A/N: First of all I want to thank YenGirl, tiadb1996, dara093 and Alexia-Kate for reviewing. I hope all of you like the ending :)

Ino only nodded and gave Shikamaru a beautiful bouquet of flowers. After he paid he left with Temari for Kurenai's house. It took only a short knock and the kunoichi opened the front door.

"Again flowers Shikamaru. You really don't have to bring flowers every time you visit. The Yamanaka shop must be rich thanks to you."

"It's the least I can do." Shikamaru said and handed her the bouquet.

"You do enough for us." Kurenai smiled lightly before she invited them in.

When Shikamaru let Temari enter first the blond kunoichi thought, not for the first time, that he was really a gentleman under all his lazy attitude. Alone that he brought Kurenai flowers was a sweet gesture and he seemed to do it often.

Now they stood in the living room and Temari took the time to look around. Everywhere were pictures of Mirai, as well as a group picture of Shikamaru's team and of course some of Asuma.

"Can I help you with cooking?" Shikamaru offered.

Before Kurenai could reply anything Mirai came running into the room.

"Shikamaru can we play shinobi again?"

Kurenai laughed and smiled at the young Nara and her daughter. "It seems you are needed elsewhere, but maybe Temari wants to help me out."

"Of course."

With that settled Mirai dragged Shikamaru outside to the garden while Temari and Kurenai went to the kitchen to prepare dinner. The older kunoichi began with polite small talk, but when they took a break and went outside she was ready to talk seriously with the blond. A few minutes they watched in silence how Mirai ran after Shikamaru with a fake kunai in hand.

"One day he will be a good father. The woman he is going to marry can be happy." Kurenai smiled and looked closely for Temari's reaction. When she saw hope followed by melancholy and sadness enter the young kunoichi's eyes she knew she was right about Temari's feelings. "You should tell him."

"What?" Temari's head snapped around to look at her.

"He adores you, he is just not sure if it's returned."

Temari's eyes widened for a moment and her heart fluttered wildly in her chest before she forced it to calm down. "No." She shock her head sadly. "I'm just one of these troublesome women who make his life difficult."

Kurenai had to smile at that. Shikamaru was right when he had told her that the blond kunoichi was stubborn, so she needed to be even more direct with her.

"You know the men of the Nara Clan are known for falling in love with the most troublesome women. Calling you that is a hint at his feelings for you." When Temari still looked skeptical she continued. "Just today, and I'm sure you noticed it as well, he was testing your potential as wife and mother of his children. You know he plans 200 steps ahead. He has a reason for everything and that he agreed to visit today with you has one as well. My opinion means a lot to him, so he wouldn't have brought you here if he wasn't serious about you."

Now a thoughtful expression entered Temari's face. So it hadn't been just her imagination that Shikamaru had tested her today. Everything Kurenai said made sense, but what should she do now? How was she supposed to tell him and there was another thing that was one her mind.

"And what are you going to tell him? I mean what you think of me."

"That he was right and you are really the most troublesome woman." Kurenai laughed and Temari after a moment of surprise joined her. They watched Shikamaru and Mirai in silence before the young kunoichi spoke up.

"Thank you."

"Not for that. You two just needed a push in the right direction. Make sure to tell him soon, he deserves to be happy after all that has happened."

Half an hour later they all sat around the dinner table and ate.

"It's delicious Kurenai." Shikamaru praised.

"It's a recipe from Temari and she cooked it entirely alone. I just assisted her."

"I didn't know you could cook." The shadow user looked surprised at the young kunoichi.

"Well my brothers didn't get as strong as they are now with only convenience foods."

"Anyway, it's great."

Temari couldn't hide the light blush that showed due to his compliment. Probably she had passed another of his tests without knowing.

"Mirai it's time for bed, it's already late." Kurenai announced after they finished dinner.

"Can Shikamaru tell me a bedtime story again?"

"Of course, but only when you are in bed." Shikamaru smiled at the young girl.

"Okay and Temari should come too." Mirai said before she went in the direction of the bathroom.

"I will help her get ready." Kurenai stood up.

"And we will clear the table." The young Nara offered. Kurenai nodded and left. After a few minutes of silence he spoke up again. "It's rare that Mirai trusts someone so easily, she must really like you."

"That's just because I'm a friend of you." Temari argued.

"No, I think you are just good with children."

"Not as good as you."

"That's just because I have more practice."

They smiled at each other before they reached both for the last plate. When their fingers touched their eyes locked and for a moment time seemed to stand still.

"She is ready, you can go upstairs now." Kurenai's voice broke the moment between them and they both blushed.

Quickly they went in the child's room where Mirai was already waiting for them. Kurenai said good night to her daughter and left her with the two shinobi.

"Now tell me a fairy tale, but not one I already know."

"There was a beautiful princess of the dessert. She wasn't a typical helpless one but a strong kunoichi who fought for her village. One day she met another, a little lazy, shinobi. They had to fight each other at that time because their countries were at war. When peace came around the princess saved the lazy shinobi from a mad woman. A few month later it was the other way around. Saving each others life brought the two closer together."

Temari was listening closely. Of course had she recognized their story and now she really wanted to know how he would finish it, but then he stopped.

"Seems like she is asleep." And sure enough Mirai was asleep with a smile on her face. "Asuma would be so proud of her." Temari could even in the dim light see that Shikamaru's eyes looked sad. She stepped closer to him and lay a hand on his shoulder.

"He would be proud of you as well."

The young Nara lay his hand above hers on his shoulder and squeezed it lightly.

"Maybe."

After they had said goodbye to Kurenai Shikamaru brought Temari to her hotel.

"You never finished the story. How does it end?" Temari asked shyly when they stood in front of her hotel room.

"That is up to us." He replied softly and looked deep into her eyes.

"I would like a happy end." Her voice was only a whisper, but he still heard her.

"Me too."

With that he moved closer and their eyes fluttered close. Their lips met in a shy first kiss and it seemed like the princess of the dessert and the lazy shinobi got their happy end.

A/N: Please review and tell me what you think :)