"Enjoy when you can, and endure when you must." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

They fell into an unspoken routine rather quickly.

Naruto woke up at the same time Hinata did now-which was different and nice. She enjoyed their morning time together. He usually woke her with a kiss (or several) before making his way to the kitchen to start her coffee while she took Argus out and got ready for her day. If things worked out, sometimes she had time for a little breakfast with Naruto. Other times, she was cramming a muffin in her face and jogging to her car. It all depended on how much she got accomplished during the day.

She used a bulk of her actual 'work day' running down leads and gathering info via conference call with Neji and Shikamaru. Shino was a life saver, taking as much off her work plate as he could, but she still had a substantial pile of 'Hinata Only' projects that she usually ended up bringing home, because she used up her day on Naruto's case.

Not that it could be helped. It's not like she could make phone calls and discuss the new information Neji was uncovering in front of Naruto. One, it would stress him out about his case… and two-he would worry about her. Especially after the other morning.

The man in the trench coat was around again.

He never spoke.

Never lingered.

But he knew she was aware of him.

She wanted to chalk it up to paranoia or her overactive imagination, but then she got the letter.

It had been with her usual work mail, but without any outside postage. Inside, a simple sentence: 'You know what they say about curiosity and cats.' She had immediately dropped the letter and called Neji.

At first, she just wanted someone to tell her that she was overreacting. Instead, he did the opposite. "It's a threat," Neji stated, voice tight. "Hinata, we already know these people are suspected of shake-downs, gambling rackets, and drug running. Violence is clearly not out of the question for them-you've witnessed it yourself. Hand this over to the authorities and back away. Let them handle it."

"Yes, but if they sent this, then, maybe we're on to something? Maybe they're scared."

"Hinata," Neji had sighed. "People like them-they don't get scared."

"I don't think that's true," she countered. "Naruto shook them up pretty bad. For them to come at him this hard."

"Maybe." He conceded. "But you're not Naruto."

No, she wasn't. She was Hinata. And if there was one thing that was an absolute truth about her, it was that for Naruto, she'd do anything . Even if that meant standing between him and some really messed up gang of...degenerates. Yeah. Degenerates.

Good word.

She refused to let them shake her resolve.

A day later, another note arrived. This one at her car. On the driver's seat.

She knew she had locked the doors. She always did.

That means they broke in to leave a note and a picture. It was of her getting the newspaper at a nearby stand. Shikamaru was in the shadows, sipping coffee and looking at the sky. It was taken that morning.

She crumpled the note and looked around the parking garage. She saw no one, but still shouted out: "You don't scare me!" If her voice was shaking, she pretended not to notice.

She purchased extra pepper spray and tied her hair up tighter. She made sure to wear flats and loose pants. If she needed to defend herself-she would. If they were coming after her, that meant that she was rattling the right cages.

A part of her wanted to let Naruto in on everything; especially after Shikamaru shared the notes and information Neji gathered with the DA. The charges against Naruto could definitely be dropped...except now...the DA had his sights on a larger catch.

He wanted the people that were doing this. He suspected them of being involved in several other crimes. Suspected connections that ran deep into law enforcement and government. For whatever reason, Naruto had their attention now-and he wanted to use that. Use Naruto's case as a diversion and a lure. So...they couldn't officially drop the charges yet. Had to make it all look legit.

Shikamaru was incredibly reluctant to get involved in a sting operation, but he could also see the merits in getting as many of the group off the street, plus he was smart enough to get it in writing that Naruto's case was dismissed, that way if things went sideways-Naruto would be in the clear. All they had to do was keep him safe and out of sight. At least until they caught the people trying to wreck his life. Neji was using as many connections as he could, but he was getting a surprising amount of resistance. That didn't really bode well for them, to be honest, but Hinata couldn't focus on that.

She had to focus on Naruto, and making sure that he stayed well out of harm's way. If that meant keeping him out of the loop for now-that's what she'd do. She wouldn't lie to him- couldn't -but it's not like he'd suspect her of covertly trying to take down a street gang with nothing more than a lazy lawyer and a former FBI agent…

Although, keeping it from him was harder than she thought it would be. He could tell something was off with her. He didn't push. Instead, he would insert little jokes, casual touches, soft kisses. He gave her space and affection as needed and her heart bloomed inside her chest and she knew without a doubt that she would go to the mattresses for him.

That wasn't to say she wasn't unnerved, because she absolutely was. She had a hard time sleeping at night. Her anxiety was spiking. Everytime she went to her car, or outside, or even in an elevator, her pulse raced and her fingers tingled. She felt constantly on edge.

