Chapter Six: "Because We Want To"

I was gonna wait longer, to leave you hanging just a little more, but I was too excited to wait anymore. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Hmm... Let's do this backwards this time... Millie and Wallace (who aren't here anymore) belong to Funkywatermelon. Ice Age and etc. belong to Blue Sky Studios and Twentieth Century Fox.

A/N: I saw "Last Holiday" with Queen Latifah in it (the voice of Ellie) and every time she said something, I could SO picture Ellie saying it. Plus, I saw Ice Age II again... (For the third time) I only cried three times this time! Big improvement! Lol. On to the story!

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Diego wasn't looking too good. Crash, Eddie, Sid, and Ellie were all hovering over him. Manny was still laying on the ground a few yards away, not yet able to move.

"Diego?" asked Sid, hoping for his buddy to be alright. "Diego!" he yelled louder. Diego lifted his head, slowly.

"Hey, Sid," he said. "I bet you wish we could do that every day, huh?"

"Diego, this is no time to joke," said Ellie. "Are you okay?"

"I'm about as good as Manny over there," he replied, managing to scramble to his paws and sit upright. He could feel one of those hated migraines coming on, and fast. At least he knew he would live.

Crash rushed over to Manny, sat on his left tusk, and looked him straight in the eye.

"You better make it," he said sternly, yet unoffensively. "Or else Ellie will be very sad. Don't hurt her, okay?" Manny thought of the beautiful mammoth he had fallen in love with. His eyes started to shine at the mention of her name. Crash noticed it, ran back over to Ellie and whispered in her ear.

Manny tried to roll back onto his feet and stand up. It was difficult, but when he suddenly felt Ellie next to him helping him up, it all seemed worth it.

"I'm glad you're going to be all right," she said. "I was really worried about you."

"Ellie," he said. "I need to ask you this now, before anything else happens." He stared into her eyes, desperately hopingthat Diego would be right about it.

"What is it?" she asked.

"Ellie," he started. "Today was really... It was one of those days. Those days where it changes your life." He paused, seeing if she would say anything. She didn't, so he continued. "When I saw you in danger, I realized that I could lose you. Just like I lost my first family. And I don't want that to happen! I... I love you, Ellie. I really love you."

The silence between the two could've scared a stone. She knew this, and she loved him too, but it seemed like too much.

"I love you too, Manny," she said. "But why here? Why now?"

"Ellie, I don't want anything to happen to you. I won't let anything happen to you. I... I want to be with you... Forever. Please..." He paused again, then finally managed to get the words out. "Ellie... Will you... Be my mate?" he asked.

It only took her a second to say, "Yes!"She trumpeted joyfully and smiled brightly. Manny's trumpet could be heard right after hers and his smile was equally happy.

Crash and Eddie bounded over to the two mammoths. Crash jumped onto Manny's face, causing him to start backing up.

"You better be good to her," said Crash. Manny took another step back, thinking that the possum would get off him if he did. "Because if you're not... I'll hunt you down. And you won't ever..." His sentence got cut off by Manny yelling.

"What are you doing!" he shouted at Eddie, realizing something was going on behind him. Eddie had tied a vine to a tree trunk and held it out as Manny was backing up. Just as the brothers planned, the giant mammal fell right on his rump. The twins started cracking up and raced back to Ellie.

Manny shook his head, then laughed lightly, feeling welcomed into the family. At least he knew the brothers approved of him.

Sid and Diego came over, realizing that it was their turn to congratulate the newly engaged couple.

"Hey," said Diego. "Congratulations. Best wishes. Invite me to the wedding." He wasn't going to waste time on sentimental things. His way was to the point and then done. Sid was a whole different story.

"So you two lovebirds," he cooed. "When's the big day? Can I come? Will I be invited? Does Diego have to be there? How will..."

"Sid," Manny cut him off. "Enough questions! We can talk about it in the morning. Let's just go to sleep for now."

Ellie looked up, having not even realized that the sun had went down. The small herd went into the forest for shelter and settled in for the night.

"You know," said Diego. "The mammoth population might not be in danger anymore, but you two could still..."

"Diego!" laughed Manny. "Just be patient! Everything will come around in time." He laid down next to Ellie and wrapped his trunk around her.

Crash and Eddie both hung upside down in the nearest tree. Sid slept next to them on the branches. Diego laid next to the tree on the ground. Manny and Ellie were only a few trees away, but the rest of them could hear the whole conversation.

"Really?" whispered Ellie.

"Yes, really," was Manny's reply. "I think that someday that's definitely a possibility."

"So you wouldn't mind?" she asked.

"Why would I mind? I will do anything for you," he said. "But not tonight. We really should wait until we're alone." There was a small silence between them.

"You know," she said. "I never really thought about having a baby until I was with you. You really brought out the best in me."

The othersheard the last few sentences and smiled.

'A baby wouldn't be that bad,'Diego thought. 'Having a small mammoth running around would be challenging, maybe even fun.'

'Eww, ick,' thought Sid. 'A baby, ew.' But he knew he was just kidding himself.

Crash and Eddie whispered between themselves. Crash thought it was cute that their sister and Manny wanted to start a family of their own. Eddie was just disgusted over it.

"Babies are cute,"whispered Crash. "Everbody loves them."

"Shh," Eddie interrupted. "They're talking again." They turned their ears to the mammoth's conversation again.

"Look," whispered Manny, pointing up with his trunk.

"What?"

"The stars," he said. "There's so many. It's like they're watching out for us."

"You're so silly," she said, snuggling closer to him. "But that's why I love you."

Manny looked down at her and whispered, "I love you too." They fell asleep together, under the stars.

The End

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Ok, that chapter was a little rushed, but I was SO excited about finishing it! I don't usually finish stories that I start, this will probably be only the third out of hundreds of stories I've written that I've actually finished. I am SO happy... I really hope you all liked it and if you want, I'll start another story... I have a few ideas in mind already, but it you're all sick of me by now, just let me know:) lol. Well, goodnight, peace out, and all that good stuff... r&r?

-- Safi Kittykat

Ps. If any of you want an epilogue too, let me know, I'd be happy to write one!