Chapter 7: Bonding, Part 1

Blu was reclined belly up in the nest, cradling a smooth, pure white object in his wings.

"You know why my heart soars every time I see you?" he asked.

When the target of his query did not reply, he added, "Because you're my baby, and I love you."

He craned his neck and touched it to his cheek, the dim throbbing of his child's minuscule heart barely audible. He pulled his head back and gazed at the egg's clean shell, flashing a grin.

"You put your mother through a lot of pain, but you're out of her now. All you kindle in our souls is joy and bliss, and we're both hoping you hatch sometime in the near future. Are you my son, or are you my daughter?"

As expected, the egg did not suddenly grow a fantastic mouth and respond to him. It remained mute, and the senior male sighed.

"Oh well. I guess I'll find out the answer when you are prepared to give it to me."

It was then that Jewel slipped in quietly after returning from her breakfast trip, catching the attention of her mate rather than startling him. She was wearing a cute smile, and Blu was compelled to find out why.

"You certainly seem happy, beautiful. Was your meal delicious?"

She idly scratched her claws on the floor, replying nonchalantly, "It was, but that's not it."

She shot him a sly stare and asked, "You were talking to the egg again, weren't you?"

His pupils dilated noticeably, and he gulped loudly.

"You heard that?" he replied, embarrassed.

She closed the distance between them and halted at the edge of the nest.

"Yes, I did," she cooed.

"Cheese and sprinkles. You must think I'm as soft as a marshmallow now," he said gruffly.

She minutely rolled her eyes and replied, "Not at all, Blu. Now I have proof that you're caring and sweet, even when I'm not around. Another reason why I love you with all my heart, and why I would sacrifice myself for you."

Blu flinched back a bit, and Jewel put in, "Okay, forget I said that last line. But the first one is so, so true."

"Agreed, my beautiful Jewel. Can I have another morning kiss?"

"But I already gave you one before I left."

"Please? Please?"

"Fine, fine," she replied with mock oppression.

Blu carefully set the egg down in the space next to him and nabbed Jewel with his wings, throwing her for a loop. He squished their bodies together and hungrily devoured her beak out, jolting his senses with the sensual kiss.

"Blu… mmm… isn't it… too early… for this?" she stuttered as his tongue interfered with her speech.

"No. I don't want… to stop…"

Her urge to continue the intensifying make out session conflicted with her unwillingness to go as far as he wanted, and she could not make up her mind. The safety of the egg in mind, Blu rolled them out of the nest and onto the floor with a controlled heave.

She remained on top of him, their chests and stomachs compressing as they dined on each other's oral cavities. Blu moved his wings closer to her tail and squeezed tighter, uttering a growl of pleasure as her cloaca ground against his.

The burst of fiery sensation that scorched Jewel's spine melted her resolve, and she succumbed to her sexual desires.

"Blu, Jewel! It's me, Ronaldo! I figured I'd stop by and check up on my extended family."

Before either of them knew how to react, the male visitor entered on ultra-short notice and plopped into the hollow.

"Hey, guys! How… are… you…"

His resonant voice trailed off, his jubilant expression twisting into exasperation as he caught them red-handed in the throes of passion.

"Bem, merda…" {Well, shit…}

Jewel tore her horrified gaze away from his and glared daggers at Blu.

"You see what you did!" she squawked in no quiet tone.

She roughly dismounted him, smashing his stomach in with her full weight and causing him to groan.

"Urgh… thanks a lot, Jewel! It's not like I'm a seer who can predict the future! Cheese and sprinkles…"

Her cheeks metaphorically as red as a tomato, she patted down her belly feathers, jumped into the nest, and tucked the egg beneath her.

"Wrong place, wrong time, eh, Jewel?" Ronaldo admitted sharply.

"I don't blame you, I blame him."

She jerked her head in her mate's direction, saying crudely, "I hope you're happy, Blu. I bet that was the last thing Ronaldo ever wanted to see us doing."

"Um… I'm sorry? What else do you want me to say?"

"Nevermind," she huffed, locking eyes with her half-brother.

"I hope we didn't offend you or make you jealous. If you're too shocked to stay, you can leave and come back later."

He replied stoically, "No no no, I'm alright. I'm a tough bird. It's no big deal. When we first met, I told you to 'just do what you want with your mate and be happy.' That's exactly what you were doing, and I was not troubled by it in the least."

Jewel's grimace loosened into an unconvinced frown.

