I don't own Naruto. I wish I did…

Chapter 2: Home Sweet Home

Shikamaru Nara waited outside the Hidden Leaf Village Academy. He looked up at the sky, which was a series of oranges and pinks, colored by the setting sun. There were a few clouds, and he decided to lay on his back and watch them float by. He closed his eyes to rest a bit, because his mission was really strenuous. A few seconds later, he felt someone shaking his arm.

"Daddy, wake up! Come on, lazy!" Shikamaru opened his eyes to see his seven years old daughter shaking his shoulder. He jumped up and picked her, swinging her around.

"How were your classes little one?" His daughter stuck out her lower lip as she pouted.

"I know everything Iruka Sensei tells us. The lessons are boring. It's not a lot of fun." Shikamaru laughed. She's just like me.

"Are you doing what you're supposed to be doing in class?" Shikami nodded her head and held her father's hand as they walked home. By the time they got home, the sun had gone down and the sky was dark. Shikami walked up the front porch steps before her father stopped her. He knelt down to his daughter's level.

"So here's the plan. Mommy isn't expecting me, so I'm going to open the door and catch her in my Shadow Possession Jutsu. Then you go and tackle her. Okay?" His daughter eagerly nodded her head, and then Shikamaru stood up. He put his hand on the door, and then opened it.
"Go!" Shikamaru performed the jutsu, and felt his shadow connect with his wife's shadow. She couldn't move, so she fell down when Shikami tackled her. Or rather, the log fell down. Suddenly, Shikamaru fell over as the gust of wind took him down. He flipped over to get up, but felt someone put a kunai to his throat. Temari smiled as she looked at her husband.

"Look who's home from his mission." Shikamaru slowly raised up his hands in mock surrender.

"Mommy, that's not fair! You waited for us! You were supposed to be surprised!" Temari smiled and after walking to her daughter, hugged her. The little girl squirmed, but then hugged her mother back. The sand ninja released her and looked her in the eye.

"I'm sorry. Next time, I'll be surprised. I promise." Shikami didn't look convinced.

"You say that every time." Shikamaru stood up and his wife saw the smirk on his face. Her smile immediately left.

"She's right. You do say that every time." Temari looked at her husband and she couldn't keep her frown for long.

"Is dad home?" Shikamaru heard his son shout from upstairs. He looked at the blonde kunoichi, and grimaced. Temari had a look of annoyance on her face.

"Shikadai! What have I told you about yelling in the house?!" Shikamaru sighed and rolled his eyes. She must know she's breaking her own rules. Aw well. That's one of the many things I love about her.

"And get down here and say hello to your father! He just got back from his mission!" Shikamaru heard his son come running down the stairs, and he knew his wife was going to scold him for that too. Temari was just as harsh on the battlefield as she was a mother. Shikamaru watched his son turn the corner and looked at him. Shikadai looked like his father, almost identical to a younger Shikamaru. The teenager saw the look on his mother's face, and knew what was coming.

"Shikadai, what have I told you about running down the stairs?"

"Sorry, mom."

"What have I told you?"

"That I need to stop doing that."

"So why do you keep doing it?"

"Because I'm so excited to see dad." Shikamaru laughed at that.

"Is that because you feel really lucky you're still alive after two weeks of having mom take care of you?" He then turned to his wife, and smiled.

"I say we let it slide. That was a pretty smart response. What do you say love?" Temari rolled her eyes, and then walked into the kitchen to help her daughter make dinner. Shikadai walked over to his father.

"Dad, how did you end up marrying such a crabby woman like mom?" Shikamaru had to hold in the laugh as he remembered the exact same conversation he had with his father.

"She has her moments." Shikadai rolled his eyes, and walked into the kitchen. His mother walked out, and as she passed her son, she ruffled his hair. He pushed her hand away, and walked into the kitchen trying to fix his hair. Temari walked to her husband and stared lovingly into his eyes. Shikamaru wrapped his arms around her and kissed her forehead. She rested her head against his chest.

"How did the mission go?" Shikamaru rested his head on top of his wife's.

"It went pretty well. It turned out to be a hoax. The Bloody Mist Clan is a fake. It's was a series of realistic genjutsu. It was one guy robbing villages and claiming to be a group of deadly Mist Village ninja."

"What happened?" Temari looked at her husband, and saw the glare in his eye. She knew what happened. The man had to die.

"When Shikadai walked by, I smelled something different. Is he wearing cologne?" Temari knew from the way her husband changed the subject that Shikamaru was the one to do it.

"He is. There is some girl he's trying to impress." Shikamaru realized something.

"Is that my cologne?" Temari nodded.

"I need to find him something new. I'll take him shopping for some tomorrow. Find him something that can be just his. Because I'll never be able to wear it again."

