Please see first chapter for disclaimer, rating, warnings, pairings, etc.

Special Thanks: goes out to rao hyuga 18, QueenP19, and Tai-writer for all your wonderful and encouraging reviews! Also thanks to everyone who's added this story to their alert and favorites list - you all are amazing!

Author's Note: This is the longest chapter thus far - over 6,000 words! Lots of fun and exciting things happening, so I'm really happy to get to post it at last. I was kind of concerned for a while, though, since my computer's in the shop, but my beta graciously let me borrow her computer to get this chapter edited and posted for you. Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy this chapter!

*~Chapter IV~*

~Ceremony~

Hinata just could not stop shaking.

The delicate fabric of her white bridal kimono trembled visibly as she stood before Ino and Tenten, who were rushing to help her get ready in time for the ceremony. Clenching her teeth, Hinata fought back the nearly overwhelming urge to mash her index fingers together in front of her.

Or, more likely, run screaming all the way back to Konoha.

No matter how much she kept telling herself this was all going to be fine and work out, she could still feel the strangling grip of terror tightening around her throat. She was afraid to open her mouth for fear of casting up her accounts, even though she'd hardly touched her breakfast, which had been delivered to her room just after sunrise. She hadn't even bothered to accept the lunch which had followed only a few too-short hours later.

Clenching her hands together in front of her to keep them from trembling so violently, she studied herself in the reflection of the full-length mirror brought with her from Konoha. From the top of her hooded head to the tips of her slipper-clad toes, she wore unrelieved white. Her painted lips turned downward in dissatisfaction - between her ceremonial kimono, which her mother had worn for her wedding, and her face paint, she looked like a ghost.

"You look beautiful," Tenten said. For a moment, Hinata thought the other woman had read her mind, but then she realized her cousin's wife had seen Hinata's expression in the mirror. "If your groom doesn't end the ceremony at least half in love with you, I'll eat my slippers."

Undoubtedly as Tenten had intended, the comment made Hinata smile, although it faded quickly. "He c-confuses me," she admitted, frustrated. "He was nothing at all like I thought he'd b-be, b-but I've just met him. What if he's d-different after we're married, and last night was just an act?" Despite all her good intentions, the fear still had a good grip on her. She just couldn't shake all her insecurities, not to mention the whispered rumors lurking at the back of her mind.

Careful not to mess up Hinata's makeup or kimono, Tenten gave her a quick, reassuring hug. "Neji and I are going to stay around for a few days after the wedding. We'll be very close by if you need us, and if something does happen..." She trailed off, the sudden fierce expression on her face a juxtaposition to her normally cheerful demeanor. "Doesn't matter who tries to stop us, we'll get you out of here."

"Thank you," Hinata whispered fervently. She knew Neji and Tenten's positions in the Hyuuga clan were already precarious at best, thanks to their romance, but they were willing to put themselves in further jeopardy to save her. What had she done to deserve such loving and caring relatives?

Ino looked up from where she was adjusting Hinata's thick, trailing hem. "I'll be staying around a while, too," she said. "And my offer still stands. If you want me to stay here with you instead of going back to Konoha with the others, I will do it." Her blue eyes glowed with determination and resolve.

Hinata shook her head. "Thank you again for the offer, b-but I c-can't take you away from Konoha. It's your home."

"It's yours, too," Ino argued. "You deserve to be there just as much as I do, probably even more. And look at this! Here you are, stuck in Suna, getting married to someone you've met once, and just last night at that." She clucked her tongue and shook her head. "It's not fair, I tell you."

"No one ever said life would b-be," Hinata replied softly.

Tenten smoothed down a slightly wrinkled corner of Hinata's hood, then stood back and nodded her head. Her pretty royal blue kimono, patterned with small golden birds in flight, rustled softly as she moved. "Are you really sure about this, Hinata? We can make a run for it right now if you're not."

Hinata met her own gaze in the mirror, surprised when she saw the determination in her reflection. Perhaps she believed her own words more than she'd originally thought. "N-No. I'm going to d-do this. If I b-back d-down now, I'm going to d-disappoint so many people, and I c-can't d-do that." She'd spent her entire life disappointing people, her father in particular. This was her chance to do something of which he'd be proud - even if he wasn't there to see and appreciate it.

