Winter Wonderland
Rated: k/K+ - there is one sentence that refers to sex…
Theme(s): Pajamas
Disclaimer: I'm too sleepy to come up with a wise-ass disclaimer…
Reviewers (who are fantabulous and deserve a jillion zillion hugs and cookies and milk):
Jing Mei: Thanks for pointing out the emails didn't show up, first of all. I fixed it… kinda, and thanks for the review. :D I'm glad you liked the bickering.
Animeteen221: Lol, wow. xD
Dcfan100: I thought it'd be, but I'm glad it was funny. TenTen is fun to play with since she has no character story, etc, and I just happen to like making her crazy. Thank you.

- Chuu -

"Whom are you shopping for?" If she wasn't a ninja, TenTen might've jumped. But, no, she was a ninja and not too easy to scare, so she didn't.

"Aren't we nosy, Ino-san?" TenTen shot at the blond behind her, peering over her shoulder. That nosy rookie gossip girl…

"Is it for Christmas?" Ino pressed on, not sensing the 14-year-old's hostility or just ignoring it. It was one of her specialties, especially when Sasuke had been around.

"Does it matter?" TenTen sighed, giving up the vain thought that Ino might go away if she was rude enough. Ino herself might just be the queen of rudeness, so it didn't surprise her Ino wasn't backing down. Also, she might think there's a juicy piece of gossip around. Ha. She wished.

"Well, yes. Obviously, since it's not a green spandex suit, it's for Hyuuga." Ino refrained from a suffix, wanting to be insulting as possible to Neji. Ever since he shot her down, she'd held a grudge against him. Though she might be a blond, Ino never forgot anything that insulted her. TenTen fidgeted slightly, a light blush spreading across her cheeks.

"And if it is?" She asked defensively, partly for herself and partly for both her teammates. Sure, she'd heard Neji say something about telling Ino no, but, really? Was she really holding a grudge for that long over something so asinine? And then, of course, saying Lee wore nothing but green spandex suits. He wore other things!

"Why are you shopping for him, anyways? He'd never say thank you, so why bother? He's just a jerk." Ino said bitterly, frowning. Hell, as long as TenTen agreed, which she should, it'd be fun for her to bash Neji even if there wasn't any juicy gossip.

"I'm going to kick your skinny white ass into next week! Stop insulting my teammates!" TenTen retaliated, whirling around and poking Ino harshly in the shoulder. The blond winced, looking confused.

"Neji might seem like a jerk to you, but he's not like that 'Sasuke-kun' you chased after! And Lee, just because he wears things you won't, doesn't make him a bad person, either! Now, go away before I do something rash." TenTen nearly shouted, getting a fair amount of stares, glaring at the year younger girl. Ino resembled a fish, mouth gaping as she struggled for words. Really, she didn't expect either boy to be defended; she'd only come up with insults for them both, mainly Neji, to agree with TenTen on.

"Sasuke-kun is much better than your Hyuuga and Lee-san combined! He only…" Ino stopped, pressing her fingers to her lips. He'd said he loved her; he said he'd never leave her. And now, look where he was, screwing Orochimaru like the little whore he was. TenTen stopped herself before insulting Ino again, clearly seeing the pain expressed on Ino's face. Her stomach twisted with pity when the blond started tearing up, still fingering her lips. Obviously, she believed and he'd lied.

"Look, I'm sorry for what he did to you, but don't go insulting my teammates ever again, okay? Only I can insult them." TenTen sighed, knowing she was being too soft on Ino. But, being a girl herself, she understood the pain Ino was feeling even if she'd never experienced it herself. It was just a girl thing. Ino gulped, blinking furiously to clear up any signs of tears.

