Shiranai Atsune, yes I'm trying to get back on a regular schedule!

Faithcorry634, yea, I thinking I needed to add a few little phrases for our boy simba to face before he's read to go back. And Nuka…I have some things planned for that one lets just say.

BIGTLKSWFAN, glad you enjoyed the last chapter, you'll really be looking forward to this!

Chapter 44

"Are you ready for tomorrow?" She turned her head, somewhat startled. When had he come from behind her?

"Huh?"She was not a lioness who could easily be caught off guard. But lately, that's all that has been happening to Vitani. Ever since she heard the news about her brother officially moving the prideland lions into the mountains pride territory. She was more in a rut that she realized."What you say? Sorry."

" I asked if you were ready for tomorrow, excited?" Kijivu asked, he raised a half brown half white eyebrow. "You did remember Nuka is coming with the rest of the prideland lionesses."… don't forget his hyenas.

Vitani thought about it, but didn't say anything. She would have to wait it out. She hoped her brother would have some commons sense or at least some decency to not bring the drooling dogs into her land.

"Should I be? I mean I guess I am, it's been a year since I've seen my family."

"Yea a whole year, things have changed. They might have changed too." Vitani had brought up the conversation with her mate before. Telling him and his father that maybe they should rethink the alliance. The way it was working now was great, why did they have to come and change everything. Her life was finally at a place were she enjoyed it. "I think they will be happy to see you."

" Even when leaving wasn't on the best terms?" She questioned him, knowing he would have some positive outlook for an answer.

"I get it." Did he? " the change will be different." What would be for sure.

"And…It'll be weird not seeing my father… and it wasn't like we were close either…" she looked down at her paws thinking. So much had changed for Vitani this past year, changes she would have never expected for a lioness like her. Changes she was oddly happy with.

Vitani wasn't the same girl that left her family near tears that day. She was a whole different lioness now, a lioness with a new outlook on life and new responsibilities.

Apart of her felt…no feared that brining her old life into her present, would drag her back, to the cub she once was.

"Are you okay, you seem little off?"

"No, just thinking."

"About what?" Kijivu came closer, sitting next to her. Their sizes sitting next to each other was quit drastic. Kijivu simply dwarfed his smaller female counterpart.

She shuffled her paws as he got closer.Vitani was still a lioness that felt most comfortable keeping her feelings to herself. but Kijivu had started to figure out a way to decode the poker face.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Because you're not telling me how you're really feeling."

" theres nothing more to tell of how I'm really feeling. My feelings aren't going to change a thing." She voiced.

"Look, I know we might not be the ideal couple. But I've grown to known when something is bothering my mate. It's just the fact of her being willing to tell me." He gave her a look. She knew she might as well come to him now, than later.

She sighed, there was no need to roll her eyes, because what he was saying was true. She wasn't telling him how she truly felt, her real concern.

"Do you think this is a good idea? I mean, combining the pride, letting my brother co-rule with you."

"Co-rule?"

"Trust me, that's what he'll make it." After all, one of the last conversation she remembered with her twin was that Nuka was the visionary in the family, she was not her. So he wouldnt be content with anything else, hell idea of co-ruling along side her and Kijivu might upset him...and she knew. She just hoped her mate would know this too.

"You don't trust the alliance Vitani?"

"No it's not that, I don't know. I think I'm just paranoid... My heads probably just messing with me."

"Well I can't say I haven't known you to over think things."

"Yea, I guess you're right." Kijivu nuzzled her softly. As odd as there relationship was. Vitani did find a spot inside her heart that truly loved Kijivu. Of course if she had a choice she would choosen to be with a lion her age, but Kijivu has done nothing but treat her like gold. And that alone was more than she could ask for.

It took Vitani months to realize that she could actually be loved by another lion. For being herself, that she wasn't some broken, misused thing. That it was okay for her to believe that he didn't have some evil Ulterior motive that would in the end screw her over.

Sure sometimes they didn't see eye to eye about somethings- most things actually. But that was okay. She was defiantly growing from this.

Vitani had never seen a relationship where two arguing lions didn't end up hitting one another. After all that idea was non-sense. If two lions are fighting, one is going to end up with a black eye. Usually the female.

All her life growing up, she was so accustomed to the way her father treated her mother, or how he treated her.

the kindness of Kijivu was something unbelievable- fake. After all, who could be that good to someone they didn't even know? Kijivu would be, he'd be just that lion to bring Vitani out of her shell.

"I guess I'm just nervous because he doesn't know about Roho, no one does." A smile came to Kijivu face. " guess it just new mother jitters, if that's even a thing.I probably sounds foolish."

"No you sound like any concerned mom when a big change is coming into their cubs life, it's completely normal." Now Vitani rolled her eyes, how would he know this? But why would you be worried about that?"

"I don't know, maybe I should have told them sooner… like when we found out we were pregnant and-"

"Vitani relax, I'm sure you're just making a whole scenario in her head. And speaking of our son, where is he?"

"Out with his grandfather, most likely harassing him the pride."

"Hmp, that sounds about right. Guess I'll go find him."

"Right." Roho was a little demon, a three month old terror running around and causing trouble. As he should, he's a cub after all and life is good. He has no care in the world, but getting into trouble. Vitani wasn;t surprised when she learned she as practically raising a male version of herslef."I'll see you two little later okay." Kijivu nodded with a smile before leaving. "Maybe he's right…I'm just over thinking things. Making up scenarios that would never happen."

The idea of her over reacting was nice to think. her mother, well Nuka… being more than thrilled for his sister, was definitely something to dream of. He was an uncle now? And he would behave appropriately right?

Yet, deep down Vitani knew the real reason why she never told her family about her being pregnant was due to it not being apart of the plan. Please, Vitani couldn't forget her fathers last words to her even if she tried. Don't mess up, or you will deeply regret it…

But her father was gone now, what he said didn't apply anymore, right? And Nuka was nothing like there father, not totally if she remembered well. He would be surprised, but happy for her. Well, that's all Vitani could hope for.

Author note, I've gotten soo many comments and questions about Vitani. So yes, she is alive and well and even a new mommy! But don't worry, I'll give you all her and Kijivu relationship details in the coming chapters. It's not all what it seems…