Chapter 1: Peaches and the Sun

Sakura looked at the clock on the wall for what must have been the hundredth time in what was apparently only an hour. Her feet were tapping rapidly on the tiled floor of the playroom in the Konoha Child Care Facility (KCCF) where she worked.

Uchiha-san was late.

He was never, ever late.

Something must have happened to him. Sakura sent a glance at the small warm body curled up next to hers and bit her lip worriedly. Poor Setsu. After waiting on his dad to show up for two hours, the poor boy had cried himself to exhaustion and had been sleeping for over an hour now. Sakura checked the clock again.

Maybe she should call Uchiha-san one more time. She'd already called him about twenty times, but her calls went right through to voicemail... She'd left a recording there every time she'd called. She looked at the phone. Maybe she was being annoying or paranoid... but she should really call again. Sakura picked up the phone to dial Uchiha Itachi's number again when the front door of the day care swung open and a tired Itachi stepped through, his eyes bleary with exhaustion. She instantly felt a small stab of guilt for nagging him with her calls because he was obviously so tired... and stressed out if the slightly frantic look in his eyes was any indication. He looked absolutely overworked for the most part.

"I had a meeting," he said in his usual quiet manner. "It ran late." Sakura nodded, mostly relieved that he was finally here.

"Setsu-kun you're dad is here now," Sakura said softly while gently nudging the sleeping boy beside her. Setsu yawned and stirred, sitting up and rubbing his eyes. He then looked around and spotted his father.

"Tou-san!" he yelled delightfully, totally oblivious to the effect the volume of his tone had on Itachi's pounding head... or his worried heart. Itachi held out his arms and Setsu jumped eagerly into them, snuggling into the crook of his father's neck and the corners of the older Uchiha's lips twitched upwards in a small smile.

"Did you behave while I was gone?" Itachi asked, his usually acerbic manner uncharacteristically gentle, even though his even tone did not noticeably change.

"Uh-huh," Setsu replied,nodding into his father's neck. "Except I cried..." he admitted, shame evident in his tone. Itachi's back stiffened immediately. His dark gaze shot accusingly to Sakura.

"What happened?" He asked the question, but it was not clear to whom it was directed. The pink-haired woman's green eyes met his without even a trace of fear.

"You were late," she replied simply. "He thought you'd left him like..." Her voice trailed off, but her insinuation was clear.

Like his mother did.

Itachi felt shame course through him. He cleared his throat and inclined his head slightly in Sakura's direction, extending a silent apology for assuming that she had made his son cry.

"I told you I would come back. I will always come back Setsu, because I love you, remember?" Itachi whispered to Setsu, setting him on the ground and kneeling before him. He placed his hands on either shoulder and looking directly into his son's red rimmed eyes. Setsu looked up, a little bit of insecurity and fear evident in his dark eyes.

"Tou-san promise?" he asked, his eyes round with emotions.

"I promised, and I never break my promises," Itachi assured the toddler who nodded and launched himself at Itachi's chest, knocking him to the floor. The Uchiha was forced to smile in response to his son's actions. He never smiled around other people, but Setsu was... Setsu was his everything, and even sometimes when he'd rather not smile, he did it for his son, just like he'd promised Akane.

Sakura watched as the son and father interacted, a smile curving her lips. They were absolutely adorable. Usually Itachi appeared so cold, but Setsu seemed to have a reversing effect on him - as he did with most people. She knew that Uchiha-san's wife had passed away a little over a year ago, and she could tell that he was still grieving somewhat. She'd never seen him with any other woman, or heard of him going on dates, or anything like that. He was good looking enough to attract any woman, so Sakura figured that he'd not moved on yet.

She sent yet another glance at the clock. It was nearing ten in the night. That meant she would not be able to catch her usual bus, and even though she didn't live in a bad area, she didn't really like breaking her routine. She cleared her throat.

"...Excuse me, Uchiha-san," she began, just as an ominous roll of thunder rumbled through the air. It was followed by the sound of rain so intense that Sakura could hardly hear herself when she continued, "It's getting really late, and I need to lock up."

