Wow it's been awhile. Chemistry has taken over my life. It's to the point where I even dream about it -_-' *sigh* college man. Honestly I have lost hope that I'm going to finish this story anytime soon -_-' just when I think I'm done my brain comes up with another idea. I blame music and my wandering thoughts. That and my niece is a very good influence. So without further ramblings here is the next chapter.

Disclaimer: I bought books for this semester *sobs* so of course I don't own Naruto

Temari wasn't a normal girl but her life was pretty simple. As simple as it can be with two overprotective brothers, a niece who had the mind of an adult, and a friend who freaking has pink hair. Not having a mother around made it very difficult for Temari. She was lucky her mom was around long enough to talk about certain girl things but they never really had conversations about boyfriends.

This is a time Temari wished her mother was still around. She didn't know how to act around Shikamaru. Sure they were friends first and she could say and do whatever she wanted. Now that they were dating she sorta felt pressured to not be as blunt or harsh with her words and actions. She didn't want to seem clingy but didn't want to seem uninterested….seriously sometimes being a girl just sucked.

She couldn't talk to her brothers about this. They wouldn't understand. She would talk to Sakura but couldn't bring herself to do it. For some reason Temari felt as though Sakura would pity her. That is the last thing Temari wanted, pity. So what's the best course of action?

Watch Vines on the internet.

The things people do to get on the internet. While there are some vines that are funny, very few are hilarious, majority are videos of people doing stupid things. And not funny stupid either just plain stupid.

Of course the internet was a great distraction but then once you're off the thoughts you kept at bay come flooding back into your mind. Temari figured her best course of action was to remain normal at school. Well try to anyway.

Sometimes she thought it would have been easier just being born a boy.

School dragged on slowly and Temari thought her normal act as school was working….who the hell was she kidding.

Anyone could tell she was avoiding Shikamaru like the plague. Honestly it also looked like she was just using the poor guy. She went to his house to help with calculus but then would quickly leave once she understood the material.

This went on for about two weeks and Sakura decided she had enough. She pulls Temari aside one day after school.

"Hey are things ok between you and Shikamaru?"

"Yea," Temari found her nails extremely interesting at this point.

Sakura sighs "come on don't lie to me."

"I'm not lying."

"And my hair isn't pink," Sakura eyes her friend with concern. "Seriously did something happen?"

"Look just because we don't hang out all the time at school doesn't mean something is wrong." Temari shows her trademark grin, "really things are fine."

Sakura wasn't completely convinced but gave Temari an uneasy smile. "Ok if you're sure."

Temari honestly tried her best to get a little closer to Shikamaru but couldn't. Apparently high school was just invented to give people a whole bunch of unneeded stress and drama. Rumors were circulating that Temari was just using Shikamaru for his brains and that she was just stringing him along. Some people were trying to convince him to dump her.

Temari didn't think her situation could get worse.

That is until she received a text.

From Sasuke.

Temari didn't know he had her number to begin with. His message also had her worried.

We need to talk

That's all he said. Now Temari understands why Sakura gets annoyed with him. Seriously this guy just expects her to follow his command? Temari was ready to reply angrily when he sent a second message.

Please

Temari's eyes almost flew out their sockets. The mighty Uchiha just said please.

Holy crap the world must be ending.

Temari couldn't help but fall flat on her bed face first when she got home from a long day of school. She didn't move and just stayed in that position. That's how Kankuro found her a few minutes later.

"What are you doing?"

"Waiting for my life to end," was her muffled response.

Kankuro just stared at his sister. To think she was his daughter's idol. He sits on the bed and awkwardly pats her head.

Temari turns her head to look at her brother. "High school sucks."

"Trust me life doesn't get easier."

She rolls over on to her back and stares at the ceiling. They stayed like that in silence. Izumi was currently taking a nap so the apartment was actually quiet. Kankuro stands up and makes his way to the door. Before leave he turns to his sister, "hey we haven't hung out in a while."

Temari sits up. "You're always working and I have school."

"Let's go to the mall over the weekend. We'll take your laptop to Best Buy to see what's wrong with it and then we can hang out."

