'Sup everybody. Sorry for the long wait, I had some loose ends that needed tying in high school.

Aw Hell, that's not a proper apology. I'm truly sorry for keeping all of you waiting for two months, but I'll make it up to ya'll. Here is a few reasons why I delayed:

Lack of ideas

Lack of motivation

Mild depression

But I'm back and will give you the next chapter of this sentimental story. But this chapter will be a little longer than the other two. Here it is:

Verbal dialogue: "…."

Mental Dialogue: "[…]"

Chapter 4 – Promises

Breathing rapidly, a young female macaw flew as hard as she could, struggling with every flap. Her vision began to get blurry as she rested on a nearby streetlight as she attempted to catch her breath.

"I can't keep flying like this. If I keep pushing myself, I will hurt my eggs."

Jewel knew she had to face Blu sooner or later. And she knew she couldn't stay outside of the reserve, especially at night. She had to go home now. Jewel looked down and gently touched her stomach containing her egg sac.

"[I can feel them, growing inside me. Blu loves me, I know that. He would never leave me, these are his kids too.]"

With that said, Jewel took flight back towards the reserve, slower than usual due to the extra load and the effort she made to get away from the Conservation Center.

Jewel flew steadily through the city of Rio de Janeiro, praying that she could make it without falling from exhaustion.

"JEWEL!" yelled a distant voice.

Jewel was startled for a moment from hearing her name shouted out like that. She turned her head and saw a blue macaw flying after her. It was Blu.

Jewel sighed; she knew that Blu would find her sooner or later. She knew trying to get away from him would be pointless. Jewel flew to the top of the fruit market near "Paradise," the samba club. She perched down the rooftop and kept her back on Blu.

"Jewel? Are you hurt?" asked Blu as he approached Jewel. Jewel didn't answer; she just kept her head down and did not turn to face Blu.

Blu stood closely behind Jewel and placed his wings on her shoulders. Jewel shuddered as he touched her. Jewel couldn't face Blu. She was too ashamed, especially after flying away like that.

Finally she turned but kept her head down while tears streamed from her eyes.

"Blu, I'm so sorry. I never should've flown off like that. I'm sorry that I worried you and I should've known better. But I…"

But Jewel didn't have the chance to finish for she was cut off when Blu instantly wrapped his wings around in a gentle embrace. Blu laid his head against Jewel's neck while tears of his own began to form in his eyes. Jewel was slightly confused with Blu's sudden act of intimacy.

"Blu? Why are you…? How can y…ou hug me at this moment? Are…n't you an….gry that I flew off?" asked Jewel stuttering from crying so much.

"I was never angry with you," answered Blu, with love and sincerity in his voice.

"I was just afraid that you or our eggs would get hurt. And I'm just so happy that you're safe and sound," said Blu as tears rolled down his cheeks.

Jewel laid her head down on Blu's shoulder as he continued to hold her.

"So you know about…this?" asked Jewel hesitantly.

Blu released Jewel for a moment and held her at wing-length. He looked Jewel in the eyes and spoke.

"Yes, I've known. But its ok Jewel, I guess I should've seen it coming."

Jewel smiled at Blu's statement.

"Really?" asked Jewel.

"Well, yeah. Considering your sudden appetite and mood swings, it would be probable to assume you were…um…well, conceived," said Blu slightly hesitant with words.

"Conceived?" said Jewel, confused of Blu's extended vocabulary.

"It means pregnant in a censored manner," explained Blu.

Jewel laughed a bit, slightly embarrassed of being reminded that she's pregnant. Than Blu's face turned serious.

"But now, we have to figure out how we're going to do this. How we're going to work this family issue out."

"[A family? We're going to have a family. Family. Family…oh no. Not again, please not again.]"

Jewel face fell as a dreadful thought ran through her mind. A thought derived from a distant memory she suppressed for the longest time.

She slumped to the ground and covered her face with her elbow as she supported herself with her other wing. And she sobbed once again, harder than ever.

"Jewel?" shouted Blu as he immediately went to Jewel's side.

Blu kneeled down next to Jewel as he tried to speak to her.

"Jewel, what's the matter? Aren't you happy that we're going to be parents?" asked Blu.

