Undeviating Love

Chapter 4: Changed

an1m3.4sp

Summary

He disappeared out of the face of their world, no clues, no messages, no body was found. Just gone… Unknown to Ino, Shikamaru's has already begun his own journey. With a lost memory and hired as a rogue assassin since his body still remembered its skill. Betrayal and anger clouded her mind as she struggled to survive and protect her boys. Sequel to 'Out of Control.'

Disclaimer : I do not own Naruto.

Ino's POV

The Konoha gates looked like the gates to heaven, glowing with a feeling of safety and home. I watched as the guards spotted us and rushed to our assistance. Temari was holding most of my weight, and Chouji had an unconscious Shikamaru in his arms. I lifted my head up at the bright sun thanking whatever gods had made sure we all returned safely. It had taken us two days to get back, and I was beyond exhausted.

Temari had practically dragged me the whole way, with the help of Kankuro. She complained about me being weak, but supported me nonetheless. "Shikamaru looks different now," Temari had decided to comment as Chouji handed my injured husband to the gate's guards. He must have been exhausted too, because his hands shook from the strain; he was at his limit. "He's not the man we knew," she mumbled shaking her head, maybe she still had feelings for Shikamaru and seeing him changed broke her image of him a little. Because I know it bothered me.

"Take him to the emergency room, we weren't able to completely stop the internal bleeding," Chouji grunted. They gave a quick nod and disappeared with Shikamaru's body in between them. I felt uneasy seeing him be taken from my company, because the last time he left he had disappeared for over a year.

"Don't worry Ino, we're walking to the hospital. He just needs urgent care," Chouji mumbled, he knew how to read me too well sometimes. "I can take her off your arms now Temari," he said reaching over to help me, and I moved forward to take his hand.

"That's alright, I can handle it," Temari interceded hurrying our pace, pulling me away from Chouji and forcing me to lean more of my weight on her. "Shouldn't you report to the Hokage? She's probably going to want an immediate report about Shikamaru," she stated. I looked at her with a frown, the woman hated me and she had a reason too. So, why not let Chouji take me off her shoulder?

"You're right…" he said hesitantly checking me over to see if it was alright. I smiled reassuringly, I couldn't ask him to keep me company. Especially now that I felt dread grip my stomach at the thought of seeing Shikamaru when he awakens. I shouldn't ask so much of Chouji, he was our captain and his job was to report to the Hokage… Even asking him as a friend was unfair; he's helped me so much already.

"Please explain everything to her… Shikamaru was suspected to be a rogue, we can't let her believe that anymore," I said, avoiding direct eye contact. I heard him shift uncomfortably, but then the movement of air told me he had gone. I felt the loss of a security blanket instantly, and panic took its place.

"You shouldn't make him feel like you need him so much, you'll only hurt him in the end," Temari frowned, she kept our pace and made sure I was dragged along. "It's obvious he cares for you a lot, you shouldn't lead him on," she made herself clearer, glancing down at me indifferently.

"We're good friends, I'm not sure what you are trying to insinuate," I frowned back, not in the mood to argue with this woman; I've heard enough of this from the noisy people in the village. I had bigger things to worry about than to waste my strength in a pointless argument.

"I think you should stop depending on him so much, he isn't your boyfriend," she stated glaring ahead, I glared at the side of her face as she continued talking. "No wonder he doesn't have a girlfriend, he's always being dragged down by you…" she said harshly, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath to control her temper.

I looked away feeling the usual guilt that came with this accusation; I knew too well how much I needed Chouji. He's bent over backwards for me so many times and it's only cost him. "Our friendship and private life is none of your concern Temari," I finally decided to say, already spotting the hospital in the distance.

"It figures that you wouldn't care about a friend like Chouji, all that you care for is your own personal happiness. Fuck Chouji's right?" she spat disgusted, she really did think that lowly of me. I glared back at her, hating that she was my only physical support, why wasn't the hospital getting closer?

"Chouji is an adult, he loves my kids and so he spends time with us. I encourage him to date, I encourage him to go out and enjoy himself with single friends. I love Chouji as my closest friend, I only want him to be happy with whatever he chooses to do," I said with passion, daring her to contradict me. She didn't know our situation, all she's heard were the ill rumors and biased opinion of me.

"He loves you too alright, but not as a friend," she laughed cynically shaking her head, "and wipe that confused look off, you know he loves you and wants more from you." She spoke very clearly, insinuating every syllable to make sure I understood perfectly, "You know he would never say no to you, he will always do what you need to be done, he will never put himself before you."

