The next morning when Fuli woke up, all sign of Shida had vanished. He was nowhere to be seen or smelled. Fuli didn't bothered going looking for him, for she knew he was miles away by now and with her wounded arm, it would take weeks to find him. Instead, she wandered back to the Pride Lands and headed to Makini to get her to nurse her wound. She was greeted by the mandrill, who always looked optimistically at things, though Fuli highly doubted she would have any cheeky comments this time.

"Hey, Fuli, been a long time," she greeted. "What's been-" she stopped her talk when she noticed Fuli's large cut. "Great Kings, what happened, Fuli?"

"I don't want to talk about it," Fuli sighed. "Can you mend it?"

"I'll see what I can do," Makini said, climbing the tree and returned back with her supplies. "Who did this to you?"

"I said I don't want to talk about it!"

"Did something bad happened?" Makini asked, dipping a leaf in the concoction she had made from her supplies. "This will sting a bit."

"Huh, think I have tried wor – ouch," she exclaimed. "That hurt!"

"Told ya it would sting. So, who have you been fighting?" Makini asked, patting her wound with the concoction.

"I told you-"

"It's a claw mark, Fuli, I know one when I see it," Makini sighed, giving the cheetah a judging look.

"I suppose everyone is going to know anyway," Fuli sighed. "Well yesterday Shida returned, but he had changed."

"Changed how?"

"He was no longer the sweet and vigorous cub I knew, he had changed into a power, hungry beast. He harassed Tasha and told Kion he should be the one in charge of The Guard, not Amara. But Kion also has his weaknesses with his temper. He went too far with Shida and told him he – he would never see him again and he shouldn't count himself as his son and – and he wished it was him who had been born stillborn," the cheetah cried.

"Wow, sounds horrible," Makini said, giving the cheetah a sad look.

"Well Shida got emotional and swung his paw at him, but I blocked his way and was hit instead," Fuli said, feeling the pain she had felt yesterday swell again.

"So, this is Shida's work?" Makini asked, inspecting the wound closer.

"Yeah, our family is well example of one splitting apart," Fuli sighed, laying down in the grass. "I don't know what to do. I'm not going to forgive Kion until he has given Shida an apology, but that seems impossible now. It wasn't his fault. It was another one who tricked him."

"What do you mean?"

"It wasn't Shida who changed at will, it was Makucha who manipulated him into thinking he owned the right to be leader," she sighed. "Always is that leopard going to ruin my life."

"You're not thinking of seeking him out, are you?" Makini asked suspiciously.

"Makini, you don't understand. That leopard has tried to rape me on several occasions," Fuli spat. "Why should I have the courage to face him, to stand up for the ones I love."

"I know it takes a lot, but you can't just always run-"

"Run? Makini, what don't you think I'm trying to do?" Fuli hissed frustratedly. "I have been trying to protect my family from him, but it seemed like I failed, and I don't know how I'm going to continue while the family is split apart."

"You could try and talk to them?" the mandrill advised.

"Even if Kion's anger has melted away, I wouldn't in a million years change his mind about Shida," Fuli sighed. "He is to stubborn to face he made a mistake, and I don't got any proves it was Makucha who was behind this."

"Fuli, have courage. I'm sure you'll figure it out," Makinin comforted.

"You're the only one who has that amount of confident, Makini," Fuli sighed. "Are you done? I can't push my meeting with him forever."

"Yeah, just take it easy the following days," Makini advised. "And don't run too fast."

"Thanks, Makini, I'll see you," Fuli said and got up, walking back to Pride Rock.

When the cheetah arrived home, she found the lion waiting for her like he usually did, but she had never seen him mad before.

"Fuli, where have you been, I was about to-"

"A little late for that, don't you think," she hissed, feeling her anger come back. "You're just so incorrigible, Kion!" Fuli hissed. "Every time someone hurts me, you just can't control your temper. But worst is that it went out over your son. Kion do you realize how hurt he and confused he was? How hurt I was?"

"He harassed my family and hurt my wife," Kion growled. "I have every reason to be mad on him."

"Do you? Do you know who it was who tricked him into this?" Fuli hissed.

"I don't care if rogues bullied him into hurting his only family," Kion hissed.

