...Hey I'm sad too...

I had a lot of fun writing this book and reading what you guys had to say; really. So without making you waiting any longer...

Here we go with the last chapter of the entire Peppermint series. I'll make sure it is especially long just for you guys!

'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

Country of Eskon - Eskon International Military Airport

Hinata

I can't believe this is happening.

I cannot believe -

"Mina! Where is your fiancee?!" I demanded the doctor standing next to me on her phone. 

She looked at me, "Is he not here? He did get on the same plane as us, right?"

My hand grip on Hajime's tiny hand tightened a bit, "Watching him has always been your job, Mina!"

"He probably saw something for free and ran to get it," she shrugged. "You know him. We can come back for him later."

"The wedding is tomorrow!"

Suddenly my son jumped up and down, "Yay! Pawty pawty!"

I rubbed his soft orange hair to calm him down a bit.

"The fact that that idiot is getting married in just twenty-four hours and disappearing like this," Hisao-senpai came up behind me, shaking his head. "It's just stupid."

Hanako-senpai giggled lightly, "The fact that we lost Kazuki before Haji is quite amusing, too."

"He just probably went to poop again," Mina sighed loudly. "Just like last time."

I finally cracked a smile. Yeah just like last time.

Her phone suddenly buzzed, catching all our attention.

"He found the rendezvous point to meet the SF team," she smiled. "He pooped before he found it though."

Of course he did, I rolled my eyes.

"Then let's go," I said. "Before he decides to run off again."

Mina led the way with the directions her future husband texted her seconds later. It didn't take me long to realize that this is the same exact route we took the first time we got here as well. The same exact footsteps.

Only this time there's no dread like the last time. 

This time, there's excitement. Especially now knowing that it was someone I missed so much coming to pick us up.

Naruto and his team flew out a day before us to make sure they had enough room to hold up the old soldiers that we stayed with a few years ago along with the ten other new ones that were stationed here for the time being. Let's just say they managed to throw a few tents together last minute as the little guest bedrooms for the parents. Hanako and Hisao used the guys' old tent as their place. Kazuki and Mina got a more spaced tent a little closer to the old medicure.  

Kazuki's and Mina's wedding was indeed held here in Eskon with a pushed back date. Since it's true that none of their families were truly happy with the sudden change, almost none of them could make it; which didn't bother Kazuki as much as it did before. His parents and Mina's parents were going to helicopter in later tonight.

My boyfriend insisted to take Boruto with him when he left a few days ago. I was hesitant at first but Sakura had also flew out earlier with her husband and Ino with her own boyfriend so I gave him the green light. Naruto did call every night to talk to me and try to understand whatever Hajime had to say about spending the day at home with me. 

"Guys!" Kazuki's shout brought me back to our current reality. 

He was waving through a glass door that slid open the moment his fiancee nearly ran into it. 

"They here yet?" Hanako-senpai asked. "I don't think pregnant women should be standing out in the sun too long."

"Wait inside," I instructed. "I'll call Naruto-kun and see where he is."

The woman and her husband reentered the shelter of the cooler building. Mina walked over to Kazuki and the two fell into a quiet conversation.

I bent down until I'm levelled with my son's wide eyes observing every single little thing around the runway.

"Hey Haji, can Mommy get her phone from your backpack?" 

That made the boy grab his bag tightly, "What do you need, Mommy?"

I blinked, "My phone."

"No, no!" he shook his head frantically. "I got it!"

"But -"

But he was already opening his little Pokemon bag and running his short hands around until he pulled out my device; handing it to me.

"Thank...you?" I looked at him a little longer.

Hajime only flashed a happy smile.

Hey, where are u?

I stood up, sliding my phone into my shorts' pocket. Naruto promised he'd be on time to pick us up when I called him last night to tell him the time we're landing. I guess being prompt is something that man needs to work on.

The rumble of giant propellers and the wind nearly knocked my son off his axis. I managed to catch him,  as well as tucking him safely into my arms just as the giant military aircraft flew overhead.

My phone vibrated once in my pocket.

We're here baby.

Well, he never knew how to not come in style.

My entire medical team came to my side the moment the aircraft touched landing. 

Even though we're living together now, my heart always did this weird dance whenever I don't see Naruto for some time then see him again. It might be for a few days or even half an hour.

I just always want to see him beside me.

The door of the aircraft slid open bringing five men into view. 

The flashes of the last time a familiar scene like this happened displayed two images in my head as I put my son back on his feet.

