A/N: Hey guys. I was suddenley feeling froggy and decided to put together a Christmas fic. Each chapter will be in different POVS, begining with Yoshino Nara's. I will update again either tomorrow or Christmas Eve.

Happy Holidays!

Honestly, Yoshino Nara didn't know why she invited the Sabaku no family to her house for Christmas in the first place.

It might have been because her son looked so pitiful moping around the house as if he had lost his puppy. In reality, she knew Shikamaru had been in such a grumpy mood because he hadn't seen the fiery Suna kunoichi in a little over a month. The boy suggested that he go visit her for Christmas, and Yoshino put him in place with a whack across his head with a wooden spoon.

After a few more days of him becoming increasingly depressed, she had begun to feel a tug on her heart. It was hard seeing her boy suffer the pains of a long distance relationship. What was worse was that she knew that the couple wasn't like those other teenage couples that pranced around claiming they loved each other. Oh, no, those two were genuine soul mates, but one would never guess that after seeing those two bicker for hours on end.

Yoshino knew it was there, the love. She couldn't deny it. But she felt so sad knowing her baby was growing up after all. Eventually she couldn't take the guilt anymore and she informed Shikamaru to mail the Suna kunoichi a request to spend Christmas with the Nara's. As expected, Temari responded, but she declined the offer claiming she couldn't leave her brothers for the holiday. Yoshino didn't admit that that had touched her heart, but it did. The Suna kunoichi was very much family orientated, even if her family was dysfunctional yet. Yoshino personally mailed the Kazekage after that, requesting that he and his siblings visit. This time, the offer was accepted.

She didn't realize the trouble the guests would bring her until they appeared on her doorstep. The first thing she noticed was the loud brother, the puppeteer named Kankurou. The Kabuki makeup gave her quite a scare. She couldn't even see his face! What's worse was that he was complaining bitterly about the cold snow in a very loud voice. Opting to wave it off then, her gaze settled to the Kazekage. Her eyes widened as she saw what was in his hand; a dead goose that had presumably been killed only some time before, as the blood was still wet on the feathers. She practically lost it all then, wondering what kind of barbaric creature would bring that to her house, but was interrupted as she realized Shikamaru had walked past her, brushing past her shoulder roughly.

Yoshino almost voiced her complaint before she realized her son's attention was on Temari. He was leaning down to whisper something into her ear and the woman's face instantly turned red before she clocked his head with a fist. He grumbled, but Temari used the hand that was on the side of his skull to bring his head down to her level. The couple kissed, and it was then everybody pointedly looked away. Yoshino cleared her throat and said, "Please come in, Kazekage-sama and Kankurou-san. I'm sure Temari-san and Shikamaru will join us shortly."

Gaara bowed, still holding the dead goose as he walked past her into the house with his brother in tow. "Please call me Gaara," he said curtly as Yoshino closed the door behind her. She was sure the couple outside would open the door when they felt like coming in. A nod of her head, and her gaze was once again directed at the goose. Why on earth…?

"Ah, Gaara, thank you so much for your gift," her husband finally spoke. Yoshino stared puzzled as Shikaku took the goose from the Kazekage. "Please, go in the living room and make yourselves comfortable. My wife and I will be in there shortly after we take care of this." With that said, Gaara and Kankurou bowed shortly before walking into the living room.

Shikaku guided Yoshino into the kitchen, where he placed the goose in the sink before turning to Yoshino. He chuckled at the sight of her face and said simply, "It's a Suna tradition to bring a freshly killed goose to the host for Christmas."

Before Yoshino could respond, she was interrupted as the front door opened and Shikamaru and Temari made their way in, very red-faced. They seemingly ignored Yoshino and Shikaku in the kitchen as they made their way into the living room. Yoshino cocked her eyebrow at her husband, who merely grinned.

"Shikamaru's growing up," he said simply. "I'll go in there and get them settled. How about you stay here and start on that?" Before Yoshino could respond, he had quickly left the kitchen and called out to the guests.

