A/N: I don't know why, because typically I don't like my writing, but there's just something about the beginning of this chapter that I love. I think I did well showing their intimacy.

The Beginning: Part 1

Temari forcefully pinned Shikamaru to the bed, leering that mockingly seductive grin that he loved so much. Leaning in she planted rough, deliberate kisses up his neck while her hands busily re-explored the well known features under his shirt. He moaned his pleasure as his own hands moved up the sand mistress's firm thighs that straddled him. Temari ripped at the hair tie that bound his hair and pulled it free, taking quite a few dark hairs with it. He notched his eyebrows together in pain but didn't comment on it. He would get much worse than that later but she knew, deep down, he liked it. She then pulled off his dark shirt and discarded it over the side of his bed. After she didn't immediately lean back toward him Shikamaru began pulling at her arms, urging her to return to him but she playfully pulled away, amused by his annoyed expression. She leaned over him and opened the drawer of his night stand next to his bed and began rummaging through the messy contents.

"Ino's going to be so pissed from us skipping out on her party." Shikamaru flippantly stated as he stared up at the ceiling.

Temari gave him a side long glance. "Don't talk about Ino while were in bed Nara it pisses me off. Besides, I'm the only woman you should be worrying about pleasing right now."

Shikamaru returned her hot glare with his personal smile he reserved only for her. That special smile that made her own heart suddenly feel as if it might burst out of her chest. Although, she would never admit it to him or anyone, even if her life depended on it.

"Noted," he stated.

"Ah ha! Found one." Temari said as she finally let Shikamaru pull her into his embrace. She bit her bottom lip as his arms roamed up and down her back and as he planted hot kisses right below her earlobe. In between quick gasps she continued. "I'll just put it to the side... until we need it." She said as she haphazardly placed the condom on the night stand where she could easily grab it when the time came.

"Temari," Shikamaru said as placed his hands on her face and began to tenderly kiss her lips. Moaning pleasantly she reached her arms around him and deepened the kiss. He pulled away slightly and gazed lustfully into her teal eyes. "I love you."

2 ½ Months Later

Temari was in complete and utter state of bliss and on a level beyond comfort and calming warmth where she felt all the feelings she could never feel anywhere else. Beyond anything else- she felt home. She had one muscular right arm of her lover wrapped around her middle where his calloused hand rubbed soft tickling streaks across her mid drift and the other arm holding her tight across her chest. Their legs wrapped around one another as she laid half on him and half on her bed. She felt his smirking lips as he planted soft kisses across her shoulder up to her neck. Forget bliss- this was heaven. They laid there for what seemed like hours as he held her in his comforting arms and as she reached back and played with his long dark tresses. Their lips caught momentarily at times but they soon returned to their lazy lounging. She wished she could stay like this forever. Nothing in the world mattered to her when she was here- her true home in his arms. All she could see was him and him her and nothing could tear them away from their personal sanctuary... except when her dream ended...

Temari hazily opened her eyes to the dawn's light coming through the blinds, cascading over her. Covering her face with her forearm she moaned and turned her head into her pillow. She creaked her eyes slightly open and began glancing around. Her curseful memory was correct, she was in her room in Suna and Shikamaru was most definitely not there. After she kicked of the covers that she was wrapped in, Temari just continued to lay in bed staring up at the ceiling for a few minutes playing over her dream, trying to recall every last detail.

"Damn it!" She yelled out pounding her head against her pillow not knowing if her frustration was caused by the fact that she was alone or at her because how badly she wished she wasn't. She decided to be pissed at both. This was going to be another day where she woke up in a bad mood. She actually had a lot of those lately and when Temari was in a bad mood she made damn sure everyone else knew it.

Forcing herself to finally sit up Temari stretched her arms to the ceiling, feeling the sweet popping of her back caused by her night's sleep. Temari let out a guttural moan as she began giving her neck a quick massage. Outside her room she could her, whom she assumed was Kankuro, move around their house. He always made so much noise in the morning while he was home and off duty. Perhaps it was compensation for how quiet he always has to be as a ninja. Or perhaps he just did it to annoy her. It's hard to say.

After finally getting out of bed Temari casually began to dress herself in her typical style that she was currently into. After finishing her daily morning routine she exited her room at walked to the kitchen where she found her brother and Kazekage sitting at the table eating a bowl of rice covered in… something.