Uchiha-san seemed to have no problem hearing her, though, and rose to his feet. He picked Setsu up - the boy was currently trembling due to his strong fear of thunder and lightning - and nodded curtly at her.

"I'll help," he offered, mincing his words as usual. If he wasn't gently stroking Setsu's back, one could easily imagine him being some sort of ice statue.

"Oh, that's okay, Uchiha-san. You take Setsu home," Sakura said politely, even though she really wouldn't mind his manly presence and protection while she closed up the daycare for Tsunade, who had left earlier. Just thinking about her boss made Sakura feel to facepalm; how a woman with such abrasiveness and such a hot temper could successfully run a daycare centre, she would never know.

"I will help," Itachi repeated, his firm tone brooking no argument. Sakura gave him a little nod and then turned to leave the room.

"Okay, I will just start turning off the rest of the lights," she said, loudly enough that he could hear her over the deafening sound of the heavy rain. Sakura made a mental note to start listening to the weather reports in the future, because she had not seen this downpour coming. Just as she moved out of the room Setsu turned to his father, an earnest look on his young features.

"Tou-san, Sakura-chan is coming with us right? We are taking her home?" Itachi nodded, thinking that his son meant their home and not Sakura's house. Sakura smiled to herself at what she thought was Setsu's caring nature in play, and moved through the doorway just as a particularly loud clap of thunder reverberated through the day care.

"Sakura-chan!" Setsu screamed, his fear and panic evident in the way his childish voice rose several pitches. He struggled to escape his father's hands, straining to reach her. "Don't go away. I'm scared," he whimpered. Sakura felt her heart turn into a pile of pink mush.

"Setsu... I have to go lock up, but I will be right back, okay? Daijoubu desu," she said, telling him the two words that always managed to calm him down. Daijoubu desu. It's okay. Setsu nodded tearfully but still looked unsure so Itachi lifted him into his arms and held him a little closer.

The Uchiha's eyes narrowed as he calculatively watched the way Sakura interacted with his son. Itachi had never watched them together before. Usually, he was on time, and he just picked Setsu up and left. His son seemed to be quite attached to her. Setsu had come home many evenings chattering wildly about this 'Sakura-chan' but Itachi had always been too tired to really take his son's words to heart but now he could see just how much Setsu liked the pink haired caretaker.

Itachi wasn't sure what to think of his son's apparent attachment to the woman, but he knew, based on the curl of discomfort in his stomach, that he didn't like it. As an Uchiha, Itachi was possessive. He knew this. It was hereditary, after all. He didn't want this woman infringing on his rightful place, which was ironic since he had voluntarily placed his son in the care of the day care centre every day for the past seven months.

But had it been the wrong idea? Setsu was young, impressionable, and outgoing, taking after his mother rather than his father in personality. It seemed that this Sakura-chan had made quite the impression on his son, based on the way Setsu had stretched for her. Itachi definitely did not like his son stretching for anyone but himself, and he knew that it was almost unfair to think that, especially when Setsu was around the pinkette so much every day. Itachi only spent the weekends fully with his son, but on work days, Setsu was around Sakura from eight in the morning to six-thirty in the afternoon. By then, Itachi was already exhausted since sleep was not something he got much of, and he always had to take home work due to his heavy workload.

Itachi cuddled his young son closer, wondering what exactly he could do to curb his son's growing favoritism. He couldn't exactly not bring Setsu back here, as he wanted the best, and this place was the best. He would have to find another solution.

Sakura quickly moved around, tidying up her desk and turning off various lights but her thoughts were not attached to her movements. She couldn't deny that she felt jittery just thinking about being in the same car as Uchiha-san. He was far from ugly, in fact she always secretly thought that he could model. She just hoped that Setsu would be able to distract her enough during the long drive to her home.

'What am I even thinking?' Sakura mentally slapped herself. She wasn't the type to drool over guys and besides, she didn't even notice him most of the times, so why was she worrying about being in the same car as him? Steeling herself, Sakura decided to ignore Uchiha-san as much as possible in hopes that her ridiculous attraction would go away, after all she only really cared about Setsu. Finishing up the last of the tidying, Sakura grabbed her set of keys for the day care and her purse, shrugged on her trench coat, then hurried back into the main room.

