Before I start the story, I would like to thank the nice people who reviewd this last chapter. Thank you so much for everything:

-Iria

-winterkaguya

-Toni

Thank you so much for your reviews. Especially Winterkaguya, I was flabbergasted. Thank you so much, and I hope you keep up with the story -

Now! On to chapter three!!

Chapter three:Birth and Infancy

My son came to me with the morning light. He is my hope and my light.

Mommy believes that there's a way...for my world and your world to connect someday...

At the welfare center

"Okay, please clean up. Put on your hats and we'll go outside." Ari called. Hinata struggled but, managed to get Hikaru's hat on. He whimpered and looked up at her, not looking directly at her, but around her. "Now, Hikaru, it's time to go outside." Hinata told him, smiling. Ari took Hikaru's hand and nodded. "Come on, Hikaru. It'll be fun!" she said with a kind smile. Hikaru didn't look at either of the women, but walked quietly outside. Ari turned to the other mothers. "Please meet back here in 10 minutes." she said. The mothers nodded and went on their ways. There was another woman in the class. She had a son named Hiroaki, who was simillar to Hikaru. Her name was Yuki Yagami. Hinata and Yuki had become a bit close in the classes they had together. "Phew. It's break time. Let's go get a coffee." she said to Hinata with a smile. Hinata nodded.

"So, Hikaru placed flowers at your feet?" Yuki asked, excited. Hinata nodded. "Yeah." she gazed into her coffee cup. "I don't know if he did it to comfort me...but it was at a time when I was depressed, so it made me feel really happy." she said, with a small smile. "I know how that feels!" Yuki said, hugging Hinata. Hinata looked out the window to the playground. Hikaru was standing by himself at the fence, watching the civillians walk by. "But, I've noticed something. Hikaru sometimes looks over at me. Just for a second." she said. Yuki looked out the window at Hikaru. "But, I think he has his eyes on many different things...maybe his heart is full of all the things he sees... He just doesn't say it, so I can't relly tell." Hinata becames a bit sad. Yuki stood up and smiled at Hinata. "My Hiroaki is always smiling and looking at people...so he's different from Hikaru. But you can tell that he's been watching, right?" She took Hinata empty cup and threw them into the trash can. "Even if they don't look us in the eye, or call us 'mommy'... we exist in their worlds. That means he always sees my angry face...my sad face... and my happy face." she told Hinata, happily. Hinata looked at Hikaru out the window. "Just for a day, I want to see myself through his eyes." she muttered.

Would you see a mother? Or just someone who takes care of you? I want to know more about you, Hikaru...

That night.

There was a loud crash in the kitchen. Kiba sat at he table with a sad look on his face. "Aww, I dropped my beer..." he said, getting up to grab the pieces of glass. "Hikaru, no, no!" Hinata said, picking Hikaru up. He was crying and screaming. Shino bent over and picked up the pieces, while Kiba wiped the mess. "Should we use less fragile dishware? But before that, we should buy canned beer." Shino said. Kiba nodded. Hinata struggled to hold Hikaru. The phone began to ring. "Do you want me to get..." she trailed off, noticing Shino and Kiba giving eachother sexy eyes. "...that..." Hinata smiled and shook her head, picking up the phone.

"Hello, Kiba and Shino's home, Hinata speaking." she answered respectfully. "Hinata. It's me." Neji said on the line. Hinata frowned. She put Hikaru down. "What do you want? I'm not comming back." she told him. "Is hat Hikaru crying in the background?" Neji asked. Hinata looked behind her. "That's right. A dish broke, and scared him. I'm sure you're enjoying your quiet life now." she said.

Neji sighed. He looked tired. He stood with Rock Lee, his comrade. His blue cell phone, louder than he thought. He sighed in frustration, turning from his friend. "Don't talk like that. I was really tired that time...I said too much, and I really didn't mean it..." he said. Hinata's sad voice rang out of the phone, making Lee jump. "It's fine! It was the truth, right? Hikaru and I are in your way! That's why I'm not coming back!" she said, crying. She sobbed into the phone. "I'm not coming back until you acknowlege us as your family!" she hung up the phone, making him angry. He stared at his phone.

