She opened her eyes and stared at herself in the mirror, those who surrounded her stared in awe.

"Oh, my, god." Ino stared at her in the mirror, she was fanning her face – her sky blue eyes watery. "You look so amazing!" She squealed, her hand waving ferociously. "I mean, I saw it a during the fitting and all, but seeing it on the day…dammit my mascara!"

Sakura laughed heartily, slapping Ino on the back lightly. "Come on!" She turned to the mirror and smiled. "I am so glad that I made it back for this!"

Hinata smiled sweetly as she arranged the chiffon drapping atop of her head.

"Temari-san, you look beautiful in your wedding dress." She commented, as her hands left the white dress.

Temari stared in the mirror and studied herself carefully - she never remembered herself being so feminine, the white wedding dress fitted her lean body perfectly, showcasing her collar bones, well-toned arms and bit of her cleavage.

Ino painted her face – lining her sparkling green eyes with dark eyeliner, plus a swipe of mascara and painted with sparkly eye shadow; her lips was painted in a soft pink colour, matching with the dab of blush on her face. She looked like she walked out of a painting, or one of those magazines that the girls always read about.

"Shikamaru is such a lucky man," Tenten smiled as she fixed the train of her dress. The four kunoicihi were her bridesmaids, Ino volunteered to assemble the girls for the occasion and took the liberty to arrange for matching dresses – a nice purple dress that looked decently elegant.

She took a deep breath as she turned around, her maid of honour – Tenten held the long train of her dress.

Out of all four of them, Tenten was the closest to her – the brunette looked up at her as her rival, someone she would like to surpass; she accepted their friendly rivalry, and since then, they developed a strange friendship.

"It's almost time," Hinata said softly, as Temari nodded.

With a bouquet of flower in hand, she took the first step, and another as the large door flung opened in front of her.

He stood there, next to the altar; he was told of this form of wedding ceremony – it seemed less of a trouble, compared to the traditional one.

Dressed in a tailor-made dark suit, his hair was let down, bits of it cascaded over his face – out of all the people he knew, Sasuke volunteered to style his hair for him, he put gel to pull back bits of it, so that he did not look like he just woke up five minutes before the ceremony. His suit fitted perfectly, with a dark bowtie affixed on his collar, his best man stood next to him, with a big-boned grin on his face.

"Imagine Karui walking down the aisle two weeks later," he said to him, Shikamaru frowned with a smile.

"You can't wait, can you?" He said with a soft chuckle. "Troublsome."

"Hehehe," his friend grinned widely. "But honestly, you look great Shikamaru."

"I suppose I can't look too bad for the wedding right?" Shikamaru looked at the guests sitting inside the Church.

His brothers-in-law was standing at the back, nodding at him as their gaze met. All of the men wore suits, while women dressed themselves in dresses for the ceremony.

Shikamaru smiled as the officiator stepped up to the altar – instead of a clergymen, he invited the most important man – his boss, the Sixth Hokage to officiate.

"Aren't we getting excited?" He muttered beneath his mask. Shikamaru shrugged with an involuntary smile.

He had been waiting for this day for so long, he could barely contain himself.

He dipped his head at his mother, who was sitting in the first row, holding a picture of his father in her hands, she smiled at him with tears hanging at the rim of her eyes.

The music began to play; Shikamaru straightened himself and stared at the door.

The door swung opened, as a little girl began to throw petals around – it was no one but Sarutobi Mirai, Shikamaru's favourite little girl in the whole village. She danced around in a white chiffon dress, throwing petals as she danced around. He smiled at the adorable sight, and looked behind her for the big reveal.

Ino had refused to tell her what she would be wearing, how she would look – but he already had something in mind.

No matter how she looked, she will always be the most beautiful, dazzling woman he ever knew.

Temari took a deep breath as she marched inside – all eyes were on her, she smiled timidly, beneath the semi-transparent chiffon, she felt that this was more difficult than an S-rank mission.

Almost immediately, she was approached by two men – her very own brothers.

"We couldn't decide who should lead you down the aisle, so we are both doing it."

They held out their arms, elbows facing her. Temari laughed a little as she slid her arm through and coiled with them. It was a heartwarming yet hilarious sight that made the guests laughed; even the Kazekage's ice cold face broke into a soft smile. Temari stared ahead, smiling as her gaze met his.

Shikamaru looked at the sight, despite all the commotion he only had eyes for her.

She looked like she just walked out of his dream, as if she was an angel that fell from heaven; she looked like she was covered in snow, so delicate and fragile as if a soft blow would melt her.

His eyes refused to blink as she reached the altar, as she approached, closer and closer, he felt levitated, he was practically flying inside.

Kankuro and Gaara slipped away, and took their seat at the front row, right next to Shikamaru's mother.

Temari stepped up and stood next to Shikamaru, his eyes refused to look away from her; she noticed, a visible blush appeared on her face.

"Stop staring," she whispered, a smile on her beautifully painted face.

"I can't," he said softly in response.

Kakashi cleared his throat, a pair of silver rings rested on the altar in front of him.

"Dear all, today we are gathered here for the wedding ceremony between two loving individuals, a union between two great nations and as Hokage, I have the honour to officiate the ceremony." He paused for a while as Shikamaru and Temari turned to face each other.

"You may present your vows." He said beneath his mask, waiting for the couple to begin.

Temari smiled as she looked into Shikamaru's dark obsidian eyes.

"I, Temari, choose you, Nara Shikamaru, to be my husband; I choose you to be the man I look up to, I choose you to be the lazy man that I would have to kick up from bed every morning; I choose you to be the only man to see my soft side; I choose you to be the man to grow up with me, to raise a family with me, to grow old with me. I choose you, to be mine." She grinned widely as the crowd cheered.

Shikamaru gave a soft laugh; he stared into her emerald green eyes as he cleared his throat.

"Despite all the troublesome things that happened, I Nara Shikamaru, take you, Temari, to be my shogi partner, to be the biggest pain in my life, to be a part of my family. I take you to be the light to my shadows, just as you would take me to be the shadows of your wind. I take you to be my wife, from this day forth, and hopefully in the life after this." He sighed softly afterwards. "How troublesome."

Temari frowned, with a smile on her face; her eyes glittered as she blinked.

"Well," Kakashi arched an eyebrow, as he held out the cushion; the rings glittered atop of the dark velvet. "With the power vested in me as the officiator and as Hokage of Konoha, I pronounce you man and wife." He winked at Shikamaru. "You may kiss the bride."

His hands shivered a little as he reached up, touching the soft chiffon that covered her face.

He gently lifted the veil – her face was radiant, her eyes sparkled as her gaze rested upon him. He stared, as if he was lost in the emerald vortexes, smiling.

He blinked, as he leaned forward slowly.

Suddenly, he was caught by surprise, as Temari pressed her lips against his, almost impatiently, her lips brushed against his.

Submitting to his wife's wishes, he rested his hands around her waist, as the crowd cheered on.

Temari and Shikamaru became the Naras, bound by their vows and more importantly, the love they had for each other.

And so, two became one.

And so, a new page in their life begins.

Author's note:

Just a short chapter, a short, essential chapter that everyone had been waiting for (hopefully)

I hope you all enjoy! And with this ... you know what's coming ;)

Enjoy xoxo

V.S.V