Okay, before I forget, scoobs5601 helped me write like, the entire LouisxTaz thing in here, so special thanks to her :) Oh, and this chapter pretty much takes place during the last one. Taz, Dex and Bronson all belong to scoobs5601, and Rebecca and Diesel belong to Blumacaw13 :)

Diego paced back and forth in front of Shira, causing her to sigh for the twentieth time. She was lying on the moss rock in their cave, the heavy home-made cast still weighing down her leg, with seven cubs huddled at her side.

"I'm sorry..." she muttered again. He turned to face her.

"Stop apologising, I'm not a parent lecturing my kid, I'm just telling my mate that she shouldn't have done something so risky!"

"Look, I know leading Rudy up to the surface was a bad, not-very-well-thought-through idea, but I was thinking on the spot, I didn't have a lot of choices!" Shira tried to reason with him. Diego walked forward so close that their noses were touching.

"Maybe so, but you didn't need to risk your life."

She could actually feel his hot breath on her face, but she tried to ignore it. "Actually, I did. My life was at risk the second I fell through the hole. Well, technically my life has been at risk for the past four months!"

Diego closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths, which echoed in Shira's face. "Okay, I get that you've been in danger for a long time, but I still don't think it was necessary for you to allow a baryonyx to chase you up into our world."

"Diego, quit it!" she snapped. He leaned back slightly.

"Quit what?"

"Quit treating me like a cub! Quit making me feel so small and intimidated!" her eyes brimmed with tears. She'd missed Diego's comfort so much in the short amount of time they had been 'broken-up', but now they were together again, and he was being so unlike himself it scared her. "Why are you making such a big deal out of this?!"

Diego sighed, leaning in close again. His lips were mere millimetres from hers, which made her heart flutter for some reason. Before she knew what was going on, Diego had slammed his lips against hers, causing most of the cubs to gag. But neither Diego nor Shira noticed, because they were both too busy cherishing the kiss. It felt like they hadn't kissed properly in an age, but they knew that was just their imaginations.

When they finally pulled apart, both were grinning like crazy.

"I love you," Diego admitted. She smiled.

"I love you to-" Shira was stopped short by Diego's lips against hers once more. Once they stopped, Diego licked her cheek.

"My Kitty..." he said with a smile, hopping up on the rock beside her. She snuggled deep into his warm chest, licking his throat ever so gently.

"I don't even need to say it, do I?" she giggled. Diego rolled his eyes.

"I know, I know," Diego cleared his throat, then said in a mocking tone "Don't call you Kitty."

Smiling, Shira got herself comfortable against Diego, knowing she wasn't getting out of the cave anytime soon. They could hear the rest of the herd outside, enjoying themselves, and a single tear rolled down Shira's cheek and landed on Diego's paw.

He sighed. "You wanna get outta here, don't you?"

She nodded. "Yeah, but I don't care really..."

"Yes you do," Diego leaned down, positioning his lips by her ear "Kitty."

Instantly, Shira began to struggle, but Diego had a stern grip on her, keeping her in place. Besides, he knew she was kidding around. After a short while, she settled down again, and both sabres were still chuckling away quietly.

"So," she propped herself up to look him in the eye "What was up with all the over-protectiveness lately?"

Diego held his breath for a moment, then began slightly chewing her ear to calm down. Finally, he felt ready to speak. "Okay, you wanna know what's been going on? I came close to dying of starvation when I lost you, and I'm terrified I'll lose you again."

Shira's eyes widened; Diego almost died for her?! She could hear him calling her name softly, but it was distant, and her head was hurting. Her vision seemed to be blurring a little, until seven nursing cubs snapped her back to reality.

"Shira? You okay?" asked Diego worriedly, pressing his paw to her forehead, checking for a temperature. She nodded, batting his paw away.

"I'm fine, but I'm not convinced you are," Shira looked to her mate in concern, and noticed just how much skinnier he was than the last time she had seen him, before she got taken by Gutt.

Diego looked confused. "What do you mean?"

In answer, she pointed to his ribs, which could just be seen under his skin. Gently, he placed his lips on her forehead, trying to calm her. She snuggled up to him, and he realised that she was a lot thinner too.

Gutt hadn't been feeding her much on the ship anyway, and as a lot that had gone to her seven children, Shira had really lost a lot of weight, resulting in her becoming very thin. Worriedly, Diego licked her cheek, while running his paw down her back.

Knowing immediately what was up, Shira rolled her eyes. "I'm fine Diego, it's no big deal."

"Yes it is!" he insisted, hugging her "Look, here's an idea. When your leg's all healed, why don't we go hunting together?"

Shira's eyes lit up. "I'd love that!"

He smiled. "I thought you might. Now c'mon, go to sleep."

"Okay..." she sighed, burying her head in his chest. He ruffled her ears, smiling now that he knew he had his Kitty back for good.


Louis, Taz, Crash, Eddie, Peaches and Meghan were all hanging out in the clearing, messing about and generally having a good time. Crash and Eddie had been practising some trick that including firing themselves from trees, while the teens were talking. Meghan was telling a story, but Taz was distracted by the other possums.

Quietly, she sneaked away from the group, somehow slipping away without Louis seeing, which was odd because they had been sat next to each-other. She wasn't sure if they were even a couple yet, as they'd met in such an awkward situation... she was confused.

"Hey guys, what'cha doing?" she asked Crash and Eddie, clambering up beside them.

"Hi Taz," Eddie greeted her.

"We're gonna launch ourselves into the air and fly!" explained Crash.

"Like birds," clarified Eddie. Taz smiled.

