"Hinata!" A voice called out as she exited the yarn store. hthe dark haired woman looked up in surprise as Sakura and Ino rushed up to her. "We were just going to get some food. Care to join us?" Sakura asked cheerfully. "Oh. S-sure." She responded softly. "Wheres Naruto? Normally you two are joined at the hip!" Sakura asked her. Hinata blushed and smiled. "He's in a meeting with Lord Sixth. I'm supposed to meet him afterwards." They began walking to the small cafe that they frequented quite often. "So..." Ino began. "Knitting, eh? I assume it's for him?" She asked with a wink. Hinata smiled and hugged the bag closely. "Yes. Its his wedding present from me actually." Ino smirked at the shorter girl with a gleam in her eye. "Oh? That's ALL you're giving him as a wedding present?" Hinata perked up at her. "W-well, he loves when I knit him things and scarves are a special thing for us so..." 'They're both so dense...' Ino and Sakura both thought in unison. They got to the cafe, ordered and began eating. "OH! I know! Lets do a bit of shopping!" Ino declared. "I don't know. It's getting late and I need to start on this." Hinata told them. "Awwww come on! It'll be my treat!" Ino said. Sakura glared at her. She knew what kind of shopping her friend meant and she wasn't sure if it was a good idea. "W-well, alright. What kind of shopping did you have in mind?" Hinata asked as they exited the cafe.
Ino didn't answer at first but then stopped and pointed upwards at a store sign saying, "Lingerie!" Hinata looked from her to the store sign about eight times before it really set in what her blond friend meant by "shopping" and a "wedding present". "I... Uhhhh... I feel... A bit... D-dizzy..." Hinatas face turned a bright shade of red before blood shot out of her nose and she fainted, falling backwards. Before she even got close to the ground though, a pair of strong arms caught her. "Hey! What are you doing to my wife to make her faint like that?!" Was the last thing Hinata heard before completely passing out. Sakura and Ino both blushed and looked at each other. "You know you aren't married yet right? And what are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in a meeting?" Sakura said to the man standing before them. Naruto blushed. "W-well we're going to be soon so... It still counts... S-Shut up! And thats none of your business!" He picked Hinata up bridal style. "You were getting her a gift weren't you?" Sakura asked him. Naruto blushed even harder. "If you don't don't mind, I have to go take care of her." With that he rushed off. Sakura turned around and began to walk off. "You idiot." She said to Ino which caused the blond woman to follow her and they argued the rest of the way to their homes.
Naruto got to his apartment and laid Hinata down on the bed. He went to bathroom and got a washcloth, wet it and gently put it on her forehead. "Damn those two." he muttered. He had to admit though, he really liked taking care of her. Of course he didn't like seeing her sick or hurt but he definitely liked making her better. "Well, might as well pass the time before she wakes up." He said to himself, picking up the remote to his tv set before adjusting Hinata on the bed so that her head was comfortably in his lap and he was sitting vertical on the bed with his feet hanging over the edge. He turned the tv on and made sure it wasn't too loud so she wouldn't be disturbed. He decided a reality tv show about these rich ninja wives when Hinata rolled over, her face now buried in his stomach. He felt his heart flutter all of a sudden. What was this feeling? Part of it, he knew, was love. The other part though, he suddenly realized was that he felt at home. Not in the the fact that this was where he lived but he didn't want this to end. He didn't want her to leave. Naruto was suddenly over come by emotion. He quickly wiped his tears away before they fell on her and woke her up. He looked down at his soon to wife with contentment. He softly brushed his finger on her cheek when she stirred and sat up groggily. "Naruto... kun?" She said groggily, rubbing her lavender eyes with her hand. "How are you feeling?" He asked. "A little tired." She replied. "Well..." He said, looking down sadly. "I should get you home then..." "W-wait!" She suddenly yelled. "To be honest, I wanted to ask you if... I-if I could stay here tonight." They both just stared at each other. Of course Naruto wanted to instantly shout YES but he hated to think of what her father would do to him if he found out about it. "Well... Ummm... T-that is... Father and Hanabi are both away for a few days and to be honest my house is very lonely right now so..." Hinata looked up to see tears falling down Narutos face. He suddenly embraced her. "I would love nothing more!"
