Here's the update!! And it's about time in my opinion XP. I'd firstly like to thank everyone that reviewed so far!Marachan for the lovely conversation and Andy has an idea for the advice!! It means a lot!! The longest chapter yet!! 6,000 words!

Of Nightmares and Family

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"It's too hot!!" said Tenten for the millionth time that hour. Her bangs were stuck to her forehead, drenched with sweat and other unknown excretory materials that come from lack of air. She had been whining since they left Suna and began the journey in the borrowed horse and carriage.

Asuma had told them that he would be leaving for Konoha in a weeks time which gave Shikamaru one day to tell his parents he would not be returning.

"Are we there yet?!" she whimpered again, a lazy hand rubbing her cheek stubbornly. Temari, who had been playing with her hair and Shikamaru's finger since the departure turned for the millionth time on the brunette.

"TENTEN!! KONOHA IS GREEN. WHEN YOU SEE SAND, Y'KNOW THAT WE HAVEN' EVEN LEFT THE DESERT. WHEN YOU START SEEIN' GREEN, THEN WE'LL BE THERE!! NOW PLEASE BE QUIET!"

Even though she was being scolded by her best friend, Tenten couldn't help but smile. She turned to Neji and whispered loud enough so Temari could hear her, "She's just anxious 'cause she's meetin' Shika's parents."

Temari grinded her teeth while Neji snickered and Shikamaru chuckled.

"Don' worry Tem.. My pa's just like me.. You'll get along great with him," He reassured her, taking her hand in his and giving it a tight sqeeze. She smiled weakly and then realised a loophole in his statement.

"And what 'bout your mother?"

Shikamaru must not have heard her because he chose that moment to turn around and address Neji (something about lemons and clouds). Temari sighed. She was getting too old for this!! Meeting parents, phhsh. She felt like a fifteen year old again!

The carriage slowly came to a stop and Tenten looked out the small window on the right. Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"I still see sand?!"

Neji rolled his eyes as he opened the door. "The horse needs to be fed and watered."

They each scrambled out of the carriage, Neji holding open the door. As soon as her feet touched the soft sand, Tenten turned around and lay flat on her back. The sand around her swirled on impact and Temari couldn't help but join her. After travelling in the small carriage for the past day and a half, the small bit of freedom was a blessing. Her hands were sweaty and she desperately needed a wash.

Her light purple dress clung to her body in all the right ways but she still felt filthy. Shikamaru had told them that there was a small bath house just outside the village of LittleRoot so they could change into some nicer clothes (compliments of Temari's mother and father) and have a nice wash. First impression last of course. She didn't know why but she was determined for his parents to like her.

She normally didn't care what she was called but thinking about how his mother would react to her, her stomach would turn upside down and tie itself in knots.

Neji and Shikamaru were sitting down a few feet away while the carriage driver pulled out a sack of seeds and a large bucket of water. The horse whinnied with joy when the cool liquid touched its lips and the loud slurping made Temari laugh out loud. Tenten seemed too tired to ask her what she was snorting about.

"Ma'am, the 'orse is fed. We leavin' now?" the carriage driver asked, his strong accent breaking through. Temari sighed and nodded before helping Tenten to stand who moaned loudly at the thought of being stuck in the carriage again. She didn't know why she decided to come. The idea of a road trip was exciting and she wanted to see where Shikamaru was born. Right now though, she couldn't care less if he was born in a shoe box.

Neji and Shikamaru joined the girls a few seconds later and the rest of the journey was made in silence on Temari's behalf and loud moaning on Tenten's behalf.

...

"Oh Kami, there it is!" said Tenten loudly, jumping out of her seat and hitting her head on the roof of the carriage. "We're in LittleRoot!"

Shikamaru stuck a finger in his ear and cringed at the volume of her voice. "Yeah, 'nd there's the bath house." Before the carriage came to a complete stop, Temari grabbed her dress, opened the door and ran into the bath house, her blonde hair bouncing behind her. Shikamaru chuckled and unpacked the bags before paying the carriage man the money Asuma had given him.

Tenten followed Temari in a few seconds later while Neji and Shikamaru strolled behind. When they finally came out of the dressing room in their swimming shorts, the girls were already in their bathing suits, swimming around the large bath. It was big enough to fit about ten people (and give them room to do as they wished) so Neji dived in almost instantly. Though he never complained about the journey in the suffocating carriage, he was more than pleased to see some water.

