If only everyday could be like this, Temari thought happily to herself as she finished breakfast.
Sleeping in. Getting served breakfast in bed. Having a hot bath drawn for you. Basically being pampered. And of course, she thought as a smile crept on her face, spending the night in Shikamaru's arms and waking up with him in the morning. If only all my days could be like this!
Then she remembered her dreams the night before. Of a family of boys that all looked suspiciously like Shikamaru. She wondered what that would be like. If the way he had treated her was any indication, he would be a fantastic father, she knew. Thoughtful, considerate and genuine. And what sort of a husband would he be?
What sort of life would we have together?, she wondered sadly to herself. She knew it could never be. She was not just from Suna but a Princess of the Village too. And he was being groomed to be second in charge under Naruto most likely someday, when the latter finally became Hokage.
There was just no way they could 'defect' to another village, even if all war ceased. It would take too long for the more minor skirmishes and feuds to die down. Their responsibilities just weren't going to get less anytime soon enough, she thought as tears welled up in her eyes all of a sudden.
As Shikamaru got the bath ready for Temari, he thought back on the day so far.
Having accidentally spent the night together with Temari and waking up with her in his arms had been a very pleasant surprise. And nowhere near as troublesome as he would have thought.
She had even allowed him to cook for her and take care of her.
Despite the extra work she had made him do, he reflected, it was actually a very good morning.
Then remembering his dream, he realised that the ponytailed women and the giant tessen were all representative of his innermost feelings for her. Because he had been too scared to confront them properly in the past. Because he knew that with their respective positions in their own villages it just wouldn't work out. There was no way he could turn his back on his duties as advisor in training to the the Hokage. He realised they were really just getting him ready to support Naruto when it was finally the latter's turn to lead his village. And she, she was the Princess of Suna. There was no way they could disown her. Sometimes, life just isn't meant to work out like that he thought. If only.
I could say I'm not sad, but I'd be lying. The problem is the world won't let me stay a kid forever, so I can't lie around crying about it either.
He could and would try to cherish the times he got to spend with her and that would just have to be enough, he thought. And she has made me a better person, he thought as he remembered his father's words of advice to him growing up. At the time, he was too young to understand but now he thought he finally did. I wish you were here dad to tell me what to do, he thought bitterly as he finished up with the water and prepared to head back to his room to check on Temari.