Her Eyes

Shikamaru Nara is a 27year old journalist who works for the Konoha times. His editor and chief and life long best friend Chouji Akimichi had a big story for him to investigate in Suna, so he packed up his things and left. This is where he met her. He was writing a piece on a haunted grave yard. Rumor had it, there were lights or ghosts as the locals called them were the parents of a young woman in town. He met her in November and they hit it off. They were inseparable for the remainder of his stay. He was instantly drawn to her, it was something about her eyes, they were massive pools of dark emerald green. Massive pools he could get lost in, they reminded him of a night sky. It wasn't until he was back in Konoha that he received a call from her.

"Hey Shika, its Temari!" She sounded excited. He wasn't sure why she was calling him, he thought what they had was just a fling.

"Oh, hey… how's it goin?" he sounded distant. There was a pause on the other end of the phone. He thought to himself I hope I didn't sound rude, did I upset her?

"Hello, Temari are you still there?" He inquired.

"Oh hey sorry about that, I um...I need to tell you something" she sounded confused like she didn't know if she should have called him.

"Ok, shoot" as he leaned back in his office chair and rested his feet on his desk.

She began "well you know that night before you left we went to the lake and well you know..." she trailed off to a faint whisper.

He sat up and responded with "yeah..." he thought to himself where is she going with this?

An exasperated breath could be heard over the receiver "well … I'm pregnant"

The phone moved from his ear to his lap. He was shocked, it felt like he was being suffocated, he couldn't get enough air into his lungs, with the words "I'm pregnant" bouncing around in his head. This can't be happening we used protection, I'm not ready to be a dad, and then… I don't even know her!

"Hello? Shika are you still there?" this time it was Temari wondering if he had hung up.

He pulled the phone back to his ear "yeah I'm here, when... when did you find out?"

"Yesterday, I'm 3 months along" was she …she was crying. Oh great! He said under his breath.

"Hey Tema...don't cry its ok..." what could he say to fix this? Life as he knew it was over.

"Shika, I want you to know I'm keeping the baby" she said in between sniffles. Shikamaru sat dazed and confused as to what was going on. Moments before picking up the phone life was great and now...now he was going to be a dad…a dad…he was going to be responsible for someone else's life and well being.

Snapping out of his daze "that's good… I want to see you". He told her he would be on the first flight to Suna and would be there tomorrow. She told him they could look for a place for him to stay when he got there, and with that they hung up.

Tomorrow...Shikamaru thought wait tonight…what am I going to tell Chouji and my parents...

Shikamaru left his office and made his way out of his apartment to his parent's house. He hopped into his jeep wrangler and pulled out of the driveway. While driving one person stood out in his mind on who was going to take the news the worst. Ino… what am I going to tell you…Pulling up to the front of his parents house shikamaru go out of the car and walked up the sidewalk and rang the door bell. Yelling could be heard and his dad soon swung the door open, with a look of relief on his face glad to see his son. Shikaku looked over his shoulder to find his wife had come out of the kitchen and was looking past him at her son. Yoshino rubbed her hands on her apron and walked towards the door to greet her him.

"Move!" she barked at Shikaku pushing past him to invite shikamaru inside.

"Well are you coming in or not? I'm not air conditioning the whole block get your butt in here." Yoshino playfully teased her son.

Shikamaru made his way into the house and followed his parents into the kitchen. He sat at the island mesmerized, just watching his parents in the kitchen. Shikaku was helping Yoshino make dinner and it looked like they were dancing, moving about the kitchen, chopping up carrots and other veggies throwing them into a pot on the stove. Shikamaru sat there pondering how his father could love such a bossy woman.

"Is something bothering you son?" Shikaku asked his son who appeared to be on another planet.

Realizing someone was talking to him"oh what…no, yes I need to talk to you guys about something."

Yoshino's interest was sparked and she spun around so fast shikamaru was surprised she didn't have whiplash. She gave her son the look of "come on spit it out".

Looking up at the popcorn ceiling shikamaru dropped his head and sighed. After telling his parents what had happened in November and then today's phone call he waited for their input.

Shikaku was first "well son…seems like you've got your self in a position where you can do two things" looking over his shoulder at Yoshino he continued "you can be there for her, or you can try to convince her that maybe not keeping the baby would be for the best." The look on Yoshino's face was a mix of disgust and anger. She quickly walked towards Shikaku and smacked him upside the head. Rubbing the back of his head he asked "WHAT was that for?" yoshino quickly replied "You idiot!! Our son got this young lady pregnant and you tell him he needs her to get rid of our future grandchild!! Are you crazy?" she continued" it's not like he's had a girlfriend since you know….Ino left him at the alter" she whispered the last part. It didn't matter that she whispered the last part shikamaru heard it all the same. with that shikamaru got up and was making his way to the door when his mom grabbed his arm.

"Shika, I know whatever I say won't make a difference but, whatever you decide I will always support you and whatever you and she decide." With that he gave his mom a hug and left. On his way to Chouji's house he tried to think of a way to break it to his best friend that he needed time off from work, or tell him he wouldn't be coming back. Shikamaru once again walked up the sidewalk and rang the door bell. He was greeted with Ino smiling back at him her stomach poking out from under her maternity shirt.

She yelled over her shoulder "hey Chou, Shika's here" with that she moved to the side to let him in. as shikamaru made his way to the living room of Chouji and Ino's home he noticed that there were sonogram pictures framed on the wall. He found Chouji sitting on the couch reading a book first time daddyChouji looked up and greeted his best friend with a warm smile.

"hey shika, what's up?" he replied with "not much but I need to ask you a favor" Chouji cocked his head to the side and said "ok I'm all ears" shika asked if Ino could leave the room and she did but not without throwing a little tantrum and a quick peck on the cheek form Chouji. When they kissed shikamaru closed his eyes, it was too much, sure him and Ino had been over for a year now, but come on she left him at the alter for his best friend. With Ino gone shikamaru began to tell Chouji what he had told his parents earlier. When he was finished Chouji sat there looking at his best friend in disbelief. Mouth agape Chouji slowly closed it and closed his eyes. Processing what shikamaru just told him he composed his thoughts "shikamaru, wow …that's great!! sure ill give you time off and what your mom said same here buddy, take all the time you need to figure this out." Shikamaru was stunned, sure he expected Chouji to give him some time off but this, Chouji was going to hold his job for him until he came back, that was great news. Ino came back into the room looking a little down and said" what the fuck shikamaru I can't believe you! We didn't even have sex for the 3 years we were together and you just meet a girl and you knock her up…great job, I'm glad the little slut got pregnant " with that she turned on her heals and walked out of the room. Chouji got up off the couch and apologized "shikamaru I'm sorry about Ino she didn't mean it, it's her hormones you know there all crazy because of the baby" Chouji tried to defend his wife but to no avail. Shikamaru got up from the recliner he was sitting in and left.

As he pulled into the driveway he got out of his car and walked to the door and slid his key into the keyhole before turning the key he rested his forehead on the door and thought maybe Ino's right, I don't even know this girl all that well , he turned the key and made his way to his room to pack a few things and then it was off to bed tomorrow he would be arriving in Suna and would see Temari.

That night his dreams were plagued with night mares of babies screaming, memories of him and Ino on dates, and then some parts where it was just him holding a little pink blanket crying, looking out a window and looking up at the night sky.