'Then what about you? You probably think of me as the bad guy. I try so hard to do these missions just for us...is it that bad at home, to cause you to run away?' he thought, sadly. Lee looked at him. "Neji? Are you okay? Your family..." Neji looked up with a look that said 'mind your own buisness', and nodded. "Don't worry about it, Lee. Looks like our mission is started. All right, lets go over the plan..." he looked at the documents the Hokage gave to him. 'Family or work? I can't decide whick is more important. I'm working for the sake of the family. And now I can't even spend time with them...' he sighed and looked at Lee, who was deep in thought about something. Neji looked away. "Hinata may think I'm a useless husband... But I'll do this mission, and prove her wrong..." he thought.

Welfare facility

Yuki and Hinata sat together during break. Hinata watched Hikaru play outside by himself. "So, I'm commuting from my friends' house... It's so far. I left my husband's house." she sad. Yuki jumped up. "WHAT!?" she took Hinata's hand. "How did that happen?" she asked, worried. "We had issues last week." Hinata explained sadly. Yuki pated Hinata on the arm. Hinata sniffled. "I'm jealous of you...Your husband comes to pick you up sometimes..." she noted. Yuki nodded slowly. "Yeah...sometimes... He has his own buisness so he can make time." she said guilty. Hinata nodded. "He participates in the fathers group, doesn't he?" Hinata shook her head and smiled. "My husband is hopeless, but I don't care anymore. As long as I have Hikaru..." she said, sadly. Yuki frowned. "Oh, Hinata..."

Lady Kida walked up to the house. She knocked on the door once. "Hinata? Neji?" she asked. No answer. She opened the door, and almost fell back. The place was a mess. "Oh my goodness!" she cried. Neji rose from a pile of trash, tired looking. "Oh, it's you." he said, coughing. "What's that supposed to mean?" she asked, helping him up. He shrugged her off. Lady Kida bent down and began to pick up the wrappers, chip bags, beer cans, and whatnot. "You poor thing. What is that wife of yours for?" she nagged. Neji didn't reply. Lady Kida looked at him. "When's Hinata coming back?" she asked. Neji shrugged. "I don't know." he said, putting on his pants over his boxers. "I have to go." he said, throwing her the keys. "Here. Lock up when you're done cleaning. I have to go." he turned to leave. Lady Kida grabbed his shoulder. "My nephew... I'm worried about your health." she said Neji looked back at her with a weak smile. "I have to go." he said, walking out the door.

Lady Kida sighed, as she cleaned up the living room. She noticed something at the corner of her eye, behind the coffe table. She bent down to pick it up. She picked it up and read it. "About Autism..." she read aloud. She remembered Hinata saying something about Hikaru being autistic, but she didn't really understand. She flipped through the booklet, skimming through the words, until she stopped. "I don't really quite understand, but... It looks like it's not Hinata's fault..." She gasped when she heard the phone ring. "Hello, Neji Hyuuga residence. Oh, Gai-sensei? WHAT!? Neji!!" she dropped the phone.

There was a ring, and Shino picked up the phone. "Hello?...Yes, just one moment." he looked over to Hinata. "Phone, Hinata. It's your aunt. Hinata looked puzzled, but picked it up. "Hello?" she asked. She stopped. "Neji collapsed at training!?" she asked in a panic. "Yes, I'll be there soon." she said, hanging up the phone. She looked at Shino and Kiba, who looked worried. "Neji's been overworking himself! He didn't get any rest the whole time I was gone!" she said, tearfully. Kiba hugged her. "Go to him. I'll take care of Hikaru." he told her. "Thank you." she said, turning out the door. Shino nodded. "I'll go woth you." he said. All of a sudden Hikaru began to cry. He stopped playing with his blocks and pounded his fists. Kiba picked up the squirming boy and smiled. "Aww, Hikaru. Mommy will be back, don't worry." he assured him. It didn't help.

Hinata left the house, and looked back briefly. 'Are you crying because you don't want me to go?' she wondered.

Hinata and Shino walked up to the closest nurse. "I'm looking for Neji Hyuuga. He was brought here earlier. The nurse nodded and allowed them to follow her to a room, on the top floor. Hinata walked in to see Lady Kida sitting in a chair, beside the unconscious Neji, in the bed. Lady Kida got up. "Hinata. They told me he'll be okay." she said. Hinata nodded shyly. "I brought over his things." she said, pointing to the corner where Neji's cloths resided. Hinata nodded. Lady Kida looked at Neji. "Oh, and when his IV is done, uzz the nurse." she added. She looked at Hinata. "Well, I'm going home. I'm tired." she held up the autism booklet. "I'm going to borrow this." she said, giving Hinata a small unreadable smile. "I need to read more about it..." she said quietly. Hinata nodded and took her aunts hand. "It took me a while, too. Please take your time. And please look at Hiaru again, as himself." she begged. Lady Kida took her hand and walked out of the room, passing by Shino.

