Hello people, ok so I know I'm not really supposed to 'spoil' the story but I have reached a part of the story that could possibly be the ending, but I also have the possibility to continue it in an attempt to reach a happier ending. I finished some days ago or and I've been feeling quite empty because I don't feel like starting a new story so when I wanted to write and it was over I didn't know who to do. Either way, I hope you can share your thoughts about if I should or not keep going or stop where I am atm.

Hope you enjoy. Please R&R. Love Dia ~~~

Sasuke POV

After I got my coffee and we were walking down the street towards the police office your arms around my forehand I noticed the smile disappear off your face.

"That was my younger sister"

I must admit I only looked at her for a moment, so I didn't really remember at that time how she looked. But I nodded and took a sip of my hot coffee. It was only the beginning of December but the cold was already here.

Once we arrived at my destination we parted ways with a kiss, I walked inside the building while you kept walking in front towards your apartment. I was making my way down the hallway to the archive when someone called me name.

"Sasuke?"

I turned around only to see a girl I didn't really recognize right away. But then I did, she was Ino, your friend and also Sakura's friend. She was sitting at one of the deputy's desk, her boots on the desk dripping water onto the floor. Her furry coat still on, she probably just walked in. I considered ignoring her but we made eye contact and that would have been awkward. So I walked towards her.

I nodded at her and she smiled back at me taking her feet off the table and resting her chin on the palms of her hands, still smiling, titling her hair to the left, some of her hair covering her right eye in the process.

"I hear from Hinata that things are going well with the 2 of you."

I narrowed my eyes trying to understand where this was going. She was the one that messaged me that time that you weren't feeling well. I realized that, she was also the one that ran past me and jumped on you at the start of the school year. I nodded again at her.

"So I only assume, you'll spend the Holiday together. I mean a lot of things will be going on. But just so you know I still wanna see Hinat to give her the Xmas gift and we always meet either a day before or after her birthday to celebrate, I'll leave you alone for New years cuz I have plans than too"

She was gibbering, but something got my attention. 'Birthday'

"Her birthday…?"

Her eyes opened wide for a moment, before smiling mischievous at me.

"Don't tell me you don't know when her birthday is Sasu-chan"

I felt a little betrayed because you didn't bring it up, but then again I never asked, which made me angry at myself. Ino was watching me with great interest, everything about that felt wrong. Finally I cleared my throat.

"Actually, I don't know."

Ino chuckled, admitting defeat must have been fun to watch. She turned to a calendar and moved her hand on the days of December, 12 to 16 to 23 finally stopping on 27, circling the date a few times than touching it 3 times. She looked back at me with a great smile on.

"So you see, for the 'We Love Hinata' team December is a full month. 25 is Christmas, 27 her birthday and than 31 New year's Eve. Many important things to celebrate, a lot of time to spend with her, many gifts to buy for someone that doesn't want or need anything."

Ino stopped and put the calendar back on the desk, watching someone over my shoulder for a moment than turning her eyes back to me.

"I love shopping, I love buying things for other people. But I always find it hard to buy anything for Hinata, not because she might not like it, but because nothing feels important enough, deep enough or useful for that matter, no matter how expensive it might be. Hinata likes everything that someone gives her and she will treasure it forever, but she deserves something…unique, something so much like her that it wouldn't fit anyone else."

I knew what she meant, I didn't really wanna admit it but I started looking at some things online that I could buy you for Christmas before that conversation, now I needed another gift. Just like she said, the price didn't matter, it just had to be special.

"Ino stop wasting Sasuke's time. It's almost the end of the semester and he needs to finish his work."

Inoichi Yamanaka said while walking towards his desk which was occupied by Ino at that moment.

"Ok dad. I'll be leaving now." Ino got up kissed her father's cheek and patted my upper arm

"Good luck Sasu"

Inoichi's desk was far away from the frontal door but yet the cold wind got to us after Ino opened the door and left.

"I didn't know you and my Ino were friends"

He looked at me with narrowed eyes almost trying to figure out if I was worth his daughter's time.

"We just have a common…friend"

I cringed a little saying that, I promised myself I'd apologize to you for calling you a friend.

