Hello. Author's note will be at the end :)


Although it was nice to be home and Sakura was more comfortable, it was still going to take quite some time to adjust to their lives as parents.
Between being woken constantly throughout the night resulting in little sleep and their busy days, both were utterly exhausted by the end of the first week.

Syaoran answered the door to find the familiar faces of Akiho and Yuna. Akiho's platinum blonde hair was still the same, with an added accessory of a pale blue ribbon. Yuna hadn't changed much either, which didn't surprise Syaoran in the least.
He smiled and let them in, pulling the door closed behind the pair.
"It's nice to see you again." Akiho smiled. "How is Sakura?"
Syaoran laughed. "We're both exhausted. Sakura's just feeding Shana, so she'll be out shortly. Can I offer you anything?"
"I wouldn't mind a cup of tea." Akiho replied.
Yuna smiled, "I'll have the same."
Syaoran nodded. "Have a seat-oh, what about Momo?"
Akiho looked down at the little plush rabbit sitting in her hand bag. "Momo? Do you want anything?"
The rabbit yawned. "Something sweet would be nice."
Syaoran nodded and headed towards the kitchen while Akiho and Yuna made their way to the lounge.

Sakura walked out carrying Shana and smiled upon seeing the pair. "Akiho! Thank you for coming." She beamed. "And you too, Yuna, Momo."
"It was our pleasure." Yuna replied kindly. "Who is this?" he asked, nodding towards the young baby.
Sakura smiled as she sat down and sat Shana on her knee. "This is Shana."
"Her clothes are so cute! Did Tomoyo make them?" Akiho asked.
Momo crawled out of Akiho's handbag and walked across the couch to hop onto the coffee table and onto the couch Sakura was sitting on, walking over to Shana.
"Yes, Tomoyo did." Sakura answered. "She also made some of my maternity wear."
"That's amazing!" Akiho's eyes shined.
Yuna couldn't hold back a laugh. "There's something oddly strange about seeing Kero's face printed all over that."
Akiho frowned. "Yuna, that's not very nice."
"Sorry." He laughed.
"This child certainly has Sakura's eyes." Momo said.

Syaoran walked in carrying a tray and gave Akiho and Yuna their tea and placed a bowl of sweets on the table.
"How long will you be in Japan for?" he asked as he sat down.
"We're thinking of settling down, actually. I've learnt a lot during my travels." Akiho replied.
Momo tossed a chocolate in her mouth and chewed it.
"How was America?" Sakura asked.
"It was certainly interesting. I'm not too sure what to make of it." Akiho replied.
"How so?" Sakura asked.

Before Akiho could answer, Kero came zooming into the lounge. "I smell food! Why didn't anyone tell me?" he complained loudly.
"You weren't invited." Momo shrugged before tossing another chocolate in her mouth.
Kero glared at Momo. "Think you're funny, huh?"
"No, just stating the facts." Momo retorted.
Akiho frowned, "Momo!"
Syaoran laughed.
"How were your magic studies over there?" Sakura switched topic.

Kero and Momo continued arguing with each other. Momo savagely shoved the last remaining chocolate in her mouth and watched as Kero's expression turned to one of utter defeat.

Akiho looked a little unsure. "Um...well..."
"If you don't want to talk about it, you don't have to." Sakura added quickly, seeing the look of discomfort on Akiho's face.
"It's not that-it's just so embarrassing!" Akiho answered.
Sakura and Syaoran both looked somewhat confused.
"Akiho accidentally set some things on fire several times." Momo elaborated. "Then when she tried to put them out, she nearly flooded the area."
Ah. Her control sucked.
Akiho buried her red face in her hands.
Sakura couldn't help feeling stunned. Before the silence could drag on any longer she quickly spoke. "Don't worry! I'm sure you just need more time and practice..." she tried to console Akiho, and then a sudden idea struck her. "Ah! I know-I can try and help you if you like?"
Syaoran looked at Sakura sceptically. "Are you sure you can handle that?"
"Oh come on, my control isn't terrible." Sakura muttered.
Akiho smiled, "Thank you for the offer, but you have Shana to look after now..."
"Hasn't Yuna been helping you out?" Sakura suddenly asked.
Akiho blushed again. "It isn't his fault, it's mine..."
Momo snorted. "She gets too flustered and totally botches it."
"You didn't have to put it that way." Akiho muttered irritably. "Enough about me-tell me about how you've been!"

Sakura laughed. "These last few months have been pretty chaotic."
"Chaotic is an understatement." Syaoran muttered.
Yuna raised his brow with curiosity. "Why's that?"
"Sakura couldn't stop bumping into things or misjudging where to put things." Kero answered. He and Momo had finally stopped arguing, but it didn't stop the two from pulling faces at one another.
Sakura frowned, "Kero!"
"She also tripped over things often." Syaoran teased.
Sakura pouted. "You two..."
"Not to mention those cravings and the morning sickness." Kero added, "Not gunna miss that."
Akiho looked thoughtful. "That sounds rough..."
Sakura smiled as she looked at her daughter in her arms. "It was all worth it."
"May I hold her?" Akiho asked.
"Of course." Sakura smiled and stood, carrying Shana over to Akiho.