Jewel didn't answer; she just continued to cry as a puddle of her tears formed beneath her.

Blu put his wing around her in a gentle embrace, trying to comfort her in her current predicament. He rubbed her back gently as she began to accept his embrace and leaned her head into his chest. And finally she spoke.

"I'm thrilled Blu," whispered Jewel.

"Then why are you crying Jewel?" he asked.

"I'm scared," she whispered.

"Scared? Scared of what?" asked Blu, confused.

"That…I'll be a… bad mother." Blu gasped at Jewel's statement.

"What if our children end up like me? What if I can't raise them the way I should be?"

"What if, what if…what if the children…are miserable because of…because of me? What if our children hate me? What if…what our children….say that they…never wanted me for a mother?" said Jewel, speaking in-between gasps for breath as she began cry harder.

Blu was at loss for words. He could not believe what he heard.

"[How can Jewel think that way about herself? Where on earth did she get such an idea? She doesn't believe that she'll be a good mother? I know she'll be a great mother and more. But there's a reason for her state of mind, something she's not telling me. And I'm going to find out, one way or another. I will not let her doubt herself like this.]"

Blu put his other wing around Jewel, completing the embrace and sat her down.

"Jewel. Why would you think that way? How can you think this way?" asked Blu gently but firmly.Jewel didn't answer at first and she avoided eye contact with him. But Blu held her face up to his as he tried to get through to her with his words.

"Jewel, I don't how that ridiculous idea got in your pretty head but I will not let you think that way about yourself. What happened to you to make you think this way?" asked Blu as he looked into Jewel's eyes.

Jewel averted her eyes for a moment, reluctant to confess to Blu.

"[I never shared this with anyone before; it's just too much to take in. And what will Blu think? Would he leave me if he knew? No! He would never do that, he practically spent all night looking for me. And he already knew about the eggs. That's proof enough that he'll love me no matter what.]"

Jewel, please, talk to me. Remember when I said that I will not let you go? I'll hold on to you for always, no matter what. Now please Jewel, tell me what you're not telling me, I can take it," said Blu kindly.

Jewel looked into Blu's hazel eyes as he looked into her sapphire ones, which were bloodshot from crying. She saw nothing but sincerity and love in his eyes. Jewel knew she could trust Blu and that he trusts her. So finally she spoke.

"My family," said Jewel.

"Your family?" said Blu, slightly confused. But then he gasped, realizing that whatever the reason Jewel's family isn't with her anymore is the reason why she's afraid of having a family herself.

"Oh, yeah. You never really mentioned your family." At that moment, a thought came to him.

"Jewel, does this have something to do with when you said that humans are the reason you 'lost everything,'?" asked Blu.

Jewel looked at Blu with sad eyes and nodded.

"Why don't you start from the beginning and I'll listen," said Blu, wanting to know the whole story without confusion.

"Well," started Jewel. "It was just a normal day; I never expected what would happen…...

Flashback (6 years ago)….

"Jewel! This isn't funny!" shouted a frightened blue macaw flying desperately through the jungles of Rio.

"You can't escape me Rose!' shouted a slightly bigger female blue macaw flying after her.

The young blue macaw of which was being chased had brown eyes and light blue feathers, much like her pursuers', but not as neat. Her name is Rose. And her pursuer had bright azure eyes and light blue feathers; she was a few centimeters taller than her soon-to-be prey. She had an evil smile on her face for she was gaining on her target. Her name of course, is Jewel.

The young Jewel continued to chase her target. They flew at high speed for a few minutes until finally Jewel tackled her prey into a tree shrub. The two macaws wrestled for a moment until one of them had the upper hand and held both wings down with her claws. The winner claimed her victory and demanded to hear her victim admit defeat.

"Say it, say it," taunted Jewel, her beak inches from her sister's face.

"Uncle," whispered Rose in a defeated tone. But a whisper was not good enough to satisfy the older macaw.

"I can't hear you," said Jewel as she added pressure to her victim. Rose finally couldn't take anymore and gave in fully.

"Ugh, uncle! Uncle! Now please get off me Jewel, that hurts. Sisters don't play like this," shouted Rose who had enough of this rough activity.

