A.N.: Ok, this is my first Naruto fic. My stories have always been Bleach. But I love Shikamaru and Temari, be it alone or together. So, this lil' thing is about them. It's slightly out of character, I'm aware, because neither would be caught dead doing something like this! But this is fanfiction, isn't it!  And I'd love to see them like this so… I give to you some good old-fashioned ShikaTema fluff! Oh, it's from Shikaku's POV. Enjoy!

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Nara Shikaku hated this. He hated seeing his son suffer because of something he couldn't have avoided. He was so young and still so naïve. He was thankful for that, but he also knew that he had to guide him, to push him, once again. He hated having to make him suffer. What a troublesome situation…

He listened as the strange Sand kunoichi talked to him. Did Shikamaru notice that she was trying to console him? Admittedly, she wasn't doing a very good job – too harsh, too demanding to be acknowledged by his lazy-ass of a son. She cared for him, though, it was as clear as a summer sky. The fact that she had saved his life and she was now here, in the hospital, with him instead of with her brothers, was in and of itself proof enough for the seasoned jounin.

When Shikamaru stood up and made to leave her there alone, Shikaku knew that his moment had come. He saw his son get defensive, then angry, then ashamed. He saw him break down and cry, because his friends, his dear nakama, were all alive. The entire time he could feel the girl's eyes glaring at him. When Shikamaru finally walked away, undoubtedly needing a moment to compose himself, Shikaku turned to look back at her. They didn't speak, but in that moment – as his sad but so proud eyes met her fierce and scared ones – he was trusting her with his most precious person, and she was assuring him that she would cherish him always.

Temari stood up abruptly and ran to catch up to Shikamaru. Tsunade's eyebrow shot up and she looked quizzically at Shikaku. The shadow master and gestured for her to go with him. They walked slowly, following the agitated voices of the two teenagers. When they turned a corner in the hallways, a singular scene welcomed them: Temari and Shikamaru were kneeling in the middle of a corridor. The boy's face was buried in the crook of her neck, his fingers clenched in her dress. He was trembling and great sobs were shaking his frame. He looked so young… Shikaku felt his heart clench. He was going to reach out for him, but Tsunade's hand on his wrist stopped him. He followed the direction of her gaze and really looked at Temari for the first time.

She was whispering what sounded like nonsense in his ear.

"It's ok. Everything will be fine. You'll se… I'm here, Shika. I'm with you now, I'll never leave you. Don't cry… please, don't cry."

She had one hand curled around his bicep, the other was caressing his head, fingers combing through his undone hair. Shikaku looked at her face and noticed the tears falling slowly from her eyes. He had never seen such love and devotion in a woman's eyes before. He let Tsunade drag him away, then turned to see her smile and her shining eyes.

"It looks like we'll have to work hard for this alliance to stay strong."

Shikaku had only one thing to say:

"How troublesome." He mock-sighed, his heart full of hope and joy – for his son and for his Desert Princess.