Wow! Lovely responses you guys! And such nice name suggestions! And more follows and faves (0_0) *amazed*! I am a bit pissed off, because for some reason, stupid fanfiction . net refuses to send the alerts to my inbox! Is that a problem for everyone?

This is un-Betad, because it's Sunday and I have stuffs to do and I am desperate for some juiciful reviews! Feel free to point out the errors!

Anyway, the title was chosen randomly from the suggestions, as per usual, and credit to this chapter's title goes to…. JadedGothButterfly! (^_^)

Chapter 10: The Solution

She blinked.

What? Had she not expected him to have a problem with her reluctance to take their relationship public? Sasuke didn't like keeping this particular thing private; under wraps, if you will. Hinata's eyes darted around the café almost frantically. Like she was looking for an escape. Damn.

"Hinata…" Sasuke muttered, training dark eyes on her and hoping she didn't see just how bothered he was by this.

"I… I just don't think it was or is the right time yet, Sasuke…" she said softly, playing with her fingertips above the tabletop. She didn't seem to want to meet his gaze.

"Why not?" Sasuke asked, brows furrowing. He certainly didn't see why this wasn't as good a time as any. They'd been together for a few days now. What were they supposed to say when they finally did come out with it?

"Oh, we've been married for seven months now."?

Hinata's eyes flickered up to Sasuke's, and he could see a little hint of fear in them.

"I… I haven't told my parents yet," she almost whispered. Sasuke blinked back at her. Their parents? He didn't think his parents would give a damn. Would hers? At his silence, Hinata continued speaking.

"You… you haven't even met them yet… What if they don't approve?" Hinata's question was a timid whisper, and Sasuke felt his brows drawing together as her fear spread to him.

"What if they don't approve? It's not like it would change anything on my front…" Sasuke stated, his eyes unable to leave Hinata. She seemed as if she wanted his gaze to be anywhere else at the moment. Wait…

"What, would you change your mind about trying if your parents 'don't approve'?" Sasuke asked, his voice rising a bit. Hinata pressed her hands to his over the table.

"Sasuke…" she hissed, clearly in an effort to keep him quiet, but Sasuke wasn't having any of it. Would she really change her mind about giving what was between them a try if her parents decided that they didn't like him?

"I don't know, alright?" she continued, looking off to the side. Sasuke pulled his hands away from hers and took a deep, shuddering breath as everything threatened to collapse around him. Damn. If they told her parents, and they didn't approve of him… he could lose her? Gee, no pressure or anything.

"Hinata… Hinata, come on…" Sasuke began, pleading with her with his eyes. She dropped her gaze to the tabletop. "Hinata…" Sasuke started again, reaching for her hand. His hand was mere millimeters away from hers, but her general closed off vibe had him curling his fingers and withdrawing his hand.

"Hinata, I love you… I'd do anything apart from leave you…" he finally managed to say, the admission coming hard for him, since he was wholly unsure of whether or not she reciprocated his feelings… if even on the subject of sticking out the relationship. He watched her chew her lip for a silent, stilted five seconds before she looked up at him.

"That's just it, Sasuke… I… I can't say for sure that I love you back because…" Because she didn't. It wasn't said, just implied… but it still pained him inside. "And what if I needed you to separate from me?" Sasuke felt his teeth grind together at the question. She couldn't really be asking… She was really asking him, wasn't she? His answer did not have to be thought about for very long.

"I… I couldn't do that," Sasuke replied, a resolute finality in his tone and a red flush heating his cheeks. He was lying through his teeth, but it wasn't that far from the truth. He certainly wouldn't want to separate from her, but if she really asked him to, he knew he would probably give in, no matter how much pain it caused him. But she didn't need to know that, did she?

They were at an impasse. Three days in, and she was tempted to give up at the mere thought of facing her parents with the subject of their relationship. He could almost see with her, since she wasn't the one in love with him for so damned long. And she wasn't the one that finally got a taste of what it was like to be with the love of her life. And she wasn't the one faced with potentially giving that up, so quickly. Sasuke was nowhere near ready to give in yet.

