A/N: On to the next chapter! Told you I wouldn't keep you waiting!

Sickness And Health

Hinata bounced around the kitchen humming a pleasant tune as she prepared an elaborate breakfast clad only in one of her fiancés alabaster dress shirts; Sasuke seemed to be in his deepest sleep to date and she wanted to surprise him. Color kissed her cheeks as she recalled how she played no small role in his current situation.

Though the smorgasbord she had begun plating and laying on their dining room table was not solely for her love. She knew that she undoubtedly was in for quite the day with Mikoto, never mind her friends, or her sister for that matter. That early morning call hadn't gone over so well in the beginning.

"W-what?! How can you possibly expect me to clear my schedule on such short notice to go gallivanting with you and your fiancé's mother?!"

"Well the wedding is coming up and she offered…"

"Don't get me wrong, Mikoto-san is a lovely woman, but I swear that woman is a control freak."

"Ano…it would be nice if you could come since—"

"Onee-chan, father has been running me ragged all month and if I don't meet these deadlines I'll be a dead—"

"I want you to be my maid of honor."

"…."

"Hanabi? Are you still there?"

"Y-yes! I mean…I'll see what I can do. For you."

Hinata sighed to herself as she admired her handiwork, steaming bowls of rice and soup, piles of grilled fish and meat, platters of pickled and fresh vegetables, even a half dozen of Sasuke's favorite onigiri. With the deed done, all that was left was to wake her lover from his slumber. Silently she padded her way to their bedroom, spotting the apple of her eye laying on his stomach still sound asleep, his head and toned back the only things visible above the sheets.

The heiress stalked her way to her mate until she stood by his bedside, in one swift move she pounced, straddling his waist. He groaned beneath her as he stirred, twisting his head and opening a lone eye to peer back at her before closing it again.

Despite his small snub she ran her hands over his broad back and shoulders before leaning in and planting a kiss on the shell of his ear, "It's time for breakfast, anata."

"You're insatiable, Hinata." He returned, swiftly flipping to face her without throwing her off of him. He smirked groggily up at her flushed face as he ran his hands up her bare thighs.

"T-t-that's not what I meant! I-I made breakfast!" she exclaimed grabbing hold of his hands before they ventured further. He was the insatiable one! The thought had only crossed her mind once…or twice. She narrowed her gaze with a pout and crossed her arms over her chest, "Hentai…"

"It's your fault." He contested before sitting up and planting a small peck on her lips. Before he moved to get out of bed, he noticed her state of dress, "Is that my shirt? It looks good on you."

"Just…just come eat before the food gets cold!" she ordered, hopping off of him and leaving without a second glance. Sighing to himself the dark haired man slung his legs over the edge of the bed and stepped into a pair of discard sweats, foregoing a top until absolutely necessary. The intoxicating smells of her feast greeted him as he made his way through the hallway.

"Nervous?" he questioned as he sat at the table opposite her, taking in the sights before deciding on the rice balls.

"W-what?" she stammered, nearly choking on her tea. How could he possibly know…?

"You never cook this much unless you're anxious about something. Is it about my mother?" It was a rhetorical question, he knew she was getting cold feet and surely regretting agreeing to their little get-together so quickly.

"Well of course…" she admitted, nibbling on a piece of grilled fish with a pout. "What if I can't find anything I like?"

"Knowing my mother, she'll probably conscript a small army of seamstresses to make you something if it comes to that." He rationalized, unapologetically reaching for another tomato stuffed rice ball.

"Don't be ridiculous, she wouldn't. Would she ?" she asked with a raised eyebrow. Sasuke only replaced with a shrug of his shoulders. "Maybe I should reschedule…"

"There's nothing my mother hates more than having to reschedule." He all but warned in between bites of his dwindling breakfast. Noticing how his comments did nothing to abate her anxiety he sighed heavily and wiped stray grains of rice from his lips, "My mother can be pushy, but she understands boundaries. She'll treat you and your friends to all the things she couldn't with my brother and I. If nothing else, enjoy the day."

Hinata's eyes widened at his somewhat uncharacteristically light-hearted tone as she stared. But when he looked up from his plate briefly with a curious look, she smiled brightly, "Is it the food? O-or…was it last night that's put you in a talkative mood?"

Sasuke stopped mid chew, feeling his face grow slightly red at her forwardness. Childishly turning his head as if to hide his blush he grumbled his response, "Food."

"R-really?" she gasped, a blush of her own appearing. She hadn't actually thought their sex had loosened his lips, but to have him admit the truth was…surprising.

"Don't tell her but, these are better than my mother's." he admitted holding up the remnants of his onigiri.

"Thanks…" she returned, her childhood tick of pressing her pointer fingers together reemerging in the wake of his bashful admission. "I should go get ready."

"Hm? You hardly ate anything." He commented as she rose from her seat and made for their bedroom.

"Ne, I need to fit into A wedding dress Sasuke-kun." She chimed, disappearing into the hall with a smile.


