The trip back to the village was rough, snow came down so fast and thick that we couldn't see a foot in front of us. My body shivers at the welcomed warmth of the Hokage's Office. Tsunade's eyes are locked on me, rather the diamond on my forehead. Shikamaru debriefs her as my attention moves outside of the windows, my home just minutes away where my son is waiting for me. The interrogations are going to be difficult and no doubt that I'll have to talk with Asa to learn just how she got ahold of that poison.

"Everyone is dismissed except Sakura." My green eyes cut back over to her, realizing that I didn't pay attention to anything else that was said. Sasuke and Naruto both give me a worried look before they shuffle from the room. Her hand motions for me to come to her side, a place where I stood for many years. My movement is slow and careful as I try to prevent another wave of pain.

"What happened?" She sounds like my mother, always concerned when I'm injured. Watching her as she heals the damage that I could've taken care of, a sad smile forms on my lips.

"Takeshi drained my chakra and landed a hard blow right in my stomach." Tsunade scoffs at my answer and moves her healing hand up to my throat.

"Looks like you missed some." That would explain why Sasuke was afraid to touch me this morning. There was so much going on yesterday and this morning I was too focused on healing the others that the bruise must've slipped my mind. The white snow catches my attention again, my body itching to leave and go home.

"I'm proud of you Sakura. Go home and see your son." Smiling, I turn on my heels and run from the office but my body runs into something solid knocking me to the floor. A hand reaches up to rub the spot on my back that hit against the concrete and a laugh grabs my attention. Sasuke is standing over me offering his left hand for support, accepting his hand I bounce up.

"I thought you would already be home." Our decent down the stairs is quick, we both are eager to get home.

"Hn. I'm not leaving you alone." Smirking, I start to run in the direction of our house playfully sticking my tongue out as I pass him. I know he will be right behind me so I move just a little faster so I don't reopen my internal wounds. My pace turns into a jog as the gates come into view, butterflies fill my stomach as I spot the front porch. Sasuke catches me and lightly pushes me, earning a giggle in from his childish acts. Even the serious, by the rules Sasuke Uchiha tends to act like a child.

The wailing cry of a baby hits us like a tidal wave when the front door opens. Hinata is gently bouncing Itachi in her arms, trying to console the restless infant. Her violet eyes widen as she notices our arrival and I move quickly to take the child from her. Sasuke unhooks the bag from my shoulders and retreats to our bedroom to dispose of the gear. As my eyes look down onto Itachi's face, his cries stop and a toothless smile warms my heart.

"He's been crying for a few minutes, I think he drank his bottle too fast." Two hands rub against the swell of her belly and I notice her hand is pushed away lightly. Here soon Itachi will have plenty of friends to play with. Walking around the corner my eyes widen and shock fills me. The entire living room has been decorated and a large tree stands by the window. Joy builds in my chest as I move closer to the tree, a few homemade ornaments hang with my old ones. Itachi's hand print molded in clay and a few Uchiha symbols scattered across the limbs.

"This means a lot Hinata, thank you so much." I move over to give her a one-armed hug, a soft kick from her stomach is a welcomed response. Hinata walks beside me to the front door, Itachi and I see her off with a wave. This just proves how much we all care for each other and how much we will do for one another. For four pregnant women to bring in a large tree and my boxes from across town is no small feat, they must've gotten help from Lee or Kiba. Itachi's gurgle causes my eyes to shift to his small, sweet face.

"Were you good for your aunts?" Speaking a little higher than normal, he pulls at shirt as if responding. Shifting him to just one arm as I bring the other up to his tiny hands letting him hold my finger. For someone so small he sure is strong.

"You're very strong little one. One day you may be stronger than mama." Giggling at my words, I enter the master bedroom only focused on Itachi. Water running is muffled by the closed door but everything else fades away. Two small black eyes are locked onto mine melting away any worries or doubts I have.

