Hey friends, welcome to my new fic! A few caveats:

1. This fic contains homosexuality; if you are homophobic, save yourself the trouble: read the warning and no flame me:) No worries though, absolutely no graphic sex scenes. This is a very tame 'T' rated fic.

2. This fic also contains: circus freaks, the snorting of noodles, a gay bar, ice cream binging, awkward conversations, chamomile tea, an annoying drunken Sakura, raw octopus, revolutionary and mentally unhinged orphans, pregnancy, child birth, scary NaruHina children, and a fake duck shooting contest. If you find any or all of these things offensive instead of mildly amusing, please remember that you were warned here first.

3. Last note, this fic gets a bit crackish at times. It was written during a very stressful period in my life, and that is just the kind of thing I write when I lack entertainment under extreme conditions. I think you'll like it.

I expect to update this regularly, once a week if the gods (and reviewers:) smile upon me.

And now: THE FIC! Enjoy:)

Together We Fall Apart

Hinata finds an unexpected ally in her husband's mistress…er, mister.

Chapter One: Home

Hinata waltzes through the gates of Konoha, listening to the chirping cicadas and relishing the cool night air on her face. She has just come home a day early from a diplomatic mission, and she grins, eager to surprise her husband. Naruto will be so excited to see her! The gods know that she is excited to see him; she can't wait to share the good news.

She passes the cemetery and pauses, remembering that today is the anniversary of her mother's birthday. She is torn between visiting her mother's grave and rushing home: in the end, she bites her lip and presses onward, promising to visit her mother in the morning.

Despite her dirt-caked clothes and aching muscles, she half-skips along the silent streets. The twins are still staying over at Uncle Neji's house, so Naruto will probably be alone, shoveling ramen into his mouth while trying (and failing) to finish his paperwork without her usual help.

But when she arrives home, the house is dark. She creeps in quietly, on the chance that Naruto is sleeping. Poor thing, she muses; as the Hokage, he never gets enough rest. Hinata would hate to wake him.

She's just setting down her travel bag on the kitchen table when she hears a loud thump and a grunt—it sounds like someone has been thrown to the floor! Breath caught in her throat, Hinata crouches behind the kitchen table. It could be an assassin, she thinks darkly, readying a kunai and activating her eyes.

She blinks into the darkness, her eyes bulging with the Byakugan. But she can't see a thing—it's like peering through a heavy mist with ordinary vision.

"Genjutsu," she hisses. Naruto really is in danger. Knuckles white around the hilt of the kunai, Hinata stalks through the hallway and pauses at the base of the stairs, listening to the terrible struggle taking place on the second floor. Then, inching up the stairs while her heart beats a violent tattoo in her breast, Hinata reaches the landing and presses her back against the wall. She's close enough now that she can see past the genjutsu barrier. Focusing her doujutsu, she takes a deep breath as her vision penetrates the closed door—

She blinks in confusion. It's Sasuke. And he's naked. Is he trying to kill Naruto? But why do it without clothes?

Stunned, Hinata's eyes deactivate. Of course, she knows that Naruto and Sasuke are sparing partners—are they practicing Sumo wrestling? But why are they doing it in the bedroom?

Muffled animal grunts and growls erupt from the bedroom door, and Hinata chastises herself for just standing there when Naruto's life might be in danger. Shaking her head at her own antics—because there is no way that they could be doing that—just, no way—Hinata gathers her resolve, clutches her kunai in trembling hands, and focuses her Byakugan once more.

Her mouth parts in a silent cry. Her eyes deactivate of their own accord, and her kunai falls from her nerveless fingers, landing on the floor with a thud.

As if in a dream, Hinata floats down the stairs, out of the front door, and back out into the dark night. She doesn't feel much of anything as her feet glide over the pavement. The full moon rises in the purple sky, silvering the cobblestone streets and silhouetting the buildings.

Hinata ghosts through the empty avenues until she returns to the cemetery. Her feet find the familiar way to her favorite quiet spot.

Her hands reach for the flint and incense, always kept ready by the grave. She kneels on the cold stone, feeling detached from herself, as if this is all just a bad dream happening to someone else.

The incense sputters, then the end turns red and smolders. Moonlight shines down through the smoke, making it look like a dancing silver ribbon.

"Hello, okaasan," Hinata murmurs, her voice as soft as the wind sighing through the summer grass. "I'm sorry I didn't bring flowers. I…" She trails off as tears cloud her vision. "I h-haven't told anyone yet but I—I'm p-pregnant." Hinata smiles as tears trail down her cheeks and land on the stone, shining like dew.

"I'm p-pregnant. And my h-husband is…is…" She breaks down in sobs. She can't admit it, even to her mother's grave. Even to herself. My husband is having an affair.

Thanks for reading! Please review;)