A bit of time passed and Hinata emerged from the bathroom wearing one Narutos old shirts and pajama pants. His face turned a bright shade of red and suddenly he understood everything Jaraiya had said about women. Naruto had always been a bit perverted and he had seen Hinata naked before but this was different somehow. "What are you doing?" She sat on his bed and asked Naruto as he layed pillows and an extra blanket on the floor. "Oh. I was making a pallet on the floor for myself, so you can sleep in the bed." He replied, scratching his chin. "But... Why?" Hinata asked again. "Ummm... To be polite... I guess?" Hinata puffed out her cheecks in protest. "No." She said. 'Oh my God, she is so cute!' Naruto couldn't help thinking. "N... No?" Hinata nodded. "No." She got up and picked up the pillow and put it back on the bed. She looked into his eyes and said, "I told you I was lonely so... Why would I want to sleep alone?" This was actually a good point and to be honest Naruto was relieved. He wanted to be next to her as well. He closed his eyes and smiled softly, and then stood up and lifted her chin with his thumb and index finger, leaning down and giving her a quick peck on the lips before changing into a pair of pajama pants. He laid down on the wall side and she gladly laid down next to him. He tucked the blankets around her, leaving none for himself. "Huh? What about you?" Hinata asked. "Won't you be cold?" Naruto smiled again and brushed a strand of hair out of her face. "Don't worry about me." He replied softly. "I don't need it." Hinata hid her half of her face in the covers. "Well, I mean, if you're sure... but if you get cold I'm more than happy to share!" He leaned in and kissed her softly. Hinata stuck her hand out the blanket and, without a word, he instinctively knew what she wanted. He clasped his bandaged hand in hers and put his other arm over her side. Hinata must have been exhausted because she fell asleep almost instantly.
He laid there for awhile, just watching her sleep. She was even beautiful when she slept. This felt so surreal. Not only was he getting married but it was to Hinata Hyuga. Someone he had known his entire life. He never realized someone could make him feel so happy, yet so nervous at the same time. He moved closer and quickly fell asleep peacefully with her in his arms.
Naruto woke up a lot warmer than when he went to sleep. He sat up and realized that he had a blanket over him. Hinata must have woken up last night and put it over him. Speaking of Hinata, he looked over and realized she was gone but he heard the shower running and realized she must be in the bathroom. Then someone knocked on the door. Nauto was surprised to see Sakura and Ino standing on the other side when he opened it. "Sakura and Ino? What are you doing here?" He asked them. "Well actually Hinata dropped something yesterday and we're trying to return it to her. We went to the Hyuga estate and they hadn't seen her. We were hoping you had heard from her." Sakura explained. Naruto blushed. "Oh! Well, uhhhhh..." The bathroom door opened behind him and Naruto heard, "Naruto-kun! I'm sorry but I used the last of your... shampoo..." Hinata trail off as she walked out in Narutos old shirt and panties, suddenly noticing the two women standing in the doorway. Hinata stared at them for what seemed like an eternity and Naruto just looked back and forth, unsure of what to do. Hinata screamed and ran back into the bathroom, slamming the door. "Hinata!" Naruto called out. He took a step but then turned towards the other girls, "P-please don't tell anyone about this! If her family found out-" Sakura put her hand up, interrupting his tangent. "Of course we won't say anything! Have a little faith in your friends!" Naruto looked down sadly, "You're right. I'm so sorry..." Ino winked at him and said, "Don't worry. Just try to get her out of your bathroom. Oh! And here!" Ino handed him a large paper bag. "See you later!" They waved and left as Naruto shut the door.
He placed the bag on the bed, walked up to the door and knocked, "Hinata?" he said but got no response. He tried again. "Hinata! Please answer me!" yet still nothing. He sighed and slid to the ground and placed his palm on door. "I'm... I'm so sorry. I let my loneliness cloud my judgment. If I had sent you home, this wouldn't have happened... I... I hope you can forgive me..." The door cracked open. "Hinata?" He asked with hope. Naruto-kun..." Hinata answered. She opened the door completely. She was on her knees as well but Naruto noticed her eyes were red from crying. "Oh Naruto-kun... I could never hate you! I was just embarrassed that they saw me so scantily clad. Even if my father DID say he disapproved, I would never leave you! I was lonely too, remember? If anything, it's my fault!" She finished and wiped the tears that had rolled down his cheek with her thumb, cupping the side of his face with the rest of her hand. Suddenly Naruto had a flash back. It was of them on the battlefield just after Neji died. She has this incredible ability to pull him out of himself and focus on what was around him. He smiled and placed his hand on top of hers and leaned in, kissing her lips softly. "Thank you, Hinata." He whispered quietly.