Sabaku no Temari had no idea what was going on at all. All se knew was that Ino and Yoshino were up to something that involved her although, she didn't complain much due to the fact that she had gotten a whole bunch of new clothes and was getting her hair done by Ino right now. It was like most people outside of Suna imagined her- a pampered Princess.

Before she knew it, she was being ushered out onto the back porch where Shikamaru and Shikaku were sparring. She sat up against her chair but frowned and crossed her legs, annoyed. What was the point of being out here? It wasn't like they were doing anything special, just punching each other in which Shikamaru was loosing miserably. Actually he wasn't even trying so Temari wasn't sure if loosing was an accurate term. Either way, she was bored and confused by Ino and Yoshino and did not feel lie playing games with them.

Nara Yoshino had changed into a light green sundress with yellow flowers printed on the bosom and hr hair was messily in a bun but it still looked cute anyway. Yoshino smiled gratefully to Ino who rushed to close the door behind Yoshino, as her arms were occupied with a tray with glasses of lemonade on them. She saw Temari's skeptical look of boredom and distaste but Yoshino hadn't shown her anything of interest. Yet. In a loud voice she hollered to her two boys and they stopped and stared at the three girls before walking over to Yoshino.

Temari had missed the critical moment but neither Yoshino nor Ino missed the eyes slightly widen in shock on the Shikamaru's face. As her husband took is dink from the tray he said

"You look wonderful today. Any occasion?"

"Yours." She said simply before turning to her baffled son.

They downed the drinks rather quickly and went back out. Yoshino however noticed that the Sand Princess switched legs that she crossed and was now staring at them. She underestimated the girl. She knew there was a change in her son. Ah, what a beautiful woman will do to a man…

The father and son began to spar again and this time her son's movements became faster and he seemed more determined to defeat his father in hand to hand combat. As the punches and kicks became more and more intense, Yoshino watched Temari's eyes become narrower and narrower, more and more concentrated. She saw Ino glance over at her confused and then directed her gaze towards Yoshino who smiled. Ino should be able to figure it out on her own. Either way, Yoshino's plan had much the results that she predicted- Temari was hooked and her son was working harder than ever.

The men continued their sparring and the women filtered in and out as they began to prepare supper. The hot afternoon dwindled into the cool twilight and dinner was served outside. Nara Shikaku turned to his wife as they ate, watching the young ninjas talk.

"You looked so pretty today Yoshino."

"Is that any different from any other day?" She huffed and he smiled at her.

"No but you seemed to be up to something." He said as he kissed her on the cheek. "Might it have to do with the Sand Princess and our son?"

"Of course! I've got to get him out of his seat! It's so obvious that he likes her! Look at him! He's blushing and everything. The smug smile on his face even as she makes fun of him and point s out his mistakes! It's love!" His wife said fervently and Shikaku couldn't help but laugh at his wife's passionate tone.

He glanced over at the group and heard the Sand Princess commenting on his son's defense positioning. While it wasn't the best, he couldn't help but chuckle as she told him a better stance and gave him pointers to which Shikamaru jeered at her for not being able to even fight at the moment and had no place to tell him anything which then prompted the Sand Princess to whack him upside the head, yelling to him that she had become a jounin before him so he had better shut his trap.

Shikaku and his wife looked at each other before bursting out in laughter, causing the three younger ninjas to urn their heads and look at them oddly. Ah yes, it was young love indeed…

Ino went home later that evening with the promise to bring the other girls in to see Temari later in the week when they could all meet together and have a sleepover that Yoshino had prompted her self. As Yoshino wrapped up the kitchen, she brought in final cups of tea to her husband and the Suna Princess who was currently engaged in a game of shogi with her son. The game itself was relatively quiet, she couldn't do anything about Temari's frustrated mutterings that were amusing anyway, and Shikaku was reading a book. Yoshino snuggled up next to her husband who put his arm around her and she watched her son play and finish of the game.

The Suna Princess suppressed the yell that was obviously in her voice and managed to put a pout on her face. A small smile appeared on Shikamaru's face and he moved over next to Temari and began rearranging the pieces. She watched him smugly but sighed when he was finished and moved next to him as he showed her the moves she messed up on and alternative moves so that she could have won. Not to long after the explanations began, the doorbell rang.

Yoshino nodded to her son who got up and opened the door and the sound of Kurenai's voice filtered to the living room and a smaller voice piping in every now and then. Her son reappeared in the living room carrying a drowsy Sachiko and having her bag slung over his shoulder as Kurenai bowed to Yoshino and Shikaku.

"I'm so sorry but I need-"

"Don't worry about it Kurenai. We love Sachiko in our house. We told you, it is no burden to us." Shikaku said smiling.

