At the end of May Temari and the rest of her 629 students of her senior class graduated.
It almost seemed like yesterday that she and her brothers would run around in the front yard getting wet by the sprinklers.
It was a bitter sweet moment for Temari. Her parents were there for her brothers' high school graduation, but not hers.
She was sad. The day before the graduation ceremony she balled her eyes out in her room. Without having to ask Kankuro came in and held his weeping sister. Not much time later she received a message from both Sakura and Shikamaru saying that her parents would be proud of her and that they were smiling from the skies.
She cried some more.
When it came to the actual ceremony it was nice. Gradated some of the school officials took too damn long to talk. Pictures were taken by the photo company hired by the school and surprisingly everyone received their diplomas in a timely fashion.
There were a lot of family members in the stands. When she was called up to receive her diploma she heard, through all the clapping, her brothers cheering.
She had tears in her eyes but she was not sad anymore. She knew her parents were with her. She could feel their presence. They were indeed proud and happy for their only daughter.
Then everyone threw their caps into the air.
They were officially high school graduates.
Let the celebration begin!
Many of the parents in Shikamaru's neighborhood decided to throw a giant block party to celebrate the occasion. Everyone and anyone was invited. Naturally Temari and her brothers went otherwise Yoshino Nara would hunt them down and drag them to the party.
While her brothers and Izumi mingled with the other guests, Temari used Shikamaru's room to make a quick change out of her graduation robes. Afterwards she made her way outside and easily found Sakura's pink hair.
Her friend was dressed in a simple dark green dress that went past her knees as well as some flip flops. Sakura was not known to tolerate heels for very long. Temari distinctly remembers one time Sakura got fed up with her heels that she threw them into the nearest bush. She still teases her about that.
Temari decided to wear a purple dress for the remainder of the day. She too did not feel the need to wear heels or flats and went with flip flops.
"Pinky!"
"Teenage mother!"
The two friends laughed at their greeting and hugged each other.
"Can you freakin' believe it? We graduated high school! I think I'm dreaming."
Temari throws her arm around her only friend. "Lady believe me I had Izumi pinch me earlier. This isn't a dream. Izumi's pinch left me a mark. Look!"
Sakura laughed at the tiniest of discoloration on Temari's arm. "Oh ya she's a fighter."
"Better believe she is. Maybe one day she'll be a champion UFC fighter."
"That poor child," Sakura giggles.
The two girls continued to chat and soon went to the many tables that contained delicious food. They grabbed a plate and filled it to the brim with a little of everything. That's how Sasuke and Shikamaru found them. Stuffing their faces with a giant pile of food and let's not forget dessert.
"We leave you alone for an hour and you guys almost eat all the food," Sasuke teases the girls.
Temari was too busy munching away to give a sarcastic reply. She didn't let his words bother her. She was happily eating.
Sakura did not regret punching him.
Shikamaru helped himself to whatever Temari had on her plate.
"Hey lazy ass go get your own."
"It's not very nice to be stingy."
"I'll gladly share anything else but food. Except with Izumi because she'll cry and she manages to sneak away with my food anyway."
Shikamaru chuckles but continued to eat off Temari's plate.
Sakura and Sasuke soon bickered about who would get the last brownie. Temari sent a death glare to Shikamaru. If he even thought about touching the brownies on her plate she would break up with him on the spot.
Shikamaru received the message and was fine with just eating the last remaining fries on the plate. Once the four teens ate all the food they were soon dragged in different directions. Other classmates called out to them, family wanted to take pictures, or in Temari's case she saw Kankuro chase after what looked like Izumi on the highest sugar rush ever.
Temari soon helped give chase.
After finding Izumi trying to grab another cookie, Temari scooped her up in her arms.
"Young lady what do you think you're doing?"
Izumi grinned innocently, "nothing."
"You're lucky you're cute but no more sweets."
Izumi didn't take kindly to that news. She pouted and tried to reach for the cookies. Temari walked away from the table of sweets and went to find her brothers. She was sure Kankuro was in full blown panic mood right about now.
Izumi soon got over the cookies and instead watched everyone else with fascination.
The duo soon met up with Gaara who was trying his best not to hurt Kankuro in an open public place.
"Look who I found," Temari announced their presence.
"My baby!" Kankuro cried dramatically and swiftly plucked his daughter out of his sister's arms.
Gaara just rolled his eyes and gave his sister another congratulating hug.
Temari grinned and ruffled his red hair.
Gaara smiled and trapped Temari in a bear hug. Temari couldn't help but start laughing as she tried to escape her brother's hold. Gaara proceeded to spin her around and Temari continued to laugh.