Temari wore a dark brown bikini that made her skin look that much more darker while Tenten stuck to a bright yellow. Shikamaru couldn't help but stare at the formers arms which seemed to be shining from the moisture. She was truly a goddess of Suna. Even though Tenten had spent most of her life in the desert, the only characteristic she possessed was dark hair and eyes. That was what made Temari stand out.

A child of the desert, of sun and sand and yet her blonde hair and teal eyes defied the place. Shikamaru soon joined the others in the bath and began to swim backwards, the water rippling around his bare chest. Temari seemed to be finally relaxing in the cool moisture and let out a soft groan of pleasure. Tenten and Neji were talking about noodles.

"Oh SHIT!!" roared Temari at the top of her voice. Shikamaru jumped in surprise. One minute she was relaxing and the next she was screaming like a banshee.

"What's wrong?" Tenten asked her, eyes moving from the long haired brunette to her blonde friend.

Temari rolled her eyes as she began to hit her head against the back platform that she had been resting against only minutes ago.

"I forgot to tell my boss that I wouldn' be returnin' to work," she groaned, eyes closing as she placed a wet hand over her face. Shikamaru chuckled. It wasn't like she needed that job anymore. She would be working at the ranch too and Asuma would be paying for her to do her job.

It was far better pay that what she was making and he was also providing accommodation. Asuma's terms were that the ranch be run the same as always and if Shikamaru wanted to make any changes, he was to run it by him first. He didn't mind that Shikamaru might have some fresh and helpful ideas for running the ranch but he still wanted to be recognised as the owner, after all the hard work he had put in to make it what it was today.

"It'll be fine Tem," Tenten reassured her, sighing in exasperation, "Your boss is nothin' but a two faced asshole!"

Temari laughed. True, true.She didn't need to tell Hiroto that she was leaving. He probably wouldn't care... although maybe he would because he had to find someone else to work for shit money without question.

Tenten and Neji soon exited from the bath, both refreshed and fully restored. The brunettes made their way back into the changing rooms to wear the "formal" clothing Temari had picked out. The door slammed closed as they made their way and a loud silence echoed through the walls. Temari allowed her head to plop back on the platform as Shikamaru approached her in all his half naked glory. Her eyes drifted open as she felt his body heat reach her through the thin fabric of the top of the bikini.

"Hello stranger," she whispered as his eyes reached a mere few centimetres from hers.

"Hello," he replied, the corners of his mouth twisting up a little to match his husky voice. It was strange that even though they were in this close proximity, she didn't feel weird. His hot breath on her cheek sent shivers down her spine, but not in a bad way. She was falling in love... But it was casual. There were no false hopes, no pretenses. He would be staying in Suna, and even though she had wanted to leave, she thought that maybe he would make her stay better.

His head nuzzled into the crook of her neck and he sighed contently, kissing her collarbone. She laughed at the feeling, sending vibrations throughout her body and causing Shikamaru's head to move in time with them. His mouth made work of her neck with the little butterfly kisses he placed in perfect tender spots of her smooth skin. She almost moaned at the feeling... almost. She would not give him the satisfaction of hearing her pleasure.

Suddenly, Tenten burst through the door in a pale cream kimono and a light brown obi. When she caught sight of the couple she backed out of the room, apologising profusely. Shikamaru laughed at her expression of sheer embarrassment before placing a light chaste kiss on Temari's mouth.

"I best be gettin' ready," he whispered into her cheek, feeling her wet spiky hair brush the side of his face. She nodded in agreement, knowing that she wouldn't be happy with her appearance until it was perfect. She just hoped that his parents were nice. She had one too many experiences with parents that loathed her. She wanted this to be different.

Knock Knock Knock

The sound echoed in Temari's ears as she watched Shikamaru withdraw his hand from the door. The outside of the large compound was a light green, matching the surrounding forest. It was clear that Shikamaru was from a wealthy family if the secluded area was any sign. The tall trees that basked over the area left the house in a bright light, not cutting off the sun's rays.

The thing about LittleRoot was that one minute it was boiling hot and the next it was raining hail stones. Temari hadn't brought any clothes for such an occasion and was lucky that the sun was high in the sky at the moment. The last thing she wanted was to get her deep red kimono soaked to her skin before she even met Shikamaru's parents.

The door opened swiftly and out came a woman with dark brown hair and matching eyes in an apron with her hair tied in a messy bun. Though the hair style looked like a one minute job, it was clear that every strand that seemed out of place was put that way on purpose. She wanted to give the impression that she didn't try so hard when in reality, she was probably fretting over her appearance all morning.