Sasuke wasn't kidding when he said Mikoto would spoil them. The Uchiha matriarch had reserved the entire boutique just from them, and as if that wasn't enough, she arranged for champagne, mimosas, and elegant snacks of every variety. Despite being from a wealthy family, Hinata rarely indulged in extravagant outings afforded to her by the privilege.

Hinata eyed her phone with a frown, having not heard anything from her sister since the early morning and desperately wanting her for exactly this. She never felt more out of her element than when she was surrounded by expensive things, never mind dresses. Hanabi was far more suited for this than her.

"Hinata dear? Have you and my son talked about what sort of wedding you'd like?" questioned the older woman as she approached with the stores proprietor in tow. She couldn't help but feel somewhat underdressed for the occasion, having chosen to wear a simple cream colored turtleneck sweater and jeans in lieu of the more classy blouse and skirt like her soon to be mother-in-law.

"Ano…we wanted something more modern for the reception, but a traditional ceremony." She explained with a blush, recalling the lengthy planning session she shared with Sasuke the previous evening.

"Excellent! Emiko-chan, all of the girls will need their measurements taken before we decide on anything. I hope you have enough seamstresses." Mikoto was clearly very excited, her enthusiasm probably even trumped Tenten, Sakura and Ino's own combined enthusiasm.

"Of course, Mikoto-san. Please, right this way ladies." As the tall woman began ushering them towards the back of the store, Hinata lagged behind.

"My sister should be here any minute…" as the words left the heiress' mouth she could feel a heavy gust of cold air blow behind her. She peered over her shoulder, a smile growing on her face and the worry easing at the sight of her sister approaching in her heels and alabaster peacoat at a spritely clip. Though she seemed quite preoccupied with her phone to return the smile.

"I just walked into the bridal shop we can talk about it later, okay? Bye." As she got closer Hinata could see that whatever the conversation entailed hadn't put her in the same mood as the rest of the wedding party. So much so that she grabbed the nearest mimosa and downed it in a single gulp, sighing heavily, "Hi hi hi, I made it."

"I'm so glad you could." Beamed the elder sister, drawing her sibling into a hug before pulling back to get a good look at her, "I hope everything is alright."

Hanabi waved off the concern as she shrugged out of her coat, unceremoniously throwing it onto a nearby sofa. "Ne ne, it's nothing. Let's just get you a dress, 'kay?"

The days outing had finally begun and was looking up despite her earlier reluctance and the initial awkwardness of standing stiffly in a closed space with a stranger in her underwear. With the measuring done, the group returned to the parlor where they began perusing the catalog of countless dresses. It didn't take long for Hinata's head to start spinning.

"What about something in lavender Hinata-chan? This color compliments my hairs so well! Eh…and your eyes, of course." Suggested Ino, catching herself when she received a few glares from the wedding party.

"Baka! It's Hinata-chan's wedding, not yours!" berated the pinkette, turning her attention back to the bride to be, "Maybe something simple, but elegant for the ceremony. Like this one!"

Hinata eyed the photos her friend pointed to, it was just as described, a crisp white uchikake with fringe embroidered with tiny white hexagons, and silk obi. It was more her style, if she could call it that, as she tried to envision herself wearing it, fantasizing about how it would contrast with her fiancés own dark garb and family crest as he stood by her side and they exchanged loving looks.

"You're blushing Hinata-chan! That's a good sign!" teased Tenten with a toothy grin.

"She's always blushing." Countered Hanabi as she casually sipped her champagne. Despite the lavish catalog, the young heiress remained somewhat unimpressed, "What about the reception? It'll be your first appearance as…Uchiha Hinata. You have to make a statement, don't you think Mikoto-san?"

"Yes, of course! You need a positively stunning dress." The older woman suddenly launched to her feet, her dark eyes shining with fervor. "Emiko-chan! We must see your best dresses!"

"Ano…yes, right away." The proprietor seemed somewhat hesitant despite knowing money was no object to the Uchiha matron. Though the prospect of selling her most expensive dress to both families would do wonders for her business, that was all the incentive she needed before she hurried off with her seamstresses in tow into the recess of the boutique to accommodate the request.

"You're quieter than normal onee-chan, is something wrong?" asked the youngest of the bunch quietly. Hinata turned and shook her head silently, not wanting to draw the attention of the rest of the group. "Nervous?"

"It's all…a bit surreal." Hinata's blush returned as she whispered her response. Everyday she inched closer to being well and truly married. She couldn't help but wonder if things would change between her and Sasuke; they already lived together, and were thoroughly intimate with one another, but would it change when they made it official before all of their friends and family?

Hanabi could feel her own cheeks heat as well, judging from the look on her sisters face she was probably fantasizing about her fiancé again. How she'd fallen for the standoffish man she would never understand, much less how he had for her sister. But she could see the change in her, how she had burst from her shell and seemed truly happy now. "Yeah…it is. B-but you have your maid of honor to keep you from running away at the alter."

