"Now the fun part begins, huh?" Naruto asked as he sat across from Hinata. He reached for her hand as she continued picking at her dessert. She obliged him, of course, interlacing her fingers in his while enjoying the slice of cake he had served her.
The couple had just enjoyed a delicious meal that Naruto had proudly cooked, at least, for the most part. Naruto figured Hinata didn't need to know just how much Hanabi had to help, the important thing was that the food was delicious—and edible.
"So much planning to do," Hinata mumbled, a smile playing upon her lips. She was clearly thrilled at the thought.
"It's going to come at us fast, we should take advantage of the days off we have coming up and start talking through some things."
She nodded, "I'd like that."
He watched attentively as she unfurled her legs from the curled-up position she was in, her foot gently nudging his in the process. She was wearing loose-fitting clothing, a shirt of his, and a pair of what looked like pajama pants. Her long hair was still damp from her shower, her cheeks rosy and skin glowing. He loved seeing her like this the most, comfortable and at peace.
"You're staring at me," She said in between bites, noting that Naruto had barely blinked in the last few minutes.
"So?"
Hinata squeezed his hand, "You're embarrassing me, as always."
"I'm just so happy you're back," He gushed, knowing it was probably the twentieth time he said it, but he didn't care.
She giggled, offering him a bite of her cake as thanks for the extra attention. He, of course, took it without a single thought, smiling like an idiot as she fed him from her fork. Somehow anything she gave him tasted ten times better.
"Oh, I meant to tell you," Hinata said, putting her fork down and focusing her gaze upon him, "Your onigiris were delicious, Naruto-kun. I'm so lucky my future husband is a talented cook."
He blushed, growing more embarrassingly bashful by the second, "It was just a few rice balls, Hinata. No big deal. I told you I can always make them for you when you go on missions."
"I know, but, still. Thank you so much, and thank you for dinner as well."
"You're welcome," He said, leaning over and pressing his lips to her forehead.
Deciding that simply wasn't enough, Hinata yanked a surprise Naruto in for a kiss. Their lips lingered, he could taste sweet frosting upon her breath. By the time she pulled away his head was spinning.
A flushed Hinata shyly looked away as he attempted to compose himself. Her fingertips lightly traced her lips, as if to embed the memory of what they had just shared in her mind. It drove him absolutely insane. She always managed to rile him up, leaving him shaky and confused without even knowing that she was doing it. Not that he was complaining, he loved the adrenaline rush she always inevitably provoked in him.
He cleared his throat and got up from the table, reaching for Hinata's now empty plate, "So...end of March? That's coming up quick.
She gently covered his hand with hers and pushed him back. She wanted to help him clean up, even if he wouldn't allow it. Naruto furrowed his brow as Hinata walked over with her plate to the sink and nodded, "So much planning to do...I don't know where to start."
She handed him a rag when he stepped next to her, and he obliged. Allowing her to wash as he dried. They didn't have much to clean anyways.
"Maybe we should pick a date?" Naruto suggested, hyper-focused on his dish-drying duties to try to forget the spark of electricity that went off between them earlier. It was taking everything in him not to pin her against the kitchen sink and welcome her home properly.
Hinata smiled at him, "We should, right?"
"Well, Kakashi said he'd have to talk to the council to discuss dates, but we all know he'll make the real decision. And he'd most likely go with whatever date you want so if you have one?"
"I don't really have one in mind, perhaps Father does? I know he wants late March..."
"I, um, I'm having tea with him in a few days...so I can ask him then?"
"O-oh? Really?"
"Yes, he said he still had a couple of things to discuss, you know?"
She nodded, "He did let you off a little easy, didn't he?"
Naruto chuckled, "Almost too good to be true, huh?"
"Well, I'm happy to see you two might be becoming a little closer," She said as she turned off the faucet.
Naruto put down the rag and wrapped his arms around her waist, "I want for all of us to be a family. Besides, I'm the one coming into your family, I should try a little harder to make sure we all get off on the right foot."
"Ah, so that's what cooking with Hanabi was?" She playfully said, turning around to face him.
"That was her doing me a favor, I really needed her help."
"I'm sure she was more than happy to assist. She loves the idea of having you around."
"She's already calling me nii-chan," Naruto could barely contain how ecstatic he was at that, it made Hinata stand on the tips of his toes and plant a kiss on his reddened cheeks.
While he was still reeling from the absurd amount of domestic bliss he was currently experiencing, Hinata quickly began putting a kettle on and pulling out the Hyuga family's extensive selection of tea. She motioned for Naruto to sit back down and moved around the kitchen weightlessly.
"So, when do we tell everyone?" Naruto asked, leaning back in his seat and watching her pour the now boiling water into the mugs. She had already chosen the tea she knew he preferred and brought it over to steep on the table as they chatted. For added measure she placed before him a sticky jar of honey, knowing he loved adding extra whenever he did choose to indulge in tea with her.
"I was wondering the same. I know a lot of our friends are going to be in and out of the village the next few days, but they should be all around for the Rinne festival."
Naruto nodded as she sat down beside him, nudging the piping hot mug towards him. He took it with a smile and began mixing in honey without missing a beat, "Actually, I suggested the same to Sakura. I think the Rinne festival would be perfect. We can tell everyone we're going out for your birthday. We're due for another reunion anyways, it's the perfect excuse, you know?"
Hinata smiled, "It would be a great way to tell everyone. I'll talk to Sakura and start planning with her."