Recently Temari's laptop had a mental breakdown. Well a break down for a computer anyway. It wouldn't start up.

"Sure sounds good."

With her brother gone Temari went back to lying on her bed staring at the ceiling. Seeing how her rumbustious niece was dead asleep this was a perfect time to think…..

Then it hit her.

A light bulb went off in her head about this Sasuke issue.

They could meet up at the mall while her brother plays technician at Best Buy. Perfect. Now all she has to do is survive the rest of this week.

…is there any way she could switch bodies with someone until then?

Temari spent the last few days avoiding anyone and everyone that knew her. She hid behind doors and groups of other students. She was desperate. Even drove into random classrooms to avoid the people currently looking for her. Man avoiding people was harder than it looked.

It was Friday and school was out. Her brother was already waiting in the parking lot. All she had to do was make a run for the parking lot, jump into the car and she would be home free. Sadly she was never a lucky person.

She ran right into the person she was trying very hard to avoid.

Right into his chest.

Damn you universe.

Shikamaru knew something was up but he didn't want to seem pushy. He figured she would talk to him when she was ready. So in the meantime he just smiled and teased.

"Where's the fire?"

Cursing under her breath and fighting the rising blush she steps back. "Sorry I didn't see you."

"It's ok. I was waiting for you."

Temari cursed karma and lady luck. Only one thing left to do. Try to play it cool. "What's up?"

Shikamaru shrugs "I thought I could walk you home."

"But you drive to school. Wouldn't that to troublesome?"

"It would but someone has to make sure you get home ok."

She rolls her eyes "I'm going to ignore that sexist comment because I have to get going."

"Hey wait I was just joking."

Temari couldn't help but smile at his reaction. "No stupid I have a date with my brother and Izumi."

"Oh," Shikamaru releases the breath he didn't know he was holding.

"Yea but I'll call you later," she pecks him on the cheek. She proceeds to walk to her brother's car. Shikamaru just watches her walk away. He sighs. She would talk when she's ready.

~At the mall~

With Izumi's birthday coming closer and closer Temari had to find a cute outfit for the birthday girl. So far she found nothing. Izumi was getting frustrated being confined in her stroller while Temari was browsing through all the clothes.

Izumi demanded to be released and was making a scene. People already looked at her like she was the mom. She didn't need to be seen as a bad mom. Temari crotched in front of the stroller "ok I'll let you out for five minutes."

Izumi didn't care she just wanted out. Once she was out she gave a very dramatic scream of freedom then proceeded to run around the store. While Temari still looked like a bad teen mom to the employees and other customers.

Really this just wasn't her week.

Then she heard Izumi gasp and scream "Elmo!"

Curious as to what her niece found Temari pushes the stroller to where Izumi ran off to. In the front of the clothes rack was a white t shirt with Elmo's smiling face and pink number 2 with white polka dots right above him. It came with a tutu. The tutu was pink, dark pink, white, and had a bit of orange.

It was perfect!

It's a good thing Kankuro gave her sixty bucks.

Temari and Izumi left the store both very pleased. Now it was time to meet up with Sasuke….. Someone just loves giving her a hard time.

She would meet with him at the kids play area. Temari took off Izumi's sandals and she ran to play. It was a section in the mall where the kids could play. It was surrounded by couches so the parents could keep an eye on their kids.

Temari sat by herself waiting for Sasuke. She was also keeping an eye on Izumi. To make sure she didn't hurt herself or another kid.

It was a good thing there were a lot of people shopping in Best Buy. Her brother would be there for a while.

A few minutes pass by and Sasuke finally arrives. He sits next to her but doesn't say anything. Seriously this guy knew how to push people's buttons without trying.

Temari wasn't in the mood to start a fight so she didn't say anything either. The silence was awkward but neither one did anything to break it. Temari knew she would have to be the one to start otherwise her brother would finish his business at Best Buy and freak out seeing Sasuke here.

She wasn't expecting Sasuke to talk first.

"I need you to get Sakura to go out with me."

Temari couldn't believe her ears. She turns slowly to look at Sasuke. This had to be a joke. This bastard did not just say that.

