AN: I'm sorry it's been a month. Tax season finally hit, and it hit hard. On top of that, I've had to deal with school stuff for my daughter, doctor visits, family visits, traveling and a baby shower. I'm in the final leg of my pregnancy, and I'd like to get the last two chapters out before I deliver. Honestly, when this book is done, I'll need a 2-3 months before I start posting the final book. I think I'll have to aim for Labor Day weekend, so September. I'll be writing as much as I can during my maternity leave, but there's stuff I'm going to have to figure out. I'm not entirely set on the ending. If ya'll have suggestions on what you want to see, I am open to them if it works. Please review if you have them.

This chapter was also difficult to write. Mostly because it was back to all rising action to the final turn. I did cut the final scene in half, because it didn't work tonally.

Chapter 23

Kakashi sighed as they got back to the hotel room, where the Konoha ninja had set up office for the most part. "Well, Lord Gaara was more forthcoming than I thought he would be," Kakashi mentioned to Shikamaru and Shizune.

Shizune frowned, then commented, "He didn't explain the lie he and the princess sold to international television. What about them being pen-pals over the last few years and being madly in love."

"They are madly in love, though. They're a married couple, in every sense," Shikamaru confirmed. Kakashi turned with a curious frown, and Shikamaru blushed. He cleared his throat before adding, "Let's just say their bedroom wasn't exactly quiet last night." Kakashi's eyes widened significantly, his mask hiding his blush but not his sweat as Shizune looked away with a blush. Shikamaru shuffled his feet, pulling out a cigarette just to hold between his lips, unable to make eye-contact with either of them as he said, "Temari did say that the lie could have been to cover Emika's reputation. It looks better if this attraction is something they've been fighting against, building a friendship over years with mutual respect rather than a business deal turned lustful." He lit his cigarette as he made his way over to the window and finished, "As far as the other Kage are concerned, Emika's reputation is nothing."

Kakashi shrugged it off. "Well, if they're happy, that's fine. Although, I don't see how Gaara holding the title Kazekage is going to work once he becomes Daimyo."

Shikamaru had been fighting with himself to bring up the fact the marriage was supposed to be temporary was probably another reason why they lied. He hadn't told Kakashi yet, because again, it didn't seem pertinent. But after the meeting, it did feel as if the information applied. What decided it for Shikamaru was both Naruto and Lee heard Kankuro that night, and would likely say something on the way back. Then his ass would be in hot water for not having said something sooner. "While it's a real marriage, it's also a temporary marriage."

Both Shizune and Kakashi looked at him oddly. "Temporary?" Shizune scoffed, as if the idea were ludicrous.

Kakashi's eyes narrowed on Shikamaru. "Explain."

Shikamaru licked his lips nervously, then said, "The first night here, we took Kankuro and Gaara out for drinks, and Kankuro got understandably drunk, and leaked some information." He took a drag, then blew out, smoke curling away from him in a thick cloud before being swept up by the gently wind. "When Emika came to Gaara, she had him sign a prenup that said until they got a law passed stating a princess of the crown could inherit outright without a marriage, and she assumes power, they would not conceive any children." Again, he couldn't look at them, and instead flicked ash off his cigarette. As he lifted the cigarette to his lips, he continued, "Apparently, the one person in each country that can annul a marriage is the Shogun Daimyo. Usually for political reasons. However, the catch is the marriage cannot be perceived as one that would produce children, otherwise the House of Daimyos would not sanction it, which is solely up to the testimony of the spouses involved. If they say there is no possibility of a child, then it's done."

Kakashi looked at some distant point, trying to piece it together. "So, what does that mean?"

"It means if things head the way we think they are," Shikamaru explained, exhaling more smoke, "and they are successful, then Gaara will still be Kazekage when this is all over, and Emika will be the Shogun Daimyo, and they will no longer be married. That the blurring between Kage and Daimyo will go back to the way it was."

Kakashi frowned. "Then she won't have an heir. Won't that be a problem?"

Shikamaru shrugged. "I think that's less of an immediate concern. Right now, they have a Regent who wants to fight the world for glory, and has been destabilizing Suna to do it, and a princess who wants the throne for peace." Shikamaru's expression to Kakashi said it all. There was really only one option to back if they wanted to keep peace in the immediate future. Whether the Wind had an heir or not after she died was not really their concern.

