Chapter 3

My wounds had all finally healed completely, and Shikamaru and I were still seeing each other, and becoming more intimate. We still hadn't had sex together, as I felt I needed to wait a little longer before taking that great step forward with our relationship.

"Sakura, I think its okay to begin telling people about us," Shikamaru cuddles me closer into his arms.

"I'm ready if you are, I think we're at the point to where it won't hurt our relationship by telling people,"

"Sakura, I love you,"

"Oh Shikamaru, I love you too," I lean up kissing him passionately on the lips.

"My troublesome kitten," He nuzzles my neck gently.

I laugh as he tickles my sides lightly, tears well up in my eyes as I try to get away from his tickling hands. Finally free of his hands, I turn around quickly to kiss him, pulling away i realize his hands are placed on my thighs, pulling me into his lap so I'm facing him. We nuzzle noses gently, as we stare into one another's eyes smiling. We were sitting in the training grounds after a long training session together, and enjoying each other's company.

Finally packing to leave, Shikamaru takes my hand in his. I look at him curiously, he sighs and turns to face me.

"People are going to know sooner or later Sakura, it'll be alot easier if people know now, and not later," He explains, kissing my forehead lightly.

"I understand, I'm still a bit nervous to how people will react to us being together now," He embraces me in a comforting hug.

"Everything's going to be fine, I'm here with you, every step of the way. No one in this village can change how I feel about you. I used to think of women troublesome, but you, you are worth every second of troublesome events we've been through together," He whispers into my ear chuckling at the last sentence.

Finally pulling away from each other, I take his hand and look up at him. He smiles reassuringly to me, before he gives me a loving kiss on the lips. I blush at the act of affection, every time Shikamaru kisses me I blush and have a fluttering butterfly feeling that I've never experienced with any other guy I had been with.

"If only you knew how much I loved you," I whisper while we are still standing close to each other.

"Believe me Sakura, I know. You wouldn't blush like this, when I kiss you," He kisses me on the lips once more to prove his point, and my cheeks grow into a warmer shade of pink, "I know how you react to me, and gosh, I love you," He chuckles kissing my lips once more.

"Oh hush, making me all antsy again," I laugh as we finally head back to the village hand in hand, as we joke and laugh, and share the occasional kiss.

"I'm right here," He reassures me when my step falters at the sight of the village a few yards away.

I nod nervously, before entwining my fingers with his, and taking a step forward with him. I blush red as we pass the first few villagers, who pause for a second to smile at us as we walk past them hand in hand. A few minutes later, I relax more into Shikamaru's side as we walk through the streets of Konoha.

"Hey, you want to get a couple drinks and ramen on the way back to my place? Or your place?" I nod, and Shikamaru leads me into a bar that is never rambunctious, or known for fights to break out, the bar that our village's ninjas and senseis come after a long while of working.

"Hey Kakashi, Iruka," I say sitting down next to Shikamaru in a booth.

"So you guys finally got together!" Iruka grins at us.

"Actually, we've been together ever since she got hurt so badly on that one mission, we've just been waiting for the right time," Shikamaru says, I blush a light shade of pink.

"Ahh, so that means you guys are almost 8 months together now right?" I nod after going back through the months in my head counting.

"Looks as though you, and Hinata have switched bodies. She doesn't blush near as much as she used to, now look at you Sakura," Iruka chuckles.

"Suppose she had to get out of stuttering eventually, especially with Naruto, and her pregnancy," Kakashi says at last.

"Speaking of, shouldn't she be due anytime now?" I ask looking to Shikamaru, who usually went to eat ramen with Naruto.

"She's actually a couple days overdue, he said Tsunade told them if she doesn't go into labor by tonight, she'll have to be induced," Iruka, and Kakashi nod in agreement.

"Kurenei's son was right on time though right?" They all nod.

"Asuma Saratobi Jr. Plans have been made for him to be on my Gennin team when he comes of age right?" Shikamaru asks Iruka who nods.

"We're going to head over to Ickiraku Ramen, then we're going home," Shikamaru says after we've both had a drink or two, and leaves some money on our table.

"Congratulations!" They all say as we leave hand in hand once more.

"See, that wasn't so bad now was it?" He chuckles, and kisses me on the lips gently.

