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Sasuke watched as Sakura turned over in her sleep, arm resting on her large stomach. Our daughter, he thought. It was all he really could think. How many years had he spent all alone, so sure that this future would never happen? That it was too perfect? How many times had he sunk into apathy, trying not to think about it? And yet, here he was—one month away from being a father. Sleeping here with his strong, amazing wife.
And beautiful, he supposed, but really that word didn’t do her justice. Right now, bathed in the moonlight from the open window, ethereal came much closer. And she was his wife. His family.
Family. Even from a young age, that word had been such a weighted one. The Clan had been his family, and it was a good three hundred members strong. Growing up, he had been surrounded by his loved ones, so of course he was horrified when they had all been ripped away from him. For a long time after that, he had dreamed of growing up and having a large family—to the replace the one he lost, he now realized. That was a terrible reason to have children.
Now, he knew that family was much more than blood. It was love and friendship, it was everyone who cared about you. And he had a large family already—Sakura, Naruto, Kakashi and so many more. Sarada was just an unexpected but welcomed addition. He had no intention of having any more kids in the future, he was already terrified of how well he would be able to take care of Sarada, but if more ended up coming along...well, that was fine. That was great, even. He would be happy, Sakura would be happy, and their little daughter would hopefully be happy.
Sakura muttered out a few sleepy words. “Sasuke,” she said, “go to sleep.”
“I will,” he said. And then, after some contemplation, added on, “I love you.”
Her eyes cracked open and she squinted at him. He could see the sleep pulling at her, the exhaustion weighing down her frame, but she persevered. Smiling softly, lovingly, she said, “You’re so annoying, Sasuke.”
Sasuke let his eyes slip shut. “Indeed I am.”
He curled his arm around her, pulling her close, and they laid like that, comfortable and happy. (On his part, at least. Sakura didn’t look very comfortable.)
This, he promised himself, was something he would protect. This love and warmth and family. This absolute bliss. And no one and nothing could stop him.
His daughter would always know the love of a mother and father. His daughter would be able to recognize family in all of its forms—in blood and friends and just pure love.
I promise.
(He truly hated himself for breaking it.)