Wow! Ok so reviews definitely making my day so far. Shuuketsu-tenshi, I'd like to say thanks for the complement on the grammar and spelling but you'd probably have to thank all my grammar/ spelling crazed friends because whenever I accidentally use bad grammar they jump on me. Gah! Sadly that has been happening since 7th grade but I still love them all to death. Although it is true I frequently ask myself why I hang with them. Of course they say the same about me. Lol.

L Boogie I'd also like to say thank you for the tips and the complement I totally know what you're talking about with Shikamaru be so OOC. I was trying to get a sense of this being new to him but I still agree. It was even bugging me while I was writing it but rest assured I will try to get him more in character in the future if I can! I'm here to learn people! Now on with the story!

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO! WAHHHHH! [Cries in a corner]

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Three very short and ominous knocks came from the door as I stood somewhat awkwardly on the top stair, half afraid that I was about to step into a death trap and half waiting in anticipation that my hypothesis of the world's end was coming true. I heard our door squeak open and my body move down the stairs without any incentive. When I reached the bottom half of the stairs I looked up towards the door.

Temari stood there, without her usual expression and without her ninja outfit, in a dress and if that wasn't surprising enough she actually seemed to have the faintest tones of makeup that made her already enticing eyes become even more hypnotic. She was blushing slightly and had a soft smile as she greeted my father. At the moment I truly had no idea who this woman was. She was acting as though she was Hinata. As soon as she saw me our eyes locked for a moment before she blushed even deeper and produce her oh so familiar scowl as she looked her self over.

The scowl was the only thing truly familiar and relief seemed to wash over me when I saw her true self coming trough the alien make up.

"What happen to you?" I told her smirking when I reached the floor right in front of her.

"Lets just say news travels fast and girl friends are vicious." She said looking ready to tear the fabric off herself.

"I'll bet. Women." At this she grab the front of my shirt pulling me to her level.

"What about women?" she snarled softly.

Suddenly my father started laughing and our heads snapped to him, both of us forgetting that he was even in the room.

"Well don't mind me. Go on Shikamaru answer her; I'll just be getting your mother." With that he left us at the doorway, chuckling all the way down the hall.

"Yeah, Shikamaru, answer me," Temari said, "What about women?"

I sighed but answered her none the less. "Women are all troublesome, I mean look at yo-"

I wasn't able to finish my sentence before her metal fan hit my head.

"Where the heck were you keeping that?" I asked her as tears stung at the corners of my eyes.

She grinned at this and said "Wouldn't you like to know." She then swung the offending object behind her head and walked off after my father.

I followed her through the kitchen door, still rubbing my head, thinking I may find out what had happen if I stuck close and watched her put the fan away. Unfortunately she kept the object dutifully at her side with no sign of putting it back so quickly. I went and sat down at the table waiting for my parents to enter, awaiting the impending doom that would soon engulf me.

As if on cue, my mother entered the kitchen with my father close behind.

"Oh hello dear!" my mother exclaimed upon seeing Temari, smiling abnormally big, "It's so good to meet you finally. I've seen you around the village snd heard a lot from my husband. You're the ambassador from Suna correct? Oh it's so good to have you here."

Both my father and I glanced at each other. I responded to my mother's out of character act.

"Who are you and what have you done to my mother?" she glared at me and my father smirked then began to talk to Temari in his calm way.

"I'm sorry. I know you and I have met but it seems my wife hasn't been formally introduced. This is Nara Yoshino."

"It's very nice to meet you. I'm Sabaku no Temari."

"Temari. That's a beautiful name dear."

"Thank you Mrs. Nara."

"Oh you're quite welcome."

"Temari I just have one question." Temari nodded to my father at this, "Why our lazy bum of a son?"

I sighed as my mother hit my dad on the top of the head with a random frying pan. Temari burst into a fit of laughter and pointed to my mom,

"I like you already Mrs. Nara," and as if to prove her point that they were two peas in a pod, she quickly swiped her fan across my head again.

"Oww! Hey!"

My mom joined into Temari's giggling as my father joined me at the table, still rather calm, and sat right across from me. I stared distrustingly at the new alliance that had formed in my kitchen. If I though they were bad separately…damn.

"Well I believe you've meet your match Shikamaru. She's quite something."

"Yeah, something." i said thinking of how fast this was happening and how there seemed no way out.

"You look like you're watching a time bomb about to go off."

"You could say that." I sighed and looked at my father, "You seem in an awfully good mood today, if fact I don't think I've ever heard you laugh this much."

"Maybe I am son."

"… Would you care to elaborate?"

"Yes."

"…"

While I waited to see if my father would show any sign of what was so great about his day, I began to hear some mumbling in the background. It started incomprehensible but I could hear the mention of my name followed by more mumbling and then laughter. How could this get worse?

"Dinner is ready!" Temari and my mother joined us at the table carrying plates of stake, vegetables, and mashed potatoes; one for each of us.

We all dug in as light conversation flitted around, the talk mostly between Temari and my mother with small interjections from me and my father here and there. It fell considerably above my expectations which did surprise me. After peacefully ending dinner we all retired to the living room. I rested on the couch, my mother in her favorite chair with Temari and my father in the middle of the room at the table setting up the shogi board.

"So is Temari any good at this, Shikamaru?" my father asked. I opened one of my closed eyes and looked at him but before I could even think about answering, Temari took the liberty of telling him herself.

"I have beaten Shikamaru."

"Once," I replied slightly annoyed at the memory.

"Twice." She countered.

"No, once. The one you're thinking about is the one that became a stalemate that doesn't constitute a win."

"Well even to come up to par with Shikamaru is amazing Temari. I can't wait to play you myself."

And with that they began their game and soon I dozed off into a light slumber that flickered in and out to the few voices around me. When I awoke the lights were out except for a small dwindling fire that rested in the hearth. My parents seemed to have gone as did Temari; at least I thought so until I felt a movement by me on the couch. I was slightly startled when I heard the strong voice from the growing shadows.

"You sure do love to sleep don't you Nara."

"Temari? What time is it?"

"11:30."

"Why are you still here? Where are my parents?"

"They went to bed about an hour or so ago. They told me that I could stay here if I wanted to. That is if you ever decided to vacate the couch."

"Oh. Uh… sorry."

"Why are you sorry? Now we can be alone."

The hairs on the back of my neck stood at this and I began to wonder when she started to have that effect on me. She brought her face close to mine again and all that was going through my head were repeats of the last time we were this close. Soon I was against her mouth again smelling the sweet lavender that followed her, softly caressing her lips with mine. I pulled away from her slowly relishing the feeling and trying to commit it to memory. I then look straight into her pools of teal that looked as if they could drown any man.

"So," I started "Who won the shogi game?"

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Ok guys do you think Shikamaru was at least a little better? I keep wanting to go back and make adjustments, repetitively. Ah! [Is resisting impulse] By the way steak, vegetables and mashed potatoes are my favorite dinner which is why I put it in there :]

Thanks for reading!

Comments always welcome! That way I don't feel like I'm talking to myself. :]

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!