Sakura gaped at the sight as the baby emitted her first whine. Even after staring at her intently, the fact remained that the baby had no resemblance at all with the only Uchiha she knows. She didn't know what to think. She was bewildered. But the cheery cry of Karin made her whip her head and shift her focus. Blinking twice, she handed the baby to the new mother and simply stood there, dumbfounded at the sudden revelation.

"Oh, gosh. Look at you, sweetheart. You are so cute!" Karin gushed, tears still flowing from her eyes. "You better be back soon, Shark-face," she then murmured to herself. "I made it. Suika and I made it. Please be back soon."

And that's when Sakura was able to put two and two together. As much as it didn't make sense to her while she was staring at the mother and child, she was well aware of the flood of relief that slowly entered her entire system. For after a month of internal turmoil, maybe, just maybe, her heart wasn't meant to be broken after all.

Lightheaded as she was, she still managed to finish all of her tasks in the operating room and made her exit after Karin mouthed a heartfelt "thank you" to her.

She shut the door and leaned on it for a few moments, heaving a sigh as she closed her eyes with her head down. It's been a pretty long day. Karin's delivery was one of those that drained most of Sakura's usual chakra, but at the end of the day, all that mattered was the fact that her patient and her baby survived.

It didn't take long until she realized that Sasuke was still there, leaning on the wall right across her with a blank expression on his face. She didn't know what to tell him. But the revelation she received earlier crossed her mind which caused her to smile a bit. It was the first time that she felt completely at ease about having a wrong presumption on something.

She smoothed her now bloody lab coat and glanced up at him. "They're doing fine," she assured the redhead's former leader. "Karin's already resting and the baby's under the care of our nurses."

She still wasn't sure about how and why Sasuke was tied into the situation but she knew he still needed to be aware. After all, Karin had been with him since the time he returned.

He gave her a nod. "Good. I'm sure you've done a great job."

"Thanks." She bit her lip. Why was she suddenly feeling nervous under his intent stare? She cleared her throat, thinking of ways to continue the conversation since she was still too tired to move and it would be rather awkward being around him in silence after everything that had happened recently. "So...Suigetsu, huh?"

Sasuke raised an eyebrow at her. Until it dawned on him that this pink-haired doctor had just discovered a certain information today. Her attitude before the delivery began now made perfect sense to him. He tilted his head to one side. If he still had two arms now, he would've surely crossed them above his chest. "You thought the baby's mine."

Sakura simply shrugged. "No one told me." To think that she is the most brainy of them all in Team 7, she actually had every reason to be embarrassed, but she was too exhausted to even mind.

"And you didn't ask."

Sakura looked down and fiddled on the hem of her coat. If she would be honest, although it could've saved her from the pit of distress, asking anyone about Sasuke and Karin was something she didn't want to risk knowing that it would hurt her all the more if she ever confirmed that something was going on between them. "I thought it has nothing to do with me. Anything about you, Sasuke-kun, is none of my business, right?"

Sasuke sighed. He didn't know if he would be irked or amused. "So that's why you've been avoiding me."

"W-what do—? Avoidi—? I haven't been avoiding you!"

Sasuke wasn't dumb to not realize that his former teammate seemed to be intentionally avoiding him. That very moment that Sakura left them by the Konoha gates, he couldn't help but scowl. He almost wanted to follow her, but then, Karin winced in pain, so he and Naruto (who was still baffled with the situation and tempted to invite Sasuke for another match at the Valley of End) immediately assisted the pregnant woman towards the compound so she could finally rest after hours of traveling.

And that same night, he planned to pick up Sakura from the hospital. He had no idea what time she would end her shift, but he was already by the door of his house when Karin suddenly announced that she had a fever, making him turn around grudgingly and decide to stay. It was a good thing that the redhead could take care of herself, but Sasuke just didn't want to feel bad about leaving Karin on her own knowing that she could be in labor any time soon.

