#11: A Waking Dream

Fandom: Naruto

Pairing: Sasuke/Sakura

Rating: PG-13.

Word Count: 628

Summary/Description: "If this is a dream, I don't ever want to wake up."

Warning/Spoilers: None.

A/N: Fluff. It's been too long since I wrote some nice, simple happy stuff, especially for this pairing.

"I must be dreaming."

She says it with stars in her eyes, the green depths of which flicker from the sparkling lake to her children playing with Naruto on the green fields nearby, to her husband who has his arms wrapped around her, and back to the lake. Sasuke smiles a little, a mere quirk of his lips, and tugs on a lock of her hair.

"Why do you say that?"

The grass beneath them is soft and sweet, and the solid warmth of Sasuke's chest against her back is all the comfort she could ever ask for. Sakura gives a happy, bewildered sort of sigh.

"This is just… too perfect."

Sasuke gives a dry chuckle.

"I distinctly recall you saying at one point in time that nothing and no one is ever p--"

"I was wrong," she interrupts him. Mikoto shrieks wildly in delight from atop Naruto's shoulders as her godfather bounds around on the grass. Kisho and Hana dance gaily around them, their shouts of mirth ringing in the air. "I…" Her voice breaks, and she has to swallow twice before continuing. "I can never ask for anything more than what I have right here, right now. It's like… all my dreams have come true."

Sasuke tightens his hold on her.

"Wouldn't you say that… we deserved it?" An eyebrow raises.

"…Maybe. After… everything, maybe. But, it's just so… so…"

"Kaa-san, kaa-san, kaa-san, kaa-san, kaa-sa—"

"Take some time to breathe, Kisho," Sasuke remarks dryly as their son runs up to them and begins tugging on Sakura's shirt. Obediently, the six year old pauses to wipe some dirt off his face and take a deep breath before letting fly.

"Kaa-san, kaa-san, kaa-san, can we go out to eat ramen with Naruto-ojii-san at Ichiraku's please please please he said he'd treat us and I LOOOOOOOVE Ichiraku's and I promise I'll be good really really I will I won't put worms in Hana's bowl or NOTHING, I promise pleeeeeeeeaaase?"

"Yeah,please?" Hana pipes up, bouncing over.

"Yeah, pwwweease?" This from Naruto, with an exaggerated pout.

"Guwah!" Mikoto contributes.

Having gotten sufficient backup, Kisho turns back to his mother with imploring eyes.

"Please, kaa--?" He halts, and tilts his head. "…Why are you crying, kaa-san?"

Sakura wipes away droplets of tears that she hadn't even been aware of shedding. She cups her son's cheek, and her lips tremble.

"Okaa-san is just really happy, sweetie." She sniffs, and Sasuke strokes a thumb down her arm. "Of course you can go."

"Yay!" Kisho cries, pumping a fist into the air.

"Thanks, okaa-san," Naruto says in a sing-song, grinning widely.

"Just be sure to bring them back in an hour and a half," Sakura says, smiling softly.

There is no need to say anything like 'Be sure to keep them safe', as Naruto would die a thousand times before letting his god-children come to any harm, so Sasuke simply glares at his friend and says,

"Don't teach my son any weird stuff."

Naruto sticks out his tongue in reply.

After the children have been kissed goodbye, and are walking off hand in hand with their uncle, Sasuke offers Sakura a handkerchief.

"You alright?"

She takes a moment to steady her breathing.

"Yeah," she replies. "Thanks." She leans back into his arms, feeling safe, protected, and warm. The breeze blows, the lake shimmers, the sun sets in a wash of colours, her husband kisses the top of her head and Sakura wants for nothing.

"I still say this is all a dream," she says on a sigh.

Sasuke shakes his head, laughing slightly.

"Would you like me to pinch you?" he asks wryly.

"No." It is said with absolutely no hesitation. "If this is a dream, I don't ever want to wake up."

A/N: Awwwwww. :3

Feedback muchly appreciated.