=+Creep+=

=Epilogue=

Shino awoke the next day to a shimmering light reflecting in his open window. The intense light seared in his sensitive dark eyes, and he felt around for his goggles. They had been neatly folded next to his pillow. After strapping them on and blinking into focus, he realized that the garden spider had made its new home in the middle of his window. He also noticed that all of the beetles that had painted his walls the previous night were gone, along with the beautiful woman that had fallen asleep next to him. Shino sighed and stared at the spider.

"I guess it's just you and me, lil' guy."

"I decided to call her 'Buttercup,' and it's a lady, by the way."

Shino lifted a brow at the disembodied voice, then shuffled his sweatpants on and meandered sleepily into the next room. Hinata was darting around his kitchen making culinary masterpieces with ingredients he was positive he didn't previously own.

"Where did you...how did you...what?"

Hinata smiled and giggled, pouring some sizzling material onto a bowl of fresh, steaming rice.

"I felt so good when I woke up, I decided to make you breakfast. All you had was cup ramen and some random condiments, so I went down to the market and got some ingredients for this."

Shino wandered over to his table where Hinata placed a bowl for him. The meal was an odd combination of eggs, meat, and vegetables.

"Smells good, but what is it?"

Hinata grabbed her own bowl and sat down across from him.

"It's a Western-style dish...it'll give you lots of energy. Itadakimasu!"

"Itadakimasu."

Shino shoveled a mass of the unusual substance into his face, then paused.

"Damn, Hinata."

She looked up curiously.

"This is amazing. You're real wife material."

Her cheeks flared a carnation pink as she looked down and shyly picked at her meal.

"I feel I have to ask," Shino mentioned while leaning a a cheek on his hand, "How did you know that garden spider was female?"

"I read it in a book you had on your shelf this morning. They female ones are yellow and the male ones are long and brown."

"Very good," he replied with a soft smile.

"Your passion for insects made me want to learn about them. When I woke up, I saw all the species you had all around your apartment...they were all so interesting, especially the little green one with the arms like this."

She held her arms up to her chest with her hands pointed down.

"Ah, the praying mantis. One of my favorites."

"And of course that beautiful moth you have, and the butterfly...and the jar of ladybugs..."

As she rambled on and on about his menagerie, Shino just leaned on his hand and smiled at her. He'd never seen someone outside of the Aburame clan have such an interest in entomology, let alone a female someone. He found himself falling more in love with her by the second.

"...but my favorite has to be Buttercup. After all, she was the one who lead me to you."

Shino perched his goggles on his forehead, so that she could see his eyes.

"In that case, I think Buttercup is my favorite as well."

They both looked back at the spider in his bedroom, perched quietly on her beautiful web.

=o=

That day, Shino formally apologized to Naruto, who was happy to accept it. Being the Jinchuriiki did wonders for bug bites, and after a good night's rest and Hinata's ointment, he barely had a bump on him. Naruto was also pleased to see that Hinata had found someone that would return the love she was able to give, and wished the best for the two of them.

In fact, most of the young shinobis in Konoha were quite excited about the new couple. Despite the oddities of the pair, most agreed that they were perfect for each other. The only civilians of Konoha that were apprehensive about them were the Hyuga clan. Hiashi wasn't too keen about his daughter spending late nights with a bug-wielder, but Shino wasn't too worried about it. He would prove himself worthy eventually.

For he was a very patient man.

=+The End+=

Author's Note: I wanted to give a special thanks to all the people who took the time to read my fic. This was the first fic I've written in several years, but I had a lot of fun writing it, thanks to the encouragement of my readers.

Shino and Hinata are such a tragically under-appreciated pairing, so if you liked this one, I'll more than likely come out with more. I also have some other pairings in mind for later fics. I appreciate any and all feedback! Thanks again. : )