SasuHina: Fast Forward

The air was warm, and a mild breeze danced over the flowers, carrying their alluring scent through the place.

The Hyuga State had never looked so beautiful, and Sasuke knew that there was only one reason for that.

The heiress wedding was going to be celebrated with all the grace and honor that she deserved, as Hiashi thought that no man would ever be good enough for his daughter.

But there he was.

Hinata was beautiful, clad in her white kimono, her face perfectly painted, hair done like a sculpture. The few people allowed to watch the ceremony: his team, her team and her father and sister; all looked at her in awe, because if there was ever a perfect bride, that was her. Sasuke didn’t care about any of this, because the woman he was marrying was much more than a pretty face. She was hope.

The ceremony was quiet, the exchanging of sake cups had been quick, and throughout it, she had on her face a small, content smile, and so did he.

XxxX

The ceremony, however, had been great, and noble and rich, and even if he thought it was beautiful, he absolutely didn’t like it.

He preferred the quietness of his future home, set in a large terrain that once was part of the old Uchiha compound, a place that once was so full of grief, but now, certainly, was a place for a new, fresh beginning.

Once the party was finally over, he’s brought her there, and showed her the house. There was a large receiving room, a beautiful kitchen, a study, a small library, and six bedrooms, an indirect reminder of what still was one of his biggest dreams: the rebuilt of the Uchiha clan.

But the part she liked the most about the house was, obviously, the garden, full of flowering trees and herbs, flowers of different colors and shapes and smells, and the greenest grass Hinata had ever seen.

It was so beautiful.

It fitted her so much.

It was on that secluded garden that they had their first night as a couple, and it reminded him immensely of their first encounter, so many years ago, in the forest.

XxxX

Sasuke had many memories of his young years, that’s for sure. Most of them were filled, in one way or another, by this brother and how he felt about him.

Some, the ones that he only recalled recently, were about their parents. He remembered how his father, who was a usually stern, cold person, toned down around Mikoto. How he as always gentle with her, and how close they were, even when they had different opinions.

Maybe this memories had come back to him because he was now a married man, and he could see a little of Fugaku and Mikoto in Sasuke and Hinata.

But he wanted more. He wanted that piece and happiness that never touched her parents minds because, even if they loved each other, and their sons, they were still clouded by the weight of the Uchiha clan, its pride and the upcoming cup.

The new and improved Uchiha clan would never go through this.

XxxX

Hinata was sent on a long term mission three months after their wedding.

Sasuke knew she was strong and capable and her teammates were, well, basically two beasts (three if you counted Akamaru), but he couldn’t help but worry.  Would she be fine? Would she be safe? Would she get hurt?

There were so many things that could go wrong on a mission, specially such a long one. But he had to trust her, and her team, and that everything would go well.

XxxX

Sasuke hated being alone. This was funny, because when he was younger, all he could wish for was to be left on his own.

But now, with Hinata away on a mission, all he wanted was to have her back.

The house seemed dead somehow, as if her presence was the only factor that could transform its structures into a home.

The food was too bland, because her company was the perfect seasoning to every dish.

Even the sun had lost some of his warmth.

Naruto constantly made fun of him, telling how whipped he was, and how much he looked like a lost, abandoned puppy.

But what his blond friend and Hokage couldn’t understand was how much he needed Hinata.

His life was not complete without her.

He was not complete without her.

XxxX

The mission was completed successfully, of course, but the team had barely survived, and Hinata passed through the gates severely injured, and unconscious.

Sasuke was so mad! Mad at Naruto for sending her in such a dangerous mission. Mad at her teammates for not being able to protect her. And mad at Hinata, for not being able to return safe and sound. He was torn, as if he was the one injured and, when he saw her at the hospital, her beautiful features marred with bruises and cuts, he promised he would never let that happen again (even if he had to “convince” Naruto to always put them in the same team). He stood by her bed, holding her small hand for three days. Until she woke up.

 She could understand exactly why her husband was crying, or why he was hugging her so tight (to the point that it was hard to breath). She had missed him terribly, and most of the time, she just wanted to go back to his warm, protective arms. But she was shinobi first and she’d had to go.

