blanket over her. She smiled sweetly, "Promise?" With her eyes half-closed and her lips turned into a lofty and sleepy smile, Sasuke leaned in and kissed her forehead.

"Promise."

He waited until Sarada fell asleep.

He never got the chance to tuck her to bed every night. It's one of the many things he regret deeply. Not being able to see and be with his family is his own emotional, and even physical, torture. And now that he has the chance to at least watch over his daughter as she sleeps, for him it seems like a gift. After all the pain and anger and just pure exhaustion from it all, this is what awaits him at home – his daughter looking up to him with admiring, bright eyes and his wife..

Sakura.

With final glance and a stroke on Sarada's cheek, he stands up and makes his way out of her room. He saw the hallway towards their room empty, their bedroom door slightly ajar so he can see the light coming from it.

He sense her chakra while still masking his. He wants to surprise her. Just thinking about her wide eyes taking him in is already making his palms sweat.

I'm home, Sakura.

Silent as ever, Sasuke steps inside their room. But when he was about to lift his head to check inside, a kunai was thrown to the side of his head. The said kunai now stuck in the doorframe, thanks to Sasuke.

He blames it on himself. Maybe he was too excited to see his wife after so long that he forgot that she's one of the smartest kunoichi in the world. Of course she will sense him. He looked from the implanted kunai on the doorframe until his eyes reached his beautiful wife.

And there she stood – fresh from the shower with her still wet pink hair down, her green eyes glowing, her mouth in a smirk in a very arousing way to Sasuke, with nothing but a flimsy thin towel around her body.

He just stood there in the doorway, feeling like a boy suffering from his pre-pubescent years that was shell-shocked from seeing a half-naked girl for the first time. Goddamn it, they have a child. He should not feel embarassed at all.

And just like someone was toying with him, he felt the back of his neck heat and traveled on the way to his cheeks. A slight tint of pink can be seen and when he saw his wife's smirk widen to a grin, he can't help but be redder.

Averting his eyes is not an option, because he knows Sakura will tease him for it. He thank everyone that has to be thanked for that Naruto won't ever witness this.

Besides, how can he look away when she looks like that? Who can?

Sakura just stood there and watch him with silent mirth. She said softly, "I've known your chakra all my life, Sasuke-kun. You can never mask it from me."

He knows this already. But it doesn't stop him from at least giving an effort to be spontaneous even just for now. Everything about Sasuke is calculated. Every move, every step – it's all planned thoroughly. But in the heart of his home, surrounded by his girls, he feels safe and warm. So all his careful and well-thought plans in his head just vanishes as he's welcomed by his family – Kakashi, Naruto, Sarada, Sakura. This spontaneity is only for them. They're the only ones who can see him vulnerable.

He stared at his loving wife, barely dressed and glowing and soft and beautiful. Just like a dream. No coherent thought could even come up in his head as he just stared and stared. So, he just answered with his signature answer.

"Hn."

Sasuke saw as Sakura's features soften more, as if the fondness in her eyes and the slight curl of her inviting lips just seconds ago were nothing.

You're so beautiful, Sasuke thought as he felt his heart slammed against his chest he's afraid Sakura might hear it.

He saw how her eyes gathered moisture, completely nailing Sarada's prediction earlier. She's still a crybaby. Crying over the littlest of things, but the strongest of all. In body and in heart.

Sakura smiled that achingly sweet smile reserved only for the people she love the most. A tear dropped from her emerald eyes as her husband never took his eyes away from hers as soon as they met. "Welcome home, Sasuke-kun."

He smiled that smile that is only reserved for his wife – a smile that softens everything in his face; a smile that comes along with a hitch in his breath; a smile that makes Sakura come forward to meet him. Sasuke closed the door as he steps in. They met halfway across the room. With Sasuke in his covered clothes and Sakura in her one scrap of thin towel, they clash together.

Sakura stood on tiptoes as she puts her arms around his neck and her face against his chest. Her silent happy tears finally making its way down her cheeks as she hugs him with all she is. Sasuke holds her as fierce as she was holding him with his one arm.

It's one of those few moments that he would like to have another arm again, just to embrace his wife with all of him. His face buried against the juncture between her neck and shoulders, inhaling her scent. Apples and strawberries and Sakura.

He can feel the front of his cloak getting damp from all her tears. He puts his hand behind her head and detached it from his chest. Sasuke looks down at his wife and saw her smile with tears in her eyes. He couldn't help but lean down and kiss both of her eyes softly. Sakura smiled gently.

"Stop it," he murmured against her closed lids. "You're annoying."

Sakura chuckled as Sasuke said those words and continued to make his face travel from her face to her hair back to the other side of her neck, inhaling as he goes. He couldn't open his eyes as his sense of smell is very much heightened right now. He's used to smelling rain and blood and fear, but now, all he could smell is her. And he can't seem to get enough.