Flash: Five soldiers wearing all camouflage uniform with sunglasses looking intimidating and the last people I ever wanted to piss off. They're walking in a perfect row one step after another; none of them missing a single beat.

Present: Five men wearing different styles of shirts ranging from dark black v-necks to comfortable cotton button-up shirts completed with long dark jeans taking off their sunglasses. They're not exactly on beat walking in our direction but just enough to let us know that they were indeed veterans. 

Flash:  Am I dreaming? It's a dream, right? There's no way that the infamous Special Forces composed of noble soldiers who risk their lives every day in honor of our beloved country... Can it really be the ones whom I learned to never trust?

Present: The reality is that the great 'Special Forces' team is late when their specialty was supposed to be promptness. I blame no other than their former captain for leading such a poor charge. The five men were no more than a few yards away from us. One of them, the one with short blonde spiky hair, took lead suddenly. Those are backpack straps...what is he carrying?

Flash: "I take it you had a good flight?" 

No, don't look up. Don't meet those ocean blue eyes, don't meet them. The last time you did, you drowned. You drowned and you were stuck in them. You could't get out and in the end...in the end you were the one that got hurt.

Present: "Good flight in, Hina?" 

There was no restraint this time. The man leading the charge as usual was the only one wearing sunglasses. He didn't need to take it off to show me his eyes. I just knew their exact shade, their exact shape, the way they sparkle the minute they see me; the way they tightened with the love of a father whenever they lay their sight on two special baby boys. 

I reached up, gently taking hold of the sunglasses.

Flash: "It's been a while..."

The moment he pulled those sunglasses off, revealing the drowning eyes he didn't look at me immediately. But then they moved from their focus on the glasses up my body; slowly, too. 

Present: I pulled the man's sunglasses off; holding it in place. He blinked once, twice to adjust his eyesight to the sudden brightness.

The man's eyes suddenly looked up; capturing mines in his own.

Flash: For the first time in a decade.

Pale eyes met ocean-blue eyes.

Present: For the first time in three days.

Beautiful lavender eyes met crystal blue eyes that can never look at anyone else but her own.

 Flash: "You look well," a small smile coming to his perfect face, "Hinata."

Present: "You look well," the huge signature smile that came to the man's perfect face brought one of my own, "Baby."

I giggled, kissing one of my favorite whiskered cheeks, "That's new. Hajime didn't sleep the entire flight. Something about missing daddy too much."

With a nudge from me, the young boy stumbled forward with his arms crossed and a pouty face painted.

Naruto looked at his son, "What's with the face buddy?"

"Nothin'."

The man I love got down on one of his knees. Only then did I notice the backpack straps I saw from earlier was actually...

"Is that Boruto?" I pointed. And sure enough upon closer inspection, the familiar blonde hair and four whisker marks on the baby boy's sleeping face told me enough.

Naruto looked behind him then back at me, "There had to be some way I could run around and keep an eye on him, right?"

I pulled at the strap for a bit, "It's durable. Where did you get it?"

"Uh," Naruto rubbed his hair a little bit; sheepish to finish, "You see...Shikamaru was the genius behind it. I made it..."

Without any license or skills... He carried our son around at six feet every single day.

I can't believe -

Sudden big arms threw themselves around me; engulfing me impossibly deep in them. 

"I missed you, Hinata," small kisses were planted on the top of my head. 

He just dodged a bullet aimed directly at the back of his head.

"Hey," Naruto suddenly whispered in my ear.

"Hm?" I hummed.

"After the ceremony tomorrow," he kissed me, ignoring the crowd we had around us. "Let's go to our little special beach, okay? Just our family."

'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

Naruto never gave me a chance to answer the question since it never really was a question to begin with. More of, Naruto is gonna do it and he's just warning me that he's doing it.

Despite being in such a beat up location, the wedding went without a hitch. Sakura and I went into complete comando-we-will-kill-you-if-you-do-something-wrong mode just so the wedding wasn't messed up at all. Kazuki's parents weren't the happiest about the location but whenever they spotted the groom with his future bride walking around camp, I knew they couldn't bother to interfere with the happiness of their son.

Mina's father and grandmother were the ones to attend on her side. Director Soga went straight to apologizing for his daughter's desires to the in-laws but that was never really an issue. 

The soldiers, the ones from the time my team and I were there, never once left me alone even though I made sure their hands were always filled with something to do. So to get them off my back and to thank them for their contribution, I made them the ramen dish I made the camp the morning after Naruto and I got back together which they each happily accepted.