She looked from Shikamaru to Tenten, then to Neji and finally Temari. The woman seemed to be sizing her up and down from tip to toe. Finally, she decided to speak.

"Shikamaru! Stand up straight! You look like a hunchback! What will people say when they see your terrible posture. Ridiculous!"

Shikamaru cringed at his mothers berating but stood straighter none the less. Instantly, the woman before them turned on a warm smile and welcomed them into her home.

"Hello deary's. Welcome, welcome. My name is Yoshino. It's such a pleasure to meet you all." Her accent was perfect, not taking on the short abbreviations that Temari was so accustomed to. This was a woman of high class.

"Thank you so much for welcoming us into your home, Yoshino-sama," said Neji, ever the formal appearance. Tenten rolled her eyes but took Yoshino's hand in hers.

"Oh Shikamaru, he's such a charmer! Why can't you be more like him?!" Tenten was laughing in the corner unbeknown to Yoshino who seemed to be busy idolising Neji. Soon enough, Temari felt Shikamaru's hand on the small of her back as he gently pushed her in front of him. He had a red tinge on his cheeks as Tenten silently made fun of him.

"Good morning Yoshino. My name is Temari. It's a pleasure to meet you," she said politely, offering a hand out to the older woman. She felt her eyes twitch as the pleasantness of her words. Never before had she said anything like that and she hoped that this would be the last time. Yoshino eyed her critically before extending her own hand.

"Yes, I know who you are," said Yoshino with a slightly haughty edge to her voice. "Shikamaru talked about you a lot in his letters."

Temari's face instantly turned red but not like Shikamaru's. He looked like a tomato ready to explode. Tenten could no longer contain her laughter which soon erupted into a series of snorts. Yoshino didn't seem to hear her.

"Nice things I hope," said Temari, trying to calm down. She was going to kill Shikamaru when she got the chance.

"Oh yes, very nice things."

Yoshino beckoned them further into the compound until they emerged into a living area that was as bright as the outside sun. The double windows were wide open and the peach curtains billowed in the light breeze. Temari felt her face de-reden as she felt the wind. Now she felt at home. On the couch was an older version of Shikamaru with a few battle scars adorning his face. He was handsome, and it was such a shame for him to have markings. Or maybe it was the markings that made him handsome?

He seemed to just be waking up at that moment and Temari couldn't help but chuckle as his sleepy eyes scanned the faces before finally resting on her. He stood up quickly, giving his son a salute before turning to Temari.

"Oh my, so this is the woman Shikamaru seems fond of," he said, smirking as his sons face lit up once more. Temari, having recently recovered and having no intention of going that colour again, extended her hand and smiled.

"It's lovely to meet you."

"And you too. My name is Shikaku, and I see you've already met my wife."

Tenten and Neji stepped forward and exchanged pleasantries as always but Shikaku's eyes kept straying towards her. He called his son over to the side of the room and Temari could still hear what he was saying, even though she pretended to be admiring some sort of flower.

"She's a nice girl, isn't she Shikamaru?" he whispered, eyes reaching her again. Shikamaru nodded sheepishly.

"And Troublesome," he replied. Shikaku laughed out loud before returning to his normal posture.

"Then there's no better woman for you."

Soon after the pleasantries, Yoshino beckoned the group into the kitchen where lunch would be served. She had made them an apple tart and had scattered some berries around the plate. Tenten was the first to dig in, having complained all the way here that she was hungry. Shikamaru and Neji soon followed before Temari reached for a slice.

It was absolutely delicious.

The mouth watering flavour and the cool refreshing feeling that washed down your throat with every bite you took was enough to make Temari's eyes close. It was the perfect tart she had ever tasted. Shikamaru, who was watching her from the corner of his eye couldn't help but chuckle. She looked like she was feeling utter bliss. Shikaku announced that they would finish lunch in the back garden because of the cool temperature outside and gestured for everyone to follow him. Neji and Shikamaru were first out, pushing each other until one of them fell.

Big babies..

While the men ventured further out the back (which was huge), Temari, Tenten and Yoshino sat at the porch, sipping tea like proper ladies. Yuck.

"So Temari. Where are you from?" Yoshino asked, sipping her tea innocently.

"Suna," replied the blonde without skipping a beat. She was not going to be intimidated by this woman, no matter how much she was trying to be polite. Tenten seemed to notice the tension so she turned to her own cup and took a long time drinking. Better to avoid any questions.