He cringed at the thought of being the cause of the loss of two lives. He certainly didn't want Suigetsu to experience the grief of losing the only people he loved in the same way that he did when he was young.

In the coming weeks, amidst tasks given by Kakashi, sparring sessions with the next in line Hokage, and the sudden duty of making sure that Karin and the unborn child were alive, he did his best to squeeze into his schedule a few hours to search for Sakura. But to his dismay, she was always nowhere to be found. Thrice, he came to the hospital only to be met by Shizune saying that Sakura has been all around the hospital for weeks, to the point that even she didn't know where the pink-haired doctor was working anymore. Sasuke clenched his jaw and simply nodded, disappointed that he couldn't find the one he was looking for.

There were times, however, that he thought he caught a glimpse of hair with a carnation hue at the market, only for it to be gone in an instant before he could even move from where he was.

And by that single occasion that he was finally able to stumble across her alone, he unfortunately struggled on what to tell her first. Should he ask her how she was? Should he apologize for taking too long before his return? Should he clarify the situation he was in?

A lump was stuck on his throat until her phone buzzed from her front pocket and in a swift manner, Sakura slipped away from him again. If it was intentional, he didn't know. But he almost broke four of Naruto's ribs during a sparring session that he demanded to have after that, especially when the jinchuriki said that even he couldn't find a way to talk with Sakura.

Sasuke pushed himself off the wall and paced closer to her. "I've just noticed." He shrugged, gazing at her eyes like never before. "I was expecting you'd be happy that I'm back, but the moment you saw me, you immediately left. Now I know why." He frowned.

The pink-haired doctor gaped, at a loss for words. He was expecting she'd be happy? Why? It's not as if he came back for her, right?

Sasuke sighed as Sakura averted his gaze. "Do you really think I would knock up someone on my redemption journey? And someone I don't even have feelings for?"

This time, he wanted to make things clear. If the Karin situation made her avoid him painfully like that, he wanted to clarify things so it would never happen again. He didn't want to go through the same emotional whirlwind he didn't know he's capable of having just because of her absence. Now he knows what she has possibly felt during all those years that he wasn't around. And now he knows how much she truly means to him. A single month for him was bad enough, he couldn't imagine how worse it was for Sakura.

"I came across Suigetsu and Karin when I was on my way back," he began. "Suigetsu said he had a vital task to do in Hidden Mist, but pointed out that it would be dangerous for Karin and their child for she was having a delicate pregnancy. So with much force, he asked me a favor to assist Karin, especially if he still won't be with her by the time she delivers their kid."

Her lips parted as she glanced at the unusually communicative Sasuke in front of her. "Y-you didn't have to explain, Sasuke-kun."

Sasuke, now amused, smirked and searched for Sakura's eyes. He could see the hesitation and confusion there. But after years of relying on the picture imprinted in his mind through his Sharingan, he was glad that he could now stare at those green orbs up close. "Well, you look like you need some assurance."

Sakura's forehead creased. She didn't know where the conversation was heading, but now that she fully understood the situation between Karin and Sasuke, she felt as if a huge boulder was taken off her chest. Yet she didn't want him to notice that. She shifted her gaze to meet Sasuke's. "Assurance? Assurance for what?"

A few seconds had passed and Sasuke just stared back at her, taking the time to finally appreciate all the features of the pink-haired woman that he has terribly missed – something he only admitted to himself when he finally saw her again at Ichiraku. Putting his arm on his pocket, he sighed once more, feeling lighthearted that at least, they could somehow finally start somewhere after this conversation. "I told you that I'll see you when I'm back, Sakura."

"You already saw me that same day, Sasuke-kun." She already let go of thinking that there could be something more with his last words to her before he left on his journey, but somehow, despite the spark of hope that she had after knowing that Sasuke wasn't wedded and with child yet, she still didn't want to have false hopes.

He fought the urge to scoff. Somehow, he used to think that he's the one who's dense, but someone upstaged him all of a sudden.

