Sakura was exhausted to say the least. After pulling a double shift at the hospital, she came home to a very energetic three year old who immediately jumped off of Ino's lap and straight into Sakura's legs, almost knocking her over.
"Sakumo, baby, be careful." She chided softly as she reached down and picked him up, setting him on her hip. "Did you have fun with Aunt Ino?"
The pink haired toddler nodded his head and wrapped his arms around her neck, nuzzling her cheek. "I missed you, Mama."
Sakura's shoulders relaxed as she smiled and hugged him tightly, giggling softly at Ino's eye roll. "He was an angel, as usual. I cleaned up a little while he took his nap so you could rest. You're welcome." She winked before kissing Sakumo's head and walking out the door, closing it softly behind her.
"Okay, baby, Mama needs to go take a shower. Can I trust you to be a good boy for a few minutes? If you do, I'll take you to Uncle Naruto's favorite ramen shop." She laughed when he pulled back to look at her with wide gray eyes, instantly making her miss her husband. With a resigned sigh, she set Sakumo down in his playpen and kisses his forehead before walking into her bedroom. Once Sakumo heard the bathroom door close, he smirked and skillfully climbed out of the playpen, landing softly on his feet.
As quietly as he could, he tiptoed into her bedroom and pulled a box out from under the bed and grabbed the first book he saw, the one with the orange cover. Carefully, he slid the box back under the bed and ran out of the bedroom and back into his playpen. Laying on his stomach, he grabbed his crayons and turned to a random page in the book and began coloring.
Sakura groaned softly as the hot water hit her tense shoulders. She missed taking showers with Kakashi. He'd wash her hair and rub her shoulders until she was so lax he had to carry her out of the tub. Sighing, she rinsed the rest of the conditioner from her hair and stepped out of the shower, wrapping Kakashi's towel around herself. Sakura padded to the mirror and laughed softly when she realized she forgot to take her makeup off. Her mascara had run down her face in streaks, making her look like she belonged in a metal band. Reaching for her tissues, she felt a familiar chakra signature outside the house and smiled a true smile for the first time in two weeks. Her husband was finally home. Quickly and carefully, Sakura towel dried her waist length hair and body before throwing on a nightgown and grabbing Kakashi's robe off the back of the door.
As soon as she walked out of the bathroom, she heard Sakumo gasp and Kakashi drop his bag, the snow soaking into the carpet. Opening the door, she saw Kakashi staring at the toddler, a combination of relief and anger written all over his face.
"Sakumo," Kakashi's deep voice bounced off the walls as he knelt next to the playpen. "where did you get that?"
"Get what, baby?" Sakura asked as she joined him next to the playpen and seeing what had made her husband so angry. "Sakumo, how did you get that?"
Sakumo avoided both his parents gazes as he looked down at the picture he'd made. Mechanically, he closed the book and handed it to Kakashi before climbing out of the playpen and into his room, shutting the door with a soft click.
Kakashi sighed as he sat on the floor and pulled Sakura into his lap. "This is a first edition." He groaned into her hair.
"I'm sure he didn't know, baby. What did he color?" She asked as she settled against his chest, finally relaxing. Kakashi said nothing as he opened the book and found what Sakumo colored. It was the three of them next to what looked to be a Christmas tree, and a circle with legs that Sakura assumed was Pakkun, on top of a present. Sakumo had written "Welcome Home, Papa" across the top, most of the characters ere a little off, but as Kakashi stared at it, guilt gripped his heart.
"Let me talk to him, love." Kakashi mumbled before shifting her in his hold and stood up, hugging her tightly against him. "Kami, I missed you." He whispered into her hair before setting her to her feet and pulling his mask down. Sakura smiled as she nudged him down the hall with a soft chuckle.
"Sakumo?" Kakashi called out softly outside the boy's door. "Can I come in?"
"Yes,"
"Son, I'm-"
"I'm sorry, Papa." Sakumo interrupted, his stuffed bear was held tightly in his fingers as he met Kakashi's gaze head on. "I just wanted to give you something when you got home. Mama missed you a lot and I did too." He spoke so fast that Kakashi chuckled before sitting on the bed and pulling Sakumo into his lap.
"I'm not mad at you, Sakumo. I love the picture you drew for me. Even if it's not on your scrolls, you did it on something I've used to hide behind. I don't need to hide behind it anymore. I have you and your mama to protect. If I'm hiding, I can't do that."
Sakumo looked between Kakashi and the book before wrapping his arms around Kakashi's neck tightly. "Welcome home, Papa."
"I'm home," Kakashi smiled, and turning slightly to see Sakura leaning on the door frame with a fond smile on her lips.
"Welcome home, baby." She walked over to his side and kissed him softly on the lips before kissing Sakumo's head and leaning on Kakashi's shoulder.
"I love you." Sakumo mumbled before letting his eyes close, going limp in Kakashi's arms.
"I still don't know how to thank you for giving me such an amazing son." Kakashi mumbled softly as he gently laid Sakumo into his bed and tucking him in.
"You can start by getting your bag off my carpet before it soaks through." She giggled as they walked out of Sakumo's room.
"You wound me, Mrs. Hatake." He chuckled in return. "As you wish."