Thank you everyone for your responses. A special thanks to my favorite fanfic writer, EphemeralSakura. A review from her is like… I can't express with words! She is my inspiration and thanks to her that I have started writing SasuSaku fanfictions. Everyone please go and check her works (if you haven't yet). She beautifully depicts SasuSaku's relationship.

Sarada internally flipped with joy while she rushed to get ready for bedtime. After the incident of Shin and his clones, although her father visited often and had relished each other's presence, this was something different. Being tired after hard training and missions, she always dozed off reluctantly but today she dares herself not to sleep. She hurriedly took a shower and got into her night attire with flashing speed looking forward to spending wholesome time together with her papa and mama both.

Sarada holds very little memory of her father. She recollects about the time when her mother told her bedtime stories when she was a child. Stories that Sakura weaved from Sasuke's and infant Sarada's interaction. Although she is all grown up and inroads of becoming a full-fledged kunoichi, she remembers every inch of her mother's narrations and her expression along with.

Sarada takes a trip down her memory lane and recollects a few of them. Sakura telling how her father was too scared to hold her when she was some days old and Sarada could literally hear her mother giggling when she narrates how selfishly her father never wanted to return their baby a few days later to her mother's arms until the baby cried for food.

And then the one which was her favorite where her father ate tomatoes to help clean her plate when Sakura wasn't looking or busy somewhere. Tomatoes were her father's favorites and even as baby, Sarada was not a big fan of tomatoes and made a fuss when made to eat thus yielding scoldings from her mother. Well, rest was history when her mother one fine morning found that her Papa-San was helping their daughter in finishing tomatoes.

Maybe papa was always a savior! Sarada giggled while she remembers her mother explaining how she tormented her father for the act.

During childhood, she got disheartened when she heard stories from ChoCho, how her father fights monsters, and save her from them. After all, she was a child back then and Sasuke's absence brought her a doubt that her father doesn't love her like other dads out there. Until recently, when Otsutsuki attacked during their Chunnin exams, her father flew out of nowhere and carried her safely fighting with the Otsutsuki monster. Her father was definitely a hero, she knows that now.

Sarada quickly got over with these thoughts. She was too excited even to waste her precious time recollecting adorable stories. Wasting time was not on her list tonight!. For now, she wants to make a wonderful memory which she might make her mother recollect when they share a cup of tea missing her father.

Just like her mothers, she loves holding memories.

Sarada bashed to the living room where her mother has already set up three futons side by side. Sakura was amazed she has never seen her little daughter like this. Heaven has blessed her a child disciplined like her father who didn't mess up her beautiful house by loitering around. She had heard stories from Naruto about how his son messed up their residence. And for that matter of fact she was lucky her daughter inherited all good genes from her father.

"Isn't someone too excited?" Sakura returned the favor to her daughter teasingly as she did to her mother after coming back.

"Sorry" She giggled as her cheeks stained with a tinge of red.

"Please bring me those pillows." Sakura points towards the couch.

"Yessss" Sarada chirped as she literally bounced towards the couch and after a second she was standing in front of her mother hugging them.

Sakura smirked on her enthusiasm and Sarada defends herself smiling her cutest smile. Sakura has missed this smile on her baby's face. It was the smile she earned from Sarada when she was successful in assuring that Sasuke treasures both of them deeply. With all her growing up and maturing so fast, these little moments somehow vanished. Sakura remembers her sharp shift from nagging about her father to get silent and somewhat suffering silently.

It was something just like her father.

"Mama, are you alright?" Sarada was concerned. Her mother hasn't moved after she handed the pillows.

Sakura nodded smilingly. So stupid of her to drag these topics out when they were about to create a happy memory.

Sarada was too young to understand her mother's agony living without her father but has never seen Sakura upset over this issue. On contradictory, her mother always cheered her up somehow with her brightest smile. But now she understands her mother has borne the same pain as her. No, even greater. She realizes how her whining back then would have hurt Sakura but her mother always chose to smile and comfort her.

Sakura was taken by surprise when he felt her daughter crashing on her hugging and she pulled Sarada in a tight embrace. The hug was special which only the mother-daughter duo knows about. The hug to chase away their worries, agonies, despair, disappointments, and anger.

"Mama, you're squishing me." Sarada giggled.

Sakura's usual apology was followed by another playful question "What was this for, all of sudden?"

"Nothing" Sarada playfully ignored her mother.

"Oh!" and before Sarada could realize a change in her mother's voice Sakura hit her daughter with a pillow.

Sarada's ninja instinct allowed her to dodge the next hit as she pulls another pillow to return her the favor. Both laughed hard as they enjoy their pillow fighting session. It was also an old habit of both which ceased as Sarada started waking up late to study or sleeping just due to tiredness of mission.

Sasuke silently walked out of his room after a change of clothes when he heard both of the kunoichis giggling hard. What on earth happened that made them laugh hard! Sasuke was partly amused and partly amazed to see both of them throwing pillows at each other like children. But he took a moment to get engrossed in the peace of seeing his family amidst their screeching noises.

My family.

Sakura willingly gets hit by Sarada's pillow as Sarada groaned "Aww Mama, You always let me win."

Sakura tee-heed before she saw Sasuke standing watching the scene with a smirk on his lips. A sudden gush of a shade of red rolled over Sakura's face imagining Sasuke watching him acting like a child.

