Naruto always knew something was missing from his life. When he was a child, he understood that he was alone. Other kids had their parents, but he had no one. No parents, no friends, no siblings.
No one ever welcomed him when he came home. The small cramped space, bare, paint flaking walls, the ramen cups and clothes scattered all over the floor were the only things that greeted him.
The hollow emptiness in his chest felt like it would never be filled…For a long time it wasn't.
Not until he became a member of Team 7 and formed bonds with Sasuke and Sakura. Then he formed more friendships with so many people, his heart felt full.
Yet, he still came home to an empty apartment and the ache in chest never fully went away.
Then finally, after the events with Toneri, he realized that he was in love with Hinata. His sweet, gentle, strong, Hinata loved him back, for such a long time that he felt ashamed to have not realized his feelings for her sooner.
When Hinata entered his apartment for the first time, he felt embarrassed at the sad state of it. But, Hinata never judged him, she just smiled that sweet precious smile that made his heart feel weak and strong at the same time.
While they were dating, she would come over and cook for him, somehow making wonderful meals with his old burner that never seemed to work right for him. She would wordlessly clean up, a smile on her face because she wanted to do it for him.
It made him want to be better. To show her that he was a man worthy of her love.
Naruto thought he couldn't possibly love her any more than this, yet each time, he felt his heart swell more and more.
Before they got married, he gave her the key to his apartment, telling her to come over whenever she wanted because his space was hers.
One night, after a month-long mission, he came home, exhausted. He didn't even bother turning on the lights, but he still mumbled out his usual "I'm Home" although no one ever answered.
What he didn't expect to see was Hinata snuggled up in his bed, hugging his pillow as the moonlight illuminated her pajama clad frame.
It suddenly hit him that his apartment smelt like her, lavender with hints of chamomile. A tight feeling gripped his chest, his throat feeling choked up, tears pricking at the back of his eyes.
She stirred from her sleep, seemingly sensing him. Hinata got up slowly, sitting on the bed while rubbing her eyes.
"Naruto-kun?" she mumbled slowly, unsure if she was dreaming or not.
He went to her, kneeling down on the side of his bed, wrapping her in a tight hug, "I'm home." his voice was trembling as he whispered into her ear.
Hinata seemed to sense his unease, and hugged him back tightly, her soft gentle voice whispering, "Welcome home, Naruto-kun. I missed you."
Tears slid down his cheeks, and he realized that he was crying. No one ever greeted him back. The emptiness in his chest was filled by her love, and he wanted nothing more than to be with her forever. "I missed you too, so much."
"What's wrong? Why are you crying?" She asked him gently, her hands tenderly petting his back, soothing him.
"No one has ever told me 'Welcome Home'..." Naruto breathed out softly, his tears easing as he pulled back to look at her face, "I never felt like this place was a home until you were here." His hands stroked her cheeks, watching as a pretty blush set upon her features, "I want to come home to you everytime…"
Hinata smiled tenderly at him, love in her eyes, "I want to be here, because you're my home too, Naruto-kun."
His heart swelled further. Did she know how wonderful, how perfect she was?
"I love you, Hinata." Naruto pressed his lips against hers, softly and tenderly breathing her in.
When she kissed back, he thought his heart might beat out his chest. Her gentle fingers ran through the tufts of his blonde hair softly. Her lips caressed his tenderly but with a firmness that deepened the kiss, making him feel weak.
Naruto wanted this everyday. He wanted Hinata to be with him forever, to kiss him like this everyday, to be here to greet him. He wanted his house to smell like her, his home to be hers.
He… he wanted everything with Hinata, a home, a family, a life with her.
At that moment he had never been more sure of anything else in his life.