Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters.

xXxXxXxXx

Tenten awoke from her slumber at the sound of light tapping on her bedroom window. After a short investigation, the brunette realized it was her boyfriend. The events from that afternoon all came rushing back to her as she climbed out of the comfort of her bedroom to join the Hyuuga on the roof.

"Tenten." The young man bluntly said.

"….Hi." Tenten didn't care much for cheesy romantic dramas, but this definitely was nowhere near as romantic and emotional as it could, rather should, be. "I already told you I'm fine. I don't see why this couldn't wait until morning."

Neji actually knew that she was, in fact, not fine. His former sensei had found him releasing frustration on a training post and questioned him on why Tenten was crying. The man was very disturbed, he had never seen the girl like that before. After he told his sensei that he would take care of it, the man gave him two thumbs up and quickly vanished.

"I just wanted to make sure you were fine," he was telling truth, "We will have to deal with the situation sooner or later, so I chose sooner." Seeing the confused look on her face, he continued slowly, "About the baby."

Tenten's eyes immediately widened. How could she have forgotten that part? She looked down at her slippers before speaking, "What…will you do, Neji?"

"I plan to request an audience with Hiashi-sama. I will explain the situation to him, give him time to fully analyze our position, and then we will probably have another audience. The second time being with him, you, Yamanaka, the Hyuuga council, and myself." He finished his explanation professionally, no visible emotion on his face.

"Why do I have to be there?"

"I just want to make it clear to them that I love you and will not marry Yamanaka."

Tenten felt a pang in her heart at his words. She couldn't bare the thought of him being forced to marry another woman.

After a brief pause, the girl decided to speak, "Well, okay."

Neji stood from where he had been sitting, "The meeting with you will be a week and a half or so from now. The elders like to deliberate things very slowly," he then jumped off of the rooftop and disappeared into the night.

"I love you too, Neji," Tenten hugged her knees close to her and decided to stargaze a bit before returning to her bedroom.

xXxXxXxXx

You, Me, Her, and It

Chapter Three: Hizashi, Are You There? It's Me, Ino.

A week has gone by since the events that took place at the picnic table. How many weeks are in a pregnancy again? Ino really didn't care at this point. The blonde got out of bed on a cool Thursday morning and got ready to start her day.

Ino would be training with her father until about three o'clock and from there would probably go to the missions desk in the academy and request work. They would probably tell her, as usual, that there were no missions for a chuunin such as herself at the moment. The only time Ino ever saw any action was when she and her former teammates would team up again, usually because Shikamaru requested them. Other than that, Ino did have the occasional B or A-rank mission, filling in for the role of a healer. There were several other medic-nins people would choose before her though.

Heading downstairs, Ino greeted her father and was rather shocked to also see Shikaku and Choza present.

"Ino, my beautiful daughter," Inoichi walked over to the fellow blonde and gently urged her to take a seat at the kitchen table, "I have some spectacular news for you," the man was beaming from ear to ear.

Looking around, Ino also noticed the smiles on the other males faces, "Okay, what is it?" she was a bit anxious but figured it couldn't be anything too bad.

"Ino, Ibiki has requested to take you on as an apprentice," the man smiled even more as his daughters jaw dropped, "Aside from training with me to perfect our clan's jutsu, you will also have training with him three days a week to learn how to extract information from someone without needing to go into their mind."

The girl didn't know what to say, so she just nodded as her father continued.

"From this day on, consider yourself now a Tokubetsu Jounin, specializing in intelligence gathering and interrogation." The man looked his daughter over as she began to shake with excitement. She was a Tokubetsu Jounin. A Special Jounin. Not skilled enough to be considered an elite shinobi, but her abilities got her recognized as a specialist in a certain area.

"You have no idea how happy I am. This is my dream," Ino still couldn't believe it. She didn't think she deserved it. The girl had been slacking on her ninjutsu training lately.

"One more thing, tomorrow morning, report to the Godaime. She will officially notify you of your promotion and you will also be required to take a physical."

Ino's whole world had just shattered.

"Ph-Physical?"

