Yup yup yup...another ShikaTema story. This won't be a one-shot, it'll probably be three or four chapters.

"Shikamaru," Kakashi said with a smile from behind his desk, "what is it you need?"

"Eh..." Shikamaru paused, faltering under the knowing smirk of the Sixth Hokage. He looked away and scratched the back of his head, "I...was just wondering if there were any missions to Suna available?"

The Hokage laced his fingers and rested his chin on top of them, studying the awkward Jounin. "Hmm, I think we have a couple," he told Shikamaru offhandedly. "There's one, C-Rank, delivering a message to the Kazekage. Chunin stuff, really." His eyes twinkled, "Do you want it?"

Shikamaru's cheeks turned slightly pink, but he kept his composure, "sure, if its no trouble to you."

"Having one of our best ninja on a C-Rank mission instead of an A-Rank or S-Rank? Of course it's no trouble!" Kakashi said sarcastically, still smiling.

At this, Shikamaru just smirked. "Nice try, Kakashi-Sensei, but we haven't had anything close to an A-Rank mission since the Land of Silence."

"You have a point," Kakashi admitted, rummaging through his desk. "I have the details for the mission and the message around here somewhere..."

Shikamaru stood there for fifteen seconds as Kakashi lazily searched different stacks of papers before walking to the desk and extracting the needed documents easily. Kakashi sighed and shook his head, "of course you knew where the documents were. Do you already have a bag packed at home to?"

"I am known for planning ahead," Shikamaru drawled, turning to leave.

"Shikamaru," Kakashi called, making him pause, "I expect you back in a week. No later."

Shikamaru turned back to the Hokage with a polite nod. "Understood." He turned to leave again.

"Shikamaru."

The Nara turned back to Kakashi, trying not to let his impatience and irritation show. "Ah? What is it?"

"Have fun...but not too much fun, okay? You're too young to become a dad."

Shikamaru made a noise somewhere between a yelp and a cough and turned a bright crimson. "What?! It's not like that, I don't plan on...she wouldn't..." he continued to mutter nonsense and quickly took his leave.

After the door was closed and Shikamaru was safely out of earshot, Kakashi let out a laugh. "Oh, to be young again," he said wistfully, turning back to his paperwork.

Shikamaru hummed to himself as he threw some clothes haphazardly into his backpack. Contrary to what he had implied to the Hokage, Shikamaru did not have a bag packed. He hadn't wanted to get his hopes up only to be told he couldn't go, but looking back now he realized that was silly. It was peacetime and things were good. A high-ranking shinobi like Shikamaru could afford to go take a week off and see his girlfriend.

The thought pulled him up short, and he paused in the act of putting a pair of socks into his backpack.

His girlfriend. The thought and idea was still so foreign to him that he had to remind himself that Temari was indeed his girlfriend, and that he was going to travel through a desert to surprise her with nothing but his company.

The thought made him smile, and he made no effort to hide it as finished packing. Just as he finished putting his toothbrush into his side pouch, the door to his room opened, making him jump.

"What's got you so happy?" said a familiar voice.

Shikamaru turned to face his mother, Yoshino. "Who says I'm happy?" He asked, slinging his backpack over his shoulder.

"I heard you humming," Yoshino said pointedly, "and look at you, you're smiling!"

Shikamaru remembered he was indeed smiling and shook his head. "Whatever, I'm leaving for a week."

Yoshino's expression morphed from one of suspect to elation. "Oh! You're going to see Temari! Excellent!"

"Mom!" he groaned, "c'mon, don't be a drag!"

In an instant Shikamaru's ear was firmly pinched between his mother's talon-like fingers. "Watch your tongue mister! Just because you outrank me as a ninja now doesn't mean you can talk to me like that!"

Shikamaru yelped and quickly attempted to placate his angered mother. "Alright, alright, jeeze! Just let go of me already!"

Yoshino let go and eyed her son with a mix of disapproval and happiness. "Y'know, I thought I was never going to get to be a grandmother. I'm glad you're proving me wrong."

Shikamaru groaned again and walked past his mother, "Mom, you are being a drag, and you know it."

Yoshino gave a teasing laugh and followed her son to the front door. "Maybe I am," she said, eyes twinkling, "have a good mission, Shikamaru. Get your old mother something nice from Suna, will you?"

Shikamaru eyed his mother as she stood in the doorway, "I haven't even told you I'm going to Suna. How are you so sure?"

In response, she opened the door and shooed him out. "If you think your father was the only one of your parents with powers of observation you're a bigger idiot than he was," said with a smile, she closed the door.

Shikamaru took a second to collect himself. This mission was supposed to be the very opposite of troublesome, but so far it had been anything but.

He double checked to make sure he had the message for Gaara and began the three day trek to Suna.

He'd make it there in two.

