Shikamaru stared at the large Uchiha symbol at the entrance to the compound with both trepidation and excitement. Choji, the ever calming presence, had the Nara's good arm draped over his shoulder since about halfway home when the genius had gotten tired. The Akimichi didn't let him stall for too long and tugged him forward towards the door.

"What if they don't want me anymore, Choji?" He whispered, dragging his feet to slow them down. The larger man wasn't impeded by his attempts and the door would continually get closer.

"Don't be ridiculous, Shikamaru. Those two didn't leave the waiting room the entire time you were asleep. They didn't rest once since they left Grass till they got back to Konoha and that was after they went to Suna to get you there to begin with."
"They went to Suna for me?" Shikamaru's eyes brightened, his lips twitching into a small smile before he could stop it. "No, but they were mad at me."
"Shikamaru…" Choji's tone was full of amusement as he finally stopped in front of the door and raised his hand to knock before the Nara could stop him. No sooner had the redhead dropped his hand then the door was flung open and the dark-haired man was met with bright blue eyes.

"Sasuke! Shikamaru's home!" The genius was vaguely aware of his best friend dropping his arm and stepping back as the excited blond crowded into his space. The scents of citrus, sunshine and grass assaulted his senses and he felt his knees go weak as he all but fell into Naruto's arms with a whine. Automatically, his nose buried itself into Naruto's neck, inhaling deeply and nuzzling the scent gland that was marked with Sasuke's teeth.

"Shika, you smell so good," Naruto murmured into his dark hair as Shikamaru clung to him, trying to bury himself in that heavenly smell. Only, it seemed off. Where was the rain? Where was the smell of the shogi board?

"Thanks for bringing him Choji," another voice spoke up and the Nara was turned by gentle hands on his hips. This time, the scent of rain and wood was beneath his nose.

"Oh gods," he muttered and felt himself being walked backwards into the house. The hands on his hips tightened and tugged him closer as the door was closed and Shikamaru went eagerly. Sunshine and grass pressed against his back and he did shudder this time.

Shikamaru was vaguely aware of Sasuke murmuring "Our turn," somewhere above him before his chin was lifted and two sets of lips were pressed against either side of his neck. The warmth at his back moved away, but before he could whine, he felt warm fingers pull off his flak vest and heard the sound of it hitting the ground nearby. As the body pressed back, a dull pain throbbed into his shoulder, grounding him for a moment and causing him to hiss.

"Shit, sorry Shika, forgot." So it was Naruto at his back, but the pain allowed him to focus enough that he could wiggle until the alphas gave him a little breathing room.

"Sorry, I shouldn't have.." He rambled a mumbled apology, trying to get back in control. The bitterness of unhappiness replaced the good scents in his nose, further grounding him. "I didn't mean to jump you like that." Sakura had said he was projecting distressed omega and the two alphas of course would react to that. The genius had been afraid this would happen. While he wanted to give them what they wanted, he hadn't wanted to take away their choice by throwing himself at them." His own mood darkened and soured as his hands clenched, nails biting into his palm. Suddenly, he was tugged back into Sasuke's chest, the scent of him washing over him again.

"You smell the same to me, dumbass, just stronger."

"Yea," Naruto joined in, pressing back against his back and a shiver of delight raced down his spine. "You smell like ramen and sweet tobacco. Not two smells that I thought would go together, but they do. You still smell like that, but like Sasuke said, we don't have to bury our faces in your neck to scent you, even if we really want to."

"Idiot," Sasuke chuckled, shaking his head fondly at the other alpha before tugging Shikamaru's face up to look into his eyes. The genius hadn't even realized he'd buried his face back into the Uchiha's neck. "You smell like the forests around Konoha and a warm fire. You, like Naruto, smell like home, and I missed you, Shikamaru."

The omega would have been embarrassed by the whimper if the Uchiha hadn't swallowed it down. They didn't break apart until they both needed to breathe and by then, Naruto was already cupping his jaw and turning him to press their lips together. As their lips pressed against each other, the wall inside of Shikamaru broke. His eyes burned in the tears he hadn't let himself cry, the fear he'd pushed down at never feeling this again, the fear of dying or being used against the people he cared about and loved.