Two quick raps on the door preceded Shikamaru's muffled voice. "Lady Temari is here."

Tenten glanced at Hinata, her brows lifted in question. At her nod, Tenten opened the door to reveal Shikamaru, who stood half-turned away from the door, glaring across the room at where Temari stood by the door into the suite.

Upon seeing Hinata, Temari shifted to place her hand on the doorknob and asked, "Are you ready?" Tension drew lines along her forehead and around her mouth, making Hinata wonder what had happened before she came to the suite.

Drawing in a deep breath, Hinata nodded in reply, trying to seem decisive though her legs felt like jelly and her stomach like a block of lead. "Yes. Please lead the way."

Shikamaru silently shadowed them as the four women exited Hinata's rooms and started down the stairs. As they descended, Hinata studied Temari's kimono an an attempt to distract herself from what awaited her downstairs. Done in varying shades of purple, it looked delicate and pretty and feminine, none of them typical adjectives Hinata would usually use to describe her soon-to-be sister-in-law. Her four spiky ponytails were still glaringly obvious at the back of her head, but the amethyst earbobs and a thin necklace strung with beads of the same stone around her neck softened the look. She seemed to Hinata to be stressed and unhappy, though a moment before they turned the corner which would lead them to the stairs in view of the murmuring crowd below, the expression vanished in favor of a smooth, polite smile.

The change was remarkable. Hinata wished she could control her own expression so easily.

Neji was waiting at the foot of the stairs. He kissed his wife's temple before turning to Hinata, his anxious gaze lightening slightly at the sight of her. "You look beautiful," he complimented. "I'm so glad you chose to wear Aunt Hoshi's wedding kimono for your own ceremony."

Smoothing her hand down the silky fabric, Hinata smiled tremulously. "Thank you," she whispered. "I just hope..." She trailed off, having too many hopes to attempt to list. I hope things go smoothly. I hope I look even half as good as Mother did in this kimono. I hope Gaara doesn't take one look at me and decide to call this whole thing off. I hope Gaara takes a second look at me and decides to call this whole thing off. I hope... She gave up. Yes, there were far too many hopes to list, even if only to herself.

Her cousin's smile made Hinata sure he understood every single one of her unspoken hopes. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

Swallowing back the sudden, surprisingly strong urge to grind her teeth (or scream, or both), Hinata clasped her hands tightly in front of her and said, "I really wish people would s-stop asking me that question. If you k-keep giving me those opportunities, I very well might b-back out of this thing."

"Would that be so bad?" At Hinata's look, Neji raised his hands slightly in an "I'm innocent!" gesture. "Never mind." Extricating one of her trembling hands, he slid it into the crook of his elbow. Glancing at Tenten, he said, "I'll meet you inside."

His wife nodded, smiled at Hinata, and then slipped through the open double doors into what looked like a large reception hall of some sort. Craning her neck a little more helped Hinata to see too many mats to count spread on the floor, most of them occupied. Several elaborate chandeliers, dripping with crystals, dangled from the ceiling, hundreds of candles set within them offering the room a golden glow. The effect was much softer and more intimate than electric lights would have been - the perfect way to set the mood for a royal wedding. The delicate fixtures looked out of place in their dull brown surroundings, but Hinata didn't complain. They resembled the electric ones in the reception room of her home in Konoha, and though the sight of these made her homesick, they were also a comforting presence, as well.

As the last few people lingering in the hall - including Temari and her silent, brooding husband - vanished into the reception room, Neji squeezed her hand on his arm. "Here we go," he murmured.

Hinata swallowed dryly. She wished for a cup of tea or water, but it was too late now. It was show time, and there was nothing she could do to delay it any further.

Clinging to Neji's arm like he was the only thing holding her upright, Hinata took her first few hesitant steps into the room. Everyone - most of whom she didn't even know - watched her intently, as if wondering if she was a worthy match for their village's leader. She sensed curiosity, animosity, even pity in those gazes, and the fine hairs on the back of her neck prickled anxiously. Keep yourself in control, Hinata. Don't let them get to you. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other; tilt your head up so you look regal without seeming proud; and allow your shoulders to roll back straight but not tense up. It would help if she'd been able to practice all this, but walking down a dusty, makeshift aisle with Tenten instructing her was nothing compared to the real thing.

