Naruto was out of the house early the next morning. I barely woke up when I felt him kissing my forehead then he was gone.

He said that he'll fix us. I honestly was just happy he was willing to do such a thing. All I know is he's really still in love with me and that's more than enough.

But I wanted to see what he had in mind.

It is Valentine's Day after all.

I wonder if he realizes it was. He's not really attentive but there are times where he's knows how to sweep me off my feet.

I want to give him that chance to and if it means him not being in the house for Valentine's Day then that's okay.

After I finished my morning routine, I wandered downstairs and into the kitchen.

Hm?

A note?

Hima and Boruto are gonna stay with Hanabi and Father one more night. It's just you and me, baby. Believe it! I'll be back as soon as I can! -Naruto

This idiot.

He probably went over to the compound this morning to do so. Honestly I don't get why he doesn't just call.

There are phones for a reason.

What's the point of thinking too much about it? Naruto runs on his own mind and does things his way. Now I feel a little guilty for being mad in the first place.

He's a busy man and I knew that being married to the Hokage is probably one of the toughest challenges any spouse can face. I never had a doubt in my mind that Naruto is the one I want to be my husband and the father of our children.

He fulfilled my wishes for me because he loves me.

So I need to fulfill his wishes for the rest of the days to come.

I can't be selfish.

Not with him.

Okay! He did say he's coming home tonight so time to make my signature ramen for him to enjoy.

I grabbed my usual shopping bag and left the house in a hurried fashion. I can make ramen between an hour to four. Usually the ramen I make in four hours is the best tasting one since everything has time to soak -

Wait.

Naruto?

What's he doing...here in the marketplace...glaring Tadashi-San down like that?

Oh no.

He's not here to pick a fight when him, is he?

Is he that insecure about our marriage? About us?

I didn't realize I crouched into one of the auntie's store until she tapped me on the shoulder with a toothless smile. "First Lady! Welcome back! I have fresh green onions in."

I glanced over at my husband then back at the store owner. "I'll take three bundles please, Kimo-san."

She gushed for a bit then wandered off to get my groceries. Another presence appeared beside me. I didn't need to think twice before I realize who it was.

"I knew he'd come down here..."

I glanced at him. "W-why is he down here, Shikamaru-kun?"

Shikamaru rubbed the back of his head and sighed heavily. "I don't know. I just get a call from him this morning saying he's trying to finish everything as fast as he can. By the time I made it into the office, he finished this week's and next week's work then said I had them off. He disappeared right after that."

Huh.

Neither men moved in front of me. I couldn't see Naruto's face but I can see Tadashi...

He just has a calm smile.

"Lord Hokage." Oh! He speaks! "How can I help you today?"

Shikamaru and I ducked on cue, creeping closer to listen in on the conversation.

"I'm just waiting on my wife." Naruto said, as politely as he could.

I rolled my eyes.

So alpha male this guy...

"She should be here soon. It's already 11:37. She gets here at 11:43 usually and on the dot, too."

I do?

"I'll just wait here than if you don't mind." Naruto crosses his arms.

Tadashi could only smile. "Of course not."

The two of them didn't say much afterwards. Tadashi just went about cleaning and readying his stand while my husband watched, probably not blinking and with that cute pout he does.

I was about to leave the two alone and re-make my entry so they would stop being so tense with one another when Naruto spoke up.

"You like Hinata, don't you?"

What the actual hell?

Tadashi didn't stop working. He just glanced up at the Hokage with the same smile he never lost. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Hinata Uzumaki." Naruto pressed. "You like her, right?"

What are you talking about, Naruto? I didn't think he wanted to fix things by going out and confronting the guy he thinks I'm having an affair with in front of his villagers. What would the villagers think if they were actually convinced I was with another man while my husband worked tirelessly for them?

Stop it, Naruto. Stop it!

Tadashi finally stopped working. "She's a nice customer -"

"Romantically." Naruto cut him off.

Stop...

I moved to stop the fire before it spreads but Shikamaru grabbed my arm.

"Let's see how it plays out." He whispered, his eyes focused on his boss and the store clerk.

I wanted to protest but gave in. Shikamaru isn't a genius for no reason. He probably has some sort of plan if things don't turn out good.

"Just be honest with me." Naruto said, never once losing his cool. "I wanna hear what you think, believe it."

"You wanna hear what I think?" Tadashi suddenly chuckled humorless.

Naruto finally growled at him. "What's so funny?"

"A lot of things, Lord Hokage." The store clerk met my husband's eyes, a look of complete hatred passing through them.

I've never seen Tadashi look so...hardened like this before. He's usually so kind and gently-spoken. Never has he lost this warm look whenever he talks to me or to anyone around him.

But now...

Who am I looking at?

"With all due respect, Lord Hokage, May I speak at free will?"

Naruto nodded once. "Tell me."

"I think you're an absolute fool." Tadashi basically spat out the entire sentence.

My husband's broad shoulders rose and fell but he didn't respond. Tadashi's green light to continue.

