Hanabi giggled as her sister laid a hand over her swollen middle. "Did you feel it?"
Hinata lit up and nodded, sliding her hands around the mass lovingly with excitement. He felt a familiar jab watching her be so wholly invested in her pregnant sister's experience. They had wanted that. They had been ready for that. They could have been happily pregnant together. He rubbed his forehead to try to will away the frustration. His sister-in-law gave him a sympathetic look while his wife was distracted, and he waved her off, nothing they could do about it now.
Hinata had been so excited to know everything about her sister's pregnancy. She wanted to know what to expect when she had her child. Hinata wanted to be a loving mother and aunt like she had never had. She wanted to spoil the children with attention and support, so they never felt unloved. He wondered if she thought it would somehow make up for her childhood, and she could finally let her past go, but that chance was taken from her now.
He was so happy she hadn't been pregnant when she left. Being in intensive care so close to conception would have been detrimental. They would have lost the baby, or she would have spent the whole pregnancy miserable, uncomfortable, and unknowing how much he loved her to have a child with her. If she had woken up pregnant with his child, maybe she would have believed someone who told her that she was just meant to be a broodmare for his purposes.
He didn't mind his chance for children being taken away. He minded her opportunity to be a mother had been taken away.
"How far have you gotten into the story," Hanabi asked, looking over to him, breaking his thoughts intentionally.
"We're just about to hit the wedding." He watched a visible bump come through her shirt as the baby kicked again and frowned.
"Oh, good, I want to be part of this. I was there for that."
Hanabi had watched her sister stand tall against the world silently as they looked upon her with pity. She didn't bat an eye as she was told all kinds of horrible things about her intended, how great it was that she had come to her senses. She simply stayed quiet and endured the torment with quiet strength.
Hinata only let on she was tired around her, and even then, it was clear she was holding back for her comfort. Hanabi wondered how raw she was with the mysterious Uchiha that she was facing the entire village for. Hinata was putting up with a lot for the chance at love.
As the intended day approached, Hinata grew excited and impatient, and in the way, only she could, truly nervous. Of course, Hanabi couldn't tell her about the new addition to the Uchiha district that was waiting for her, which made her just as impatient for her older sister to see it. This Uchiha could prove to be a promising brother-in-law. Punch cousin, check. Threatening father, check. Build a house, check. Elope against all traditions, getting there.
"What if he changes his mind? What if he realized now he doesn't want me?" She whimpered in worry, fluttering around her room, making Hanabi giggle.
"Believe me, he loves you." Hinata gave her a questioning look as to why she thought so. Hanabi shook her head and held out a box to her sister to distract her. "I thought you would want it for your wedding day." Hinata curiously opened the box and looked inside, pulling out the elaborate kimono layers. "It's mother's," Hanabi told her warmly, rubbing the fabric between her fingers.
Hinata smiled at it, then her face twitched to a frown. "I don't think so." Holding back out to her setting it cleanly back in the book.
"What?" Hanabi asked, confused.
"You should wear it on your wedding day." She smiled, sliding it back.
"You knew her better. I thought you would want to wear it." Hanabi pouted down at it.
"It's lovely. Thank you for thinking of me, but I think I want something simpler. I'm not having something grand." Hanabi watched her sister with wonder as she pulled the chain out from her shirt and twisted the ring in her fingers.
Would she think the same when she fell in love?
Sasuke focused harshly on the fact that he cared for Hinata as he approached the Hokage tower, requested a meeting, and waited. He would bite his sword in half if he had to, just make the request and get it over with.
"Sasuke, what the hell are you doing here?" Naruto looked up from his paperwork, confused.
"I came to ask… a favor." Sasuke spit out, flinching his face to a scowl.
"..." Naruto looked at him with exaggerated shock and confusion.
"What?" Sasuke growled.
"What kind of favor?" Naruto set his paperwork down with more skepticism.
Good, he was in. "I need you to marry Hinata and me."
"I thought you two broke…." His face went from confusion to shock. "Wait! I can't do that. The Hyuga would never allow it."
"If I get permission from the head, will you legally marry us?" Sasuke pushed.
"Well… I guess, but you'll never..." Naruto stuttered. Sasuke waved his hand.
"Let me worry about that. You just be there." Sasuke demanded. "I'll owe you."
Naruto's eyebrow raised in interest. Sasuke knew he had caught him with that. This woman would be the end of him. "Okay… you need a witness," Naruto mumbled, still confused with the situation as he looked in his drawer for marriage licenses.
"I'm going to find him next."
Sasuke had happily avoided his old prick of a teacher since he had gotten back into the village. One of the few who didn't outright resent him and had just left him live in peace, and he silently had thanked him for that.
The one person in the village that respected his wishes.
However, right now, he needed someone who he could trust to keep their mouth shut and be willing to break a few rules.
So he came face to face with Kakashi, who seemed to know he was looking for him. Annoyingly, Sasuke was not surprised.
"What can I do for you, kid." Sasuke wanted to punch the smile hiding behind his mask right off his face as he was sure the prick already knew.
"I need you to be a witness at my wedding," Sasuke told him flatly and to the point.
