A/N: When I told you I loved season themed stories, I wasn't kidding. Besides this one, I think have one more season piece in the works. Bear with me as I go through this phase.

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

…

It is August when she first meets him. Tenten is fidgeting with her skirt as she rides the elevator up to the nineteenth floor. It is her first day as a secretary in the Hyuuga Corp. and she has been instructed to act and dress professionally. She has been told that her first day will consist mostly of learning how to work the ropes and running down the street to grab coffee orders. It seems manageable, but Tenten has the tendency of making things harder than they have to be.

She cannot stop staring when he enters the elevator on the tenth floor. Neji is tall and handsome with his mane of dark hair, structured jaw, and broad shoulders. The scent of his cologne fills the air. She watches as his lilac eyes flash in annoyance as he takes a glance at his wristwatch. "Running late?"

She regrets opening her mouth and is just about to apologize when he fixes his gaze on her. "Unfortunately yes (his eyes narrow). I take it you are the new secretary." Tenten nods mutely, afraid of saying anything that might get her fired.

"Your name?"

"Tenten."

"Neji. I have heard you will be working with Lee. He is in charge of keeping all legal paperwork in order."

"O-okay." He exits on the thirteenth floor, sparing her a nod before the doors close. Tenten slowly exhales, ears burning red.

In September they move from nods to small talk.

"How have you been adjusting to your work?" Neji asks, taking a sip of his coffee. Tenten smoothens her skirt and smiles.

"I've been doing fine, thank you. How have you been?"

"Busy," he tells her, running a hand through his hair. "I'm getting engaged." Something inside Tenten coils and burns at the news.

"Congratulations!" She forces a smile. Neji is alarmingly proficient at reading people, but Tenten is a better actress.

With a "thank you" he exits the elevator. Tenten's brows furrow as she stares after him. This is not like her.

"I have something for you!" Tenten exclaims as soon as Neji steps into the elevator. She pulls out a bag of fun size Butterfingers and presents them to him with a "Happy Halloween!"

The male wrinkles his nose and shakes his head. "I don't like sweets." It's October and Tenten is no longer afraid of the man (especially not after everything Lee has told her) and she has shaken off the news of his engagement.

"Lee told me they're your favorite." She shakes the bag, tempting him. He smirks and lets out a deep chuckle.

"Tell Lee that he and I will be having a talk." With that he takes the bag and rips it open in one graceful movement. He hands her a couple and stuffs the rest in his briefcase. Bidding her a nice day, he takes his leave.

Tenten grins.

It is November when they talk about the Hyuuga's engagement again. Tenten feels old wounds reopen.

"Any plans for Thanksgiving?" Tenten asks, surprising him with a cup of his favorite roast of coffee. He takes a sip before answering.

"Dinner with my fiancé's family." Neji's lips twist at the idea.

"You don't seem very excited."

"My fiancé isn't exactly the type of person I envisioned myself marrying. But the marriage is arranged and at this point, nothing can be done to change it." The Hyuuga shrugs it off, but Tenten can see no light in his eyes.

"And you? Do you have any plans?"

"Actually, Lee invited me over to his place for dinner and a movie marathon." Neji's eyes flash with a foreign emotion, but he nods.

Tenten wonders whether she should have kept her mouth shut.

In December, on the last day before the company closes for a brief winter break, Neji surprises Tenten with a gift. It is a simple necklace with a small gold heart pendant. Her eyes sparkle when she sees it and she proceeds to surprise him with a hug. His back hits the wall of the car and he stiffens.

"How did you know I wanted it?" she asks, pulling away. Neji is too intoxicated by her scent and blinks blankly for a moment, trying to get his thoughts in order.

"Lee told me," he finally responds. "He said you pointed it out to him when you went Christmas shopping together." The Hyuuga's tone is almost accusing and there is that foreign emotion flashing across his face again. Neji leaves the elevator so quickly she doesn't even have time to voice a proper thank you.

In January, Tenten is surprised when she finds all her things packed up in two boxes on her desk. Lying next to them is a note from Neji, telling her to report to his office immediately. In the elevator she marvels at his handwriting and runs a thumb across the paper. She decides she likes the way he writes her name.

She doesn't have to go down to his office for he greets her at the next stop of the car. Adrenaline pounds through her veins at the sight of him. She thinks she's going to be fired, but he tells her otherwise.

"I reviewed your performance notes and have decided that you shall be working in my office as my secretary from now on. I hope you don't have any objections." Tenten shakes her head and follows him mutely out of the elevator.

She knows this change has nothing to do with her performance and everything to do with Lee.

In February, he surprises her with roses on her desk. Something inside of her is telling her that this is wrong, that she shouldn't be entangling herself with an engaged man. That said man shouldn't be leading her on in the first place.

She confronts Neji about it in the elevator. His brows furrow as she finishes her rant. "Tenten," he says, with barely concealed anger," Did you even check the note on the flowers?"

The female blinks dumbly.

"How dare you accuse me of infidelity? They weren't from me. Those bloody roses were from Lee," he growls. Tenten's eyes are as wide as saucers and she is stunned speechless.

Neji gives her a cold glare and leaves her and her face full of tears alone in the car.

In March, Tenten decides to quit, but Lee beats her to it. Neji is furious with both of them. He lets Lee go, but he adamantly refuses to accept Tenten's resignation. The female storms to the elevator in tears. Neji is too late to follow. The doors of the car have already closed.

In April, Tenten is moved back down to the legal department. The rides in the elevator are awkward as neither she nor Neji look or speak to one another, at least not directly. Tenten is acutely aware of the Hyuuga's fleeting glances in her direction and the male in return knows she is watching him out of the corner of her eye.

"Let me go- mmph!" Tenten is roughly shoved against the wall of the car, Neji's lips on hers. She feels him press a piece of paper into her hand as he leaves a trail of hot searing kisses along her jaw.

"This is the address for my wedding," he explains hurriedly, his eyelashes tickling her skin. "Crash it."

Tenten freezes. She remembers now what month it is: May. He had told her a long time ago that his fiancé wanted to be married in May. "What?" she hisses.

"I don't want to marry her. I want to be with you. Crash my wedding."

Tenten grabs his face and looks him in the eyes. They are completely glossed over. "Are you crazy? What if your fiancé calls the police?"

"In that case, keep this with you. This is a formal invitation. They can't arrest you if you were supposed to be there."

"I can't do this."

"Yes you can. Please."

Tenten hesitates. Her heartbeats are loud to her ears and there is so much adrenaline pumping through her system. The look on Neji's face, the look of sheer desperation, is so riveting she can't turn away. "O-okay."

"Thank you."

It is June when they go on their first official date. Neji's uncle is furious with him, but lets the matter slide when he hears his ex-fiancé's family business is going under. The merger that would have occurred after their marriage had been a disaster avoided.

Neji asks her out in the elevator of course and informs her that Lee has been rehired as the head of the legal department. She smiles. She will be remaining under Lee for now. Neji doesn't seem to mind this and she thinks it's because the two men have patched things up. In truth it's because Lee has a new girlfriend.

In July they share popsicles in the elevator. Neji likes the orange ones and she likes the cherry. When it drips on her shirt, the Hyuuga snorts, but removes his coat and wraps it around her shoulders so as to cover the stain. She pecks him on the lips before he exits.

In August, when the world outside them begins to change, they remain the same, untouched by the tumultuous events of the previous year. They have gotten here, and that is all that matters.

…

A/N: This was supposed to be all fluff and not so soap opera like, but I am quite satisfied with the way it turned out.

I hope you enjoyed it! Thank you for reading and please review! Constructive criticism is always welcome.

~M.I.