I actually thought I wouldn't be able to write for this theme. I had to look after my grandma who was just recently confined in the hospital. Possible pneumonia. That's why I am only posting now. Sorry if it looks rushed. Please enjoy still for the second to last theme! I shall be thanking everyone, especially those who reviewed, on the final one so please hold on until then! :)

Horizon

'Tem, did you know that there are three basic cloud patterns?' His deep timbre was brimming with life and joy as he directed the question to her while they both lay stretched out on their backs at his favourite cloud-viewing spot.

'Nope.' Frankly, she didn't care to know either but something about the way he lectured just tapped into something primal in her. And she couldn't get enough of that feeling. Was she a sucker for this guy or what?

'Well, there are. Cirrus, stratus, and cumulus. In fact, there are ten major cloud types and classified further under three categories such as low, middle and high types. But I'll just stick with the fundamental three for now.'

'Yes, my ears will be thankful.' Hell, it didn't matter at all to her whether he talked her ear off.

He swivelled about so that he was facing her. She thought that he probably didn't even realize he had a goofy grin on his face. 'Cirrus, from the latin word cirro, means curly. That's pretty obvious. Stratus, from the latin word strato, means sheets. Those are your thin, stretched out ones. Cumulus, from the latin word cumulo, means piled. Those are your huge, fluffy ones. This is the type of cloud best associated with cloud-watching.'

'Would those be your favorite?' She was starting to realize what she liked about his lecturing. It might just be the fact that he was acting completely boyish and carefree. Or perhaps it was his obsidian eyes that sparkled as he imparted said knowledge. It was one of those rare times that you would see him so animated.

'Favorite? No, I don't have a favorite. They each have their own charm, really. How about you? Now that I've described them to you, do you have a favorite?'

His unusually eager face made her bite back any form of sarcasm that almost slipped from her tongue.

'Um, have to go with cumulus.' That was a safe answer, right?

He gave her a nod of approval. She sighed to herself. 'I figured. Most people do.'

'Not that I indulge in cloud-watching.'

He chuckled. 'Yeah, I know. I have to practically drag you here every time. If I didn't help you with the paperwork, we'd never have time for this.'

She hmphed. 'Hey, don't make it sound like you volunteered. I had to drag you to help me do paperwork.'

'Well, did you really think any lazy ass would have the initiative to volunteer? I was only conforming to the stereotype.'

She wanted to both smack and kiss the smirk off his face.

'Congratulations, you're likely the epitome of that stereotype.'

His shoulders moved up and down in a shrug, still maintaining that infuriating smirk. 'Would you have it any other way?'

Temari gazed somewhat longingly at the vast expanse of the sky laid out in front of her. That particular memory was one she didn't tire of replaying.

"What a nerd," she snickered. But no one could mistake the fondness in the smile that followed after.

Suddenly, an elongated shadow hovered over her and inquired with a trace of amusement, "Who's a nerd?"

She instantly recognized that voice. A voice that wasn't supposed to be currently in Suna. She sat up hastily and turned to look up at his standing form. "What are you doing here? I wasn't informed you were coming. What's going on?"

One side of Shikamaru's mouth lifted in a half-smile. He was clearly enjoying her loss of composure. "Nothing important, really. Just had to deliver confidential information that Tsunade couldn't trust anyone but me to deliver. Want to come with?"

He held out his hand to her. Which she took almost immediately. He pulled her up almost effortlessly.

As they headed towards the kazekage's headquarters, Shikamaru asked curiously, "What were you doing out there?"

To outsiders, no one would have noticed the stiffening of Temari's shoulders. But Shikamaru knew her well enough and that made him wonder. What activity could she have been doing out there that she didn't seem willing to share with anyone?

"Nothing, really. Just went out for fresh air, taking in the horizon, thinking things over," she answered nonchalantly.

He scrutinized her face and she fought to keep a natural expression. But he had a way of getting to her that no one else could.

The words came out slowly as he contemplated, "One doesn't usually lie down for fresh air."

As the truth hit him, she winced as a knowing grin spread out across his face.

"You, Temari no Sabaku of Suna, were definitely cloud-watching."

"Preposterous. I wasn't doing any such thing. And how did you find me anyway?" she demanded, desperate to change the subject.

"Kankuro told me when I saw him near the gates. And don't change the subject, woman."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

He snorted at her lame reply. "Don't deny you were cloud-watching."

"I would never do something so lazy willingly." For some reason, she absolutely resolved not to let him know she was indulging in his favorite activity.

Another male voice suddenly cut into their conversation. "What are you guys bickering about?"

They both turned to see Kankuro watching them in curiousity.

"Temari won't admit to watching clouds," Shikamaru said bluntly.

Temari would have glared at him but she was currently trying to send a warning look at her brother. Kankuro stared from his sister and then at Shikamaru and back. Then he smirked, mischief definitely lurking in that mouth.

"Don't, Kankuro, I swear," Temari groaned, seeing as it was no use.

"Don't what?" Shikamaru asked with a small grin, anticipating something good.

"Shikamaru, didn't my darling sister inform you that she almost always relaxes at that area after work?" Kankuro said with an impossibly wide grin.

"Why no, she neglected to tell me that," Shikamaru said with a shit-eating grin.

Temari was gnashing her teeth so much it was in danger of being grinded into powder.