She sought out the few familiar, friendly faces within the crowd: Tenten, whose look of confidence helped inject Hinata with a bit of the same, and Ino, who stood along the side wall next to Shikamaru, both of them smiling encouragingly. Across the aisle from Tenten sat Gaara's brother Kankuro, who grinned and flashed her a very quick thumbs up. Next to him, Temari sat rigidly, her head pointedly turned away from Hinata, toward the front of the room. On her other side, Itachi was watching her with those dark, dark eyes of his, a strange expression on his face. Unsettled, Hinata looked away quickly, fixing her eyes on the floor in front of her to keep from meeting anyone's eyes - particularly Gaara's. She could feel him staring at her, as if willing her to look up and meet his gaze.

Keeping Tenten's advice and as much of her etiquette classes as she could remember at the forefront of her mind, Hinata tore her gaze away from the floor (big surprise, also brown) to look toward the front of the room. She could avoid the inevitable no longer.

Gaara stood waiting for her, dressed in what looked to be heavy, uncomfortable ceremonial robes typical of a village leader. His red hair was as bright and untamed as it had been the night before, and was it her imagination, or had his already pale skin lost a few more shades, too? His stiff posture and emotionless face made him seem cold, remote, and Hinata felt her heart falter for a few beats. She risked looking him in the eye for a moment, but their green depths were tightly shuttered. There would be no help to be found there.

As she and Neji drew alongside the redhead, Neji made a soft sound which might have been a threatening growl as he slid her hand into Gaara's waiting one. Hinata darted a nervous glance to her cousin's scowling face, then her future husband's responding emotionless one, before thinking to hope Gaara didn't feel the tremor in her hand. His, as she'd expected, was strong, calloused, and unmoving as a rock.

For a long, breathless moment, Neji and Gaara stared at each other. Then, curling his long fingers around Hinata's hand tightly, but not painfully so, Gaara turned his back on Neji, quite obviously dismissing him. Right before she was tugged around to face the same direction as Suna's leader, she saw a dark flicker in Neji's eyes before he, too, turned away to join Tenten on the first mat closest to where Hinata stood.

As the marriage ceremony officially began, Hianta felt the reality of her situation fall heavily across her shoulders. She faltered slightly, but Gaara moved at the same moment so his arm pressed against hers, holding her still and preventing her from falling. There was nothing he could do, however, for the grey spots dancing along the edges of her vision, or the ringing in her ears drowning out the words the older gentleman conducting the ceremony was intoning.

Gaara's hand on hers and his arm against hers were the only things keeping her upright. They were also the most tangible reminder that there was no going back now.

For better or worse, she was going to have to go through with this ceremony - and what would inevitably follow.

Hinata clung to the glass in her hand, trying not to look too relieved - or greedy - as she gulped down its contents. She could only vaguely remember bits and pieces of the ceremony just past, a blur of unintelligible words spoken and vows exchanged, colored by the strong smell of incense and the nauseating tang of saké still coating her mouth and throat, threatening to choke her.

As soon as the ceremony was over, Tenten and Ino had spirited her off to her room. She'd experienced a brief moment of panic, and even blacked out for a few moments. She immediately revived upon being told she could change into a different kimono for the reception. Hinata wasn't sure if she was relieved what comes after was being put off, or felt even worse because she had the duration of said reception to continue dreading it.

Now she sat in the same reception room in which the wedding cermony had taken place, only tables and platters of food had been moved in during her absence. Gaara sat at the end of the head table, with her right next to him. Stretching forward on either side of them were their family and friends, a small but somewhat comforting group. Even Ino and Shikamaru had been allowed to join Neji and Tenten on Hinata's side of the table; on Gaara's, Temari, Itachi, Kankuro, and Baki mostly talked among themselves and ignored the group from Konoha.

Hinata took another refreshing sip of tea and angled a glance at Gaara out of the corner of her eye. He had yet to touch his cup or plate, and instead sat looking around the room, discomfort obvious in every line of his lean, tense body. He, too, had changed out of his wedding clothes, though the robes he wore now looked no more comfortable than the ceremonial ones he'd had on before. She noticed how he sat absolutely still, hardly even blinking, only his searching eyes and lightly rising and falling chest indicating life in his otherwise statue-still body.