"You are seriously delusional," I snapped back, I didn't want to hear this. It wasn't possible; I don't want to even consider it.

"No, you are the one who's delusional. No man, not even a great friend like Chouji would give you everything they could and all their time to a woman for friendship. And not just that, the way he looks at you is sickening; he's probably been in love with you for a long time and you just chose to ignore it. You hurt him every single day, and he suffers alone," she said humorlessly, making sure it was impossible for me to ignore her.

"Shut up!" I screamed pushing away from her, the hospital was only a block away and I could make it without her help. "You can't stand that Shikamaru chose me, and now you can't understand why Chouji is such a good friend to me. You can't stand it! Leave me alone Temari, I'm not going to deal with your personal issues."

"Personal issues?" she asked with a laugh, "the only person with serious issues is you. Your husband didn't love you enough to remember you. You used your best friend as a temporary father for your children, making them accept him as a father and also making Chouji fall in love with you and the boys; you will shatter that bond now that Shikamaru is back. Chouji's life will be a mess, because of you and you will let him continue to suffer by pretending his romantic feelings for you don't exist."

I wanted to cover my ears and ignore everything her cruel little mouth said but it hit too close to home and memories assaulted me. Chouji being available every single time I needed a babysitter, every time I needed a shoulder to cry on, every time I needed someone to talk to. He was always with us, me and the boys, taking us to the park, or lake, or training, or just out for a walk in the village. He left his girlfriend because he wanted the time to spend with us… What Temari was saying made so many things clearer... I had ignored it, every awkward touch, look, and gesture; I'd ignored it all to keep him as my best friend because I couldn't raise my boys alone. I was such a horrible person, and Temari was right. Now that Shikamaru was back, I would give Shikamaru his position back without any questions… Was that wrong? He is their father!

"Chouji is my best friend," I tried to defend weakly; the strength from the anger I felt was draining from my body. I was past my limits, and this was only making me feel worst. If Chouji was really in love with me, which he has never boldly admitted to, then I didn't know what to do… He deserved so much, and I loved him. But in a way I would love a brother, in a way I love a really close friend.

"Chouji is convenient," she shrugged, shaking her head as she turned away from me. "You are going to have to deal with it soon enough, and when you do. Try not to destroy him," she said walking into the hospital; Kankuro had gone ahead and left us to our conversation without us noticing.

Sakura appeared at the front doors; she waved her arms happily not noticing how much my knees shook from the effort to keep me upright on my own strength. "Shikamaru will be fine, he's in surgery now and will be resting after that," she announced, finally taking a good look at me. I fell forward and she opened her arms to catch me before I hit the floor. "Shit, Temari should have helped you," she frowned, helping me into the hospital slowly where the nurses greeted me with a wheelchair.

"I didn't want her help," I state so that Sakura wouldn't try and confront Temari about this, and have Temari explain their argument. I felt like it was a dark secret and that no one should speak of it ever. "I just need to rest for a few hours," she was pushing me into a room with two beds inside.

"You can rest here so we have you under observation, just tell me what happened so I can check you thoroughly," she said, already checking the coloring in my eyes and reflexes of my limbs. I told her everything that happened, and finally she finished with my check up and stood to let me rest.

The room door opened and we both turned to see Shikamaru pushed into the room in a rolling bed. He was unconscious but his body was healed of most cuts and bruises. Only angry pink lines remained where the wounds had been.

"Oh wow that was quick," Sakura commented, moving over to Shikamaru's bed as they lifted him onto the mattress bed besides mine. "He needed complicated treatment for the internal bleeding which only Tsunade could do this quickly," Sakura murmured to herself, sending her chakra into Shikamaru's body to check him over herself. She was always so careful.

"You don't have to waste your energy Sakura, I conducted the procedure myself," Tsunade stepped into the room closely followed by Chouji who instantly moved to my side, I tried to ignore him and stare at our Hokage as she entered the room. Why didn't he go to Shikamaru's side, he was the one who was really hurt…

"Oh! I wasn't aware you would be in the hospital today, I was looking Ino over," Sakura straightened, and turned to her sensei respectfully. We must have been talking over an hour about what I experienced when using my technique, which could have waited but she asked anyway.

