She was always there, watching him, whether he knew or not.

When he trained, trained to become the best protector of Hinata, she watched him from a gap in the wall. Even back then, she marveled at the grace he held.

When his father had died, she was watching, watching from an opened window, looking on as he broke down and cried.

When he did not listen to the teacher, she watched, from the desk of the back row, and wondered how he could keep his composure underneath the Iruka-sensai's yelling. The day they were assigned genin squads, she gave thanks that they were put together, so that watching him would become much easier.

Ever since then, she watched him from his side, not leaving during the day, at his insistence. Until one day, he came to training, and broke to them the news. News that meant in order to have a strong clan head and heirs, he must marry his cousin Hinata, marry her as he was the prodigy of the clan, and as the prodigy, who else would be stronger? She ran home that day, crying, for she had harbored a secret crush against her silent, stoic teammate. She moved that week for a new mission, putting herself far away from her former teammate with the silvery eyes like the moon.

The day came when she had to return from her village, and she knew it would be no quiet event, for she had had to assassinate a powerful criminal, and she succeeded. As she arrived under the gates, there was an uproar, and the man she had longed for for so many years pushed his way into the front of the crowd, wearing the traditional Hyuuga robes, which meant he had achieved his goal of becoming Head. He gently took her elbow and led her to a secluded spot on the Hokage Monument, where he got down on one knee and produced a shimmering ring, and said the words she thought would only be said in her dreams.

"Marry me, Tenten?" Neji whispered. Tenten was bewildered. Neji, seeing her expression, hastened to explain. "Naruto burst in the church and proclaimed his 'undying love for the beautiful indigo flower that he never noticed.' Honestly, I think Gai and Lee helped him with that." Tenten took a few seconds to process that information.

"And how are you clan head?" she asked.

"By the time Naruto came, it was already promised that I would become the clan head. So, what is your answer?" Neji hoped she would say yes. And she did. Now, for the rest of their lives, Tenten would forever watch him by his side, watch him in any state, and he always let her.