yea I know majorly late update but hey at least I'm back and working on it ok? I just hope you enjoy and I will be back with another update next week! well please enjoy and review!

The next morning the teams were informed that there was no more need for them to watch over the Kazekage. Everyone was happy to hear this so they went out to celebrate. Well, everyone except Hinata who was on her way to his house. 'Why me?'

She knocked on the door to Gaara's temporary home. Hearing rustles inside she wondered if she woke him up. 'will he be mad if I did wake him? What if he's not wearing a shirt?!'

The door opened revealing a, you guessed it, shirtless Gaara. He knew Hinata would be coming in the morning since Temari had informed him last night. He wore black pants, no shirt nor socks. Letting her in he looked at what she was wearing, black pants, white shirt and over sized jacket that Kakashi had given her. She took off her sandals before stepping into the living room.

They stood in silence for a few moments until Gaara finally spoke, "Morning"

"M-orn-ing" she replied with a solemn face.

Gaara of course noticed her lack of enthusiasm at being there again. "Are you hungry?" Damn his lack of conversational skills.

She shook her head not wanting to annoy him with her stuttering. He ran his right hand through his messy hair, "Well ok, I guess your job is pretty easy today since I have no work here"

She looked at him intently waiting for her orders. Surprising her he informed her that they were going to the mall. After he was ready they headed to the mall where they bought Hinata clothes although she protested. He had insisted that she should be dressed a little nicer since she was going to be seen with him for awhile. As a matter of fact he explained that she would be living with him for awhile. She wanted to protest but knew better. After all she was still afraid of him, well not completely since she remembered how he helped her at the party. Feeling bad that she had ditched him in the middle of the night without explanation she stopped walking.

Gaara of course stopped, "Why did you stop?"

"I'm s-sorry"

"For?"

"F-for le-aving in the m-middle of the ni-ght with-out e-explanation. Y-you he-helped me"

"Please don't stutter. I'll only accept the apology if you can say it without stuttering" he stared at her eyes waiting for her to try.

"I-I" she took a big breath. "I'm s-s"

"Let's go" he kept walking. "Just do it when you're ready ok?"

Hinata had never thought of Gaara as understanding. In fact that was one of the last words she would have used to describe him. It was up there with, nice, caring and loving. Or maybe it was just that he really hated her bad attempts at not stuttering. Frowning she followed him as he did more shopping for the both of them. After walking around the many shops Gaara had paid for everything they had bought to be sent to the apartment he was staying at.

Both heard loud growls coming from Hinata's stomach. Gaara tried to figure out whether he should be amused that she waited this long to eat without telling him or to be mad for the same reason. "You are hungry"

"I-I can w-wait" she tried her best to not stutter as much around him but he was still kind of scary to be around considering his past and current temper.

"What do you want to eat?"

"I-I c-"

"Don't tell me you can wait. How about we have dinner at Le Petite?"

Hinata's eyes grew wide, "B-but t-th-ats ex-pen-s-sive!"

"I wont take no for an answer." Motioning for her to follow him they made their way over to the fancy restaurant by the mall.

'If he wasn't going to take no for an answer then why did he ask me to begin with?' Hinata felt as if she was on an indirect date with him since he had bought her so many things at the mall and now dinner at one of the most expensive restaurants in town.

A waitress escorted them to their table asking for their drinks. The girl had blonde curly hair that went down to her waist. Obviously the girl was a fan girl of Gaara's since she tried to flirt with him whenever possible. Hinata wasn't jealous or anything but she was annoyed. "Stupid girl" she muttered under her breath.

Sad for her Gaara managed to hear, "Jealous?"

Hinata shook her head and again it was true that she wasn't jealous. She just didn't see the point of trying to get a guys attention when he was clearly not interested. Gaara stared at Hinata wanting to let it go since he didn't want to hear her stuttering. Dinner was served shortly after ordering. Hinata had never seen such a nice looking dinner plate. It was white with gold rims and beautiful red flowers also outlined with gold. It almost seemed a shame to dirty it with the equally as good looking food on the surface. For some odd reason she felt as if she should take a picture of the pretty plate.

Gaara had watched her examine the plate. He wondered if she had ever been to a restaurant like this. As an Ex-Hyuga she surely would have at the clan meetings right? "Hinata"

She reluctantly looked up from her plate. Once she made eye contact he continued, "Why are you an ex-Hyuga?"

