"What do you mean you have to go on a mission?!" Shikamaru shouted, confused and hurt. I looked down, "I'm sorry, but I have to do this." He looked straight at me, "how long will you be gone?" "I'm not sure, but it will be awhile. Shikamaru I'm really sorry." I whispered. He wrapped his arms around me, "i-it's okay. It's not your fault of have to go away and leave me. I-I'll be okay, just be safe. Promise me." I nodded my head and hugged him back, "I promise."

I woke up by the sunlight shining in my eyes. That same dream, it happened so long ago. It's be about three or four years. I got up off the tree I fell asleep on and jumped to the ground. Shikamaru never left my mind ever since I set foot out of the village. I looked down at the scare that went down my arm as I ate. I broke my promise, if he still remembers me. I should be back at the village by the afternoon. After I was done eating, I took off running back to the village.

"Come on Shikamaru! Hurry up!" I shouted from the top of a hill. I decided that I would join him when he went cloud watching. He didn't say I couldn't go, so here I am. He got up to where I was and we laid down in the grass. "I finally understand why you love watching clouds now." I said. Shikamaru chuckled, "I'm surprised that you do." "What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, looking at him. He turned and faced me as well, "nothing really, just adults don't understand why I love watching clouds go by. Yet, here we are. Two kids that just got out of school and we understand it just fine. I thought that I would never find someone that understood."

I remember that night, coming home from hanging out with Shikamaru all day made me realize just how much he meant to me. I reached the village by late afternoon, the sun was already setting. One of the people guarding the gate ran to get the Hokage. Did they already change Hokages?

I walked through the village. It was so new, nothing like the one I left years ago. The people seemed happier now than back when I left. I went to see the Hokage, and found Naruto. "Hey (Y/n)! You made it back!" He exclaimed and reached out to give me a hug. I stood there frozen. "I-I know that I-I've been gone f-for a long time b-but..." I couldn't get out anymore words. Naruto was shocked to see me like this. "Hold on, let me get Shikamaru." He mumbled and left the room. I moved to sit against the wall, trying to process all this change. I knew that the village was gonna change, but this much this fast, it was crazy to me.

Naruto came back a few minutes later with Shikamaru. "(Y/n)." He breathed out and pulled me into his embrace. Just before he did, I was a ring on his hand. I did hug him back, instead I tried to say, "a-are y-y-you m-married?" My voice was shaking so much, I couldn't control it. Shikamaru moved away from me, Naruto put a hand on his shoulder. "She's just in shock. You know she always freaked out when something changed too much." He nodded, "I'll see you later." Shikamaru said with a fake smile and left the room. I held out my hand, "w-wait." I barely said above a whisper. He didn't hear me, but he never looked back at me.

~Shikamaru's point of view~

She's back, she finally came back. I fell in love with someone else though. I have a son now, Temari is my wife. I looked down at my ring, I thought she died years ago. I never heard anything about her once she left. I guess that I should have waited to come back but I had to move on with my life. The sun had finally set, all the street lights came on. I took the long way home, I had to think about everything. I passed by that hill, the one I always go to and watch clouds. I made another promise to her, and I broke it.

"Hey, (Y/n)?" She turned and faced me, "yes?" She replied. "What do you think about marriage?" I asked. She gave me a weird look, "why are you thinking about getting married all of a sudden?" "I'm not, I was just wondering about what you think about it." I said. "Oh, well I think that if you love someone, and they love you as well, then one day you should get married. But I'm just a kid, it's not like I know a lot about this stuff." She answered, "what about you?" "I agree, but I think that the people getting married should be like best friends, that way that won't lie to each other too much." "Kind of like us, right?" She said, looking up at the sky. "Too bad we're not in love. We would be the greatest love story in the school." "Then let's get married when we are!" I said very quickly, I didn't think about it. I was afraid that she is scared of me, but she smiled at me and said, "okay then, once we fall in love we will get married."

If only thing were that easy. I arrived at my home, Temari was inside with my two year old son. "Hey," She greeted, "looks like someone was out late." I chuckled, "yeah sorry about that. I was thinking on the walk back. Do you need help with anything?" She smiled at me, we ate dinner and went to sleep.

The next morning, Naruto and (y/n) were talking about her mission when I walked in. (Y/n) turned to look at me, "good morning." She said and smiled. Thank goodness she's okay now. I felt bad that I just walked out of the room yesterday. "Good thing you came, Shikamaru." Naruto said, "I was about to send (y/n) off on her next mission." "Already!?" I shouted, "she just got back Naruto!" (Y/n) put her hand on my shoulder, "would you calm down, you know I'm always on missions." She spoke in a calm voice, I looked at her, "plus this time I won't be gone too long." I turned to Naruto, "can I at least take her out for lunch?" I asked. "Of course! Good luck (y/n), stay safe." She smiled, "of course! I'll be back as soon as possible."

We walked out and went to that same hill, we laid down in the grass. "Man, I missed this." She said after a few minutes, breaking the silence. "I'm sorry, I thought you died. I thought that I should move on in my life." "Don't be sorry, we only said that we would get married when we are both in love. I just left when we both were. But now I can move on." My eyes winded, "you still love me?" I asked, she faced me, "who said I ever stopped." I turned away from her, I couldn't believe that I thought she died, she could never die. Not on a mission at least. "Hey, it's okay. Shikamaru, you're happy! Naruto told me that you have a son, that's great! I can't wait to meet him! And the lucky lady of course!" She said, I faced her. She had the bright smile on her face. "Do you want to meet them now?" I asked, she shook her head and stood up. "Nah, I'll meet them when I get back. Besides I need to get going." I nodded and stood up, "come see me when you get back, and please don't be too long. We got a lot of catching up to do." She smiled and hugged me, "I will, I promise." I walked over to the gate, "bye!" She waved and took off running. "Bye."

"Who was that?" Temari asked, holding my sons hand. "That was (y/n), the girl I told you about." "Oh yeah, I hate that she had to leave so quickly. I wanted to meet her." I chuckled, "yeah she wanted to meet you guys too." I picked up my son, "come on let's go home. She said that she'll meet you guys when she gets back." We started walking, "I can't wait."