Chapter Ten: Make Anywhere Home

"Sooo?" Ino pried, grinning up at Shikamaru. "How're you gonna ask her? Are you going to take her to a fancy dinner? Or maybe a walk at sunset? Ooh! Or in front of all our friends?"

"Leave him alone, Ino." Choji put a hand on her shoulder to pull her back a few steps.

"Hey! I just don't want him to fuck it up!"

"Thanks for the confidence," Shikamaru grumbled. By his side, Temari snorted in amusement. "Besides, none of those things are really… us. They're you."

"Okay, then. How about when you're playing shogi? Or watching the clouds? That's stuff you guys do."

"Maybe." Shikamaru shrugged.

"Oh, come on! I just want to know!"

"You know, I'm starting to feel bad for whoever proposes to you. You'll make them do it five times before you accept."

Ino punched him in the shoulder.

"Look, it's just not that big a deal. We've already agreed, she picked out her own ring… there's no surprise to it."

Temari couldn't argue with him on that. "He's right. With how long it took us to actually define our relationship in the first place, it's impressive that he asked at all and didn't just assume."

Shikamaru gestured to Temari, who had just made his point for him.

Temari looked around him at her friend. "I promise I'll call after it happens. You'll get all the details. I'll even let you tell Sakura, Hinata, and Tenten for me."

This more than placated Ino. She and Choji parted ways from Shikamaru and Temari when they took different routes, Shikamaru and Temari to her apartment, and Choji and Ino to the Yamanaka flower shop for her shift. Temari pulled out her key and unlocked the apartment, flicking on the lights. It was just like she left it. It felt different this time, though. She wasn't just staying for a few days anymore. For now, this was her new home. The concept felt foreign to her.

She set her pack down in one of the kitchen chairs and took her fan off her back, leaning it against the wall by the door. The silence was a blessing. "Is it okay if we just take a minute?" she asked over her shoulder as she walked to the couch. "I just want to sit and read for a while."

"Sounds good to me." Shikamaru joined her, sitting on one end of the couch with his feet propped up on the coffee table. Temari stretched out over the rest of the couch, her back resting against his side. The pages of her book rustled as she found her place. Before she could begin, Shikamaru plucked the book from her hands and draped it over the back of the couch, leaving it open to her page.

"The hell?" She turned her head to look at him, annoyed.

"Just humor me, okay?" Shikamaru put his arm around her and kissed the top of her head to calm her. "Let me talk for a minute." When she didn't speak, he took this as her assent and continued. "You know I love you, right?" He felt her nod against his chest, where she lay her head. "I want you to know that I'm not doing this just because you're pregnant. Bringing you here, I mean. Asking you to marry me. It sped things up a little bit, sure, but it was always part of the plan. Granted, I thought I had another six months to sort everything out." He was getting off topic. "But we've never stuck to the plan before, so I should have seen this coming. You're the one blind spot I have in all of my contingency plans, you know that? Five years now, and I still don't have a damned clue what you're gonna do next." He smiled to himself.

"Shikamaru," Temari began.

"No, not done yet." He just needed to get this out. "I really suck at stuff like this, but Ino's right; I fucked up asking you pretty badly. So, I'm asking you again. Temari, will you stay the godforsaken wild card in my life and marry me?"

"Yes." Temari cupped his face in her hands and lowered him down to kiss her. Their foreheads rested together when she let him go. "That was sweet, but I almost think you did better the first time," she teased, humor in her eyes. "You're lucky I love you."

Shikamaru grinned. "Yeah, I am."

"Sap."

He lifted her left hand and slipped the ring she'd chosen onto her finger, tilting her hand so that the artificial light could catch the band. "Your brothers aren't going to hunt me down because I didn't ask permission, are they?"

"Shikamaru, I'm pregnant. If they were going to kill you by now, they would have."

"True." He kissed the knuckles on her left had before letting go. "Don't you have to call Ino?"

