Here's chapter 29 and please review. Reminder, that all questions won't be answered in this story, and I will most likely write a sequel, if you guys are interested in reading.

Rafiki looked at Sarafina and Runju. Sarafina was trembling, and she felt Runju pulling her in closer.

"Nala will survive. The herbs I gave her did the trick. She'll make a full recovery in a around two or three weeks." Rafiki said.

Sarafina felt tears of relief forming in her eyes.

"She is going to survive." Around her the whole Pride looked relieved.

"She's still deeply asleep now, but she shall probably wake up soon. There really is no need for me to give her daily checkups again, but I will still come and check up on her." Rafiki said.

Runju finally found his voice, "Thank you," and his pride mates echoed his words.

Rafiki nodded, and walked away, and Runju and Sarafina went inside to be with their daughter.

TLKTLKTLKTLKTLKTLKTLKTLKTLKTLKTLKTLKTLKTLKTLKTLKTL K

Sarabi and Mufasa went inside the royal den.

"How is she?" Simba demanded the minute his parents walked in.

"She'll survive and make a full recovery." Sarabi said, smiling.

Simba felt as if a huge weight had been taken off his head. Nala was going to survive and that was all that mattered to him.

TLKTLKTLKTLKTLKTLKTLKTLKTLKTLKTLKTLKTLKTLKTLKTLKTL K

Five and a half weeks went by and Nala finally made it out of the den, but she was always accompanied by her mother or father, and wasn't allowed to leave Priderock. Another three and a half went by, and Nala finally managed to convince her parents to let her go out alone. Nala wanted to see Simba, yet she didn't want to see him at the same time. Why would want her when she couldn't protect his cub? He was probably disgusted at her.

Nala went down to the meadow, under a blanket of twinkling stars, her ancestors protecting her from every harm. Her fur was now back to normal, with no burns, scars or wounds on it. It no longer hurt to walk or run, she was back to normal, but none of that seemed to matter, if she couldn't be with Simba. The Pridelands had recovered quickly and was beautiful as ever, As Nala lay down on the soft green grass she thought back to the very first night she had started having special feelings for Simba. She had never thought their love would have led to this.

"Quite a sight tonight isn't it, sweetheart?" came a voice.

Nala turned around to see Simba behind her. He was all better as well. There were no traces of scars, burns or wounds on his fur. He lay down next to her.

Nala was speechless for a moment.

"Nala?" Simba asked, sounding worried.

"Simba I—"she began, but lost her voice, then continued. "I'm sorry."

Simba looked at her. "I couldn't protect the—"Nala started again.

Simba cut her off. "That wasn't your fault."

Nala shook her head, and tried to speak but she couldn't. Simba pulled her in closer and licked the top of her head.

"That wasn't your fault, darling. I should have protected you but I couldn't. I'm the one who should be apologizing." Simba whispered in her ear.

Nala found her voice. "I thought you would hate me. I was furious at myself."

She felt Simba lick her cheek. "I love you too much to hate you. I would never think of you like that."

Nala smiled against his chest. After a while she pulled back, but still didn't move away from Simba's hold.

"I missed you." Simba said, pressing his face against hers.

"I missed you, too." Nala replied, her eyes closed as she breathed in his scent after weeks of being apart.

"I was so worried about you," Simba said, nuzzling her cheek. "I was so scared you were going to die."

"I was too." Nala said, and licked his nose.

They talked about their recovery process for a couple minutes.

"How are things with your parents?" Simba asked.

"Fine, I forgave them." Nala said.

Simba looked surprised. "Why?"

"Because I don't want to waste life hating them. Scar spent his whole life hating, and it ended up destroying him. I won't be any better than him if I hate my parents for the rest of my life." Nala replied.

Simba studied her face for a minute. "I want to get revenge on them, but you're right, if I do, I won't be any better than Scar. And they're my parents, I owe them so much."

"So you'll forgive them?" Nala asked hopefully.

Simba nodded, "Yes, I will."

"I'm glad to hear that." Nala said, and rested her head on Simba's chest, listening to the steady sound of his heartbeat.

"How are your nightmares?" Simba asked.

"I still get them a lot. It's better when you're sleeping with me." Nala answered.

"Every night before I go to sleep," Simba said softly, "I think of you, about your nightmares. I really want to be with you, but I can't. If there was a way, I would."

