The Box

Chapter Three: Dinner and a Talk

"What did he tell you?" demanded Zira.

"That he was allowed to have a cookie for dinner." Now that he thought about Cornelius realized that it did sound ridiculous. There was no way that his mother would have ever allowed him to eat sweets before a good healthy dinner.

"Oh," fumed Zira, "Lucius is going to get it. How dare he try to take advantage of your position like that. Just like Lana."

Cornelius shot a sympathetic glance in the direction Lucius had run off. Personally would not want to be in Lucius place once Zira got a hold of him. "Zira, he's just a child. Let him go this time, it really isn't his fault. I'm sure that he will apologize if you explain to him that it was wrong to lie."

"I suppose that you're right, but just this time," conceded Zira unhappily. "Next time there will be consequences." As she walked out of the room Cornelius admired the view then checked himself as Zira turned around and gave him a look. "It's a good thing that I like you as much as I do or you'd be in big trouble." With that she sashayed out of the room.

Leaning against the counter Cornelius felt something poke him in the side, it was that stupid box. Why he kept caring it around he wasn't sure, but he didn't fee that it was safe to leave it alone anywhere. As he reached down into the bag where he kept the box he felt a small parcel next to it and smiled. Quickly, before Zira or Lucius could return he slipped it into his pocket. Then he wondered out into the sitting room and placed the satchel on a peg next to his jacket.

"I promise that I'll never ever do it ever again, Aunt Zira," Lucius stood trembling, looking up at his aunt's stern face.

With a hard glare Zira bent down to his level. "Do you really think that you can keep that promise?"

"Uh hu."

"Alright," she stood back up, "I won't punish you this time, but if-" didn't have to finish because Lucius knew that there was be severe penalties. "Now go and tell Cornelius that you are sorry. Then we will find you something to eat, and if you're good then maybe you can have a cookie."

"Thank you, Aunt Zira!" Lucius flew into her arms almost knocking her down.

As stern as Zira liked to pretend that she was; she truly had a soft heart toward almost anyone. It was just hard for her to let anyone see how deeply she truly cared.

A very contrite Lucius walked into the kitchen where Cornelius was, leaning against the counter still lost in his day-dream. "Cornelius?" Lucius looked up at him, but he hadn't even heard he was so preoccupied with his thoughts. "Hey," he tugged on the bottom of Cornelius's tunic, "are you listening to me?"

"What, I'm sorry, I…"

"Aunt Zira said that I was 'spose to say sorry or I'm not gonna get any cookies. Prease forgive me for not tellin the truth."

"Are you ever going to do that again?"

"Nope, I 'romised."

"And you're going to keep that promise aren't you, Lucius?"

"Yes, Aunt Zira. Can I have sompin' to eat now?"

"Why don't you and Cornelius go into your playroom while I fix us all something for dinner. Does that sound like a plan?"

"Yea! Come on, Cornelius, I wanna show you sompin'."

"You go ahead, Lucius, and I'll be there in a moment."

"Sure." He started out at a run, but stopped as he felt his aunt's eyes on his back reminding him that running was not allowed.

"I'm sorry to push him off on you like this, Cornelius, but the last thing I need is him in the kitchen 'helping' me find something to eat. Do you mind too badly?"

"Darling, nothing that you ask me to do upsets me. If I can help you by playing with Lucius then I would devote my life to doing just that."

Zira looked up into Cornelius's eyes and for the first time saw the depth of undying affection for her in them. There was something more, something that she couldn't place and it scared her. "You've become a romantic. All those expeditions must have gone to your head. Just go and keep him busy."

"Whatever you say, miss. I shall return," he said with a sweeping bow.

It was impossible for Cornelius to keep a grin off of his face as he thought about Zira's reaction to what he hoped to give her after Lucius went to bed. If it was possible she looked even more beautiful that night that she ever had, but Cornelius didn't realize he was looking through rose colored spectacles. Just before he passed Lucuis's toy room he remembered where he had been going. "What have you got there?"

"My new horsy that Papa bought me, wanna ride?"

Cornelius eyed the small wooden horse with concern. It was about a fifth of the size that he was and looked as if it would break under his weight. "No, thank you, Lucius, I'd rather watch you ride it instead."

