Hello everyone,

For the extra, I decided to upload it as a Side Story with 5 chapters. It will come out starting on the sunday after Christmas in a two days rythm. As for the name, it is either going to be 'Neji's memories' or 'Neji's pregnancy'. I will decide that until the last chapter.

Disclaimer: If I would own Naruto I wouldn't be writing here, would I?

The next day Neji leaves together with Suzumo. Everyone is reluctant to part with their old friend again, but he promises to visit soon. Shikamaru is again slightly depressed.

When Neji returns home Gaara notices the changes in his friend immediately. Of course he is happy for one that he got Suzumo with him, but the red head doesn't fail to see the sadness lingering due to the situation with Shikamaru.

Around two months after the brunette returned the Kazekage suddenly gets a letter which turns his world again, making way for new possibilities.

"Master Kazekage, here's a letter for you," a servant says, holding the envelope out to his leader.

"From who?"

"It's from Konoha…"

"Konoha? From Naruto?"

"No, the name is… Hino Kiseki."

"Hino? Give it to me and then you can go," the red head orders.

The servant bows, hands over the paper and exits the office. Gaara hurriedly rips open the envelope, his eyes scanning the words. At what he sees his eyes widen. After finishing he jumps up and walks fast out of the room as well.

He heads for his residence. When he arrives there he only finds Suzumo and Kankuro who's watching over the boy there.

"Do you know where Neji is?"

"Chichi said he needed some time to think. He wanted to go to the small garden," Suzumo answers.

"What is it Gaara? Something wrong?" Kankuro asks, slightly concerned by his brother's urgency.

"Nothing bad. Here, read this." He shoves the letter in the brunette's hand and exits the building again.

He hurries through the village to the small planting situated a bit outside where Neji likes to go when something bothers him. He likes it there because it reminds him of Konoha, unlike the sand covering the whole town.

As soon as he reaches the plants he slows down. He makes his way through the green until he comes out on a small round. There Neji is sitting, leaned back. His knees are drawn up, the hair tie and headband are off. Gaara carefully walks over and sits next to his husband.

"Hey, Neji. You okay?"

"Sure. What are you doing here Gaara? Shouldn't you be at work?"

"I was, but I got news."

"News?"

"Yeah, the elders will be pleased. But first I need to ask you something."

"What is it?"

"You still love Shikamaru don't you? And you want to go back to him if possible."

Neji shoots up, eyes wide, "Gaara, I don't… Even if I do, I won't just leave you. I promised to help you and so I'm doing."

"Yes, I know. And I'm thankful for that. But what if I would release this marriage?"

"To be sincere I would love to go to Konoha to be a family with Shikamaru and Suzumo. But why are you asking me this? And what do you mean by releasing this marriage?"

"Because that's what I will probably do."

"What? Why?" Neji asks, looking surprised at the red head, "You don't have to go against the elders only so I can go back to Shikamaru."

Gaara chuckles then he gets serious, "I'm not doing it only for you. Neji, I wanted to tell you this for some time now, but you were busy with Sasuke and it didn't seem all that important to me…"

"What do you mean?"

"I guess I'm sorry, but I have another lover," Gaara apparently is a bit afraid of Neji's reaction because he avoids the white gaze.

But the brunette only chuckles, "Figured as much. But what has that to do with the situation now?"

"Well, you see. His name is Hino Kiseki. He's from Konoha. And until now I couldn't marry him, because I couldn't have an heir with him."

"I understand. But did something change?"

"Yeah," Gaara looks down, "Today I received a letter from him telling me that he's pregnant. Nearly five months along. He was frightened to tell me earlier."

Neji sits up, "Okay, congratulations. But… Not that I'm not used to pregnant men, but from his name he's not from one of the clans so why is he able to bear children as well?"

"Well he was adopted. And apparently he is somehow descendant from the Uchiha clan. He wrote it's a rare case where the carrier-gene is being inherited over the generations, even until no other trait from the Uchihas is left."

"Ah, yeah, I heard of something like that. That sure is a coincidence then."

"A good one. Because the elders only want someone who is able to produce an heir. He is and he's already carrying one, so there will be no problem. That means I can release the marriage with you and you can do whatever you want. Or do you have something against it?"

"Well, I'm happy for you. You just have to get it over to the elders. They won't be happy. And neither will my uncle and the clan."

"I still have a higher rank than the elders. As for your uncle I'm sure he will understand."

"Hn," Neji nods and makes an approving sound, but his gaze is still fixed ahead.

"Is something wrong? I thought you would be happy that you can go to the one you love now," Gaara asks, slightly concerned by the lack of reaction from the Hyuuga.

"No, I am happy. It's just that I told Shikamaru that I would never return to him and that he should leave me alone," he reluctantly admits.

The smaller smiles a bit and squeezes the brunette's shoulder, "I'm sure if he really loves you he will take you back without problems. And he will be overjoyed because of it."

Neji smiles back, "Thanks Gaara. Really thank you for all you've done for me."

"No real problem. After all, you helped me out as well. So we're quit. And now go!"

The Hyuuga looks surprised, "Go where?"

Now the Kazekage actually laughs, "To Konoha, stupid. Go and tell Shikamaru. He will be happy. And I want to be invited to the wedding, understood?"

