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**This is Sakura-centric** meaning the readers are limited to experience only what Sakura sees and feels. We ONLY see and feel her interpretation of reality, not the motivations and feelings of other characters. Set in 18th century England.
The Sakura Blossom
Chapter 7: Mother Dearest
The scaping of silverware on porcelain resounded through the white marble room. The table was set with white china and sterling silverware. One elaborate gold candelabra sat in the middle, capped with flowers, and long tapered candles. She was rarely engaged in conversation with Sasuke, but occasionally she would converse with Charlotte, who sat to the Duke's right hand. With little conversation occurring at the table, Sakura was left to look out across the horse pastures.
"Sir" Charlotte's voice broke the sound of eating. "When Sarada can sit, can she meet Aziza?"
"No" his tone was final.
"Perhaps she could meet her when she is Charlotte's age." Sakura turned to look down the table. Joint glairs pinned her in place.
A resounding strike against the marble floor drawing all attention from the room to the doorman. Sakura nearly sighed in relief.
"Your grace, Lady Haruno has arrived." Jessie announced the arrival as navy blue skirts swished passed him and into the room unceremoniously.
"Mother," Sakura rose from her seat and motioned to the maid to make a place at the table, "We weren't expecting you; I had heard you went to London." She walked across room to meet her mother in an embrace. Instantly, some of the loneliness in her heart dissipated.
"I came home early when I heard that I had a grandchild to meet" She smiled and touched her daughter's cheek. Grabbing Sakura's hand, they moved to the table. Her mother
"You remember Sasuke" Sakura opened her palm in his direction, her mother curtsied with a small 'Your Grace', "and this young Lady is Charlotte. Charlotte, this is my mother, Lady Haruno" she quickly introduced them, Sasuke glared daggers as the two women moved to sit at the table.
"How did you enjoy London, Mother?" Sakura asked, overjoyed she finally had someone to talk to.
After regaling her daughter with tails of how modernized London truly was. The streets were paved with drainage and lighting. "It truly is a magical city, in the rain, the streetlights glitter like diamonds in the sky. My favorite thing was to sit along the street and watch young families pushing newborns in their prams. I do love babies, such a symbol of love."
Tension filled the air, an icy drop in temperature radiated from the Duke. Sakura quickly intervened, "Charlotte, can you tell Nicole to bring Sarada to meet her grandmother?"
Charlotte turned her onyx eyes to the Duke who gave a sharp nod. Quickly, the little girl got up from the table and crossed the room to the door on the left, leaving the adults in strained silence.
"How are you adjusting to life as a new father, Your grace" Lady Haruno questioned after a few minutes.
"Is your daughter able to give me a son, or did you lie" He pinned her with a glare.
"Take heart, Your Grace. My daughter's body can carry a healthy child." She met his glare with one of her own.
His mouth dropped open to rebuttal, when the door opened to allow Charlotte entrance. In her arms was wrapped a cooing three month old. Her smile was beaming with joy, erasing some of the settled tension.
"Sir, Nicole let me carry Sarada, all by myself!" She giggled and presented the baby in her arms to him. The smallest of smirks found its way to his face. He nodded in approval and took the small, offered bundle.
"She looks like much you when you were little. Except you have your mothers smile." He soothed down the blankets. While he wasn't overly engaged with the infant, he wasn't pushing her away.
"She has Lady Sakura's ears. I like them, they will listen" She said with a smile leaning over Sasuke to look at her little sister. With a quick offering, she took the little girl to her grandmother who took the newest Uchiha gently.
"Do you think…what would my brother have looked like?" Charlotte asked returning to Sasuke's side as he rose from his seat. He turned his full attention to the girl and knelt beside her with a hand on her shoulder. Just like that the two women in the room were forgotten, that much was clear to Sakura as she watched her husband and adopted daughter interact.
"He would have been an Uchiha, would he not? He would have looked like the rest of our family."
"Maybe he would have had momma's blue eyes" as she spoke her eyes became misty.
"You mother had the most kind eyes, he would be so lucky." He spoke sincerely.
"Can we go see them?" With a quick look to the windows Sasuke gave a nod and she leaped into his arms for a hug, which he patted her back. "Can Sarada and Lady Sakura come too?"
Awareness drew him back to the room and to those around them. He cleared his throat and shook his head. "No, Sarada is too little to ride, and Lady Sakura must prepare for our departure in a few days. Come. Have a small lunch prepared for our trip," His tone held a finality to it and he took purposeful strides toward the stables. Charlotte waved goodbye, unable to erase the smile on her face.
Sakura stood when the Uchiha pair left and moved to the window. Her mother soon joined, still holding Sarada.
"You were worried he wasn't warm and carrying to his family" Lady Haruno broke the silence.
"We maintain appearances for outsiders, but he never talks like that with me. He will rarely engage conversation about the state of the Manor, times in which I need to play hostess, or the plans for leaving for Tenten's wedding. But he only talks like that with Charlotte. When he held Sarada just now, that was his first time holding his daughter in her few months of existence."