"What!? Have you already picked your maid of honor!?"exclaimed the blonde, peering down the plush sofa towards the bride-to-be, inquisitive eyes and ears following suit.

"A-ano…well it just made sense to have my sister as—"

"She doesn't need to explain herself Ino! It's her day, and I think Hanabi-chan is a fine choice." rebuked Tenten. It seemed as if everyone was expecting the former heiress to be a true bridezilla, or at least believed that it was her right.

"I was—I just—tch! I suppose Hanabi-chan will need the second best dress then." She grumbled dejectedly, though her eyes lit up once the seemingly endless regiment of seamstresses returned with ornate lace embroidered dresses in arm, some with layers of gossamer-like sheer fabric, others requiring two of them to manage the elegant flowing trains as they shuffled in. "S-sugoi!"

"As requested, Mikoto-san. Each dress is one of a kind, designed and sewn in-house with precision and care." The proprietor was clearly proud of her work, but still wary her discerning clients would not like them.

All of the young girls stared, awestruck by the beauty before them. Mikoto was the first to react, covering her slackened jaw with a dainty hand before turning her attention to the bride-to-be, silently ushering her closer to inspect them. "You'd look stunning in any one of these. Which do you like dear?"

The opal eyed woman was hesitant to even touch the dresses as she walked down the line, doing her best to take in each detail she could along the way. She couldn't help but wonder if she'd fit into any of these, they weren't exactly designed with a woman of her cup size in mind much less her curvy build.

As she approached the end of the displayed dresses, something finally caught her eye. From a distance it looked plain by comparison to the rest, but as she leaned closer and touched the delicate fabric, her heart skipped a beat. Her fingertips glided over the semitransparent fabric of the off the shoulder A line dress, her eyes following their path as it traced the faintest tinge of lavender on the edges of the countless tiny embroidered lace flowers that accented the sweetheart neckline and bodice.

"I call that one, Union" explained the tall woman as she approached, noting how it had captivated her clients attention. Gingerly she grabbed the lengthy translucent fabric hanging off the shoulders, "A masterful marriage of traditional and modern design. Classic appliques with a touch of color, a timeless silhouette, and the Watteau style train for a dash of drama."

"C-can I try it on?" Hinata had heard enough, even though she understood just barely half of what the woman had tried to explain. She didn't know much about fancy dresses, but this one was speaking to her in all the right ways.

"Absolutely. Girls, please assist Hyuuga-san with her fitting." It was the first time a wide smile graced Emiko's features, her seamstresses quickly ushering the young woman towards the back with her chosen dress. "Why don't we look for some dresses for the bridesmaids while she slips into that?"

"Yes, let's add some color to the affair!" Mikoto's enthusiasm had clearly not waned in the slightest as she began to talk about color palettes and designs at length.

Hinata could hear the low hum of the conversations as she stood half clothed in her undergarments and half in her would be wedding dress as the seamstresses worked tirelessly to poke, prod, and pin her into it. She slipped her arms through the small sleeves as the women finished smoothing out her edges and securing the back, all of them releasing a sigh of relief as they admired her in the fitting room mirror.

The heiress couldn't help but blush madly at her reflection, the silky satin fabric flowing effortless as she turned to examine her profile. The dress clung to her curves in all the right places, accentuating them but not enough to ruin the modesty of the occasion, it even managed to tastefully contain her bust. She took a few tentative steps forward and spun, enjoying the way the twin tails of her cape like veil cascaded down her back and tickled her exposed arms. It was perfect.

When she emerged from the dressing room all of the chatter stopped instantly, were it not for the gasps of her sister and friends she would have thought they hated it. She started ringing her hands together tightly and fought the urge to run away from their stunned stares, "W-well, what do you think?"

Before she knew it they all rushed her, their praise turning into a discordant song of giggles and shrieks as they jumped up and down with joy, a good sign.

"My sweet darling Hinata, you look positively radiant in that dress! My Sasuke will fall in love with you all over again when he sees you in this, I'm sure of it!"

"Ara ara, you'll need to use some of those moves I taught you to keep him off of you on your wedding night!" teased Tenten, swiftly earning admonishing looks from her girlfriends.

"Not that they've helped much so far…" muttered the youngest of the bunch out the side of her mouth, averting her gaze to hide her blush. It seemed she was the only one to notice the hickey her sisters turtleneck had been concealing, the familiar shiver running down her spine at the thought of her being…intimate with Sasuke.

"Hiashi-san may even shed a tear or two when he sees you in this!" piped the pinkette marveling at the softness of the dresses material, until she felt it's wearer stiffen slightly, "Hinata-chan, is something wrong?"

The Uchiha matriarch noticed the small shift in tension as well, but in both Hyuuga sister. "Girls, can you give me a moment with Hinata please?" when Hanabi made a move to leave as well, a stern look stopped her in her tracks.