"It wasn't rogues," Fuli said slowly. "It was Makucha!"

"What?" Kion asked puzzled, forgetting his anger.

"It was Makucha who twisted our son's mind, telling him he would be leader."

"That's stupid," Kion said grumpily. "We have taught them to stay out of trouble."

"Actually," Akisi interrupted, walking timidly closer. "You haven't mentioned a word about Makucha."

Fuli and Kion both looked amazed at him.

"Who is he?" he asked.

"None of your concern," Kion growled.

"Dad, you want to make same mistake?"

"Actually, kion," Fuli sighed. "They got the rights to know. We have been trying to protect them, pretending Makucha wasn't a thread, but we only made it worse when we kept his existing a secret."

"What did he do that was so bad you didn't want to tell us about him, I mean Janja once tried to drown you," Tasha said, wondering too, why she had never heard of the leopard.

"Because he did something worse than Janja," Fuli sighed. "You are all grown enough to know about it. It was before you three were born that it really went downhill. Makucha has been our enemy from the day we met him. We of course did somethings that wasn't smart as well like crossing his territory, but what really was unforgivable of him happened two seasons ago. I and your father were foolish in love and I was hurt to find out he had to leave the Pride lands. Our path split and I was heartbroken to leave him, but I followed after him. And by a coincidence I ran into Makucha. He was still as I remembered him. Overconfident, creepy, lingering eyes and his wicked grin. But something that had changed within him. His mating season seemed to last the whole season."

The three cubs looked confused at their mother, not understanding where her story was heading.

"The first thing he did was to kiss me twice, but I rejected him. But that wasn't the only thing he wanted. He went behind me and I realized what it was he was about to do. He wanted to mate."

Tasha and Amara both gasped at the news.

"Luckily your dad managed to come in time before he did his act," Fuli sighed, giving the lion a weak smile. "But that day wasn't all bad news. It was the day I discovered I was expecting."

"So, you and dad lived the wildlife for a while before returning?" Akisi asked.

"Yeah, but the day the four of you arrived. He returned. I had a nightmare about him killing the three of you and it was because your dad had managed to get cubs with me, so could he."

Amara, Tasha and Akisi looked scared at their mother, understanding why she hadn't mentioned a word about the creep.

"And that's how we both came to the decision it was best not to mention him," Fuli sighed.

"And what about last season when I met him?" Akisi asked. "What had happened."

"yeah, about that. Ahadi captured me but he waited to kill me before one had used me. It turned out to be Makucha and was horrified to know there were no escape from him this time."

"So – he – he?" Akisi asked, scared to know the answer.

"No, yet again I escaped him. Though I needed Tani's encouragement to flee."

"And that was when I met him," Akisi said, astounded to learn that he still didn't knew the whole truth about his parents.

"Why didn't you mention you had met a leopard to us, Akisi?" Amara asked.

"I thought he was not important," Akisi confessed. "Besides, mom told me to keep it quiet."

"And if you knew the story you would have done the same?" Tasha asked.

"No, course not."

"Enough, cubs," Fuli said firmly. "There is enough to do. Go and do our duties while I have a chat with your dad."

"Come on, mom," the cubs said annoyed.

"Unless you all want to be grounded for a whole week!"

Slowly the cubs left Pride Rock and Tasha gave her parents a last worried look before she too vanished.

"So, what make you think Makucha is behind this?" Kion asked sternly.

"Because none of our cubs would have done it in their right minds!" Fuli hissed. "Yes, maybe you can blame it on Scar's blood that runs in our family, but we trained them to be protectors, not concours."

"And is that your only proof?" he questioned.

"Yes, because you have scared Shida away so he can't testify."

"Then you can still consider him to be no longer a part of this family!" Kion hissed.

"How can you be so narrow minded, Kion!" Fuli bellowed. "He is your son!"

"He was before he decided to harass me and his siblings," Kion hissed.

"I don't believe my own ears," Fuli said bewildered. "He is family, Kion! You know how hurt I was to know you wished he was the one who was stillborn?"

"No, because it doesn't matter."

"I don't believe it!"

"You better be!"

