The family he always wanted (Part 2)

17.

"Would you like to explain yourself?"
Hinata decided to meet Naruto at his favorite restaurant. He begged for her to come.

"I've been doing a lot of reflection..."
His breathing was quite uneasy and his legs couldn't stop bouncing from under the table.

"Naruto, breathe."
Hinata could sense the tension radiating from him and she wanted him to speak clearly.

The blond across from her breathed deeply and began speaking clearer than before.

"I've been alone for the past two weeks and... I understand why you're upset with me..."

He inhaled, trailing his eyes up at his first love. "I'm upset with myself too. I know that I've been a shit parent these last couple of months."

Hinata's eyes softened while he explained himself. She took note of his every word.

His eyes were sunken and his face was down.
"As selfish as it sounds, I've been partying and blowing off some steam because I haven't had a break since Boruto's birth giver dropped him off." Hinata never knew that.

"Dropped him off?"
She asked him confusingly.

Naruto felt his heart breaking again.
He hated telling anyone this because he was hurting for himself and his son.

"Yeah... she just dropped him off on my doorstep. I never knew anything about him before then." Tears brimmed in his eyes.

"Hinata." His voice was breaking and she felt her chest getting heavy when he cried.

"I apologize for hurting my son and you. Forgive me for struggling with this whole parenting thing. I'm trying my best to navigate through this situation with no real experience in sight." He let his tears fall with no shame.

"I-I'm not using that as an excuse, it's just I'm a little behind when it comes to everyone else. I didn't have my father to teach me these things." Hinata felt her heart crumbling.

"I-I never had a mother to show me gentleness and how to coexist with the opposite sex..."

Everyone in the village knew his tragedies of losing both parents, after the Great War of course. Hinata knew how hard it was to lose a parent but to never have one, to begin with, was something she's never gone through.

"I'm not living irresponsibly anymore... I'm back in therapy and I would like to see my son if that's alright with you." He wiped the tears from his eyes and steadied his breath, waiting for her to give him the blessing he needed.
***
December 24, CHRISTMAS EVE

Sasuke: Can I come tomorrow? I really want to see Yusuke.

Her 1st thought was to say no since she didn't know if he was still living horribly but she couldn't keep him from seeing their son on all days of tomorrow.

Princess: Yes, Sasuke. Please don't disappoint him, he's already upset with you.
***
DECEMBER 25, CHRISTMAS DAY

That morning was a success, last night she ate the cookies the boys baked and then they woke up early, opening all of their gifts.

They were filled with bliss and that was enough to make her day. Now, they were celebrating at her father's place in the Hyuga Palace.

Every year he would throw a lavish party and some of the most powerful people from different clans and different villages would show up. Something like a political statement.

"And how's your marriage going? I didn't know that you took in an orphan."

The elderly grey-haired woman wearing a long silver sparkly dress with sparkling shoes to match turned the corner of her mouth into a mocking smile.