Itachi's POV

Smash

There wasn't much I could do in this situation the impending headache already hit my temples with full force not wanting to move yet I might just do what my enraged and foolish little brother just accomplished in our newly refurbished kitchen.

Closing my eyes I tried to ignore the soft scraping of glass on the floor being picked up or the rustle of clothing and the shuffle of feet across the tatami mats. Most of the reason why I didn't want to open my eyes was to see the apologetic and self blame I'm certain was in her eyes.

Sure enough the moment I decided I could hold myself together enough reopening my eyes to see the now broken and upside down table splayed across the floor. All of the cutlery and glasses smashed and smeared everywhere. I almost wanted to ignore it for even a moment longer until I saw the petite form standing close to the sink water running through her slim and bloody fingers!

More alarmed than I should have been within seconds I was at her side taking her hand delicately relieved to find it was just a glass splinter stuck in her finger tip. As softly as I could I picked the splinter out and put it under the water again she had no reaction just simply watched my face as I worked. Finding bandages I began to slowly wrap it around the injury still unwilling to look straight into her forgiving eyes.

An unknown guilt stopped any apology that I wanted to say, what could I say?

Flashes of my brother smashing the table flipping it to its side, Hinata silently stood and simply accepted his anger I could hear my own voice yelling out for him to stop and suddenly he was right in her face bitterly spitting out words that no one deserved especially Hinata. Foolishly Sasuke gripped her arms tightly and shook her almost violently.

"Who the hell do you think you are? You think you can come in to this family! You think just because you're fucking family doesn't want you; you can come in here and mess everything up! You're nothing but a whore!"

Suddenly Sasuke was on the floor with a bloody lip looking up at me with a hurt shock and it stung in more ways than one when I heard the front door slam and the house was in a deathly hush.

This was entirely my fault Hinata didn't deserve…Sasuke didn't deserve…

"Stop blaming yourself for this, itachi."

Her voice was surprisingly stern and I couldn't help but look at her frown, it wasn't right to see such an expression on her face. She gently cupped my cheek and suddenly the room felt warm she smiled prettily I hesitantly covered her hand with mine. Not being able to help myself I nuzzled into her palm. I'll take any comfort she was willing to give, a strong sense of peace overwhelmed me and suddenly I knew from all the months that I was resided back in Konoha and the very place I destroyed my kin, I knew right here I was home.

Everything was going to be alright.

"Now don't just sit there, help me clean up this mess." I was shocked, to say the least, but I couldn't help but smirk when I saw her playful and knowing smile.

It was weeks before Sasuke showed his face again Hinata constantly fussed over that fact always worried and always concerned for his whereabouts. When he finally came home there were still hints of hostility but he was relatively in a better mood and almost on speaking terms with my fiancé.

Of course when I say 'speaking terms' I mean constant snaps and snide remarks there wasn't a day that went by that Sasuke didn't try to insult her and there wasn't a day that went by that I didn't feel like beating the snot out of him.

For months it was like this, rarely a moment where I could sit in peace enjoy my time with my new bride to be I was almost convinced she would get up and leave us. The pain and tears my brother has caused her. I do admire her stubbornness though and all the mornings, fights and uneaten meals all the rejection Sasuke threw at her she still tried, so hard to make us happy.

Gradually I could see the affects of her purity rubbing off on my pigheaded brother, little things that most would miss, like cleaning up after himself, taking off his shoes instead of leaving them on in the house, sitting and silently watching her cook instead of trying to be as offensive as he could and once on a very good day he actually took a bite of her food. I won't forget the joy in Hinata's eyes.

It has been three long months but I am starting to think we were getting the hang of this, being a family and all.

Quietly I sipped the savory tea Hinata had made just a moment ago sitting down at the dining table I simply enjoyed her soft hum as she prepared lunch. Her pink apron already marked with a few ingredients I could have smiled when she glared at the impending stains.

"There wasn't much I could work with but I did my best with what I've got. You boys eat so much!" It almost sounded like a complaint until I looked up and saw the proud gleam in her eyes. I honestly don't know how I lived without this woman before, I' am a very spoiled man.

My stomach chose the right moment to growl.

"It smells delicious." I tried to cover up my embarrassment but nothing goes unnoticed with Hinata, at least she tried to stop her giggle, tried and failed.

Miserably.

Her bell like laugh echoed through the house and I almost felt like laughing with her the pure joy in her smile hit me right in the gut like a bullet, I don't think I will be ever accustomed to her beauty. She happily wiped away tears and turned back to her cooking serving up some rice with a sweet smelling sauce and diced chicken. Taking the first bite I almost closed my eyes.

Moments like this I thank myself for signing that contract.