"It's okay." Nala said.

"It's just that," Simba said, "I can't stand knowing that you're hurting and there's nothing I can do about it. It drives me insane."

"It's alright Simba," Nala soothed. "You don't have to worry about me that much."

"Yes I do," Simba insisted. "I love you."

Nala smiled, and said, "I love you too." She reached up and rubbed her muzzle against his. She felt Simba letting out a contented purr against her mouth.

"Are you still training with your father to be king?" Nala asked.

"I actually finished, the very day before we were blamed for those murders." Simba said. "Me and Dad are still going tomorrow though."

"That's great. Penda said that I'm still the leader, and Tama was happy to give me back the position. I plan on joining the hunt tomorrow, if my parents will let me." Nala said.

"Well, they better have given you your position as leader back. I would have taught them a good lesson if they didn't." Simba said, resting his head, on top of hers.

Nala chuckled, and both of them lay together in the silence for a while.

"Sweetie, I would love to stay out longer, but I don't want to get in trouble. I'll spend some time with you tomorrow, I promise." Simba said, and licked her cheek.

Nala nodded and got up. "Let's go."

Simba rose and she felt him entwining his tail in hers. The two of them walked back to Priderock. Before she walked into the big den, she rubbed her head against Simba's.

"Goodnight." Nala whispered.

"Good night." Simba whispered back.

TLKTLKTLKTLKTLKTLKTLKTLKTLKTLKTLKTLKTLK

The following morning Nala begged and begged her parents to let her go hunting, since the herds were back in the Pridelands. Sarafina and Runju finally agreed, and Sarafina and Nala walked out of the den. Kula was also present at the hunt and Nala was happy that she was there.

As Nala's hunting party went down and stalked the herds, she realized that she and Kula were much more quiet and stealthier while stalking they prey. The way they had hunted in the Outlands was different from the way that they were taught in the Pridelands, and they seemed to be able to run for a longer distance than they usually did.

"All those tiring hours of hunting in the Outlands actually paid off. I'm even better at hunting than I was." Nala thought.

Soon, Nala and Kula had brought down an antelope. While they were resting the rest of the hunting party finally made their kills.

Sarafina and Sarina came back with no kills since Nala and Kula already had one for their family. Nala and her mother began dragging the carcass back near Priderock, and settled under a shady tree.

"I was quite impressed with your hunting today Nala. You've seemed to improve." Sarafina said, as they waited for Runju and Hofu to join them.

"Thanks, Mom." Nala said smiling. "Hunting in the Outlands was hard, but it all paid off."

Sarafina nodded and nuzzled her daughter. Runju and Hofu approached them and they began to eat.

TLKTLKTLKTLKTLKTLKTLKTLKTLKTLKTLKTLK

One morning, a week and a half later, Simba made his way down to Priderock. It was still quite early, but he didn't mind. As he walked, he realized how good it felt to have his body completely back to normal. Mufasa was already by the base of Priderock. He nuzzled Simba, and Simba returned his father's nuzzle.

"Simba, do you want to take a walk with me?" Mufasa asked. "I have to talk to you about something."

Simba nodded, and father and son began their walk.

"Simba, you're done training to be king, and you're ready to take the throne." Mufasa said.

"Already?" Simba asked.

"You're ready, but you still need to find a mate. That's what I wanted to talk to you about." Mufasa said.

Simba wanted Nala to be his mate. If she said no, he would never mate another lioness until she said yes.

"Simba, when you were little, you're mother and I chose not to intend you to any lioness, because we wanted you to make your own choice, and because the lioness you mate with will only be the queen." Mufasa said. "Do you have any particular lioness in mind or do you want your mother and me to choose for you?"

Simba took a deep breath. "Well….." he began, but his voice trailed off, feeling embarrassed. He hadn't told his parents about his relationship with Nala, but he had planned on telling them soon.

"Simba?" Mufasa asked, with a small smile.

"I do." Simba said. "I have a lioness in mind."

"You don't have to tell me who it is if you don't want to. But remember that you have to have the lioness' parents blessings as well. And I don't want you to feel pressured that you have to choose a mate soon. Take as much time as you need." Mufasa said smiling at him.

Simba nodded, just as Zazu came flying toward them, greeting a good morning to them. He began the morning reports but the only thing on Simba's mind was Nala.