"And what about your parents? Where are they from?"

Temari looked at Yoshino. "My parents are dead but they were also from Suna."

"I'm very sorry to hear that," said Yoshino and what surprised Temari was that she looked like she meant it. "My parents died when I was young too. I know how hard it is."

Temari smiled. And even though it was slightly strained, she meant it. "It's ok. I have my brothers." She couldn't believe that she thought this woman was the devils reincarnate. Once all the formalities were finished, she was truly warm hearted, even if she showed it in the most unorthodox ways.

The boys were sparring at the very end of the garden and were even adding there own sound effects.

"He's a good boy," said Yoshino out of the blue, startling Temari in the process though she nodded. "I can tell."

They continued to watch the boys as Shikamaru fell to the ground with his father towering over him. "I win."

Temari and Tenten soon joined the boys while Shikaku made his way back to his wife. He sat down beside her and watched as Temari jumped Shikamaru from behind, causing him to buckle and hit the ground.

"You're a cheater!," he pointed out to Temari while he dusted himself off. Her only reply was her tongue. "You're just a sore loser!" she laughed.

Neji and Tenten seemed to be playing with projectiles.

"What age were we when we had Shikamaru?" asked Shikaku, turning to face his wife. She seemed to be daydreaming, watching the couple from where she sat.

"About twenty.." she replied, still staring out into the open garden where Temari was on Shikamaru's back; roaring at him to charge into Neji and Tenten while he refused and she continued to scream.

"She's troublesome," said Shikaku, laughing to himself, "Do you think that they'll get married?"

Yoshino looked at him like he was stupid.

"Of course they will. All Nara men need a 'troublesome woman' to keep them in line and Temari fits the bill... Perfectly," she said, rolling her eyes. Her little baby was all grown up. Soon he would be married with kids and wouldn't need his mommy to pick up the pieces. The thought was a little too much to take.

The morning soon turned to day when all of Naras, Temari, Tenten and Neji re-entered the house for some "bonding" in Yoshino's words. The thing was, Temari had never bonded with anyone in her life. Tenten had explained to her over and over again that the purpose of bonding is to get to know someone new.

Temari couldn't comprehend that.

The people that she knew were just... there! She never triedto get to know them. She just did. It wasn't anything that she could put effort into. Tenten was just another girl in the desert that had sat next to Temari on the first day of her heiress duties at the ceremony. Neji worked at the ranch with Tenten and by a strange turn of events, they found themselves to be friends. Shikamaru also worked at the ranch with Tenten and he had left his hat at the bar.

That was coincidence... But Neji called it fate.

She didn't believe in fate. It meant that you have something set out for you and she didn't like to think that. She wanted to be able to change the outcome of her future. She wanted to live it. Not just deal with it. Everyday to the fullest was her plan but she had been neglecting that little motto until Shikamaru arrived.

Destiny was something Temari could relate to. She knew she was destined for great things and if she had anything to do with it, she would pull Tenten, Shikamaru and Neji along with her. So maybe it was destiny that pulled her where she was now. Sitting on the sofa that Shikaku had been sleeping on, she folded her knees and placed her hand in Shikamaru's who was sitting next to her.

Destiny made her like Shikamaru. And soon, destiny would make her love him.

Now that she thought about it, if there wasn't such a thing as destiny, then she wouldn't be sitting here. Her thoughts were int erupted by Yoshino standing on front of her, offering her a rice cake. She took one with a word of thanks and brought it to her lips. Again, delicious.

"So, tell me a little bit about yourselves," said Shikaku, clasping his hands together and leaning on his knees. Tenten and Neji were sitting at the table in the dining room which was connected to the living area and took the opportunity to babble about where they were born. Neji talked about his cousins and village, mentioning something about a place named Ichiraku's.

Temari had never heard such a name. Tenten talked about her work on the ranch and her parents, and how she made a living. When all heads turned to Temari, she found herself nervous under all their stares.

"Um.. well, I'm from the same area of the desert as Tenten. We grew up together when our parents died," she said, trying to find a way to start. Soon after, she became much more comfortable in Yoshino's and Shikaku's presence and told them about Kankurou and Gaara, about the bar she worked in, about Hiroto and Mr. Nemui (a frequent customer), about her very first pet, about her parents, about her old heiress duties and about her favourite colour.

Everyone was watching her with such interest that it was almost scary. Tenten looked like she was finally understanding her for the first time in her life. Shikamaru seemed to be smiling, not a smirk or a grin but an actual smile. Neji just nodded with every sentence she said but it was easy to tell that he was interested too. What surprised her even more was Yoshino's face.