XXXX

On my way back home, I found myself looking thought the windows of random shops trying to find something that would fit you. I guess the talk with Ino put a little more pressure on me. But nothing seemed good. I entered a jewelry store looking for a pair of earrings, or something along those lines. The shop wasn't very big and there were 2 people inside already, apart from the shopkeeper.

"She's not going..? She told you that?"

"Yes, she basically had a speech about it. And I won't lie it was pretty good"

Without meaning to I overheard parts of their conversation, I saw something that intrigued me, it was a earring in the shape of a snake, the skinny thing had its 'tail' curled around while the head was to the right looking to the side. I made a mental note of it. The shopkeeper later on explained to me that the tail started at the lobe than moved up to the upper lobe and the head was across to the inner lobe, basically it needed 3 piercings in one ear to be worn, I knew you didn't have more than one in each ear but it still got my attention.

Right as I was about to turn around and leave someone patted my shoulder. A teenager and a guy about my age were standing in front of me, they were the other people in the shop when I walked in.

"You're…Hinata's boyfriend, right?"

It took a lot of self control not to open my eyes wider, something the other guy did. His hands were crossed over his chest but they fell when he heard that. His nose twitched and he looked at me for a second before turning back to the girl.

"What did you say?"

"Earlier today when I talked to her, he came in the café and Hinata practically jumped him. Also she giggled and they held hands so…"

I realized she was the girl you were talking to before. She simply extended her hand and smiled at me while the male sighed and shook his head.

"I'm Hanabi, Hinata's sister and this is Neji, our cousin, nice to meet you"

I nodded at her and stood for a second waiting for her to drop her hand but she didn't so I was forced to shake it.

"Sasuke. Pleasure"

The pause was awkward and I wanted to leave, and thankfully Neji's phone rang. Looking at him a little closer I realized something, he was there when we went at that hotel with a pool last summer. We didn't talk but he was there.

After nodding a few times, which appeared strange because the person on the other end couldn't see him nodding, Neji hung up and turned to Hanabi and without another word they left.

Hinata POV

For the next couple of weeks I honestly don't remember much, we met now and then, everything pretty much is a haze, the last weeks before the holidays seemed to fuse into one blurry moment that stopped when I opened my front door on Wednesday after my last day of school until January.

I didn't even think of looking through the peeking whole before opening the door. I was waiting for you, we made plans to hang around. There is something I remember before this moment, it was when you asked me about my birthday, I didn't want to be the one bringing it up, I didn't want to make you feel like you had to buy me a present but Ino told you. Either way going back to the door-moment, on the other side was mom, with a luggage and a smile.

There were times when she visited in the winter but never when the pattern was in movement. The second I saw her I imagined the fights the screaming, the broken thing thrown around the room. I saw the future-new-wife watching in horror as her husband-to-be and his ex-wife tear each other to pieces both with words and actions, I thought maybe it will scared her and the pattern would fall apart.

"Hinata, aren't you going to invite me in? it's very cold outside dear."

I looked at her for another moment before moving and making room for her to come in. I didn't notice I was shaking until I turned o close her door and my hand was twitching on the handle.

"You're surprised, aren't you?"

Her voice was cheerful and I'm sure she was smiling. I was thinking of ways to tell Hanabi that this is another Christmas that will end in tears, probably ours.

"Yea-I am"

I barely got those words out. She was already taking things out of her luggage while sitting on the sofa, I was just watching her from the doorframe, I wished to close my eyes and open them and see her gone. I did it a few times but every time she was still there talking.

The door rang again and I felt like dying, because I knew it was you.

"Are you going to see who it is?"

I didn't move, I couldn't, my heart was falling apart. I didn't want you to see her, I didn't want her to see you. I never wanted you to meet either of them, I was so afraid they might break you. In the end I walked to the door and opened and surely you were there with a smile on.

"Hey"

You said that before kissing me and walking in, did I think it was strange? No. Should you have waited for me to invite you in? Also no. Both of us walked in and out of the other's home like it was our own, and I would like to think as your apartment as somewhere I felt home as well.

" I thought we could spare a kid's life and not get food delivered today so I did some shopping"

I didn't even notice the bags you were holding until you said that, it made sense you waited till I opened the door instead of just walking in. For a bit I forgot about my mom sitting on the sofa and the disastrous family dinners that were to come.