"Shikamaru will be fine, Ino," Tsunade smiled turning to me, "he was beaten, electrocuted and cut pretty badly but with the technique I used he'll be awake and talking in a few hours. How are you feeling?" she asked coming to the other side of my bed from Chouji's, her hand was already glowing and floating over my body to check me.

"I'm just tired… Where you able to return Shikamaru's memories?" I asked needing to know if anything would be done; her expression turned sad which was answer enough.

"He still has the scar from the head trauma he suffered, and since he doesn't remember anything, even after a year which was enough time to heal… It's highly unlikely he'll remember anything now," she explained shaking her head, "Chouji's explained the whole situation to me, and I found the evidence when I was working on him, so he's safe from being considered a rogue nin." She smiled to Chouji, "You're fine, get some rest and tomorrow you can start reminding Shikamaru of what he's forgotten."

"And there is nothing we can do?" I asked desperately, she had pulled away from my side to leave the room and I wanted some hope to get my old Shikamaru back.

"No… We can only wait and see, it's not a disease. He's completely healed, but just doesn't remember. Don't worry Ino, at least we have him back alive," she smiled reassuringly, before leaving the room with Sakura following closely behind.

Chouji placed a hand on my shoulder which I avoided by laying down on my bed with my back to him. "It'll be alright Ino, I'll help you."

"Thank you for everything Chouji, but I'll handle this. He is my husband," I said so it would remind him of my connection with Shikamaru and so that I wouldn't be depending on Chouji so much. If he was in love with me then I hope he never spoke it out loud, if he wasn't I'm glad he wouldn't get hurt of suffer because of me.

"Ino," he said after a pause, "I-I-I I'll come back to see you later, alright?"

I kept my back to him as I responded; I could see the side of Shikamaru's profile. My stranger-husband who would probably be a changed man when he wakes up, and will not remember me, or our past. I wanted to cry, but I wouldn't with Chouji here. I needed to distance myself from him, especially if he'd collected feelings for me. I didn't want him to think that I needed him.

"You should go home and sleep, I'll be fine here with Shikamaru," I murmured as if close to sleep, which in reality was impossible for me in this current situation.

"Are you alright Ino?" he asked a little irritation or frustration in his voice, "are you mad at me?" he asked going around the bed so he could see my face; I had closed my eyes to avoid eye contact just in time.

"No, I'm not mad Chouji. I'm just exhausted," I made a long sigh, still keeping my eyes closed.

"I'm coming back to check on you later," he said forcefully, closing space for any arguments. He was angry with me, but this was the only way to distance myself from him slowly.

I mumbled indifferently, and feigned sleep. What else could I do? I had dreamed that when Shikamaru was back, we would all go back to normal and live our lives normally. But I guess Shikamaru wasn't really back, and nothing would be like it was before…

Shikamaru's POV

I could feel her chakra in the same room as I; her breathing was slow and even. I forced my eyes open to look at the bed besides mine, Ino Yamanaka sighed in her sleep shifting her limbs for comfort. So this was my wife? The mother of my two sons… What kind of man had I been to deserve such a beautiful family? What kind of bastard was I to forget them?

A pink haired woman entered the room quietly, she closed the door behind herself and tip toed towards my bed. I didn't flinch or move away like I would have waking up in an unfamiliar place. She smiled lightly, taking a seat on a chair in between my bed and Yamanaka's.

"I know you probably don't remember me, but I'm Sakura Haruno. Ino's, I mean your wife's best friend, and we once worked together in missions; I'm a medic ninja," she whispered, careful not to wake the sleeping beauty in the other mattress. I couldn't help looking over at the angelic face continuously. I felt a very strong attraction for the woman, even though I didn't remember her I still felt pulled to her. The instant attraction I had felt when Kin showed me the picture of her, helped me calm my nerves. At least I hadn't completely changed personality since the same woman I had married still made me feel drawn to her. But then again what man wouldn't be drawn to her sky blue eyes, full lips, and silky long blond hair?

"I'm surprise you are already awake, you shouldn't have woken up before Ino," she was still talking; I looked back to her and realized she was an attractive woman also. Short pink hair, with bright emerald eyes; yet I felt nothing when I looked at her. Not like I did with Yamanaka; heck, I hadn't even returned Kin's affections or any other woman I've encountered in the past year…

Kin… Where is she?I wondered looking around the room, she had been there when I managed to stop an attack on Yamanaka. She would have followed me into this hospital, and stayed here. Did she decide to stay behind? Was she alright?

