Okay I know I was suppose to put this chapter up on July 2nd but I left with my aunt on Wednesday and didn't get home until Saturday then I got into these really good K-dramas I found, then my mom had surgery and I've been busy since then, but hey I'm here now writing … well er typing this chapter for you lovely people.


Chapter 8: Center Of Attention


Shikamaru lay down on his bed with a thoughtful look; he was still processing what Ino told him hours earlier. Now what was he suppose to do? He had just gotten it through his head that he wanted to be more that just friends with Ino and now he was, just not what he was really aiming for. They were going to do some kind of co-parenting thing or whatever. He doesn't even really know what's going to happen all he knows is that he got her pregnant and that he was going to help her raise his child. Offering was the least he could do since he's the one who helped get her in this mess. He knew what exactly at stake here: her future. Things were going to be crazy now, well whenever Ino's involved of course it's bound to be crazy, but this was going to be out of hand crazy.

What were their parents going to say when they found out? What would they say to their parents and their friends when they find out to? Not to mention some of the older villagers who always seemed to have an opinion about Ino. This will just fuel whatever petty rumor they were spreading around about her this time around.

What were they suppose to do? When should they tell their parents? What would happen after that? Would their parents disown them and throw them out? Or would they be thrilled to have a grandchild, even if they're were barely turning 18 themselves. So many questions were running through his mind and for once the genius didn't have any clue on how to answer any of them. All these thoughts run wild though his head as he falls asleep.

Two days later, his birthday, he saw Choji dragging a half asleep, Ino towards him and his team, saying something that sounded like "I don't want to be here."

"Shikamaru!" Choji yelled.

"Choji you didn't really drag me out of the shop just to see Shikamaru did you?" Ino told him. Ouch! Just to see Shikamaru, what exactly was that supposed to mean? They hadn't seen each other since the other day when she told him the big news.

After that the two started to argue about how they needed to celebrate as a team for their upcoming birthdays. Ino was in favor of them each doing their own thing while Choji wouldn't have any of it, saying they would all do it together.

"Shikamaru, what are you doing today?" Choji asked his best friend.

"What does it look like? I'm going to train these brats for awhile and then who knows what I'll do. Why?" He saw that Ino was trying to hide behind Choji. "Really Ino, you're hiding? You would think that right now you'd be mature." She looked up to him an unreadable expression on her face, she wasn't mad right? He was just teasing her!

"And what exactly is that supposed to mean Shikamaru?!" She came out from behind Choji and stood in front of him poking his chest with each word. With every word she poked harder, and he had to admit it actually kind of hurt.

"Nothing, I was just teasing you. You don't have to be so damn troublesome."

With a loud huff, she turned her back to him. "You're picking on me again, as always and here I am trying to be a good friend and come visit you on your birthday. You know I didn't have to come here? The thanks I get for remembering your birthday."

"Choji was dragging you, while you were saying you didn't want to be here and you didn't really have much trouble remembering my birthday. It's been the same for 18 years now, the day right before yours. That's probably the only reason that you remember it!" He calmly told her, and when he looked towards her he saw the shocked expression on her face.

"That's not why I remember it Shika! You're one of my closest friends so of course I'd remember your birthday, it just so happens to be really close to mine. Shika, why are you being so mean to me?!" Did he honestly think that the only reason she would remember his birthday was because it was the day before her own birthday? No he wasn't that cruel he must be messing with her, well she can play that game to. "Choji make him stop." She turned with a small frown that quickly turned into a curious look when she turned to Choji and saw that he just stood there laughing at the two.

"Oi what's so funny?" Shikamaru asked before she could.

"Nothing, it's just that I was worried that you two had gotten into a big fight or something since I haven't really seen you together for awhile, but when you two started teasing each other like old times I knew that everything was fine and I was just over thinking things."

"Yeah everything's fine." Ino let out a nervous giggle, so Shikamaru thought he needed to also say something.

