To Love Even More
Chapter One: Welcome Home
AUTHORS NOTE: I AM ALIVE! More authors note at the bottom, I HOPE YOU ALL ENJOY THIS!
Sasuke Uchiha didn't tire easily. His stamina and endurance were enviable. It took quite a bit to drain him physically unless he was emotionally exhausted, which didn't help matters. "Work" kept him busy, that's for sure.
The latest mission he and Naruto had completed wasn't exactly difficult, but it did require long hours of traveling, most of which consisted of endless complaining.
"So how'd it go?" Kakashi asked via monitor on the plane. The former CIA Commander had taken a more targeted role in the Agency as Captain of the ANBU Special Forces.
His responsibilities included guiding and monitoring their elite teams of Special Agents and their missions, primarily Team 7 for a variety of reasons. Kakashi's view of Sasuke was blocked by a mop of blonde hair and blue eye that popped up on the monitor.
"He's as moody as ever!" Naruto whined. "Normally I'd say that's just how he is, but even I'll admit that these recon missions are really piling on. What gives?"
These types of missions meant lots of travel and prolonged periods away from Hinata and Sakura and the kids.
"There's nothing I can do anymore about the types of missions you're given," Kakashi replied as he watched Naruto get pulled back into his seat by a clearly irritated Sasuke. "Tsunade calls the shots now, and she wants Team 7 on these missions not only for the task at hand, but to assess your capabilities as a team in all situations. This is still a probationary period for us after all."
Naruto huffed and crossed his arms over his chest. "Team 7 isn't complete without Sakura and I don't see Tsunade getting huffy without her on this mission. If anything, she'd make him a lot more fun to be around," he said pointing his thumb at Sasuke.
Before the Uchiha could reply, Kakashi fixed Naruto with a pointed stare. "She will assume her work as a field agent when the time calls for it, and not a moment sooner, or would you like to bring that up with Tsunade?"
Naruto swallowed at the thought, even as hostile waves of energy reached him from his simmering teammate. He glanced at Sasuke and was on the receiving end of a full on Uchiha level glare and looked back at the screen to see Kakashi's frighteningly level gaze.
Sometimes Naruto failed to keep in perspective just how much of a CIA princess Sakura was. She was Tsunade's apprentice, Kakashi's daughter and Sasuke's wife.
Not to mention she was one of the smartest and strongest women he had ever know. Literally the strongest woman for sure. No one would ever forget the infamously demolished punching bag incident at Lee's dojo.
"I'm just saying she's still a part of team 7! What's the point of team building missions without the whole team? Hinata has her own squad too but they were on hiatus until she could go back. Granny couldn't give our team the same courtesy?"
"Courtesy was allowing Sasuke to live," Kakashi said plainly. "That's going to carry a lot of weight in how she goes about assigning your missions and neither of you two have any room to complain."
"The mission went without incident," Sasuke finally said. Naruto leaned back in his seat, still displeased about all the travel they had been doing. "We'll debrief in about an hour."
"Very well," Kakashi replied, noting the slight edge to his tone. Son-in-law or not, it still irked Kakashi to know that Sasuke went home to Sakura at the end of long missions.
It was irrational, and he'll readily admit it too, but no father ever wanted to think about how Sasuke might choose to de-stress upon arriving home. You'd think after four grandchildren he'd get over it.
"Have they been into the base today?" Naruto asked. When they went on missions, communication with their family was non-existent for multiple reasons. Agents always had to keep a level head and worrying about their families was distraction they weren't allowed to have, no matter what the mission.
The families of Field Agents never knew when their loved ones would return. It sucked majorly.
"Sakura was here and worked in the lab, but went home a few hours ago. The children spent the day with your parents," he said to Sasuke before turning to Naruto. "Hinata was training with her team, with Minato in tow. Since Neji and Tenten were here Minato spent the day with his cousins."
