Hinata's met her fair share of people in her life, but she can count on one hand the people she considers to be her true friends. Mostly it's her fault-she always worried that people would get to know her and be disappointed, so she rarely allowed herself to get close-to let anyone into the little wall she built around herself.

But Ino got in.

Broke the damn wall down.

Hinata meets Ino for dinner and some shopping.

It's been far too long since they'd had any real 'girl time' Ino had complained and while Hinata could do without the shopping, she had really missed Ino over the past few weeks and readily agreed. Besides, Naruto was going to see his new therapist and wouldn't be home for a while, so she could sit and stare at the walls and worry, or she could hang out with the other gorgeous blond she loved.

The choice was easy, really.

"Choji's grand opening is in a couple of weeks," Ino tells her, shifting the fabric of the top she's looking at up into the light. She shakes her head and pinches her face, hanging it back on the rack.

Hinata nods from her seat near the shoes. "Mm. I know, he called. Mei's sending out formal invitations soon." Hinata smiled, her eyes crinkling at the edges. "He sounded really excited about it. I'm excited for him." She is, too. He was so enthusiastic when they spoke-gushing about the menu and how hard Mei has been working helping pout it all together. The restaurant had started out as his thing and was now a their thing between him and Mei and she was so happy for him.

"So you're going?" Ino prods, moving around the clothes rack. She's out of HInata's direct line of sight, but she can practically feel the weight of Ino's stare from behind fabrics that cost more than Hinata's weekly salary.

"Of course I am," Hinata says with a small frown. Why wouldn't she support her friend?

"Oh, that's good." Ino sounds relieved, which only deepens Hinata's frown. "And will you be bringing Naruto?"

Ah. Hinata realizes where the question is coming from now. She has every intention of bringing Naruto with her, but at Ino's pregnant pause, Hinata also pauses, considering...would he even want to attend? Would it be uncomfortable for him? He'd know several people there-Ino, Sai, Shikamaru and his fiance. Plus, unlike her, Naruto's never shied away from being social...and she's explained her relationship with Choji well enough (she hopes), so there shouldn't be an issue, but it wasn't like she had a lot of experience in that area. She hadn't even known Naruto to be jealous.

Well, that wasn't true, she thinks, biting her lip. He was jealous of Sasuke over Sakura for a long time. She just hadn't realized that he may get jealous over her. Part of her insecurities, she supposes, but she's getting better with those.

"Hin?" Ino pokes her head out from behind the rack, her long braid dangling over her shoulder.

"Yes," she answers quickly-sharper than she intended. She takes a small breath. "Yeah," she amends. "I mean, if he wants to come with me, that is."

At this, Ino snorts. "Like he's gonna let you schmooze with Choji all by yourself. He'll be there."

This causes Hinata to shift on the cushion, crossing her legs. She fiddles with her bracelet for a moment before glancing at Ino who was still watching her. "Do you think it's a bad idea? To bring him?"

Ino rolls her eyes. "Of all of your bad ideas, bringing your fiance to hang with your friends isn't top of the list."

Hinata splutters, eyes widening. "I don't have bad ideas," she mutters.

"Oh, no? Let's see...there was that time you and Kiba stole eleven puppies from his neighbor and tried to smuggle them into his house in the middle of the night, then there was the time, freshman year, that you pulled back to back all nighters studying and then were so tired you forgot your own name, oh, and let's not forget that you tried to take on a New York gang by yourself and almost ended up dead." The last bit came out sharp and hurt.

Hinata sat up a little, her index finger popping up. "One-we were seven and the puppies were not being fed and left unattended, outside in the cold rain, so…" she shrugs. Not a bad idea, in her opinion. Besides, Kiba's mom had found all of them good homes. Including keeping one that would birth her own pups and give Kiba Akamaru, so, definitely not a bad decision. "Two, I did not forget my own name." She had forgotten what day of the week it was and showed up to take a final she had already taken, only to be led back to her dorm by a worried Professor Yuhi. "And three...I didn't almost die." And she refused to call it a bad decision. It led to Naruto's freedom and getting some really bad people off the streets. Of course there were always more bad people, but at least she hadn't sat idle and let Naruto down.

"You could have," Ino counters, crossing her arms over her chest. "You really, really could have. Shikamaru told me so, and he doesn't exaggerate." She taps her foot. "Not to mention you didn't even tell me what was happening!"

Hinata does feel a small stab of guilt at that, but she wasn't about to put Ino in danger as well...plus it wasn't like Ino was super well known for keeping secrets. "Ino-"

As if sensing her line of thought, Ino gave an indignant huff. "I wouldn't have told."

"I'm sorry." Hinata says, getting to her feet. "Really. I am. For hurting you. But not for what happened. I can't be sorry about that." She tells her best friend quietly, but sincerely.

Ino lets out a breath, her posture loosening. "Yeah, I know." She smiles a little, crooked but real. "I just wanted to sass you a bit. Hearing it all second hand from boring ass Shikamaru…" she waves a hand. Then, more seriously, "Just...be careful, Hinata. You're so willing to sacrifice yourself in the names of those you love...I just worry that someday you'll give too much. There are a few of us-besides Naruto-that would be lost without you. Okay?"

Hinata feels her eyes get a little misty. She doesn't really know what to say to that. So she simply says, "Okay." and they resume shopping.

Ino slides easily from their heavy topic into conversation about new spring looks and decorating. It's Ino's comments on floral arrangements that has an idea popping into HInata's head. She grasps her friend's arm, causing Ino to stop mid-sentence.

"Ino, would you help me plan my wedding?" Hinata blurts out. It seems right, she thinks. Ino's been through every phase of her life with her, and she'd helped Naruto pick the ring, and she had an eye for design and...well, she was so important to Hinata that it makes sense for her to be a part of this, too.

Ino blinks her perfectly lined eyes a couple of times. "Really?" she squeals a little.

"Yeah!" Hinata laughs, nodding.

"Yes!" Ino whoops, throwing her arms around Hinata and bouncing a little. "You're getting married!" she crows with a laugh. "Married! Married!" They spin in a little, bouncy, circle.

For once, Hinata ignores the stares of the sales clerks and the passersby. She feels a little giddy. It's the first time since Naruto proposed that she can just kind of-bask-in the joy of it. She's getting married! To the love of her life. Her true best friend and the man that inspires her. Could it get any better?