Three weeks passed by peacefully in the Uchiha household.
The man of the house reacquainted himself with the duties a father was supposed to do and his wife had some difficulty relinquishing duties she did in his place. The formerly cold and quiet mansion was suddenly filled with laughter and joy. What with everyone running on the long halls, picnicking on the grounds and teasing!
It was almost a paradise for Sakura who had thought it would be so much harder than that. She needed not instruct him on the daily chores as he found it easy and familiar mixed with disbelief at his skills. Her slow incorporation of false memories was easy.
Sasuke openly accepted and believed everything she said. Everyday whenever they talked- that is, when they had a chance- she would share a memory or two he would ask lots of questions. He was inquisitive and asked intelligent questions that sometimes made her wonder if he really contracted amnesia!
She told him that his parents died a natural death and he was an only child. After that she told him of his many exploits as a child in the Ninja academy and their mischievous tricks. She was his childhood best friend, sweetheart and wife. He questioned none of their memories.
Their children did not provide any unanswerable questions. They found it rather odd that he did not leave for his regular missions as he'd always done before but liked it better to come home from school to see him waiting for them at the door. Momiji loved to play-ninja with him. Yuki learned more about spying whenever Sasuke took him out to the woods. Natsumi earned a good mark for coloring inside the lines at school because he'd taken the time to teach her.
All in all, it was a good three weeks. But Sakura refused to let down her guard. She watched every step, every slip of the tongue for mistakes. There was no room for error.
She wanted this Sasuke to remain. There must never be a way for him to find out the truth.
So far so good, she let out a long sigh. He'd learn to adjust soon enough.
Spring left and took her cherry blossoms with her. The orchard was filled with fruits and they had a grand time picking in the long summer afternoons. The Nara kids also came over and there were lots of running, eating and laughing.
They were so proud when their eldest daughter displayed chakra control to save her sister from falling from a branch by hanging upside down and holding her ankles until they came to the rescue.
Everything was going perfectly well.
That was, until the Godaime herself came to visit.
Sakura was waxing the floors at the second floor when the doorbell sounded. She stopped working and wondered who would call on them on a Thursday. Maybe it was the postman or something…
"I'll get it!" Sasuke yelled from the bottom of the stairs.
He was dusting the living room when he heard it. Of course he knew that she was so busy upstairs that he did not want to disturb her. He was wearing a simple green shirt and corduroy pants with a dirty white apron over them. On his head was a bright red bandana that kept his hair free from dust.
"Hello, what can I do for-"he greeted when he opened the door.
Two pairs of eyes were staring at him widely. His forehead creased a little. "May I help you?" he asked.
Silence still.
"Um," said the dark-haired man uncomfortably. He could not remember what politeness he should exhibit.
"U-Uchiha," It came from the blonde woman with brown eyes. She looked young and rather ordinary with her green robe and simple clothing.
"Excuse me, do I know you?" he asked, slightly unnerved that they knew him.
"Is Sakura there?" Tsunade-sama asked, having fully recovered from her shock of seeing the Uchiha Sasuke in ordinary clothes and with an apron! And to hear him address them so politely!
"Are you sure that's Uchiha Sasuke, Tsunade-sama?" the dark-haired woman whispered fiercely. The blond shushed her and smiled almost encouragingly at the man.
"Yes, she is." He returned the smile. "Please come in while I call her."
Inwardly he let out a sigh of relief to have realized that he did not open the door to complete strangers. They knew his wife so they must know him too. (He couldn't understand why he was so eager to meet other people. A part of his consciousness was wary of their purpose and true identity. Another was just curious and eager.)
An idea popped in his head. Maybe he could ask them some questions later.
He didn't need to fetch Sakura. She entered the room and went promptly white with shock.
"Tsunade-sama!" she exclaimed as her hands flew to her mouth. She could not believe her eyes. Sasuke stared at her curiously.
"Ah, Sakura, there you are." The woman named Tsunade moved forward and took the younger woman's hands. "It's been a long time."
"Please come in." The pink-haired woman led them into the living room. He didn't follow and merely excused himself to fetch them some refreshments.
The door was slightly ajar. Quietly he peeked in and could see Sakura's hands clasped within the blonde's.
"How have you been? You don't come to see me when you're in town anymore. I'm upset with you…"
"I'm sorry, Tsunade-sama, but he needs me here. I can't leave him for long periods of a time."
