Disclaimer – Don't own them

Rating – T for language and the fact this is depressing

Welcome to part 3 of my original one shot. Will things ever work out for poor Shikamaru and Temari? Or are they stuck playing the depressing parts in this travesty I am writing.

Spoilers – Umm, barely any and this probably won't stay timeline compliant if it even is.

Edited 2/20/2008

------------ Even a broken wind can find hope ------------

Shikamaru stood behind the Hokage. He knew she wouldn't be Hokage for much longer; she had seen their village through some amazing changes. She was getting old, though she didn't let it show. He stood behind her in his full ANBU gear, even the armor he never wore. His deer mask was in place and the strong lights near their position gave him plenty of shadow to work with is the need should arise.

This was one of those hopelessly boring political events. The Kazekage was there, his red hair and green eyes a stark contrast to his skin. Various officials from the most important families were there complete with their entourages. Shikamaru hated these events; thankfully as a faceless ANBU guard, he just stood there, his porcelain mask unreadable.

She was almost late in her arrival. Her skin was paler than it had been the last time he had seen her. Her hair was no longer in its signature four ponytails. Her fan was no place to be seen. The fire still burned in her eyes though.

Shikamaru saw the momentary flash of emotion as her brother saw her. Even the fearsome Gaara didn't seem to like the change. She meekly followed her husband into the room. The man was a powerful ruler with vast riches and after the years of war, one of the only things keeping the hidden village in the sand a viable entity. The cost had been the beautiful woman who looked almost broken by the man.

Shikamaru wanted to kill him. He wanted to grasp him in his shadow and squeeze until it was a shadow version of Gaara's desert coffin. He saw her look towards him, a faint smile on her face as she sat behind her husband. He wished he wasn't in the mask and could have returned that smile. He wanted to let his emotions control him for once and slaughter the man. Temari was his, how dare that man do this to her. She was not ever meant to be tamed, she was meant to be wild and free. He loved her enough to let her be free, how could this old man chain her.

He did nothing. He stood there watching her. Treaties were signed, payments were arranged, and food and drink were brought out. He stood by the Hokage's side as she ate and drank, never letting on that he wanted to kill the man touching his Temari. He saw how he touched her, pinching her arm and touching her thigh, like she was nothing but an object. He saw as the man drank and got heady with alcohol. He saw as she feigned dizziness and walked out into the garden, saying something about fresh air to her husband who was too drunk to care.

Shikamaru shifted and looked at the man in the hawk mask on the Hokage's other side. He made a gesture that he was going to scout the building. With that, he walked off towards the garden, trying not to arouse suspicion even though he was in his ANBU regalia.

He found her in a far corner, sitting by a secluded koi pond. He knelt down by her side, "Temari?" He reached out and wiped away a tear on her cheek.

She looked at him, "He wants a child." She pushed his mask to the side, to look into his dark eyes. "If I don't, he'll kill me."

"Your brother won't allow that."

"Shika-kun." She looked up into his eyes, a pale glimmer of hope being seen in hers. "If I have a child, then the security of sand is assured. He doesn't need to know."

The realization of her plan swept over him, granted her husband had dark eyes and hair. He didn't know Shikamaru so any resemblance would not be noticed. However, could he do it?

She gently leaned forward and kissed him, "I've always loved you, Shika-kun."

He glanced back at the party, "I don't have long."

She nodded and grabbed the waist of his pants, "Then don't take long."

He pinned her to the bench with a passionate kiss. No one was near them, with the alcohol flowing inside the chances of being interrupted were slight, but he kept his awareness alert incase. He took her quickly. After all the secret meetings that lasted all night along the fire and wind boarder -- to take her quickly seemed wrong, as wrong as another man's ring being on her finger.

He kissed her carefully afterwards, careful to not disturb her makeup. She performed a few seals and placed her hands over her stomach. He felt his world go a little queasy as he watched her, knowing what was going on. He straightened his mask, whispering, "I'll always love you."

She smiled at him, an honest smile, something that hadn't graced her face in many months, "Forever, Shika-kun."

He hurried back to the party and took his spot back at the side of the Hokage. Hawk signed to ask if there had been any problems, he just indicated no. A few minutes later Temari walked back in and took her spot next to her husband. If a person didn't know of the history between Shikamaru and Temari, it would have gone unnoticed. As it was, only two people turned to glance at him. One was Gaara, who let a hint of a smile show. The other was the ANBU next to him. He'd been on many missions with Hawk, including the one where they had encountered Temari after her unit had been wiped out.

No one said anything.

When the invitation arrived from Sand for the Hokage to attend the presentation of the Kazekage's niece a year later, Shikamaru was glad he was assigned to protect the Hokage that day. Looking over her shoulder, he saw the picture of a little three-month-old girl with dark hair but her mother's eyes.

He gasped before he realized what he was doing when he saw the child's name. Temari had named her Shika.

The Hokage looked up at him and he was caught reading over her shoulder. He thanked Kami for the mask he wore. "Shikamaru?"

He let his voice fall back to completely normal, "Yes Hokage-sama?"

She frowned. Then she looked down at the picture of the child, "I will need a guard when I attend the ceremony."

Shikamaru knew that she did not have to go, sending a representative would be more than enough for such an event. "I would be honored to protect you, Hokage-sama."

That night he walked home to the empty Nara house, knowing in a few short weeks he would see his daughter. He frowned as he went to sleep in his empty and cold bed, a daughter who would never know him.