A/N: thank you all who reviewed, I was so happy to see this fanfic getting more support. I've started work again so things will be a little slow, but we are coming to the close of this fic, then I hope to write another one when this one is finished. Anyway, on with the show.

Chapter 15

It was imperative she move right now. The letter now irreparably crinkled in her vice grip.

"Hinata, you ready to go?" Said the voice of her very good friend. She turned agitated eyes towards Kiba and his well meaning girlfriend, but right now she really wished they forgot who she was.

"Uhh" her normally quick thinking brain was stalled into stupidity by the understanding of her requited love.

"Hinata? You okay? What's that in your hand?" Asked Kiba thoughtfully, genuine concern inflected in his tone. How could she answer such a question? Moreover… what was she doing here when she must have missed about an hour of Naruto's company already! She needed to move and now! But it required a believable excuse which just wasn't synthesizing in Hinata's dysfunctional mind, so she did what seemed logical and started to move, but her accumulated adrenaline wouldn't let her simply walk, instead she ran.

"Hinata?!" Yelled Kiba after the shock of seeing Hinata run away from him passed, the sound of her short heels clipping on the waxed floor awaking a similar urgency in Kiba. "Hey wait! What's wrong?" Hinata almost wanted to swear when he managed to catch up to her within no time at all, she needed to go to Naruto now! "Hinata tell me what's ring, this isn't like you!" The sincere alarm in his voice managed to bring her mind back down to reality for a moment, but she wasn't happy about it, she knew her only option to get away from him was to communicate, but no matter how she searched her brain she couldn't thinking of an excuse at all, if only there was a suitable search engine at the front of her mind.

"Something came up. I have to go!" And she made to leave him again but he held onto her arm firmly.

"Just tell me what's gotten you all riled up. This is really weird of you."

" I-I…" urgh, if only she wasn't always so in control of herself perhaps this sudden flightyness would have been acceptable to her perceptive friend, but she just couldn't exert herself into her usual collected persona. "I'm… not well. I need to go."

"Not well?! What's the matter? Are you going to a medic? Want me to come with you?"

"NO!" Her shouting voice shocked all three of them, Karin had managed to catch up to them. The only good thing about this was Kiba letting go of her arm in astonishment. "No… I'll just go by myself,"

"But if you're not well then you shouldn't be by yourself." Said Karin thoughtfully.

If only she had more selfish friends. "I'll be alright, I just need to go now."

"But what's the matter?" Repeated Kiba, concern highlighted in his body language too.

"It's nothing-"

"Hinata this is so weird of you."

"I just need to-"

"I'm coming with you."

That did it, "I got my period!"

Kiba's face went from emergency to priceless. Karin's turned from confused to understanding.

"It always comes at the worst times." Said the stunned man's girlfriend sympathetically. "Do you need a pad or a tampon? I think I have some in my bag."

"That's okay…" Hinata was so grateful her brain had reflexively come up with something, "I use a mooncup." She doesn't but she plans to soon.

"Oh is it any good? I heard it's kinda weird." Kiba now looked like he was the one impeded from running away.

"Yeah, it's really easy when you get the hang of it." Which is what her sister said upon trialing it. Hinata wanted to congratulate herself on such a clever escape route, but then remembered why she needed to escape in the first place. "I left mine at home so I need to go asap. Have a good dinner with each other, tell me all about it later. Okay see you, bye!"

And she zoomed off without any more delay.

She got into the lift and attacked the button, but once she was being sunk to the earth, her heart seemed to have stayed upstairs by her desk. Could she really handle a meeting with him again? So soon? Was it wise to while she had just read his letter and her emotions were everywhere?

Her heart told her brain to simmer, her soul pulled her through the entrance automatic doors. Her brain held the brakes on her heart enough to check for traffic before she crossed the road, and her heart took over once again as it raced itself along with her legs to the cafe along the street.