"Nothing too extravagant, just the usual. Don't fret, you know you are perfectly healthy."

Define healthy, dad.

"Take the day off, darling," the man looked his daughter over again, "you don't look well."

Shikaku and Choza each gave their congratulations as the trio left. Shikamaru was already a jounin and Choji was a Tokubetsu jounin just like her. She felt proud of herself, but….

'Sakura was right, where does a baby fit into this?'

Ino's pity party was interrupted by someone opening her front door and closing it behind them. She looked up to see it was the devil himself.

"Have you ever heard of knocking?" the blonde tried to act angry but gave up after a few seconds.

"Haven't you two learned by now not to leave your house key under a flowerpot?" Neji took a seat next to her, "It's predictable."

"What?" Ino deadpanned at him.

"Monday morning, I am expecting you at the Hyuuga compound no later than ten. Understood? And wear something…" the boy looked her over a few times, scrunching his nose at her orange shirt with the kanji for 'boar' on it, "other than that. Or that purple top. It's hideous."

He left immediately after that, Ino not even caring what the hell he wants her there for. All she wants is to be happy. She wants the same for him too. And Tenten. And the it. Or itette, whichever one it turned out to be. Whatever the Hyuugas wanted to discuss, she'll make sure it leads to happiness for everyone, even if she has to sacrifice her own.

"I don't even know what would make me happy," Ino admitted to absolutely no one as she headed back to her bedroom. Actually, she did have an idea of what would make her happy. Unfortunately, it's entirely impossible. It's always been impossible.

Five Months Ago

"Neji, I have a question," the blonde chuunin had a serene look on her face as she sat in the middle of a cosmos field on the outskirts of Konoha, her companion's head resting on her lap.

"What?" the older male sounded slightly annoyed. He had been enjoying the quiet.

Ino giggled at his usual attitude, "You and Tenten broke up again, right?" a grunt of displeasure was her confirmation, "Have you decided if you're gonna ask her out again?"

"Probably," he should've put more effort into that response but whatever.

"You don't ever think you'll date anyone besides Tenten? I mean, you're only 19 so…"

"No, Yamanaka." Neji sat up and rubbed his neck, "No."

Silence overtook the duo. Ino was never silent. This observation didn't go unnoted by the genius. However, he chose not to inquire about her thoughts. He knew what she was hinting at.

"If you say so," Ino huffed, "Now put your head back so I can braid some flowers in your hair!"

The jounin obliged. He couldn't give her what she wanted so the least he could do was let her entertain herself.

End Flashback

That day in the cosmos field was one of her last pleasant memories with the male. So back to the point, her idea of happiness was impossible and will always be impossible.

The cold-hearted Hyuuga prodigy will never be her boyfriend.

xXxXxXxXx

Hiashi had a headache. The news his nephew came to him with two days ago was downright outrageous. And now here he was, dealing with the stuck up pricks that made up the Hyuuga council. He decided to cut right to the chase.

"Honorable council, elders, brethren, main house and also branch, I have gathered you here to discuss an important turn of events." Hiashi looked around to make sure he had everyone's attention, "As you know, we had recently come to an agreement that Hyuuga Neji of the branch house would be my successor, as my humble eldest daughter has denounced her status."

A murmur was heard in the room. It was very scandalous when Hinata came in front of them only recently to declare she did not wish to be a Hyuuga any longer, and that she wished to change her surname whenever she married. Her boyfriend was anther scandalous matter, but many fellow brethren vouched for the boy, claiming he will most likely be Rokudaime so Hinata would not disgrace their name by marrying him.

By that point, no one even objected because the whole heir situation was a long standing matter that everyone wished to just be over with. And so, it was decided that on his 20th birthday, the council would officially inform Neji of his new status.

That was until this.

"My new successor has come to me with an issue. He is expecting a child." Hiashi braced himself for the backlash.

"What?"

"Since when did he marry?"

"Is it too late to be terminated?"

"Hizashi would be proud!"

"He's only 19!"

Hiashi raised his hand for silence, "That is not all. The girl carrying his child is not his…girlfriend," the word was very uncomfortable for the older man to use, "but it is someone else."

