Fourteen • Home

"S-Sasuke-kun, can we stop for a bit? Again?" Sakura asked, her hand hovering over her stomach.

The ravenette immediately nodded, assisting the pink-haired woman around her shoulders. "Do you feel anything odd?"

Sakura shook her head, sending her husband a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, Sasuke-kun. Walking around like this just feels harder than usual." She replied while gently caressing her belly.

His eyes softened as he glanced at Sakura's figure. Although there was no hints in his eyes, deep within himself he felt thrilled to see his child very soon. "Let's stop here. Are you hungry?"

He helped her sit on the grassy fields, kneeling beside her afterwards. She shook her head. "Then do you need anything? Tell me."

Sasuke was serious (like he always is) and he expected her to answer in the same manner, but she suddenly burst out laughing instead. His brows furrowed in confusion.

"Sorry," Sakura grinned, her pink cheeks glowing beautifully under the sun. "You worry too much, Sasuke-kun."

He sighed, his index finger going against her forehead and pushing her head back gently. "It's not funny."

Taking his hand, the pinkette nodded while smiling brightly. "Right, right. Sorry for laughing."

Sasuke turned his head away, a subtle hint of smile displayed on his lips.

A few months after their marriage, they went to travel together, and that was also the time Sakura found out that she was pregnant. But as of today, she was close to giving birth.

"I'm fine now," Sakura stood up. "Let's get going."

Sasuke carefully assisted his wife, taking all their time in walking and holding her close as if she was a brittle thing made of glass.

"It's been quite a while since we saw Konoha... right?" The pinkette suddenly opened up as they walked through the woods.

He glanced at her through the corners of his eyes. "Do you... want to go back?"

"Well, do you?" She threw back the question. "I don't mind, honestly. I do miss the village but travelling with you is great."

Sasuke treasured his moments with her. He truly found great love and friendship in the pinkette. Years of being a lost cause with nothing but scorching hatred in his heart, he was almost ravaged by the fire inside him. Sasuke wouldn't say that the best healer of the heart is time, instead, he saw that all it took was acceptance. And once he had accepted everything, he had found himself in her.

"Sasuke?" A shocked red-haired woman greeted them.

Her red eyes studied Sasuke as he carried a pregnant woman in his arms. The Uchiha had suddenly showed up into one of Orochimaru's hide outs and she had no idea why.

However, looking at them right now lit an idea inside her head.

"We need your help," he said in a strong masculine voice, but Karin hinted a sense of uneasiness.

Sasuke entered the hide out without hesitations, carrying Sakura in his arms as she whimpered in pain. Karin followed after them, agitated at the sudden situation.

"Oi, Sasuke! You're not telling me-"

Sasuke entered a room quickly, placing his wife gently into the near bed before turning to Karin. "Help my wife with the delivery, Karin. We can't make it to Konoha in time and she needs this."

For a moment, Karin looked confused. She absolutely had no issues with Sakura now; in fact, she saw her as an acquaintance. She saw how Sasuke changed upon marrying the pinkette and knowing that he was happy beside her, it made her happy too.

She snapped out of her anxious thoughts when Sakura cried in pain again. Sasuke immediately went to aid her, wiping the sweat on her forehead.

"Sakura..." He breathed before turning to the Uzumaki. "I'm sorry for this, Karin. But you're the only one who I can trust with my wife's pregnancy."

"I-I'll be on it," she nodded continuously, still a little uneasy. "I'll take care of your wife and your child. While she's on labor, please get the materials I'll be needing on the laboratory."

Sasuke instantly stood up after squeezing Sakura's hand reassuringly. He spared her one last glance before running all the way to take the tools from the laboratory room.

"Sakura," Karin stood beside her, a curious and soft expression plastered on her face. "It's going to be just fine. Breathe. Calm down."

Although in pain, she smiled at her. "Y-Yeah... Thank you for doing this, Karin."

She shook her head as if it was nothing, "Just breathe. You're a doctor, right? You'll know what a patient should do during labor."

When Sasuke came back, Karin had sensed that the delivery was going to start. The room was soon filled of Sakura's painful cries and whimpers.