"Sorry to keep you waiting Uchiha-san, I'm ready now," Sakura apologized politely. Itachi inclined his head giving only the usual choppy response.

"Hn."

When Setsu realized that Sakura had re-entered the room he stretched out his arms and she smiled and took him from an extremely reluctant Itachi. Noticing his reluctance Sakura felt a bit defensive and felt as though she needed to say something.

"You look tired. I can hold him until you reach home," Sakura said, ensuring that her tone was warm and caring. It was obvious that Uchiha-san didn't trust her for some reason, and it wasn't that hard to see why. After all, he rarely saw any interaction between herself and his son as he barely stayed more than three minutes at the daycare centre usually. On a normal day, he was right on time. He would stalk inside, sign Setsu out on the register, take his son, and leave. Sakura decided that she would try her best to set his mind at ease by showing him how gentle she was with his child.

He released Setsu, still looking at her with a dubious expression... or rather, a hint of a dubious expression in his eyes. With Uchiha-san, it was always extremely hard to tell if he felt any emotion at all apart from love for his son.

"Okay," Sakura huffed, nuzzling Setsu's cheek a bit with her nose as he snuggled into her, thin arms wrapping around her shoulders. "I'm just going to turn off the main light and then lock up the front," she said to Uchiha-san as she turned and walked towards the front. She switched off the main switch and turned on the outside lights that lit the compound before stepping out the front door and under the covered entrance area at the front of the day care centre.

She waited for Uchiha-san to pass her before closing the glass doors and deftly bending to lock them with Setsu still in her hands. After managing several playful children every day, it was an easy task for Sakura.

"I'll bring the car around," Uchiha-san said, his voice low and silky and barely loud enough for Sakura to hear it over the rushing sound of the rain hitting the surrounding surfaces. Sakura nodded as she attempted to shield Setsu from the cold spray from the rain with her open trench coat. She watched as Uchiha-san ran through the rain to his car, and then listened as the sleek black vehicle hummed to life and purred as it drew closer.

He drove the car under the protection of the concrete shelter and hopped out to take Setsu from Sakura's hands. The boy protested mildly, but when Sakura gently told him that it was okay, he went with his father, who strapped him into the car seat in the back of the sleek vehicle.

"You may sit in the front," Uchiha-san said, his dark eyes unreadable. For a moment, Sakura was confused; was she supposed to feel privileged, offended, happy or...? Shaking her head a little, Sakura pushed the thoughts from her mind and moved around to the passenger side of the car. Before she could reach for the handle of the door, Uchiha-san's hand was there, pulling the door open for her so she could go in.

"Thank you," she said, thinking him to be quite the bundle of contradictions. One moment he was short and curt, the next he was a gentleman. One moment he was ice cold and stoic, and another he was blatantly gentle and loving. Sakura let out a breath she didn't even realize she was holding when they finally pulled out of the KCCF compound. A semi uncomfortable silence filled the car and Sakura wracked her brain trying to think of something to say to Itachi but she couldn't and so turned to Setsu.

Itachi discreetly watched Sakura out of the corner of his eyes as he drove. She looked extremely pensive and kept glancing at him every now and then as if she wanted to say something. Keeping his face impassive Itachi scowled mentally. Was she going to start sucking up to him now? Give a woman a car ride and next thing you know she's married to you... He didn't get the chance to really finish the thought however as Sakura stopped glancing at him and turned to Setsu, a gentle smile curving her lips.

"Setsu-chan aren't you going to tell Tou-san what you did today?" the pinkette asked a knowing smile lighting up her emerald green eyes. Itachi raised one dark eyebrow, usually Setsu told him everything he did; she didn't need to tell him to.

"I was gonna!" Setsu pouted cutely and Itachi immediately corrected his son's speech.

"I was going to," Itachi corrected gently and Sakura hid a smile behind her hand. Uchiha-san seemed to be adamant on properness... at least, in grammar. No wonder Setsu spoke so well.

