A/N: One chapter left after this. Please enjoy and review, if so inclined.
Shikamaru sat at the table, staring at the people seated in front of him. It seemed like there was a sea of people there, all looking at him. Their voices were a dull roar in his head, and he wondered how many of the people he actually knew. Turning his head, he looked at the woman seated next to him. She was a vision in her white kimono, bouquet of lilies and roses placed before her on the table, her golden hair done up in curls on top of her head. Her smile was radiant, her eyes sparkling blue, and he couldn't help but stare at her. The angel before him had married him just moments before and already he couldn't remember any of the ceremony. He only knew that if Chouji hadn't been there, ready to hold him up if need be, he might not have made it. Sakura didn't seem as if she was worried about Ino at all, and the bride herself hadn't appeared nervous in the least.
Still, who were all these people? Were they really all here to see him and his new wife? He looked blankly out at the crowd, finally recognizing someone who was waving at him. Raising his hand, he tentatively waved back at Hinata. His entire team was there with their significant others, although Lee and Naomi were sitting next to one another, since Chouji and Sakura were seated at the head table. All of these people were here to celebrate his wedding?
"Are you okay?" he heard Ino ask, and he turned blank, shocked eyes on her.
"Fine," he replied mechanically.
"Are you sure?"
"Troublesome," he muttered.
She waved a hand in front of his face, but he didn't blink. "Oh, Shikamaru," she chuckled, and pecked him on the cheek, which got a rise out of the crowd. He feared the twinkle in her eye for a moment, but then she was kissing him, and he forgot everything else.
The reception wore on, the afternoon turning into evening, and the lamplight shone off of the autumn foliage. He couldn't believe that she was his wife only one year after moving in with him. Of course, he had always wanted her, he had always loved her. His dreams, decided when he was so young, were finally coming to pass. "And so Naruto and Sakura are finally getting their genin teams," Hinata was telling him.
"Oh, that's nice," he murmured, brain still unable to process that the beauty across from him was his wife.
"He's really excited. They get assigned tomorrow," she continued, shooting a tender glance at the exuberant blonde. Naruto and Kiba were talking animatedly about something or other.
"Excuse me," he said, retreating to where the beverages were. The whole event was just too much for him. He didn't like people in general, and being around so many at once was tiring. His parents had invited their entire clan, and Ino's family had done the same. His mother was still weeping openly, and Shikato, Inoshi, and Chomaru were all well on their way to being staggering drunk. At least Inoshi was finally treating him well, now that he had made the man's daughter an "honest" woman.
After pouring himself a glass of water, he darted into the shadows, trying to catch his breath. Ino was having the time of her life, being escorted around the dance floor by Chouji at the moment, looking like a princess. It was nice to watch her from a distance, he realized. Her every glance radiated joy, and he felt proud to be the source of that joy.
"Well, well," a husky voice said out of the darkness, and he stiffened. It had been years since he had heard that voice, and yet he still knew its every pitch and tone. "Seems like I didn't miss it, after all."
Shikamaru slowly turned around, eyes wide. "Temari?" he asked, and she stepped out of the darkness.
"Hey," she said with a grin. He had forgotten how gorgeous she was, even thoughIno was the woman he longed for. However, he was genuinely happy to see Temari. He had missed her brash companionship, and the fact that she hadn't answered any of his letters bothered him more than he cared to admit.
"How are you?" he asked, moving forward. "I wrote you, but you never replied."
"I got them," she murmured, face wistful for a moment. "But I couldn't find the right words to reply. So, I'll say this now instead: I'm very happy for you. She really loves you, and I can tell you love her."
"But you were one of my best friends."
"I can't say I'm not sorry that Konoha's best rear end is off the market, either," she said with a sigh.
"You should come and visit us sometime. We'd love to have you. It's been too long. I've always wanted to be your friend, you know."
A smile broke across her face. "I may take you up on that," she replied.
"I can't believe you got my invitation. I'm really happy you were able to make it."
She shrugged, adjusting the fan on her back. "You're a good guy. I actually wasn't going to come, butKankuro guilted me into it. I'm glad I did, now. You guys look great."
"You do, too," he murmured, surprised that he didn't still ache for her friendship. Ino filled his soul completely, but he still cared about Temari. She was a wonderful woman and a good friend. "Why don't you join us?" he asked. "Lots of people would like to see you, I'm sure."
"No, I'm have to be going. I actually need to report back home. This is just a pit stop after a mission."
He nodded as her dark eyes darted over to the gathering. "It means a lot to me that you came," he said, reaching out and grasping her hand.
"Good," she said. "It should. I have someone waiting for me at home now, too, so I need to get moving. Don't forget about me, okay? "
"I won't," he promised, and was surprised as she darted forward and kissed his cheek.
"Be happy, Shikamaru," she whispered, moving up into the branches.
"You, too, Temari," he replied softly, holding up a hand as she disappeared into the night.
"Shikamaru?" a voice asked, and he turned to see Ino approaching him. "Are you all right? What are you doing?"
He glanced off into the trees. "I'm fine. Just tying up some loose ends," he murmured, and took her hand, squeezing it. "Ready to spend the rest of our lives together?"
"Absolutely," she replied, grinning, and they moved off to rejoin the rest of the celebration.