Kankuro watched on smiling softly. He knew this was a bittersweet day for Temari. He really wished their parents were still with them. They were watching over them, he knew that much for sure. Izumi wanted in on all the fun and laughter and tried to tug her father in the direction of her aunt and uncle.
Kankuro kissed his daughter's little forehead and joined in on a giant family bear hug.
Temari couldn't stop laughing and her brothers eventually joined in as well. Izumi didn't mind all the noise; she threw in her joyful laughter and giggles.
Kankuro demanded a family photo.
They all huddled together and smiled for the camera. Looking at the picture Kankuro pointed out that his handsome face is what made the picture shine.
"I think your mistaken Izumi's cuteness for your weird face."
Kankuro glared at his younger brother.
"Please you two. You know if it weren't for me and Izumi you guys would have broken the camera." Temari kissed her niece on her cheek.
"Oh do not get me started little sister," Kankuro challenged.
The three siblings soon went in to a verbal battle on their faults. It was all fun and games but anyone that was nearby really thought they were trying to hurt each other's feelings. That's how Shikamaru found his girlfriend after he managed to escape his mother's death grip on him and the camera.
Sadly his mother wanted more pictures but with Temari in them.
He decided to just stand on watch the bickering. He wasn't really in the mood for more pictures. Plus it was very interesting to see how Temari and her brothers interacted.
"Well you have a big ass for a guy!"
"At least I have one unlike you, you damn flat pole."
"Neither one of you have anything back there. What are you talking about!?"
Izumi just threw in her loud singing voice if she wanted to be heard. "Let it go! Let it goooo!"
Gaara soon noticed their guest and tried to put back his indifferent mask back on. This proved to be difficult since his siblings loud name calling dragged him right back to the verbal fight.
Shikamaru decided maybe this would be a good time to intervene.
"Can we tone down the verbal abuse? I think people are starting to get the wrong idea."
The three siblings looked at Shikamaru before looking at each other. They continued their bickering.
"Ya Temari stop screaming bloody murder. Someone might think you're crazy."
"Excuse me!? Who is the one throwing his arms around like he's trying to swat away a million files."
"You're both loud mouth children. Izumi has more self-control then you two."
"Take that back you ginger!" both Temari and Kankuro turned their insults to the middle child.
"That just proves my point," Gaara said calmly.
Shikamaru just sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. His mother was sure to come looking for them. That would not be a pretty sight. Perhaps he could find some way to find a good hiding spot before his mother and her rage made their way over.
"What is wilth all this noise?"
Too late.
Yoshino Nara gave the sand trio a hard stare. She pointed to the front of her home. The sand siblings quickly scrambled away before she grabbed them the ear and dragged them away. Shikamaru tried and failed to hold back a laugh. His mother then turned her gaze to her only child.
"Son you have 10 seconds to join them or there will be hell to pay."
"Yes mother."
Yoshino returned to her camera and took about another thousand photos of her son and Temari. Sakura jumped into the lime light and forced Temari to "smile" for another hundred pictures or so. Temari proceeded to physically drag Sasuke into the collage of photos. If she had to suffer then he would too.
By the end of the day everyone was exhausted.
When Temari and her brothers got home, they all collapsed onto the nearest surface, the couch. Izumi and Kankuro took one couch while Gaara and Temari awkwardly fought to fit on the smaller couch.
Once semi comfortable all fell asleep.
Summer was officially here.
It was time to party!
Well for Temari and Sakura that meant cuddling on Sakura's couch while they tried to find something to watch on TV.
"Does your boyfriend know that you like to harass me until I let you spoon me?" Temari asked lazily as she munched on chips.
"We are not spooning! It's cuddling. Completely different," Sakura readjusted her cushion.
"Call it whatever you like. We're sharing body heat and I'm using you as a pillow."
"You have to admit it's pretty damn comfortable."
Temari took a second to take in her current situation.
"Ya your right. Well no wonder the guys like to secretly cuddle."
"Just don't let Sasuke know. He'll kill me if he ever finds out that you know he loves to cuddle," Sakura giggled.
"I don't care. Shikamaru knows and I won't lie I think he's slightly jealous of you."
Both girls laughed.
They spent the rest of the day eating junk food and watching terrible movies. Temari spent most of her days like this. Unless her brothers decided for a spontaneous trip to the beach, amusement park, or better yet when they surprised her with a trip back to Suna for 2 weeks.
After all she would be attending university in the fall.
Temari would be leaving her family and friends to attend school in a city about 4 hours away from Konoha. She couldn't really believe the news until she was packing her stuff for new life on a college campus in the dorms.