And there he was. Standing by the glass wall of the cafe, now closed after the rush hour of commuters had passed. He was still in his suit, but his tie was considerably loosened, along with the top button of his shirt, freeing his neck from the manacle of his collar. His hair was messy and disorientated, as though he had been running his hands through it countlessly, and his blue eyes appeared glazed in a cacophony of emotions, as he stared out at the skye above him.

The sight of him had Hinata's heart flicker and her brain stutter, so her soul drew her to him. Realization dawned on Naruto when he felt a presence nearby, he tilted his head to the sound of walking shoes to see who it was, undeniable hope splattered all over his face. Then finally blue met pearl as their eyes met. Both faces changed, his elated into immeasurable relief, hers exposed an overflowing soul because she began to cry. Rather than question why she was crying as she expected, Naruto instead began to well up himself in a shared understanding of both grief for the years lost, and happiness at finally coming home.

Self consciously he wiped the few tears that escaped his eyes as he moved a few more steps in her direction, then he stopped a foot in front of her "It's been a long time, Hinata-chan."

His voice, her name, it was all too much. She wanted nothing more than to erase the short distance between them, but held herself back. They hadn't discussed anything yet and they were still within sight of anybody with a gossiping mouth. But she held his eyes with all her restrained emotion shooting at him in full force, "It has been, Naruto-kun", she tried to keep her voice stable but it shook despite herself. She gleaned comfort from his responding blinding smile.

"God it's been so long since I've heard you say my name." She gave him a bright but bittersweet smile at his words. Suddenly he looked nervous, "it's made me want to hug you." Confessed Naruto boldly.

She loved his courage and continued smiling at him, but her body language subconsciously stiffened, which he noticed and took a step back, rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment and ashamed vulnerability. "I-I'm sorry…. Argh… my brain short circuited to my mouth again, I shouldn't have said that, I'm just really happy you came and are standing in front of me again and my brain just got carried away and… argh…" he took another step back which alarmed Hinata greatly.

"It's okay Naruto-kun… I appreciate you saying that… I erm… I-I thought the same thing actually." She felt so shy admitting such a thing that she cast her eyes to his slightly scuffed shoes.

His face lit up once again, "Really?"

She smiled up at him from his equally lit up voice, "Really. But we're in public and I know how fast people talk around here, even though most people have gone home and… and… we have to… to talk."

His face was dusted in a pleased pink, "yeah we should talk first."

"I'm guessing we have a lot to talk about." Her easy jibe lessened the unconscious tension.

"Ha ha, yeah we do. Any place you have in mind?"

She didn't think her emotions would settle down enough anytime soon for her to tolerate sitting stationary for God knows how long, "Can we have a walk for now? Unless you're hungry?"

"I can eat on demand Hinata-chan." Replied Natuto confidently, which made her giggle, "but I think I'd like a walk too, been standing for too long."

"Oh, I hope I didn't make you wait too long."

He cast her a sideways look "no you didn't, but the way I was… and the situation… would have made any wait too long."

Hinata blushed, feeling shy in the waters they were treading, so to detract she explained about Kiba's dinner plans and her period excuse, which made Naruto burst out laughing healthily, and they were easing into more and more comfort.

"What made you say you were on your period?" Asked Naruto, still clutching his stomach, there were walking along a park now, the late afternoon's sunshine weakening at the impending death of the day, warning them that time was running out.

"I don't know! It was the first thing I could think of that would separate me from them. If I was calmer maybe I could have thought of something better."

"I think it was a brilliant idea. You're the best person to have when the pressure's on. Like on the onsen trip, you were amazing. You proved me wrong that day."

"Proved you wrong?" She enquired, confused and curious. Suddenly he looked contrite and guilty, Hinata wanted to know more of Naruto's reasoning, especially his motivation to write the letter, but she didn't want him to feel forced to divulge that information, however she knew they couldn't move forward unless everything was out in the open. Maybe she'll be the brave one now. "Naruto-kun, I-I… I was really moved by your letter." She peeked up at him, they had both unconsciously stopped walking, "and I want to let you know, that I want to try again too. Really want to try again. But I want to be honest with you and I wa-want you to b-be honest with me… about what we both want, and then see if we should try again, or if it would be better to… not."

