[fluff, minor angst]

"Sasuke!" Naruto ran after the Uchiha right after the Kage meeting, "Sasuke, are you really going through with this?"

"I have to." Sasuke paused and glanced over at the nearest clock, "it's eight thirty, so I'll leave as soon as possible."

"But..." Naruto pursed his lips, "I understand finding Kaguya's palace is an important mission, but don't you think this is a little ambitious? I don't want you to leave the village forever."

"It won't be forever. The sooner I leave, the sooner I get back." He turned and smiled, "don't worry. I'll be back."

Naruto sighed, "I'm sorry I had to do that."

"It's fine. I still have to pay the village back for everything I've done..." Sasuke continued walking towards the exit, where he paused and took a deep breath.

"Sasuke."

A hand softly took his and held it tight as he turned to look at his wife, "Sakura..."

"I'm sorry..."

"Don't apologize. I'm the one who agreed to it." He held her hand tighter as he continued walking, Sakura following right by his side as they walked towards her parents' house.

"Oh, Sakura! Sasuke! It's good to see you both!" Kizashi opened the door, "she didn't want to go to bed, she's so full of energy!"

"I bet." Sasuke chuckled, "thanks for watching her."

"Papa!"

Sakura and Sasuke watched as their small, two-year-old daughter ran up to them. He bent down and pulled her into a tight hug.

"Did you have fun with Grandma and Grandpa?" Sakura smiled.

"Yeah! Make cookies!" She beamed, "with cholate!"

"Is that so?" Sasuke held her as he stood back up and kissed her cheek, "Papa's happy to hear that."

"Here." Mebuki walked up to the couple and held out a bento box, "we heard the news. Kakashi called."

"Yeah." Sakura took the box, "thanks, Mom. Dad."

"Mhm." Mebuki nodded and smiled in Sasuke's direction, "take care, got it?"

"Yeah." Sasuke nodded as Mebuki hugged him, "you too."

"Let's go home. Sarada has to go to bed." Sakura sighed as she gave her parents hugs, "we'll get going."

As the family walked away, Sarada looked up at her Papa, "hey, Papa? Why Granma hug you?"

"Because Papa's a nice boy." Sakura chimed in before Sasuke could say anything, "when we get home, we'll have a late dinner and you'll go to bed, okay?"

"But..." Sarada looked up at Sasuke, "wanna play wif Papa more..."

"It's okay, Sarada." Sasuke's chest hurt, "m-maybe next time."

His grip on her tightened as he hugged her close to his chest and leaned his head on hers. Sakura smiled at the gesture and walked further ahead.

"I'll try to get home ahead of you both to..." She looked at Sasuke and he understood, "yeah?"

"Uh-huh." He nodded as she ran off. To get my things together. She's not going to say it out loud, we don't want Sarada to know that I'm leaving on this long mission, "so, Sarada... What do you want to do when you're older?"

"Hm..." She looked up at him and beamed, "like you!"

Trust me, Sarada... I wouldn't want that if I were you... Sasuke sighed, "that's quite a goal."

"Yeah."

Sarada talked about anything and everything the rest of the walk home until Sasuke walked through the front door of the Uchiha household.

"Sakura, we're home."

"Mama!" Sarada leaped out of Sasuke's arm and ran to the kitchen, where Sakura was busy cooking.

"Hey, Sarada! Welcome home!" Sakura knelt down and hugged Sarada, "did you and Papa have a nice walk?"

"I told him bunny I finded!"

"You found a bunny? That's great, Sarada!" Sakura laughed as she looked back up at Sasuke and smiled before noticing the pained look on his face, "Darling, let's go have some dinner, okay?"

"Yeah." Sasuke set his cloak on the couch and took a seat at the dining table as Sakura strapped Sarada into a booster seat, "is everything done?"

"Yes." Sakura sat down next to Sarada and across from Sasuke, "you should probably play with Sarada, though, you know? You still have time."

He looked at Sarada and smiled, "she... She should get some rest."

