A/N: I've been writing this offline for a few weeks until I was ready to publish at least a few chapters in one go. I'm doing my best to keep personalities canon, but Kishi isn't a romantic man so I've taken my liberties.

Please like, comment, follow. :)

Temari's eyes opened naturally with the sunrise, something she hadn't done in what felt like years. Her alarm clock was always set well before the sun would climb over the endless dunes that surrounded her village, so an uninterrupted night's sleep was something she had, quite literally, only dreamed of. She stared into space, watching the light that flickered between the leaves of a tree near her window dance along the ceiling above her bed.

In truth, Temari did not have anywhere to be, but felt somewhat guilty at the idea of tagging along in his, or anyone's, day to day life. She was the Kazekage's sister and a political liaison, sure, but she didn't need to be babysat. Perfectly fine being alone and she didn't need, nor want, special treatment. Besides, intruding on one's plans felt more of a burden than anything else. She finally forced herself to sit up, swinging her feet over the edge of her bed.

"Maybe I'll swing by the flower shop," Temari spoke aloud, for no reason in particular other than thinking perhaps speaking her plans into existence would force her to follow through. "I'll see if Ino is in town."

Rising to her feet, she stretched side to side and let out a soft groan. She rubbed her shoulder and made her way again to the stove to start some tea. Temari took her time in getting herself ready for the morning, pulling her hair into her typical four, tight buns and threw on the same black yukata she seemed to own endless numbers of though she never find herself growing tired of wearing them. They were flattering and form fitting, easy to clean.. She looked in the mirror for a moment, studying her own reflection. Practical.

It wouldn't work. It's not practical, Temari. She thought, brushing her bangs out for the third and fourth time, struggling to get them to sit just right.You're a liaison, he's a jonin and an aid to the Hokage in his own right. We both have our own duties. She pressed on, reaching for her makeup and stopping just inches before her fingertips touched it. You have your responsibilities to your village, to your family, and you're concerned about looking cute on the off chance you run into him. She looked again at her reflection. Her tanned skin, the small freckles that dotted her nose, the curve of her lips. Scrutinizing. She grasped the edges of the sink, her knuckles turning white.Get a grip, Temari. The tea kettle began to whistle.Finally.

She whisked into the kitchen, pressing small studs into her ears as she poured water over her tea. The rest of her routine went smoothly in comparison to her pep talk, putting away the clothes she had neglected to organize the night before and placing her toiletries in their proper locations. Tea and small biscuits on the shelves, alongside a few fruits she had stored in her pouch from the last village she visited.
"Well, as close to home as I'll get here." Temari pressed her hands onto her hips, trying to find some peace in her meager attempts at organization and forced herself to smile, though the thought made her feel a bit melancholic.

- x -

Temari passed through swaths of people just to enter the Yamanaka flower shop. The store was quiet in volume, but busy with customers. It seemed many had the same sense of mind as her, the shop was a quiet escape from the bustle just beyond the doors.

The store had expanded in recent years, much beyond the flower arrangements they had been known for. Their newly faceted greenhouse carried dozens upon dozens of species flowers, greenery, and cacti, some of which Temari had become quite familiar with back home. She was sure medical ninja loved to peruse the shelves here. The shop was quite beautiful and Temari made her way slowly browsing the aisles, just taking in the ambience of the well-loved flora. Temari crouched down to look at one small, blooming cactus. She seldom got the privilege to see cacti bloom in Suna. Most never did unless a rainstorm passed through, which was even rarer than one would expect for a literal desert. Its small, delicate red flower looked fragile yet was a blatant showcase of how not fragile cacti actually are. Weathering the least hospitable environments nature has to offer and still putting in all its effort to bloom the second it can. Prophetic, really. Temari thought, gently cupping a silky petal between her fingertips - careful to not tug on the plant's crowning achievement.

"Temari! Long time, no see." Temari glanced up to meet the gaze of a familiar blonde.
"Ino, what a relief it is to see you." She rose quickly to her feet, embracing Ino in a brief hug.

"What brings you in, a bit early for the chuunin exams, no?"
"Yes, the exams, but my brother wanted me to take some time off beforehand and what better place than where the village elders can't pester me."

"Of course, can't run his favorite sister ragged, can he?" She raised a hand to her mouth and giggled, shifting her weight slightly to support a large potted plant against her hip. Temari smiled softly at the idea of others noticing Gaara's soft side. Quite a contrast from their childhood years. "I'd love to chat longer, Temari, but I'm the only one running the shop today so I've got to get back to the register."

