Huge thank you to Ink Child: this is based on a laugh she shared with me, and then let me run with it.

Table for Two

Hinata wasn't going to leave; she was going to stay home. Sasuke finally convinced her the world would not end if she had a morning out of the house, and practically shooed her out of the door with his assurances that he was more than capable of taking care of their child.

His son, however, was much harder to convince.

He came downstairs to find his father at the kitchen table, calmly reading. There was no Mama. There was no humming or the sounds of dishes being washed or food being cooked. There was only Papa, quietly reading the newspaper (and not even the comics!) and sipping bland tea.

Sasuke looked up to find his son clutching his favorite stuffed toy, and eyeing him suspiciously.

"Good morning," he offered. "Did you sleep well?"

"Where's Mama?"

Direct. To the point. Sasuke tried not to let it gall him.

"She is out this morning," he carefully folded his newspaper and put it to the side. "What would you like for breakfast?"

"I always make breakfast with Mama," he crossed his arms and clutched his toy closer.

Sasuke gave a small shrug. "Then I guess you can make breakfast with me." He could feel his son's incredulous (and possibly horrified) stare boring into his back as he stood and rinsed his cup. "So?" he dried his hands. "What shall we make?"

His son peered at him through narrowed eyes.

"Can you even cook?"

"If you can read, you can cook," he pulled down Hinata's small, sky blue binder where she carefully logged her recipes. "Get your apron."

Despite being clearly unconvinced that this would go well, the boy carefully put his stuffed toy in his Watching Chair and put on his apron. He hesitated a moment before grabbing Hinata's and handing it to him.

"You, too."

Sasuke accepted the gauntlet, and donned his wife's cheery apron. "So?" he reissued the challenge. "What shall we make?"

His son responded in kind.

"Crepes."

Sasuke gave a solemn nod, keeping his smile to himself. His child had obviously gotten some of his mother's taste for the sweeter things.

He pulled out Hinata's recipe, and read off the ingredients. The boy quickly began to gather them up, while offering instructions ('No, Papa – Mama uses this bowl for mixing.' 'She says it will taste better if you sing while you stir… do you sing?' 'Nevermind, Papa. I'll sing.')

His reticence soon turned to begrudging acceptance, and even enjoyment as he worked with his Father, who listened carefully to his explanations, and even told him small, Important things. ('My Mother was also a good cook; I helped her when I was young.' 'Yes, just like you.' 'I think I still remember some of her recipes.' 'I suppose we could make those another time.')

By the time they sat down to eat, Father and Son were well and truly enjoying one another, and smiling nearly-identical smiles; something Hinata noted as she walked in the door.

"Mama!" her son's face lit up. "Come sit, come sit! Papa and I made crepes!"

Sasuke pulled out a chair for Hinata, who was awash in happiness.

"This looks delicious!"

"Papa did alright," he gave a carbon copy of his Father's dismissive one-shouldered shrug. "I had to help."

"He was quite thorough in his instruction," Sasuke pushed her chair in, meeting her eyes in amusement.

"I am so proud of you both," she beamed.

"I even did the eggs this time," her son announced, proudly.

"You did?"

"He did," Sasuke affirmed. He was taking his first bite of their crepes as she said:

"Did you crack them into a bowl like I showed you?"

CRRRRRRUNCH!

Their eyes flew to Sasuke, who was trying to carefully chew around the shrapnel in his breakfast, even as the realization blossomed over their son's face, turning it to crimson.

"Uh...no..." he admitted, pushing his fingers together... "I sorta... forgot that part..."

Sasuke managed to swallow, Hinata managed not to laugh, and they managed to eat their brunch (carefully) together as a family.

Later that night, when their son was fast asleep, Hinata allowed herself to laugh at the incident.

"Thank you," she kissed Sasuke's cheek gently, before snuggling into his side. "You absolutely made his day."

"Hn," he pressed a kiss into her hair, pretending he wasn't over-the-moon pleased as they interlaced their fingers and settled together to talk about everything and nothing and dreams and crepes.

In the last moments before he fell asleep, he remembered with startlingly vivid clarity a particular dish his mother used to make – something he was certain his son would enjoy making and eating. He resolved to buy the ingredients tomorrow, starting with the eggs.

*I purposely didn't name the child or describe him in great detail; I leave that to your imagination! Thanks again for reading!