CHAPTER TWO

By the time Ino arrived at Choji's restaurant that evening, the reunion was already in full swing. Having parked her car, she exited and paused to study her reflection in the window of the car door beneath the light of a lamp post. She adjusted the wide Pashmina scarf around her shoulders, and was thankful that she'd had the good sense to wear it this evening to help conceal her ample bosom. At full term, her breasts were extremely sore and swollen to such significant proportions that she now doubted the sturdiness of the bodice of the pale blue, spaghetti-strapped maxi dress she wore. And she wouldn't even think about the colostrum liquid her breasts already expressed, or about the way she constantly had to place folded paper napkins inside her bras to catch the fluid lest she ruin everything she wore. Sighing, she shook her head and offered a silent prayer that she at least wouldn't suffer some embarrassing wardrobe malfunction this evening. She turned in her low-heeled sandals and headed towards the front entrance.

As she walked, she suppressed the urge to quickly dart her eyes about and see if Shikamaru's vehicle was there. Why was she concerned whether or not he showed up? It wouldn't change anything either way. Since their breakup, he'd made a point to avoid her, and he would probably maintain his distance despite mingling in such close quarters this evening.

Over six months ago it had been since she had hurt Shikamaru when she had confessed to him what she had done by sleeping with another man – while pregnant with his child, at that – and she had continued to miss him, had silently cried her desire to see him, to talk to him, to be near him. She often wondered if he missed her the same way, but after days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, she figured she had her answer. She had tried phoning him, but even that had proved fruitless as he simply refused all her calls. She knew he was avoiding her, but she pacified her anxiety with a decision to be patient. Surely he'd come around after the pain had ebbed? But it had been a blow to her heart when Shikamaru acted as if he'd simply forgotten her, as if she had never occurred in his life.

Pausing at the entrance of the restaurant, Ino tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. She hoped the evening wouldn't stretch out too long. Though she was elated to celebrate her friend's success this evening, she still felt so tired. The vivacious mixture of music and laughter from within had reached her where she stood outside. After she entered, she was soon spotted by Sakura, who quickly made her way toward her with a glass mug in each hand.

"Ino," Sakura greeted excitedly, "I'm so glad you could make it!" She carefully bent over Ino's belly to place a kiss on Ino's cheek. "Here, this one's for you," she offered and handed one of the mugs to her. "It's non-alcoholic. And by the way, you look beautiful," she pointed out.

Ino laughingly rolled her eyes. "Not really, but thanks anyways," she stated self-effacingly as she accepted the mug. If anything, she felt like she looked like a fat-assed duck, what with the slight, side-to-side waddle thing she had going on. Lifting the mug to her lips, Ino took a big gulp of her drink and fought to keep from grimacing. Apparently, non-alcoholic beer was like sugar-free chocolate, or meat-free bacon; there was no mistaking something was…well…missing.

"Are you kidding me?" Sakura gushed. "Pregnancy really agrees with you," she stated. "And trust me what I say, I've seen enough pregnant women at the hospital to know what I'm talking about," she stated with a pointed look and the two of them laughed. Sakura currently worked as a nurse at the local hospital while simultaneously attending medical school.

Ino raised a hand in a placatory manner. "Okay, I'll take your word for it," she conceded and allowed Sakura to guide her to the area where their party was convened.

Ino decided that when Choji mentioned everyone from the old gang being there, he really meant it. It really felt as if everyone she'd gone to school with at the Academy was present, and for a minute she felt as if she was magically transported back to her school days.

Ino was greeted by a slender brunette who wore a pink cheongsam decorated with brown flowers that played nicely against her new, slightly olive skin tone and highlighted her chocolate eyes and dark brown hair that floated softly about her shoulders.

"Tenten, you look gorgeous," Ino complimented as they shared an embrace.