She felt skittish and graceless sitting next to him.

At long last Gaara moved, his arm brushing hers as he reached for his cup. He took a long draught from it, and Hinata nearly winced until she noticed he was ignoring the one filled with wine. Instead, he'd chosen similarly to her and selected the smaller one, filled with tea. It made her sigh softly in slight relief - at least he wasn't planning on getting drunk.

She hoped.

The food before her all looked and smelled delicious, but like her breakfast, she couldn't bring herself to do more than pick at it. Hinata managed to eat a little bit of rice, a few small bites of fruit, and one miniscule piece of meat before her roiling stomach demanded she stop.

As Hinata politely and quietly declined more food by the servant who came by to offer just that, she noticed her sister-in-law staring at her. Feeling self-conscious, Hinata glanced down at her kimono, wondering if she'd managed to soil its front. She could see no evidence of food or drink, and was just getting ready to lift her head and ask Temari what was wrong when she realized.

Just like Temari's, Hinata's kimono was done in varying shades of purple. The only difference between the two were the flowers on Hinata's and the fans on Temari's.

For a moment, Hinata considered throwing herself into a dogeza and begging Temari's forgiveness for copying her, however unintentionally. Just before she did, however, Temari finally turned away to respond to something Itachi whispered in her ear. A smile briefly softened the blonde's features, and when the two were finished she did not look at Hinata again.

Gaara's voice suddenly sounded right next to her ear, making her jump and immediately forget the incident. "I like that kimono." His voice, though softer than she had yet heard it, still sounded somehow wrong. Like he was merely mouthing platitudes he was expected to voice, even though he meant not a word of it.

She wasn't sure, thus, how to reply. Deciding she had no other choice, she politely thanked him, offering the same smile she'd pulled out a thousand times to placate her father. Gaara appeared satisfied with her reaction and turned back to his plate, which looked just as lightly touched as hers.

Was he nervous, too? Or did he prefer to satisfy his appetite in other ways?

Hinata immediately closed her eyes and scolded herself for the thought. As of yet, she'd seen absolutely nothing to support the rumors running rampant in Konoha. Granted, Gaara had not said much to her in the handful of hours making up their acquaintance, but she didn't feel a murderous vibe coming off him. Surely he would sit there glowering darkly, a sneer on his lips and bloodlust in his eyes, if he were a murderer?

Oh, what do I know? Besides, I'm just being ridiculous anyway. I should learn to control my thoughts and shove those rude rumors to the back of my mind. Or, better yet, out of it. Hinata reached for her teacup, surprised to see it had been refilled. She hadn't even noticed a servant doing so.

The low mumur of conversation bouncing off the walls, along with the quiet clatter of plates, bowls, and chopsticks, formed a strange kind of music that lulled Hinata into a waking doze. The room faded into a haze around her, a background of dull brown splattered with the occasional brighter color of a woman's kimono. She focused on a chandelier across the room, watching the firelight play across the crystals with a fascination which was almost assuredly unhealthy.

"Hinata?"

She jumped, just as much startled at the suddenness of Gaara's voice invading her quiet, thoughtful bubble as the touch of his fingers against her arm. "I-I'm sorry," she apologized in a rush. Her own voice was ragged and unsteady. "I-I was just..." She trailed off, unsure of how to describe her behavior. What would he think of her, spacing out like that?

Gaara's fingers lifted from her arm now he was sure he had her attention. "Are you feeling well? You've barely touched your food." He tilted his red head toward her plate as evidence.

Hinata looked down at her plate, feeling her stomach give another unhelpful roll at the sight of its contents. "I d-don't eat much," she said weakly. It was the truth, just not all of it. Slanting her gaze slightly, she returned the favor and motioned toward Gaara's plate. "You've n-not eaten much of yours, either, milord."

"Gaara." He stared at her, mouth downturned in a disapproving frown.

"I b-beg your pardon?" Hinata blinked, surprised.

"We are married now. Legally. Call me Gaara." Without looking at her again, he lifted his cup and threw back the rest of his tea like a shot of liquor. It was the wildest motion she'd ever seen him make, which spoke volumes.