A silence engulfed the room.

Hotaru, one of the female elders, spoke up, "Excuse me, Hiashi-sama, but we are confused."

Hiashi couldn't think of anyway to say it without sounding scandalous, so he just resigned to throwing himself to the dogs, "Neji is expecting a child for a female who is not his lover, but someone else completely."

The room was in an uproar.

"He must marry her at once!"

"Dispose of the seedless one."

"How could he?"

"Shame!"

"He is not fit to be heir"

"Fail."

Hiashi raised his hand once more, "We have until Monday to reach a conclusion. That is seven days from now. Please try to be as open as you can." Hiashi stood, "Meeting adjourned."

Day One

Hiashi stood with two pictures in front of him. He raised his left arm, "This is Tenten, Neji's lover," he then raised his right hand, "This is Ino, his….mistress," Hiashi lowered the photos, "Discuss."

Hotaru spoke first, "The blonde one is unacceptable. Just look at that photo!" Indeed, Ino's newest ninja registration picture was…questionable. It featured her with both of her hands over her breasts and giving the camera a seductive look. His messenger should have chosen a photo from a different year.

Natsu of the branch house spoke next, "We cannot judge by appearance, sister. The brunette also looks unpresentable in her photo." Tenten's picture looked as if she had ran to the studio straight after training to take it, hair out of place and face gleaming with sweat.

Hitomi, a rather romantic middle-aged woman, gave her opinion, "If Neji-san wishes to marry his lover, why are we having this debate?"

Heero, the eldest of the males, spoke up, "We must select him to marry the one who can best represent our clan as head lady. Unfortunately, there is no room for love in this situation. Unless the situation is dire, he should most definitely marry the one he has impregnated."

"I'd say this situation is indeed dire," Hotaru spoke again. The blonde girl in that picture looked nothing like what a Hyuuga should be.

Hiashi cleared his throat, "I think it is fair to say that by this judging, Neji should definitely be engaged to his brown-haired lover. Even if she is not the mother, Neji having a child without being a married man is much worse."

The council agreed. Meeting adjourned.

Day 3

"Will the messenger please come forward." a young man came stepped out from the shadows.

"Recite everything you have learned about these two young women," Hiashi spoke firmly.

The man nodded before raising the photo in his left hand.

"Yamanaka Ino. 18. A Tokubetsu jounin. Hails from the Yamanaka clan, a clan that specializes in mind techniques. Under direct tutelage of the current clan head and is expected to begin special training with Morino Ibiki. The Yamanaka clan has close ties to the Akimichi clan, one of the four noble clans of Konoha. Is described as being particularly vain but also very confident. She is an incredibly capable medical ninja and-"

"That's enough," Hiashi found no need for the man to continue since the council was lively with approving murmurs and nods. "The next girl." The messenger lowered his left hand and raised the picture in his right.

"Tenten, no surname reported. 19. Hails from no particular clan. Her only living relative, her father, is a civilian. Former member of Neji's genin team. Currently a Chuunin but is said to be up for promotion. Reported to be the best handler of ninja weapons in Konoha. Is described as being a modest girl, slight tomboyish and um….um…" it was obvious the man had nothing else to read from the back of her photo.

The occupants of the room talked amongst themselves quietly but the result of this judging was obvious.

Stature wise, the Yamanaka was much better qualified. Meeting adjourned.

Day Five

"The child must be branded! If the Yamanaka is not married to Neji, his rights as a father are nonexistent and the child will be sheltered by the Yamanaka name!" the eldest elder Heero had veins popping around his eyes.

"But if Neji is declared clan head, his child will be main house and therefore will not be branded either way!" the romantic Hyuuga Hitomi retorted.

This debate had been going on for a while and the council was polarized.

The group on the left supported Yamanaka and the group on the right supported Tenten. Who gave them permission to change their seating arrangement anyway?

Hiashi rubbed his temples. This is literally the most exciting topic the Hyuuga council has ever discussed. They were like the audience watching a trashy tv show, rooting for the person they liked and insulting the person they didn't.