"Are you sure, Ronaldo?"

He hopped up to her and replied emphatically, "Entirely sure, irmã."

She nodded and exhaled a heavy breath, and Ronaldo gazed at Blu.

"How about we put all this awkwardness behind us, cunhado, so that we can talk freely?"

"Okay, cunhado. I'll calm myself down. I just hope that Jewel doesn't try to bite me."

Jewel raised her left eyebrow at him, stared for a second, and then snapped her beak halves together.

"Please stop, irmã, or I will be forced to discipline you with my wing."

She flashed him a challenging smile, ultimately relaxing her tense emotions.

Blu gingerly stepped into the nest, and she scooted over to give him room. Ronaldo spoke up and asked, "How's the egg doing? It hasn't been damaged, has it?"

Jewel lifted herself up and captured the white oval with her wings, holding it against her chest like a human mother does with her offspring.

"Nope. It's as perfect as it was when I laid it. It's going to take another two weeks or so to hatch, I'm guessing. The wait is going to kill us, but unless Blu builds a time machine, wait is all we can do."

"I'm afraid that constructing a temporal manipulation device is out of my league, Jewel."

She chuckled at his nerdy explanation, rolling her eyes haughtily.

"So, Ronaldo, how have you been?"

He beamed at Blu.

"I've been doing great, cunhado. From what I've seen so far, so are you and Jewel. Everyone in our family is happy, and that's the way it should be."

Blu blushed and replied, "Heh, you could say that."

"I would love for you to stay and chat, Ronaldo. Are you going to?"

"Actually, Jewel, I wanted to ask Blu if he wanted to come to the club with me."

The buff male turned to his buddy and asked, "How about it, cunhado? You up for a little partying?"

"Um…" he replied, fiddling with his wings. "I guess I'll go."

Blu looked at his mate and added, "Is that okay with you, beautiful?"

"Go right ahead, Blu. Let me tend to the boring job of incubating this egg, so that you can have some fun."

She glared at him and added, "If you're going to drink, do it in moderation. I don't want a repeat of last time…"

Blu got out of the nest and bobbed his head.

"Yes ma'am. You can trust me, beautiful."

"Bye, Jewel. Blu and I will come back in a few hours or so. Maybe we can have ourselves a little feast then."

"Alright, Ronaldo. Bye, and stay safe."

He responded, "Always," and winked at her.

He then slapped his left wing upon Blu's back, spun him around, and led him to the exit of the hollow.

"Oh, and Blu?"

Ronaldo paused, and Blu turned his head.

"Yes, Jewel?"

"I love you."

"I love you too, Jewel."

He puckered his beak and made a smooching sound, and then took off with two strong beats of his wings. Ronaldo sailed off after him, the two azure specks fading out of her line of sight.

Training her eyes on the egg, she whispered, "Your father will be back soon. And then it'll be his turn to sit on you. But in the meantime…"

Jewel stood up taller, tucked the oval under her warm belly feathers, and crouched down. She let out a gentle sigh, closed her eyes, and let her mind winder aimlessly.


Ronaldo and I sped away from the jungle and into the city, leaving the protected sanctuary behind on their journey to the wild club. We navigated the aerial mazes formed by the buildings of downtown Rio, spotting our destination within a couple of minutes.

We zoomed down to the asphalt, preened a few feathers that had sprung out of place, and then plodded into the venue. Thundering bass kicks and penetrating treble notes assailed them as they searched for an empty table.

Spying one near the middle of the others, he and I hobbled over to it and plunked ourselves down.

"Are we going to drink first and dance later, or the other way around?" I asked loudly.

"You do what you want, cunhado. Personally, I am going to toss back a bit of alcohol, and then find a pretty lady to shake my tail-feathers with."

"Sounds good, Ronaldo."

I cast a studious glance in the direction of a bar, none other than my newfound friend Marquez whipping up a beverage for a male Scarlet Macaw.

"You know what? Just sit tight, Ronaldo. I'll go get you something. What do you want?"

"Surprise me, Blu. But I don't want it to be too strong."

"Understood."

I dismounted my chair and hopped over to the bar, patiently waiting behind the inebriated bird. When he staggered off, I moved up and rested my wings on the wooden surface. Marquez noticed me immediately with his functional eye, and his beak curved into a large smile.

"Heya, Blu! How have you been since we last met?"

"Awesome, Marquez. And you?"

"My heart's still beating, and I'm still breathing. In other words, not bad at all."

