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Chapter Twenty-Nine

Epilogue

TEMARI

Our years later.

"Happy birthday to you" we finished singing, crowded around the picnic table in the park.

"Make a wish!" Denki said excitedly.

Hoki leaned forward and huffed out five candles. We all clapped, and he sat back on the bench, grinning at the praise. Nolan moved in, tugging out the still-smoking candles as a dozen eager preschoolers began clamoring for cake.

"It's hard to believe he's starting kindergarten next month" Shika said, wrapping his arms around me from behind and resting his head on my shoulder.

"Right?" I leaned back into him. "I feel like he just showed up for his first preschool class last week."

Shika snorted.

"I still feel like he's only a handful about to puke down my back."

"He doesn't do that anymore." I rolled my eyes.

"Thank God. He wasn't going to score a lot of ladies with that habit." He gestured toward Denki, who was handing out cake. "That one is going to be a heartbreaker. He already knows the way to a woman's heart is through baked goods."

I shifted on my sore feet, and Shika's hands slid down my waist and over my stomach.

"Why don't we get you off your feet for a minute?"

I cocked an eyebrow at him.

"Getting me off my feet for a minute is what got me here seven months ago." We hadn't even been trying, seeing that Ivy had only been a year old.

I glanced over at the nearest pine tree and smiled at the sight of Naruto holding his niece in the shade.

"I can't help that I find you irresistible." Shika kissed my neck, dipped, and lifted me into his arms like I weighed nothing. "And let's be honest, I never said you had to be off your feet. As I recall, I had you bent..."

"Shikamaru!" I hushed him with a hand over his mouth. He just grinned and nipped at my fingers.

He carried me to the next picnic table and sat me down on the bench, elevating my feet onto his thighs as he sat perpendicular to me. Then he rubbed the arch of my foot through my sandals, and I groaned in pure pleasure.

I soaked in the sight of him, knowing that having him home for even a week this time of year was something to be savored. We made the most of every moment we had together, and no matter how many times he was called away, I was always waiting for him with open arms.

"Hey, Shika, want to throw the football around?" Denki asked, already holding a red and black Nerf ball as he approached. His newest Konoha Hotshot hat was already dirty and torn in a few places, which made me laugh.

That kid went through hats like nobody's business.

Shika shot me a look and I nodded.

"Go have fun."

He carefully untangled himself as my footrest.

"Is this one a girl too?" Denki asked me, glancing down at my belly.

"Yep, she sure is," I answered.

"Did you want a boy?" he asked Shika, his brow furrowed.

"I wanted whoever was coming," Shika answered, flicking the brim of Denki's hat. "Besides, I can't think of anything better than being constantly surrounded by pretty girls."

Denki seemed to consider that, then leaned down until he was inches away from my belly button.

"Hi, little girl. I'm Denki. Your parents are cool, so don't stress."

Shika laughed, and I couldn't help but smile as the two walked off a ways and started tossing the ball back and forth. It was all a little too picturesque, the kids running around with icing smeared on their faces, and all the more perfect for it.

I memorized everything about the moment so I could recall the memory on a night when Shika wasn't home, when the hard days fought to outnumber the good.

Shika slipped his phone from his pocket and answered it, holding it between his cheek and shoulder as he tossed the ball back to Denki. My chest tightened. Were they being called out? I whipped my gaze to Naruto, but he was still leaned back against the tree as Ivy napped on his chest.

Shika held up his finger to Denki, then walked toward me, the phone still perched at his ear.

"Is it a fire?" I asked.

He shook his head and set the phone on the table, pressing the speakerphone button. "Go ahead, Shizune. Temari is right here."

Oh, it was that kind of call.

"Hey, Temari."

"Hey, Shizune. You need a little help?" I swung my feet down and sat up straight while Shika swung his leg over next to me, straddling the bench.

"I have two siblings. Boy and girl. Ages seven and three. We're looking at respite care, nothing long term, but I'll know more on Monday when we have court."

Shika and I looked at each other. When the Pendridges had officially retired as our town's only foster parents four years ago, Shika and I had stepped up and taken over. Including Denki and Hoki, twelve kiddos had come and gone through our doors in the past five years, though none had ever stayed as long the boys.

"Is this like last time when respite care turned into three months?" Shika asked, his tone teasing. "Or more like the time before when it was a week?"

"I honestly won't know until Monday," she answered.

"Give us a second," I said.

Shika hit the mute button.

"You feeling up for it?" Worry entered his gaze. "I can't guarantee I'll even be here Monday, and you're…" He gestured at our newest daughter.

"I'm pregnant, Shika, not dying." I rolled my eyes.

"Right. Just checking." He hit the unmute button. "We'll take them."

"Figured you would. Thanks, guys. I'll have them there in a couple of hours."

"Sounds good." Shika hung up and kissed me gently. "Here we go again?"

I smiled into the kiss.

"Here we go again."