"Come on, Sakura..." Karin raised her voice to give more determination to the pinkette.

Sasuke felt Sakura squeezing his hand harder, and he didn't mind at all. Instead, he used his other hand to caress her tensed arm. "Sakura..."

The delivery was on going and Sasuke was becoming unbelievably anxious as time went by. However, his uneasiness was cut off when he heard a loud cry of a child, filling his ears instantly.

Panting heavily, Sakura's lips formed into a loving smile. On the hand, Sasuke was still stunned, like his world momentarily stopped by the mere sound from the baby.

Karin lend the child carefully to Sakura, who was absolutely tired from the procedure, nonetheless still thrilled to hold the newborn. "Sarada..."

Sasuke's eyes bore into the child, his usual expressionless look suddenly peeling off and exposing every emotion in his system. He loved her. He loved his child. He loved his family.

"Sasuke-kun, will you hold her?"

Sasuke suddenly turned to Sakura, his chest thumping loudly. The child in front of him looked so innocent, pure, and... clean. Sarada looked so beautiful and angelic. And he doubted himself. Was he good enough or at least clean enough to hold her? Was he...

"Sasuke-kun..." He felt the tenderness in her voice. He knew she could see all of his emotions now, and she was aware of the demons inside his head.

"Sakura," he breathed out. "I..."

She gently transferred the baby into his arms, a tender smile plastered on her face as a few tears threatened to fall from her twinkling emerald eyes.

The ravenette stared deeply into his child and felt the unfamiliar heat in his heart. He felt warm inside and all he knew was that his emotions couldn't be bottled up inside. Sasuke was too happy, too thankful for everything.

"Sarada..." He called, carrying her lovingly in his arms before turning to Sakura to hold her hand.

The pinkette brushed away the tears in her eyes. "I'm so happy, Sasuke-kun."

He nodded, eyes full of admiration and fondness. "Thank you, Sakura."

. . .

After that, the Uchiha family stayed in the hide out for a few days just so Sakura could rest properly.

"Sasuke-kun?" She called him quietly.

The raven-haired man instantly turned to look at him. "What is it?"

She was seated on the bed while she cradled her daughter in her arms. She smiled at her husband. "I'm excited to bring her home to Konoha." She said, pertaining to Sarada.

He nodded. "We shall return soon."

"And Karin? Where is she?"

"She told me yesterday she'd leave to see Suigetsu. I don't know much."

"I want to thank her again for helping us." She said before staring down to the baby. "Why'd you pick the name Sarada beforehand, by the way?"

Sasuke kept silent for a few moments. "It's not that bad."

Sakura laughed lightly. "I actually really like it."

His lips curled up slightly. The sight of his wife and his daughter in front of him was the base of his strength. He was sure that this time, he would protect his family in any way he can. He will go beyond just to have his family with him.

The next few weeks were spent in Konoha. Everyone was shocked by the child in the medic's arms but all rejoiced and congratulated the two. Of course, a celebratory party wouldn't be forgotten and it was led by no other than Naruto.

In Hinata's arms, there was a blond boy, manifesting a resemblance to his father. During Sakura and Sasuke's journey, they received a news that Naruto and Hinata were blessed with their first child and this was the first time she saw his son, Boruto.

After that, years had gone by and Sasuke helped his wife raise Sarada in the best possible way. Simple words could not express his love and adoration for his family, for the people who accepted him back with whole heart.

He suddenly hugged Sakura, a hand behind her head and his other hand pulling her close. It was one of those times when she was cooking and she was dumbfounded at his action.

"Sasuke-kun?"

He didn't speak. But she got his answer. Instead of asking again, she embraced him tenderly.

"Mama! Papa!" A small voice entered the kitchen and the two slowly broke the hug.

A little Sarada looked surprised at the scene; her cheeks a bit flushed and her lips in a cheeky grin.

"Ooh! Mama and Papa are making love!"

Sakura mentally face-palmed herself, her cheeks flushed from embarrassment. "Sarada, honey, who were you with earlier?"

"Uncle Naruto!"

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "You shouldn't have asked her."