They stared at each other over the table, Hinata's looks less furtive and she seemed to be getting more annoyed than anything else. The silence stretched between them.

"Why are you being like this, Sasuke? Why can't you just see that…" Hinata blurted out, but Sasuke cut her off.

"Damn it, Hinata. You know I love you, and that I've loved you for a while now. I held myself away from you for so long because I thought Naruto was gonna wise up and snap you up, but he didn't… and now that I've gotten a taste of what it's like to be with you, I want it all." He met her eyes directly over the table. Her grey eyes stared right back into his, and then he saw her reluctantly give in.

She groaned in frustration and slapped both palms to her face.

"Aarrghhh….Whydidyouhavetolooksocutesayingthat?" she moaned through her fingers, dropping her face. Sasuke felt heat push to his face.

He looked… cute? He wasn't exactly sure if that was the adjective he'd want used to describe him while he stood his ground valiantly, but… if it worked, he'd take anything right about now. He just didn't want her to leave him! Hinata dropped her hands from her face, giving Sasuke a glimpse of her slightly pinkened cheeks, and met his gaze. His heart gave a funny little thump. He stared back at her hopefully, and watched the pink intensify to a blooming red.

"Well… maybe we can meet the parents this weekend, and keep it quiet during the week?" she suggested. Sasuke wanted to get it over and done with, but he should compromise, right?

"Okay…" he said hesitantly. "But… but can we tell other people after?" he asked, taking her hand this time and running his fingertips along the sides of her fingers. He watched a tiny shiver go through her before she gave him a helpless little smile and a tiny nod.

"…I… I guess?"

Sasuke turned the car left, so occupied inside his head that he was pretty much driving home on autopilot. Beside him, Hinata was deep in her thoughts as well.

This sucked. Sasuke didn't feel like their conversation was conclusive at all. Well, they were more aware of where the other person stood, but… but he wasn't satisfied. He was all in, damn it, and if she would be even half in, he could work with that. However it was starting to look like she wasn't in at all. Had he been that bad of a husband that far?

Her certainly hadn't got the chance to do the nice things for her like give her massages and take her shopping, or cook her favorite dishes for her or… or all the things he'd dreamt and fantasized about doing with and for her for so long, but it wasn't like he didn't want to! Hell, they'd only been together a smashing total of three days, and the first night together, they'd been too drunk to remember anything, the second day together, they hadn't been alone in the house, and the third day they'd spent moving some of her stuff over to his place.

Hey, maybe if he held her stuff hostage, she'd reconsider her position, Sasuke thought drily.

Damn. With the parental confrontation looming over his head, Sasuke was forced to identify the restless feeling swirling within himself. Fear. Uchiha Sasuke was piss scared right now, because if that meeting with the parents wasn't freaking perfect, those stick-up-the-ass Hyuuga – if Neji was anything to go by – would freaking hate him and he could lose Hinata.

And the worst part was, he'd let her go if he sensed that's what she really wanted. Sure, he'd take as long as possible in hopes that he could change her mind. The real issue he had was the possibility that she would ask it of him, and he would give in and let her go, and then be alone again, loving her from the sidelines… and he'd give his left leg – really he would – before he let that happen again. Seriously.

If Kami came down from Heaven and said, 'Sasuke, in order to keep Hinata as yours, you have to give up your left leg'… he'd be in the quickest car on the way to the hospital to get that damn limb amputated. Hell, if her father asked him to, he would. But Sasuke had a sinking feeling that it would not come down to his readiness to give up a limb for her, so he had to try something else.

If he had to stand by, let her go free and watch as other men swarmed her again, he didn't know what he would do with himself. He wouldn't be able to move somewhere far away, because every now and again he'd need his Hinata fix… and he'd just need to see her, hear her… smell her – but he wouldn't admit that to anyone because it sounded too creepy.

Sasuke parked the car in his apartment lot and sat back, leaning his head against the headrest.

He knew he was being possessive. He knew he was being impatient, but he couldn't help it! He couldn't help but want her all to himself and want everyone to know that she was his and not theirs.

