Please see first chapter for disclaimer, rating, warnings, pairings, etc.

Special Thanks: goes out to MuffinMan9223, Tamani, ToadetteGirl2012, wolf-enzeru, Break Blade, Guest, ImCutePoison, Dani Stark, DivineGlory, Melanieciel, Sasukexhinataxoc, HeavenlySwirl, oCloudNine, and XxMelony-kunXx for all your reviews! Also thanks to everyone who's added this to their favorites and follows lists!

Author's Note: At last, some answers! In this chapter, we finally get to find out the root of the tension Sasuke holds toward Itachi and Temari. Also, some fun at the wedding reception! Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy this chapter!

*~Chapter XIII~*

~Fracture~

Through the meal and the speeches, Hinata managed to avoid her cousin. Though they were sitting at the same table, thankfully Tenten was between them. She and Neji kept each other occupied enough Hinata felt reasonably sure they could have been sitting in a nightclub and not have noticed the strobe lights and ear-piercing music. The fact their wedding had just taken place in the Hyuuga gardens thankfully seemed to have slipped both their minds.

In fact, Hinata started to let herself think she was off the hook. Relaxing back into her seat, she took a sip of her wine and smiled at the full room. The wedding had been an intimate affair, with only family and their closest friends (and their immediate families) in attendance. The reception was only slightly larger, including Neji's coworkers from the hospital where he worked as an ER doctor, and Tenten's fellow employees from the antique shop.

After the speeches were finished, the band set up in the adjoining room switched from playing background music to dance tunes, and the dancing began. Hinata stood on the sidelines with the rest of the attendants as Neji and Tenten waltzed around the dance floor alone, moving seamlessly and beautifully together.

For the second song, the attendants joined in. Hinata felt the butterflies in her stomach flutter up into her throat as she placed her hand in Naruto's strong, tanned one, her own small and pale in comparison as he hurried them toward the dance floor. The song started, and her blond escort enthusiastically swung her around the floor, grinning exuberantly. It wasn't a particularly fast song, but Hinata admired the way he energetically threw himself into it.

"You know," Naruto said conversationally after a couple of turns, "I thought Neji was joking when he called me and said the wedding was being moved to your dad's place. It was such a last-minute thing, I thought he couldn't be serious. But what do you know? There we all were. It was so nice of your old man to offer the place, Hinata."

Hinata smiled thinly. "Yes, it was, wasn't it?" Her father hadn't done a nice thing just because since... Well, Hinata wasn't sure he ever had. He always had ulterior motives for his ulterior motives, and this one had been a real doozy. "I'm glad everything worked out all right." And she really was. Although a few times she'd started to wonder.

They spun past Neji and Tenten, and Hinata caught her cousin's eye. He looked at her with that we will talk expression she was quite familiar with, and she fought the urge to cringe. She'd hoped to avoid the unpleasantness of such a conversation.

For more than just that reason, she wished she could dance with Naruto for the rest of the evening. But unfortunately, the song ended far too soon. Neji claimed her, and Naruto snagged Sakura and took her spinning off. Fortunately, this song had a little faster tempo.

The song played for a few moments, and Neji and Hinata danced smoothly for a few steps before he finally spoke. "I know why Uncle let us have the wedding at the house," he said.

Hinata couldn't tell by the expression on his face whether he was pleased or upset. "It wasn't fair for you and Tenten to have your wedding inside when you'd been looking forward to having an outdoor wedding for so many years. It was a beautiful day. It wasn't like it was raining, or even cloudy!"

"Please don't misunderstand me: Tenten and I will be forever grateful for what you did for us. But I know what the price must have been, considering. You agreed to let Hanabi move in with you, didn't you?" Neji's eyes were neither disapproving nor angry, but she sensed the coolness in his demeanor. However, she knew it was not meant for her, and reacted accordingly.

"Yes, I did." Why try to deny it? "But look at it this way; I have an entire week to myself before she moves in a week from today."