For Sasuke, those were the best times in his life. To feel whole again; to feel complete and contented. For him, being with his family became his sanctuary. The only place he ever felt so clean and loved. The only place where he felt no need to be sad or yearnful for something he had lost in the past. And that was what made him complete.

Sasuke woke up from a deep sleep while remembering all of those moments. When he had came back to the present, a pang of agony attacked his chest as images of Sarada's disappointed and pained expression flashed inside his mind. He thought he'd feel better overnight, but apparently that wasn't the case.

He checked the time and realized that it was still very early. Sakura was even asleep beside him, and to think that she wakes up ahead of him because of work and well, to cook for him and their daughter.

Sasuke swiftly brought down his feet and stood up from the bed, not forgetting to arrange the covers on Sakura. He turned to walk to the bathroom and took an early shower, still in deep thought as he did so.

One thing that bothered him was that he was scheduled to leave tomorrow - well, that's the initial plan. Of course he wouldn't want to depart from his home while in bad terms with his daughter. Even though he had no idea how he was going to fix this mess, he still hoped there was something for him to do.

On the other hand, he also didn't want to force Sarada to accept him or something along those lines. This wasn't a basic issue, it takes time and a lot of thinking and as much as he wanted to clear up about the past, he also wanted to give her space. She was still very young, and there are things that she still can't understand no matter how many explanations provided.

After a quick shower, he went downstairs. He turned the lights on and headed to the kitchen, opening the fridge to find any food or at least ingredients. Sasuke shook his head when he realized that he shouldn't burn the kitchen down. No, not when Sakura is sleeping.

So he went for something harmless and heated some left overs. When he was about to be done, the stairs creaked, and he saw Sakura walking down while trying to straighten her hair with her fingers.

"Good morning," she rubbed her eyes. "You're early."

He nodded. "I'm going to see Naruto today..."

A faint smile made its way to Sakura's lips and the ravenette could easily see the hint of sadness in her face. "Yeah. For your departure."

Her eyes fell on the plate in front of him and she immediately walked towards the table. "You should've asked me to cook for you, Sasuke-kun. I'll make you some breakfast."

Sasuke shot her a look. "It's okay. Make some for you and for Sarada."

"You sure?" Sakura asked. "And by the way, tell Naruto that he should rest a bit. I mean, that guy basically lives in his office..."

Sasuke shrugged. "He's the Hokage."

Sakura crossed her arms. "I know. Boruto's not happy about it, though. That's why Naruto is always in a fight with his son. He loses time for his family, that's what the kid says."

Sasuke rested his back against the chair, staring at the pinkette. "He's got a lot of responsibilities."

"You do too, and yet you still come home to us." Sakura grinned. "Tell him about this, okay? He should rest."

"I'll give him the message."

"Also..." she went to sit beside him quietly. "The Chunin Exams will be on Monday."

Sasuke sighed. "She's gonna get angrier, huh?"

Sakura placed a hand over his shoulder. "Her mind is troubled and she's distant, but of course she still wants you there. But she will understand. I'll make her understand."

Shaking his head, Sasuke stood up. Sakura's emerald eyes followed his actions as she said, "You'll... talk to Sarada?"

He stopped on his tracks but couldn't give an exact response. The pink-haired woman pressed her lips together. Of course, it wouldn't be that easy.

"I'm going ahead," Sasuke simply told her.

She stood up as well, taking Sasuke's plate to clean it. "O-Okay. I'm heading to the hospital in thirty."

"I'll come when your shift ends."

"Okay."

Sasuke proceeded to walk out, quickly arriving in the Hokage's office. The sun had already risen but only a few people were outside.

Knocking on the door to the office, he heard Naruto shouting a 'come in' from the inside. Sasuke pushed the door open and instantly saw the blond's tired face.

"Sasuke." He greeted in a low, exhausted voice. "You're early."

The Uchiha observed the papers scattered around the room as well as ones pilled up in Naruto's desk. He raised a brow. "I'm surprised you're not dead."

A yawn escaped Naruto's mouth. "I haven't had any sleep!"