"Glad to hear that. Say, I'm here with a friend, and he would like a drink. A weak one, though."

"Ah, he only wants to get a little buzzed. I'll make him a diluted Berry Blitz."

Marquez spun around and got to concocting the beverage, putting on a skilled display as he squirted jets of colored fluid from their bottles into a plastic cup. He finished it off with a spurt of alcohol and a heavy dose of water, setting the cup down in front of me.

"There you go, buddy. One weakened Berry Blitz."

"Thanks a lot, Marquez."

"No problem, Blu. So, how's that wonderful mate of yours doing?"

"She's happier than ever. She laid our first egg yesterday, as a matter of fact."

He smiled even more forcefully.

"Congratulations, buddy!"

His smile faded, and turned mischievous.

"But wait… now I'm jealous…"

He gave Blu a ghostly stare with his ruined eye, but Blu was not intimidated in the least.

"I have to know one thing: Was the sex good?"

Nervously, I responded, "Um... I'd be lying if I said no."

Marquez grinned.

"Like I said before, you are one lucky guy. But I won't keep you anymore. Get outta here and get back to your friend."

I nodded and left the bar, saying, "Catch you later!"

"Likewise, Blu!"

Arriving back at our chosen table, I sat down and sat the cup down in front of Ronaldo.

"Thanks, Blu." "Don't worry about it."

Ronaldo grabbed the cup, tilted it back, and took a hearty sip. He smacked his beak and squawked, "Ahhh… now that was delicious!"

"Naturally. Marquez is an excellent bartender."

Ronaldo swallowed an even bigger gulp and said, "I'll have to give him my thanks before we leave."

He dumped the remaining liquid down his throat and licked his beak heartily. From his shiny beak issued a manly burp, and he patted his stomach in satisfaction.

"My drink sure hit the spot. I'm all tingly inside."

"I'll bet, cunhado."

I peered into the mass of swaying birds as the song changed, narrowing my eyes as I saw a bundle of yellow feathers bouncing to the beat. What intrigued me the most is that it was not Nico I was observing, but a female of the same species.

As she tangoed, her tiny body was lost in the sea of bodies in which she swam. I gazed at Ronaldo and was about to ask him if he knew who she was, but my brother-in-law gulped and left his chair.

I asked, "Where are you going?" as he began to waddle away.

"Outside. You know why."

"Oh. Okay then."

The other Spix's Macaw trotted out the door, and I laid my wings on the table. Staring into the crowd, I located the female canary once more.

And she was weaving her way towards me, our eyes meeting as she did so.

She nimbly emerged from the heaving throng and settled on the seat across from me, standing on it rather than sitting due to her reduced size.

"Um… hello there. My name's Blu. What's yours?"

"My name's Melissa. Nice to meet you."

"Likewise."

I extended my wing, and she gripped one solitary primary of mine and shook it. I burst into laughter on the inside, a convenient smile erupting onto my beak.

"Is there something you need?"

"Oh, not really. It's just that I've heard some things about you, and I couldn't pass up the chance to talk to you in person."

"What would you like to know? I'm an open book."

She opened her tiny, triangular beak to speak, but it fell open wider than it should have, no sound coming out. Her eyes bulged in awe, focused on something off to her right.

I followed her gaze until it landed on, strangely, Ronaldo.

Does she know him? Why is she looking at him like that, as if she hasn't seen him in years?

Ronaldo drew closer, not noticing the female until the Hyacinth Macaw in his path scooted away.

"I'm feeling better now, Blu. I…"

He twisted his head slightly to the right, locking eyes with the blazing canary. Ronaldo grew owl eyes as well and inched closer, the entire situation perplexing me.

"Me-Melissa? Is that… you?"

"Wait a minute… you're… Ronaldo!"

In a blur of color, the smaller of the two hurled herself against the larger, administering to his chest a cute hug.

"Melissa, I can't believe it's you! I never imagined I'd see you again!"

"Ronaldo… you don't know how much I've missed you!"

They snuggled for a short span of time, and then she fluttered back to her seat. Ronaldo claimed the seat next to her, their jubilant expressions showing no signs of fading.

"What's with all the excitement? Are you two significant others or something?"

"We were at one time, Blu. Before I professed my love to Jewel, I was romantically attached to Melissa."

He gazed into her eyes and continued, "Things may not have gone my way, but I never forgot about her."

"I never forgot about you, either. Where on Earth have you been, and what have you been doing?"