Naruto let out a large exhale, Hinata could see his finger tremble slightly, "let me get this straight…" he sounded confident but there was the barest hint of nervousness in his tone, "you want each of us to say what we want and then see if we should start a.. a relationship?"

"Y-yes… but also what we don't want, and ask… questions… I have some in mind, and if you have any Naruto-kun I'd be happy to answer them."

He crossed his arms, his face relaxing a little, with a touch of excitement to his features, "feels a bit like a job interview."

She laughed at that and gave him a mischievous smile, surprising herself at how much of this side he can bring out in her. "I won't ask you to bring a photocopy of your passport."

"Ha! Actually, I should show it to you one day, got loads of stamps from different countries when I went traveling with Jiraiya sensei." Then the nervous tremor returned, "well… if I pass the interview that is."

Hinata wanted nothing more than to hug him in reassurance, but she knew that if they wanted different things, it was best that they not enter a relationship with each other. Believing she was doing the right thing, Hinata held herself back and instead answered, "I could very well be the one to disappoint the panel, not you."

He audibly scoffed, "Fat chance. I won't let you go that easy."

"That's nice to hear." She replied very quietly, she didn't see his heart warming gaze and open admiration.

"So. Who wants to go first? Or should we toss a coin like a referee at the World Cup?"

"I'll go first," replied Hinata quickly.

"Okay, let me think of a question first."

"No, I meant I'll ask my questions first."

"Eh! But that means I have to answer them first!"

"Yup." Replied Hinata simply, pleased she wouldn't have to be opening her heart just yet.

"Heh.." he gave her a shrewd grin, mingled with something smouldering and ripe, it almost looked like desire, "I forgot you could be cheeky."

A smile played on her lips, "okay, let me go first then." And she was about to run off her first question but halted, feeling indescribably nervous all of a sudden.

"Hinata-chan? You okay? Do you want to wait a bit?"

"Erm, no, I'll be okay. Just didn't realize how nervous I'd be."

He put out his hand to touch her, but just before he made contact with her, withdrew, "I'm nervous too, but I know we'll get through this together." She smiled radiantly at him, which made him smile back. Eventually Hinata caught herself smiling at him alone in the park like a love struck K-pop fan and shook her head to get herself back on track.

"Well.. my first question is… what do you want?"

"Hmm? What do you mean?"

"Well… erm… do you want to date, and if you do, then for how long? Is this a long or short term thing? Is this…" she took a deep breath, "is this for marriage? Or is that not in your plans?"

Naruto blushed a vibrant colour and initially seemed struck with a sudden speech impediment, before looking her straight in the eyes, "I want to enter a relationship that would be for marriage, I'm not planning to have a short term relationship with you, I… I meant what I said… that I want to try again… if you'll have me."

Her heart felt like it was going to leap out of her throat, "you mean… like from where we left off?"

"Yes, but let's forget the bit where you dumped me."

Her heart sank to her stomach, "I'm so sorry Naruto-kun. I was nineteen, and young and… I wish I had been more assertive. But I-I-"

"No, I should be the one to say sorry. I was very angry at the time, and proud. I don't know if you remember, but… I had a hard childhood, and to hide away from being hurt by others I let my ego balloon. I wouldn't say I was a brat… well not too much anyway, I had good mentors and people who cared about me, but I let my pride rule me to protect myself from the community who always shunned me. But then when a woman I really wanted to be with rejected me, I just leaned into my pride and anger. I blamed you a lot. For a long time. But I realize now that it was unfair to ask you to give me your whole life when you were still figuring out what you wanted to do with that life!"

"But Natuto-kun, I regretted it, I really did. I knew that I would have been happier waiting for you, than leaving you. I should have been more confident, not just for me, but for us! I shouldn't have easily agreed to Aunt Kurenai, I should have trusted my instinct."