"We'll have to keep you here for a few days to monitor your brain waves and make sure everything is in working order. Tsunade, our Hokage, personally healed you," she explained to death ears.

"Where's Kin?" I asked suddenly, interrupting her train of words.

"Is that the woman who you were traveling with? The assassin?" she asked, glancing back to Ino's unmoving body.

"Yes," I gave a sharp nod; I needed to at least make sure she wasn't imprisoned or hurt.

"What was your relation with her?" she asked soberly, her smile and personality pulled into herself. I was faced with her ninja mask as she hid all her expressions and emotions from me. Her sudden withdrawal surprised me, why was she suddenly so serious; I could see her eyes continuously glance over to Yamanaka's bed.

"She was my friend," I replied confused, what did that have to do with anything?

"Friend…" she repeated thoughtfully, then sighed not looking at me as she answered. "According to the report Chouji wrote, the woman chose to stay in her village. We don't know what happened to her," she reported getting up from her seat. I guess she was done talking. She moved over to Ino and moved her glowing hand over her body.

"Didn't she help me escape!? She could have been captured, and killed," I said alarmed, pulling my sore limbs up from the bed and pulling off the white stickers monitoring my body's recovery. She turned to me suddenly angry, pushing my body down with crushing strength and instantly having my limbs tied down efficiently with a flick of her wrist. Cords had just suddenly appeared. It must have been a technique of hers, but her hand movements had been too fast for me to read.

"You won't be leaving the hospital for a few days, and the village for a few months. Since you don't know who we are, we don't know who you really are anymore… Even if you found that woman alive, she is an assassin who killed an important man in Suna. She'll be killed if she's anywhere near our village. And since you already have a brief understanding of who you were, you will be considered a traitor for going to the enemy's aid. You have been briefed right?" she asked stepping away as I stopped struggling with the restraints. I was too weak to even form enough chakra to cut the binds with my shadow.

"No one's told me anything, I heard about Ino Yamanaka being my wife and that I was this village's strategist," I grunted irritated, closing my eyes to try and calm my temper. Why had I thought they would welcome Kin like they did me? "

"Well then you know enough," her eyes flared insulted, as if I should have said it all with more care.

"Sakura?" we both froze as bright blue eyes opened, she looked at Sakura with a dreamy look in her eyes from sleep. I felt my heart speed up from nerves as she turned those blue eyes to me. Slowly they lost the hazy look and became sharp and calculating. Her body pushed up from her laid position and she stared at me unwavering. "What's happening?" she asked noticing the restraints on my body, a deep frown began to form on her full lips. I felt mesmerized, just like I had been when I first saw her on her porch.

"He panicked a bit," Sakura shrugged turning her back to me as she smiled towards Ino, ending the conversation we had been having. "How do you feel?"

"I'm fine," she mumbled rubbing her eyes cutely, I just stared. This woman was my wife, who had I been in the past? To deserve a woman like this!"Shikamaru…" she said my name, and I enjoyed the way it rolled off of her tongue. "I know you probably don't remember me, but I'm your wife… I understand that it might be hard to take all of this in right away, and that it'll take time for you to remember but I will be here to help you," she said it as if she had rehearsed this meeting all night through her dreams.

Sakura looked in between us uncomfortably, the atmosphere was awkward. I wasn't sure how to respond so I didn't, and Yamanaka didn't try to make any more conversation. She just turned her back to me as she lay back on her mattress and decided to take another nap. Everything about her had been matter of fact, business like. Maybe our relationship hadn't been that close, because she was treating me like an obligation. Someone she would have to deal with because we were legally a couple.

Or maybe… And this is only my cynical mind talking; maybe she had gotten over him in his absence and found someone else to replace him. The rumors Kin had heard about her and the Chouji guy, and the way he followed her everywhere and did anything and everything for her. Now that he was back and ruined her whole way of life, she felt she had to come back to him and try to work with whatever was left of his old self.

"Are you alright, Ino?" Sakura asked unsure, leaning over the still form of Ino to look at her face which was away from me.

"I'm fine, just really, really tired," Ino grunted, pulling the thin sheets higher over her body to block everyone out.

Sakura pulled away unsure, and looked back at me. She snapped her fingers and my restraints fell off instantly. "Don't disappoint her by disappearing again," she stated, before leaving the suddenly stale room. Her parting words made a knot of guilt and shame twist in my stomach; I had disappeared on her after his two sons were born.