"Oh? Well, isn't this a surprise? The village seems to think you broke her heart." The copy nin leaned arrogantly. Sasuke hated that he could see a smile behind that mask.
Sasuke curled his hand into his hair and tried not to rip it out.
"I present my daughter, Hanabi Hyuga, as head to the proud Hyuga Clan." Her father said proudly as she bowed. The ceremonial kimono was heavy and uncomfortable. Hanabi envied her sister's much simpler kimono as she smiled at her from beside Neji.
The rest of the ceremony was long and boring, with too much tradition and ritual. Hanabi was far too eager for this all to end, and from the fidgeting her sister was doing, she could tell she was the same.
As soon as she was dismissed, the horrible ceremonial robes came off, and Hinata helped pull the heavy jewels and pins out of her hair.
Hinata changed into a simple kimono, plain, pale, and floral. She slipped her engagement ring back on her finger, and they were gone into the night.
Sasuke felt Naruto's eyeing him as they waited.
"You know I can't do this if you don't have the permission you say you have," Naruto mentioned AGAIN.
Sasuke simply took a deep breath and forced down the annoyance as his bride arrived with her arm linked with her sister's.
"I have the direct approval of the new Hyuga head," Sasuke smirked at his soon-to-be sister-in-law, who engaged Hinata to walk faster. The girls giggled as they sped up.
"That was today?" Naruto pondered with a growing grin. "I think that is cheating."
"Call it that if you want, it's legal." Kakashi grinned at Sasuke as the two women joined them.
Hanabi handed her over, and he slid his arm around his fiance for the first time in months. She melted to his side and laid her head on him, "Ready?" Sasuke asked her.
Hinata looked up, smiling brightly. "Of course."
The most straightforward ritual was observed before they all signed their marriage certificate. "Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Uchiha," Naruto noted as he took the paper for filing, giving Sasuke the biggest grin.
Sasuke's ringed hand curled tighter around her hip, holding her close to his side. "Thanks."
Hinata giggled at her sister as she threw a handful of loose petals he wasn't aware she had. "As head of the Hyuga clan, I give my blessing to the new member of the Uchiha clan." Her sister's mock bowed her head. "So how long do you think father will take to realize you eloped."
Hinata slid herself to curl around him, laying her cheek on his chest. "I'm sure it will be clear when I leave tonight."
"Which means you should get your wedding present tonight," Sasuke told her, pressing a kiss to her hair.
Sasuke covered Hinata's eyes, though that seemed like a dumb idea having the Byakugan at her disposal. Luckily she was too skittish of the surprise to the peak.
"Ready?" Sasuke whispered in her ear.
Hinata shook her head. He chuckled and uncovered her eyes.
Hinata stared up at the house. "What?!" She squeaked.
"This is our house." Hinata stared at it in awe and slowly walked, upsetting her hand on the fence like she was testing it was real.
"Where are we? I've never seen this house before." She looked around, recognizing the part of the district.
"I built it for us," Sasuke explained, opening the fence for her.
She moved only when he pushed guided her in with a hand on the small of her back, still looking awed at the outside of the house. "You built a house?" She squeaked, covering her mouth with her hands.
"This district is a ghost town, but this house is yours." He picked her up, making her squeak and wrap her arms around his neck. He took the first step over the threshold of the front door. She giggled at the tradition. "It's not furnished. It's waiting for you to make it home."
He set her down, stepped back at the front door after they took off their shoes, and let her go. She stepped in with large eyes moving wildly around the walls. She quickly found her way to the kitchen, she gave a twirl around the living area as she looked, and he grinned at her excitement.
"It's perfect!" She whispered.
"There are two rooms." Sasuke pointed, letting her explore the bedroom, extra room, and bathroom. She stopped to look out the back door, and he closed in behind her. "There's room for a garden."
Hinata jumped. She hadn't noticed him behind her. He captured her around her ribs, laying his head on her shoulder. She closed her arms over his. He was all hers now. "I love it," Hinata whispered.
"Good, because I don't ever want to build another house again." Hinata giggled.
Hanabi met them with a suitcase for the night and a package wrapped cleanly in white paper.
"We can move the rest of your things later this week. Today starts the honeymoon." Hanabi mused.
Hinata turned red. He tried not to grin at his sister-in-law's teasing. Hinata picked up the package and set it in his lap. With no chairs, they sat in the empty living area on the floor. "This your wedding gift." She fidgets with her fingers. "It's not so grand. It's kind of a silly tradition." Hinata whispered.
He raised an eyebrow and opened the paper to reveal a large blanket lovingly placed in the box. He wasn't sure he got the idea. He pulled it out of the box, opening it. Handmade, though not professionally, she took an edge and ran her fingers over the stitching.
"I stitched it myself, I'm not very good, but it was a tale my mother told me when I was little about making a blanket for your marriage bed." She was adorable. She explained the fairy tale her mother told her and blushed.
Sasuke smirked. "Trying to tell me something?"
Hanabi stood with another mock bow. "Time for me to leave!"
Hinata turned red as what he said registered. "Sasuke!"
"Do I need to tell you about the rest of our wedding night?" Sasuke asked, trying not to outwardly laugh at his wife curled up with her face in her hands.
"No!" Hinata squeaked.