"Alright, you can stand over there an' I'll ride the horsy an' you can 'tend that I comed and saved you 'cause you was in trouble." Cornelius moved to where he thought that Lucius had told him to stand. "No, no, not there, here. Good. Now I'm gonna come and save you an' you say, 'Oh, thank the Wagiver it's the good bandit Lucius, he's comed to save me."

"Oh, thank the Lawgiver, it's Lucius, he is coming to save me," said Cornelius in a monotonous voice.

"Cornelius, you can't say it like that. You gotta 'tend that you need my help."

"Oh, thank the Lawgiver! It's Lucius and he's coming to save me!" With that Cornelius fell on the floor in a dramatic heap.

"Don't worry, Cornelius, the good bandit Lucius will save from those awful grown-ups. Giddy-up, Horsy, we's gotta save him. Hurry, faster, faster, Horsy, he's not gonna make it!" Lucius paused for a moment to give Cornelius further instructions, "Now you try to sit up an' then fall back down like you gonna die."

"Help," he called out weakly then fell on the ground again.

"Fear not, Cornelius, the good bandit Lucius is here…"

"Good bandit Lucius, dinner is ready. Now go wash up and then I'll get you your food."

"Thank goodness it time for dinner. I'm not sure how much more I could have taken."

"And it's only five-thirty, Cornelius, you have an hour and half till he goes to bed."

"Ah, you had to remind me of that didn't you, Zira." He sniffed the air, "What did you fix? It smells heavenly.

Zira blushed slightly as Cornelius's complement. "Nothing much, I just heated up some cornbread that I found. There is some vegetable stew for us all, salad for us and fruit for Lucius. It's not much, but…"

"It's fine, better than I was doing."

"Well, you had better hurry or there won't be any by the time Lucius gets done eating. I can't understand how he eats that much and is still hungry after everything is cleared away."

"It's a male thing. You females couldn't possibly understand," stated Cornelius with a superior attitude.

"I'll remember that."

Lucius was waiting impatiently in the kitchen for his dinner. When he saw the looks that Zira and Cornelius were giving each other he rolled his eyes and made a gagging sound at the back of his throat, before he started singing: "Aunt Zira and Cornelius sitting in a tree k-i-s-s-i-n-g. First comes loves, then comes mar-" a gentle smack on the back of the head brought Lucius's song to an early end. "Aw, I didn't mean 'nothing by it, Aunt Zira. It is time to eat!"

A nice blush had settled it's self over Cornelius's muzzle as an image bought on by Lucius's song implanted itself in his minds' eye.

"Sit down and I'll bring it over to you," said Zira as she directed Lucius to a chair at the table. With perfect stability Zira managed to balanced three bowls of stew, a bowl of fruit for Lucius and two full of salad for herself and Cornelius. Just as they had all sat down Zira remembered that she had forgotten to put utensils on the table and had also forgotten to give them anything to drink.

Before she could protest Cornelius jumped up, "I'll get it if you will tell me where to find what I need."

"Grabnat," came the garbled answer from Lucius who had already began to eat his fruit, whether or not he had any utensils.

"Cabinet," translated Zira, "and the silverware is in the cupboard on the left side of the sink. Lucius, look at the mess your making…"

With a slight smile Cornelius speculated on what a wonderful mother Zira would make someday. After opening only two wrong cabinets he was able to find the glasses and filled them with crystal clear spring water from the tap. 'Simon and Lana are very fortunate to have spring water. The water at the Academy is getting to be so bad that I don't like to drink it anymore,' thought Cornelius. "Here we go, Lucius, Zira," he set down the glasses of water. "And I'll be right back with the silverware."

Dinner was a simple affair with Lucius intent on devouring his fruit and the adults being content just to sit and have time to think. By the time they were finished there was pieces of fruit and stew in Lucius's hair, on his clothes, all over his face and anywhere that food was not suppose to go. "Oh, just look at you, Lucius," exclaimed Zira. "You are completely sticky."

"Not that sticky."

"You are going to have to have a wash."

At the word 'wash' Lucius's eyes grew big and round. "No! Not gonna wash!" With that he darted off through the house.

Cornelius weighed his options, he could either offer to do the dishes or chase a very sticky Lucius through the house and try to wash him. The dishes were looking better and better all the time. "I'll do the dishes if you need to go wash Lucius."

"Oh, thank you," with that Zira rushed off to find her truant nephew.