Mikoto was as close to the Hyuugas as one could be without being blood, having known and socialized with many of them for much of her adult life; arguably she was the only Uchiha they liked. If she had to wager a guess, the issue had to do with their father, "What has Hiashi done now?"

Hanabi bristled at the familiar tone of the matron, she may have been their senior, but that was where the courtesy ended between them. "A family matter, Mikoto-san. You understand…"

"And we are about to officially become family, yes?" she questioned rhetorically, receiving only a frown from the twenty-one year old. Sasuke was just as difficult as she at that age, the thought alone forced her to release a sigh. "Listen, I've known you girls since before you were born. And as happy as I am to be here on this day…I—I wish it was your mother."

"Please, Mikoto-san…you don't have to—"

"I do though, Hinata." She asserted tenderly, her dark eyes darting between the sisters. One the spitting image of their father, the other, their mother reincarnated. The thoughts running through her head enough to make her eyes misty, "She would have loved nothing more than to see you, her eldest, on her wedding day. And—"

Soon her tears began to fall despite her best efforts, but she quickly composed herself, wiping away what escaped her staunch Uchiha composure. "And on her deathbed…I—I promised her, I'd look after you two like you were my own. So you may have never felt like it, but we've always been family."

Hanabi could see her sister growing emotional at the invocation of their mother; the mother only she had known. She was little more than an infant when their mother suddenly grew ill and passed away; having no memory of her voice or face outside of pictures and old VHS tapes. For so long that had fostered anger and contempt for her older sister. Between family constantly remarking how she was the spitting image of the deceased Hyuuga matriarch, and how Hiashi had pit them against one another from an early age, she had little to no sentimentality associated with that which she had never known and that which she was taught—trained even, to surpass.

But Mikoto's words still touched her. If what she spoke was true, she was the closest thing to a mother she could ever know. The young executive had expected the day to be emotional, just not for her so much. She even found herself trying to suppress and hide the tears that welled in her eyes.

"I just…I don't want you girls to think I'm doing this for myself. I'm doing this to honor your mother. So, if I need to put Hiashi in his place to keep my promise to her, I will." The three shared a somber chuckle at the older woman's bravado, shaking off the tension.

Hinata sniffled back her tears and shook her head at her soon to be mother-in-law with a smile. Family, for too long it had been a double-edged sword that sliced her hands one too many times. She hadn't thought about it much, as was her goal, choosing to focus on her own turmoil rather than her family. But she couldn't any longer. "Thank you Mikoto-san…but I will talk to my father. Our mother…"

"Wouldn't want our family fragmented. Not on Hinata's day." Hanabi's staunch intercession took her sister by surprise, she could see the turmoil in her own eyes as they rose to meet hers, a small smile gracing her lips, "Father will understand, we'll make sure of it."

"Oh girls…" Mikoto was getting emotional again, tears welling in her dark eyes as she grabbed their hands. "She'd be so proud of you—both of you."

The trio lingered in silence briefly before Mikoto and Hanabi gave the bride-to-be a moment to herself and returned to the rest of the wedding party. Hinata turned her head to regard herself in one of the boutiques many full length mirrors before stepping forward. The corner of her lips twitched before forming a full smile, her hands unconsciously covering her lower abdomen.

She recalled the sole photo of her deceased mother that Hiashi hadn't relegated to a forgotten box in the attic. Quite the opposite, he kept it in his study as if jealously guarding it. Her mother and father stood side by side, he stoic as ever, she with a smile that lit up any room. She hardly remembered the day it was taken it was so long ago. Her mother held the sleeping bundle that was her newborn sister while she shyly clung to her lengthy kimono. Other than the blood in their veins and their distinctive looks, it was the one assurance of what they would always be, no matter how much the passage of time wore it down.

"Family…"


Sasuke paced about the penthouse for what seemed like the entirety of the day, watching as the sun set and cast longer and longer shadows on everything it touched until there was nothing but night left. Hinata hadn't answered her phone and he couldn't be sure if it was a bad sign or no sign at all. At best, her friends had kidnapped her and gone to dinner or the like. At worst, Mikoto herself had taken her hostage. He could only shudder at the thought.

He use to be well adjusted to being alone and making his own schedule, but months of cohabitation had undone years of solitary living. He missed the gentle tune Hinata often hummed as she busied about the kitchen, or the mechanical clatter of her laptop keyboard when she toiled away on her thesis.

The young Uchiha scoffed at his foolishness as he checked his watch one last time. The last thing he wanted was to look like some emotionally dependent househusband when his fiancée finally returned, so he decided to do the one thing he could. Quickly he slipped into his shoes and shrugged into his thick wool peacoat, before he knew it he was cruising through Tokyo's streets, his stomach his only guide.

Naturally he picked the one place homey enough for his solitary meal, or so he thought. He only had one foot in Ichiraku before he heard that oh-so-familiar voice.

"Teme? W-what the hell are you doing here?"

