The Secrets We Keep

Author Note: This is another flashback chapter. There may be two more randomly placed flashbacks then we will all be caught up. I hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 7: How They Met (III)

"Are you crying?" Sasuke prompted seeing his girlfriend quickly wipe her eyes during the movie. She sniffed and then denied the accusation. He leaned over and took her wrist and sure enough she was crying. Sasuke sighed and retracted his hand. "You're such a crybaby."

"Okay," mumbled Hinata. It was sad! It was all too sad.

Sasuke rolled his eyes and continued watching the movie as his phone vibrated. He picked up the buzzing device and noted that it was an email from the place he put in an application to internship at. He stared at the title for a long moment before Hinata noticed. "Hey, what's wrong?"

"I…" He rolled his shoulders, "It's Oto…"

"Otogakure? The internship place?" Her voice piped up in excitement that made his heart thump a bit faster. Yes, them. "Aren't you going to open it?"

"I can't," he sighed and put the phone down.

She blinked a few times. "W-what? Why? You want me to do it?" She asked and the Uchiha damn near threw the phone in her lap. He stood up and walked into the kitchen. He nodded for her to open it. Hinata giggled and clicked on the email. Opal eyes hummed through the beginning and her eyes widened. "We have reviewed and decided that your…your application meet our requirements and look forward to seeing you this summer!" She shouted the end. "Sasuke, you got it."

He placed a thumb at his lip. "I got it."

She jumped up and ran to hug him. "You got it! I'm so happy for you." She buried her head in his chest and realized just how fast his heart was racing. This meant so much to him. He wasn't sure if changing his majors was a good idea but heard of a pretty cool computer company and decided if he got the internship then it was the right move.

"This summer…" He mumbled, "That's in a few months."

"It is," Hinata leaned back with a weakened smile. "But…that's okay." She rubbed his forearms. "It won't be long."

"It's a two year internship." He stepped back. Just when everything was being put together. His relationship with his brother was becoming just as strong as it was when they were children. His relationship with… "Two years…"

Hinata clasped her hands together. "You're taking that internship even if…if I have to drive you there." She puffed out her cheeks. "This is a one in a lifetime-"

"I know," he finally said something. "I should accept it and tell my brother?"

"Yes. Let's celebrate afterwards, yes?"

"Aa."

::

::

Hinata ran a frustrated hand through her hair and stared in the mirror. She just didn't feel comfortable in her skin. All her clothes were feeling too tight and—

"I need to go on a diet," she whispered, successfully zipping up her jeans. She paused and glanced at the calendar and sighed softly. Nope, she was just bloated. "That makes sense…" she nodded before Karin came out the bathroom.

"Not with Sasuke?"

"He's spending the day with his brother."

"And?" Karin adjusted her glasses. "Has that stopped you both from leeching off each other?"

Hinata pouted and giggled, "You missed me?"

The redhead scoffed and joined the young woman in the mirror. "Karin Uzumaki misses nothing…"

"-but class?"

"Don't bring up my sin and I won't bring up yours." She grinned and nudged her. Hinata crossed her arms. Karin tapped her chin, "Let's go for lunch. I found the best sushi bar a few days ago."

Hinata nodded and grabbed her jacket.

Karin didn't say they had to walk there and Hinata was dying. She used to exercise all the time in high school and look at her now…struggling to make it up stairs. "How are your classes going anyway?" Karin asked.

Hinata nodded at the woman. "I'm doing better than I prayed for."

"Lucky you," said Karin. "It's over here. Karui and Ino are meeting us there. You remember them? Your friends?"

She knew Karin was just joking but…it hurt a bit. She hadn't noticed that she really wasn't spending time with the girls. She had classes with them! Ino gasped when they walked in, "Well, well, look who isn't playing wife today."

Karui narrowed her eyes. "Who? Who is that?"

Ino shook her head. "You remember Hinata. You have to?"

She placed a hand at her chin and hummed. "Doesn't ring a bell. Not even a tiny one." She tapped her thumb and index finger like a little bell.

Karin snickered but Hinata's eyes watered. "I…I'm sorry!" She bowed. "I'm so sorry."

"Yikes," Karui muttered and sipped her soda.

Ino sighed. "Hina, we are just joking!"

Hinata shook her head. "I am! I am sorry! Really I am. I-" she stood up and instantly felt lightheaded. She stumbled a bit but Ino balanced her. "I'm sorry…I've been a bit stressed."

They all sat down and caught up completely. Hinata almost forgot how fun really hanging with the girls was. She sipped on her water and laughed as Karui told them about her flashing relationship with Hinata's old friend Kiba. "Look, I've never been touched in that spot before and you know me…I'm down for almost everything…but that boy had me like a pretzel, calling out demands and being all aggressive and you know…I like that shit but he barked in my damn ear and I dried out."

"Shut up!" Ino cried. "I can't!"

Hinata wasn't too shocked. Kiba is always doing something crazy. Their food finally came and it was so good. Hinata checked her phone. It was from Sasuke and it was a picture…of Itachi forcing him to take a picture.

"Ooh, is that your boyfriend's brother?" Ino leaned over.

Hinata nodded.

"Hook me up with him."

"Itachi is nearly in his thirties."

Ino waved her hand dismissively. "He can still have all of me." Karin and Karui laughed at their antics. Hinata huffed and clutched her stomach. "What's up with you?"

"I'm not feeling too well…" Hinata mumbled. "C-can you let me out?"