Jewel got off her sister and had a smug look on her face. Rose got up and smoothed out her feathers which were messed up from the struggle. She, on the contrary, did not look happy.

"Daddy says we're supposed to play nice!" complained Rose clearly angry by Jewel's actions.

"Daddy's not here. It's survival of the fittest Rose, sink or swim," rebutted Jewel.

"Birds don't swim Jewel, they fly," said Rose.

Jewel rolled her eyes, annoyed by her sister's cluelessness. Then suddenly, Rose tackled Jewel and they were at it again. They wrestled amongst themselves until they were interrupted by a certain booming voice.

"Jewel! Rose! Stop this right now!"

The two macaw siblings froze in their squabble and turned their heads to see an elder blue macaw towering over them. He was bigger and taller than the two sibling birds. He had dark blue aging feathers and dark brown eyes; and by the look on his face, he did not look happy at all.

"What did I tell the two of you about playing with one each other?" said the adult blue macaw in an authoritative voice. Rose was the first to speak up.

"That sisters should always play nicely?" stated Rose, slightly frightened.

"That's right and the two of you will do well to remember it," said the elder macaw smiling with satisfaction at the young macaw. Then he turned his head towards Jewel with a look of disapproval and spoke in a harsh but caring tone.

"Now Jewel, you of all birds should know better than to play rough with your sister. Survival of the fittest should not apply in playtime, especially if it's with a sibling. Don't you know you could've hurt your little sister? And don't tell me you were just playing."

Jewel averted her eyes to the ground, feeling shameful of her actions. The elder face fell slightly but he remained in authoritative control.

"Jewel, look at me. Look at me," said the elder firmly.

Jewel looked up to him with remorse in her eyes.

"Do you understand Jewel?" asked the elder macaw.

Jewel nodded her head before she responded.

"I understand dad, and I'm sorry," said Jewel,

"Apologize to your sister, not to me," responded the father bird firmly.

Jewel then turned to her sibling, preparing to make a proper apology. She used her peripheral vision to look at her father and saw a slightly-threatening look on his face.

"I'm sorry for being rough with you Rose; I didn't mean to hurt you. Are you ok?" asked Jewel ruefully. Her sister smiled at her. "Yeah, I'm ok Jewel. And I accept your apology. And I'm sorry for jumping you before," said Rose sweetly. "It's ok," said Jewel smiling at her sister. And then Rose approached Jewel and gave her a warm hug. Jewel was a bit surprised but she accepted the hug and hugged her back.

The elder slowly smiled at his daughters, feeling proud that they could make up so quickly.

"Alright, enough playtime young macaws, it's time for dinner. Come," commanded the papa bird as he took flight towards home and his children followed close behind.

"I'll race you there! Winner gets dibs on the berries," said Rose, quickening her flight-time.

"Sure, guess you'll go hungry tonight, little sis!" said Jewel, speeding past Rose, leaving her and her father behind. "Hey, no fair, you had a head-start!" complained Rose, trying to catch up.

The father rolled his eyes while chuckling to himself.

"Sibling rivalry and the parent has to deal with it," muttered the father macaw.

Meanwhile…

Inside a certain hollow of a tree, an aging crimson topaz hummingbird appeared to be caring for an infant blue macaw that was trying to sleep in a small nest. The hatchling appeared to be whining and coughing mildly. The hummingbird tended to the child with the best of her ability.

"Hush, hush now little one. Your father and your sisters will be home soon. Now if you don't get some good-night sleep, your illness will not go away," spoke the hummingbird sweetly.

"Ha, beat you!"

"No fair, you got a head-start."

"I didn't get a head-start, I just happen to be faster than you."

The hummingbird rolled her eyes and she turned to the source of the squabbling.

"Jewel! Rose! That's enough, your squabbling is going to wake your brother up," said the hummingbird, being careful not to wake the hatchling.

The two young siblings stopped their fighting almost immediately. Jewel approached the nest to observe her brother.

"So, how's Buster doing Consuelo?" she asked.

"I managed to get him to sleep as you can see. And as for the fever, his temperature has gone down a bit, he's still coughing though. Other than that, Buster is just fine. Where's your father? He went out to look for you."

"He found us roughhousing and gave us a firm talking to. He should be right behind us," said Rose.