"I can't believe we haven't seen the gang since my birthday," He looked down at the steam rising from his mug, hoping it would cover the pained expression on his face.
Hinata too looked away sheepishly, no doubt thinking that his birthday had been the first night they had made love.
But Naruto? All he could remember from that night was how forward he was with her, and how easily she had reciprocated. Never in all of his years would he have imagined that Hinata Hyuga would let him eat her out in a public bathroom. So it didn't happen, that didn't matter. The point was that she would have let him. He'd have to remember that for the next time they were feeling adventurous.
He'd never have thought that his nineteenth year would have started off that way. Then again, now that he thought about it, he'd already be married when he turned twenty.
"Damn," He mumbled in disbelief.
"What is it?"
He smiled, "By my next birthday, we'll already be married."
She reached over for his hand, "We're already engaged before mine."
"That's right, we've really just gone full speed ahead, huh?"
"Well, once you've made your mind up..."
Naruto chuckled, "You know me so well."
"I just really like that about you, you've always inspired me to be the same way as well."
Naruto sighed, "You really are too cute for your own good."
"Stop it."
"Well, you are."
"Naruto-Kun, come on, let's keep planning."
He relented, "Okay, well, from our friends do only Kiba and Shino know?"
Hinata nodded, "And Sakura."
"Shikamaru...probably Temari."
Hinata took a second and suddenly realized, "I need to talk to Kurenai-sensei before we tell anyone else."
Naruto also grimaced, "And I need to talk to Iruka-sensei."
Their eyes met across the table though, and instantly the worried looks disappeared. They smiled at each other as if realizing for the millionth time that this was real.
"Maybe I'll pay a visit to Kurenai-Sensei tomorrow."
"You know what, let's walk into the village together, have lunch, talk to Kurenai and Iruka-sensei, and then meet up again and maybe head over to the bakery and look at cakes?"
"The cake is one of the last things we need to plan, Naruto-kun."
"It's the easiest though. And are you really turning down cake, Hina?"
She laughed, "Well, we can always bring some slices to Hanabi and father and start from there?"
"Okay, but...we're doing strawberry shortcake, right?"
"You were serious?"
"Absolutely. And when we cut the cake I'll make sure to feed you the juiciest strawberry on it. Um, just make sure you don't suck on my fingers in front of everyone," He teased.
"Naruto!" She said, shoving his arm. Her entire face was aflame, and she was trying badly to hide it.
"Is thinking about our wedding making you blush?" He said, playfully fighting her off.
Hinata took a breath, "You really do love to embarrass me."
"Hands down one of my favorite parts of the day," He reached over and wrapped an arm around her, trying to calm her down.
She leaned into him and sighed, "You're only going to be worse when we get married, aren't you?"
"If you really know me that well then you already know my answer, don't you?"
"I unfortunately do."
The couple burst into laughter, Naruto embracing Hinata tighter, and the Hyuga beauty pressing her cheek to his as she smiled so hard her entire face hurt. It was sickeningly sweet, as so voiced by the youngest Hyuga as she happened upon the scene.
"Gross," She mumbled, the smallest hint of a smile upon her lips.
"I thought you were staying in your room?" Hinata pointedly reminded her sister.
Hanabi, busying herself with cutting a slice of cake, shrugged as she said in between a bite, "I got hungry."
"You said you just ate."
"Not dessert."
Naruto quickly jumped in, "There's plenty to go around."
"Thank you, Naruto Nii-chan," Hanabi turned to look at Hinata and stuck her tongue out, "See, that's why he's my favorite sibling now."
Hinata simply rolled her eyes, choosing to ignore her younger sister, and sadly said, "It's getting pretty late.."
Naruto, knowing she was probably exhausted from her journey home, nodded and began getting up from the table, "It unfortunately is."
"He could sleepover, otousan wouldn't mind."
"No, I couldn't impose. Besides, I'm pretty sure he would mind," Naruto chuckled.
"Have it your way, Nii-chan," Hanabi said, grabbing her plate and already heading in the direction of her room, "Oh! Don't forget, I packed you some leftovers to take home."
"Thanks, Hanabi," He said, watching her as she walked off.
Naruto couldn't help but feel a flutter in his heart, it all just felt like it was really coming together. He'd already gained a little sister, as frustrating as Hinata says she is at times, he knew the younger Hyuga truly loved her sister and was already fond of him. He wouldn't dare mess that up, not ever.
Hinata quickly packed up a bag for him as he put on his boots and winter coat, her eyes half-lidded and clearly tired as she approached him to say goodnight.
He took her into his embrace and rested his chin upon the top of her head as he whispered, "Go to bed, Hina. My girl needs her rest."
"Your girl?" She asked, looking up at him in sweet wonder.
"We're engaged, aren't we? Of course, you're my girl."
She trailed kisses from his collarbone to his cheek before firmly planting her lips upon his, "I love you, Naruto."
"I love you too. Now go to bed, I'll pick you up tomorrow, okay?"
"Mmhmm," She said, lips touching lips once again. Leaving her would never be an easy task, not when she made it this difficult for him.
"Goodnight," He said, finally managing to untangle himself from her embrace. He placed a final kiss on her forehead and turned to open the door.
She leaned against it, watching as he started down the entryway to the Hyuga home. He turned one final time to give her a final wave before opening the gate. Her eyes sparkled even from afar, he could still feel her heart beating in time with his. He was so tempted to turn back around and scoop her back up into his arms. But he wouldn't, he knew better.
After all, he'd get her all to himself soon enough.