"Alright, everyone settled?"

She didn't hear anything so presumably the guests had nodded their heads. She sighed as she began plucking the feathers of the goose. To steal a phrase from her boys, this was troublesome. Her Christmas poultry was usually plucked when she bought it from the grocery. Her thoughts were interrupted as a masculine roar of laughter came from the living room. It was presumably the Kankurou lad, because the voice was neither Shikamaru's nor Shikaku's and the Kazekage seemed the type to only laugh quietly.

"Daaaad!" she heard Shikamaru groan and something about the silence from Temari told Yoshino that the girl was embarrassed. She chuckled to herself as she finally rinsed off the goose and prepared a pan to put it in. Maybe the day wouldn't be so bad…

"Cheer up, son. Shadow puppets are a great way to provide entertainment." Yoshino cocked her eyebrows again. Shikaku had a habit of providing…obscene shadow puppet shows.

"It's not entertainment if you're making fun of me!"

With a groan, Yoshino put the goose into the oven. Her husband needed to be stopped before he ruined the evening. She set the timer for the goose, washed her hands, and promptly walked into the living room.

Her gaze first sought the shadow puppets. An image of a girl with four ponytails presumably kissing a guy with one pineapple shaped head. She knew instantly it was Temari and Shikamaru her husband was portraying with his shadow. Walking up behind her husband, she hit him on the head with the back of her hand and turned to stare at the guests.

The Kazekage was stoically sitting back in an armchair that was situated by the couch that Kankurou, Temari, and Shikamaru were sitting on. He seemed to be glancing at his brother who was trying desperately to stop chuckling at the state of Shikamaru and Temari, who were both blushing a bright color and slumping backwards in their seats.

"Please excuse my husband's immaturity. I take it you arrived nicely?" Yoshino said, trying to begin a conversation, as she sat on the armchair opposite her husbands. Her gaze was on her son who didn't seem to like being in such close proximity to the puppeteer. He was practically squishing Temari to the couch, so the girl pushed him back quite roughly. Shikaku chuckled in bemusement as Kankurou looked startled for a moment before pushing Shikamaru back. Shikamaru was once again practically pressed against Temari.

"Dammit, Nara! Switch spots with me. At least I can actually stand to sit by both of you!" Temari said loudly, oblivious to her swearing, as she stood up roughly. Shikamaru scooted to the side pathetically before Temari accidentally sat on him.

Gaara coughed after that, and everyone brought their gaze to him. "Yes, we had a nice trip. Thank you once again for inviting us to spend the holiday with your family. And please excuse my siblings' behavior."

"Oh, no problem at all! I'm just glad Shikamaru could stop moping around the house," Shikaku answered for Yoshino, chuckling heartily.

Temari raised her eyebrow. "Moping?" she asked, glancing at the very red Shikamaru beside her who seemed to be desperately trying to disappear.

"Oh, yes. You see, the poor guy missed you so much. He even asked to go to Suna to see you!" Shikaku chuckled again but quickly stifled it as Yoshino shot him a look. As much as she liked her son being put in his place, she could tell the boy was clearly embarrassed.

"You did?" Temari asked him, her eyebrows shot up an alarming rate on her forehead. He merely grumbled something under his breath that made Temari grin. While Yoshino was suspicious of what was being said, she felt that a change of conversation was in order. Not only was her son being embarrassed, the Kankurou lad was tapping his fingers on the couch, clearly bored. It wouldn't have been so disturbing had there not been chakra sparks burning holes in the couch.

"Ahem, so where will you be staying tonight?" she asked Gaara. Thankfully, the sudden voice had caused Kankurou to stop tapping his fingers. Yoshino was sure the poor couch was grateful.

"We have not decided yet. Presumably at the embassy apartments," the Kazekage replied.

"Oh, well, you can just stay here. You shouldn't have to spend Christmas in filthy apartments!" Shikaku said loudly.