She stiffened breaking eye contact. He knew she probably wouldn't answer but he wanted to let her know that he wanted to know what happened. When she didn't respond he let it go. "You should eat"

Happy that he let it go, at least for now she ate her dinner in silence. It wasn't a sad or uncomfortable silence but a strangely comfortable one. The waitress came back once in awhile breaking the silence asking if they wanted refills along with more failed attempts to flirt with Gaara. After they were done the waitress came back to take their plates, "Is there anything else I can get for you? Perhaps a dessert?" she smiled at Gaara.

He looked at the dessert tray then at Hinata. She had been eyeing a chocolate chip ice cream cone topped with colorful chocolate pieces and fudge. Ordering that for her he thought about ordering something for himself but thought against it. Sugar always made him a little hyper which wasn't a good thing for him since he would be jittery the next morning. The waitress came back with the dessert for Hinata who took it shyly. 'Why is he being so nice to me?'

The waitress made one last attempt to flirt with Gaara who again, ignored her so she left them alone. When Gaara turned Hinata had already bitten into her ice cream getting a headache also known as a brain freeze. She had been so excited about tasting ice cream that without thought she had bitten into it.

After laughing about it together Hinata realized that in a strange sort of way she had enjoyed his company. Not because he had bought her such nice things or because of dinner but because he didn't push her to talk or pry into her life. Well, at least after his question about why she wasn't a Hyuga anymore he didn't. Arriving home Hinata asked him if she could take a shower so she could get ready for bed. He of course let her since he wasn't going to go out again. Hinata happily made her way to the bathroom ready for her relaxation time.

Sasuke had been completely bored at the Uchiha home. He had been home alone since his older brother had left with his friends in the morning. Not that Sasuke was complaining though, he would rather be home alone than have his older brother bugging him. Especially since the stupid kiss between Itachi and Hinata at the party. 'Could Hinata like Itachi? Why else would she kiss him? Was it her first kiss?'

Making his way to the training room he realized he hadn't even heard from Hinata that day so he sent her a text message. Hey Hinata its Sasuke. Want to hang out today?

Since Hinata was in the shower she had left her cell phone in her jacket in her room. Gaara heard it go off announcing a text message. Checking to see who it was he growled. 'Why the hell is he texting her?'

He wanted so desperately to reply as her to see what their relationship was. Sasuke had no real reason to have an interest in her since they were no longer team mates. Clicking out of the message he put the phone back in its place figuring that he could ask Hinata about it later.

Sasuke waited for a few minutes but still no answer. "Maybe she's still asleep?" he checked the clock in his training room. He was just sitting there now, all traces of wanting to train gone. Sitting in front of a mirror he began to think why he had been so pissed off about Hinata kissing her brother. Then he wondered who kissed who first. "I have to find out!" he promised himself that he would figure out why she was slowly starting to occupy his thoughts when he had never noticed her before.

Itachi closed the door behind him and walked to the center of the room. The room had two chairs in front of a desk with organized paperwork and man sitting behind the desk in a leather chair. Itachi sat in the right chair directly across from the man staring at him. Clearing his throat before speaking, "I want to move the wedding date up to next month."

"Why is that? We had agreed that it would be in six months"

"The circumstances have changed."

"Is there no way of keeping the wedding six months from now?"

"No, I will take her as my bride next month. I will be back to give you an exact date after I have talked to her"

"Fine"

Itachi stood up satisfied that his wedding with Hinata would come sooner than he'd thought. Before opening the door he added, "I'm glad to have such an understanding future father in law" he smirked before leaving.

Hiashi had been planning to marry Hinata off when she was a Hyuga but since she had chosen to leave the clan he no longer had to worry about that. That was when Itachi had appeared out of nowhere to ask for her hand in marriage. Hiashi didn't understand why he would want the weak ex-heiress but didn't complain. This way he could cover up that she had voluntarily left the clan due to the way they treated her. This way it looked as if she had simply gotten married and left to a more powerful clan.

Itachi decided to head back to his home since he had finished with all of the business he had to take care of already.

When Hinata got out of the shower she was ambushed with Temari's questions about her first day with Gaara. Some were so out there about their relationship that Hinata only turned red. Apparently Temari thought they were a couple now. Realizing Hinata was only wearing a white towel wrapped around her she quickly apologized and left to her apartment. Gaara had watched his sister scare Hinata with her questions. It didn't surprise him since he was used to Temari's outbursts but he felt kind of bad for Hinata since she was the object that his sister was currently determined to 'befriend.'

In her room Hinata dressed in loose gray shorts a black shirt and her jacket. She felt her phone in the pocket and checked it for any missed anything. Finding only a message from Sasuke she replied, Sorry I was in the shower. I think the day is over already she added a smiley face.