"Oh, hell no." Temari sat up so she could face him. "I said I'd call her after; I never specified how soon."

Shikamaru laughed, pulling her to his chest. She fell on top of him, and he rubbed the small of her back with his thumb in an affectionate gesture. She kissed him again, this time deeply. When she pulled away, Shikamaru decided, "Yeah, Ino can wait."

"Come on, we've done this before, and we can do it again. It's the last time we have to announce something to my parents." Shikamaru stood beneath the arched gate to his family home, arching an eyebrow at his fiancé.

"Yeah, we have, and it was, what, two weeks ago? Something like that?" Temari gestured wildly in her discomfort. "Oh, hey, this is my girlfriend. Whoops, I mean fiancé because I got her pregnant." She groaned into her hands. "Oh, god."

"Hey," he placed his hands on her shoulders, turning her to face him. "They love you. I mean, I'd be worried they'll lock you in the basement to keep you from running off before we get married before I'd be worried about them being angry with you."

"What about with you?"

Shikamaru grimaced, letting out an "ehhh" sound. "It could go either way." He then smiled at her. "Come on, it's just like you said to Ino. Rip off the bandage." He took her by the hand and led her down the familiar path. When he opened the front door, he called "We're home!"

Those two words put a smile on Temari's face that wouldn't go away. The route they followed was becoming familiar, and Yoshino was there to meet them when they entered the living room. She embraced Shikamaru first, and he groaned when she pressed a kiss to her son's cheek. She repeated the same process with Temari, who returned the gesture despite feeling awkward at the display of affection.

Shikaku didn't try to hide his surprise as he approached the pair. "Temari, can't say we were expecting you back so soon." He reached out and gave her a hug before patting his son on the shoulder.

Temari looked at Shikamaru. "You told them in advance this time, right?"

"Yes," he resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

Yoshino led them into the living room and took a seat beside her husband. "Shika said he had something he wanted to talk to us about." Her tone conveyed her suspicion and hesitance. When Shikamaru needed to tell them something, it was rarely ever positive. The way she spoke seemed to address Temari and Shikaku, clearly assuming that neither of them were aware.

"Yeah. So, the reason Temari came back is so we could tell you that we're engaged." Just rip off the bandage, he reminded himself. His parents stared at him blankly for several seconds.

"Wait, really?" Shikaku spoke first. Temari held her hand up, showing him the ring as proof. He let out a low whistle. "Well, I'll be damned. I didn't think you had it in you, Shikamaru. Good for you." He clapped his son on the knee pridefully.

"This is… fast," Yoshino argued warily.

"C'mon, they've known each other since they were gennin." Shikaku put his arm around his wife's shoulders. "Shikamaru's getting married. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth."

Yoshino ignored her husband, leveling Shikamaru with her best mom-glare. Her son looked away and coughed once, revealing the tell she'd picked up on when he was a boy. "Shikamaru."

Temari mustered up her courage and told the truth, two words which brought time to a standstill. "I'm pregnant."

"Huh." Shikaku leaned back against the couch, taking in this new information. Well, things made a little more sense, now.

Jumping to his own defense, Shikamaru stated, "It was all part of the plan. Eventually. I mean, yeah, it's out of order and sooner than I thought, but all of this was definitely part of my game plan." He rubbed the back of his neck like he always did when he was nervous. "You guys like her, Dad's just happy I'm with a girl, and we've figured out all the details. Gaara and Lady Tsunade approved."

"They did?" Yoshino wanted to make sure he wasn't lying.

"Ask Lady Tsunade if you don't believe me. We're totally above board with this."

His mother's lips drew into a thin line before she sighed. "Well, it's not ideal, but it's what we're working with. As far as I'm concerned, you became pregnant after you decided to become engaged." Clan politics would be much easier to handle if that was the story they kept.

"Be happy for them, Yoshino," Shikaku smiled at his wife, trying to ease the tension.

"I am, but there are things to consider before we can enjoy this. The wedding, for instance."