Akiho took the small infant in her arms and Shana stared up at her with her big green eyes. Akiho stared back and smiled, "oh, she's so adorable."
Sakura laughed, "Tomoyo was so disappointed that she couldn't come and see her the day she was born." She said, "When she came over the other day, she couldn't stop taking photos and videos of her. I can't imagine what she'll do when we reach her first birthday."
Syaoran groaned. "Let's not think about that right now-she'll probably plan the whole thing..."
Yuna and Akiho laughed.

Shana started crying, startling Akiho and Sakura took her.
"Seems she needs her nappy changed." Sakura murmured.
"I'll take her," Syaoran said, standing up.
"Thanks." Sakura smiled, and he took Shana from her arms before heading down the hall.

Sakura sat back down with a soft sigh. "We haven't had a decent night's sleep for a while."
"Wasn't she just born last week?" Yuna asked with confusion.
She groaned. "Yes, but all throughout the pregnancy my sleep was interrupted. Getting up constantly to go to the toilet, vomiting, attempting to find a comfortable position to sleep in..."
Akiho looked concerned. "If you and Syaoran need a night to yourselves, we don't mind helping."
"Thank you, Akiho. We probably will at some point, but right now I don't think I'd be able to stand being separated from her." Sakura smiled.
Yuna looked mildly relieved.
"How long is Syaoran off work for?" Yuna asked.
"Three weeks. That's all they'd give him." Sakura replied.
Akiho gasped, "That's not very long..."
Sakura smiled a little sadly, "It's better than nothing, I guess."
"Hopefully that will be long enough to help the two of you get used to being parents." Yuna smiled kindly.

Somehow Sakura doubted they'd be used to it after three weeks. She felt it was probably going to take a lot longer to truly get used to it.

"So, do you think you'll have another child in the future?" Akiho asked casually.
Sakura blinked. "Uh-well...I...I'm not sure at this point..."
"I think we'd rather wait a while before deciding." Syaoran added as he walked out, amused. He sat down holding Shana and Sakura had to fight the urge to take a picture on her phone and set it as her lock screen.
"I guess you'd want to get used to being a parent first, huh?" Akiho mused.
"I think it's more that it would be very hard to find time alone without being interrupted." Yuna murmured as he sipped his tea.
"Did you really have to put that image in other people's heads?" Kero muttered.
Yuna just smiled curtly.
"So what do you think you'll do for work?" Sakura diverted the topic.
Akiho looked a bit unsure. "I don't really know..."
"Akiho, you don't have to work." Yuna said softly.
Akiho shook her head. "No! I should be working and earning my own income like everyone else!" She insisted.
"What sort of work were you thinking of looking at?" Syaoran asked curiously.
Akiho blinked. "Oh...I studied medicine and pharmaceuticals while I was in Germany. Most of my time in Los Angeles I spent learning about a different kind of magic." She explained.
"Were you studying western magic?" Syaoran asked.
She nodded. "Yes. I found it rather confusing though, to be totally honest."
Syaoran shrugged.
"So, do you think you'll look for a job as a pharmacist then?" Sakura asked.
"No...I don't think so. I'm not sure yet." Akiho fidgeted with the sleeve of her pale-yellow cardigan.
"Did you learn anything about stem cell research while studying medicine?" Syaoran inquired curiously.
Akiho's face lit up with recognition. "Oh, yes!"

Syaoran and Akiho discussed the topic, and Sakura listened out of curiosity. She asked a few questions here and there to help herself in understanding the conversation, but with all the different medical terms flying around everywhere, it was a little hard to keep up.
Sakura noticed Yuna watching Akiho tenderly and she smiled to herself.

...

Sakura smiled at her baby daughter who had finally fallen asleep. It was getting late and Sakura was exhausted from not only their long day, but also her total lack of sleep. Leaving the nursery, she made her way down to the bedroom where Syaoran was already lying in bed.
She changed and crawled in beside him, snuggling close.
"Did she fall asleep easily?" Syaoran mumbled tiredly.
"Yeah." Sakura mumbled her reply, "Let's get some sleep while we can."
Syaoran turned off the lamp in silent agreement with her, and then the two fell into a deep sleep.


Sorry this chapter was shorter (and probably a little boring maybe? I have read it like, eight times) Anyhow, I'm a bit stuck on ideas, so I'll have a look around and see if anything inspires me. I was talking to my mum about things I did as a baby. Apparently I used to sit in a big blue bucket and have baths in it during the summer. We have a photo of it, too.

I want to focus on the things new parents might experience while raising their first born. It will be a challenge for me but I'll do my best.

Uhhh, don't expect an update for about three weeks. I'm going on holiday to Claire Valley in South Australia, and I leave tomorrow. Just warning you.

Questions, thoughts, concerns?