"I'm so grateful you asked, Melissa. But before I spill the mangoes, let me set things straight with my friend here."

Ronaldo turned to me and asked politely, "Is it okay if Melissa and I go somewhere else, Blu? I would prefer to talk to her in private. Ignore the fact that we're in a rowdy club."

I felt bad that he would be leaving me alone, but I wouldn't dare spoil his reunion with Melissa.

"Be my guest, Ronaldo. You two deserve some catch-up time to yourselves. I'll keep myself busy… somehow."

"Take care, Blu. I'll meet with you later."

"You too, Ronaldo. Have fun."

He replied, "I definitely will," and strode of with the canary at his side.

When they had disappeared, I went over to Marquez's workstation. I slapped the wood to get his attention, and he turned casually around.

"Yes, my blue buddy?"

"Could you get me a watered-down Berry Blitz?"

"You betcha. Give me one minute."

Before long, I was on my way back to my table, refreshment in talon. I took a seat and slurped down some of the drink, unprepared for what – or rather, who – I laid eyes upon when I lowered the cup.

Next to me was none other than Lisa, her clean, plump body a few inches away.

"Hey there, Lisa. I never imagined I'd see you here."

She responded jubilantly, "Hi, Blu," and squeezed me in a friendly hug.

When she released me, I queried, "How you been since we last talked, hm?"

"Oh, fine, fine. Just living my life, you know?"

Her tone betrayed none of her depression from Ronaldo's rejection, and I assumed she had finally gotten over the heartbreak.

"Good, good."

"Where's Jewel? I thought she was glued to your feathers?"

I chuckled and said, "She's at home with our first egg."

Her expression flared even brighter.

"Wow. So you've taken the big jump, huh?"

"Yep. Our lives are complete now. With a mate, a child on the way, and love to tie us all together, I have everything I will ever need from now on."

"So true, and so amazing. Você é o mais sortudo pássaro eu sei." {You are the luckiest bird I know.}

My beak stretched into a smile as I said, "Aren't I? I went through so much trouble to get here to this point, but it was entirely worth it in the end. I think fate played a part too."

"Definitely. It's hard for me not to believe in fate when you're the evidence that it's real."

While we were on the subject, I wanted to find out her future romantic plans.

"Are you ever going to find another guy to live the rest of your life with? Just because your first attempt didn't work out so well doesn't mean you should quit."

The mask of emotion on her face never wavered, but I couldn't say she wasn't hurting on the inside.

"Truthfully, yes. The way you and Jewel are so open and lovey-dovey towards each other… it makes me jealous, but in a good way, if that makes sense. I want to be like her, to have a male I can trust and rely on with all my heart. I want to know that he will be there for me every morning, and fall asleep with me every night."

"That's the perfect attitude to have. I know you can do it, given enough time. What species do you prefer? Hyacinth Macaws, Lear's Macaws, and Blue-and-Gold Macaws are most similar to you in terms of feather color."

"Hm, probably one of those three. If a Scarlet or Military Macaw and I had chicks, I don't think they'd turn out too attractive. But anyways, I'll keep an eye out for any males of the three species you mentioned."

"I might chat with a few I think are good matches for you, and see if I can work out some sort of deal."

"I'd appreciate that, Blu."

"It's the least I can do for you."

I poured more Berry Blitz down my throat, giving my beak a smack and wiping the rim with my tongue.

"You must like that. What is it?"

"Oh, it's a little something Marquez the bartender served me. Would you like to meet him and get a drink for yourself?"

"Eh, I'm not in the mood for any alcohol. But after you and I have talked some more, I'll go and get to know him."

"Suit yourself, Lisa."

After I downed the rest of the liquid, she reached out with her wing and comfortingly laid it on my shoulder.

"Blu?"

"Yes?"

"I want you to know that, aside from Jewel, you're the best friend I've ever had. Unlike that jerk Ronaldo, I'll never have to worry about you drifting away. Thank you for being such a great companion."

"You're a nice friend too. And it's not every day that I get to talk to a female of my species who isn't related to me. Jewel, well, I know her inside and out. But you, you're a mystery waiting to be solved."

"I like the way that sounds. Thanks."

"You're welcome. Hey, since we're in this upbeat club, why don't we talk about things from our past that lift our spirits? You can go first."

"Great idea! Let me think. Um… oh… I got it!"