Neji blushes slightly, but a big smile spreads across his face. He thanks the red head again, then he stands up and hurries out of the garden. He runs to the residence and grabs a small bag he usually takes to missions. He makes a short visit to his son.

"Hey sweetie. What do you think about being a real family with Shikamaru from soon on?"

The little boy's eyes light up, "Really? We will?"

"Yeah," the brunette cuddles the kid, "I'm going to Konoha now, to ask if he wants as well. I will get you later if he says yes, okay?"

The small raven nods eagerly, "Yay! Then hurry!"

Neji laughs but nods. He kisses his son on the head shortly then heads out of the mansion. He brushes past Kankuro, who asks him what's happening. But he only earns a 'No time to explain. I'm in a hurry' from the Hyuuga. He is left standing there again.

"What's wrong with all of them today?" he asks exasperated, before heading inside again.

Neji hurries on his way back to the leaf village. Because of that he manages it in two and a half days. He smirks inwardly at the memory of Lee and Gai proclaiming to do it in one day, when they were sent to save Gaara. To him this seems like ages ago, with everything that happened, though it's probably less than ten years in the past.

He is greeted by the guards as if nothing changed. On his way through the town though he suddenly bumps into someone.

"Neji? Is that you?"

He looks up and is met with black, spiky hair and coal eyes.

"Sasuke, hey. How are you?"

"Fine. But you are back fast," the raven smirks, "Already missed us?"

Neji smirks back, "Nah, it was only two months. And soon I won't have to miss any of you at all anymore."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Soon I will move back to Konoha."

"Really?" Sasuke is glad, the distance to Suna was quite far after all, "But how? You're still the Kazekage's husband, aren't you?"

Neji shakes his head, grinning, "Not for long anymore. Gaara found someone else."

"That's great. Does that mean you will get together with Shikamaru again?"

"I hope so. I am here to ask him about it."

"I am sure he will be happy. But wait…"

The brunette looks at his friend confused, "What is it?"

"I think you got a really bad timing. Shikamaru is on a mission at the moment if I'm correct."

"Well that's bad…" Neji's happy mood gets a damper.

"Yeah, but you should ask Tsunade about it. I'm not sure."

"I will do that. Thanks Sasuke. And I hope the kids are fine."

"Yeah, fine, but nerve-wracking sometimes," the raven groans back.

The Hyuuga chuckles, "Quite some trouble are they? But at least you got Naruto with you."

"Yeah," Sasuke smiles, "And now go on to the Hokage tower. You can visit us later."

"I will. Goodbye Sasuke."

"Bye Neji. We will see you around in the next time I hope."

The two wave at each other and the brunette continues his way to the high red building in the back of Konoha. He jumps up the stairs until he's in front of the Hokage office. He knocks.

"Come in," is the answer from inside.

He opens the door, only to find Tsunade with a glass of sake and Shizune nowhere in sight. The woman sighs as she spots her visitor.

"Neji. You spend far too much time here in Konoha. You belong to Suna now, Sabakuno."

"Please Hyuuga again," the man corrects her.

"Huh? Did you have a divorce or something? I didn't hear of any…" she sounds surprised.

"Not yet, but Gaara is planning it."

"Why now? You're a carrier so I don't see the problem. That red headed brat makes nothing but trouble, does he?"

Neji chuckles, "No, it's nothing about me. Apparently Gaara's actual partner got himself pregnant and now he obviously wants to change husbands."

"He got another Hyuuga as a lover, seriously?" Tsunade asks stunned.

"No, it's not a Hyuuga."

"Brat, don't make me force it out of you. Who and form where?"

"He said he's from Konoha. His name is Hino Kiseki and apparently he is somehow descendant from the Uchihas," Neji explains what the red head told him.

"Kiseki… Kiseki… Ki…" Tsunade dives in one of the stacks of paper behind her desk. The brunette quirks an eyebrow.

"Ah, here!" Triumphant the woman presents a manila folder and opens it. She scans through the papers in it until she stops at the end. "Ah, yes. Here it is. Went to the hospital because of throwing up in the mornings, headaches and stomach pains. Reason not yet found. Hm, yeah it fits."

She looks back up at Neji, who is waiting with one hand on his hip, "And you want permission to become a Konoha ninja again now?"

"Eventually," the brunette answers, "But at the moment I wanted to ask whether you know where Shikamaru is?"

"Ah, I understand… Your lover…"

"He isn't!"

"Hmm, he's on mission. But it's good that you're here."

"What do you mean?" he questions, getting an uneasy feeling.

"You can go and look for him. We lost the contact a bit this morning."

"What? Where is he?" A wave of dread washes over the Hyuuga.

"He should be half a day north from here. There is a small town called Kuroki. He should be somewhere in the forest close to it. It would be great if you could take a look, but I don't think I have to order you to go there."

"No, you don't. Thank you Hokage." He bows shortly and then hurriedly leaves the room.

Neji is running through the village and then further into the direction Tsunade pointed out to him. He is frightened to come too late. That's the last thing he needs now, losing the person he loves just when everything started to look better.

That's it for today. Thanks for reading.

So the Chance that they will be together is back. Let's only hope Shikamaru doesn't get himself killed before that.

The meaning of the Name of my OC (Gaara's Lover):

Hino from hino'iri which means 'rising of sun'

Kiseki means miracle

Hope you liked it and to see you next time.