"I love you Itachi." Bringing my face closer to his as I plant a small kiss to his forehead. A tiny fist balls in my pink locks pulling it softly. Walking to the bed so I can lay him down, my hands untangle my hair from his grasp. He definitely is stronger than other infants at a week old. An energetic cry comes his small mouth.

"Your already loud like your mother." Sasuke's voice makes me jump up slightly. I didn't even hear the water turn off or the door open. Huffing at him I stand up straight to relieve the pressure in my back. Glancing to the side I see a towel wrapped dangerously low on his hips and water dripping from the raven lock. Instinctively my bottom lip is taken between my teeth keeping myself from doing anything too risky. Letting my attention return to the small child I tickle my fingers over his stomach. Almost soundless laughs come from our son and my heart melts even more. Itachi's eyes moves over to his father's figure and I know that I'm not the object of his attention anymore.

"I've got him. I know you'll want to get cleaned up again."

After a long shower and a short healing session I walk back to the living room to find my boys laying on the couch. Sasuke has Itachi laying on his chest, both pairs of black eyes closed softly and a steady rhythm of breathing between the two. After being alone for so long Sasuke finally has a family to come home to. It was nice just being the two of us, getting to know each other again and working through our problems. Itachi will be able to help heal the old wounds from his childhood more than I ever could.

There were nights early in our marriage that Sasuke would wake from a deep sleep with sweat pouring down his face and his breathing erratic. Whenever I would wake up with him all he would say is go back to bed and he would leave the room for the rest of the night. I know that there are details from his past that I will never know, and I understand why but eventually Itachi will be old enough to ask questions. Those will be the questions I won't be able to answer and Sasuke needs to be ready for those.

Squirming my way onto the couch, I prop Sasuke's head in my lap so I can play with his hair. He must be exhausted since he didn't wake from the motion, smiling to myself I lean back and close my eyes. It still feels like a dream to be here with Sasuke and our child. The night Sasuke left he told me that he walked a different path from Naruto and I. Yes, our paths began joined together but we all branched off on our own for a while. Naruto and I were able to reconnect and because stronger friends and teammates, making our will to bring Sasuke home even stronger. It seems that Sasuke's path just took a little longer to come back home.

"Sakura…" My name comes out low and hushed, peeking through my lashes to see that he's still asleep. Twisting his hair between my fingers and rubbing his scalp tenderly. The opposite hand rests on our sons back softly feeling the rise and fall of his breathing. A vibration hits my thigh and I move to pull out the electronic device, a text from Ino saying she's here. My fingers respond for her to enter quietly. The blonde takes a seat in the recliner across from me in awe of the personal moment going on between us.

"Looks like the mission was a success." She whispers afraid to wake the two. Shrugging my shoulders I return my fingers to his hair.

"Now we have to beat more information out of them."

"I like the new accessory." A laugh falls from my lips louder than I wanted. Sasuke twitches under me and I still my movements.

"Thanks, wish it was under better circumstances. Oh and thank you for putting up my decorations."

"It was nothing. Itachi had fun even though he doesn't realize what's going on. I just stopped by to relay a message, Tsunade wants both of you to report to the prison tomorrow morning." That's sooner than I thought but it has to be done. Ino's eyes look down to the sleeping boys with a loving smile. Sasuke's eyes crack open after listening to our conversation but he doesn't move so Itachi doesn't wake up.

"Okay. I'm due back in the hospital at the beginning of the year, so you'll be solo for a while. How's Taka doing?" Hopefully he is doing well studying under Ino. I need her to get him ready for when I'm back to full strength, after that he's getting the hardcore training I received.

"Impressive as always. He's started to study in your office when we're on lunch break." Seems like we have more in common than I originally thought. Sasuke shifts in my lap and moves Itachi into his hold, breaking our contact but he doesn't stray too far.

"I need to be heading back to work, I just came by for my break."

"What time tomorrow?" Sasuke asks just as she's turning the doorknob.

