Hello friends...Welcome to my story. Please pay attention to the brief endnote.

Disclaimer: I do not own The Lion King and probably never will.

Love or Loss Part 1

8 years ago – 2 years before the accident

Nala raced to keep up with her friend as they raced to the side of the gorge. Simba's mocking laughs echoed around the canyon as he sped away from her. She bit down a growl of frustration as she caught up with him. She smirked before she tackled Simba mid-stride. He yelped in surprise as they both went tumbling into the finish line with Nala's body resting on top of Simba's.

She couldn't hold it in anymore, she laughed. "I win."

"Nala..ugh...you little...ugh..cheat.. ...cheater!" Simba stuttered as he struggled to get his breath with her weight on top on him. His attempts only made her laughs come harder. Finally his struggles stopped, and he relaxed as she caught her breath. "You gonna get off me now?"

"I'll get off, when you can knock me off," she stated smugly.

His face fell and she had to bite her cheeks so she wouldn't laugh again, knowing for a fact they matched in strength. He struggled before letting out a breath of exhuastion. She playfully rolled her eyes.

"Would you hurry up, I'm getting lonely up here," she snottily stated having a terrible time at holding back her laughter.

"Yeah well, it's lonely at the top champ," he wheezed out. He became determined as he spied out her smug look, and grabbed her paws without her expecting. He rolled them over and found her still on top in the end. Nala laughed then.

She looked down to sneak a peek at her friend and saw that he propped his head on one elbow and was already staring right at her. He flashed her a cute grin that made Nala's breath catch without her realizing. Simba shook his head at her smiling before bumping heads with her lightly, a friendly thing they did all the time.

It would have been considered friendly too, if Nala had noticed it coming. She lifted her head at last minute though to meet Simba's lips. Shocked, Nala immediately leaped off of Simba blushing hard.

"Sorry! I didn't mean that!" He yelled clumsily scrambling to stand up.

"You..you..." Nala stuttered with widened eyes. Did he just..?

"Nal, I swear I didn't do that on pu-" He did.

"Simba its okay!" she said, trying to relax. Her heart was beating rapidly as she tried to keep her cool. Simba looked uneasy as she tried to smile off her embarrassment.

"I-It is?" he inquired confused.

"Well sure," Nala said shrugging, still not meeting his eye. "It was just an accident..."

Simba had been taken back a bit before a grin broke out. "Oh, well good. For a second there, I thought you thought I was thinking about what Zazu said the other week."

Nala's face flushed now embarrassed for thinking of that exact thing. "Ye-Yeah that was cr-craz-zy right?"

"Well duh," he joked with a silly smile. "You and me married? Gross."

Although her mouth was parched and her voice had gone hoarse, she wasn't focused on the conditions around her. The dark overcast that was present throughout the day and seemed to grow more haunting at night or the dry, barren land that was scorched by the Savannah heat from lack of moisture. The startling sight of decaying bones, eaten clean and left to fade away forgotten forever didn't even seem to bother her.

She barely noticed when she was in this deep of thought.

Nala found herself visiting the old water hole when she needed to think; about her life and how far she's come. She had changed so much. She was no longer a spunky little cub.

She was now a strong young lioness. She was independent and self-sufficient, a skill that was needed in the place she had grown up in; the once lush and beautiful Pridelands that aged her beyond her years. Years of suffering, taught her leadership and the true meaning of loneliness.

It's lonely at the top, champ.

Nala's mouth twitched for a flash second. That was one thing that never did seem to heal inside of her. She could somehow accept that her home was lost and that her King was dead. But never, ever, did she ever forget about Him.

Nala couldn't help the tears that leaked from her sapphire eyes.

I'll be 19 years old next full moon, she thought to herself. She couldn't help but remember the days of her cubhood. They seemed like a lifetime ago.

"Oh Simba, I miss you," she whispered to herself secretly praying he would somehow hear her. She drew in a loud shaky breath. "All that wasted time that I spent watching you, and wishing you would see me more than how you did. You knew me as your best friend and I selfishly wanted nothing more than for you to love me like I loved you...love you still."

