Summary: Sarada wants a puppy and Sasuke struggles to say no. + domestic sasusaku disagreement over the issue.

lol. The parenting game.

- This is a conversation I've had in my head all day.-

xxx

"No. Absolutely not." Sasuke crosses his arms over his chest and his wife raises a brow; it's a challenging movement that makes him annoyed; she always thinks that she is so right.

"Why not? Come on Sasuke, it'll be good for Sarada-chan." She tries valiantly, he'll give her that. Her hip pops out and her hand falls into place there. Her eyes are a vibrant green, brighter than usual, either from the afternoon light shining through the kitchen window, or from the fire he's created in her belly.

If there's one thing Sasuke knows, it's that they her know how to have a disagreement. Luckily for his marriage, he and Sakura can argue about the same thing for years -

Unfortunately, this is one of them.

Except now Sasuke thinks his time has come; Sakura is wearing that look on her face that tells him exactly what she is going to do -

And that's disregard his opinion completely and do what she wants.

He groans and drags his fingers through his hair. When his daughter asked for this same thing (last night) he felt the shift - He felt Sarada's intense want, and now he can feel Sakura's.

This isn't a battle he is going to win.

Nevertheless, he puts his foot down; whatever that means these days -

"We aren't getting a dog, Sakura. Dogs and cats can't live together." He looks at her incredulously, like the idea of a cat and a dog together is completely insane.

"Why not?" Sakura asks him contentiously, and his eyes narrow as both of her hands grip at her hips. She's giving him that look she gives him sometimes, and it says, 'Do you really want to get into this?'

If he were a smarter man he would listen to that expression, but Sasuke revels in disagreements…secretly.

His wife often says that he is 'too bull headed not to argue'.

She's right.

"They don't go together." He states without reason, stepping closer to Sakura. She shakes her head and doesn't allow him forward. Her hand, that was raised like a stop sign, falls back to her side.

"You said to your daughter last night that she can have a dog. You can't take it back now!" Sakura argues, narrowing her eyes at him.

He grits his teeth and looks away from her convincing face. It's that expression Sakura holds, that Sarada has copied to perfection, and it's what had him caving in last night.

"I can do what I want." He growls, and Sakura smirks at him like he's an idiot.

She steps forward and her arms cross beneath her bosom; it'd be a sexy image if he didn't already know how pissed off she is with him.

A moment passes where they look at each other.

Neither budges.

Then -

"Okay. You can be the one to tell her." Sakura decides suddenly, and she shrugs rather dramatically. Her hands drop to her side and she walks over to the bench, where she was previously preparing them an afternoon snack.

Sarada is minutes from arriving home, and Sasuke feels dread fill him completely.

"No…" He baulks, shaking his head resolutely. He doesn't want to.

"Then we're getting a dog." Sakura says simply - like it's fact, but he can hear the enjoyment in her tone.

Sasuke frowns and his original argument comes rearing forward,

"Dogs and cats don't go together."

"And women don't belong in the workforce." Sakura fires back. She shakes her head at him, and puts his sundried tomato onto the crackers. She spreads his favourite sauce on top of it next, and walks it over to him.

Sasuke takes the plate silently, watching Sakura reproachfully. His eyes are annoyed and so are hers.

Still, she has the aura of winning, and he has the frustrated vibe of defeat.

He doesn't like this at all.

"That's not the same thing." He tells her, and Sakura raises her brows.

"Isn't it?" She replies puzzlingly. "It's the modern age, Sasuke-kun. Perspectives are shifting, and you're letting your Uchiha bias for cats get in the way of our daughter being happy." Sakura steps closer to him, until she is about half a foot away.

She places her hand against his chest, and he notes the love in her gaze.

"My love -"

She pats his chest twice, stepping back.

"Get with the program."

Sasuke opens his mouth to reply, just as he hears the front door click open, and their 9 year old daughter calls out,

"I'm home."

And as Sarada's face comes into view, Sakura leaves him to greet her.

Sasuke feels the fight leave him as he watches the women in his life, and he hopes that they can have a son to even out the odds.

For now though, he has two options -

Get a dog.

Tell Sarada they can't get a dog (after already telling her yes).

His wife's eyes meet his and Sasuke realises that there is no second option.

"Papa, are we going to look at the Inuzuka's kennel today?" Sarada asks him as she bounds forward, wrapping her arms around his waist in a tight hug.

Sasuke sighs. His hand finds the top of her head, and he ruffles her hair lightly.

"Eat your snack first." He says, and Sarada makes a noise of glee.

Sasuke can't help the smile that comes to his face.

"You're the best, Papa!" Sarada exclaims.

She starts chattering to Sakura about the type of dog she wishes to have, and Sasuke hopes that it isn't a yappy thing.

What has he done?

"Go wash your hands, please." Sakura reminds Sarada before she eats, and his spawn follows the instructions, disappearing down the hall.

Sasuke sighs deeply, and he walks over to lean against the kitchen bench. Sakura appears beside him, wrapping her arm around his waist. His arm goes over her shoulder in response, and he leans against her.

"You hear that Papa?" Sakura says cheekily. "You're the best." Her green meet his obsidian, and he can feel her agreement. Sakura is pleased with him again.

Sasuke smirks, and he follows his urge to kiss her soundly on the mouth.

He smiles wickedly as he pulls back.

"Damned right I am."

…

And that is the story about how Sasuke caved in and allowed his family to get a puppy.