CHAPTER THREE

"Would you mind telling us what that was all about?" Sakura inquired as she sat next to Ino at the counter.

It had been an hour since the restaurant had closed and the grand opening had ended. Everyone had parted with well-wishes and promises to get together again soon. The staff was gone home for the evening. Ino had stayed behind due to the shock she'd been dealt when Shikamaru showed up with Temari. Sakura and Hinata stayed behind out of concern for Ino.

"Thank you," the trio of women chimed in unison when Choji placed three cold bottles of water on the counter before them.

Ino sighed. And just how was she supposed to answer Sakura's question? She wondered. What plausible explanation could she offer her friends for what they definitely saw when Shikamaru and Temari showed up together?

And everyone had seen them. They saw them, but had carried on as if nothing had been amiss. No one wanted to draw unnecessary attention to them by acknowledging them. And it had been one of the toughest things she'd ever had to do when Ino had struggled to maintain a pleasant façade when Shikamaru had, as she had expected, continued to maintain his distance. He had practically ignored her and remained by Temari's side for the duration of their stay.

Aside from her and Shikamaru's parents and Choji, Ino had managed to keep news of their break up silent the whole time. Even Hinata hadn't been aware of all that was going between them. But there was no sense upholding that charade any longer. The cat was out of the bag now, and everyone knew the truth.

"I think it's obvious, don't you?" Ino softly responded as she drank a swig of water.

"No, I don't. Not when he's supposed to be with you." Sakura sighed when Ino only shook her head. "Since when, Ino?"

Ino shrugged. "Shortly after I got back from Ame."

Sakura's eyes widened incredulously. "You mean that business trip you took that long time ago?" And when Ino nodded, "Oh my God, Ino, that's almost the duration of your pregnancy!" She shook her head in disbelief. "What the hell happened between you two?"

"What happened was I fucked up, okay? I fucked up royally, and there isn't shit I can do about it now. It's all a done deal."

Sakura silently regarded her friend a moment. "What about the baby?" she asked softly.

Ino's eyes rolled. "You saw him, Sakura, didn't you? Everybody did! I'm carrying his child, and he wouldn't even as much as glance my way. Other than the checks in the mail, it's like I don't exist to him anymore. So feel free to draw your own conclusions as to what that means about the baby." She took another swig of water. She really hadn't felt like discussing the details of her breakup right now. If anything she felt drained. Even talking felt like a damned chore. "Look, I'm sorry, but I can't do this right now. I'm really tired, so I'm just going to go first." And it hadn't been a lie. She'd been fighting her fatigue since before she'd arrived.

"Of course," Sakura quickly conceded. Her eyes were full of concern as she watched Ino slide from the stool, gathering her purse and scarf to leave. Ino was so far along in her pregnancy, her stomach so full and low, that it looked downright uncomfortable. And Sakura's heart ached with guilt for not having noticed anything was amiss. She had no idea Ino and Shikamaru's relationship was in such shambles, and that Ino was dealing with everything alone. And what in the world had happened to cause such a rift between them, to the point where Shikamaru wanted nothing to do with Ino or the baby? "Are you going to be okay?"

And at that, Ino shrugged. "I don't have the choice to be anything else, do I?" Because it really hadn't mattered how she felt, not at this point. She still had to pull through this somehow. She had the baby to think of. It was no longer about just her anymore, regardless of whether Shikamaru was involved or not. "I'll talk to you later, okay?" She shared a brief hug and kiss with Sakura and Hinata.

"I'll walk you to your car," Choji said as he came from around the counter.

"Thanks, Choji." Ino gratefully allowed herself to be led from the restaurant by Choji's hand at her elbow

"Unbelievable," Sakura said as her eyes trailed Ino and Choji out of the building. She then swiveled on the stool back around to face Hinata. "Did you know anything about this?"

Hinata shook her head. "I had n-no clue," she said honestly. Ino was always the epitome of professionalism at work and never broached conversation on any personal topics. They worked side by side on a daily basis, and Hinata was still none the wiser as to the status of her boss's personal life.

