The next morning, their alarm clocks were all sitting silently minutes before 8:00. Then a rhythmic beating noise was heard growing louder and louder. Alex was up first and saw the source of this sound. A helicopter was approaching the zoo, aiming to land on the performing rock. The noise level got to where everyone else was up as well. As the large helicopter landed, everyone was getting their belongings together and heading for Alex's pen. As the luggage was loaded, Marty said "man, this is very exciting. I have never ridden in a helicopter before!"
After their seatbelts were fastened, the helicopter took off, headed for New York's JFK airport. Gloria said "I've never seen much from quite this high up. That must be the Staten Island ferry."
After landing at John F. Kennedy Airport, they all got out. Lea took a picture of the helicopter. There to meet them was the president of the United States. "Good Morning" he said.
Alex replied "good morning, Mr. President."
"Follow me to the group photo area" the president said. With that, they all got together in a group. After the group photo, the animals now lined up, and went through stations for the individual photos and boarding their ride down to Florida: Air Force One.
Lea saw all this and said "I never thought I'd be taking a ride on this aeroplane." She walked up to the president and shook his hand. After the photo of this was taken, she got on board the plane. The others followed in the order of Alex, Gloria, Marty, and Melman (who had to lower his head into the view of the photographer's camera).
Once on board, they got seated. Alex just looked at the view out the window, scanning the Manhattan skyline.
Lea, meanwhile, was seated two rows ahead of Alex whispering to herself. "Let's see. 'Alex, I have something to tell you. All my life, I've rather fancied you.' No, um maybe 'Alex, I've often pictured us together.' No. Perhaps 'Alex, what kind of lioness would you want to love?' Oh, it's no use." All the while, she didn't know that the lion her predicament concerned had overheard her.
Alex was heavily blushing. Just before Lea whispered other methods, he said "I really like you as well, Lea."
Lea turned around and asked "did you, by any chance, hear me whispering?"
Alex replied "I sure did. I've wanted to say the same thing about you." Instantly after blurting that out, he sank back into his seat heavily embarrassed. Lea slowly sank back into her seat with a smile on her face. "He loves me!" she thought.
Just then, the door closed and the engines started up. As the plane taxied out to the runway, Alex wallowed in embarrassment while Lea wallowed in ecstasy. Marty asked "Alex, what's got you bummed out."
"I blurted out my true feelings about Lea to her. I don't know how she'll take it" he replied.
As the plane powered into the air, Lea turned to Gloria and said "Gloria, I'm in heaven, now."
"What do you mean?" Gloria asked.
Lea replied "Alex told me he loves me. Then again, he looked rather embarrassed afterwards."
Gloria said "well, just wait for the seatbelt sign to turn off, and talk to him. Tell him about how you feel."
Lea replied "At least that will be easier, now."
Once the sign turned off, Lea got up and went to the aisle seat next to Alex's window seat. "Alex, what's got you in the dumps?"
Alex replied "well, I'm not sure if I should have blurted that out earlier."
Lea said "don't worry. You've done nothing wrong. In fact, I was wondering if you'd ever tell me so."
Alex replied "well, perhaps I could walk you to the dining area. We'll have some steaks together."
"I think that's a lovely idea" Lea replied. As they were walking towards the dining area, the plane suddenly hit a nasty bit of turbulence. Lea and Alex are thrown into some seats. They landed one on top of the other, and lips together. Everyone else meanwhile had made it into the dining room.
Alex almost instantly backed off saying "Oh, man. Lea I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to-." His words were cut short by Lea immediately pulling him into a big kiss. "I couldn't help myself" Lea then said.
Later, Lea made her way into the dining room feeling very happy. Melman asked "um, what's with the odd smirk?" Right then Alex entered the area. His face was covered with kiss prints.
"Alex, way to go!" Gloria said.
"I can't believe it, though. We actually kissed" Alex said.
"How was it?" Marty asked.
Alex replied "it was like we were in our own little world of happiness."