She was smiling, a real, full smile that reached her hazel eyes. She was beaming, almost like she was ecstatic. Temari smiled nervously before looking to Shikaku to see his expression resembled Shikamaru's. Like father, like son...

A strange silence settled around them until Yoshino coughed audibly. "You've had a very eventful life so far, haven't you?" she asked, the same beaming smile on her face. Temari returned it as best as she could.

When evening approached, Shikaku decided to take the gang out to feed the deer. It was a tradition, Shikamaru had told them, that whenever an important guest comes to the house, they welcome them into their home by allowing them to help with the deer. It wasn't long until Temari pointed out that none of them were important guests.

He didn't seem to hear her.

The night was settling around the trees and the moon was almost full in the sky when the gang made their way out the back door with two large bags of seeds. They decided to split into two groups because, though the deer were in a herd, the younger doe tended to stay behind out of fear but they still had to be fed. Shikamaru pulled Temari along with him leaving Neji and Tenten to go with Shikaku.

"So what do ya think of my parents?" he asked her innocently, not meeting her gaze.

"They seemr really nice. I was nervous about meetin' your mother but she has a nice side to her," she replied, still trying to catch his eye. He was pointedly looking away from her. "Your father on the other hand is exactly like you said... Like you!"

He chuckled but it was strained. Like he was forcing himself to.

"Shikamaru, what's wrong?" she asked, fed up with his avoidance. He took a deep breath that sounded ragged in her opinion and pulled from his pocket a small ornate fan embroided with his clans symbols on the trimmings. A beautifully painted deer and a circle with a diagonal line inside.

"I want you to 'ave this," he said, taking her hand and gently placing it in her palm. "My pa' gave it to my mother a long time ago and I'm supposed to give it to someone too. Sort of another tradition."

She looked at the fan in her hand, no words reaching her lips. It wasn't that she was stunned or anything. She just didn't know what to say. Instead of words, she opened the fan, brought it before her face so that only her eyes were visible.

"So, what do ya think?" she asked, still watching him.

He looked at her, the red tinge on his cheeks still noticeable as he watched her, batting her eyelids, pretending to be some sort of damsel in distress.. She was far from a damsel.. Let alone one in distress!

"It suits you," he told her. Somehow, she managed to make his earthy clan colours appear desert like. The oranges and yellows of Suna that were in her appearance, radiated from her until everyone could feel the scorching heat that the desert brought.

"Thank you Shikamaru," she said, and his name sounded different on her lips. She had said it many times before but now there was a new ring to it. Like it meant more.

He took her hand in his, kissed her gently, almost chaste and they continued on the grassy path that led into the Nara forest. They were quiet; and though it was a must when scouting for the deer, it was an understanding quiet. Like nothing more needed to be said.

A crackling branch made them draw to a complete stop and Shikamaru scanned the area for any sign of the herd. A small doe approached them wearily, eyes on the bag of seeds in Shikamaru's hand. As soon as the deer made it past one of the trees, a stag charged forward, blocking her path and making a disgruntled noise. The doe immediately retreated into the safety of some hollow and the stag raised his head high, staring at Shikamaru who knelt down and opened the packet of seeds.

"Kumo," he said, holding out a hand full in front of him. Temari grinned. It was like saying "We bring an offering."

The stag approached a little more confidently than the doe had done. So this was the leader of the herd. He ate the seeds from Shikamaru's hands, all the while watching him and Temari with great intensity. When he had his fill, he made another noise, this one a little softer than before. Almost instantly, a group a three of four deer approached out of the darkness and began eating for themselves. Temari watched in awe as Shikamaru's hand dipped back into the bag to refill his palm.

The deer soon backed away into the shadows and Shikamaru collected the empty bag. The walk back to the house was more peaceful, like the deer were passing on their grace.

Tenten and Neji were already waiting for them at the porch doorstep with Yoshino who had made them some hot chocolate. Temari accepted it greatfully and sipped at the scauling drink that filled her with such warmth. Tenten was giddy on the second step, retelling Neji of her adventure with the deer while he reminded her that he was there too. But of course, she insisted on it.

Shikaku rejoined them ten minutes later because he was tending to a pregnant doe in the back house at the end of the compound. She was expecting twins. Glancing at the clock on the wall, Temari realised that it was almost midnight. Time sure flew when feeding deer. She thought that they had only been out for an hour at most.

