Prompt: No other way
Pairing: AsumaXSakura
Sakura held Atsuko until she fell asleep, and even after that. Holding the child close to her she continued to hum. The smell of smoke and the light sound of footsteps on tile alerted her to him long before he stepped through the door way and her heart clenched as the memory of him holding Atsuko for the first time came to her mind.
Closing her eyes she steadied her breathing, and forced her emotions to the back, he stepped through the door a moment later, breathing a bit heavier than normal; he had run. "Is she okay?"
Sakura turned her upper body to face him, her lap still holding Atsuko's head. "She's fine, she tried tree climbing again."
Asuma sighed in relief, "Thank God." Then he looked at her "And thank you too, Sakura."
"I was just doing my job Asuma."
He smiled and walked over to the bed; he lifted her legs for a moment, sat down and placed them in his lap. "You sent not one, not two, but three of your orderlies to fetch me this afternoon."
"She was scared and she wanted her father."
"Yes, but you only usually send one; a no name newbie, not your own personal pupil."
Sakura's started running her fingers gently through Atsuko's hair "Hanabi was able to find you faster."
Asuma lifted his hand to gently grab her chin, forcing her to look at him. She met his gaze head on, he smiled. "You love her Sakura, that's nothing to be ashamed of."
She gave a dry laugh "I let my feelings rule me when it comes to her."
Asuma smiled "You let your feeling rue you in almost every situation, but that's what makes you so great."
Sakura gave a small smile as he released her chin. "I heard you had a date tonight."
Asuma stiffened at her words before relaxing again, "Yeah, it's not going to work."
A bubble of happiness sprouted in Sakura "Why not?"
"I keep comparing her to . . ."
"Kurenai?"
"You."
Sakura's head whipped to the side to look at the man "What?"
"I knew it wouldn't work before I even went out on the date, had only planned on staying for drinks and then leaving to find you."
"Why?" The question slipped from her mouth in a whisper.
"I love you. I have for a very long time."
"What?" her voice cracked that time, as she felt tears burn behind her eyes.
"When you came in with Atsuko that week after I woke up, I could see the love you had for my baby girl. It was only admiration than but it grew. Every time I saw you with Atsuko it grew. Then the other night she called for her mother and I bent down to try to explain Kurenai to her again and she said her other mommy, you. It sort of hit me then that you were her mother; you had stayed up late and done feedings with her, changed diapers, cooked for us, you were there when she took her steps, said her first word, took her to the academy for the first time with me, made her bento boxes, held her when she cried and healed her when I couldn't. You never once discouraged her from asking about Kurenai, in fact you'd tell her stories and answer her questions. You're her mother and I know Kurenai would approve."
Sakura was crying now "And this all just came to you?"
He smiled and took her face in his hands and kissed her, when they broke apart he rested his forehead against hers and smiled "You're stuck with us now Sakura."
She smiled "I'd have it no other way."
So SWEET! Or at least I think so ;) Anyways that's the end of this arc. I like it. Anyways tomorrow is chapter 30 and I want to know who you want to see! I don't know why but I like the big numbers like 10,20,30, 40 ect. So go check out my poll if you haven't already and read Whisper in the Wind, while I consider posting this separately. Also I thought you'd might like to know that the song that I listened to while writing this chapter is called Dig Two Graves by Randy Travis, kind of has the meaning of the chapter in it. Oh also it'd be great if we could reach 200, reviews, but we'd need about forty reviews, are y'all up for that challenge? ;) Also be on the look out for some separate one shots with Sakura pairings outside 80 day Challenge.
