UNUSUAL

This was unusual.

Temari never thought that she could ever be dumbfounded by anything that Shikamaru did. In fact, she was the one that made Shikamaru dumbfounded. She never was dumbfounded – it just didn't happen. She was way too smart for that. But this, this was something different.

He had her completely and totally stumped.

In her lap laid a box. A tiny box. A tiny box with the matching tiny note inside. On that note were five simple words.

Will you marry me?

-Shikamaru

She didn't know what to think. She wanted to think it was a trick – from Naruto, or maybe her brothers. It had to be. They were in a committed relationship and have been for quite some time now, but Shikamaru told her that he didn't want to get married, and neither did she.

…did she?

There was a knock on her door. She stood, startled, and went to open the door. What was behind that door almost took her breath away as fast as the note did.

Shikamaru, on one knee, with a ring in his hand. Under the balcony behind him, she could see a crowd of villagers and friends. There was Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke, Sai, Kakashi, Yamato, Hinata, Kiba sitting on Akamaru's back, Shino, Kurenai, Ino, Chouji, baby Asuma (Asuma-sensei had already passed), Tenten, Neji, Lee, Gai, Yoshino-san, Shikaku-san, Tsunade, Jiraiya, the tiny academy students she and Shikamaru taught from time to time, her brothers, her sensei, Matsuri, and Sari. They were all standing there.

She looked down at him nervously. "Sh-Shikamaru?"

"Will you marry me, Temari?"

She gasped. The crowd shouted, "Say yes!"

"Yes!" she agreed happily, hugging him as she fell to her knees. "Of course I'll marry you, Crybaby. I thought you would never ask."

Shikamaru smiled as the people below them all cheered.

"I love you."

"I love you, too."