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Sasuke was getting more nights like this, and he really wasn't complaining.
This was really a great improvement from his previous cold and always guarded life.
His wife loves to have conversations with him, and as they're always both busy, they've established this routine of talking and sharing about their day before they sleep—or of they're too busy, at least a quick inquiry to make sure the other is doing okay.
Sometimes, it's any topic under the sun, and sometimes, it's nonsense. Especially when Sakura just wants to be affectionate.
Like right now.
"You're so beautiful..." Sakura told Sasuke lightly, her hands cupping his face, and squeezing it once in a while playfully.
In all honesty, Sasuke was already used to her doing this.
It was one of those rare times when they both could finally spend some time together, after a few days of not being able to be with each other as much as they would have wanted.
In these times, Sakura would often do things that showed that she missed him, or just be affectionate in general.
When they first got together, this was something Sasuke wasn't exactly prepared for. As kids, Sakura have always tend to be honest, or at least transparent when it comes to her affection to him.
But when they became a team, and they had gotten closer, had formed deeper bonds, she had been more careful about expressing those thoughts around him, especially since they were no longer a little girl's crush.
When they were older, and after all that they had been through, Sasuke didn't really expect it from her. She was quite different by then, already a woman, already past silly crushes and declarations of devotions. But she was also very confident by then, not just about who she is or her feelings, but about their relationship. And it was something that he might have been a little uncomfortable about initially, but it had quickly been a comfort to him.
That Sakura trusts him, that she's always honest with him, that she knows he's listening and taking everything she says seriously, and that she doesn't feel like she needed to hold back from him.
So in time, he had gotten used to her randomly sharing what she thought about him at the moment. She would even use to do it even in the middle of them walking through a village when they were still traveling.
And he had gotten used to being the same with her, to an extent—he was just naturally reserved, most of the time Sakura already knew what he was thinking about without him having to speak, anyway.
Sakura's face was so close to his at the moment, with his head lying on her lap and her bent over so she can cup his face. He couldn't help but reach up and caress the her cheek with the back of his hand as well.
"Do you love me because I'm beautiful or am I beautiful because you love me?" He decided to ask, a little playfully.
Sakura just laughed, looking like she hadn't expected that response. Sasuke smirked. He always loves it when she laughs or smiles because of him. He had spent a lot of years being the reason for her tears, that now he was determined to spend the rest of his years being the reason she smiles.
Sakura pretended to think for a while and then she said, still cupping his face, "I'm not sure. I've forgotten. I just know you're beautiful and I love you."
She smiles at him, looking cheeky.
Without any warning, Sasuke pulled her face down to him and touched his lips to hers in a quick peck.
Sakura was the one to always express her affections in words. Sasuke rather prefers using actions.
But Sakura was also used to him doing this, so after a second of getting caught off guard, she started responding, and even pulled Sasuke up so he would be instead sitting in front of her.
But before it got anymore intense, Sasuke reluctantly pulls away. Sasuke caught a glimpse at the clock on the wall and cringe when he saw that it read 2:30 am.
“Tsuma, I'm sorry. But I need to get to sleep.” Sasuke stated.
“Why?" Sakura asked, a little surprised. “You don’t have to be anywhere tomorrow, do you?”
“No, but my alarm will go off in about 3 hours.” Sasuke complained.
Sakura gave him a questioning look before realizing what Sasuke was talking about. She giggled.
Sasuke sighed and started pulling Sakura to him to comfort himself. He really wants her right then, but if they start, he knew it wouldn't end in just an hour. And he really does need the sleep, he needs all the energy he could muster.
~Next morning~
“PAPA!” Four year old Sarada shouted as he jumped up onto her parent's bed, “ARE YOU AWAKE?”
Sasuke rolled over in his sleep, “I am now.”
Sarada grinned, “Good, do you want to go play with me until Mama gets up and makes breakfast?”
“Get off of me first, Sarada.” Sasuke mumbled.
Sarada jumped off of the bed and Sasuke sat up, rubbing his eyes. He took a glance at his watch and read 5:46 am.
'Right on time.'
“So what do you want to play, little alarm clock?” He asked with a small smile.
“Can you teach me shuriken technique that Mirai-neechan showed me the other day?" She asked excitedly.
Sasuke smiled, “Sure, let’s go downstairs so we don’t wake Mama, okay? And instead of waiting for Mama to wake up, why don't we cook her breakfast first? We can bring it up here and eat, then we can do that shuriken technique you're saying."
"Yes! Let's do that, Papa! It can be a surprise for Mama!"
Sarada squealed in excitement and ran out of the room, with Sasuke following at a slower pace. He may complain to Sakura about his alarm clock every day but Sasuke loves the time he is able to spend with his daughter while the world was still asleep.
Nights with his wife and mornings with his daughter, then breakfast and dinner with the whole family.
A warm, cozy and relaxed life.
He definitely doesn't miss the battles and the wars, the hatred and the strife.
He love his life now. He won't exchange it for anything. And he will do everything to protect it.
END