When she didn't answer, probably still contemplating about the revelations she had received today or just plainly exhausted considering that it was almost midnight already, he spoke again, "Is this your last task for the day?"

As much as Sakura wanted to parse everything that Sasuke told her tonight, she was glad that the topic had changed. This reunion with Sasuke was a comfort she didn't realize she needed after a disheartening month, but right now, she was well aware of her need for a reunion with her bed too.

She sighed. "Yeah, finally."

"Alright. I'll walk you home. I'll wait for you downstairs."

Her eyes widened, but Sasuke was already retreating towards the stairs before she could even answer. "...O-okay."

-

Sasuke received a letter from Suigetsu the next morning saying that he was already near the borders of Konoha, finally close to seeing his wife and daughter after what seemed like a very long month. The moment he sent the information about Karin's successful delivery via his hawk, he suspected that the water ninja became too excited to see his kid that he rushed to finish whatever personal task he had in the village where he was born.

If he would be be completely honest, he still found it amusing how his former comrades ended up together, considering that the redhead was too engrossed in him back then, and the swordsman was rather committed in making Karin's life miserable. He smirked at the memory. Maybe having love and a family could really turn the tables around.

"They're in Room 308," Shizune informed him when he asked about Karin and the baby's whereabouts. "Sakura's already there to check on the baby. I guess it's time she becomes visible." She laughed.

"Thanks. Is she always as busy as she was in the past weeks?"

Shizune rolled her eyes and sighed. "She is when she wants to be. But I already talked some sense to her. I'm just not quite sure if she would listen this time so I'm also hoping that you could help her avert the workaholic lifestyle." She then smirked. "Do you think you can do something about that, Sasuke?"

"Aa. Leave it to me." He nodded, a small smile gracing his lips as he turned to proceed to the room mentioned to him. After all, Naruto and Kakashi were right when they said "It's about time, Sasuke/Teme!", but he wouldn't tell them that.

When he opened Karin's room, he didn't expect the sight to leave him frozen by the door with his mouth slightly parted in awe. His heart ran wild as his mind suddenly flew to a far future that he didn't even know if he'll ever reach or deserve.

For he found Sakura in the middle of the room, gazing at a redhead baby in her arms as she hummed a random tune and swayed it to sleep. He never imagined how such a beautiful scenario was fitting for her to be in.

"Oh. Good afternoon, Sasuke-kun."

He recovered from his trance when Sakura glanced up and smiled at him, gently and almost sheepishly, taking his breath away. "Hn." He avoided her eyes as he dropped the bag he was holding to a table once he was inside the room. "I brought the remaining stuff of Karin from my house."

"Ah. Karin's still asleep, she became easily tired after welcoming Suigetsu earlier." Sakura giggled softly to avoid waking the little bundle in her arms. "Meanwhile, Suigetsu said he'll try to search for a temporarily place they could stay in while Karin and the baby are recuperating."

He tersely nodded, continuing to avert his eyes from her. After years of his absence, and a month of her deliberate avoidance in seeing him, Sasuke suddenly struggled to keep his cool around the pink-haired medic.

It didn't even help that she began pacing towards him, still humming a sweet melody that he couldn't put a name on, and then she stopped close enough for him to smell the cherry blossom scent of her hair alongside – what was that – milk? Ah, of course, she was holding a baby. His heart pounded against his ribcage at that fact once more.

"Sasuke-kun, this is Suika." She cradled the baby and looked at him. This time, he had no choice but to meet her dazzling gaze. "Do you want to hold her?"

Sasuke's eyes widened momentarily. "I...I only have one arm, Sakura."

She chuckled. "I know. But don't worry. Here, I'll help you." She was already extending her arms and positioning the baby on his only arm before he could even reply.

He, on the other hand, was stuck in staring at her face the whole time. It wasn't having a single arm that could compromise the baby's safety, but his lack of focus due to his awestruck admiration towards the medic nin. He didn't expect her to be that knowledgeable and comfortable about anything related to babies at such a young age.