She cleared her throat and began, "When I was a few years younger, my friends and I used to play soccer with a rock. Oh boy, was that ever fun! One time, when we were playing on the beach, I accidentally kicked our 'soccer ball' into the shallow water of the bay. A buddy of mine went to go retrieve it, but he sunk into the wet sand up to his stomach. It took a few of us to pull him out, and by that time, the waves had soaked him and turned him into a wet, sandy, matted mess. I nearly passed out laughing!"

She strained to hold back her chortles even now as she continued, "We teased him for a whole month after that, and I'll bet he never lived it down. Ah, those were the days. I felt so young back then. Your turn!"

Wracking my alcohol-laced brain as I skimmed over the lifetime of memories that were created in Moose Lake, I chose a juicy one that stuck out like a sore thumb.

"When I was five years old, Linda and I would play hide-and-seek in her bookstore. I used to hide in her upstairs bedroom a lot, but she eventually caught on, and I was forced to choose a new spot every time. I remember vividly getting trapped in her closet one day, and I ended up squawking so that she could let me out. When she freed me, we both burst into laughter. She frequently referred to me as 'silly Blu' after that."

I shot her an expectant look as the music lulled, and she parted her beak.

"During my teenage years, in what you would call the 'mating season,' I played some seriously crazy games of tag with a few overeager males. I knew what they wanted, but I wasn't going to give it to them. I would flirt with them, tease them, and pretend I was interested, but then I would ditch them and see how long they lasted before they quit chasing me. I made a bet that if one caught me, I would consider starting a relationship with him. As you can see, none of them ever did. It was all an act on my part… until I met Ronaldo. He was probably the last male of our species I found, and the first I felt attracted to. After we escaped Portugal together and came to Rio, I knew there was a connection between us. But I never pursued it, wanting to drag thing out and let us warm up to the thought of being a couple. But he… he never thought I was special enough. I guess I was so blinded by our friendship… I never realized he didn't love me until… until it was too late."

At this, sparkling tears swelled in her eyes, and her head sagged as if her neck had been broken.

"I am the only female left… but he… he'll never think I'm special enough…"

She doubled over and rested her temple on the table, covering her head with one of her wings. Her back rose and fell in a jerky rhythm as she sobbed, the high-pitched noises muffled by her feathers.

My heart split in two, and I was at her side in one second flat. Plenty of the alcohol, even though it was diluted, had already been absorbed into my bloodstream, and I had to steady myself.

"Oh B-Blu… I'm so s-sorry. But I d-don't… I can't… understand w-why. Why… d-does he n-not… love me? What… i-is wrong… w-with me?"

She heaved another whimper and lifted her head, her moist eyes brimming with salty tears. Her lachrymose display hadn't garnered any attention due to the nature of the venue… yet.

"Blu… I tried… to a-apologize… but he… w-wouldn't listen. He wouldn't… hear me o-out. He said… I can't… l-love him and… h-hate him at the… same time. He made… me m-mad… and I… yelled a-at him. It's what… he d-deserves. Knowing that he doesn't want me… how… am I supposed to go on?"

I swaddled her in a warm hug and let her bury her face in my shoulder.

"Lisa, I… I'm sorry. I know he hurt you beyond repair, but you have to move on. Together, we will find a male who will come to love you. But you have to believe. Fate works in beneficial and harmful ways."

"But… Blu…"

"No buts, Lisa. Now please, get a hold of yourself. You may not have love at the moment, but you possess something of even greater worth: Your life."

She sniffled and reared back to observe me, her eyes bloodshot and her visage pitiful.

"You make things… so simple… to understand. You're… cutting me… and healing me… at the same time…"

"Maybe that's the best way for you to learn, as difficult as it is."

It was then that I sensed another presence behind me, his suave voice revealing his identity.

"Hey, Blu, why is this lady friend of yours all upset?"

I faced the one-eyed Military Macaw and replied with melancholy, "She is upset because a guy she likes… er… loves... told her he doesn't love her back. Her name is Lisa, by the way."

He stared past me and locked his eye with hers. "Man, that's harsh, Lisa. I wish I knew how to help. Can I offer you a drink?"

"No… no thanks. You must be… Marquez."

She seemed unfazed by his mutilated features, or maybe her distraught state prevented her from caring.

"Yeah, that's me. Do your best to cheer up, okay?"

"Yeah. I'll… try."

Lisa sniffled and dried her eyes. Marquez peeked behind him and saw a female Hyacinth by the bar with her wings crossed.

He whirled around and said flatly, 'I gotta get going. I wouldn't mind killing time with you two, but I have a position to fill."