"Maybe, but that doesn't mean it wasn't wrong of me to ask so much from you at such a young age. And I won't lie, I'm not your Aunt's biggest fan, but it wasn't her or you that stopped me from calling you or writing you an email, it was my own pride that kept me from reaching out to the best woman I had ever met. The only woman who has inspired me to be a better person. Plus, I never knew what it was like to lean on family members, I shouldn't have blamed you for leaning on yours when that is something most people do." Hinata blushed and averted her eyes, looking him in the eye was like looking at the sun. "My turn now." That got her head back up, a panicked excitement in her eyes, "You've asked me what I want , but what do you want?"

"That's not fair to turn my own question on me!"

"Fair shmair, answer the question Hinata."

She twiddled her fingers, "I want marriage, I think I've had enough of heartbreak for one lifetime, so I'd like to- to spend the rest of my life without heartache. I guess what I'm trying to say is… I don't intend to start a relationship I don't see ending in marriage."

"Wise words, from a wise woman." Said Naruto, grinning from ear to ear, and looking like he was restraining himself from either doing more or saying more. "Now what's your next question?"

"Did you not want a turn?"

"No, I'm happy to just copy you. Plus your brains are better than mine, especially with how I'm feeling right now."

"O-okay," said Hinata, too pleased to trust herself to say more. "Erm… so… we both agree we want to… marry each other?"

"Yup." Replied Natuto, no hesitation in his answer.

"Well, if we did get married, where would we live?"

"You could live with me, I've managed to get a mortgage on a small house, I thought of you when I bought it actually."

Curiosity peaked, "what do you mean?"

He blushed faintly, "just thought of you, and me… living in it. You know… it's hard not to imagine what life could have been like if things were different."

"I know, I did that a lot. But we're here now. And… I regret not staying with you, but it's made me who I am, and the loss will always make me grateful for what I have. I-I don't want us to look back at that time as wasteful, I think- I think the hardships have made us better people and more prepared to be with each other now."

"You're amazing, you know that?"

She looked away, still not knowing how to manage compliments, "Th-thank you. You're pretty amazing yourself."

He smiled slyly at her, "Glad you think so. But err.. what do you say, would you like to move into my home? If we got married?"

"Yes… that would be nice. But if the whole mortgage is in your name… I think it would be good for me to buy my own place too."

"But that would be too difficult on you. How about this, we get married, you move in with me, then I'll add you to the deeds. That makes the place yours too."

Shock and love was quickly spreading over her whole body, "I can't ask you to do that, that's a lot Naruto-kun…"

He took a step closer, and uttered in an almost whisper "for you Hinata-chan, it could never be enough. I want to share everything with you, I want to make up for the last decade."

"But.. but I'm sure you've worked really hard for that house, I can't just swoop in and take half."

Without her noticing he had taken one of her hands in his, ghosting over her knuckles with his fingers so gently, almost afraid she would pull away, "I got help when I turned twenty one and came into my inheritance."

"I don't want you to think I'm all about money."

"I know that, especially with how modest you are in comparison with your family who would definitely be able to provide more, but I had always intended to share the house with my wife."

His hand was still on hers, she didn't want to move away, "what.. what if it didn't work out?"

His grip tightened, "I won't let that happen."

"I won't let that happen either, but we should think of a plan b."

"You're too clever sometimes Hinata-chan." He took a step away from her but kept holding her hand, and guided her to sit on a park bench, "Plan b would only happen if you wanted it to, and if you wanted it to, I'd still want you to have part of what I worked for, I always thought of you when I saved up for it, I thought of you when I bought it, and if you lived in it with me, it could never not be yours after that."

Hinata thought she would faint with how strong her emotions were blaring in her right now, "I-is it in Konoha?"

"Yeah, maybe when you're free I can show it to you sometime?"

She smiled demurely, imagining what a house decorated by him would look like, no doubt at least one wall would be painted orange, "I'd like that."

"You're laughing about something, what are you laughing about?"

"But I'm not laughing."