"Good morning Neesan," Gaara quietly said as he pushed a clump of rice in his mouth.

"Kami Gaara, what are you eating?" Temari exclaimed as she lifted a hand to cover her nose.

Gaara finished chewing his bite before calmly responding, "Rice."

"What's on it?"

Kankuro, who was in earshot, turned from the kitchen toward his two siblings with a proud smile on his face. "Like it? I think I'm going to call it 'Kankuro's… surprise"… Yeah, I'll keep working on that name."

"You need to keep working on that recipe. It smells like something just died in here!"

"It's not that bad," Gaara commented.

"Geez Temari, what's the big deal?"

"My deal, Kankuro, is that your so called 'breakfast' topping is making me nauseous. So put a freaking lid on it!" Temari made a bee line for the door and grabbed her shoes. "Better yet, I think I'll just leave. I need some fresh air." Temari quickly left the house and slammed the door behind her, leaving two confused brothers in her wake.

Kankuro turned to Gaara whom was still watching the door. "What was that all about?"

Gaara shrugged and continued eating.

Outside Temari briskly walked down the street toward the center of the village where the Kazekage's building was, going over what just happened with her brothers.

"Kami Temari, what was that all about? All he did was make breakfast; did you really have to snap at him like that? It smelled so horrible though. I thought I was going to puke right there on the spot. How did they not notice how bad it was? A lot of smells have been bothering me that never had before lately. I've been tired too… Maybe I just have a cold or something. I don't feel like I have a cold… I did throw up a few nights ago… Maybe I should go to the clinic just to check…. Kami I'm hungry."

Temari stopped in front of a small bakery that she regularly visited for breakfast before work or missions and went inside where she was met by the delightful smell of fresh bread. Fresh bread always smelled good. A step in and she was quickly greeted by Hikari, the baker's wife.

"Temari-san, so good to see you this morning. How are you?"

"Fine, thank you. Everything smells good today."

"Thank you. How are your brothers?"

"Fine, Gaara's busy as always and Kankuro and I are working on setting up a secure trade with the Mist."

"Ah, it must be fun being the ambassador of Suna Temari-san. You get to go off to all the other villages and meet some of the most influential people."

Temari just smiled and lowered her head. "It can be…"

The two women turned their heads as the door opened and a mother and her young son walked in. Once through the door the toddler made a quick dash toward the display case of the baked goods.

"Good morning Mari-san.

"Tao, don't run ahead of mommy like that. We don't run inside." She chastised as she followed him. She paused before Temari and bowed deeply. "Temari-san." Temari bowed slightly and watched as Mari turned to Tao and called him over. "Tao, bow to the Kazekage's sister."

The toddler mimicked his mother's previous actions and bowed to Temari. "Ma'am."

"Tao." Temari replied with a smirk on her face. Once raised he quickly returned to the display case and pressed his chubby finger against the glass. "Mommy, I want that."

"That's a cookie sweetie. Cookies are not for breakfast."

"Daddy let me have one last time." He pleaded with those big brown eyes.

Mari sighed and lowered herself to Tao's eye-level. "I'm not Daddy. I actually care that you have teeth when you're my age." She said, tickling his sides. The boy let out a high pitched laugh before his mother picked him up and pointed into the display case. "You can have anything on this row here."

"Ummm…"

"I'm sorry Temari-san," Hikari began. "I got so distracted I forgot that I haven't gotten you anything yet."

"That's alright. I was busy watching the cuteness too… 'It's too bad Shikamaru isn't here. He would have loved that. He's a sucker for kids.'"

Mari let out a small chuckle and thanked Temari.

"What would you like?"

"Let see… Could I have… an apple pastry, and that glazed donut… and that croissant… and a fruit cup. Though, I really just want the grapes."

"My, you are hungry today aren't you?"

"Starving, I feel like I haven't eaten in days."

"Well, here you go then. I hope you enjoy. Will I be charging this to the Kazekage's office?"

"Yes, please."

"Well you have a wonderful day Temari-san. Hope to see you again soon."

"Thank you. Goodbye Hikari-san." Before leaving with her baked goods Temari looked at Tao and smiled sweetly. "Bye Tao-kun." He stopped and turned to Temari and returned her smile and waved goodbye.