Sakura sighed and turned to feed the girl that patiently waited and listened in on their conversation, "Sarada, I won't feed you too heavy a meal or else you won't be able to sleep. So, only a few spoons then straight to bed, okay?"

"Yes!"

She's so obedient... Sasuke smirked to himself and continued eating. Will she be fine by herself? Just Sakura? I mean... Sarada is growing up faster than I thought. She'll be fine to manage, I hope.

"Done!"

"You sure?"

"Yes!"

"Okay." Sakura looked at Sasuke, "let's go put her to bed, now."

"Yeah." Sakura carried Sarada into her bedroom, Sasuke close behind. They washed her, changed her diaper, and dressed her before setting her on her bed.

"Can Sarada play superhero again?"

"Sorry, Sarada. No superhero tonight." Sakura sat on the bed and patted the covers, "let's get under and try to sleep now, okay?"

"But Sarada play..."

"Hey, Sarada..." Sasuke knelt by her bed, "if you don't hide under the covers, the Hokage will appear and tickle you..."

"Oh no!!" Sarada cried and threw the blanket over her covers, "no tickle!"

"Dirty trick." Sakura rolled her eyes at Sasuke, who only smiled amusingly, "alright, Sarada. Say good night. The Hokage isn't going to come out and tickle you."

"Really?" She peeked out, "good."

"Good night, sweetheart." Sakura leaned down and kissed Sarada's forehead. Just as she did, Sasuke leaned in close and stroked Sarada's hair.

"Good night, Sarada." He kissed her forehead and wrapped his arm around her in a hug, "you be good to your Mama, okay?"

"Huh?" Sarada looked up at him, "of course!"

"Do what she says?"

"Yes!"

"Okay." Sasuke kissed her cheek, "that's a good girl."

"Teehee!" Sarada blushed and hugged Sasuke's neck, "I love you, Papa!"

"I..." Sasuke's voice caught in his throat as he leaned his forehead on Sarada's, "I love you too, Sarada."

A few minutes later, Sasuke shut the door to Sarada's room behind him. He turned around and leaned his forehead against the wood and breathed heavily.

"Sasuke..." Sakura smiled sadly, "she'll be okay. Don't worry."

She'll be okay... But... Will I? Sasuke clenched his fist and wiped his eyes.

"Are you crying?" Sakura walked up to him and put her hand on his shoulder, "Sasuke..."

"It's fine." Sasuke whispered, "I'll be back, Sarada. Don't worry..."

Sakura smiled and took his hand reassuringly, "I know you will."

He turned to her, smiled, and walked her down the stairs to where his bag sat in the kitchen by the bento box he'd received from his in-laws.

"Be careful, okay?" Sakura picked up his bag and bento as he put his cloak on, "I'll kill you if anything happens to you."

"I know." Sasuke huffed before walking up to her, "thanks again... For everything up until now."

"You're welcome." Sakura smiled and set her hand on his chest, "I hope the food isn't too much."

"Yeah, I mean... I meant everything." Sasuke looked at her, "for coming with me after we got married, for having Sarada, for raising her."

"Well, you raised her too."

"But I'm leaving her with you..."

"Don't worry. She's growing up. Someday, she's going to go out and find you all on her own."

"Don't say it like I'm never coming back."

"I guess you're right, huh? Silly me."

They stood in silence for a few seconds before Sakura gripped the cloth of Sasuke's cloak and sniffed.

"S-Sasuke..." She gritted her teeth as tears trickled down her face, "please come back, okay?"

Sasuke looked at her, smiled, and took her hand as he leaned in close, "don't worry. I'll be back."

She looked up at him then shut her eyes. He understood and pressed his lips against hers in a kiss. They wrapped their arms around each other and didn't let go for a long while before Sakura ran out of breath and parted a millimeter from his mouth.

"I love you, Sasuke."

"I love you too, Sakura."

He kissed her one last time before he picked up his things and left the house. Sakura stood on the front porch and watched his figure slowly fade into the night. She didn't move for a few minutes before she wiped her eyes and smiled to herself.

"He'll be back."  

~~~

Random fan of the day: JamilahSorianoAbiqui

Written by xX_Fang_Xx