"It's not often Neji and I can get our vacation times to coincide," Tenten explained of her and Neji's schedules. After graduating, she had decided to venture into education where she currently taught at the Academy, while Neji had decided to resume his career with the police squad. "But when we were finally able to, I decided some much needed R&R in the sun was called for," Tenten explained, and smiled lovingly at her husband when he joined them at the mention of his name. Neji appeared and pulled Ino into a quick embrace before coming to stand behind his wife. Though not as deeply tanned as Tenten, his complexion was such that he appeared more outdoorsy. But some things about him hadn't changed, and his signature loose ponytail that his ebony, waist-length hair was fashioned into floated about his waist.

Neji lowered his head and pecked a kiss on Tenten's cheek. "Much needed, and much appreciated," he stated in his characteristic deadpan. He wrapped his arms around her slim middle. He whispered something in her ear which caused her to smile and blush despite her complexion.

The newlywed couple's bliss was apparent, and Ino smiled their fortune as she was truly happy for them. Her heart was immediately pricked with a stab of regret at the shambled state of her own love life as she beheld them, but it was brief as she quickly steeled herself against the offending emotion. There was no changing her life as it currently was, and the quicker she could accept her lot, the quicker she could move on.

She made her way about her party, exchanging greetings as she went. Rock Lee and Sai had come, as well as all their former teachers Kakashi, Guy, Iruka, Tsunade, Kurenai, Asuma, and even Shizune. She had even managed to spot Hinata, and she quizzically arched a brow to see the raven-haired beauty standing with her back against a wall and her eyes downcast. Sasuke gazed at her as he leaned over her with one arm propped against the wall over her head. Ino decided she would definitely find out later on what that was all about. She then turned to resume her seat but was halted when Naruto intervened and scooped her up for an embrace.

"Hey, Ino, nice you could make it," he gushed. "Wow, you've gotten so huge!"

"Naruto," Sakura exclaimed reproachfully as she walked up and thwacked him on the back of one shoulder. "She's not huge! She's pregnant! There's a difference," she tried to explain, but turned apologetic eyes towards Ino when Naruto scratched the back of his head in confusion, clearly unable to make the distinction. "Honestly, I don't know If I'll ever be able to take him anywhere," she confessed of her clueless boyfriend, but her love for him was evident in her eyes nonetheless.

Ino almost laughed aloud. Apparently some things never changed about all of them, she decided, and as she gazed over her friends, she decided she was fine with that.

"But she's beautiful all the same," a voice sounded, and Ino turned to where Choji stood behind her.

"Choji," Ino gasped and gratefully accepted his wide, bear hug of an embrace. Upon release, she reached into her straw tote and extracted a gift box. "This is for you," she offered as she handed it to him. "Congratulations!"

Choji accepted the box with a shake of his head that sent his long bushy ponytail into a slight pendulous swing. "You know this was unnecessary," he pointed out, to which Ino shrugged as she adjusted her tote bag on her shoulder.

"Yeah, but I wanted to. You're one of my best friends, Choji, and I couldn't be more proud of you than I am tonight," she stated honestly.

"It really means a lot to me that you feel that way," he stated, "so perhaps that means you can do me the honors of making a toast."

"Gladly," she beamed.

It wasn't until after dinner was under way and Ino had made work of a generous helping of barbecue that Choji gripped her hand and guided her away from the party. He led Ino behind the counter and through a set of swinging double doors there. He guided her on a brief tour of the restaurant that started with the kitchen where his staff was busy preparing food. The tour then continued on to the storage and freezer rooms, and concluded in his small office located at the rear.

Ino accepted a seat in front of Choji's desk when he politely held a chair out for her. He occupied the one next to her and tapped his hands against his thighs as a signal for Ino to lift her feet into his lap. He waited until she obliged before he began. "Before I opened the restaurant, I always believed that the kitchen is where all the magic would happen, but one would be amazed at how much actually happens here," he mused as he lifted his chin to indicate the small area.

Ino chuckled. "Don't I know it," she agreed with a shake of her head. It was the same for her with her flower shop. Once, she had also naively thought that all her days would be spent handling flowers. And though that was the bulk of what she did, there was always the business aspect of it that commanded her attention.