"Then you know my answer," she hissed, feeling tears appear in her eyes. "You're just like your granduncle again. Not admitting you could be wrong!" she added as she ran out of the cave, tears streaming down her cheek. How could Kion admit he didn't regret a single word from yesterday? She headed towards her cheetah territory and curled herself together and tried to wipe off the never-ending stream of tears. She could her paw steps was closing in and begged it wasn't Kion who had run after her, because she really didn't want to see him ever again.

"Fuli?" a comforting voice asked.

Fuli turned her tearful face towards who had called her name and saw her mother, shining like queen. She looked puzzled down on her crying child.

"Great Kings, Fuli, what happened?" she asked, walking over to her and pulled her into her chest. "Goodness, what happened to your arm, it's all scared," she added, taking a closer look on her.

"I don't love him," Fuli cried.

"Who, sweetie," Matea said, wiping more tears away from her eyes.

"Kion, I don't love him anymore," she sobbed, pushing her head into her mother's chest.

"What happened, Fuli," Matea asked, running her paw down her daughter's spine. "You have been together for almost three seasons. What have changed?"

"What has changed is that he won't see Shida," she sobbed. "What worse is he told him he wished he had been stillborn, making this my fault because I lost Angel in birth."

"Oh no, honey," Matea comforted. "He can't have been honest with that. He is his son, he loves him."

"That's what was I hoped, but he can be so narrow minded and won't admit he is wrong," Fuli sobbed.

"What was it that made it come so far?"

"Shida returned yesterday, completely changed from his normal self," Fuli confessed. "He harassed Tasha and told Kion he wasn't worthy of being leader, and it should have been him instead of Amara."

"But who gave you that scar?"

"After Kion told him he wished it was him who had been stillborn, he lost control and readied his paw at Kion, but I ran in between them and got the scar instead. I ran after him of course."

"Why?"

"Because that wasn't my son, ma," Fuli said. "He had changed, I wanted my cub back. I wanted to know what had changed him. "

"So, what did you get out of him?"

"Just that this was once again my mistake," the cheetah sighed. "I didn't warn my cubs about Makucha!" she sobbed. "I didn't mention him once."

"So, what are going to do to make this right?" Matea asked worriedly.

"I don't know, something unforgivable, I think," she sighed. "Can I stay with you for some time?"

"You're always welcome at me, sweetie," Matea comforted, hugging her hurt daughter tightly.

"Thanks, ma, right now I just need to be as far away possible from Kion. I know I should be with my cubs, but right now I don't want to be a part of that lion's life."

Days went by, and Fuli enjoyed her days with her mother, being like old times. Though she missed her cubs a lot and often thought about them, but she knew they would be fine with their father. Kion hadn't seemed to forget her either, because he had tried to look for her, but had ended up in a discussion with Matea instead.

"Please, Matea, let me see her," Kion said beggingly. "I need to talk to her."

"She doesn't want to talk to you, Kiongozi," Matea barked. "And I perfectly understand her! How could you say that! She blames herself because you wanted it to be Shida to be the stillborn. How could you!"

"Matea, he talked down to his siblings and me-"

"And I suppose your pride is more worth than your cub?" Matea hissed.

The lion looked astounded on her. "Course not – I-"

"Then why can't you apologize to Shida?" Matea mocked. "Do you know how much it hurt my daughter, admitting you didn't regret a single thing?"

"Because he hurt his own mother!" Kion growled.

"If she is able to forgive her, then why can't you?"

"This is not something I want to discuss with you," Kion barked. "Step out of my way, Matea or-"

"Or what?" she mocked. "Are you going to use your roar on me? Cowering behind it like a little cub. You know what, Kion, Fuli deserves better. You should stop acting like a spoiled prince and be the father your cub needs."

Kion sneered at her before he turned around, mad on himself for losing an argument with a cheetah.

But as the days went by, Fuli could feel an emptiness growing in her. She knew why it had come but realized if she had to get rid of it, she would have to face the lion. So, with a heavy heart, she left her mother, who had been so happy the last few days, having her cub back. Fuli returned to Pride Rock to a surprised family. Kion was sheer joyful, seeing his wife again and hugged her passionately, but Fuli didn't hugged him with the same affection as he did. Her cubs on the other hand, she kissed and hugged heartwarmingly, and Tasha noticed it.