She didn't have to wait long before he replied, well we could hit a late night movie

H : I would like to but I'm kind of tired

S : oh ok then what about tomorrow?

H : maybe

S : what'd you do today that I haven't heard from you?

Hinata was surprised, "Why should he care?"

"Why should who care?" Gaara opened the door to her room.

She turned red from embarrassment, "I'Im s-so"

"I told you I wouldn't accept the apology unless you don't stutter" he sat on her bed.

Quickly replying to Sasuke's text she put her phone away in her pocket. "I-I th-ought y-you were g-going to h-help me"

He thought for a second, "Oh yes. Ok come here" he motioned for her to stand directly in front of him while he was on her bed. Once she did she couldn't help but turn a deeper shade of red because of the closeness. Beginning with his name he started just as the night before, "Gaa-"

"Gaa"

"ra"

"ra"

"altogether now"

"Gaara" she smiled at being able to say his name without stuttering.

"Ok so how about a sentence again"

Hinata remembered what she had said last time and turned her head to the right. "I'I"

He sighed, "stand up straight, take a deep breath and let it out"

"Imsorryfortheotherday!"

"Apology accepted although you said it a little too fast" he saw her expression sadden and head look down. "but still, you did good" he lifted her chin to him as he stood. Hinata who had already stopped blushing was blushing again at how close his face was to hers. Feeling hand go from her chin to the back of her head she felt him close the space between them. It had started out with him having the intentions of a kiss but he changed his mind knowing she wasn't ready so instead he had pulled her into a hug. He didn't think she would of hugged back but when she did he was relieved until he felt his shirt was getting wet. Alarmed he made space between them enough to see that she was crying.

"Why are you crying?"

She took a deep breath, "I don't know"

Both were surprised that she hadn't stuttered. Hinata knew why she was crying but didn't want to say anything. At least not yet, she hugged him surprising him with her bold action. Letting her cry herself to sleep he wondered why she hadn't told him the reason for her tears. 'What a weird day. First she arrives shy, she is a little happy at the restaurant then she cries after taking a shower' It was weird that she would do these things without reason to him.

He laid her down on her bed covering her with the blankets. Just as he was about to walk away he felt her small hand tug on his shirt. "Please… stay" her eyes still closed.

He wasn't sure whether she was sleep talking or just half asleep. When she didn't let go of his shirt he laid down next to her under the blankets. She laid her head on his shoulder and an arm on his chest. 'I wonder if she realized what she is doing' being this close to Hinata was what he wanted but he wanted her to recognize him as her lover. Still, the fact that she was probably using him to feel more secure made him feel good. There was no doubt in his mind that he wanted her to be his. Then he remembered what Itachi had basically announced at the party. Glancing over at the sleeping Hinata he brushed a few strands of her hair away from her face, 'It doesn't seem like she knew anything about the engagement. I will have to talk to the Hokage about this' Gaara would be damned if he let Itachi take her without a fight.

Pretty soon Gaara thought about a loophole to the 'engagement.' 'If Hiashi is just trying to get rid of Hinata then I will gladly take her off his hands' he had no doubt that Hiashi would prefer him over the Uchiha clan since he was more powerful as well as wealthier. Gaara ended up laying there the entire night.

Sasuke had gotten Hinata's last reply but never replied since her text said, G2G don't text. I'll text you tomorrow.

He wondered what she was doing that she had to leave so suddenly. Laying on his bed he fell asleep thinking about when Hinata would text him.

Itachi got home shortly after his brother had fallen asleep. Not wanting to wake his brother Itachi went straight to his room to make a few phone calls.

"Do you realize what time it is?" a sleepy voice answered his call.

"Midnight"

"Why are you calling me so late?"

"The wedding has been moved up"

"What?" the voice sounded a little more awake now.

"I talked to Hiashi and he agreed to have the wedding moved up to next month"

"Why the hell did you do that?!"

"I don't want Gaara or Sasuke to try and stop this. They are both very smart and will figure out that I am not lying about this and I guarantee they will try to stop the wedding."

"so you want to get married before they figure it out?"

"Exactly"

"Great now I'll have to call everyone and tell them"

"Everyone?"

"You didn't think your friends were going to miss your wedding did you?"

"Guess not"

"For now, how about we sleep yeah?"

"Fine"

"Goodnight"

Itachi hung up with his blonde haired friend Deidara. He knew that Deidara would take care of everything for the wedding. Deidara knew what he and Hinata liked so Itachi knew that they would like the wedding. Besides that Itachi was busy with the Uchiha clans matters so free time was hard to come by sometimes. Now he just had to get Hinata to agree to it. Something told him it wasn't going to be as easy as he thought.