"Hinata is one of the most beautiful, kindest, strongest, lively woman I have ever met. We've known each other way before you became Hokage and basically abandoned your family. I saw this light in her turn off as the days go on and you don't come home or talk to her. The time I started having feelings for her...she was crying. She had faked a smile to everybody in the streets that passed her and then came up to my shop. I saw through that smile, y'know? And when I asked what's wrong? She broke down."

Oh.

Wow.

I remember that day pretty well.

It was the first time Naruto didn't come home for two weeks in the a row and we haven't talked. I was just sick with worry and stressed with raising two adorable kids alone at home. Himawari had just done something absolutely amazing and asked for her father.

Who wasn't there.

"So does this answer your question: I think you're an absolute fucking fool (excuse my language) for not loving her the way she deserves."

People stopped and watched: their perfect Hokage get scolded in the middle of the street by a vendor who's in love with his wife.

In love with his wife....

Wait hold up here!!

Tadashi...actually does...

"I know."

Naruto finally spoke up, his head no longer held high like before. Now his shoulders even slouched and I don't know from what.

"You know?" Tadashi wasn't ready for that answer. He was probably expecting Naruto to dent or do something about being called out.

"I know I'm a fucking fool. You're right. I honestly never deserved a woman like Hinata. I mean, look at her and look at me. I was once a complete screw-up that didn't deserve anybody's love. The amount of blood in my hands was enough for me to live up to a demon's reputation."

There was a small crowd forming now composed of almost anyone you can think of. From vendors to shinobis, fangirls to visitors, everyone.

Even that one girl that carried Naruto home was nearby. Her eyes watched the blonde Hokage snicker to himself with confusion.

"And Hinata. Kami, that woman is gonna be the death of me. I mean you're right: she's downright beautiful: inside and out. She wouldn't let me kill a single spider in our house because she values its life. Someone like her looked at me and found so much to love. A woman like her...came to love a monster like me. Just one smile from her can make a demon feel like an angel. Like I actually deserve her heart...her mind and body. I don't, kid. I know I don't."

You do....

"I've done stupid, stupid things to make her feel that way. So no, I'm not mad that she went and smiled for another man. My insecurity thought she actually did leave me..."

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

Tadashi's eyes widened. "N-no of course we -"

"You're right again. She wouldn't. It's hard for me to believe but she really does love me. I just hurt her for not keeping my promise about making her feel like a queen when she's the only thing on my mind driving me forward to becoming the greatest Hokage this village has ever had. She doesn't know because I don't tell her or show her like I should. But that's about to change."

Naruto's head shot up and he took a step closer to Tadashi. "Hinata is still my wife, the mother of my children and the love of my life. I'm never gonna let her go and I will work 110 times harder to make her happier now. So thank you."

"Thank you?"

"Thank you for loving her but I'm sorry kid." Naruto flicked his forehead. "She's my everything, believe it."

If I didn't love the man before, I sure as hell love him now. He was called out in the crowd and put in his place yet he handled it.

What's more...?

He basically confessed his feelings for me.

Sure he could've handled it better but I think this way is just as perfect.

Naruto made sure whatever distance he accidentally put between us...was gone. He was indeed still the living goofball I fell for when we were younger. The same man I agreed to marry and the same man I wanted to father my children.

Strong arms engulfed me, bringing me to my feet suddenly. I didn't need to look to know who exactly it was.

"I love you, Hinata. Will you forgive me?" Naruto murmured into my ear.

In that moment, the village didn't exist anymore. There weren't a thousands eyes watching me, awaiting my answer.

There was just me.

And the man that changed my life for ever.

"I love you, too." I closed my eyes, falling into his embrace. "And yes, you are forgiven."

Cheers erupted through the watching peers. Even Tadashi was clapping with a satisfied smile.  I nodded my thanks at him.

He really was the kick in Naruto's ass to get his act together.

Kisses started filling up my face as my husband began attacking me with his lips. I giggled like a teenager, trying to wiggle out of his grasp but frankly....I enjoyed it.

I love Naruto. He loves me.

No distance between us is ever going to chase me nor him away from each other.

Our paths never stray further than a couple inches. We always find a way to let ourselves gravitate back into the other's embrace. Because at the end of the day.

The unbreakable warm bond between our minds.

The shared blood coursing through the veins of our children.

And the burning love and passion for the other is the glue that mold us together.

I turned around in his arms, holding his warm face in my hands.

His cerulean eyes blaring down into mines, drenched in his deep feelings for me.

These are the eyes I know I will see every single day until we leave this earth. The way they look at me now...they will never waver.

Naruto Uzumaki.

"You are a fool." I smiled at him. "Don't ever think I-I'll leave you again."

He chuckled lightly, leaning into my hand. "You make me into a fool, believe it."

And I know you won't believe it when I say this.

"I am a fool, too."

Naruto blinked. "What? Why?"

"Because I thought you stopped wanting and needing me in your life."

His grip around my waist tightened. "Yeah you really are."

He leaned down, his breath interlocking with mines as if tasting to air to see if kissing me would be acceptable.

Normally, no since the entire village is still watching us.

But...

I'll make an exception this time.

I took the initiative and took his lips in mines.

Once again there was no crowd hollering behind us.

It was only us:

Two fools.

That found their way back to each other again.