Chapter 2

"I see he's packed lightly this time." Sapphire laughed as she and Jun made their way towards Lok, who stood and waited for them at the top a hill. Despite the light bag on his back, Jun was still wheezing and heaving when they got up to the top.

"Doesn't make him breathe any easier." Sapphire rolled her eyes tiredly, before smiling into her hug with Lok. "Missed you..." she whispered, making Lok smile shyly, his cheeks instantly burning up when she pulled away a little to look up at him. They were slowly leaning in, eyes closed-

"UGH!" A voice spat from behind.

Sapphire inwardly sighed, and her head rolled to the side while Lok's eyes were on Jun, visibly annoyed by the interruption. Jun rolled over onto his back, frowning at them. "I didn't ask to be a third wheel!"

"You... won't be?" Lok said, but he didn't sound too sure. Sapphire rolled her eyes and stared down at her brother once she and Lok broke apart, her foot drumming on the grass underneath her light blue dress, arms twisted against her chest. Jun looked back up at her, his golden mane dancing in the wind.

"I hope not, or I'm telling Mom and Dad!" Jun 'whispered' the last bit of the sentence, which granted him a hard nudge on the chest with her her foot while Lok gulped nervously.

"Firstly, Mom knows, and secondly, I will tell Dad, in MY own time."

Lok eyed the ground when he felt the lump in his throat. Lok, Sapphire, Jun, Yuki and Yumi grew up together, and never did he imagine that he would fall for, and be involved with Sapphire romantically. How it came about? Late night talks, deep conversations, understanding, listening... and before he knew it, he asked her out to dinner, their relationship now going on for four months. His parent knew, and so did Sapphire and Jun's mother, whom were over joyed. They still had to share the news with the Masters... and Tai Lung.

Lok usually found it easy to read animals from a distance, and tell what they think of him and others. Without even speaking, he could tell the moment Master Tigress stepped into the cafeteria in Bao Gu all those years ago, she was caring, determined, welcoming and skilled...

Tai Lung however, was a puzzle, and Lok was almost stiff with fear around him. One word sentences, brief and abruptly ended conversations, and awkward silences (on his side). This didn't mean he resented Tai Lung, but it was more of the mystery of what Tai Lung thought about him courting his daughter. Tai Lung never exchanged words with him based on his outlook on Lok as a being and character that visited every once in a while, mostly with Sapphire and Jun, rarely without them. Lok always tried to talk to him, but nothing changed. He liked Jun, but his reason was that Jun was Sapphire's adopted brother, and looked after her after they left Bao Gu, so it was likely that Tai Lung saw Jun as one of his own, if Jun is calling him 'Dad'.

"Don't soil yourself dude." Jun clapped his best friend on the back, smiling reassuringly. "I was just kidding around, I wouldn't do that to you." Lok smiled weakly, before watching Sapphire start walking down the hill, and towards the Valley of Peace, satchel over her shoulder, which solidified his expression with a fluttery feeling in his heart. "But seriously, don't make me feel like a third wheel." He felt Jun's paw slide off his back, and they both wandered on, hot on her trail.

By the time they were at the top of the stairs, Tai Lung, Shifu, and Po were waiting for them. Big smiles spread across their faces, and Sapphire rushed over to Tai Lung, embracing him as Jun and Lok took the time to get their breath back.

"Welcome home," Sapphire's heart ached a little at those words as she pulled away from her father.

"Good to be back..." she replied, before turning to Lok and Jun. "Right?"

"Of course!" Lok coughed, before pressing a paw to his chest. "This is a second home after all..." He straightened up once his breathing was better and with rhythm. "How is everyone?"

Shifu chuckled. "Waiting on you three to arrive since we received word..." he motioned them to go ahead, and as Po put an arm around both Jun and Lok's shoulders while they walked by, Sapphire knelt in front of him, and put a paw to a fist respectfully. "Good to see you again Sapphire," he patted her enclosed fist gently. "I hope you are well."

The young leopardess nodded with a genuine, comfortable smile. "It's good to be back..." there was more she wanted to add on, but she stopped herself by standing up, and clearing her throat. Noticing Lok had generously taken her satchel in with him, Tai Lung ushered her along by placing a gentle paw on her shoulder. Shifu stood back for a moment, and observed them in silence. Softly exhaling through the nose, he then proceeded to follow them into the Hall of Heroes before the door closed.

Not long after the door shut, a shadow itched up the steps, until it's head was against the door...

"It's Sapphire, Jun and Lok!" AJ cried, before running for the trio as they neared them. Sapphire knelt down and scooped her up once, spinning around as the joyous laughter came out of the little happy cub. Tigro, Chang, and Lotus grinned at Jun and Lok as they exchanged high fives, and the rest of the adults looked on with smiles.

"My little squishy!" Sapphire rose the child higher into the air, which made her laughs and giggles louder and more contagious. "Hello little gem!" Lowering her back down to the ground, she ruffled the top of her head, before opening her arms to the twins. They came forth, and gave her a big hug. "How have the rascals been?"

"Good." They said in unison, as Tigress and the others finished up greeting Lok and Jun, and she quickly moved in. Pulling away from a hug with Tigress, Sapphire noticed a few missing faces.

"Where's Shang, Jasmine, and Zao?" She asked. Jasmine was pregnant at the time AJ was born, and soon she had a baby boy, called Zao. He was his father's stunt double, but was shy with a gentle and caring nature. He worshiped his aunt Tigress, and his cousins, and loved visiting the Palace after school when he and AJ (both a few months apart) would walk back together.

"Shang, Jasmine and Zao are out of town, visiting Jasmine's parents." Monkey said, before placing a hand on his son's shoulder.

"I'm sure we'll see them before we go back in a few weeks." Jun knelt down and grinned at Chang, who grinned back as they fist bumped. "How are you little dude?"

"Great!" Chang smiled at him, but Jun felt a sense of uncertainty, judging by the strain on his cheeks. "What?" He asked when Jun made a funny look at him. "What are you smiling fo- WOAH!" Jun was flipped over, and hit the ground as abruptly as the action was done upon him. Monkey jumped back in surprise, and all the others watched on in shock. AJ's knees knocked together as her paws collected over her mouth. Her bi-colored eyes itched up to see Sapphire's shocked expression, slowly morphing into one of... admiration.

"What was that for?" Lok asked, also quite impressed.

Chang laughed as Jun managed to stand up without anyone's aid, but did so quite stiffly. He too was about to asked, but before the little primate could be scolded by his father, or anyone else for that matter, Jun's face lit up. "Our bet!" He exclaimed, which slightly confused everyone.

"What... bet?" Viper asked, trying to stifle a giggle.

"Chang and I made a bet to see if he could catch me off guard... and he did!" Chang grew a lot more the past few years, and Jun joked that he was gonna be the Master Mantis of the next generation, once AJ out ran him in the height race. In retaliation, Chang argued that he may be small, but he was strong and fierce, and there came the bet. Jun should've known better; being a Squirrel Monkey, he was still small, but with the practice he followed his Mono, and anything he could take from Master Tigress, he was lethal. "Welp! I hail you the winner! You caught me off guard! Congrats little dude." They bowed to one another, while Monkey wiped beads of sweat from his forehead.

"OK, next time let me know of your little bets..." Po, Monkey, and Mantis shuddered simultaneously, while Tigress, Shifu, Crane and Viper smirked, shaking their heads. Tai Lung, Sapphire, Jun, Lok, and the children however, just looked on, even more confused. "Don't want anymore... reruns."

Chapter 2 is up guys! Hope you like it!

Please review and tell me what you think.