What did Hiashi himself want? He wanted whatever Neji wanted, truthfully. The boy had been adamant about his choice so this discussion wouldn't change anything. If forced to do anything against his will, the boy would probably remove himself from the clan and skip town. Then, they would be heirless and stuck trying to convince the extremely rebellious Hanabi to shape back up into the perfect heir candidate she once was.

Hiashi raised his hand for silence, "Either way this goes, the child will have to be in our care. We cannot afford to have an unbranded Hyuuga running freely about. Adoption is not an option and the Yamanaka will not be raising the baby on her own." He stood to his feet, "Meeting adjourned."

No real results came from the hour-long argument, so the current score still held the girls as tied.

The next time the clan would meet, the two girls would be in front of them.

xXxXxXxXx

On the day of the audience, Tenten decided to trade her two buns for a more elegant, single bun. Neji told her to wear something 'nice.' Tenten was so nervous about her wardrobe, she almost considered not going for a second. But that was not an option.

As she left her home, Tenten walked slowly in an attempt to get used to the feminine sandals she was wearing. Her unsure waddle drew a lot of attention and she had barely gotten a few blocks before hearing someone call her name.

"Hey, Ten! It's weird to see you not training till nightfall," Haruno Sakura was the owner of the voice. Her phrase sounded oddly familiar, as if someone had said the exact same thing to her recently.

A certain blonde's face flashed in Tenten's head before the brunette decided to answer the pink-haired girl, "I'm on my way to the Hyuuga compound," she spoke surely.

Sakura's face changed into one of realization, "Oh! That meeting is today, huh?" the pinkette looked like she wanted to say something but didn't, "That…sucks."

Tenten suddenly remembered something as she walked with the medic-nin.

"Um, Sakura," Tenten turned to the girl, "Why did you punch Neji that day?" Tenten watched as her friend's mouth opened at the unexpected question, "It had something to do with Ino, didn't it?"

"Hmm…yea. Ino was telling him about her situation and he started being a jerk," Sakura still didn't know why exactly Ino made the call, but she didn't want to sound like she punched the boy for no reason.

'A jerk, huh? I don't even know Neji anymore,' the girl admitted to herself.

"Her pregnancy….was he planning to be a deadbeat dad or something?" Tenten hated deadbeat dads. All she had growing up was her father and to be honest, he was pretty much a deadbeat even though he did take care of her after her mother passed. She vividly remembered many nights he would come home at 3 in the morning, ignoring the little girl telling him she was hungry. No child deserved that.

"Uhh…well, he seemed a bit uncaring but-"

Tenten suddenly stopped her waddle, "I will NOT allow Neji to do that to his child! Even if I had to help him take care of it….myself," the girl was shocked by her own words. Sakura started to feel very uncomfortable but decided to attempt to help the girl out of her funk.

"Well, they're putting the baby up for adoption anyway!" Sakura hesitated after seeing Tenten's face turn even more sullen.

"Oh…" Tenten couldn't help but worry about the possibility of the baby ending up in a bad home.

"Did you want the baby or something?" Sakura attempted to joke.

"…."

'Okay, this is the last time I try to cheer anyone up.'

"A baby, huh" the brunette mumbled to herself, "A baby…Neji's baby." Tenten was unsure who her boyfriend planned to pawn his baby off to but she now had an indescribable feeling deep inside her. The baby was innocent. It deserves love.

The two girls bid farewell as they went their separate ways. Sakura was very confused about what had just transpired.

xXxXxXxXx

Ino had arrived at the Hyuuga compound rather early. The blonde nodded to the guards as she walked in, they were probably notified she would be arriving and told her to go wait outside of the grande sitting room. Not one to sit on her knees until a door slid open, Ino took her time strolling through the compound until she noticed Hinata on the other side of one of the open breeze ways, sitting on a swinging bench hanging from a tree.

She approached the girl and sat next to her, "….Hey."

"Hello, Ino-chan," Hinata smiled at her the same way she always did. Never judging or scrutinizing her.

Ino immediately felt herself breaking down, she didn't deserve for anyone to treat her nicely! Hinata noticed the girl's pained expression and watering eyes and quickly took action.

