FINALLY! Writers block be gone! I can finally write again! No school to hinder the process either! We can finally progress once more. Here, beloved people, is the new chapter. Short but here none the less.

Chapter 19

After an entire week of the hospital and his mother's fussing, Sasuke was happy that he was finally going to be released. He was finally putting on some of his clothes that had been brought over for him. This was the moment he had been waiting for since he woke up in the hospital.

Another low part of his stay was that Hinata didn't come to visit once after that first time. She was obviously still angry with him. He couldn't blame her though. He wouldn't want to talk to him either. He had been particularly vicious. He had hurt her immensely, it hurt them both. He hadn't wanted to do it but it felt like the right thing to do even if it would've hurt them both. That had been the reasoning behind it all. Hinata had come around and changed it and now he had a second chance. He most definitely was not going to mess this up. Not a second time.

The only problem now was if Hinata would pay him any attention. There was no way he could push her. Sure she said, indirectly, that she would take him back but she hadn't talked to him or anything since then so maybe she wasn't ready to see him yet. She had to make the first move or he might just mess up everything all over again. He wasn't sure he could live with that.

"Sasuke." Itachi called just as Sasuke had finish pulling on his cargo pants with his good arm. His arm was still in a cast. He looked up and over to his brother who was leaned in the doorway to his hospital room. Why had they sent him to pick him up? "Ready?"

"Um... Shoelace?" Sasuke said looking down at the shoes on the floor by his socked feet. He had been able to pull them on one handed but how did these people expect him to tie his laces with one hand. He was skilled but not that kind of skilled. He was irritated and embarrassed to think he had to ask his brother for help. For help? He blushed slightly when he saw the evil smirk that Itachi showed him but his brother said nothing as he approached him. He motioned for him to sit on the bed before kneeling before him to put the shoes on and tie the laces. It was embarrassing. Especially with the smirk that wouldn't leave Itachi's face as he worked. He felt like he was four again. Back then Itachi used to always tie his laces like this.

"Adorable little invalid." Itachi teased as he finished the second shoe. Sasuke glared at him. They both stood and Sasuke followed Itachi out of the room. They had checked out and were almost to the car when he spoke again. "We're going on a trip tomorrow."

"Trip?" Sasuke asked. Itachi had driven their mother's car that Sasuke usually drove, to pick him up.

"Vacation trip." Itachi told him. Sasuke nodded. Their family went on these kinds of trips sometimes. "It's to help you 'recuperate'."

"How long will we be gone? I still have to check the cast over the holidays."

"About a week. We'll be back for Christmas." his brother told him. Sasuke nodded. That would be alright. "It's a joint trip. Kisame is coming. Can you believe dad didn't want to take him? I had to pay for his ticket."

"Why wouldn't he want to pay for Kisame?" Sasuke asked confused. Their father usually took Kisame with them even if it was merely to please Itachi and Mikoto, mostly Mikoto.

"Apparently he was already paying for enough people even though he didn't have to pay for them."

"Who else is coming?" Sasuke asked eyeing Itachi with suspicion.

"The Hyuga's." Itachi said coolly.

'Oh shit.' was Sasuke's first thought Itachi smirked at him. 'What am I going to do?'

XXXXX

Neji had no special thoughts on the trip but Hinata was acting a little weird lately. A little closed off if you asked him. He figured that it was because Sasuke had been in the hospital and she was just worrying too much about him. Hanabi was excited for the trip. He would have to keep an eye on her when they were there. He would have to be the one making sure that she didn't do anything stupid.

Now to play the part of a drill sergeant. His and Hiashi's bags were already in the hall. Hiashi was having a talk with the person that would be looking after the house. Neji jogged up the stairs and into Hanabi's room to see her still deliberating on which shirt to wear. He rolled his eyes and put one back into the closet telling her to wear the other one and get out of the room.

He found Hinata in her room already dressed and ready. She was just standing there staring out through the window lost in her own thoughts. She was so still she almost seemed like a statue except for her breathing. Something was obviously bothering her. He approached her slowly.

"Hinata?" he asked when he was close enough to gently rest a hand on her shoulder. She jolted slightly before looking at her. She looked troubled. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." she answered looking away from his concerned gaze. "Just worried."

Neji eyed her a moment before pulling her to him and wrapping his arms around her in a hug. Her head rested in the crook of his neck. She was surprised that he was actually trying to comfort her with more than just a pat. "He's alright you know."

He didn't know everything but the gesture was enough for Hinata to relax against him and hug him back. He knew her enough to know she was bothered and offer her comfort. She wished she could tell him everything without it resulting in more broken bones. Neji was her brother in everything but blood and so would definitely go on the attack if he knew about the break-up.

"He'll be fine." he told her trying to make her feel better. She gave him one more squeeze before leaning away.

"I know." she told him and smiled at him.

"Good. Now let's go." he said releasing her and taking her suitcase. She smiled and followed him out of the room.

"Children! Move! Now!" Hiashi called from downstairs.

"Coming!" Hanabi called back as she came rushing out of her room lugging her bag behind her. She was half-way down the stairs in the next moment. Neji and Hinata followed her down and out into the waiting car. Their chauffeur for the trip packed the suitcases into the trunk as they got into the car. Hiashi looked them over as they each got in before getting into the passenger seat. They drove in almost complete silence until they got to the airport.

The moment Hinata saw the Uchihas her heart clenched. How Sasuke still manages to look good with a cast and a slightly bothered look was beyond her. It was not fair that he should look good when she was still angry with him. There was a reason she hadn't visited him in the hospital.

