My apologies for not updating last week. It was midterms and I was going out of my mind trying to get all my exams and papers done. Anyway, now I'm on spring break and I'm planning on posting another chapter later this week to make up for the lack of an update last week. Look for it on Friday (maybe sooner).

Disclaimer: No, I do not own Naruto...thank you for the painful reminder. While you're at it, why don't you give me a paper cut and pour lemon juice on it? (cookie to whoever gets the movie reference)

Chapter Eighteen

"Hold out your arms…good. Now cup your hand so that it will support her head," Neji instructed his son.

Once he judged the boy's posture correct, he gently transferred Asayake into Hinode's arms. The little boy's brow furrowed in concentration as he held her stiffly. Her eyes opened in protest and she let out a soft whimper, warning of louder cries to come if she was not made more comfortable. Hinode looked about ready to cry right along with his little sister. Neji quickly came to their rescue.

"Hold her closer to your body. She likes to hear your heartbeat," he said.

Hinode shifted the baby to follow his father's directions and, after a moment, she quieted.

"Neji," Sasuke said from the doorway.

The man raised a hand to show that he heard, but did not turn from his children until he was certain they were comfortable with each other. Then, he faced the hesitant Uchiha. He found Sasuke's gaze also on the children, an expression of such unguarded longing in his onyx eyes that Neji felt his heart soften even more toward the young man.

"Those two are mine, you know," he teased.

Sasuke's eyes snapped to his face as he evaluated Neji's tone. After a moment, he gave him a small, cautious smile.

"You said a few days ago that I could come to you if I needed anything," Sasuke paused and Neji nodded. Sasuke continued, "I have a favor to ask of you."

The Hyuuga nodded again, a little more warily this time. He listened intently as Sasuke described what he needed. When the younger man finished, Neji raised an eyebrow.

"Have you spoken with Hiashi yet?" he asked.

"I intend to speak with him next," Sasuke said.

"Then I'll take care of the-" Neji was interrupted.

"Ow!" Hinode exclaimed.

Both men turned to the children, Neji relaxing when his eldest giggled. Asayake had grabbed hold of a lock of Hinode's long hair. After discovering with a yank that the hair was firmly attached, she gurgled to herself as she ran chubby fingers over the soft strands. Hinode bent his head closer to her as she again tugged at his hair. He turned his head to peek up at his father.

"I guess this is why okaasan always has her hair up," he said.

Neji smiled at the boy and amended, "I'll take care of it as soon as I deal with these two."

Sasuke nodded and left the room to deal with his next obstacle.

"Hiashi-sama," he called as he stepped into the man's study.

The Hyuuga head rose from his seat, inclining his head toward the younger man.

"Uchiha-san, welcome. Please have a seat," he said graciously.

Sasuke gracefully lowered himself to the floor, shaking his head when he was offered a cup of tea. He took a breath, nerving himself up for the purpose of this visit. He met Hiashi's gaze and was flabbergasted when the man actually winked at him. Train of thought totally lost, he was left staring at the Hyuuga. The man hid a smile behind his teacup.

"So, Uchiha-san, would I be incorrect to assume that your visit concerns my daughter?" he asked.

"Ah…no, Hiashi-sama, you would not," Sasuke stammered, but quickly collected himself, "That is, I wish to ask for Hinata's hand in marriage."

Hiashi studied him for a moment, then again stunned the Uchiha.

"Are the two of you in love?" he asked, scrutinizing him with those all-seeing silver eyes.

"I'm…not sure. We haven't actually spoken the words, but I believe so. At least…I love her," Sasuke forced out, knowing that he needed to be honest despite his aversion to baring his true feelings to anyone.

Hiashi smiled at this admission, not bothering to hide his satisfaction.

"If my daughter is indeed in love with you, then you have my blessing," he said.

Sasuke bowed his head toward the man, hiding the adrenaline that suddenly rushed through his veins. He had permission to marry Hinata!

"Thank you, Hiashi-sama," he murmured, rising and leaving the study.

Now he just had to find the perfect time to propose.

.oOo.oOo.

