Sarada could not handle this. Her papa was leaving, and her mama wanted a kiss. And he didn't. He didn't kiss her mama. The youngest Uchiha glanced up at her mama and frowned at the disappointed grimace on her face. She took her larger hand in hers and smiled up at her, hoping she'd reciprocate. She did.
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"Yeah yeah, everything's fine papa." Sarada waves nonchalantly at her papa as they continue with their skype call. After the rekindling of their relationship, Sarada was adamant about having constant communication with her papa. So her papa grumbled and answered her skype calls every Wednesday.
"How's your mother?"
Sarada beams happily at her papa. She loves when he asks about her mama. Especially now that Kaka-oji had given her some advice on how to make her mama happy. "She's great! She has a new group of medic-nin training at the hospital this week, and they all really like her." Her papa smirks at the screen, and she could feel the waves of pride through her computer screen. She puts her index finger to her chin, like she'd seen her mama do, and takes in a deep breath. "There is this one intern though… Ryuji-kun. He walks her home every evening."
Her papa's visible brow arches and he crosses his hands in front of his mouth. "Hn."
Sarada nods enthusiastically. Her plan is working. "He kinda looks like you papa. Mama really enjoys talking to him."
"What has your mother said about him?"
Sarada shrugs. "She says that he needs someone to care for him. She says he's very lonely."
Her papa lets out a breath. "Your mother is too kind."
Sarada mimics her father's stance and places her hands in front of her mouth. "She tends to find outlets for your absence."
Sasuke narrows his eye at her. "And what is that supposed to mean Sarada?"
Sarada shrugs again. "Kaka-oji said that when you're not here she needs someone to take care of. And not that I'm an adult," her papa rolls his eye at this, "she needs someone else to smother in affection."
Her papa sighs and releases his hands from his face. "Enough of this. How is your schoolwork?"
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The next Wednesday her papa does not answer her morning text message. So, she waits until after class before she sends him another text him again.
"Mama." Sarada calls as her mother cooks their dinner. Her mother nods and hums in her direction, to signal that her daughter has her attention. "Has papa contacted you today?"
Her mama shakes her head. "Your papa does not enjoy using technology. It is rare that I hear from him daily."
Sarada waves her hand dismissively. "Have you heard from him this week? He didn't text me this morning."
Her mama shrugs. "He may be experiencing bad weather Sarada. Naruto told me that Kiri has been experiencing hurricanes."
Sarada pouts and pulls out her homework, since there will apparently be no skype call tonight. She hears the front door open, and watches as her mama pauses in cooking for a moment. "Sarada, go see who's at the door."
Sarada looks at her mother curiously for just a moment, before rushing to the front door. Her papa is leaning down to take off his shoes slowly, as if he hasn't been away from his family for six months. Sarada crosses her arms and waits for him impatiently, she knows now not to jump on him. When he's finished with his shoes he nods at his daughter and approaches her slowly. She smiles up at him brightly, and he smiles softly down at her before pressing a brush of a kiss to the top of her head.
Sarada resists the urge to bounce on the balls of her feet in excitement. "Mama is in the kitchen." Her papa smirks and shakes his head in amusement at his daughter. Sarada tries to contain her energy as she follows her papa down the hallway. But the longer it takes him to shuffle along the wooden floors, the more excitement she has to contain.
Her mama turns to face the two as they enter the kitchen, and smiles brightly at them. "Welcome home Sasuke-kun."
Her papa nods in her direction and takes his seat at their table. "How was school Sarada?"
Sarada sighs in exasperation. This is not how her papa was supposed to greet her mama after a long absence.
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Sarada, unsatisfied with her papa's quiet demeanor during dinner, sneaks out of her bed to listen at her parent's bedroom door. She hears faint shuffling for 5 long minutes, until finally her papa clears his throat.
"Sarada told me about your new students."
"Ah, yes. They are quite a handful. I'm surprised she mentioned them."
Her papa grunts in agreement. "She mentioned an intern named Ryuji."
Her mama is quiet for a few moments, and Sarada leans forward to peer in through the crack in the door. Her mama is folding her papa's freshly cleaned clothes, and her papa is leaning against the dresser next to her.
"None of my interns are named Ryuji."
Sasuke chuckles. "I know. I checked with Naruto."
Sakura pauses in laundry folding to smile at her husband. "Then what's the problem dear?"
Her papa moves to pull her mama into a hug with his good arm. "No problem. But I think our daughter was trying to get a reaction from me."
Her mama lays her head on her papa's chest and relaxes in his embrace. She's never seen them like this. "Why would she do that?"
Sasuke's arm wraps around her waist. "I'm not sure."
Sakura looks up at her husband and nuzzles her face into his neck. "Did you have a reaction?"
From her vantage point, Sarada could see her papa roll his eye. "Of course not."
Her mama shrugs and moves away from her papa to continue folding the laundry. "I'm glad. I only love you."
Her papa follows her mama to the basket and wraps his arm around his wife. Sarada's eyes widen in surprise when he presses his lips to her neck, and her mama drops the clothes she was folding.
"Go to bed Sarada." His voice startles her out of her shock, and she quickly runs to her room giggling. Kaka-oji will be pleased to know their plan worked so well.