So...What Now?
Shikamaru and Temari took their time going over to the Hokage office. Neither of them were prepared to explain to Tsunade what was going on. Everyone is aware of Tsunade's temper and inhuman strength, so who knows what she's going to do to them when they get there?
"So how are we going to play this? You got a plan?" Temari asked
"Eh, sort of. I think its best we play it like we've been dating secretly. That ok with you?"
"Yeah I guess."
Soon they arrived in front of the Hokage office. They both took a deep breath.
"Ready?" Shikamaru asked Temari, to which she nodded
Shikamaru gave the door 2 knocks.
"Come in!" They opened the door to fine Tsunade sitting at her desk, looking as if she was expecting them. "Close the door behind you."
Shikamaru did as he was told, then turned to look at Tsunade. Neither of them dared to move a muscle.
"So. You guys want to tell me what's going on?" Tsunade demanded
"Well, it's just as you saw at the hospital. Temari is pregnant and I'm the father." Shikamaru admitted
"I see. So what are you guys going to do next? I'm assuming you guys didn't plan this. Are you guys even together?"
The two ninjas looked at each other. Temari answered this time, "No, we didn't plan this. And yeah, I guess we're together, we've just been keeping it a secret from everyone, because you know how some people can get. And we don't really know what we're gonna do next, I mean we just found out so we haven't planned yet."
"You guys know how reckless this is? I swear young people these days! You guys know you have to use protection while having sexual intercourse! That way, you guys can prevent something like this from happening!" Tsunade lectured the couple
The couple both turned away from each other as 50 red shades of red crept onto their face. If Tsunade had known about the amount of sexual encounters they've actually had…well who knows how she would've reacted.
"Yes, I know we've been reckless, but we're going to handle this like adults and deal with the consequences." Shikamaru stated
Tsunade rubbed her head. "Ok fine. Here's what I need you two to do. I need you to get the hell out of my office and go talk out what you're going to do now that you're expecting. And I want you guys back here in a few days with a decent plan. You guys are both strategists so I suspect this shouldn't be too hard.
"Yes Lady Tsunade, we'll go do that." Temari said. "Thank you for your time"
They bowed to the Hokage and left. After closing the office door behind them, they both let out their breaths they've been holding. Well, it looked like they survived Tsunade this time.
"Ok, looks like we survived that. What do you want to do next?" Shikamaru asked Temari
"I'm hungry, so can we go eat first? Then we can go my place and talk this out." She said gesturing to her nonexistent belly.
"Sure, what do you want to eat?"
"Ramen." Temari said almost immediately
"Ok, Ichiraku ramen it is." Shikamaru chuckled
"Hey Shikamaru! Long time no see. And Temari, nice to see you back in Konoha!" Ichiraku greeted them cheerfully. "What can I get you two?"
After placing their orders, the couple got their food and ate away. They were both on their second bowl when they heard a familiar voice calling their name.
"Hey! Shikamaru! Temari!" Shikamaru sighed, they should've expected this. This was his favorite hang out afterall. Shikamaru was just glad he came alone.
"Hey Naruto, you want the usual I presume?" Ichiraku said
"Yep! You know me well old man!" Naruto answered before taking a seat next to Shikamaru.
"Soo what are you guys doing here together? On a date or what?" Naruto teased, elbowing Shikamaru.
Shikamaru sighed "Yes Naruto, we are on a date. In fact, Temari and I are so in love, we are actually having a baby together."
Temari's head snapped back and she turned to glare at Shikamaru. He gave her a "Shhh don't worry" glance
"Ha! Yeah right, you guys are just messing with me." Naruto's first bowl of ramen appeared in front of him and he soon forgot about the world around him as he devoured it.
Temari breathed a sigh of relief; this kid is still as oblivious as ever. Hard to believe he's going to be hokage one day. She and Shikamaru finished their lunch quickly before anyone else could spot them and left for her apartment.
"Thanks guys! Come again soon!" Ichiraku called out as they left. "Ahhh young love these days." He smiled
The couple got to Temari's apartment, then settled themselves next to each other on the couch. But neither could bear look at the other.