"Why wouldn't everything be fine?" He questioned his good friend rising his eyebrow.

"I don't know. I mean I know you two tend to tease each other but sometimes I'm not even sure if you're playing or if you mean whatever remark you said this time. And last time when you got into a really bad fight you didn't talk to each other for a week. And well we all haven't been hanging out as much for awhile so I thought that maybe there had been another fight but this time worse."

"What? No we're not fighting."

"We haven't all hung out because well we're a bit busy. I work at the shop and train with Sakura and Lady Tsunade and Shika has a genin team now."

While Shikamaru was talking with his old teammates from Team 10, his genin were watching and trying to eavesdrop on their conversation.

"What do you mean you don't get to all see each other much? She came by and talked to Shikamaru sensei a few days ago." Said Eito.

"Yeah I remember he made us end practice since she came. It better have been something important." Hiro muttered the last part where only he could hear.

Now it was Choji's turn to look confused. "You saw each other the other day?"

"Uh yeah. You know how are parents are about us celebrating out birthdays together right? Well the Nara's came over the other day but I was a bit sick and went to bed early, so I was asking Shika to apologize to his parents for me."

"Oh. Well you're better now aren't you?" Choji asked her.

"I'm fine Choji. Seriously let's just do what we came to do."

"Okay if you say so. Uhm Shikamaru so you wanna go to the usual BBQ place for your birthday, my treat? Come on we need sometime to hang out as Team 10."

"And what will I do about team." He motioned his head to the three genin that were behind him.

"I guess they could tag along if they want to. Right Ino?"

"Huh? Oh uh yeah. Sure why not?" Ino answered unsure of what she should've said.

"Hey do you want to go with me and my old team?"

"Yes!" All three excitedly said at the same time.

While Team 10 were talking about old times Shikamaru's new team, Team 4, were discussing their sensei and his new guests.

"See I told you they had to be really good friends." Eito told his two teammates.

"Well I don't care how long they've known each I still don't like her," Katsumi told him.

"Oh come on don't be like that Katsumi. You don't know her she might actually be a good friend. I mean look, sensei sure seems to like her." Hiro tried to get all three of them to agree that this mysterious blonde girl might be the good person like she seemed to be, not just him and his cousin but also the female member of the team.

"Hmp. You can't be too careful with her kind. Looks can be deceiving you know? For all we know she can secretly be working for another village and is plotting to kill Shika sensei or something like that."

"Come on, not even me and Hiro would think of something that dumb. You're just jealous that she has a better chance with Shikamaru sensei than you do."

"No I'm! I know for a fact he wouldn't want someone like that. And all I'm saying is that we should probably keep an eye on her for awhile."

"Both of you just shut up! Katsumi if you want to tail her for awhile than fine by me I don't care as long as I'm not involved, if sensei finds out about this he won't be too happy."

"Trust me he won't find out Eito will help me. Won't you Eito?"

"Uh yeah! Wait what will I do?"

"Just shut up and listen to me. When I tell you to do something do it."

"Uh Shikamaru I think your genin stayed behind fighting." Choji said after noticing the genin were way behind with angry faces aimed at one another.

"Troublesome, just leave them behind. Trust me they'll catch up, they always do. No matter how hard I try to lose them I can't they always come back every five fucking minutes."

"Shikamaru, you're their squad leader of course they're gonna keep coming back to you! What did you honestly expect when you agreed to the job?" Ino scolded him.

"Yeah, I mean come on Shikamaru they're just kids what did you expect them to do? You can't just ditch them, you're responsible for them. I wouldn't want to see you as a parent. Imagine what'd you to the poor kid." Choji said lightly but also seriously.

Shikamaru felt Ino tense up a bit at what Choji decided to say so he thought he should defend himself.

"Come on Choji, you and I both know that they don't need me every five minutes. That's why we never get any work done; they constantly bicker and call me to stop it. And we both know that if it were my kid it'd be different if they were under the age of 12 and I'm not held responsible for those little demons back there." Shikamaru said trying to defend himself.