"Mom?" she questioned, when her father had gone out to catch a meal, to celebrate her homecoming. "Have you forgiven dad?"

What smile had been on her mother's face slowly faded away. "Has your father been looking for your brother?"

No."

"Then consider it a no," she sighed. "But I couldn't bare living with this emptiness inside me. I have to do something about it."

"Like what?"

"Nothing that concerns you, sweetie," she comforted, licking her forehead.

"Mom, if it's something reckless, I'm going to stop you."

"Don't worry, Tasha, I got this under control," Fuli comforted. "I'm just going to enjoy these last days I have with you."

What did she mean by that? Tasha thought for herself as she watched her mother walk over to Tani and her cubs.

The mating season passed as quickly as it had begun, and Fuli were relieved by that. She couldn't take another day where she had to lie, but soon all of that would be over, when she had done what she had to do, to keep her family safe from Makucha.

She woke up early in the morning, before everyone else when she felt a little sting in her belly. What should have been happy smile turned into a sad expression. It was time to make her sacrifice. She got up on her paws and kissed the sleeping lion goodbye while whispering "I'm sorry" to him. She walked the lonely way down the rock and watched the sun rising high above the savanna. She headed towards the leopard's territory, determined to seek out Makucha and get an end to this once and for all. She found the leopard sleeping in a tree, out over a cliff.

"Isn't it a bit risky, laying there?" she questioned. The leopard ignored her, but his wicked smile appeared, well knowing who had come to visit him. She walked closer and grabbed around the tree trunk, shaking it as much as she could. "Wake up, you prick. We got something to finish!"

The leopard opened his eyes and looked hungrily at her. "So, you have come back? What changed your mind?"

"You know why I have come, smarty," Fuli hissed. "You poisoned my son's mind!"

"Ah, yes, so how was the family reunion?" Makucha said devilishly. "Did daddy get angry?"

"Shut your mouth, Makucha, you knew perfectly well how it would end!" the cheetah said fiercely.

Makucha noticed her scar. "Who gave you that? I want to congratulate them."

"Your apprentice."

The leopard's smile grew. "Oh, daddy must be very disappointed in his son, hurting his mommy. And what is mommy going to do about it?" the leopard mocked.

"To make sure you never touch my family ever again!" Fuli hissed, eyes narrowed.

"And how are you going to do that?"

Fuli's face turned from anger into shame. "By mating with me."

Makucha's face expression went from mocking to confused. "What are you talking about?"

"It has been your goal for some time, to fuck me!" the cheetah hissed.

"I can feel you have a requirement for it as well?" the leopard questioned.

"Yes, you have to promise to stay away from my family forever and never trouble me again!" she hissed.

Makucha's wicked smile grew. "Deal."

Fuli's ears went droopy. "Then let's get this over with," she sighed and laid herself down, like an obedient cheetah who had found a mate. She looked away from the leopard who crept on a seducing way in on her, touching her cheek.

"Oh, Fuli, you really are pathetic," the leopard mocked, launching his claw in her bum. "You really think I'm going to do it?"

"What, but-"

"I may want to make out with you back when you were frightened and my prey, but now you're doing this willingly," the leopard mocked, walking around her, with his claw still in her fur. "Do you really think I wanted to waste my time on something as pathetic as you? With a slutty cheetah who has gone behind her husband's back? I fucked better ladies that had more dignity than you."

"I'm sure you have!" Fuli hissed, feeling tricked that all her work had been for nothing.

"Oh, but I can assure you I'm better than your lion, more resilient than him."

"Dream on, Makucha," she spat, trying to get up, but Makucha forced her down.

"But tormenting your family further will be a pleasure for me," Makucha said in his soft voice. "So, the question is how I do it. Killing you on the spot, or throwing you of the cliff?"

"You wouldn't dare!"

"Watch me," Makucha said, opening his large jaw and launching it around her neck.

"leave my mother alone, Makucha!"

The leopard looked up and released his grip. Fuli looked so, too. Out from the long grass had Shida appeared, following his mother trail.

"AH, another happy family reunion," Makucha mocked. "Come to see your mother die, getting more guilt on your shoulder, boy."

