Hinata came into his office, closing the door behind her but instead of crossing the room, she leaned against it. He looked up at her then at the clock. It was early for her to be coming in to see him. She seemed to be thinking, but she also had a small amused smile gracing her features. She pierced her lips together as the smile spread.
"Gaara?" She asked quietly, seemingly trying to hide the amusement.
"Yes?" He asked seriously, setting his pen to the side.
"Do you know how to dance?" She asked with a glance up, biting her lip to hide her amusement.
Cute.
"No." He answered.
"Would you be willing to learn?" She asked with a lick to the top of her lip as she continued to try to hide her smile.
"Why?" He wondered, standing and coming around his desk to lean on the front of it.
"Temari-chan planned for a first dance. It's a custom in Konoha weddings." He raised an non-eyebrow asking what that had to do with him. "The first dance is between the bride and groom."
"Oh." He nodded in understanding. "I don't dance." He explained.
"I could teach you just for the wedding." She offered, moving her feet just so she had something to look at.
"I'm not sure I am the dancing type." He explained as he felt an odd feeling he was starting a little more familiar with, embarrassment.
"It's just a small slow dance. Onee-chan wants to do it because those in the wedding join after for the second part of the dance, and she thinks it's the only way she can get Shikamaru-san on the floor." She mumbled. "I don't mind, I had to learn young. Hyuga etiquette." She explained.
He examined her face. She wanted to go through teaching him. This was important to her in some way more than she was explaining.
"Okay." He told her.
Her face lit up like the sun in her namesake.
"Hand in mine and hand on my side." She told him.
They stood in his room, robes lying on his bed, shoes by the door, for safety reasons, she said. He took her hand and placed the other on her hip right under her ribs. She giggled, sliding it down more toward her hip bone.
She raised a hand to his shoulder, resting her forearm to hover just inches away from the length of his upper arm. "This is one way, and it's for the more complex dance."
She fumbled, trying to teach him the most basic of moves. He followed rather easily, but they both found it was less that he couldn't do it more than she couldn't teach it without using the proper terms that he had no clue the difference between.
On several occasions, she lost balance going one way when he went the other, misunderstanding her and tripping over him. He had caught her each time and wasn't bothered by the fumbling, but he was being laughed at. The dark chuckling was bringing out his utter annoyance.
"What's the other option?" He finally asked, already feeling this was a bad idea as he set her back on her feet again.
She took his hand. She had clasped and placed it on her other hip. Sliding both hands comfortably around his neck, locking them at the base of his neck, stepping closer to compensate for the shorter distance. She was shorter than him, but not by enough that this would be at all uncomfortable. "This is just a normal slow dance, not a lot of moving, just some stepping back and forth."
"I much prefer this." He told her honestly. Though he wondered why this wasn't the first option.
"I thought you would." She giggled. "I never danced a slow dance before." She explained, sliding her hands from his neck but didn't step back, just replaced them to his chest and closed the distance between their bodies.
He curled his arms more fully around her back, his bare arm touched hers, and he realized how cold her skin was. He hadn't felt cold, so he hadn't thought she would be without her robe. Was she coming close for warmth?
"What were the lessons for?" He asked.
"I have had to dance properly at weddings and events, and I have had to waltz and such, usually with Neji-san." She explained. "But slow dances are usually between couples, and I never had the occasion." She laid her head on his collarbone.
"I see." He thought, lowering his head to her shoulder. The position was comfortable. He could feel her skin warming, and he too was warming, and to add to the comfort, the headache he got from Baki's report was leaving him.
"Thank you." She whispered into his shoulder.
"For what?" He asked with a slight lift of his head.
"For marrying me." She earned a light kiss to her shoulder and a tightening of his arms.
"You taught him to dance?" Temari asked, surprised.
"I think we're going for just a simple slow dance if you don't mind. I was not good at teaching dancing. I stepped on him more just because he didn't understand my instructions." She explained.
"I'm just surprised he let you," Temari mumbled. "Well, there, Shika can get his lazy ass on the floor with me for at least a few minutes."
"I'm sure you could get him out there for more than one dance." She assured her.
"Have you met him?" Her sister-in-law-to-be frowned sarcastically, throwing both girls into a fit of giggles.
Kankuro and Hinata stood in front of Gaara's wedding gift, smudges on their faces as well as bright smiles.
"You think he will like it?" She asked, tilting her head at their work.
"I think he'll love it." He laughed as she jumped on him. He lifted her in the hug with their excitement. "Though, I think we both need a shower."
"Agreed." She giggled.
"But I am a little worried about my father's reaction to all these mixed traditions." She mumbled, leaning on Temari.
Temari sighed, rubbing the younger, tired girl's arm. They had been buckling down to buff out the final details of the wedding curled up on the small loveseat couch that Hinata had seen in a shop on one of their wedding outings. It made the office feel like it was more hers.
"I thought you didn't care what your father thought?" Temari mumbled, returning to her writing.
"I don't particularly mind that he is unhappy with this arrangement. However, he may make his distaste clear if he sees fit, and Gaara doesn't need that." She mumbled. "Gaara is going to be stressed as it is. He's not a fan of being social, and most of the village and a portion of my family and friends will be there."
"I think he will be fine. You have a calming effect on him." Temari soothed.
"I won't be much help if I am stressed as well." She countered.
"How about I tell him where he can stuff his attitude?" Temari smirked.
"I don't think I want you anywhere near my father." Hinata giggled.
"That's probably for the best." Temari sighed.
Gaara looked at the time. Hinata was running late. She said she would be, but it still felt odd not to have her on the couch already. As if to answer his thoughts, there was a thunk on the door. He looked up in confusion as to why it wasn't a knock.
He waited, but no one came in. Sand opened it with a swish of his hand.
Temari standing with an unconscious Hinata resting in her arms. His first reaction was fear. He was standing and around his desk before she could step in.
"Calm down." She said, hushed. "She's exhausted." She explained. "And a lot heavier than she looks."
Gaara took the note, quickly taking his sleeping fiance from his sister, shifting her weight comfortably in his arms.
"Poor girl is starting to worry about the wedding it's starting to wear on her. Tuck her into bed, will you?" Temari asked before leaving.
Gaara looked down at her sleeping face. She had been stressed? He thought she liked how the wedding was coming along, or was it something else. He shouldn't dwell on it until he talks to her about it. Assuming things would get him nowhere.
Gaara sighed. It was late. He headed toward her room. Once he got to the door, he realized he had never been in her room before. She always went to bed after him, and he had never even walked her to her room since she would give him the sleeping treatments.
Sand opened the door, and he stepped in. She was certainly neat. Didn't seem to have a thing out of place. She always secretly tidied up his room. If he left clothes on the floor, she would put them away before she left.
His sand took down the covers and went to work, untying her sash and slipping off her shoes all before he reached the bed. He shifted his arms, letting the sand hold up her back and replacing his arm in her now loose robe. It, too, slipped off before he slipped her into the covers.
For a ninja, she was a heavy sleeper tonight. Maybe she was there tired, or maybe…
No, he could hope for that kind of subconscious trust even from her.
'Stop being an idiot and a coward.' The voice in his head growled. 'Lay with her. It will prove me right.'
'She needs her rest. I'm not disturbing it, to fight a petty statement.' Gaara answered.
'Sure go back to your cold bed.' The monster snarkily growled.
'She may not want to go through with this.' Gaara mumbled back, covering his bride before leaving the room.
'She thanked you last night.' The beast growled. 'It seems more like you are having second thoughts.'
Gaara didn't answer. He had slowly realized what she meant to him.