Just a few words before the actual story begins:

This story is basically a one-shot collection, I tried to fill up all the missing blanks in the lives of Shikamaru and Temari (starting point: Shikamaru Hiden) and afterwards, the growth of the two and their little one.

This is fun to write, and hopefully fun for you to read.

Alright then … here it goes!

Warning: spoilers from hiden novels and movie

She has always liked the weather here in Konoha.

Not too dry, not too extreme. Full of green plants, full of life.

She smiled at the two doormen as she entered the familiar gates of the village.

What are their names again? She shrugged it off. It does not matter.

She has a mission, and more importantly, she has a date.

She knew her way to the Hokage tower, and several minutes later, she stood in front of the new Hokage – Hatake Kakashi, the silver-haired man covered his sharingan with his headband, his face beneath a mask. He looked up as she entered the room.

"Ah, Temari." He greeted her in a relaxed tone. "How is everything going on in Suna?"

"Everything is well, Lord Sixth." She replied with an affirming nod. "The Kazekage sends his regards."

"I appreciate that."

Temari took out a missive and placed it on Kakashi's table, which was already covered with stacks of paper and binders.

"Here is the secret missive from the Kazekage."

"I acknowledge that I have received it, thank you."

"No problem." She smiled. "If that's all, then …"

"Sure, you may leave." Kakashi turned his head back to the stack of papers he had to go through.

Just as Temari was turning around, heading for the door. She heard the masked man's voice again.

"Have fun on your date, Temari."

She felt her eyebrows twitching; she did not say anything as her face turned crimson with embarrassment.

"Just so you know, Shikamaru turned down a mission just to go on a date with you." Kakashi smiled beneath his mask, closing his one eye. "Well, that's all."

"See you, Lord Sixth." She muttered quickly before leaving the Hokage's office.

Kakashi was laughing silently beneath his mask.

Spring has come for you too, Temari.

Temari was walking back to her hotel, staring at the ground as she treaded along.

After that mission to the Land of Silence, he asked her out on a date.

She had not felt this happy for quite some time now, but now that she knew the normal Shikamaru is back, that usual "the whole world Is such a pain in the ass", that Shikamaru who would rely on her, just as she would rely on him.

But on top of that, to think that he would reject a mission.

To go on a date with her.

That meant something.

He was no longer that brat who complained about everything; he took on a lot more responsibility, while he still complained, he is different.

He became a man, like his teacher and father. He became someone that she could rely on.

She chuckled a little, and kept walking. She did not realise she took a few wrong turns and was almost an hour late.

When she got back to the hotel, he was already waiting for her.

"Yo." He greeted her with one closed eye and a lazy smile on his face. He stood next to the reception counter, hands shoved in his pockets.

"Hey." She smiled at him.

"Well, if you are good to go, then we can go get some dinner now."

"It's already that late?" Temari didn't realize, until she turned and looked at the ticking clock hanging over the receptionist.

"Yeah," he yawned and turned at her.

"Sorry for being late."

"It's okay."

She smiled at him and walked ahead of him.

He smiled and sluggishly followed behind her.

"I didn't even tell you where we are heading yet," he muttered, brows furrowed but smiling. "Troublesome woman."

He gently lifted the cloth at the entrance of the small cozy restaurant.

She lowered her head a little and walked in. It was not spacious, but it was warm, like a family's dining room.

"Ah Shikamaru-san," greeted the middle aged lady who was holding bowls of rice in her hands. "Just take a seat over there.

He nodded and led her to a table by the side of a window. The two sat down across each other.

Temari looked around. "This place is nice." She said quietly.

"We will get two orders of chestnut rice." Shikamaru turned his head and spoke to the lady, who nodded happily before entering the kitchen.

Temari raised an eyebrow; she was impressed.

"I remembered that you like chestnuts, they have great chestnut rice here." Shikamaru smiled.

"I do." She glanced out of the window. "So eh …"

"Hmmm…"

The two fell silent, just staring at each other for a second before sharing a mutual smile.

Temari changed her hairstyle - she parted her sandy blonde hair sideways, tying two instead of four ponytails. Her face was still beautiful the way it is – with minimal make up, her gaze strong yet comforting. She wore a purple long-sleeved blouse and dark blue skirt, apart from a grey top – something like what she used to wear back at the time she saved him from Tayuya. But it was more reserved, more mature – more like who she is right now.

Shikamaru looked more or less the same, he followed the standard Konoha dress code, flak jackets and all, but he kept his headband around his arm. Despite all that, he grew into the fine man he is today. Someone that Konoha, even the five shinobi villages cannot live without.

Their mutual silence was broken when the lady approached their table with their orders.

"Here are your orders. Dig in." The lady announced cheerfully as she placed two bowls, filled to the brim in front of them.

"Thanks," Shikamaru took a pair of chopsticks for Temari and strated to eat.