"Let's catch up later, maybe I can swing by when you're free." Temari said, gesturing her away as a way of showing her that she wasn't being rude
"I'm meeting up with Sakura at six, I'm sure she'd love to see you. Maybe Tenten if she gets back in time. Meet us here?"
"I'll see you at six". Temari gave a thumbs up, reassuring Ino with a smile. Temari was, to her fault, half-hearted with her commitments to plans but did earnestly try her best to actually attend if she directly committed.

"Before you go, Shikamaru's up front if you want to say hi?"
"Oh, no, that's alright. I'll see him when I see him." Temari waved off her suggestion with a smile, unknowingly parroting what he had said the night earlier. Ino frowned and tilted her head slightly, but didn't press her any further. Confused at her response, but likely more overwhelmed with the sudden rush of customers than anything. Temari slipped out the backdoor, hoping she could blend in with the crowd.

You dolled yourself up for him,Temari pressed her fingers against the bridge of her nose between her eyes, and you leave the second he's in the vicinity. She sighed loudly, deciding to just let her legs take her where they took her. She had time to kill and the further she got away from the epicenter of the village, the more likely she was to create some much needed distance between her and the man at the flower shop's register. Distance she was, admittedly, not sure she really wanted but thought for the best.

She strolled around the village, poking her head into a few shops that peaked her interest, but eventually gaining some distance between herself and the marketplace. The hustle and bustle of the crowd faded away, only to be replaced by the quiet hum of cicadas and the soft breeze shaking the tree leaves overhead. This sound she found much more comforting. Not quite silence, almost like nature was speaking to her and it was up to her alone to interpret what it said.

Houses became further and further apart, rolling hills covered in expansive family gardens and dense forest surrounded her but it was still, undoubtedly, Konoha. Temari noticed ahead a small bridge stretching over a winding river between two familial compounds. Two legs dangled over the edge, kicking occasionally but almost as if it were to a tune. Someone just taking it all in, she assumed, but as she approached and was met with yet another familiar face.

"Naruto." Temari said, her voice almost harmonic as she spoke his name. Naruto looked up to her as if it was the first time he even noticed someone was in his vicinity, flashing her a beaming smile.
"Temari-chan!" He nearly jumped to his feet to hug her tight, then pulled her away from him by her shoulders. "How are you? How's Gaara? Here for the chuunin exams, eh?"

"Good, great, and you got it." Temari spoke through a laugh, Naruto was always happy to see her, even when he barely knew her.

"That's awesome. Come on, sit! Sit! You gotta tell me what else you've been up to, any good missions lately? Any new skills? I've really, really beefed up my rasengan since you and Gaara saw me last. I can't wait to show him next time he's here. He's coming to the exams, right?" Temari sat down beside him, dangling her legs over the edge of the bridge as well before responding.
"Unfortunately not this year, busy with a few 'kage' things." Temari explained while throwing in some lazy air quotes, knowing she herself couldn't quite get into the specifics simply because Gaara did his best to keep her and Kankuro away from the, to his words, immensely boring political discussions about land and trade. She was immensely grateful for his mercy.
"That's too bad, maybe I can convince Granny Tsunade to send me on a liaison trip out to you guys so I can show him, y'know?"
"I'm sure he'd love that." Temari smiled again, knowing that her words would hold true. Gaara deeply valued Naruto's friendship, and in turn Temari valued Naruto for seeing him for who he truly was, even when she herself couldn't. "So, I also heard congratulations are in order?"
"Oh, yeah, heh-" He let out a chuckle, suddenly bashful. "Me and Hinata are getting married.. she's really the best, y'know?"
"She's a good fit for you," Temari said, her voice trailing off. If the moment felt uncomfortable, Naruto didn't seem to notice, but Temari felt swallowed whole by her own desire to ask.. "Listen, Naruto.. how did you know?"
"Know what, exactly?" He said, scratching the back of his head and frowning slightly.
"Just.. that Hinata was the person for you. Your person." Temari fumbled, realizing that she had never quite had this sort of conversation with anyone before and wasn't quite sure why she felt the need to have it with Naruto, either. She could lean into the excuse that it was, of course, due to his upcoming nuptials but Temari knew it was because she was all but desperate to have someone rationalize her swirling thoughts.

