Hello lovelies! I hope you're all doing fabulously well.

I'm sorry, I'm rushing this Author's note so I can't reply to your reviews like I did in the other chapter but I will in the next one. (I'm supposed to be doing my homework lol)

I think you guys are going to like this chapter ;) Here's a cute little quote that I think goes really well with it:

No one else will ever know the strength of my love for you.

After all, you're the only one who knows what my heart sounds like from the inside. - Anon

CHAPTER 14: MAPACHA

NALA'S P.O.V

The Pride Landers really do have a gift of making animals feel at home. It's only been a week, but I feel like I've been here my whole life! I love the atmosphere here! Everyone is so genuine and I truly feel like I belong. There are a few squabbles here and there between a few pride members, but nothing that I should be packing up and leaving for, after all, the pride would be almost too perfect if that was the case.

Simba has cooled down since the last time baby daddy's name was mentioned and we haven't spoken about him since, as it should be. My mother brought me here to have a fresh start and that means leaving old and useless baggage behind.

But a few kicks from inside me are always a reminder that no matter how much I want to, I can never forget that lion.

Speaking of inside kicking… I've been to Rafiki for daily checkups since I'm apparently 2 weeks over due! Yikes! The old baboon advises me to stay off my feet and I try to, I really do. But after many years of only socializing with my mom and my ex, you can't blame a girl for always finding the opportunity to hang out and just have fun with her new friends. I love Simba's squad! They're so energetic and they love a good banter. They have a fantastic friendship going on and I admire the pride as a whole. Hearing stories of how the kingdom was turned upside down made my heart ache. They've been through hell and back, but their love for one another has kept their bond unbreakable. Simba said the past has only made them stronger and he too admires how they've stuck together during those cruel times. During our one on one talks, he'd open up to me and express how guilty he sometimes felt, knowing that his pride was suffering while he was living it up in the jungle. I would make it my duty to always be there to talk with him and remind him that it's not his fault. But if he still feels that way, use that energy to make his kingdom a better place.

Talks like these along with our strolls around the pride lands have gotten us even closer. The golden lion's feelings for me have never left and my feelings for him have grown stronger. I just love the way he makes me feel special when I'm around him and I don't have to endlessly roll my eyes as much as I used to when Omari would always divert our deep conversations to his shallow self. With Simba… it's different. He doesn't emphasize how the world revolves around him, but instead he is always interested in what I have to say or how I feel. He always attends to my checkups with me and always looks out for me.

"You okay?" See what I mean?

Returning back to reality stare at the young king before me nodding my head. We're currently walking back from Rafiki's tree after one of my appointments. Everything looks good so far but the old baboon is worried as to why I haven't given birth yet.

"Yeah…I'm just… thinking…" I reply as I gaze at the ground.

"You've been doing a lot of that lately," Simba lets out a small chuckle but turns serious when I wouldn't laugh along with him "You wanna tell me what's up?"

I reply with a sigh. "It's nothing major… I'm just thanking the great kings for bringing me here, with you." This earns me a small chuckle from the lion beside me and the butterflies in my tummy awakens. His smile is so handsome and warm. "I'm also thankful for this pride. I love it here and I know my cub will too." The king nods his head in agreement.

"It's a great place to live and a few of the pride lionesses have small cubs of their own so your cub will have friends to play with." The thought of my little one making friends and playing along with the other cubs with their mothers watching from a distance makes me smile but then it falters and the handsome king notices. "What's wrong?"

"What if I can't do it, Simba? I mean, I'm still a child myself! What if I fail at taking care of my own cub? I couldn't even get the father to stay for king's sake!"

Simba shakes his head and a stern expression is sculptures his features. "No Nala, don't you dare think like that and don't you dare blame yourself for Omari's reckless actions! He walking out was his stupid decision and you're not psychic so you wouldn't have known his dumbass would have left!"

My eyes close for a second and a tear falls. Ugh! Why am I still crying? I thought I was over this!

"Nala, look at me," I obey and let my teal orbs pour into his own, "You gotta stop beating yourself up over this. You are a strong, independent little lioness who I know will try her best to give the world to her cub if she could. Omari's stupidity is not your fault and you don't need him. Your cub has a lot of aunties and uncles looking after him or her. Especially Kula, I think she's more excited than any of us." I giggle as I imagine the small milk chocolate lioness fussing over the cub as if it is her own child.

"You're right." I nod my head as I take in everything Simba is saying and he continues.