That night, Sasuke stood at his window, gazing blankly across the Hyuuga grounds. The moon was nearly full and shed soft light on the surface of the pond. His eyes turned downward as he heard the sound of a door sliding closed. He made out the form of someone walking down to the pond and, from the way his pulse had suddenly quickened, it was Hinata. He started out his window after her, then turned back to grab the item Neji had retrieved for him. Slipping it into his pocket, he slid through the window and dropped silently to the ground. His bare feet made no sound on the carpet of grass, disguising his approach. He paused in the shadow of the willow tree. His eyes immediately fixed on Hinata's slender, black-clothed form. She stood in the center of the pond, water already sparkling around her along with blue flashes of chakra as she moved through the forms of Jyuuken. Sasuke had no idea how long he stood there watching her graceful form, noting to himself how each of her movements seemed like something from a carefully choreographed dance. Time intruded upon the scene when she stopped, pulling her long hair back into a ponytail to keep the strands from falling into her face. Her silver eyes, so similar to the moon above, turned toward him and he realized that she knew he had been watching her. He stepped out onto the water, joining her in the center of the pond.

"Having trouble sleeping?" she asked gently.

He shook his head. Truth be told, his nightmares had faded in frequency the more time he spent with Hinata. He had not had a nightmare this entire week.

"Actually, Hinata, there was something I wanted to ask you," he said, mouth suddenly dry.

She raised an eyebrow, again smiling at him. She found him so adorable when he was uncertain about something, as he was now. He slipped his hand into his pocket, closing his hand around the item within and pulling it out. Taking a deep breath, he sank to one knee, adjusting his chakra to keep him above the surface of the water. Hinata's lavender eyes widened and she lifted a hand to her mouth.

"You know that I'm no good at showing my emotions, and why…but I'm going to try," he said, "I came back to Konoha knowing that I had to marry and revive my clan. It was just a matter of finding someone willing to marry me. I didn't think it would be difficult, considering just about all the girls had once been in love with me, but I was not expecting to fall in love myself. You changed that, Hinata. I can't imagine sharing my life with anyone else, and I don't want to. Marry me, Hinata."

She let out a soft laugh, looking away from him to hide her blush. It was certainly not the romantic proposal she had always imagined, neither did the Uchiha phrase it as a question. It came out more as a command, but his uncertainty was clear in his dark eyes.

She answered somewhat impulsively, "Yes, Sasuke. I'll marry you."

A genuine smile lit his pale features. He took her hand and slid an engagement ring onto her finger, surprised when it fit perfectly. She lifted it to study her finger, noting how the single diamond caught the light of the moon.

"It was my mother's," Sasuke explained.

"It's lovely," Hinata said, bending and pressing a kiss to Sasuke's cheek.

He blushed, then stood and caught her up in his arms. He spun her in a circle until they were both laughing and dizzy. He set her down and she was forced to lean against him until her balance returned. Sasuke felt a sudden chill as though he was being watched and lifted his gaze from his fiancée's radiant expression. His eyes caught upon a figure perched on a tree branch, silhouetted against the moon. His heart stuttered to a stop, mind flashing back to a different night that had changed his life. He blinked and the figure was gone, making him doubt it had ever been there. Hinata, however, had noticed his shock.

"What's the matter?" she asked, activating her Byakugan to scan the trees around them.

"Nothing…it was nothing," Sasuke said, turning her face back to him.

Drawing her close, he lowered his head and kissed her until the dark images faded from his mind.

Well, I seem to be on a roll. That is two chapters now that have ended with a kiss. Anyway, stay tuned for MI next chapter! Now, for my answers to the reviews from last chapter...

Moirah: Thanks for the compliments. I hope your computer remains virus-free!

Zetnnik: Hmmm...the joy of being evil, or a cupcake?...such a hard decision. n.n Sorry for the shortness of the chapter. I write until my muse says stop and sometimes the muse says stop more quickly than I would like. I am trying to make my chapters longer though!

AnimeRose93: All Naruto really felt for Hinata was friendship, and Hinata confused her admiration of Naruto for love. They are good friends, but there was really nothing there for any other kind of relationship.

Alewey2: Well, this answered your question about when Sasuke will go to Hiashi. As for the identity of the disapproving person, that will come next chapter.

Thanks for the great reviews, everyone! Again, I apologize for how short they have been, but I've just been overwhelmed by schoolwork and my muse is feeling a little tuckered out. I will try to make them longer (as I post another short chapter). Sorry!

Please read and review!