Was sleepy today so this didn't get posted on time oops but it's here now.

Older married Shikatema is very comforting, I think. Enjoy :)

Shikamaru woke to sunlight in his eyes, the rays seeping in from the half-drawn curtains in front of the master bedroom window. Even though he was buried in his blankets, his face half in the shadows, the light somehow managed to reach him, making it painful to stay still.

He opened his eyes slowly, squinting slightly as his sight adjusted. The window hadn't been entirely closed the previous night, and a gentle breeze found its way through the crack at the bottom.

He shuffled in bed, turning to his side to look for the familiar face of his wife but even as he did so, he knew Temari had risen already–the coldness on her side of the bed was all the indication he needed.

With a groan, he got up, stretching a little as he yawned, trying to smooth out his aching muscles. Although he was semi-retired and wasn't expected to head into the office in the morning, Shikamaru couldn't afford to stay in bed, not today. It was a very special day and he had been planning for it for a few weeks now, as he always did every year.

After brushing his teeth and getting ready in the bathroom, he went back into the master bedroom, looking into his closet for an appropriate outfit. He skipped past his work clothes, all of them worn out and faded at this point, settling his eyes on the clothes in the back that he saved for special occasions. He shoved his hand in, retrieving the hanger with the beige button-up and dark gray slacks. To top it off, he selected a simple blue tie.

Once finished dressing, Shikamaru trudged into the kitchen, where he could smell fried eggs and toast, and the strong scent of coffee. It seemed Temari had already started on breakfast, never one to dawdle around aimlessly. Retirement had given her even more free time than she knew what to do with.

"Morning," Shikamaru mumbled, reaching into the cabinet to grab two plates.

"You're up early," Temari said, her back to him. Her hair was tied into two simple pigtails today, streaks of gray splashed onto yellow. She was dressed in purple, as she was wont to do, but as she turned to bring the pan of eggs over to the table, Shikamaru saw she was wearing the old worn out green apron that Shikadai had made many years ago.

"It's a special day," Shikamaru said softly, setting the plates down so that she could move the eggs and toast onto them–two eggs and one toasted bread on each plate, as they did every other morning. As she put the pan back, he went to grab the coffee and water kettle, pouring one of each into two cups. As they got older, coffee became more disagreeable with their stomachs, but Shikamaru still enjoyed the taste and the way it kept him awake in the mornings, which he definitely needed now.

"Though, you know," he said, putting the steaming cups down and dropping a tea bag from their collection of tea into Temari's cup of hot water, "every day is a special day with you."

Temari rolled her eyes at him, but he could tell she was pleased. "I am very special, thank you very much."

He grinned at her, pulling out her chair for her. "That you are, my darling wife."

She sat down and handed him a fork. "Still, I thought you'd sleep in for a bit more, special day aside."

Shikamaru shrugged, taking his rightful place opposite of her, stabbing into his egg. "I have the whole day planned, actually. I knew you'd be up early so I thought, might as well make the most of it and not waste time. It's not every day we've been married for thirty years."

"Thirty, huh?" Temari said, tapping her finger on the table absentmindedly. "It feels like just yesterday I was saving your sorry ass from Tayuya."

"And it feels like just yesterday Shikadai was graduating from the academy," Shikamaru added. "But look at our boy now. A grown adult."

"He's still my little boy, though," Temari said, a wistful look in her eye. "You know, I think it's been a while since he last came to visit. I'm going to have to have some words with him about visiting his aging parents."

Shikamaru chuckled. "He's a busy man now, Temari."

"Too busy to visit his parents? I think not," came Temari's indignant reply.

Shikamaru knew his son had a lecture coming. He could hear Shikadai's annoyed voice telling him about it later on, about how troublesome it was, as they sat around a pot of tea. He could picture it: Shikadai with a hand behind his head, scratching at his neck as Temari scolded him with her hands on her hips. The years had only made her voice sharper, even if she could no longer physically wield her fan as well anymore.

"Anyway, let's not focus on our wayward son," said Shikamaru. "We've got the whole day to ourselves."

Temari hummed, casting him a sly look. "And what do you have in mind, genius of Konoha?"

He cleared his throat, rearranging the thoughts in his head. "Well, I don't have anything grand planned–and I do believe we're way too old for such things now–but I was thinking we could go visit the garden after breakfast. I know how much you like flowers, and it's a weekday, so there will be less people in the morning. And then we'll have lunch at that fancy restaurant you like, with that very specific type of dango you're always craving. After that, I was thinking of taking the train to Suna, where we can end our day there walking through the desert and getting dinner at your favorite place, the one by Kankuro's building. And then we wrap it up with just, watching the sun set together. Of course, I've already told Gaara ahead of time so he has our room ready."