"Poor Ino," Sakura chimed softly, and her eyes were moist with concern. She wondered what Temari was even doing back in Konoha, why she was with Shikamaru. "I hope this doesn't mean they're dating again."

"I'm s-sorry, but again?" Hinata asked.

Sakura sighed. "Well, it was more than just dating. They were engaged at one point before they called it off."

"What happened to end their relationship?"

Sakura's lips twisted into a wry smile. "Ino happened."

XXX

Outside at her car, Choji gently eased Ino's keys from her hand and unlocked her car for her. "Look, if you don't feel up to driving, just say the word and I'll take you home. Your car will be safe here, and I could always bring you back for it tomorrow."

Ino's head angled to the side as she smiled up at her friend. "I'll be fine," she assured and he handed her keys back to her.

Choji continued as if he hadn't heard her speak. "As a matter of fact, I think there's a light storm due to approach this evening. It'll rain. The roads will be really slick, and -,"

"I'll be fine, Choji," Ino repeated, and her lips spread into a wide and dazzling smile that almost took Choji's breath away. Ino's beauty never ceased to amaze him, and when she smiled the way she did now, when it actually reached her eyes, she managed to become even more beautiful.

Damn it, Shikamaru, Choji thought angrily. What the hell had Shikamaru intended when he showed up with Temari like that, where he knew Ino was sure to show as well? It was a low, even for Shikamaru, so what the hell was he thinking? Choji wondered. Could it be that Shikamaru and Temari were seeing one another again? Well, it might explain why Temari was in Konoha. But that couldn't be, he reasoned, it was way too soon! And then there was the baby!

Ino heaved a sigh as she lifted a hand to rest on Choji's chest. He was such a good friend that she often wondered how she would ever get on without him. And just as she was about to voice the very sentiment aloud to him, she was caught off guard when Choji leaned in and softly planted a small kiss on her lips.

Choji's heart instantly galloped upon contact. He straightened and read the shock in her widened eyes and parted lips.

Ino was sure she had never witnessed such an intense look in Choji's eyes as he gazed down at her. Her mind worked to form a coherent sentence, but was at a loss as to what she should say. And what could she say that would smooth the shock and uncertainty that hung in the air between them? For crying out loud, her best friend had just kissed her! She then thought of the hug he gave her back in his office, when his hand lingeringly, gently, stroked her back. The two antics were factors of a single equation that added to one simple meaning.

Choji was in love with her!

"Umm, listen, Choji," Ino started, her voice suddenly shaky. She glanced at her now trembling hand that still rested on his chest. "I -,"

"Drive safely, Ino," Choji interrupted in a voice that was gentle and firm at the same time. He pulled Ino's car door open and gently guided her inside with the same hand at her elbow.

Ino quickly picked up on the underlying message of Choji's parting words. He hadn't wanted to discuss the kiss or the hug earlier, either. And as awkward as Ino felt right now, she was grateful. She managed a small smile as she shifted behind the wheel as best she could.

"Good night, Choji," she stated. She then started her engine and was off. She cast a glance in her rearview mirror to where Choji continued to stand, just as the first few drops of rainfall began.

XXX

"Well, that was interesting," Temari claimed after she entered her hotel room. Shikamaru entered the room behind her and stood aside as she eased the door closed. He then followed her further into the suite.

Shikamaru heavily slumped into the first seat he came to. He inclined his head back against the cushions and closed his eyes. Temari absently tossed her purse onto the coffee table and kicked her heels off beneath it before she padded into the small kitchenette.

"Beer?" She asked over her shoulder.

"Definitely," was his response, and he lifted his head just as she handed him a cold can of beer. He cracked his can open, his eyes all the while focused on the way Temari crossed over to an arm chair. She lowered her body onto a seat with a sexy, lady-like poise, one leg lifting to modestly fold itself over the other.

