So, my first fanfiction that I hope to take seriously. I'm not very into Naruto...? So, this won't be full of references or good understanding of the series ahaha, and I'm sorry. I just really like the pairing. I'm going make this maybe a bit OOC and set in a slightly AU? Gaara is going to still have the demon inside him, even though this is a good bit in the future, when everyone is in their 20s, and Naruto is Hokage. Hopefully you enjoy it if you choose to read it! :)

Slow-Footed

Chapter One

The Ways

She sat, her back pressed up against the walls of the complex, the wood warm against her skin, the feeling seeping through her usual attire until it mixed into her bones. A pleasant sensation, and a calming sensation. A peace gathering up in her chest, and sitting as a cat might- purring softly- the thrumming making its way along with the heat.

Her eyes were cast earthwards, onto her hands which were meticulously tying together little flowers that a child had pulled from the ground and placed in her lap, pleading for Hinata to make her a daisy chain. Which had Hinata happy to oblige. It was something she was good at, and had eventually begun to pride herself in. After so much disappointment, after so much pushing and shoving and clawing her way to better herself in her father's eyes- she was happy to be where she was today. Exactly the same.

She had given up on being a ninja, and she had begun to embrace her soft natured self, and it was good. No one could deny that. Without needing to prove herself, she had found new and useful talents with children. Tiny eyes that knew no malice, and pouty mouths that spoke no hurt. Looking at them made her stronger, made her willful. And she found a place for herself at a small hospital for children. A recovery ward, and a safe haven from terrors if need be. Her stutter had ebbed away, and her wringing fingers had settled themselves to complete menial tasks for the satisfaction of children. And it calmed them, comforted them, and she was being called a miracle worker at times. Children came with trauma, or from surgery, or from wounded homes, or wherever else. And Hinata took them all and through soft words, a consistent kindness, and a bottomless well of understanding- was able to heal any of them.

It was a good thing, too, that she was an experienced healer at that point too. And because she had been trained, she was a capable defender as well. Perfect for what she did, as if born to. Children adored her for it, and grew and changed to reach greater potentials through her, and even the council and her father recognized her ability. With her relinquishment of the head title, she was left to her own devices, and was free to be as she chose within reason.

A head, covered in brown tufts of hair rest against her thigh, one arm tucked under a sweet face, pressing the cheek fat out and causing drool to dribble down a chin malformed by sleepy tousling. Another child peered down at Hinata's hands with rapt attention, grinning from ear to ear, as though to crack the whole face in two with excitement. Other children flitted about the field, checking up on her from time to time to babble random observations.

"Hinata- san, I found a slug by that puddle, and a salamander!" one sang before scurrying off.

"You be the mommy ok, we're all babies!" one said, too wrapped up in their game of make-believe to notice the truth in the statement.

"Aki-chan is getting mud on my feet." one whined, and Hinata handled them all. Responding softly, and noting patiently, and even her scolding became simply a lesson on how to change and grow with the kindest of words lacing every sentence. It was blissful and perfect and what she was truly called to-

"Hyuuga-san." a sharp voice sounded, reminding her of crack of a branch when given way to the winds of a storm. It didn't sound pleasing... The drooling child jolted upright, strands of it hooked to Hinata's slacks for a moment before being carried off with a breeze, and he pulled chubby hands up to rub sleep from his eyes.

Hinata was focused on the shinobi. "Hokage-sama would like to speak with you as soon as possible." his voice not pleasing at all. Just the weight of it, it replaced that peaceful slumbering cat with a stone, heavy and marbled.

"Yes, of course." she replied, inclining her head towards him with respect, which he returned back dutifully, and was gone with a wisp of smokey chakra exertion and a lingering feeling of a heavy stone in Hinata's chest.