Love Lives On -SasuSaku-

The sun was streaming in through the crack in my curtains from the east. My eyes fluttered open to reveal my bedroom; a plain white wall, navy blue curtains, white carpet, mahogany dresser and vanity, walk-in closet and king-sized bed. I closed my eyes again. Wanting to go back to sleep, I threw my arm over to the opposite side of the bed, my eyes snapping open when my hand touched nothing but the silk blanket. I sat up, looking over at the empty space. Memories flooded my mind, and realization hit me. I was so stupid for thinking that he would be here.

I sluggishly climbed out of my bed in my short, red silk nightgown. I walked down my hallway and into the bathroom, where I washed my face. When I was done, I looked into the mirror; I saw a tired looking twenty-four year old with emerald eyes and messy bubblegum hair staring back at me. Her normally fair skin looked oddly translucent that day. That very special day.

After running a brush through my pearl locks I exited the bathroom, grabbing my pale pink robe off the back of the door and putting it on as I headed to the kitchen. The clock above the stove read six fifty-two. It was early, but I knew I would never be able to go back to sleep. So I made some coffee. When I went to get the milk out of the refrigerator, the calender on the door caught my eye. The date was July twenty-third. Knowing what that day was, I felt my eyes tingle and kitchen around me got slightly blurry. But before any tears could fall, I pulled them back. I was tougher than that now.

When my coffee was done, I sat down at the table and drank it slowly, thinking. I couldn't help but notice that there was an extra cup of coffee that I had poured without noticing. It was force of habit, I suppose.

"I had a dream about you last night," I mumbled after a few seconds. "Kind of predictable, really, considering today. It was back during our wedding." I chuckled a bit, smiling at the memory I was reliving. "We were dancing, and Naruto was being his normal goofy self. Kakashi being weird as usual... It was nice, thinking back before those times... Before you left." My smile faded and I felt tears threatening to flow again. "I miss you. Alot. I'm still learning how to live without you, though. Trust me, I don't want to... but it's not really about what I want in this case, is it?" I gave one hard chuckle again, without humor. I sighed, remembering the plans that I had to do. Standing up, I whispered, "I love you, Sasuke."

I put the mugs in the sink and rinsed them out, then walked upstairs to get dressed. As I was looking through the clothes in my closet, I saw a faded black shirt with the Uchiha symbol on the back. I brought it up to my face, inhaling it's scent. It still smelled like him. I laughed a bit, remembering how I used to always criticize Sasuke for this exact shirt. I always hated it. It's kind of funny how now, it's the one thing I just can't throw away.

Finally, I settled on a cute pink top that I had to tie around my neck and some denim jeans. I put my Uchiha clan earrings on last. Sasuke always had me wear things that bared the clan's symbol. I didn't mind; it showed that I was loyal to the family I had married into.

Doing what I usually did on Sundays, I called my brother-in-law (not really anymore, but I still considered him that) Itachi. It was always good to hear his voice.

"Hey, Sakura," Itachi said cheerfully when he answered. "How are you today?"

"Hello, Itachi. I'm doing okay, I suppose. It's always hard on this day." I choked up a bit at the end, and I hoped that he didn't notice.

"I see." I could practically hear Itachi's pity over the phone. "Don't be too sad, now. My little brother wouldn't like it if he saw you moping around."

I smiled a little bit. "Yeah, I suppose you're right." Itachi and I started talking about Sasuke, and how things were in high school, middle school, etc. It was both refreshing and kind of depressing reliving all those memories. Itachi always told the same story about "his stubborn little brother". My heart always ached after hearing Itachi talk about him like that.

After I got off the phone with Itachi, I checked the clock. It was about nine thirty. Nearly time to visit my husband. But before that, I remembered that I had to make a quick stop at Naruto, my best friend's, house. So I checked myself in the mirror one more time and then headed outside to my car.

When I arrived that the Uzumaki household, I climbed out of my car and walked up the sidewalk to the front door, knocking on it three times before someone answered. A beautiful woman with long, dark blue hair and pale lavender eyes smiled at me.

"Good morning, Sakura."

"Good morning, Hinata," I said, reaching forward to hug her. Hinata held me tightly, sensing that I was upset. She always had been a very good friend.

Hinata pulled away soon and looked at me. "Come on in. Naruto's in the playroom with the kids."

I nodded and followed as she lead me through her home. When we got closer to the playroom, I could hear children giggling and Naruto's loud laughter. Hinata and I both giggled a little before entering.

