Chapter 1:

The Hardest Words:

Love seemed to fill the air that unusually cold summer day. Dark storm clouds lurked upon the sky, painting it a leaden grey. The entire whole of the jungle seemed to darken as a cold February rain worked its way across the landscape, but still it didn't stop the harmonious chirping of birds mating amongst the various trees.

Blu flew through the sky as fast as his wings would carry him. He shivered as he felt the breeze sweep across his face and wings. He couldn't believe it had been a full year since he had first come to Rio. Back then everything seemed so pleasant and warm. Now he couldn't seem to keep himself warm and dry.

The rain glistened off his body. The downpour soaked his feathers to the bone. His beak chattered together as he rubbed his wings together for a moment, he peered back for a brief time to see his daughter sweeping up behind him in an elegant flying style. He forced a smile and shook his head.

"Well it certainly took you long enough." He teased, "What kept you?"

Rose rolled her eyes and shoved her father playfully. She noticed her playful attack neither knocked him from his steady hovering nor did it affect his altitude. His big masculine body continued to soar.

"I stopped to look at a flower." She explained, "It was a white rose. I've never seen anything so pale and delicate before."

Blu nodded in understanding. When it came to certain aspects of life, Rose was every bit the same as her mother. In terms of intelligence she was similar to him, but the girl had clearly inherited more from Jewel.

"You're so much like your mother." He sighed, "Did you know it was on this very spot, we named you?"

Rose shook her head and peered downwards at the ground. The entire field was carpeted in flowers of every colour. Red, yellow, blue, white, even the occasional violet, they all blended together like a fabulous tapestry or painting. Rose let her jaw drop at the sight. She couldn't believe what she was witnessing.

"Really...?" She found herself asking.

"Yep," Blu admitted. "Your mother wanted to show you the wildflowers she adored as a child. When we brought you hear the first time, you chased after the butterflies and fell into a bunch of roses... not the thorny bushes, but the wild flowers which grow throughout the area. You loved it so much, you didn't cry. We decided to name you Rose to mark that occasion, and ever since then flowers have been your main interest."

Rose forced a smile and lowered herself to the ground. Blu followed suit, and he picked up a flower and placed it in Rose's hair.

"You look so much like your mother. It's almost uncanny."

Rose nodded, not knowing whether to mention Jollo or not, he too had mentioned the uncanny resemblance... but he turned out to be nothing more than a vindictive liar, and straight forward villain. In the end Jollo had met his end thanks to her father, but every word of what he said still stuck in her memory. Blu could see the conflict in the young female's eyes. He held out a wing and smiled.

"Don't worry. I would never lie to you about anything."

"But-"Rose began to protest, but found herself silenced by her father's stern gaze.

Blu noted his daughter's lingering regret. He knew what she was feeling guilty about. He cleared his throat and continued.

"You have got to stop beating yourself up over what happened in the past. That Jollo creature held no morals other than lust and revenge."

Rose nodded her head more confident now that her father had mentioned the evil macaw's name first. She shifted her feet along the ground and began to pick flowers from where they grew.

"Did I ever thank you for saving me that day?" She asked. "In case I didn't thank you so much."

"You're welcome." Blu smiled. "But it's not something you should be thanking me for. I would die for any of you."

Blu bent down and helped to pick some flowers. Before long they both held a tiny damp bouquet in their wings. Blu sniffed the tropical fragrance, and let out a satisfied smile.

"Let's head back to the grotto, and surprise your mother with these. I'm sure she would love them."

# # #

The canopy groaned as it carried the heavy rain within the protective shield of tree tops. Despite the gloomy feel brought on by the day. Jewel let a cheerful smile pass her beak. She sat within the warmth of the hollow, doing very little except watching Kinski and Buster play a little game. In her wings she cradled the newest treasure to bless her life. A young female baby named Jade.

The chick cooed in her mother's wings as she opened her eyes to study her for a brief moment. Her light blue wings reached out for reassurance. Jewel rubbed her beak against the baby, wrapping it softly in her feathers. Jewel's eyes looked so delicate and filled with hope for her new baby. She continued to smile as she whispered in the young macaw's ears.

"You're the best of both of us."

The chick yawned and proceeded to drift off. Jewel continued to rock the baby, letting her grow more comfortable. She sang a very sweet melody for her.

"Mommy loves you

Yes I do.

You bring my world light

Even amongst the gloom.

You're brothers, and sister, even your dad

Love it when you're happy, please never be sad.

Mommy loves you.

Yes I do

You're the best of both of us

We tell you so true

You brought us joy, in times so dark

You're our angel.

Sent from above."

The baby cooed as the last notes of Jewel's lullaby died away upon the breeze. Without another sound the chick fell into a peaceful slumber.

"Good night, my beautiful little girl." Jewel smiled.

The blue macaw placed Jade within the small nest and issued for silence. The two macaws nodded their heads and seated themselves upon the bark. The falling rain caught their interest.

Not long after, Blu and Rose fluttered into the hollow and seated themselves down upon the wood. Blu worked his way over to his wife, extra Cautious to avoid the slumbering baby in the nest.

"How are you?" Blu asked, kissing Jewel on the side of the beak. Jewel kept her eyes upon the baby.

"I'm fine." Her smile deepened. "The kids were behaved, Jade is sleeping content to be here with me, and now you've returned. How was your time with Rose, Pet?"

"It went well," Blu admitted following Jewel's gaze towards the slumbering baby. He too smiled at the sight. "I took her to see the spot where we named her. You know that place with all the flowers."

Jewel nodded her head. She could never forget that day. It had been one of the most romantic of her life.

"I love that place," Her smile deepened, "I really wish I could have gone with you. Tell me, Blu. How did she enjoy it?"

"She loved it. She definitely shares your love of flowers."

"It's not the flowers that I love," Jewel sighed, "It's the growth, their wild spirit which resembles my own."

Blu nodded knowingly and pulled out a small bouquet.

"That's why we brought some back with us. Rose wanted to surprise you."

Jewel accepted the bouquet and sniffed the fragrance coming from the plant life. She sighed, as she turned her attention to her mate's soulful brown eyes.

"I love them, thank you."

Rose shifted her talon across the floor, her face deepened as she began to blush.

"It was nothing, mom." She admitted sheepishly, "Dad came up with the idea to, he deserves some of the credit."

Jewel nodded her head in agreement, and pulled Blu into a passionate kiss. Rose's smile deepened as she watched the moment. Like a true romantic, she couldn't peel her eyes away. They seemed too involved in each other during moments like this. She couldn't begin to place her talon around it. It all seemed like some wonderful little fairy tale.

"How romantic," She sighed, "Like Romeo and Juliet. You two are just made to be together."

After a couple of moments Jewel released Blu from her wings. She turned to peer out at the pouring rain. It showed no signs of slowing down in the dying day light. She shivered but found herself warmed by Blu who wrapped his wings around her again.

"I know we still have a couple of days but happy Valentine's Day." Blu whispered too her."

Jewel turned to him. The feel of his soak and wet feathers didn't seem to bother her. She eyed him with a stunned expression.

"There's more than just Valentine's Day coming up." She grinned. "We've also got our one year anniversary as well."