Their lives flooded with tedious paperwork and repeated negotiations with different shinobi villages, daimyos and merchants. It seemed like forever as they grinded their way through stacks of treaties and contracts, but time passed by just like the way it always did.

It is Christmas eve today, he thought to himself. They spent the whole night working and there she was, resting her head on the sofa, quietly snoring.

She was fast asleep, snuggling beneath the blanket he placed on her. He did not wake her as the sun began to rise.

He did not realize that it was already morning when he scratched his back, stretching his neck.

He walked up to the sofa and stared at her quietly with a tiny smile on his face.

The features of her face were delicately crafted. Her nose tall like a Greek statue's, her lips pink like two petals. Her long eyelashes made her eyes look attractive even when she was sleeping,

The desert is a rough place, but to stem from it something as beautiful as she was, it has got to be an amazing place.

He wanted to reach out and touch her face, and stroke her well-tanned cheek.

"Hmph," she woke up and stretched, the blanket falling to the ground. "Dammit I fell asleep," she slapped her forehead.

"Don't worry, I finished the rest of the paperwork." He yawned as he picked up the blanket. She looked at him surprised. "Wow. You actually worked," she chuckled at the yawning man.

Temari stood up and walked towards the window. She looked; the street was still the way it was, a naked grey colour. Disappointment scrawled across her face.

"Aw well, it wasn't such a big deal anyway." She shrugged, as if it would shake the disappointment off her.

"How long are your going to stay this time?" He asked, standing next to her.

"Until the 26th I think," she said. "There are so many paperwork to be done, besides the Kazekage thinks that we should negotiate prices for food and necessities with the merchants here in Konoha so it might take more time."

A glint of excitement escaped her eyes, "so I am going to spend Christmas here."

He smirked at her ruddy, excited face. "What's the fuss about Christmas?"

"I have heard that it will snow in Konoha," she said, looking down at her feet. "For all the time that I have lived, I have never really seen snow before."

He laughed a little, "What's the fuss between women and snow, I mean, snow is like really cold … white stuff." He commented; she did not look impressed. "You are not a romantic are you huh." She remarked with a leer, walking away from the window.

"Well, I am heading home in two days, might as well go shop for gifts for Gaara and Kankuro." Shikamaru walked towards the table and began stacking the papers. "Well, let's drop these stuff at the Hokage's office, then I will go with you." He smiled. She nodded and the two left his apartment with stacks of papers and binders in their hand.

"I was thinking about getting a tie for Gaara," she said, as she glanced through the ties hanging on the rack. "Sometimes he need them for business occasions with foreign merchants." Shikamaru nodded, kind of regretting his offer to shop with her. "Shopping women are such a drag," he thought. She had already walked through ten shops and decided to buy Kankuro a puppet back at the first shop.

He would love to collapse into his bed right now, but her excitement when she entered a store filled with plants; that grin on her face when she found that perfect gift – they were priceless.

She held a red tie on her hand. "This should match Gaara's hair," she smiled and turned at him. "Here, help me try it on." She threw the tie over his head and slowly tied a knot around his neck. She tucked and pulled him close, their chests almost touching, his heart throbbed and he looked at her.

She realized how close they were and blushed, laughing in an embarrassed way. She turned and looked at the mirror. "Looking good," she grinned. "You know what, I will just buy this for you as a Christmas gift, I will get Gaara a teddy bear instead. He can get neckties in Suna anyway."

His looked stunned and scratched the back of his head. "That's very nice of you," he said. "Well… its Christmas, isn't it natural to give your…erm friend a gift?" She stuttered a little, then untied him and ran off to the cashier.

A few minutes later she handed him the box, her face painted with a tiny hint of pink.

"You know you don't have to," he said. "It would be too troublesome." She grinned again.

"Shut up and take it crybaby," she looked away and shoved it into his hand. He frowned and smiled.

"Well, guess I have to repay you." He placed his hand on the wall, leaning forward, close to her. Her back was against the rack of clothes. "Wh-what are you doing?" She blushed and questioned, her hand pushed him slightly away from her. "Gosh, Shikamaru we are in public." She eyed the surrounding shoppers, her face turning into a red tomato. Their faces were inches away from each other; she could feel his warm breath.

"I am going to pick you up tonight at eight. Dress warm." He grinned at her. "I will see you later."

"I wonder what he is up to," Temari thought to herself as she wrapped herself in a thick coat, a scarf and mittens. She was dumbfounded but also … excited. Shaking her head, she looked into the mirror; the blonde girl on the other side was blushing. "Pull yourself together, Temari." She murmured to herself. "It's not like it's your first date."

Then she heard a knock; almost tripping herself over, she went and opened the door.

He was there, dressed in a brown trench coat, and a pair of boots.

"So… you did dress up." He said. Temari rolled her eyes. "I thought, since… since we are hanging out after work, I might dress more… comfortably." He chuckled.

Since when did heeled boots became an item of comfort?

"Well." He said, trying to control his laughter. "Close your eyes." He said.

"What?" She looked at him with an arched eyebrow, eyeing him suspiciously.

"Close your eyes." He said softly. "Trust me."

Temari frowned but she closed her eyes. "Make sure they are shut tight."

"Alright, now look who's being troublesome." She complained with a frown on her face.

She felt his hand clasping onto hers, her body being pulled close to him.

She shivered for a second, but the warmth from his hand – it was reassuring and comforting.

And in a second, the couple disappeared from the door of her room.

"Here we are, open your eyes."