"I've set up the spare rooms for you upstairs," said Yoshino, gesturing to the staircase leading out of the living area. The group nodded in thanks and began to climb to the steps. Temari was stopped by a woman's voice and told the others to go up without her. Yoshino beckoned her over and Shikaku tactfully left the room.

"Did Shikamaru give you the Nara fan?" she asked curiously with a slightly blank look on her face. Temari nodded.

"Yes he did.. It's really beautiful." It was Yoshino's turn to nod.

"You know, Shikaku gave me that fan when he asked to court me? It was rather romantic. My father didn't approve of course," she laughed at the memory. "But that didn't stop us."

Temari smiled knowingly even though she had never experienced such a thing. Her father died when she was a child and her brother's knew better than to meddle in her love life.

"I just wanted to tell you that this is a big thing with Nara men.. They give the fan to those who they plan on spending the rest of their life with," she said and Temari finally appreciated the enormity of the gift.

"I'm not from the Nara clan, in fact, I wasn't originally from any clan. As an outsider, I didn't know what do with myself. I just wanted to tell you that this means a lot to him."

"I understand, Yoshino," said Temari, placing her hand on the banister of the stairs. "And I hope you understand that I won't be leaving Shikamaru anytime soon.." Although she didn't mean to sound angry, it escaped through her words. What was this woman saying? That she didn't love Shikamaru enough or something? Temari knew she didn't love Shikamaru yet.. But she sure as hell was on her way to it.

And despite her angry tone, Yoshino smiled. Her last words to Temari that night were "Shikaku was right."

Shikamaru was waiting up for her in the bedroom they were sharing. A large king sized bed took up most of the space. The room was fairly small considering the large compound but it wasn't like they were staying for more than a night. The cream walls were adorned with pictures of a naked baby Shikamaru, some of Yoshino and Shikaku's wedding day and a few of family and friends. Temari took her time admiring each.

Once she changed into her night clothes, she climbed into the bed next to Shikamaru and wrapped the covers around them. It was so snug that she didn't think she would be able to get up in the morning. The man beside her snuggled deeper into the sheets and pulled her closer to him, one hand behind her head on the pillow and the other draping over her middle.

She appreciated that. He didn't make any move on her during the night, just stayed watching her as she drifted into a deep sleep. In the late hours of the night, he fell asleep with the image of her sleeping face permanently imprinted on his mind.. Although Neji and Tenten seemed to have different plans.

The morning was filled with goodbyes, unfortunately. Yoshino had a box of tissues under her left arm as she helped load their things into the carriage. Shikaku was talking with Shikamaru on front of the wagon while Yoshino hugged each and every one of them in turn.

"Be sure to visit! You're welcome here anytime! We love the company!" she sobbed, crystal tears forming in her already wet eyes.

"Of course Yoshino!" said Tenten happily, grasping hands with the older woman who pulled her into a bone cracking hug. Neji stepped forward a little wearily after seeing Tenten rub her sore ribs.

"Thank you for your hospitality Yoshino."

Again, she grabbed him into a bear hug and almost lifted him off his feet. "Anytime, you gentleman!!"

Once Tenten and Neji had said goodbye to Shikaku, they went to wait in the carriage. Temari looked at Yoshino and smiled.

"It was lovely meeting you. It's nice to know that Shikamaru came from a good home." and with that, she extended her hand. Yoshino looked at it and brushed it aside before pulling her into a warm embrace. "If you ever need anything, don't hesitate. You know where to find us."

Temari smiled and said goodbye to Shikaku who winked at Shikamaru. "She's a keeper."

Shikamaru helped Temari up the step of the wagon and kissed his mother's cheek goodbye. "Thanks for everything. I'll be sure to visit."

The carriage driver, who was growing impatient took the reigns and the horses began to move. They all watched as Shikaku and Yoshino stood at the gate of the compound, Yoshino waving a tissues in goodbye. Before the wagon was out of ear shot, they could hear Yoshino's scream;

"I WANT GRANDCHILDREN OUT OF THIS!!"

Ok, so please tell me what you thought. This was the last real chapter. Next is the epilogue which will be 6 months later from this. Shikamaru, Temari, Neji and Tenten will be back at Suna. You'll see what will happen if you stay tuned! Cookies to everyone that reviews!! I know this was a little bit soppy and fluffy, and even though I hate that kind of thing, I think it had to be included because I couldn't have Shikamaru and Temari falling in love without a little bit of romance.