He felt a tug at the corner of his lips at the realization that his former teammate in their genin squad has come a long way. A part of him wished that he was there to witness her growth in the past, but a bigger part of him suddenly desired that from now on, he'd be there to see her reach the beautiful future that awaits her.

"There! Suika, this is Uncle Sasuke." She cooed.

Sasuke gripped the baby a little tighter when she let out a soft whimper. He finally turned his face to Suika and slowly imitated the way Sakura cradled her moments ago as she fixed the infant's bib in place.

He was well aware that Sakura was too close and that they were in such an intimate position, holding a baby and all. And Sasuke couldn't help but think about the possibility of him and Sakura being in the same scenario again one day. The only difference would be holding a black-haired (or pink-haired? He doesn't mind.) baby in between them by then. He was a little surprised with the direction his thoughts went so he softly cleared his throat, hoping to clear his mind as well.

"You're doing well, Sasuke-kun!" Sakura chuckled as she took a step back, taking in the sight of the great Sasuke Uchiha holding an infant in his arm. "You look so cute holding a bab—oh!" Her hand flew to cover her lips at the realization of what she had just said. A flush immediately appeared on her cheeks. "I mean, it's...uh...you—"

Tch. Annoying. "It's fine." He smirked. At least he's not the only one who was flustered.

"Hey, Sasuke!" They suddenly heard a voice by the door.

"Sssh! Suigetsu! Your wife and daughter's asleep!"

Sasuke stifled a laugh at the way Sakura hissed at his former comrade in Taka which reminded him of the usual way she scolded Naruto in Team 7. He still found it a bit odd that two parts of his past could still be there in his present.

The water ninja scratched the back of his head. "Ah. Sorry, Sakura-san."

"Do you want to hold your kid?"

"Where is—oh!" Suigetsu suddenly snickered when Sasuke turned to face him. "Never in my life did I imagine seeing you holding anything valuable other than a sword, let alone a baby!"

His former leader rolled his eyes.

"Here, let me get her."

Sasuke eyed Sakura for assistance but she simply gave him an encouraging nod, trusting him fully that he wouldn't be the cause of a newborn's cracked head today.

When Suigetsu was already carrying his daughter, his gaze quickly softened as he flashed a toothy smile.

Sasuke was yet again surprised with the sight. He couldn't deny that he was amazed with how his former comrades have changed for the better since the time he formed Team Hebi.

He looked on the ground. How could someone with an intense drive for killing people have such a look on his face? Is redemption really that possible? Does he even deserve the same thing?

"Really, though, Sasuke, thank you," Suigetsu began, his eyes still fixed on his kid. "I believe it was orchestrated how we crossed paths last month. I...I really didn't want to put Karin in danger in the Mist. They still needed to believe that I'm really pledging allegiance to my clan again despite my connection with Orochimaru for my new family needs a place to stay in. But if they saw Karin with me while we settle disputes, they might think we're plotting something against the village." He rolled his eyes and cackled. "Things like that were fun. But, I'm way past that. I and Karin are way past that. Thanks to you."

Sasuke's head snapped up, his lips parted as if to ask him what he was talking about.

"When we saw how willing you are to recommit to the Leaf, and help it from the outside, we thought it's possible to do the same thing, to be like you in some ways. Now, we're here. And you've kept my wife and child safe up to now. So, thanks Sasuke."

Sasuke was still frozen in place as he stared back at Suigetsu. How could his former teammates be inspired with someone so messed up like him?

Sakura was smiling the whole time as he observed the two men. She could sense how uneasy Sasuke was, and she could only imagine the struggle in his thoughts right now. She sighed softly, realizing that he probably still didn't believe that he's now a changed man.

How could he not see it? She's heard from Naruto and Kakashi how he was serving the village from afar and how he was helping people from other villages. It even made her think of him as a one-man police force that protects the village in the shadows. And that kind of man is far from the broken boy he used to be. She really wished he sees it now.