Needless to say, Sasuke was surprised to see Naruto, not to mention the rest of their male friends, and some all huddled in a corner booth. When he slowly began approaching he could see them shuffle things about in a hurried manner. Had he interrupted something specifically meant to be hid from him? "Food, of course. Hinata is out with the girls."

"Right, Ino posted something about shopping with Hinata and the others…" Sasuke couldn't help but narrow his eyes at the blond, his odd behavior making him wary. "Well we were just leaving actually so—"

Before he could slide out the booth to even feign a departure, Teuchi approached with armfuls of food. Once Sasuke's glare was upon him, now having caught him in a lie, Naruto knew the jig was up. "Fine fine! We were planning your bachelor party, and you went and ruined it!"

"Can't ruin it if I never wanted one in the first place." Droned the Uchiha as he casually took a seat. When he made it clear he wasn't going anywhere, even going as far as to order himself something, the crew released a dejected sigh at their foiled plans.

"Jeez, can't you be like Hinata-chan and just have some fun?" lamented the blond in-between bites of his jumbo sized ramen bowl. When Sasuke only raised an eyebrow curiously, Sai interjected with his phone.

"Ino has been tweeting about her outing with Hinata-chan all day." He answered nonchalantly, playing him a video she had posted of the girls having a somewhat raucous time in what looked to be a club. From the looks of it Hinata seemed the most reserved, shyly waving at the camera and blushing as her girlfriends all cheered for her. "It seems they're having quite the night."

Sasuke didn't notice, but he frowned slightly at the sight. It was like everyone knew what his fiancée was getting up to, except for him. He supposed his theory of her kidnapping wasn't so farfetched, and fortunately Ino was a lousy kidnapper. "She deserves it. Let them have their fun."

"Sure sure, but what about us guys? Why can't we have some fun of our own?"

"Because I don't want to." Responded the dark haired man flatly, clearly not likely to be swayed on the matter.

"Told you this was a waste of time." Muttered Shikamaru lazily.

"Damnit teme! You only get one bachelor party! W-why don't we just grab one drink, and talk about this no bachelor party thing?" the peace officer was doing everything in his power to persuade his best friend, but the Uchiha's poker face was doing little for his confidence.

Sasuke knew it was coming, though he expected to only have to ward off Naruto and not the rest of his male friends as well. Judging from the bill from their last outing they were undoubtedly chomping at the bit for another crack at his credit card limit. Though he had to admit, he wasn't opposed to the idea of a drink.

They all watched the Uchiha as he calmly snapped his chopsticks and began picking at his food. Even though he acted as if he was paying them no mind, they could tell he was mulling it over.

"One drink."


Hinata didn't know how she got herself roped into a night out, and the alcohol her "friends" plied her with didn't make finding the answer any easier. After hours of fittings and deliberating, Hanabi had persuaded them to have what she called an "simple innocent dinner". Though, Hinata should have known that her sister rarely did simple, or innocent for that matter. What had been dinner and drinks turned into one bar, and another bar, into a male revue, and now into what was bound to be the worst hangover of her life. Even so, she had fun letting her hair down as her friends and sister had suggested. She was never as extroverted as her friends, and having found a kindred spirit in Sasuke, she often forgot that he wasn't her only support system.

She found herself in the back of the limo Hanabi had somehow procured on short notice, listening to the jovial jokes and inebriated laughter her friends shared, though she could only focus on her phone. Sasuke had called, texted even, and he hated that.

It's getting late. How much longer until my mother releases you?

Never mind, Naruto is dragging me out for a drink with the rest. I'll see you at home.

"Missing the fiancé already, ne Hinata-chan?" questioned the brunette with a smirk.

"I j-just wanted to know what he was doing." She defended with a blush. "He went out with Naruto and the boys, apparently."

"Tch! No doubt they're just going to some seedy establishment with naked woman!" responded Ino with a thumbs down and a blown raspberry.

"He said it was just a drink! I'm sure it's nothing more than that…."

"You have to keep Sasuke-kun on a tight leash, or else he'll fall back into his bad ways." Warned Sakura wagging a finger to punctuate her point.

"Well I don't think he'd…"

"Uchiha Sasuke is a womanizer of the highest order!" slurred Hanabi, clearly having had more than enough drinks for her to voice her opinion on Sasuke, much to Hinata's chagrin. "But he's no idiot. He knows better than to cross my sister!"

"Hanabi please, he doesn't do that sort of thing…anymore." Defended the eldest Hyuuga. Hinata truly believed Hanabi was over her hatred of Sasuke, but it seemed too soon for that.

"The sooner you whip him into shape the better I say." Added Sakura sipping her champagne.

"Sasuke-kun doesn't need me to control him." When her bold assertion wasn't enough to dissuade them from talking ill about her fiancé, she pursed her lips and set her drink down. Part of her wished she could tell them all that she and Sasuke had been through, how they fought every day to keep their heads above water, and names out of the news. But she couldn't, her friends would all but lose it surely, and Hanabi may outright declare war, or worse, publicly denounce Sasuke with all the ammunition needed to take him down once and for all.

