Author's Note:

I wanted to clarify something from one of the previous chapters. Someone asked me how the characters have children with their alpha, omega, and beta statuses. Here's how it works: all females can give birth to children. However, their fertility depends on their status. Alpha and beta females tend to have a more challenging time getting pregnant. This does not mean that they cannot become pregnant. It just means they tend to go longer times between them having children. Alpha and beta males cannot have children without a unique jutsu, so Naruto invented the jutsu when he thought Sasuke was a beta. Omegas (female or male) are very fertile and the only ones who can have multiple children either at once or within the rapid succession. Omega males are the only males to give birth without a unique jutsu.

Also, not all of the seme males are alpha. For instance (Shikamaru is a beta, but Temari is an alpha). So, as you can tell, there are different types of relationships and different statuses. This is normal in their society, and I wanted to make sure people understood this. I know it is different than what we're used to when adding this element into a story. However, I feel this gives the story a sense of diversity and uniqueness most have not seen before. I hope this clears up some of the confusion during future chapters.

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Chapter 96: Flood Gates

Normal P.O.V.

The following day was proof Jiraiya knew what he was talking about, which didn't surprise Shikamaru in the slightest. Despite the Toad Sage being an open pervert, he had a lot of wisdom tucked deep within his personality. And, if one listened closely, then they could witness it. Too bad those moments were far and few in between. Luckily, his convincing Lady Tsunade to get some rest was what would save his ass from being ripped a new one. Now, all Shikamaru had to do was finish finalizing some paperwork… five stacks of paperwork.

The brunette deer teen sighed as he slammed his head down on his desk. Currently, while Lady Tsunade, Sakura, and the other girls took care of things at the hospital, he stayed in his office and took care of the other loose ends that Lady Tsaunde couldn't; one of the many benefits of being the Hokage's Advisor.

"I swear, if someone brings me another stack of documents, I will burn this place to the ground." He tiredly sighed as he sat upon his elbows and rubbed his eyes.

Shikamaru was about to work on another stack of documents when he knocked at his office door. "Come in," he mumbled. Next, a beautiful, tall blond weasel woman walked through the threshold. "Temari? What are you doing here?"

"I came to check on you, silly. Your mother said you haven't been home since we returned from the war." She answered as she closed the door behind her, leaned against it, and folded her arms. "She's worried about you, ya know. I am too."

"I'm fine. I', just drowning in paperwork, but nothing I can't manage. Thank you for checking on me. Tell my mother I said hi when you see her again." He said without looking at her.

"You should really tell her yourself." She glared when she pushed off the door and approached his desk. "Shika, you need to take a break. You're overworked and tried. We all are. Since we returned from the war, we've all been working nonstop, rebuilding and mourning what we've lost, especially you. Have you ever visited your mother or spent time with her since you've been back? Of course not, but you need to,"

"Temari, you're not going to make me feel bad. Like everyone in this village, I have a job to do. I am the Hokage's Advisor. So I can't just stop working whenever I want to,"

"So you don't even have time to visit your friends in the hospital, or sit with your grieving mother, or spend time with your girlfriend?" When Shikamaru didn't say anything, Temari continued. "Have you ever taken time to mourn your father's passing?" Shikamaru stopped writing and tightened the grip on his pen at her words. Although she did not smile at his reaction, she knew she had hit a nerve somewhere. "What's wrong? Weasel got your tongue?"

"Stop it. You're out of line, Temari," he glared as he looked up at her.

"Am I out of line, or do you not what to deal with your own problems?"

"Temari," he growled as his glare intensified.

"Don't give me that shit. Look, hun, I know you're scared and hurt. I am too. We just went through and survived the Great Fourth Shinobi war. It was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do, but I did it. We did it. But, despite our jobs, we need to remember to take time for ourselves and do our own mental healing. You are no different. Please don't keep your emotions locked up and push people away again. Please don't push me away again." She pleaded as she rounded his desk and stood in front of him with tears in her eyes. "I'm here for you whenever you need me. Just please don't throw me away,"

Shikamaru stared at her for a few moments before quickly getting up and pulling her into a tight hug. Temari gasped as she felt him crush her body against his lean form. She felt him stiffen against her before his body slightly trembled. She gently smiled as she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face into his chest. They stayed like that for a while, never letting go until Shikamaru sighed again for the tenth time.

