Hinata closed his door behind her, but instead of crossing the room, she leaned against it. Gaara looked up at her, then at the clock. It was early for her to be coming in to see him. She pressed her lips together to hide a smile spreading. "Gaara?"

"Yes?" Gaara set his pen to the side.

"Do you know how to dance?" Hinata bit her lip to hide her amusement.

Cute.

"No," Gaara answered.

"Would you be willing to learn?" Hinata asked.

"Why?" Gaara came around his desk to lean on the front of it.

"Temari-chan planned for a first dance. It's a custom in Konoha weddings." Gaara raised a non-eyebrow, asking what that had to do with him. "The first dance is between the bride and groom."

"Oh." Gaara nodded in understanding. "I don't dance."

"I could teach you just for the wedding." Hinata offered.

"I'm not sure. I am the dancing type," Gaara felt an odd feeling he was becoming familiar with, embarrassment.

"It's just a slow dance. Temari-chan wants to do it because she's in the wedding party, and she wants to force Shikamaru-san on the floor." Hinata wanted to go through teaching him. This was important to her more than she was explaining.

"Okay," Gaara told her.

Hinata's face lit up like the sun in her namesake.

"Hand in mine and hand on my side," Hinata told him.

They stood in his room, robes lying on his bed, shoes by the door, for safety reasons, she said. Gaara placed his hand obediently. Hinata giggled, sliding his hand on her ribs down more toward her hip bone.

Hinata put a hand on his shoulder, resting her forearm to hover just inches away from the length of his upper arm. "This is for the more complex dance."

Gaara fumbled with the most basic of moves. He followed easily, but she couldn't teach without using the proper terms that he had no clue of the difference between.

On several occasions, Hinata lost balance going one way when he went the other. Gaara caught her each time, unbothered by the fumbling, but he was being laughed at. The dark chuckling was bringing out his utter annoyance.

"What's the other option?" Gaara finally asked as he set her back on her feet again.

Hinata placed his hand on her other hip. Sliding both hands up, locking them at the base of his neck, stepping closer to compensate for the shorter distance. Hinata was shorter than him, but not enough that this would be uncomfortable. "This is just a normal slow dance, not much moving, just some stepping back and forth."

"I much prefer this." Why wasn't this the first option?

"I thought you would." Hinata giggled. "I never danced a slow dance before," Hinata slid her hands from his neck but didn't step back, replacing them on his chest and closing the distance between their bodies.

Gaara curled his arms more fully around her back. His bare arm touched hers. Her skin was cold. Was she coming close for warmth? "What were the lessons for?"

"I've had to dance properly at weddings and events, and I've had to waltz and such, usually with Neji-san," Hinata explained. "But slow dances are usually between couples, and I never had the occasion." She laid her head on his collarbone.

"I see," Gaara lowered his head to her shoulder. The position was comfortable. Her skin was warming, as was his, and adding to the comfort, the headache he got from Baki's report was leaving him.

"Thank you," Hinata whispered into his shoulder.

"For what?" Gaara asked with a slight lift of his head.

"For marrying me." Hinata earned a light kiss on her shoulder and a tightening of his arms.

"You taught him to dance?" Temari asked, surprised.

"I think we're going for a simple slow dance if you don't mind. I'm not good at teaching. I stepped on him more because he didn't understand my instructions." Hinata explained.

"I'm just surprised he let you," Temari mumbled. "Well, Shikamaru can get his lazy ass on the floor with me for at least a few minutes."

"I'm sure you could get him out there for more than one dance," Hinata assured her.

"Have you met him?" Temari frowned sarcastically, throwing both girls into a fit of giggles.

Gaara looked at the time. Hinata was running late. She said she would be, but it still felt odd not to have her on the couch already. As if to answer his thoughts, there was a thunk on the door. He looked up in confusion as to why it wasn't a knock.

He waited, but no one came in. Sand opened it with a swish of his hand.

Temari stood with an unconscious Hinata resting in her arms. His first reaction was fear. "Calm down," Temari hushed. "She fell asleep and a lot heavier than she looks."

Gaara took his sleeping fiancée from his sister, shifting her weight comfortably in his arms.

"Poor girl is starting to worry about the wedding. It's starting to wear on her. Tuck her into bed, will you?" Temari asked before leaving.

Gaara looked down at her sleeping face. Was she stressed? He thought she liked how the wedding was coming along, or was it something else? He shouldn't dwell on it until he talks to her about it. Assuming things would get him nowhere.

It was late. Gaara headed toward her room. Once he got to the door, he realized he had never been in her room before. She always went to bed after him.

Sand opened the door, and he stepped in. She was certainly neat. Didn't seem to have a thing out of place. She always secretly tidied up his room. If he left clothes on the floor, she would put them away before she left.

Sand took down the covers and slipped off her shoes before he slipped her into the covers. For a ninja, she was a heavy sleeper. Maybe she was there tired, or maybe… No, he couldn't hope for that kind of subconscious trust even from her.

'Stop being a coward.' The voice in his head growled. 'Lay with her. It will prove me right.'

'She needs her rest. I'm not disturbing it to fight a petty statement.' Gaara answered.

'Sure, go back to your cold bed.' Shukaku mocked.

'She may not want to go through with this.' Gaara echoed back, covering his bride before leaving the room.

'She thanked you last night.' Shukaku growled. 'It seems more like you are having second thoughts.'

Gaara didn't answer. He had slowly realized what she meant to him.