I don't know how but Sasuke and Naruto was able to fly in the minister we booked for the Okinawa wedding without much persuasion. My boyfriend wouldn't tell me how but I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that the minister probably owed him and Sasuke a favor for something. 

The ceremony happened.

Hajime, with Naruto's help, was the ring bearer. He stumbled down the aisle with the bonds nearly tripping a few times even with his father's aid. After they reached the end and handed the rings to the minister, Naruto picked out boy up and returned to his seat beside Sasuke in the front row. Boruto was then transferred from his best friend's lap in his cute little tuxedo to his own, confused with the world around him.

Even if I wasn't the one getting married, the moment when the groom first sets eyes on his bride when she enters the room (or in the this case leaves her tent to enter the outdoor ceremony in scorching sunlight) is the part of the wedding that makes me wish I was the one walking down the aisle. Kazuki took one look at his bride, dropped his head and immediately wiped his face before smiling like the cute in-love idiot he was as she made her way down with her father at her side. Being Mina's Maid of Honor let me watch his entire reaction with front row seats.

Naruto, our sons, and I stayed for maybe an hour of the reception and after the toast, we managed to slip away.

My boyfriend drove straight to the same exact cliff where I first realized that I could actually trust Naruto for not dropping me. This time around, however, even in the setting sun I managed to navigate my way down the cliff while holding Boruto. Naruto, with a Hajime clinging onto his father's neck of dear life, held my hand and led me the entire way.

"Hey Hajime, careful!" I shouted suddenly when I noticed the one-year-old was getting dangerously close to the water.

With a shriek, he immediately backtracked to where his baby brother was sitting in the warm sand playing with one of the peppermint stones.

Naruto and I sat a little way up under the cliff. I was between his legs, my back against his as he leaned back against his arms with his nose nuzzled in my hair. While I managed to slip out of my lavender dress from the wedding into a simple blouse and skirt, Naruto kept his suit on. Only his blazer was serving as Boruto's beach blanket and his tie hung lazingly around his neck.

"So why did we come back here all of a sudden, Naruto-kun?" I looked over my shoulder. 

Naruto opened one eye, "It's important to me and I wanted to share it with every single person I love most in my life so that includes our two boys."

"Then how come Sasuke-kun didn't come with us," I giggled, lightly.

He scoffed, "The time I bring that one armed jerk here is the time I'm marrying off Boruto to that jerk's daughter."

"How do you know they'll have a daughter?"

"Because it's Sasuke's kid and whatever Sasuke has has to be the complete opposite of what I have."

"And that includes children."

Naruto nodded, amused then nuzzled me, "Yes that includes children."

I kissed his cheek once more before checking on the two children a few yards away. Hajime was sitting on the blazer alongside his brother pointing at something in his hand. Boruto only leaned forward for support than tried to take whatever was in his older brother's hand with his own.

"Hinata," suddenly, I was spun around until I was facing Naruto who looked...nervous. Nervous was a cute look on him.

I had to restrain myself from tilting my head to the side in confusion. Why was he nervous anyway?

Naruto was never nervous.

"I know," he drew a breath, not meeting my eyes. "That our relationship wasn't exactly happy skipping and kisses like it should've been, not thanks to me and my idiotic love with bets."

"And we've both learned how to let it go," I looked at him, weirdly.

Naruto nodded once, "No matter how much you've forgiven me for it I will never stop beating myself over it everyday. Like seriously, it must be some real miracle that you're sitting here with me ten years later with two kids as happy as ever."

I looked over my shoulder once than back at him, "It's not a miracle, Naruto-kun. I didn't want to believe it back then but Hisao-senpai said something about the true love, even if mistakes chased it away, will always find a way back to the true people it belongs with."

"Hisao," he shook his head once with an amused smile, "That damned smart bastard."

Yeah, that damned smart bastard.

"Anyway," Naruto finally met my eyes; the look in them so intense I was nearly knocked off my axis just by looking at them. "When you left never once have I thought about a future. I lived each day trying to survive it to make it to the next. Before I knew it, I was waking up somewhere in Palestine while holding some old man who can barely walk thanks to malnutrition hiding from bombs literally being thrown overhead. Every time I charge head first into an assignment I never thought about making it out. It was actually okay to me that I never made it out."

Naruto...

