The hospital is quiet, with only the beep of the monitor and the occasional footsteps of the night nurse. The annoying white light is turned off and the room is filled with the golden glow of the lamp, which is attached to the wall.
Sasuke can see can see that Sakura brought provisions in case got stuck on the road, and his eyes drift from the photo of an adult team 7, which is on the night stand, to her face. He is lucky that he was able to make it in time to hold Sakura's hand, and to glimpse his daughter for the first time.
His eyes sweep over Sakura who is sleeping deeply. She put up a good fight, and one that he almost missed. He remembers the moment he heard Sarada's cry - when he looked between Sakura and Sarada, who was held by the medic. His wife was crying in happiness and relief, and she reached for their baby girl.
He can't explain it to even himself, but that brief moment, where they allowed Sakura to hold her, and Sasuke was able to see his family together…
"I hope those are happy tears." Sakura said to him at the time, grinning joyfully up at him. Sasuke wiped his face on his wrist. He hadn't realised he'd been crying.
Sasuke didn't know that he felt so full until his baby girl was taken from view and Sakura was wheeled into after care. He was left alone again in the waiting room with an exuberant Naruto, and he was happy…but not full. Sakura was moved to her room and he got to see her shortly after, but they weren't able to be with their girl until morning.
It had been 24 hours since then and Sarada is sleeping just as fitfully as her mother. Sasuke should be as well, and Sakura told him to go home before drifting off to sleep.
He is certain, that his wife is already aware that the chances of him leaving are slim. She is an idiot for wanting him to.
His eyes slip from Sakura to the baby capsule beside the bed, where Sarada sleeps. He can see through the clear chamber, and Sasuke peers inside for the one hundredth time tonight.
He leans forward to look closer and he is sure that if Sarada was awake she'd think him a giant.
Sasuke wants her to think of him as something else though…
The idea of being a father does strange things to his chest and heart rate.
Sasuke hasn't been this happy in a really long time. So long, in fact, that he periodically finds himself pausing and chuckling as he remembers his luck. He's lucky no one has spotted him yet; that would be awkward. Hopefully it will stop soon.
Sasuke's doujutsu activates so that he can see Sarada better. He reaches his hand inside the baby container and slowly touches her hand with his finger.
The baby moves and Sasuke freezes. His eyes widen for a tense moment, and then the new born shifts, her hand wraps around his finger and Sasuke is struck by surprise.
He doesn't move, and barely breathes.
His heart warms rapidly and Sarada squeezes his finger in her sleep.
Sasuke looks over at his sleeping wife, wishing that she could see this, and he smiles happily.
Sasuke can't believe he is here - that they got this far.
He'll accept this adventure, with these people, whom he loves.
It might be the biggest mission of all.
"Sarada. I'm going to look after you." He murmurs quietly. "I'm going to look after you both."