Title: a road that follows to a home
Summary: He missed out. She missed out. They both grew up too fast. But it wasn't too late to catch up.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Prompt: Misspent Youth
Rating: K
Warning(s): Married!SasuSaku AND UCHIHA BABIES.
Comments: I DON'T KNOW WHERE THIS CAME FROM BUT SASUSAKU BABIES.

He was doing it again. It was the third time this week, and she didn't understand what was wrong. When she had asked him the first two times, he had only quietly dismissed the question by telling her it was nothing. Clearly, if that nothing was bothering him frequently, it was something.

"Sasuke," she called softly, touching his unoccupied shoulder. Her other hand reached to stroke the fine raven hairs of their month old boy resting his head against the other shoulder. The baby made a little grunt as he saw his mother and began squirming excitedly, but Sasuke's hand rubbing comfortingly on his back lulled him back to a calmed state.

"Sasuke," she said again, rounding her husband to stand in front of him. She touches his forearm, this time. He looked down at her, revealing the weariness in his eyes, confirming to her that something was indeed bothering him. She took her face in his hands, growing more worried as he leaned into her touch and cringed. "What's wrong, Sasuke?"

He brought up his free hand to caress hers. "I've done a lot of wrong to you in the past," he murmured. "I'm sorry for that."

Sakura frowned. "We've already had this conversation, don't you remember? Years ago, when things were still rough. We fought about it. You apologized and I forgave you, Sasuke, I forgave you."

He smiled a bit. "I'm not looking for forgiveness again, Sakura," he said. "I just… Looking at them, it makes me realize how much we missed out on." His gaze drifted somewhere behind her, and she understood, suddenly. "It makes me realize how I've taken away so much when I was young, and by doing so I made us all grow up too fast." The hand on hers tightened its hold, as if apologizing. "You spent your entire teenage years training under Lady Tsunade to become stronger, to catch up to Naruto and me—to be strong enough to bring me back. You missed out on your prime dating years because you were so in love with me—because no other guy could take that place in your heart."

He took a deep, slow breath. "I made you go to war and I took away all the fun you should have had. I made you miss out on that," he said quietly, letting go of her hand to point at their two teenage children, accompanied by their second youngest child, playing by the lake and splashing around. "Look at how happy they are."

"And look at how happy we are," she replied, not missing a beat. "Sasuke, look at how happy we are." There were tears in her eyes when he looked back at her, but he took relief in realizing they were not of pain or heartbreak. They were joyful, touched. "You and I, we've been through so much but look at where we are now and tell me it wasn't all worth it. Our children, our home, our village—our life. Tell me that a youth full of mistakes and pain and heartbreak was worth it, tell me it made it all better in the end."

The tears slipped, and she laughed. "Don't you think we know better, now? Don't you think we know how to appreciate the little things in life, to treasure every moment? Every miracle?" She brushed the back of their newborn son at those last words left, looking at that little bundle of joy with such unconditional love that it made him ache in the good way. "Because I do, Sasuke. I wouldn't go back in time and change anything. Because Itachi, Kana, Daisuke and Aiko… they probably won't know true pain until a long while, so they don't cherish their perfect youth and happiness as much as we would." She looped her arms around his waist loosely, smiling. "But we know not to take anything for granted. Especially happiness."

He embraced her, then, slipping his free arm around her and pulling her tightly to him. They were both careful as not to disturb their sleeping month old child, but he was not lost in the embrace either. Sakura lovingly stroked his back while Sasuke pressed his lips on his tiny head.

Then, he kissed his wife's temple deeply. "Thank you, Sakura. For everything."

"You're welcome," she whispered against his chest. "I was right, though… right?"

He smiled, almost secretively. "Always."

"Good!" she grinned, taking his hand. "Then let's join in on all the fun. We can put Aiko down on a blanket, and take turns playing with the kids." She gave him a squeeze. "How does that sound?"

His eyes shone with mirth. "Sounds like catching up on what we missed."

A/N: Yes, Sasuke can arguably be OOC. But I find he's always talkative with Sakura and you know what, it's been like 13-15 years after the present manga time, so he's bound to have undergone some changes. Plus, I can't see Daddy!Sasuke as being anything but loving towards his kids. Because family, to him, is a treasure and something to never take for granted because even that can be taken away from you any day. SO BOOYA.

Love ya'll, you're darlings and you make my day with your reviews. See you tomorrow!

DeepPoeticGirl