Nala never forgot Simba but she went through her life. She missed him of course but she didn't sob for him at night. Not anymore. It hurt badly at times still, but she had gotten stronger since that day.

"Nala?" a voice rang behind her.

Nala's heart fluttered at the sight she turned to see. And there was the reason why. Through the distressing times of losing her best friend, as a cub, she withdrew from the world; until he came and saved her.

Zander.

He was only a few months older than her but he was already so mature, always so strong. It was definitely something she admired about him. When things got tough he was always there for her and stood by to stop the tears. She was surprised he wasn't tired of seeing them. Zander was a large lion with a gray pelt with a jet black mane. Not a lot of lions had his coloring, which she liked. She liked that he was unique and beautiful in his own way. Even despite the lack of food and conditions of Scar's reign, he was still growing quite muscular.

He was born in the Pridelands to a lioness named Malia and a rogue no one really knew much about. Malia had died giving birth so Zander was raised by another lioness in the pride named, Talica who already had a younger daughter named Kaona. She was very loving yet she was strict, which led Zander to be very well mannered.

Nala remembered how shy he used to be when they were cubs. It was only after Simba was pronounced dead did he have a friend, which was her. Nala was his first real friend and in return he was always there to fill the gap Simba had left empty.

He hated that Simba had hurt her so bad and just wanted her to be happy, so he gladly seized the opportunity.

If he were honest to himself though, Zander had always been jealous of the Nala and Simba's close friendship. He wanted what they had but more importantly he wanted Nala's attention. And he got it... after the young prince death, Nala had come to him asking to play and they became instant friends.

Nala loved Zander, but she also still had a special and deep love for Simba. Zander knew that her accepting him as her boyfriend was one of the toughest decisions she made because there was a part of her that hadn't let go. Unfortunately, Zander knew it too.

It killed him.

But he accepted it and still loved her deeply from his heart. He saw her tears and placed his head over hers nuzzling her affectionately. "Nala, hey are you alright?"She didn't return his nuzzle at first until she just got lost in the softness of his black mane. A few more tears were let loose as she embraced his love. After a few minutes, she stopped crying into him and scooted away a bit and that's when he asked his question again.

"I'm fine." Nala said avoiding his eyes.

Zander smirked a bit and came closer nudging her shoulder. "Come on Nal," he pressed playfully. "I've known you your entire life, you're never fine."

"Ha Ha..." she smirked sarcastically. Nala knew he was joking to cover his concern. He raised his eyebrows and she gave in with a sigh. "I was just thinking about Simba."

When are you not thinking about Simba? Zander thought to himself, before mentally scolding himself. "Well, can you be more specific?" She shifted uncomfortably under his stare as tears welled again.

"Well, I'm..." she trailed off. Zander raised his eyebrows, and she broke eye contact as her lip quivered again. "It's nothing."

Zander frowned. She's holding back again. Nala had a tendency to do that when she wants to say something she thought he wouldn't like. It's about Simba, I know, so...what could it be? Do I not know something? They never had secrets. He hated secrets. Nala already had told Zander of her past relationship with Simba and her crush on him. So what could it be?

He leaned down to catch her eyes. She glanced up and met him again, her breath catching at the loving gaze. Zander grinned encouragingly before pulling her close with her head buried in his neck. "Nals whatever it is, you can trust me. You know you can come to me for anything so...please?"

Nala swallowed before sighing. I can trust him. "I am nearly 19 years old, next moon is my birthday," she whispered so softly, he was afraid he misheard. He stayed quiet as her tears began to fall again. "And I was just reminded that…that I would be getting married soon."

Nala looked up at him to catch his reaction, perhaps a wince or a look of disappointment. She bit her lip waiting for his response. Zander's eyes softened as his concern melted.

"I get it, Nala," he said sympathetically hugging her tighter. Nala returned the embraced holding him close.