"Fine, and I'm sorry about insulting your teammates. And, if you speak of this… incident, ever, I'll have your head." Ino said quietly, walking away with her head held high and barking at people who were still staring. TenTen sighed, shaking her head, turning back around to look at the clothes in front of her. Neji had told the Hokage he didn't have "normal" clothes that still fit, so he'd been unable to go on their last mission. He wasn't about to shop for "normal" clothes, either, since he was still in the middle of a growth spurt. TenTen decided, after a mission with Lee, Hinata, and Kiba instead of Lee and Neji that she'd buy him "normal" clothes. It was too much troublesome to have Kiba trying to flirt with Hinata, Lee accidentally/unknowingly flirting (carry her bag or always making sure she was alright, the normal thing he did with every girl but TenTen since she'd slap him), Hinata stammering every single word, and herself being pretty much forgotten even though she'd been named leader of the cell… well, anyone could understand her, couldn't they?

TenTen picked out three shirts for Neji: one white with a v-collar, one beige with a circular, and one long-sleeve button up white shirt. After picking those out, she made her way over to the bottoms section. Before she even saw jeans, she saw boxers and underwear. Though that she would merely brush off moth of the time, something caught her eye. Something worth the glares she'd get for probably a million years after Neji received them. TenTen couldn't wait to see Neji's face when he saw these. Cackling to herself, TenTen picked up a pair of boxers in what she assumed was Neji's size before going to where the pants were. Oh, she would enjoy Christmas morning.

On Christmas morning, the whole team always gathered in either TenTen's apartment or Lee's. Most of the time, it was TenTen's because the only messy room was hers (and no one was going in there), instead of like Lee's apartment where the place always looked like a tornado went through it. Neji always arrived first, two hours early, bearing meticulously wrapped gifts and two steaming mugs of hot chocolate.

TenTen knew it was Neji when there were three light knocks on her door at seven in the morning Christmas day. She answered it, seeing her hunch was correct. Neji was wearing his usually tan shirt and chocolate shorts, but her had a bag filled with six presents and two steaming mugs with him; also, bandages replaced his forehead protector.

"Neji." TenTen greeted him warmly, smiling. Neji nodded, eyes softening, entering her humble abode. He dropped the bag by her wimpy little tree, sitting down on her couch afterwards. TenTen joined him, on the opposite end, curling her legs to her chest and staring at him. Neji handed her a full mug, sipping on one that was already half empty. Squealing with delight, she took it, drinking the contents deeply. Oh, how Neji had the best hot chocolate. It was like the Hokage of all hot chocolates.

"Merry Christmas, TenTen." Neji said softly after TenTen had calmed down, eyeing her with tired eyes. Ever since Naruto had beaten him the year previous, he'd dropped the honorifics for her name and Lee's. It had been odd at first, but now she adored it. It showed he finally admitted to being close to them.

"Merry Christmas, Neji." She grinned at him, eyes shining brightly. It was silent between them for a few minutes before Neji spoke up again.

"TenTen… I… how was your mission?" Neji didn't quite look TenTen in the eyes, wishing he'd said what he'd meant to. His ears started burning and he knew they were reddening.

"Well, it was boring… I missed you. It's not the same when Kiba-san and Hinata-chan have to replace you, especially when Kiba-san is all flirty and Lee is all… servant-y." TenTen sighed, not noticing Neji's red ears. He nodded, making them lapse into another silence. TenTen was simply savoring every bit of the hot chocolate while Neji tried to fit the right words into his head to say to her. It was weird, honestly, trying to tell the girl he'd been cold to until just a year ago that he… liked her. As in, liked-liked. Well, he hoped his gift to her would say the words even if he didn't. Actually, no, it probably wouldn't; TenTen didn't notice little details like that. Sighing deeply, Neji turned his glazed stare onto TenTen. He really wished he wasn't being such a coward at the moment.

"Hey, Neji, you done?" TenTen asked, when she was finished with her hot chocolate. He nodded mutely, hanging his own empty cup to her. TenTen took both to her kitchen, plopping them into the sink.

"Do you want to stay over tonight?" The question caught him off guard.

"What?"

"Do you want to sleep over here, at my place, tonight? Just me and you…" Neji wanted to grin at that, "… and Lee, if you want." Well, there went his hopes and dreams. Slightly.

