Well guys, it's NaruHina month again! This is up pretty late, but I wasn't actually planning to participate this month until my husband talked me into it earlier today. I can't promise I'll do all the prompts since my job is insane lately and I have some chapters I've been trying to finish for my other stories, but I'll do what I can. Even though I started this about an hour ago I'm really excited about how it turned out. I hope you like it, too :-)

Day One: Anniversary

There are many words one could use to describe Uzumaki Naruto. - blonde, boisterous, bold. He was also known to be rather excitable. That particular trait is what most people attributed his rather over the top actions toward Hyuga Hinata to. Since the two shinobi had become a couple, Naruto had taken to celebrating every little landmark in their relationship.

Every single one.

It started with the one week anniversary. He had brought her a bouquet consisting of every different flower he could find around Konoha. He figured she could press them in her book. The blush on her cheeks when he presented the bouquet - and the subsequent rash she developed from one of the flowers he'd unknowingly picked from the Konoha T&I greenhouse - were pretty unforgettable.

For their one month anniversary he'd set up a picnic on top of the Hokage monument. A book he'd borrowed from Sai told him that picnics were considered very romantic. Hinata hadn't complained a bit when their romantic evening meal in the freezing winter weather had caused her to develop the flu. Then again, she did have a very doting - and apologetic - boyfriend who kept her stocked with warm ramen and all of the medicine from the pharmacy's cold and flu section. She even returned the favor when he inevitably caught it from taking care of her.

For their two month anniversary, he'd kept things indoors. He'd rented a room at a karaoke bar and serenaded her for an hour with love songs. Ino had happily supplied him with a list of the most popular love songs from the latest artists and he'd practiced til he was blue in the face. Naruto actually had many more songs than just an hour's worth, but the parties on either side of their room had complained about the noise to the manager on duty, who had apologetically turned off their speakers, but offered the couple free food in exchange. Hinata had placated a rather frustrated and embarrassed Naruto by telling him that time with him was enough for her.

For their three month anniversary, Hinata had been on a mission with her team. Not wanting to miss the date despite the distance, Naruto had sent one of his summons with flowers (pre-approved by Ino this time) and a box of her favorite cinnamon rolls. Unfortunately Team Eight had been about to ambush the targets they had been tracking and the sudden appearance of two massive and colorful toads had given their positions away. Years of teamwork and hard earned prowess prevented any injuries, but Kiba and Shino had given Naruto an earful when the team had returned. He was beside himself realizing that Hinata - someone he cared for more than anyone he ever had before - could have been hurt or worse, but she just smiled and told him she appreciated the gesture and that she knew he didn't mean to cause any problems.

Months passed and their anniversaries continued in much the same manner. Again, most attributed the constant celebrations to the blond's excitable nature and the fact that he was finally in a relationship. The real reason, however, ran much deeper.

Naruto was so thankful for Hinata. He loved her and he had almost lost her to that damned Toneri after finally realizing his feelings for her. She had loved and supported him for most of their lives and he, not having any experience in the field of relationships, had been completely oblivious and chased after his teammate.

Now that they were together he wanted her to know, needed her to understand that she was everything to him. He wanted to make up for all that time he had spent running after Sakura, all his flamboyant attempts to get his pink haired teammate to go out with him. All those times he had brushed off Hinata's obvious affections as the actions of a comrade and unknowingly hurt her still haunted him so he was determined to show her that he would try even harder for her, even if he didn't have to try to earn her love.

Soon December, the month of Christmas and Hinata's birthday arrived. He'd spent months looking for the perfect gifts - making sure to get one for each special occasion as he knew how often people would forget about her birthday in favor of the more widely celebrated holiday.

Naruto had attended the massive Hyuga Christmas Eve dinner. Guests usually did not have the honor of sitting with the head family, but Hiashi had made an exception - no doubt convinced by his eldest daughter. The family dinner had brought tears to his eyes after years of spending the holiday alone.

Christmas itself had been even better. Hinata had surprised Naruto that morning by showing up at his apartment with more breakfast than even he could eat. They sat next to the tree they had decorated together and exchanged gifts, then settled in for a day of watching movies, snuggling, and other more pleasurable activities.

For her birthday he had planned a surprise party. He had their friends waiting in a decorated room. He'd put up a silencing barrier around the entrance so she wouldn't be able to hear anything and told them not to turn on the lights until he arrived with the birthday girl and dispelled the barrier.

Naruto blindfolded his girlfriend and carried her to the location so she couldn't use the walk to figure out where they were going. Everything had gone perfectly until he had decided to give her a little speech before removing her blindfold. He confessed how deeply he loved her and how this was his favorite day because it was the day she was born and he didn't even want to imagine what his life would be like without her.

Hinata was overcome by his words - and may have misunderstood what he meant by a special night - and had uncharacteristically jumped him. Naruto's mind went blank - as tended to happen when things started to get heated between them - and things began to escalate. It wasn't until their friends dispelled the silencing barrier themselves and had turned on the light that Sakura's uncomfortable clearing of her throat brought Naruto and Hinata out of their passionate embrace. He had quickly removed his hands from where they had been and helped Hinata hastily retie her kimono. The poor girl's face had been an unhealthy shade of scarlet and he apologized profusely for getting carried away and not telling her what he had planned or that there had been witnesses to what she had assumed was a private moment.

It had taken her longer to recover from her embarrassment than it had for her to forgive him. After all, she hadn't had a birthday party since she was a little girl and it was sweet of him to plan that for her. Later that evening, as he walked her home he apologized again for what had happened.

"I'm so sorry, Hinata. I swear I didn't mean for that to happen. I didn't realize how it sounded and then I just got so excited, I mean you were pretty forceful, and it was seriously hot, and I kinda forgot they were there and - "

Hinata put her finger on his lips to stop him.

"It's fine. You know I could never be mad at you for long, Naruto-kun."

The blond put his free hand behind his head and chuckled sheepishly.

"I guess. I feel like these things just never go like I hope they will. You know I just want you to know how much I love ya, right?"

Hinata blushed. She would never get tired of hearing him say it.

"I know. It's strange to think it'll be a year in just a few days."

Naruto stopped, all blood draining from his face. A year. Their year anniversary was in a few days and he had nothing planned. Nada. He'd been so focused on Christmas and her birthday that he'd completely forgotten about their year anniversary.

How could he be so stupid?! He'd made such a big deal out of every single month and now it was going to be a whole year and he'd managed to forget? Shit. Shit shit shit.

He was pulled out of his panic by the soft voice of his beloved.

"Actually, I've been meaning to talk to you about it. I know you really enjoy planning things for us and I really appreciate everything you've done, but I was kind of hoping you'd let me do something for you for a change? If you already have something planned I understand, I just thought it would be nice to let me surprise you for once."

His heart started beating again and he tried not to make his shaky, relieved breath too obvious.

"Uh, yeah! Yeah, that'd be fine. I mean, it's whatever you want to do. I can always save it for later…"

He was so busy hoping he'd sounded convincing that he missed the relieved breath Hinata released at his acceptance to let her plan their year anniversary. She was really hoping for a special evening without incident.

"Thank you, Naruto-kun. I promise I'll make it worth it," she said with a smile.

He smiled back at her, still amazed at how perfect she was for him and said, "You already are."

Cheesy last line? Yeah, but I think these guys are too cute. I hope you laughed a little at my story because I definitely did while writing it. I can definitely see something like this happening. Let me know what you think and I'll see you next time!