"Yeah, but inside your head you are, it's in your eyes, what are you laughing about?"

She didn't remember him being so perceptive, "I was imagining how you might have decorated your house. I guessed one of your walls would be orange." The corners of his mouth kicked up at that.

"Sorry to disappoint you but I don't have any orange walls, I do have a lot of orange posters though."

"Would you be willing for a feminine touch to redecorate it?"

"I think it needs a feminine touch. Hell, I think it needs anybody but me to redecorate it. I don't have any kind of talent for interior design."

"What if I asked you to move?"

"Why would you want to move?"

Hinata shrugged before answering delicately, "Id always imagined living somewhere with nice walks, and shops and parks… but also… what if there aren't many… good sch-schools in the area."

"Schools?! Hinata-chan do you want to go back to school or something?"

Hinata blushed profusely, but just before she decided to spell it out to him… the proverbial penny dropped judging by the stunned look on Naruto's face. Immediately he kneaded the back of his head and looked way. "Oh.. you mean for children."

" yes… erm… do you want children?"

"What about you?"

"If I can, I'd like to have children, but I'm scared too."

"Why?"

"My mother died when I was very young." He stroked her knuckles again with his thumb, "and my father isn't the warmest person, and I know that a lot of times parents repeat what their own parents did for them, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but in my case… I'm scared I won't know what to do and end up repeating my own history with my father. I don't want to do that to a poor child.."

"Hush Hinata, that won't happen."

"What makes you so sure about that?" She couldn't help the challenge in her voice, her insecurities making her distrustful.

"Because we'll do it together. I didn't have my parents growing up, so I'm scared I won't know what to do with a child either, but I'm one hundred percent sure we would have each other's backs, we would be an awesome team, and our kids would be crazy wonderful because we would be their parents."

His enthusiasm was infectious and creeped into her warm smile, she forgot how authentically sweet he could be. "I take it you want kids then?"

"Yeah, but I know I don't have the most important machinery to make kids, so as long as we both want kids, I'm happy to leave the timings to you."

She laughed at his analogy, "well, supposing timing was of no object, when would you like kids?"

"Hmm… I think we've talked too much about me, when would you like kids?"

She slumped a little at his deflection, "you're making me do a lot of talking too you know. And it's not the first time you've returned the question."

"Alright alright.." he threw his hands up in mock surrender, leaving her hand for the first time, "I admit the question made me feel nervous, but if you absolutely must know…" he winked at her in mischievous insolence, "I'd like to wait a year or two, go traveling first, take my time enjoying… being a couple."

She liked his answer, "I didn't really think that far ahead, I always knew I wanted children, but for so long I didn't think I'd even be in a relationship, so I guess I didn't give it much thought." Almost as soon as she said it she wished she hadn't, her eyes sank back to her fingers twiddling in her lap, so she could deliberately avoid his eyes.

"Hinata-chan…" he made to touch her hand again, but didn't,

"Naruto-kun, let's talk about that another time, I don't want to go into a melancholy strop with you, not now that we're… with each other."

He smiled his appreciation and understanding at her, "sure, whatever you want Hinata."

She smiled warmly at him, he automatically smiled in return, eventually she woke up from their trance first, "Well, erm… I think waiting a few years is a good idea before having kids. I guess I concurr"

"Glad to hear it. Anymore questions?"

"Yes… unless you'd like to go first?"

"Can't think of any right now, you go on ahead."

"Okay erm…." She felt suddenly acutely nervous for the three questions she had coming up, "well.. say we have kids, are you going to expect me to leave work to look after them?"

He frowned slightly, evidently he'd never thought about it. "I don't know, it depends on what you would want. Would you like to leave work?"

"No, I know I'm not very senior, but I'd like to still work at a career, I know things will be slower after kids, but I don't want to leave it altogether."

"Yeah, plus you're an amazing worker, the team would be disadvantaged without you." She smiled gratefully at him, "but who would look after the kids?"

She waited a few moments before carefully replying, "perhaps we could share?"

"Me? And kids?"

