Shikamaru returned a few hours later with three bags of shopping in his hands.

He had trained with Kurenai Sensei and Mirai as well. It was always good to see them and he had promised to be Mirai's Sensei after all. It was one duty he took seriously as he knew he could never pay his former Sensei back enough for all that Asuma Sensei had done for him.

However, today's session had been more difficult than the others because he couldn't keep thinking about Temari asleep in his bed. The events of the past day and a half kept playing over in his mind.

Both Mirai and Kurenai had noticed and had wondered what was going on with him. Kurenai Sensei has pulled him aside and probed gently but when he did not offer, she had let it go.

He wasn't hiding it from her, he thought. He just wasn't ready to talk to anyone else about Temari just yet.

So that was why he stopped off at the markets on the way home and picked up some ingredients for dinner. He had also picked up some treats for Temari which he wanted to surprise her with.

"Temari", he called again.

Still no answer. She must have really been tired. I've never seen her so weak before. I shouldn't have made her stay out and do all that walking the other night, he thought guiltily.

He slid open the door to his room and found her still asleep.

He checked the bathroom. She hadn't touched the water. He sighed. She really must have been tired.

He went back to the bedroom and this time, she stirred as he entered.

She looked up at him, a little confused at first.

"How are you feeling?"

"Oh hey, Shikamaru!, she replied. "Much better thanks." Then realising how low the sun was getting outside, she sat up and asked "I must have been more tired than I thought. Just how long was I asleep for?"

"Well it's late afternoon already. So you've slept through most of the day..."

"But I remember having breakfast...And then we...", she blushed remembering asking Shikamaru to hold her in bed.

"Yeah, I made you breakfast, I went to the markets and I trained already while you've been sleeping. I even ran you a bath but you were too tired to take one... And I'm supposed to be the lazy one!"

"Hey, crybaby! I'm a Princess so you should be honoured that I allowed you to wait on me!", she exclaimed. She sniffed the air for a moment as her eyes became wider. "Shikamaru, do you have some chestnuts?"

"Geez you can't even be nice to me when I've taken care of you all day." Shikamaru rolled his eyes at her. "Anyway, I picked up some chestnuts on my way home from training...Soooo, if you're nice to me, I might let you have some!"

"I'm always nice to you, you big crybaby!", she said, getting up and walking to the door.

"What? Like calling me a lazy crybaby all the time? And hitting me with your tessen?", he teased as she walked past him. "You call that being nice?

"Yes! That is being nice", she said, punching him on the arm. "Admit it. You like me teasing you!"

He watched as she walked out of the room.

He began to make his bed, inhaling the scent of Temari left behind. He was just packing it away when she returned with a bowl of chestnuts. "Mmmm, these are good, really good", she exclaimed. "So good I'll even forgive you for being a whining crybaby", she smirked at him. "Here, have some."

Shikamaru declined. "Nah, they're for you. Anyway, I ate before coming back here. I ran into Naruto on the way back and we had some ramen at Ichiraku's."

"Awww, you're so sweet", she winked at him. "Hey, why'd you pack the futon away? I'm not done with my sleep in yet!"

"What?!" I said you could sleep in not sleep all day."

"Come on Shikamaru, I never get the chance to sleep in...", she explained.

He didn't move. "Plus your bed was so comfy...and I'm on holidays!"

He stood staring at her as she gave him a cheeky smile. "Plus you told me to rest!"

"And you call me the lazy one!", he exclaimed, exasperated. "But for just for a little while longer. We both need to get cleaned up before Naruto's dinner."

"Don't worry so much", she said, handing him the bowl of chestnuts so she could pull the futon back out. "And don't be like that. I'm in your house so I'm just trying to be like you. You should be flattered."

"Riiight. You flattering me? That will be the day!", he said as he helped her.

"There", Temari said, jumping back into bed. "All done!"

Shikamaru looked at her sitting there. She smiled back at him. "You look so innocent. And happy!"

"Well, as I said, I'm on holidays. No missions, no brothers...Now all I need is...", she trailed off as she reached out for him.

He approached her with the bowl of chestnuts as he thought she was going to hug him.

"Chestnuts!", she yelled loudly, grabbing the bowl off his hands and laughing. "Aww, come on Shikamaru, don't sulk. Here, I'll even let you get in." She lifted up an edge of the quilt for him.

"What a drag", Shikamaru mumbled.

"What was that?!", she asked loudly.

"Coming!", he replied as he sat down next to her. Then to himself, "women!"

"What are you complaining for anyway? You've got a gorgeous woman in your bed...", she purred, scooting up against him. "And she's even going to feed you." Temari cracked a chestnut open and thrust it at him. "Here, they're good..."

"Now I know why you don't go on holidays much!"

Temari pressed the chestnut to his lips. "Shikamaru!"

He opened his mouth and allowed her to feed him. "Lazybones", she cried out as she allowed her fingers to linger on his lips.

She gulped, entranced as he stared at her. He pulled back first.

"Thank you but I don't eat fingers", he said laughingly as she turned away blushing.

"Who said I was offering, baka", she replied, turning back and flicking him in the ear with her fingers.

"Just eat your chestnuts and leave me be then, damned troublesome woman!", he exclaimed, lying down on the futon.

"Aww, poor baby Shikamaru is upset", she cooed at him, enjoying being able to be childlike around him. She continued munching away happily at the bowl of chestnuts.

"Wake me up when you want to be normal Temari again." He rolled over turning his back to her. Offering someone your back was not wise in combat. A sign of disdain. But wth comrades, a sign of trust too. It all depended on context.

Temari put down her bowl of chestnuts and jumped in next to him. "Crybaby cuddle attack!", she yelled as she spooned him from behind, snuggling close to him as her arms encircled his body.

"What are you-"

"Thank you for taking care of me, Shikamaru", she whispered more quietly into his ear, squeezing him affectionately.

Shikamaru felt himself heating up as Temari pressed herself against him. He tensed at first, Temari's sudden show of affection surprising him. Well, this was awkward, he thought, not sure what to do as he felt her warm presence merge with his.

He took a hold of her top hand and was about to move it away when he felt her entwine her fingers through his. At first he just allowed her to hold his hand, as she explored the contours of his hand. After a while she settled her hand back into his and he began to squeeze gently back.

She could face the most dangerous enemies in battle and not bat an eyelid and yet this was tougher and scarier and tougher than anything she had ever done before. But she also knew that if neither one made a move, then they would continue to flit in and out of each other's lives when circumstances allowed. So be it if that was what fate had in store for them but she realised she wanted more. Yet if neither one did anything...

"What are you thinking, you big dummy?", Temari asked in his ear, bringing her cheek gently to his.

He kneaded her hands for another minute, stalling for time. What did she want him to say? That he couldn't stop thinking about her all the time? That he only wanted her to be happy. That he knew he wanted to spend more time with her but that the chances of that becoming reality were just not that likely? That she just confused him no end?

She squeezed his hand encouragingly.

He sighed, feeling the soft warmth of her cheek on his. He needed more time to think and with a very warm Temari draped over him was not the best position to do so.

"I'm thinking you need to have that bath...not that you smell bad...or anything...and I need a bath too...before dinner", then realising he was rambling. "I mean, we both need to have a bath. But separately. You can go first because you're the wo—I mean, you're the guest.

Then we need to get ready for dinner."

He could feel her disappointment but he wasn't yet ready. He couldn't find the words.

"Oh ok then", she said rolling off him, trying not to sound too down. "I'll just get my things and get cleaned up then."