Here's the next chapter! It may start out a bit slow but it's really cute at the end. Also, I'm tending to notice a pattern to my titles. I must have done it subconciously, but every chapter, minus the first one, is the name to a song that I listened to while writing the chapter.

The second chapter (Promiscuous Ino) you should recognize as Promiscuous Girl- Nelly Furtado.

The third chapter (Stand in the Rain) Stand in the Rain- Superchick. It's a sad/pretty song that I really like.

This chapter, Stay With Me- Danity Kane

Just thought I'd share that with you guys. It's actually kinda fun to go re-read the chapters with the song playing, that's just if you want to try it. I'm going to try and continue the chapters that way. Sorry, I'll stop talking now...

enjoy!

Ino couldn't believe her ears when Shikamaru agreed to stay with her. She wasn't even sure why she asked, it would only hurt her more if he stayed. She didn't want her love to be denied again like with Sasuke, yet, she also didn't want to give Shikamaru up as easy.

"I'll go get you some dry clothes." She said before dashing up the stairs. When she came back down she handed him the black t-shirt and grey sweatpants from her father's drawers along with a clean towel so he could take a warm shower.

When he went into the bathroom Ino walked back upstairs and didn't have the willpower to take a shower so instead she just changed into a white long sleeve shirt and put on her pink shorts with thin lime green stripes before sitting on her bed while twiddling her thumbs, listening to the rain on her window, still unsure of what to think. However her thoughts were interrupted when the phone rang on her nightstand. She picked up the phone only to hear Sakura's voice on the other line.

"What's going on? What happened?" Her friend's panicky voice asked.

"Nothing. He just walked me home." Ino answered.

"And that's it?! Come on Ino, you guys must have talked. He looked pretty angry when he dragged you out of my house." Ino briefed Sakura on what Shikamaru had said when they walked home. Sakura gasped and was ready to kick Shika's butt for what he had said until Ino told her about his apology.

"Now he's spending the night." Ino finished.

"Do you have a plan?"

"I don't even know what to think about the situation."

"It may be best to just see what happens. You know? Actually, you know what, I have an idea." Sakura's voice started to get excited.

"What?"

"Just be yourself."

"But what's your idea?" Ino once again asked.

"You'll find out. Bye!" Sakura hung up before Ino could say another word. Ino held the phone out looking at it with a curious expression while wondering what her friend was up to before hanging it up, wondering if she should be worried. Taking a deep breath she decided to go back downstairs.

Hearing the TV on Ino peered into the living room to see Shikamaru sitting on the couch. An arm rested on the back of the furniture while one leg lay along the length of the couch and the other rested on the floor. He didn't notice Ino as she stood behind him as butterfly's fluttered in her stomach at the sight of him. How bad she wanted to lay there on the couch with his arms wrapped around her and her head on his chest while watching the television. She was about to walk into the room and join him when melody of his cell phone went off. Not wanting to be caught, Ino jumped around the corner and leaned against the wall out of sight.

"Hey Temari." Shikamaru's sweet voice sounded around the corner. Ino felt as if a iron fist had clenched her insides, trying to rip them out.

"No, I'm sorry… I know…… She's my friend….. Yes I'm sure…." They were talking about her. A sudden urge to walk in the room, snatch the phone from his hands and start yelling at the sand brat on the other line took over Ino. Grabbing onto the table next to her she tried to keep herself from acting on adrenaline.

"I'll be fine…. I'll call you in the morning…. We will… Sleep well. Love you, night." He shut his phone off as the TV's volume went up. Ino remained around the corner for a few seconds before deciding to walk into the room and join Shikamaru.

"Hey there." He said when she walked around the couch and sat on the lounge chair near his head. Brining her legs up she wrapped her arms around them and rested her chin on her knees.

"Hey there yourself." She replied, "What are you watching?"

"I'm not sure. Commercials I guess. I haven't really been paying attention. Oh and thanks for letting borrow some of your dad's clothes."

"That's fine. I wouldn't want you to sleep in wet clothes, that wouldn't be very pleasant." He let out a small laugh before they sat there in silence for a bit. Tension seemed to grow as Ino wondered what to do. So many questions flowed through her head. None of which she wanted to ask.