Temari once again began her way to the Kazekage's building and it wasn't long before she opened her bag and pulled out her croissant and began eating it.

"Mmmm, this is so good!"

Once she reached the Kazekage's building she crumpled up the empty bag and tossed it into the trash bin once she was through the door. Inside there were three recently graduated academy students who rushed to her immediately.

"Temari-sensei!" They all yelled when they reached her.

"Hey, Tohrou-sensei is on a mission again this week." The dark haired boy named Renji announced. "Could you please help us train this week while he's gone like you did last time?" A sweet please came from his squad member, Rika, who was standing beside him.

"You kids need to learn how to be able to train on your own. You should know your strengths and weaknesses and how to improve them on your own by now." Temari replied.

"I know," Rika replied. "But I need help with my aim and Renji's as stealthy as a bull in a china shop."

"Hey!"

"You kinda are," said the third kid, Mako.

"Truth is kids, it's not even 8 o'clock yet and I'm already exhausted today and I still have an important meeting I need to prepare for this afternoon. Some other time, okay?"

The kids let out a string of protests but the eventually got the point and headed out to do some personal training on their own.

After finally reaching her and Kankuro's office Temari sat down and pulled out a stack of paperwork that didn't get finished yesterday and took the small stack that's already accumulated today, flipped through to check the importance, and put the ones that could wait on the bottom of her stack. She then set herself to work on her reports, most consisted of her retelling her status report on a meeting with some other ambassador or the progress of some program that Suna offers.

After a while a knock came at her door and Matsuri's face popped in. "Temari-san, would you like some donuts? I've brought plenty today. They're going fast though."

Temari was about to say no but paused for a moment in contemplation. "It's barely nine. There's no way I can already be hungry after the breakfast I had this morning… but I am. Kami, I'm going to have to work out hard tonight." "You know what? I think I will have one. Thank you Matsuri."

After an hour more of none stop reports and paperwork Temari rose from her desk and eyed her clock. "10:45, almost time for the meeting."

Temari straightened her outfit and headed out her door and after a quick bathroom break she headed straight for the conference room. Gaara, Kankuro, and Baki were already there and hovering over reports of what was most likely today's meeting topic.

"Hey guys. How's it going?" Temari said as she walked to them.

"We're going over your status reports about the other villages, particularly the Mist. Are you prepared for your presentation today?" Gaara asked.

Temari scoffed at the idea of her not being prepared for anything. "Of course I am."

"Good, the meeting should start soon enough. We're just waiting on the council meeting."

"They're probably all having a pre-meeting of their own on how to make your job more difficult Gaara."

"Now Kankuro," Baki interjected. "The Suna council has been much more agreeable toward Gaara since after the war. Your brother has done well to prove to them that he has the leading capabilities time and again that he can lead and protect this village."

"Yeah? Well they're still a major pain."

"Hey Kankuro."

"Yeah Temari."

"Before the meeting starts I just want to apologize about this morning. I shouldn't have griped at you over something so trivial."

"Don't worry about it. If I stayed mad over everything you do to annoy me I don't think we would ever have been able to stay in the same house like we do now."

Temari let out a laugh. "I annoy you?" she asked skeptically.

"Kami yes. Especially recently." Kankuro's eyes opened wider and he lifted up is hands to aid his following enactment as he raised the pitch of his voice to mimic Temari. "'Kankuro, wash your dishes when you're done with them! Put the milk on the shelf, not in the door! Pick up your socks they're making me sick!'Even poor Gaara! 'Gaara! Will you try not to get your crumbs everywhere when you eat that?' No one's been safe from the wrath of Temari."

"Hey! I do not sound like that." Temari replied defensively, folding her arms.

"I thought he did a rather impressive job." Gaara commented.

"All of those were very reasonable complaints," Temari said matter of factually. "And whose side are you on Gaara?"

"I'm just saying... He did well mimicking you."

"I'm disowning you both…"

"What did I do?" Gaara asked.

"Finally! Is this all it took? I should have done this years ago!"

"Go to hell." Came Temari as she took her seat at the table, trying her best to look falsely mad.