"Yes Daddy!" Setsu said impatiently, "But I have to tell you what I did today!" A little smile twitched Itachi's lips upwards and he nodded for his son to continue. Setsu's face split into a huge smile and he spread his arms wide across the car seat.

"I drew Tou-san!" Itachi clenched his jaw to hold back laughter but it was inevitable and soon his deep velvety laughter filled the car. Setsu frowned and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Why are you laughing, Tou-san? Didn't you want me to draw you?" he asked his voice wavering with the beginning of tears. Itachi abruptly stopped laughing, realizing his mistake. He hadn't meant to upset his son but he was so amused by the simplicity of the 'big surprise' that he couldn't help himself and indulged in a very un-Uchiha like laugh.

"No Setsu I wasn't laughing at you, I was just... remembering a private joke," Itachi said, after pausing a bit. Damn. A glance in the rear-view mirror told him that Setsu did not believe a word he said.

"Tou-san... You are not speaking the truth," the four year old said huffily. Itachi felt sufficiently reprimanded.

"I apologise, Setsu," he said, softening his tone as much as he dared with Sakura in the car.

"S-so you want to see what I drew then?" Setsu asked hopefully.

"Of course," Itachi answered immediately without a trace of dishonesty in his voice. Sakura smiled at the banter of the father and son and reached around the back to get Setsu's backpack and hand it to him so he could retrieve the drawing. The dark haired toddler smiled at Sakura.

"T'ank you," he said politely and then searched through the backpack for the drawing. Finding the piece of paper Setsu excitedly handed it to his father.

"Look Tou-san! Look! Its you!" Itachi took the paper and slowed the car down so he could pay attention to the drawing. It was... horribly, completely, totally, unbelievably... adorable. Setsu had drawn a stick-man... well, semi-stickman, considering Itachi could make out his shoulder length hair, business suit and tie, and he was holding hands with a small stick figure. Under the drawings were 'Otou-san' and 'Setsu' written in Setsu's large, childish scrawl.

But that wasn't all in the picture.

No, Setsu had included another person in his drawing. This other person was noticeably female, if the round circles at the top and the skirt were any indication... she he had pink hair. Below her was 'Sakura-chan' written in the same scrawl as the other two words. Itachi barely kept the scowl off his face.

"You are a very good artist, Setsu," he complimented, making eye contact with Setsu through the rear-view mirror. Setsu grinned happily.

"Do you see Sakura-chan, Tou-san? Do you see her? She has hair just like the flower! Isn't she pretty?" he asked excitedly, bouncing around in his car-seat. Itachi had to force himself to respond, feeling a strange discomfort in his chest when he looked over to Sakura, who was currently rather pink in the face.

"Yes, Setsu," he responded. "She is very pretty." Itachi was unsure of whether or not he was referring to Setsu's drawing or to the actual woman, but either way, he knew he wasn't lying.

"Guess what else I did today, Tou-san," Setsu demanded, a rather smug, and very Uchiha-like expression on his face. Itachi smirked, now prepared to hear about some other piece of art.

"Hmm... did you make something?" Itachi asked, pretending to ponder his son's earlier activities.

"No, Tou-san," Setsu giggled. "Sakura-chan... maybe you should tell Tou-san what I did!" Itachi cut a sharp glance in Sakura's direction. Setsu never delegated his reporting duties. What was so special about her that his son would pass on the authority to relate the happenings of his day? To her credit, the pinkette backpedalled immediately, hands raising palms facing outward.

"Oh, no, I could never," she protested, sending a wide green-eyed gaze in Setsu's direction. Good. Itachi did not want to hear about Setsu's day from her anyway. Setsu, however, had another train of thought from his father.

"Sakura-chan..." he said in his best imitation of his father's commanding tone. "I insist." Itachi did not know whether to dissolve into laughter or puff his chest out in utter pride. Well. There was no way Sakura could resist that.

She didn't.

"Well," she said, her tone indicating that she actually was really happy to be able to share. "Setsu-kun counted to one hundred today, with no help, and no mistakes..." she paused, then continued, clearly saving the best part for last. "... in English." Itachi's eyes widened, if only slightly. So that was what Setsu's smugness that past couple days was about! Itachi had sensed something brimming under the surface with his son. He'd been acting the way he did when he made a present for his father and was saving it as a surprise.

