Hey everybird! What's up!?

So it really feels like it's summer time here in New York, with temperatures going up to 90 degrees (That's 32 degrees for those who don't use Fahrenheit) and yeah… If I'm not in a cool place, I sweat like crazy, even with very short and thin clothes on… Man I really miss winter and the snow…

Anyway… Enough of that problem, lets get to the next chapter!

Chapter 6: Family Drama

When morning came, Eduardo and Sapphire were still together as Eduardo woke up, the first thing his eyes falling upon were Sapphire, still nestled up against him and snoring softly. This put a smile on Eduardo's face as he didn't dare to wake her up, she was so peaceful that doing so would be a crime. Instead he simply kissed her on the forehead and left her like that while he went to get breakfast from a nearby nut tree. Of course getting some for Sapphire and when he did return, he found her just waking up, giving her wings a good stretch as she rubbed her eyes a little.

"Good morning sleepy head." Eduardo joked as he presented the breakfast he got. "Hungry?"

"Very." Sapphire smiled as Eduardo gave her a nut to crack open and eat. "Shouldn't you be with your dad by now?" Sapphire reminded Eduardo.

"I think that can wait a little, my father said I been doing a good job lately, so I think I earned a little break." Eduardo shrugged his shoulders, but if only he was aware of what was about to happen as he continued to enjoy the beautiful morning and breakfast with Sapphire.

Eduardo was busy digging into a third nut when he heard the flapping of wings coming towards them and he panicked a little, but calmed down as Mimi came into view. She looked a little different and seemed to be out of breath as Eduardo was confused why Mimi was like this as she came and landed down next to the two.

"Hey sis." Eduardo greeted and turned to Sapphire. "I don't believe you two have met yet."

"Yes, it's good to see you two together, but that might not last much longer…" Mimi told Eduardo.

"Why?" Sapphire coming into the conversation. "What happened?"

"Apparently someone told dad about you two during the night" Mimi giving the shocking news. "It wasn't me brother, I swear." Mimi said honestly.

"Who else could have known… We were so careful not to be spotted…" Eduardo thinking and having no clue yet.

"Dad sent out the search parties to look for you and bring you back to our hollow, luckily I managed to find you first." Mimi reported.

"Than we better get going." Eduardo told his sister before turning to Sapphire. "Sapphire, I need you to go back to your parents."

"Not a chance Eddie, I'm going with you." Sapphire standing her ground as Eduardo knew she would say this, but he really needed to face his father alone.

"Sapphire please, I don't want you to have to go through this." Eduardo told Sapphire. "For once, listen to me, go home and I'll see you as soon as I can, I promise." Eduardo grabbing hold of Sapphire's sides and making her look him in the eyes.

"Okay…" Sapphire gave in and sighed.

"Thank you." Eduardo then giving Sapphire a quick kiss on the beak. "I love you." Eduardo said before joining his sister as the two flew with all haste back to their hollow.

As they arrived, they could see some of the search parties also there, reporting to their father that they couldn't find Eduardo, of course since he was here now, they didn't have to keep looking as Eduardo and Mimi entered on in. As they did, all chatter stopped and there was silence for a good few and long seconds before Eduardo's father spoke up.

"Everyone out, I wish to speak to my son alone." Eduardo's father softly, but sternly, ordered and there was just father and son… As well as Eduardo's mother. "Honey, I said everyone, I need to speak to Eddie alone…" Eduardo's father once more spoke as the adult female, with some hesitation finally moved, but stopped at her son first.

"I'm sorry son." Eduardo's mother apologized.

"It's okay mom, it's not your fault." Eduardo smiled for his mom. "I'll be fine." Eduardo told his mother as she gave her son a quick hug before being the last to leave and now Eduardo and his father were alone in the hollow…

"Come here…" Eduardo's father demanded of his son as Eduardo took a deep breath and with courage, he slowly walked until he was just a couple of inches from his father… Who then proceeded to raise his wing and slap it hard against his son's face. "When were you going to tell me!?" Eduardo's father roared loudly, a completely different tone now.

Eduardo expected this as he took the hit and refused to let out a tear, feeling the string of his father's slap with one of his wings and gently rubbing it before lifting his face back up and returning his look to his father. Eduardo's father, filled with anger now, seemed about ready to slap his son again, but he held his wing down, knowing he never would get an answer if he kept slapping his son.

"You should already know the answer if you hit me dad…" Eduardo defiantly stated.

"Out of all the girls in the tribe to pick, you choose Sapphire, a girl known to be too stubborn and challenging!" Eduardo's father looking like he was going to explode from how angry he was.

"I love her, she's the one for me." Eduardo boldly declared, standing his ground.

"What do you know of love my son and things may be working now, but what happens when you two grow up?" Eduardo's father fought back. "You think she's going to understand your position, you think she'll make you happy?"

"I don't doubt it's going to be hard, but I'm willing to work it out with her and we will make it work…" Eduardo told his father, never breaking eye contact with him.

"Oh you really think that?" Eduardo's father spat back. "Well it's never going to happen because I forbid you from going out with her ever again, you hear me?"

"No dad, I don't and you can't make me not see her again, I'm almost an adult and free to make my own decisions by myself." Eduardo now choosing to turn his back to his father and begin to step out, his father not stopping him, a little stunned by his son's defiance and fire.

"If you step out of the hollow son, than I'm not going to make you the tribe's next leader." Eduardo's father spoke as that stopped Eduardo for a few seconds, but only a few in order to say this back…

"Than so be it…" Eduardo returned. "If that's what it takes for me to be with Sapphire, I'll gladly do it." Eduardo said without turning around to look at his father as he simply took the step out of the hollow to see his mother and sister there, everyone else who was present having gone back to their usual business.

"Well…" Mimi awkwardly began. "That didn't go too good…"

"No, it didn't sis." Eduardo replied before turning to his mother. "Mom…"

"Don't say a word son, I respect whatever you have to say, if she's the one for you, keep her close to you." Eduardo's mother knowing what her son was going to say. "And give your father time, he'll come around and see that you're happy with her."

"Thank you mom, but I doubt dad's going to do as you say." Eduardo sighed. "I'm going to stay with Sapphire and her parents, if they will allow me in, for a little bit, hopefully things can settle down a little."

"Okay son, take as much time as you need and when you're ready, promise me you and your father can talk about this more easily." Eduardo's mother told her son.

"I'll try." Eduardo replied before hugging his mother. "I love you mom."

"Love you too son." Eduardo's mother hugged him back.

As the two finished their hug, Eduardo took off and flew to where Sapphire said she lived with her parents, hopeful that she made it back home safe and sound. However Eduardo was actually more concerned for him and his family… This was really the first time he and his father had this kind of confrontation, for the two were really close and now…

"I'm sorry dad, but my heart knows what's right this time." Eduardo sighed as he hoped he could make his father see that Sapphire was the one for him and they could maybe even mend their broken relationship when that day comes.

And I'll leave it there!

I was going to add a little more, but I think I'll save that for next time!

Also… Any other Star Wars fans enjoying The Bad Batch series as much as I am!? Just three episodes and it's already kicking off amazingly, with the fourth episode coming tomorrow, so I'm all pumped for that!

And with that…

See everybird later!