Consuelo rolled her eyes as she sighed in annoyance. "The two of you were fighting again; I hope neither of you got hurt again?" she said irritated.

"No, we were a bit rougher than usual but we're fine now," said Rose.

"And we made up afterwards though," said Jewel smiling a bit.

"Because your father was there with you?" asked Consuelo, raising an eyebrow at Jewel.

Jewel and Rose looked down a bit. "Yes," said Rose and Jewel in unison. Then Jewel raised her head in confusion.

"What's taking dad so long?" she said.

"He was right behind us and were flying pretty fast back there," said Rose, with worry in her tone.

"Should we go find him?" asked Rose.

"No. I'll go look for him; I'm the eldest after all. Rose, you stay here with Consuelo. She will need help looking over Buster anyway," ordered Jewel.

"Jewel, no. It's not safe by yourself," said Consuelo.

"Stop treating me like a kid! I'll be fine," complained Jewel as she walked over to the opening of the hollow.

Jewel stood at the edge of the hollow and quickly flew off towards his father's direction. Consuelo shouted after Jewel to come back but she did not listen.

Minutes later…

Jewel found her father resting on a single branch and he seemed to be short of breath. Jewel was slightly alarmed of his father's condition. She perched right next to him.

"Dad, are you alright?" she asked putting her wing on his back.

"Oh yes, I'm fine. Just a bit worn out, I'm not as young as I used to be. I haven't flown this fast since your mother died," the father said.

At that moment, Jewel sighed and averted her eyes down.

"Oh Jewel, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have mentioned her," said the father ruefully.

"It's ok dad, I'm not mad. I miss her too. It's been hard," she said sadly.

"Yes, it has. Where's Rose? Wasn't she with you?" the father asked.

"She's back at the den with our nest-maid and Buster. When you didn't come back, I left to look for you," said Jewel.

"Did Consuelo let you?" asked the father.

"Well…I…I, no. I left on my own," said Jewel nervously. The father sighed in disappointment.

"Jewel, soon you'll be old enough to care for yourself. And when you have your own family, you'll have a responsibility to them. You need to always be near them when you're needed. Now Consuelo may be our nest-maid, but she's getting old and so am I. You're the eldest of my children and you have responsibility too. The jungle may be our natural habitat but there will always be dangers, do you understand?" said the father firmly.

"Yes dad, I understand. I'm sorry," said Jewel remorsefully.

"No apologies Jewel. Now we should be getting back, I want to see how Buster is doing."

"Oh, he's fine. Consuelo took good care of him and- BANG!

Jewel and her father froze completely upon hearing what sounded like a loud explosion in the distance. They looked in the direction of the noise and saw a multitude of birds flying out of the jungle.

"What was that?" Jewel whispered, startled by the mysterious noise.

"Humans and their guns," whispered the father coldly.

"Guns, father?" asked Jewel, unfamiliar of the term her father used. Jewel was familiar of what humans are, at least of how her father described them: Giant intelligent creatures that walk instead of flying that are known for their savage and selfish ambitions.

"It is a type of instrument that humans use to kill. It spits fire and metal and it capable of killing at long distance."

BANG! This time, the gunshot was louder than the last one, meaning the source of it is coming closer.

"We have to get out of here. I'll go get your siblings and Consuelo. Jewel, fly towards the Amazon, the humans can't follow you past there," ordered the father, pointing a talon at her to express his seriousness.

"What? No! I'm coming with you!" shouted Jewel and her father put his wings on her shoulders to calm her down.

"Jewel, you can't! You'll only put yourself in danger," he said firmly.

"But what about Rose and Buster? And Consuelo? I can't just leave them," said Jewel hopelessly.

"I'll take care of them. Jewel, you have to go. I'll come back to you with the others," the father said firmly but caringly.

"You promise?" said Jewel softly, her eyes begging for her family's safety.

The father sighed as he looked at her daughter. He couldn't lie to her but he wasn't sure of the situation. He couldn't guarantee anything at this moment. But he had to assure her daughter's faith in him.

"Ok, I promise," said the father reluctantly. Jewel hugged him as she began to tear up and it seemed like she would never let go.

"Alright, now go Jewel."