"What did you say to make her angry?" Ino's muffled voice asked as she still faced away from me.

I saw myself shrug and respond without thinking. "She's a woman,' I said because it explained everything, "what a drag," I grunted to myself, dropping, exhausted, on to the mattress I lay on. She turned to me so fast I jumped as I heard her voice loud and clear now.

"What a drag? As in troublesome?" she asked hopeful, there was a sparkle in her eyes that made me nod soundlessly; she looked instantly happy. Her sudden mood change caught me off guard, I could completely understand why I would marry this woman but why would she marry me?

She pushed up as if energized, but her face went pale and she swayed a little. "Are you alright?" I asked also getting up from my bed alarmed. She waved away my concern rubbing her temples.

"Moved too fast, all the blood rushed to my head," she explained, closing her eyes.

She smiled and I didn't argue, then a thought hit me again. Kin. Why did this woman make me forget such important things, what had happened to Kin? "Do you know what happened to Kin?"

Her face closed down instantly, "She loved you so much that she made the decision to stay behind while we escaped. She couldn't have survived… I'm sorry." Her past brightness disappeared, and she laid back down with her back to me giving me my time to process. Kin had given her life for me, she had saved me again and I had been useless.

I leaned back down on the bed and closed my eyes to hide the sudden tears that overflowed from my eyes. She had been my only friend, sure annoying and frustrating with her attachment to me, but she depended on me, trusted me, and saved me from complete insanity. I couldn't return her feelings for me, but I had loved her as a precious friend.

I couldn't stop the tears for a long time, and she kept her back to me pretending she couldn't hear me. Kin hadn't deserved to die; she hadn't deserved to be left behind alone for my sake.

I was glad Ino's back was to me, and that she just ignored me all night because I couldn't deal with her reality and mine at the moment. I finally fell asleep when the sun was moving up into the sky and the birds began to chirp outside the window.

Ino's POV

I didn't sleep listening to him cry. He wasn't the same Shikamaru, he loved that woman and she had loved him enough to give up her life for him. I shouldn't have felt betrayed, he wasn't my Shikamaru. He wasn't in love with me; he hadn't even known anything about me until yesterday. I shouldn't blame him; I shouldn't hold those tears against him and feel like he had left me for someone else. But I did, and the feeling ate at me long into the morning.

I felt horrible, sleep should have been the only thing on my mind but it wasn't and finally I felt myself dropping out of consciousness. My body had waited an hour after he finally fell asleep before I went into cardiac arrest. I tried to gather a breath of air but it was impossible. I shook in my bed, struggling against a sudden weight of pressure on my chest. The machines attached to my body went crazy with noise signaling the nurses to come into the room.

I tried to stay calm, I tried to stop my struggles with my own body but the panic was there and images of my little family flashed before my eyes. I couldn't die, what was wrong with my body? I understand I hadn't been in the condition to use the soul transfer technique but it shouldn't be killing me now.

Shikamaru was suddenly beside my bed, his monitors snapped off of his body as he tried to help me breathe with CPR. I closed my eyes, feeling the tears roll down the side of my face. This was it, I would die here and my children would live without a mother and their father would not know what to do with them. I couldn't hear anymore, I felt him pushing air into my lungs and other hands had begun to touch my body and work over me.

I opened my eyes one last time, and saw his eyes staring at me. They were looking at me with a dread I couldn't understand, and I bet he didn't understand it either. He didn't know me anymore, not enough to care but the look he had now made me feel like the old Shikamaru was looking through and feeling the panic I knew he would have if he remembered me. Because the old Shikamaru did love me, and our family; I believed that with all my heart.

"Ino, please don't leave me. Wake up," I had closed my eyes again, and imagined my old Shikamaru saying that. Because that's what he would have said in this situation. He would have begged me to open my eyes, and breathe on my own and live.

"Ino! Don't die! You're boys need you, I need you!" I forced my eyes open one more time because I couldn't have imagined that. It had been loud and clear, screamed at me from a short distance. I stared at the new set of eyes over me, running alongside the bed I was on as I was rolled to the emergency care room.

"Chouji?" I choked out, rolling my eyes around to the other people around my bed. Sakura looked focused as she barked orders and pushed us faster, along with three other nurses. Shikamaru was nowhere to be found amongst the panic. "You need me?" I asked in a shallow voice because there was a pump over my mouth helping me breathe.

"Don't talk Ino, just try and relax, everything will be alright," he looked so afraid, like Shikamaru had looked in the room. Why?