She smiled softly at him and his heartbeat quickened nervously. With every anniversary that passed, it got easier to express his love for her, but that never erased the elation he felt at seeing her return his affections.

"What do you think?" he asked.

"Sounds lovely," Temari said.

.

Konoha's garden was relatively young, having been installed in the past two decades by the Yamanakas–spurred on by Shikamaru's support as the Hokage's advisor, of course. It was one of Temari's favorite places to be, he had noticed, especially once Shikadai had moved out to live on his own.

The garden had started out small, but with Ino and Temari's diligent tending, it was now a few blocks wide, with more rows and new types of plants being added all the time. Retirement didn't stop Temari from seeking challenges, always taking it personally when a new plant she had found did not immediately thrive. Shikamaru had often found her knee deep in the dirt, studying a scroll on seasonal climate and soil acidity, a batch of tiny sprouts near her.

In the center of the garden was the greenhouse, with a section for rare crops, which the Akimichis liked to help grow, and another for small shrubs and bushes. In the middle of the greenhouse were the flowers, blooming under the summer sun, their leaves likely still glistening from the morning mist that had been applied by gardeners earlier.

Temari had always loved flowers, and it never ceased to make him beam to see her standing amidst the multi-colored plants, her back tall and proud as the wind swayed and rustled everything in the nearby vicinity– everything except her. She was the wind, and as such, he was merely a cloud at her mercy.

Today, they made their way slowly towards the greenhouse, starting at the edge where Ino had recently planted some saplings imported from Kumogakure. In fact, as they approached, Shikamaru could see Ino kneeling, moving dirt to cover a newly planted sapling. Sai stood behind her, an easel set up with a canvas, a palette held firmly in one hand and a brush in another, presumably painting his wife.

"Oh! Shikamaru! Temari!" Ino called out, catching sight of them.

Shikamaru gave her a lazy hand wave in greeting while Temari was more verbal, saying, "Good morning, Ino."

"Happy anniversary, you two," Ino said, grinning at them. Shikamaru wondered if she had any mischief planned, always up to tricks no matter what age.

"Thanks," he said, and Temari repeated his sentiments.

"I'm surprised you two are still together," Sai said, jokingly, pausing mid-stroke, his brush poised in the air. "How are you still alive, Shikamaru?"

"Oh, I have my ways," Shikamaru said. "She wouldn't be able to live without me, you know."

Temari rolled her eyes at him and said sarcastically, "Yes, I'm sure that's it."

"Well, I hope you two have fun!" Ino said and then, turning to Shikamaru and lowering her voice a little she said, "Your package is in the shed."

He nodded. "That's great. Thanks."

Temari narrowed her eyes at him, having caught their little conversation, as he had expected she would. "What package?"

He waved her off. "Come on, I'll show you in a bit."

"That is very suspicious, Shikamaru Nara," she said and he merely smiled at her, tugging on her hand and pulling her along. He led her to the greenhouse, where all her favorite flowers were, weaving past roses and sunflowers and petunias to get there.

The greenhouse was relatively empty; Shikamaru counted only four other people with them, much to his relief. Sure, he loved to lavish Temari with compliments and affection, especially as he got older and it became easier to let her know, but he still preferred to do it in private, without prying eyes (including Ino's. At this thought, he glanced around to check, just in case).

"So, what's this package?" Temari asked as they stopped at the entrance to the garden, breathing in the scents. Underneath the fragrance of flowers, Shikamaru could detect the faint smell of dirt and fertilizer.

"We'll get to it when we get to it," he said. He gestured to the flowers. "Why don't we enjoy our time here first?"

"Did you buy something expensive and unnecessary?" Temari asked, her hands on her hips.

Shikamaru let out a laugh at her reaction. "Hey, when have I ever done anything like that? You know I don't spend recklessly."

"That may have been true when we were younger but last year, you bought that ridiculous shogi set," Temari huffed.

"It was a rare item!"

"And completely unnecessary."

"I did get you that nice dress though."

"Yes, you did, and that was completely necessary. It's important I maintain my image. I am still the Kazekage's sister, you know. It's important I keep up a professional and elegant image at all times, unlike some people I know."

"Are you calling me a slob?"

Instead of answering him, she leaned down to smell a batch of flowers, running her finger along their stems and feeling their petals. "These geraniums are lovely today."

"Not as lovely as you," Shikamaru said.