"I've told you that it's okay. I want to help take care of her whenever you need it. Just concentrate on the mission and come home safely." Shikamaru said and Kurenai sighed and smiled.

"Thank you so much!" She then turned to her daughter and slipped a finger through her hand and said "Mommy's leaving now okay Sachiko? You be good for Shika-niichan and for Bachan and Jichan okay?"

"Owkay Mommy." Sachiko replied groggily and Shikamaru smiled fondly and Kurenai kissed her daughter goodbye.

"Bye Sweetie, Mommy loves you."

"Wuv you too Mommy."

"Alright, thank you again." Kurenai said as she headed back to the door and she and Shikamaru disappeared and the door shut.

He reappeared and said, "I'm going to out Sachiko down."

"Is her stuff in the guest room?" Shikaku asked.

"Yeah. I'll be back in a minute." Shikamaru walked down the hallway towards the master bedroom and as soon as he disappeared, Temari's voice startled Yoshino.

"What just happened?"

"Kurenai gave birth to her and Asuma's child. Being an only mother though when your occupation is a ninja is extremely difficult because there is o one to watch the child when a mission pops up. Because Shikamaru was so close to Asuma he resolved to become a great ninja for the unborn child in Kurenai after he had killed the Akatsuki Hidan in revenge for Asuma. Sachiko is the child of Asuma and Kurenai and Shikamaru watches Sachiko whenever Kurenai has a mission."

"Ah." She said softly and looked profoundly up at Shikamaru as he returned. He looked at her curiously and she smiled, causing him to blush.

"What?" He said nervously and her smile turned into a mock frown.

"Why haven't I heard of Sachiko before?" she said huffily.

"Ah, I think whenever we hung out, Kurenai had no need of me because she was working here." He paused before adding slyly "Jealous?"

"Hmph! Yeah right!" She said snorted and he grinned widely. "So what else is going on in Konoha that I've missed?"

"Well", he said and Yoshino stood up and dragged her husband up as well and they headed towards their bedroom as their son answered Temari "I think Ino likes Shino."

"No way!" They heard her exclaim. "Shino and Ino?! Hey that rhymes!"

The couple chuckled as they entered their bedroom and the voices of the two younger ninjas faded.

Shikaku looked at his wife as she pulled out her pajamas and began to change. "Are you just going to leave them out there with out a warning?"

"They'll be fine. She'll knock his daylights out if he tries anything I'm sure." She said grinning and Shikaku couldn't help but roll his eyes.

Nara Shikamaru couldn't remember a pleasanter time with Temari. Most of their encounters included him getting hit in the head, made fun of, and put down or just being in complete silence. Sometimes, they had decent conversations that weren't mocking or banter but those lasted about 5 minutes. And then there were the work conversations. Hardly ever did they spend their time together just talking normally, not like he was complaining.

She looked so comfortable curled up on the couch, her arms wrapped around her legs holding them in place. Her blonde hair was pushed foreword and lightly brushed her shoulders, giving her whole completion seem to softly glow. Maybe it was his eyes projecting Temari as a goddess but not that it really mattered because then she seemed all the more beautiful, even in the grey softie shorts and the plain dark blue t-shirt. He didn't even know what she was talking about anymore, he was so absorbed in her and her eyes and her face and had she stopped talking?

A silence fell between them, or maybe there was a silence between them already and his mind was so active that he didn't notice which made the silence bearable. Now he was nervous.

She cocked her head slowly staring at him, studying him and his eyes connected with hers. A rush of passion overwhelmed him and he felt his body move towards hers and she removed her arms from her knees and she was leaning towards him, her yes burning and-

Shikamaru jumped as his cat Mizuki jumped into his lap, purring. Angry, he threw the cat off his lap and looked up to see Temari looking away, her face flushed.

"I'm going to turn in now. Goodnight." She said and got up and walked steadily towards his room and disappeared from sight. Shikamaru sighed and glanced at Mizuki who had come back to him. He picked her up and stroked her, her purring soothing his active brain and lulling him to sleep.

Sabaku no Temari had never been more afraid and excited in her entire life in those few previous seconds. Why, she had no idea and the thought of being romantically involved with him was rather…odd. Or was it? She shook her head as she crawled into bed. There were so many parts to him that he didn't know. She noticed how when he noticed her when he was training, that he began to push harder to impress her. Temari had never seen the look of steadfast determination on his face ever in her years of knowing him. She did not know about Sachiko and how he had become such a big baby sitter nor had she ever seen or even imagined the look of desire that overtook him a few minutes ago. What she did know was that he was too complicated, too troublesome, ad that she needed a good nights sleep before she could think about him any more.