"Woman, if you keep this up, no man will want to marry you."
To Shikamaru's surprise, she did not respond with snide comments or less than friendly jabs at his ribs. She thought it was ironic that he said that. The only marriage she had ever been acquainted with was that of her parents, and that ended with a husband attempting to kill his wife and youngest son. Surely being an old maid was the happier alternative.
Or at least that was what she thought before he walked into her life. He was 27 years old now and was probably looking to marry and fulfill his dream of an average looking wife and two children. She wondered what kind of woman he would choose as his partner. Maybe his blonde teammate? Or maybe he would choose that code breaker, whose subtle but multiple attempts as revealing her feelings to him had been utter failure. It was funny that an alleged genius would at times be as oblivious as Naruto.
"Tch, stop being so sensitive," he said at last.
"Who's the one being sensitive, idiot?."
"Do you want to get married?"
What? This was it. This was Fate laughing at her. He was a man who made her laugh, made her realize that she still had goodness in her heart. He was a man with whom she shared stories and jokes over tea and shogi. He was a man she did not mind losing to sometimes. But he was a man wished for things she could never give him.
"No." She saw him wince ever so slightly.
He looked at her, stern but confused.
"I'm barren."
It was her turn to wait now. She knew that no matter how much she prepared for his answer, the disappointment would be so bitter that she could almost touch it. But perhaps this had made her life even more complete. Maybe it was enough just to know that there was a strong, smart man who loved her for what she was. Not because she was a good ninja, not because she was she was a keen tactician. Maybe it was enough to know that this wonderful man truly existed and that she shared a special friendship with him, even if it ended at that.
"I pretty much already have a son," he said, referring to Asuma's child, "Besides, you're childish enough as it is. But I still want you to be my wife."
"Heh, are you serious?" she asked trying to sound contemptuous but failing miserably. She laughed in an attempt to distract him from the tears that were threatening to fall. He pulled out a ring to show her his proposal still stands. It was beautiful. She wrapped her arms around his neck, no longer caring that he could see her cry, and kissed his cheeks and forehead.
"Is this a yes?"
"What do you think, genius?"
Perhaps today Fate was laughing with her.