Edit: I've fixed the content in this chapter

okays ... only one more after this ... then my Nara Baby spree is over. Then I move on to other stories ...

Disclaimer: I only own Chiyo and the surprise guest in this chapter ...

"You're taking my daughter to do what?" Ino asked one morning as she sat up in bed. He couldn't be serious, could he?

"Cloud watching." Shikamaru replied.

"Isn't she a little young?" Ino asked as she threw back the covers, got up, and followed him into the nursery.

"You're never too young to watch clouds." Shikamaru told her as he lifted three-month old Chiyo from her crib. The baby gurgled happily to see her father.

"Besides, it'll give you a day off." Shikamaru told her as reached for the baby carrier.

"Yeah, until you have to bring her home so she can eat." She remarked as she took Chiyo, letting Shikamaru put the carrier on. He then took Chiyo back and started to place her in the sling like device.

"We'll still have fun and you can still relax for a bit. My father will be there as well, nothing will happen to Chiyo." Shikamaru reassured her as he got Chiyo settled. He then reached over and Kissed Ino's cheek and squeezed her shoulder in reassurance.

"Well, don't forget to put a hat on her, and apply sun block. And don't forget a jacket incase it get's windy, and a blanket." Ino told him anxiously.

"I know Ino. She'll be fine. Don't worry so much."

"I'm a mother; I have nothing to do but worry. It's my job. Don't forget to bring a toy incase she gets bored."

"Everything is packed and ready to go." He told her as he lifted up the diaper bag.

"Okay then … I guess this means your leaving." Ino said sadly. She gently touched the crown of Chiyo's head.

"We'll be back in a few hours. Why don't you take a bath, or start a new book?" He suggested.

"I might. Okay baby. Be good for Tou-san." Ino said as she kissed Chiyo's forehead.

"We'll be back soon. Don't get too worked up. Maybe you could go visit my mother." Shika suggested.

"I might." She said as he kissed her quickly. It had become a part of their routine when either one of them left. It reassured the other that they were coming back, that they cared. And every time Shikamaru kissed her it sent butterflies soaring in her stomach. She sometimes wondered if it did the same for him.

"You going to be alright?" He asked. She didn't know.

"Yeah, go have fun." She told them.

"Alright. Say bye Kaa-san." Shikamaru told Chiyo. The baby girl just gurgled contently.

"Bye sweetheart." Ino said waving as she followed Shika to the door.

"Relax." He reminded her before he left. As soon as they were gone Ino sat down and cried. She had never felt so helpless. She cried for over an hour and ended up hiccupping on the couch. She made no motion to move until a knock sounded from the door.

"Shit." She muttered as she wiped away the tears and stood up to answer it.

"May I help you?" She asked as she opened the door slightly. Standing on the other side was a familiar face but she couldn't place where. The woman was tall and blonde, with large blue eyes. But she had an aged look about her and her face seemed a bit weary.

"It's been too long." The woman said with a sad smile. Ino was taken back a bit, did she know this woman?

"Excuse me?" Ino asked, still confused.

"You don't remember me do you?" The woman asked. Ino could see that she was saddened by this.

"I'm afraid not." Ino replied as she opened the door a bit more so she could see better.

"Ino, it's me. Your mother." And with those words, Ino fainted.

When she woke up again she was lying on her couch with a cool cloth on her forehead.

"W-what's going on?" She asked.

"You fainted dear." Came a voice. Ino screamed and sat straight up. She regretted it instantly. Her head throbbed and she could feel blood rushing with a roar in her ears.

"Don't move so fast. You worried me when you fell." The woman said. Ino's eyes snapped to the woman and she pulled back.

"What do you care?" Ino hissed. The woman looked heartbroken instantly.

"I knew you'd still be mad at me, and you have every right." The woman sighed.

"Damn right I do! You abandoned me!" Ino cried as she stood up. She wobbled a bit on her feet but she continued on anyway, she couldn't be weak in a moment like this. The woman followed.

"Ino, please wait!"

"Why should I?" Ino demanded as she stormed into her kitchen opening up the cabinet that she usually kept the aspirin in. God where was it? Her head was pounding.

"Because I'm sorry!" Those words made Ino pause in her search.

"I want to start over. I want to regain your trust." The woman told her. Ino shut the cabinet with a curt snap.

"Why would you want to do that?" Ino asked turning to her, folding her arms across her chest.

"Because I want to be a good mother again, I want to know my grandchild." She said softly. Ino's eyes widened. How did she know about her baby?

"How would you know about Chiyo?" Ino inquired.

"All I knew is that you had a baby. I overheard some women on my way into town. They were talking about how the Nara boy was taking the baby to watch clouds. Said the baby looked like you. Does she?" The woman asked.

"Yes, but she has his eyes." Ino told her quietly.

"So Yoshino's son is the father?" The woman asked.

"Yes." The woman smiled weakly.

"We used to joke that you two would get married someday."

"We're not married." Ino told her firmly. But we might as well be, Ino thought to herself.

"But, what about the baby?"