As Sasuke sat back and thought of all the things he'd wished he'd get to do with and to Hinata… that damn it he hadn't gotten to do much of yet… he began to feel an intense tightness in his chest and throat. It could not really be over so quickly. He pretty much only had a few days before D-Day, and he had only a few options that he could think of… and even then…

He could go for the earliest day of the weekend – Friday. That would possibly have their relationship public by Saturday, but it could also end their relationship by Friday night. He could choose the middle of the weekend – Saturday, and that would have a similar effect, just altered by one day. One more day with her, one more day that he had to keep silent about their marriage. Or he could go for Sunday… but that felt so far away when he thought of how long he'd have to wait to go public… and then it felt far too close when he thought of the possibility that that might be the end of his marriage to the woman of his dreams.

Damn.

Sasuke switched the car off and sighed. He needed to get out of his own head before he drove himself bat shit crazy. Tonight was gearing up to be a stilted, strange night in the bedroom, and Sasuke was not sure how he felt about that. Okay, he was sure it would not be pleasant, but he was not sure what to do about it.

Damn.

Sasuke got out of the car and ran around to get Hinata's door before she got all her stuff in order. He opened the door for her and helped her get out the car. Still deep in thought and worry, Sasuke gently took her huge purse from her and set it on his arm and then guided her out of the way of the door so he could shut it and activate the car alarm.

"Sasuke…" she started, looking up at him. Her voice snapped him from his thoughts. He looked down at her and knew that he'd do anything not to give her up. So he kissed her.

To her credit, she melted in his arms. That was certainly a good sign. Only three days together, but he could be certain that she liked his kisses at the very least. He kissed her softly, gently, hoping that she'd understand what he felt for her, and when they pulled apart, the way she rested her palm gently against his cheek told him she at least had an idea… but the apology in her eyes told him that she was still undecided. There was still a chance that she would want to leave him if her parents didn't like him.

Sasuke sighed.

Damn.

"Come on," he muttered. "Let's go in."

Sasuke felt himself slipping towards an all out sulk. And it was like he could do nothing against it. The gloom just seemed to settle around his shoulders. He led the way up the stairs to his apartment door and opened it, standing aside so Hinata could enter. For someone who proclaimed not to be a gentleman… he sure knew common chivalry where she was concerned… Sasuke knew that if it had been some other girl he would have stepped inside ahead of her. His theoretical non-gentlemanliness was becoming more and more of just that… a theory, because in reality, Hinata was turning him into a bona fide Prince Charming.

Sasuke was so deep in thought and gloom, once again, that he almost didn't hear Hinata call his name, and when he surfaced from his thoughts to hear what else she had to say… what he heard was not at all what he expected.

I'm a SANTA CLAUS!

In a COW SUIT!

In a LONELY CHRISTMAS COUNTRY, un!

The singing was coming from the direction of the guest bathroom. And was the unmistakable voice of none other than Deidara. Sasuke cringed at the sound of Deidara's mouth guitar solo and slapped a palm to his face.

"This cannot be happening right now," he groaned. To his ultimate horror, Hinata giggled. What in this blasted situation could she possibly find funny? The look he sent her must have screamed his question, because she giggled again.

"A Santa Claus… in a cow suit?" she choked out, before dissolving helplessly again. Seriously. The sound of her little giggles was so damn adorable Sasuke wanted to just break something. Or do something. Okay, it was so cute he really didn't know what to do with himself, but then the mental image of Deirada as the American Christmas symbol Santa Claus… while in a cow suit… in whatever the heck a lonely Christmas country was, had him laughing too. He covered his mouth with his hands to muffle the sounds of his laughter.

But it got better.

The bathroom door opened, and Deidara made his glorious exodus, still unaware that he was not alone. The blonde's long hair was wet from his shower and he had a large fluffy towel clutched to his waist.

It got better still.

Apparently the song had more lyrics. And Deidara was still unaware that he was most definitely not alone!

I have TUMBLEWEED!

That are CHRISTMAS BALLS!

And they're ROLLIN' IN MY CHRISTMAS COUNTRY, un!

I'm a SANTA CL- oh shit!