"Shh, it's okay, Shika, we got you. You're safe." The man hadn't realized he needed to hear those words until they were said and any attempt to stop the tears then was futile. HIs trembling body only stilled when the two alphas surrounded him.

—xOx—

Shikamaru hadn't meant to fall asleep but when he managed to pull his glued eyelids apart, he could see the sun rising between the curtains. He can already tell he hasn't moved in several hours due to the weight pressing on his back and his soaked collar. The genius was pressed against Sasuke's chest with the blond draped over his back, mouth wide and drool leaking from the corner of his lips.

"What a drag," he whined, feeling the shaking laughter underneath him. When he looked up at the warm, dark eyes, he smiled at the Uchiha before shaking his head. "I feel gross. Help me kick him into the floor?"

"And deal with that sad pout the rest of the day? Nah, besides,I like having you right here." Sasuke's smile was as bright as it ever was, causing the genius' face to heat up. He quickly buried it against the other brunette's warm chest to hide it.

"I hate you both."

"No you don't."

"No I don't," Shikamaru said fondly. He was eternally grateful to the two men around him that they had the foresight to dress him in Naruto's shirt and Sasuke's sleep pants. He wasn't sure he would have reacted well to waking up naked or mostly naked. "But I want a shower. I'm still gross. So, can you help?"

"With Naruto or the shower?"

Shikamaru didn't dignify that with a response, instead choosing to drop his head and bite Sasuke's ribs, causing the other man to jerk.

"Fine. You're bossy, Nara." Clearing his throat, Sasuke spoke a little louder, determined to break through the sleep-muddled brain of Naruto. "Did you say Ichiraku was giving away free ramen?"

"Ramen?!" The blond snapped his head up, looking around frantically before the chuckling of his two partners drew his attention. "Hey! You're awake!" Naruto beamed as Sasuke pulled himself from the Nara's embrace and then the knucklehead pounced,cheek rubbing against Shikamaru's affectionately.

"No, Naruto, let me up! Sasuke you said you would help!"

"You didn't specify whether you needed help with him, or the shower! I made my choice!" The sound of the shower turning on caused the omega to groan before he began pushing the affectionate alpha away.

"C'mon, you can help too since Sasuke's being an ass this morning," he grinned and Naruto eagerly tugged him from the bed.

Helping turned into holding their omega up. Even sleeping as long as he did, Shikamaru felt drained and was grateful that the two pampered him to finally help him feel clean. He was helped into more of his Alpha's clothes before deposited gently on the couch. While Sasuke moved to fix tea, Shikamaru basked in the feeling of hands in his hair, pulling the wet, dark strands into the first ponytail it had been in in what seemed forever. He hadn't realized his eyes had closed again until breath tickled his ear.

"Shika?"

"Hmm?"

"I think we should all talk." Dark eyes snapped open to see Sasuke setting the tea down on the kotetsu and moving to his left. Naruto, having finished the task of putting up his hair, moved to his right. His throat felt thick. Why did they need to talk? Had they just been nice to him because it was in their nature and he was uncertain? Were they disappointed? Were they-

"Stop that, idiot," Sasuke's words were like a whip snapping him to attention.

"You kind of give yourself away now," Naruto laughed, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Oh," the shadow user replied dumbly, looking from the blond to the brunette. "So uh…"

"We love you too," Naruto blurted.

Shikamaru blinked, and blinked again, even as Sasuke sighed in pain. As the genius watched Naruto, Sasuke leaned forward to place his chin on the man's shoulder. "You left before we could say anything and then we didn't get the chance to. We didn't want that to happen again. You are ours, we are yours, have been since the night you kissed me. I'm a possessive asshole. If you weren't mine, I would have never let you get near Naruto. Now, no one is taking you away from me again."
"Nor me, Shikamaru. You're stuck with us." The warmth that bloomed inside his chest eased away the worries and the fears. Orochimaru may have intentions they can not see, but Shikamaru wasn't going to let it hold him back from loving these two men. If, or when, that plan came to fruition, he would put a stop to it, no matter what. The Nara dropped his head back, a slow grin pulling gently at his lips as he exposed his neck to the two alphas.

"Then make it official."