"Well, they would be yours too."

"B-but nappies… and… more nappies…"

"Even poopy nappies." She just couldn't help herself, not when his face was frozen in shocked disgust. "And vomit." She added for good measure.

"Oh God I don't think I could do that…" she knew he was semi-joking but the implication hurt her a little.

"They won't be in nappies forever, and I'm sure parenting is about more than cleaning bottoms, but all the same Natuto-kun, if we were to… get married and… have kids, I would want you to support me going back to work by sharing with the childcare." She was proud she hadn't stuttered through a sentence she wouldn't have dreamed of saying just that morning.

"You're really beautiful when you're assertive." Blood rushed to her face like a flame to petrol. She chanced a glance at him and he was looking at her in a way she hadn't seen before, something mingled with respect and… want. "Alright, you win, I'll change some nappies."

"And housework?"

"What about it?"

"Who's going to do it?"

"Err…" it was clear he hadn't thought of this either, "don't know… probably the person who wants to do it?" His answer had her more worried than his aversion to nappies.

"Umm.. Naruto-kun, I think the housework should be shared. How do you manage it now?"

"I guess I don't… just get my dry cleaning sorted so I have suits for work… then tidy the place when it gets too dirty."

Hinata thought she was about to faint, "I think… if we live together, I'd like it if we shared the cooking and cleaning."

"How about you leave the cooking to me!" She didn't know if he was just trying to get out of cleaning,

"You cook?"

"Yeah, had to learn when I went traveling, it was too expensive to eat out all the time and Ramen just wasn't enough food after all the hiking I had to do."

"It sounds wonderful."

"It really was, wish you could have been with me."

"Well, I'm glad we're here now."

He grinned at her and sat a little closer, then after hesitating a little, rested his arm on the back of the bench behind her, she felt very intimate sitting like this, even though they weren't touching, it felt like she was an inch or two away from sinking into him entirely.

"I have a question now."

"Yes?"

"Who will manage the finances?"

"Well, I don't feel comfortable being in charge of your money, and I like being in charge of mine, but when we are together I guess that would have to change... how are you with your finances?"

"I'm probably biased, but I'd say I'm okay. Not a huge spender, especially as I grew up without much money until I came into my inheritance, but since I've been working I've managed to save a bit and so I don't feel too bad spending more now."

"I know what you mean, even though I've been fortunate to have money all my life, since working I think I value it more."

"So do you want me to take charge of the finances?"

She thought about this for a while, "okay, but as long as I get to contribute to the bills, and keep my own account."

"You don't expect me to take your money do you?"

"Why not? Life is hard, especially in Konoha."

"Yeah but still… I'd feel… dunno… a bit… like not being a man if I let you pay." Something in his voice cracked her soul a little.

"Naruto-kun, with or without money you will always be the best man in my eyes. Please don't place your worth by how much you can provide."

"But if I don't provide what kind of man would I be?"

"But you wouldn't not be providing, it would be sharing, and when we have kids I think I'll have to lean on you more then. Even so, there is no shame in sharing the burden a bit, it doesn't make you any less of a man."

He gazed at her in avid awe, she suspected he wanted to say something because his mouth opened and closed like a goldfish then… eventually he shook his head like a wet dog, "well, we'll share only if we have to."

"I can compromise on that."

"Now it's your turn."

"Oh! Okay… erm…" she knew what she wanted to ask but was very very nervous, reasonably too, she had never voiced such a thing before.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, just… its a bit difficult to say."

"Okay, take your time." She did, and after three minutes of silence punctuated with finger twiddling, Natuto's naturally restless energy couldn't be kept at bay, "if it's too difficult you don't have to ask it now,"

"No… I want to ask… it's just difficult… I'm worried you might not think of me the same way again"

"I promise you Hinata-chan, nothing you say will change how I think of you."

It was the safety net she needed, so with a deep breath and clenched eyes she uttered very quietly so that Naruto had to lean in to catch her words, "H-have y-you thought.. thought about i-intimacy?"