"Shida, what are you doing here, go back," Fuli said alarmed. She hadn't thought that anyone would had followed her.

"That doesn't bite on me, Makucha. You leave my mother alone, for good and we won't trouble you," Shida said, reasoning with the leopard.

"No, that would count as a win for you, and I got enough of cubs playing heroes when they should know their place," Makucha spat, launching round Fuli's neck again and dragging her up in the tree with difficulties. Fuli kicked the leopard, trying to get free of his jaw.

"Let go of her!"

He let go of his grip and forced Fuli out on a branch, continuing walking forth while the cheetah walked backwards, slowly stepping into her death.

"So, anything last to say before you fall?"

"Yeah, I pity those girls who you tricked into mating with a filth like you, and I pity you for turning out like this," Fuli spat.

The leopard snarled and launched a claw at her, but he was forced backwards. The leopard looked madly back to find Shida who had grabbed his tail with his mouth and pulled him down.

"You leave my mother alone!" he snarled between his gritted teeth.

"Charming, Shida, but I'm done with you," Makucha mocked. "Now let go or I will have to kill you, too."

"Try me!" he spat agitated.

"Noo, Shida, don't do this," Fuli begged up from the tree, not able to save him because she had pressed her claws so deeply into the tree trunk.

Shida launched a claw at the leopard and scratched his chin, so did the leopard and gave Shida a nasty cut on the cheek. They both looked determined at each other, while circling around each other, ready for any attack. They stopped. Shida's back was facing the grass and makucha's the cliff. The leopard pounced and launched his sprint. This was what the cheetah had been waiting for. Shida simply turned around and kicked the leopard with his back legs, so the leopard was forced backwards with force enough to throw him of the cliff. Shida sighed relieved over the fight and walked over to his mother who still looked shocked over her son's fight.

"It's okay, mom, just come down," Shida said, not paying attention to his bleeding cheek.

"I – I can't, I'm stuck," Fuli said alarmed.

"Just release one paw at the time and walk, you can do it ma," Shida said optimistically.

Fuli gulped and carefully tried to release her front paw from the tree, without looking down. She got it free and placed it on the trunk, doing the same thing with the other one and her two back paws. She carefully climbed down the tree and stopped when the tree began to creak.

"Come on, ma, you are almost down."

Fuli continued and jumped elegantly down from the last branch. She gave her son a comforting smile but then she felt something pulling in her legs, forcing her back and out over the cliff. She managed to get a hold on the edge, but she couldn't hold on for much long.

"Mom!" Shida screamed from above. His head appeared over her and looked horrified at her. Then she felt a something sharp dig deep into her fur. She looked down and almost lost her grip when she saw Makucha was holding on to her, biting her bum fiercely.

"If I go, you do so too," he hissed like a maniac.

Fuli looked horrified back on her son. "Tell your dad that I forgive him, and never forget how much I love the five of you," she said, caressing her cub's bleeding cheek and forced her head up to kiss it. Then she let go of the cliff and closed her eyes, to forget she was falling to her death. But her fall was stopped. She opened her eyes and saw Makucha had lost his grip and fell.

"No," Fuli exclaimed horrified, reaching a paw for the leopard, but it was too late. The leopard had fallen too far. Fuli looked tearfully up and saw her son's face. He had managed to bite around her mane before she fell. He slowly dragged her upwards, safe on the ground. Fuli looked with guilt down over the cliff.

"Mom, you can't blame yourself for what happened," Shida comforted. "He chose this way, it wasn't your fault, and if you had saved him, he owed you much more than his life."

"He – he is gone," Fuli said timidly, tears appearing in her eye.

"Mom, you are naive. He wouldn't stop troubling just because you saved him or if he had mated with you," Shida said, layong a paw on her shoulder.

Fuli looked guiltily into her son's face. "You must think I'm a dirty slut."

"No, ma, you were brave," Shida comforted. "It was foolish to do so, but at least you did. Thanks, but I'm not sure it's enough to make dad forgive me. But you should probably go," the cheetah sighed. "Dad is probably worrying sick. You didn't tell him where you went, did you?"

"No," Fuli sighed. "You have to tell him yourself."

"What, no I can't go back," Shida said alarmed.