"Very well, m-" Gaara's eyes snapped to hers, narrow and expectant "-ah, p-pardon me. G-Gaara." It felt wrong somehow, being so familiar towards a man she didn't even know.

He nodded curtly at her. "Thank you, Hinata."

She bit her lip, offended he hadn't bothered to ask her permission to call her by her first name only. Was it deliberate, or did he just take it for granted her response would be positive? Or was she just being oversensitive about this whole situation?

Looking down at her lap, she realized she was once again smashing the tips of her index fingers together. Grinding her teeth, she forced them apart and reached for her glass. Taking a ladylike sip, she scolded herself for her childish habit. It was healthier than chewing her nails, granted (oh, how long it had taken her to break Hanabi of that nasty habit!), but she knew it was unseemly and made her look mousy and shy. Not that she wasn't mousy and shy, but there was certainly no need to go about flaunting the fact.

Not when she felt like everyone in the room was watching her with the eyes of a predator, even though no one was looking directly at her.

No one but her cousin, anyway. And he looked more like an overprotective guard dog devoted to her service than a wolf intent on ripping her throat out at the first sign of weakness.

Face it, Hinata. You will never belong here. Sighing, Hinata set down her cup and focused on the conversation Tenten was trying to begin with her.

None of it, however, was enough to distract her from the insidious clock ticking at the back of her head, dragging her kicking and screaming ever-closer to her dreaded fate of what comes after.

"Hinata! Calm down. Breathe in. Breathe out. Come on, now, deep, even breaths. In. Out."

The darkness at the edges of her vision began to recede as Hinata focused on Tenten's calm voice. She followed Tenten's directions as closely as she could, wincing at the jagged sound catching at the end of every inhale and exhale she made. Her throat still felt tight, her stomach pitchy, and her knees like mush, but at least she wasn't going to slide out of her chair in a dead faint now.

Ino appeared in Hinata's range of vision, holding a cool cloth. Holding it out to her mistress, she softly offered, "This isn't a bad thing, Lady Hinata."

Clutching the cloth like it could save her, Hinata nearly choked on a hiccup as she replied morosely, "I know. B-But I c-can't help b-but b-be scared."

Tenten crouched before her, taking the cool cloth from Hinata so she could do something constructive with it. After smoothing out the wrinkles Hinata had crushed into the fabric, Tenten soothingly dabbed the tears off her husband's cousin's face with a gentle smile. "I know you're scared, Hinata. As much as I love Neji, and wanted to marry and be with him, I was scared, too."

Hinata blinked. "You were?" she whispered. "B-But you're n-not afraid of anything."

Chuckling lightly, Tenten handed the cloth back to Ino and settled a little more comfortably, feet tucked beneath her. "That's not true, Hinata, and you know it." She lightly touched Hinata's arm to regain her attention from her hands, tightly clasped on her lap, then continued. "I wasn't sure what to do, or say, or think. But, at least in my experience, this isn't something to be afraid of, Hinata."

Ino knelt next to Tenten. She hesitated for a moment, then sighed and reached beneath the collar of her shirt and pulled out a delicate ring on a chain. Allowing it to dangle in front of Tenten and Hinata for a moment, she allowed the other two women to study it before she hid it once more. "Shikamaru and I knew we would have to give up our jobs if we admitted we were married," she said. "And we were both too committed to you, Lady Hinata, to do that. But I think our secret coming out is worth it, if I get to reassure you. Lady Tenten's right. Though I knew what to expect, I was still nervous. But it's not bad. In fact, it-" Her cheeks turned slightly red, and she looked away, obviously embarrassed. "It's one of the most wonderful things in the world."

"B-But Shikamaru and Neji aren't anything like G-Gaara, as far as I c-can tell," Hinata whispered miserably. "I'm trying so hard n-not to think of the rumors, b-but I c-can't help it. What if they're true? What if he..." She stopped, shuddering at the thought. It was too awful to voice. However, it did not stop her mind from latching on to the thought and running wild with it. What if he murders me in our marriage bed tonight?

Tenten glanced across the room to the door separating Hinata's bedroom from Gaara's. "There's always the lock. If you don't want him to come in, keep it engaged. He should take the hint and leave you alone." She frowned. "In fact, he should be smart enough to realize some time to get to know each other before you two jump into anything would be wise." She nodded resolutely, her hand absently going to her waist.