Kakashi sighed, clearly agreeing with Shikamaru's assessment. "Who knew keeping peace was so complicated," he grumbled, scratching the back of his head. He looked to the ceiling for a minute before standing. "Shizune, we need to pack. We leave in two hours." She nodded and left to make sure their things were in order. He turned to Shikamaru and said, "Can you find Naruto and Lee. Tell them they need to pack. I have Gaara's confirmation on your staying in an advisory role, and figuring Temari is a dual citizen, I figured she, too, would be staying."

"Actually, Temari is going with you," Shikamaru corrected, a little stiffly. "We discussed it and agreed it was better if she returned to the Leaf."

Kakashi frowned curiously. "Her brothers are about to be part of a central conflict to her home nation. Why would she –?"

Shikamaru licked his lips, then said, "Because Temari is pregnant." Kakashi's eyebrows shot up with surprise, and before Kakashi could press, Shikamaru added quickly, "Besides the fact her home is about to become an active warzone, there is the added fact the Suna Council is already pressuring Kankuro to look for a bride because of this whole thing, and we really don't want them to pull something when they find out she's pregnant. And if she's here, they will." He cleared his throat, before saying, "We wanted to tell her brothers first, for obvious reasons, but shortly after we found out, Gaara married Emika, and so we were delayed. So, I'm trusting this to stay between us until she's at least back at home."

Kakashi nodded, a small glimmer of a smile in his eyes. "Understood. Congratulations."

"Thank you, Sir," Shikamaru said, a small bow at his neck. "I'll go inform Naruto and Lee of your departure. I believe they were somewhere in the market getting souvenirs."

Gaara sat back at his desk, rereading and rereading the genetic screening. There were so many things he wanted to know now. So many things he itched to learn about his son. Emika said they were similar, but how. A part of him wanted to scan Suna and watch him from a far, but reasoned that he was likely in his home right now. It was the weekend. And he didn't want to alarm Chie and Rinri. They'd tell Emika, who'd be upset, and he wasn't sure he was ready to get into it again with her.

He knew there was definitely another fight on the horizon between them. Hira was his son, and he couldn't just turn away now that he knew without a doubt. He also understood why she wanted him to. It would be an uphill battle to convince the Daimyos to still back her while she was openly married to the Kazekage, who was also not stepping down from his post. Their reign would be second-guessed and she'd be accused of being an outright military puppet.

But he loved her and they already had a son together. And he wasn't losing those connections over something as foolish as public perception.

Thinking over some of the things he wondered about his son, he remembered the Academy left semi-annual records in the records office of the Kazekage building, like every other business in Suna. He got up, and quickly made his way down to the basement, going through the stacks until he found the school records. He found the roster for new students, and saw Hira was listed under the Academy's Kindergarten Program in Kashike's class. Gaara recognized the name as one of his old classmates, one of the kids he'd tried and failed to befriend as a child. He found out later she was what Temari referred to as a "mean girl" obsessed with popularity and status, acting somewhat like a prima-donna. Gaara winced, wondering if she'd changed enough to teach kids. He pulled both Hira's class records and Kashike's records.

He knew Kashike became a chunin during Gaara's first chunin exam as Kazekage. Fought in the war in the Second Division. Was a puppeteer, but lost her arm when they regrouped with the First Division. She had been hired as an early education teacher at the academy four years ago, immediately after the war, with the first-year teaching first grade, and the last three teaching kindergarten. Her performance as a teacher was average, with almost all of the kids in her class graduating to the next grade.

He then pulled Hira's record out. If Emika was right, and Hira was like him, then he'd have a few behavioral comments in his records. Gaara had snuck a peak at his own school records when he became Kazekage, and found the general consensus of him in the school's lower grades was "academically bright but emotionally distant," and "does not work well in group activities." Which he agreed were accurate statements. And his favorite, "Does not play well with others." Which ignored the fact kids didn't want to play with him on grounds of him being a jinchuriki and the fact his father was the Kazekage, which he found out later isolated Kankuro and Temari from their peers as well. Later grades going into the ninja academy, he had average to good grades with comments, "Understands and picks up new material and projects easily, but has an unteachable attitude in a classroom setting." Which was putting it mildly. He remembered thinking his teachers were absolute morons, and had little to no respect for their authority in the classroom.