"Choji was on your squad right?" Shikamaru nodded. He looked at his wife, and his smile transformed into a grimace. Aw, crap.

"I saw Choji back in the village this morning! What took you so long to get home?" She smacked his shoulder, and Shikamaru winced. She hasn't lost any of that strength of hers.

"When did you get back to the village?!"

"Hey, mom, what vegetables are we supposed to make for dinner again?" Shikadai walked into the living room to see his father rubbing his arm, and his mother's hands on her hips, with an angered look on her face. Shikamaru turned to his son and smiled.

"Shikadai, remember how I told you mom has her moments? This is one of the reasons that I love her. When you get married, remember this little trick." Shikamaru reached over and cupped the side of his wife's face. Shikadai had never seen his father use a jutsu on his mother that would actually hurt her, but when his hand touched Temari's cheek, she had a look of worry on her face.

"Don't you dare. I'm mad at you."

"I know. This stops that if I remember properly." Temari felt his hand rub the side of her face, and she didn't know what made it happen. Maybe it was the protective feeling she felt when he did it, maybe it was the feeling of love she got from it, but whatever it was, it worked. She felt herself getting less mad at him, and she didn't even remember what she was mad at him for. Every single time this happens. I'm a powerful shinobi of the Village Hidden in the Sand, brother of the current Kazekage, and daughter of the previous. What is so special about this man? Temari knew the answer already. She stopped trying to fight it and kissed him. He kissed her back. Both would have been ecstatic to remain like this forever, but they were interrupted by their teenage son's groan of disgust.

"Seriously. Get a room. It's upstairs. It's not even that far." He walked back into the kitchen.

"You still mad at me?" Temari shook her head, and returned to his arms.

"I have to help the kids make dinner. Are you going to take a shower?"

"Yeah. I am." Shikamaru kissed her forehead, and then stepped away.

"Wait." Temari kissed her husband intensely, and Shikamaru felt her hand rise in between his legs. She leaned up and whispered in his ear.

"That's a little preview of later on." She leaned down and walked to the kitchen. Shikamaru watched her walk away, her hips swaying dramatically. She knew he was watching and she wanted him to enjoy the view. Shikamaru sighed and shook his head. As he walked up the stairs, he simply thought to himself, Troublesome.

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Shikamaru kissed his daughter's forehead, and walked away.

"Good night daddy."

"Good night little one." Shikamaru closed the door, and walked into the living room. Temari was sitting on the couch, reading a book. When she saw her husband, she set the novel down, and smiled. Shikamaru stood at the other end of the room, and leaned against the wall.

"You know, I missed you so much while I was gone." Before she could say anything, her love had crossed the room, and put his hand on her cheek as he kissed her. She instinctively pulled him closer, but stopped. As much as he wanted her, Shikamaru respected her decision.

"Are you okay?" Temari smiled, and nodded.

"I'm going to take a shower, and then we can have some fun." She stood up and began to walk upstairs. Shikamaru pulled her back to him, and started kissing her neck.

"Do you want me in there with you?" Temari stepped away, and pushed her husband onto the couch. She sat on his lap, and kissed him.

"No. I want you to sit here, and not move. If you do, then you get nothing later. Understood?" Shikamaru nodded, and Temari headed to the master bathroom. Shikamaru thought about what Shikadai had said at dinner. I need to buy him some new cologne, because he can't be using mine. He picked up the book Temari was reading, and decided to pick up where she left off. He smirked. It was a guide on how to be a better shogi player. I love her so much. He heard a knock at the door, and wondered if Temari would punish him for answering the door. She probably would. But that what made it worthwhile. He had to work to get what he wanted. Shikamaru stood up and walked through the kitchen, and opened the door. He immediately caught his brother-in-law's bloody body, and carried him into the kitchen. He turned on the light and examined Gaara.

"Shika-Shikamaru. Where is my sister?" Even when he looked like he'd been through the ringer, he asked about Temari.

"She's taking a shower. I'll get her for you."

"No. I need your help. When she comes down here, she'll find out. Close the blinds." Shikamaru nodded and began shutting the windows.

"Where's Kankuro? And the rest of the bodyguard team?"

"I ditched them soon after I left the village. I like traveling alone. It seems like that'll never happen again though."

"What happened to you?" Shikamaru grabbed the first aid kit he kept in the house from under the sink and began trying to heal his brother-in-law.

"I was attacked. By a ninja who looks very similar to the Sixth Hokage. He wielded the Chidori, but it wasn't Kakashi. And he had friends. I couldn't fight all of them." Shikamaru nodded, and grabbed a scroll off the counter. He bit his thumb and placed it on the seal. A weasel wearing an eye patch appeared.

