Hello everyone! So, I realize NaruHina month ended a while ago, but I've had so many reviews/favorites/follows on it since January (and especially in the last month or two) that I thought I should post this last one. I had it about half written when the month ended and just left it because I wasn't sure how I felt about it. After all the notifications about the story I went back and rewrote a little bit and finished it up.

So, to all of you who continued to be wonderful readers and asked for more, here's the last one I have for this NaruHina month. It can be considered a bit of a continuation of the Meet the Grandparents oneshot or stand on its own. I like how it turned out so thank you for encouraging me to go back to it :-)

As another announcement, there were people who were wanting me to continue my Mardi Gras story, so I've decided to do that. It won't be a full story (I've got too many of those going already and I have another AU one in the planning stages), but it'll be a kind of short series. The first chapter will be the same as the oneshot in this series, and I will be posting the new second chapter on Friday. Just wanted to give y'all a heads up since you have all been so nice about it!

And now, enjoy!

Day Sixteen: Personality Switch

When Hinata finally offered Naruto the chance to meet her family, he had eagerly accepted. After all, she had already met his and their relationship was growing ever more serious. She was hesitant at first, stating that she wasn't sure what he would think of them, but he assured her everything would be fine and so they set up a time to have dinner with her family.

And oh, how the tables had turned.

Naruto marvelled at his girlfriend, Hinata, who was talking animatedly with her younger sister, Hanabi, and sister-in-law, TenTen. She was generally rather shy and reserved, but it seemed that being around people she loved and had grown up with did wonders for bringing her out of her shell.

He watched in wonder as she laughed loudly after teasing her sister and admired the way she beamed when TenTen offered to let her touch her pregnant belly. He loved his shy girlfriend and her quiet ways, he truly did, but the way she was acting right now was a side of her he had not yet seen. It was beautiful and the only thing that was really putting a damper on his enjoyment of the moment were the two stern men staring at him as they sat across from him.

It felt almost like a role reversal as Hinata joked and laughed with her sisters while the penetrating looks of her father and brother made the usually exuberant blond shrink in on himself. With men like these in her family, it was no wonder she had been so bewildered meeting his own family.

Naruto couldn't tell whether the happy chatter of the women made the silence between the men more or less awkward. On the one hand, it somewhat masked the fact that they weren't talking. On the other hand, it served as a stark contrast to the stifling silence surrounding the men.

Hinata's eyes had never been anything but kind and expressive, and though the eyes of her cousin and father were identical in color, they were the complete opposite in expression. Naruto felt uncomfortable under their glacial gazes and began to fidget uncomfortably, messing with his hands beneath the table as he broke eye contact and looked to the side.

Normally, Naruto had no patience for uptight bastards like the ones across from him, and he didn't really think twice about their opinions of him. Normally, he would have stared back defiantly and probably made a comment about their attitudes. However, this was Hinata's father and older brother and that made the situation much different. He knew that Hinata cared for their opinions and he was terrified that if he made a bad impression, they would ask her not to see him. Even if she agreed to see him despite that, he didn't want to cause any kind of discord with her family.

Hinata had told him about her life growing up and how her father had been a very hard and demanding man. The Hyugas were famous lawyers and had their own elite firm. Her disposition, however, was too gentle for law and at first Hiashi had attempted to make her into something she wasn't by being rather harsh. Eventually, he had realized the error of his ways, but it had still been rather scandalous when she had announced her desire to become a teacher instead of a lawyer. Gaining her family's respect in a field they didn't consider as prestigious as law had been difficult, but they had grown to understand that she had a gift for what she did. She had even received various awards both from her school and the district regarding her efforts in the classroom.

Naruto knew that her family would much rather she brought home a lawyer or doctor instead of a fellow teacher, and the fact that they were already less than enthusiastic about him was a little intimidating.

Finally reaching his breaking point regarding their silence, he decided to try to start a conversation.

"So, um, Hinata tells me you guys are lawyers?"

The blond cringed as soon as the words were out of his mouth. Seriously? Of course they were lawyers. There wasn't anyone in Konoha who didn't know about the Hyuga law firm. In fact, they were internationally renown.

Hiashi merely raised an eyebrow, and Neji responded with, "Indeed."

"Heh, so maybe you guys are familiar with my best friend? Uchiha Sasuke? He's a lawyer in the Uchiha firm…"

Two sets of ivory eyes narrowed and Naruto realized that was probably not the best thing to bring up. The Uchiha were similar to the Hyuga in that they were lawyers of great renown, and they were often hired to appear on the side opposing the Hyugas. There was quite a rivalry between the two families and now they knew he was good friends with one of the sons of the head of the firm.

"I mean, we're not best friends. Just kind of friends. Acquaintances, really. He doesn't talk much, anyway…"

God, he was rambling now. And they were looking hostile as ever. He snuck a peek over to his girlfriend who was still chatting happily with her sisters. She met his eye and sent him an encouraging smile that made him feel somewhat better.

Hiashi spoke suddenly, tearing his attention away from his beautiful girlfriend and bringing it back to her stoic relatives.

"Hinata tells us you are also a teacher at her school."

It was more of a statement than a question, but Naruto nodded in confirmation anyway.

"I see. How quaint."

