So I know I keep saying I will wrap this up but it keeps going as the ideas keep coming. Really, I just get one thought and I sit down, and a whole chapter or two comes out in one go from that one spark. But this will probably be the last chapter for now with an epilogue to follow. I may revive it later in a different story arc but either way, thanks for reading, reviewing and supporting my first fanfic! Without all of you especially those who reviewed, favourited and followed, this story would never have grown to what it now is so thank you again.

Shikamaru woke up a little groggy. It had been a long day. And night too, by the way he felt.

He slowly opened his eyes, stirring with a groan.

Then he noticed the blonde ninja in his bed. His stirring was rousing her from her own sleep.

He tried to keep still but it was too late as two teal eyes opened to look at him.

"Baka! Why did you wake me?", she exclaimed, giving her eyes a rub.

Then as Temari recalled the events of the previous evening, her eyes widened. She looked at him as though for reassurance.

"Do you remember what you did last night?", she asked, watching him intently.

"Of course I do!", he replied. "You made a fool out of me."

"Me? You're the one who went for the big public proposal!", she protested. "What if I had said no? Then you really would have looked like a fool, Nara!"

"I knew you wouldn't say no!", Shikamaru rebutted, giving her a smirk. "Like you could resist me, you troublesome woman!"

She snorted. "Someone is getting a big head aren't they?", she teased. "Maybe I should have turned you down! At least that way, I would have some peace and quiet!"

"Well, don't look at me! I'm not the one who was snoring like a pig last night!", Shikamaru returned.

"I do not, you big crybaby!"

"Troublesome woman!"

Shikamaru sat up groggily, spitting feathers out of his mouth.

"Hey, that last one hurt!", he yelled at the Sand ninja.

"Well, it's your fault. You started it!", Temari yelled back.

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

"Did not!", Temari exclaimed louder, hitting him on the head with a flying pillow.

"Did too!", he yelled back, feinting a throw with his pillow that the Sand ninja fell for. Even as she realised her mistake, he pounced on her, pinning her on her back.

She struggled for moment.

"Do you give up?", he smirked as he pinned her, straddling the Sand kunoichi, pillow poised in one hand.

"Never! I'm not a big ol crybaby like you!"

"You know I let you win that time, right?", he said smugly, enjoying watching her squirm. "Like I would lose to you like that!"

The change in Temari's eyes was his only warning but too late. He doubled over in agony as she kneed her where it hurt, taking advantage of the opening to shuck her captor. She quickly turned the tables until she was now on top of him.

Taking a handful of his hair, she brought her face close to his and asked, "So you gonna give up now? Or are you going to say you let me do that to you too?"

Shikamaru didn't reply but even as she began to bring the pillow down on him, she felt his Shadow.

"Baka!", she exclaimed as she felt her body controlled. "Fight fair like a man, why don't you, instead of using these sneak attacks of yours?"

"Like kneeing me like that was fair?", he asked. "You did hear that my mother expects grandchildren right? That implies more than one!"

"So why are you looking at me, then?", Temari said defiantly.

"Why can't you just be quiet for a change and let me be the man?", he exclaimed.

She opened her mouth to reply but before she could he pulled her down on top of him until their mouths met.

Temari was too distracted to say anything more coherent for a long time.

They both awoke as a knocking could be heard at the door.

"Expecting somebody?", she asked.

"Who could that be, I wonder?", Shikamaru wondered out loud as he pulled on some clothes.

"Well, you can find out and come tell me!", Temari replied, sprawling back down on the bed.

"Lazybones!", he exclaimed before sliding the door shut behind him quickly so that the Sand ninja would have no time for a comeback.

The knocking came again.

"Ok, ok, I'm coming!", he exclaimed loudly.

He slid open the front door to see who his unexpected visitors were.

"Oh, good morning Gaara", he offered. "Kankorou."

"Morning?", Kankorou asked. "Are you serious? It's after lunch already?"

Gaara looked at Shikamaru with a strange expesion on his face.

"Did you have that much to drink last night, Shikamaru?", the redhead asked. "I do hope you remember the proposal you made to our sister. For your sake."

