Chapter 17

Sasuke had persuaded Sakura here, and to be honest she couldn't think of a better place for them. No one knew who they were, and they had no idea about what it was they had done in the war or Sasuke's crimes.

She was happy here and Sasuke had figured out how they were going to dupe Naruto and everyone back home. It would be rather simple, or so he had insisted, and she kind of had to agree with him. No one besides them were here on this mission and they could do as they pleased. So she had been convinced, they would live a quiet life here and keep their daughter, and whatever other children they had, happy and safe here.

In retrospect it hadn't been that difficult for him to convince her to follow his plan.

Their plan was simple, they'd continue their mission the same way they had when they had been traveling with Sarada. He'd be gone for a week, they'd be together a week, then she'd go out for a week, and they'd be together for a week only to continue repeating this cycle, over and over, she rather liked it too. Her and Sasuke together for long periods of times might lead to a homicide and it was for the best that they could go their separate ways from time to time. And with this schedule they spent time with their daughter and one another while still working on their mission.

"Shush Sarada, papa will be home soon," Sakura consoled her daughter as she bounced Sarada in the dying light of the day. Sasuke was due home at any moment, unless he was retained by some enemies but Sakura doubted it as she held her baby close to her. Sarada was fussy, probably because she knew her father was due home right now. The girl grabbed Sakura's hair as she looked around.

"Sasuke," Sakura sighed. Her husband was unusually late today. Or at least she thought it was. Looking out at their back yard of the small house Sasuke had purchased she sighed. He would be home through here if he were sticking to routine. And routine was something which Sasuke followed really well.

It surprised her how once they had bought this small house Sasuke had adapted to being 'domestic' relatively quickly. He would come home and he had his own little routines which seemed to have meanings to him. Sakura felt that Sasuke rather liked having a home to be at, to come home to. He didn't say anything about it but she saw the little ways he relaxed, the little ways he brightened up a little when he walked into their small home.

"I'm home Sakura," a voice came from the front of the house. Sarada grinned with delight and Sakura gasped with delight.

"Sasuke!" Sakura gasped as she hurried to the front of the house. Before her husband could even guess what she was going to do her arms were wrapped around him as she smiled with happiness.

"Sakura, Sarada," Sasuke greeted them. Sakura pulled away from him with a large smile as she bounced Sarada who was stubbornly clinging to a chunk of his black hair.

"You're late!" she immediately pointed out to him, he didn't react to her news. Instead he just kissed her lips as he stole their daughter from her grasp and disappeared into their house. "Sasuke!"

"Your mother is demanding," she heard him tell their daughter, she frowned. But then she smiled, at least Sasuke appeared to like being a father. She would freely admit she hadn't been prepared for that, Sasuke's interest in their daughter and her activities astounded Sakura as she followed them to Sarada's room. Her baby yawned as her father put her on her little bed and pulled a blanket over her. Sarada was out like a light before they even left the room.

Sakura walked to their room but she was pressed against the wall before she knew it and his mouth was on hers' again. Her fingers entwined themselves into his hair as he lowered her to their futon.

"Here," he said unceremoniously as he produced a box for her. Sakura just blinked as she sat up to open it. Before she could contain her gasp she found herself staring at a beautiful hair pin. Sasuke said nothing as she pulled it out of the box.

"It's beautiful Sasuke," Sakura announced happily. It was her namesake flower with an Uchiha pendant dangling from it.

"My father gave one to my mother once," he explained, she looked over to see him looking a little shy and uncertain but still maddeningly indifferent.

"It's perfect, I love it Sasuke, thank you for the gift," she murmured as she leaned over to press her lips softly to his cheek. How many times as a child had she dreamt of him giving her a lovely gift? Perhaps too often, and then the reality set in and she had given up many of her dreams, many of those foolish childish dreams which meant nothing. Her reality was wonderful but him occasionally fulfilling one of her shattered, forgotten dreams made her feel so much more alive and cherished than she could ever convey to him.

"The Taka family is willing to watch Sarada for a night, and I'll be taking you out," Sasuke informed her. She straddled his lap, his hand was sliding over her spine as she examined the gift.

"Why?" she asked. He smirked as he pressed his lips to hers again.

"Our anniversary, we've forgotten it a few times already," Sasuke murmured and she stared owlishly.

"Am I dreaming? Is this a genjutsu? Who are you and where's my husband!?" she snarled out the demands as she grabbed his garments. The imposter did not look amused.

"You're being annoying Sakura," he said it flatly and then she was laughing her heart out at their code for no one could ever impersonate her husband well. She hugged him as she kissed him again.

"Thank you for the thoughtfulness," she whispered against his lips. He said nothing as he lowered her to the mattress again and never broke the kiss.