Hinata wondered what sort of weapon Tenten had hidden there. She decided she didn't want to know, but appreciated the brief feeling of relief the other woman's motion had offered her. "B-But it's my d-duty," she whispered. "I'm his wife. He's my husband. And he's the leader of his village, and his family. I'm sure the reason he married me is b-because he's in n-need of a wife to produce a legitimate heir. It's my d-duty to g-give him that heir." She returned to her controlled breathing, hating the dark spots once more creeping along the edges of her vision. I will not pass out. I absolutely will not pass out.

"Hinata..." Tenten trailed off, looking helpless and frustrated.

Lifting her hands to hide her face until she'd regained control over her emotions, tenuous though it was, Hinata drew in a deep breath. "Thank you b-both for all you've d-done to help me," she said. "B-But this is something I have to face alone n-now."

Both Tenten and Ino looked like they wanted to say something more, but neither did. Silently, they offered her bracing squeezes on the shoulder before they left the room.

As soon as the door opened, Shikamaru appeared in the doorway, his expression dark. "Milady," he addressed Hinata, "if you are in need of me tonight, I will post myself by the door between your rooms to make sure..." He trailed off, the tips of his ears turning pink as he gestured, obviously hoping he wouldn't have to voice the rest of the thought.

Pulling her heavy robe around herself a little tighter, Hinata managed a wan smile. Even though she'd not known Shikamaru long, he'd proven himself to be a loyal bodyguard, and equally loyal friend. She was incredibly grateful Hiashi had seen fit to assign him to his daughter's security detail. "Thank you, Shikamaru," she said softly. "B-But I will b-be fine. I am prepared, and whatever will happen tonight will happen."

Shikamaru's expression tightened slightly, whether in disapproval or dread, Hinata did not know. She didn't dare ask for fear of hearing her own fears voiced by her bodyguard.

He nodded at her politely, then stepped back so Tenten and Ino could step past him before he offered her one last quick look and closed the door behind him. Hinata listened intently, not breathing again until she heard the outer door close behind Tenten and the small one off the sitting room, leading into Ino's room, do the same. Shikamaru's sleeping pallet, spread out in the sitting room so he would be between the main door and Hinata's bedroom, rustled briefly before fading into silence. She had no doubt her bodyguard was still listening, however. The fact both comforted and discomforted her.

Once the silence outside her bedroom door was complete, Hinata finally dared move from her seat at her dressing table. Avoiding her reflection in the mirror, Hinata stood and moved across the room. She stopped in front of the door separating her bedroom from Gaara's, her hand hovering above the lock. Did she dare flip it and allow him full access to her room, and her?

She stood that way a long time, warring silently with herself. Should she leave it locked? Should she unlock it? Would she really be shirking her duties if she left the door locked, or was Tenten right? Was it acceptable for them to put off - it - for a while longer until they got to know each other better?

Hinata made her decision. She quickly disengaged the lock, then scurried back a few steps, halfway expecting it to open immediately. For some reason, she'd pictured Gaara standing on the other side, just waiting to hear that click so he could throw the door open and ravish her immediately.

The door, however, did not open. It remained closed, a bane and a blessing at the same time.

Letting out her breath, Hinata dared to glance away from it. Should she sit in the chair? Pace? Or go lie on the bed?

Perhaps she should have asked Tenten and Ino a few more questions before she dismissed them. She knew the basics, naturally, from things her teachers had said not long before she finished her schooling. But she didn't know specifics, such as how to act before her husband came in for the first time.

Sighing, she finally made the decision to take off her robe. She hated removing the heavy, ornate shield of sorts, but figured it would be best. For a moment she fussed over it as she folded the robe and placed it carefully on the stool in front of her dressing table. Then she was left with nothing to do but pace.

Nervously, Hinata plucked at her lavender gown. It was light and frothy, all silk and frills and froufrou, the perfect wedding night gown, or so she'd been reassured by the maid who had helped her put together her hope chest when Hinata was only sixteen. Hinata had liked the look and feel of the gown at the time, but now she wished it was made out of a heavier, more opaque, fabric. More like her robe, or even a nice, thick, fur-lined coat.