Izumi came into her room and thought they would be going on other trip. She brought over her little bag and started putting in random things, like toys and her new favorite teddy bear curtesy of uncle Gaara.
Temari didn't realize she was crying until Izumi hugged her leg.
"No cry mama. I not sad!"
Temari wiped her tears away but they continued to flow. She crotched down to her niece's level and hugged her. Izumi didn't like to see her aunt cry and hugged her back with just as much emotion.
Temari reluctantly let go to continue to pack.
The day finally came to drive to her school.
Temari and her brothers were in one car while Shikamaru and Sakura were following them in Sakura's car. Sasuke also left to study in a school further south. It was about six hours away from Konoha but only an hour and half from Temari.
Sasuke and Temari didn't get along too well but nevertheless they did consider each other friends. Sasuke left ahead of Temari but they did a hug farewell.
Sakura was not at all pleased that her boyfriend and best friend were moving so far away. She and Shikamaru would attend university in Konoha. They weren't traveling anywhere far or exotic. Shikamaru was also having a hard time coming to terms with his girlfriend leaving.
Before leaving Temari called Shikamaru to discuss their future, it went a little something like this:
"Look I'm not saying we should break up…but maybe it would be better if we went back to friends. I mean we're going to be busy and I'm going to be too far away. I'll only be in town on vacations and those are never long enough. Not to mention our schools are different so we get different days off anyway. Why aren't you saying anything? Am I talking to myself?!"
"Troublesome woman I don't want to go back to being friends."
"Were you not listen-"
"I heard every word but I disagree. We can make it work. But if you're so sure about not dating then we won't."
Silence
"I hate you."
Grin "Beside my mother is too attached to you. Even if we stopped dating you would still be in a relationship with her."
Smack
So Shikamaru with his weird ways managed to convince Temari to at least try and keep their relationship.
Sasuke didn't give Sakura an option. Their conversation went like this:
"You're not allowed to date anyone else. I won't date anyone else. I cannot and will not tolerate another girl. You're annoying as it is."
"None of that was remotely romantic!"
Pokes her forehead.
"And I still don't understand what that means!"
Sasuke was being Sasuke a guy with few words that tend to piss people off.
Sakura loved him all the same.
They finally made it to the university.
The parking lot was full with parents and students moving into the dorms. Temari felt a rush of nervousness and excitement. Kankuro and Izumi were amazed at all the people and Gaara was keeping his emotions in check. Shikamaru and Sakura tried to hide their sadness with smiles and jokes about what life in the dorms would be like.
Everyone grabbed some items and made their trek to the second floor of the dorms.
Izumi was having a blast smiling and waving at all the new people she passed. Temari held her niece's hand in a firm grip. The guys carried most of the stuff while Sakura helped navigate the halls to find the right room.
They reached Temari's door.
Room 210.
Temari passed her student ID through the key slot and the door opened.
The room was as spacious as it could be for two people. The entry way held the most room. To the left was a closet and a desk and further to the end of the room was a bed. The right side also had a closet, then the bed, and the desk was further into the room.
Well it wasn't the biggest room but it was cozy.
Temari was assigned the left side of the room. So she and her group of people began to put her room in order.
Sakura and Temari went right away to put sheets and whatnot on the bed. Izumi was having fun jumping on said bed.
The guys put her suitcases in the closest and other boxes around her side of the room. Incase her roommate came soon, they wouldn't be invading her side.
With everything indecent order it was time to say good bye.
Kankuro pulled his sister into a tight hug.
"Don't worry about us. We'll be fine and you're going to do great here. Mom and dad are proud of you."
Gaara took his turn to hug his only sister.
"Be safe. If you need anything I'll be here in 30 minutes."
Temari couldn't help but laugh at that. She knew he was serious and believed him completely.
Sakura stood in front of her best friend.
"Don't you dare-"
Sakura flung herself at Temari and began to cry.
"I can cry if I want ok!" Sakura sobbed into her friends shoulder.
"God damn it Sakura," Temari held her friend tight as she felt her eyes well up with tears.
Sakura detangled herself and Shikamaru came over for his good bye.
He just stared into his girlfriend's eye before tears clouded his vision.
Temari pulled him into a hug.
"I'm going to miss you cry baby."
Shikamaru just held her tighter.
Izumi didn't understand what was happening. Everyone seemed sad. Soon her aunty turned and picked her up.
"You be a good girl for your dad ok?"
Izumi grinned "ok!"
Temari kissed her niece's forehead and held her.
Izumi felt something was wrong.
"Mama?"
"It's ok. Mama is ok." Temari gave her niece a broken smile as tears stained her face.
Kankuro grabbed his daughter and everyone began to walk out of the room.