Naruto leaned back on an arm while pressing his other hand to his chin, seemingly deep in thought. Temari cringed inwardly, not quite sure if she felt worse for Hinata knowing he was taking so long to come up with his reasons or herself for even thinking Naruto would be the one to give her some semblance of clarity on her love life. Maybe she was desperate after all..

"Y'know, it's hard to explain.." Naruto started slowly, his brow furrowed. "I didn't even know Hinata liked me like that. I thought she was just a good friend, always there for me, being kind and supportive even when others weren't." Temari's eye twitched ever so slightly, wondering how the apple of Hinata's eye could have missed all of the painfully obvious signs that everyone but Naruto, seemed to have picked up.. Hell, even her socially oblivious brothers noticed Hinata's affections for Naruto well before he ever did.

"But, when I realized, it kinda just.. hit me!" Naruto knocked on his own head, Temari giggled in surprise. "She saw me for me. Flaws and all. I know I'm kinda an idiot when it comes to girls, but she really changed how I saw, well, everything, y'know? Like... I never really looked at a sunrise before. I mean, I saw it, but one day I saw it. When the sun starts to peak over the horizon and the sky turns that really soft shade of lavender. It reminds me of her eyes and - for a split second every day - I'm surrounded by her." He paused, finally looking at Temari, his look discerning and sincere. "I'd give up everything to be surrounded by her forever."

"Wow, Naruto. That is.. profound."
"Well, Pervy Sage was the best writer around.. even if I didn't really get a whole lot of what he wrote about. Must've picked something up from him during our training all those years." Naruto chuckled and blushed, bashful again.
"Wise man.. and you are too." Temari said, nudging his shoulder gently with her palm. "Takes a lot to see that and just.. know, I guess." Temari trailed off, realizing in that moment that she was dangerously close to sharing her feelings about a certain dark-haired man. Naruto was always a happy guy, despite everything, but he now seemed a different kind of happy.

"Temari," Naruto started, his voice quieter than before. "Do you feel like that about someone, too?"

"I.." Temari began, somewhat startled at the question knowing full well she walked right into it. "I think so. I just.. don't think it would work out." Temari let out, being truthful yet purposefully vague.

"Well, I'm a Jinchuuriki, y'know, and I never thought that I'd be in this position. That someone would be able to love me with Kurama inside of me. He's my friend, but.. it's hard for everyone to understand. But here I am." Naruto leaned his head back, looking again at the sky, the sun slowly dancing over the horizon. He closed his eyes and sighed, seemingly at peace with everything. "Maybe what's stopping you isn't as hard to overcome as you think it is."

Temari didn't say anything in return and Naruto didn't press any further for answers. If he knew, he didn't let on. She knew he and Shikamaru were close, especially over the past few years, but how much of an open book Shikamaru was remained to be seen. The two sat in silence on the bridge, watching the sun fall into the distance. A lot had changed since the war, Naruto seemed to be almost entirely at peace with himself, his life, his past. Everything in the world he could be worried about and yet, here he sat, enjoying the dwindling daylight.

"Naruto, thank you for keeping me company and for your sage-like advice.. I think I'll try." Naruto kept his eyes closed, but hummed and smiled in response. Temari paused. "You know, I hope this life.. finds my brothers as well."

- x -

Temari made her way back to the Yamanaka storefront, Ino just shutting turning off the last of the lights and closing the door behind her, the lock falling into place with a thump.
"Temari, glad you're tagging along!" Sakura said with a cheery grin, poking her head out from just behind Ino's frame.

"Wouldn't miss it," Temari said, "It's not often I get to have some girl time. Or time off. Or a life." Temari gestured flippantly, which was met with a giggle from Ino and Sakura.

The trio strolled a short distance down the road to a brightly lit bar. Brushing the curtains aside, Ino pointed to the bartender behind the counter and held up three fingers. They nodded with a grin, as the three made their way to a booth in the into the booth seats, Temari faced Sakura and Ino who met one another's' gaze with a look that seemed almost devious.

"What.." Temari started, before Ino held up her hand.
"What's going on with you and Shikamaru." She stated, not asked, extending her hand out before her as if demanding Temari's response to be packaged and placed in it. Sakura leaned back in her seat, a smile tugging at her lips as she crossed her arms over her chest. What felt like an unending,painfultest of wills overcome the group. Temari squirmed in her seat, their piercing gazes on her.