At that moment, another gunshot went off, closer than before.

"Fly Jewel!" he shouted but Jewel just stared at him uncertainly.

"Go! Now!" he shouted as he pushed her off the branch.

Jewel started flapping her wings and she flew into the direction of the Amazon River. She looked back and saw her father fly back towards the den. In her head, she prayed that her family would be alright.

Upon crossing the Amazon River, Jewel perched herself on a tree branch, hiding herself behind some palm leaves. She kept her eye on the other side of the River, hoping that her family would be here soon. But as the minutes drifted by, the situation was the same: Jewel was alone.

After almost an hour, Jewel finally couldn't take it anymore. Then she saw something that almost stopped her heart. Smoke. A large amount of smoke was seeping into the sky, coming from the direction of her home. Jewel flew into the sky in order to get a better look. And her fears were realized, a mass area of the rainforest was on fire.

Jewel, without thinking flew back into the direction of the den as fast as she could.

"[Oh God, no! Please be ok! Daddy, Rose, Consuelo, Buster. You all have to be ok. I can't lose you too.]"

Jewel soon made back to the den, what's left of it anyway. Jewel could not enter for it was engulfed in flames. Jewel assumed the worst but would not believe it.

"[They must've left already. They would've noticed danger already. I have to find them!]"

She flew through the burning forest, searching high and low for her family. But everywhere she looked there was no sign of them and she called out to them until she lost her voice. Jewel began to lose hope until she heard a familiar sound.

"JEWEL!"

Her eyes sparked with joy and she turned to see it was her father. He of course was not happy to see his eldest daughter in a wildfire.

"Jewel! What did I just tell you? You were not supposed to follow me!" he shouted angrily.

"I'm sorry dad, I couldn't wait for you. Where are Rose, Buster and Consuelo?" asked Jewel, fearing what her father's answer might be. Her father frowned slightly before he answered.

"They were not in the den when I came. They probably went ahead of us; we should get to the Amazon, now!"

With that said, Jewel and her father flew back towards the River.

They flew as fast as they could to get out of the burning forest. They were halfway out until Jewel felt a something push her.

"Jewel, get out of the way!" She heard her father shout at her and then another disturbing sound resonated. A gunshot sounded directly below them and Jewel heard someone scream in pain.

Jewel looked back and saw her father fall down to the jungle floor.

"DAD! NO!" shouted Jewel as she flew after him. She caught him in her talons and slowly lowered him to the ground. Jewel looked around her surroundings quickly and saw a hollow beneath a tree. She quickly dragged her father into the hollow, momentarily sheltering her and her father from the humans. She looked over him and gasped to see a bloody wound in his lower chest. His eyes were half-open and his breathing was low and raspy. Jewel could not believe this was happening.

"[This is all my fault. If I haven't followed him and stayed like he told me. I shouldn't have left the nest. ]"

"Dad," whispered Jewel in disbelief.

"J-ewel, fly… away fr-om… here. Now," said her father in a low voice. With his lungs damaged, it was hard for him to speak. So he had to make haste.

"But I can't leave you," she said, tears already falling from her eyes.

"You…have to. Find… your…s-iblings and w…atch over them….okay?" he said, knowing he didn't have much time to speak. The father looked into Jewel's eyes and he reached out with his wing. But he was too weak to make much movement, but Jewel took his wing and he held on to it. He smiled at Jewel and mustered enough strength to speak.

"J-ust let them… know, J-ewel. All of them, that I…love them, so…much. Keep B-uster…and…Rose safe. Let them know…that I love them. And…I want…to say…that l-ove you…Jewel and…I'm so pr-oud of…you," whispered Jewel's father.

"I will…I promise you…and…I love you too dad," whispered Jewel as tears were falling from eyes like rain and her grip on his wing tightened. She put his wing to her face, savoring her last moments with her father.

"I'm so sorry dad," whispered Jewel, wincing as she sobbed.

"J-ewel…this…isn't…your…fault," he whispered softly. He stiffened suddenly; his eyes slowly lost their light and he let out his last breath. His wing in Jewel's grip fell from her hold and it landed to the ground.

Jewel gasped. She looked at her father and she saw no sign of life in him.

