Author's Note - I want to give all of you who have read these Lion-O/Cheetara stories of mine, my thanks. And an even deeper thanks to those who have taken the time to review ^^

I will admit I received a pretty harsh review for my last chapter, calling my L/C stories insipid, bashing, and OC, and it did affect me. I do try my best to keep all the characters in-character, and I wasn't trying to bash Tygra in the last chapter at all. I portrayed him as the new series does. As an older brother who gives Lion-O a hard time often, but always has his younger brother's best interests at heart. I'm not sure what to say about my stories being 'insipid', but then I read everyone else's reviews and realized that there are many of you who do enjoy my stories, and that is all that really matters. That I enjoy what I write, and that there are others who enjoy my stories as well. So once again, thank you for reading ^.^

I hope you all enjoy this new chapter~ =3


~Rebuild~


Cheetara laughed happily as she dipped her hands back down into the cool water of the spring she was standing in, and raised them back up to splash WilyKit and WilyKat, who both immediately retaliated with splashes of their own as they giggled and laughed happily.

They had found this spring running along the forest they were traveling by in the ThunderTank, and a unanimous decision had been made to take a short break for everyone to wash off and get a nice, cold drink from the spring.

WilyKit and WilyKat had of course almost immediately started a water fight once their feet had hit the water, and Lion-O and Cheetara had playfully gone along with the splash war. Tygra had immediately moved out of the way of the water projectiles, and sat himself down on the spring's bank to just enjoy the warm sunshine on his fur, as his feet cooled in the water.

Panthro sat on a large boulder near the spring, while chewing on a stalk he'd picked up by his feet. It wasn't often these days for all of them to be able to enjoy such a quiet, peaceful morning and they all wanted to take full advantage of it while they could.

Lion-O finally came out of the water laughing, even though his fur was completely soaked with water, and plopped himself down on the rock by Panthro's side.

Panthro raised his eyebrow slightly at his young King, but continued contemplatively chewing his stalk.

Lion-O continued to quietly sit by Panthro's side, a small smile playing along his lips as he watched Cheetara and the Kits continue to laugh and splash each other.

"She's pretty amazing, isn't she?" Lion-O finally said softly, with an almost wistful note in his voice.

Panthro paused in his chewing to look over at his young King, before looking back forward to continue chewing as he waited for Lion-O to say more.

"I mean she's so brave, ya know. And strong. And fast too. Oh boy, is she fast," Lion-O laughed lightly, and Panthro felt a small smile tug up the corner of his lips, as he patiently waited for Lion-O to continue.

"And she's so...so compassionate," Lion-O continued softly as his bright, blue eyes continued to trace Cheetara's lithe form. "She cares about us all so much...about our well-being. She makes me feel like I'm the most important and special Cat in the world. Every word I say or everything I do, she's there to support me on. I've never...I've never felt such loyalty...or care...from another female Cat before...at least...not since my mother," Lion-O said, as his voice dropped into an even softer tone. "I don't remember much about my mother...I was so young when...when she...went away. But I imagine...that my mother would have liked Cheetara," Lion-O finished as he raised his hand, and surreptitiously wiped away a stray bit of water from the corners of his eyes.

Panthro continued to sit in thoughtful silence, and pretended he didn't see Lion-O wiping at his eyes, giving his young King time to properly compose himself. When Panthro thought Lion-O was settled once again, the older Cat finally spoke. He slowly took the piece of stalk out of his mouth, and turned his grizzled face towards the younger Cat, and gave him one of his very rare, full-toothed smiles.

"I remember your Mother, young Lion-O. A more beautiful, loving, and caring Cat there never was. Your Father was absolutely smitten with her, and she brought joy to all those who came into contact with her. And for the record...I believe she would have liked Cheetara as well. So go for it, young King Lion-O. After all, every King needs his Queen," Panthro finished with a small wink in Lion-O's direction, causing the cerulean-eyed King to blush lightly. Panthro grinned again and stuck the stalk back into his mouth to continue chewing, and they both quietly continued watching their small family play and relax by the spring.

One didn't always choose the family they had. There is the family you are born into, and the family you form through different circumstances and situations. Lion-O had lost most of the family he was born into but on this quiet, cool morning surrounded by the laughter, happy cries, contemplative silence, and relaxed humming of all the ThunderCats that still surrounded him, Lion-O experienced a moment of perfect happiness and quiet joy.

He would choose his Queen one day, and together along with this small family they had formed, they would rebuild the ThunderCat Kingdom. As Lord of the ThunderCats, Lion-O swore to himself in this quiet moment that he would do it.

He would rebuild his Kingdom and his home.

And he would ask Cheetara someday...to become his Queen.


AN - Hope you all enjoyed. Please review~ =3