Standing at the sink Cornelius wondered when he would get a chance to talk with Zira alone. 'Of course, Lucius has to go to bed in half an hour. We'll have plenty of time to talk after that.' With his hands plunged in the soapy water of the sink he could hear Zira trying to persuade Lucius to come out from wherever he was hiding.

"I know that you're under there."

"Nuuh."

"Come out…"

As he chuckled to himself he Cornelius wondered what it would be like to have a child would the child end up more like Zira or himself. Continuing along this line of thinking he also wondered what it was like for Zira to grow up without a mother, he didn't think of Lana as having much to do with Zira turning out the way that she had.

"If you don't come out in three seconds I won't give you a cookie."

A scrambling sound was heard as Cornelius assumed Lucius came out from wherever he had been hiding. "Aunt Zira wash Lucius now." With that the little pitter-patter of feet could be heard running toward the bathroom.

Zira was still washing up Lucius by the time Cornelius had finished washing, drying and putting all the dishes away. With nothing to do until Lucius and Zira were done Cornelius found his way into the sitting room, on a peg near the door was his jacket and satchel. Without consciously thinking about it Cornelius went over and took down his bag and then sat down in a chair. There was the box, that horrid box that would not let him have any peace. What did it mean? Why was it continually plaguing his thoughts and taking up his time?

A flying figure leaped into Cornelius's lap and interrupted his bleak thoughts. "You finish playing horsy with me? Aunt Zira made me all clean."

"Uh," Cornelius was racking his brain desperately for some means of escaping having to play horsy with the 'Good Bandit Lucius'… again. "Didn't your Aunt Zira promise you a cookie if you were good?

"Yeah! Cookie time!" As Lucius raced off towards the kitchen he collided with his aunt, "Uh-oh, I didn't mean to run…"

Zira didn't say a word.

Tears welled up in Lucius's eyes, "Prease," he sobbed, "don't hurt me." Full blown tears and sobs issued forth from the little ape.

"Stop crying, Lucius." He looked up. "You should have thought about what you were doing before you did it. I know that you want a cookie, but I also know that you aren't sorry for what you did, but crying because you are going to be punished." He hiccupped, but said nothing. "Lucius, I want you to go to your room and think about what you did. When you have thought about it come back down and then we will talk. Do you understand me?"

Lucius nodded.

"I didn't hear you."

"Yes, Aunt Zira."

"Alright, go on," with a gentle shove she pushed him towards his room.

Cornelius had remained silently in the background as he watched the exchange between aunt and nephew. It only brought Zira's image up in his own eyes. She would make a perfect mother to their children. At the thought of having children of his own Cornelius's stomach flip-flopped. Would he make a good father?

Zira walked over to the chair where Cornelius was sitting, "I'm so sorry that Lucius has been misbehaving all evening. He's not usually like this at all, but I…"

"You don't have to apologize. Boys will be boys, and Lucius is most definitely all boy." A moment of silence passed, both lost in their own thoughts, not knowing how similar their thoughts were to other.

"Corn"-

"Zir"- They simultaneously said, then stopped. A giggle escaped Zira, which made Cornelius look at her. This set off a chain reaction. They both started laughing, soon they were laughing so hard that they couldn't breathe.

Lucius peered around the corner. His brow knit together in deep concentration. Why did grown-ups always act so silly around each other? "What's so funny?" he curiously inquired.

"I," Cornelius tried to catch his breath, "I don't know." He stopped laughing for a moment and asked Zira, "Do you?"

She also stopped and thought for a moment, "No," she replied, which set them off into another round of hysterical laughter. Lucius rolled his eyes. He was never going to get his cookie if they kept caring on like they were.

Finally after a few minutes Zira and Cornelius were able to regain their composure and stop laughing. While Lucius, having abandoned the idea of ever getting their attention and subsequently getting a cookie, had taken himself to bed.

"Where did Lucius go?"

"I don't know."

Zira's forehead knotted together with concern. "I'll check down here if you will go upstairs and see if you can find him."

"Alright." They headed their separate ways, Zira searching the lower part of the house and Cornelius the upstairs bedrooms. After checking in Simon and Lana's room he looked in the guest room, but found no sign of Lucius. The last room was Lucius's, but what normal child would go to bed before they were told? Carefully Cornelius opened the door and peeked in. There was Lucius stretched out on his bed, looking up at the ceiling, tears were on his cheeks. "Lucius," Cornelius called softly, "are you alright?"