"I'm sorry this happened while Hinata was away." he said quietly. Lady Kida looked at him. "I know she's going through rough times...Is Hikaru at your house?" she asked, a bit guilty. Shino nodded. "Yes, my...partner... is watching hm. Our house is a mess, it's like there was a hurricane in there." he said. Lady Kida frowned. "Does he still hit his head? He did that once..." she asked. Shino nodded. "Yes, he throws tantrums all the time." Shino said quietly. "I'm sure he has his reasons, but we don't know them... He screams and screms, enough to drive us all crazy. But all of us support them." he said, bowing respectivly. "Please have patience..." he asked. Lady Kida smiled and looked at him. "I will. I promise!" she said. Hinata, who was peeking through the door of the room, smiled. 'Thank you Shino...' she thought smiling.

She sat beside Neji. She ran her fingers through his hair, and blushed. 'so beautiful...' she thought. He sighed in his sleep. 'I had hardships, but so did he... Working himself sick... We were both preocupied with ourselves, and didn't think of eachother. We both fell apart... Even though we are supposed to work together...' she put her hand on his cheek, and heard him groan. His eyes weakly, fluttered open, and he looked up at her. "...Hinata... What time is it?" he asked. Hinata didn't reply. "I have to go." he said, attempting to get up. He fell back onto the bed. "You're in no condition to be up and about." she told him. He looked at her. "But the mission--" "Lee can handle it." Hinata interrupted. "But--" he was cut of by Hinata embracing him tightly. He could feel her cold wet ears on the right side of his face. "I don't want to say this, but...There are oter people who can do your job! But my husband...Hikaru's father...THAT CAN ONLY BE YOU!" she sobbed. Neji turned his head away from her. "It was my destiny...to go on that mission..." he said quietly. He stopped and took Hinata's hand kissed it. "Hinata... I want to statr over... I want to be a father to Hikaru." he said, earning a passionate kiss.

Rock Lee pounded the table. Neji and him arranged a friendly meeting together at the Ichikaru Ramen stand. "I'm upset! It was your hard training and careful preperation...But the next guy took credit." he said, angrilly. Neji leaned back in his seat. He closed his eyes, and smirked. "It's okay. It's my fault for not taking care of myself." he said. Lee seemed saddend. "People might see me as a failure, but I feel refreashed. Living my life with a family." he added. Lee looked up at his friend and smiled. "Well, if you're happy.." he sighed.

Welfare facility fathers group

Neji opened a door quietly. He poked his head into a large room, that had about 15 other men. He walked in slowly. He noticed the men from walking around the village, but never seemed to have met them. "Oh, Mr. Hyuuga! We were waiting for you." said a smiling man. He was taller and woder than Neji. Neji nodded. "I apologize for my lateness." he said. The man shook his head, and smiled. He handed Neji a small glass and poured some alhohol into it. "We're all friends here. By the way, I'm Kohaku. Our wives are friends at the day facility. Yuki." he said, smiling. Neji smirked back. "Oh, you're Hiroaki's father? It's nice to meet you" he replied. "How are you feeling?" Kohaku asked. Neji smiled. "I'm fine. But I went home after being discharged, and my son ignored me... but, it happens all the time..." he stpped and smiled woder. " But not today! When I left for training he cried." he said hopefully. Kohaku sat back in his chair. "I remember those days... When I left for work, Hiroaki cried. But whe I got home he didn't look happy." he said. Neji cocked his head to the side. "Why's that?" he asked. Kohaku shrugged. "Hiroaki just responded to the 'change of someone leaving'. So it wasn't that he was crying for me.. I think it was more about something that was once there, being gone." he explained. Neji nodded. "I see...I didn't konw that.." He stood up. "Then I'll work hard to be 'useful person #2'! I'll move up to a father after that!" he announced triumphantly. All the man in the room cheered.

Neji walked into the kitchen and smiled. "I want to teach Hikaru to swim." he said, smiling. Hinata turned around. "What?" she asked. Neji sat down. "The doctor said excerscise the whole body is good for him, so I thought that swimming would be perfect. Hinata blushed. "But he can barely go to the bathroom properly!" she gasoed. Neji held up a panphlet. "There are babies in diapers participating, too. I found a fit school for him." he said, handing her the panphlet. Hinata looked at it and smiled.

That Sunday Hikaru started swimming class. He had his floaters on, but he was kicking his feet. I didn't think he'd be able to do it. He idn't even throw a fit about the water.