Sasuke stepped forward. "It looks like it," he shrugged. "Anyway, tomorrow marks the start of my job again."

Naruto's face turned serious quickly. "I see... but you do know that the exams are also scheduled tomorrow, right?"

He gave no response.

The blond sighed. "No problem. You'll be able to come back in a few months, anyway..."

A short moment of silence engulfed the office. The Hokage pressed his lips together, hands gathering his business papers. "You won't be checking Sarada tomorrow?"

"No," Sasuke replied firmly. "I'm leaving tonight."

An expression of confusion passed by Naruto's face for a brief moment. "I never said you need to leave promptly. Tomorrow, you start your journey again, but I didn't say you should leave tonight. You can still check your daughter before she attends to the exams."

Naruto tried hard to read even the slightest twitch or movement in Sasuke's face or body. He had spent so many years of friendship with this guy, and he knew the way he thinks, but his current emotions were a mystery to him.

Naruto cleared his throat, drinking slowly from the mug beside him. "Did something happen lately?"

"No." The Uchiha displayed no emotions whatsoever.

"My son is suddenly curious of your daughter," Naruto chuckled, not that there was any humor in his action. He rested his tired back on the chair, playing with his mug. "Well, Boruto has always been curious of Sarada but lately, he was more, I don't know, eager?"

When the raven-haired man didn't say anything in response, Naruto took that as a cue to keep going. "He kept on asking me things about Sarada's personal life. Even Hinata noticed this. It happened shortly after he visited Sarada in your house."

Sasuke recalled if he ever opened the door for Boruto, but he figured that he was probably out when he visited. Did Sarada tell him?

Not that it scared him. Boruto knowing about Sasuke's past was way different from Sarada knowing about it. Frankly, all he could care about was his family's views of him and nobody else.

"I'm beginning to think of something, but I'll leave everything in your hands." Naruto stood up from his chair and walked past his chaotic desk to look up at the walls where the photos of the previous Hokages were framed. Sasuke followed his gaze, his onyx eyes lingering on the pictures of the Senju brothers, Sarutobi Hiruzen, Namikaze Minato, and Tsunade.

"It's kind of weird, you know," Naruto shrugged. "I remember being a big pain in the pass when it comes to the Third and even to Tsunade-baachan! And now I'm actually here where they used to sit."

Sasuke looked at him through his peripheral vision and saw how a smile took over his lips. "I think your daughter once mentioned to my son that she wants to become the next Hokage. I think that would be amazing."

"She mentioned it to me one time." Sasuke quietly told him.

The blond turned to him, grinning widely. "Oh? That's good to hear. She'll be the first Uchiha to ever become Hokage."

A slight emotion hit the ravenette's chest. He didn't understand whether it was pain or something else. All he knew was that he really wanted to see that one day. She will achieve his dreams in the future and he wants to be there. With her. With Sakura.

Later that night, his mind was clouded with thoughts. He was too distracted that he didn't see Sarada waiting for him in the living room.

When their eyes met, he didn't know how to react. All he ever received from her was a blank stare from behind her eyeglasses.

"Papa."

Her voice was quite scratchy, nevertheless her face and expression remained still. But to a certain extent, Sasuke felt like her daughter was the same person he was before. Cold like the moonless night, lost like the dreary breath of air.

"Can we talk?" She communicated in an inaudible voice.

The sound of his foot steps reverberated in the silent house as he headed to the living room. Sasuke sat across from Sarada, waiting for her to speak again.

However, a few moments had already passed yet none of the two uttered a single word at all. The clock was ticking quite loudly in between them, indicating that time is running hastily.

"Papa, I was upset when I heard everything from Mom," Sarada started, onyx eyes full of despondency. "From our clan's horrendous elimination, to your brother's altruistic act, and to what you've gone through in the past. Hearing all of those broke my heart." She shook her head weakly.

"I really, really tried to understand everything to the best of my ability." She added, inhaling deeply. "But I'm not going to lie, Papa. It's difficult."

"I don't expect anything, Sarada." He responded. He wanted to add that he would never blame her if she couldn't understand his sentiments. While some could scarcely fathom the reasons behind his actions before, strangers completely failed to do so.