"Just enough of a taste of freedom to get addicted before it's yanked cruelly away," Neji predicted darkly. Hinata had heard he possessed the best bedside manner in the hospital; she always privately thought he made up for it in his personal life. He'd always seen things from a slightly more pessimistic view than she. And, for that matter, Hanabi.

Fortunately, Tenten had enough optimism to hold them both afloat.

"That's what I'm afraid of." The words slipped out of Hinata's mouth before she could stop them. When Neji looked at her with just a hint of I told you so in his eyes, she sighed. "I know, I know. Believe me, I completely understand what I'm getting myself into. But it's totally worth it, for you and Tenten to get the wedding of your dreams." And it wasn't like Hanabi could move in more than once. Right?

Then again, if anyone could manage it, it would be her little sister...

Neji escorted her to the edge of the floor and bowed just as the song ended. "Thank you, Hinata. For everything." He kissed her cheek, then went to steal (rescue?) his wife from Rock Lee's overly enthusiastic dancing.

She sighed as she watched the newlyweds go back to dancing together. They truly did make a handsome couple. She was glad she'd been able to do something to make their special day everything they'd hoped it would be.

And if she lost her freedom in the deal - well, it was worth it.

Hopefully.

Despite his best efforts to the contrary, Sasuke once again ran into his sister-in-law alone in the kitchen. He felt tempted just to turn around and walk right back out, but the movement of him in the doorway caught her eye; he couldn't leave without looking like a coward. Or like he was avoiding her.

Both of which were true. But Sasuke had a feeling Itachi wouldn't appreciate his wife being treated in such a way.

Sasuke couldn't force himself to smile, but at least he kept himself from grimacing. That was a point in his favor, he supposed. "Is there anything in particular you needed?"

Temari, who held yet another bottle of water in her hand, shook her head. "I was just thirsty." She flipped the bottle cap through the fingers of her free hand, teal eyes watching her action with unnatural absorbtion. "I didn't want to come, you know," she said abruptly.

Sasuke, who had just leaned into the fridge and reached for an orange, cracked his head hard enough to see stars and let out a curse, he came out again so fast. "What?" He'd gotten the impression Temari didn't want to be in the house and around him, obviously, but he never thought she'd come out and say so to his face.

Pink crept up her neck and into her cheeks. "It's probably not for the reason you think," she said defensively. Setting aside the cap, Temari drained the last of the water before continuing. "I'm not an idiot. I could tell you didn't like me the first time Itachi introduced us."

"And you like me?" Sasuke continued to rub the throbbing, developing knot on the back of his head as he raised his eyebrows in disbelief.

A wry grin twiched up the corners of Temari's lips. "Not really," she said, with a little laugh. "To be honest, you get on my nerves. But I know the feeling is mutual. And at least we both love Itachi, which helps us get along every now and then."

He lifted the hand not cradling his head in agreement.

"Besides, needling you is always a source of geat amusement for me." Temari grinned again, then allowed it to fade away. "But no, that's not the reason why I didn't want to come. To be perfectly frank, I knew you wouldn't want us here. Not right now."

Sasuke knew, even before Itachi told him so, that he would share everything with Temari, simply becuase she was his wife. But hearing proof of it made him feel almost angry. In some ways, family secrets should stay that way - especially considering how many black ones the Uchiha family tree had grown. "I've never pretended to be a good host. But I'll never turn away family." Especially not Karura. He put up with his brother and sister-in-law so he could spend time with her. He needed to enjoy every last second of his time with her, because several years would probably pass before he saw her again.

"Itachi banked on that fact." Temari pulled out one of the stools along the counter and perched on it, setting down her empty bottle so she could play with her cap with both hands. Her deep pink painted nails gleamed with a satiny light. "I can't tell you how hard it was for him to decide to call you. He sat on the bed for almost two hours, just staring at the phone. The first time he voiced the doubt that coming was a bad idea, I thought he was talking to me. It didn't take me long to realize he was arguing with himself."

Well, at least that partially explained why, exactly, the call had come so late at night. The time difference between England and America notwithstanding, of course. "Obviously he eventually made up his mind to call."