A day and a half later, Shikamaru was almost there. It had been a quiet, uneventful journey, just as the laze had hoped, and he was steadily getting more excited to get to Suna. It had only been a couple weeks since he had seen Temari at Naruto and Hinata's wedding, but it felt like a lot longer.

He remembered that day. The weather was perfect, she had looked great as usual, and he remembered her warm hand in his, and her flaming red face as she stared determinedly at the ground, her grip on his hand never slacking. The late night conversation, the smile and hug she had left him with before leaving for Suna the next day had ensured that Naruto's wedding was one of the best days of his life.

The gates of Suna loomed ahead in the distance and Shikamaru quickened his pace.

The guards at the gate looked surprised to see him. Shikamaru remembered he was a famous ninja now thanks to his efforts in the war, and he had to tell the nervous guards that everything was fine, he was just delivering a message to the Kazekage, nothing urgent.

They let him in after giving him a visitors pass, and Shikamaru made a beeline for the Kazekage's office.

Knock knock.

"Come in." Said a calm voice from behind the door. Shikamaru opened it and walked in.

Gaara was bent over his desk, scribbling something on a piece of paper. He looked up and his eyes widened ever-so-slightly in surprise. "Ah, Shikamaru, what are you doing here? Is everything okay?"

"Everything's fine Kazekage-sama," Shikamaru assured him quickly, pulling out the scroll, "I just have a message for you from Kakashi-sensei."

"Just Gaara is fine," the Kazekage corrected him in a tone that might be described as warm. He reached out and grabbed the scroll, opening it and giving it a quick glance. He nodded and set it down on the desk. "Thank you. Though, may I ask why the Hokage felt the need to send one of his best ninja for such a trivial mission?"

"I had been hoping to spend some time with Temari, actually," Shikamaru said bluntly. He and Temari were no secret, after all Gaara had been at the wedding too.

Gaara nodded, his expression unreadable. "Well, unfortunately-"

"Oi, Gaara," came a new voice from behind Shikamaru, "I got us lunch. You owe me four bucks and-OI! What is he doing here?"

Shikamaru turned to see a confused Kankuro standing in the doorway, a large paper bag clutched in his hands. He looked as intimidating as ever with his bizarre face-paint.

"Shikamaru is delivering a message from the Hokage. He is also looking to spend some time with our dear sister."

Shikamaru tried not to sweat as he saw Kankuro take in the news. He knew Gaara was fine with his thing with Temari, but Kankuro had been shooting death glares at Shikamaru all night during the wedding, though had stopped when Temari threatened to blow him out of Konoha.

Kankuro just laughed, much to Shikamaru's surprise. "Best of luck to you, poor bastard."

"Hah?" Shikamaru made a noise of confusion, "What do you mean?"

"As I was saying before we were interrupted," Gaara continued as Kankuro took a seat in front of the desk and began pulling out various food, "Temari is currently quite ill. She can be very...irritable."

Shikamaru's heart sank. He was only here for three days and Temari was sick? "What a drag," he groaned. "What does she have?"

"Hm?" Gaara didn't seem to understand the question.

"What sickness does she have?" Shikamaru clarified.

"Ah, I do not know." Gaara said, "I haven't had any contact with her since she announced she was ill."

"Yeah," Kankuro added through a mouthful of food, "We learned a long time ago to not mess with Temari when she's sick. She's miserable."

Shikamaru sighed and rubbed his forehead with both palms. "Hmm..." he tried to think of what to do. The answer came pretty quickly. He looked up from his hands. "Where does she live?"

Kankuro paused in the middle of eating and glared at the Konoha-nin. "Oioi, why should we tell you that? What if you try something indecent while Temari is too sick to properly say no?"

Shikamaru glared back. "Don't insult me."

"Easy, Kankuro," Gaara said quietly, "I trust Shikamaru, and his intentions." The corners of his mouth pulled up slightly, "though I honestly don't know how happy she'll be to see you in her state."

"It's a risk worth taking," Shikamaru admitted, "I miss her."

Kankuro scoffed, "Gross, he's like a love-sick puppy."

Both of them ignored the puppeteer. Gaara reached for a piece of paper and wrote down her address. "She lives not far from here," he said offering the paper to Shikamaru, who quickly took it. "Good luck."

Shikamaru nodded. "Goodbye Kaze-er, Gaara, Kankuro."

He left and made his way to Temari's place.

Shikamaru knocked on the door of what he assumed was Temari's place. It was a cute little building, smaller than he would have imagined for the daughter and sister of Kazekage's. It was made of sandstone, just like the rest of the city, though there was a small flowerbox on the windowsill with beautiful flowers dotted throughout.

He waited about two minutes before knocking again. Thirty seconds later, he tried the handle. Locked.

"No problem," Shikamaru muttered, trying not feel creepy as he used his shadows to unlock the door to his girlfriend's apartment.