Her eyes immediately honed on a picture frame that sat on his desk. She reached for it and smiled. It was a photo of her, Choji, and Shikamaru huddled together. It had been taken back at the Academy on the day of their graduation.

"I can't believe you still have this," she stated. Seemed so long ago now, she mused as she softly ran a solitary index finger over the photo. They looked so young then, so happy.

Choji's eyes were fixed on Ino's face as he sighed. "How've you been holding up?"

Ino shrugged as she replaced the photo on the desk. "Can't complain," she stated, and decided that she meant it. After all, she was in relatively good health and her business was doing well.

Choji's hands were strong and sure as they pressed and kneaded the flesh of her feet. She moaned. "You know, if you ever change your mind about the restaurant business, you could always heed your second calling as a masseuse. Hell, I'd give you my business."

"Well, I'll keep that in mind, but right now I'd much rather you give me your answer when I asked how you've been."

"I thought I just did."

"Not the one I want."

Ino sighed. She knew what Choji was inquiring about, but didn't want to talk about that. "Choji, tonight's a really happy occasion. I don't want to bring you down with my problems." She waved one hand dismissively. Or rather, she didn't want to have to remember right now. Her issues with Shikamaru weighed on her mind enough as it was. She wanted to try and forget them, even if it was just for a night. She leaned her head back and allowed herself to revel in the comfort of her foot massage. She heard Choji release a deep sigh.

"Well, I'm hardly put out over here, so you don't need to worry about me. But I am concerned about you, Ino. This thing between you and Shika, whatever it is," he shook his head, "it can't keep on. You guys have to try and see each other halfway on this. If you're not going to do it for yourselves, at least do it for the baby."

"Don't you think I know that? I've tried to talk to him, Choji, but it's not like he'll have much to do with me right now. I really don't know what else I'm supposed to do." Her sigh was exasperated. "I can't say that I blame him, either."

Choji's lips pursed as he glanced down at Ino's feet in his hands. He wanted so badly to be able to say something – to do something – that would make everything right again, but knew he couldn't. Because it really wasn't his place to, was it? This was their predicament to settle.

He was aware of what had happened between them, of why Shikamaru had ended their relationship. Shikamaru had told him after getting shit-faced drunk one night at a local bar about how Ino had confessed what she had done by sleeping with another man. She had told him right after he had proposed to her, Shikamaru had said. He'd had the ring and everything, and Ino had dashed everything to bits by screwing some other guy that she had barely known.

"She slep' wi' some random muhfuckah," Shikamaru had slurred as he gestured with his bottle into the distance. "She said she met him at that bar she used to work at. She didn't even know 'em, and she fucked 'em." He waved his bottle again. "Took him back to some hotel and fucked 'em like a cheap whore." He took another swig of his drink. "An' you know what the most fucked up part was?" Shikamaru wobbled drunkenly as he stood up and lifted his tee-shirt to expose his chiseled, six-pack abs. "My baby was in her stomach, man. Was in there the whole time they were fuckin'."

Oh yeah, Choji had remembered that night at the bar very well. He had patiently bore his best friend's drunken tirade until he had passed out at the counter. Afterward, Choji had driven Shikamaru back to his own place and laid him on his bed. He didn't bother undressing Shikamaru – after all, even he had his limits – and napped on Shikamaru's couch throughout the night to ensure his friend was okay. He left the next morning after he had equipped Shikamaru with a pot of fresh, black coffee and a bottle of aspirin for the hangover he knew Shikamaru would have.

But Choji didn't judge Ino. He knew Ino loved Shikamaru and therefore couldn't fathom how much it must have hurt her when Shikamaru walked out on her after admitting he didn't wasn't interested in being a father to their baby. Sometimes pain birthed irrational behavior that left a wide trail of guilt in its wake. And he could tell just by looking at Ino now that she felt guilty. She felt she was wrong and therefore deserved Shikamaru's treatment. But that wasn't to say that Choji was fully on her side, either, because he also understood how Shikamaru felt, didn't he? Wouldn't he feel betrayed as well, if he had been in Shikamaru's place?