Izumi finally pieced the puzzle together.
They were leaving without her mother figure.
She was staying here in this strange place.
Izumi squired around in her father's hold and began to cry.
"Mama? Mama! No Mama!"
Temari shut her door and her family and friends continued out the dorm and back onto the road.
Needless to say Temari spent the rest of the day organizing her side of the room with tears running down her face.
Her roommate didn't arrive until the day before classes were to start.
She wore glasses, her hair was fiery red, and her name was Karin. She was a pre-med student.
All in all her roommate seemed like cool person.
Temari's first days of college were not extremely hard. The teachers went over syllabi and what to expect from the course. Other teachers went more in depth about how college is completely different than high school and they were to forget everything they learned because they really know nothing.
Temari sudden felt as though the walls of the classroom were closing in on her.
Luckily Sakura and Shikamaru were always able to draw her back and give her confidence.
Not to mention Sasuke was able to call her an idiot and to stop being annoying as he called it.
Temari rightfully ignored any messages that man sent.
As the days turned into weeks Temari finally developed a routine. She would attend lectures, each at the dining hall, and do homework/study in the library. Most of the time she would be on Skype with Shikamaru while in the library. Even though their classes weren't similar they stilled helped each other study.
Not to mention they missed each other.
Temari would talk to Sakura at least three times a week.
Temari also made it her mission to call home every night. If she couldn't she would at least text her brothers good night.
Izumi was turning three soon and she still couldn't grasp the idea that her aunty was not living with them anymore. She would often ask Temari when she was coming back and if she could go see her. She also would cry when it was time to say goodbye on the phone.
She was still a child so it would be hard the first few months. Kankuro and Gaara reassured her that Izumi would soon adjust.
Temari would go to bed a little heartbroken every night.
Until one Friday morning Shikamaru texted her saying he was on his way to visit for the weekend.
Temari couldn't help but grin and squeal on the inside.
Of course she didn't outwardly express her excitement.
Her roommate picked up on her good mood anyway.
"So who's coming to visit?" The red head didn't look up from her chemistry homework.
"My boyfriend Shikamaru…is that cool? He's staying the weekend."
Karin continued to write in her notebook. "Yea doesn't bother me. But if you plan on smashing just give me an hour's notice. I can get out of the way."
Temari flushed red.
"We're not doing anything like that!"
"Sure," Karin flipped a page of her textbook.
Temari couldn't contain her excitement as she counted down his arrival. She picked up her room, it was dirty but wasn't necessarily clean either, and tried to finish as much of her homework before he got into town. When he arrived Temari all but ran down to meet him.
Shikamaru waited by the entrance and grinned at the sight of his girlfriend.
They embraced and made out a little before coming to their senses.
Temari gave him a tour of the campus, ate at the food court, and then sat under a shady tree to catch up.
Shikamaru complained about his parents, school, and how his girlfriend lived too far away. Temari punched his shoulder before pulling him in for a kiss. Students began to leave the school as the time rolled on and the sun began to set.
The couple made their way back to the dorm.
Temari opened the door and found Karin sitting at her desk putting away her books.
"Hey Karin this is my boyfriend Shikamaru. Lazy ass this is Karin."
They shook hands.
"Nice to meet you," she readjusted her glasses "nice to put a face with the stories she tells."
"Well I hope she didn't tell you anything embarrassing."
"If she did I wouldn't tell."
"Women you're all troublesome," he groans.
Karin smiles and returns to her desk.
Temari and Shikamaru settle on her bed to watch on a movie.
The night was kept PG seeing how Karin slept a few feet away. Not to mention the bed really wasn't meant to fit two people but they made it work.
Temari and Shikamaru spent the rest of the weekend exploring the city and enjoying their short time together. Shikamaru didn't have any early classes on Monday so he planned on staying the night Sunday and leaving early the next morning.
It was just the two in the room.
Karin was nowhere to be found. She suspiciously was never in the room at the same time as the couple.
They really weren't doing anything. It was Sunday night and both teens were lying in bed just talking. Sometime during the conversation Shikamaru gave her a kiss and she returned it. It was a simple sweet kiss.
That led to another.
Hands began to roam.
Clothing became discarded.
They were lost in each other. Neither had planned for this to happen but they followed the moment.
After all they were in love.
The next morning Temari got ready for her classes while Shikamaru was preparing to leave back home. Both were slightly bashful and flustered about their night. Shikamaru blushing gave her a kiss good bye.
"This was easily the best weekend I had."
"I feel your just saying that because what happened last night." Temari looked away blushing furiously.
"While that was amazing it would still have been a great weekend without it." Shikamaru gave her a hug.