He stepped inside to a rather messy kitchen. Several pots and pans were in the sink, dirty, and there was a plate of barely-touched food on the kitchen table.

Shikamaru closed the door and made his way into the living room, which was tidy. He spotted a staircase and cautiously ascended it. Deciding it would be safer to make as much noise as possible as to not frighten a sick and irritable Temari into an attack, he called out "Oi, Temari?"

He heard nothing as he reached the top of the steps, but at the end of the hallway was an open door which led in to what was obviously her bedroom. There he saw a lump under the covers of the bed and his pulse quickened.

"Oi, Temari!" He called, careful not to be too loud as he walked down the hallway. "Uh, I'm here. Surprise?"

The lump under the bed stirred slightly as he entered the threshold. Temari turned over and Shikamaru had to bite back a laugh.

She looked awful. She had bags under eyes and a shining red nose. Her hair was undone and her lips were chapped. She was clammy and pale and her normally bright eyes were dull and half-asleep.

Recognition flickered across her face and she squinted at him. She must have decided he wasn't real because she sighed and closed her eyes, turning her back to him and squirming restlessly.

"I'm actually here, y'know."

Temari froze so fast Shikamaru had to actually pinch his arm to keep from laughing. She turned back over in her bed to look at him, eyes wide. "Wha? Huh?!" She sat up quickly, but immediately clutched her head and groaned. "Aggh, oh my God. Shikamaru, what the hell are you doing here?" Her voice was hoarse and thick. Her face had turned bright red, either from fever or embarrassment Shikamaru couldn't tell,and she quickly drew her blankets over herself so only her eyes and nose were visible, and those eyes were currently narrowed at Shikamaru in anger.

"Uh, surprise?" Shikamaru offered, wincing under her glare. "I came to see you."

Her glare softened slightly and Shikamaru felt better. "Why?" she said between coughs.

Shikamaru shrugged, still not looking away from her eyes. "Because I wanted to. See you, that is."

Even from the very little of Temari's face that he could see, he could tell she had blushed and he smirked. He walked over to her bed and sat on the end, but she instantly made a noise of protest and scooted as far from him as she could. "What's the matter?" He asked, instantly standing, not wanting her to be uncomfortable.

"N-nothing," she stammered, still wrapped in her blankets, "It's just...I'm...I'm gross, right now...you shouldn't be near me. I'm sick."

Relieved that that was the only reason, Shikamaru instantly sat himself back down on the bed. "Oh? That's it? You're not gross."

"I know I'm not normally," Temari complained, "but I'm sick. This stupid flu has had me stuck at home for three days now, and I haven't started feeling better yet." She sneezed violently, making the bed shiver.

"Hmm, well that's a sob story and all, but I'm only here for three days," Shikamaru said, standing up from the bed. "So pull yourself together and take a shower so we can hang out. I'll cook you some food and we can get you feeling better again."

"You don't have to. I know you probably think its a drag," Temari croaked.

"Don't be troublesome, I wouldn't offer if I thought it was a pain," Shikamaru sighed, turning to the door. "See you soon."

He turned his head slightly as he closed the door, and just caught a glimpse of Temari, already out of bed, smiling softly as she slowly stumbled towards the bathroom in her thin shirt and panties.

Shikamaru instantly turned a dark crimson and accidentally slammed the door closed in his haste. Thanking all the gods in the world that Temari hadn't seen him, he quickly made his way downstairs, muttering things like "troublesome" and "that woman will be the death of me" as he busied himself with tea.

Ten minutes later, Shikamaru was dozing at the kitchen table when a fit of coughing from the living room startled him awake. He was at her side in a flash, helping her into the kitchen.

"I can do it myself," Temari told him irritably, smacking his offered hand aside.

She was currently in a lavender kimono with a red sash. Her hair was messily done into her normal hairstyle. Her face was still pale and she looked exhausted.

"Have it your way," Shikamaru shrugged as she collapsed onto a chair in the kitchen with another fit of coughing and sneezing.

"I made you some tea," he said, handing her the warm cup, "Drink up."

"Thanks," Temari said gratefully, taking the cup and shivering as she clasped it between her hands. "Jeeze, it's freezing in here."

Shikamaru raised his eyebrows. "Yeah, okay sick woman. It's like 90 degrees in here, you're nuts."

"Shut up," Temari whined, "it's really hot in here."

"Mmm," Shikamaru turned to the cabinets and began rifling around, "bad news, I have no idea how to cook any of this stuff." He turned back to Temari, "what the heck can you make with this stuff anyways?"

Temari, who was red-faced and avoiding his gaze, shrugged. "I dunno. Food. What're you, a garbage cook?"

Shikamaru tried not to sigh, "I can cook fine with ingredients I'm familiar with." He turned back to the cabinets and, after another futile look-over, gave up and returned to the table. "So, no food, then."

