A/N: ButterflyXelleBelle, I included here the answer to your inquiry…

Lulu22Temmy, hmn…

Yellowsquare, chibi brittnie 22 and Love Is only a Word, aw thanks for the greetings—it's tomorrow!

Love Is only a Word, Sandanio and Naara-no-Temari, awesome to see you guys back :D

ThorongilAnime, bwawawawa

so amazing you rock like boats, aw thanks—from kiddo

dJK'.'DJBlossom, haha tom is my birthday & this story's first year, so I was going to surprise the readers by uploading up to chap 50 but then…I woke up and couldn't find chap 44 & 47. Bummer!

And Ciel Orihara, have fun!...by the time you return, I'll have found chap 44…

-o0o-

Chapter 42

Kankuro visibly swallows before reiterating Gaara's question, facing Temari, "You're pregnant?"

Temari remains silent, lips pursed tightly and brows knitted together.

Kankuro fed up with Temari's mutinous look, exclaims, "Dammit! Is it big bro—"

"Shh." Gaara places his index finger on top of his lips, signaling Kankuro that they have company.

Temari witnesses Gaara's warning. She can't help but raise fearful eyes towards the younger nin, unable to hide her apprehension over this new threat. However, Temari is reassured when Gaara subsequently meets her eyes and lifts a corner of his lips, it was so slight and Temari would have missed it if she wasn't staring directly at Gaara's face. Temari can trust Gaara. He will protect her. She doesn't want to admit it but she can't stay here if there are more attacks—she's not stupid to believe that she can always defend herself in her state.

But she still has to stay. She has to wait and tell Shikamaru herself. Seriously, that ass needs to come back soon.

In the meantime, Kankuro scowls, undecided whether to shake the answer off Temari first or discover who the hell is the spy. Finally, swearing under his breath, he leaves the dining room to find and kill whoever has been eavesdropping.

"Thank you," Temari mutters the words to Gaara for the second time in less than an hour.

"Why don't you leave just like Kankuro suggested?" Gaara asks, appearing cold and distant.

"I can't. Not yet." Temari slowly smiles as she remembers something; something that Shikamaru once told her, "… my brothers aren't so bad. Kankuro may like to joke around but he's never cruel and Gaara keeps to himself but the times he tries to open up to me or Kankuro are the times we feel that he trusts us. My family isn't perfect but they are my family." Shikamaru has known her brothers for all their lives; Temari can therefore trust his words. "Anyway, Shikamaru had reassured me that you are alright and that Kankuro is not intentionally nasty. Although at the moment I doubt that—about Kankuro, that is." Temari's smile widens. Yes, she can stay here a bit more.

Gaara simply nods his head, acknowledging Temari's hand of friendship. Afterall, since Kamaru-niisan was twelve-years old he had valued this person, this proud kunoichi and now, even six years later that didn't change. Gaara is aware of that fact about his eldest brother.

Temari, observing Gaara, feels something has changed in the countenance of the younger nin.

—o0o—

The Kazekage dismisses the young Chuunin who appeared in his office eager with his news.

Reclining and resting his back on his chair, the Kazekage is left alone with his own thoughts.

The Kazekage had often wondered the past several days if not finding Kamaru is more fortunate rather than locating him and discovering a reason to kill his adopted son.

However, now the Kazekage realizes that he has his answer to his dilemma.

Kaito, the mumbling fool, had implied that Kamaru seemed to have impregnated the visiting Konoha kunoichi.

…Thus for entangling himself with Temari, Kamaru deserves to die.

The Kazekage smirks satisfied with where his thoughts are going.

Yes, it is better to find Kamaru soon but not to kill him because of his involvement with Temari or for whatever reasons the boy has for being gone too long for a regular mission. The Kazekage can forgo killing the lazy bastard since the most important thing now is that Kamaru serves the purpose that only he can accomplish.

And with the wool pulled off from his eyes, the Kazekage notices some things…the subtle, almost ambiguous way Kamaru kept protecting Temari—that will be put to good use.

The Kazekage gives a hearty laugh.

He's going to be a granddad soon.

And already he has great plans for the child.

TBC

~5/1/11,12 /1,7/11AF~

A/N: Review?