"Oh lighten up sis! I'm sure Sasuke has changed, but…" when Hanabi could see her older sister growing more uncomfortable than expected, she decided to back off. Though she made note of how Hinata had reacted. Usually she waved off any type of talk that did her fiancé a disservice, chalking it up to the offenders lack of understanding him like she did, but this time she almost bristled at the notion, as if something was indeed amiss. "N-never mind. So where to next? I hear there's a new club in Shinjuku, and it's just late enough for the real party to have started."

"Yeah let's keep the party going! What do you say, Hinata-chan?" asked the inebriated pinkette.

The eldest Hyuuga's lips twisted as she mulled over the prospect. Her mind now clouded by the copious drinks her supposed friends plied her with, she was in no position to make any decision, much less a measured one. Regardless, it was her burden to bear.

The heiress sighed lightly and retrieved her champagne, feeling the eyes of the limos other occupants follow her every move. The bubbles popped and danced across her palate as she gave her fiancé one last thought. She wanted nothing more than to be in the warmth of his arms in the comfort of their home, but even if she disappointed the girls and called it a night, he would elude her for at least a few hours. What was an inebriated, slightly amorous, bachelorette heiress to do? "Fine, but only one more."

Hinata smiled into her glass as a joyous cheer filled the vehicle, she watched the suds lazily made their way down to the bottom, it was the last thing she could recall before it all went black.

When she finally came to, she found that she was alone, standing outside her childhood home in the dead of night. No longer surrounded by the laughter of her sister and friends, the confused Hyuuga peered over her shoulder with just enough time to see the limos passengers waving goodbye to her as they pulled away.

"W-wait! W-w-what am I—!" panic and sickness began filling her as her body caught up with her mind, she steadied herself against the wall as her coordination quickly faded. She blacked out—and as if that wasn't bad enough, she'd somehow drunkenly convinced everyone, including her sister, to leave her on her father's doorstep.

She could fix this. No one had answered or noticed her yet, maybe there was a chance she could call Hanazaki and undo this mistake. Hinata blindly pawed at the inside of her purse in search of her cellphone, but just she had it in her grasp, the front door opened.

"H-Hinata-hime? What are you doing out at this hour, in the cold no less!" Hinata's childhood caretaker appeared from the vestibule with a confused look. In an instant she realized something was amiss when she spotted the green tinge of her former wards cheeks. "Oh dear…come, hurry inside before you make a mess on the steps."

Quickly she ushered the sickly Hyuuga inside, narrowly making it to the nearest bathroom before Hinata began emptying her stomach. Natsu held her hair and stroked her back until the retching finally came to a stop. "You've been hanging out with your sister, haven't you?"

"H-how did you know?" she croaked out in response as she flushed the toilet and struggled to her feet.

"You're not the first heiress whose hair I've had to hold." She elaborated as Hinata splashed water in her face and cleaned out her mouth.

"Thank you, Natsu-chan…" finally having regained her senses, she regarded the caretaker. She must have been sleeping judging from the nightgown and slightly disheveled hair. "S-sorry I woke you. I don't know what got into me."

"It isn't me who needs the apology…" even in her drunken haze, Hinata caught the other woman's meaning. "You rang the doorbell and knocked rather loudly when you arrived…it's only a matter of time before—"

"Natsu! Where are you? Who was at the door?" the sound of Hiashi, even through a door, was enough to sober Hinata up instantly. The two women exchanged knowing looks; Hinata would have to face her father.

The heiress did what she could to make herself somewhat more presentable, not that it would matter, he would undoubtedly be angered she showed her face again, especially given the circumstances. Nevertheless, she squared her shoulders and exited the bathroom, heading in the direction of the voice with Natsu hot on her heels.

"I can tell him you were in the area when you felt ill and needed to—"

Hinata shook her head in the dimly lit halls of the mansion; this was so much more than a simple apology. Perhaps in her inebriated state her unconscious mind compelled her to confront her father in the middle of the night.

Natsu knocked hesitantly on the door to Hiashi's study, "H-Hiashi-sama, it's Hinata."

There was a silence that washed over everything, an ill omen to be sure, if not simply ominous. Was he already beginning his usual regiment of mental warfare? Even Natsu was confused, peering back at Hinata. When she reached for the door however, it gave way and revealed the Hyuuga patriarch, the dull glow of his study's lighting giving him an oppressive aura.

"Thank you, Natsu. I'll take it from here." The stern words were foreboding and rattled what little resolve she had mustered. He'd won before the battle had begun.

The caretaker bowed lowly before turning to make her exit, only stopping briefly to look at her former ward. She was sheet white and on the verge of tears, but she could do no more to protect her from her father than she could when she was a child.

Now father and daughter stood in silence, cold eyes bore down on those he'd watched and raised from infancy. When last he saw her, she was strong and proud, now she looked meek—frightened almost. "What is the meaning of this, Hinata?"