This was something else that she knew Naruto could sense.

He tried, so hard to put her at ease. It worked best when they were in bed, and he was close, and she could wrap herself in his heat and size and him . Like tonight.

Hinata sighs as Naruto kisses down her chin, his lips warm and lingering. Until he abruptly pulls away. "I can't do this."

Hinata can feel her pulse kick up, her eyes snapping open. What was wrong? Did he not want her anymore? Had she somehow messed up without realizing it? She swallows. "What?"

Naruto jerks his head a bit. "Argus is just staring at me. I can't maul his mother in front of him."

Oh. Thank God. "He's a dog, Naruto."

"He's smart. He knows. He's watching," he insists.

Hinata glances towards the foot of the bed where Argus is laying, ears perked. He looks aware, but not all that interested in the two humans rolling around. "He doesn't know anything," she mutters, reaching for his tee, trying to pull him back down.

Naruto shakes his head, resistant. "Take him out. I can't work under these conditions."

"Work?" Hinata feels her brows quirk. Did he just call making love to her work?!

"Perform." He corrects with an adorable smile. "C'mon Hina; no kid wants to know someone's banging their mom."

The way he says it has her cheeks flaring to life. Not to mention the idea that one day they may actually have kids that could be embarrassed by what was about to happen if Naruto ever stopped dallying. "Stop putting human constructs on him.," she scolds with a puff of breath.

"Maybe he can call me daddy." Naruto smirks down at her.

"Oh my god." She huffs, letting go of Naruto's shirt to cover her face.

"Maybe I'll make you call me daddy."

Hinata recoils internally at the very idea of it. She knows she has 'daddy' issues, so that is definitely not a kink she needs to explore. "Stop. That's so gross."

Her reaction prompts a belly laugh from the love of her life. "Gross? Some people are really into that."

"Ew, Naruto, stop." She uncovers her bright red face only to reach up and pinch him.

The action only fuels him further. "Come on. You don't know if you like it until you try it." He lowers his voice, eyes blazing blue in the shadows.

She can't take that look and this situation, so she rolls over onto her stomach, pressing her face into the pillow to stifle her mortified groaning.

"I'm just kidding, I'm sorry." He leans in close, brushing some hair away from the edge of her face, kissing her cheek next to her ear.

"You're not sorry." Hinata calls his bluff immediately, glaring at him from the corner of one eye.

"A little bit." Naruto argues, clearly not .

"Not even."

"You just get so cute when your like that." Naruto smiles wider, kissing her nose.

"I'm never going to call you that." Hinata vows, dropping her hands from her face to turn more fully towards him, lured by his gentle kisses.

Naruto snaps his fingers in mock disappointment.

"I'm serious," she insists. "I don't know how people are into that. Like, that's what our kids are going to call you. It's weird."

Beside her, he swallows a bit, shifting his weight. "I dunno, what if they call me something weird, like Papa? Or what if we're just like real chill and they call me Naruto. Like, 'hey, what's up Naruto?'"

"Now you're being weird."

Naruto leans away again, face almost comical in trying to pass for nonchalant. "Psssht. What? Me. I'm being weird?"

Very.

"I am not being weird. You're being weird," he continues-flustered.

She watches him with her head tilted, lips pushing together. What was up with him?

"What? I'm just saying like-"

"Do you not want kids?" Hinata asks suddenly, pushing against his chest. She needs a little room to sit up-to breathe-and maybe have her future crumble a bit. She stares into his face, open and concerned. She thought that...maybe. One day. Yes. kids were a yes, for her.

"I uh, I don't not, not want them." His shrug is helpless and a little unsure.

"Naruto."

"I don't know," he breathes out, lifting a hand in a vague gesture. " I mean sure, objectively , they'd be like kinda cool. Like, but...I..." he lets his voice fade, eyes earnest on hers.

"But, what?" She asks, leaning forward. She doesn't want to pressure him. She just wants to understand.

"I don't know. It's just… like… once you have them, you can't unhave them." When she doesn't respond, he clears his throat. "Like, what if it doesn't work out? Or I'm not good at it."

What doesn't work out? Them? "Doesn't work out between you and me?" She wants som clarification.

"No. No. Not that. That's not going to happen. Don't say that." Naruto's expression shifted, mouth edging down into a frown. He shakes his head at her.

"Okay," she nods. That was a relief. "Then what are you worried about?" She asks, voice gentle, coaxing.

"What if I'm a shit at it? A shit dad. I never had a good one. So, like, what's the likelihood that I'll be a good one? Ya'know?"

