It happened during one of the usual lazy Saturdays.

The head of the Nara family was sitting in front of the shogi board, hands folded in his usual "thinking" box. Being the Seven's Hokage adviser was a drag, but at least it gave him some challenges apart from those which he faced in his marriage. He never complained. Even now as he was sitting here, in the living room, trying to build the best strategy, never had he missed the pleasure to throw a look on his wife cooking something while their son was lazily sitting on a kitchen counter beside her.

Shikamaru couldn't help smiling. the cruelest woman in whole village, she let her son sit on an actual table. Of course if you ask her, she'll deny it but he knew she enjoyed Shikadai's company while making dinner. He could hear his son talking, but being concentrated on a strategies he couldn't tell what conversation was about. To be honest he wasn't even interested until he heard something falling out of his wife's hands, making a noise spreading between the walls. Now that was promising. Standing up, he headed to the kitchen perfectly aware that only questions his son was capable of asking could make Temari uncomfortable.

"Are you terrorizing your mother again, Shikadai?"

Shikamaru's voice didn't change much through the years. It only became sharper from smoking, which Temari not so secretly was finding attractive. Though he was trying to quit since they got a child. Not so successfully to be honest.

"I am just wondering."

Shikadai sounded almost offended. What he could not realize was why every time he got a question about something, well, something his parents were expected to know as they were grownups (which he doubted sometimes) one of them reacted strange. Dropping things was one of the typical reactions.

Temari looked normal. With a deep thinking wrinkle between her brows but not angry. Which was a good sign. Shikamaru sight, leaning his shoulder on the wall. Yes, she was definitely fine with the question. She was smart, in fact the smartest woman he has ever met but there were things she still didn't feel comfortable expressing.

"What is it, Tem?"

"How do you know you're in love?"

Shikadai was far too impatient to let his mother answer first. His palm were lying on a flat surface of the table behind his back, head thrown back, eyes staring at the ceiling. It's not like he was asking how did they knew, it's more about his deep interest in how the hell people define their feelings. Once he asked Shikamaru why do people hate someone, being a good father he left the story with Hidan for the future.

Still waiting for the answer Shikadai sight very similar to his father and narrowed his eyes, giving Temari a lazy look. She rolled her eyes and clicked her tongue.

"Fine"

"So you are admitting you know the answer"

Shikamaru just couldn't help it. After all these years they were still teasing each other. She stated he was a crybaby, he that she is way too troublesome. That wasn't complaining as their son eventually understand. It was something about being themselves, if that makes any sense. Tired of the topic Shikadai decided it does. Stopping her violations with food Temari turned her head to look at her husband's smiling eyes. Oh, he will suffer. She mouthed to him words their son was not allowed to hear and then turned back to cutting.

" When you've fallen for someone it's like, "- she paused rising her sight at the wall in front of her, trying to put it in a right way, -"like you are ready to let this person to stand by your side. You know, like to have a friend who is always there but this person is something more to you, because, "- A pause came into the place again, as she finished with tomatoes and switched to onion.- "when you love someone you let them know you best. All the stupid songs make sense, you are smiling too much around that person, seek for his company.."

"Sounds retarded."

Temari laughed at the comment. Man, that boy was one hundred percent her son. She smiled at him softly, feeling her eyes hurting from the onion. Next thing she felt was Shikamaru's big palm sliding among her waist and fixing on the side.

"It is"- his husky voice was tickling her temple. - "It is also really troublesome, son. So when your time comes, find a good girl, don't repeat my..."

The joke was never able to be finished as his wife's hand held a knife near his throat. Damn, he loved her in anger. She was the hottest woman in Konoha (despite Ino's beliefs) but hell she was stunning with those teal eyes burning in violence.

Shikadai was used to it. Yeah, right. And now they're going to stare at each other looking absolutely gross. All the argues were ending pretty much the same. He rolled his eyes. Why did he even asked the question?

"Say it again."

Temari dared him, looking killer right into his eyes. Shikamaru grinned, gently pushing her hand away.

"You have tears in your eyes. Is it from the onion?"

Her face softened a little though she was still starring at him, narrowing her eyes and shaking head with her lips pressed tight.

"I hate you"

Shikamaru's smile only grew wider as he bend to her mouth, saying : "Sure you do".

As they shared a kiss, their son rolled his eyes and quickly left the kitchen.

Way too retarded.