I do NOT own any of the characters...those in italics are lyrics of the song "heaven by your side" by a1...

Finally!

I get to take a rest. It's been a long time since I have actually slept in a comfortable bed; I almost forgot how it felt. (He sighs)

But why can't I sleep?

I should be sound asleep now… (He closed his eyes for a second and smile as he allowed his thoughts to wander to a particular girl…a particularly special girl)

You and I, cannot hide
the love we feel inside
the words we need to say

Hinata…

I love her…

I guess I always have,

I was just too busy hating her to notice it.

But the love I feel for her…

It has always been there.

And thank heavens she never gave up on me!

I feel that I
Have always walked alone
But now that you're here with me
There'll always be a place that I can go

Since the day that father died, I kept to myself.

I didn't talk to anyone unless completely necessary.

I shut myself from her…

I shut myself from all emotion…except hatred.

I hated everything!

I was so blinded by hate that I almost killed her at the Chunnin Exam.

I can't believe I'm saying this,

But thank heavens Naruto tried to make me see sense.

I finally opened my mind.

I finally saw the truth.

And eventually, I opened my heart again, through her help.

Suddenly our destiny
has started to unfold
when you're next to me
I can see the greatest story
Love has ever told

Who would have thought?

If someone came up to me five years ago and said that she'd be the reason why I'd feel so happy again, I would have killed that person instantly.

I mean, I don't know how I did it, but I managed to convince myself that I hate her. (He chuckles)

Hate her?

Looking back now, I don't think I really did…

I guess I just wanted to protect myself.

I don't want to lose someone I love again.

But it's ok now.

I have her and she have me.

She forgave me, and somehow she thought me how to forgive myself.

I'm happy now because I know that she's happy too. (He heard someone knocking on his door. He was a little irritated because he was brought back to reality. But when he finally did open the door to see who disrupted him all the irritation he felt evaporated instantly. )

Hinata… (He whispered softly)

What are you doing here? I thought you were asleep. (She looked at him, and gave him a smile that made his knees go weak, though he didn't let it show)

Well, I came here to welcome you home. I wanted to come here sooner, but Sakura won't let me go that easily. (She hugged him, and then she softly whispered in his ears)

Welcome home. I missed you so much. I'm so happy your back. (He hugged her back, kissed her forehead then looked in her eyes)

I missed you too. It's so good to back. (He took her in his arms again, feeling the happiness he never thought was possible.)

Now my life is blessed with
the love of an angel
how can it be true?
Somebody to keep the dream alive
The dream I found in you
I always thought that love would be
The strangest thing to me
But when we touch, I realize
That I found my place in heaven by your side