Naruto sat slumped in his seat, watching the fire. He should be happy. His mother was making cookies and everything was as it should be. Karin, a new addition to the family tradition, had joined him by the fireside, looking for someone to talk to. "Naruto," she began quietly, nudging him to get his attention.

"What?" He replied without removing his eyes from the fire.

"You need to cheer up. It's Christmas Eve and Aunt Kushina is making cookies…" Karin said. "Don't let Hinata ruin it-"

"She isn't ruining anything." The blonde Uzumaki retorted when he finally looked at his cousin. "She's having the time of her life, actually, having a romantic affair with a billionaire. How could she ruin anything when she's in Tokyo?"

Karin frowned. "She's ruining your mood which in turn, ruins mine." The blonde raised a brow, curious. "I've been trying to anger you for the last 2 hours but you've been brooding away because your girlfriend,"

"She's not my girlfriend."

"Is spending Christmas Eve with another man."

"Do you expect me to be happy?"

"No but what's the point of sulking on the issue when you know she's not?"

"You don't know that-"

"Come on, she's with her boyfriend. They-"

Naruto shook his head and covered his ears. "Don't say it."

"Don't say…oh, I see. You're afraid of that happening."

"No, I'm not."

Karin rolled her eyes. "Right now, she's probably getting back from a shopping spree."


Hinata held the cup of tea in her hands tightly, hoping for warmth. She was waiting for a taxi so she could head back to her room. Akio promised to take her out tonight. He didn't specify where, only to wear something nice. She had done a little shopping and bought a red dress. A taxi honking it's horn, awoke her and she realized she had a taxi waiting. Hinata blushed and climbed in, apologizing for her rudeness.

"We were wondering when you'd get in." A man replied, laughter in his voice. Hinata turned and her face darkened. "I was on my way home when I saw you waiting."

The Hyūga smiled and thanked him. "I would've been standing out there for hours if you hadn't picked me up."

"You're freezing." Akio said when he took touched her face. "Here." He unwrapped his scarf from his neck and wrapped it around hers then taking off his coat and dressing her in that too.

Hinata thanked him again and moved closer to lean on him. "How was work?"

Akio closed his eyes in aggravation. "We might have…an interruption during our dinner." He almost sounded scared.

"Why? What happened?" Hinata was worried. She never heard him scared before.

He looked away. "The…vice president is upset with me. I made a few good decisions, ones he thought are bad."

"But why will he call you tonight, if he already knows?"

"It's nothing you need to worry about." He informed, kissing her forehead with a smile.

Hinata's eyes shot to the bag and began wondering if she should even go to dinner. But it was Christmas Eve and Akio was the only one she knew. Who else was she supposed to spend it with? She hoped not alone and decided that some time was better than no time.


Half an hour later, Hinata was standing outside her hotel, watching Akio disappear around the corner. She sighed and walked through the doors, heading to the elevators. A little girl caught her eye and she stopped. "Hanabi…" she whispered sadly, knowing her sister wasn't enjoying herself. Hinata wasn't there to spend Christmas with her. Next to the dark-haired child was a blonde man, speaking to the receptionist about their room. Hinata had to look away and continue to her room, taking the stairs instead. She shouldn't be crying. It was Christmas Eve. Why did the little girl and her father remind her of the two people she missed most?

As Hinata opened the door, she realized her question had been answered: she missed them. She needed to call them. The young woman threw her bags down onto the bed and shed her coat, pulling out her phone. She'd call her sister first, through FaceTime. Not even seconds later did the girl answer, laughing and a huge smile on her face.

"Merry Christmas!" She yelled.

"Merry Christmas!" Hinata responded, toned down.

"I miss you. When are you coming home?"

"The twenty-eighth."

"You're going to miss your birthday too!"

"Don't worry, I'll be home soon." She paused. "I could ask daddy myself since this is his phone but, how is he?"

Hanabi looked away from the screen then back. "He's okay. He misses you but he's glad you're having fun."

Hinata smiled. "Can I talk to him? Is he home?"

The little sister frowned and gave a gave a small shrug, looking skeptical. "He's had a lot of…um?"

"What's um?" It sounded familiar and not like a good thing.

"You know, that stuff that makes him mean."

"You mean rum. Give him the phone." Hinata demanded. What he doing drinking like this on Christmas Eve. Hanabi didn't move. "Give him the phone!" She yelled, furious with her father. Hanabi jumped off the bed and exited her room.

"I'm scared." She whispered as she headed down the hall.

"Why?"

"He yelled at me earlier, because he fell. What if hurts me?"

"Daddy has never touched us like that." Hinata watched as her sister approached the study, pushing the door open.

"Daddy," Hanabi began, swallowing her fear. "Hinata wants to talk to you."

Hinata listened as a glass was placed down on the desk. "You called her?"

"No," the little girls answered. "She wanted to see me."

Hiashi stood and walked over, taking his phone back. "Out." He demanded of Hanabi before facing his oldest. "What?" He asked once the door was shut.

"It's Christmas Eve. What do you think you're doing?"

"Having a drink."

"But you have Hanabi! And you know rum makes you mean. Why couldn't you drink something after she had gone to bed?"

His face softened. "I'm a terrible father, that's why."

"No-"

"Yes, I am. There are certain things you should know but I've been keeping them from you...to save myself."

Hinata shook her head, worried and confused. "No, you don't know what you're talking about." She glanced at the clock. If she wanted to call Naruto for even a few minutes, she needed to go. "Sober up and apologize to Hanabi."

"Hinata,-"

"I love you and miss you both." She smiled and hung up, quickly calling Naruto to get her father's drunkeness off her mind. His answer was fairly quick as well but he didn't look as excited. "Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas…" He replied slowly. "Why are you calling me?"

"It's Christmas Eve…and I missed you." She added. "I'm beginning to wish I never came."

The blonde bowed his head. "I'm sorry. You really wanted to see him-"

"He's not the problem. It's you and my family." Hinata informed. "I love you and miss you and I just…" She closed her eyes for a second. "I need a favor."

"A favor?" Karin popped up on the screen. "What kind of favor?"

"Karin," Naruto tried shoving her away. "This is between me and Hinata."

"No, it's okay." Hinata told the cousins. "It's my father. I need you to check on him in an hour or two."

"It's Christmas Eve-" Katin started.

"I know that!" She felt as if she were on the verge of tears. "Please just do it and if not you, then Minato. He'll know what to do. My father's been drinking and I want to make sure he sobered up like I told him to."

Naruto frowned. "I'll bring my dad."

Hinata smiled and hugged the phone to her chest. "Thank you Naruto-" Her eyes caught the clock again. "I have to go but I'll see you soon!" He said goodbye and ended the FaceTime.