"I trust you would not hurt your future brother in law, Gaara", Shikamaru replied.

"Oh, it's not us you would have to worry about, Shikamaru", Kankorou chimed in. "I pity the man who would dare hurt our sister!"

"Yes, our sister can be rather, uh, violent", Gaara agreed.

"No kidding", Shikamaru added. "I've been on the receiving end of it for years now! Temari-"

"What were you saying about me?", she asked, slipping an arm around him. "Morning my brothers."

"You too?", Gaara asked. Then noticing her disheveled appearance and the fact that she had pulled on one of Shikamaru's haori's in her hurry to get dressed, he put two and two together.

Shikamaru stared back at him but Temari couldn't help blushing at being caught by her brothers.

"Don't worry, we're not here to check in on you, sis", Gaara said. "We just came to say goodbye." Then looking at Temari to indicate her clothing, "Some of us have to work and we've been away from the Sand Village long enough already."

"Oh, really? Can't you stay a bit longer?", Temari protested.

"Sorry, sis but Gaara is right, we have to get back", Kankorou replied. "And you have work to do too. Here." Then he smirked. "Though your looks like more fun!"

"Kankorou!", Temari exclaimed, the colour returning to her face again.

"That was uncalled for, Kankorou", Gaara said, giving his brother a glare from which the puppet master shrank away. "But we do have to go."

"Well, you could at least give me a hug before you go!", Temari said, stepping forward to enfold first one and then the other brother in a long embrace as Shikamaru watched on. "I'm going to miss you both."

"We'll miss you too!", Kankorou agreed. "Do come back to visit from time to time, won't you?"

"Of course we will", Temari replied.

"And I trust you will take care of our sister, Shikamaru", Gaara said, turning his attention to the Shadow ninja. "Don't forget that I am not just Temari's brother but also Kazekage..."

"Don't forget, Shikamaru!", Kankorou added. "We know where you live!"

"Don't worry, Gaara", Shikamaru offered. "As you said, Temari is more than capable of taking care of herself. And I care about her too much to ever hurt her." He wrapped his own arms around the kunoichi as he kissed her on the cheeks.

"Well, in that case we will be off", Gaara said solemnly.

"See you soon, sis!", Kankorou added.

"Shikamaru", Gaara addressed the Shadow nin.

"Gaara", he replied in farewell as the two brothers took their leave.

Shikamaru stood with Temari for a moment in silence. Without a word, he drew her into an embrace.

"It's really happening isn't it?", Temari finally asked quietly, looking up at the Shadow ninja.

"Yes it is", he replied. "You having second doubts?", he asked, searching her eyes for the answer he hoped not to find.

Temari hesitated for a moment. "No, it's just I've always called the Sand Village home so this is new to me not having my brothers around." She looked back at him and asked, "Why? Are you?"

Shikamaru almost gasped at the uncertainty he saw in the Sand kunoichi. She was always so strong and spoke her mind. It was a little disconcerting but it was good to know she was just human after all. She was still looking at him. "Well?"

"I mean everything I've told you, Temari. You are the love of my life and as long as you are here with me, I don't need anything else", he replied tenderly.

He watched as a single tear rolled down Temari's cheek. She reached up a hand to wipe it away but he grabbed hold of her hand first.

"Let it go, Temari. It's not like you'll never go back to the Sand Village or see your brothers again", Shikamaru said soothingly, kissing her softly on her wet cheek. "And you've got friends here too you know."

"I know"", she replied, leaning against him. "It's just so sudden that's all."

"Well, if you'd like, we could go visit. Won't you need to go pick up some things from home anyway?", Shikamaru offered.

"You would do that for me?", she asked, surprised.

"I would do anything to make you happy, Temari of the Sand", Shikamaru whispered quietly as he ran his fingers lightly across her cheek. "It's not like you have anything to do and with the wedding finally over, I will have some time off while Naruto enjoys his honeymoon. Kakashi Sensei is going to temporarily reassume the role during that time, so why not?"

When she still didn't look convinced, he drew her into a long kiss. He finally felt her relax as she sighed, leaning into the kiss.