"That's fine, I'm not hungry." Temari said, still looking firmly at her teacup.

Shikamaru started to get a little nervous. He hadn't been expecting a big hug and jumping for joy when he showed up, but he thought she'd be a little excited. Sure, she was sick, which probably had something to do with it, but he was hoping she'd be a little glad to see him.

"Err," he muttered, "I can just go, if you want."

Temari looked up at him quickly, "What? I-if you want, then fine."

"I don't want to leave," Shikamaru assured her, "you just..." he had to choose his next words carefully, he really didn't want to upset her, "seem like you kind of want to be alone right now."

Temari was silent for a second, and sweat started beading out across his face. When she finally did speak, he was relieved. "It means a lot to me that you came here, Shikamaru. I'm sorry if I don't seem excited that you're here it's just..." her face got even redder and she groaned, "this is just really embarrassing for me, okay?"

Shikamaru didn't understand, "Embarrassing? How?"

"Ugh, idiot! Are you really gonna make me explain it to you?" Temari asked, looking at Shikamaru angrily. She coughed loudly into her fist and took another sip of tea. "It's just...us being together, it makes me feel under a lot of pressure, okay? I don't want to mess it up, and having you come here when I'm cranky." she ignored his joking 'but you're always cranky', "and sick and nasty...I just don't want you to think different off me, I guess." She glared down at her tea. "It makes me feel weak."

Shikamaru chuckled, reaching out and grabbing the hand that wasn't clutching her tea with both of his. "For such a smart woman, that was a pretty dumb thing to say." She rolled her eyes, "come on Temari, do I really come across as that shallow? I don't really give a crap if you're sick or whatever. I came here to spend time with you and I'll do it no matter what you're like."

Temari, who had gone tomato red once again after Shikamaru grabbed her hand, smiled slightly into her tea, "well, thanks."

Shikamaru let go of her hands and stood up, "and don't worry, I'm pretty sure its impossible for me to ever view you as weak."

She grinned up at him, "darn right." She tried to puff out her chest but ended up coughing loudly for ten seconds. She groaned and flopped forwards onto the table. "Ugh."

"C'mon, let's get you back to bed." He told her, "you're worse off than I realized. You should've stayed in bed."

Temari looked up at him tiredly, "eh, the shower made me feel a bit better, so that's something." she let out a yawn, "Sleep sounds good though."

This time she didn't protest as he offered his hand to her, and took it gratefully. She did make a squeak of surprise when he scooped her legs out from under her and began carrying her bridal style. "What's the matter?" he smirked down at her, "your face is awfully red, you must have some fever."

"Shut up," she grumbled as they got to her bedroom. He set her down on the bed and she quickly crawled beneath the sheets, shivering. Shikamaru sat himself down on the bed, frowning. "Cold again?"

She nodded, trying to keep her teeth from chattering.

"Do you have any other blankets?"

She shook her head.

Shikamaru sighed, bringing his hand up to her forehead. "Man, you're burning up. We might have to get a doctor or something if this keeps up."

"Nnnnn." Temari took his hand off her forehead and gave it a quick squeeze. "I'll be fine." She chattered. "I just wish I wasn't so cold."

"Hmmm," Shikamaru studied their joined hands. Cautiously, he brought her hand to his mouth and lightly pressed his lips to her knuckles.

Temari shot up as if electrocuted but didn't pull away. "Wh-what are you doing?" she asked, breathless.

Shikamaru smiled and dropped her hand, "Warming you up," he said, gesturing to her blushing face and neck, "I made an educated guess."

Temari sank back between her pillows and rubbed her hand, "You're...you're...whatever." She huffed and looked away from him.

"Don't be a child," Shikamaru told her, rolling his eyes. "Get some sleep, hopefully when you wake up you'll be feeling better.

Temari slowly looked at him as he scooted off the bed and sat on the ground, back against the bed and staring out the door down the hallway. She gently placed her hand on top of his head and tugged lightly on his ponytail. "Thanks again for coming," she murmured as sleep started to take her, "and thanks for taking care of me."

"I'll always take care of you," he said, but she was already asleep. Deciding to also get some needed rest despite his uncomfortable position, he closed his eyes, and it wasn't long before sleep claimed him too.

Shikamaru woke hours later and Temari was still sleeping. He checked her temperature and was relieved to see her fever had broke while they slept. A little color had also returned to her face.

He went downstairs and got himself a glass of water. After gulping it down he grabbed another and brought it up to Temari. He located a notepad and a pencil and quickly scribbled out a note.

Temari,

am heading to find food. You may not be hungry but I am. Be back soon. Drink the water.

-Shikamaru

Satisfied, he headed out.

So that's the end of Chapter 1! Will post chapter 2 within a week or so, this'll probably be 3-5 chapters. Hope you all enjoy!