The silence was broken by the phone ringing making her jump. Shikamaru raised an eyebrow towards her as she jumped across the living room to the phone. Ino picked up the phone expecting to hear Sakura on the other line.

"Hello?" Ino asked.

"Hey Ino!" Kiba's voice replied. "Sakura called. So what's going on, talk to me." Ino started to twirl her fingers in the cord to the phone as she turned her back to Shikamaru who was watching the TV.

"What are you doing?" She hissed.

"What? I can't call to talk to my girlfriend." He snickered. Ino giggled. "So tell me what you're wearing."

"What?!" Ino responded, her voice a bit high pitched. "Why would I do that?!"

"It's a game Ino. Something couples do on the phone. He's in the room isn't he?" Ino glanced behind her shoulder to see Shikamaru's attention still towards the TV.

"Yea."

"Great. Then he'll hear us. All you do is explain to me what you're wearing. He'll know what you're talking about, probably get mad. And if we're lucky he'll come over and hang up the receiver or something." Even though Ino couldn't see Kiba she could tell he was grinning on the other side.

"Alright. You go first." She said.

"Uh… I'm wearing socks… and nothing else."

"Oh that's great Kiba. Real sexy." Ino responded sarcastically. "But for real, come on dog boy."

"My jacket's laying on the floor so I got on my net shirt which has a little hole in it where you pretty much mauled me. My jeans remain on and I'm not wearing any socks. Akamaru's actually chewing on one. Oh and my hair is plastered to my face because of the rain. Just thought you should know about this hotness that's over here. Be jealous."

"Nice." Ino purred. "Now that's really hot."

"Of course it is. It's me we're talking about. Now it's your turn."

"Well, I'm wearing my white lacy bra, the one you like, underneath a long white sleeve shirt. My hair is still up, no socks. Then I have short pink shorts with thin lines of green running down the sides." When Ino finished she could hear Kiba give a low growl on the other side of the line which she could not deny sounded really hot.

"Anything?" Kiba asked.

"Nope." Ino responded after glancing at Shikamaru again.

"By the way, Temari's pissed."

"Good."

"Well hey, do you mind if I stop by in the morning. Maybe I'll luck out and he'll still be there." Kiba asked on the other line.

"Why not." Ino answered.

"Great. I'll see you in the morning sweet cheeks." Ino let out another giggle.

"Bye you sexy beast." Kiba laughed at his new nickname.

"Sleep good tonight."

"Oh I will. Love you. Night." Ino hung up the phone and started to head back to Shikamaru. She wanted to whack him upside the head for not responding to the call. Lazy bum Her eyes landed on his plate of food he must have gotten for himself while she was upstairs. Reaching down she picked it up.

"I'll put this away." She said before heading out to the kitchen. She heard Shikamaru get up from the couch and follow her. Once she put the dishes in the sink she turned around to see him enter the kitchen with a cup in one hand and a dirty napkin in the other.

"They're mine. I can take care of them." He said after throwing the napkin away. He walked over to the sink as Ino moved off to the side. Picking up his plate he rinsed it before putting the plate and cup into the dishwasher.

"Thanks for letting me stay tonight." He said. "The walk home really would have sucked."

"That's not a problem. I wouldn't want you walking around in that stuff anyways." Ino responded. There was a moment of silence where neither one of them would look at the other.

"So, you and Kiba huh?" Shikamaru started.

"Yea." Ino nodded.

"You like him?" Shikamaru looked at her, forcing her to meet his eyes. Ino had a moment of panic on what to say. Playing scenes through her head on what would happen with different answers.

"No, I actually love you!" He grabs her and holds her in a romantic passionate kiss.

"No, I actually love you!" He runs out of the house screaming all the way home.

"Yea, I kinda like him."

"Well what if I told you I love you." He grabs her and they kiss.

"Yes."

"Good just double checking." Ino feels like she's going to pass out.

"I love him."

"Is that you're final answer? Because I want you."

Ino shook away all the different outcomes that were playing in her head.

"Do you like her?" she asked. Shikamaru's eyes widened a bit.

"Who?"

"Temari obviously." She responded.

"Well, I am dating her."