It felt as if he wasn't even himself anymore. Instead of feeling indignance at the blatant put down, he felt insecure. What was happening to him?

"And how much do you make doing what you do?"

Naruto muttered the reply, an embarrassed redness tinging his cheeks knowing that his salary was pocket change to men like these.

"Interesting, and you think you will be able to take care of my daughter with what you earn?"

The blond looked down the table to where his girlfriend was eating a rather extravagant meal with impeccable manners. Because she lived on her own he sometimes forgot what a wealthy background she came from. Would she really be okay living off what they made, or would she one day miss that lifestyle and want to go back to it?

Neji, extremely efficient at reading people, zeroed in on his discomfort immediately.

"My sister is accustomed to certain things. I realize she lives more… modestly now than she did when she was home, but you must understand that her upbringing was nothing of the sort. She was raised in a large home, with designer clothes, gourmet food, and lavish parties. Do you really think you can live up to something like that?"

Naruto's breathing began to quicken as he thought back to the times when he had agreed to go to some nicer restaurants with her and how out of place he felt. She would sometimes talk of her travels to Europe, of adventures in Paris and Rome and London. In the past, he had enjoyed her tales of the exotic places, but now he was realizing just how much of a homebody he must seem to a world traveler like herself. Would he ever be able to satisfy her? Would she really want to spend her life with someone like him or was she just biding her time until something better came along?

"You have to understand we want the best for Hinata, and you just might not be it."

The Uzumaki's eyes widened, and he looked up, feeling both shocked and upset that they had been so straightforward about their disapproval. In the past if his parents hadn't liked a girl he brought home, they were at least nice about it.

Suddenly he heard a voice he vaguely recognized as his girlfriend's, but it was much harder than he ever remembered hearing.

"Father, Neji, I assure you that there is no one better than Naruto."

Naruto looked to the side to see that his girlfriend was staring down her male relatives with a look he had never seen on her before. The disappointed expressions on TenTen and Hanabi's faces made it apparent that they had likely heard the last part of the men's conversation. Hinata looked over to him and gave him another one of her sweet smiles, before hardening her expression and looking back at her father and brother.

"I would not have even bothered bringing Naruto here tonight if I knew you were going to belittle him like this."

He was beginning to feel a little embarrassed that she was sticking up for him, since he was usually the one telling her to stick up more for herself, but he was too amazed at this side of her to say anything just yet.

"You told me years ago that you were sorry for how you treated me when I was younger, but as my boyfriend, Naruto is a huge part of my life and belittling him is the same as belittling me and my choices. Now isn't that something you said you were going to stop doing?"

Neji had the decency to look a little sheepish, though that could have also had to do with the glare he was receiving from his pregnant wife. Hiashi, however, had narrowed his eyes as if displeased that his daughter would dare chastise him.

"You have to understand, dear, we merely want to make sure you are being treated in a way that is befitting for someone like yourself."

"Befitting me or you?" Hinata fired right back.

"Naruto has been nothing short of a gentleman since we met. He has encouraged me on countless occasions, shown me a kind of genuine warmth and support that I never knew existed, and above all loved me just as I am. He never asks that I be more or less than who I am and I don't expect anything different from him.

"I have had more fun at a ramen stand with him than I ever had at any of the fancy company parties. I would rather spend one day with him at his home than a week abroad without him. And if you can't accept our relationship then you will be sorely disappointed because I intend to stay with him as long as he will have me."

At this point Naruto's mouth had practically fallen to the floor. He had never heard Hinata be so forceful, even when her class was acting particularly unruly. She always had a quiet way of commanding respect so this was baffling to say the least.

He looked to Hiashi, sure that he was going to be pissed. Instead, the older man was practically expressionless aside from his pursed lips. Finally Hinata's father opened his mouth to speak.

"Very well, I can see that this young man has had quite an effect on you."

Next, something happened that shocked the entire table: Hiashi smiled.

"I am glad you found someone who has made you so happy. I have never seen this side of you before and I want you to know I am very proud of you."

Hinata's eyes widened in shock at those words, having only ever heard them once before in her life. Naruto could see that she was about to cry and rushed to her, taking her in his arms and crushing her to him as if she was his lifeline.

She was usually so quiet, so shy that he hadn't realized that she felt just as strongly about him as he did about her. She was always quick to say she loved him back and certainly did anything she could to take care of him, but hearing that speech from her was like a switch flipping in his head.

It was definitely time to talk to his mom about using her mother's engagement ring. The Uzumaki heirloom was special and he had been waffling on the decision for a few weeks, uncharacteristically afraid of a negative answer from the woman he loved so much. Now, however, he was certain that it was the right thing to do. The only thing he had left to worry about was getting permission from her father, but after tonight he was determined to make it happen.

He hadn't realized that he had been spacing out until he felt Hinata's soft hand on his cheek and looked down, giving her a smile that never failed to make her cheeks flush and knees weak, before kissing her fully on the mouth.

When someone cleared their throat, he couldn't even manage to feel sheepish about their display of affection, he was just so damn happy. He had not been feeling himself this whole time, but her speech had brought him back. Her family was going to like him, whether they wanted to or not, and he was going to spend the rest of his life making Hinata happy.