"Hmm I don't know Shikamaru, you might think it's too troublesome to watch over a kid. I'd hate to see you as a parent. Right Ino?" Choji said looking over towards Ino.

"Huh? Oh uh I don't know. Hopefully for the child and its mother he won't be that bad."

"Hey I won't be that bad at it!"

"He probably won't even have kids!" Choji chuckled.

"I'll have a kid before you even know it." Shikamaru grunted to himself but the others heard. Ino showed a look of shock and Choji had a look of disbelief.

"Ha, sure you will." Choji said sarcastically. "Either way like I said before you'll probably dump all the work of the mother, who ever the poor unlucky women is, and who knows what trouble you'll get into."

"Hm whatever." Shikamaru said. "We'll see soon enough." He said under his breathe but Ino managed to hear.

'What did he just say? Did he say what I think he said? That moron what if Choji had heard him? He shouldn't let things like that slip out when we're in public with so many people around.' She turned to look at the people that lined the streets they were walking.

Not long after saying this Shikamaru felt an elbow hit him by his ribs, when he looked up to see who it was, he saw it was Ino.

"Keep quite and watch what you say. What if he had heard you and started questioning you about it? I thought that we agreed to keep it between us for awhile longer."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah whatever. I won't let it slip again. I promise, sorry. Now let's catch up with him. Or do you want to wait for my team? They shouldn't be that far behind." He point his thumb behind them.

"Oh, I see them, so we should just wait up since they don't exactly know where it is that we're going. Oh and Shikamaru?"

"What is it now? Wait I already know, don't say anything about it." He told her bluntly.

"No not that! Well yeah that too but uh happy birthday Shika." Ino said happily.

"Troublesome damn women. Thank you Ino." He told her with a sly smile creeping upon his face.

"Shika sensei you left us behind!" The young blonde with gray eyes came running up to them.

"Yeah sensei you forgot us!" The boy with the blue-green eyes and red hair said.

"Katsumi and Eito, I didn't leave you guys behind, you guys fell behind arguing as always. There's a difference. Anyway Eito where's Hiro?" Shikamaru scolded the two.

"He's coming up behind us."

"Okay. While we're with Ino and Choji can you all please refrain from your usual fighting and bad behavior?"

"Sensei! Wait up for me, don't leave yet." The black haired boy, who Ino guessed was Hiro, yelled.

"Hurry up you idiot, don't make us wait 'cause then sensei will leave and we'll leave with him. Right Eito?"

"Uh, what? I can't really leave him behind."

"Whatever you moron. You're supposed to always agree with me and take my said when it comes to group things."

"I don't really blame you for trying ditching them after all." Ino whispered to Shikamaru while watching the three argue and fight. "But yeah don't you ever try to do that to my child in the future."

"Hey, I have part ownership to it to you know? And didn't you just say not to talk about it in public." Shikamaru told her in a hushed voice.

"Yeah well it's not like I'm letting it slip out loud!"

"It doesn't matter either way you just did what you told me not to." He told her, his voice no longer a whisper.

"Shikamaru! Cut it out." She told him slightly rising her voice.

"Whatever come on troublesome woman. Choji's mostly likely already waiting for us, he probably thinks we ditched him." He turned to see his genin staring at them. "What?"

"Shikamaru sensei where you two arguing?" Eito asked, before getting hit by his cousin Hiro.

"Shut up! He'll get mad if we snoop into his business. So what if they fought." Hiro told him quickly.

"Well boys shouldn't be arguing with a girl, isn't that what your mom always tell us."

"So what? We always argue with Katsumi!"

"She doesn't count. She always starts it, she's our teammate and we don't really argue we just tease each other. If Shikamaru sensei is picking fights with a girl who's nice enough come to by and see him we should at least stick up for her." He was cut off by the sound of someone laughing.

"Shikamaru, I was wrong maybe these kids are fun to be around!"

"Quite down troublesome women, people are staring."