"I'm serious."

And then she blew up.

"You asshole!"

Nearby parents glared at her for the foul language but she didn't care. Also all the kids were too busy playing and screaming to notice her curse word.

"What makes you think I would help you in any way, shape, or form after what you did to her? You'll lucky she's such a forgiving person to even let you talk to her! No! I will not tell Sakura to date you. You know why? Because she deserves someone who will treat her with respect and show her love everyday not just he gets jealous. I would rather convince her to date Lee! Or Choji! So you can just go back home and forget about me ever helping you with that Uchiha!"

Temari was breathing hard and didn't realize she stood up while chewing out Sasuke. Everyone near them was giving them dirty looks. She couldn't believe the nerve of this guy. He broke her friend's heart and now he expects her help? This bastard had another thing coming.

Truthfully she expected Sasuke to come back with some threat or anything sarcastic. She wasn't expecting for his shoulders to fall in defeat or for him to lean forward so that his bangs covered his eyes. This was the ultimate sign of defeat by Uchiha standards. Now Temari felt like a bitch.

After calming down she sits back down. Silence surrounded them.

Once again Sasuke spoke first.

"She hates me."

"No she doesn't. She cares about you. I don't know why but she does."

"You don't like me."

She sighs, "Look I don't know you very well but Sakura told me about how you painfully rejected her sophomore year. So yes I don't like you, but that's because the little that I do know about you makes you a dick."

"I can't lose her."

Never in her life would Temari think she would see Sasuke Uchiha look this defeated. She really didn't like him but she also doesn't know him. So she figured she would give him a little advice.

"Look if you want Sakura back in your life then come as a friend. Not someone who demands dates. I don't know if she'll ever develop romantic feelings for you again but she does miss your friendship. If you really care about her then regain that trust and bond you guys once had. Honestly friendship is all you might get from her. But then that's better than how your relationship is with her now."

Sasuke thought for a while before standing. He looks at Temari and nods his thanks. Since she helped him, he would return the favor.

"Shikamaru is my friend and I want him to be happy. He really likes you so please make him happy."

Sasuke walks off leaving Temari stunned.

The rest of the day consisted of Temari, Izumi, and Kankuro windowing shopping and poking fun and everything and nothing. Temari didn't realize how much she missed hanging out with her brother. He may be an overprotective idiot most of the time but he was still her brother and she loved him. All that was missing was Gaara. She made a mental note to have another date with both her brothers.

~The Next Day~

Sasuke's words were stilling ringing in Temari's head. She needed to have a talk with Shikamaru. So she called him and arranged a date for later in the day. Gaara would watch Izumi. Both Temari and Kankuro were a little hesitant to let Gaara watch her but Izumi seemed to insist on going to her uncle Gaara house.

Kankuro would have some much needed rest, Gaara would watch his niece for a good chunk of the evening, and Temari was going to explain some things Shikamaru. This is turning out to be a very unusual week.

Temari was meeting Shikamaru downtown. She went to the waterfront. Konoha was known for its port and the view from downtown was amazing. Especially when you just sit on the grass staring into the water (dirty but you don't pay attention to that) and watching the boats. That's exactly was Temari was doing.

It was peaceful. Staring into the water calmed her nerves and gave her peace of mind. Shikamaru showed up ten minutes later and sat next to her. Both teens just sat and enjoyed the peace. Shikamaru lied down and watched the clouds floating by.

Temari took a big breath. It was now or never. She preferred now. She owed Shikamaru that much.

"Hey I'm sorry I've been avoiding you."

He tilts his head to look at her. "Is something bothering you?"

Temari takes a moment to answer. "Have I told you what happened to Izumi's mom?"

Shikamaru sits up he wasn't expecting that. "No"

"After my parents died my brothers and I got really close. Kankuro being the oldest became my guardian. It was just me and him in our parent's house. Gaara moved out on his own, the house was too much for him to keep living there. We slowly got our lives back together. One day Kankuro meets a girl by accident and they hit it off. I was glad that my brother found someone. She helped mend the pain that our parents left behind. They were together for two years. Kankuro was in love with this girl. Then one day she tells us she's pregnant. Kankuro was ecstatic. We all were. Kankuro was 22 and Izumi's mom was 20 when she gave birth to my niece."