"I'm sure Karin is grateful as well. You know how much that woman was into you." Suigetsu released another laugh. "I don't even know how your patience survived her in the past month."

"Oi! I can hear you!"

Three pairs of eyes darted towards the patient in the room.

"Oh. Speaking of the four-eyed devil," Suigetsu muttered, feigning irritation.

Sakura found herself amused at the husband and wife. "Karin, glad you're awake." She then paced towards her and assisted her so she could be in a sitting position.

"Thanks, Sakura." Karin slightly shifted in her bed, her entire body still sore from yesterday's labor. "Well, truth be told, I didn't bother Sasuke that much since I could take care of myself. I only sought for his help when I needed to go out and buy something since long walks are going to be the death of me, probably until now. So mind you, Shark-face, I don't think I've stretched his patience. Right, Sasuke?" She grinned.

Sasuke heaved a sigh, and they weren't sure if he wanted to say otherwise.

Suigetsu stifled a laugh at this. "Well, if circumstances were different I'm sure you would've been glad that you finally had an alone time with Sasuke." He quirked an eyebrow at his wife. "You've always wanted that, right?"

"Oi! That's not what—!"

"You're both waking up and stressing out your kid." Sasuke took it back, his teammates hadn't changed at all.

"Sasuke-kun's right, guys." Sakura chuckled with her hands on her hips. "Now, now, I need you, men, to be out for a while because I'll let Karin try to breastfeed Suika."

Both men's ears turned red.

"Oh, alright." Suigetsu approached Karin who was still glaring at him. Snickering, he handed their baby gently in her arms. "I'll be back. I might go out again to continue searching for a place." He then kissed the top of his daughter's head, paused in front of Karin's face, and stuck his tongue out at her when she expected for a kiss.

Her reaction was worth it, and he was sure if she wasn't holding their baby, she would've smacked him around the head.

When the water ninja was already by the door, holding it open for him, Sasuke turned to face Sakura and said, "I'll just wait for you outside."

And then all the girls were left inside the room.

Sakura remained staring at the door, slightly wondering as to why Sasuke would say that he would wait for her when in fact, Karin was the patient and the one he should be visiting. Then she realized the fact that weirdly, he didn't even speak to the redhead at all.

"Sui's right, though."

Breaking from her trail of thoughts, Sakura whipped her head towards her patient with a puzzled expression on her face.

Karin laughed and shook her head as a memory entered her mind. "Well, I used to try my best in making Sasuke notice me. Just thinking about it, I realized how truly irritating I was."

"I think every girl did that at one point." Sakura grinned.

"Ah. You're right. Sasuke's so handsome the world doesn't even deserve such a heavenly face!"

Both girls giggled.

"But really, I never understood why he wouldn't even see me in another way than just being his temporary comrade," Karin stated as Sakura began to do a quick check up for her vital signs. "Until I saw you."

Her doctor suddenly halted her movements. Not knowing where the conversation was heading, Sakura just stared at the redhead with an inquisitive look.

"When I first saw you – that first time you saved my life because last night was the second – I hated it. I hated it seeing you crying."

In an instant, a glimpse of that terrifying day appeared in her mind while her gaze remained fixed on the sphygmomanometer cuff she had placed around Karin's arm. Her heart clenched. It was the worst encounter she could remember having with the man she has always loved for the Sasuke she saw back then was already completely drowning in the pit of darkness she, Naruto, and Kakashi didn't want him to be in.

Karin's voice thankfully stopped her from dwelling further into that dark memory. "But it showed me how you're truly hurt, Sakura...for a pain that is not even yours. I immediately realized that you understand him in such a level that none of us in Taka ever could."

"Why are you telling me this, Karin?"

The redhead merely shrugged and went on with her talk. "A big part of me still wanted him after that, especially when he had the guts to say sorry the moment we saw each other again. Ha, that arrogant boy! But that time, I already knew, Sasuke deserves so much better than me." Karin faintly smiled. Her gaze then landed on her daughter as she verbally admitted for the first time something that stung her heart years ago: "And I think that has always been you."