"Damn right I am. Don't ever think you're alone in this, okay because you're not," He takes his paw and wipes a tear, "You've got me." Hearing these words from him just reminds me why I'm falling in love with this lion. He truly is the definition of a prince and every lioness's dream!

I throw myself at him and he gladly opens his arms and takes me in, rubbing smooth circles on my back. "You'll be a great mom, Nala. And I'll be with you every step of the way."

"Thank you." I breathe into his chest as he continues to hold me close.

Later that evening…..

The warm African night is peaceful and all that could be heard was the crickets, beetles and frogs chirping and croaking away in the grass the gang and I were currently lying on. We are in a circle and gazing up at the beautiful night sky. Everyone is coupled together in comfortable silence.

That was until Malka burped.

"Oh kings above do you have to be so disgusting?" His girlfriend groans in annoyance.

"Aye! Nice one Mal! Your loudest one so far!" Tojo ignores the death glare Tama sends his way as he encourages his friend who grins happily at his achievement.

"Thanks bro. I try, I try." He even pretends to brush some dust off his shoulders. This earns him a smack from the light caramel lioness and his laughter fills the atmosphere.

"Every time we stargaze, it still feels as if it's my first time." Naomi breathes and we all nod in unison.

"The moon is pretty big tonight too." Chumvi observes.

"Have you ever wondered what it would feel like to be on the moon?" The eight of us take a moment to think about Kula's question. And just when you think someone had something intelligent to say, Malka proves us wrong.

"The real question is, how did the cow jump over the moon and why?"REALLY?!

A harmony of groans and mumbles erupts from the group as Malka smirks. "What? It's a serious question!"

"Malka, that is just a nursery rhythm. A cow never jumped over the damn moon!" Tama's irritation is evident in her voice.

"I know, babe, but they shouldn't lie to little cubs like that." All Tama could so is roll her ruby eyes at her mate's antics and look back up at the sky. The squad continues to talk about stars and moon jumping cows and I would have joined them, but a sharp pain hits in my lower abdomen. This wasn't the pain I felt on the way to the Pride Lands…oh no this is much worse. I groan inaudibly, but the king besides me still hears it.

"You okay, Nal?" I nod my head to avoid him worrying and focus on the stars and the conversation to distract my thoughts from the pain. It subsides for a bit and I breathe out a sigh of relief.

But then it comes back in FULL force.

"OW!" I wince and clutch my stomach. The others stop talking and all attention is on me. My eyes are closed and the pain is getting sharper by the second.

"Nala, are you alright?" Simba is up on his feet and the others quickly follow. All I could so was shake my head and try to stay calm, but with a pain like this, it's very hard not to.

"I- I think….I think it's happening!" I manage to say and the girls' eyes widen while the boys are slightly clueless. Naomi, Tama and Kula are quickly by my side. Chumvi is the first to voice his confusion.

"What's happening?"

"She's in labor!" Kula exclaims and this causes a wave of panic from the boys. They're walking around in circles trying to figure out what to do, even Simba is stunned.

"Nala, can you stand?" The white lioness asks and I manage to nod my head. Miraculously, along with the support from my friends, I manage to get on my feet. "Okay, now can you walk?"

"I'll- I'll try." Moving my legs slowly as I take a step but after a few steps a sharp pain shoots through me and I can no longer keep my balance so it's back to the floor I go. "OWW!"

The boys finally find their bearings and rush to my side, Simba being the first one. Tama demands for one of them to get Rafiki , Sarabi and my mother so Chumvi races off. Everything is happening so fast around me but the pain is so intense! I'm trying to block most of it out.

" Oh my gosh It hurts so much!" I cry out and Simba gives me comforting nuzzles. They work for a while until I'm hit with another powerful contraction. My paw shoots up to grab the nearest thing and poor Simba just happens to be the unlucky victim. My claws sink into his skin while I cry out in pain.

"Nala! I can't feel my paw! L-Let go!" Eventually once the contraction subsides I'm able to let go and he inspects the damage.

"I'm so sorry Simba- OWW!" Now the tears are flowing and my breathing is becoming erratic due to all this pain. I don't even have time to investigate just how much I hurt the king because the powerful contractions start up again. They're getting shorter and shorter and I'm getting weaker and weaker. "ARGH! OH MY GOSH!"

"WHERE THE HELL IS THAT BABOON?!" I hear Tama shout in the background.