Shikamaru could sense the story was upsetting her. He places his hand on top her clenched fist. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."

Temari takes a shaky breath. She unclenches her fist and laces their fingers together. She took a minute to gather her thoughts before continuing.

"It was a normal day and I just got home from school. When I entered the house our neighbor was there. I panicked. I thought the worst happened. The neighbor just smiled sadly and gave me a letter before leaving. I was left alone with my niece who was barely a month old. I had a hunch what happened but I couldn't believe it. I went to Kankuro's room and her stuff was gone. I didn't read the letter but I knew she had left. My heart fell to my stomach. The girl my brother loved left. He was going to be devastated."

Shikamaru squeezes her hand. He was here for her.

"I sat on Kankuro's bed watching Izumi sleep. I didn't move a muscle. I kept staring at her chest making sure it raised and fell with every breath she took. I was fucking terrified. I was 15 and alone with a newborn. I had a heart attack any time it looked like she wasn't breathing. I sat there for two hours until Kankuro came home. He found me with Izumi and knew something was wrong. He asked for Izumi's mom but I didn't have the heart to tell him she left."

Temari felt her throat begin to tighten. She blinked away the tears forming. She clears her throat.

"I lied and said she just left, she had to do something. He bought it and I went back to my room. Izumi's mom did a great job taking care of her. Kankuro did his best to help but sometimes Izumi's mom did majority of the work. I still don't know why she left. Maybe she felt cornered or it was too much pressure. When I finally told Kankuro she left things got very ugly."

Temari closes her eyes. Shikamaru waited patiently for her to continue. Temari opens her eyes and tears blur her vision.

"He was angry and confused and we began to scream at each other. He called me a bitch. He left to his room slamming the door. I cried. I called Gaara and told him what happened. He came over and comforted me. Afterwards he went to Kankuro and began to argue with him. That night was horrible. Gaara took me back to his place so we all could cool down. I couldn't stop the tears. Gaara held me all night and told me things would work out."

Temari wipes away the few tears that managed to escape. Shikamaru pulls her close, hugging her.

"I didn't go to school the next day and Gaara took me out to clear my head. Then Kankuro calls us back to the house. He apologizes to me crying and I broke down again. So did Gaara. From that day we swore that we would always be together. Family first. Blood is thicker than water. That's what they told me. Gaara moved back to the house so that we could all pull out weight to help raise Izumi. Some days were incredibly hard. We almost gave up at some points."

Temari smiles weakly.

"One day we were all changing Izumi's diaper. It was a mess. Baby powder was all over the place. We wasted three clean diapers and we all were pulling our hair out. It took three people, two men and a teenage girl, to change one baby's diaper. And you know what Izumi did? She smiled. She gave us a big gummy smile. At that moment we knew we couldn't fail this child. We knew it was going to be ok. I went out less with my friends. While they said they understood they really didn't."

Temari turns to look at Shikamaru.

"We waited until I was finished with my sophomore year before moving here. Shortly after I met Sakura after her friendship with Ino ended badly and Sasuke rejected her. I told her the same story so she could stop crying her eyes out. I did not expect for us to become friends. Then I met you in class and my life slowly got back on track. I had a wall built around my emotions but it came crumpling down every time I hung out with you or Sakura."

She turns her sight back to the water.

"I do like you Shikamaru. I really do. I guess I was unconsciously keeping you at arm's length. I don't believe you're going to just disappear and leave me one day. I just…..I guess I'm still a little scarred from what happened with Kankuro and Izumi's mom."

Shikamaru grabs her chin so that she looks at him. He stares into her teal eyes and smiles gently. "It's ok. I understand. I really do. Thank you for telling me this story. I know it wasn't easy."

Temari blushes slightly. "It helps talking about it. It gets a little easier every time I say it out loud."

A kiss on the lips sealed the deal. What deal? That Shikamaru was there for her and she wouldn't push him away.

End for now…..

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