Chapter 35

The funerals were held over the course of a week. The Evil Chasers had gleaned all they could and the case was pretty much a slam dunk – they just had to find the perpetrators. As Mandora promised, the entire Interplanetary Control Force was on it. The evildoers wouldn't have much room to hide as the reach of the ICF was all across the galaxy.

"I'm exhausted," Lion-O said as he collapsed onto the bed in his room. It was after dinner on the day of the last funeral.

"Understandable. I'm not sure how many more funerals I could take. My heart is heavy for our new friends. Baki was their chance for a free Plundarr and now…" Cheetara shrugged before collapsing onto her side next to her fiancé. Lion-O took her hand and rolled over in order to be face to face with her.

"I'd like to hold a party where all of our friends could see us married but that seems highly inappropriate now," he told her. Pumyra was still recovering in the Med Bay along with her son, Timur, whose name meant "iron". The little one was a long way from being able to be held in his parents' arms but he was slowly on the mend.

"I agree. Perhaps in the spring?" She wondered.

"That would be a good way to get everyone out of their winter blues," Lion-O smiled.

"There is something we need to discuss," Cheetara said, something was obviously bothering her.

"What's up?" The lion grew concerned given the look on her face.

"As King and Queen, we will be expected to produce heirs. I am around Pumyra's age. Having children could be dangerous. Please don't take this to mean that I don't want to try, I just think we have to know what we could be in store for," the cheetah explained.

"I am going to be perfectly honest with you – I'd love to have kids but if they are not in the cards, they are not in the cards. I do not want you to sacrifice yourself for some sense of duty or because you feel it would make me happy. Things are different here on Third Earth. If we don't have kids, we just have to work out a line of succession. In fact we could get something together so that everyone knows the pecking order. That way there will be no question as to who does what," he told her.

"So no pressure? No matter what Snarf says? You're perfectly fine with Ma-Mutt as our only child?" Cheetara asked. That got the former Horrible Hound to give a little woof from his bed in a cozy spot in the corner of the room.

"I think he'd like that just fine," Lion-O chuckled before continuing, "No pressure. I just want everything to be natural for us. I know that my parents didn't have the same luck. I don't want to be raising a child on my own." Despite everything he had to do, King Claudus had tried to hide how hard it was to be a King and a father at the same time. It had not been easy and quite often Lion-O had been left to his own devices. The lion had wished that he'd been able to spend more time with his father, doing all the things that a child and a parent could do but it was never to be. That was something he didn't want for his children, if he had any.

"Well I'm glad that we talked about that. I just…" she started and stopped.

"That conversation with Nkiru the other day got you thinking didn't it?" He wondered.

"Yes it did. She is very strong but I can see her pain. She tries to hide it but Kimoni's actions have done damage that I'm not sure can be fixed. I alerted Lea and she's going to check up on her," Cheetara let him know.

"I'm glad that we have Lea here; someone who can help us through the mental aspects of things. No one thinks about that but when we come up against some of the things we have, it's good to know that you've got help if you need it," Lion-O smiled slightly before grabbing the cheetah around the waist and pulling her on top of him.

"It is good to have her here. I'm willing to bet that Panthro agrees," Cheetara smirked.

"Oh of that I am sure. Now before anyone needs anything else, I suggest we enjoy some time together," the lion waggled his eyebrows.

"You're incorrigible, my King," she teased. Ma-Mutt picked himself up off his bed, turned his face toward the wall and settled back in. It was going to be a long night.

The End