"Wh-What's wrong?" Lavender eyes met blue ones.

"I'm a horrible person! Everyone knows it," Ino didn't care as tears began falling from her eyes, "What can I do to fix this? How can I change what has been done?" the blonde's voiced cracked several times.

Ino thought back on her past week. She managed to get out of her physical, citing that being a medic-nin meant she should handle her own health. But the girl knew she couldn't hide her pregnancy forever. This just wasn't supposed to happen.

Hinata looked thoughtful for a moment, "There is something us Hyuugas do whenever there are questions we can not answer for ourselves," with an unwavering voice, the girl motioned for her friend to follow her.

Ino didn't pay much attention as Hinata opened a gate surrounding one of the gardens and walked a little ways down a path. The two stopped at a shrine.

"All of our clan ancestors are immortalized here," the Hyuuga led the way inside, "We pray to them whenever we need guidance and they offer us a way."

Ino took in everything around her, there were figurines and statues everywhere and there was a wall with several names engraved on it.

"If there is a specific ancestor you wish to speak to, you light an incense and slide it into the small opening below their name," Hinata looked over to check if the girl was listening, "Our clan is derived from the Elder Son of the Sage of the Six Paths. He is an ancestor we share with the Uchihas, although I w-wouldn't suggest praying to any of th-them"

Ino smiled at the slightly younger girl's attempt to humor her.

"We pray to our ancestors because they will pass our prayers on to the Elder Son, which from there, they will go on to the Sage himself," Hinata looked at the blonde, "I know it's silly, b-but it's still something," the girl offered her a freshly lit incense.

The Yamanaka took the object into her hands with caution before looking back to Hinata, "Which one does Neji pray too?"

Hinata pointed at finger towards a set of names that were still relatively fresh looking, not having suffered the wear and tear of other parts of the marble wall, "Hyuuga Hizashi."

Ino approached the wall, slid the incense in, and then clapped her hands together. A few minutes went by without the two girls saying anything and Hinata was using this time to sweep up fallen ashes. Something must have the clan very worked up for there to be such an amount on the floor.

Ino opened her eyes and turned to her friend, "How will I know if…he heard me?"

"He will hear you. Our ancestors are always listening," Hinata tilted her head to the side and gave another sweet smile that made the other girl want to cry once more.

xXxXxXxXx

Within the next few minutes, Ino found herself sitting in front of the door, on her knees with Tenten next to her. There was no tension, as the older girl still believed it had happened only once, after all.

'I need to remember to tell her the truth,' Ino made a point to herself.

"Ino," Tenten whispered to the girl next to her, "are you really going to put the baby up for adoption?"

The blonde never turned her head to fully address her senior, "Yes, I decided that a long time ago." If the blonde did decide to glance over, she would have noticed the obvious pained expression on the older girl's face.

The door opened to reveal an elderly man who then directed them to the middle of the room, each girl sitting on either side of Neji.

Neji looked over at his girlfriend and gave her a small smile, leaving something to be desired by the other girl.

Hyuuga Hiashi stood and introduced every single person in the room. One look at Tenten and Ino immediately knew all those names flew straight over her head as well.

"Let us begin," the man sat down, "Start by telling me what it is each of you want."

"I, Hyuuga Neji, wish for permission to continue my relationship with Tenten-san and would be fully willing, and honored to marry her." No mention of the it.

Tenten looked at the bowing boy next to her and hesitated, "….I, Tenten, wish for you to allow me to make Hyuuga Neji happy in anyway possible." No mention of the it.

Ino felt a great deal of pity for the couple. She took a long glance around the entire room, becoming painfully aware of every set of white eyes on her, all waiting for her to speak. Even Neji had turned his head in her direction while still bowing with his face to the ground.

'Screw it,' the blonde then shocked everyone by standing up before bowing, "I, Yamanaka Ino, wish to forever be out of the lives of both Hyuuga Neji and Tenten," the blonde's voice was strong, betraying every emotion she was currently feeling, "I relinquish all claims to this child," her voice was now growing loudly, "the child is already slated for adoption," Ino straightened her back out and looked directly into the clan leader's eyes, "I am nothing more than a surrogate mother for a much more deserving couple."