She finally decided to stop her anxious pacing when she jammed her toe against the leg of the chair in the corner. She had been too distracted by her thoughts to pay attention to where she was walking, and her smarting toe reminded her painfully of that fact as she limped over to sit on the bed.

I guess I'll just wait for him here.

As the pain in her toe began to fade, Hinata studied the curtains tied to the bedposts. They were as filmy as her gown, though colored white instead of purple. She rather liked them, and was just considering untying them and letting them fall loose when the door finally opened.

Hinata, startled, jumped to her feet, harshly biting her tongue to hold back her squeak. She immediately tasted copper. In her shocked haste, she nearly overbalanced, and had to grab the bedpost to steady herself.

Gaara stood in the doorway, barefoot, wearing a loose pair of black pants and a rust-red shirt gapping open at the neck. He clung to the doorknob with white-knuckle force, his keen eyes snapping from the bed, to her grip on the post, to her (undoubtedly) pale, panicked face.

Forcing herself to let go of the bedpost, Hinata clasped her hands in front of her, inwardly wincing when she fumbled her first try to get her fingers laced with each other. "G-Good evening, husband," she whispered. The words sounded more frightened than welcoming.

He continued to stare at her face, seeming oddly transfixed. At last he let go of the door, his expression shifting subtly into something Hinata couldn't identify as he took one slow step after another towards her. There was nothing predatory in his approach or expression, but she still found his pace and posture somehow unsettling. Every step was so measured, so calm. How could he be so calm when she felt like her sanity was a thin thread's width away from snapping?

Her mouth went dry, which was good since her ability to swallow abandoned her as he stopped right in front of her. He was so close she could count every hair sweeping across his forehead. He continued to stare at her, his heatedly intent eyes studying her hair, her forehead, her eyes, her cheekbones, her nose, her jaw, her chin, her lips...

Hinata's knees wobbled, and she had to reach out and grasp the bedpost again.

Gaara jumped at her sudden movement, stepping back rapidly into what was clearly a defensive posture. He seemed to check himself just as quickly, regaining his lost step, though sudden anxiety appeared in his eyes.

She wondered if she was supposed to make the next move. Should she reach out and touch him, or say something, or take a step toward him...?

Before she could decide, he moved first. His hand lifted, hesitating only a moment before his fingertips lightly ghosted down her cheek. His peridot eyes followed the path his fingers blazed across her skin.

Despite the mantra she was practically shouting in her head, despite all her careful preparations, despite all her thoughts to the contrary, in the end Hinata couldn't help herself.

She flinched.

Her husband reared back from her as if she'd slapped him, darkness flashing through his eyes right before he shuttered them tightly.

Feeling horrible, and frightened, and embarrassingly on the jagged edge of tears, Hinata reached out toward him instinctively, trying to find the right words to apologize to him, to explain her reaction.

But it was too late. She saw the way Gaara's expression closed off, the way his body tensed and his eyes returned to the remote coldness she'd seen the first time she met him.

Without a word, he whirled around, stalked back away from her much faster than he'd approached, and vanished through the door.

Belatedly, the shackles of shame finally dropped away from Hinata's feet. She raced after him, her hand still extended, desperate to say something, anything...

The door shut firmly in her face. She stopped herself just short of slamming face-first into it, though her hand impacted the wood with a sharp slap! Hinata opened her mouth, but couldn't get anything other than a soft, pitiful keening sound past her lips.

On the other side of the door, Gaara's lock engaged with a final sounding click! which echoed, obscenely loud, in the room.

Hinata turned away from the door and walked back to her bed on numb feet. She robotically pulled back the blankets, crawled onto the mattress, then pulled the covers over her head and curled up on her side.

Sabaku Hinata spent her wedding night in a sleepless stupor, curled up in a tight ball of misery as she sobbed her heart out into her cold, empty bed.

In the end, she was not just a coward. She was a complete and utter failure.

*~To Be Continued~*

Author's Ending Notes: Whew! That was the longest chapter yet, but by far one of my favorites to write thus far. I know things might seem a little weird right now, but I promise it will all make sense in time. I was a little concerned about getting this chapter out to you all, since my computer's in the shop right now, but my beta graciously let me borrow hers so I could update on time. Thank you all for reading, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and I hope to see you all next week for chapter 6 - the first part of which is from Gaara's POV!