"You're right. You're right. I don't know how often I have to say it, but you are. As soon as I was good to leave the hospital. I came straight here and worked. I worked until my eyes blurred from my tiredness and sorrow. I wasn't ready to face it. I wasn't prepared to see the look on my mother's face or accept that my father was gone or that I still had friends unconscious in the hospital. I know I have to face it at some point, but for right now… I'm not ready… I'm not strong enough…."

"Shika… I understand what you're going through. War is hard on everyone. There are never any winners. Yes, one side can prevail over the other and gain the most, but something must be sacrificed. What you're feeling is normal. But that also doesn't negate your emotions. The only thing you can do at this moment is lean on your loved ones and take time to heal yourself. You have me whenever you need me, no matter how far away I am." She pulled away from him before gripping his head and bringing their foreheads together. He closed his eyes as she kissed his tears away and smiled. "I love you, Shikamaru."

"I love you, too." He whispered before he kissed her forehead.

After that, he watched as he pulled away from him and walked towards the door. After opening the door, Temari turned towards her mate with gentle eyes. "If you're interested, your mother is having lunch at her home right now. I'm sure she would love it if you stopped by for a moment. And, later tonight, you can find me at your apartment. I'll be up until late waiting for you,"

Shikamaru nodded before she left his office. Next, he reached down and picked up his pen. He clicked it a few times and bit his knuckle as Temari's words ran through his head.

"Fuck it," he sighed a final time as he threw his pen on the desk, shoved his hands in his pocket, and left his office with one destination on his mind.

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It was early afternoon by the time he reached a familiar house. Even though he moved out on his own about a year ago, Shikamaru still found time to often stop by and visit his folks. Sometimes, he would stay for dinner, sit with his mother, or play Shogi with his father. But, with his father gone… the once semi-lively house felt empty. He often thought about turning tail and running away, but he knew that Temari was right. He may have been scared, but he needed to face his fears. He may have lost his father and best friend, his mother lost her husband and mate. The young deer teen could not imagine what that must feel like. To have the other half of your soul ripped apart… it's a pain no person should have to experience. But, hopefully, he carried enough strength for both of them.

Finally, he raised a hand to the door and loudly knocked a few times. Then, when nothing happened after a few moments, he knocked again. Then, when the door was thrown back, Shikamaru jumped when he saw his mother's wide, shocked expression. Both Naras stared at each other for a while before he straightened himself and cleared his throat.

"Hello, mother."

After a few more moments, his mother straightened herself up and cleared her throat too. "Hello, son. I wasn't expecting you. Please come in,"

He followed her inside and slipped his shoes off. She offered him some tea as they entered the kitchen. Cautiously, he sat at the kitchen table and looked around. Their lack of conversation, coupled with the depressing air of his family home, heavily weighed on his heart. He watched her pour two cups of hot tea before putting the kettle on top of the stove and sitting across from him. Both were awkward as they drank their tea. Neither made eye contact, nor did they try and start a conversation. Finally, it was too much for both of them. However, the more they sat there, the more the elephant in the room made its presence known. Finally, unable to take it much longer, Shikamaru finished his tea before standing to wash his cup out.

He could feel his mother's eyes on his back as he robotically went through his motions. The weight of the awkward air was too much as she tried to hold a conversation.

"So, how has work been? Temari told me you've been there every day since you returned from the war. You must be exhausted,"

"Yeah, I am. Work has been… stressful, you say the least. Lady Tsunade, Sakura, Ino, and Hinata are taking care of the affairs at the hospital while the others are working with search parties for the rest of the shinobi lost during the war. From the paperwork I've been working on, we should be nearing the end of our searches. But, unfortunately, we've found almost everyone dead, severely injured, or alive with minor injuries. It's… been tough…" he said in a hushed tone without looking away from the sink.

"Oh my. That definitely seems stressful. Are you at least taking care of yourself? Are you drinking plenty of water and eating properly?" she asked in a monotone voice.

"I try to do my best. Temari comes to check on me when she can. If she doesn't, it seems I forget to function," he joked.

"Temari is a remarkable woman. I am proud that you choose her as a mate." When he didn't say anything or turn and look at her, his mother continued. "You know, I was worried about you as you got older,"

This caught Shikamaru's attention enough to finally look at his mother in confusion. "Why were you worried about me?" he asked as he leaned against the sink with his arms gripping the countertop.

"Actually, your father was too. You were intelligent, but you were also very lazy. You never showed interest in anything other than clouds or laying around and taking naps. So even when you became a chunin, we didn't feel like you took your duties seriously. But then, when you brought Temari home for the first time to meet us, we sighed in relief." She chuckled at the memory before continuing.

