"For the two of us, home isn't a place. It is a person. And we are finally home."
.
.
.
The first thing he sees is a head full of raven black hair, poking out of a swaddled bundle of blanket. His heart skips a beat, and belatedly, he realizes he's holding his breath.
Sakura rests against a couple of propped up pillows, eyes closed, head leaning sideways. Her face looks tired, pallid, but there's a slight hint of the most serene smile dancing in the shadows of her lips. She holds their child in her arms, no doubt providing a world of warmth in her strong embrace. She is the mother of his child, of their child.
He walks up to the hospital bed, and lays eyes on his daughter for the first time. He didn't think he could feel more than he already does, but somehow, seeing her face does it. Because her head is full of raven black hair, just like his, but her face - her face is a spitting image of Sakura. Eyes big and open, forehead tall and proud, smile generous and kind; his heart is so full right now, he has to bite his lips to keep it together.
"Sasuke-kun," He hears Sakura say. "When did you come in?"
His wife is awake, and she's looking at him. Up close, he notices the sheen of sweat coating her face, the strain with which she tries to sit straight, and he remembers it's only been a couple of hours since she gave birth.
"I was late," He says. "I'm sorry, Sakura."
Then, she smiles, eyes bright and mouth open, "Have you met your daughter yet?"
He looks down at the child in her arms, again. She mirrors her mother's smile, and stares right back at him, with eyes unblinking.
"I think she recognizes you." Sakura says, voice so sweet it's music to his ears.
He tentatively raises his arm to poke the child's cheek. "She looks just like you," He can't help but say.
"Really?" Sakura asks, disbelieving. "I think she looks just like you."
He lets her words sink in, as he tries to find more of himself in the child in front of him.
"Would you like to hold her?" Sakura says, and Sasuke feels the floor start slipping from underneath him. He would love nothing more than to hold his little girl in his arms, but he is immobilized. He feels the crushing weight of the arm that doesn't belong to him anymore, and bitterly realizes he is not enough for his own daughter. He won't be able to hold her right, he won't be able to do anything for her right, ever.
He notices Sakura slowly shift in her bed, straining again.
"Are you comfortable? Do you need anything?" He reaches his lone arm out to take her palm in his own.
"Yes, Sasuke-kun," She gives him another comforting smile, and nods at the crumpled space she's made for him next to her.
Wordlessly, he gets on the bed, and leans into her. Sakura rubs her shoulder against his, rests her head there, and brings the child she's holding closer to him. Sasuke's arm moves of its own accord as it slides below Sakura's, and just as easily as that, he's holding his daughter for the first time.
"Okaeri, Sasuke-kun," Sakura says into his collarbone, tickling him.
"Tadaima," He returns, kissing the crown of his wife's head and looking into the big, curious eyes of his daughter.
a/n: bc canon rarely smiles upon my otps, but sasusaku is an exception.
thanks to arrogant-sakura for feeding me papa sauce feels, and SouthSideStory for reading this over and giving it her beta seal of approval. i love you, my chicas.
reviews would be lovely! :D