"Don't worry about that," Temari spoke up. "My brothers will take care of it all, I'm sure. Kankuro loves that type of thing, and Gaara gets pulled along for the ride. We probably won't have to do anything to help, other than rein him in."

This came as a surprise to Shikamaru, but he was glad to hear that the responsibility wouldn't fall on their shoulders. "We've got it all under control, Mom."

Finally, Yoshino allowed herself to smile. "I want to beat you and hug you at the same time."

"Please don't."

"You know what I mean. I'm angry that you were irresponsible, but…" she hesitated as she looked for the right words, "you're getting married, and I'm going to be a grandmother." She sighed happily. "I didn't think it would happen."

At that moment, Temari made a decision that would hopefully bring her and Yoshino a little closer together. If she was going to become a part of this family, it was time to break out of her shell a little bit. "Yoshino," she didn't know what else to call her, "Lady Tsunade asked me to come by the hospital tomorrow morning so that she can check on me. I, uh," she frowned, "ended up with a kunai in my stomach a few days ago. I was cleared in Suna, but she just wants to be sure everything's okay. I was hoping that you'd come with me?"

Yoshino moved to sit beside Temari on the couch and pulled her into a tight embrace. Temari had a hard time breathing, but she just let it happen. "Of course I will," Yoshino assured her.

Temari sat on the examination table, clad in a teeshirt and lightweight pants rather than her usual attire. Yoshino had, correctly, reasoned that such an outfit would be easier to manipulate for her exam, and, thus, keep her out of one of those awful gowns. Having Yoshino with her was a comfort. Shikamaru was a great part of her support system, but he didn't really know much about pregnancy, and the way he'd worried about her the last time she was in the hospital made her hesitant to bring him. If he got in Tsunade's way, there was no telling what she might do to him.

Yoshino sat in a chair beside the table, watching Temari swing her legs back and forth as they hung in the air. She reached out and put her hand on Temari's, bringing her back to the present. "Don't worry so much," she advised.

"I'm trying not to," Temari admitted. "This is just so… foreign to me. The last time I was around a pregnant woman was when my mother was carrying Gaara." A knot formed in her stomach at the thought. Her mother had died in childbirth. Sure, Gaara was a jinchuuriki, but was she at risk, too? The thought made her feel ill.

Yoshino picked up on the sudden change and gave her hand a squeeze. "You'll be fine, Temari. By all rights, you're my daughter, now. I'm here with you every step of the way." She meant every word.

"I think I'm going to be sick."

"Just breathe. This is just a check-up."

"No, Yoshino, I think I'm going to be sick."

Realizing what she meant, Yoshino rushed to bring her the small trashcan from underneath the desk. Temari's head hung over it for several moments until the wave of nausea passed. Yoshino stood beside her, rubbing her upper back in small circles with the palm of her hand.

When Tsunade entered the room, Temari looked up at her, eyes distant and her face pale. Yoshino gave her a small smile, and Tsunade bit back a laugh. Yeah, that seemed just about right. She took the trash can from Temari and set it on the ground. "Okay, Temari, we won't be here long. I just want to get a look for myself. Can I get you to lie down and lift your shirt?"

Temari did as she was told, exposing her stomach to the cold air. The angry skin around the kunai wound stood out against her tanned skin, drawing attention away from the much larger scar that ran down her left side. Tsunade allowed her hands to hover over Temari, focusing her chakra into her palms. "You're right," she admitted as she continued her work. "Your doctor in Suna did an excellent job of healing the tissue. It looks like you were really lucky with how you were cut."

"Yeah, she said the same thing." Temari looked up at Tsunade, watching her work. It was fascinating.

"It goes without saying that you won't be continuing any missions until you deliver," Tsunade continued. "You wouldn't be able to until your relocation is processed, anyway. I'm not thrilled that you made the journey here on foot, but there's nothing to be done about that now."

"I'm not that pregnant."

