Anytime Hinata has ever flown (only three times, but still) she has taken a window seat. There's something breathtaking about being so high above it all, where everything seems so small and troubles are miniscule and you're flying.

She wonders if that's how Naruto feels, sometimes.

He's not eating.

Well, he's not eating anything nutritious, at any rate.

Pressing her lips together, Hinata pours coffee into her thermos and tries to ignore the dirty cereal bowls in the sink. Part of her wants to say something.

She doesn't.

She ignores the faint alarms ringing in her head. She opts instead for unobtrusive observation.

She can tell he's getting irritated with her, but she stays quiet, because he is at least attempting to do what he's supposed to, if the work out clothes in the bathroom are any indication.

For days, she keeps her silence, simply watching him...urging him with gentle nudges and quiet questions.

She tells herself that it's because she wants him to succeed without her interference.

That's a lie.

She knows why she doesn't say anything-really.

Because she's a coward.

Because if she presses too hard he may become resentful, or worse. She knows better than anyone what happens when Naruto is pressed too hard and too fast and she can't watch that again.

She doesn't speak because she's selfish.

Because she's scared of the fallout.

Because...honestly, what's there to say?

So she says nothing and checks his dishes and his laundry and his pills and tries to keep a smile on her face whenever she looks at him. If she sometimes wants to just scream her head off in the shower before work and can't sleep at night-that's her business.

He has enough to deal with.

It's not too terrible a transition so far, she mentally pep talks herself. They've been through worse.

He loves her.

She loves him.

That's what matters.

She leaves the apartment for work with Naruto by the door-in clean clothes-and a lingering kiss.

They can do this.

When she comes home a little after six the place is spotless.

The alarm bells in her head start clanging so loud she can't hear anything else for a full minute. She's sure Naruto is saying something, but all she can manage is, "You did a lot today."

He grins at her and her heart thunders in her chest.

She loves that smile.

Her smile.

He looks so damn pleased with himself. "Yeah," he nods. "I guess I did, huh?"

The alarm bells are constant. Blasting until she tilts her head away from him. "Are you..uhm, are you feeling okay?"

He looks so confused by her question.

He doesn't answer. Instead he steps to her, tugging her into the shelter of his arms.

Her favorite place in all the world.

When he kisses her she kisses him back with everything she is and the alarms fall silent because when she is here with him, like this, there is only ever them. Nothing else.

She knows it's temporary.

Eventually the real world always intrudes.

But for now-this minute-this moment-she wants to fly.

She follows when he tugs her towards the bedroom, her blood simmering beneath her skin. Every touch feels intentional. Every bit of her skin is explored.

He makes love to her with the same thoroughness in which he cleaned their apartment.

It's intense.

It's consuming.

It's the best sex of her life.

It makes her want to cry.

The alarms ring again.