"….Otousan…."

"I taught you better. Look at me, and speak up." Hiashi could hardly make out her words, her subdued nature forcing her to avoid his gaze and swallow her words. He could smell the alcohol wicking off of her, and while it upset him that she'd do something so juvenile, it was more cause for concern. When she stumbled slightly, the Hyuuga patriarch's demeanor changed instantly. No longer was he the stern authoritative father, but a worried one. "Hinata…?"

"I just…" her soft voice barely reached her father's ears as he stared down at the crown of her head. Hinata didn't known when she started trembling, but as he held her for what must've been the first time in years, she broke down. She peered up with tears in her eyes and was transported back to a time when she was a child and this was what she wanted most in the world. The love of her father.

"I just wanted to come home…"

Hiashi's eyes widened and lips parted as the tears began to fall, the sobs breaking free from her throat. He could only hold her tightly when the sobs came harder and dampened his robe. This was no drunken blunder, there was a level of catharsis to it that felt long overdue; and he knew it was because of him.

"You're…you're home now, Hinata." He tried his best to soothe her, the words coming unnaturally at first. It has been a long time since he had to console one of his children, it was hard to do so when you were often the source of their malaise in one way or another. Undoubtedly this was brought on by their last meeting when he'd all but disowned her. He'd let his anger and personal contempt for her fiancé make him act rashly, and to his own daughters detriment no less. "This will always be your home."

Eventually, her breathing steadied and he could lead her to the small reading nook in the corner of his study. As Hiashi sat her down in the chair, he knelt down and gingerly touched her forehead.

"I'm not sick…" she contested, lowering his hand from her head. She could see his face drop slightly, as if he felt foolish for his concern. What had "Drunk Hinata" been thinking? The situation was infinitely more complex than she believed she could even handle sober! But she had to try nonetheless.

Ever since her late adolescence, she'd asked herself one question many times, but never to him, how could she? Even as she looked down at him, bent on one knee as if tending to a scrape, it all seemed so foreign. "Why…why do you hate me?"

Again she stunned him, but only briefly, the gears of his paternal instincts slowly turning and shaking off the rust. Gently he grabbed her hand and squeezed it assuredly, "You're my daughter…I could never hate you."

"That's not true!" she exclaimed, angry tears spilling as she tore her hand from his. He was trying to brush her off like he always did, albeit a more compassionate approach than usual. "I was never good enough, I was always too soft—too weak. Too much of a failure to love…"

The Hyuuga patriarch couldn't help but feel a pang of pain in his chest. He knew that his children believed him to be a tyrant, but he never saw it as more than children bucking authority. To hear that his eldest believed he was contemptuous…

Hiashi rose to his feet calmly, despite his desire to reprimand her for her actions. As he looked down on her, cheeks rosy and steaked with tears; that pang grew larger. Years of his constant pushing had done this to her, "Hinata I –"

"And even though you always thought I was a disappointment…I still loved you." She choked out with a half chuckle as if laughing at some inside joke. She wiped away her tears with the sleeve of her sweater and smiled softly, "And if that is weakness, then fine. I'll still love you…"

Hiashi could take no more, but he could not order the rush of emotions his daughter's words brought out away. He hung his head as the memories tightened their grip on his heart, "You'll never know…how much you've become like your mother. My greatest fear."

"W-what?" his words made Hinata's heart skip a beat. He rarely spoke of her mother—not even as his late wife. He'd all but scrubbed her existence from the home, but he could not erase her memory.

"Your mother, she…she always had a kindness she showed people, no matter how they treated her." When his gaze finally rose to meet hers she could see the unmistakable gloss to them. "It was endearing to be honest. Until…"

"Until her death." She finished darkly, remembering the morose day all too well. She shook off the thought, she was finally breaking through to her father. "Mother…you hate me because I remind you of her?"

"Enough, Hinata! I do not and have never hated you—or your sister."

"So why!? Why did you treat me like you did!?"

"Because I couldn't risk losing you like I lost your mother!"

Both Hyuuga's stared at each other wide eyed, as if the words uttered were taboo. Even Hiashi was struggling to come to terms with the revelation. This was all the culmination of more than a decade of unsaid words, and silent pain. And in the end it was because of fear.

"You couldn't save mother, i-it was out of your control. She got sick and—"

"Yes…I'll never forget how helpless, how useless I felt." The patriarch's tone turned solemn as he worked through his epiphany. "I was alone with two little girls who needed me…and all I could do was think about how I never wanted to lose control and be helpless again. I didn't want that for my children either."

It was the first time Hinata had seen her father cry, not even at the funeral had he shed a tear. The heiress was quick to come to her father's comfort, wrapping her arms around him and holding him tightly. The trauma of the Hyuuga matriarchs passing affected them all differently—he became obsessed with control, out of fear of losing what he loved again. It reminded her of how Fugaku and Itachi had their falling out. The love of a parent for their child was a powerful and dangerous thing, especially when the same could be said about the parent. She couldn't help but wonder if she would be capable of such a thing—rationalizing abuses and lies all for the sake of their child. Would Sasuke?

