The bridal shower was supposed to be over at 2:30. It was well past 4:00 when he had to park down the block because there were still cars filling his driveway.

He thought about maybe going back to Naruto's. A house full of women wasn't really his cup of tea.

But, there was one women in there that he hadn't seen in a couple hours, whom he really liked spending his time with. Plus, who knows, maybe once he got there, the other stragglers would disperse. Then he and Hinata could to see a movie and get dinner or something.

Ino had come over at 9:00 that morning, filling his house with stupid shit like balloons and streamers and little 'Uchiha Wedding' stickers. All of it was still up, the front door still unlocked. Not as many shoes were left at the front door, but still more than what he wanted. The front room had been well used, almost all of the chairs were rearranged in a little circle. Tissue paper, bows, empty boxes and bags were strewn about. Paper plates with half eaten cookies and fruit with little plastic mimosa cups were still left on side tables and the coffee table.

Dinner and a movie we're clearly nixed, at least until his house was cleaned.

He walked further into the house, listening to the sound of quiet chattering and laughter. He first saw the kitchen table, completely full of boxes. New dish sets, a Vitamix, a embroidered blanket. The sheer volume was giving him a headache.

The whole point of a bridal shower seemed really outdated. They didn't need all these things to fill their newlywed house with. They already had a fucking house. Full of stuff. They bought it together more than two years ago. Before they even got engaged. This kind of old fashioned party seemed obsolete, but he wasn't going to say no to Hinata. Though he was surprised that Ino managed to talk her into having any party, their engagement party had been like pulling teeth. But once Hinata agreed, we'll, that was that.

It was just Ino, Hinata and her little sister in the kitchen, leaning on the counter talking quietly about something. The sink was full of dirty, crystal serving trays, pitchers and utensils. There were gallon zip locks and Tupperware containers half filled of left over food.

So dinner was out anyways, even if he got the place cleaned. They had quite a bit of leftovers to work through, it seemed.

"So, the party was a success?"

Hinata turned immediately to him, beaming.

"Hell yes it was." Ino flipped her bangs.

"I saved you a plate of food." Hinata walked over to the fridge, pulling out a plastic wrapped plate.

Most of the food he saw being prepared when he was being ushered out of the house by Ino were not up his alley. But, of course, Hinata would know that. It looked like tiny little tea sandwiches, mini garlic bread bruschetta and little pesto tortellini. She handed him the plate and placed her hand on his shoulder, pulling him down softly to give him a quick kiss.

She was still in a little white dress with cap sleeves, but her heels had been discarded, leaving her at her normal height. Which was much shorter than his.

"Did you have fun with Naruto?" She asked, slipping his arm around her so she could lean into him.

Sasuke shrugged, nodding, trying to get a piece of bruschetta out of the plastic. Hinata let go of him, doing away with the cover, balling it up and throwing it away. The trash can was out of its place, under the sink, probably so they could throw things away faster.

"Did he cheat again?" She asked, tucking herself back into his side.

"Naruto cheats at golf?" Ino snorted.

Going golfing felt pretentious, and made him feel like he was old as hell. Middle aged or something. Getting married also made him feel a little older than normal but also had all the warm and fuzzy feelings of being with Hinata forever. Golf didn't have shit like that. It just made him feel like someone cartoon villain, or like a Republican. Same thing.

"Well, he's an idiot." Hanabi sniffed, bagging up an entire gallon bag of cookies.

He was. But Hanabi's comment was a lot more tied to the deep bindings of a sister that could never forget a slight against her blood. Naruto's insensitive treatment of Hinata's feelings when they were children had been easily forgiven by the one snubbed, but no so by the younger sister.

Sasuke nodded with her anyways.

"Did he crash the golf cart again?" Ino giggled.

"I didn't let him drive it." Sasuke took a bite of the bruschetta.

"Is it good?" Hinata asked, looking up at him, her head resting on his shoulder.

"You made it?"

She nodded.

He finished his piece, before kissing her forehead. "I'm going to go clean up the living room."

She let her bottom lip fall into a little pout but she nodded her head, letting go of him. "We'll finish up in here."

Hanabi and Ino had gotten pretty silent in the kitchen as they both fell back into the thing her friends always did, which was sit silently and watch in sheer chumminess sending each other the 'Can you believe they are this fucking cute?' glances back and fourth, just observing the couple.

