A/N: Hey ya'll! I'd just like to thank ALL OF YOU for making this possible. Without your wonderful reviews, I wouldn't be motivated to continue. Below is a shout out to all my peeps:

Thank you: Kiara32, Anoymous, Gohan Is Mine Not Yours, Rhiannon Aurorafai, Sunrise19, everlasting-oranges, Beekay84, Nala5, Ceci1, The Someone, and Agent-Ninety-Nine! MUCHO GRACIAS TODOS!!

Now on with the story!

Chapter Ten: Still Hopeful

The search was over. Simba, Nala, and the pride continued to look for a few more days, then went on home. Nothing was the same. Nala hardly ever smiled and Simba had fitful sleeps. Sometimes he couldn't sleep at all and would wander out of the den in the middle of the night, to sit on the peak of Pride Rock. Nala would follow him and sit beside him, snuggling and purring against his soft mane.

A couple of years passed, and Kiara still never turned up. Often when Nala wasn't busy hunting with the other lionesses, she would sit at the summit, just watching the vast Pride Lands, as if Kiara would run through the grasses toward home. Yet it never happened.

One spring morning, Nala lied sprawled on her belly at the peak, watching herds of antelope, giraffes, and elephants, stroll through the evergreen grasses. She remembered sitting in the same position, with Kiara safe in her arms, that exact same time a few years ago. Together they planned Kiara's future as queen. Kiara would ask millions of questions at once, but Nala was always happy to answer them all.

She sighed and rested her head on her forearms. No sooner had she closed her eyes when she felt a warm tongue lightly slide up her cheek. She opened her eyes to meet Simba's, a small smile on his face. She smiled back for the first time in a long while.

''Hey,'' Simba said softly to her.

''Hey,'' she replied as he sat beside her. For a moment they were silent, only listening to the sound of the wind rustling the grass. Then Nala spoke up, ''It's so quiet here without her.''

Simba had to agree. Usually at this time of day Kiara would be begging them to take her on a long walk through the Pride Lands to explore, or for a hunting lesson at the border. Sometimes she would pretend to be hunting down Simba and would jump out of her hiding places at him. He missed that, and her laughter and bright mind. He missed everything about her-terribly. And if she was still alive, he figured she was a fully grown lioness by now, a strong and beautiful one, just like her mother.

''Remember when Kiara was born?'' Simba asked out of the blue.

''Of course I do, how could I forget?'' Nala replied without lifting her head.

''I made a promise to not let any harm come to her…'' Simba said, then trailed off. He let out a shaky sigh as tears welled into his eyes. He turned his head, hoping Nala wouldn't notice. He had to be strong-strong for her. Nala lifted her head and looked sympathetically at Simba. He sniffled slightly, then shook his head.

''It's all my fault,'' he muttered.

''No it's not, Simba. Don't be so hard on yourself. You were a great dad,'' consoled Nala.

''I'm not so sure if you're right about that,'' Simba said, chuckling sadly.

''No, you meant well. You were doing the right thing,'' she assured him.

Simba turned to face her, the tears gone but a smile remaining. At least he still had Nala with him in these hard times. He was grateful for her faithful companionship.

A/N: I dunno…this chapter's a little corny, what do you guys think? Well please review!