Tsunade bit back a sigh. "You come live in my village, you operate by my rules, both as hokage and as your doctor."

Temari didn't argue with that.

"Everything seems normal. You're healing well, and the fetal chakra signature is strong." Tsunade wrote on the file she placed on the desk. "You know the basics, right? No alcohol and whatnot. Tell Shikamaru not to smoke around you, or I'll shove the cigarettes down his throat." She handed Temari a small brochure of 'dos and don'ts' for pregnancy, just in case. "I'll send Sakura by later tonight with some prenatal care. It's never too early to start. It'll help keep you balanced and get the baby everything it needs that might not be in your normal diet."

Temari sat up and adjusted her shirt. She folded the brochure and stuck it in her pocket before climbing down off the table. "Is there anything else?"

"No, just come back in a month or so. You're a perfectly healthy kunoichi, so you shouldn't have any difficulties." Tsunade closed the file and picked it back up, exiting the room. "Stick to the brochure, okay?"

"See? Nothing to worry about." Yoshino wrapped an arm around Temari's shoulders in a reassuring gesture. The pair left the exam room and set off for the lobby.

They hadn't reached the end of the hall before Temari took off running, somehow managing to make it to the trash can before vomiting her breakfast. She gripped the edges of the can until her knuckles turned white, her head hanging down as she waited for the sensation to pass. She felt a hand on her back and looked up, expecting to see Yoshino. She was taken by surprise when it was Sakura who was looking down at her, concern in her eyes.

"Temari, are you okay?" she asked, moving the back of her hand to her friend's forehead, checking her temperature. "Come on, let me examine you."

Temari shook her head, her body tensing as she was wracked by another wave of nausea.

"She's okay, Sakura." Yoshino spoke for her as she approached, having walked the rest of the way when Temari ran. "She just saw Lady Tsunade."

"Oh, Mrs. Nara." Sakura was surprised, but polite nonetheless. She looked back down at Temari, who was taking several deep breaths to steady her stomach. "Are you sure?"

"I'm fine." Temari straightened up, careful not to make herself dizzy while doing so. Yoshino handed her a tissue, which she took gladly to wipe her face. This was embarrassing. Although, if she had to be sick, the hospital was a logical place for it to happen. "Really."

"Temari, I really think…" Sakura trailed off as she realized what was going on. The symptoms, her behavior, Yoshino's presence, it all added up into a single diagnosis. She clapped a hand over her mouth, drawing it away only to finish her sentence, "you're pregnant."

Temari bit back the urge to reply with scathing sarcasm. While it was obvious to her, none of her friends knew just yet. In fact, she'd completely forgotten to call Ino the day before. "You're not allowed to tell anyone. Doctor-patient confidentiality."

"Aren't you going to say something to everyone?"

"I will, but not right now. Let us do this on our own schedule, Sakura. Please."

Sakura glanced at Yoshino and then looked back to Temari. "It is Shikamaru's, right?"

"Oh, my god. Why do people keep asking me that?" She turned to Yoshino, arms out to her sides as she looked for an answer to her rhetorical question. Facing Sakura once more, she declared, "Yes. Obviously."

Sakura ignored the comment, snatching her friend's left hand to examine the ring she'd noticed. "Is this what I think it is?" Without waiting for an answer, she threw herself at Temari, hugging her tightly. "Congratulations!"

Temari did her best to remove her strong friend. "Thanks, Sakura, really. I'm glad you're excited, but can we do this later? You know, when I didn't just get sick in a hospital trash can?"

"Right, yeah." Sakura brought herself back down to earth. She looked at her watch, and her eyes widened. "Oh, I have surgery in five minutes. Crap. I have to scrub in!" She hurried down the hall, calling back, "I'll stop by soon, okay? We'll talk then!"

Temari groaned. She'd had enough social interaction for the day, and it wasn't even noon.

Yoshino smiled and began to guide Temari to the lobby once more. "Get used to it, sweetie. There'll be a lot more where that came from over the next nine months."