It was late in the day and the sun was beginning to set on the horizon casting golden hues on the Pridelands. Simba padded along the well known path and followed his mate's scent to the waterhole.
He paused a distance away when he caught sight of her resting on a slightly protruding boulder, her tail swishing lazily from side to side. With a smirk he slowly lowered himself to the ground and began crawling quietly over to her in a somewhat vain attempt to surprise her. He snuck up to what he thought would be a pleasing distance to pounce from and crouched low…
"You don't really think you can scare me that easily do you, Simba?" Nala stated with an amused tone. She didn't even bother to turn around and look at him. Shoot. Simba straightened himself up and cleared his throat. "Of course not, Love. I know better than that." He went to nuzzle his mate and was pleased when a soft purr escaped from her throat. She licked his cheek and gave him a knowing smile that let him know she knew better than to fall for his playful smirk. She returned her gaze to the setting sun.
"How was your day?" "Fine," Simba stated as he made himself comfortable next to her, "even better now that I'm with you." Nala chuckled at his antics, "Flirt." Simba feigned surprise and said in a rather indignant tone, "What? I can't say lovely things about my beautiful mate now?" Nala smiled, "Of course you can. I love the fact that you're such a hopeless romantic. It's adorable."
Simba nuzzled her once more and licked her ear. "The sunset's beautiful isn't it Nal?"
"It is…" She agreed and slowly turned to look at him. Her vibrant, green eyes danced with a glowing mischief Simba could only guess about. The sunset did look beautiful. Beautiful on her.
"What?" He asked, smiling, seemingly lost in the brilliant orbs he was so delightfully fond of. Nala nuzzled his neck and leaned in close… "I'm pregnant," she whispered. Simba's eyes widened. "You're what?" Nala laughed softly, enjoying the look that came over her mate's face as he took in the news. "Simba, I'm pregnant. We're going to have a cub. You're going to be a father."
Simba could only stare at the lioness he loved in shock. He swallowed and whispered, "Pregnant. You're pregnant… " Realization must have hit him at that moment because he jumped up and shouted, "I'm going to be a father! Nala, we're going to be parents!" Simba nuzzled his mate passionately and licked her face. "Is it really true, Nal?" Nala only laughed as her eyes began to glisten with tears of pure joy. "Yes, Simba! We're going to have a baby. Our very own child."
Simba couldn't stop nuzzling her as deep, happy purrs erupted from deep within his own body. He didn't know what else to think as his heart began to swell and rejoice in what his mate had just told him. His excited nuzzles turned gentle and his kisses softer. Nala glanced up at him with a look that mirrored Simba's own emotions perfectly. His amber eyes betrayed all the love he felt for her then as he leaned in and tenderly kissed her with as much affection as he could possibly convey. "I love you," he whispered. Nala couldn't stop smiling as she whispered, "I love you too, Simba."
The two lovers basked in the glory and radiance of the dying sunlight and relished in the blessing they had just been given by the Great Kings above whom had just begun to appear in the darkened sky with a twinkling glow of their own. It was a beautiful night indeed for the royal couple of the Pridelands.