This Christmas

By: Jaylonni Love

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

The bun haired kunoichi smiled as she danced around the living room of her apartment, hanging tensile on the wall by the nails she had so skillfully placed up about an hour before. Soft melodies of Christmas carols played through the speakers of her stereo as she hummed along with them. The smell of fresh gingerbread cookies and red velvet cakes wafted through the apartment, giving it an inviting aroma.

Tomorrow was Christmas and she had only recently returned from a two week mission the day before, thus she had just started setting up the place that morning.

Once she had finished hanging her tensile, she took a step back, placing her hands on her hips as she admired her handy work with a large grin tugging at the corners of her mouth. Everything had to be perfect. It was her turn to host the annual Konoha Eleven Christmas party and she wanted to make sure everything was in order for the festivities that night.

"I think that looks good," she said before she turned her attention to the four foot tall pine tree she had retrieved right before she set off for her mission. "Now for the tree."

Carefully setting it on the stand that was held on the end table, she went to the closet to retrieve her decorations. Pulling out set upon set of beautiful Christmas ornaments, the kunoichi pulled them over to the tree and left them, returning to the closet to retrieve her lights.

Once she had found them after moving a few things around, she set about adding them to the tree, starting from the top and working her way down to the bottom after spending about twenty minutes untangling them all. Once she managed to get the brightly coloured lights on the tree, she turned to the ornaments that rested by her feet. Gingerly placing the fragile decorations on the tree's branches, she continued to hum and smile.

A little over four hours passed before she had finally finished decorating the tree with ornaments and candy canes as well as some tensile and strings of popcorn. Taking a step back, she held her hands up as if they were a camera to admire the outcome of her hard work.

"It's perfect," she whispered, smiling to herself. "Absolutely perfect."

She placed her fists on her hips, giving a satisfied sigh before she glanced over at the clock that already read seven thirty. Her guests would be arriving in about an hour and a half.

Turning she went into the kitchen to check on the food she had spent most of the night before and the morning preparing. Satisfied that everything was in order, she turned to make her way to her bedroom to grab the gifts she had bought everyone.

Once she had everyone's present, she made her way back into the living room, carefully arranging them around the tree. Once she finished, she returned to her room once more to get ready for the upcoming night. She couldn't wait.

…

The first knocks on her door were heard at exactly nine. She knew that could be no one but Neji, Hinata, and a very reluctant Naruto who had been dragged along with the two cousins. Neji was always punctual she had learned over all the years she'd known him, and anyone who traveled with him had to be as well. Opening the door, the bun haired kunoichi greeted her guests happily before letting them in.

"Wow," Naruto said looking around the apartment at all the Christmas décor that was assembled. "This place looks amazing TenTen!" The blonde turned to grin at the brunette, "You outdid yourself!"

Said brunette giggled as she moved to the kitchen to begin bringing out all of the food that would serve everyone that night, "Thank you Naruto. I just set it all up today."

"Today," Hinata asked softly as she admired the Christmas tree, setting the gifts the three had brought with them around it where TenTen had placed hers. "It looks really good to only have been done today. But… you should have asked for help. I would have been more than happy to lend a hand."

"That wouldn't have been necessary Hinata," TenTen said as she shot a bright smile at the younger Hyūga over her shoulder as she placed the main dish on the table, "Thank you. I'm glad that you like it."

Hinata gave a shy smile as she pulled away from the tree to answer another round of knocks that rapped against the door. Opening it, she smiled when she saw Ino, Sakura, Shino, and Shikamaru standing there before stepping to the side to let them in.

"Wow," Ino chimed as she looked around the living room holding an armful of plastic bags that held her gifts in them. "This place looks amazing!"

"Why thank you Ino," TenTen said, returning to the kitchen for the last time and coming back with the deserts with help from Neji and Naruto.

"Where do we put these," Sakura asked holding up her own bundle of gifts.

TenTen pointed toward the Christmas tree, "You can set them all over there."

She looked over at the door when she heard the knock on the door. Knowing that it had to be her last few guests, she placed what she was holding down on the table before making her way over. Opening the door, she smiled when she saw the last three guests had arrived. "Hi guys, glad you could make it."

She stepped to the side to let Choji, Kiba, and Lee in before closing the door behind them. Directing them to place their packages under the tree, she made her way back to the table the food was placed to make sure that everything was there. Satisfied, she clapped her hands together calling everyone's attention to her.

"Well," TenTen started with a smile, "Let's get this party started, hm?"

…

After about several hours of laughing, eating, and singing along (horribly– Naruto, Shikamaru, and Kiba) to the Christmas carols, and opening gifts that they had brought for one another, everyone occupied the living room, drinking eggnog (none-alcoholic for Lee since they learned the first year they had done this three years ago that he had a knack for losing his mind whenever the tiniest bit of alcohol made it into his system), talking about plans for the upcoming year.

Neji, who had been even quieter than usual, sat listening to everyone, waiting for the perfect moment to steal his kunoichi away from the crowd so that he could speak to her in private. That moment came as soon as everyone had moved on to a subject he knew TenTen didn't quite feel comfortable talking about. Seeing his opportunity, the Hyūga stood and placed a hand on her shoulder before signaling for her to follow him.

The twenty four year old did, quickly following after her boyfriend of four years out of the room, leaving everyone else to talk about the topic at hand.

After successfully separating themselves from the rest of the group, the kunoichi smiled as she leaned against her boyfriend's side happily. "What was it you wanted to talk to me about?"

She knew him well enough to know that when he separated themselves from the group, there was usually something that he wanted to tell her. He had done the same thing four years earlier when he had first asked her out.

Swallowing the lump in his throat, Neji reached into the pocket of his robes, pulling out something small that was easily concealed by his large hand. TenTen blinked. That couldn't have been what she thought it was, could it?

Her thoughts were confirmed when she saw him take her hand as he lowered himself to one knee. Then he spoke calmly as he opened his hand to reveal a beautiful single stone engagement ring, "TenTen, will you do me the honour of becoming my wife."

The tears that flowed of their own accord could not be stopped as she nodded her head before shouting, "Yes!"

Almost instantly everyone had rushed to where the couple had retreated to see TenTen practically jump into Neji's arms and kiss him soundly. It was seconds later that she released him and allowed him to slip the ring on her finger.

"Congratulations," came a chorus of voices from behind them, making the newly engaged couple turn to look at their friends.

TenTen couldn't help the grin that split her face. This had to be the best Christmas of her entire life.

Song: This Christmas

Artist: Chris Brown

Album: This Christmas Soundtrack

Originally this one was going to be a marriage since I thought of my sister and brother-in-law who got married on Christmas 3 years ago. But decided to make it an engagement instead. I do have plans for a wedding one-shot though that goes along with this one so no worries. So, lemme know how you all liked it. Also, sorry it's late, but I made it before Christmas was over in the East Coast. Feliz Navidad darlings~!