Naruto leaned back and grinned, thinking of his little son back home. He was a handful alright, and he stood out from his Hyuga cousins in almost every way. Naruto couldn't have been happier, but it was a double-edged sword when he missed Hinata and Minato like crazy while he was away.
"What about their training?" Sasuke asked.
"Basic self-defense for now," Kakashi answered. "We felt that Sora and Suki would benefit by joining the other children in Lee's new course. It's never too early for team building and without you there to aid in the Sharingan aspect, they may as well use that time in the class."
A simple nod of his head was the only response Sasuke gave.
Kakashi looked at his two Agents with some empathy. Even he had to admit that Tsunade was really laying the missions on thick, but no one had any say otherwise. "Why don't we just de-brief tomorrow morning at the base," he suggested, gaining some reaction from them. "I'd rather not handle the two of you after another hour on the plane. Go home and get some rest."
He didn't wait for a reply before hanging up on his forever grateful Agents.
And now he was finally home. Sasuke couldn't wait to crawl into bed and hold his wife close as he succumbed to sleep. Just thinking about her waiting for him already brought comfort to his heart.
He entered quietly, resetting the security system and sweeping through the house for other abnormalities, as was his routine. He went into the kitchen for a glass of water. He grabbed a glass before heading to the fridge. He smirked at the new drawings that practically covered the entire surface of the front. Most were drawn by Sora, but colored in by Suki, as assumed by the various shades of pink that didn't make sense.
He opened the fridge to find a large container of what he knew was his wife's famous beef and tomato stir-fry leftovers next to various tubs of baby food. Though it was late, and he knew better than to snack at this hour, Sasuke still took one cold stir-fried tomato and popped it into his mouth, savoring the acidic flavor of his most favored fruit.
His entire family was addicted, except for Sakura. She had lost her tomato cravings since giving birth to the twins. He didn't mind, it just meant more for the rest of them.
He used the downstairs bathroom to shower so he wouldn't wake her up, letting the hot water soothe away any tension that lingered in his body. He toweled off and dressed in sweat pants before heading upstairs.
He walked to the twin's room, opening the door and peering inside. The two cribs housed his sleeping babies.
Shouhei was sprawled out on his back, hand clutching his favorite plush toy and his pacifier lying next to his face. Saiyuri was also on her back, arms loosely wrapped around her plush toy. The babies had peaceful expressions, and Sasuke left the room quickly, not wanting to disturb them.
He checked on Sora and Suki next. His older children preferred to share a room for now, even though they had the option to have their own. Their bond was stronger than it had ever been, and their parents had agreed to the arrangement, sensing that it may have been a repercussion of past events of not wanting to be alone. After seeing that they both were asleep and well, he darted to his room.
His earlier fatigue seemed to slip out of his body entirely, replaced with the hum of anticipation. This last mission took an entire week, and he was desperate to be home after only two days of it. He had gotten used to having his wife next to him as he slept.
He entered their bedroom and could make out her figure under the covers. Moonlight silhouetted her form, drawing him in. Sasuke slipped into bed, arm outstretched to pull her against his chest, when the bed suddenly shifted and he found himself pinned against the mattress with his wife on top of him, arms trapped by hers.
He raised a brow at her flushed face. "Is this how you're going to welcome me home from now on?"
Dr. Sakura Haruno-Uchiha glared down at her husband as she tried to control her breathing. She loosened her grip on him and simply slumped down against his chest, hiding in embarrassment.
"Sorry," she mumbled before meeting his eyes. "Welcome home."
She lifted herself enough to find his lips in a sweet kiss, grinning when his hands slid along her thighs and grasped her hips.
"You've got to control those reflexes," he drawled, eyes trailing over her in adoration. She was wearing a loose-fitting t-shirt, and his earlier exploration of her hips told him that was all she was wearing.
He squeezed her hips suddenly, catching her off guard just enough for him to flip them over so she was beneath him.
Sakura squirmed under his grip. She did not enjoy feeling trapped, having had enough of that sensation in her lifetime. It was why she was adamant in training herself to be alert, even when asleep. Her training was going exceptionally well with all her various instructors.
