Chapter Two: Kind hearts

About half an hour later, Blu flew into the waiting room with two mangos in his talons only to see the door to the operating room was open. Hmm. Looks like Jewel finished while I was gone. Maybe she's in the artificial jungle. At that thought, he took off to the entrance of the artificial jungle. As he arrived, Tulio was walking out.

"Ah, there you are Blu. Oh, so you went to go get food. That's nice, but remember, we have food here." Blu then smacked himself in the beak.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid." Blu said to himself. Jewel must think I left. How could I be so stupid!?

"You want to see Jewel, Blu?" Tulio asked. Blu replied with a quick nod and squawk. "Alright Blu. Come with me. I'm glad you showed up. Jewel was crying herself to sleep about half an hour ago."

Blu felt very guilty. What have I done? As Blu was put into the artificial jungle, he flew to one of the hollows to put the mangos in. But the hollow he went to had Jewel sleeping in it. She's so beautiful. He thought. He laid a mango down next to her and yawned. I could use a little nap too. He then started to drift off himself. I guess a little sleep couldn't hurt. Besides, I've been up for a strait 24 hours. He walked to the entrance of the hollow to find an open one. But to his surprise, there wasn't another one. Great, share one with an angry Jewel, or sleep on the hard floor. He flew back up to the only hollow, went to the opposite side of Jewel, shut his eyes, and fell asleep.

Jewel stated to stir. When she opened her eyes, she saw a mango right next to her. Aww, Blu. You went and got me dinner? How sweet. She sat up, and ate her delicious mango. Wait, where is he now? She then looked around, and saw Blu asleep, on his back, on the other side of the hollow. I wish I knew what you were doing, Blu. I was very sad and lonely without you here. She walked up to him quietly, and laid down on his wing. She laid her head on his chest and got comfy. Well, I know who my new cuddle buddy is, if he doesn't mind. She drifted back to sleep.

The following day, Blu started to stir, and opened his eyes and tried to get up, but felt a warm body snuggled up to his; Jewel's. He was startled and a little confused. He remembered the events of the previous day when he fell asleep on the other side of the hollow. Maybe Jewel does love me after all. He thought. He wrapped his wings tighter around her and saw her smile. Just as he was wandering into his thoughts again, Jewel started to wake.

She turned to see Blu still there, awake, and his wings wrapped around her. "Morning handsome." she said.

Did she just say handsome? Blu thought.

"And thanks for the good mango." she said, snuggling her head into his chest.

"You're-You're welcome." Blu said. He felt his heart racing. Was this really happening? Is it just a dream? "Uh, Jewel?"

"Yeah?"

"How's your wing?"

"I'm not going to fly for four weeks Blu." she said, remembering what Tulio had told her. "It hasn't even been a day and I feel really sad and depressed. I thought you left to go back to Minnesota with Linda because I didn't see her after I came out."

"Oh," Blu said relieved she'd make a full recovery. "I'm sorry to hear that Jewel. At least it's only going to be four weeks."

"What do you mean? That's a whole month!" she said in an angry manner.

"Yeah, but I'm here."

"I guess, and you're right, I have you."

"Plus a broken bone normally takes four or five months to heal. You're pretty lucky." Jewel gave a fake smile, then she looked back to the ground with sadness.

"Jewel?"

"Yes?"

"What happened last night? I mean, why are we like this?"

"What? You don't like it?" she said, feeling tears coming along.

"No no no, it's just, I didn't think you loved me like how I love you." Blu said. Just as he realized what he said, it was a little too late to take it back.

"You-you love me?" Jewel said, startled. He loves me! She thought.

"Uh… uh…" Blu started to stutter. "I-I love you Jewel, with-with all my heart." Blu said nervously.

Jewel was shocked by this. She didn't think he had it in him. She then thought of a way to tease him."You know what Blu, thanks, but no thanks."

Blu was a little confused and was in minor shock. Did she just reject me? Wow. I'm a little heartbroken. "What?"

"You heard me. Thanks but no thanks. I like you just as a friend." she said, barely holding in a laugh.

"W-Well, then why were you cuddling with me?"

"I was cold."

"Oh," Blu said. "Well, before this gets akward, I think I should go." she couldn't hold it anymore. As Blu started to get up, she pulled him back down with her good wing and started laughing.

"What, what's so funny?" Blu asked. He was very confused right now.

"Blu, I was just kidding. I love you too." she said, pulling him into a kiss.

What just happened? Blu thought. I confess my love, get my heart stomped on, and then she confesses her love to me and kisses me? WHAT IS GOING ON!? "Jewel, do you mind explaining what just happened?" Blu said as they released from their kiss.

Linda was brought from her hotel next door to see Blu, since Tulio said he returned. She looked at the monitor and didn't see any blue figures. "Tulio, I thought you said that they were both right here."

"They are." He said. He then pushed a button that focused mainly on the hollow. Linda looked at the screen once more and saw Blu with Jewel, conversing while they shared the other mango Blu brought back the other day.

"So Blu brought back food for the two of them?" Linda asked.

"Yes, he's really taking responsibility for his mate," Tulio said, "I also reminded him that we have food here in the aviary, so he isn't gone an hour a day in the jungle."