There are other instances where Neji had helped. Hikaru had gotten a fever, so we took him to the hospital and had his temperature taken. It would have been hard for me to do alone. He hates the ear type, and won't sit still for me. We had to do it, bacause Hikaru threw a fit, like we expected. Neji held him down while I took the temperature under his arm. I wonder how many people saw us and thought it was odd...

Even after we were done taking his temperature, he still screamed and cried. Everyone was obviously annoyed. I felt so bad...I feel bad every time... Except this time...

Neji stood up and walked over to the annoyed people. "I'm sorry to cause such a racket. My son is autistic and is in a panic. It'll take a while for him to calm down. Since he has a fever, we can't take him outside. I'm sorry." he bowed, making everyone feel a bit sympathetic towward us. "Don't worry about it, we understand." they all said. "Thank you."

Neji's changed so much...

After his fourth birthday... Hikaru started immitating the TV and saying 'mommy' and 'daddy'. But those words didn't mean anything. It was like singing a foriegn song without knowing what it means...

Hinata sat down with Neji. "The specialist said that it's important to say the name of the object where showing it to him in every day life." she told him. Neji sat up.

"Like holding the hat and saying, 'hat'?" he asked. Hinata nodded. "If we pair the object with the name, then he can learn the words." she explained. Neji smiled. "Ah. The eyes help the words come out!" he said, understanding. Hinata nodded. "The specilist says that it wouldn't be so difficult, and we should try to show him pictures of what we're saying." she added. "Like photographs? I can help with that, too!" he said. He got up and ran out of the house.

After fifteen minutes, he arrived back, with a case. "Neji, I thought you up and left!" Hinata said, confused. Neji smiled and pulled out something. He place it on the table. "Neji, what's that?" she asked. He smiled. "I borrowed Lee's polaroid camera!" He said, holding it up. "Smile, Hinata!" he coaxed. Hinata smiled beautifully at the camer, as the flash went off. Neji handed it to her. "Take mine next!" he said, giving it to her and smiling, with a goofy pose. Hinata giggled, as the pictures fell out, developed. She picked them up, and they walked over to Hikaru, who was playing in the living room. Hinata held the pictures to him. "Hikaru. This is mommy." she said, shaking her picture slightly. "And this is daddy!" she said, shaking Neji's picture. Hikaru looked at the pictures carefully. "Which is daddy?" she asked. Hikaru quietly and slowly tugged on Neji's picture. Hinata smiled proudly. "Oh, wow! He understands us!" she said, tearfully. Neji hugged her.

We started taking pictures of various things in Hikaru's immediate surroundings. We punched holes in them and bunched them together on a ring, so we could use them when we talked to Hikaru. We started enjoying the routine.

Then one day...good fortune came to us...

Neji smiled at his cooking skills. "Mmm, delicious..." he turned toHikaru, who was watching him nervously. He smiled. "Hikaru, go get mommy." he said, holding the picture to Hikaru. Hikaru got up from his spot and walked away.

Hinata was sitting in Hikaru's room, hanging his clothes in the closet. She felt a small tug on her skirt, and turned to see Hikaru. He looked up at her with a smile. "Mommy.." he said. Hinata froze with a startled look on her face. Hikaru turned around and walked to the door. He turned to look at her once more, and walked back out. Tears fell out of Hinata's eyes. She smiled at Neji, who was visible in the kitchen. He was smiling too. "He just said, 'mommy'!" she sobbed, happily. Hinata fell to her knees and cried softly. 'Thank you...Hikaru.'

Asking Hikaru to say it one more time, is useless. This didn't mean he could talk. He can't do things he was able to do yesteray. He throws tantrums. Hikaru's life is like rays of light shining in and out during a storm. But that's why this memory is a treasure.

I've wanted to become mother ever since I was a little girl. The destiny that visited me that morning at the hospital was not the one I hoped for. But in spite of that, I love this boy with all my heart. We'll live on together...with the light...with Hikaru...

On a cold morning in Konoha, Hikaru snuck out of the house. Leaving small footprints in the hallway.

Hinata ran through the Hyuuga grounds, tears in her eyes, panic stricken."HIKARU! WHERE ARE YOU?" she sobbed. Her cellphone rang and she picked it up. Neji was beside her. "Apatrolling officer found a boy in his underwear at the balloon store. Please go and see if it's your son." Hinata gasped. "Neji, they found him! He's on the other side of town!" she sobbed, as they took off in a run.