Chapter 3
Temari exchanges goodbyes with her in-laws, and when the door closes behind them ,let's out a sigh, her expression grumpy. Now that the last of her guests have left she could retire from the role of happy hostess. The dinner had been pleasent. Temari and Shikamaru had planned it to properly announce their pregnancy; only their immediate family attended, his parents and her brothers; as they had the right to know first. Inspite of the traditional formality of it all it turned out to be enjoyably lovely- and dragged well into the night. It left her dog tired. What the sand-nin had discovered in her pre-natal period is that she gets exhausted quickly, spaced out and naps frequently- all con's of carrying a Nara, shikaku's wife had joked, telling of her similar experience. She was told it would get worse, and upon her latter months she wouldn't get out of bed. "Shika-" she stops when the man she was calling for comes out into the corridor the same instant. She knew he had been smoking, she knew that's why he excused himself to his study and for no reason didn't want to walk out his parents. She didn't push the smoker- who had allegedly quit; for the coming baby, the doctor had insisted- but only because she would push something else. "Calling it a night?." He yawns, always wanting to go to bed. 'Bed'. She thinks almost fondly. 'thats where I want to be these days'. "Not yet." Genius that he is her husband let's out a long moan without her elaborating more, still, she looks into the open plan dining room kitchen combo, directing her stare pointedly at the plates on the table. "We can't just leave them like that..." "We can clean it up in the morning." Shikamaru suggests hopefully. Sadly, she shakes her head. " By then it would have attracted ants and cockroaches and other insects I don't want to deal with, It has to be now." She looks at him meaningfully, a hand over her stomach, rubbing the excuse almost smugly. 'It had to be you'. Shikamaru makes the face of a petulant child, ordered into cleaning his room; Temari thinks he might make a fuss and prepares to convince him when he easily gives in. "Fine", shoulders slumping into that 'fighting it is too troublesome' posture of his. "I'll do the dishes.... You can go to bed." He muttered almost jealously. On her way down the corridor she moves in to kiss his cheek, and let's out a small cough after an exaggerated inhale ( to show him she could smell the smoke off him; he was making up for cheating on the quitting and they both knew). " And when you're done sweep up, if there's even a crumb on the floor the place will be crawling with bugs." She laughs at shikamaru's answering groans, competly unsympathic.