The room was quiet. When she put it that way, did it matter who Neji married at all? Heero, the eldest elder, made his voice heard, "The girl does not matter but the child will be raised by Hyuugas. Perhaps one of our older couples will be willing…"

The man's voice was lost as Neji's suddenly boomed over his. Now standing as well, the young man proclaimed, "I, Hyuuga Neji, wish to retain my paternal rights to this child."

Now things were getting complicated.

In order for Neji to be acknowledged at the child's father, he must be a married man. A bachelor had no stature to be a single, unwed parent. It would be scandalous. Hiashi spoke this time, "That is very noble of you, however-"

What happened next was something no one had anticipated.

"I, Tenten, volunteer to pick up Yamanaka Ino's maternal rights and raise her child, alongside Hyuuga Neji, as my own." The brunette had also stood up proudly and grabbed her boyfriend's hand.

Neji began sputtering out incoherent protests while the council was flabbergasted. Neji knew what caused his own change of heart. He didn't want any Hyuuga raising his child. The clan was noble but also very callous. The jounin's own childhood had been one marked by uncaring caretakers and a cold atmosphere. It was obvious why he decided to want to raise the child. But why would Tenten…

Ino was speechless. The blonde's jaw hung low, "Wh-what?" dozens of hard eyes began to stare the blonde down for speaking out of turn, "I-I mean, I, Yamanaka Ino, says whaaat?"

Facepalms flew across the room. This girl…

"I, Hyuuga Neji, would like to reinforce Yamanaka Ino's question and request to know exactly what does this mean for us now?"

When no member of the council spoke, Hiashi made his decision.

"Hyuuga Neji, you are now engaged." Everyone was holding his or her breath. "Yamanaka Ino, documents will be drawn up to officially name you surrogate mother to the couple."

Some people were shocked, others were satisfied, and the three youngest people in the room all had the same thing going through their heads.

'Oh, shit….'

xXxXxXxXx

After the whole ordeal, Ino was thankful to be able to relax in the flower shop. Fuu was right, this place was perfect whenever you needed a break. A break from life. A break from signing your life away to a ghost-praying clan. A break from helping an underground organization destroy Konoha from the inside out. To each his own.

When Ino heard the bell to the shop ring as the door opened, she didn't even look up from her magazine.

"Yamanaka," there goes that familiar voice.

"Hey….you" Ino barely looked at him.

"I trust your flower arranging skills are up to par, would you mind helping me fix a bouquet?" the Hyuuga asked her in an indifferent tone.

Ino looked at him fully as she stood and walked around to meet him by their wall full of flowers of every shape, color, and size.

"Number, type, colors." She spoke just as indifferently as he.

"12, cosmos, white, pink and….purple."

The girl took four of each color and arranged them in different ways until the boy was satisfied. Neji took this time to inform her that he and Tenten's wedding was set for three months from now. Ino then bound the flower arrangement together and walked back over to the cash register.

After he paid her the total, he asked for a pen to write out a personalized card.

"Let me know if she likes them," Ino wasn't upset or anything. She had just been through a lot that day and didn't feel like coming up with anything snazzy to say.

"Okay," the Hyuuga then held out the bouquet to her, "Do you like them?"

Time could have stopped for all Ino knew but she somehow pulled herself together and accepted the flowers. She smiled up at him, "Friends?"

Neji gave her a contemplative look before smiling and saying, "Only if you know what the word platonic means," and then he was gone.

Ino stared at the door for a while. She then turned her attention to the card and read it to herself, 'You're not as screwed up as you seem – Neji'

The Yamanaka smiled at the hidden compliment and mumbled to herself, "I give you credit, Hyuuga. You aren't a beginner anymore."

End Chapter 3

Okay, I guess I should tell you guys my inspiration for this situation. The Taiwanese drama Fated to Love You is about a guy who impregnates a random chick and he and his girlfriend decide to wait for the girl to have the baby so they can raise it themselves. It's a really good series, check it out.