"Dad, no! Daddy, you can't do this. Come on, damn it!" shouted Jewel shaking him, but to no avail.

"YOU CAN'T DIE!" screamed Jewel as she laid her head down on her father's unmoving chest and completely broke down and cried like she never had in her life. Jewel was immovable for a few long minutes which felt like hours to her, completely distraught.

After almost an hour, Jewel lifted her head to look at the face of her lifeless father. His hazel eyes were still open but they had a soulless dead stare. Jewel's own eyes were completely bloodshot and stung as if exhausted from tearing so much. With one wing, Jewel closed her father's eyes, knowing she'll never see them again. Then she leaned down and gave him a tender kiss on his forehead as a final goodbye. She slowly walked out of the tree hollow and she stopped. She turned her head to look at the body of her father one last time.

"Goodbye dad, I will always love you," she said softly before she took off back towards the Amazon River.

As she flew through the burnt-down forest, a single tear fell from Jewel's eye and she wiped it away quickly with her talon.

"Daddy. You died to save me. It should've been me. I'm so sorry, dad," she whispered as she continued to fly with a heavy heart.

Present time…

"When I came back across the Amazon, there was still no sign of them," said Jewel softly.

"I knew that they wouldn't go beyond that point because my father told us there were greater dangers there and we must never go there. I waited for them, and waited, and…and…"

Jewel couldn't finish for reliving that memory was too painful for her to experience. Blu continued to hold on to her for dear life as she cried softly into his shoulder.

"Then …it started to rain and …soon, the forest fire… went out," shuddered Jewel.

I looked and looked all over the jungle for hours and hours. I called out their names until I couldn't speak. After almost a day of searching, I couldn't find a single trace of them."

Blu was shedding a few tears himself. He was so heartbroken of hearing Jewel's confession. What she went through in her whole life. Humans have taken away the only family Jewel ever had, the only people she loved. No wonder she distrusted humans so much. As Jewel continued to cry into Blu's shoulder, he was in deep thought on how to handle this current predicament.

"['They took everything from her' she said. I never imagined it like this. I can't imagine how much pain she's feeling at this moment; from losing a loved one and reliving that moment. I'd be totally destroyed if anything happened to Linda, I don't think I'd ever live with myself. Wait! Linda! She's still back at the Sanctuary and I left her hanging! I must have hurt her by leaving her like that. We have to get back there soon, besides Jewel still needs to be checked on after her emotional breakdown. We need to make sure the eggs are ok. But now, I need to make sure she's well enough to go back. I need to do everything in my power to put her mind at ease.]"

"Jewel," said Blu softly, trying to get her attention.

She looked up at Blu, revealing that her azure eyes were half-bloodshot from crying so much.

"Is this why you doubt yourself? Why you believe you'll be a bad mother for our hatchlings? Because of what happened to you….to your family?" asked Blu soothingly, as he looked into Jewel's eyes.

Jewel bowed her head down and she spoke, shuddering as she did.

"It's…it's more than that Blu. I l-left my sister…and my brother alone…in the nest to look for him. And then I fo…fo-llowed my father…when he told me not to. And because of my actions…my sister…, my nest-maid,…my baby brother, they're…gone, all gone. And daddy,…he got killed because of me…he p-pushed me and took a…bullet for me. He's…d-dead and my family is gone. Because I was so stupid…and selfish!" said Jewel, her voice breaking.

"Jewel," said Blu softly as he lifted Jewel's chin so that she would be at eye-level with him

"I want you to listen to me very carefully and I need you to really listen, ok?"

Jewel nodded her head slightly.

"Jewel…I do not know your father…but…judging by your description, I'd say he did not regret what he did for you…so that you could continue living your life."

"Blu…you…I…"

"Jewel, it should be clear to you. Your father loved you. He loved you so much that he willingly gave up living so you would continue living. He would not want you to live your life in regret for what happened. And you should not blame yourself for that, your father loves you Jewel, this I know."

"Blu…but…my family…"

"There is no guarantee that your family is dead Jewel. Who knows, they may still be out there right now, looking for you as you've looked for them, missing you very much and hoping the best for you. Loved ones who have passed on or are just separated, they would want only happiness for the ones they left behind. And don't think for a moment that you'll become a bad mother. I know you better than anyone and you have no factor that proves a poor parent. You are the sweetest, kindest, most unselfish and most extraordinary girl I've ever met…besides Linda, but she's more of a friend of course, sorry."