Kankuro laughed as he took his own seat along with the council members who began to come in slowly. It wasn't too long until everyone was there and it was time to commence the meeting. Gaara began his typical duties on updating everyone over the current situation of the village. What's going well, and what needs to be improved. This part normally takes up a good portion of the first half of the meeting until Gaara puts it to a halt and goes over the talking points of the main focus today's meeting. Today they were mainly going to focus on the current progress of trading with the Mist. To Temari's horror it didn't take long for her stomach to suddenly decide to start uncomfortably twisting.

"Oh Kami, not now. You can't get sick now." Temari scanned everyone's faces but they all seemed to be focusing on the council member discussing trade routes. "Okay Temari. Focus on the meeting. Ships,trade routes. Security… Why have I been so sick lately? This doesn't make sense. Kankuro's right I've been seriously off lately. I'm always tired. That can't be good. I've been getting nauseous lately and I've been freaking eating like I'm two people! … No Temari, don't go there. That's just paranoia. Focus on the meeting. Crap, where are we… Good. We're still talking about security. Oh Kami, I'm going to be sick."

"Temari?"

It was Gaara. "Yes?"

"Are you all right?"

"Yeah, fine. Why?"

"You look pale and you're shaking a bit."

"Just a little under the weather, I think. I'll be fine. We can continue."

"Are you alright to give details or your meetings with the Kirigakure representative?"

"Oh, um… Of course… Well… While in Konoha. Kirigakure I mean… I… I'll be right back." Temari pushed back her chair and quickly sprung from it and rushed out of the conference room with haste. The first bathroom she reached she rushed in and managed to lock the door behind her. A split second later she was kneeling over the toilet, clearing out the contents of her stomach. After a few moments of retching she had a moment of reprieve. Though she felt it wouldn't last long. A knock came at the door.

"Temari?"

"Go away Kankuro."

"Are you okay? Do you need anything?"

"I said go away!"

"Fine! See if I ever try to help you again!"

Temari moaned as she continued to retch into the toilet. A moment later she heard another knock on the door.

"Go away."

"It's Gaara."

"… Yes?"

"I'm giving you the rest of the day off."

"No-"

"You fill your reports very well. We can manage with what you've given us. Go home and get some rest."

"… Okay," Temari meekly replied, giving in.

"If you need anything let me know."

"… Okay."

The bathroom door to Temari's bathroom at home flew open with such a force it almost was ripped from its hinges. Temari entered the room in a high state of panic as she bee lined to the sink's drawers.

"Shit!" She exclaimed as she pulled out the drawer and began to rummage through it in a blind panic. "Where is it?" She pulled out the drawer farther to get a better look at its contents but only managed to pull the whole thing out and making everything fall out on the floor. "Shit! … There it is."

Temari lifted the small box and looked at its front, "EPT". "Calm down. You're overreacting. You're trained not to panic so calm down. You've had a false alarm before, remember? It turned out to be nothing. This is nothing… But this is nothing like last time! Okay. Think. When was your last period? …It's been a while, but you've always been irregular and you've missed one before so what makes this so special. Okay. Reading back of box… Pee on pee end. Wait five minutes. One line good. Two lines bad... Easy enough."

After she finished getting the test started she sat down on the edge of the tub and tried her best not to think of her current situation. She thought of the academy and the special visit she was making where she would help teach throughout the day. She thought of Gaara and how close her and her brothers have become over the years and reminisced about how horrible it used to be, especially compared to now.

Life is good. Her family situation is pleasant and she and her brothers have really turned their family name into something honored rather than feared. Everyone's a well respected ninja's with high ranks. She's even in a relationship. A long distance one, but it's still good. Though there lied the source of her current predicament. If that test came out positive so many things would change and become much more problematic.

"Okay…. Five minutes up." Temari grabbed the test that was conveniently faced down and held it in her hand for a moment. She took a deep breath and flipped it over so she could read the results. Once her eyes fell on the treacherous double lines she let out a sorrowful moan and covered her face. She couldn't help but let the tears forming in her eyes to fall. Temari wasn't prone to crying but this was just too much, even for her. After allowing herself a few moments to collect herself Temari sat up straight and wiped the tears from her face once again held the test in front of her to contemplate. She took a few more shallow breathes before she could finally manage to speak…

"I'm pregnant."

A/N: That's all I have for now. Hope you enjoyed and will read what more is to come. I have a lot of these planned out.