Second chapter to my Gaarnaru fanfic. Any pairings anyone would like to see in here please let me know. I put all my fanfic's at a rating of M, because I just don't know what might happen and how far I'll go. But I always put up a warning before the chapter if anything to graphic going to happen in it. This chapter the start of the stag night so plenty of drunkenness and swearing. Please review if you enjoy and want it to continue. Thank you for reading, pardon any spelling or grammar mistakes. (If anyone wants to beta my works for me feel free L.O.L.)

Chapter 2. Moving Forward.

Naruto landed almost silently on the stone face of the third Hokage. The blond was pleased to find a lone figure sitting not too far away on the edge of the giant carving staring out over the village. Naruto took a deep calming breath before slowly approaching the brooding redhead. Gaara didn't even flinch when the blonde sunk down next to him copying his crossed legged position. The redhead kept his turquoise eyes fixed on the silent hometown of his friend.

"Soooo, you wanna tell me what that little temper tantrum was about?"

Gaara remained silent ignoring the blonde. Naruto huffed.

"You know its rude to ignore people?"

".."

"This is stupid. I know you're not deaf."

".."

"You're really starting to piss me off." Naruto yelled.

".."

"Okay look, I know Shikamaru can seem lazy, but he's a great guy. And he'll look after Temari."

An eye twitch from the redhead was all the response the blonde received, but it was something at last.

"You don't like Shikamaru? You've never said anything before."

".."

"Temari was crying when I left" Naruto tried a different approach and was pleased when he saw Gaara's eyes glance in his direction. "Yeah, she was sobbing her heart out on Shikamaru's shoulder. Telling how much she loved him."

"Lair." He heard Gaara whisper.

The Hokage raised a challenging eyebrow. "What makes you say that."

"Temari would never cry." Gaara replied his voice as emotionless as ever.

"You're wrong. She was all snotty and gross."

Gaara turned to face Naruto fully then, folding his arms and raising a none-exciting eyebrow of his own.

"Okay well maybe sobbing is a bit of strong choice of words, but she was crying even if she tried to hide it." Naruto admitted while scratching his cheek.

Gaara turned back to stare to the village. After a moment he asked. "Was she really that upset?"

The blonde shifted so he could hang his legs over the edge. "Yep. I've never seen Temari cry before. I've never seen any of you guys cry."

"I see. I didn't mean to upset her." Gaara's low voice was almost lost in the breeze

"Well what did you think would happen? She loves Shikamaru."

"It's just..." The redhead trailed off.

"Just?" The Hokage pushed.

"Just...I...I can't afford to lose one of my best kunoichi."Naruto frowned, he knew his friend well enough to know when he was lying.

"That's bull, since your village adopted the same policies as us you've been turning out hundreds of great shinobi." The blond disputed.

"That's not the same." Gaara snapped.

"Why?"

"Because.."

"Because?" The blonde pressed.

Gaara stood and leaned over the taller male "Because she's my sister, she belongs with me..I mean us, her people. I need..I mean we need her." With a growl Gaara spun and stomped off.

Naruto quickly scrambled to his feet. Once he was close enough he grabbed the Kazakage's arm and spun him around. "I get it. It's not that she's getting married, it's because she wants to move here. Isn't it?"

The redhead just glared at the floor. Gaara might be the Kazakage and one of the most powerful shinobi in all the five great nations, but when it came to his emotions he was still a long way behind the rest of his friends. Naruto had a fleeting thought of a jealous child learning there was going to be a new baby in the house.

"Talk to me Gaara, at least try I won't make fun of you."

"I know that. I'm just not sure how I feel." Black rimmed eyes stared out into the dark forest in front of them. "I feel...it's just like Temari said we haven't been a..Family for that long and now she wants to leave.." With a frustrated growl the redhead let his shoulders slump.

The blond tugged on his friends arm to get his attention. "I know exactly how you feel."

Gaara gave him a disbelieving look.

"It's true." The blonde exclaimed. "When I first found out Sasuke and Sakura were getting married I was gutted, even though I hid it. I thought I was losing my two best friends. Like once they were married they'd forget me and as silly as it sounds I'd be all alone again."

"But that's not the same Sakura and Uchiha still live in the same village." The Kazakage argued.