Jewel widened her eyes and held her breath for a moment. She was so awed by Blu's words. She's been awed by Blu's words before, but only because he said something outrageous or something that didn't make sense. But in this case, Blu's words were so full of meaning, except for that last statement. She never heard Blu sound so caring and deep, except maybe on the night of which Jewel never forgot.

Jewel just continued to stare at Blu and it began to make him uncomfortable; but he quickly realized why.

"I know…that's a little weird coming from me," said Blu, smiling goofily.

Jewel just smiled sweetly at Blu and then she spoke.

"Can we just go back Blu? I want to make sure my…I mean our kids are alright."

"Oh. Oh, sure. Let's go. Are you sure you're up for this? You know, flying back?" asked Blu.

"Yes Blu, I think I'll be fine," said Jewel as she smiled reassuringly at Blu.

"Ok. But Jewel, if you feel you can't go on, you need to tell me and I'll carry you the rest of the way, ok?" said Blu firmly but caringly.

"Alright Blu, that's fine with me," said Jewel, slightly annoyed of Blu babying her.

"Are you sure?" asked Blu.

"Yes!" shouted Jewel.

Blu was slightly taken aback but he soon realized it was only mood swings from the pregnancy.

"Ok. We better get back to the aviary now," said Blu going to the edge of the building, waiting for Jewel to fly with him. But Jewel just stood there; her eyes were closed and she was smiling. Blu raised an eyebrow, slightly confused.

"Jewel? Are you ok?" asked Blu as he approached her.

Then, very slowly, Jewel raised her wings and wrapped them around Blu's neck in a gentle but loving embrace. Jewel inhaled and then exhaled slowing as she settled into the hug. Blu returned the hug, slightly confused.

"I'm sorry," said Jewel suddenly. This made Blu even more confused.

"Sorry? Sorry for what?"

"For flying off like that. I shouldn't have gone off and risked our children's lives Blu. I'm so, so sorry," said Jewel stuttering slightly.

Blu released himself and then held Jewel by her shoulders to get at eye-level.

"Hey, it's ok. The important thing is you're ok and our kids are ok. And don't worry about what happened, I understand. I'm not mad ok? I'm just relieved you're ok, ok?"

Jewel sniffed and wiped her eyes. But she was still slightly upset, but Blu wasn't done yet.

"Jewel, do you remember what I promised to you when you were recovering? I made a promise to you Jewel. To never forsake you and always be there when you need me. When something's weighing heavy on your mind, I want you to tell me and I'll do my best to help you. And now for the moment, something precious is weighing heavy in your body and I'll help you through it Jewel, always.

Jewel looked up at Blu with a look of realization on her face. She mentally cursed herself for doubting her Blu. At that moment she hugged him once again.

"Oh Blu. I should've realized that I could always trust you. Thank you…thank you so much," saidJewel still tearing up a bit.

"That's what I'm here for Jewel. And I'll always be there for you, no matter what," said Blu gingerly as he wiped away a remaining tear from Jewel's eye.

"We better get going now," said Blu.

"Right, right. And Blu?"

"Hmm?"

"Thanks for being there for me tonight and for coming after me."

"Like I said: That's what I'm here for."

With that said and done, Blu and Jewel spread their wings. And they took off from the rooftop and began their airborne journey back to the aviary.

Blu turned his head toward Jewel, looked at her as if savoring the reality of her presence.

"[Thank God that she's ok. I thought I would lose her and worse my children. I just hope that the eggs didn't get damaged in anyway though.]"

As the two macaws flew, Blu looked towards the distance. He laid his eyes on the Christ the Redeemer statue as it stood over the city of Rio de Janeiro.

"[Thank you…]"

Ok. There goes chapter 4; it's much longer than the first three of course. Probably not as good, but the story will get better as it goes along. I'm so, so sorry for the wait folks, really I am. I'll try to update faster next time. Until then, enjoy my stories.

This has been M. and good night.

Coming Soon: Ch. 5 – Family Process