But as Sasuke was taking his leave, letting go of his fiancé and grabbing a brand new trash bag, Ino broached the conversation again. "Aye, when are you taking us girls golfing again?"

Instead of answering he just scoffed.

Hinata smiled. "We're still grounded from last time."

Ino giggled. "Oh get over it tight ass, we didn't put that much vodka in the Arnold-Palmers."

Sasuke didn't reply.

The living room really wasn't that bad. The plates and cups and discarded present wrappings were all disposable. Though he suspected that Hinata or one of her friends would perhaps want to save some of the bags, he threw them away. The trash bag was black, they wouldn't see it and probably wouldn't notice.

After clearing off the dining table, he started relocating the dining chairs.

He heard the rush of water and the sink down the hallway. He didn't know who it was but it did make sense, there were more cars in the driveway than just Hanabi's and Ino's.

What he wasn't prepared for, was Sakura Haruno the one venturing back down his hallway, wiping down her hands on a plain pink dress.

They both froze, awkwardly upon seeing each other.

"Oh, um, hey Sasuke. You're back." She laughed a little, trying to smile lightly.

Yeah... it was his house.

"Cleaning up?" She probed.

He lifted the trash bag lightly in response.

The creek on the floor caught both of their attention.

Hanabi Hyuuga. The smaller, louder, Hyuuga sister. The one that wore bright colors and jewelry and smiled a lot and laughed really loud. She wasn't smiling or laughing right now. She was glaring both of them down like she would actually murder them, and in truth, Sasuke wouldn't put it past her. Not about this.

Sakura ducked her head a little and scurried back into the kitchen. Which would've been kind of pathetic if Sasuke himself also didn't look away and immediately go back to cleaning up the trash. He felt like a little kid that just got caught talking to the one kid in class he wasn't supposed to talk to, like the teacher had separated them on purpose in hopes to stop disrupting everyone else.

Yes, he was a grown fucking man. Yes, this was his fucking house.

And he was still, head ducked, eyes on the ground, throwing away empty boxes and tissue paper.

He could see the bottom of her heels, standing there and watching him for a moment longer, like she was daring him to say something, before turning back into the kitchen.

He signed, letting out a breathe, before continuing on.

He managed to rearrange the dinning room and living room back to order. Trash and miscellaneous pieces collected and thrown out. He found a purse that was probably Ino's and set it by the front door. He took the bags out to the trash can in the garage before returning back into he den of wolves. His kitchen.

The counters were cleared off, or mostly so. All the girls were at the table, the presents were still there, but certainly a smaller pile. Hinata beamed up at him from her spot at the table.

"Need help out there?" Her smile was soft, her lips had been glossed and shiny.

He shook his head. "I got it all."

Her smile lifted even more, eventuating the apples of her cheeks. "Thank you so much."

He shrugged off her praises, stepping over to her. "What's this?" He leaned one arm on the back of her chair, looking over her head at what she had been working on.

"Thank you notes." She held up the one that she had personally been working on.

Of course Hinata would make handmade 'thank you' notes to every person that attended.

"We're almost done. Then we need to get some stamps. I think we're out." She set the note back down, and slid it into the small envelope. "I looked in your office and couldn't find any."

He nodded. He had run out of them on Friday and had decided to wait until Monday. He had tried to make more of an effort on cutting back his work on the weekends. "I can grab some tomorrow." He promised.

"Oh, Sasuke, you should get those cute little wedding ones they have. Or the heart ones." Ino gushed.

Well, he couldn't use those for work. But Hinata's nose wrinkled with her smile and he knew he would be picking up two different sets of stamps.

"What are we doing with all this?" He nodded at the boxes on the table.

"They're your gifts!" Hanabi gasped.

Ino nodded, smiling proudly. "You guys got so much good stuff."

Hinata grabbed her drink of what looked like orange juice and hid her look in a long drink. He knew he would probably be dropping off quite a few boxes at Good Will on his way to work tomorrow. He put his hand on Hinata's shoulder lightly, squeezing lightly, letting his thumb rub into her muscles. She set down her drink, letting her head touch onto his arm.

"We should probably get going." Hanabi smiled, standing up from the table.

Thank fucking god, at least she was good for something.

