A/N: Two reviews! I'm so happy. When you consider the amount of fan/fic out there I'm really excited that someone other than me likes this story. Ther will be 5 chapters in all.
Thank you for reading and reviewing! I'm trying to weave in and out of the canon, I hope I succeed.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or anyone/thing mentioned in this story.

Chapter 2

Tsunade smirked as she watched the Ambassador and the Chunin leave her office. Most mornings she preferred to sleep in.

But this show was well worth the admission price. She'd noticed how Shikamaru slouched less around the pretty Ambassador. The look mirrored on both faces when she brought up their prior acquaintance.

The Ambassadors vehement denial of anything remotely more than just "acquaintance" under the guise of preventing anything that might lead to strained relations between the villages. It didn't escape her notice when Shikamaru's eyes turned to slits as Temari spoke those words.

"This will be interesting to watch she muttered as the door closed softly. She looked over at Shizune who was strugging to keep a straight face until they were out of earshot. Five seconds later they were rolling on the floor laughing.

o-o-o

Over lunch, Shikamaru filled Temari in on the progress of the Academy students she knew. He was pleased to see that she remembered Moegi. He knew how thrilled the girl would be to find out Temari was in town. He silently thanked all that was holy and unholy that he wasn't Ebisu. The last thing he needed was Temari coming along and teaching one of his students how to be more troublesome.

After the bill was paid, (HA! Beat her to it! Men don't let women pay afterall!) he asked her if she had any dinner plans, and relayed his mother's invitation.

"She's loud and bossy. The two of you will either love eachother or kill eachother," he shrugged. "But the food will be good. And if you do kill eachother it'll make for an entertaining evening. Though I don't like the prospect of the clean up afterwards."

Temari laughed.

"Well, when you put it that way...I need to get settled first, so if you could show me where my apartment is, I'll do that and meet you later?"

The visiting Ambassadors stayed in one of Konoha's finest buildings, complete with it's own bathouse. Shikamaru walked Temari to her door and told her he'd be back for her around six. She smiled as she closed the door.

Walking out into the street, it occurred to him that his mother would want to impress Temari. Afterall, it's not like they had Ambassadors over to dinner every night. He knew she'd want flowers on the table. He also knew that the Yamanaka flower shop was on his way and that it would be less troublesome for him to get the flowers now. That way, when he got home his mother would be distracted and he'd be able to sneak out for a nap. He wasn't a genius strategist for nothing.

o-o-o

He heard the snickers from people as he walked home with the monstrosity Ino's mom had prepared for him. He'd tried desperately (as desperately as is possible for a lazy ass) to discourage the woman. Finally though he saw there was no winning. The situation was too foreign for him and he gave up. Still, he should be glad that it was Mrs. Yamanaka and not Ino herself that he'd had to deal with. All he wanted was a few lousy flowers. Trouble was, he didn't know anything about them. Perhaps next time Ino started up he'd pay closer attention.

First he'd been accosted by Mrs. Yamanaka's perfume, followed soon after by Mrs. Yamanaka. She'd started out by asking him what "his girl's" favorite color was. How was he supposed to know that...wait! What? She wasn't "his girl", but the woman was already off and running. Since he didn't know what her favorite color was she asked him what colors she wore most often.

That part was easy.

"Purple and red."

Even before seeing her today it was purple and red. Purple and red when she defeated TenTen. Purple and red when they'd faced eachother at the Chunin Exam. When she'd saved his ass. When she'd joined him in the waiting room. When he'd whisperd in her ear and fought by her side. When she assured the Hokage that they were nothing more than acquaintances.

The "creation" he was carrying was anything but purple and red. It was filled with the softest pastels imaginable. The woman was convinced that Temari's favorite would be the daffodils. She'd assured him that any woman who wore such severe colors all the time was a closet cream puff. Secretly he dared her to say that to Temari's face.

"Ech, troublesome, loud and bossy. There's nothing 'creampuff' about Temari." He shook his head, if this was how it ws going to be everytime she came to town...well it's just too bad he was such a perfectionist about his missions.

"Kami..." he muttered as two small girls pointed at him. He'd never realized just how far away his home was.

He saw his father and his cronies swapping war stories at their favorite watering hole. He approached to more snickers. May as well let his dad know about the dinner guest.

Shikaku roared into his drink when he saw his son.

"Where's the wedding Shikamaru?" Much to the Chunin's consternations Akimichi and Yamana Sr.s snorted.

"Look, Otou-san, the Ambassador from Suna is coming to dinner tonight. It's a pain, but I thought you'd like to be prepared for any indigestion it might cause." Shikamaru stomped off to howls of laughter from the men. He hoped Temari ws having as crappy a day as he was. She'd better be grateful for all the trouble she was causing him. Forget being even, she owes him-BIG!

o-o-o

"Thank you for the invitation to dinner." Temari smiled bowing to Shikamaru's parents.

Shikaku raised his eyebrows at his son. This is the woman he finds so troubling? He wondered what was wrong with that boy. Yoshino just beamed.

"You honor us with your visit Ambassador."

Even though they were a half hour late his mother was acting as if it ws no big deal. Had she been hitting the sake? The woman was gushing all over Temari. And what's with his dad's eyebrows?

"I'm sorry we're late, I was working on some documents and lost track of time," Temari began.

"No need, no need," Yoshino took Temari's hand and led he to the table.

"What beautiful flowers, the flowers we have in Suna are either spiny or medicinal. Oh," she exclaimed, "are those daffodils?"

Yoshino gave her son a look that just screamed "keep this one around!" Shikamaru scratched the back of his head.

"My Shika-chan brought them home. He's such a thoughtful boy when he's not busy being lazy."

It was suddenly very warm in the Nara house, at least for the youngest male.

o-o-o

They walked the darkened streets in silence for awhile. Finally Temari looked over at Shikamaru.

"Your mother was nothing like you described her. I expected a tyrant, but she was really very nice."

"Yeah, well I think my mom was hitting the sake before we got there."

Temari laughed. Shikamaru smiled.

"Go ahead and laugh. You're not the one who'll have to deal with her in the morning if that was the case." He glanced at her "What time are you going to need me tomorrow anyways?"

"Fairly early, at least for you," Temari raised an eyebrow. "Say around ten?"

Temari smirked as Shikamaru shook his head.

"Troublesome woman."

o-o-o

Temari closed the door on Shikamaru's retreating back. His shoulders were broader, he'd filled out some.

"Stop it Temari," She ordered. "He's still the same lazy bum he always was."

She smiled at the thought of his backside. Not a bad angle for a bum.

Coming back to reality she looked at the files and papers spread all over the low table. She wasn't kidding when she'd told his mother she'd lost track of time. She knew she'd be up half the night getting things organized for her meetings tomorrow. No time tonight for thining about bums of any kind.

"Troublesome," she sighed.