"Same with Kiba and me." With that Ino turned around on her heels and was about to walk out of the kitchen when the power went out. "Crap" She mumbled as she stumbled and grabbed onto the kitchen counter to keep her from falling.

"You okay?" Shikamaru's voice sounded in the dark.

"Yea, just peachy." Ino responded trying to let her eyes adjust to the dark. "I have a flashlight upstairs."

"Actually, we might as well just go to bed. It's one in the morning."

"That' probably a good idea. You know where our guest bedroom is upstairs right?" Ino asked as she heard Shikamaru start to move in the dark kitchen.

"Yep." Both of them started to find their way in the dark to the stairs and then made their way up. Ino made sure she stayed close to Shikamaru, close enough that she was able to hear his breathing. She never liked the dark and the wind outside moving the branches to the trees along with the banging of rain on the windows didn't help very much.

A crack of lighting, immediately followed by thunder, made Ino jump with a squeak. Shikamaru turned wondering what it was that had frightened the blonde.

"Ino, you okay? What's wrong?" He asked.

"Fine. Just hate storms." Another flash flooded the house before the thunder sounded. Ino jumped again, but this time she went right into Shikamaru's arms that came up to grab her when she jumped at him. The unexpected boy was thrown off bounce and fell onto the ground in the hallway with the small blonde on top of him. Ino had her face burrowed into his chest with her eyes squeezed shut. She always hated lighting, as far back as he could remember.

Once Ino realized what had just happened she sat up, embarrassed. There were a few awkward moments where Ino sat on his crotch while Shikamaru laid on the ground with both hands resting on her hips as she looked back down at him. Neither knew how to respond. Another strike of lightning and thunder sounded, making Ino flinch. Shikamaru could feel her shivering; before his mind knew what he was doing he had sat up and took his arms to pull Ino into him in a tight embrace.

Ino felt dumbstruck as she rested in the Nara's arms. With another sound of thunder she could feel a small teardrop fall down her face as the branches of trees continued to scratch against the house. Ino Yamanaka wasn't afraid of much, but thunderstorms truly frightened her.

"You're freezing." Shikamaru said in a soft, quite voice as one of his hands started to rub up and down her back as if trying to warm her up. "Did you take a shower after we got back to warm up?" Ino shook her head no against his chest.

Shikamaru let out a breath as he gently pushed her off of him and began to get up. Ino sat there on the floor, about to get up herself when Shikamaru's arms stopped her. He reached back down and slipped an arm behind her back while the other went under both her knees. With no struggle, he picked her up and started carrying her bridal style down the hall. He turned when he reached the door to her room and gently set down the shocked Ino on her bed.

"Get under the covers." He said. Ino did what she was told while her mind continued to catch up. Once she was under, Shikamaru took off the shirt and sweat pants he was wearing and slid into the bed so he laid next to her with only his boxers on.

"What are you doing?" Ino asked confused.

"Warming you up." Shikamaru thoughtlessly said as he wrapped his arms around her and once again pulled her body into his. Ino couldn't help but snuggle into the warmth that he offered as the sound of thunder continued to echo, making her try to get even close to him even though their bodies were already pressed tightly together. She didn't even notice how cold she was until he said something because her racing mind never took the time to pause and go hey it's cold.

Enjoying the warmth, Ino rested her freezing toes against Shikamaru's bare legs. He flinched at the touch because of how cold her toes were. But he soon relaxed and tangled their legs together so that her feet may warm up faster. Slowly, and unthinkingly, Shikamaru started to rub small circles on Ino's back, making her slowly start to fade out. It didn't take long for the sounds of the thunder and rain with the scratching branches to fade out so that the only sound she could hear was his soft breathing with the rise and fall of his warm chest that her head rested on.

"Shikamaru," Ino said so softly that he had to strain his ears to hear her. "Please don't leave me." Her eyes remained closed as her breath became heavy with sleep.

Shikamaru brought up a hand and gently rubbed it along the side of her face. His hand stopped at her cheek as he stared at her sleeping form.

"I will never leave you, Ino Yamanaka."

:)

I leave thursday for the weekend but I will try and get another chapter up next week. But I can't promise anything.

Please review! Especially if you have any ideas on where this story should go. I already have a rough idea, but it can be altered a bit lol.