He quirked an eyebrow in confusion "Intimacy?"

Oh god she was going to have explain herself, "Ye-yes… in-intimacy… as in… you know… erm…"

"Like knowing each other?

She wished she could turn invisible right now, but instead she pushed herself to her very limits, "no… not like that… I mean that is important and I do want to get to know you… again…. B-but what I mean is… is… erm… s-sex."

She counted five seconds of the most acutely painful silence in all her life, and then felt Naruto lean away from her to groan in what sounded to be embarrassed mortification, "aaaahhh shit…. Fuck…. You're a lot braver than I am."

She chanced a look at him and unclenched her eyelids, his elbows were leaning on his knees as his face was sunk into the palms of his hands, as though broken by a trauma. "S-sorry.. I didn't mean to embarrass you."

"No, you didn't embarrass me, I've just never talked so directly about this, especially with a girl."

"S-sorry…"

"Don't apologize, it's an important question. Just didn't expect it, and I definitely didn't expect you to be it up, that's why I think you're much braver than me…. To answer your question… I-I have thought about it… h-have you?" Hinata blushed profusely before giving him a tiny self conscious nod in reply, "wow, really?"

She nodded again, then gathered all her courage as she asked, "I-is it something you're planning on… in the near future?" She didn't think she could out right ask him if he wanted to have sex with her, the idea made her nerves jam.

"Well.. err… that's sort of a two way decision."

"Then… what do you have in mind?" She was trying to be direct but it came out coy and now she couldn't look him in the eye again.

"I… most people will think I'm old fashioned, but I think it would be nice to be married first."

"Really?!" She couldn't hide her shock.

"Why are you so surprised?"

"I just thought you'd expect it."

"Well, I'm not going to lie and say I don't want it, especially with… anyway, it's a normal thing, and it's good for relationships, and I've waited this long for the right woman, trouble was I found her a long time ago and was too proud to ask her again."

Hinata was about to say something before he cut her off from her thoughts, "what about you? What do you want?"

"Erm… I think I'm in agreement, I've waited this long, I don't think it's something you should do with someone you don't… deeply care about, and if I wait till I'm married, it would be a nice way to begin living with… my husband."

There was a sleepy peace that fell over them at her admission, then something seemed to have clicked in Naruto's head, "You've waited too?" There was a happiness edged with pride in his voice. "That makes me really happy to hear. Not that it would have mattered if you.. hadn't… but I'm… really happy that maybe we… can experience this with each other."

She tried to hide her face behind her hair, her face was quickly looking like a tomato, "me too… it makes me feel… special that we would share this with each other only."

"Special is definitely the right word for it." His words were so warm, and his eyes were so loving, it felt like she could melt into a puddle of Hinata flavored goo at the affectionate contentment he exuded right there, as though all the lonely night, every ache behind her skin and every frustration in her pelvis made complete sense to her in that moment.

Then something clicked inside Hinata's head, "wait a minute… you waited too? Naruto-kun, were you not intimate with Sakura-san?"

"What?! Where did you get an idea like that?"

"I saw you kiss her at the onsen…" she would rather not think of that, the pain of the memory was seeping into her coronary arteries, threatening to lash her heart.

"I didn't have sex with her if that's what you're wondering…"

She felt relief, then hesitated before asking quietly, "did you like the kiss?"

He looked at her earnestly, then replied with "yes and no, it was a strange feeling. It was nice, but I just thought of you, and then I felt guilty because I knew that wasn't fair to Sakura, or you. But I hadn't ever kissed anyone, and she… well… we can talk about that another time." They lapsed into a more comfortable silence, before he spoke up again, the sunset's sky darkening gradually, Naruto's voice permeated her thoughts when he asked… "how do you feel… about having sex?"

The question startled her a little but she pushed herself to answer honestly, "nervous, I've not done anything like that before, but… I think it's another part of being human that I look forward to. What about you?"