She could see, there in the depths of Sasuke’s eyes, all the worry and suffering he’d gone through these days.  Being apart had been hard, on both of them. Her coming back injured had been too hard on him. She hoped it would never happen again.

Hinata’s plans for the future needed her and Sasuke in Knoha, and so she talked about it with the Hogake.

XxxX

Sasuke was not please at being given a gennin team, but Naruto had said it would all be worthy on the future.

It had taken him no time to agree with his best friend.

He could see Hinata every day, and they would make the most of it.

Even if working with stupid, stubborn gennin was really challenging, Sasuke was always glad that he could have so many days off.

Their together time was always well spent, and Sasuke just couldn’t take his hands off Hinata (not that she minded). On one day, they’d gone to the beach, the other night, they went to see a movie.

It was on one of these days off that Hinata had told him the big news.

XxxX

His wife growing belly was... fascinating.

He had seen many pregnant women in his life but... to know that a life that he helped create was there, growing steadly and confortably inside of his wife was...

Well he had no words for that.

He was happy, he was beyond happy. But he also was so very nervous, and anxious.

They had talked a lot about how they wanted their family to go. They wanted a home of love and acceptance, something that neither of  them had while growing up. They wanted all of their children to feel loved and important.

They wanted the warm, loving family they never had.

XxxX

 The tensest moments in Sasuke’s life were when Hinata was in labor.

He had actually read the books, and all of them said that, a natural birth could last long hours and bring the mother intense pain.

But, reading about it and, in a way, experiencing it was two absolutely different things.

Hinata’s face was red and sweaty, her hair glued to her forehead. She looked so tired,  but she was being incredibly strong. She had not complained, and, the only thing that she’d asked for was for him to be there.

She didn’t need to ask that.

Sakura was doing the best to alleviate Hinata’s suffering, but she told him that it might take time.

After some more hours of great anxiety and pain, Sasuke could see his baby’s small shape, and hear his cry.

Hinata’s smile had never been so beautiful.

XxxX

He had his mother’s eyes.

This, in Sasuke’s opinion, made his little son just perfect. He could remember well how much joy (and relief) he felt when his tiny boy opened his eyes for the first time and looked at him with those beautiful pearls of his. Also, the toddler had inherited his mother’s blue-violet hair, which made him look like more a Hyuuga than an Uchiha. 

At first, his pride was shaken by it. His powerful genes were not stronger than hers, and for months he had to listen to Naruto (yes, the one who claimed to be his ‘best friend’) teasing him about this. And, of course, every time he met any member of the Hyuuga clan they basically yelled ‘Hey, Uchiha! Hyuugas are FAR superior to you!’ with every polite nod or bow he received from them. 

But I didn’t matter. Because his son was a proof that things could be different. His son represented a second chance. A chance to do better, to be better and, a chance to love. And love was represented by the figure of the former Hyuuga heiress.

XxxX

As the years passed, a great sense of completion came into him. He could see his children ( three boys and a girl) playing in the garden, while his wife real contently under a tree.

A small smile appeared on his lips. That was so much more than what he expected.

He had had a very troubled beginning, with so much happening in his family, in the village. So much darkness enveloped him. But he had met his light.

XxxX

“Are you feeling alright, my love?” he asked, as he poured her her tea.

She nodded, and smiled sweetly at him

The years had been generous on Hinata Uchiha, she knew, and soon they would be asking their price. She had loved a long and happy life with her husband, and children and grandchildren, and now she started to fear that her time was up. She shared her concerns with her husband

“Don’t be stupid.” Sasuke answered. “Don’t worry about anything.  Everything will be fine.”

Age had brought her, along with much happiness, heart problems. The doctors had explained that it was normal among eldery people, so she should not worry.

Sasuke had told that too.

But she still insisted on it, that her time was coming soon, and, after some protests of her family, she stopped voicing her  thoughts with them.

But she did with Sasuke.

Her husband had listened to her, carefully, and held her tenderly as she talked about how weak she’d been feeling.

His only answer was kissing her on the forehead, and a smile:

“Don’t you ever thing of running away from me, my love. Wherever you go, I’m going after you.”

They laughed at his playfulness, even before such a serious subject, and Hinata knew that, as long as they were together, all would be well.