"So what? It's not my fault that they don't have anything else to do other than to drop in on other people conservation. Anyway, no we weren't fighting. That's just how me and Shikamaru are, right Shika?"

"Are you sure you're always like that?" Eito asked out of concern.

"Yes, she's the troublesome headache and pain in the ass I've been dealing with since birth." Shikamaru said in a serious tone, but with the evil gleam in his eye Ino knew he was kidding so she decided to play along as well. She fake pouted.

"Aw come Shikamaru don't lie to them, you haven't been dealing with me since you were born, I decided to let you have one day to yourself and was born the day after you. And don't talk about me as if I'm a nuisance to you, you know you love me." In told him jokingly.

"Whatever troublesome woman, one day wasn't enough. You should've been considerate and given me some months if not years of a break. You were such a headache to always look out for." He told her, not making a reply to her last statement. It was already awkward enough between them; he didn't need to freak her out by letting her know that he had feelings for. She didn't need to know that, at least not yet.

"Well it's not like it was just you looking out for me. Daddy had both you and Choji watch over me." She said smiling brightly. She turned around and saw the confused faces of the three genin walking behind them. "I'll explain it to you guys after we're seated."

Once they entered the BBQ restaurant, which was their regular hangout spot, they spot Choji in the far back of the room waving at them to come over.

"I almost thought you guys ditched me." Choji said jokingly.

"Choji we would never ditch you."

"Anyways Ino, I forgot to tell you that tomorrow I have a mission so today we'll celebrate not only Shikamaru's birthday but yours as well. Sorry."

"Aww come on Choji I was born on a different day so that I'd have the day all to myself…not for me to share it with him." Ino said point a finger at Shikamaru with a disgusted look on her face, though both boys knew that she was just teasing him, so Shikamaru didn't really get offended at all.

"I know Ino. I'm sorry about that. You to Shikamaru, I'm sorry about you having to share your day."

"Nah, it's cool. The way our parents are, we always get stuck sharing the day anyway. And it's Ino so I'm used to it, right Ino."

"Yep! We've spent every birthday together, this isn't anything new. So don't worry Choji. Just do well on your mission so you can come back and we can all party."

"Hey lady! Didn't you say you'd explain what ya'll were talking about?" Hiro said with a serious look.

"Hiro, behave." Shikamaru rebuked his student. He didn't want Ino to get mad at him for his student speaking so harshly to her.

"Let it go Shika. I did tell them that. Okay so me, Shikamaru and Choji have all been friends since we were babies. Our dads used to be teammates and were best friends! Me and Shikamaru were born the day right after the other so I've known both of them since birth, my mom and Shikamaru's mom shared a hospital room and Choji's mom came to visit with him. Hmm I can't say which one I knew first because well I was a new born! We were put on the same team as soon as we graduated the academy, Team 10. And since we were on the same team and my dad's friends where their dads and he's very protective he told them to watch over me for him. As if I needed to be babysat! Whatever, that would always start fights between us but we got through it. We didn't always get along but we're the best of friends now."

"Yeah Ino and Shikamaru used to fight a lot when we were younger. He was always calling her troublesome and saying that she was always making a mess for him to clean and that would make Ino angry and I was always left in the middle. I couldn't choose a side, they were both my best friend!"

"So you've both had to put up with Shikamaru sensei's lazy bum attitude for your whole lives?!" Eito yelled. Both Ino and Choji started to laugh.

"Ha-ha-ha very funny Eito. Ino, Choji this loud mouthed brat is Eito, the rude one with black hair is his cousin Hiro, and the irritating blonde is Katsumi."

"Hey!" All three genin said at the same time. After that being said they ate their meals in silence. On their way out

"So today is Shika sensei's birthday?" Katsumi asked the trio.

"Yep and tomorrow's Ino's." Choji answered her.

"Happy Birthday Shika sensei!" All three genin yelled.

"Quite it down you three…thank you." He grumbled to the three.