Naruto stopped and looked at me when I walked in the room. He was lying on the floor on his back with three kids climbing all over him - two with blonde hair and one with raven colored hair. Toys were spewed all over the place.

The little raven haired child turned around and looked up at me with her onyx orb-like eyes. She was wearing an orange T-shirt with tiny black pants. A Uchiha clan hair clip was keeping her black bangs out of her face.

"Mama!" she yelled, grinning from ear to ear. She hopped off of Naruto's stomach and ran toward me as fast as her three-year-old legs would take her. When she got close enough, I bent done and snatched her up, hugging her tightly.

"Hello, Suzu," I said laughing a bit. Suzu was giggling and rubbing her cheek against mine. Suzu Uchiha was my two-year-old daughter. I had given birth to her seven months before Sasuke was shipped out to the Land of Snow. He was the happiest father alive.

Before I could say anything, the other two toddlers ran my way, hugging my knees.

"Ria, Yuiko, get off of Auntie," Naruto laughed. The two pouted, but did as they were told.

"How was she?" I asked, bouncing Suzu a little. She laughed.

"An angel," Hinata answered.

Naruto smiled. "No problem at all."

"Thank you, Naruto, Hinata. You've helped me out so much," I thanked them.

"Don't worry about it. Hey, Hinata, isn't it about Yui's nap time?"

I could tell that Naruto was trying to be alone with me, and Hinata could too because she went along with it. Picking up the yawning baby girl, Hinata left the room with Momma's Boy trailing after her.

"So," Naruto started, "How are you feeling?"

I held Suzu close; Her breath smelled of cheesecake. I would drill Naruto later about giving her sweets. "Drained."

Naruto nodded. "That's understandable... want me to go with you?"

"No." I shook my head. "Suzu and I will just go... I need to talk to him by myself anyway." Naruto nodded again, a somber expression on his face. "When are you and the others going?"

"Later today, some time after lunch."

"Taking Yuiko and Ria?"

"No, I'll leave them with Kakashi, or Sai. They're not old enough to understand."

I nodded. "That's what I thought, but I want Suzu there with me. Sasuke would want to see how she's grown."

"Alright..."

"Well..." I began. "I guess we better get going."

Naruto showed me out and I carried Suzu out to the car. After buckling her into her car seat, I got into the front seat and started the car, driving away. On the way to the cemetery, I turned the radio on and Suzu sang (cooed, actually) along. It was the cutest thing ever. Even in the worst mood, she was able to make me smile.

When we arrived, I got Suzu out and put her down, holding onto her hand as we walked. There was a meadow beside the graveyard and Suzu got distracted by the butterflies. I watched as she ran around, chasing them, thinking about how much I wished Sasuke was here to see her.

After she was done, Suzu picked some wild flowers and ran up to me. With the flowers in one hand, she reached out the other and I took it. We walked through the field of tombstones until we stopped at the one we'd come for. Across the huge memorial it read Sasuke Uchiha. Seeing it made me tear up, and Suzu just watched me, curiosity in her dark eyes.

I kneeled down in front of the rock.

"Hey, Sasuke-kun," I said. "How have you been?... I've been good. Naruto and Hinata are coming by later... No, Yui and Ria will be Kakashi-sensei or Sai." I chuckled a bit. "I remember how you never liked him... I brought Suzu with me. She's gotten so big, and she's so smart for her age. She can already say many words, and open doors... It's unbelievable. You would be so proud." I smiled then, without humor. "But she's so much like you, it's unbelievable."

My smile faded into a frown. I was so focused that I didn't notice Suzu playing with my hair or patting my face. "I miss you so much, Sasuke. You don't know how much it hurts without you here...." Some of my tears leaked down onto Suzu's face, who was now wrapped in my arms in front of me, and she got irritated. "Everything reminds me of you. But," I whispered. "even though I cry like crazy, and no matter how much it hurts, I'm thankful that I at least got as much time with you as I did. Even though we couldn't make it last.... I'm learning how to live without you, though. Trust me, I don't want to. But even with you gone, I still love you every bit as much as I did before. Nothing will ever change that. And I have little Suzu here to remind me of our love every single day."

I reached up and wiped my tears away. "I love you, Sasuke. Happy birthday."

I stood up to leave, and was going to take Suzu's hand, but she moved her hand away from mine and walked forward, closer to the tombstone. Gently, she laid the flowers on the concrete. Then skipped back to me. She looked up at me. "Dada?" She said. It brought tears to my eyes again.

"Yeah, that's your dada," I whispered. I bent down and picked Suzu up, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead.

With that, I turned and walked back to my car, feeling Sasuke watch me as I left.