"Setsu..." Itachi said softly, once again meeting his son's proud eyes in the rear-view mirror. "That is excellent! I am quite proud of you," he continued warmly. "Would you like to let me hear?" he asked, anxious to hear his son's recital. He couldn't help it. As un-Uchiha-like as it sounded, he was a proud daddy...

Setsu sent Sakura a slightly anxious glance. She nodded at him, smiling reassuringly. A wide smile stretched Setsu's lips, and for a moment, it was like looking at Akane. She would have loved to see this. He missed her. He missed his best friend. A tight pain gripped Itachi in the chest, but he forced the feelings away so he could concentrate on his son's childish voice counting in English.

"... ninety-eight, ninety-nine, one hundred," Setsu finished some time later when they were on the highway that led to the more residential area. Itachi smiled at his smirking son while Sakura clapped, an extremely proud expression on her face.

"Very well done, Setsu," Itachi said, not even bothering to mask the pride in his voice. He'd never experienced his parent's pride in him as a child, and was determined to make sure Setsu never lived with that uncertainty. Then Setsu threw him for a loop.

"It's because Sakura-chan is such a good sensei," Setsu said, turning adoring chocolate eyes in Sakura's direction. Uchihas never redirected praise for their accomplishments to another person!

"Awww," she crooned, reaching behind to pat Setsu's hand. "Thank you, Setsu, but it is mainly because you are so smart!" she praised. Itachi clenched his teeth, feeling strangely left out of the exchange.

"Sakura-san," he said curtly, breaking the moment. "Where do you live?"

Sakura felt a little bad. She would say that Setsu's blatant admiration for her made her uncomfortable, but that would be lying. What was uncomfortable was his father's dislike of their bond. She understood, really, she did... which is why she felt a little bad. She couldn't ignore Setsu for his father's sake, no matter how good looking the man was. Setsu desperately needed and craved the presence of an adult female in his life since his own mother had passed away not too long ago.

Sakura gave Uchiha-san her address and leaned back in her seat, looking out at the pouring rain as they drove. Setsu's voice broke the ensuing silence after a few minutes, though.

"Tou-san... where are we going?" the toddler asked.

"We're taking Sakura-san to her home, remember?" Itachi responded, turning off on yet another road. Sakura lived in a middle class area... nice, simple and clean. It was nowhere near his standards, but it was acceptable.

"B-But Tou-san..." Setsu protested. "You said we could take her home," he complained. Itachi felt his brows draw together.

"I agreed to take her home, Setsu, like you asked," he responded firmly, but Setsu was having none of it.

"B-But I want Sakura-chan to come to our home... to stay with me because there is lightning and... and... I'm scared, Tou-san," Setsu whimpered. In fact, he sounded close to tears. Itachi looked close to giving in, so Sakura interrupted.

"Setsu... you don't need to be scared. You have a... big... strong...daddy to protect you," she said, turning to face Setsu. Setsu's eyes widened like it did when he was presenting his main arguments.

"B-But Sakura-chan... Tou-san isn't soft like you when he hugs me..." he pouted. "And you smell like peaches and the sun..." he grumbled, giving her his best puppy-dog eye. And with his large brown eyes, it was very effective. However, Sakura, apparently, was made out of something stronger in terms of resisting Setsu.

"Setsu... darling," she said firmly. "He is a man... or course he will not smell like... peaches, or the sun..."

"Exactly, which is why Sakura-chan must come home with me!"

"Setsu, I have to go to my home," Sakura said, with a rather final tone. "You have your daddy to protect you, right? I am sure he will do a good job." Setsu was far from done. Very far from. He drew for the big guns. That's right... tears. Sakura never stood a chance.

"B-But Sakura-chan... You live all alone. Who is going to protect you?"

A/N: Fufufu read and review or Setsu with pull out the tears and you know you cannot resist that! We hope you love this story as much as we do! :D Feedback and constructive criticism is welcomed! Now REVIEW OR WE WILL SET A CUTE CRYING SETSU ON YOU!