"Papa!" Sarada scooted towards her father as she complains about how her mother always let her win.

Sasuke sees an image of his younger self who complained in the same way to his own father. Her daughter really caries his part as Sakura mentioned in her letters often.

Sarada tugged on the hem of the sleeve of his armless hand. "Papa?"

"Nothing" His lips curling up to give the smile which is reserved only for his daughter.

Before they can decide who is sleeping where Sarada jumped claiming the middle futon forcing Sakura and Sasuke to sleep each by her side. Sakura was astonished by her daughter's excitement as she giggled softly. Sasuke found the behavior just like his wife, being over joyous over small issues although he has gotten a taste of how aloof and haughty she can get when she gets pissed off, Just like him.

Sarada was her majesty for tonight and her parents followed her command, Sakura taking her right side and Sasuke her left. But deep down the Uchiha couple was contented to add more family moments to her memories. Sakura waited till her daughter and husband comfortably settled in their respective futons and then she switched off the lights and finally made to her futon.

Sarada takes off her spectacles as she coaxes her father to tell her a story as she makes it clear that her mama has told a lot of stories of their genin time. Sakura internally chuckled as she remembers how poorly Sasuke narrates thus always relying on his powers of Sharingan to show her all his tragedies and to share mirthful stories. Mostly tragedies. She finds herself humorless as she realizes at the age of Sarada, his husband had a lot of burdens driving him crazy. A part of her heart silently prayed to every soul who sacrificed them for a better future that Sarada was part of and her daughter doesn't have to face insufferable and malicious horrors like him. Sakura's internal monologue was cut off by Sasuke.

"We" He started although he doesn't even know the character that was the part of his story rather of his fond memories was known or unknown to his daughter. He never had a chance to tell anything about his family and clan.

"I mean I and my elder brother once slept on the engawa when our parents were away for a night." And he struggled to continue his story both because of his poor skills of storytelling and also due to the thick emotions that are attached to those persons and memories. He seldom speaks about them but tonight he can't ignore her daughter's request.

Sakura closes her eyes to match her watched version of the same story via Sharingan and the one she hears from her beloved. She almost wanted to help him when he was at a loss to explain his emotions but she didn't interrupt. Partly she respected his efforts and partly she enjoyed a little when he abruptly frames and reframes sentences. She could literally vision her husband frowning and pouting at his unsatisfied performance. But it pained her heart to detect quavering in his voice while he unfolds his immortal bond with his brother to his daughter.

Every people in the lively village has fallen in deep slumber but here in Uchiha household Sarada still faces her father who lies flat on back extending his right arm in which she rests her head as her mother gently massages her back relaxing her tensed muscles after her strenuous mission. Sarada who carries the pride and dream of becoming Hokage doesn't care tonight how her image is spoilt by being pampered. She indulges herself in the small pleasure that she always yearned from childhood.

Being together. Being together with her Mama and Papa.

And as Sasuke ends another story about his mother and father she presents her next wish "Ne Papa, tell me about our clan."

Sasuke chuckled as he spoke, "Maybe next time."

Sarada pouted but she knows her over-enthusiasm has drawn more than enough words and energy from her father. But she is glad that she did because if she hasn't then she could have missed the soft side of her father. His father was known to have a tenacious dark and cold demeanor. But behind that hard and perhaps misunderstood mask, her father envelops his warm side that only her mother knew and now she knows. She now realizes why her mother always told her to trust her father's love when he was absent from their life for a long term Mission. Yes, her papa really treasures his family like her mother always asserted.

It was not long enough as both noticed that their daughter gave up to her exhaustion. Sasuke noticed how his daughter has gripped his shirt. He doesn't know what to feel! Happy? Since he finally cherishes something with his daughter. Sad? Since her daughter thinks he will leave again. Finally, Sakura spoke softly her voice a little more than a whisper.

"Anata?"

"Hn."

"After you left, I often found that in the middle of the night, her small hands sneaking to grip my nightgown." She wanted to make herself sound light suppressing her heavy emotions. She knew it was her baby's way to not let go of her mother when her father was already missing. She giggled softly to conceal her sadness as she added "and it tickled."

Sasuke furrowed brows relaxed as his lips curl on sides a little from his wife's attempt to pull him out of his disheartened state.

"Sorry" He whispered.

Sorry for everything. Sorry for making you go through the same pain over again. Sorry for abandoning our daughter.

Although those words are unspoken, Sakura acknowledges them as she gently squeezes his palm that peeks behind his daughter's head resting in his arm. Although a dim light illuminates the room, Sasuke can see the way her plump lips curl as her eyelids flutter shut and she finally decides to sleep too.

Yes, a long day for three of them. It was a while before Sasuke also surrendered to need of rest. He reflects he was kind of the person who hated any kind of love and affection after witnessing his family and clan slaughtered. One who always chased behind the power to seek peace and satisfaction but now he understands the essence of true peace when he is with his wife and daughter, his family. Even though he is always away to protect from shadows but when he finally comes home, he finds a warm loving beautiful family eagerly waiting for him.

His home started with Sakura and which is now adorned by his Sarada.

And here it ends! Tell me did you liked it or not?

Well, while I was writing the ending paragraph, an idea of writing a sequel popped up in my brain. I am not adding more chapters here instead I would publish a new one-shot. (PS- It would be a SasuSaku smut :p) Stay tuned for that. ;)

Thank you!