"So." Shikamaru was the first to break the silence. "What's next?"
"You tell me genius, you're the one who's all about planning ahead." Temari said bitterly but sarcastically. "This was definitely not part of my plan."
"Hey! It's not like I plan this either. Did you really think of me as the type to go out and trick a girl into having sex with me, just so I can get her pregnant? You know me better than that. Besides, if I was going to do that, why would I want to trick you? You're too smart for that kind of deceiving." Shikamaru explained
Temari sighed, "You're right, I'm sorry for snapping." She realized she might've been too harsh on him. It must be the hormones kicking in.
"So we both know that neither one of us anticipated this when we started our…agreement…" Shikamaru said, not wanting to use the words 'having wild heated sex with no feelings'. "But here it is. So my first question would be, do you want to…have it?"
Temari leaned back on the couch and placed her hand on her belly. Knowing there's now a life that they created, growing in there, was such a strange feeling. As much as she wanted to reject it, she oddly felt a connection. "I am not ready to be a mother. Truthfully I never planned to be one. The idea of giving birth disgusts me. And having a child totally gets in the way of my plans of having a long career as a shinobi."
Hearing all those sentences come out of Temari stung Shikamaru. He knew she was a tough girl with high dedications to her life as a shinobi, but he didn't think the idea of becoming a mother would disgust her that much.
"But as much as I want to get rid of this child and go about my life, I don't really understand why but something is telling me no." Temari really didn't understand what she was feeling. Every part of her is staying she should get an abortion, every part except her heart. She doesn't know if it's the hormones or the reality that she's actually pregnant, but something tells her that she will regret it if she gets an abortion.
She finally looked at Shikamaru and saw the expression he had on his face. She took a deep breath and looked back at her nonexistent belly. "I guess what I'm saying is I'm…going to have this baby…" She said hesitantly. God she hated feeling indecisive and unsure
Shikamaru looked up at her. "You sure about that?"
"I guess. Still have time to think about it more, but for now. Yeah." She looked at him in the eye. "Do you want the baby?"
"I'm in the same boat as you. I don't feel ready to be a father yet. I had life plans like you do. But if you think I'm going to let you walk out of my life with my child, then you're not as smart as I made you out to be." Shikamaru place his hand on top of hers that was on her belly. For a moment, the two of them actually looked like a loving couple. But that moment passed as soon as it came.
Shikamaru took his hand off of her and resumed his previous position. "So now what?"
Temari sighed, "I really don't feel ready to tell the world yet, god forbid people find out how this actually happened. I guess we should give this relationship thing a try. You know, ease our way into it."
"Yeah, that's what I thought." Shikamaru was glad she felt the same as him and relieved that she wasn't completely intent on getting an abortion. "As much as I want to avoid this, I think we have to at least tell our families soon. The longer we wait on them, the uglier things get."
Temari rubbed her temple. She didn't even think about Gaara and Kankuro until now. Great, they're going to kill Shikamaru if not her too. Plus if word gets out about how the Kazakage's sister came to be pregnant, who know what kind of damage that would do to Gaara's reputation? But she knew Shikamaru was right, the sooner she tells her brothers, the better. "You're right; I have to tell my brothers eventually. Though I'm gonna warn you now, they're probably going kill both of us"
"Yeah I know." Shikamaru shuttered with the thought of being enclosed inside Kankuro's puppet or inside Gaara's sand. "We're going to have to talk to my parents too." Shikamaru rubbed his head too
"I don't think they would kill us, but they'll probably be a nag about it. Especially when they find out we don't plan on getting married." Shikamaru explained
"Ok, we should probably talk to them first then." Temari said
"Yeah." Shikamaru pulled Temari closer to him, so that her head was resting on his shoulder. Finally they were getting somewhere.
That's all for now! Managed the get the chapter out within a few days as promised. Thanks you to all of those who favorite, followed, and/or reviewed my story. I hope I can live up to you guy's expectations XD.
Ok see you guys in the next update! (Hopefully in another few days)
And don't forget to vote on the gender of the baby if you want to! (The poll in on my profile)