Authors Note: Okay so obviously I did not update as soon as I planned. This summer was busier then I planned and it has been a little hectic. I am taking a summer class for college, vacation time is finally over (three vacations planned in 3 months), and I start school (6-8 classes a semester) in a little under a month. Then I should add on that I finally turned 21 last month! In addition, I have had major writers block. I would sit down to the computer and try to type, after about an hour I end up playing Tetris or pinball; I have even found myself doing school work, a week early, instead of typing up a new chapter. I know I am slacking, procrastinating, and being a horrible author, but when I open up my laptop and a brick wall, literally, hits me in the face, I cannot help but find something else to do. Fortunately, for everyone reading this story, I have been riding in a car for about 5 hours and an idea just magically popped into my head! Therefore, without further explanation, let chapter 14 begin.

P.S. - I don't own Naruto. If I did, you could just watch this in the anime or manga. I am just writing this story. =)

What a Life

'Knock knock knock' the sound echoed through the empty street as a rapped my frozen fingers on the door. My hand buried itself back in my coat pocket and I tilted my head up, toward the sky, and let the falling snowflakes land on my face. The icy flecks melted on my skin. I flexed my fingers and pulled my hand out of my pocket and up to knock again.

As my fingers made contact with the door again, it swung open and I was greeted with utter happiness.

"Ino-pig you are finally here! Come in, come it, you must be freezing!" Sakura said cheerfully. "Why aren't you wearing gloves or a scarf? If you did not notice, it is snowing outside. You will catch a cold."

I frowned in response, "Shikamae is going through a stage. She hides everything and anything she can get her hands on; including my gloves and scarf. Shikamaru is looking for them now." I paused while Sakura giggled. "This isn't funny Sakura. I was half an hour late to the hospital yesterday because she would got my snow boots and hid them in her 'special super-secret hiding spot'." Sakuras' giggles turned into full-blown laughs. "Shikamaru almost missed a meeting with Lady Tsunade because Shikamae took hit scrolls and we had to turn the house upside down looking for them." Tears started running down her face. "Well Aunt Sakura, I am glad you think this is so amusing. Shikamaru and I will send her to your house next time she wants to play 'hide all of your important things."

The laughing stopped. "We will see how funny it is when Shikamae hides your kunai or Lees' green spandex suit." She looked up at me and smiled. "Ino you know that the green spandex suits got 'lost' during the move." It was my turn to laugh. "Seriously though Ino, Lee and I would love to watch Shikamae. She is always and angel with me."

I rested my hands on her shoulders and sighed, "You are a life saver!"

The front door opened and Lee walked in from the snow. "What am I missing? This looks like a youthful event of reassurance. Let's all run into the snow and…" He was cut off by a glare from Sakura.

"Lee, darling, why are you here?" Before he could answer, she moved to him and ushered him back out of the open door. "You are staying with Guy-sensei tonight remember. You are not allowed to see me before the ceremony tomorrow." She quickly kissed him and shoved him out onto the road.

"I wanted to come and say good night to you. Sweet dreams Sakura! I love you and I will see you tomorrow." He announced from his spot on the road, then turned and jogged through the snowy street.

I smiled as Sakura turned back into the house and shut the door behind her. A smile etched itself on her face. 'I don't think she has stopped smiling like that for the past week.' I thought to myself.

I hung my coat on an empty hook and moved into the living room. After about a second of debate, in my head, I chose to sit on the floor near the fireplace. Sakura followed my lead with a few blankets and sat beside me.

"I love what you have done with the house Sakura. You always work, more so than I do, and you have turned this house into a home for you and Lee in two weeks." I paused, thinking back over the year we had known each other. "Forehead, I can't believe that you are getting married tomorrow. It seems like just yesterday we were fighting over Sasuke. Now I am married with a child and you are getting married; and to Lee none the less."

Sakura beamed, "Who would have thought it?"

"Okay Sakura, enough chit chat, get up to your room and go to bed. I will crash on the couch. We have to be up early tomorrow. We have to do your hair, makeup, and get dressed, all before 10 am!"

After Sakura went upstairs and I was curled up on the couch, I allowed myself to think about my family at home. 'Shikamae is tucked into bed, the night light is on, and scaring off any monsters that might come her way. Shikamaru is probably playing shoji against himself, and winning." I laughed lightly at the thought.

Missing the warmth of the bed, Shika and I shared; I pulled the blanket up a little higher and closed my eyes.

Eight hours later, I was up again. I started up the stairs as I mentally checked things off from my list. 'Pillow and blankets put away, check. Start a pot of coffee, check. Drink my first cup of coffee, check. Take out hair clips, hair spray, pins, and all forms of makeup, check. Wake up the bride, hold on.'

Pausing the checklist, I opened Sakuras bedroom door, grabbed a throw pillow that was thrown near the door, and launched it at the unsuspecting target. "Wake up Forehead, time to make you presentable enough to get married."