Hinata feels that in her gut. It's painful, but also a little infuriating. "I never had a good dad." She tells him, voice sharper than she means it to be. "My mother died when I was little. So I never really had that either. Do you think I can't be a good mother?" It's a fear of hers that she's working on suppressing, so it matters to her, what Naruto thinks. She hasn't told him about the postpartum or her mother's suicide. There's just not been the right moment to unload that amount of baggage, but she knows that when she does, he will love her still. Will believe in her still. She knows, because that's how she feels about him.

"No! What? No, not at all." Naruto snatches her hand quickly. "You'd be the best mom ever . Are you kidding me?"

"So why couldn't you be a good father?" she counters. "You were a child. You can remember what it feels like. You can remember what you needed." She squeezes his hand back in both comfort and reassurance. "You can be what you needed for our children. I know you can. And I think, because you're worried about failing, that's precisely the reason that you won't. You care so much. I know it might make you nervous, but I know that you would do your absolute best."

Naruto stares at her for long, silent moments. She doesn't press, but waits. Waits as his eyes survey her expression-every line of her-and she sees them darken a bit with uncertainty. "What if I fuck it up?" Naruto asks her quickly, quietly, with his voice hoarse. "Cause, you know I fuck stuff up, sometimes. Even when I don't mean to. Ya'know. Sometimes it just happens."

"Baby," Hinata pushes to her knees, moving to scoot right into Naruto's lap. She slides her thighs over his, securing herself flush. She makes sure to look him dead in the eyes as she speaks. "That's life. You don't think I ever ruined anything?"

His answer is immediate. "No."

"Are you joking?" She's incredulous.

"No! I'm being serious."

"How many times have we gone out and immediately had to leave because it was too loud or too crowded?" She can't even count the number of times. It was a lot to say the least.

He quickly shakes his head. "That doesn't matter."

She tips hers forward. "How many times have you wanted to do something but cancelled because you knew I'd be too uncomfortable?"

"That's not the same."

"My anxiety has stopped us from doing lots of things. Has held us back from a lot." She points out.

"That doesn't matter to me!" Naruto promises her vehemently. "None of that stuff matters to me. I don't care if there's stuff you don't want to do because you have anxiety or whatever. I still love you. You're still amazing and great and-"

She smiles, softly, and with certainty. "Now, why can't you see that I feel the same way about you?"

He goes still, breath catching. "What?"

She presses her advantage. "You can love me, even though my anxiety affects our life. Our relationship-"

"It doesn't," he interrupts.

She smiles again, shaking her head. "It does. But you love me anyways. You think I'd be a great mother anyways. How could you not possibly see that I feel the same way about you?"

"You," Naruto licks his lips, searching her face. "You think that about me?"

"Of course I do.

He nods his head slowly, accepting her words.

"Don't you still want to marry me. And have a house in Jersey. Two kids." Her voice is whisper soft and hopeful. She leans closer.

"Don't forget the minivan."

Leaning forward, she kisses his cheek. "I won't" She parts her lips and does it again. Slow. She takes the time to really savor the feel of his skin on her lips, the taste of him. She trails over his cheek bone, down his jaw, onto his neck. She is delighted when she feels him shiver against her, his breath quickening.

"Having kids is a really big step." She whispers into his ear, just before tracing the shell of it with her tongue.

Naruto is nodding, but she's not sure he even realizes it. She can feel him growing hard beneath her and she sighs, tugging at his lobe with her teeth. They weren't ready for kids now. They both knew it. Even so..."Practice makes perfect," she murmurs, following his racing pulse.

"Hold on." Naruto pulls back again, earning a frown and a soft groan from her. "Just one thing, real quick," he insists, nearly tumbling off the bed.

He turns around and opens the door as fast as possible.

"What! Where are you going?" Hinata slants him a disbelieving look.

"Argus," Naruto ignores her, calling out for their companion. "Lay down boy." He points over to the dog bed that sits in the hall because it's never used.

Naruto follows him out, leaving Hinata staring after them. She hears the murmur of Naruto's voice before the quick thump of his bare feet on the floor. Then her bedroom door swings open and shut and Naruto is suddenly there pressing her back against the mattress, his mouth tight and hot on hers.

"Welcome back," she laughs, breathlessly.

"Where'd we leave off?"

"Honestly?" she murmurs, hitching her leg up against his hip. "I say we jump ahead a few moves."

"Yeah," he agrees, hands already on the strings of her pajama bottoms. "Let's."