Immediately Lucius flipped over and turned his back to Cornelius. "Yes."

Cornelius knew what if felt like to be left out of things. As the youngest he had frequently been unable to do all the things that his older siblings did. He sat down on the edge of Lucius's bed and gently placed his hand on Lucius's back, "Hey, I'm sorry that I hurt your feelings. Will you forgive me?"

Lucius looked over his shoulder at Cornelius, but didn't say anything.

With a heartfelt sigh Cornelius wondered what he should say. "Sometimes," he began, then stopped not knowing what he was trying to say. "Sometimes, adults do silly things and forget to think of anyone but themselves. I am truly sorry that your Aunt Zira and I ignored you when you needed our attention. Next time interrupt us if you need anything."

"You really mean that?" Lucius propped himself up on an elbow and looked at Cornelius.

"Yes, I really mean that. Would you like that cookie now?"

"It's past my bedtime."

"I think that you need a cookie first. You kept your promise and now your aunt will keep hers and give you a cookie. Come here, I'll carry you down," said Cornelius as tenderly picked Lucius up off of the bed.

Unknown to the two males Zira had been watching from the doorway. She was touched by the tender way that Cornelius was able to talk to Lucius. Tenderness was not something that she was especially good at, but she was more than willing to try for Cornelius's sake. He deserved someone much better than her, she knew, but yet she realized that a part of her would die if he didn't marry her. Quickly, before Cornelius or Lucius could see her, Zira slipped downstairs to meet them in the kitchen.

Coming downstairs Cornelius realized that Zira had probably guessed that he had found Lucius. In the kitchen he set Lucius down on the counter. "We're here to collect our promised cookies," he gave Zira a bright smile.

"Well, it is after his bedtime. Do you," she paused with all seriousness, "really think that we should let him have a cookie?"

Lucius looked at Cornelius and then at his aunt, and then back to Cornelius. They looked serious, but hadn't Cornelius promised?

"I'm just teasing you a little, Lucius. Here's your cookie. You've been very patient with us tonight. And don't you ever forget that I love you very, very much." With affection Zira placed a soft kiss upon Lucius's face.

Through the cookie Lucius was able to mumble, "I love you mucher and mucher too Aunt Zira." After the cookie was finished Cornelius carried a very tired Lucius back up to his room and gently tucked him in.

Finally Zira and Cornelius were alone. An uncomfortable silence seemed to separate them as time slowly passed. Cornelius was working up his courage to ask the most beautiful ape he knew to marry him, he had received her father's permission that afternoon, but now the hard part came. "Uh," he cleared his throat, "Zira?"

She turned to him with expectance in her face, "Yes?"

"Well, I-uh," he shifted nervously.

"What is it?"

Cornelius got up and strode across the room till he was in front of Zira, then he knelt down and reached into his pocket. "I'd like to marry you, if you'll have me." With a single fluid motion he brought a package out of his pocket.

Zira was speechless. Cornelius was proposed… to her! He wanted to marry her, it was a dream come true. As Zira's heart leapt within her, she had forgotten that Cornelius needed an answer.

Dismally Cornelius started to put the box back in his pocket, "I guess that you don't…"

"Oh, you silly ape," she flung her arms around his next. "Yes, yes, a thousand time yes, I'll marry you! Oh, Cornelius," with that she burst into tears.

It was the happiest moment Cornelius had ever experienced. The love of his life was in his arms and she was willing to marry him! Oh, yes, it was the happiest he had ever been. Carefully extracting himself from Zira's embrace Cornelius opened the box that he had brought for her. In it was a beautiful silver chain, a promise chain.

"Cornelius, you shouldn't have…" Zira murmured. Most promise chains were made out of a cheaper metal because unlike marriage, engagements could be, and were often broken off. A chain such as the one Cornelius had presented her with would have cost at least a month's wages. So deep was his love for her and hers for him, they knew that they would never break apart their engagement, and that was the reason Cornelius had bought the best one he could find.

Disclaimer: The character of Lucius is based off of my own nephew when he was about that age and the water… Well, is it a good thing when the Water Department sends out notices that say: "Drink at your own risk!" Zira and Cornelius are based off of the characters in the movie and in the book. I don't own any of this and I'm not making any money.