"You gotta throw up?" Ino moved out of her way. Hinata felt herself gag and forced it back. "Hinata…" The Hyuuga rushed towards the bathroom but slammed into a waiter. It was too late. She vomited on him, herself and the floor. "Hinata!"

She felt faint but they helped her to the bathroom and she proceeded to empty her stomach into the toilet. Karin rubbed her eyes. "I called Sasuke-"

"No," she mumbled. "I'm okay! I'm okay."

"You just ruined that guy's day," Karui said. "Besides…we all ate the same sushi but you're the only one that threw up."

Hinata closed her eyes and leaned against Ino's shoulder. "I'm sorry… I ruin everything…" She whispered.

"We never said it wasn't hilarious." Ino smiled. "Just relax, boo."

::

::

Sasuke cleared his throat as he had to sit in the room with Hinata's friends. "We don't like you," Ino pointed. "Don't think we do."

"Aa." He replied.

"You took her from us." Karui added.

"Oh."

Karin stood and grab the young man's chin. "We'll take her back, kid."

"Is that a threat?" Sasuke snatched away.

"I…" Karin didn't get to finish. A clean Hinata came out the bathroom and padded to her bed. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm sure it's not food poisoning." Karui pointed out.

Hinata just wanted to sleep and so she curled in bed. Sasuke walked up. "Is there anything you need from the store?"

"Maybe…some green tea." It was her favorite.

"I'll be back." He nodded and left without another word.

::

::

Karin wasn't stupid by a long shot. There wasn't something just right about Hinata's sudden illness. The nauseous feeling, the lightheadedness, the vomiting and weight gain. Nah, she wasn't stupid. Hinata came back from class looking like absolute shit.

"I got something for you," said Karin.

Hinata raised a brow and put down her bag. "What is it?" The redheaded woman threw a small box at her roommate. Hinata barely caught it…but once she did, she dropped it. "Karin! A…pregnancy test?"

"I swear to… we all know you aren't as innocent as you like acting."

"Karin…"

"You're sexually active, right?" Once Hinata's cheeks flushed Karin continued, "And admit your cycle hasn't come on…I notice these things – we live together. You've thought about it, right?"

Hinata bit her lip, nodded and hugged herself. "I…I'm scared."

Karin slid off her bed and walked up to her. "You won't be able to ignore the signs for too long. Take it…and if not then cool."

"If so?"

"Then…I'll support you in whatever you decide to do."

Hinata picked up the box and nodded. "T-thank you."

"Yeah, yeah, go on."

After she came back out the bathroom. "We have to wait…" she said and sat on the floor. Karin joined her. "I c-can't be… We were so careful."

"Shit happens…" Karin crossed her arms. "Will you be telling Sasuke on either result?"

Hinata covered her eyes. "Sasuke…" Suddenly her timer went off and her heart was racing like mad. "I can't. I can't go look."

"I'll do it." Karin stood and went into the bathroom. She came back out with the test and sat next to Hinata. Hinata took a deep breath and noted the plus sign on the test. Her eyes widened so much it hurt. "Looks like you are…"

"No, no, no," she grabbed the box and checked the signs again. "Karin…I – I'm p-pregnant…" As the words left her mouth she proceeded to cry and her friend held her close.

::

Hinata sat in the car and played with the necklace and immediately Sasuke knew something was wrong. "What's up? You still feeling sick?"

Hinata looked out the window. "Can you pull over?"

"Why?"

"Please…?" She whispered.

Sasuke shrugged and pulled into the far lane before getting off the road. He put the car in park and turned to his trembling girlfriend. "What's wrong?"

"I didn't…this wasn't on purpose, I s-swear…" she could barely get her words out. "I didn't mean to…"

"Hinata," he called her name calmly. "What did you do?" Did she cheat on him? No! Not Hinata that's crazy. Why would she even start off that way-

"I'm… I'm pregnant."

As his girlfriend started cried hysterically, he lost the ability to speak. Five years, in five…maybe six years, he would have been ready to have children. He would have been able to afford it then. He would be old enough, he would be married and pleased with the news.

Not now.

Now he was just twenty. He couldn't even drink legally. What the fuck was he going to do with a child? What about his internship? What about Hinata leaving for Suna in a year? They had dreams. Plans. This was not in the agenda.

"Shit…" He sighed and looked over, "Stop crying."

"I'm sad!" Hinata shouted. "Don't tell me not to cry…"

Sasuke nodded shortly. True. He closed his eyes. "We'll be fine."

"No…no we won't."

Sasuke turned to her and grabbed her shoulders tightly. Hinata gasped and winced under his grip. "Listen to me…we will be fine. You understand that?"

"You're h-hurting me."

"So you can pay attention. Do you understand?"

She nodded. "I do…"

He let her go. "I'm taking you to our family doctor."

"Sasuke…whatever we decide to do," said Hinata and that made Sasuke pause. "I want…I don't want to tell anyone."

"You want to hide?"

"I don't want that attention…please."

Sasuke nodded and made it back onto the road. He noted that she was subconsciously holding onto his sleeve. "I'm not leaving." He assured her. "So don't leave me…"

Hinata let him go and clutched onto the necklace but that was one thing dealt with. She glanced over at Sasuke and while he seemed calm, she knew that his mind was racing. "I'm sorry."

"You're stupid," he said softly then without hesitation he told her for the first time that he loves her.

Hinata chewed the inside of her cheek. "I…I love you too."