A/N: As promised, I'm uploading a chapter every weekday this week to make up for last week. One thing that's bugging me is I don't know if it's supposed to be"TenTen" or "Tenten." I've seen it both ways. Does anyone know for sure? Anyway, please enjoy, and please review, if you have the time.

"You're lucky I'm lazy," Shikamaru whispered to Ino, clearing away strands of her hair from her forehead. A month and a half had passed and there was still no sign of her waking. Fortunately, waiting was something that Shikamaru excelled at.

"Go home for ten minutes, will you?" Chouji asked from a chair, visiting on his lunch break. Naomi sat in the other chair, nursing the baby. "We'll watch over her and come get you if she wakes up."

"Your beard is getting scruffy," Naomi added, fussing with Inomaru. "If she does wake up, do you really want her to see you like that?"

"Way to boost my confidence," Shikamaru sighed, but pulled away from the comatose woman. "Okay, fine. But you had better get me if anything changes."

"We will, we will," Chouji assured him, and ushered him out the door.

Shikamaru was only gone for twenty minutes, tearing through town like a madman so as to not waste a single precious second. He showered, shaved, changed, and even managed to pick up a bouquet of flowers on his way back. He chose red roses, this time on purpose. He actually knew what those flowers meant. Hopefully Ino would understand what he was saying when she woke up. When he returned he saw Tsunade and Sakura standing in the room, Chouji's arm around Naomi as they all gravely looked at Ino. "What?" he demanded, depositing the flowers on the nightstand. "What's going on?"

Sakura turned to Shikamaru, face solemn. "We think we can bring her out of her coma," she explained.

Tsunade nodded. "It's a risky surgery, but by now I think it's the only thing that will make her wake up. If we fail, however, Ino will die."

"Did you talk to her parents?"

"Yes," Tsunade said. "I have their answer, but first I want yours."

"What do you think?" Sakura asked.

Shikamaru stared at Ino's form, remembering her as she had been, vibrant and strong. The Ino in the bed was pale and wasted. "Do it," he said without hesitation, even as his heart tried to tear itself apart inside his chest at the thought of losing her for good. "Ino would rather die than be weak."

A tear rolled down Chouji's cheek. "Yeah," he murmured, sniffling as Naomi put her arm around him.

Sakura walked over to him, taking Shikamaru's hands in hers. They were incredibly warm, and he wondered if it was a side effect of her healing ability. "Thank you," she said softly, eyes filling with tears. "I'll do it myself."

"And she'll do it well," Tsunade said. "I'll go inform the Yamanakas."

"What was their answer?"

She smiled, hand holding open the door to reveal Shino still standing guard outside. "They said they couldn't make that decision, and to do whatever you said to do."

Shikamaru swallowed as she disappeared from sight. He didn't know how to feel. No, he definitely felt worried. Worried in the extreme. "So when does it happen?" he asked Sakura, who had dropped his hands.

"Tomorrow. Paperwork has to be done."

"Of course," he said. "I'll be here."

"I know," she replied with a smile, and left the room.

Shikamaru went over to Ino and took her hand. "I'd like to be alone with her," he murmured.

"I'll tell Shino," Chouji said, and took his family out of the room.

He wasn't able to sleep that night, instead holding Ino's hand and telling her all the things he wanted for their future. Promises were made, promises he intended to keep if she pulled through, if she was willing to let him keep them. Morning came far too soon, and with it came a brief bout of tears, which luckily ended before her parents showed up to see her. Shikamaru, in a rare impulsive moment, embraced her mother and shook hands with her father before leaving the room. He stood in the hall next to Shino, happy for the other man's understanding silence and heavy, reassuring hand on his shoulder. After a while Ino's parents came out, and a team of medical ninjas rolled Ino's bed away. Everyone followed, parking themselves in the waiting room, andSakura came out and briefed them before disappearing into the room herself, telling themthe procedurewould take at least four hours to complete.

"Sakura will do everything she can," Shikamaru told everyone, and sat down in a chair next to Chouji. As the minutes passed, people began to show up and offer their support. Lee was the first to arrive, having wished Sakura luck just before she went to operate.

"Sakura is very skilled," Lee announced. "Her fiery strength will pull Ino through."

Hinata was the next to arrive, holding a large bouquet of flowers. Actually, Naruto was holding the bouquet of flowers for her, and he didn't look too thrilled about it. Hinata put her arms around Shikamaru's neck and gave him a hug, then introduced herself to the Yamanakas with a bow, Naruto greeting them as well. TenTen and Neji showed up, adding beverages to the food Naomi had brought, and by the time Shino came back from checking with the nurses and bringing his other two teammates, a nice little party was underway.