"Lee… would ruin things." Neji sighed, turning his back into the corner of the couch and bringing his legs to his chest. He rested his cheek on one, closing his white eyes.

"Yeah, I know. He's so hyper. I'll take that as a no to Lee but a yes from you?" TenTen asked, going back to her couch and sitting next to Neji. He seemed exceptionally tired for some reason.

"Mhmmm…" Neji said, sighing once more. Kami, how long he'd stayed up debating on what to get TenTen over the past weeks…? He'd never felt this tired before. TenTen watched as he fell asleep, smiling warmly at him. She'd let him sleep until Lee and Gai arrived at nine, together, bearing brightly wrapped gifts and yelling about youth.

"Sweet dreams, Neji." She stood up, kissing his covered forehead, before going back into her kitchen and preparing miso soup. When Lee and Gai arrived, Neji awoke, feeling ashamed he'd slept away the time he used to talk to TenTen. Usually, they never talked that deep or long, but then he remembered agreeing to spend the night with her. They could talk then, he decided, pretending he'd been awake the whole time when Lee came over and started to talk animatedly about what he'd already done that morning. Gai was with TenTen, talking, as she finished up some onigiri.

"Okay, present time, then I've got some miso soup and onigiri." TenTen said, walking to her living room with Gai behind her. Gifts were passed out and then opened. From Gai, TenTen received several scrolls for storing weapons (half of which were already well-stocked), from Lee she received a stuffed turtle and a handful of kunais and shurikin, and from Hinata she got high quality nunchucks and healing herbs and salves. Finally, form Neji, she got a silver locket that she refused to open in front of Lee and Gai, just in case he put an embarrassing picture of her inside. She hugged each for their gifts, telling Neji to tell her thanks as well, waiting to see Neji open his gifts. He always abstained from opening his own gifts until everyone else had opened theirs.

Neji opened his gifts, saving TenTen's for last. It was a large box, and he was unsure of what she'd gotten him. Neji was half convinced he didn't want to open it. When he did, it seemed innocent enough. First there were three shirts, then a pair or shorts, some pants, and slacks, and lastly…

TenTen, Lee, and Gai howled with laughter when he held up the offending undergarment with a strange expression. There were little pink hearts scattered across the canvas of white, along with little cute, chibi mice. Very sexy boxers… that suddenly became his favorite undergarment that instant. Neji preferred boxer briefs, but, hey, when he saw the mice he was instantly reminded of TenTen, and the little hearts conveyed his feelings. It was only a plus she gave it to him. When Lee and Gai left around seven, he hugged TenTen suddenly.

"E-eh? What's that for, Neji?" TenTen asked, flushing slightly.

"Thank you, Chuu." Neji replied quietly, enigmatically going into her bathroom and changing. He came out clad in his new boxers and the beige shirt she'd gotten him.

"Chuu?" TenTen questioned, almost positive her face was bright red. Who knew Neji looked adorable wearing those boxers she'd gotten as a joke?

"Chuu, as in the mouse sound." Well, if her face wasn't flaming before, it was then. TenTen changed in a rush, slapping herself in the face to wake up and stop blushing. Though she though of the act as Neji being friendly to her, TenTen fell asleep cuddled against his chest with his chin on her head on the couch. Neji meant it as opening the door to things to come. He would ask her out, one day… whenever the right time came.

A/N: The ending might be a bit rushed at the end, dunno. And that InoSasu/SasuIno scene in the beginning? That came out of nowhere. I pulled it out of the Sorting Hat or something, m'kays? Guh… I meant the beginning to have TenTen shopping for Neji-pajamas… and then have a time skip to when they're around 20 and say something about his pajamas and hers… but, oh well. I think this might be better. So sleepy now… unnnh… don't know why… probably slaving over my math project. Stupid Escher. I wouldn't have updated today, but I didn't want to be two days behind… so, yeah. R&R, please?

~ Tobi