The day was so beautiful we left the kitchen door open to let the sunlight in Hinata quietly made two more food settings. One for her and one for Sasuke, she untied her apron and I was suddenly very appreciative of the Yamanaka and Harunou for taking Hinata shopping earlier this week. A new white laced sundress decorated her petite body accentuating her every curve my mouth watered and suddenly the food didn't seem as tasty as my Hinata. I wryly thanked kami that she was going to be crawling into bed with me tonight.

I mentally shook my head I wasn't usually so unbecoming but lately it is becoming harder and harder to keep my cool around her. Whether I mean that figuratively I wasn't sure.

Both turning to see Sasuke come grumbling into the kitchen, not before he took of his shoes off I must note he glared heatedly at Hinata when she greeted him which wasn't so out of the ordinary so I just resumed eating. I heard Hinata gasp I turned to look at Sasuke's bloody arm.

"What happened?" He ignored me and went to the kitchen sink cleaning what he could off. I would imagine it was another bad argument with his bumbling teammates. I could admire Naruto for trying so hard for my little brother being the only person to get threw to him but he also had to understand how truly sensitive Sasuke can be.

Even as a child Sasuke was soft hearted.

The memory of trying to preserve that innocence still hurt especially when I see him suffer every day because of my own bloodied hands and whomever else in his life that had used him for their own sick benefit. For a moment Naruto was Sasuke's lifeline a dream that he could live a normal life free of vengeance and tragedy and in a way Naruto broke that promise. Now that he has me back in his life, I can sense his relief that little spark of joy in his eyes when we sparred in our old spot, he was utterly convinced it was just going to be me and him.

I hadn't thought how truly hurt Sasuke would be from Hinata's arrival until I saw his betrayed expression when I knocked him to the floor. His abused feelings are starting to bubble over from all these years of holding them in.

It seems as though my brother has snapped.

He silently stood at the sink heavily leaning on his arms and breathed in and out slowly this last fight did quite the number on him he didn't even try to hide the fact that he was in pain. I hadn't even noticed that Hinata got up to leave when she came walking in with a medical kit she quietly put her hand on his shoulder.

Snapping his head to look at her a violent glare replaced any pain and he started to shout.

"Why do you keep trying to help me?" He smashed a plate off the ground, the sound only a small relief to the boy. "It's not worth it!" He grimaced when his bare foot scraped against the shards, blood staining the floor. I stood up to try and stop him everything was going on to fast.

"Don't you get it? I can't be saved, Naruto!" He suddenly sagged to the ground but not before Hinata tried to catch him her bare knees scraped against the broken ceramics. I was too shocked to move never before has he looked more fragile, only a broken child seeking comfort. Hinata tightly held on to him trying to hold him together and for a moment Sasuke let it happen burying himself in her arms desperately holding onto her warmth.

I could hear him murmur Naruto's name a few more times before shoving away from her trying to get up and get away, he was trying to run away again this would do nothing to help him.

"Sasuke, stop it!" He froze in his tracks half way to the door she was using a very dangerous tone. "Now sit down." I almost flinched at the sheer ferocity it was a quiet authority that no one in the right mind would think of going against. It was a tone that our mother used.

Both Sasuke and I sat down.

We both watched in amazement as she quickly swept up the mess scrubbing until all traces of blood gone and turned crisply to face Sasuke picking up the medical kit she started to clean his arm her face softened at the depth of the injury.

"What happened?" The gentleness was startling for both of us.

"N-naruto stabbed me with a kunai." She frowned angrily.

"Why?"

"Because I'm not the same, because I keep hurting Sakura's feelings because I' am not Sasuke." We both could hear the hurt confusion accusations that he couldn't understand this was too much for Sasuke.

"Hinata…" He looked at her with wide and painfully innocent eyes.

"I' am…I' am sorry." She smiled sadly and brushed a stray hair out of his eyes a raw look of pain covered his features. He blushed boyishly when she leaned down to clean his injured foot bandaging it up she sat up and sighed heavily.

"There, all finished."The room became a little brighter when she smiled.

"Your perfect, Sasuke." I watched as his eyes widened and hesitantly took her fingers almost shyly smiled back.

"Now go get changed cause you're going to come grocery shopping today." Silently he obeyed and walked out of the room.

I got up to stand behind her placing my hand supportively on her shoulder; she turned and tiredly leaned into my chest it is a curious thing a feeling of being wanted I protectively wrapped my arms around her. No one is ever going to hurt my family again.

"I need you, Itachi."

I slightly leaned away looking at her, maybe I heard her wrong. She looked up at me confidently and leaned up slowly shyly on her tip toes she waited. I savored the affection the tenderness and calmly I met her on our first kiss.

"And I need you, Hinata." She smiled which caused tears to roll down her cheeks, I wiped them away with my thumbs somehow this beautiful creature needs me and I won't let her down. She looked up at me in wonder a dark blush covered her cheeks I was smiling like a fool and I didn't care because…

I' am a very lucky man.