"Ten." With that our front door almost slams shut and we are alone once again. Looking back over to Sasuke, I see him looking directly at our son with love in his eyes. Tomorrow can wait, for now we are going to spend time together as a family and enjoy the little things.

Sasuke's POV

Sakura just laid Itachi down for the night, or for the next few hours, and we're sitting in bed reading over a few scrolls. It seems that tomorrow is going to be longer than I originally thought, it seems there are more hideouts throughout the Land of Fire. Every part of me wishes Sakura wouldn't go, that she would stay here with our child but I know that she's determined to go. Asa knows more than she thought and wants to know how she got her hands on Sasori's poison. Something touching me pulls me from my thoughts, Sakura has turned off her bedside lamp and is laying her head on my abdomen. It seems her body still needs time to heal properly.

"Do you want me to turn off the light?" A gentle shake no is my answer. Moving my free hand to her shoulders, I rub small circles into the soft skin. It feels like this year home has gone by in a flash and there's no slowing down. Itachi's first holiday is right around the corner and a year of Sakura and I being married as well. A land of guilt hits me causing my heart to tighten, our marriage started as an order but it's developed into a true one. Sakura deserves a true celebration for our union, maybe I could ask her mother to watch Itachi for the evening. It's the least I could do to try and make it up to her.

Smirking as I continue my reading, a muffled noise comes from Sakura and I stiffen as I try to listen closer. Could she be having a nightmare? Naruto told me of the episodes she would have after I left. Some nights she would be so deep in a dream that Ino or Naruto would have to shake her awake to calm her. I never knew how much my leaving hurt her, part of me hoped she would move on and forget about me. But that's the weird thing about love, once it's there it never goes away.

"Sasuke…don't go…" Her body sobs for a moment and she sniffles in her sleep. Those words hit me and I feel my body go numb. I was right, she's dreaming of the night I left her. Why is that moment dominating her dreams now? It was so long ago…

Stopping the motion on her back, I drop the scroll on the ground and shift her into my arms. Those pale cheeks are now a rose color and her green eyes are still hidden, she's still in the dream. Stray tears fall from the closed lids making this even more heartbreaking. Stroking my thumb along her cheek I wipe away most of the tears but more fall.

"I'll….scream…" It seems the dream is almost at an end. I wish she hadn't followed me that night, maybe all of this pain wouldn't have happened. My betrayal is one thing, but this is something that no one could relate to and help her heal. Only the person that hurt her could heal the deep wound. My shirt is starting to become uncomfortably wet, with a final gasp Sakura sits from the bed and wipes at her eyes roughly. Sitting up to remove my shirt Sakura turns and lays away from me, an Uchiha fan staring right back at me. The main topic of our conversations have been about me letting her in and talking with her, but it seems that it works both ways. This woman could be so selfless at times. Too worried about how others are feeling and how they need help instead of trying to take care of herself. A small frown comes to my lips as I pull her back flush against my chest. Sakura protest for a minute but eventually relaxes into my hold.

"You can't keep holding onto that night." I whisper before planting a warm kiss on the spot behind her ear. When I first came back there were nights when I could hear her crying and guilt filled my entire being, this isn't any different. Back then I thought it was the only path for me to take, power trumped any emotional attachments I had. If it wasn't for Naruto and Sakura, I would be still be with Orochimaru. Deep down her words that night affected me more than she will ever know. She was the reason why I returned.

"I try not to." Her voice is barely a whisper, trying to hide her feelings. My temper is starting to rise with each sniffle and each tear I feel run down her cheek. My grip on her tightens and her breath hitches in her throat, I place another kiss on her neck trying to reassure her that I'm not going anywhere. I owe her that much…

"Goodnight Sasuke." This time there is warmth in her voice and I can't help the small smile that breaks across my face.

"Goodnight Sakura." Holding her closet, I close my eyes and think of pink.