"I knew he was sick but not exactly an invalid! And he looked fine when he answered the door. Not a mark on him."
Sasuke had to grin at the woman. She must've known him since his school days with her utter confidence on his health. He touched the wound on his forehead. It had healed. There was no scar from the accident.
"Well, I know. But I just couldn't."
"Everything's going fine, I assume. Your children often go up to visit me and bring news. They brag and tell amusing stories of their father. He's changed a lot?"
"He had. He never used to wear anything but blue…" The dark-haired woman remarked and they laughed fondly. His heart softened.
"Sasuke's still the same as he ever was. He can still perform his jutsus without any practice." Sakura chose her words carefully. She knew that her husband was listening behind the door and she would have to be careful. The Hokage read her expression accurately and pretended to play along.
"Then can he come back and resume his missions? The temporary teacher I've assigned was asking if the position was final or what."
"After another month, please." Her green eyes shone with her plea. The Godaime sighed.
"Okay, another month of rest for one of our top Jounin. I swear he's one of the best we've had. He's certainly lived up to his name as an Uchiha."
"We're proud to be his family."
Sasuke's smile widened. Such loyalty and faith! He was very lucky to have married someone who firmly believed in him! Her eyes were shining with pride. So, the name of Uchiha was not for vain.
He straightened up to go to the kitchen. Maybe he could proceed with his questions when he'd presented them a delicious snack.
oOoOoOoOo
"He's different." Tsunade said as she leaned back on to the comfortable couch. Her brown eyes looked at her student's with utmost seriousness. "What are the changes you've noticed in him?"
Sakura launched into a full and accurate summary of the changes in her husband. From the littlest things like asking her what she would want to eat to the biggest like his behavior. She couldn't take away the hope and pride in her voice when she spoke of his thoughtfulness, tenderness, and his love for their children.
All the while, Tsunade and Shizune listened with lifted hearts. They detected the joy that all wives took for granted and eluded Sakura for eight whole years. She spoke with shining eyes, flushed cheeks, and a joyful heart. The pain was gone.
The older woman took Sakura's hand.
The blonde said quietly, "I hope you will succeed. Although I know that this was very dangerous and difficult, I wished you the best of luck. You're always welcome to come to us if you have any problems."
Sakura hugged her teacher impulsively. Her body shook with joyful tears.
That was enough. Friends who cared for her was what she dearly needed.
Maybe she could get through this and even succeed.
They broke off their hug when Sasuke came in with the refreshments. He grinned at them politely and said a lighthearted remark. Humor was restored. They continued on with their talk and he participated most actively.
Sakura was surprised when Sasuke took her hand in the middle of the conversation when the Hokage reminisced about their fairytale-like wedding. He gave her a secret smile and squeezed it. Her eyes softened and she smiled too.
The afternoon slipped away, almost unnoticed until the Godaime declared that they must be going. Just then the door opened and the children came in, sweaty and red-faced. They looked pleasantly tired from their daily afternoon play.
"Hello Mama! Hi Papa! Good afternoon Auntie Hokage!" they chorused.
A rare sight commenced as the Godaime knelt down and let the children kiss her cheek and give her a hug. The soft afternoon light lent a glow to her blonde hair and everyone had to smile. She looked like a benevolent angel who was indeed very fond of the "Uchiha brats".
The whole family waved and said goodbye to their Auntie Hokage and Auntie Shizune. Sasuke held his wife's hand while the other rested on their son. He did not let go until it was time to go in.
oOoOoOoOo
"Papa, can we go out and see the stars?" Natsumi asked as she carefully balanced two plates with her hands. She was helping her mother clear up the table.
"Hmm," said the father and checked the window. It was a starry summer night. "If your mother says yes, we can."
"But Mama doesn't say yes!" the mischievous little Uchiha protested.
"Then we can't," Sasuke said, turning his back on her to hide a smirk. He was wiping the dishes that Sakura was finished washing.
"I'll say yes if you ask me and give me a kiss," Sakura said gently.
"But my kisses don't work and you don't listen to me…" Natsumi pouted.
The parents of this adorable little girl exchanged looks. Sakura hid a grin then knelt down. She whispered on her daughter's ear, "Okay, here's a deal. I'll let you go out if you convince Papa to kiss Mama."
Natsumi giggled. She immediately ambushed her father. Then she tried wheedling, threatening, and coercing until her father gave in.