But when you were about to walk into the living room I grabbed your hand and stopped you. You looked at me quizzical as I stood on my tip toes and kissed you. It was meant as a distraction for both of us, and oh boy had it worked. Because the next moment my arms were around your neck, the bags were on the floor and your hands were on my hips bringing me even closer. It was so sweet and nice and it lasted so little because the voice coming from the other room made me cringe.

"Hinata, sweety? Who was at the door?"

We stopped. Sasuke, you picked up the bags and looked at me.

"Someone else here?"

I just nodded and you walked in the living room, my mom was still on the sofa yet her luggage was empty. When she saw the two of us she got up quickly and smiled even brighter.

"Sasuke…this is my mom. Mom, my…boyfriend"

I didn't really wanna say it because I knew she'd make a big deal, also because she would brag about meeting you to dad and a fight would start and it would be all my fault. After you greeted each other we took the bags in the kitchen while my mom sat in the living room placing around her things.

"I'm sorry, she just showed up."

"I see, it's ok…" you made a small pause "Do you not get along with her?"

I think I was smiling despite wanting to cry. I used to get along with everyone in my family, we were all so good, I really have no idea when things turned out like that. I didn't know mom and dad weren't getting along until a month before the divorce, I never saw them fight until I was 7. But I guess maybe that was the problem, they bottled everything up for so long that when it exploded the damage was beyond repair.

"I…don't know how to get along with her"

But that was a bit of a lie.

"At least not when she's here. Things are different when I'm in Kiri"

Sasuke POV

The first day of holyday (a Wednesday) we were supposed to hang out at your place so on the way I stopped and bought a bunch of things for us to cook together. Cooking together, watching tv, just sitting in the same room, not necessary touching just being around you felt so nice and it was what I was starting to call normality.

Anyway I rang the doorbell, which I never do but it was easier to wait for you to open the door, you took your time opening it. When u finally did I said 'hey' and bent down to kiss you.

" I thought we could spare a kid's life and not get food delivered today so I did some shopping"

I said that while walking to the kitchen but before we reached the end of the hall you stopped me and kissed me, slow at the beginning but it soon turned into a full on make-out session.

"Hinata, sweety? Who was at the door?"

To be honest that voice startled me, but I picked up the bags and walked beside you, only to see an older version of you, without the bangs sit up from the sofa. You introduced me but you seemed hesitant and I noticed you eyeing everything that wasn't yours in the room. We went to the kitchen to put the groceries away.

"I'm sorry, she just showed up."

"I see, it's ok…"

I didn't mind meeting your parents, I mean you had already met mine so it was bound to happen. But I had a feeling you didn't want me to meet them. I knew a bit about your relationship with your father but you never said anything about your mom. All I knew was that she lived in Kiri and during summer you were there most of the time.

"Do you not get along with her?"

A sad smile appeared on your soft traces and it made my heart hurt for a moment, I wanted to touch your cheek but I didn't mean to intrude or stop you from answering.

"I…don't know how to get along with her" a small pause "At least not when she's here. Things are different when I'm in Kiri. Can I be honest?"

I didn't expect you to ask me that, I just nodded and waited for whatever you might throw at me.

"I want her to go away" you covered you face with your hands, you seemed so tired, exhausted. "I wish she hadn't come. They always fight and we end up crying."

"Hinata—"

"No, I need to say this. Just once I want a normal end of the year with all its holydays. No screaming, no broken pottery, no one ending up in tears or drinking their sadness away."

"Stop."

I tried to stop you but you kept talking. Your mother was behind you, looking at me and she didn't seem affected at all. When you turned and saw her, I expected you to apologize, but you sighed in frustration and pulled at the ends of your hair muttering a small "of course you heard".

I felt like an intruder, like I was witnessing something I shouldn't have, some dark part of your soul that I shouldn't be able to see, not so fast.

"Mom, I won't apologize. You know that's what always happens. It never changes and it won't this year either."

