Hinata's hair was curled, her lashes crimped, her face powered, and a number of other things that she was hoping that she could trust Mikoto on. She was helped into her dress, shoes, and veil and got her first in the mirror.
Well, she looked like a bride. Dipped in white, laces, and tulle.
Mikoto made the tiniest whimper before turning away to blot at her eye with a tissue. "You look perfect."
Hinata put her hands into the layers and layers of the skirt. It was a very nice dress. Should she feel differently about this? It was just a dress.
"Wow." Kiba gapped as he appeared at the door.
Hinata blinked at him. "What happened to your hair?"
Kiba dusted over it. "I got it cut just for this. Is it that bad?"
Hinata tilted her head. "You look like an adult."
"Hey." Kiba pouted, fussing with the edges.
"This doesn't look right." Shino rounded into the door, trying to straighten his tie.
Hinata waved toward herself. "You have it backward." She untied it. "The big one does over the smaller side." With a few turns and a tuck, it was in the right place.
"You're not wearing those, are you?" Mikoto frowned at his glasses.
"If you want me to be able to see." Shino countered. Hinata was almost entirely sure they weren't prescription glasses.
"I wouldn't recognize you without them." Hinata flattened her hand over his tie.
A knock made them all look back to the door. "I have a gift for the bride." Hanabi squealed excitedly as she waved from the door. Mikoto waved her in. Hanabi grinned, reached behind her, and pulled in another person.
"Neji-san!?" Hinata squeaked. "I didn't think you were coming."
Neji awkwardly waved and braced to receive a face full of veil. "I couldn't skip your wedding."
"You weren't here for graduation," Hanabi mumbled.
Hinata pulled back and sniffed. "I'm so happy you're here."
"Don't cry, dear." Mikoto blotted her eyes. "Test the waterproof later." Hinata lifted her head back to try to stop.
Neji pointed out. "I should go."
"Don't you dare," Hanabi wrapped herself around his arm.
Hinata giggled and reached her hand out blindly. "I'm glad you are here."
Neji took her hand. "I wouldn't miss it."
Sasuke flicked his mother's hand away from his head. "It's fine."
"This piece is wrong." Mikoto tried again.
Sasuke flinched back. "Stop."
"I've got it." Hinata put herself in between him and his mother. "It's just…" She brushed a few times. "There."
"You two are going to be the perfect pair." Mikoto put her hands up to make a mental picture. Her face scrunched like it did when he gave her a fist full of grass as a child and called it a bouquet. "Are we ready?"
"One moment." Hiashi entered the room.
"Oh, Hiashi, we aren't walking the bride down the aisle." Mikoto was ready to shoo him back to his seat.
"I am aware," Hiashi answered coldly. He held out an envelope to Hinata.
Hinata took it and held it to her chest, respectfully bowing her head as he disappeared to not even see her open it. She hesitated before tearing it open.
"Sorry, everyone, we are running a bit late. A bit of an issue with the dress." Mikoto announced from the end of the aisle to the room full of waiting guests. She made eye contact with Itachi and flicked her head back.
Itachi obeyed, getting up from his seat and rounding toward the back. He could hear the crying before he saw Hinata crouched down in her pile of skirts. Sasuke hovered nearby.
"Why did you call me?" Itachi asked his mother.
"I told her to," Sasuke answered.
Itachi crouched down to her side. "What happened?"
Sasuke held out a folded paper. "Badly timed gift." Itachi took the papers. "Hiashi gave us a house."
Hinata patted her chest harshly as she struggled to breathe through her sob.
"He likes to cause problems." Itachi gave the deed back. "Come on." He offered his hand. Hinata latched on to it. "I told you he cared more than he let on." She barely nodded through her tears.
Itachi tightened his hand, turning his head. "Grab that end."
Sasuke turned his head to the hall table behind him and looked back to ask him what he was talking about, but Itachi was already pulling over her head.
With the table fully over, Hinata Itachi sat down under it. "We used to do this all the time. Sit under tables at events?"
Hinata sniffed and bit down on her lip, nodding.
Sasuke sighed, seeing her start to calm down.
Itachi could laugh, his little brother still calling him for help.
With Hinata breathing normally and a frantic touch-up was made, they went through with the ceremony. It was a blur until they were sat at the table for dinner, and she was sniffling again. Sasuke leaned over. "We can get under the table again."
Hinata shook her head as she patted her nose. "I'm fine. My nose is just running. I'm sorry."
Sasuke leaned closer. "Naruto thought you were a runaway bride."
Hinata gapped at him. "Even after we came in?"
"He thought I had to track you down." Sasuke chuckled.
"What did you tell him?" Hinata whispered.
Sasuke shrugged. "I just told him you were so nervous you fainted." Hinata squeaked. "What? He's seen you do that before. He believed it. What would you have told him?" Hinata whimpered. She probably was running just a blank as he did. "Enjoy your cake."
Hinata picked at it. "I like the one you gave last night better."
"We could ditch and go get that kind." Sasuke knew she was going to give him a look for even suggesting skipping out on the rest of the wedding, but he could imagine her in her wedding dress in a café, enjoying a slice of cake.
After more pictures than she wanted, Hinata was actually happy to be pulled to the floor for their first dance. It was slow and quiet, and she was tired already. They were up so early. "My offer to ditch is still on the table," Sasuke whispered.
"Stop it." Hinata laughed, but honestly, if she could, she would leave for a nap.
"We did it." Sasuke hummed.
Hinata laid her head down on his shoulder. He was right. This was it. This was all that they had been working toward. New problems were around the corner, but this was the biggest checkmark on their to-do list.
Maybe it would feel more special if Hinata put more weight on weddings, but it was just a party for what people already knew. It was a promise that they already made when they got engaged. This was just putting it in writing.
"I think my father left." Hinata scanned the crowd as they slowly turned.
"No, he didn't," Sasuke told her, pulling back.
Hiashi waited silently, just shy of them. People started joining the dance floor as Hinata hesitated to take her father's hand. She hadn't danced with her father in years. Sasuke disappeared as she took a more proper dancing position with her father.
"You were delayed." Hiashi started.
Hinata's eyes shift over his shoulder to not look him in the eye. "I wasn't expecting your wedding gift."
"I wasn't for you to open it immediately." Hiashi eyes diverting for a moment was the closest thing she was going to get to regret.
Hinata stood straighter. "I assumed it was important."
"It was," Hiashi answered.
Hinata fought her face scrunching up. She didn't want to start crying again. Her father was a complicated man, and a single gift wasn't going to fix years of problems between them, but it was the first time in years that she felt like he thought of her.
Maybe it was just a quicker way to get her out of the house. Maybe he was planning on holding it over her head, but it didn't make sense for him to hand her a deed and not just let her live in a house he owned if that was the case. She couldn't call it selfless, but this could be the closest thing she would ever have.
"You didn't invite your mother," Hiashi added.
Hinata shook her head. "She doesn't have any place here."
"Good." Hiashi agreed. He stepped back, and Hinata watched her father leave the dance floor.
Hinata flinched as a hand slid across her back. "Just me," Sasuke told her. "You okay?"
Hinata let out a shaky breath. "Yeah."
**Lavender Long Stories**
Hey guys. Fanfiction dot net is on my last nerve.
Without email notifications, I have no way of knowing when I get guest reviews or PMs because they don't come through the app notifications.
All my stories are cross-posted to AO3: Lavender_Long_Stories.
If you want to PM/DM me the best way is on Tumblr: lavender-long-stories.