Shikamaru, however, was hard-pressed to enjoy it, although it meant the world to him that so many people loved him and Ino. Even his own mother stopped by, although his father was on a mission, and she didn't even scold him, instead giving him some spending money. His mother had never given him guilt-free money before. "It's for when she's better," she whispered in his ear as she embraced him. "My baby boy should spend a nice evening with his girlfriend."

"Thanks, Mom," he murmured, waving at her as she left.

The hours passed slowly, but they did pass. An hour after she said she would, Sakura appeared, exhausted. "I think it worked," she said, and Lee caught her just before she fainted. They all wanted to run up to Ino's room, but the nurses wouldn't let anyone in, not even her parents. Inoshi raised quite the stink, forcing the nurses to call Tsunade, but the Hokage was able to calm him down and get him to go home.

"She shouldn't be disturbed at all," Tsunade said firmly. "You all stay out of there until Sakura says you can see her."

Shikamaru glared at Tsunade's back as she left, wondering how in the hell he was supposed to comply with that nonsense. Everyone else went home, but he and Shino stayed behind. The Aburame heir leaned against the wall while Shikamaru paced. Morning came, they went to the cafeteria, then returned to her room and took up their positions. Two days passed in that manner, and finally Sakura said it was safe for her to take visitors. "She's disoriented," she said. "I think she should see Shino first."

"I'm glad I waited here," Shino said, and disappeared into the room.

"Is she okay?" Shikamaru asked, anxiety flooding his body. He felt like he had been walked on by the entire village. His body was sore and his head felt fuzzy.

"She will be," Sakura sighed, pushing her hair out of her face. "She's just trying to figure everything out. Her body is really weak and will need quite a bit of rehabilitation."

"I'll help," he blurted before he realized just how troublesome it would be. The impact of his words hit him, and while he cringed inwardly, he decided to stand by his statement.

"Thank you," she said, and suddenly dissolved into tears. "She's my best friend, Shikamaru," she sobbed, and he awkwardly wrapped his arms around her. "I don't know what I'd do if I lost her."

"You and me both," he murmured, and by the time Shino reappeared Sakura's eyes were dry.

"Be gentle," Shino warned. "I'm going home now."

"Younever wenthome before?" Shikamaru asked, but Shino was already out of earshot. Sighing, he nodded at Sakura and went in.

Ino was propped up in bed by what looked like a million pillows, her blonde hair hanging in curtains around her face. Her thin hands were folded in her lap, her head tilted as if she was staring intently at the blanket in front of her. "Thank god," he choked, rubbing his head.

"Shikamaru?" she said, whipping her head around, and the full force of her blue eyes hit him right in the center of his chest. Her face was a mask of confusion and pain, and the sight of it killed him.

"Oh, thank god," he repeated, and rushed over to her, throwing his arms around her and burying his face in the crook of her neck. "I missed you. I missed you so much."

She started to cry, her tears soaking his collar. "S-Sakura told me what happened," she blubbered. "I don't remember hardly anything, except I was so scared I wouldn't ever see you again."

"It's okay, it's okay," he replied hoarsely, his throat tightening with tears. "We're together now."

"I'm so skinny and weak," she sobbed, and he released her, wiping away her tears with his thumb even as his own relieved tears spilled over. He hated how Ino managed to make him cry, but he was so happy to have her back that he paid no attention to his shame.

"You're beautiful," he murmured, running his fingers through her hair, which had been recently brushed. He suspected it was Sakura that brushed it. "You're more beautiful than ever."

"Liar," she replied, laughing through her tears.

"You know I never lie," he said, leaning forward and kissing her cheeks. She giggled and cupped his jaw, arresting the movement of his head. Her eyes were wide, bottomless pools of blue, and she slowly closed them, leaning forward and tentatively brushing her lips with his. He copied her grip on him, kissing her back gently, reveling in her soft sweetness. When they parted a great sigh left his body, a sigh he had been holding inside for months. "You have no idea how afraid I was that we'd never get to do that again," he murmured.

"I'm happy you still want to."

"Having a vegetable for a girlfriend is really troublesome," he said with a smile, a tear running down his cheek.

"You'll have to help me get better then," she replied, her voice more energetic than before, but the color had gone from her cheeks. He could tell she was tired.

"Rest, Ino," he said gently, and helped her recline. "You'll be out of here in a few days."

"Will you stay while I sleep?" she asked.

He pulled up a chair and took her hand. "I was here the whole time. I'll stillbe here when you wake up again."

"Thank you," she murmured, and he watched as she slowly drifted off to sleep.