A/N: Short chapter today, friends. I apologize if this bothers anyone - it's actually because I kept re-writing a scene I intended to include in this chapter and it got to the point where I'm like "I should just post something because it's better than getting hung up on this one scene". I like the dynamic, the dialogue, it's funny and cute and more into the vibe of but just.. I feel like I'm writing too many scenes that are repeating the same general theme of like "just get together already!" so I'm trying to pace it better so it's the true slow-ish burn like I intended. Anyway - enough of me talking. :) Please like, follow, favorite, and review!

- x -

"Dad, I.."

"Remember the plan. I have complete faith in you."

"I.. know."

"Be good to your mother. Listen to her. You're a good kid, an even better shinobi than I'd ever be. You'll be just fine without me. I'm so proud of-"

Shikamaru's eyes opened slowly, the back garden slowly coming into focus. Evening birds chirped, the low hum of frog calls and crickets starting to whine as the sun set. The clouds in the distance were deep purple, threatening rain and a stark contrast to the golden hue of the mountains behind them.

He stretched as he sat up from the deck floor. He dreamed of his father often, the last things he said. As the years passed, he had forgotten his voice, his bad habits, the way he showed how much he loved him and his mom, even when he did say it. He sometimes felt so angry because his grief was so deeply woven into him, he wasn't sure if he would ever be whole without it. He wasn't sure if he would ever be without it. He pulled his knees to his chest, wrapping his arms around them and resting his chin on the back of his hand, letting out his turmoil in a long, measured sigh.

Should probably head out. He thought, realizing that the longer he waited, the less likely he was to actually go. Shikamaru quickly rose to his feet and pulled his undershirt back on, not bothering with his flak jacket. The hair that had fallen to his shoulders now pulled back into its usual tie. He patted his pockets, checking for his lighter but mostly ensuring he had a cigarette somewhere on him - he liked it as a convenient excuse to step outside, which often let him leave without much fuss from Kiba.

"I'll be out late." His voice echoed back at him. He wondered, briefly, why he still spoke to the space between the floorboards, but they creaked in response as he walked over them and out the door. Perhaps the world around him spoke to him in a language he had yet to translate.

- x -

The air in the loft was hot, humid, nearly claustrophobic. Every room packed with shinobi - both friends and strangers to Temari. She could hear Ino's laugh echo from down the hallway, Choji yelling about something she couldn't quite make out. In the far corner of a room she could see Tenten tucked under Neji's arm, laughing at whatever story Lee was retelling with exaggerated gestures and movements. More strangers, faces who seemed familiar - perhaps those she had fought alongside during the war but none that she recognized in the moment. Things happened quickly, there was no time to dwell on the names of those who were unsure she would even see on the other side.

Temari managed to make her way through the groups of people that congested the apartment, voices were loud, undoubtedly drunk. Laughter, swearing, a haze wafted through the air. She rounded the corner to see Kiba, pouring himself what was clearly not his first drink. He grinned, canines pearly white. Kiba passed her a glass, clinking his own against hers quickly before taking a swig. Temari laughed, his inebriation contagious.

"Glad to see you made it, 'Mari." Kiba commented, his eyes hazy and words passing over his lips with a barely noticeable slur. She had never given him explicit permission to give her what was clearly a pet name, but she was a tactician through and through and knew when to choose her battles. She doubted it would change anything even if she did make a fuss, he seemed to do what he pleased when it pleased him. He may even find more delight in the idea that his actions annoyed her.

"That I did. Have you seen-"

"Shikamaru?" Kiba asked, smiling again with a wink, thinking he was filling in the unspoken gaps in her words.

"Sakura?" Temari said, pointing her index fingers at him in correction. She wanted to find the local lazy genius, but she wanted to at least pretend that everything was casual. Nothing serious, nothing meaningful, nothing she needed to worry herself with. Kiba didn't seem entirely convinced by her redirection but didn't push it.

"In the living room, to the right, by the back door. Can't miss her." He made a shoo-ing gesture as he sent her along. Temari stuck her tongue out at him, to which he retorted by giving her the finger. Temari couldn't help but like Kiba. He reminded her of Kankuro in a lot of ways. Crass, wild, unapologetically himself - others be damned.

Temari squeezed between more house guests, more familiar faces without names. The smell of booze and cigarettes.

"Sakura!" Temari shouted over the blare of the music and loud conversations, her voice barely drawing the attention of the kunoichi hardly a meter away from her.

"Temari!" Sakura returned her excitement, pulling on Temari's arm to squeeze her between two people and pulling her into a hug.

"Is it always this.. crazy?" Temari asked, gesturing vaguely behind her.

"Mostly. I think more people showed than usual considering we're "celebrating" Naruto and Hinata." Sakura laughed, throwing air quotes around celebrate. "I think Kiba just wanted an excuse to party."

"I'm sure," Temari laughed. "Where are they, anyway?" Sakura merely pointed towards the center of the room as she had her drink pressed to her lips.

Across the room, Naruto sat on the ugliest green couch Temari had ever seen. Hinata sat on his lap, arguably more beautiful than in recent memory. It was like they were the only two in the room. People shouting, drinks spilling, laughter, conversations, yet Naruto's arm was wrapped tightly around Hinata's waist and he spoke to her so gently, his eyes glossed over like she was a sun and all he could see was her. Her long hair framed her face, her features barely visible except the softest smile on her lips. He pressed his forehead to hers, her shoulders vibrating with laughter.

"Wow." Temari said, "Imagine being that in love."

"It's sickening." Sakura groaned, though Temari could tell that she was profoundly happy for Naruto. Her eyes were filled with admiration, the love of a sister - or as close as it could be to one. "One day. For both of us."

"So, what's going on with you?" Temari asked, her voice tentative as she chose her words carefully. Most didn't make any attempt to broach the subject of love with Sakura after the war. Sasuke had disappeared again and, despite her insistence that she had long-since moved on from her childhood love, she had turned down nearly every attempt at a relationship anyone made with her, keeping most at arm's length. Sakura had mentioned over drinks the other day that she had gone on some dates here and there, one of them being with Kiba a few years prior, much to Temari's surprise. She merely said that they were too different, but Ino alluded that Kiba was too much of an all-or-nothing person and Sakura wasn't quite there yet at the time. Commitment still felt like betrayal, and she may have held out some sort of hope that Sasuke would return. But, it had been years of no word and her hope had waned.

"Nothing but," She paused as she took in a deep breath and a long sip of her drink before continuing, "I think I'm ready. Actually, genuinely ready." Something in Temari felt that she was telling the truth, and not just to placate others at their insistence that she should just be happy. The assertion was almost insulting, really, because who wouldn't want to just be happy.

"Going to give Kiba another shot?" Temari asked, raising her eyebrows and winking. Sakura seemed to ponder for a moment, pressing a fingertip to her chin before shaking her head.

"I'm pretty sure he's got his eyes on someone else, but you know how he is; He'd probably entertain it, but that ship has sailed."

"He'd flirt with a streetlamp if it'd give him the time of day." Temari shook her head and scoffed. Sakura burst out in laughter, grabbing Temari's arm to steady herself as tears formed in the corners of her eyes.

"You're spot on, Temari, I swear." She dabbed at her eyes, trying to keep the tears from spilling over her flushed cheeks. "Let's go grab another drink, hm? I know where Kiba keeps the good stuff, none of that jungle juice or whatever he calls it."

"Did you drink any of that? I swear it's lethal, I think it'd strip paint off a house." Temari and Sakura giggled again, their voices carrying through the loft as they squeezed between bodies, headed in the direction of the kitchen.