"I'm not sure what you-"

"Save it, I've known Shikamaru since we were in diapers and he's never come by my store before looking for me, let alone a plant." A plant? Temari's head tilted slightly to the side, it seemed so obvious once Ino said it aloud,why he was in the shop earlier. Temari had just assumed he was there to see her. Ino frowned at her silence, "The second you come into town he's suddenly interested in cacti and how to care for them? Well let me tell you, I have my doubts that'sacoincidence!" Ino pressed her finger into the table, brows furrowing as she did so.

Their interrogation was interrupted by the bartender sliding in at, Temari could argue, the most tension-breaking, opportune moment. Temari breathed a sigh of relief as he passed around the shot glasses. Suddenly her conversation with Naruto felt like another gear clicking into place in her mind. Maybe the hurdle was all in her head. She finally looked up to the two girls before her, both of whom held up their drinks to cheers. They clinked their glasses, bumping them on the table before shooting them back.

"Another round!" Sakura and Ino cheered in unison, Temari laughed loudly along with them.

"If you're not going to spill the beans, maybe we should just ask tall, dark and handsome himself.." Sakura asked, pressing her finger to her lips with a wink. Temari shrunk into her seat, burying her face into her hands.
"Guys, please.." Temari grumbled into her palms, before slapping them back onto the table before her "If there was anything to tell you, I would! Seriously, it's.. nothing."
"Temari, please, please, please believe me when I tell you this.." Sakura begged, scooping Temari's hands into hers and cupping them together. "If we know anything about Shikamaru, it's his love of doing absolutely nothing, shogi, and him being completely smitten with you."

"Huuuuuuuuuge crush, trust me." Ino spread her arms out for comedic effect, the shot clearly hitting her hard as a pink hue flushed across her cheeks. Temari was thankful she had the same excuse, though she could tell her blush was from genuine embarrassment. She wasn't so used to the fanfare of hanging around other women. Gaara had nearly no interest in her personal affairs as far as a love life went and Kankuro's.. Kankuro. He'd put her in a headlock and tell her she's too ugly to have a boyfriend if he could. "He gets such a pep in his step whenever you're in town, believe you me."

"Enough about me, please, I can't handle all this attention. Sakura, what's going on with you and.."

"Ladies!" Tenten appeared before them, throwing her hands in the air, breathing even more life into the party.
"Tenten!" The three women cheered, Temari scooting to the side to let Tenten slide in. Tenten leaned over to give Temari a quick hug before shouting to the bartender for a fourth drink to be added to their next round.

"We didn't think you'd be able to make it!" Ino said, slapping Tenten on her shoulder.
"Neji and I got back late last night, I was just taking the afternoon to rest up before coming out. So - what did I miss?" Tenten beamed.
"Well, Temari was just about to tell us-" Ino grunted as Sakura's elbow made contact with her ribs, Ino's hand slapping the table in pain.
"Temari was just telling us about how her trip was to the village, and Ino was about to tell us about how things are going with Sai!"

The girls continued swapping stories, missions, gossip, speaking of family and friends, everything that they had missed over the past few months and then some. Temari regaled all of her travels as a liaison, the girls at the edge of their seats in some moments. Temari had gotten so used to the facets of her job that she neglected to realize that, for some, it was actually exciting and not just dignitary work she'd done a dozen times over. They talked long into the night, shooting back drinks and sake, laughing and shouting, their voices mixing into the larger chorus of the bar.

- x -
Waving goodbye to Ino, Sakura, and Tenten, Temari unlocked her loft door and slid inside. She pressed her back against the door and slumped against it slightly. She wasn't used to drinking, or spending a late night out doing anything other than her job. Her life was always on the move but.. was somehow rigid and filled with routine at the same time. She pushed her fingertips against the door behind her to push herself upright and, just as she did so, Temari heard a light tapping on the door behind her. She jumped slightly, quickly pulling open the door thinking it was one of the girls asking to use the bathroom at the last second.
Yet, no one stood under the porchlight, but a gift placed delicately on the doormat before her. In a small, green pot sat an even smaller cactus with a little red flower. A small, folded note pressed beneath a pebble in the dirt. Temari looked in both directions down the street, but there wasn't a single shadow to be seen. Unfolding the note, she read,

Thought you might get homesick.

- S