Sakura was balancing the books on the kitchen table when she heard voices coming in from the hallway. She didn't look up and continued on her work as if she didn't hear anything.
"C'mon, Papa… Pleeeeeeeaaase?" Natsumi begged in an urgent whisper. She tugged at her father's sleeve mercilessly.
"Okay! Okay! I will."
And Sakura felt a pair of warm lips on her cheek for a few seconds. Her face grew warm.
"Ha! Now, can we go, Mama?" Natsumi crowed triumphantly.
Dazed, the woman nodded. Their daughter took her father's hand and dragged him off to find her siblings. She touched her cheek and a slow smile spread on her lips. Although she planted that idea on Natsumi, it was sweet.
Her eyes followed the four shadows walking on the yard. The two girls were holding on to Sasuke's hands while Yuki sat on his father's shoulders. She smiled at this. He adored their children so much.
That didn't change in him. Once again she wondered how and why he came to love them when he didn't feel anything for her.
Realizing that she cannot continue her work, she set it aside and went out to follow them. The evening air was cool and sweet. Scents from different flowers mixed and perfumed the air. Summer was definitely here.
Her feet took her to the well-trodden path towards a small clearing where her family was. They were lying on their backs on the young grass and looking up at the endless sky. Sasuke was pointing out the North Star.
She stayed in the shadows, watching them. Joy was in their voices, smiles, and faces.
They gained so much joy at the price of his lost memories. She wouldn't have traded it for the world. The children had their father. She had her husband back. What more could she ask for?
oOoOoOoOo
"Who was that woman?" Sasuke asked as he carried a sleeping Natsumi on his back. He turned sideways to see a slight smile light up her face.
"She's Tsunade-sama, the Hokage. We used to work for her. She missed us. She wanted to make sure you'd come back to work."
He gave her a blank look. With a small sigh she explained that after his little accident, his missions had stopped coming in for his team and they were rather impatient with their teacher.
"But I am. Why'd you say I wasn't?" he asked, curious.
"I don't want you to work yet," she answered matter-of-factly "because I still want to keep an eye on you. We never know when you'll have memory lapses again. You wouldn't want to repeat the experience, would you?"
He shuddered visibly. Sakura was referring to the time he did not remember what to do and nearly burned the house down when he tried to cook. It was a good thing she was there.
"O-Okay," Sasuke said meekly.
She had to smile. Her Sasuke would not let anyone bind him to their will. He would not let anyone interfere with his affairs and least of all, with his work. But now he trusted his wife's intuition and judgment. It was a welcome change.
Yuki murmured something unintelligible at her back. She glanced at her son fondly. He and his twin fell asleep out of tiredness. Sasuke had picked up Natsumi while she in turn carried Yuki. Momiji was being gently pushed forward; she was going to fall asleep standing.
Their children really resembled them. They all got some of their good characteristics and their good looks. The three were all beautiful in their own ways. They were the children she'd always wanted to give him.
If before he merely regarded him as his, now they were thought of as theirs.
"You know, Yuki really looks like me," Sasuke said out of the blue.
"Mm-hmm," she nodded.
"He even got my eyebrows."
"That's because you always wished for me to have a boy so you always paraded yourself around me. I couldn't help it if I wanted my son to have his father's looks."
"I was that silly?" He laughed. It was a glorious sound.
"Yes, you were. I don't know what we did but we got two instead of one." She joined his laughter.
"I think I…" He took hold of her hand that swung freely at her sides- and she blushed- and squeezed it "I wanted you to have two little darlings… who looked like me."
She crimsoned an adorable sight under the moonlight. "Hey, you're taking all the credit! I wanted Natsumi to look like me."
"Oh no, she doesn't. The twins were mini versions of me. Momiji took after you. A cherry-headed dear with a sharp tongue, she is."
Sakura let go of his hand and pinched his side. He tried to move away but only ended with a loud howl. She shushed him as their eldest daughter looked up at them sleepily. "So I have a sharp tongue!"
"And ten sharp fingernails too!" he laughed.
She pretended to mock-pinch him again and they dissolved in laughter. Momiji threw a curious look then smiled contentedly. She allowed herself to walk with help from her mother and father. It was so good to have them both again.
Talking about the children and teasing… Why, it was one of the best nights of Sakura's life.
If only it would always stay like this…..
oOoOoOoOo
To be continued…