With widened eyes, Sakura stared at her patient this time. She didn't know if she would find the statement ridiculous, or consider it some sort of a spark of hope. "I appreciate the thought, Karin. But I don't think—"

"Sasuke's chakra has never been as calm as it was when he first saw you by the gates of Konoha on that day we came." Karin's smile deliberately widened. "And I sensed the same calmness when he was with you in this same room today. I could tell the massive difference of that from years ago and from the past month, Sakura."

Sakura's mouth agape. She had no idea that Karin was a sensory type, but what she has shared made her feel so flattered at the very least. If she truly had such a positive effect on Sasuke, then she has every reason to be glad.

Karin continued, "I just really wish that Sasuke won't choose to live a life without you in it. I really want him to be happy, you know? Besides, if not because of him forming Hebi and Taka, I wouldn't even be close with the man I've eventually—" she pretended to scoff. "—fallen in love with who also loves me just the same!" She then cackled. "Oh my goodness! I've just rambled, haven't I? Must be the hormones!"

A smile appeared on Sakura's lips. She didn't expect Karin to pour out such genuine words that were effective in uplifting her considering her emotional turmoil in the past month. Despite her mistaken impression on the redhead the moment she appeared with Sasuke that last time, she realized that maybe, after all, they were meant to build such a bond.

She finally resumed to her task as her doctor before saying, "Thank you, Karin. Believe me, I've always desired nothing but his happiness too, no matter what or who the reason is."

After her doctor duties with Karin, she left the room with a smile on her face. It even widened when she looked around and saw that Sasuke was true to his word about waiting for her.

She paced closer to the man gazing outside the window with her hands behind her and for a moment, she simply observed his face, wondering about what Karin had told her. Is he really calmer now more than ever before and is it really because of her presence?

"Hey, Sasuke-kun."

Sasuke glanced at her and just like every time, there's still that momentary halt of her heartbeat whenever he gives her his full attention.

She cleared her throat and started talking professionally, "Well, yesterday, Karin wasn't capable of breastfeeding Suika yet due to the drastic effects of the labor to Karin. But they are both much better now than yesterday."

"You really shouldn't tell me that." Sasuke surprisingly smirked. "I'm not her husband."

"Eh?" Professional stance aside, she crossed her arms in front of the Uchiha. "But you are her comrade and you accompanied her since the past month. Besides, she's the one you're here for, right, Sasuke-kun?"

"Hn." He almost scoffed. "Are you done with work by dinner?"

Sakura lifted a brow at him with the sudden change of topic. "Yes. I'm back to my normal schedule today since Shizune banned me from taking the night shifts since yesterday." She rolled her eyes. "Why?"

"I'll join you for dinner, then."

"W-what? Why would you do that?"

He thought of an answer. He knew exactly why he'd do that, but he didn't want to appear that he was pleading.

He then looked at her from head to toe, making the medic feel self-conscious with whatever he was scrutinizing her for. "You're not eating well. Someone has to check that you're eating right."

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how Sasuke Uchiha asks a girl out.

"E-excuse me?" Sakura pouted at him, arms still crossed much to Sasuke's amusement. "Fine. You'll have to watch me as I prove you wrong."

"Later, then." Turning towards the stairs, Sasuke couldn't help but smile.

————

© January 2019 AriannJS

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I hope this chapter mends your broken hearts caused by the past two chapters. 🙊 What are your thoughts and feelings on this part so far? I'd highly appreciate your feedback!

Also, this turned out much loooooonger than I initially planned! But I thought I had to put more exposure to the other characters for they are quite important in terms of the individual development of Sasuke's character here and the build up of SasuSaku's relationship. It already has 8K+ words (including half of the next chapter) and counting and honestly, I don't know if adding much details on this fic is a good thing or a bad thing, haha. But I hope you're as excited as I am for the next part which would probably be the last!
– A