Chapter 7: Starting a Trend?

About two months after the unsuccessful mission to get Sasuke back, Shikamaru had received a message from Temari. He had to go to Suna because she had to discuss something. And so he was on his way. When he got there three days later, he was greeted with an angry Gaara and Konkuro.

"What's with you two?" he asked them. He was worried that Temari might be pregnant on the way there, and this almost confirmed his suspicion.

"I should kill you." Gaara said angrily.

"Where's Temari?" Shikamaru asked annoyed.

"I'm right here Shikamaru." Temari said a little annoyed. "Don't mind them. Their just overprotective brothers."

"I can see that." Shikamaru said glaring at them.

Temari grabbed his hand and took him into their house into her room.

"Shikamaru... I'm pregnant." Temari said after she sat down.

Shikamaru sighed and sat down next to her. "I figured it was something like that." He said now holding her. "Why didn't you call me here earlier?"

"I don't know. I was too afraid to even tell my brothers." She said now crying. Shikamaru thought she'd never cry.

"It's aright Temari. I'll never leave you like Sasuke left Sakura. I never want to see you like she was when we came back without her. You remember how she was. Crying, shaking, yelling at every little thing Naruto did. She was so stressed she almost lost the baby remember? She had to be on bed rest for a month. I don't want you to be that stressed out." He said now holding her and kissing her on her forehead.

"How Shikamaru?" Temari said through tears. "I live in Suna, you in Konoha. We're having a baby and we aren't gonna be able to be together."

"Yes we will." He said to her comfortingly. "We'll figure out something. I'll be here when you give birth and until the baby sleeps through the night. After that... we can figure out a visiting schedule where we can bring the baby to and from... and then when we get sick of it all, we can choose a place and live there I don't care if I have to leave Konoha now I just want you to be happy and our baby to be happy."

Temari suddenly looked up to him. "You really care about this baby don't you?"

"Yes Temari. I said you were troublesome before, but the truth is I... I think I love you." He finally admitted.

"What?" Temari said. "I... I love you too..." She said now kissing him wildly. Well she's hormonal alright. He thought with a smirk. How troublesome.

For about a week, Shikamaru stayed with Temari and planned out what they were going to do. He would return to Konoha and explain the situation. When Temari was in her ninth month, he would travel to Suna and stay until the promised time of when the baby slept through the night.

When he arrived home, he had no idea what to tell everyone. Asuma sensei asked what was going on and even played around saying he was there because she needed to have sex. He decided the only way to get it out was to tell Sakura first. Besides she's been through telling everyone.

"Sakura? Are you there?" he asked knocking up at her new apartment that she received because of her pregnancy. She wanted to live on her own with her new baby.

"Hi Shikamaru." She said opening the door to greet him with a smile. She was in a maternity blouse and had one hand on her now bigger stomach. "What's going on?"

"Well..." he started. "Temari's pregnant." He said.

Sakura was shocked, but then smirked. "I started a trend." She laughed.

"Its not that funny..." Shikamaru said annoyed. "I came to you for advice."

"I know." She said seriously. "Come on in." she said motioning him to come in.