"Obviously," Temari agreed. "But it wasn't easy. He thought you'd turn us all away, which I silently agreed was probably true. He also thought you might ban us from the premises forever, which I privately thought was probably not true. I know the only reason why you're tolerating us being here is because of Karura." She tilted her head to the side and smiled in a way only a proud mother can achieve. "I admit she kind of has a way of getting people to like her without much effort."

Karura indeed had a gift. Even Sasuke, who would much rather spend his time with the characters he made up for his books than a real person, loved every second spent with his niece. "I didn't like the idea at first - your coming, I mean. But now that you're here..." He trailed off. On a day like today, haunted by so many ghosts and memories, it was nice not to be alone. July nineteenth of this year had, on the whole, been a better day than ones in years past.

"Please don't stay angry at Itachi forever," Temari whispered. She must have felt Sasuke's sharp, surprised look, since her face was turned away and she couldn't see it. She dipped her head. "He never meant to hurt you, Sasuke."

"Why doesn't he tell me that himself, then?" Sasuke stiffened his jaw, wishing he hadn't asked a question to which he didn't want to know the answer.

Temari looked at him, in surprise this time. "He didn't think you'd listen." She tilted her head slightly. "To be honest, I'm surprised you're even listening to me."

Sasuke flexed his hands at his sides simply for something to do. Otherwise, he had a feeling he might start throwing things, punching things, or a combination of both. "If he never meant to hurt me, he shouldn't have left only a year - to the day - after our parents died." The words spit out from between his teeth in sharp, short bursts interspersed with unsteady breaths.

His sister-in-law's teal eyes sparked slightly. "You're not the only one who was hurting," she said, her voice a little sharp. "Think about it, Sasuke. You kept insisting you wanted nothing more than to be alone - you'd been doing that for years, even before your parents died in that plane crash. Seriously, what else was Itachi supposed to do? Staying here made him miserable, and he thought it made you miserable, too."

He winced, even though he tried to contain it. Temari was right, as much as he hated to admit it. He had kept pushing Itachi away, insisting he'd rather be alone. But he hadn't wanted his brother to leave, not really. Especially not on the first anniversary of the crash which changed their lives forever.

But he was stubborn, and Itachi was too, though not quite to the same extent. "Can I ask you a question, Temari?"

Those watchful eyes narrowed. Temari pulled her head back a little in obvious suspicion. "What?" she asked warily.

"Why did you quit tennis when you did?" Sasuke held up one hand when Temari's eyes and mouth opened in startlement, forestalling her answer. "I'm not talking about the reason you gave the press. And I'm not saying I don't believe that reason, or don't think it's true. But I want the whole truth, and I don't think that's it."

Temari slowly closed her mouth, her gaze turning from suspicion to thoughtfulness. "Most of it is why I said: I was tired of traveling all over the world all the time, only spending a few days here and there at home. Itachi was with me most of the time, naturally, but it wasn't really a life. And there was no way we could have children while I continued to play tennis. I would have to leave them too long, or drag them out everywhere with me after my maternity leave was over. And that wasn't good for said children, Itachi, or me."

When she paused, Sasuke remained silent. He could tell she was trying to figure out the best way to say what she wanted to next.

At last, Temari continued - hesitantly at first, then with growing confidence. "I was twenty-seven years old. I'd been playing tennis since I was old enough to get the ball over the net; I'd been playing professionally since I was sixteen. I'd won four career Grand Slams, and everyone said I was at the top of my game." She finally allowed the bottle cap to fall from her hands onto the counter, and she looked directly at Sasuke as she finished. "I did want a family. But deep down inside, there was something I didn't want more. I was a coward, because I didn't want to watch my career - my ability to win - start going downhill."

Sasuke had suspected that was the reason, but hadn't actually had the courage to ask before now. His hands unconsciously curled into fists at his side, because he could understand her reasoning, feel it resonating so powerfully inside him in a thousand ways he didn't want it to do.