"I'm so sorry Zander," she whispered. "I know we're together and I care about you so much. I do. I don't mean to be sad over Simba so much."

"You can always be sad about Simba, Nals. You don't ever have to apologize to me because you are sad. Just," he stopped, as he gathered his thoughts. Even though it hurt him to know Simba still claimed her thoughts most of the time, it stung him even more to see Nala upset about it. "Just when you cry, don't come out here to hide it from me. Let me hold you. Let me make it better. Okay?"

He lightly kissed her forehead. She looked into his green eyes. In that moment, Nala almost forgot her loss and just focused on those eyes. They peered down on her like they were her life preserver. Everything was right. The way he saw her through those eyes that made her forget the world around them. It wasn't just the calming color or the perfect shape; it was the way if you looked deep enough you could see the splashes of brown and gray. That fact alone spoke a bold detail about Zander.

With him, things were not always what they seemed and if you looked hard enough you would discover the true beauty of him.

He leaned in and her heart beat faster when his lips met hers. He placed a paw under her chin and lifted it up higher so he could experience the fullness of her lips. In all the time he had been going out with her as her boyfriend, he hadn't kissed her unless he was sure she wanted it. She initiated more because even though he was being polite, she knew he was still a lion, with lion urges. But he didn't ask this time.

This one was spontaneous and Nala felt it in her paws.

She pulled away first staring in surprise at him. She couldn't believe this was the same Zander in this moment. He had the most content look on his face.

Zander was never so relaxed. The look made her grin curiously. "What is it?"

He smiled, staring down at her. "I've wanted to say this ever since we were cubs I swear," he said calmly like he just accomplished his life goal. "I love you Nala."

She was speechless. He's…never said it out loud.

"That's actually why I came out here Nala," Zander said his paw still grasping her cheek gently, taking a deep breath. Looking so intently in her eyes, almost hypnotizing her with the love she saw in his green eyes. "I know I'm not Simba... but I've wanted to...I've always... ugh kings this went smoother in my head..."

It was so cute that he was stuttering over his words, but Nala couldn't calm herself down to say that to him. He loved her... he admitted that he loved Nala. There was a swelling unknown feeling growing in her stomach. Her heart was in her throat. She couldn't focus on his words because it was beating so loud in her ears. She knew the words that were coming. She knew exactly what he was doing and she wasn't ready yet. Her fur began to sweat and she felt her throat get extra dry. She almost swallowed her tongue while the anticipation built.

Zander cleared his throat taking a breath to settle his nerves (if only he knew what her nerves felt like at that moment). "Nala, I know I'm not Simba but...I will love you until the end of time. Please Nala make me the happiest lion ever and marry me.."

"Oh Zander," Nala started sobbing uncontrollably. She couldn't take it. It was like her heart just exploded and she couldn't help it. The question screamed in her head: Do I love him back? She couldn't breath and she could felt her chest beginning to hyperventilate. She did what any lioness in her position would do.

She ran.

End

Author's Note: Hey everybody! I'm not dead! I am with a new(ish) story on the Lion King archive. Now I need to bring some exciting news to your attention.

You may not care but it is necessary to be said.

1) This is actually not a new story. This is a story that I have adopted from a really awesome author that started this series back in 2008. I am super honored to be able to finish this project and be apart of it. So any love that you give to this story will be passed on to the original author, the lovely Danielle134!

[Side note - All of you should definitely read the original Love or Loss series found on Danielle's page]

2) Danielle134 was gracious enough to let me have this story and so what I plan to do with it is make it work with my original story idea called Kovu's Queen. Which means that this story will have an exciting back story and better plot.

SO I'M WRITING AGAIN AND I HAVE SOME EXCITING NEW THINGS COMING UP! THANK YOU FOR ALL THOSE WHO HAVE STUCK WITH ME ALL THESE YEARS!

PLEASE ENJOY THE STORY AND REVIEWS ARE LOVE.