Hey, saw the movie yesterday, totally awesome! I wanted explore a couple of the relationships that may happen, this is mainly about Louis and Peaches, one of the top two in the movie, in my opinion (Shira and Diego being the other). It has some minor Diego/Shira in it, cuz it mentions them having a family. Hope you enjoy the little Louis and Peaches bit. And I'm knew at the whole romance thing, so let me know how I did.

-Peaches' POV-

"Kids? Kids? Where are you?" I asked, frantically searching for my three cousins. Oh god, my aunt and uncle were going to kill me when they found out I lost them.

"Peaches?" a voice behind me spoke. I gulped and turned around to face the questioning face of my uncle. "You ok? You seem worried."

"Oh, I'm fine…" 'It's your daughters I'm worried about.' I mentally finished. Sure, they knew the island pretty well, but they were three very curious, very careless cubs when they were having fun. And even the slightest thing could distract them. Like a pretty flower, or an odd looking fruit.

"Hey, where are the-"

"Daddy!" three little white blurs slammed into him, sending him to the ground with three purring cubs on top of him, and I sighed with relief.

"Hey squirts." He greeted, getting up and gently shaking them off. "Were you good for your cousin?"

"Yes daddy." They said together. I mentally rolled my eyes. Don't get me wrong, I love them and all, but their obliviousness and innocence can make them see situations totally different from what they are. But still, it was only to be expected. Shyra, Shora, and Shera were only ten month old cubs. And yes, they were all named after their mother, Shira, because they're all spitting images of her, only smaller.

"Good." His eyes landed on something beside him. "Hey, why don't you three try to catch that butterfly?" immediately, all three eyes lit up, and they bounced off. "Ok, now how were they really?" he asked.

"Oh, you know. Active as ever, but nothing I couldn't handle." I said, not wanting to worry him into thinking I couldn't handle them. I'd been babysitting them since before they could walk, and I quite enjoyed it.

He gave me a pointed look. "Ok, so they ran off! But it was only for about five minutes!" he sighed and put a paw on his forehead.

"I'll have to get on them about that. They don't understand the concept of 'stay' very well." He gave me an apologetic smile. "Speaking of which, girls!" he called, running into the foliage, towards the sound of their slightly distant giggling.

He popped back out a moment later. "And uh, if you see Shira, tell her I might be a bit late getting back. Ok?"

I nodded. "Kay."

"Thanks. Girls!" he ran off again. I smiled in the direction my uncle and cousins had went, relishing the feelings of love for them that filled me at the thought of the little girls' sweet little faces, and his smile.

Suddenly, I was pulled out of my thoughts when I felt a slight pressure under my foot, and I lifted it, confused. Smiling as I saw the trail of slightly uprooted dirt, I knew it must be my oldest and most beloved friend. "Louis!" I cried happily as he popped out of the ground.

"Oh, hey Peaches!" he said in that sweet, gentle voice of his. Picking him up with my trunk, I sat him on a branch of a low tree in front of me, so he was at eye level.

"Louis, I-" I tried to find my voice as guilt made my throat close up. I had tried many times to find the right way to apologize for saying he wasn't my friend. But every time I tried, I'd seen his devastated, heartbroken face, tears brimming in his kind brown eyes, I had wanted to die from all the guilt. I mean, he was just so sweet, and sensitive, I had wanted to throw myself off a cliff because I felt so bad for hurting him… how was I supposed to apologize?

I mean, I knew he'd forgiven me, because he'd risked his life to save me when I'd been taken by the pirates, but I still hadn't properly apologized. But only because I couldn't find the right words to make it sincere enough. I didn't deserve to be best friends with, without a doubt, the nicest being in existence. And yet… even after I'd hurt his feelings, practically ripped out his heart and stomped on it, he risked himself to save me, he was still loyal to me.

"Yes?" he asked, curiosity in those adorable brown orbs of his.

"I- Louis, I am so sorry for what I said. I…" my eyes were stinging as he reached forward to pat my trunk.

"Don't worry about it, Peaches. I forgave you a long time ago. You're my best friend, my only friend, actually. But just because you're my only friend, doesn't mean I have to be you're only friend. You can have others, you know." I knew I was his only friend by choice. He was incredibly shy, always ever-so-cautious. I was probably the only person he was comfortable around except for his parents. But I was ok with that, it made me feel special, loved, needed.

