I can't remember when it was good
Moments of happiness elude
Maybe I just misunderstood
All of the love we left behind
Watching the flash backs intertwine
Memories I will never find
So I'll love whatever you become
And forget the reckless things we've done
I think our lives have just begun
I think our lives have just begun
- Muse
-Year 1-
"Marry me, Tenten." He whispered against her lips. She could not reply; feeling the knot inside the pit of her stomach release as she reached her climax. He came soon after, moaning her name. It took a while before she fully caught her breath and realized what he had said.
"What!?" she gasped as he collapsed into her open arms.
"Marry me." He repeated, head buried in the crook of her neck.
-Year 2-
"And your surname, ma'm?"
"I don't have…" Tenten blinked for a moment. For the past 21 years, she had been so used to replying that question with the same answer; again and again. She would always receive strange looks, and had to go into explaining the situation, which was always awkward and uncomfortable.
She had no family.
But it was different now.
"Hyuuga." A deep voice said into her ear. She turned and smiled at her husband, who casually laid his hand on her hip from behind her.
"Hyuuga." She repeated.
-Year 3-
"Congratulations, Neji." Sakura smiled as she handed the bundle over to him. "It's a boy."
He reached out to take the baby, but at the same time, was straining his head to see through the half open door. He wanted to see if Tenten was alright, but Sakura kept extending the baby to him. So he took it, all the while trying to activate his Byakugan.
"Neji!" Sakura said a little more sharply. "Take him or you'll drop him!" At this, he snapped his head back and took his first look at his child.
For the first time in his life, he was scared; scared and confused – yet utterly, totally, and entirely happy. He never knew these three emotions could exist all at once.
"H…how do I do this?" he looked at Sakura for help as he held the baby stiffly in his arms; and she laughed at the peculiar sight of a Hyuuga not knowing what he was supposed to do.
-Year 10-
"He's just fallen asleep." Tenten said quietly as she shut the door to her son's bedroom. There was a bitter nip of coldness in her voice, and she refused to look at Neji.
"Hn." He replied.
"He was crying because he heard us arguing."
"Hn." He repeated.
For a moment, the couple just stood there; silent, unmoving, until finally, Tenten ran a hand through her hair.
"I'm going to bed." She sighed.
-Year 25-
"Yuki, is Neji home yet?" Tenten asked as she ate her dinner alone at the table.
"Neji sama is in his study." the servant replied. "He told me to bring him dinner there."
"And my son?"
"Sora sama is at the Uchiha mansion."
She was silent for a few seconds.
"So he really is planning on marrying her, huh?" she laughed, half bitterly to herself.
"I believe so, Tenten sama." Yuki replied.
"The Byakugan and the Sharingan; what kind of super baby would that turn into?"
"Indeed, ma'm." Yuki agreed. "What does Neji sama say about this?"
Tenten shrugged.
"I don't know. I haven't spoken to him in a while."
It was almost said too casually.
-Year 60-
"I'm sorry Mr. Hyuuga, but the doctor may be a while." The nurse said to Neji. "Would you like to take a seat?"
"Oh." He replied in his old, raspy voice; leaning half his weight on his cane. He took an impatient glance at the clock behind the nurse's counter.
"Do you need to be somewhere, Mr. Hyuuga?" the nurse asked cheerfully when she noticed his anxious face.
"I'm having breakfast with my wife." He stated simply.
"Oh." This time, it was the nurse. "I'm afraid the doctor is in a very important surgery at the moment. Maybe you could call your wife and tell her you'll be late. If you want, you could use our phone…"
"It's alright." He smiled, shaking his head and smiling gently. "She doesn't really remember who I am anymore; she won't notice I haven't gone today."
The nurse looked at the old man in front of her. He was a fascinating man; truly like some ancient Greek God - Zeus, to be exact. He had a head of beautiful, long, white hair which shone from the sunshine bursting through the window. His eyes were pure silver, but he was not blind. He was dressed in all white. Somehow, he seemed to emanate a gracious air.
"You mean… you have breakfast with her everyday even though…"
"She has dementia." He said, smiling casually.
"But... she doesn't remember you…" the nurse said quietly.
"Oh well." He was grinning now. "As long as I remember her, that's enough."
A/N: The lyrics on the top are the first three verses of the song "Falling Away With You" by Muse. Thank you everyone, for the wonderful comments I've been getting. They really do make my day!
- xholicx