"Even with all these wrinkles?" she said, feigning distress as she waved a hand over her face.

"Even with the wrinkles," he said firmly. "You'll always look beautiful no matter what."

She hummed a little in response, turning to him to tug him by his tie, pulling him close to her, her other hand trailing slowly over his chest. "Hm, I suppose you look very handsome today as well."

"We're in public, Temari," Shikamaru said, his voice coming out a little strangled. Her hand was warm, even through the fabric of his shirt.

"I'm aware," she said coolly, raising an eyebrow at him in challenge, daring him to make the first move. He knew that if he did, they wouldn't get anywhere with his plans.

He cleared his throat. "I see the impatiens are doing fine as well."

"I'm surprised you recognized them," Temari said, releasing him from her hold. He let out a small exhale.

"I'm a genius, you know. You and Ino talk about the flowers all the time, and always drag me along. I pick up things," Shikamaru said, though in reality he had only made a guess, picking one of the common flowers that appeared in the greenhouse and staring off in a random direction, hoping Temari wouldn't call his bluff. There was something in her eyes that indicated that perhaps she knew the truth, but she made no comment on it, accepting his explanation.

They walked around for a few hours, their hands interlocked, their steps in sync with a slow rhythm only they could hear. Temari stopped to examine the different flowers, describing them to Shikamaru and telling him all she knew about them and how they were progressing. Each time, he stayed quiet, content with just listening to his wife ramble, soothed by her voice.

Finally, closer to noon, Shikamaru took her to the shed, located outside the greenhouse. It was more akin to a warehouse than a shed, having had multiple rooms added over time to accommodate the increase in supplies needed.

"Oh, you're finally letting me see your mystery package?" Temari quipped.

"It's not like I wasn't going to show you," he replied. He opened the door with the key he had gotten from Ino the other day, his hands shaking a little as he fumbled with the lock.

Once they were inside, the smell of old dusty air overwhelming his senses, he gestured to a section in the back.

"Since it's our thirtieth anniversary, I thought I'd get you something nicer this year, aside from practical tools and dresses." He led her in, stopping at a table, where a cloth was covering something. There was a paper note over the cloth that read "Shikamaru's 3", scrawled in Ino's cursive. He let go of Temari's hand, using both of his hands to remove the cloth with a slightly dramatic flourish.

There was a small gasp from Temari as his mystery package was revealed to be rows of pots, each holding a plant of some sort, ranging from seedlings to fully grown bushes. "Is that what I think it is?"

"Yup," he said proudly. "I know you love plants–because of course I know–and I know you miss Suna sometimes. And I know we already have Suna plants in our home, and plenty more here in the Konoha garden, but I figured you'd like to have your own rare collection at the house. I…even had a little greenhouse built, a few minutes into the forest. Trust me, it was a pain hiring workers to build that in secret when you were out. I had to have them disguise it as another storage unit for shinobi equipment, just so you wouldn't snoop around."

"I did notice that," said Temari. "I thought it was something you were doing for the clan, what with how many Nara symbols you slapped onto it."

Shikamaru smirked. "Well, it isn't. It's all yours, Temari, if you'd like it."

"And the plants here?" Temari questioned, reaching out to hold up a small pot containing a cacti.

"I've been cataloging your favorite exotic plants for the past year," he said. "Too much free time in retirement, you know. But I figured out the ones that were harder to find, and even imported them from other lands. Most of these are from Suna, of course, but we have a few from other places."

"This can't have been cheap."

"It wasn't. It was troublesome finding the right vendors who were willing to transport their precious plants all the way to Konoha, but it was worth it for you."

"Besides," Shikamaru added, leaning closer to her and planting a soft kiss on her cheek, "you do remember I'm the Hokage's advisor, right? And the leader of the Nara clan? My pension's decent."

"Thank you, Shikamaru," Temari said, her eyes scanning all the plants. Shikamaru knew she was already thinking of ways to arrange them. "I love it."

He grinned. "I knew you would."

"Now my present for you doesn't feel as grand," she said, pouting a little. "I don't have it on me right now since it's a bit fragile–I'll give it to you tonight–but I was with your mother the other day, cleaning out an old section of clan lands–you know, by the small pond that's barely a pond that no one ever goes to that we really should have gotten rid of ages ago–and we found something there. It's not much but…we found a small journal."

"A journal?"

"A tactic book would probably be better," Temari said. "But…it belonged to your father. Or well, when he was really young, back when he was a kid. His handwriting's messy but the name is unmistakably his."

"A…tactic book? Belonging to my father?" Shikamaru blinked, unsure how to feel by that revelation. He had thought he had already found all of his father's belongings, having rifled through most of them after Shikaku's funeral.