"I can't continue, Shida," Fuli sighed. "I will only slow you down. Just tell your dad to meet me at Hakuna Matata Falls."

"But I can't face them alone. Please come with me," Shida begged.

"You have to show your courage again, Shida," Fuli said, placing a paw on his cheek. "You showed it today, facing Makucha and defending my honor, but now you have to do the same and face them you love. I know it's hard, but you have to be strong, my boy," she said, kissing the cheetah on his forehead. "Now go."

Shida looked dumbfounded at her mother for not retuning with him. Why was she being scared? How was he going to face his family without the only one who supported him? But he had to do it or else he would never truly be his mother and father's son. He took a last glace at his mother before he headed back to the Pride Lands.

He slowed down when he crossed the border and saw the familiar shadow of Pride Rock, rising above everything else.

"Hey, Shida," a voice called.

Shida saw a lioness run towards him. He recognized her as his aunt Tani. "What are you doing here? You father is really pissed on you and your mother is nowhere to be found."

"I know, I know, I'm here to apologize," he sighed.

"Didn't you hear me, Shida," Tani said more fiercely. "Your dad is pissed on you for hurting your mother."

"I know that, but she is all right," Shida said, starting to run again.

Tani followed him. "You know it's not a good idea to trouble your dad when he is already pissed."

"I hope this time it's about ma not telling him where she went."

"Where did she go-" Tani tried to ask, but was pinned down by two lions, one brown and the other golden with cheek fluffs.

"Hey, ma," the brown lion greeted. His black mane was beginning to appear. "Who is the cheetah?"

Shida looked confused on the two playful cubs. "Are they-?"

"Yeah, Nuka, Zawadi, say hello to your cousin Shida," Tani said, getting free of her cubs.

Shida looked astounded at them. "Wow, I have missed a lot."

"Wow, he looks just like aunt Fuli."

"Shida?"

Shida turned around to face a red maned lion with mane going down his eye.

"Hey, brother," Shida tried to say in a funny tone, but his nervousness was shining through.

"I should chase you off," the lion hissed.

"Please, Akisi, listen to me," Shida begged. "I need to talk to father and give him an apology-"

"You bet you are," Akisi mocked. "And it better be good, because he is blaming you for all of this. He still hasn't forgiven you for giving mom the scar."

"Shut your yap, Akisi," Shida said annoyed and walked pass his brother, beginning climbing the rock. He found his father, facing his back, talking to his aunt and uncle and saw his sisters in the background. They were the first one to notice his presence. He coughed to let the lion know he wanted his attention. The lion turned slowly around to face his son and his anger immediately showed itself. His eyes narrowed. His teeth were bare.

"I told you very clearly not to ever return," the lion snarled.

"But I have."

"You were foolish to do so!"

"And what if I had a message from ma?" Shida asked. "Would you then tell me to run away?"

"Then spit out before I forced it out from you!"

"Mom sacrificed herself today for us all," Shida confessed. "She wanted Makucha to mate with her. She thought it was the only way to keep the family safe from him, but he was no longer interested in her, mating with him willingly. If I hadn't come, mom could have been dead by now and thanks to her, Makucha is gone for good."

"Your mother would never be so foolish to face him alone!" the lion barked.

"It's true, ask her yourself!"

"That leopard is mental," Amara said from the back.

"Quiet, Amara," Kion warned.

"No, you be quiet, dad," Tasha said, stepping forth. "Mother is right. You are too protective towards her."

"Tasha!" Kion said warningly.

"No will you just listen. This is exactly the same thing that happened to Tani."

"Hold your tongue."

"Dad, you thought Tani was going to hurt ma whenever she was on patrol with her, because she had been trying to kill her twice before."

"That's not the same thing."

"Isn't it, dad? Just consider. Shida hurt ma with a scar, and you told him you wished he had been stillborn. No wonder why ma did this on her own. She feels guilty because she blames herself for being responsible for this."

Kion watched her for a moment. "Please, dad, you know mom is right."

Kion turned his head away, looking into the ground. "Course she is," he sighed, looking at his son.

Shida raised an eyebrow and looked puzzled at his dad. "Are you giving me an apology without admitting it's one?"

