Author's Note: I'm back! And I have a (hopefully) pleasant surprise for the wonderful folks who enjoy this story. I'll be updating once a week until it's complete. And we're getting close to the end so we're going to be getting more NaruHina time which is always fun. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter Eighteen

It had taken a while for Naruto and Hinata to leave the Hyuga compound. Naruto had panicked at her initial fainting spell and called for help, but the two branch members who had come had taken one look at the scene, given each other a knowing glance, and told him she just needed a few minutes. One had brought a vase for the flowers and informed him they would leave them in Hinata's room, but after that they had left a still quite concerned Naruto alone with Hinata.

His first order of business had been to get her off the floor and onto a couch. Luckily he had managed to catch Hinata before her head hit the ground, but in his shock he hadn't thought to move until the Hyuga women had left and he'd heard some stifled giggling in the hall.

Once he had her where he figured she was more comfortable, he wasn't sure what else to do so he checked her pulse (even though he wasn't sure what he was supposed to be feeling for - he'd just seen Sakura do it a few times and wanted to do something) and hovered over her to make sure she was still breathing steadily.

The first thing Hinata had seen when she opened her eyes was Naruto's handsome face very, very close to her own. In fact, it was so close she could feel his breath on her face. When his eyes lit up and he smiled in relief, she was so overwhelmed with the proximity that she promptly passed out again.

Naruto pursed his lips, a little frustrated he'd been unable to get even a sound out before she'd blacked out again, but at least this time she hadn't nearly hit her head. She used to pass out around him all the time, but with everything going on with Sasuke he hadn't thought it would be an issue.

Unless…

Did she still have some of those feelings for him? Or maybe she was just sick? Could he get his hopes up like that? Or was he just trying to convince himself that what he was planning tonight wasn't so awful because she still liked him?

Naruto ran a hand through his hair, making his already messy spikes even more so. He frowned.

"Naruto-kun," Hinata whispered. The blonde shot up from the floor where he'd seated himself next to her, but saw her eyes were still closed and her breathing was still slow.

He eyed her rosy cheeks and glossy lips and licked his own. He glanced around furtively and thought really hard about how much he wanted to kiss her. He'd wanted to so badly for the last few weeks. He started to lean forward, but stopped himself abruptly. He couldn't do it. He didn't want to kiss her like that. He wanted her to be awake. To be excited. To kiss him back!

Naruto felt his cheeks heat at the mental images in his head and he shook it, as if the physical gesture would clear his mind.

"Mmm, Naruto-kunn," Hinata moaned this time, still quiet, but the sound made his eyes widen and mouth go dry. She was going to kill him. Or make him pass out. Wouldn't that be a scene for the Hyuga clan to walk into?

He couldn't just sit there and listen to that! He would go crazy. He decided his best option would be to try to wake her.

"Hinata," he said firmly, but not too loudly. When she didn't stir he gripped her shoulder and gently shook it. "Hinata," he repeated himself, hoping with everything he had that she would wake up instead of moaning again.

When he noticed a slight crease in her brow, he felt hopeful. "Hinata!" he said, holding both shoulders this time.

Her eyes fluttered open and as soon as her eyes focused on him they widened and she sat bolt upright, hitting her forehead against his in her haste.

"Owww!" he exclaimed, holding his forehead and sitting on the floor where he'd landed. This was what he got for trying to wake her up instead of being patient, he supposed.

"Naruto!" she said, her mind trying to make sense of where she was and what was happening. It took her a moment, but she suddenly remembered why he was here and what her Father had said earlier. Her face flamed red in embarrassment and she tried to apologize.

"I'm so sorry! Oh no, are you okay? Do you need ice? I'm so embarrassed! I just - I mean you were - and my Father said - and when I saw you I - " she broke off, frustrated that she couldn't form a complete sentence. She buried her face in her hands, sure that he would definitely not be taking her out anymore.

"A-at least let me get you s-some aspirin before you leave," she managed to get out. She couldn't quite hide the hint of sadness at the idea that she had ruined the evening before she had even gotten to make any special memories.

He may still be a bit oblivious when it comes to the feelings of the opposite gender, but Naruto definitely picked up on the tone of Hinata's voice. Shit, first he'd made her pass out then he probably almost gave her a concussion and now she was worried he was going to leave.

"I'm fine! I'll be fine. I have a hard head, you know? If I can take a hit from Granny or Sakura-chan then that was nothing!"

"Are you sure?" Hinata asked, staring at her hands in her lap. "I mean, I would understand if you just wanted to leave. I have no idea how long I was out and then I hurt you and… I'm sorry I'm not the best company."

"I do want to leave, but you're coming too," he said, smiling his trademark grin and holding out his hand to help her up. "I meant what I said the other day. I want to take you to dinner! I've been looking forward to this!"

She looked up at his words and noticed his clothes.

"You look - you look really nice," she said shyly, her cheeks reddening from the sight of her longtime love dressed up for their night out, even if it was as friends. She couldn't remember seeing him in anything other than casual or shinobi clothing. Did he get dressed up for her?

"Thanks! A nice lady helped me pick them out. I didn't want to embarrass you by looking like my usual self, heh."

Hinata tilted her head to the side. "Naruto, you could never embarrass me."

She said it with such sincerity while having no idea just what it meant to him. He loved his team, his friends, his makeshift family, and he knew they loved him, but they were still always getting onto him about something or other. He had to show her that he appreciated her too, that her unconditional acceptance of who he was was something he treasured, even if he was too late.

"Thank you," he said warmly, looking over the beautiful young woman in front of him. Then he held out his arm and walked her out of the compound and into the streets. It was finally time.

Oooooo they're going on a date. Though neither of them think it's a date. Rather, an official date. I could totally see them being clumsy and awkward around one another and really enjoyed writing this scene. Anyway, I'll see you next week for the next chapter! More information on my stories and my plans for them will be up on my profile tonight or tomorrow. I've finally got some things planned out and I'm at a point (barring anything insane happening - which I've probably just jinxed) where I should be able to get my incomplete stories finished and maybe make a couple more. We'll have to see how things go. As always, thank you for your patience and let me know what you think!