"We have a baby together, but we aren't married because of her. I told Shikamaru early on that I didn't want him to marry me just because we had a child together. A baby does not make love, and a Baby doesn't create a happy marriage."

"That's very sensible. You always were levelheaded. Just like your father."

"Your right, I am like Tou-san." Ino replied bitterly.

"How is he?"

"Happy, he's finally happy again. You really hurt us." Ino replied angrily.

"I know, and I was selfish to leave like that. And I'll never forgive myself, I just hope that you will someday."

"Someday, maybe, but not today."

"That's all I ask. I'm moving back you know."

"Really?" Ino did sound all that impressed.

"Yes, there's a small house on the outskirts of town that I'm buying, it's the perfect size for me."

"That's nice." Ino said stiffly.

"Will you let me visit her?" It took Ino a few moment to realize that she meant Chiyo.

"Maybe. I really don't know." Just then Ino heard the door open and close again.

"Ino, we're back!" Came a voice.

"They're home early." Ino murmured, glancing at the clock.

"Oh dear." The woman muttered.

"Did she get hungry?" Ino asked as he walked into the room.

"Yeah, a little earlier than usu-" He stopped when he saw Ino's mother.

"Shika, meet … my mother." She struggled to get out the words. Shikamaru's eyes widened.

"She came for a visit." Ino informed him, her voice sounding tight and pinched. Shikamaru slowly walked to her and leaned in close

"When I told you to find something to do, I never expected this." He murmured in her ear as he hugged her quickly.

"You're telling me." Ino muttered as she took Chiyo from the sling. Shikamaru turned to the older woman and started to remove the carrier.

"I know this sounds rude, but I can't recall your name." Shikamaru told her.

"Ayame. And it's alright; you haven't seen me since you were 3." She said with a small smile.

"Yeah, three." Shika said nodding. His gaze turned to Ino's and discovered hers to be one of misery.

"Why don't you go feed her, I'll make some tea. Call my mother. We'll talk this out." Ino nodded gratefully as she hurried out of the room. Shikamaru was quiet for a few minutes as he shuffled around the kitchen, putting the kettle on to boil, grabbing cups and teabags. Once there was nothing left for him to do he turned to Ayame.

"Are you trying to send her into a panic attack?" He demanded quietly.

"No, I just want to get to know my daughter and granddaughter." She replied. She seemed sincere in her words.

"You abandoned her!" He cried silently as pulled the whistling kettle from the burner and poured the scalding liquid into the awaiting cups.

"Yes, but there was so much more to it."

"Like what? You dumped her and Inoichi! Does he even know your back?" Shikamaru inquired bringing the tea tray over to the table and motioning for the older woman to sit. She quietly took a chair and Shikamaru passed her a cup and motioned to the table sugar, a silent sign telling her to use it as she wished.

"He doesn't know, not yet at least. I was going to go there right after I went here." She told him.

"How did you find her?"

"I asked. People were wiling to give me the information."

"That's great, that's just great."

"I assume Inoichi still lives behind the flower shop?"

"Yes."

"And your parents still own the farm?"

"Yes, why? Planning on making more visits?"

"Yes, I am. I'm moving back."

"Where did you go after you left them?"

"The mist village, I have family there. They took me in."

"You ever have anymore children?"

"No, I couldn't face the chance of me leaving them like I left her. I couldn't even imagine being with anyone other than Inoichi, that'd I'd have ever wanted children with."

"Why did you leave?" he finally asked.

"I was so scared. I didn't know what to do. I was depressed after having Ino, and it never really got any better. After a while, I couldn't take the stress anymore. Inoichi was going on more missions to make ends meet, the flower shop was doing poorly, Inoichi and I kept fighting, and I wasn't emotionally stable enough to take care of Ino. I was a mess, so I ran. It seemed like the best choice at the time. I packed my things and ran away one night. I made sure Inoichi was home for Ino, and I left a note for him. I sent the divorce papers a few weeks later. I just wanted out of it all. I signed away everything to him, including Ino. I regret it all now. I left the people I loved the most. I should have stayed and dealt with it. But I am a weak woman." She told him sadly.

"I cried for two weeks straight." Ino said bitterly from the doorway. Ayame and Shika turned to look at her. Tears were rolling down her face and her bottom lip was quivering like she trying to hold back sobs.

"I thought that I had done something to make you not love me anymore. To make you leave me and Tou-san."

"It was never you Ino. I loved you so much and I was hurting you." Ayame told her as she stood.

"You hurt me more by leaving like you did!" Ino cried holding Chiyo closer to her.

"It broke my heart to leave you, you must know that. Imagine having to leave your daughter. The pain was so horrible, it broke my heart."

"It broke mine!" Ino yelled at her.

"I know it did. And I'll never forgive myself for hurting you. I really did love you Ino, so much, you'll never know how much." Ayame said as she started to cry as well. She walked over to Ino and wrapped her in a hug and kissed the top of her head.

"I'm so sorry." She whispered. Ino started to weep on her mother's shoulder, and her mother did the same. And somehow, the years of hurt had been cleared a little. Part of their broken hearts were mended. A new relationship had been started between mother and daughter, and Shikamaru could see that it would just get stronger over time.