"Hey you guys! You're both together now?" Ino asks as we sit down with everybody else.

Ino and Choji are thrilled for the both of us, seeing as we had been the only two people from our academy class who hadn't began dating, or getting serious with anyone. Well asides from Kiba, though he got a fling or two each week that he took home. Naruto had taken Hinata to the hospital earlier that day, as her water had broke, and was beginning to feel contractions.

There went that clock in my head reminding me I needed to hurry up and get pregnant. I was unsure of how Shikamaru would react to me asking if he was ready to take the next step into having sex, and a baby. The thought was scary, I shudder at the thought of how he would react, feeling my light shudder, he brings his arm around me, and pulls me close to his side.

"Come on, I want to take you somewhere before we go home," He whispers before going to pay for our meal.

I get up, and leave hand in hand with him again. We reach a spot where the sun is setting, and a light breeze is blowing. Nuzzling my neck, I look up at him curiously, he smiles at my confusion. He takes a ring box out, and gets onto one knee.

"Sakura, I love you...I've never had so much love for one person in my life, over these past 8 months I've realized you're the woman I want to marry, and the one to carry my children...Will you marry me?" Tears run down my cheeks in joy, unable to speak without sounding strangled I shake my head yes furiously.

Getting up, he takes my hand and slides the delicate appearing ring onto my ring finger with care. He takes me into his arms, running his fingers slowly through my hair.

"Damn, I love you so much,"

"How do feel about starting to try and have a baby?" I ask cautiously.

"I've been thinking about that for a while myself Sakura. I'm ready to start trying if you're ready," He says caressing my cheek.

"We need a place of our own,"

"Actually, my dad bought a house, he told me it was mine when I wanted it. He told me when I finally wanted the house, that all he wanted in return was the promise of a grandchild for him and mom to spoil," He chuckles rubbing his head.

"Oh, okay," I laugh and smile with him.

We rest in the grass gazing at each other contently, until its nearly dark out. We finally get up, and head to Shikamaru's parent's house. I look at him nervously before we walk into the house.

"Hey Shikamaru my boy!" Shikaku pats his son on the back before greeting me.

"Dad, we wanted to speak to you about the house you bought for me a while ago," Shikaku looks at the two of us, before leading us to the living room of the house.

"So, I've heard the rumors going around that you've both been dating each other for 8 months now," He says sitting in a recliner, and Shikamaru and I on the couch.

We nod, and I look around at my surroundings curiously. I turn my attention back to the two men after Shikamaru nudges my side gently.

"I see you're engaged to my son as well. Do you have intentions of carrying his baby anytime soon?" My face flushes red, and he chuckles.

"Umm...Well after we had a talk this afternoon, we decided we want to take the next step in our relationship to have a child," Shikaku eyes his son curiously.

"I'm surprised you both haven't taken the step of having sex yet. However you both discuss the matters of parenthood before sex," I blush at Shikaku's use of the 'sex' term.

"Well you see, uhm...I wanted to wait until after I proposed before making that step with Sakura," Shikamaru says after realizing I was going to let him answer the question.

"Very well, here are the keys to the house. Will you be needing any help in moving your things?"

"No, I don't think so," Shikamaru says accepting the two sets of keys, and a slip of paper with the address.

We all laugh and joke after the embarrassment talk of sex and children is over. Feeling sleepy I lay head on Shikamaru's shoulder, and close my eyes. Sleep takes over as the two men and Shikaku's wife continue to talk.

"Well...I hate to go, but it already seems as though I have to carry her home," I hear Shikamaru say.

A pair of strong arms pick me up, and I instinctively curl up into the warm chest with a sigh. Soon I'm gently lain on a soft bed, and Shikamaru lies next to me.

"Rise and shine sleeping beauty," Shikamaru says as I yawn and stretch.

"Huh, mmh- oh," I rub my eyes tiredly.

"I decided we should come back to your apartment for now, and tomorrow we can both start moving our stuff then," Shikamaru says stroking my hair.

I nod and sit up to strip down with my back to him. I turn around after changing into a white tank top and underwear. Shikamaru has already stripped down to nothing but his boxers as usual. He lifts the covers and slides under and waits for me to lay down next to him before dropping the sheet over us. His arm drapes over my waist after pulling me snugly into his chest.