"Perhaps she will be a conduit to your relationship blossoming." Her mother offered with a look that tried to convey wisdom. Her marriage fell apart when she didn't use Sakura as a way to keep her husband close before his death.
"That is a little much to ask of a young child." Sakura looked out of the window once more. Placing the responsibility on another to fix her marriage seemed irresponsible and like inviting in an interloper.
"She will be of marrying age in a few years and out from under foot. She is nearly a woman."
"Do you wish to help me pack for Tenten's wedding? Or to write her your well wishes?" Sakura asked, hoping to change the subject.
"She is marrying the Earl of Ronri, is she not?" She paused for Sakura's nod of affirmation. "They are a smart match. He is well connected, though a little odd."
"They care deeply for one another, above his connections, the rest of us could only hope to be so lucky". She let the conversation drop as the Uchiha made their way across the field. The younger talking animatedly, the other sat regally astride his steed looking off into the distance.
Evening had come, her servants had helped her undress and brush her hair. Unable to rest, she moved into her sitting room. She removed her sleeping attire and discarded it on a chair in the middle of the room.
Sakura stood naked before a long mirror against the wall, she fought down a shuttered breath. Her husband had not come to her in the 3 months since Sarada's birth. She was under no delusion at this point that he found her attractive, but perhaps she was even less unappealing now.
Her body had changed, gone were the narrow hips and a flat stomach of a teenager, in their place was the rounded hips of a woman and loosened stomach of a mother. Her breasts were larger and sagged slightly under the weight of the milk. Her breasts, stomach, and hips all were coated with thin white lines from her skin's requirement to stretch so rapidly. Even in the flickering candle light they were visible.
She wondered if Sasuke would find her new image appealing, though he likely wouldn't notice as he hadn't seen her without a cotton night dress. All the better she supposed. She ran her hands up her sides one last time before moving to the chair which held her discarded chamise.
The door flew open with a resounding bang-intent to wake her no doubt. Frozen she stared at the Duke in her doorway. His eyes roamed over her body, then fell transfixed on her stomach. Overcoming the shock, Sakura grabbed her night gown and held it to her body for modesty.
"There is no point hiding now, I already saw everything" his voice contained a slight hint of annoyance. Taking a breath, she lowered the cotton back to the chair. His eyes settled on her stomach once more with curiosity.
"I no longer have the body of a maiden" she said evenly.
"No," he paused, "You have the body of a mother. You carried a child, as countless women before you, and soon you will carry my son" his eyes flashed with sadness, which he quickly masked.
Sakura stared at him, unsure of what to do next. He came for her, there was only one reason the Duke would come to the lady chambers, but he looked ready to run out the door. Should she head to her bedchamber?
"Sit on the arm of the chair" He commanded.
With a questioning brow she did as he directed, feeling silly to sit naked on furniture, especially with the intent to couple. It contradicted everything she had ever been taught with respect to behavior of a lady.
When Sasuke moved in front of her, he lifted his sleeping gown with one had while the other hand squeezed her hip. Sakura's face flamed in embarrassment. Surely, he didn't mean to…
He entered her gently, but it felt rough and forced. She felt cleaved in two, he was larger than she remembered. He filled her completely. She tried to remember how to breath as he moved within her. He struck deep inside her body; his bollocks slapped against her derriere each time he buried himself inside her. Her body broke out in a gossamer of perspiration, flushed in embarrassment. She felt off balance as if she may fall and reached an arm up to her husband's shoulder, which he jerked in a clear nonverbal message to not touch.
She looked at him, trying to gauge him in some way. His eyes remained closed, one hand on her hip and the other on the arm of the chair at her side. A single tear track ran down his left cheek. A small groan sounded in his chest, of pain or pleasure she was unsure. She could fill his essence seep from her body as he pulled away and lowered his sleeping dress. Her body collapsed against the back of the chair and her eyes locked on his face.
Sasuke eyes look hauntingly empty when he met her gaze. He retreated across the room and through the open door, leaving her as if she were little more than a lady of the night. Shame bubbled inside her and tears streamed down her cheeks.
Sakura sank to the floor. His eyes flashed before her mind's eye again. Why did his eyes mirror what she felt? Empty, hallow, dirty, alone. She did not bother to rise from the floor for she could not muster the energy to move until Sarada started to cry desiring a late-night meal and changing.
She moved to her small child in her bed chamber. Picking her up she offered her exposed breast. Instantly, little Lady Uchiha latched on and began suckling loudly. Sakura sat naked on her bed, the baby wrapped in her arms. Just as thoughts of being a breeder bounced in her head, her daughter looked up at her and smiled around the offered nipple. With a small smile, she trailed her finger down her little one's smooth, alabaster cheek.
Once the little one was fed and changed. Sakura rocked her gently and pat her back to release any bubbles of gas. Once the little one burped and cooed, Sakura pulled back the covers. Tonight, her daughter would sleep with her. Thoughts of modesty forgotten as she settled into her bed, without a night dress, and kept her daughter close.