He took a deep breath before opening Hira's file and reading his first semester report. From what he gathered, Hira struggled with reading a little, struggling specifically in simple kanji recognition. He also was struggling in math. He found counting easy, as he was above average in that score, but he had difficulty when it came to simple equations. Behaviorally speaking, he was a good kid. He played and shared well with others generally. There were notes from the guidance counselor, which was a new position Gaara had instituted after the war to help kids dealing with the loss of family. "Has experienced bullying from older kids of his clan, which led to the incident in the schoolyard." He looked for the incident report, and saw he had apparently jumped on an older student and bit him on the shoulder so hard he bled. Parents/guardians were notified. Gaara went back to the notes, and as he read the next one, his heart sank. "Has expressed great concern with the thought that he will grow up alone in life, because his mother is unmarried and believes it is because his father didn't want him."

Gaara pressed his lips into a thin line before closing the file, taking it to a copy machine and copying the contents. He couldn't just remove the folder without someone finding out it was missing. But he was also fairly certain Emika had no idea what was going on with Hira at school, as well as what Hira's opinion was of his missing father, and why it was important to change that. She also wouldn't believe it from him as an unbiased report, so to hand her a copy would be the most efficient way to make his point.

Once the records were copied, he placed them under his arm while he took the records back and put them away. As he made his way to his office, planning to put them in his desk in the hidden compartment, he also decided to keep a close eye on his son throughout the week to get a better understanding of what Hira was experiencing on a regular basis. As well as to see if there were any tells of him inheriting features from Shukaku. Like did his eyes gain the Shukaku outline when using chakra, like they did for Gaara's father.

Kankuro hugged his sister goodbye first, and Gaara second. Both bid her a safe trip home before stepping away to bid the rest of the Konoha contingent a safe trip home. Temari knew immediately it was to give Temari and Shikamaru a private moment before they parted. Shikamaru scratched his head under his ponytail and grumbled, "This is such a drag. I already feel awkward knowing I'll just be sitting with your brothers without you until this whole thing is done."

Temari grabbed his hand, smiling softly, "You'll do fine. Just make sure you keep in touch."

Shikamaru frowned, looking a little offended. "As if I'd forget."

She took a nervous breath, then said quietly, "Shikamaru, there's something I need to tell you. A bit of a family secret that might help you out."

Shikamaru smirked. "Is it soft spots between your brothers I can exploit?" he asked cheekily.

"I'm being serious," she said, her tone unwavering. Shikamaru's brow furrowed worriedly, and he silently listened. "A part of me isn't sure I should tell you all this, since the Wind isn't your country, but you are my husband, and this is our family." She inhaled sharply, then confessed, "I just learned about it this morning. But the reason behind Gaara and Emika's fairytale lie is about her reputation. More importantly, it's because she and Gaara have a son." Shikamaru's face fell to shock, his head snapping over towards his brother-in-law in disbelief. "Six almost seven years ago, Gaara and Emika conceived a child whom she's been keeping hidden from the world all this time. Even keeping it hidden from Gaara. He only found out about him a week ago, but has gotten it confirmed that the child is his. She knows if her son's identity gets out, her uncle will have him killed, given the current law gives her son just as much claim as Ginmaru. Possibly more, being the only son of the current heir. She started all of this to legitimize him."

"I'm sorry," Shikamaru grumbled. "I still a little stuck. Gaara's a father?"

Temari nodded.

"But their marriage is temporary. Kankuro said as much," Shikamaru reasoned.

She shook her head with a sigh. "I don't know about all that. But it would explain why she fought against telling Gaara. Maybe she assumed he wouldn't fight her on staying married if he didn't know." She shook her head. "This is all brand-new information, and all of us are still reeling. Gaara most of all." She squeezed his hand, and said, "It's probably good you're staying since I can't. I need you to be the voice of reason to my brothers while I'm gone. And they all need to be protected if war breaks out. Especially Gaara's son. He's just a kid, but he's the future of the Wind."