"Actually, the apartments aren't that filt-" Kankurou started but was interrupted by Yoshino.

"I'm not sure if that would be such a good idea, dear," she said, staring at Shikaku with narrowed eyes. She was sure her son and the Suna kunoichi were sexually active and frankly, she didn't want them in her house when they did it. It had been enough trouble a few months ago when she found a bra in her son's laundry…She couldn't even imagine waken up to hear….things.

"Why not? We have two extra guestrooms. I'm sure Temari wouldn't mind sleeping in Shikamaru's room, anyway," Shikaku said.

Yoshino was also sure Temari wouldn't mind, as the latter was grinning slyly at Shikamaru. However much she knew that the two were planning things…she also knew that it wouldn't be hospitable to refuse guests sleeping quarters after her husband revealed the fact that they did indeed have extra rooms.

"Alright, then. You are welcome to stay if you wish," Yoshino hesitantly said, hoping they would deny.

However, Gaara nodded his head thoughtfully. "I'm sure it would be a good bonding experience," he merely said. "My siblings and I accept your offer."

Once again, she felt that tug at her heart. The way the Kazekage put it was too heartwarming. "That's wonderful," she smiled brightly at last. "I'm also sure it would be a good bonding experience." Her mind couldn't help but think 'in more ways than one…' as she stared at Temari and Shikamaru.

"Although I am not too sure about my sister rooming with your son." Yoshino's gaze immediately turned towards him. She really liked him now that he revealed he had the same train of thought as her.

"Oh?" Despite the dark looks Temari was shooting at her brother, the Kazekage continued.

"Yes, I am sure they have begun-" he began but was interrupted by Temari.

"-Gaara!-"

"-having se-"

"-GAARA-!"

"-xual relations..."

Silence filled the room. Not only were Temari and Shikamaru's faces a deep shade of red and they both looked as though they wanted to die, the puppeteer was scooting away from Temari with a disgusted look on his face as though he didn't want to be in breathing proximity of her.

Gaara broke the silence. " ...and I would rather not like to be awoken to-"

This time it was Yoshino who interrupted him. Although she knew he was voicing her thoughts, she really did think her son was pondering committing sebbeku. "We decided to save decorating the tree until you got here, as you can see," she said, directing her gaze to the bare tree and the boxes surrounding it. "We thought it would be fun to let you youngsters and the Kazekage decorate it while my husband and I finished cooking." Yoshino noted that Gaara seemingly forgot what he was beginning to say as he stared at the tree. Shikamaru gave his mother a grateful look although his face was still flaming.

"Please, call me Gaara," Gaara said promptly afterwards. "My siblings and I would …love to 'decorate'. Thank you."

Yoshino nodded her head, grateful the previous subject seemed to be forgotten. "Shikamaru, show them what's in the boxes," she said as she stood up. Shikamaru grumbled and she shot him a look that said something along the lines of 'I-just-saved-your-ass-from-embarrasment-and-I-expect-you-to-do-whatever-I-say'.

She took her husbands hand quite forcefully and dragged him into the kitchen. Once they were out of sight, Shikaku raised his eyebrows. "I thought we were going to decorate with them."

Yoshino waved off the comment as she pulled items out of the fridge. "Shikamaru and Temari were clearly about to die of embarrassment. I only hope decorating can put the Kazekage's mind on other matters."

Shikaku chuckled as he helped his wife pull out pots and pans. "I know you were thinking the same things," he remarked.

Yoshino gave him a dry look. "Yes, but I wouldn't dare say them out loud."

Shikaku once again chuckled as he sat down at the table. "That Temari' sure puts our son in line," he said.

A sudden shout from the living room caused her to jump and drop the pots and pans on the floor.

Yoshino merely grimaced, recognizing the Suna kunoichi's voice…'That Temari' sure reminded her an awful lot of herself.

A/N: Next chapter: Temari's POV