"You've got to quit sneaking up on me," she huffed, still trying to escape his grasp. He wouldn't budge.
"It's not sneaking when I'm entering our bed in our home," he reminded. "Who else could it possibly be?"
"One of the kids might have had a nightmare," she stubbornly replied before wishing she didn't. She would never tackle the children and he knew it.
He could sense that something was bothering her and was determined to get to the bottom of it. "You knew I wasn't one of the kids, but didn't know if it was me. Who else could it have been?"
She wouldn't look him in the eye, but knew he wouldn't let her go without an answer of some kind.
"I know Kabuto's dead," she winced when he unintentionally tightened his grip on her wrists at the mere mention of his name. "But sometimes I still have dreams…nightmares of him."
She heard his breath still at her admission and chuckled lightly. "It's stupid, I know. It's been so long since all that happened. But yeah, I might be trying to compensate for past mistakes…or so Ibiki tells me…" she mumbled at the end.
She was referring to her own abduction of course. Being held captive by Kabuto and knowing that her children were also taken from her, never knowing if she was going to make it out alive…Sakura never wanted to feel that helpless ever again. She agreed to undergo a psych evaluation considering all the revelations she learned about her family. It was an overwhelming load to adjust to, much of which occurred with the added stress of pregnancy at the time.
Tsunade wanted to make sure she would be able to handle the pressure of her new life. PTSD was a huge concern for not only Sakura, but the children as well. The things they witnessed would easily overcome the average person. They took no chances with their family.
It had been an interesting process though. Inoichi Yamanaka from the interrogation department knew Sakura from her childhood, and there were times when he could have sworn there was an alter ego hidden deep within her mind. Sakura heard him mutter something about split personality disorder before catching her raised eyebrow and keeping quiet.
She poured whatever energy she had into her CIA training, homing in her reflexes and alertness until both were razor sharp. She had a tough time turning them off, hence jumping her husband in the middle of the night when he came home from a mission.
"Is it only when I'm gone for a mission?"
Again, she refused to meet his eyes. He grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him. "Is it?"
She struggled for words. "It shouldn't be. I know you have to go away a lot, and I know we're safe at home, but when I don't have you here I still feel like someone can just break in and—"
She closed her eyes, not wanting to even dwell on what could happen again. Gathering her wits, she looked up and saw the red of his eyes blazing in the night. Those beautiful but deadly eyes of his were exactly why she was fearful.
"I will never let anyone come near you again," he growled.
"It's not me I'm worried about," she breathed. "Kabuto didn't just want me, he wanted the Sharingan. Our babies, I'm just afraid I can't protect them alone."
The Uchiha Family Kekkei Genkai was still very much a coveted ability to those with dark purposes. Now a rare trait from a family that has only a handful of members, it would always be a fear of hers that someone would seek to obtain it again in the most horrific way.
Her four children were always going to be at risk.
Sasuke's hand caressed the side of her face. "I'll never let anything happen to our family again. I can't escape these missions, but you're no pushover when it comes to our kids," he added with a hint of pride in his tone.
It still amazed him at just how much of an opponent Sakura was on the physical front. Her strength truly was noteworthy, completely catching you of guard since the first thing an enemy would do is underestimate her, always giving her the advantage of surprise.
"I want to believe so, I really do."
His hand caressed her cheek lovingly. "Then believe it."
He rested his forehead against hers, making her smile at Naruto's most used expression came from his lips.
"My wife isn't a weak woman," he hummed, and he would see to it that she knew it. He took her smile as acceptance and quickly shifted gears so he could show her how amazing she was.
His lips planted slow trails of fire along the skin of her neck as they moved up, capturing her sigh into his mouth.
Her hands glided across his front, lovingly tracing the remnants of a deep scar across his chest, where a bullet had failed to take his life. She kissed it tenderly, knowing it was a testament to both his strength and vulnerability.
