This is a play on the subtle contrasts with the previous morning that they had spent the night in the same bed. Obviously the situation is now different. This one is fluffy without the mistaken confusion from the previous morning.

He awoke to the unfamiliar presence of a warm body laying next to him in his bed. He quickly opened his eyes and got an eyeful of blonde hair for his troubles. He began to panic for a second and then recalled the events of the previous evening.

Sighing with relief, he held her closer for a moment longer, taking in the sweet scent of Temari. The soft warmth of her body pressed against his. Her arm draped across his chest. The comforting weight of her head on his chest. Even the tickling of her hair on his skin. Shikamaru simply held the Sand kunoichi and tried to take it all in.

He had longed to spend more time with her but had never really allowed himself to hope that this could really happen. For he did not like to be disappointed. She was a powerful and stunningly beautiful woman, altogether the woman of his dreams. But he had never really thought anything would happen between them. And so he had locked his dreams away to himself, his own happy place. Sure, their paths crossed every now and then but they were never in the same place long enough for anything serious to happen. And he just wasn't someone who was interested in flings. They were just too troublesome.

Then suddenly a wave of intense emotion hit him. It almost took his breath away as a sensation of joy pulsed through him. He squeezed her more tightly.

He loved her. He really did. And he had always felt like this, he realised.

He had just been lying to himself. Ever since that time when they were only kids and she rescued him from the Wind ninja, Tayuya.

She loved to annoy him and he didn't seem to mind much though he did make a show of protesting too much. But it wasn't because he didn't like it, in fact it was the opposite. He did it to get her attention.

Even geniuses have blindspots and can miss the obvious too.

But they were so different.

She was fair skin and bright eyes, hair and spunky. He was darker, and quieter in more than just appearance.

But I can make sure she is happy, he thought to himself. Because that is what makes me happy.

He savoured her warmth against him, knowing that this was a moment he would always treasure.

He looked down at her sleeping form, surprised at how gentle and innocent she looked at rest. It was such a contrast to the normal sight of the spunky Sand kunoichi that he couldn't stop himself from grinning.

Shikamaru wrapped his other arm around Temari lest she escape when she awoke, trailing his fingers down the soft skin of her back. He could explore her body forever and consider himself the luckiest man alive.

He felt her stir as his fingers continued to trace lightly across her body. His smile was the result of the strong emotions he felt inside.

She felt so warm and safe.

She didn't want to wake up when she finally felt herself come out of the dream back into the reality she was in.

Then she realised she was in a strange bed. In a strange room. With a warm breath on her neck tickling her. It was so pleasant. And a bit exciting too she thought, as she noticed the warm body next to her.

She started but then remembered the events of the night before. She felt his fingers tracing soft lines up and down her back whilst his other arm held her in a strong embrace. Her body tingled with pleasure and warmth as she savoured the solidity of his scent and body pressed against her.

She wasn't sure what would happen next. She was always on his case, pushing him to be all he could be. While he just seemed so content to simply be in the moment, hiding in the shadows. But she wanted to get him out into the light with her.

Then he drew her closer to him in a way that almost made her give herself away.

She felt him hold her for a long moment that melted her heart as she felt all the barriers she had built up with him come tumbling down. If they never got up again, she would believe that she had finally found the peace and happiness that that always seemed to elude her.

She turned her head to look up at him.

His eyes met hers and they stared into each other's eyes for what seemed like an eternity. He felt himself lost in her big beautiful eyes and she found herself falling into the dark depths of his.

"Morning, crybaby!", she said softly, beaming a big, warm smile at the Shadow ninja.

"Troublesome woman!", he replied tenderly.

"Hey!", she said, looking directly at him. "It's your fault we didn't get much sleep last night!"

"Oh really? Well, I recall a very blonde ninja begging me not to go to sleep just yet! Or am I getting you confused for someone else?", he teased her back lightly.

"Well, if you can find some other woman that can put up with your crying, I'd like to meet her!", she retorted back quickly.

"Is that a threat or an invitation?", he mused aloud, holding her tighter.

Temari played along, pretending to try to squirm out of his embrace. "You wouldn't dare, Nara! I know your heart is mine now." Then looking more deeply into his eyes, she continued seriously. "But there's nothing to worry about, my love. Now that I have finally caught you, I'm never going to let you get away from me."

"Good, because I'm not going anywhere either, Temari", Shikamaru replied as he returned her look of love. "Now come here so I can kiss you, you troublesome woman!"

For once, Temari did not argue as her lips hungrily sought his.