"Louis, I know I never said it before, but- I'm perfectly with you bring my only friend. You've got to be the sweetest, nicest boy ever. I couldn't ask for a better friend. You're perfect, and I never should've said that you weren't my friend. And, in a way, I was right." He took a sharp intake and I could see tears gather in his warm brown eyes. "Because you're not just my friend, you're the best friend I could ever have, the best anyone could ever have."

"Really?" his voice was hopeful.

"Of course." He jumped off the branch to hug my trunk, and I brought him up to my forehead to do the same.

"Peaches, I-" he stopped.

"Yeah?" I asked, placing him back on the branch.

Upon noticing his hesitant, almost afraid face, I gently coaxed him to speak his mind. "Come on Louis. I'm your best friend, you can tell me."

"A-Alright." He sighed. "Well, the truth is, remember when we first met?"

"Of course. How could I ever forget?" I'd saved his life when he'd fallen in a pool of deep water and he was drowning.

"Well, the first time I saw you, I thought I'd died."

"What? Why?"

He mumbled the next part. "What? I didn't catch that."

He clenched his fists to steady his nerves. "Because you were so beautiful. You still are." He bashfully rubbed his arm and looked down.

"Oh, Louis, that's so sweet!" I couldn't help myself. I grabbed him off the branch and kissed his cheek right there.

He looked dazed. "Did you just…?"

I smiled and nodded. "Honestly, that's the nicest thing I've ever heard."

"And, Peaches. I don't just think you're beautiful… I kinda like you… a lot."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I- I know it's stupid, we could never…" he looked pained, glancing at the ground again.

I didn't know what to say. I mean, I knew I liked him, that much was for sure, but I wasn't sure if I liked him in that way. He was sweet, extremely so, and I didn't want to hurt his feelings again. But… that was exactly what I would do if I told him I didn't feel that way, and I wasn't sure if I did or not. I mean, it was possible, we'd known each other since we were five.

I suppose I could learn to love him in that way, if I tried. But what if it made everything awkward? I would hate that, I cared about the little molehog too much to lose his friendship, or hurt him in any way.

"Louis, I-"

"Peaches, it's ok. I- I understand." His voice was hollow with misery, the sadness in it making my heart break. I hated seeing my best friend upset.

He lifted a paw to wipe away the moisture in his eyes. "Oh Louis… please don't cry." I picked him up to give him a gentle hug. "I really like you too, I'm just not sure if it's in that way." I winced, awaiting his heartbroken reaction that was sure to follow.

"And besides, after what happened with Ethan, I just… I don't know if I'm ready to deal with anything romantic yet." I lifted his head to see that the tears were subsiding, but still there. "Is that ok?"

He nodded sadly, his expression fragile. "Yeah. I'm not surprised you don't like me like that. You're too perfect to be interested in a mammal that spends most of his time in the ground."

"Louis, it's not that. I do like you, a little bit in that way, but I'm just not ready for a relationship, with anyone. Alright?"

"O-Ok." His eyes were understanding, but I could see what they were hiding. Devastation. Pure, total, and one hundred percent devastation. "But… when will you be ready?"

"I don't know yet. But I promise, that when I am, you'll be the first to know." I looked him in the eyes. "Is that ok?"

He nodded. "Good. Hey, you… wanna walk home with me?"

He smiled hopefully with big, excited eyes. "I'd love too." I held him in my trunk the whole time, holding him to my chest and cradling him like a baby, which he seemed happy about. Right before we were within earshot of the herd, I kissed his cheek again.

"Thank you for understanding." I whispered. He nodded and we headed for our family, both smiling widely. It felt good, knowing I had worked things out with Louis and he understood why I wanted to wait. And I couldn't help but think that, just maybe, someday we might be able to build a relationship, a healthy one that would make us both happy, one filled with love and laughter, despite our differences.

So… how'd I do? Did I manage the whole Peaches/Louis thing ok? Reviews are appreciated, pointers hoped for, and requests considered (I'll do them if I can figure out how to write them right).