His heart always fluttered when she kissed his scar, as it did when she kissed his curse mark. She was the answer to all his pain, physical or emotional, and he was determined to be hers.
His hands smoothed over her hips, fingers curling around the flesh of her rear before sliding up and dragging her thin shirt along her skin until it was carelessly tossed aside. Her bare skin was illuminated from the moonlight, enticing his hands to touch.
They roamed her body, eliciting soft hums of approval encouraging him to continue. Her anxiety morphed into excitement as their kisses deepened. She hated being away from him for prolonged periods of time, even if it was just a few days. She missed him terribly, and every night they were together again felt like the first night he returned from his rogue mission two years ago.
Their breaths mingled frantically while he made quick work of his sweats. Intimacy was rarely slow and sweet with them. Both were impatient, and time was precious. He settled over her and grasped her hips, squeezing as her legs wrapped around his waist before entering her quickly.
Her body arched in response as she tried to hold in her need to cry out. The way his eyes focused on her as he moved never failed to make her breathless. Her hands wove into his hair, grasping the ebony locks in a fierce hold as the sensations grew.
The room was filled with their gasps and harsh breathing. Sasuke couldn't get enough of his wife. Though they had been married for over a year now, the fact remained that most nights they barely had enough time or opportunity to be intimate. Between their four very young children and CIA lives, Sakura considered herself lucky to get her kids fed, clean and in bed at a decent hour after a hectic work day.
Sasuke was happy just to spend an evening at home and help Sakura with the kids, especially the twins.
His babies were already starting their lives with him absent most of the time, and he vowed to never make the same mistake of putting work before his family again. It was easier said than done.
Their movements became more aggressive. Sasuke held himself above her with one hand as the other migrated down to sensitive breasts. His name escaped her lips in the sweetest way, the sound unleashing the possessiveness within him as he drove into her wildly. Though their intimacy was considered rare, it was always heated and passionate, ending in the most exquisite waves of release.
He wanted to immerse himself within her and remind her just how much she belonged to him, and how he belonged to her in every way. How she was the only one he craved when he was away and how there weren't words strong enough to convey just how in love with her he was.
Their passion built up into a frenzy of moans and heavy breathing until the tension burst. She turned her head and screamed her release into her pillow, not wanting to stir the other occupants of the house in alarm. Sasuke followed shortly after, arching his back in bliss before slumping over her and burying his face into her neck.
She wrapped her arms around his form, chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath and smiling as his lips grazed her torso. They were far from done tonight, if his roaming hands were any indication.
They moved up and down her sides, squeezing and groping her flesh greedily with every new curve and dip. Her body had changed within the past two years.
The trauma of her abduction left numerous scars, each telling a story of a pain no one deserved to endure. Most were faded, but ever-present and a constant reminder that she may be strong, but she was still breakable.
Her right shoulder blade area had a fading scar from a knife wound. It was a miracle the knife hit bone and didn't pierce her lung or do more damage to her arm given the location, and a flesh wound was all that she got. She once jokingly lamented that she would never be able to wear anything sleeveless or backless again without exposing the mark, only to have Sasuke kiss the area and claim that he never wanted any other man to get the chance to see her skin in such alluring way besides him anyway.
He had received an eyeroll at the statement, and to his chagrin, Ino had convinced Sakura that showing off that scar would let the world know just how much of a badass she was and to wear all the backless dresses she wanted.
Sasuke's lips trailed down the valley of her breasts, before moving back up to get her lips again. His hands caressed the sides of her hips lovingly, particularly her left side. The most prominent scar she had was from the burn of a gunshot wound.
That one would never fade, having left her skin slightly darker than the rest of her body, and almost glossy from the recovery. But it wasn't the appearance of the scar that angered Sasuke, it was the location.
That wound was meant to kill their unborn babies at the time. Sasuke wished he could have done more bodily harm to Danzo before he was killed, as his rage over the incident would never truly die. His wife would bear the mark for life, always being reminded of just how close to death she came.
