Hey everybird! What's up!?

So before we get on to the next chapter, I did forget to mention something last chapter.

So after seeing the responses to whether or not if you guys want to see more of my OCs, well it seems to be half and half. Now I will say that right now, it's only a thought I been recently having, nothing is set yet, however I do want to one day return of course to making more stories for my OCs. But for now, lets get right back to this story!

Chapter 5: Keeping it Secret

Morning came as both Eduardo and Sapphire fell asleep, having tired themselves from their night together as they were resting comfortably on the tree branch with their wings wrapped around each other. Sapphire was the first to wake up as Eduardo was still snoring and quite loudly too, but Sapphire found it cute as she gently got out from the embrace and stretched her wings. Last night was really fun, something Sapphire got to experience for the first time as well, all of her friends were girls, this was really the first night, let alone extended time, she spent with a boy.

"I been missing out on a lot." Sapphire commented as she took a deep breath of the fresh morning air as she stayed like that for a few minutes before turning back to Eduardo and shook him awake. "Hey sleepy head, wake up, it's morning." Sapphire called as Eduardo did slowly open his eyes to see Sapphire standing before him.

"Good morning Sapphire, how did you sleep?" Eduardo asked.

"Pretty good, we should have some…" Sapphire began, but then Eduardo's eyes shot wide open as he realized he slept here the whole night and it was morning…

"Oh no…" Eduardo began to panic as became fully alert and stood up.

"What's wrong?" Sapphire asked.

"I got to get to my dad, before he sends out the patrols to look for me, I supposed to be ready for leader training right now." Eduardo replied. "And well… He doesn't know about us yet…" Eduardo admitted

"Are you sure we can't enjoy some breakfast first?" Sapphire asked.

"I'm sorry…" Eduardo apologized as he really should be going, but stayed to give his new girlfriend a quick kiss first. "I had a great time last night and I'm sorry it has to end this way, I promise we'll do this another time… If you want that is."

"Of course." Sapphire smiled. "Well, guess I have no choice but to let you go." Sapphire sighed as Eduardo gave her one last hug before leaving, hurrying back to his hollow he lived in, hopeful his father wasn't angry with him for being missing.

As Eduardo saw his family hollow in view, he could see his sister standing by the hollow entrance, with a huge teasing smile on her face, she clearly wanted to know how things went. As Eduardo landed down, looking into the hollow, he could see his parents inside, but stopped as his sister wanted to know something.

"So how did it go?" Mimi asked.

"It went good, had a great time actually." Eduardo quickly answered before going inside the hollow to face his parents. "Mom, dad, sorry I was out last night, I stayed over with a friend."

"You came right in time son, I was just about to start the search for you." Eduardo's father replied as he stood in front of his son. "Well I hope now that you did see a friend, you will be better today with the lessons I have planned."

"Of course dad, I promise it wouldn't happen again." Eduardo bowing his head.

"Good, lets get started." Eduardo's father said as he began to walk out of the hollow, Eduardo about to follow, but his mother stopped him.

"It wasn't just any friend you were with right?" Eduardo's mother said as Eduardo knew very much who she was talking about.

"I spent last night with Sapphire, we had a great time and we even… Shared a kiss." Eduardo revealed to his mother as she had a big smile on her face, but Eduardo kept a neutral expression. "Mom, how am I going to tell dad? What if he doesn't approve?"

"Your father's a stubborn bird son, just like you, but he'll accept it with time, you just have to be patient, maybe slowly talk to him about it." Eduardo's mother suggested.

"I guess it's worth a shot…" Eduardo not knowing what else to do in this situation as his father currently was waiting patiently outside for his son. "Thanks mom, love you."

"Love you too son." Eduardo's mother giving him a hug and kiss on the cheek before Eduardo joined up with his father as the two took to the air and beginning late, continued on with Eduardo's teaching.

Eduardo tried his hardest to focus, but it was a little hard, thinking about his wonderful night with Sapphire to well explaining it to his father and his love for her. However Eduardo did remember that his mother told him she had a similar experience with him, so he might understand and maybe even accept it. However at the same time, Eduardo's father might not, considering Sapphire's traits and even forbid his son from seeing her again.

As father and son took a break, enjoying their midday meal, Eduardo decided to stir up a chat about Sapphire, of course not including such things like her name and last night.

"So dad, if I'm going to take your place one day, don't you think I should start looking for a future mate, you know so I have kids who will take my place one day." Eduardo calmly spoke up.

"That's a good thought son, but you have to make sure your mate understands your position, you can't have someone who's very competitive and will understand you have a lot of other responsibilities other than her and your kids." Eduardo's father putting a wing under his beak. "You need someone like your mother, she understands perfectly I have to take care of everyone and your mother herself helps me out a lot."

Eduardo kinda of knew his father would say something along those lines and well Sapphire wasn't completely like how his father described, she was a very independent, tough girl, someone who didn't give in easily. And as Eduardo heard his father speak, he knew it was going to be hard for him to get his father to accept his relationship he just started.

As the day passed by, with Eduardo and his father returning home, Eduardo stayed up for most of the night, laying down and staring up at the hollow ceiling, hoping everything was going to work out and he would get to keep his current relationship.

"Everything is going to be alright…" Eduardo kept repeating to himself as eventually he had to get some sleep as his eyes slowly closed, dreaming of happy thoughts.

The next couple of weeks went by smoothly, with Eduardo continuing his leadership lessons with his father and slowly getting into the conversations about Sapphire, again, without mentioning her by name or even admitting he was in a relationship now. And Eduardo and Sapphire themselves continued to spend nights together and even sometimes during the day if they were completely alone that is without fear of anyone else in the tribe stumbling upon them. One night as they were together, enjoying the beautiful display of stars in the sky, Sapphire noticed Eduardo's expression, something was clearly on his mind.

"What is it?" Sapphire asked.

"Just a little worried…" Eduardo replied. "I haven't told my dad about us yet… I'm afraid what he'll think of you, that you're not the right match for me…" Eduardo truthfully told Sapphire.

"If it makes you feel better, my parents share similar concerns." Sapphire told Eduardo. "But I'm sure of us now and we'll get through this together right?"

"Thanks, to be honest, I wasn't so sure myself, but hearing you say this, now I am." Eduardo smiled. "I really do love you Sapphire."

"Me too." Sapphire pushed herself against Eduardo's side, feeling his soft feathers tickle her as she felt warm and safe. "Everything's going to be okay."

"I really hope so…" Eduardo sighed as he put his wing over Sapphire and held her close to him as Sapphire tucked her head underneath Eduardo's.

As the two enjoyed their time, alone, in the quietness of the night, they weren't truly alone as someone did notice them through the darkness and not believing it, had stopped and took up a hiding spot to see the two. As he watched the two embrace each other, he smiled as he had a bright idea and it wasn't a good idea as it was a bird both Eduardo and Sapphire were not friends with, very much the opposite in fact…

"Enjoy your time for now lovebirds…" Mateo said quietly as he maintained his hiding spot. "But sooner or later you're going to be mine Sapphire…"

And I'll leave it there!

A bit of a shorter chapter, but well, want to save what's going to happen for next time! Until than…

See everybird later!