part four-ish of the modern au! this is a two chapter fic, and will completed thursday-ish.

oh and i realized i haven't been doing this, so: i do not own Naruto

Tenten came in from her jog feeling winded but energized. It was starting to get colder, the September wind whipping color into her cheeks and scattering leaves around her feet as she ran. The air felt brisk in her lungs, and she was humming as she entered the house through the garage.

She could hear the quiet clatter of dishes from the kitchen as she took off her running shoes, and every once in a while the piping voice of a child raised in exclamation. Tenten hung up her coat and put away her ear band and gloves, smiling to herself as she heard a loud giggle.

She entered the kitchen, and Hui Na looked up from her plate and book and regarded her very solemnly (as she often did). "Mama, lookit, baba made me eggs."

"Oh! Are they yummy?" Tenten asked her, glancing up and giving Neji a soft smile as he flipped an omelet at the stove.

Hui Na stabbed a bite of egg and popped it into her mouth, chewing furiously with her brow furrowed in contemplation. She swallowed and declared decisively, "Yep."

"Oh good. C'mere, gimme a kiss!" Hui Na paused with another bite of eggs on her fork and craned her head up to accept Tenten's kiss, giggling as Tenten blew a raspberry on her cheek.

Tenten ducked her head and quickly stole the bite of eggs, then straightened up and spun away. A second later, Hui Na yelled, "Hey! My eggs!"

Tenten, obviously chewing something, turned back to look at her. Hui Na was frowning at her fork. "My eggs are gone! Mama-" She looked up at Tenten, then narrowed her eyes. "Mama!"

Tenten widened her eyes innocently. "Hm? What? Eggs?"

"You took them!"

"That's a very serious thing to say! Do you have proof?"

Hui Na gave her a condescending look, one hand propped on her hip. "Mama, what are you eating."

Tenten grinned. "Nooooothing." She swooped down and kissed her daughter's cheek. "You're too cute, kidlet."

"Mama, you took my eggs!"

"That's right." Tenten told her. "And they were very good."

Hui Na nodded, ire forgotten. "Yep, baba makes good eggs."

"That's right," Neji called from the stove. Tenten laughed and turned to face him, lingering a moment to take him in. He was dressed for work in a dark gray button down, tucked into his slacks with the sleeves rolled up. His tie was resting on the counter behind him, and Tenten noticed with some fondness that he didn't have his shoes on yet. It was one of his little quirks- he never put on his shoes until he had everything else absolutely ready to go.

He was plating the omelet as she approached and wound her arms around his waist, pressing a kiss to his fine cheekbone before pulling away again. "How was your run?" he asked.

"Good," she said as she turned to the coffee maker. Neji had already brewed a pot- if she wasn't already married to the man, she'd get down on one knee. "A little lonely." She turned and gave him an affected pout, filled mug in hand, and he chuckled.

"I'll run with you when Hui Na goes to the dojo for her lesson."

Tenten grinned and held out the hand that wasn't holding her coffee to shake. "Deal." He grabbed her hand and twisted it up so their fingers were entwined, then brought her hand to his mouth and kissed her palm. She actually blushed at the action, scowling at him as his mouth lingered with a wicked smirk.

After a few seconds, she yanked her hand back. "Showboat."

"A Hyuga? Never."

Tenten and Neji joined Hui Na for breakfast, and she happily chattered on with them about what she wanted to do in school today, and how she was super excited to go see Uncle Sensei at the dojo, and baba please please could she have a sip of his tea? Mama you should put your hair in curlies again today, it was so so pretty.

Neji and Hui Na naturally had all of their stuff ready to go (despite not needing to leave for another forty-five minutes), so Hui Na followed Tenten up to the master bedroom and into the bathroom to watch as Tenten got ready for work. She helped her mother pick out her outfit. (Tenten was very proud, as she seemed to have a natural inclination for pantsuits.) Hui Na also picked out some jewelry- Tenten's "most dangla-glest" earrings and the matching necklace. (A set Neji had gotten her for their fourth anniversary.)

Tenten then carefully styled her hair into the partial updo Hui Na was so fond of, pinning back her bangs and upper portion of her hair, then curling it into loose spirals.

She curled the last strand and pinned it into place, then turned to Hui Na. "How's that?"

Hui Na regarded her in the manner of one looking over a potential car purchase, then nodded in approval. "You look so pretty," she told her firmly, one little hand rising, palm out, to emphasize the words.

Tenten laughed. "Thank you, my lovie. Are you all ready to go? Dada needs to drive you to school in a little bit."

"Oh my goodness, I completely lost track of the time," Hui Na murmured to herself, trotting out of the bathroom. Tenten bit back a laugh at the phrase- Hinata had said that in front of Hui Na enough for her to retain it, and there were few things funnier than a tiny, earnest, not-quite-five-year-old speaking like an elderly grandmother (or middle-aged but old fashioned aunt) and meaning every word of it.

After putting on some light makeup, Tenten headed downstairs to kiss her husband and daughter goodbye. Neji was helping Hui Na tie her shoes as she sat on the floor, petting his hair and giving him largely unhelpful instructions.

Tenten, unseen by both of them, dug her phone out of her pocket and snapped a quick picture of the image they made, Neji kneeling in front of his daughter and tying up her laces as she watched diligently, chin propped on one hand with the other resting on her father's head.

Neji tied the last lace. "There we go, sweetheart."

"Thanks baba." Neji stood up and offered his hands to Hui Na, and she clasped her palms in his. He pulled her up onto her feet and then a little higher, sending her spiralling into giggles as she kicked her feet in the air.

Tenten descended down the last few steps as Neji put Hui Na back down. His shoes were finally on, she noticed with an internal laugh.

