Simba and I made our way back into Pride Rock, with me still riding on his back. Nala was the first to notice us as her head shot up and soon Sarabi and Sarafina fallowed suet. They all had a hopeful look in their eyes, like they all already knew my answer to their proposal. When we got closer however, I saw Nala's face sort of darken in a way. One could say she had a look of fear on her features.

Once we were right in front of the three females, Simba laid down on his stomach so I could climb down. That simple task proved very difficult, however, because right when I lifted my leg to swing over Simba, a pain shot through my stomach like the bullet the other day. It wasn't nearly as painful as actually getting shot, but it still felt like my intestines had been heated up to a painful degree. Sarabi and Sarafina rushed to help getting on either side of me. Sarabi allowed me to push on her to get my leg over Simba's massive frame and Sarafina let me lean on her so I wouldn't fall flat on my face. When all was said and done, I found myself resting once again on the stone platform right up against Nala.

"So, what did you and Simba talk about?" Sarabi asked in an almost overjoyed tone

I looked up at her, "Just about the great kings of the past being in the stars." Trying to hide my excitement over what I was about to tell them.

"Oh" Sarabi sighed as she cast her eyes downward,

"Oh, and we talked it over and decided it would be a good idea if I lived here with all of you." I said as a smile spread across my face

Sarafina's eyes sparkled, "You mean.."

Simba chuckled, "Mom, Sarafina, let me introduce you to your new grandson, Lee."

"Yes!" Nala squealed with pleasure as she rub up against me so hard it almost hurt.

Her mother and mother in law both did the same. The combined weight of the three of them almost made me suffocate.

"Hey, squishing the new family member here." I said in an almost muffled tone.

'Oh sorry honey." Sarafina said

I actually smiled, "Don't be."

We stayed like this for a good chunk of time. Even Simba eventually came over and lay with us. I reached over and ruffled his mane, earning a few giggles from the girls. Simba smirked and mirrored my actions, ruffling my hair with his massive paw. Despite the fact that it was almost painful, I started laughing out loud. For the first time since the car crash, I felt almost completely happy.

It's just, what was I doing living with a pride of lions? I mean, they all seem to care about me but, I was human. I'm not like them, and I knew it. They knew it too but they didn't show it. Not yet anyway. Pushing those feelings aside for now, I turned to my two new grandmothers to say something I wanted to for a while.

"Hey, when we go out hunting again, can I be the one to make the kill?" I asked with pleading eyes

"Oh, sweetheart, in our pride, you can't make a kill until you take part in your first hunt, by yourself." Sarafina said

I frowned, "I thought lions hunted with the whole pride."

"We do, but before you can take part and killing with the pride, you have to prove you can make a successful kill on your own." Sarabi explained

My face lit up with an idea, "What if I take my gun with me? Then I wouldn't be making a manual kill."

Simba spoke up, "I don't know, if you kill too many of them, the animals of the pride lands might start to fear you. And that's the last thing we want. We want them to love you, like we do."

"How about this", I tried once more, "I will only take one bullet to kill one animal and not one more after that."

After a few seconds of pondering, Simba smiled, "It's a deal."

I stuck out my hand, "Let's shake on it."

"What?" Simba asked as he frowned in confusion.

I chuckled, "Put your paw on my hand and shake it, it's a human's sign of trust."

He did, "Deal" I said.

I made my way to my desired sniping spot with my .300 bolt action hunting rifle slung over my shoulder. Its camouflage color blending in perfectly with the colors of the tree I was currently in. Spotting the herd of zebra several yards away that Sarabi, Sarafina and I claimed would be our target. They were currently setting up an ambush on the ground close to where the herd was grazing.

As if on cue, Sarafina launched herself from the tall grass and sprinted in the direction of the herd. Taking out my bullet, I inserted it in my gun and waited for the right moment to shoot. Meanwhile, Sarafina kept up the chase at an impressive speed, leading a lone zebra right to Sarabi, who was positioned several feet away behind a large rock.

We both were expecting her to just jump out from behind the rock and finish it off. That's why it was so surprising and downright awesome to see her make an impressive leap off the top and stick the landing right on top of the Zebra. I was so awestruck at her impressive move; I almost forgot that I had a kill to make. Aiming down the notch just like I had so many times before with my father; I spotted another lone Zebra that was far behind the rest of the herd. After slowly exhaling to steady my aiming, I squeezed the trigger bringing my prey down with one clear shot.

"I have to say Lee, well done. Although, I wish I knew ahead of time how loud you're weapon is." Sarafina commented as we made our way back to Pride rock.

"Sorry, I should have warned you ahead of time." I said with a guilty look.

"Don't be honey, you did well." Sarabi praised.

We continued on until we were just below Pride rock. Despite my relatively good mood from my successful hunt to provide for my new family, I still had this nagging pain in the back of my mind. It's that I never got the chance to save my mom and sister. They needed me, and when they were being torn to shreds by predators, I was sleeping. How am I ever going to let that go!