Sakura's arms went down, her left hand went at his nape and her right at his waist. The one in his nape gently tugs at his hair as she sighed lovingly. "I can't help it," she whispered directly in his left ear. "You can't blame me for missing you so much."

I'm here now. I'm not going anywhere.

His arms loop around her and his hand went back to clutch at her waist as her words traveled all the way to his spine. Even with his cloak on, he shivered.

He nodded lazily against her neck, "Hn." His lips against her damp skin. It's taking all of his self-control not to taste it. "I know."

I missed you, too.

They reluctantly let go from their embrace but their hands stay on each other's bodies. Hers on his chest, his on her back. Sakura looked up to him. Their height difference making her arch her neck to look at his face. His hair is longer now so some bangs covered his eyes but she can still feel their intensity. She felt goosebumps all over and Sasuke saw it all.

"Have you eaten yet?", Sakura asked him. She reached up to push away some hair away from his eyes. "You must be hungry. I could make you something if you like."

Sasuke smirked, "I suppose you can cook real food now?"

She playfully slapped his chest as she laugh, "How dare you make fun of my cooking! Hey mister, need I remind you that the last time you went home and ate with us, you nearly ate all of it? You didn't even left some for your daughter!"

His hand went back to her damp hair to the side of her face. Sasuke gave a small smile as he cradles it, "She let me."

"That's because she was excited to finally have you home," she pointed out. Her face automatically leans in towards his hand. His thumb rhythmically going back and forth on her cheekbone. She smiled. "And she loves you," Sakura added.

He remembers that night so clearly. After that whole drama with Sarada and her search for him and the truth, he went home with them for some time. They ate dinner and spent few days together as a family. His last night consisted of light conversations and heartfelt laughter with them over dinner. He couldn't remember the last time he had a proper meal so he was happy that his wife made an effort to give him that. Her cooking was terrible back when they were children, but now they're fantastic. His prepared lunch the next day as he went back to his mission was also a proof of her kitchen prowess.

Sasuke just looked at Sakura as she closed her eyes, relishing his touch on her face with her hand covering his. She looks so serene he can't help but feel awed. His eyes slowly memorize her face and her body, as if he haven't done it before.

"What about you?", Sasuke asked, the back of his hand going back and forth on her jaw. "Do you?"

He already knows the answer to this. After all these years of being away from them, one could say that Sakura might not love him anymore. Sakura should not love him anymore.

But Sasuke knows. He always have. Sakura gave him her whole self, dedicated her life to bring him back and to give back the life he never thought he would have again, risked everything she have for him.

Sasuke knows she loves him still. He knows he doesn't deserve it. She's too good for him. He will never be enough. But every now and then, his selfish self wants to hear it.

Closed lids opened to reveal those green eyes that lives in his dreams. Those green orbs full of understanding, patience and love. They're staring intently at his black ones. She smirked playfully, "You made fun of my cooking skills. So, no. I hate you."

Sasuke scoffed. Her eyes are full of mirth as he looked at her. "No, you don't."

"And what makes you say that?"

This time, Sasuke dipped forward to her. He saw her gasp in surprise as he puts his forehead against hers. Sakura blushed. He stared at her slightly opened mouth as he speaks.

"Because what you feel about me.." he started as he leaned in closer. He saw her eyes closed and that made him smile. "..is the same as my feelings for you."

He concluded as his mouth descended to meet hers.

All thoughts are gone. Only their mouths molding together making sense. They stood there at the center of the room, their lips doing the speaking, their hands exploring around each other. There's a clash of lips, teeth and tongue. Sasuke breathes in her soft moans and Sakura drinks her name from his hungry mouth.

Sasuke poured everything he has to say in that kiss. He's still the same boy who doesn't know how to form words that might justify his feelings. So he express them in the way he knows how.

And so he kissed her gentle and slow, but hot and deep. He can't fight the groan that comes out of his mouth when his wife is doing the same to him.

Sasuke hopes Sakura hears his words through their kiss. They're connected anyway. They always have been. They always will be.

I've missed you so bad.

I'm never gonna leave you again.

I'll protect you.

I'm sorry for everything.

Don't leave me.

Stay with me forever.

I'll make you happy.

Thank you.

I love you.

I love you so much.

Finally, their mouths found their way to separate to breathe. Both panting, they smiled at each other as they hold each other's faces. Sasuke looks at her face intently, his wife being his light all these years. He's forever grateful to her for everything that she is. He puts his forehead against hers.

Do you hear me, Sakura?

"I love you too, Sasuke-kun," Sakura breathes against his mouth.

Her answer and this moment are now stored into his memory for him to remember forever.

~fin~

A/N: It's finally here on ffnet! Most of my fics are on my tumblr thefangirlslair, but I will try to put them all here as well. Thanks to all who read them. See you soon xoxoxo