"Y-you don't need to protect me anymore…" she assured in a soothing tone, seeing the pain of a parent threatening to send her into a similar state.

"Because you have Sasuke now…" she could hear a different timbre of sorrow in his words. Was he saddened by the fact that she was indeed marrying Sasuke and happily at that? He looked her in the eyes as her brow furrowed in confusion. He released a soft chuckle as he smiled softly at his daughter, "What sort father would I be if I ever stopped caring for my children?"

It was moments like this that she'd yearned for, for years, the open and honest exchange of feelings without fear of reprimand. Hinata returned the smile and shook her head at her father's kind but confused response. "Ne, I don't need you to protect me anymore. Because you raised me…with love."

"Hinata…my daughter…", Hiashi cradled her cheek in his palm as he looked her full in the face. Despite the smile on his face, he was battling the demons his revelation summoned, but he had her, his misguided actions had not lost him his daughter. "How can you ever forgive me?"

She buried her head in his chest in response, having no choice but to hide the tears that spilled. It felt like she'd found a long lost piece of herself in the embrace, mentally cataloguing the moment for posterity should this all turn out to be some sort of drunken dream. She sniffed away her tears and peered up at her father with a smile, "I forgive you, Otousan. It's what mother would have wanted."

Hiashi could only nod in response, simply at a loss for words. He found it hard to believe that despite his poor parenting, he produced such a saint.

Eventually the moment passed and they released each other from the embrace. Hiashi was first to speak the first words of their newfound relationship; die-hard habits. "Now that you've indulged an old man, what did you come here for Hinata?"

The heiress blushed, she in all honesty couldn't say why anymore, the flurry of emotions and alcohol obliterating her short term memory. "Ano…the wedding. I—I wanted to ask you to walk me down the aisle."

"Y-yes, of course. It's only right I do that for you." Hinata's heart melted as she witnessed a smidge of color come to her father's cheeks. He was no more untouchable than she once thought Sasuke was. Though the slip of his mask was brief, before turning to a more inquisitive look. "I've been hearing things. Are you and Sasuke…alright?"

Suddenly she felt like a teenager getting interrogated about her boyfriend, and she had a matching blush to go with that bit of missed teenage angst. Though, she couldn't fault him for asking, there could've been any manner of half truths he read somewhere. "We're fine, really. Just…fighting to make this work."

Hiashi nodded in understanding, having to restrain himself from prying further or seeking avenues to control the situation. That was the old Hiashi; he would trust in her judgement and support her if necessary. But the look in her eyes assured him she was already fighting fiercely. "I can tell…you'd go to war for him if need be."

"I would." Her response was staunch and swift, enough so that the corner of her father's lip curled slightly, as if proud she had a fighting spirit, even if it wasn't for him. Hiashi would never know, at least, not if she could help it, but she was already fighting a war. "Sasuke would do the same for me, and more."

"I…have no doubt." Hiashi had to bite his tongue, lest he ruin the moment with a barb aimed at his soon to be son-in-law. While he may never approve of the man professionally, the Hyuuga patriarch knew Sasuke would take care of her. "Come, I'll have Natsu prepare your room."

"Let her sleep. I've caused her enough trouble for one night." The heiress would have to find a way to make it up to the woman. She followed her father out of the study and through the hallways in silence as she contemplated her penance. When they stopped at her door, Hiashi stepped aside for her to turn the knob.

"Aside from Natsu, no one has been inside since you moved out." Hinata couldn't believe her childhood room still existed, she half expected it to be turned into storage by now. But there it stood, shades of lilac and cream coloring every detail in some way or another, remnants of her childhood and teens neatly decorating the room, one more thing to thank Natsu for. Though it was comforting to know her existence hadn't been relegated to an attic. "Do you need anything?"

Though, the only response he received was that of the sound of her body unceremoniously plopping on the bed. Hiashi could only chuckle as soft snores were the next sound to reach his ears. Carefully, he placed a blanket over her just as he had when she tuckered herself out in her adolescence. He failed her before, but there was still time to make it right.


This one was hard to write as I'd never really touched on Hinata's mother and with family such a reoccurring theme I'd be remiss if I didn't make some sort of mention of her. I'm sure everyone is also wondering what happened at Hinata's impromptu bachelorette party. Well, that will have to wait until this story is said and done. My next "planned project" is a series of vignettes, one-shots, twoshots, set in this universe revolving around some cute little Sasu/Hina side stories as well as some background from some of the characters I've been less than…attentive to. But enough about that, I'm sure you can hear the wedding bells, or could they be war drums? That chapter is coming. As always, I'll do my damnedest to get it out ASAP.

Next Chapter: Honor And Trust

Until next time! Sayonara!