The group ate in silence until Choji made a joke about how much Ino was eating.

"Slow down Ino! You're almost eating as much as me, and I eat a lot more than you usually do." Choji said with a chuckle.

Ino glared daggers at him.

"You really shouldn't eat so much. You'll get fat and ugly." Katsumi said with an arrogant tone of voice. Ino turned her glare form Choji to the younger blonde.

"Well excuse me! It's not my fault." Ino said defensively. She wasn't all about her looks now but she still liked to look good for herself, and thinking about how huge she was going to get in a few months because of the moron next to her didn't exactly bring nice pictures to her head, especially since she had already put on a few more pound to her liking.

Seeing the shocked look of her face and sensing that the questioning stares the others were giving her, and knowing exactly what she meant by her outburst, Shikamaru decided to help her out.

"Katsumi! Didn't I say behave around my old teammates. They're like a second family. And Ino please stop blurting the first words that comes to your mind. Nobody accused you of anything this time." He saw her expression change from shock, to confuse to understanding and lastly gratitude.

"Haha, sorry guys. I wasn't really listening to what was been said. All I knew was that it was directed of me and thought I was being accused of something so I said I didn't do it." She told the table.

"Now can we all just eat in peace?" Shikamaru asked, receiving a nod of agreement from everyone. Leaving them to finish the rest of the meal in silence.

After saying all their goodbyes everyone went home.

The next day was Ino's birthday and she had no clue what she was going to do. She had already celebrated with her parents, though she did end that early since she wasn't feeling all to well, maybe she should spend the day with them. Her morning sickness wasn't as bad anymore; she could now go a whole day with only throwing up once or twice.

A few days had passed since the three had hung out. On Ino's birthday her parents had insisted that she go out with friends and get out of the house for a day. So she had spent the day alone with Sakura and Hinata. Now she was coming home from working at the flower shop.

When she entered her home she was surprised to see that no one other than herself was home. Or so she thought, but as she walked up the stairs towards her room she heard her mother quietly sobbing. Sensing that something was wrong she ran to where she heard her mother, quickly finding her in her restroom.

"Mom, what's wrong are you okay?" She asked with nothing but concern in her voice.

"Ino what is this?! Please tell me it's not true! How long were you planning on keeping this from us? What is your father going to say when he comes home and finds out?" Her mother screamed holding up one of the positive pregnancy tests that she had thrown out earlier that week.

"I- mom what are you doing in here?" Ino asked shocked at the fact that her mother now knew and scared at what would happen next.

"I was cleaning the restroom for you and this fell out the trash. But don't try to change the subject. I asked you a question. Ino please, please tell me it isn't true, that it's not yours. Is it one of your friends?"

"Mom I- I'm sorry mom. I'm so sorry." Ino said with silent tears falling down her face.

"Ino, I'm so disappointed in you, I expected better. We'll talk about this later when your dad gets home, until then you're not aloud out of your room. Sit here and think about what you've done, and how badly you've messed up. Just what are we going to do with you Ino?" Junko said as she left the room.

What now? Her mom knew and by the end of the night her dad would know to. What was she suppose to do now? She can't leave her room let alone the house with her mom in and angry and disappointed mood. She can only hope and pray that everything would turn out alright.

She knew what she had to do now. Without putting much thought into what she would say she reached for the phone on her desk and dialed his number. The phone only rang a few times before he answered.

"Hello?" His groggy voice said. So he was asleep as always.

"Shikamaru!"

"Ino? Are you crying? What happened, are you okay?" He started asking so many questions, why would she call him crying, unless something big happened?

"Shikamaru, she knows. My- my mom, she found out and she's gonna tell dad when he gets home later. I-I don't know what to do."

"What? Are you sure?" He asked fully alert and awake now. She didn't need to explain to him what her mother found out; he knew what she was talking about. The baby.

"Yeah. She told me when I got home." She told him, still sobbing a little.