Kankuro continued, either oblivious to his sister's reaction or choosing to ignore it, "Have to thank you, Shikamaru. It really does wonders to her disposition. Watching clouds, that is. Or maybe it's not so much the activity but the person it reminds—"

He didn't finish as he found her tessen digging into his neck almost painfully as she backed him onto a wall. "If you know what's good for you and your puppets, you won't finish that sentence and just leave, little brother."

Kankuro gulped which was just a tad difficult task at the moment. "Fine," he choked out. And he scrambled away as soon as she let him go.

"Wasn't that a bit harsh of you?" Shikamaru asked with a tiny smile. "He was only accommodating me. Now that is proper hospitality."

"Hospitality, my ass. You two were making fun of me and I won't stand for it." Her eyes flashed in magnificent fury.

For a moment, he was unsure whether to run for it or pin her to the wall and kiss her. He decided to compromise since he knew either choice would leave him incapacitated in her current state of mind.

"I didn't mean for it to sound that way. I'm just... happy, I guess. To discover that you genuinely enjoy cloud-watching as well. At least I won't have to drag you next time." He threw her a lopsided grin.

How could she counter such warm sincerity?

Simple. With a kiss. Or perhaps two.

0000000000

Temari brought her two-year old son towards that hill, his tiny chubby hand held in hers. They halted at the top of the center of the land form.

"Now, Shikadai, I'll teach you how your daddy does cloud-watching."

"Cloud-watching, yay!" Shikadai cheered.

She patted the seat next to her and gestured for the kid to lay down. The toddler obeyed eagerly.

"You fold your arms like this behind your head. And just move around until you feel comfortable."

She watched as the kid imitated her movements perfectly. She smiled softly.

"Now what, mommy?" Shikadai asked impatiently, puppy dog eyes trained on her.

"Well, look ahead, do you see those big, fluffy white clouds? Those are called cumulus clouds."

"Coo-mu-lus."

"Close, dear. Kyoo-myoo-loos."

"Cumulus."

"Perfect." Temari beamed proudly and quickly pressed a kiss to his forehead, making the child squeal in joy. "Now try to see if you can see anything in those cumulus clouds. For example, that cloud over there reminds me of a flower, you see?"

Shikadai nodded thoughtfully. Then he scrunched up his face cutely as he searched the clouds. Then his face lit up as he pointed excitedly, "Daddy!"

Puzzled as to how her child could see her husband in specific, but then again, to each his own. Temari looked, stared and burst out laughing her head off.

Just then, someone said, "What are you squirts doing out here without me? You're leaving me out of all the fun!"

Temari couldn't stop laughing. In fact, she laughed harder at the sight of her husband. So little Shikadai walked over to his bemused daddy and tugged at his pants. He pointed at the cloud, and exclaimed, "Daddy!"

"Yes, it's a cloud, squirt. Isn't it beautiful?"

"Nooo, it's daddy!" Shikadai pouted.

"Look closer," Temari gasped out, clutching her tummy.

Shikamaru finally gave a longer look at said cloud. He nearly face-faulted.

The cloud clearly resembled the outline of a pineapple.

He looked at his child, who was smiling expectantly and his wife whose laughter receded to chuckles.

He patted Shikadai on the head and said, "You're already a genius at cloud-watching, huh, squirt?"

"Am genius, yes!"

"And your mother is enjoying this way too much." That almost had Temari burst into another fit of laughter but she contained herself.

"Mama is funny!"

"That's been a running joke since we were chuunins. Don't you think it's gotten old already?" Shikamaru told his wife, his eyebrow raised.

Temari's mouth twitched for another laughing fest. Shikamaru could see that and rolled his eyes.

"If even our son can see it, then it will never get old," Temari said, her teal eyes dancing in amusement.

"Then I think you both need to broaden your horizons, wife. Learn to associate the poor pineapple to something else," Shikamaru grimaced outwardly, but really having fun bickering as usual.

Temari grinned at that. Then turned to the toddler, "Shikadai, what fruit looks like Daddy?"

Shikadai brightened at that and proudly announced, "Pineapple!"

Shikamaru groaned. "I cannot believe you, Temari. You actually taught him that."

Temari started to whistle innocently while patting Shikadai on the head.

Shikamaru said with narrowed eyes, "You do realize that your son has the exact same hairstyle."

"I know. And if anyone other than me and friends call him that, I'll use my tessen on them."

Shikamaru chuckled at the typical response of the wind shinobi.

And as they returned to their seats atop the hill, they all looked towards the exquisite horizon. Temari asked their son while pointing at the big, fluffy clouds, "What type of cloud is that, Shikadai?"

"Cumulus, mommy!" Shikadai recited confidently and giggled. "So fluffy!"

Shikamaru looked at them in surprise. "I thought you forgot all about that lecture of mine," he said to his wife. "In fact, in hindsight, I thought you might have found it boring at the time," he said sheepishly, rubbing his hand at the back of his neck.

Temari started to chuckle madly. "I did find it boring but I never forgot any of your so-called mini lectures. They were... stimulating."

She sent him a playfully lusty look which made him blush a little. Looking down at their son who was listening to their conversation, he said carefully, "I might have another mini lecture for you after you tuck Shikadai into bed later tonight."

"I can't wait," Temari replied with a smirk.

Shikamaru settled for a chaste kiss for now and also placed one on Shikadai's temple which set off Shikadai's giggles once more as he reached for both parents' hands.

The horizon certainly looked promising.

A/N: Please make me happy by leaving a review. Pretty please with cherry on top?