"Yes," the lion sighed deeply. "I'm to protective. Can you forgive me, son? I should never had said you weren't my son. You always are and will be."

There was a moment of silent between the cats. Then Shida moved closer to his dad and buried his face in his mane, sobbing.

"I'm sorry too, dad, you are the best leader The Guard ever has had, and Amara is going to be just as good," the cheetah sobbed.

"Stop your crying, son, it doesn't look good for the ladies," the lion teased. "Girls hate sissies."

Shida turned his head to face Tasha. "I'm sorry, Tahsa, for those horrible things I called you. You are the best big sister a cheetah could wish for."

Tasha digested his apology. "A simple "sorry" would have been fine," she said at last and joined the hug, which caused the male cheetah to purr. "You're not a bad little brother yourself."

"Ha, you have a soft spot too," the lion teased. "Now where is your mother?"

"She is waiting for you at your love place," Shida teased.

"Ah, very funny, son," the lion said amused, rubbing his paw in the cheetah's mane. "But I highly doubt it's that she is expecting," the lion added, walking out of the cave and headed towards Hakuna Matata Falls. He was beginning to worry what it was Fuli wanted with him alone. She hadn't come so far that she wanted a break-up?

He walked into the dense jungle and came to the waterfall. He noticed the cheetah was pacing the grass, looking worried. He stepped out of his hide. "Fuli?"

The cheetah stopped her pacing and looked with a concern face on the lion. "Listen, Kion, I'm so sorry-"

But the lion simply touched her cheek gently and pressed her head against his mane. "Shida said you wanted to talk with me," Kion said softly, stroking his paw down her body.

"Yes," she sighed and looked with tearful eyes into his. "I need to know where we stand."

"What do you mean?" the lion asked puzzled.

Fuli stepped away from the lion's comforting hug. "I used you, Kion," the cheetah confessed. "I mated with you just so I could be sure that Makucha never will ger cubs with me," the cheetah confessed. "It was stupid. Course he could have used me. I'm really sorry I put you through bthis all for nothing."

Kion caressed her cheek. "You really think I'm mad on you for trying to protect your family?" he questioned with a hint of amusement. "Fool, you are the most wonderful girl I know, and you know I would do anything for you."

"But how can you ever forgive me?" she sobbed. "I wanted to cheat on you without you knowing it."

"Hey, that's my wife you're talking to," the lion teased. "You didn't cheat, you wanted to make a sacrifice. So why didn't you come back with Shida? Was it to show he could face me without your help?"

"No, it wasn't because of that, it's – I'm just slowing him down and I'm going to do the same to you," the cheetah said in a playful voice.

"What, no you're not," the lion teased, rubbing his paw on top of her head. "You're The Fastest."

"I'm not going to be that for so much longer," the cheetah teased, continuing with her playful voice."

"What are you saying? You're not-"

"Yes, Kion, you're going to be a father again," the cheetah sighed happily. "I'm pregnant."

The lion's face changed from comforting to express the outmost joy. He had never felt so happy, not even when she had said yes to marrying him. He was going to be a dad, again. He lifted the cheetah high into the air and swung her around. He lost his balance and Fuli landed on top of him. He caressed dreamingly his paw across her graceful back, causing her to purr gently while she looked enchantingly into his eyes.

"I love you," he said softly, looking enchantingly into her glowing emerald eyes.

"So, you're not mad that I almost died in the attempt of keeping our family safe?" she teased.

"How could I," the lion said with joy in his voice. "I'm going to be a dad again."

"Kion, I don't know if it's true, I have just felt a little sting, could be anything."

"I'm still going to believe it's a cub screaming to be fed.

"If that's the case," the cheetah giggled. "That means we have to discuss some stuff. First, I don't want to be looked after or supervised. I'm going to hunt whenever I want."

"If you say so, fool," the lion teased, licking her mouth.

"And I don't want you to be concerned with my health."

"I won't, if you promise me to go directly to Makini when you feel the cubs are on their way," Kion said, giving her a teasing smile.

"Kion, it won't be like last time, I promise," Fuli said.

"Then I won't be worried for your safety," Kion said, pulling the cheetah in for a passioned kiss, nuzzling her fur roughly.

"I love you."

The end.