This is my first fanfic that is more than one chapter long. However, there's only three chapters...and sorry about the chapters being a little short.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Shikatema

Don't Leave Me

Chapter 1: Goodbye

'I'm so glad I'm pregnant again.' Temari thought as she entered her home with her daughter Shikako.

Shikako was twelve years old now. She had graduated from the academy just a few months ago and she was already showing a lot of progress. She was lucky; she inherited Shikamaru's brains and Temari's beauty.

"Daddy!" Shikako called as she entered the living room. She jumped up onto his lap and began to tell him all about the mission she did today and how Kensuke had thought that her new jutsus were really cool.

Kensuke reminded Shikamaru a lot of Sasuke. And Shikako, like any other fan girl, was constantly trying to impress him. Shikamaru just hoped that Kensuke wasn't going to betray the village and go after some evil guy looking for power.

Because if he did, Shikamaru would have to personally kill him for breaking his baby girl's heart.

"Shikako, your father and I have something to tell you." Temari stated when Shikako had finished her stories.

Looks were exchanged between her parents as they all sat in silence. She immediately became suspicious.

"Shikako…soon…you will have a baby sibling." Shikamaru said grinning proudly. Temari had been pregnant for over a week, but they had only just found the right moment to tell their daughter now.

All Shikako could do was laugh and giggle. She had always wanted a little sibling to care for. And now she was going to have one.

She ran over and hugged her mother tightly shouting "Congratulations!" and things like that. And Shikamaru couldn't help but feel sad; he was going to miss so much.

"Shikako is going to be taking the chuunin exams in a few months. Her sensei is positive that she can handle it. What do you think?" Temari asked her husband as they lay in bed together.

"She'll do fine."

"She says that, if she makes it to the final exam, she wants you to come and see her fight. You haven't watched her in a real match in a while and she says she's learned a knew jutsu that she wants us to see."

Shikamaru sighed and pulled his wife closer. Now he was going to miss the birth of his child and his daughter kicking some poor kid's ass in the chuunin exams. This was so troublesome.

And now he had to tell her the truth before it was too late. Now was his only chance.

"You seem troubled…" she said absentmindedly.

He sighed. "Temari, you need to listen carefully to what I am about to say." she glanced up at him. She hated it when he went serious like this. It always meant bad news. "I have been sent on a long term mission to become a subordinate of an Akatsuki member. When I become one, I have got to learn information about them and send what I learn back in monthly reports…it's incredibly dangerous Temari…I don't have a good feeling about this."

"When will you be back?" she asked hopefully.

He sighed heavier this time and continued. "I don't think I will come back…if I am found out, they will probably either torture me, try and get information out of me or just kill me on the spot. After a year, the Hokage told me I should run away. But I don't think I'll even last the year, let alone make it out of there with my life. I'm sorry…I…" he trailed off when Temari began to cry.

He kissed her and held her until her sobbing calmed. By now, Shikako had woken up and was wondering what was wrong. After about ten minutes of crying, Temari admitted that she was tired and Shikamaru tucked her in and wished her pleasant dreams. Then, he lent down and whispered in her ear "Look after them…look after yourself…and take good care of my heart; it…I… will always belong to you."

"I love you." she whispered before she fell asleep. She didn't have to worry. He'd be back. He had to come back!

The door creaked open. It was cold and wet outside and Shikamaru was rife with nerves and fears. He looked back one last time and saw someone staring up at him in the dark.

It was his daughter, Shikako.

"Daddy, are you and mommy getting separated?" she asked, he could tell now that she had been crying.

"No, baby. Don't worry. It's nothing like that."

"Then wha-"

"I have to go for a little while. On a mission. I'll be back soon." he already knew what his daughter wanted to ask. "Your mommy's just sad because she's going to miss me, that's all it is."

"I'm not stupid you know." she countered, posing just like her mom would in this situation; hands on hips, eyebrow raised, death glare in her eyes.

I was true that she wasn't stupid. She was as smart as Shikamaru was when he was her age. So there was no point in lying to her anymore. She wasn't a baby. She could handle it. And she probably heard what he said to Temari in bed anyway.

"You'll take care of your mom, won't you?" Shikako nodded in reply. She already knew that her father was going to be gone for a long time. Nothing more needed to be said.

'Is dad crying too?' she wondered.

He took a deep breath and left the house. Shikako watched his retreating figure until it was out of sight. She could see it turn and look back every now and then. When the black dot had disappeared over the horizon she yawned but didn't go back to bed. She stayed out for a few minutes. Just long enough to conjure up enough courage to say one final, painful word.

"Goodbye."

Again, sorry it's so short. And it's a little boring because it's just an introduction...but come on guys! It's Saturday! I'm tired.

Reviews are appreciated. The next chapter is called Dreamer and there's a lemon in it. So be warned.