As the pillow, along with an alarm clock and shoe, were launched back at me, I rounded the door way and all but flew down the stairs.

Sakura trudged down behind me, muttering something along the lines of "Bitch can't wake anyone up nicely" and sat in the chair I set up for her. I grabbed her cup of coffee, with two sugars and cream, from the kitchen and pushed it into her hand. By the time I got the toast to her, the coffee was gone.

"Okay Sakura, upstairs and shower. Hurry, don't sit around all day, we are on a time limit." A much more alert and awake Sakura rushed up the stairs to shower.

I took that opportunity to open up the curtains and take the first look at what the snowstorm brought up. There was about a foot and a half of snow on the ground. Normally this would not have been a problem, but Sakura would be leaving this house in a dress. My eyes darted up to the rooftops; I noticed footprints. 'If we are extremely careful, and use plenty of chakra, we can jump from the roofs and make it with no problem.'

I turned from the window and moved to the down stairs bathroom. Quickly, I scrubbed my skin and washed my hair, only taking a second to enjoy the warm water. After getting out of the shower and drying off, I clipped up my hair and dressing in a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt.

Sakura came down the stairs as I exited the bathroom and we got to work. Her hair was dried and clipped up into a very pretty bun.

Next, we did her makeup. Sakura suggested we stick with natural tones; I did as she asked, but added a bit of shiny lip. She headed up the stairs to get her dress on. I removed the clip from my hair and it had dried. I brushed it out and added a touch of makeup to my face. After I was finished, I pulled my outfit from the closet and got dressed.

'I am glad I decided to wear black pants instead of a dress. I would have frozen outside!'

I looked at myself once in the mirror and decided I looked fantastic. I moved up the stairs and knocked on Sakuras door once before opening it and entering the room. I stopped and smiled at her as tears filled my eyes.

Sakura stood in the middle of the room, looking at herself in the mirror. She chose a short white dress, even though it was winter. Her winter coat would cover to her knees and the snow boots would cover the rest.

"How do I look Ino? Do I look ready to get married?" She asked as she started walking toward me. "You look ready to walk down the aisle. Congratulations Sakura."

She smiled, "I think I'll stick with hokage tower. I have too much to do to have a wedding like yours Ino-pig."

I grabbed her shoes, that she would wear at the tower, and followed her down the stairs. We slipped out coats and winter boots on, locked the door behind us, and started jumping on the roofs.

When we arrived at our destination, it had started snowing again. After we got through the door, Sakura and I both switched shoes and walked to Tsunades office. Sakura and Lee were getting married down stairs, in the auditorium, but Lady Tsunade said we could sit in her office until the actual wedding started. After all, Lee was not supposed to see her until they said their vows.

Sakura pushed the door open and we walked into the room. "Mommy!" I turned just in time to catch my child as she flew through the air. I hugged her tightly and gave her a kiss on the top of her head. Shikamaru had foregone the terror of trying to put up our daughters' hair. I set her down and she ran over to Sakura and repeated the 'flying' process.

Shikamaru appeared to be sleeping on the couch in Lady Tsunades' office. I snuck over to him and stuck my finger out to poke his arm. Before I could poke him, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me to him, kissing me.

"Troublesome women haven't you learned to not try and sneak up on me; it never works." I smiled at him and noticed his tie. Shaking my head lightly I fixed it. "What did you do Shika, try and tie the tie like a shoe lace?"

He smirked, "Shikamae and I struck a deal. She could tie my tie if I did not do her hair." I rolled my eyes and decided not to comment.

The door opened and Tsunade walked in. "Is everyone ready? It is time to get married!" We all walked down stair and the ceremony started. Shikamae sat in Shikamarus' lap, content with looking out the window at the accumulation snow.

I glanced at the families here. Lees' parents smiled at the couple, while Sakuras' mom cried. Sakuras' father wrapped a supportive arm around her and smiled at his daughter.

As the vows were said, Shikamaru entwined his fingers with mine. I lay my head on his shoulder and sighed. When the kiss came, Shikamae made a face and I laughed.

"Yes Mrs. Takashi, I am sure that your daughter will love these flowers." I said to a customer from across the counter. "Tulips are her favorite. She went on her first mission last week and she is due back today." She said happily.

I wrapped paper around the fresh tulips and tied a ribbon around the paper. As I concentrated on curling the ribbon, I heard a small voice come from the counter. I looked up and saw Shikamae smiling brightly.

"Mrs. Takashi." She said as she clasped her small fingers around the customers skirt and tugged gently. "Here you go" Shikamae said handing Mrs. Takashi a sunny daisy. "Mommy said that if a customer buys a dozen flowers, then they get a daisy." Shikamae skipped to the back of the store and Mrs. Takashi looked shocked.

As she turned back to me, she said, "Ino, she can't be more than three years old. She is very bright. It is amazing!"

I smiled proudly. "I would love to take the credit for that, but she is a Nara. Shikamaru gave her quite a brain."