"True, but do you think that made me feel any better? I still felt ...abandoned. I thought they'd be too busy for me. I'm glad to say I was wrong Sakura was the one who noticed. She sat me down and told me I wouldn't be left out or forgotten. She said I was no less important to the both of them, that if anything they would need me more to help them if they needed it. That I was family." Naruto said with a soft smile as he remembered the way Sakura had burst through his office door and whacked him over the head. She may not have used the exact same words but Naruto understood what the pink haired medical ninja was trying to tell him.

Gaara stared at Naruto for a moment. "But she wants to move here. And eventually Kankuro will find someone too, what if he wishes to move as well?"

"Then you'll do what will make them both happy. Do you really want your nephew to grow up without a farther there to guide him."

" I managed." The redhead replied stubbornly.

Naruto had to smile. "And you were oh so stable because of it." Gaara shot him another scathing glare, but the knuckle head ninja continued. "Besides he might have been an ass to you, but he wasn't to Temari and Kankuro. Plus we're talking about Shikamaru. He deserves the chance, and you want Temari happy right?"

Naruto watched as Gaara sighed in defeat. The blond strongly suspected his friend still felt a little guilt over the little time they'd had as a family, seeing how he was the one who kept them in a constant state of fear.

"You are right. I am being childish"

The blonde gave Gaara a gentle pat on the back. "No, not childish just human, but we have to move forward."

A slight smile lifted Gaara's pink lips. "Shall I go now and correct my mistake or wait until morning?" Gaara asked noticing how late it was getting.

"No one likes waiting Gaara, come on." The blonde cried jumping up into the nearest tree his trade mark smile in place. Gaara shook his head, he really needed to learn how to negotiate against the blonde without allowing him to win, or one day he might agree to something he'd end up regretting. Pushing those thoughts away Gaara followed his friend through the dark woods.

The two Kage's arrived at Shikamaru's in record time thanks to Naruto's eagerness to set everything right. With his usual series of knocks Naruto announced his presences. To their surprise it was Kankuro who opened the door. The puppet master looked shocked when he noticed his younger brother standing behind the Hokage. Kankuro couldn't help but return the grin that was plastered on Naruto's face.

"So we're all good?" He asked the two younger ninjas.

Naruto nodded eagerly. "Believe it."

Kankuro snorted but moved aside to let the two shinobi inside.

"Where is Temari? I must speak with her." Gaara asked his older brother before the door was shut fully.

"She's packing ready for the trip home." Came Shikamaru's voice from behind them.

They all turned their attention towards the brunette, but it was Gaara who stepped forward.

"May I speak with her?"

The brown haired Jonin nodded and gestured for the Kazakage to follow him upstairs. Kankuro and Naruto decided to make themselves comfortable in sitting room.

By the time the two were settled Shikamaru had joined them. He flopped down onto the empty sofa, since Kankuro had claimed the armchair again and Naruto was slumped on the other sofa.

"Should I be worried or relieved?" Shikamaru asked not really sure he wanted the answer.

When Naruto grinned and winked at him the brown haired man released a breath he hadn't realised he was holding.

"You mean he's okay with it?" Kankuro asked cautiously.

"I gave you my word I 'd sort it didn't I? I can't believe you still doubt me." The blond pouted.

They all lapsed into silence for a few minutes before the door opened and Temari entered closely followed by her brother. Gaara squared his shoulders when everyone eyed him wearily.

"After careful consideration I have decided to modify my previous answer concerning the union between Temari and Shikamaru."

Everyone waited with baited breathe. Naruto prayed that Gaara wouldn't change his mind again, though he had faith his friend would do the right thing.

"I will grant you both my blessing." The redhead finally said voice strong, face expressionless.

Temari smiled at her husband-to-be, Shikamaru gave her a lazy smile back. Kankuro blew out a long breathe and Naruto gave the stone faced Kazakage a grin.

"Great now that that's sorted let's get down to the most important part." Naruto said clapping his hands together.

"And that would be?" Shikamaru asked arching a brow.

"The stag night of course." The blonde exclaimed.

Shikamaru face palmed. "You can't be serious, I don't have the energy to sort out who's coming, where we're meeting, where we're going, when and what time. Just thinking about it makes me tired."

"Well in that case I'm sure me and Naruto can handle the details." Kankuro offered.