Hui Na looked up at Tenten and threw her hands in the air. "Oh my goodness, mama, you look so pretty."

"Thanks, lovie. Are you guys about to go?"

"Yep!"

"Okay then." Tenten bent down and pressed kisses all over Hui Na's face. "Have a good day at school; I'll pick you up this afternoon! I love you!"

"Okay mama. I love you too!"

Tenten straightened up and turned to Neji. "And as for you, my love-"

"Wait!" They both turned to stare at Hui Na, startled. She regarded them very seriously. "I am going to go into the garage, that way you and baba can kiss."

Tenten bit back a laugh. "Lovie, you don't need to leave-"

"No, mama, I don't want to watch you kiss baba." She raised her hand, palm out, and enunciated carefully, "But you havta wait for me to leave."

"What, no smoochin' in front of you?"

"No." Hui Na walked past them, her backpack almost reaching down to her knees, and carefully opened the door into the garage, then paused. "Dada will you open the big door?"

"Of course." Neji pushed the button, and the garage door started lifting. Over the noise, Hui Na said, "Okay, I am gonna sit on the step and wait for baba." She started out the door, then paused and whirled back towards them. "But- but only for- for TWO MINUTES." She carefully held up her fingers and showed them to her parents somberly. "Then you have to be all done with kisses."

Neji laughed. "Yes ma'am."

"Okay." Satisfied, Hui Na stepped outside, and Tenten could see her plunk down on the steps before the door shut.

The two of them burst into laughter the second the door closed. "Oh my god," Tenten wheezed, "She's so cute! What a little bossypants!"

"That's certainly new, that she doesn't to watch us kiss," Neji got out between chuckles.

"Speaking of," Tenten walked towards him and linked her arms around his neck. "We've only got a minute here. Come on, lover, make me see stars."

Neji slid his hands down her waist. "If you insist."

Neji exited the house into the garage and found his daughter humming to herself on the step, playing with the straps of her backpack.

"Ready to go?" He asked her, pulling the car keys from his pocket.

"Yep!" Hui Na jumped to her feet and started towards the car. "Dada, what time is it?"

Neji checked his watch. "Almost eight fifty."

"Okay." Hui Na thought on it a moment as he opened the car door and settled her into her carseat, then asked, "What does that mean?"

"It means that we're right on track to get you to school on time."

"Oh good. I'd hate to be late."

Neji laughed and kissed her head. "Me too, little bird." He handed her the book she'd been "reading" and got into the driver's seat. It was a short drive to Hui Na's school from their house, and she remained occupied with her book for the entire ride, singing to herself and kicking her legs.

As usual, he walked her up to wait with the other children, kissing her goodbye before watching her trot over to a few friends. Right before she reached them, she stopped short with a loud "OH," of realization and whirled back around to face him. "DADA I LOVE YOU," she yelled over the heads of the other children.

"I love you too," he called back. Satisfied, she continued towards her friends.

Neji walked back to the car, idly realizing that he had a rather soft smile on his face.

Neji got home from work about a quarter after five, to find both Tenten and Hui Na lying spread eagled on the floor in the living room, eating chex mix from a shared bowl. Tenten had put her hair back up into her double buns and changed into some athletic capris and a long-sleeved shirt, and Hui Na was wearing sneakers with her play clothes.

They craned their necks to look up at him as he entered, munching away at their snack.

Hui Na swallowed her handful and piped, "Hi baba!"

"Hi, sweetheart. How was your day?"

"Good! Me and mama went to the park! But it got too hot, so we came back. Now we're eating chex mix."

"Join us," Tenten added, smacking the ground next to her. He obliged, setting his briefcase aside and laying on his back with his arms folded over his abdomen. Tenten rolled over and pressed a quick kiss to the corner of his mouth before settling back as she was before.

Hui Na let out an annoyed sound. "No kissing!"

Neji laughed. "No kissing at all?"

"NO."

"So I can't kiss you goodnight anymore, little bird?"

"N- no, baba, you can kiss me."

"So now I can't kiss mama?"

"No! No kissing mama."

"Drat." Tenten murmured, mostly for Neji's benefit.

"That's too bad. Mama's my second-favorite person to kiss."

Hui Na was quiet for a few seconds, before her round little face appeared over Tenten's torso. She cupped her hands around her mouth, whispering, "Dada, am I your fav'rite?"

"Yes," he whispered back.

She grinned, delighted, then launched herself over Tenten's body. Tenten let out a little "Oomph," as bony knees and elbows scrambled madly against her ribcage.

Hui Na flopped across Neji's body, giggling as he lifted her into the air to cover her face with kisses. Tenten sighed gustily. "I guess no one will ever kiss me again. Too bad."

"Mama I can kiss you!" Hui Na shouted, wiggling free of Neji's arms and hastily throwing herself to Tenten. She pressed three very serious kisses to Tenten's face, before pulling away and regarding her earnestly.

"There. Lots of kisses."

"Thank goodness. I'm still going to kiss baba though."

"No, mama!"

"Why can't I kiss him?"

"Because it's gross when parents kiss. Lei told me."

Both Tenten and Neji couldn't contain their laughter at the statement, but bit it off at the very serious look on Hui Na's face.

"We're still going to kiss, little bird," Neji told her, grabbing her under her arms and pulling her off of Tenten and onto his lap, "But we won't be so kissy around you. How's that sound?"

Hui Na mulled it over, patting his palms with hers as she thought. Finally she let out a tragic sigh. "Okaaaaaaay."

Tenten snickered. "Oh, woe is you."

Hui Na threw her hands in the air. "Mama, I don't even know what that means."

"Pass the chex mix, please." Neji said.