A/N: Sorry for slightly slower updates - I'm laptopless for a week or so, this is all happening from my phone unfortunately. Apologies for any formatting errors in advance. Have some fluff to make up for it!

Posted the wrong chapter for a minute, oops. I hope no one managed to read it and spoil things for themselves!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

When they reached Suna, Shikamaru thought he might die from heat exhaustion. They'd conveniently arrived as the midday sun was blazing, and he was in his full Konoha shinobi get-up, flak jacket and all. If he wasn't careful, he'd probably evaporate.

"I'm gonna go book an inn for myself," he announced. "I'll meet you back here in half an hour for lunch."

"Oh, there's no need for that," she replied. "You're staying in the Kazekage residence tonight."

His eyes nearly popped out of his head. "I am?!"

"Sure. What kind of couple doesn't stay in the same place overnight while they're away?"

"But your brothers-"

"Once we tell them about us, they'll have to understand. They can't force one half of a pair to sleep in an entirely different building across the village now, can they?"

"We're already about to tell them big news. And it's not an issue for you, but I'd like to keep all my limbs."

She sighed, exasperated. "You're always going on about being a man, so why don't you act like one? My brothers aren't going to beat you to a pulp. I'd like to think they care enough about my happiness to set aside any scores they feel obliged to settle."

"It's not a good sign that even in your hypotheticals they consider making mincemeat out of me…"

"Well, we're having lunch with them and it's not Christmas, so they won't need to. Now come on," she insisted, grabbing his arm and dragging him in the direction of the fated restaurant.

"Oh God, it's over lunch? That's knives, plates and hot liquid everywhere."

"And you say I'm the troublesome one."

He grudgingly conceded this war and allowed her to lead him the rest of the way in silence. When they arrived, Gaara and Kankuro were already seated at the table.

"Temari!" they called. She spotted the red hair and black hood instantly, using them as beacons as she slithered between and around the tables of the crowded restaurant to get to them.

Shikamaru trailed behind her, bracing himself for what was going to be a very eventful meal.

"It's so good to see you, Tema," Kankuro said as he hugged his sister. He glanced over at Shikamaru who had paused next to her. "Oh, Shikamaru, was it? What are you doing here?"

She didn't even tell them I was coming? Unbelievable, he thought.

"Uh, I'm…uh…"

"He has some business to take care of in Suna, and it was lunchtime, so I told him he could join us for lunch."

Shikamaru smirked internally. So much for 'real courage'.

"Well, it's nice to see you again, Shikamaru," Gaara greeted him politely, shaking his hand. "Please, sit."

After the Sand siblings caught up with each other and Shikamaru still hadn't said a word, Temari looked over at him nervously and nodded. Now or never.

"So, the reason I wanted to see you both today was this…the business that Shikamaru has to take care of, well…it's letting you know that we are officially together." She gulped audibly.

The two brothers looked at each other for what felt like the most painfully long second of silence. Shikamaru could've sworn he saw wisps of sand rise from Gaara's gourd which he'd leaned against his chair.

"Well, it's about time," Kankuro snickered after what seemed like forever.

Shikamaru looked baffled. He turned to his equally confused girlfriend. "Why is it always the same response?"

"Please, we've always known you've had the hots for our sister," Kankuro scoffed. "She's saved your dumb ass plenty of times. How could you not?"

Temari chuckled to herself. "That's true."

"Although, Tema's always been a terrible actress," Kankuro added, swiftly ending his sister's amusement. "Whatever she's thinking or feeling, her face is a dead giveaway. Especially those eyes. They always seem to soften around you."

Instantly Temari blushed and looked down at the table and Shikamaru smiled in satisfaction at this reminder that even the most stubborn woman he'd ever met let down her guard a little for him.

"That's right," Gaara concurred, speaking up for the first time since the announcement. "She has our mother's eyes. They're very expressive."

"Hey Gaara, isn't he your age?"

"Yes, but he's apparently very smart, much more so than his age would suggest. Whether that correlates with his maturity, I couldn't tell you."

"So…" Shikamaru said slowly. "Does that mean we have your blessing?"

Kankuro's eyes widened. "You're not getting married, are you?"

"No, no, not at all," Shikamaru replied hastily. He turned to look at Temari who was still avoiding eye contact with anyone or anything but the table. "Well, not yet anyway," he added under his breath.

"Is marrying our sister too much of a 'drag' for you, Nara?" Gaara said stoically, although Shikamaru sensed a slightly passive-aggressive undertone.

"I'd have a good mind to sock him right now," Kankuro muttered to his brother. "If he's not willing to commit, what's the point in it at all?"

"Stop it, both of you," Temari snapped, her eyes shooting up from the table to glare at them. "You're being rude. Shikamaru and I aren't interested in anything like that. All we came here for was to inform you of our relationship, not to ask your opinion. I won't have you interrogating Shikamaru on matters that belong between us and only us."

Shikamaru couldn't help but marvel at her. It was times like these he remembered that some of her worst traits were also her best ones, the ones he loved the most.

"Has he said 'I love y-"

"We're leaving," Temari cut him off and rose from her chair. She put a hand on Shikamaru's shoulder to suggest he do the same. "Kankuro, Gaara. We'll see you back at home." She turned for the exit and headed straight towards it without a glance back, expecting Shikamaru to follow her. As he got up to leave, something stopped him in his tracks.

"Shikamaru."

It was the first time Gaara had addressed him by his first name. He froze in place, waiting for the rest.

"Take care of our sister."

A little flustered by how sincere his request was, Shikamaru nodded firmly. "With my life," he responded simply.

"That's what I like to hear," Kankuro grinned. "Go. Or she'll yell at you once you're outside."

"Tch, she'd do that anyway."

"You really do know her well."

With that, Shikamaru thanked them for their company and promptly left to find an impatient Temari leaning against the wall outside the restaurant.

"What took you so long? Don't tell me they-"

He kissed her mid-sentence, his left arm propped up lazily against the wall as he leaned in. She wouldn't tell him, but secretly she enjoyed these moments where he chose to be that little bit more dominant.

When he broke away, she rolled her eyes. "You've really got to stop doing that."

"Don't you like it?" he smirked.

She elbowed him lightly. "Maybe. Just make sure it's not interrupting something important, we know how that went down last time."

"Whatever you say, troublesome lady," he smiled, and linked their hands as they proceeded to walk down the street.