A/N: I was quite affected by Alan Rickman's passing. Here's the product. It is definitely different from my other fics.
It was the tenth anniversary of the Great Shinobi War and Konoha was the host village for this year. Hordes of citizens and leaders from the other villages were there to celebrate their combined victory. But Nara Shikamaru had an eye for only one person.
Temari had the same radiance as she did ten years ago. That same tough aura that held everyone in awe and fear of her. That same curvaceous figure that men admired and women envied. That same unrestrained laughter that exposed the lovely expanse of her neck. That same full-toothed grin that never failed to tug at his heartstrings.
A child barely a year old was held in her arms. It was clear that the child inherited her emerald eyes. She bestowed the softest look onto the child as she attempted to comfort the child who was disturbed by the immense crowd. A few moments later, a dark-haired man took the child from her and started to make faces at the child who immediately started to giggle. The woman chuckled at their antics. As the man carried the child in one arm, he slipped his other arm around the woman's waist as they made their way inside the main hall.
All this time, his best friend, Chouji, had been a witness to the emotions that cycled through his friend's face. He quietly queried, "After all this time?"
Shikamaru glanced at his friend and returned his gaze to the family disappearing into the hall. A vaguely resigned smile decorated his visage. "Always."
Another woman came to his side with two young children, a boy and a girl. This woman's beauty was not as pronounced as the other's but her kindness and loyalty was more than enough for any man.
This is what you wanted.
"Shall we go in?" The woman asked her husband with an excited smile, hooking her arm through his.
Shikamaru replied an affirmative and led his wife and children in.
THE END.
A/N: I HAVE NO REGRETS. RIP ALAN RICKMAN.