You were with your back at her and your eyes were closed either way but I think you knew she nodded and left the room. I had no appetite anymore and I kept considering leavening the two of you alone. I didn't know which option was better, staying or going, and I think that's what you were thinking about too. Now that I think about it, maybe we reached different conclusions, because when I said I'd better go you seemed sad, well…sadder. I didn't really see it than, but looking back at that moment I think you wanted me to stay.

Hinata POV

After I poured my thoughts and feelings into your hands and my mom heard them as well you decided to leave. I still don't know if I'm glad you did or not. I wanted you to stay and her to leave but that wasn't going to happen. After walking you out and kissing you goodbye I was alone with her. The Tv was off and the only noise in the apartment was the sound of my feet hitting the floor as I made my way to the living room.

I stopped in the middle of it for a few minutes, waiting for her to talk, she didn't so I went to my room and locked myself there.

I considered calling Neji or Hanabi and tell them she was there, but I knew they'd bring up the wedding as well. After Hanabi's attempt to convince me failed dad send Neji to do exactly the same thing. I opened the door and asked if it the wedding he wanted to talk about, when he said yes I slammed the door in his face and walked away.

Do you see something I do often? Walk away, ignore, I never realized how much I do that until I started writing this…letter, story. Whatever it is. It appears that's who I am, that says a lot, wouldn't you say so, Sasuke?

I must have fallen asleep at some point because I was jerked awake by a loud crash. I rubbed my eyes and looked at the clock before leaving my room, it was almost 1 am. With small steps I found my way to the kitchen where mom was on her knees cleaning up what looked like milk and picking up broken pieces of a cup.

When she noticed me, she apologized for waking me up and for the cup. She looked so small and fragile, broken and old, and most of all sad. Her eyes were red and puffy, she must have been crying. Mom turned back to cleaning up, how did I not notice how cruel I have become to everyone. I wanted to apologize, but I kept my mouth shut because of a strange sense of pride. Then I remembered the court law, their fight over us, what happened after it was over and I felt disgusted once more, not only because of them, but because of me, because I was turning into them.

"I'll replace the cup, I hope it didn't have much emotional value. I took the one in the back thinking you never use it. But maybe it was there because it was important."

She was rambling, I looked at the broken cup and I didn't even remember having it.

We stood in this awkward position, staring at each other without talking for a few minutes, it really felt like I didn't know how to talk to her and I think she felt the same. It was quite sad.

After the cup incident I went back to bed, only when I woke up later at 3 am did I think about mom, if she had any pillows or a blanket, "She surely took the ones on the ground" I kept thinking that, convincing myself I didn't need to worry. It's not like she was a stranger there, I felt relieved when in the morning I saw her sleeping on the couch with the blanket on.

I hadn't slept that bad in quite some time, it was a little over 6 am. I thought about running but the weather outside didn't agree with me. It was snowing. In 4 days it would be Christmas, in 6 my birthday and in 10 New Year's Eve.

I was thanking myself for buying gifts in advance for everyone, even mom. I even thought about getting the new-wife a gift, but it ended up being just a thought. I told myself that was enough. It had to be, I wasn't willing to make any other compromise.

I went back to my room and called Neji, he picked up after the second ring. I know I woke him up, even so his voice sounded just the same, he seemed unfazed.

"Hinata? "

I considered hanging up, maybe if I didn't tell them, the fights could be prevented. But I knew that wouldn't happen.

"She's here. Sleeping on my sofa. She came last night all of a sudden."

"…Your mother."

It wasn't a question but I answered with a 'yes' either way. The conversation stopped for a moment.

"Looks like Christmas will be interesting this year as well"

"It appears so."

If this would have been a normal conversation I would have asked about TenTen, about school, about him, his life. But I knew that no matter what I said the only thing that he would go to was the wedding so I said my goodbye and hung up.

It was only the start of the day and I couldn't wait for it to end. Just a little more, a few more days and she'd be gone. I couldn't stop thinking if she knew about the wedding, and what would happen when she found out or when she saw the new wife. I looked around my room trying to find a way to kill time, I couldn't sleep, I couldn't run, I didn't want to think, what else could I have done?

My fingers twitched when I picked up my phone and called you, I didn't know what to say really, I didn't know why I was calling and to be honest I felt a little relieved when the call went straight to voice mail.