But she was the strongest woman he had ever known.
His lips trailed down her abdomen, stopping at her low belly. His hands smoothed over the area, leaving small kisses and resting his forehead against her. Of all areas she was most insecure, it was here.
When Sakura had first given birth to Sora, her body had bounced back relatively well. After less than year, her belly was once again smooth and firm with no outer changes to her skin or elasticity.
Her second pregnancy with Shouhei and Saiyuri was not as smooth sailing as the first. Twins naturally pushed the body to its limits. The womb was only meant for one baby at a time. Twins and beyond were all extra miracles. Tenten won the trophy for the triplets, though her recovery was another story altogether.
Sakura's belly was in relatively decent shape all things considering, but the skin over her lower abdomen was now a bit loose, with faint lines of silvery stretch marks that bore evidence to the two little lives that once grew inside her.
She knew Sasuke didn't care about what her belly looked like now, as he plainly told her so when he caught her starring at herself in the mirror with a look of unhappiness, but she was still human and she had her insecurities like anyone else.
It also really didn't help that Ino pig also had twins and didn't have so much as a damn stretch mark to show for it! Tenten had some small ones, but you would think her belly would be destroyed after triplets. Nope! She was the most physically fit out of all them and must have had some good genetics on her side to look the way she did. Plus she had Lee train her into oblivion to get her body back a few months after she gave birth.
No one saw much of Tenten for a few weeks, and were warned by Neji she was borderline dangerous to be around when she was training with Lee. The results spoke for themselves, but Sakura wasn't that unhappy where she'd voluntarily train with Rock Lee.
Her thoughts turned back to her husband when he moved back up her body and looked down at her with that hungry gaze that made her shiver. His lips met hers again, slowly working her into another go.
She was beyond exhausted, but nothing short of passing out would ever stop her from kissing him if she could help it. She loved him more than he would ever know, and actions spoke the loudest to Sasuke. She would make sure she was heard tonight.
When they lay in each other's arms later that night, Sakura lazily traced his scar with her fingers and sighed with content. Sasuke was beginning to nod off, and the baby monitor was quiet, allowing her to begin drifting off to sleep.
Several hours later, she woke up before he did and allowed herself to just simply be in his arms and admire his sleeping form. Her husband was one of the most handsome men she had ever known, and her heart never failed to flutter at the initial sight of him on any given day. But there was an innocence about his sleeping face that made her melt a little more with love for him.
She restrained a giggle as a section of his hair moved with each exhale of his breath. His lips were barely parted enough to be considered open, yet this minuscule observation was enough to tell her that this was Sasuke at his most comfortable and unguarded.
It told her that he trusted her enough to fully relax.
The arm that held her waist tightened suddenly, letting her know that he was awake now. He may have been relaxed, but he was still ever the light sleeper.
"Something funny?" he muttered, eyes still closed. His hand began to rub up and down her naked hip, warming up the skin with pleasant tingles from calloused fingers.
She kissed his jaw and then his cheek. "You're kind of adorable when you sleep," she confessed, making him crack an eye open to stare pointedly at her.
"I'm not adorable," he replied, as if such a description was offensive. He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes with his free hand, while the other continued its exploration of her skin.
"What's wrong with adorable?" she asked with another kiss to his cheek. "I like it."
"Kids are adorable. I'm not," he stated, making her giggle once more. Sometimes he was even more adorable than he knew.
"Yes, you're also handsome," she said, kissing his cheek. "Mysterious," another kiss closer to his mouth "Striking," she breathed as her hand slide up his chest in a soft caress. "Sexy," she whispered before ghosting her lips over his mouth.
By now he had shifted her on top of him and opened both eyes to enjoy the view of his pink-haired wife. Her chest was flush against his, pushing her breasts up enticingly. His hands found her thighs and slid up her form, squeezing her rear and settling there.