Shikamaru squeezed her hand back, and gave a firm nod. "I promise, I'll protect all of them." He kissed her forehead, then pulled her close for a tight hug. He chewed his cheek as he thought, then said, "You should probably tell Kakashi." She opened her mouth to protest, but Shikamaru added, "If war does break out, which seems very likely, that's an important detail that cannot be overlooked. And Kakashi can keep a secret, better than anyone else."

She finally nodded, realizing he was right in his thinking. Hira was a big detail that couldn't be ignored. "Alright," she breathed.

"I love you," Shikamaru whispered before diving in to give her a chaste kiss on her lips. She blushed, but kissed him back.

As he pulled away, she said softly, "I love you too." She then gave him a small peck, adding, "I'll take care of our little one too."

"Have a safe journey," Shikamaru said, giving her a final squeeze before letting her go catch up to the Leaf ninja already starting to walk away. Shikamaru stood there a minute, watching her walk off towards the eastern horizon.

Kankuro and Gaara walked over to him, and stood silently next to him for a few moments before Kankuro finally commented, "Finally just us now."

Shikamaru cast him a sidelong glance, then sighed, "Yeah."

On Wednesday, Hira had decided that this was officially the best week ever. The past two days, he played with his new magic sand friend. This sand friend had pulled him off the swings a few times and built him several sandcastles, and helped him learn his ninja letters better during class time. As well as math. He was already doing better with his equations, and his kanjis looked better already. Even Auntie Rinri had been surprised by the sudden progress.

When Kankuro found Gaara Thursday morning, he was again on the roof of the Kazekage Tower, using his eye. This time, though, Kankuro knew why he was using the third eye and who he was spying on. He'd been waiting for Gaara to have it out with Emika about the paternity results, but Gaara asked him to remain quiet and to act ignorant of the fact until he was ready to address her about it. Gaara had always been one to make sure he was completely prepared before entering any situation. He didn't like surprises at all. He liked to make sure he had all the answers so he couldn't be blindsided. It was one quality of his little brother that was both incredibly annoying, while also rather helpful when it came to missions.

Gaara lowered his hand from his face as Kankuro walked up behind him. "Did you find something?"

"Got a positive ID from the video scrubbing finally and pulled records," Kankuro answered with a smile. "Suicide bomber was Asa, ex-Anbu from father's time in office. Specialty, bombs. Go figure. Moved to Futen just after you took office, working on and off as a guard to the High Lord of Tsumi Shi. A favorite of Ginmaru's as far as noble guests go."

A small smile crept to Gaara's face. "So, there are ties?"

Kankuro nodded. "Small ties, yes. Strenuous enough they could just be coincidence."

Gaara's smile grew a fraction. "There are no coincidences." He walked around him and said, "Set up a press conference. The Daimyos have been pestering my office for answers, and they need to know. I have some calls to make."

Kankuro stood in front of the flashing cameras, film crews and journalists as he summarized the findings since the explosion, including the ID of the bomber and recent affiliates. "We are still looking for a motive, as his home has appeared to have been cleaned. This is an open and on-going investigation. If anyone has further pertinent information, please contact the Anti-Terrorist Division." He braced his hands on the podium and looked around the small room. "Any questions?"

A few journalists raised their hands, and he pointed at the one in the back first. "Yes. Has anything else been found about the attack Lord Gaara claimed happened at his flat in Futen? Has there been any connection made between the House of Lords Bombing and the attack?"

Kankuro did his best to school his features to not betray his anger at the disrespectful wording. "The attack did happen, as I was a participant in defending my brother's home. It was an assassination team of ninjas from Kemurigakure in the Land of Jungles with an assignment to assassinate Lord Gaara. While Kemurigakure has refused to acknowledge such a contract was made, we had the IDs, and we've found the ninjas were considered in good standing with their village. We are still in negotiations with Kemurigakure on the details, as they have not been readily forthcoming. So, officially, no connection as of yet, except for the suspicious timing." He pressed his lips in a thin line, watching the journalists write down the answers quickly. "Next question."