"Oh, hell no." Temari laughed.

"What? I'll keep it good clean fun." Kankuro said as he sat up in his chair.

"Yeah, just like Gaara's birthday?" Temari smirked.

"Wait, what happened on Gaara's birthday?" Naruto asked. He knew something had happened at Gaara's last birthday dinner, but the redhead refused to tell Naruto anything.

"I arranged a nice quiet meal knowing how Gaara hates a fuss. So it was just me, Gaara, Kankuro and Baki. And you know what this dick dose?"

Naruto shook his head silently in a "no" eagerly.

Temari sent a glare at the smirking puppet master. "He hires a stripper to jump out of a plastic cake."

The blonde felt his jaw hit the floor. After a moment he snapped his mouth shut and turned to see Shikamaru wearing a similar look of pure shock. Kankuro was trying desperately to suppress his chuckles, while Gaara just watched everyone's different reactions blankly.

"Seriously? A stripper." Naruto asked the puppet master.

Kankuro nodded still chuckling. "Okay it wasn't one of my finer ideas, but I thought now Gaara's more stable maybe I could play a little prank on him. It's something siblings do that I never could in the past."

"What happened to the stripper?" Shikamaru asked already kind of knowing what the answer would be.

"What do you think happened when someone jumped out at the sand village's ultimate weapon?" Temari hissed.

"Three broken ribs, a concussion and a replacement wall needed in my dining room." Gaara replied casually as he made his way to sit next to Naruto.

The blonde gapped at his friend. "You put the stripper in hospital?"

"It was hardly my fault. My sand reacts more to my emotion know days, so when I jumped. And I will admit I jumped my sand grabbed her and through her threw the nearest wall." Gaara's turquoise eyes narrowed on the blonde daring Naruto to blame him.

Instead Naruto turned to Kankuro. "Even I could have told you that would happen. Did that poor girl know who she was jumping out at?"

"Of course, I wouldn't just let some unsuspecting girl jump out on Gaara unprepared. But she said she could handle whatever he threw at her."

"I'm guessing she didn't expect to be the thing he threw." Shikamaru drawled. "Serves her right if you ask me."

"That's a bit harsh. She broke her ribs." Naruto shot back. "How can you say that?"

"He's right she was from our village and a little older then Kankuro, so she was well aware of Gaara's previous mind set and how violent he can be. But still she choose to take the risk. Well it's not like she ever had any intelligence." Temari smirked.

"Why because she became a stripper?" Naruto felt the need to protect this girl even though he had never met her.

"No Naruto not because she was a stripper, but because she thought being a shinobi was a man's job." Temari said as she stared at the blonde.

Naruto chuckled and scratched his head. "Right. Anyway stag night here in Konoha since this is where the wedding will take place. We need somewhere with plenty of alcohol and food. And no surprise strippers for you." He added pointing at Gaara who just stared blankly at the finger pointing at him.

"I don't want one."

Kankuro laughed. "So who's coming?"

Naruto thought for a moment. "Well me, you, Gaara, Choji... Let's just invite all the rookies, but guys only."

Kankuro nodded. "Keep it simple, but let's invite Kakashi, Iruka and Yamato too."

Nodding eagerly Naruto added. "And Guy sensei."

"Wait Guy and Lee." Shikamaru squeaked not at all sure he could handle both of them.

"There's only me and Gaara from Sauna, Baki will have to stay and run things while Gaara's out of the village." Kankuro mused.

"Baki can attend if he wishes." Said Gaara.

"But if Baki comes who will perform your Kazakage duties?" Temari asked.

"Yeah you can't leave anyone from the council in charge." Kankuro added looking at his bother with a frown.

"Its fine I won't be attending the stag night." Gaara stated.

"What? But you have to." Naruto cried jumping up from the sofa.

"No I don't nor do I want too. I care nothing for getting drunk and spending the evening in the company of all your shinobi and drunken shinobi at that." Gaara said folding his arms and closing his black rimmed eyes.

"But you have to come Gaara, please." The blonde begged dragging out the last word into a whine.

Gaara's left eye twitched but other than that his expression didn't change. "No."

Kankuro groaned and fell back against his chair, Temari tried to hide her smile, Shikamaru rubbed at his temples and all Naruto could think was...

"Here we go again."