He heard the door click shut behind him and he turned around to see who it was.

" I thought that it was bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the ceremony. " he smirked, moving so that she could fasten his tie.

Temari laughed and brought a hand up to slap his chest where the tattooo rested, etched into his flesh permanently.

"We already know I'm a bad luck charm." She countered. When she finished tying it, she stepped back to observe her work with a satisfied smile.

"Now, Nara, I believe we're meant to be getting married in fifteen minutes. Get your lazy ass to that church before I get there."

Shikamaru woke up surrounded by the warmth of a body that was not his own.

Groaning, he sat up. Why hadn't she left during the night? Or early in the morning?

He turned and looked at the person beside him.

Oh

Why hadn't he left last night.

Shikamaru hauled himself out of bed and went to fetch a glass of water for his one-night-turned-morning-stand. He hated them staying into the next day, but he wasn't a monster, and if his mildly hazy memory served him correctly, that man would definitely need a glass of water after what they'd been up to the night before.

He pulled on a shirt and a pair of boxers from the floor as he went, padding into the kitchenette and pouring the "guest" a drink into a tall cheap glass before returning to the room.

The man was asleep, curled up in Shikamaru's bed sheets like a kid.

He was pretty, Shikamaru concluded, but that was it. He didn't remember much conversation from last night, so he figured that there wasn't much of a point in getting his number.

Just as he was contemplating waking the stranger up to shoo him out of the apartment, his phone began buzzing from the bedside table on the opposite end of the table.

"Hello?" Shikamaru asked, his voice coming out a little hoarse.

"Morning, sunshine!" Came Nako's chirpy voice from the other end of the line. "I've got a mildly rushed concept meeting for you at one, it's a big one!"

Shikamaru groaned.

"That's too short notice, you're meant to be my secretary, not a harbinger of death, Nako..."

"They've got an extremely popular model booked for the shoot, though." She whined. "And the shoot is for a top brand too. They want to meet you at the cafe by the station."

The Nara sighed, glancing at the alarm clock beside him. He had more than enough time to get ready and head to the cafe, as well as kicking the man out of his apartment.

"Okay, have the details ready for me when I get there, and call a taxi to be at my place at twenty to one."

He hung up the phone and let out a breath. If it was for a decent company, the salary would probably be worth a rushed trip to a concept meeting.

"It was You." He heard.

He spun around to see the man sitting up in the bed and rubbing his eyes.

"Yes, I'm me." He drawled, walking to a mess of clothes by the foot of the bed and tossing them to the other. "I need you out in the next ten minutes. Drink your water."

"Not even going to ask me my name?"

The pale man cocked his head to the side with an odd smile on his face, and Shikamaru decided he liked the man better when he was asleep.

"No. I'm not." He snapped. "If you know who I am, then you also know my reputation for having a short temper."

The man said nothing, instead finishing his glass of water in one go and pulling on his clothes.

"Alright, bye Nara Shikamaru." The man called over his shoulder as he left a minute or two later. "Thanks for last night."

Shikamaru raised a hand in mock farewell before shutting the door and checking the time.

He had a half hour left until the taxi arrived.

Pleased, he passed to the bathroom and took a quick shower, after which he pulled on a plain black turtle neck and black jeans.

Breakfast, as always, was skipped in favour of a smoke on the balcony with a coffee perched on his knee.

At twenty to one, he got a call from the taxi driver and he left his apartment, closing the door behind him and locking it.

Shikamaru had changed a lot throughout the years. Maybe it was because he'd grown up too fast, maybe not. He was punctual now. Surprisingly so.

The cafe was blissfully warm as he walked in to the sound of a soft jingling bell.

Nako was already at a table, waving him over.

"I've ordered your coffee," she said as a greeting, and he nodded in reply.

"You're early, here's the file." She beamed, sliding it over to him.

He glanced through it briefly. The model was apparently to be decided, but the location, general concept and pay were all clearly outlined and he was pleased to see that they were considering a single week shoot.

"Here he is," he heard Nako say, and he hummed appreciatively before sliding the documents back into the folder and lifting his gaze.

"Nara Shikamaru, what a pleasure!" An enthusiastic young man called, making his way towards them.

"The pleasure is all mine..." Shikamaru began.

"Ryuta," the man smiled, extending his hand.

He had dyed red hair and everything about his demeanour screamed that he was new in the industry and excited for his project.

"The model is running a little over time," the man was continuing, tugging at a long chain earring that hung from an extremely over-pierced ear. "She should be here in five minutes."

He sat opposite the two others and ordered himself a coffee, winking at the blushing waitress as she bustled away from their table.

"So you've had a look at the general concept and location plans, I take it?" Ryuta asked when his drink arrived.

Shikamaru nodded, tapping his finger off the folder Nako had given him.

"All there, I just need to consult with you and the model then. "

"Great! And, I would just like to tell you how excited I am to be working on this with you, you're probably one of the most renowned photographers at the moment. It's really an honour."

Shikamaru blinked slowly at the man. Was he just some fanboy?

He realised Shikamaru was just doing it for the money, right?

A jingle sounded from the cafe door and Ryuta's face lit up brightly.

"Ah, here she is!" He lifted his hands and waved the model over.

"Model, meet photographer!" He announced proudly.

There was a pause as the two looked at each other. Shikamaru heard Nako yelp beside him, but he didn't respond.

"Temari." He stated.

The blonde blinked slowly before letting out a short laugh.

"Shikamaru. " she replied.

Ryuta glanced between the two of them nervously.

"Do um... do you two know each other?" He asked cautiously, as if sensing the tension radiating in waves. Shikamaru allowed his eyes to skim over the tussled hair and flushed cheeks of the woman he loved.

"Yes," Temari answered simply.

"We were married, once."

a/n: review me if you like it if you like~