The journalists began waving their hands, and Kankuro pointed to one of the few women in the crowd. She stood, straightening her skirt as she asked, "As Lord Gaara's brother, would you agree this is a love match between Lord Gaara and Princess Emika, or is it a political stunt?"

Kankuro's eyes narrowed as he scoffed. "What newspaper is this?"

"Aeros Magazine," she answered.

He tried not to laugh, since that was a magazine mainly sold to young women about horoscopes, diet tips, and sex tips. Of course, they would ask such a question. "Yes, it is a love match." He tongued his cheek then said, "In my brother's own words when he explained it to me, they are it for each other. Ever since they met." That caused a bunch of hands to shoot up, including the woman from Aeros.

"Then, why did he kill his ex fiancé?" the woman blurted.

Kankuro rolled his eyes, and explained, "Because she was running away with her lover, who was bent on them both becoming a runaway ninja, which is treason. Simply put, Gaara tracked her down for honor, and punished them for treason. Further still, the lover she ran away with committed a second treason by participating in a failed coup and assassination attempt of their Kage, Lord Gaara. Gaara's ex-fiance was believed to also have been a participant, given her aiding and abetting her lover's escape. The incident was made public record when the coup participants were arrested back in August."

He looked out over the group, grumbling a curse under his breath, which he covered by clearing his throat, then asked, "Next question."

A man timidly raised his hand in the front row, and Kankuro called on him. "The House of Daimyos is fairly evenly split on who should run the country. Do you think Lord Gaara will keep pushing the Land of Wind, even to the brink of war? Or will he stand down and relinquish power?"

Kankuro took a deep breath, shaking his head. "No comment." The man frowned, and the journalists noted his answer. Kankuro raised his hand, and said, "Actually, what I mean is that Lord Gaara will do his best to prevent a war. But as far as the question is concerned in regarding to its phrasing: No Comment."

Dinner Thursday evening was tense. The dinners had been growing tenser every evening since Temari left. At this point, even Gaara could sense the social tension as they ate the chicken and rice dish at the dining room table. Emika sat next to him quietly, but it was obvious something was on her mind. "I saw the press conference today, Kankuro," Emika started. "You did pretty well. My uncle will be hard pressed to argue against your findings."

"Thank you," Kankuro murmured stiltedly.

"Especially how you handled that one journalist," she huffed, cutting her chicken. "The one with the obviously biased question. I couldn't have answered it better myself."

Kankuro gave an odd nod as he swallowed, then said, "Again. Thanks."

Then the room returned to the awkward silence accentuated by the sound of utensils on plates and the heavy pressure of the invisible elephant that seemed to be sitting with them at the table. Finally, Emika sighed, dropping her utensils on her plate as she demanded, "Alright. Out with it." When no one readily answered, she huffed, "You all have been walking on eggshells since Temari left. So, what is it?"

Kankuro and Shikamaru looked to Gaara with pursed lips as he chewed his bite slowly, meeting his wife's expectant gaze. He reached for his drink as he said, "I got the paternity results back," before taking a sip.

Her gaze flinched, before cutting to Kankuro and Shikamaru before scowling back at Gaara.

"They know," he stated plainly, before turning to Shikamaru adding, "At least I've figured Temari told you."

"She did," Shikamaru said quietly.

She flinched again, her expression stony and cold. "And?" she asked.

"And you were being honest," Gaara stated plainly, if a little sadly. "Hira is my son." She pulled her napkin from her lap, wiping her mouth as Gaara added, "As I told you earlier, if that was the case, I will not agree to the annulment."

As if following the cue of the invisible elephant deciding to get up from the table and leave, so too did Kankuro and Shikamaru grab their plates, getting up from their chairs until she pointed at them and hissed, "Don't move." They froze in their half risen poses as her gaze settled coolly back on Gaara. She set her jaw, then said, "You signed a contract."

"That was before I knew the extenuating circumstances, which you left out knowing I wouldn't agree to it if I had known," Gaara argued. He pressed his lips into a thin line, then said, "He's my son. He has a right to know who I am. Who he is."