Her lips molded against his in a slow burning kiss. She pulled away and looked at him lovingly. "And yet somehow you're still too adorable."
She chuckled at the way his eyes narrowed before yelping when he flipped her beneath him and attacked her mouth with his, swallowing her moan shortly after.
His hands worked their way over her body, getting her hot and bothered within seconds. He'll show her adorable!
No sooner that he had her writhing and ready to go, they were interrupted by the sound of activity over the baby monitor. He stilled over her and broke from their kiss as she sighed in resignation to the call of motherhood.
"Their timing is impeccable," she groaned. Sasuke simply smirked at the obvious disappointment in her voice.
She didn't have to worry though. Sasuke had plans for her tonight. She called him adorable dammit, and he was going to make sure that word was the last thing on her mind when they came home for the day.
"I'll get them," he offered. "You get ready."
He detangled himself from her and put his pants back on. Sakura twisted in the sheets and admired his form as he walked away from her to greet their little ones. She knew he relished any time he could get with the babies, as the chance to just spend the day with them was unfortunately rare.
She could hear the babies getting impatient over the monitor and smiled when she heard Sasuke approach them.
"I'm up," he told them. "You interrupted my time with mama," he gently chided, making Sakura cover her mouth and giggle. He must have forgotten the monitor was on. She switched the camera feature on and leaned back to enjoy the scene.
Sasuke had Saiyuri in his arms while Shouhei bounced in his crib with impatience, demanding his father's attention. Sasuke kissed Saiyuri's cheek before picking up Shouhei and doing the same.
He went to sit in the big chair in the corner, letting the babies rest against him. They both began to roam their chubby hands all over his face, pulling at his lips and ears and generally smacking him around in greeting. Sakura's giggles increased as she watched Sasuke let their kids abuse him.
The babies were simply getting to know their father again after not seeing him for so long. And Sasuke was content to let them, though he did twitch when Shouhei grabbed a huge wad of his hair and practically tried to dive off his lap, forcing Sasuke to grab both kids to steady them.
Sakura's heart leapt in her throat at the move. Her children were safe in their father's hands, his reflexes being legendary and all. But it still was scary to see. The babies giggled at the sudden move, though their father was less than pleased.
He proceeded to put the babies on the changing table and get that process started. Sakura didn't let him miss out on diaper duty when he was home. She switched the monitor off and decided to get started on her shower before Sora and Suki woke up. Her family deserved a good breakfast, and she was determined to deliver.
After all, today was going to be a family day at the CIA. They needed their strength.
AUTHORS NOTE: This chapter is dedicated to my buddy Giada Luna, who has been an amazing friend and fellow fanfiction writer TO SO MUCH AMAZING WORKS CHECK OUT HER STUFF!
Hello All!
It's been three years since I've promised this I HAVE NO EXCUSES! Just hoopla.
LET ME JUST THANK ALL OF YOU AMAZING READERS OUT THERE WHO HAVE SUPPORTED ME AND MESSAGED ME THROUGHOUT THE YEARS! I am still in awe that I get reviews and PM's for "To Love and to Love Again" and my prequel fic "Wake Me Up Inside". I HAVE THE BEST READERS EVER!
There have been SO MANY OF YOU that have messaged me through the years and have waited for this fic, that again, I'm just in awe. I think I tried too hard to make this story absolute perfection when that's never achievable, so I was chasing a dead end for years. And the longer I waited to post something, the more I overthought the content and ran into block after block of writing mush. BUT I DUNNO WHAT HAPPEN THIS TIME I ACTUALLY POSTED.
It was supposed to be one big chapter but I had to break it up because If I didn't I probably never would have updated lol. So there will be one more chapter for sure, or maybe two depending on how I break it up.
Sora and Suki didn't get any screen time this chapter but they'll be there next chapter don't you worry, and we get to know the babies too.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this chapter so if you're so inclined PLEASE REVIEW I'm a review junkie. Was this anything like you expected after such a long wait?