For the grand opening that evening, Temari had donned a simple, red, strapless dress with a bandeau bodice that cinched her waist and sported a high-low style skirt that was popular nowadays. And it was the one thing Shikamaru had always liked about Temari that, though not being the curviest woman he had ever dated, she was nonetheless confident and knew how to wear clothing that complemented her slender figure. And damn it to hell if the dress she wore didn't accentuate her assets!

There was a brief interlude where the two of them sipped at their beer in silence. Then Temari spoke.

"Ino's very pregnant these days." She swallowed her beer. "And I assume the baby's yours?" When Shikamaru fixed her with a steely glare, she shrugged. "Hey, I'm just playing catch up here," she quickly added with a placatory lift of her hand. "How far is she?"

"She's full term now."

"Well, she certainly looks good for it," Temari said.

Shikamaru almost groaned aloud at that. As if he needed to be reminded, he thought. And to say that Ino looked good really was an understatement. He had heard the term 'pregnancy glow' before, but was sure it was just some myth. That was, until Ino. Her overall appearance was one of soft femininity. Her skin had taken on an attractive, dewy-faced blush that made him ache to touch. Her hair had grown and now floated about her waist like a golden waterfall that he envisioned running his fingers through. The pale blue dress she wore accentuated her eyes, and he didn't even want to think about the size her breasts had grown to, the way they filled out that damned bodice, and made him want to…! Sigh… Needless to say, it nearly took all his strength to keep his gaze averted from her during the grand opening.

"So, are you going to tell me about it?" Temari asked. Shikamaru responded with a slight raise of his brows to which she sucked her teeth. "Look, no sense in you being all tight-lipped now. We're going to end up hashing about it at some point anyway, so you may as well be out with it already."

Shikamaru chuckled. He was all too used to Temari's bluntness. "Shit, I wouldn't even know where to start."

"The beginning is usually a good place."

Yeah, Shikamaru thought, he supposed that was how it went, the way he also supposed it would feel good to open up and pour out everything to an attentive ear like Temari's, to get a woman's take on the issue, but what would be the point? He'd long belted out his feelings over the situation to Choji, and hadn't that been the equivalent of about six months of therapy right there? Besides, regardless of how angry he still was at Ino, somehow bad mouthing the woman you still loved – and who carried your unborn child - to your ex fiancé just didn't seem kosher. It was like racking up bad karma.

Temari absently swirled the tip of her index finger around the perimeter of the top of the can. "Just answer one thing, Shika. Would whatever that's going on between the two of you have anything to do with me being here in Konoha now?"

And when Shikamaru failed to verbally respond, Temari decided as she watched him dip his head back against the seat cushion again that that was all that answer that she needed. She slowly shook her head. "Son of a bitch," she murmured.

"Look, I swear I'm sorry, Tem. I just…," his voice trailed off. "You know what? Give the word and I'll cover the cost of your ticket back."

"And who the hell said I wanted to leave?"

"You couldn't possibly want to stay now," Shikamaru said blankly, "not after tonight, anyways."

Temari's lips pursed thoughtfully. "I'm not so sure about that. I'm on vacation, and this is Konoha after all. I'm pretty sure I can find other things to occupy my time."

"I feel like an ass right about now."

"And so you should," she countered honestly. "But I'll tell you what," she decided as she slapped a hand against her thigh. "Make it up to me by playing tour guide, and I may just be willing to forgive you."

Shikamaru chuckled. They were both aware she hadn't needed a tour guide. Temari had made multiple visits to Konoha back when they were engaged, and was as familiar with Konoha as she was Suna. But he knew better than to mention that. She was letting him off easy, and it was never a good idea to look a gift horse in the mouth. "It seems a small price to pay for being a jack ass."

"Hey, I'm being generous here."

"Alright," Shikamaru nodded as he stood. "Still friends, then?"

Temari's eyes trailed Shikamaru's height before coming to rest upon his face. She stood and accepted a hug from him. "Of course."

After Shikamaru finally left, she silently closed the door and turned to lean her back against it. But if I play my cards right, we could end up so much more, like we used to be, she thought.