My lovely readers! We're finally in the last chapter~~ I really hope that you enjoy this chapter and that you have all thoroughly enjoyed this series! I've honestly fallen in love with Sakura and Shikamaru a lot more by writing these chapters so I hope you did too :) Thank you for reading! I really appreciate all of your reviews!

And with that, here's to the last one!

Shikamaru's heart shot into overdrive when the warmth of her arms wrapped around his neck, the scent of jasmine from her hair, and the press of her body against his flooded his senses. Hugging Sakura, he pressed a soft kiss to her temple as he swayed side to side slowly. When he heard Sakura's light chuckle near his ear, he let out a satisfied hum as he breathed her in.

He could hardly believe that this was real. That the woman in his arms was hugging him, hell even dating a guy like him.

But no, that confession with the cigarette most definitely happened because here they were, holding each other so closely that Shikamaru didn't think there was any more space between them.

When Sakura pulled away, Shikamaru kept one hand at the small of her back as his other reached up to cup her cheek. As he gazed into her eyes, he found such a deep warmth in them that he felt his heart soar as he brushed noses with her, closing his eyes for a moment.

"Thank you for dinner, Shika." Sakura softly said, Shikamaru pulling away to catch her gaze again. She held a grateful smile on her lips, her cheeks turning pink. "I didn't know you were such a good cook."

"Of course I'd be. What kind of man would I be if I wasn't?" Shikamaru replied as he realized that they were standing in front of Sakura's apartment.

The two of them had gone over to one of the small, fancy restaurants downtown for a date.

"You've got another day off tomorrow, right?" Shikamaru asked as he watched Sakura glance away from him, thinking.

Suddenly, a devious grin slid onto her lips as her arms snaked behind Shikamaru's neck, pulling him down to her height. Letting out a surprised grunt, he blinked as he stared into Sakura's bright emerald gaze. "You bet. Why, did you have something planned?"

The way she asked that with a raised brow and a mischievous grin sparked something in Shikamaru as he leaned closer to her, replying "Maybe" with a smirk, eyes locked on somewhere else. There was a beat of silence between them before Sakura broke into a grin as Shikamaru captured her lips. That one movement created something electric between them as Sakura's hands found its way to the back of Shikamaru's head, pulling him closer to her. Shikamaru gently kissed her, his hands sliding from her waist, to her arms - before he pulled away for a moment.

Seeing the dazed, blurry look in her eyes fade into slight disappointment made Shikamaru lean in again, this time kissing her with more intensity than before. As he tilted his head to the side, he felt Sakura nip the bottom of his lip, earning her a low groan from Shikamaru, his hands slowly roaming up her sides as his heart raced and the pit of his stomach burned with something he's felt for a while.

When Sakura let out a sharp inhale and a muttered "ow", they both pulled away breathless as Shikamaru found that his hand had been touching the bandages around her abdomen. "Oh shit, your wounds! Sakura, I –"

Sakura cut him off as she closed the distance between them again, giving him a soft, lingering kiss.

"I'm okay," she murmured against his jaw, her hands sliding down Shikamaru's black dress shirt to grasp his hands that were frozen on her waist.

Shikamaru felt a pang of guilt for accidently touching a wounded spot, but felt it ebb away when Sakura's warm hands squeezed his, making him meet her gaze. "Would you like to come in?" Sakura asked as she unlocked her apartment, the jingling of keys filling the silence.

"Sure," Shikamaru quietly replied as he felt himself being pulled in, Sakura's hand wrapped around his wrist.

As Sakura flicked on a light and shut the door, they both took off their shoes nonchalantly, giving Shikamaru to glance around the room for a moment. There were magazines laid out on the counter in her kitchen, articles of clothing such as jackets, shirts lying about. But for the most part, Sakura's apartment was relatively clean – smelling like jasmine too.

"So, what did you want t—" Shikamaru's words were cut off when Sakura gently turned his head and captured his lips with her own.

Shikamaru practically melted in her arms as he was caught off guard, his brain telling him to get his shit together as his fingers twitched to life. His hands carefully trailed up Sakura's sides, mindful of her bandages this time as one tangled into her hair and the other cupped her cheek tenderly. The kiss wasn't insistent this time.

This kiss was…them. The way it was slow and exploring was like how their relationship began. It was warm, sweet, soft, filled with care, with love…with every emotion the two of them had ever felt with each other. Shikamaru let out a contented sigh as he pulled away from Sakura for a moment, catching the look that she was giving him.

The way she was blushing, gazing up at him with her shining emerald eyes – Kami even biting her lip like that – Shikamaru would've just ravished her right then and there. But when she tilted her head to the side curiously, the fire in his gut dimmed a little as Shikamaru suddenly became overwhelmed with a flurry emotion. His heart was soaring and feeling full at the same time and he didn't know how to deal with it anymore.

Upon seeing the change in his expression, Sakura's soft gaze became concerned as she placed a hand on his cheek. "Shika? You okay?"

Shikamaru's brows were furrowed as his eyes began to water, biting his lip momentarily as he stared silently at Sakura. Her expression showed such patience, but underneath, Shikamaru could tell she was worried. Taking a deep breath, he let out a sigh as he held her hand, pressing his lips to her palm lovingly.

"I just…I just love you so much, troublesome woman." Shikamaru whispered with a smile as he saw Sakura's cheeks bloomed with red, her eyes watering at his words.

"Shika…" Sakura breathed as her lips pulled into a beaming smile, shifting forward to hug him tightly, pressing her face into her neck.

Shikamaru's arms circled around the pink kunoichi's waist carefully as pressed a kiss her shoulder, feeling wholeheartedly content.

Shikamaru decided right then and there that he wouldn't change a single thing for this moment.

He loved this woman with all his being and he couldn't have asked for anyone else.

Needless to say...the two of them ended up getting engaged a few years later.

Fin.