Choji dismissed the thought quicker than it formed. Had the roles been switched, and he'd been in Shikamaru's place, the situation would have never come to this. That he was certain of. Choji lifted his eyes and beheld the woman he'd known and loved practically all his life.

Because I would never have left you, he thought. Had you been my woman, and you carried my baby, I would have kept you by my side, and I would have never given you room to doubt how I felt about you, what you meant to me.

But those sentiments would remain unspoken because he didn't have the right to utter them. Ino belonged to Shikamaru, his best friend, and the one she loved. Choji sighed. "Want me to talk to him for you?"

"No," she answered quickly. "I don't want you pulled into the middle of this. The last thing I need is for Shika to think I'm making you take sides or something."

"He's smarter than to draw such conclusions, Ino."

"Yeah, well, I don't want to take chances," she said. After all, this was the man who had avoided her, and she was carrying his child. She smiled at her friend. "But thanks, though. And I mean it. Thanks for being there for me like this."

"And why wouldn't I be?" Choji asked.

"You two are the best of friends. Hell, you've known one another longer than you and I have, so therefore your bond is stronger. And I'm just grateful that this whole situation with me and Shika hasn't poisoned you against me."

Choji chuckled with a shake of his head. "I suppose I failed to mention, but I'm also smarter than to draw such conclusions, too. You should have more confidence in our friendship."

Ino nodded. Her smile was sheepish. "You're right. I'm sorry."

"But enough of this," he decided and patted Ino's feet to indicate that he was finished with the massage. "I know what'll make you feel better, some dessert."

Ino stared at him incredulously as she lowered her feet to the floor and slipped them back into her sandals. "Are you serious, Choji, after all the barbecue I just ate?"

"What's the big deal? I mean, you're eating for two now, right?" He gestured at her pregnant belly with a nod of his head.

Ino chuckled as she patted her belly. "Yeah, well, we couldn't eat another bite. Besides, the big deal is I don't want to gain too much weight. From what I've read, it can be hell getting it off after the baby's born."

"Oh, I don't know about that. A little meat on a woman's bones never goes out of style. Besides, it's my mother's butter mochi," he stated with a devilish wink. He knew how much Ino loved the butter mochi his mother made. He remembered back during their school days at the Academy, when Ino used to come to his house after school whenever his mother had made a fresh pan.

"Well, if you're going to twist my arm about it," she joked, "I guess a little will be okay for old time's sake." She watched as Choji stood and turned to reach for a lidded Tupperware dish that sat on his desk. A small knife lay across the top, and he used it to carefully cut a generous slice that he placed on a napkin and handed it to her.

"Mmmm," Ino moaned in reaction to the sweet and buttery taste of the mochi when she took a large bite. Even her toes curled in her sandals, and Choji chuckled.

"That good, huh?"

"Always is," Ino murmured and delved into silence as she made work of the pastry. She would definitely have to pay her respects to the chef.

Choji resumed his seat. Propping his elbow on the desk, he was content to lean back and enjoy Ino's animated expression as she ate the mochi. He waited until she finished licking the buttery sweetness from her fingers before he stood and reached his hands out in assistance.

And when Ino accepted, her laughter instantly died in her throat when Choji quickly pulled her into another embrace. Only, this one was more lingering. And Ino's breath momentarily caught in her throat when one of his hands ever so gently stroked the length of her back in a caressing gesture. He then released her with a sheepish grin. Ino's gaze was one of stunned bewilderment as Choji reclaimed her hand and escorted her back to the dining room. And when they rejoined their party, Ino froze mid-stride when her gaze rested on the couple that entered.

"What's wrong?" Choji asked. He then followed the trail of his friend's blue-eyed gaze to the entrance of the restaurant, and his mouth pressed into a grim line of disapproval.

For there, Shikamaru had entered. And standing there next to him, draped on his arm, was Temari Sabaku, his ex fiancée.