A/N: The Idea comes from Sandanio's query why is Temari calling Shikamaru, Shika when the said nickname sounds a bit cutesy? ...Happened way back when Shikamaru and Temari just started going out...

Hmn this is over 700 words...but today is special so today's In Between the lines is extra long...

What's in a name?

"So what do you call Shikamaru when you're alone together? Anata? Darling?" Ino giggles, "Love? Loverboy?"

Temari just raises her brow in increasing horror, "Whadda hell, Ino?"

"No?"

"NO!" Temari shivers in revulsion.

"Aw, come on you can tell me..." Ino raises her right palm, "I swear I won't tell anybody. Not even Sakura."

Temari with her index finger, gestures at Ino to come closer. When the other blonde's ear is near her mouth, Temari cups her hand and whispers, "la-zy ass."

Ino sits straight to give Temari a pointed look, and pouts, "You're no fun!"

Temari just sniggers.

-o0o—

"Shiky, help me carry these batches of flowers."

Shikamaru would raise a brow at the unusual name if it will not entail something troublesome, "Where to, Ino?"

"There...no, not there Shiky...there." Ino points to another position all together. "It's nice that you could join us Temari," Ino finally deems to greet Shikamaru's companion.

Temari just nods her head and looks for a chair to make herself more comfortable while waiting for everything to be settled inside the Yamanaka flower shop.

The door to the shop opens.

"I'll get to you soon, Nana-bachan, as soon as we get this in order. Meanwhile, sit beside that blonde. Promise, she doesn't bite." Ino addresses the old woman, a regular customer that just comes in.

The old woman takes the vacant seat next to Temari and smiles at her, gesturing at the two other people inside the shop. "Look at those two. I remember when I was young, my husband...oh he wasn't my husband yet back then but my classmate. I also call him by his pet name, the same as our Ino—Tacky." The old woman suddenly giggles, reminiscing her youth obviously. "Takano-Tacky, he helps around, the same as that young man," the old woman nods towards Shikamaru's direction. "Tacky used to carry my bags, do errands...Those are the days. Now I just call him, Taka."

Temari follows the old woman's head gesture and frowns.

"Shiky, careful. You might crush their petals if you carry them that way," Ino gasps a bit in annoyance.

Temari watches the two. Ino and Shikamaru aren't doing anything out of the ordinary. She has seen this scene twice before already –-Shikamaru sometimes help Ino with the heavy lifting while Ino orchestrate the placement of the thick bundles of flowers, except it's the first time she has heard Ino calling Shikamaru consistently Shiky. "So you think those two are in a relationship-" Temari asks the old woman beside her, "based on what is Ino is calling him?"

"Dear, can't you see how in love those two are?"

"No."

The old woman suddenly pats Temari's hand on her lap.

Temari pulls her hand away from the woman's grasp "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You like him too, don't you?" The old woman eyes convey her understanding.

"Look here. I—"

The old woman shakes her head, seeming to say that Temari need not explain.

"Stop treating me as if I'm a loser or something!" Temari snaps. The old woman's expression just totally pisses her off.

The old woman again tries to grab Temari's hand. "Shhh, you don't want them to hear. I'll keep your secret," she says reassuringly.

What a meddling old woman! There's no getting through to her. "I'm that young man's girlfriend," Temari admits.

"Sure you are, honey. Now, just relax."

Temari looks at the old woman, still seeing the pity, more so now. Gah, she doesn't believe me! Giving up, Temari shouts, "Shika! Come here!"

Both Shikamaru and Ino swivel their heads towards Temari, noticing the vein about to pop on her temple...but most noticeable of all, the one that catches their attention in the first place-is the roughly endearing shortcut to Shikamaru's name that is abnormally uttered.

"Shika? That's it?" Ino recovers and asks teasingly.

"For God sake, Ino! If you want me to call that lazy ass bum by any other name than his name to convey that we are in a relationship, I draw the line at Shika. If you have problem with it, feel free to call him Shiky forever while I'll—I'll just continue calling him, lazy ass!"

"So you are the girlfriend?" The old woman turns towards Temari, with wonder in her eyes.

"Finally!" Temari smiles at the old woman, baring all her teeth.

"And Ino you're the other girlfriend. Tsk tsk kids these days have weird relationships!" The old woman shakes her head in disappointment.

Shikamaru sighs, "Temari, calm down."

-o0o-

~5/6/11~

A/N: Yay, this story marks my FFN account's first year...haha doesn't actually mean much...just that I started writing a year ago...

Thanks to the people who gave concrits and to xXxBloodDeathLovexXx...my stories became more readable because of you guys.

Thanks to the readers who gave encouragement through their reviews and favourites! Thanks to the readers who showed they are still reading my stories by reviewing all the time!...Gosh, I would enumerate you all but I might miss someone and that would be a major crime...

...And yeah, I know you would see the connection...hmn I just accidentally saw it though and imagined there was a connection...thanks to you too by the way...