The ceremony was beautiful, but I expected it to be. Mom wouldn't shut up about all the details. The only thing that would make this night better is if Hinata was actually speaking to me. We made these plans forever ago, practically when Nagato announced that he was getting married. Now that things are so rocky, it may have been a bad choice to follow through with them. The last thing I wanted to do was ruin his big night.

So we sit in silence at a table, my plate long since eaten and Hinata's yet to be touched. Pretty much everyone is out on the dance floor having fun. I envy Sakura and Kiba as they dance and laugh with each other. It seems so long ago that we were that way. The familiar fire begins to build as I blame Sasuke for all my problems and I try desperately to stamp it out.

I noticed last week that every time something happens I'm blaming Sasuke but I have realized that it's me causing the problems and that had made me pretty pissed off. I am the reason Hinata is always crying. I'm the reason that Sakura and Kiba have yet to come over and say hi. Maybe it was Sasuke at the very beginning but now it's all on me and I've finally accepted this. I know it's about time I owned up to everything. It's time I left Sasuke behind and focus on me, at least for now. The first step was sitting next to me and my mission tonight was a complicated one. I needed to make it up to her.

I cock my head to the side to look at Hinata and realize up until this point I hadn't noticed the way her long black hair has been pulled up and how beautiful she looks tonight. What a shitty boyfriend I have turned out to be. "You look beautiful tonight," I say, hoping that she will at least smile.

Hinata smiles, but I know instantly that it's one of her fake polite smiles. "Thank you." She mumbles, her eyes never reaching mine.

As I watch her my chest tightens. Even though she looks so beautiful she also looks sad. I turn my chair to face her and take a deep breath. She has been trying to talk about things for so long and it's time we did. "Hinata..." Her name comes out but my mind is so jumbled I can't form a sentence to save my life.

"Please don't." She says, her eyes welling with tears. "I...I don't think I can listen to another one of your explanations."

I stare at her as a silent tear rolls down her cheek staining the makeup on her face, and for the first time, I see the damage that I have inflicted. "I don't think I have told you how much I love you." The words are more a whisper but for the first time tonight she looks me in the eye. It might be a hurtful one but it's at least something.

"Do you know how long it's been since you said those words?" She asks, her tone matching mine. She's hurting and I can tell, it's not like she's trying to hide it.

The tightening in my chest continues as I continue to realize how badly I have fucked up. I know exactly how long it's been since I have told her I love her. I know this because it was right before everything started going to shit and eventually I thought if I said it she wouldn't believe me. That was a mistake. "It was the end of the summer when I came back from camp. We spent the whole day on your couch watching all the episodes I missed of Cake Boss. I remember thinking that if life could stay like that forever I'd love it."

By now Hinata has a steady flow of tears down her face and I can't tell if she's angry or even more hurt. She doesn't say a word though so I decide I need to just dive into an apology and a declaration of love. Anything to fix this mess I have created.

"You deserve so much better than what I have given you Hinata..." My speech is cut off just as I begin by Hinata's fingers on my lips. "Don't say it." She pleas through even more tears than before.

I'm confused why she would cut me off just as I am about to give the apology of my life. This is something that I need to say, she needs to know that I am done screwing around. Removing her fingers from my lips I grasp her hand tightly. "No, I need to say this. I have been a shitty boyfriend for the last few months. I have made you cry more times than I can count and I am so sorry that I am only now seeing how miserable I have made you. I wish I could redo the last few months but all I can do is promise you I will be better. You are more important than anything in this world to me. That includes Sasuke. I'm done worrying about him and I'm done blaming him for my problems. You are an amazing person Hinata and I want to be good enough for you."

It comes out quickly in a ramble but the look on Hinata's face tells me that she understands what I was saying. Now I just have to wait for her response. I just hope it's the one I want.

Slowly her free hand comes up and she runs her fingertips the length on my jawline. I find my lips parting as my heart begins to race. It's like her touch has sparked hope in me, something I hadn't realized I was missing. Before I know it her lips are on mine and new life is breathed right into me. Her kiss is hesitant at first but once I begin kissing her back it's like no time has passed at all.

I had forgotten what it felt like to have her lips on mine and the unconditional love her kiss holds. The realization that I'd forgotten this feeling makes my throat catch and know that I can't let this slip through my fingers again. As our kiss ends I rest my forehead on her's and make a promise I intend to keep, even if it kills me. "It's just you and me Hinata. No more bullshit. You have my word."