"Get to the hospital. Find Sakura and Ino and get them here as soon as possible. The Kazekage is hurt. Go now." The weasel nodded and sprinted out the door. Shikamaru looked back at his brother-in-law. He had passed out on the table. Shikamaru got up to make sure he was okay, and began stitching him up. He wasn't the best medic, but dammit, he was going to give it his best.

Temari turned off the water, and stepped out of the shower. She grabbed the towel and dried herself. She opened the door slowly, and checked to make sure that Shikamaru wasn't waiting in the shadows of their bedroom. When she was sure he wasn't there, she stepped out and began to get dressed. She went with very little, considering that she was hoping it would be on the floor after a few minutes. She picked out a pair of heels that she knew Shikamaru liked, and then walked out of their room and headed downstairs. She wrapped the robe around her body tighter, because it was cold. The air conditioning was on. But we left the windows open. She walked into the living room, and saw that Shikamaru wasn't on the couch. Why can't he behave? Doesn't he know that I need this as much as he does? That's when she saw the kitchen light on. And judging from the shadows, Shikamaru was in there. Temari opened the robe slightly and walked in. That's when she smelled the smoke. Shikamaru was smoking in the house again. He had quit so many years ago, but she knew he had some occasionally. She used to get mad at him for it, but she learned over time he only did it when he was really nervous or scared. She walked over to him and gave him a hug from behind. He flinched, almost like he was scared. That concerned Temari.

"What's wrong baby? Are you…" And that's when she saw her brother on the table, unconscious and bloody.

"Gaara!" She jumped forward and went to checking on him. Shikamaru had put the cigarette out and he quickly pulled his wife away.

"Don't. I tried to stitch him up. I've stopped the bleeding temporarily, but they're not good. We don't want to open the wounds. I've sent Kamatari to Sakura so she can help us." Despite being her summoning jutsu, Kamatari had taken a liking to Shikamaru. Temari swore that he fed the weasel snacks when she wasn't looking. Shikamaru was his favorite. I should have never taught him how to summon the rodent. Shikamaru took her in his arms and kissed her. He hugged her, and felt her start to cry. He backed up and wiped away the first few tears.

"Baby. As good as you look right now, I think you should go get dressed. I'll come and get you if he wakes up. Okay?" Temari nodded, and then headed upstairs. Just as she got to the door of her and Shikamaru's bedroom, she heard the next door open. A very sleepy Shikami walked out, rubbing her eyes with her stuffed deer in her hands.

"Mommy? What's going on?" Temari quickly knelt down and hugged her daughter.

"Nothing, sweetie. Mommy just...saw a mouse and it startled her. Daddy is taking care of it." The little girl was no longer paying attention, because she had already fallen back asleep. Temari picked her up and carried her back to bed. After making sure that she was asleep, Temari hurried back into her room and got dressed. Once she got back downstairs, she found Sakura in their house. That girl is quiet. She was operating on Gaara, who was flinching and groaning. She could see the sweat on the other girl's forehead. Something was wrong.

"Shikamaru, I need you to go tell Ino that we are moving. He's been poisoned. I can't operate here. We need him to get to the hospital now." Shikamaru nodded, and ran outside.

"Temari, I need you to help me lift him. We have to be gentle, we don't want the stitches to fall out." Both kunoichi picked up an arm and gently lifted Gaara off of the table. He groaned in pain and they both slowed their motions.

"Your husband needs to learn how to stitch someone up. This is pathetic. I thought he was a genius."

"Me too. Imagine my surprise once I married him."

"Thanks for the support there love." Shikamaru held the door open for the two girls, and he and Ino followed.

"Dad?" Shikamaru turned around and found Shikadai on the roof.

"What are you doing out of bed?"
"I was looking at clouds. Then I heard the commotion. What's going on?" Shikamaru sighed and tried to find a way to break it to his son.

"Your uncle Gaara was attacked and poisoned. We have to take him to the hospital."

"I'll go get Shikami and we'll go with you."

"No. She has school tomorrow, and you have training with your squad." Shikamaru motioned for his son to join him. He put a hand on his son's shoulder.

"You've been talking about being responsible and how your mother and I don't give you enough chances to be your own man. Here's your chance. Take care of your sister, and make sure you guys are on time tomorrow. I'll check in with you guys tomorrow for lunch. Shikadai, please don't fail me." Shikadai nodded, and saluted his father.

"I've got your back dad. Take care of uncle Gaara."

Hello all! I am reposting this story because I wanted to edit it. I'll be honest, both Crazy and myself had a lot done, but we started to rewrite it because we wanted it to get better. And now it's back. I really hope you guys enjoy the story. I hope I didn't make Temari seem too out of character. I'm working on that kinda stuff. Anyway, enjoy and take care everybody!