Hinata groaned and dipped her head under the covers. They were too tired to notice the curtains were open. She lifted her head back to find Sasuke lying on his stomach, propped up on his pillow, scrolling through his phone. He looked over at her as she moved. "Morning."

Hinata turned around to press her nose to his arm. "Mph."

Sasuke chuckled, laid his phone down, and raised his arm. Hinata moved under and sighed. He was warm, and his weight was comfortable. She could melt right into the bed. "You're too cute in the morning."

Hinata lifted her head to pout at him. She didn't need him teasing her right now. Sasuke took her head raising differently. He laid a peak on her lips and smiled at her. Okay. That was cute. She closed her eyes and raised her head back up.

A few short, sleepy kisses turned into a few long, less sleepy kisses, and Hinata found herself on her back under Sasuke with him hovering just shy of her. They both paused to look at each other. A quiet answer of permission was relayed as Hinata started to pull up Sasuke's shirt. He sat up, pulled it over his head, tossed it aside, and came down to press a kiss under her chin, making her giggle.

Sasuke stretched over Hinata and trailed a kiss over her heated bare skin. "I think we had a good morning."

"Is it even morning anymore." Hinata lifted her head and pushed her hair aside to look at the clock.

Sasuke pulled her back down. "Don't worry about it." Hinata puffed her cheeks out. "I don't think you want to start being cute again."

Hinata whimpered, ducking her head down. Naked, covered in love bites and sweat, and now she was embarrassed? "I wasn't expecting an eventful morning."

"I think the morning after was better than the whole wedding." Sasuke received a pillow to his face.

Sasuke flicked his hand through his hair in the mirror and stepped out of the bathroom to Hinata sitting on the bed still in her robe with a phone to her ear, his phone. She looked back at him with worry on her features. "What?"

Hinata bit her lip. "Itachi-san's in the hospital, and someone leaked pictures to the press."

Shit.

"It seems entirely too soon after the wedding to announce. Especially with a crisis like this. It will look like Uchiha is losing its footing." Hinata crossed her arms.

"If we don't, the news is going to speculate that we are crumbling anyway. You know what they are going to say." Fugaku waved his hand. "They are going to say we had no plan."

"You are in good health. There is no reason Sasuke-san has to step up now just because the media is aware that Itachi-san is ill." Hinata reasoned.

Fugaku rubbed his temple. "This isn't just a concern of the larger media but the board and the investors. If we lose their trust and support, we lose all control of the company. Shifting him to director now is what they want. They want assurance that he was prepared for this." He wasn't.

Hinata paced in thought. Sasuke hadn't seen this side of her before. The professional problem solver. It was different from how she planned with him. "So what would the announcement be?"

"We will announce that we have been preparing to move Sasuke into the position. It's only been extradited because Itachi's health got worse." Fugaku explained.

Hinata chewed on her lip and shook her head. "They are going to see right through that. Use our wedding." Fugaku raised an eyebrow. "Say that Uchiha was waiting until we were married and settled to announce it. It's a more believable explanation for the delay. If you're comfortable, also explain that you wanted to step down to spend more time with Itachi-san in the hospital."

Fugaku sat back to consider it, then nodded. "I am surprised Hiashi would give you up." Hinata fell out of her problem-solving demeanor as she was caught off guard. "Let's do it."

Mikoto grinned. "I told you that she was perfect."

Hinata regressed more with the praise. Cute.

"Wonderful. Can you not do this here?" Itachi complained from his hospital bed.

"Yeah. Can we get back to our honeymoon?" Sasuke got up from his chair.

Hinata frowned at him. He sighed and sat back down, "We brought you something to eat." She picked up a bag they collected on the way over to set up on Itachi's bedside.

"I had no part in it," Sasuke announced, getting him another look. He should stop, he was going to actually piss her off.

Itachi eyed her as she unloaded the meal for him. "You're too forgiving."

Hinata locked eyes with him. He knew that they really couldn't talk about this with his parents in the room, or did he want to tell on himself? "I think you are too quick to fall on your own sword."

"Morbid. Fitting." Itachi accepted chopsticks.

Hinata took a deep breath and did her best to release it slowly and not in the angry huff she wanted to. He was purposely testing her patience. "Thank you." She pushed out. Itachi raised his eyebrow to ask what for. "You were always there when my father managed to break me. I don't think I ever thanked you for it all those years."

Itachi hand paused with the chopsticks in the container. It was a hard game they played. Even if he knew about the deal, it didn't mean that he was going to let go of his outward disapproval. She wasn't sure if the act was for her or Sasuke, but she hoped he knew to drop it before it was too late.

Hinata just hoped her sincerity would give him something to think about.

Hinata ducked under the table to Itachi's usual hiding place with a smile that fell as soon as she got a look at him. She tucked herself inside and sat down. "Are you okay?"

Itachi breathed evenly to try to ignore his nausea. The new medication had the worst side effects. "I'm fine."

Hinata put the back of her hand on the side of his face. "You have a fever."

"I'm fine." Itachi snapped. Hinata pulled her hand back. He needed to wipe that look of rejection off her face. "Sorry." He sighed, trying to relax his face. "Just stay with me."

Hinata settled down, pulling her party dress over her knees and looking up at him, ready to spend the evening being quiet and eating cakes. She didn't know how much she was the rock for him at these stupid events as much as he was for her. Maybe one day, he would tell her.

Hinata stepped through the empty house. It was much bigger than they needed, but that was normal for their families.

"Hey," Sasuke called from upstairs. "Come up here."

Hinata climbed the stairs and found Sasuke in one of the bedrooms. "Hmm?"

"Did you say that you liked the ocean because your dad used to take you?" Sasuke wondered.

That's what he wanted her up here for? "When I was a kid, it was the one time we just used to sit together."

Sasuke nodded his head toward the window. Hinata stepped closer to see what he wanted to show her, and she covered her mouth. Out the window, they were just high enough over the other houses that there was a clear view of the horizon. She got closer as she covered her mouth.

"I guess you win." Sasuke wrapped his arms around her. "I don't think this was just a one-up anymore."

Hinata nodded, resting her arms over his.

"Hello!" A call from downstairs echoed as Hanabi announced herself.

"Oh, good, the little monster is here." Sasuke got a swat on his arm for that.

Sasuke had a lot of memories in this office. He probably had more memories of his dad sitting behind the massive oak desk than anywhere else. He pushed the new chair and watched it spin.

Heels clicked as Hinata paced, looking at the empty walls at what Fugaku had left behind. "I think we need more plants. All this dark wood needs brightened up."

"If you want plants, I'll get you plants." Sasuke sat down. The desk was empty, awaiting a new computer and a plaque with his name on it. This was it. This was what he was afraid of a few months ago. So much had happened after that split-second decision to say what was on his mind.

He couldn't have done it alone.

Hinata tucked her hands behind her as she stepped up to the window and the cityscape that was buzzing floors and floors below them. She could have said no. They could have just sat with their problems that night and left empty-handed.

That weekend felt like so long ago.

Hinata came to his side to lean on the edge of the desk. Business formal looked too good on her. "What's first?"

Sasuke turned his chair and pulled her down on his lap. She giggled as she crossed her legs over the arm of the chair and folded her arms around his neck. "I did my part. This is your territory. Ready?"

"Ready." Hinata smiled.