"I've watched my peers from both women's and men's tennis hit the pinnacle of their career - and then start a downhill slide. But they still keep playing, and sliding, and suddenly the accolades they received before turn into admonitions. 'She should stop because she can't keep up with the younger generation of players coming up through the ranks,' everyone says. Or, 'He used to be great, but now he's mediocre at best.'" Temari blinked rapidly. For a moment, she looked so haunted, almost frightened, before her usual calm, assured mask settled back into place. "I didn't want to be like that. I wanted to quit while I was ahead, at the top of my game, coming off an undefeated season. I wanted to go out on my terms, when everyone knew me as one of the great players, and admired me. I wanted to go out with a bang, not a whimper." She looked at him uncertainly, one side of her mouth twisted; in self-derision or self-defense, he didn't know.

Sasuke remembered Jiraiya's words, and all the feelings which had accompanied hearing them. He'd never intended to quit at the pinnacle of his career. But at the same time, the idea of going on a downhill slide and watching his abilities diminish, his fan base turn on him... His palms went slick suddenly as the hair on the back of his neck prickled forebodingly. Did he have another novel in him? Let alone more than just one more novel? He didn't know. Wasn't even sure he wanted to find out.

Temari propped the heel of her right foot on the seat of her stool and rested her chin on it. "You know something?" she asked. Without waiting for Sasuke to respond, she went on. "I didn't have the courage to face such a thing. But that was me. You know that old saying, 'Courage is not the absence of fear, but the ability to face it head-on and continue regardless'? I didn't have any courage when push came to shove. I couldn't even admit to the whole world my entire reason for quitting when I did." Standing, she tossed her empty bottle in the recycle bin next to the kitchen door then came to stand in front of Sasuke, staring him right in the eye and holding his gaze so he couldn't look away. "You might think you're a coward, Sasuke. But I know you're not. You've got far more strength than you realize. Strength to face Itachi, your fans, your agent, your next book." A wry grin kicked up one corner of her mouth, and she winked. "And with Itachi, me, your agent, and your fans behind you - eh, I think you can do it." She squeezed his shoulder on the way past him out of the kitchen, leaving Sasuke standing frozen between the counter and fridge.

It was the most civil conversation he'd ever had with his sister-in-law. When he first met her, he'd seen so many of the things he hated in himself in Temari, making him dislike her all the more strongly. But now...

Now, Temari had told him something he knew she'd not shared with many people - if any, even Itachi. He could tell she didn't regret leaving tennis when she did, but she regretted some of her reasons. She'd offered him a chance to learn from her mistakes, to keep from following in her footsteps and repeating them.

It was a gift unlike any he'd ever received before, and one he knew he certainly didn't deserve.

Sucking in a a lungful of air, Sasuke drew deeply from his hidden reserve of courage and went to face his brother. It was way past time for them to have a long, serious talk.

*~To Be Continued~*

Author's Ending Notes: Poor Hinata. But, at the same time, I love how selfless she is, giving up her much-desired freedom so her cousin and best friend could have the wedding of their dreams. And I love, love, love the backstory in this chapter in Sasuke's scene. A lot of the tension between Sasuke and Temari is from his side - because he sees too many similarities between them, and doesn't like it. And it was such a difficult situation, back when Sasuke and Itachi's parents died, and though neither one really handled it the way they should have, they did the best they could at the time. Next chapter we'll get some time with the brothers, and a much-needed conversation. Also, I know a lot of people said they were looking forward to the wedding, but it kind of felt like I'd be rehashing something that has been done to death if I wrote the actual ceremony. So I'm sorry you didn't get to see the wedding itself - but I hope you liked the scene at the reception! One last thing - a lot of people have been asking when Sasuke and Hinata will encounter each other again - and the answer is chapter 15! So just one more chapter between now and then. I know they haven't seen each other in a few, but everything that is happening in these intervening chapters is important to the story and can't be skipped. Please bear with me, guys, I promise it'll be worth it in the end. Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and I hope to see you again for next week's update!