"Most of it is nonsense from a seven year old, but it's a shogi book," Temari continued. "And I know you two used to play shogi together all the time. So I asked Yoshino if I could keep it for now, to give it to you. I went to Sai and he had some people he knew who helped restore the book. It's still old but it's readable. I thought you'd like to have it, a new keepsake of your father."

Shikamaru swallowed, not trusting himself to speak for a few seconds. He and his father had not always seen eye to eye on all subjects, but they had always found the time to sit down and talk over shogi.

"I appreciate that," he finally said. "Man, to see Dad's writing when he was just a baby…I wonder what he was like as a kid. He always seemed so sure of everything, you know?"

"Yeah, I get that," Temari said. "My father was like that, too. Fathers are like that, I think. You think they're invincible, with all the knowledge on their shoulders, the way they never seem to break. But one day you realize…they were human, too. That they used to be kids one time, just like us, unsure of how the world would proceed about them."

"Yeah." Shikamaru shook his head to clear his thoughts, glancing at his watch. "Thanks. But, anyway, it's almost lunch time and I made a reservation. Shall we get going?"

.

The restaurant was crowded by the time they got there, a small line forming outside. Although it was summer, the sun was mild on their skins as they headed in, and there were even clouds in the sky, more gathering together as time went by, dimming the sun's rays. For a moment, Shikamaru felt chilly, but he dismissed it as his imagination, opening the restaurant door for Temari to step through.

"This place is always full," Shikamaru grumbled. "But good thing I made a reservation months ago."

They walked up to the receptionist.

"Hi, we have a reservation at noon," Shikamaru said, and then, just in case they couldn't tell who he was by sight, added, "Under the name Shikamaru."

The receptionist, a young man who looked to be younger than Shikadai, flipped through the papers on the table.

"Uh, sorry, sir, but I don't see your name here," the receptionist said, looking very apologetic and like the world was going to end soon.

"That can't be right," Shikamaru said. "Can you check again? You're sure this list is for today? At noon? Shikamaru Nara?"

"I know who you are, sir," the young man said. "But we don't have a reservation for you at this time."

He paused, and then looked through his papers again, reaching for a different stack. "And I don't have you for any day this week, either."

"That's…that's not possible," Shikamaru said, frowning. "I'm sure I made the reservation."

"Shikamaru…" Temari said slowly, "Are you sure you aren't forgetting?"

"I…" Shikamaru trailed off weakly. "I don't think so?"

He shook his head, distress overwhelming him. "I don't know."

"Thank you for your time," Temari told the receptionist, and then pulled Shikamaru gently by the elbow, leading him out of the restaurant.

"I'm sorry," Shikamaru said, sighing heavily. "I know we always eat here every year."

"Hey, it's fine. You probably just forgot, since they've never made a mistake like this before," Temari said.

"I really thought I remembered, but I guess not," Shikamaru said, shaking his head. "I'm sorry."

"Hey, stop apologizing," she scolded lightly. "I'm not picky. We'll just go somewhere else that's less full. Perhaps Ichiraku's again?"

"Yeah, okay," he grumbled. His perfect plans were already starting to fall apart and it was only noon.

Temari rapped him lightly on the head. "Come on, stop sulking, Shikamaru. We still have the rest of the day ahead of us."

He sighed, releasing his worries with that one breath. Temari always knew how to get him out of his head. "You're right. Ichiraku's it is."

.

Lunch passed without incident, much to Shikamaru's relief, but his patience was once again tested when they arrived at the train station, the wind outside rising in speed. The clouds from before lunch were gathered en masse now, their usually white hues a dark gray.

Shikamaru found himself staring up at the digital sign announcing that all trains to Suna were canceled due to bad weather, the staticy feeling in the air hinting at the statement's truth.

"Please tell me I'm reading that wrong," Shikamaru said, groaning. There were dark clouds on the horizon, the howling winds bringing them closer and closer with each breath he took.

"You're not," replied Temari.

"I already bought tickets!" Shikamaru exclaimed. "And now they're saying all trains to Suna are canceled?"

"Well, there's nothing we can do about bad weather," Temari said. "None of us can control that, as much as we, as shinobi, like to think we do."

Shikamaru scowled. "Now what? We can't even do the latter half of my plans now!"

"I guess we have no choice but to head home," Temari said. "We can spend a quiet evening together."

"Yeah, okay."

They turned around to head back, exiting the train station, which, Shikamaru only just noticed, had considerably less people than there normally would on a weekday. He shook his head at his lapse in observation.