"See you later, Marquez," Lisa moaned.

"Catch you later," I put in.

He scampered off in a hurry, and I focused on my morose companion.

"Do you want to go home for some peace and quiet? This club is hardly conducive to-"

"No. As long as I'm with you, I don't feel so alone. Give me a minute…"

She sat up taller in her chair, abolishing the last of her stubborn tears.

Being the kindhearted bird I was, I felt such pity for her.

The rift that had split her and Ronaldo apart would last forever, haunting her like a ghost until her last days. Only by finding her someone to love would she lock his rejection away in her mind like a wild animal, taming it to a point where it could no longer harm her.

Ronaldo was her old flame, but that tiny romantic candle had been extinguished. It was high time Lisa kindled another, brighter tongue of fire with a male who she deserved.

"That Marquez... he was pretty messed up. What happened to him?"

If we talk about him, her mind won't linger on Ronaldo. Might as well flip-flop her mood while I have the chance…

My voice slightly off-kilter due to my evident buzz, I replied, "It's a dramatic tale, Lisa. And it starts like this…"

I recounted the Military Macaw's near-death experience in full, including every gory detail. By the end of it all, Lisa was impressed and appalled. He was "one hell of a fighter," as she put it.

She told me that if he could find the courage to keep moving forward after the loss of his eye and his girlfriend, then so could she.

"Everyone knows that males are always the dominant ones and can tolerate more hardships. It's the females like me who are wimps and start crying the instant something goes wrong," she had joked.

We shared a bout of laughter, though I denied her claim that all females were subject to intense mood swings.

"Everyone is different, Lisa. You're a more vulnerable type, but that doesn't mean you're defective. I like you just the way you are. Ronaldo… I can't explain his choice, but don't worry about him anymore, if you know what I mean."

As we strayed from that topic of discussion and delved into my personal life in regards to my mate and child, I felt tingly and happy around Lisa. She was no Jewel, I will say that much, but a confidante to me and someone I could be open with.

If Ronaldo was Jewel's half-brother, then maybe Lisa was on her way to becoming my half-sister. By word and deed we had formed a rudimentary bond, an invisible link of emotional and physical one-ness.

And in my heart, I knew it would only be beneficial if we solidified that bond and drew ourselves closer to each other. She being the only unmated female of our dwindling breed, Lisa and I needed to band together and face life head-on.

More for her sake than mine, of course, but the underlying reason for our closeness remained the same.

I was on the verge of telling Lisa that I planned to have more children with Jewel when she nervously scanned around and left her seat.

"What's the matter, Lisa?"

"I think Ronaldo is heading this way. I'm gonna jet before he sees me. I had an awesome time with you, and I would like to talk with you again soon. Goodbye, Blu."

"I'll see when I when I can make time. Goodbye, Lisa."

She hopped off like a frog, out of sight long before Ronaldo sauntered up to me.

"Did you keep yourself busy while I was gone?"

"I sure did, cunhado," I replied, thankful that I wasn't required to mention who I was with.

"I'm ready to see my irmã. What about you?"

Smugly, I responded, "I'm even more ready to see her than you. Let's go, cunhado."

Touching down inside the knothole that contained Jewel and our baby, we quickly shushed ourselves and traded gratified looks.

Jewel was sound asleep, the egg tucked away beneath her.

Since dining together wasn't worth ruining her delicious slumber, Ronaldo called it off and urged me to accompany him to the club the following day. I told him I would if Jewel spared me from incubation duty.

He gripped me in a genuine, brotherly hug, whispered a goodbye, and went on his way.

I eased myself into the nest with extreme care, not wanting to bring my mate out of her slumber.

I seized when I heard her mumble, "Blu… I love you…" but realized she was still anesthetized.

"I love you too, Jewel. Sweet dreams."

I watched her breathe in and out for five cycles and then closed my eyes, drowsiness creeping up on me minute by minute.

I had certainly been through an emotional day, and I welcomed the onset of unconsciousness with wings spread wide. Not only was I committed to my mate and unborn chick, I was also committed to Lisa and Ronaldo.

I was determined to be a good cunhado to one and a matchmaker to the other, to prove that I was reliable, versatile, and one heck of a friend. Dealing with Lisa's affliction would be more difficult, but I had more reason to assist her now than ever before.

Our bond was merely a seedling, but after having its needs quenched, it would bloom into a highly admirable flower of platonic love.