"I'll drive Ino home, Hina." Sakura stood from the table. "We can come over later and get her car."

"Cheers to that." Ino laughed, finishing off her not-so-orange juice flute.

Sasuke moved back so Hinata could get up and follow her friends and sister out into the living room near the door. He stayed in the kitchen. His plate of saved food had been left out for him. He leaned onto the now leaned counter, taking another bite of the bruschetta. It was one of his favorites.

He heard the girls talking and laughing and saying goodbye.

Hinata came in after the door closed a couple times. She grabbed her flute glass and again approached Sasuke, tucking herself into him.

"Did you have a good time?" He asked wrapping her arm around her shoulder, rubbing her arm.

She nodded, taking another sip. "I did."

"How many mimosas did you drink?"

She smiled, taking another sip, not telling.

"I see." He smirked.

She let out a little giggle, resting her head on his shoulder. "Thank you so much for helping us clean up."

"Of course." He kissed the top of her head. "Did you get anything good?"

She nodded, smiling. "Yeah, Tenten painted me some wine glasses and they're so cute." She moved away from him, walking over the the cabinet that usually held their glassware. She opened one of the doors and waved him over.

"Hm," He replied.

They were painted wine glasses. Painted as women? Looking at the one, pained mostly white with Hinata's black hair and bangs put it more into perspective. They were painted as each person of the bridal party.

"Is that what your dress actually looks like?"

She looked at him pointedly. Another, stupid tradition he didn't think needed to be continued. The secrecy of the wedding dress.

Even if he thought the gift was kind of stupid, he had to admit that Tenten had some talent. She was constantly hand making things, and she did have a knack for it. Hinata's likeness was pretty spot on. Hanabi's, Ino's, Temari's, Tenten's herself... and Sakura.

"Hinata," He looked at her, watching her shut the cabinet.

"Yes?" She turned back to him smiling.

Sasuke was not usually uneasy around Hinata. At least, not anymore. She was a peace in his life, which was why he was marrying her. But - he did feel uneasy. Uneasy about what was bothering him, and how broaching the subject would make Hinata feel.

"Do you think its a good idea to have Sakura in the wedding?"

Hinata blinked. "Sakura's my friend."

"Yes, I know. But she's also my ex-girlfriend."

Hinata frowned a little. "Does it make you uncomfortable?"

"No." Sasuke frowned, looking away. "I just think, that other people-"

"Sasuke," She interrupted him, grabbing onto his arm, pulling him in close again. "What's wrong?"

He had miscalculated and Hinata looked nervous. Maybe she thought he was rethinking things. He wasn't.

"Nothing's wrong. It's just our wedding and I want it to be perfect for you." Yes, he wanted to marry Hinata, but the wedding was solely her's. He wished they could fly to some far off place and just get married, the two of them. So if they were having a wedding, he wanted to make sure it was the exact wedding that Hinata wanted.

"Sakura is one of my best friends. I want her to be one of my bridesmaids."

Okay. That was fair. But...

"You guys broke up a long time ago." She continued.

"I know."

"You don't love her anymore."

She was right. "I don't." He agreed.

"She doesn't love you."

He nodded. "That's correct."

"And Naruto is your best man."

Sasuke paused. "Naruto doesn't have anything to do with this."

She smiled, almost gently. "Sasuke..."

"It's not the same. You guys were never together."

"Sasuke," she smiled gently, pulling him close.

Okay. Fine. Yes, Hinata had been in love with Naruto. But they had never dated. They were never together. Sakura had actually been his girlfriend. He had kissed her. He had done more than just kissing with her. Hinata had a crush on his best friend they weren't the same.

"I don't love Naruto anymore." He already knew that. "And you don't love Sakura."

He nodded.

"But I love Sakura. And I want her to be there on my wedding day."

He leaned back, looking at her. Her face was so soft and open. He tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, kissing her forehead.

"I understand."

She smiled, leaning up to kiss him on the lips.

"But tell your sister to stop glaring at me when Sakura says 'hi' to me."

She closed her eyes, giggling, resting her head against his chest. "Okay, I will."

He held her close for a few minutes, just savoring the moment.

"Did you still want to go see a movie? Maybe get dinner?"

Sasuke looked over at his saved plate of food. They could just rewrap it.

"Yes." She smiled. "But you have to drive."