Temari smiled "it was amazing. Last night I mean."
"Maybe when you come down for a vacation we can do it again?" Shikamaru flushed scarlet red.
"With my brothers around? Are you trying to get castrated?"
He scratches the back of his neck, "your right."
Temari gives him one more kiss. "I'll see you soon."
"Soon you soon."
It was a bittersweet day. It gave Temari another reason to hate Mondays.
She returned to her college routine.
A few weeks later she went home for Izumi's birthday party and the holidays. Before Temari knew her first year as a college freshman was over.
She could finally enjoy her summer again!
It was time to catch up on about 100 hours of lost sleep and another 500 hours' worth of naps.
But that didn't mean she didn't make time for her friends.
Or they would just barge into her home with no warning.
Sakura, Sasuke, Shikamaru, and Temari were all hanging out in the living room. Sharing stories about their first year at college and how nothing could really prepare them for college life, you just learn as you go.
Temari was retelling a horror story of the dorms.
"So I was Skyping with Gaara. It was late, maybe around 1 in the morning, and he was having an episode of insomnia. I was out in the hallway so I wouldn't bug Karin. It was quiet and then I heard something down the hall. I told Gaara to wait a second. Then I heard the noise again. It was moaning. Some chick was getting busy only a few doors down from me! I quickly hung up and ran back into my room."
Sasuke rolled his eyes.
"That's nothing. It was a random day in my suite when I hear noise outside my window. I go check it out and some chick is throwing her stuff out the window. She then goes outside and tries to set her clothes and mattress on fire."
"Seriously? She tried to set her stuff on fire?" Sakura asked
"When the cops came to try and diffuse the situation she tried to eat paper. They had to handcuff her."
"Geez what kind of student housing were you two living in?" Shikamaru shook his head.
"It had its ups and downs. I mean I went to go eat burgers on more than one occasion at midnight with my roommate and a few other girls that lived in my hall." Temari shrugged her shoulders.
"I refuse to live in the dorms again. Not enough privacy."
"You're just saying that because your suitemates openly flirted with me," Sakura teased her boyfriend.
"Unacceptable," Sasuke scoffed.
Shikamaru understood his feelings.
The girls rolled their eyes at their jealously.
They say college is the best years of your life.
Temari could easily say that college may not be the most exciting years of her life but they sure were interesting as hell. Like how she and a few people went out at 2 in the morning to watch a star shower. Or how some nut job threaten to shoot pretty blondes on campus one day because he wouldn't be ignored any more. All those sleepless nights studying for exams and only running on 4 hours of sleep.
College certainly was a once in a life time experience.
She meant interesting people with different backgrounds.
Now she was an adult.
She graduated college with high grades and was well into the adultering world.
Good God could she time travel back a few years to high school?
She was not prepared for adultering!
Luckily for her she had her high school sweet heart and her crazy, borderline psycho, best friend to help her navigate the evil world that is being an adult. Her brothers were little help since they couldn't really manage the adult world without her.
Not to mention Izumi who was now a young bright child.
She could handle this.
"Mom! Uncle Shikamaru won't let me braid his hair!"
"I told you Uncle Sasuke wants his hair braided."
"Don't touch my hair."
"Sasuke don't be rude! Izumi is now a hair stylist. So both of you man up and let her style your hair!"
"NO!" both men shouted in unison.
"Mom!" Izumi whined.
Temari blew her bangs out of her face.
Ok the no longer teen age mother, but who still acts like a mother, adult Temari will now begin to adult.
"Quick Sakura hold down Sasuke. I'll hold down cry baby. Izumi you can then put pink bows in their hair."
"Ok!"
"Sounds like a plan!"
"Sakura don't you dare-"
One body slam and Sasuke was down for the count.
"Don't pout Sasuke. I'll reward you later."
"I better get your full treatment."
Shikamaru didn't bother putting up a fight. It would be too troublesome.
Izumi giggled and went on to prepare the boys for a fabulous night.
Temari grinned and ruffled her niece's hair.
Well she might have been mistaken for a teenage mother in high school but Temari didn't mind. In Izumi's eyes Temari was every bit a mother than any other woman who gave birth to a baby. Izumi knew who her real mother was but her aunt helped her father raise her. So in her book Temari is and will always be her mother.
Just like how she would soon be getting two official uncles soon.
Sasuke and Shikamaru could not marry her mother and godmother without her say so.
She was the princess after all.
I know this was super rushed but if I didn't put this all in one chapter then I would never finish. So here is finally the end. I want to thank everyone who reviewed and followed this story. Thanks for your patience! Keep a look out for updates on my other stories. I'm slowly updating everything.
Thanks guys!