"I'm so stupid," he bemoaned as they walked. "I should have checked the weather. I forgot to do that last week, when I bought the tickets."

"At least you'll likely get a refund," Temari said, ever the voice of reason. "We can always go another time, now that we're both retired."

"Semi-retired," Shikamaru corrected. "I still get called into the office, you know. I'm not that old, yet."

"Yes, yes, alright." Temari patted his arm indulgently.

"Still, I don't know how I could have forgotten the reservation and the weather. I didn't even think to check this morning, when I should have!"

There was a flash of lightning, suddenly, and then it began to pour.

"...and neither of us brought an umbrella," he said.

"To be fair, I didn't think to check the weather, either," Temari said. "And it's just a little rain. It won't hurt us."

"Oh, that's what you think," Shikamaru said. "But I'm not looking forward to catching a cold. The one in February made me miserable. Being older sucks."

"Alright, you old man. We're almost home, though, and then you can be safe inside again."

After a few more minutes, with the two of them practically running through the rain, both too stubborn to wait out the growing storm someplace else, they arrived at their house.

Shikamaru fumbled with the front door, dropping his keys onto the wet floor.

"Here, let me do it," Temari said quietly, prying the keys from him. He relented, though he didn't feel good about it.

They changed their wet clothes, donning on their more comfortable sleepwear now that they would no longer be heading out, a towel in each of their hands.

From the living room, Shikamaru scowled at the sky in irritation. "Just my luck."

He let out a heavy sigh, turning to Temari, who was drying her hair with the towel. "Sorry things didn't go the right way. I didn't know there was going to be a thunderstorm."

"Hey," Temari said. "I still enjoyed today."

"Yeah, but it was supposed to be perfect," he said agitatedly, wringing the towel in his hands, twisting it about in frustration. "I can't believe I forgot to check the weather. How could I forget such a crucial part of this plan?"

Temari gave him a faint smile, her eyes suddenly shy. Shikamaru wondered what caused the sudden change in her mood but her next words answered his question.

"You know…you don't always have to be a genius," she said, approaching him and taking the towel from his hands, forcing him to sit down on the floor so she could reach his head. She began to squeeze his wet hair with the towel, gathering up the leftover rain. "When we first met, sure, you defeated me easily–"

Shikamaru couldn't help but chuckle at the rare admission–the two of them were always arguing about who had really won the chuunin exams.

Temari showered him with a glare. "–and sure, you have an astonishingly high IQ, but you haven't always been able to come up with solutions. You couldn't get Sasuke back when he first left, nearly getting killed by Tayuya. Your brains, although good, couldn't help you then. And remember when you got caught in the Land of Silence? I had to go save your sorry ass again when you couldn't save yourself. Point is, I loved you then, and I love you now, and I'll love you in the future, Shikamaru, brains or no brains. I'll love you for as long as you need me to save you, and even after you've forgotten me. I'll love you even when you can no longer remember your own name."

Shikamaru was silent for a while, unsure how to respond. He had always prided himself on his intellect–had always been told that was his redeeming quality. It was the one skill he had always been able to rely on, the one that, unlike physical skills, grew with age and time. But lately, he had found himself floundering with his memory, his actions getting more unsteady over the years. It was something he was terrified of acknowledging.

But to hear Temari confess that even if he was the dumbest person on the planet, that even if he began to lose his memory, that she would still love him…

"You really mean that?" He asked, his voice hoarse. It was a stupid question, he knew, but he felt the need to ask it anyway.

"Of course, you crybaby." The wrinkles near her eyes deepened as she grinned at him, her teal eyes lighting up. "Besides, I had fun today, even if it didn't go according to your plans. I did get the most amazing anniversary gift, after all."

He gave her a rueful smile. "Well, my plans have never gone the way I wanted them to, so I suppose I'll just add this to the list."

"Exactly. And anyway, it's not really about what we do today, is it?" Temari finished drying his hair, letting the towel hang around his neck. "It's about spending time with each other."

She looked him right in the eyes, a sort of challenge, as if daring him to disagree with her. He never could. "Yeah."

They sat in silence together, their fingers intertwined, listening to the pattering of rain on the forest floor. The wind was howling outside, bringing cold air from the north, but inside the house, they were warm and safe.

"Happy anniversary, Shikamaru," Temari said softly.

Shikamaru could see her smile in his mind, even without turning to look at her. At least that was one thing he was unlikely to forget, even with the passage of time. All things faded eventually, but he knew Temari's smile would be the last to go.

"Happy anniversary."