"Thank you, come again!" Hinata bowed her head as their latest customers paid and left.

By the time she straightened up again, she started slightly when she saw a certain dark haired Uchiha standing there. Her hand flew up to her chest in an effort to calm her beating heart.

"Do you have to do that?" She sighed. "You nearly give me a heart attack every time!"

He smirked slightly and sat himself down at the bar.

"I take it you want the usual." Hinata said, preparing a bowl of fresh ramen.

"Isn't it about time you quit working this place and found a new job?" Sasuke asked, his elbows propped up on the counter. A bowl was placed in front of him and she shook her head.

"I like it here," She said. "Ichiraku Ramen has been quite good to me. I don't plan on leaving anytime soon."

"Tch. Whatever." He broke apart his chopsticks and poked around in his bowl. Pausing, he looked up at her and raised a brow. "Aren't you on break now? Eat with me."

Hinata blinked and looked at the clock on the wall. "He's right, Hinata," Teuchi, the bar owner, handed her another bowl, assumingly for herself. "Sit down and take your break."

"Ah, thank you," She smiled and placed the bowl on the bar next to Sasuke, taking off her apron and tossing it on a nearby hook. Exiting through the back door, she went around and took her seat beside him. Hinata noticed that he was waiting for her and she hastily broke apart her chopsticks before digging in.

"How long do you plan on working here? You've been here for nearly a year already," Sasuke said through mouthfuls. "And you don't like Naruto anymore, do you?"

"Hmm?" She raised a brow at him. "Do I?"

His head whipped around faster than she had ever seen and he stared at her. Hinata almost snorted noodles out of her nose, but managed not to. Instead she finished chewing and swallowed.

"I'm kidding, you know I am," She smiled a bit apologetically. "You know my feelings for Naruto disappeared sometime last year."

He continued to stare at her.

"Oh, stop sulking, Sasuke," She picked the two naruto from her bowl and gently dropped it into his.

He turned his head to look into his bowl, but then turned his head again to keep staring at her. When he did, he was caught off guard as she was suddenly close and placing a chaste kiss on his lips.

"Don't look like that, we're getting married soon," Hinata said. "You know that I love you more than anything else in the world."

"What about ramen?" He asked.

"I'll quit once we get settled down," She chuckled and placed her hand over his, giving it was squeeze. "I'll have to cook meals for my own family then, won't I?"

Sasuke stared at her a while longer before going back to his ramen. He picked up her two naruto and put them back in her bowl. He then picked up his own two, giving them to her as well.

"It's not like that ring on your hand doesn't change anything…" He said. "It's time for me to start taking care of you now."

Hinata looked in her bowl with surprise. "Sasu-" She turned her head to face him, but this time it was her that was caught off guard. When he pulled away and started eating again, she blushed and touched her fingers to her lips. A small smile blossomed on her face as she leaned close to his ear.

"I love you." She whispered.

Sasuke looked at her, still chewing a mouthful as he reached over to her and placed a hand on the side of her face. He didn't say anything. He didn't need to. Hinata could see it in his eyes and feel it in his touch. She knew what he was saying to her right at that moment.

And I love you.