Mrs. Takashi turned to leave as the bell rung, notifying me that another customer was here. "Welcome to the Yamanaka flower shop." I said cheerfully as I deposited the money, Mrs. Takashi left, into the register.

"Hmm, a Nara working at a flower shop, interesting." Recognizing the voice, I smiled and looked up. "Hello Shikaku, what can I get you. Something for you anniversary with Mrs. Yoshiro; hint, hint."

"Well I…" He was cut off by the battle cry and running feet of my daughter. "Grandpa!" She was in the air and latched around 'Grandpa' in the blink of an eye.

A few moments later, Shikamae was hanging from Shikakus' back and she was pointing him to a very pretty arrangement of flowers that 'grandma would love'.

My dad come out from the back room and put his best 'sad' face on. "Oh I see, my helper is leaving me for a Nara, I can't believe this, first my daughter, now my granddaughter. Kami, why do you punish me?"

Looking at the clock, I rounded the counter and gave dad my apron. "I have lunch with Sakura now, Shikamae, would you like to detach yourself and come see aunt Sakura with me?"

She held on to Shikaku tighter and announced that she was going home with grandpa. She and grandma were going to bake cookies. I shook my head and smiled at her. "Okay be good for grandma and grandpa."

I walked to the hospital and over to the nurses' station. "Hey Sakura, ready for lunch?" She looked up at me and put the pen she was holding down. She seemed a little off. 'Well I'll have to get to the bottom of this.'

We grabbed two salads from the cafeteria and sat down at a table. She poked at the lettuce and stayed silent.

"Okay forehead, what is wrong?" She stared at the table for a moment and locked eyes with me. "I think I am pregnant."

I sat there stunned for a moment. "Pregnant?" She nodded. "You and Lee have only been married for three months. I mean it is possible, of course. Have you taken a test?" She shook her head. "Well let's finish lunch and we can go get an answer."

An hour later, I sat in the room with Sakura, waiting for the test results.

A nurse knocked on the door, interrupting the silence. I took the paper from her and opened it, quickly scanning it. Sakura looked at me for an answer. I smiled at her. "Congratulations Sakura, you are about three months pregnant."

She sat there, in the chair, absorbing the news. Her head fell a bit and her bangs covered her eyes.

When her head moved back up, tears sprang from eyes, and a smile covered her face.

"Lee was talking about having a family in the future. He meant a little later in the future, but he is going to be so happy." She took a breath. "Ino, I am going to have a baby."

"Why don't you take the rest of the day off? I can take over your shift. Lee should be over to the training grounds with his genin team; you should go and tell him." After a few minutes of arguing, Sakura walked out of the hospital and I signed in.

Later that night I walked home. It was a beautiful spring night. Crickets sang and a slight breeze whistled through the trees.

I stopped by my in-laws house and picked up my sleeping daughter. As I carried her home, I realized how much she had grown. She used to fit in the crook of my arm, now not so much. Her dark hair drifted past her shoulder blades. As I walked up to the door, it opened, revealing I tired looking Shikamaru.

He held the door open and I stepped inside. Carefully, I went upstairs and tucked our sleeping child into her bed.

I tiredly moved out of the room, switching the nightlight on as I left, and walked into the bedroom. I stripped off my clothes and pulled on a pair of pajamas. After brushing my teeth and brushing out my hair, I all but fell into bed.

Shikamaru came into the room seconds later and repeated my process.

He crawled into get and stared at the ceiling. I propped myself up on one elbow and kissed him goodnight. Then I started to turn to the opposite side. His hand grabbed my arm and stopped me, turning on his side.

"Troublesome women, what is going on? You have not said two words to me since you got home." He questioned. I thought for a second and turned back to him. "There is a lot on my mind and I am somewhat tired." He listened. "I took over Sakuras' shift at work after lunch. She left early and I volunteered. I shouldn't be saying anything, but she knows that I tell you everything." Pausing again, "Sakura is pregnant. She is ecstatic."

"Well that sort of blows what I wanted to talk about out of the water." It was my turn to wonder. He waited a moment, seeming to compose his thoughts.

"I have been thinking about this for a few months; since Sakura and Lees' wedding. I know you, I know how you think, I know what you like, I know just about everything one can know about another. However, I have no idea what you will think of this. The last time this happened, it was a surprise, completely unplanned. What would you say about having another baby?"

I was taken back. What he said was true, Shikamae was a complete shock; a happy one. Another baby would mean up all hours of the night, again. More diapers, baby formula, and baby food. Another brain to teach. Another baby to love, to hold, to snuggle up with and protect from the world.

"Okay, we can have another baby; but this time you carry it for nine months and go into labor."

Shikamaru laughed, really laughed. I smiled pushing the hair that had fallen in front of his face.

"Shikamaru, I have given you my answer, when would you like to start working on it?"

He stared at me, "I thought you were tired." I pushed him onto his back and climbed over him. "I guess I got some energy back."

Authors Note: Well there it is! Please, please, please, please review! Until the next chapter.

Blondegirl09