"Sweet! Mind if I join ya?"

Both possums agreed that Taz could join in, so she began to help set-up. When they were done, Crash and Eddie went to hug Taz, but she stopped them.

"Not happening, but thanks for letting me help!" she told them.

"No problem," they said in unison.

"Wanna give it a try?" Crash offered.

"Me?" asked Taz, confused. Crash nodded.

"Yeah, you're a newbie to our experiments, so you should get to go first," Eddie nodded too.

Taz grinned. "Awesome! Thanks guys!"

"No worries," replied Crash, before Eddie tapped him on the shoulder.

"She does know that the last time we did this you got slammed into a tree, right?" whispered Eddie. Crash shrugged.

"Probably not, but oh well."

Meanwhile, Taz was scampering into the leaf slingshot that she had helped Crash and Eddie build. The twins pulled back on the contraption, stretching the flexible vines, before letting go, causing Taz to sail through the air.

"Taz? What're you doing?!" asked Peaches, looking up to see her newest friend flying overhead.

"Woo!" cheered Taz "I believe I can flyyyyyyy- oomph!"

Louis watched in horror as Taz crashed into a tree, before falling to the ground. "Oh my gosh Taz, are you okay?!" he asked frantically, running over to her and cradling her in his arms.

"Yeah, I'm fine..." she replied, blushing bright scarlet.

"Phew," sighed Louis "That's good."

"Yeah... great..." muttered Taz, still blushing like a fool.

"Aww, what's up? Why're you blushing?" Louis still had his arms around Taz, making her feel slightly light-headed.

"Blushing? I am? Oh, no reason..." Taz chewed her lip nervously.

"Uh, yeah... you are a little..." Louis informed her.

"Oh... uhm..." Taz tried to stop blushing.

Peaches smirked at her friend. "You know you're gonna have to tell him sometime, Taz."

"Gonna have to tell who what?" Louis sounded confused.

Taz's eyes widened. "Uh oh..."

Peaches grinned. "C'mon Taz, spill."

Taz gulped. "Uhm, Louis? I kinda have... something to tell you..." she scratched her neck awkwardly.

"It's okay Taz, you can tell me!" Louis reassured her, stroking her arm.

"Uhm, Peach?" Meghan spoke up "You know it's kinda your fault she has to tell him, right?"

Peaches shrugged. "Meh, she'll thank me for it later."

Louis was getting worried. "Seriously, what's up?"

Taz leaned forward and whispered in Louis's ear.

"This oughta be good...!" whispered Peaches with a grin, before Meghan playfully punched her friend in the shoulder.

"Uhm, I, uhm..." Louis couldn't stop his eyes widening in surprise.

"I'm sorry. I just couldn't live with myself any longer without admitting my feelings for you," confessed Taz, struggling not to cry.

"Taz, Taz, it's okay!" Louis promised her, pulling her in for a hug "I feel the same way."

"You do?!" exclaimed Taz, with wide eyes.

"Of course!" chuckled Louis, hugging her tight.

Taz hugged him back, just as tight. "I love you Louis," she murmured "You're one in a million."

"I love you too," Louis smiled, kissing her on the forehead. Taz smiled and blushed, before nuzzling his neck. In return, Louis squeezed her extra-tight, pressing his lips softly against her cheek. Sighing happily, Taz kissed him back. Very gently, Louis lay his head over hers.

"Hey, Louis?" Taz sat up slightly "I was wondering... when did you first like me in... y'know, 'that' way?"

"Uhm... I don't know for certain..." he admitted "But you looked so beautiful when I first saw you, with the dying light of the fire, and... what about you? When did you first like me?"

"Me, beautiful?" Taz grinned "Only a true love would say that and mean it. When did I first start like liking you? Well... I sort of had a little crush on you when we first met, and... I guess it kind of evolved once I realised how perfect you are," she leaned up and kissed him again.

"Thanks Taz... and you are very, very pretty. Anyone who would think otherwise is crazy," Louis ran his paw down her cheek, before slipping his arms around her once again "I love you so much."

Taz blushed and smiled. "I love you too. More than anyone could ever begin to imagine."

As her fringe flopped in front of her eye, Louis stroked it back, causing her to blush even redder. Taz stroked his hair, resisting the urge to cry with happiness. She'd finally found someone who truly loved her, unlike her family.

Leaving one arm wrapped around her neck, Louis sat back slightly. "Y'know, you really are something special Taz..."

"Thanks, handsome," giggled Taz "So are you."

"Oh, Taz, you're too nice. I'm not that handsome at all.." Louis blushed and kissed her.

Taz gently pulled away. "Don't put yourself down, baby..." she sighed softly, nuzzling his neck. He nuzzled her back.

"Thanks, sweetie..." Louis ruffled her hair.

"Hey, no ruffling up the Taz do!" Taz warned him jokingly, flattening her hair.

Louis held up his hands defensively. "Okay, okay, I get it. Hair's off limits. Can I be forgiven?" he asked, widening his eyes adorably.

"Course you can!" said Taz with a smile, as she melted under the cute gaze.

"Good. Now come here," he instructed, pulling her in close and kissing her cheek again. Taz giggled and kissed him back.

"Oh my little Tasmin..." he sighed lovingly, squeezing her tight. Crash and Eddie started making pukey faces.

"GROSS!" the complained, dry-heaving. Peaches glared as Meghan rolled her eyes. Trust the possum twins to ruin the moment...

Hey, there's a nice long scene for the Laz lovers out there :) Hopefully will update soon! Should be BuckxDiesel and MikaylaxOscar next, hope you likes! Thanks for reading and please review! xD