Shikamaru finally returned with a tray of food. Kneeling down next to Temari, he realised how much he loved to watch her sleeping. She seemed so peaceful, he thought, then laughed to himself as he realised how different she was once she was awake.

He saw her stir.

She opened her eyes and loudly exclaimed, "What are you laughing at, crybaby?"

"I see you're feeling better, woman", he returned.

"A little bit", she said sitting up. Then more quietly "thank you for taking care of me last night. I'm not sure what-"

"It's ok", he said, feeling rather embarrassed. "You were just tired from the long trip and then having me bother you all day can't have helped. Really, I shouldn't have made you do so much walking-"

"Baka, what do you take me for? I'm a ninja! Making the trip here isn't that difficult-"

"Not normally, but knowing you, you probably went and made the three day journey in two!"

"How did you-"

"Troublesome woman!" He proffered the tray of food at his side. "Here, hopefully if I put some food in your mouth I can get some peace and quiet around here!"

"It does smell good", she said, suddenly realising that that was why he had gotten up earlier. She saw what was probably rice with vegetables, pickles, some fish and some kind of soup, then realised with a start that it was a very familiar looking and hearty soup. Her heartbeat quickened. It was her favourite! And he had gone to the trouble to make it for her. He was so considerate of her. She looked at him again.

"Well come on then, eat up!"

"But you promised we could sleep in", she pouted uncharacteristically at him.

"Yes you can Temi. But after breakfast. You need some food in you first! And in case you didn't realise, it's almost midday already. Even lazy old me has been out to the markets already, made breakfast for a most troublesome woman and returned to wait on her hand and foot just so she can regain her energy to bother me again!", he teased, smiling at her. He handed her the soup and then rose to open the blinds.

She felt her stomach flutter all of a sudden, a flutter that had nothing to do with the wonderful breakfast spread out before her.

"And after breakfast/lunch you can have that soak I promised you last night. I'll have to go spend some time with Kurenai Sensei's kid but then I'll be back to check on you. I'll even see if I can borrow some warmer clothes for you. We can play shogi, go for a walk. If you're up for it that is. Or just do nothing."

That drew a laugh from her. "Of course you would suggest that. Doing nothing. Shikamaru's favourite thing in the world." She smiled at him again, just to make sure he knew she wasn't really making fun of him. She was just happy he cared so much about her.

"Well come on then. Eat up!", he repeated, handing her a bowl of soup.

"Well aren't you having any?", she asked, noticing that there was only one set of everything on the tray.

"Nah", he replied. "I'm not normally a breakfast person...well I'm not normally up early enough to bother before lunch. Anyway, I'll go get a bath ready for you so you can get cleaned up when I'm gone."

Finally taking a sip of the soup, she noticed him watching her. She felt herself blush under his watchful gaze.

"Glad you like it. If you want any more just let me know. I made extra", he explained as he rose to his feet. "I'm going to draw you that bath now so you can have a soak after breakfast/lunch."

"Ah thank you Shikamaru, this is really good", she stammered after taking a sip of the soup. She watched as he was about to slide the door shut and disappear out of the room.

"Thank you...I made it just for you!"

Then his head appeared again from behind the door, "this is kinda troublesome but I forgot we're having a small dinner for Naruto and Hinata tonight...And I, uh, I was wondering...if you'd like to come with me...", he trailed off hesitatingly.

"Sure, I'd love to!"

"Ok great! Now I'll go get the bath ready for you!"

She smiled back at him with her eyes as she continued to sip happily at the soup.