"We didn't even care that she was an alpha female. In fact, we prayed that she would be. You are a beta male. You need an alpha female to keep your head out of the clouds every now and again. You're destined for great things, Shikamaru. It's nice to see that you've gained so many friends and a mate who will stick by your side throughout your life's journey. I just hope you take good care of them while they're still here." She whispered the last part to herself as she stared into her cold cup of tea.

"Mother…" he called out, but she didn't look at him. "Are you… going to die soon?"

Suddenly, her eyes shot up at him, looking as wild as when she answered the door. "Why would you ask such a thing?"

"I've read… that there are some mates who pass away when they lose their other half. It happens in certain species of birds, but I've also heard of it happening in our species." He explained before swallowing a lump in his throat and continuing. "I read that, when a bond between two mates are strong enough, that both can pass away within moments or days of the other dying. It doesn't always happen, from what I understand. I just want to know if that'll happen with you,"

Now it was his mother's turn to swallow a lump in her throat. The elephant in the room had finally been addressed, thanks to her. However, she thought she had enough strength to hold it in. But unfortunately, she was wrong.

"No… I won't pass away. I still have more to live for. After all, I still have at least one grandchild I want to meet. However, because Temari is an alpha female, it will be difficult for her to have more than one child within rapid succession, if not every ten years or so. But, I promised your father that I would hold on until I met at least our first. That way, I could tell him all about them when we finally reunite." She sadly smiled as she tightly gripped the cup.

Shikamaru flinched as he felt the subconscious pressure she applied to the cup. Then, fearing that will crack, he ran over to his mother and grabbed her hands. She gasped as she looked into her son's worried eyes. Then, without thinking, she took her hands out of his and held his face instead.

"You look just like your father. You have his spirit, his eyes, and his love. In fact, when you knocked on my door, I thought you were him for a moment. Thank you for visiting me, Shikamaru…."

Tears formed in the corner of her eyes before they spilled down her face. He tried to wipe them away, but when more fell, and his mother started to cry, he pulled her into his body and held her close. Shikamaru had never seen his mother cry for as long as he could remember. His parents were a pillar of strength that held their family up. They never faltered or showed him their fears. So, to see his mother come undone in his arms was something else he was not ready for. Silently, he continued to hold his mother close and allowed her to pour everything into him.

He knew that he had to be strong for her and himself. His father is gone. It was up to him to see she made it through these difficult times. But unfortunately, he was unsure how he could do that without falling apart himself. That would be something he needed to figure out along the way. For now, all he could do was hold his mother close while his cries joined hers in the empty house.

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It was late in the evening when he finally said goodbye to his mother. They talked for hours about his father and what was to come next. His mother gave him advice about his own relationship and promised to take care of himself. Before he left, Shikamaru made sure to tuck his mother into bed and waited until she was sound asleep before he made his way home.

It didn't take long before he was at his own apartment. His feet, body, eyes, and heart were heavy from his conversations with Temari and his mother. Yet, all he wanted to do was fall asleep in Temari's arms.

Shikamaru used his key to unlock the door and enter his apartment with another heavy sigh. On the couch was Temari in her pajamas as she read a scroll.

"Welcome home," she smiled as she put the scroll away and approached him.

"Hey," he mumbled as he removed his sandals and stared at her.

His tired, swollen eyes showed her everything that happened after she left. Temari wrapped her arms around his neck and back when he didn't say anything else; perfectly fine when he didn't hug her back.

"Why don't you go shower and get ready for bed. I'll be in there waiting for you," she said as she pulled away and smiled.

He just nodded before heading to the bathroom and doing as he was told. Then, as if his body was on autopilot, Shikamaru stripped out of his clothes and stood under the running hot water. He washed for a few moments before hopping out of the shower and drying off. He slipped into some boxers and a tank top once he got into his room. Temari watched with sad eyes as her mate went through the motions until he slid into the bed. She pulled him close to her and shifted them until his head lay on her chest, and she ran her fingers through his hair. His body was calm, but his mind continued to race a mile a minute. Both knew this too shall pass, but he needed to sit with it for now. So he allowed Temari to soothe him as much as she could. The sounds of her heartbeat and her comforting love wrapped him into a warm blanket and helped lull him to sleep. Tonight he didn't have to be the Hokage's Advisor. He didn't have to be anyone's friend or lover or son. Tonight, he was just Shikamaru Nara and nothing else. Everything else could wait until tomorrow. Tomorrow will be a new day for him to conquer as long as he has his friends, mother, and Temari by his side.

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To be Continued…