"I feel the same, scared that I'll be crap at it, but also… really… hopeful, if that's the right word for it? I don't know this is so awkward to talk about,"

"Yeah it is awkward, but I'm glad we're talking about it. But why do you think you'll be bad at it?" She had always been nervous at the idea of sex, but never had she wondered if she would be good at it or not.

"From the things I've heard… they say if your not experienced it will be… a bit crap."

"Well… I think as long as you communicate with each other… it will be… fine… probably more than fine. As long as there is a desire to share rather than take, I don't think experience would help to make it much better."

He smiled at her, for what seemed like the millionth time that evening, and she treasured it like every subtle glance they secretly shared, "what about you? Why are you nervous about it?"

"Apparently it hurts for women…"

"Really? Has anyone told you that."

"No… now that I think about it… no one has… but no one's really spoken about it with me either." she admitted.

"Then how do you know it will hurt?"

"I guess… books and things." She'd rather not tell him about all the romance novels she's read. But she did wonder… how many false preconceptions had she adopted from the media she consumed?

"Well maybe it won't hurt. Like you said… with communication… all a couple has to do is wait until it doesn't hurt." She wanted to hug him then and there, and thank him for being himself, the sweet, kind wonderful man he had grown into, the man she looked forward to knowing, the man she looked forward to sleeping with.

"Can I ask another question?" She felt a little braver to ask more about the topic now that they had begin it.

"Go for it."

"How… often… are you….. are you expecting… it."

His face looked like he had consumed and become a red chilli, "oh boy… what makes you ask that question? I'm not going to be demanding if that's what your worried about."

"Actually… it was kinda the reverse that made me ask… a friend of mine had to end a relationship she was in because her boyfriend wasn't interested in having sex with her more than once a month."

"What!" Naruto's eyes looked like would escape his skull.

"I know… she told me to always ask about it before beginning a relationship, so I wanted to try and ask… I didn't think I'd actually manage to though… but I guess the same problem could arise if one member of the couple was demanding too much of the other too."

"I can guarantee you that my level of desire is higher than once a month… I don't understand what was going on with that guy…"

"We're all different, not every man wants s-sex all the time, and not every woman wants to have it much less than their partners."

"Woah… never thought of it like that… makes sense though. But err… what about you? What are you expecting?"

Hinata blushed healthily, she couldn't maintain eye contact.. that wasn't happening, but she spoke quietly to her lap with as much courage as she could muster, which was much more than earlier, "I-I guess much more than once a month, are you considering it on… a weekly basis?"

He scratched his red cheek, embarrassed at being to be divulging such personal information, "I-if… if you- I mean if my partner was up for it… it would be nice to… to engage in… it… quite often… not in a selfish way.. I wouldn't- you know.. push for it, but frequently… within the week… would be… nice." He brought his eyes to level with her face… "does that… suit you?"

With a heart full of tender love and admiration that only grew with his vulnerable admission she replied, "I-I think it would be nice… really nice. I-I think we might have compatibility there."

They gazed into each others eyes, as though they had reached some new unconscious level of understanding, a buzzing awareness sprang between them, and in the back of her mind Hinata wished it would never end.

Eventually she knew they couldn't remain on the park bench all night, as night had indeed arrived. "It's getting late." She began reluctantly.

"Yeah… it is getting late, do you want me to take you home?" He sounded equally reluctant, she didn't want their evening to end yet, but before she could answer her stomach spoke for her by growling loudly, "I guess you're hungry?" He asked bemusedly.

"Heh… yes I suppose I am."

"Want to get something to eat?"

She looked at his hopeful face, "yes, that would be nice." And side by side the made their way out of the secluded park and back to the high street.

A/N: A super long chapter for you all! Didn't expect it to be this long, I just wanted to make sure they had an in depth discussion before staring their relationship. My husband, before we began dating said that he wouldn't change how he thought of me when I was scared to open up to him, and he has been true to his words ever since for 9 years so far :) My friend actually knew someone who's husband would only have sec with her once a month and we both agreed that it sounded awful if you wanted sex much more often than that.