"Out of the question," she said, shaking her head sharply,

Gaara inhaled through his nose, expecting her to be obstinate. But he'd done his research. He was ready. He tilted his head a little, a small, bitterly curious smile on his lips as he asked, "I'm curious. How much do Chie and Rinri tell you about our son's life at school?"

She blinked, and he could tell she was suddenly questioning herself. "Enough. He's a happy kid," she lied.

He nodded, knowing he had her. "So, nothing about how he's struggling in math and kanjis," he stated. She flinched, then straightened her back stiffly. She hadn't known. He smile grew a little more bitter as he said, "Nor about bullying from kids in Chie's clan, or the incident that happened in school." The way her shoulders fell and her eyes softened told him she didn't know. He pursed his lips, then stood as he asked, "Would you like to know what he thinks about me?"

"Did you talk to –" she snapped aghast as he walked around her to his home office.

"No," he answered, cutting her off as he opened a drawer in his desk. He stepped back out, holding up a packet, as he said, "Even though I would be well within my rights to do so, I didn't have to. No, I just pulled his school records." He flicked to the page in question, explaining, "See, after the incident, his teacher recommended he see the counselor. And per her notes…" He cleared his throat with a grunt and read, "'Hira has expressed great concern with the thought that he will grow up alone in life, because his mother is unmarried and believes it is because his father didn't want him.'"

He placed the packet in front of her so she could read it herself. After a silent moment as Emika focused on the report, he saw Kankuro gesture if he and Shikamaru were free to go, and Gaara nodded, and they made a quick exit, leaving their dishes at the sink. His gaze flicked back to Emika as she read, and reread the reports.

"You and I both know what he believes is a falsehood," Gaara pointed out angrily. "After growing up believing my own mother died not wanting me, hating me, I refuse to let my own son believe the same as I did. Not wanting and not knowing are two very different things."

She slammed the packet closed, and huffed, "It doesn't matter." Gaara scoffed incredulously, but she continued, "Clearly, these are ideas given to him by these bullies. He and I have not talked about his father, and how things were left, and when we do, he will not think this anymore."

"Well, then he'll only think of me in regards to whatever fantasy you come up with," Gaara argued. "He should know who I am and that I do want him. That I want to be his father."

"Absolutely not," she hissed. "It'll only confuse him."

"How? We're already married. It's logical."

"Because I need you to be Kazekage!" she snapped. Gaara frowned as she continued, "You do not know half of what you need to to handle the Daimyos. I do. You don't know what advisors to listen to, and who's biased to what. Hell, you don't even know what's being debated on the House floor other than the royal claim." She licked her lips, then conceded, "But you do know the ninjas, and Suna's politics, which are very different. And that's why I need you here. As Kazekage." She tongued her cheek, then finished, "I need you to be the face of The Wind's stability and strength, while Hira and I become the face of its future." She took a bracing breath as she finished, "Any future with us happily married at the end is a fantasy. I'd rather not get his hopes up."

They let the silence hang between them for a moment.

"We conceived Hira when I was still Shukaku's Jinchuriki," Gaara stated. "He's the only child that could inherit latent abilities and characteristics of Shukaku. If the Suna Council realizes –"

"But they won't," she hissed warningly, "because you will not claim him."

"Emika," Gaara tried, hoping to pull her to reason.

"I have sacrificed everything for our son. Don't think you can claim equal merit now that you know he exists!" she snapped.

"Only because you robbed me of any possible chance," Gaara howled at her. He took a bracing breath, trying to stem his anger. He set his jaw, then said, "He's my son, and I want him to know where he comes from. That I'm not the man he thinks I am."

"And one day he will," she said curtly. "When he's old enough, I'll explain it to him. That's if I can become Shogun Daimyo, so our son is finally safe. Which is the whole point!"

Gaara shook his head in disbelief. "How can you be so heartless? So manip—"

He was cut off by the sound of a potted plant being knocked over outside. Gaara didn't hesitate, didn't even stop to think as he grabbed Emika by the wrist, pulling her behind him as he threw up his sand shield as the glass windows suddenly shattered and a full blown battle erupted in the Penthouse.

AN: Again. If you have suggestions for the end of the series, I'd like to hear them. Leave them in a review. So, PLEASE REVIEW! And fave, follow, kudos, bookmark, whatever.