"This is so troublesome. Don't worry about it Ino, just don't go anywhere. Okay? I'll be there in a bit." Shikamaru told her in a rush and hung up quickly.

"Ughh!" She let out a frustrated grunt. "It's not like I can go anywhere. What's he going to do anyway?"

'Why is he coming over? I doubt she'll let him in now. And even if he did mange to get in what he do? How can he help out now? I mean I know he feels like he's also at fault here but him being here isn't going to really do any help. If they found out how he's involved in all of this mom will probably scream his ear off while dad beats him to death! No come on Ino, now isn't the time to think things like that. He is a genius right? Maybe he'll come up with something to tell them.' She shook her head vigorously, shaking the thoughts away. She didn't need to worry about that right now. She looked to the clock and saw the time 9:12 her dad would be home within the hour. What was she going to do when she had to face him and tell him what has happen.

'So they're going to find out sooner than we thought. How did Junko find out? I know this is gonna be hard on Ino. The way her parents are. And it's all my fault! If only I told her no that night and took her home like Choji asked me. After her parents find out my parents are bound to find out not long after and I'll really be dead if they find out. They say it's all good as long as you can live with yourself. But how can I live with myself climbing up your window to get to your room, knowing that I've caused you so much trouble, Ino. Please, just give me a little help with this.' Once he was up the window he knocked on her window.

Ino heard a knock on her window so she went up to see what it was. After opening the window she saw that it was Shikamaru.

"What are you doing here? In they see you sneaking into my room they'll know for sure and you'll be dead!" Ino told him as he climbed into the room.

"Calm down you loud troublesome women. They'll hear you."

"And they'll see you! What are you doing here? You can't help out, just leave and I'll tell you what they say." She begged him while trying to get him out of her room.

"Come on they'll find out sooner or later. We might as well just tell them now so they won't be as mad." He tried to reason with her, but she was stubborn and wouldn't let him be there.

"Please Shika? Please just go, I won't tell them it was you, please just- I don't want to know just yet. I know that they'll eventually find out but please not yet can you do me that favor?"

"Ino you want me to leave? After getting you into this mess? I don't think that I can Ino." Shikamaru said but was quickly cut off from saying anything else by the sound of Ino's mother call out Ino's name.

"Ino! Come down, your father's here!"

"I'm sorry Shika. I've got to go and if you don't want to leave then just stay in here and don't make any noise." Ino pleaded with him as she left her room to meet her parents downstairs.

"Hi dad." She said as she saw her father sitting in the living room.

"Hey princess. What is it that your mother says you have to tell me?" Inoichi asked his beloved only daughter.

"I-uh I- Mom?" She asked her mother who sat next to her father on the loveseat leaving the sofa across to sit on.

"What? You didn't expect me to tell him did you? You want to act like a grown and get yourself into situations like this than you can tell him yourself." Junko said in a harsh voice.

"What's going on? Ino are you in some kind of trouble?" Inoichi asked with confusion written across his face and concern in his voice.

"I- Daddy I'm so sorry. It was an accident, I didn't mean for it to happen I swear!"

"Ino. What's wrong? What happened?" Inoichi asked. They both looked to her mother who only shook her head.

"I'm pregnant!" Ino cried out. Inochi froze.

"Ino, come on stop playing around. Tell me what really happened!" Inoichi demand from his daughter, when he didn't get a response from his wife or his daughter he started to panic. "Okay Ino. You've had your fun the jokes over now. This isn't funny."

"I know it's not funny! I'm serious dad." Ino screamed with tears streaming down her face. "I'm sorry dad. I'm sorry I let you and mom down. It's the hardest thing I've had to say to you, but it's true."

"How can this be? Who's is it Ino?! Who is he?" Inoichi asked. When he didn't get an answer from his daughter his thoughts went wild. "Did he force himself on you, honey?" When Ino shook her head no Inoichi lost it. "Than why won't you say who's the father? Is he forcing you not to say?"

"NO! I just- I just can't." Ino told him.