Upon hearing his voice, Temari opened her eyes. All she saw was white, pristine snow, covering every inch of the ground. Twigs seemed to be drapped in white.

It was the snowy forest she once saw in books, she once dreamed of. The smell of pine and snow filled her nostrils. Her teal eyes gleamed with the shiny blanket of snow reflected upon them.

"Wow." She could barely speak, her eyes bewildered with joy. "Wow."

She walked around happily, taking off one of her gloves and touched the chilly white mass. "This is so beautiful." She exclaimed. She walked around as the snow was crushed beneath her feet. Like a child, she crashed into the snow and lied down, staring up in the night sky. All of the stars were gleaming above her, it was as if this was a painting.

Shikamaru was leaning on one of the pine trees lazily; he looked at her and smiled. "I am glad you like it." He said as she stood up and walked back to him. "How did you manage to find this place?" She asked in excitement. "This is so amazing!"

Shikamaru shrugged and smiled. "As long as you like it, I can bring you here again." She was grinning ear to ear at him. She looked so radiant, he thought to himself.

He leaned forward and whispered in her ear. "Merry Christmas."

His voice was soft, but enough for her to hear, before it was carried away by the winter breezes.

She blushed, looking at him.

She lowered her head for a second and looked at him again.

"Now you close your eyes."She said to him firmly, with a smirk on her face.

"Why?" Shikamaru looked puzzled, scratching his head in confusion.

"Just do it!" She hollered.

"Okay, okay," he said. "What a drag." Then his world turned dark.

He could feel her leaning closer, the warmth of her breath, the Jasmine smell that lingers around her …He felt something soft touching him on his face, for a few seconds, then he felt her back away.

"Merry Christmas crybaby." She said, he could hear her laugh. "Open your eyes now." He opened his eyes and saw her smiling, leaning against a thick pine tree. Shikamaru smiled mischievously. "Now, I know this is troublesome, but if you are going to do it, do it properly."

"Wh…what do you mean?"

He stepped towards her, and pulled her close to him.

She looked surprised for a second, but she did not struggle, she simply looked into his dark brown eyes.

He smiled at her. Slowly, he approached her, her eyes closed and then his lips landed on hers, amidst the white world of snow.

Time seemed to have halted to a pause.

"So…" they were back in her apartment, sitting side by side on the couch. Awkwardness filled the air. "That happened naturally," he suddenly said.

"What…what do you mean?" She stuttered. "I don't know what you are saying." She turned her face away, he knew it was boiling red, and he smiled to himself at that thought.

Shikamaru shrugged. "Anyway," he wrapped his arms around her shoulder. "This Christmas would be awesome." Temari did not move away, she laid her head on his shoulder. "I agree." She whispered and buried her head into his shoulder.

They sat there in silence for a moment, quietly enjoying each other's company. "Well, are you going back tonight?" Temari asked him. "Depends," he replied. "Lord Sixth gave us both a day off tomorrow." She looked at the ground. "Well… it is late, so..." Temari said. "I am going to bed now, so if you like to …you can lie down with me for a while."

Shikamaru nodded. "Sure, lying down is always my thing."

They went into the bedroom, he sat on the bed as she looked inside her wardrobe for some pyjamas. "Don't look," she said. He was amused, but still he turned his head away. He could hear her taking off the thick clothes and the sound of cloth slithering up her skin.

"Do you need to change? I might have some oversized t-shirts." He turned around and looked at her, dressed in a t-shirt and cotton trousers. He shook his head. "I will be fine with this," he took off his flak jacket and threw it onto the ground.

He lied down and patted onto the empty spot next to him. She slowly advanced and sat on the bed. The look on her face was so awkward it made him feel like laughing.

They lied down and faced the ceiling. Shikamaru slowly reached for her hand. She did not flinch at his approach. He turned towards her and wrapped his arm around her. She relaxed herself and buried her head into his chest. He stroked her blonde hair as she listened to his steady heartbeat.

"Let's just sleep, I am so damn tired."

"Mmhmm."

Together, they fell asleep.

"So you figured that you would go back early?" Shikamaru said, ruffling his dark hair. Much to his dismay, Temari decided to report back to Suna early.

"Gaara sent a messenger hawk this morning," she said sternly. "My village needs me."

Shikamaru shrugged – there was no point in asking her to stay if that is the case, she is still a shinobi. "Sure, I will walk you to the gates."

She fixed her fan with the stash. Shikamaru walked to her back and helped her tie the knot. "Thanks," she smiled.

He pulled her in and wrapped his arms around her.

The usually busy streets of Konoha were empty in the early morning.

They walked alongside each other.

"Well, aren't you gonna eat something before leaving?"

"Nah, I will just find a teahouse along the way."

Shikamaru smiled at her and his hand reached out for hers.

Gently, he clasped her hand into his, and they walked towards the gate.

"Well," he said as they reached the gates – one of their familiar scenes, so many partings before, but this was one of the most heart wrenching so far. "Here we are."

"Yeah, I guess I will go now." Temari smiled at him and turned around to leave for the gates.

"Before you go," he pulled onto her hand. "Would you go to Naruto's wedding with me?"

"Well, I 'd be attending with Kankuro and Gaara," she smiled at him. "I will see you there then." That was her way of saying yes.

"Sure thing." He smiled, gently letting her hand go. "See you later then."

"See you, crybaby." She grinned at him before turning around and walking away.

"Troublesome," a smile crept onto his face, as he turned around and headed back to his home.

Just another two months until Naruto's wedding.

Author's note:

Here is another chapter. I hope you enjoy this ( as much as I do)

V.S.V xoxo