It was just her luck that they ended up sitting beside each other for the plane ride. Sitting beside him she became aware that he was actually nervous. She probably wouldn't have realised that had she been elsewhere but that didn't mean she was going to talk to him just yet. It wasn't time yet. She had talked with Ten-ten and Temari about the whole break-up thing, everything about it but not too much about the gang business. Temari had offered to off him instantly while Ten-ten had sat in shock for a moment. They had calmed down after Hinata had explained to them the reasons but they both agreed that she shouldn't forgive him that easily. As if she would. It had hurt too badly to just let him off the hook. She would stand firm in her promise to find a way to help him and after a while she would eventually go back on conditions of course. 'No lies' was on the top of that list. That was business for later though for the moment she was content to ignore Sasuke and hold an odd but highly entertaining conversation with Tobi who was sitting across the aisle from her. If Sasuke was feeling slighted he hid it well.

They arrived at their vacation destination to warm temperature and the promise of lots of water even though at the moment it was night time. After checking into the hotel they would be staying in and found their rooms Hinata flung herself into the bed she had chosen in the room that she was sharing with Hanabi. The flight had tired her out so much she just wanted to fall asleep right then.

"I can't wait to go to the beach!" Hanabi exclaimed pulling Hinata out of her half asleep state. They were already lying in their respective beds. Hinata marvelled at the fact that Hanabi had had the energy to actually change her clothes.

"Me too." Hinata answered sleepily.

"And the guys. You're lucky you have Sasuke." Hanabi continued and Hinata froze. Some luck she had. "He's cool, handsome, smart and not a complete moron like the guys at my school. Plus he actually likes you!"

"Yea." Hinata said with a sigh. She did not want to have this talk now. Not about Sasuke.

"Well. Much flirting for me tomorrow. No vacation is complete without it." Hanabi said with a yawn. Hinata could hear her moving around in her bed. "Night Hinata."

"Good night." Hinata answered and the room became silent. Hinata was quiet for a moment before finally falling asleep.

XXXXX

The next day began with group breakfast. Everyone was present and enjoying the breakfast buffet. They were all seated around one large table that could seat all ten of them. Mikoto and Fugaku were engaged in their own conversation ignoring everyone else even though Mikoto sometimes put extra food in Sasuke's plate. Hanabi was being annoyed to no end by Tobi's constant talking. Hiashi was busy on his IPad working and Neji was talking with Sasuke about football (soccer) and how long it would be before Sasuke could be in a game again. Kisame and Itachi were engaging Hinata in a conversation about speed boats and engines that she knew nothing about but it was interesting to listen to. It was better when they finally switched to cars; that she knew about. She was friends with the Sabaku's and lived with Neji, of course she knew about cars.

After breakfast Hinata went with Kisame to the beach and Sasuke tagged along behind them. Itachi went to the pool alone while Neji and Hanabi went exploring. Fugaku, Mikoto and Hiashi went back to their separate rooms: Hiashi to work and Fugaku and Mikoto for other business. Tobi had simply disappeared.

Sasuke laid himself out on a lounge/lawn chair in the sand with the towels and beach bags. Hinata and Kisame had left their things with him before the older male chased Hinata down to the water. Sasuke was not pleased but there wasn't much he could do about it anyway, she was still angry at him. He wasn't supposed to get the cast wet either so the sand it was. Preferably in shade. He wasn't fooling himself that attempting to tan out there would work for him. He was better off pale with no sun burn. Hinata should be fine sine he had, had the pleasure of watching Kisame apply her sunscreen for her. He had never been more irritated with the man, however he only had one hand that could help with that and that wouldn't have been much help at all.

As things were Hinata was having fun. With Kisame and not him. But still having fun. Sasuke pulled out his literature book from school and started reading. He might as well torture himself.

It was little over an hour later when Itachi joined him in his shades area. He took one look at the book in Sasuke's hand and scowled.

"You're kidding right?" he stated not really expecting an answer. His brother shrugged.

"Where have you been?" Sasuke asked.

"Busy collecting dates." Itachi answered and Sasuke raised a brow at him. "Tomorrow I now have Sara for breakfast, Angelita for after breakfast, Alisha for lunch, Galinea for after lunch, you for dinner and Bianca for after dinner. It goes like that for another day and a half."

"Wow." was Sasuke's only comment.

"I have been busy."

"Do any of these girls have boyfriends?"

"Does it matter?"

"If they are here."

"If they are here and their girlfriends are going out with me obviously they are doing something wrong and their relationship is toast."

"And if this is a plea for attention and for their bf to smash some guys face in?"

"Then they picked the wrong guy."

"Over confident much." Sasuke groused.

"Confident is just fine." Itachi answered lying back and putting his sunglasses on.

"If they have a gang."

"It's a hotel nobody takes an entire gang to a hotel, little brother."

"Brothers. Multiple brothers." Sasuke persisted.

"Then I have Kisame and I'm sure your feet are working fine enough to kick a few."

Sasuke couldn't fault that logic.

XXXXX

Two days later found Hinata lying in the she shade by the beach staring out at the water and listening to her iPod. Sasuke had finally decided to take in some sun and was sitting on the sand near by the water. His cast free hand was playing around in the wet sand.

As she watched him she began to think if what she could do to help. She had been thinking about it ever since she had visited him in the hospital and told him they would find a way to deal with Hebi. She couldn't think of anything that could help.

She was still stick in thought when the words of the song she was listening to finally reached her: 'I wish I was strong enough to lift not one but both of us.'

Then she had an idea that spread a smile across her face. A brilliant idea that would not be accepted gladly but it was now stuck in her head. That Sasuke looked away from the water and towards her did not stop it from seeping into the very crevice of her mind. This was it.

She had to plan.

The song referenced is Both of us -B.O.B ft. Taylor swift