"She probably doesn't remember him or even know who he is." Junko's harsh judgmental voice called out.

"Junko! Don't say things like that."

"Mom! It's not like that."

"Ino how could you do this to us? You're the heir to the clan and you go out and get yourself knocked up at 18! Didn't I raise you better than to go around town and open up your legs?!"

"Mom, I swear it's not like that! I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, I didn't mean for this to happen. It was an accident."

"You didn't mean for this to happen? Or you didn't mean for us to find out so soon? Think about how this will affect not just you but all of us." Junko yelled at her daughter while Ino cried on the sofa across from her.

"Junko! That's enough. I'm not happy about this either nor do I approve of this. But it's already happened and what's done is done, so we just have to deal with it."

"I can't stand it!" Junko said getting up to leave to room. "She can't stay here tonight."

"Junko be reasonable!"

"I am being reasonable. I said she can't stay here tonight; I'm not kicking her out entirely. She can find somewhere else to stay for a few days while we figure out what we're going to do about this. You know this changes the plans that we've had. And I need time to process this. But it does explain why she's been acting different lately."

"Yes, I know. But- okay." Inoichi said as his wife left the room. He turned to Ino after making sure that his wife was out of hearing range. "I'm sorry Ino, but can you find somewhere to stay for a while? We'll talk about this later. I promise we'll talk this out soon. And your mom, don't worry about what she's saying, she's taking it all in. She had certain hopes and goals for you she'll be back to her old self by the time you're back. Come by the shop tomorrow or the day after and we'll talk. Okay? We'll get through this." Inoichi said trying to reassure his crying daughter.

"Okay dad." Ino said as she saw her father get up and go after her mother to talk to her. She decided to go up and grab a few things before she went to find out where she was going to say the night.

As she walked into her room and started putting some clothes into a bag she felt a hand grab her wrist, stopping her from doing what she was doing.

"Shikamaru?!" He said in a shocked whisper, she had forgotten that he stayed in her room when she told him to leave.

"What happened? What did they say? They didn't kick you out did they?"

"No, my moms just taking it all in and doesn't want me here. She said I had to find somewhere else to stay for a few days so I'm going to see if I can stay over at Sakura's for awhile. " She said getting her arm out of his grasp so that she can finish grabbing the things she needed.

"You can stay at my place." Shikamaru said after a short silence.

"What?"

"You can stay at my apartment. It's not like I'm some stranger Ino. You can trust me and it's my fault that you need somewhere else to stay so why not."

"Okay but just for a couple of days."

"I'm telling you, you'll be fine just stay with me until you feel like leaving." Shikamaru said, trying to reassure her that she will be okay and that she'll make it through this. He started to make his way to her door but was stopped by Ino.

"What are you doing? You have to leave the way you came. I didn't bring up or name and they're not really happy right not so I don't think it'd be a good idea for you to be caught leaving through the front door after sneaking in." She explained to him.

"Yeah, I guess you're right. I'll just wait for you in the front of the house." Shikamaru told her while heading for the window that he came in.

"Okay."

Once she was out of her house she met up with Shikamaru, and they made their way back to Shikamaru's apartment.

"I'll sleep on the couch so you can sleep in the bed." He told her once they were inside the apartment.

"No, it's okay. I can take the couch; you don't have to do that."

"Ino, you're pregnant and a guest, so yes I do have to do that."

"Whatever, just for tonight." She told him as he pointed to where his bedroom was.

When they woke up the next day he had to go train his team and was telling Ino that he was going go with his team.

"Wait! Can I go to? It's my day off and I can't go back to the house yet or the shop and I don't want to be here all alone." She told him.

"Hm. Sure, Choji's going to meet us up there to so don't be too surprised to see him."


A/N: Well I know that I was late with the update I'm sorry but hey stuff comes up and I did do a 6,000+ word chapter, that's twice the usual! Hopefully that made up for it. So dun dun dun Inoichi and Junko know! If you see anything wrong please tell me!