Growing Up

When Julien came barging in Rune's home, asking if she'd like to hand out, she just couldn't refuse. How could she? Julien was one of her best friends and sh hadn't spent much time with him in awhile.

"Julien! Julien, stop pulling me!" Rune shouted as Julien dragged her across the fields just outside the zoo. "You're gonna rip my arm outta my socket, man!"

"I'm sorry, Runey! It's just I am so exsited to be 'hanging' out with you," he said with a chuckle. "We may not be hanging, but we're out, right?"

Rune laughed. "Julien, you're such an idoit," she teased. "So... How have you been?"

"Very good, thank you! I still party every night, but I often have to cut it short so that Tyler could get some sleep. How 'bout you?"

Wait... Did Julien just say 'thank you'? Rune shrugged. "Same old, same old, Julien. Chip's been hyper as ever and Kowalski's aways working on some new experiment."

"So are you happy?"

Rune didn't expect Julien to ask that. "Of cours I'm happy! ...Why? Aren't you happy?"

Julien sighed. "At times..."

The mixed breed lemur motioned to him, urging him to contuine.

"Sometimes I think of Shade," he confessed. "I still am loveing her... Is that strange even though she is dead?"

Rune shook her head. "You can still love someone who's dead. I still love my mother..."

The male lemur blinked at her, then smiled. "Like I was saying, I miss Shade dearly, but I have my little Prince Tyler. He is my life now. I feel like I am no longer the most important thing now. Tyler is."

By this, Rune was shocked. Then again, she wasn't. "Haveing a kid changes people, J. Raising Chip changed me and Kowalski and having Tyler changed you. You're no longer that spoiled, all-about-me lemur king we all once knew, ya know. Actually, it's kinda scary that you're so kind now."

"I am not being that kind," Julien pointed out with a laugh, pushing Rune a bit.

Rune smiled. "True. But still... I think you really are growing up. It's about time too!"

"What's that suppose to mean?"

"You're childish."

Julien rolled his eyes. "I am the king! I can be whatever I want!" He glanced at Rune and smiled teasingly.

"Well, your royal pain-in-the-butt, it's getting late. I promised Chip I'd tuck him in before he goes to bed."

Julien's smile faded. "Alright... I should be getting back to Tyler too..."

Rune stared at him. "Don't sound so glum! We can hang out again!"

"We can?" Julien's voice was filled with shock and joy.

"Sure! I mean, why not? What's wrong with friends hanging out every once in awhile?"

Friends... "Nothing...Nothing at all," Julien said, forcing a smile.

END

Make sure you read the a/n i put in the story, okay? It's very, very important.