Sarabi turned to Sarafina and whispered something I couldn't make out, and then Sarafina made her way up to Pride rock with the Zebra she and Sarabi killed. The one I shot was small enough for me to carry. Now it was just the two of us, staring blankly at each other. With a gentle smile, Sarabi laid on a soft patch of grass that was just beside pride rock. It not only had lush, green grass, but also an impressive array of flowers spread all throughout it.

"Lee, come lay down next to me." She insisted.

Not wanting to pass up the opportunity for some comfort, and not wanting to disappoint her, I dropped my kill and made my way to where she was. At first, we didn't say anything; we just took in the beautiful sight that was the Pride lands. A magnificent sunset was currently painting the savanna plains with a large amount of colors. It looked almost exactly like the sunset I had seen the day I met Nala.

"Do you want to tell me what's bothering you?" Sarabi finally asked.

My breathing became shaky as I answered her, "Why did they have to die Sarabi?"

I almost immediately felt a familiar wet object glide against my cheek. That one action was enough to get the flood gates to burst. Clinging to my new grandmother like a life preserver, I started weeping at an almost uncontrollable rate. It was nowhere near as dramatic as my crying after waking up from getting shot and finding out my dad took his own life, but it was still plenty sad. Sarabi just constantly nuzzled me as she always did, offering the occasional 'ssshhh' to try and get me to calm down. When I finally did, Sarabi looked me dead in the eye.

"Truth be told Lee, I don't know. I don't think anyone can truly know why people we care about disappear from our lives so suddenly. We just have to hope that wherever they are now, they are better and happy. Believe it or not, I went through a similar ordeal to what you're going through now. The day Scar told my Pride that my mate and son where no longer with us, I became inconsolable. "

Now that was something I didn't expect to hear. What could possibly be more agonizingly painful then losing not only your significant other, but also your only child all in one day? Sarabi must have felt like her whole world had ended that day. But against all the odds, she was still here today.

"Do you know what kept me going through all that time?"

I only shook my head

"Family. Sarafina, and more importantly Nala, were there for me through all of it. Helping raise Nala alongside Sarafina somewhat eased my pain. Zazu was a big help too. Simba's majordomo, he's been away visiting family for quite some time. I'm sure he'll grow to love you. More importantly, do you know what I learned through all those years of hardship? That no matter what you go through, you can always rise above it. It never truly goes away, but you are never too far gone to move forward. Especially if you have a loving family beside you; and I promise you have that."

Before anyone could say anymore, a bloodcurdling scream erupted from the mouth of Pride Rock. The owner of the voice was unmistakable.

"Nala" I whispered.

Both Sarabi and I ran in the direction of her cries. What we saw nearly put a stop to my heart. Nala was lying on the ground, surrounded by Sarafina, Simba, Timon and Pumba. Making my way over to her, I cradled her head in my lap, wiping away the tears that covered her face. Sarabi faced her son with fear in her eyes.

"What's wrong with her?"

"She is having the baby."

"Lee, run and fetch Rafiki." Simba demanded

"It's too late, it's already coming." Nala cried in sheer agony

"Nala, we're all right here." I reassured her

"Lee" Simba ordered, "You need to help Nala deliver the baby."

"I'm not a doctor"

"Lee, please." Nala pleaded

"Nala, I don't know anything about childbirth, I can't do this."

"Lee," she demanded, "You're our only hope."

Sighing, I made my way over to get a better angle at what I was about to do. This is something I never thought I would do in my lifetime. Yet another activity right next to 'brawling with hyena's' and 'riding on the back of a male lion' to cross off the bucket list. Out of all the things I've done so far, this one scared me the most. But I knew if either of them were to make it, I had to put everything I had into it.

It took almost half an hour, but Nala was finally ready to push. She was breathing heavily and crying in agony. Her mother and Sarabi were on either side of her and Simba had his front paws wrapped around her in a hugging gesture. With one last piercing roar type scream, Nala's cub fell out into my hands. For a minute I was overjoyed, but it was quickly replaced with unmistakable horror.

Nala looked at me," What's the matter Lee?"

I couldn't look her in the eye, "It's not breathing."

In one final act of desperation, I leaned down and breathed air into the cub's lifeless body. After that I pressed down on its tiny chest numerous times. Continuing this ongoing CPR for I don't know how long, all the noises around me almost became mute. Weather it was Nala's uncontrollable sobbing at the loss of her child, or Simba telling me it was too late. Another young life wasn't about to be lost on account of me. Finally, I heard the faintest breath come from the cub's tiny mouth.

"It's breathing!" I assured.

Nala looked at me in disbelief, "What is it?"

"It's a girl." I said

I tried to hand the cub off to Nala, but she latched onto my arm with her tiny paws. Every time I tried to get her to let go, she would just latch on again. It was as if she thought I was her mother, or maybe brother would be the case maybe. Whatever the reason, everyone in the cave got a good laugh out of it.

"Looks like she already knows you" Simba said

I smiled in pure joy as a tear slid down my cheek, "Yeah, she does."

Another little sister.