Note from the Author: Since my slash pairings freaked Oakspirit out, I decided to write her a ShikaTema.

Oakspirit: I'm sorry some of my pairings freak you out. This one's just for you.

Dr. Hairspray: So I definitely spent way too much time away from FF dot net, because I have now found three of my reviewers (you're the third) that I've missed like crazy! And no, I didn't mind the review replies at all:huggles:

Ravensbff: It's not a pairing I usually write but I find it just unendingly adorable.

"Damn it!" Temari hopped away from the stove, glaring angrily at the saucepan that sat on a burner … burning.

Shikamaru cracked an eye from where he was lounging at the kitchen table. "You might want to put that fire out before you burn down the kitchen … again."

She turned her scathing look on him. "Don't even start, Nara. You never stay interested long enough to finish an argument – so don't begin one." Her voice came out a growl as she poured the remains of the water bottle she had been drinking from over the small flame. "And I didn't burn down the damn kitchen, okay? It was only one counter and half the salary for one mission covered the cost to repair it."

"Who told you to cook anyway? You're really not that good at it."

Her brow furrowed, a frown fixed to her lips as she studied the damage to – hey, what was she making anyway? She couldn't even tell now; it was just a charred piece of something. "Well, excuse me for not wanting to let you starve." She grumbled under her breath, slamming the ruined saucepan into the garbage. "Hell knows you're too lazy to cook your own food."

He sat up straight, sighing like it was too much of a bother to do anything. "Hey, I would have eaten that."

If looks could kill. "You just told me I couldn't cook – why the hell would you have eaten it?"

He shrugged, standing to stretch, and strolled easily toward her, nuzzling her neck gently as he wrapped his arms around her. "It's not so bad to make an effort if it's for you."

She smiled at him, letting their lips fall softly together for a moment before pushing him away. "Well, I'm not making you anything else, so you can either eat out of the garbage can or cook for yourself for once."

He sighed again, in that way that said it didn't matter so much, and took her hand. "Let's just go out."