Sarada set her eyes down. "Mom told me... that you looked up so much to Itachi-ojisan. She told me that you had plenty of dreams, like joining the Police Force when you get older..."

A nostalgic memory entered his mind shortly after. Sasuke would never forget his childhood dream. He remembered sitting in the porch with Itachi, his feet swinging freely as he ate his mother's homemade rice balls while daydreaming. Sasuke wanted to be in that organization. He wanted to serve there and to honor his father, who was the chief of the Police Force.

"It must have been so lonely." Sarada uttered.

Yeah. It was lonely.

More than that, actually.

It was more than sad. It was so much more than that. The feeling of continuously growing up alone, having no one to share sad or happy stories with, having no one to ask for help. It was more than sadness.

"It was." He confirmed.

"I know it was hard for you that you did things for the sake of the Uchiha, but..." Sarada exhaled sharply. "I-I first thought that killing other people has always been too much."

"It is," he replied. "It is too much in their opinion. But for me, who has suffered for too long, who seeked for different things at different places, could no longer decipher that fact."

Sarada nodded. "Yeah. I figured. Mom told me that while we try to seek for things we want, we forget to consider other people's feelings. Hearing the whole story from Mom made me feel lost, Papa. I didn't support the fact you were a criminal. Because along with her, I look up to you so much. And realizing that you did things I didn't expect you would, I lost myself."

Yes. Sasuke knows about that. Even before Sarada found out about it, he already thought of her possible reaction.

"I became really angry," Sarada clenched her fists. "But I thought... what if the same happened to me? What if I were to be seperated from you and Mom? What if I had a sibling like Itachi-ojisan? Would I take a different path? It's possible, but we can never be sure. I thought if I were in your shoes, I might have done the same thing. I might have told myself that it wouldn't matter if I hurt other people, because my family would be the first priority."

He felt an emotion of melancholy when she said those words. He had done so many things in the past and he knew he wasn't the type of person to be looked up to. Notwithstanding that fact, his daughter still labeled him as her inspiration. True enough, he really found a sense of home in his wife and daughter.

He stood up and carefully headed to where Sarada was seated. He kneeled one knee on the floor and placed a gentle hand on her head. "I'm sorry for all the trouble, Sarada. I know your Papa's past is deeply affecting you."

Sarada's eyes brimmed with tears as he spoke. She shook her head, an apologetic smile painted across her lips.

"I've been atoning for my sins for long now. And I will continue to do so."

"Yeah, but you should no longer feel bad about yourself." Sarada said, tears threatening to fall. "I'm sorry for what I've said, Papa. I'm so sorry. I was impulsive. I'm so sorry..."

Sasuke shook his head, signaling that everything was alright with him.

"I'm sorry for not being understanding enough. You've gone through the worst alone, Papa, and I was only able to throw some awful words at you. I'm really sorry for adding up to your problems and for being a problematic daughter. I'm sorry, Papa."

His system turned cold when he saw how much tears flowed down the girl's eyes. He only kept shaking his head. It's fine, Sarada.

"Mom is right." Sarada wiped her eyes and adjusted her glasses. "We care less for who you were in the past. We love how you are today."

And when he heard that, he could finally have a breath of relief. Like all of his worries had been washed away in an insant.

Sasuke embraced his daughter warmly as he felt his heart filled with tenderness.

"You're leaving tomorrow, Papa?" He hinted sadness in her voice.

"I will be back," he nodded. "For you and your mother."

. . .

And that concludes the end of 14 Days To Love. The epilogue will be posted after this. I hope you look forward to that! :)

Thank you so much for reading! I don't want this note to be dramatic af though. All I have to say is thank you for continuously supporting my writing, for your patience coz I'm so bad at updating, and for all the love.

I really just wanted a simple ending, nothing too extra. But I hope I delivered my words well in this chapter.

Thank you for giving this story a chance! You add up to my happiness.

Shall I continue making SasuSaku stories? My final note will be posted along with the epilogue. Drop some questions you have about the story or anything you'd like. Love you!

♡ carly