Hi, sorry to leave you all hanging and somewhat annoyed/frustrated..

This chapter is a little short, but I wanted to update as I hoped.


Hinata

It was quiet on the jet. I just held Sasuke's hand, unsure of what to say. Looking out the window, city lights glittered below like a box of spilt diamonds. Diamonds. I glanced back at Sasuke. His eyebrows were drawn down in a deep frown. I touched his face gently.

"Sasuke?"

"Hinata, sorry." He forced a smile. He sighed and took out the ring box. "I really wanted tonight to be perfect. Despite everything that's going on, I know one thing for sure."

My heart rate picked up as he knelt on the floor. Was he going to propose with everything going on?

He took my hand and held it. His hand felt warm and slightly clammy. The Uchiha Sasuke was nervous.

"Hinata, I've never met anyone as amazing as you. You're so kind and considerate. You remind me to be a better person, and when I'm with you, I feel like I'm can be a better person. I admire you, your strength and how you don't give up." I felt each word warm the core of my heart. Sasuke had never expressed this to me before. He took a deep breath.

"I love you, Hinata. I never thought that I could love someone as much as I love you. I didn't think it was possible, but the first time I saw you, I knew you were the one. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to be your strength and support you, whether you choose to be a teacher or an artist or a housewife – what ever you want to do. I want to make you happy and to give you everything you need and want." I felt my eyes tearing.

He took out the ring. "Hinata, I promise to love you forever. Even when our hair turns white and we lose our teeth. I want to spend forever with you. Will you marry me?"

I nodded. "Yes. I'll marry you, Sasuke." The tears slipped down my cheeks and he slipped the ring onto my finger. "I love you."

He pulled me down and kissed me. We broke apart, laughing. I held out my hand and shook my head. "I can't believe it! We're engaged!"

He kissed my knuckles. "No matter what happens, with everything that's going on, I want to be with you."


It was a bittersweet feeling as we stepped off the jet and rushed to the hospital. I wanted to tell everyone about Sasuke and I, but there were more important things at hand. Sasuke's mum looked very concerned, and his dad was holding her shoulders.

"Sasuke, Hinata!" she stood and hugged us. "I'm so sorry we interrupted you." She glanced at my hand and a smile spread across her face. "You're the silver lining tonight." She kissed my cheek and I squeezed her hand.

"How's Itachi?"

"He's just come out of surgery. They had to stitch him up because of a bullet wound in his left shoulder. We should be able to go in to see him."

At that moment, the doctor came out of Itachi's room.

"Itachi is in a stable condition. We're lucky the bullet passed through his shoulder and missed the major arteries and tendons. We've put him on antibiotics to reduce infection. We've put him on some painkillers, and he won't be awake until the general anesthetic wears off. There are a few documents I'll need you to sign…"

As Sasuke's parents moved away to talk to the doctor, Sasuke and I went into the room. I gasped when I saw Itachi. There was a deep purple bruise on his jaw, his left arm was in a sling, and I could see bandages peeping out from beneath his shirt. Sasuke gripped my hand and we moved to Itachi's side.

His hand brushed Sasuke's right hand gently.

"Itachi, how could you let yourself get so beaten up?"

"Konan."

Sasuke and I jumped at the sound of Itachi's whisper.

"Are, are you awake, Itachi?" Sasuke asked, bringing his head closer to Itachi.

"They took her." He forced his eyes open slowly. I saw Itachi's lips move slightly as he whispered something to Sasuke.

He gripped Sasuke's hand. "Find her for me." His eyes fluttered shut. "Please."


"Can you tell me what happened?" After Sasuke's ambiguous talk with Itachi, he had pulled his dad aside and asked him questions.

Now we were in the car on the way home to his place.

Sasuke gripped the steering wheel. "Itachi told me that he was working undercover with the Akatsuki. Gaara was the next target." He ran a hand through his hair. "Itachi and Konan informed Gaara that he was being targeted. Two members of the Akatsuki showed up, to be more specific, the guys that said they had kidnapped you. Itachi and Konan tried to stop the Akatsuki. Itachi was injured. There was an explosion and Konan and Gaara were gone."


Author's Notes:
Hope you enjoyed the chapter.. I didn't plan on making Sasuke get interrupted, but sometimes it happens =P And I hope it kinda made it sweeter =)

This story is evolving.. so I hope you'll bear with me and enjoy the ride =)