Yeah… so he realized the Sasuke and Hinata were back mid-line. Sasuke clenched his teeth together to stop himself from laughing, but Hinata was having no such luck. Then she composed herself, caught the look on Deidara's stunned and frankly, rather embarrassed face, and dissolved in hysterics again.

"Oh look, un, Mom and Dad are back," Deidara muttered glumly, folding his arms over his chest. Which made him let the towel go… and the piece of cloth ended up on the floor at his feet. This was, in a really uncalled for way, strangely reminiscent of the situation Sasuke had stumbled upon Hinata in a few days ago. Only she hadn't been singing… or a freaking man!

Deidara bent and snatched the towel back around his hips. He glared at them with a strangely scandalized expression on his red face… which was strange since he was the trespasser. For a short moment, no one said anything. Well, Hinata was still giggling, but that didn't count.

"Well… I was supposed to be out… before you came in…" Deidara said lamely, before cackling loudly. "But since you're already back, I can ask you if I can stay here for a … a tad longer… you see… I was supposed to go to Iwa… but there was this girl, un … and long story short, I missed my flight… and the next one is like tomorrow, and I still don't have a hotel room so… I won't be much of a bother, un…" Deidara rambled, his voice trailing off hopefully.

Hinata and Sasuke spoke at the same time again.

"No."

"Yes."

Damn. He was going to end up giving in again, because Hinata seemed to completely enjoy Deidara's company.

"So, widdle Sasuke," Deidara started, leaning his hip against the counter beside Sasuke. "What's got your panties in a bind, un?" Sasuke was currently tenderizing a chicken breast… well… at this rate it would be chicken paste, but…

"And I should tell you this… why?" Sasuke ground out, putting aside the meat tenderizer and reaching for the salt. He angrily shook some of the seasoning over the meat. He couldn't believe that when Hinata had turned to him in regards to the Deidara situation, he'd just caved. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

"Well, I did help you get married, un… In fact, I was an integral part…" Deidara said nonchalantly, perusing his nails with more focus than was necessary. Sasuke scowled at the artist. Oh what the hell. Deidara was the only person apart from Hinata and the other random witness that knew he was married so… it wasn't like he had a choice if he needed someone to talk to, right?

"Well…" Wrong. There was no way he was treating Deidara like a confidante.

"Come on, man. Spill, un. At this rate you're going to do something stupid," the blonde continued, slapping his palms to his hips and scowling at Sasuke. The Uchiha sighed, setting aside the salt and reaching for black pepper and a shaker of dried chili powder.

"Well… Hinata doesn't want us to go public… because she hasn't told her parents yet…" Sasuke muttered softly, not wanting Hinata to come out from the shower and overhear what he and Deidara were talking about. "And she's not sure whether or not she'll stay with me if they don't approve of us…"

"What the hell, un!" Deidara exclaimed before slapping a hand to his mouth, his blue eyes frantically darting around the kitchen in case Hinata had magically made an appearance. "What the hell, un…" he said in a much quieter tone.

"Yeah… and she wants to tell her parents this weekend…" Sasuke added, sighing again. He shook several more spices over the chicken meat in the moment of silence that prevailed between the two men. Then Deidara chuckled.

"Well, it's a good thing you told me, un, because I have the solution," Deidara said confidently. When Sasuke looked up at him, the artist continued. "All you need to do is use this week to make sure she doesn't want to leave you…" the blonde continued, wiggling his brows. "We have five to six days, right? We'll just have to come up with something amazing and explosive, because love is art, and art is a bang, un!"

Hahaha! Credits go to the amazing shiorrachan for the song. We sing this stupid thing so much, and it always makes us giggle our silly heads off… so I had no choice but to put it in here. As you guys may have noticed, this story seems to be veering off the beaten track of angst… I am not going to change the tags to humor, because technically it's still angst, but maybe include some nice, fun chapter titles in your reviews so we can all have a laugh, eh?

Do let me know what you thought (I am NOT good at arguments, but I tried a thing), and remember the chapter title formula: 'The + (noun)', okay?

Love yall!