"Then one day, I find out that you were coming into my life once again. I thought that 'hey maybe we could just live separately and not really have to deal with each other' but I was wrong. I was so wrong to ever think that I could ever stay away from you. No matter what I did, no matter how hard I avoided it I fell deeper and deeper in love with you, Hinata. I suddenly saw, the moment we stood on this exact beach a year ago, the moment I told you that I never truly stopped loving you... I suddenly saw a future, Hinata. Not tomorrow's or the day after tomorrow. No, I saw five, ten, twenty years further. And in every single version; you were there whether mad at something I stupidly did to our kids or just bellyflopping into our bed because of some difficult patients at your work."

W-wait!!! I-i-is he - 

"W-what are you trying to say, Naruto-kun?" 

I didn't realized my knees and legs were tucked under me until I saw Naruto mirror the same posture. His head held low but his eyes never left mines.

"The daydreams with you in them...I realized every single time I have them; the more I want them to be true. I want that future with you, Hinata."

Naruto whistled suddenly in the direction of our sons. I watched Hajime scramble to his feet, then over to his backpack before wandering on over to where we were trying to pull something out.

"Hewe, Daddy!" He handed Naruto something completely out of my sight, then the kid ran off back to whatever thing he was building in the sand.

I waited for the child to settle back into his fun before directing my attention back at Naruto, "What's going on, Naruto-kun? Is that the reason why he didn't let me into his backpack earlier?"

"He can be aggressive when he wants to be," Naruto chuckled.

I laughed with him for a bit. That was before I gasped all together.

The man I love shifted until one knee was in the sand, the other pointing upwards; both his hand and artificial hand behind his back.

"N-Naruto-kun..." 

"I love you, Hinata Hyuga, so damn much," continued Naruto, his voice warmed my entire body with every word the admitted. "I want to be with you through your hardest times. I want to be the one you wake up to every morning. I want to be the one to make you smile; to make you laugh and to sooth you whenever you cry. I want to give you everything you ever want and I want nothing in return except your own love for me."

He brought his hand around up front; one of them covering the object that I'm pretty sure everybody has guessed by now.

"I want to marry you, Hinata Hyuga," he removed his hand to reveal the familiarity of a black box before opening it; revealing a single diamond ring. "So will you, the smart, talented and beautiful goddess, Hinata marry the goofball who will live the rest of his life trying to make you happy, Naruto?"

The hands clasping my mouth only made it harder for me to process.

Absurd! 

Was the word that the Hinata from eleven years ago would've used if anybody asked her if she were to marry her first love. 

Naruto suddenly removed my left hand from my mouth before slipping the small band around my ring finger; sliding it gently.

"Will you marry me?" the man I cannot stop loving repeated the words; softer if that were even possible.

It was stupid! How can I marry someone that only asked me out because of a stupid bet he made with his best friend? Did I hit my head while dozing off at another lecture again?

But guess what?

I was a Hinata Hyuga who never thought she'd ever survive life because of the constant insults and hatred slid her way. Who thought that love was an emotion that only blinded people from the truth that everybody will always be unsatisfied with the flaws of their partner.

Now...

I am a Hinata Hyuga who had a gun pointed at her head, twice. Who beat up six random strangers while holding a baby; who had fallen in love again with a man who made her cry almost every single night because of his lies. 

And I am a Hinata Hyuga who is about to make a choice that she will never doubt.

"Yes," I barely managed a whisper. "Yes, I will marry you."

Such simple words yet they stuck in the air for a few more seconds between us. Then I pulled him in and kissed him deeply; not even shocked that I said those words all so easily.

It didn't take long for my fiancee to pull me tightly into his body; laughing with me between kisses. 

"I love you, Hinata Hyuga," Naruto kissed me once more, this one filled with almost every single ounce of his love for me. "Believe it."

I watched his eyes twinkle with such softness that I wanted to marry him right then and there.

I glanced over my shoulder at the one-year-old boy standing up with a yawn; at the baby who started wiping his eyes with his tiny fists.

Then, my pale eyes met the ocean-blue eyes opening their waves for me.

The same eyes that watched me wake up from a concussion.

The same eyes that saw me smile only at him.

The same eyes that saw me leave.

The same eyes that watched me return into their lives once again.

And the same eyes that are making sure I never turn my back again.

They saw me through all my hard times; through all the times I felt useless and imperfect to the entire world yet still find a way to love me anyway.

Yes; I was hurt by the man of these drowning eyes before.

But now?

Now, I plan on living blissfully happily ever after.

"And I love you, Naruto Uzumaki."

'''''''''''''''''''

I'm not joking this time guys!

The Peppermint series is officially over! 

I honestly have no words to thank you guys for all the support; for every single little thing you guys did for me while I was writing this story!

I have other stories out right now that I'm currently working on so please, do check those out.

I will not cry but T.T