"Why?" I asked in a weaker voice, it took too much out of me to talk but I needed to know.

"Because I love you Ino, now please just calm down and try to breathe," I couldn't argue with him, his confession was panicked but it was there. Chouji did love me, and he wore a look the new Shikamaru shouldn't have been wearing. He didn't know me well enough to love me, so maybe it was just because of his sorrow for the Kin woman.

I relaxed, and finally allowed myself to lose complete consciousness.

Shikamaru POV

Her sudden thrashing was what woke me. Her mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water, and her hands touched her throat and chest as if in pain. She was entering cardiac arrest.

I felt fear I had never experienced before for a stranger. I moved to her side without a second hesitation, lifting her chin up and blowing air into her lungs. The nurses rushed in and so did the pink haired medic from before, they pushed me away and covered Ino's mouth with a plastic breathing assistance tool. It pumped air into her mouth.

"Ino please don't leave me. Wake up!" I said without thinking, trying to follow the nurses as they moved her body to a portable bed with wheels and began moving out the door. She had said she would help me remember, she would be here for me and we would work something out to recover my past. She couldn't die, her children needed her too. I felt a panic beyond my understanding, I've never been this afraid with the gut wrenching feeling and the sudden urge to throw up.

I saw the man from the previous day appear suddenly, he strode forward in the hall watching just as they pull Ino out of our room. His face was stricken and confused. She hadn't been injured physically why did she suddenly collapse? He went to her like a man in love, his face slack with emotion as he pushed the nurses aside and took the place I should be standing in as her husband.

"Stay in the room Shikamaru," Sakura ordered, pulling Ino away as fast as she and the man Chouji could.

"Ino! Don't die! You're boys need you, I need you!" I heard him call to her as they rounded a corner, a sound from behind me made me turn slowly. My hands were shaking from the adrenaline and fear I felt. I couldn't live without Ino; I wouldn't survive in this world if I lost her again. These stray thoughts confused me, I wasn't the same man I had been yet I felt this unexplainable love for her. I didn't even know her well enough, yet I would die to save her in an instant.

I heard a noise behind me and turned to see a dark haired woman standing with a tall man with spiky hair, the woman stared at me with an emotional expression. She covered her mouth as if ready to burst into tears, and then charged forward so fast I was caught off guard when she collided into my chest.

"Shikamaru! I knew you were alive, we knew you would come back," she cried hard, shaking as she hugged me hard. "I'm your mom; Chouji told us everything before he brought us. Oh, my son's back; look Shikaku our boy!" she turned to the man who still stood a little uncertain.

She moved aside giving me a chance to breathe, instantly Shikaku strode forward and pulled me into a crushing embrace. It must have looked awkward seeing two grown men hug, but he didn't let go for several minutes. Finally pulling back he smiled, "I'm your father, Shikamaru."

I stared at them both, I had parents too… I heard a noise and looked to where they had been staring. I couldn't think of anything to say to them, this was all so sudden and I wasn't sure how to act or how to greet them. I still didn't remember them, they might say there my parents and they probably are but I just didn't remember them.

That's when I saw them. The two twin boys who had my blood running through their veins. One was blond like Ino with eyes the color of chocolate, the other boy had black hair like mine and eyes like Ino. Instantly I felt pride, I've helped create these boys. I am their father, and I wouldn't abandon them again, if what Nakashima had said was true, I hadn't even been there for their birth.

Instantly I was sure, I would not leave my family again. This was my home, and I would remember even if it killed me because the two boys staring at me with a curious looks. They didn't know I was their father. Their eyes brightened when they saw Chouji coming back to report Ino's condition. I will have to regain my position with my own family, I will have to find a way to remember and I will make myself worthy of having a woman like Ino as my wife.

I could breathe as Chouji gave good news about Ino, a breath I hadn't even noticed I've been holding. I had been hoping to have Ino with me when I met my children, but I realized as I went on one knee and introduced myself. That I would have to earn their love and affection alone, Ino couldn't make them accept me and Chouji didn't seem like he was too eager to give up his high position in the boy's lives. Even if I was the real father, I could tell by the tense set of his shoulders and his unhappy frown.

I will get my family back.

Please Review!


Author Note

I'm really sorry that I have been MIA for the past few weeks; I just have been really focused in my summer classes and hadn't had time to get on fanfiction to update my story in a while. Thank you Ray for helping with the editing =). Please review!