"So," Temari said after swallowing a mouthful of the steaming rice. "How's everything going after the Land of Silence mission?"

"Well, Lord Sixth gave me a break from work, so I pretty much played shougi and watched clouds during my holiday." He dismissed the question quickly, as if he did not almost lost his sanity in that mission.

"I thought your holiday ended today." She wanted to see how he would react.

"Yes, but I kind of extended it." He shrugged. "Come on, the food is getting cold."

Temari smiled and started to put the food in her mouth.

"You know, Lord Sixth told me." Temari looked up at him. "About the mission and all."

"It is just a troublesome bodyguard assignment, anyone could do it." He shrugged again. "Besides, I have something more valuable to do."

"Valuable, huh." Temari grinned at him, and took another bite.

The two talked about the next projects at the Shinobi Union, about reconstruction and training schemes to be implemented all over the shinobi world.

They talked and talked until the bowl in front of them became empty.

It was late when they left the shop. Together, they walked side by side, his hands still shoved in the pockets, hers were behind her back. There was no one else on their way back to her hotel, just them and the stars hanging above them. They said a few words, laughed a few times; they stayed quiet for most other time, but the silence was comfortable. They exchanged occasional glances and smiles.

They reached the hotel, and they stood in front of the staircase leading upstairs.

She turned around and smiled at him.

"Thanks for the meal."

"Don't mention it, a man should pay for his woman on a date." He shrugged and smiled lazily.

"Hmm, what did you say again?" Temari arched an eyebrow, she heard him, but she wanted to hear that again.

"Nah, it is not that important," he scratched the back of his head sheepishly with a grin. His eyes widened the next second.

Temari gave him a quick squeeze and then parted with him.

"I will see you tomorrow then, crybaby." She grinned and went upstairs to her room.

"Troublesome." Shikamaru smiled as she saw her disappear into the upper floor, he left the hotel with a satisfied smile.

He stared up into the sky as he walked home. The stars shone like they were blinking at him.

He had thought about a romantic dinner for two, and then just sitting there staring at each other like a lovey-dovey couple, but he dismissed the idea – it is too troublesome, and Temari would probably think that he is an imposter.

Making it too oddly romantic would be totally not his style, after all …

Temari has been in his life for a very long time, they worked together for such a long time; naturally their dates would end up in talking about light things, slowly drifting back to work.

As long as they are comfortable with it, he did not see a problem with it.

Well, maybe something a bit more couple-like next time, but not too overboard.

He smiled again at the shining stars above him. They reminded him of her eyes.

It has been a few months.

A month has passed after the mission to the moon. Otsutsuki Tonorei was defeated, Hanabi was saved, and everything was well in all the villages.

People greeted him as one of the heroes who participated in the mission that saved the world.

Today was one of the rare days that he managed to get a day off from work.

As he walked on the streets of Konoha, his mind ran wild. He had not been able to clear his mind ever since that mission.

He thought of something whilst being caught in that genjutsu in the passage to the moon.

He thought of his times with Asuma, Chouji and Ino. How they stared as Chouji pigged out at Yakiniku Q; how Asuma's face turned into ash grey when they got the bill.

His father and mother. How his mother yelled at him, how his father beat him in Shougi all the time, how he entrusted the Shinobi World in his hands.

Kurenai-sensei and Mirai. The precious legacy left to him by Asuma, the 'King' he must protect.

Most importantly, he thought of her.

All those moments – the Chunin Exam in which they fought, how she rescued him from Tayuya, all those hours spent in handling the papers …

And her grin when she agreed to go on a date with him. That precious grin.

Shikamaru smiled at himself as he indulged himself a little in his livid memories.

Suddenly, an overly cheerful voice and a firm hand on the shoulder interrupted his trail of thoughts.

"Oi Shikamaru!" He looked up and saw Naruto Uzumaki, hair blonde like a blazing sun and eyes as blue as the ocean, grinning at him.

"Hey." Shikamaru's gaze fell upon the maiden standing behind him.

"Hello Shikamaru-kun," Hinata greeted everyone. They were holding hands. She stood sheepishly behind his back. Somethings never change.

"How lucky we are to see you," Naruto fished out a cards from his pocket and handed one to him. "You know, you are so busy and everything."

A wedding invitation.

Shikamaru stared at his friend who was beaming like the sun itself. "I will be expecting you to come!"

"Congratulations," he grinned at the couple, Naruto was laughing heartily while Hinata nodded and smiled sweetly.

So finally you are going to finish first in something, huh. He thought to himself. Naruto has finally became an adult.

He smiled at himself. He knew exactly who he was going to bring as his date.

In fact, he is going to meet her right now.

Author's note:

This is the first chapter, basically Temari and Shikamaru's first date (following his asking her out at the end of Shikamaru Hiden).

I hope you had fun reading this, I did enjoy writing this a lot!

V.S.V xoxo