"Patience, young one, I am here." The small circle around me parts and I look over to see Rafiki walking towards me with various things in his small leaf package. My mother and the queen follow quickly behind and within seconds she is by my side.

"Nala! Baby, are you okay?"

You know, I've realized, animals ask really ridiculous questions when they're in a frantic state.

I shake my head and my eyes squeeze shut as I try to bear this never ending pain. My legs and lower abdomen feels like it's on fire and I'm desperate to get this baby out!

"It's coming, Mom! The baby's coming!" My mother touches my head.

"I know, sweetie. It's going to be alright. Just hang in there, okay?"

"Get it out Get it out Get it out!" I'm sobbing uncontrollably and my mind is everywhere! My mom told me labor is a painful experience, but I didn't know it would be THIS painful!

"Nala just stay calm okay?" Simba tries to soothe me but ridiculously failed.

"There is another lion trying to get out of my body and you're telling me to stay calm?!" I really didn't mean to shout but everything is just spinning out of control! He seems to understand my outrage as he just nods his head and apologizes.

"Oh Kings above, this is too much!" Kula exclaims with her paws on each cheek with a mortified expression on her face.

"I am never having children." Naomi too looks like she's about to pass out.

The queen lives up to her role by commanding everyone to give us some space and they reluctantly obey, well the boys do anyway. After some hard persuasion from Tama, Sarabi agrees to let the girls stay as long as they give Rafiki some space. I'm holding my mother's paw as tight as I can, careful not to unleash my claws this time. She stares at me with the most pained expression on her face and it makes me want to cry even more. When a child is in pain, the mother will also feel hurt knowing that there is nothing they can do but watch this one out. I want to hug her but the sting is inhibiting me from even moving. So imagine my fear when Rafiki said it's time for me to push.

"But it hurts so much!" I protest.

"I know that, Miss Nala but you have to push in order to stop the pain." The baboon informs me. So without further argument, I follow his command, take a deep breath and push like I've never pushed before.

A few pushes and a whole lot of screaming later, there was silence.

And then, the sound of my cub's tiny whimper breaks through the silence of the night and made my heart race way past its average beats per minute.

It was music to my ears.

"A girl." My mother croaks as her tear filled eyes gazes at her grandchild Rafiki was holding, "You have a baby girl."

"It's not over yet." I barely whisper. All eyes divert to me and brows furrowed in confusion.

"What?"

"There's another one."

Rafiki softly places the little girl next to me and by instinct I lick the body fluids off of her wet tawny coat and creamy underbelly. A few moments later, he places a second cub next to me and just as I did to my little girl, I lick off the body fluid from my little boy's creamy coat while he whimpers and trembles. Mom is sobbing her eyes out on Sarabi's shoulder. "Mimi nina bibi!" She repeats over and over. She's so overwhelmed and so am I.

"Yes, Sarafina," Her best friend chuckles, "You're a grandmother!" The queen comforts her while smiling down at me. "Well done, Nala."

"Congratulations baby Momma." Tama teases. "You're the mother of twins."

I couldn't help but smile and a tear involuntarily drops while Naomi and Kula wipe their own. I even spot Tama wiping a stray tear but obviously she denies it when Kula questions her.

"What are you going to call them?" The pride land queen asks me. I turn to my little girl and smile.

"She will be called Taraji, which means hope because throughout everything I've been through, she and her brother gives me hope that everything will be okay. I have faith that I will be a great mother to the both of them."

I then look at the little boy and I smile lovingly at him. He's smaller than his sister but still so beautiful. "His name is Penda, meaning love and admiration because he and his sister are my everything. Even though I've only just met them, I love them so much. I always will." My mother finally stops her sobs of joy and she turns to me with a broad smile on her face.

"Those are beautiful names, Nala. Beautiful names for beautiful children."

I admire my whole world and the reason for my existence in front of me and I just can't stop smiling. They're so gorgeous! My heart is bursting with so much love for them right now and from this moment, just staring at their cute little faces, all doubts that I had earlier today are completely gone with the wind. Instead, they are replaced with unconditional love and determination to give them my all. I refuse give up on them the way their father did. They will experience love from everyone and I promise to always protect them.

I look up to the great kings and silently express my gratitude for these precious gifts, before looking down and giving my babies a soft kiss on their tiny foreheads.

"Welcome to the world Taraji and Penda. I love you."

A/N: AHHHHH! Ladies and Gentlemen, the moment has finally arrived! Nala is officially the mother of twins!

Tell me what you think!