Author's Note: This is my first time writing a TLK/TLG fanfiction and first time that I have posted a fanfiction since January 2020. My apologies in advance if the characters looks out of characters. Two members of Deviantart made me have the inspiration to do this and since I wanted to do an alternative ending of the episode, "Scorpion's Sting" here were are.

I'm warning you in advance that there'll be some yaoi/slash.

As Bunga landed on Pumbaa's back, Rafiki grabbed the gourd. Rafiki stares down at it with sorrow. He looks up and says with tears in his eyes, "I'm sorry but it's too late, the king is gone."

Nala and Kiara immediately starts to cry as they placed their heads on the lifeless king, Kiara sobs uncontrollably. "I- I- I c-can't believe t-that y-y- you're g- gone, d-daddy."

Bunga and Pumbaa immediately goes to Timon. Pumbaa felt tears falling down his face but he doesn't wipe them away. He whispers to him, "Timon…"

Timon ignores him and went to Simba's lifeless body with watery eyes, Pumbaa and Bunga were following him, tears escaping their eyes. Other than Nala and Kiara's crying, there weren't any other sounds. Timon petted Simba's cheek and afterwards he kisses it, he whispers, "I hope you're with the other great kings of the past now. You'll always be my baby, always."

Then he just went outside in silence with tears running down his face, Pumbaa kisses Simba on the cheek, having trouble to say goodbye to his little boy and he quickly takes off to see where Timon was. Bunga took his turn too but he stayed a little longer to wait for the other Beshte, Ono and Makini to arrive. Fuli was silent all this time, couldn't believe that they were too late to save the king, Bunga reassured her with watery eyes. "We couldn't do anything else, Fuli. Don't blame yourself."

Fuli sighs and nodded, however she didn't say anything. Kion arrived and Rafiki shook his head in tears at him, Kion knew instantly that his father was gone because of his mother and sister's crying. Kion went to him and the other lion guard left except for Bunga who stays frozen in place, looking at the family.

Rafiki goes to him, "You should leave them have their last moment with him, Bunga. Go take care of Timon and Pumbaa, they need your support."

Bunga sighs in frustration but afterwards he nodded, he too was family to the king but didn't argue with Rafiki, he was too tired to argue anyways. Nala looks up, "Bunga, tell Pumbaa and Timon I'm sorry for them and… I'm sorry that you lost your brother. I love you guys."

Bunga went to join his Uncle Timon and Uncle Pumbaa at Hakuna Matata Falls, when he found them they were barley eating their grubs and were quiet. He also tried to eat grubs but like them his appetite wasn't really there. He brokes the silence, "Nala says she's sorry for the both of you and to take care of yourselves. She also says she loves you both."

Timon and Pumbaa just looks at him with blank faces, tears escaping their eyes and goes back trying to eat grubs again. It looks like it doesn't work so they stopped trying. Timon chokes back a sob, "Let's go to sleep, it's getting late. If you see Nala tomorrow Bunga, tell her we love her back."

"Sure will, Uncle Timon." Bunga wipes off his tears as he sees both his uncles going to sleep, he eats one more grub and he too went to sleep. However, his sleep was short because of his uncles' loud weepings. He tries to block his ears with his paws as more tears escaped his eyes.

I'm not going to have a good night sleep, thought bitterly Bunga, taking off his paws from his ears and wrapped his arms around his legs and he also started to weep (not as loud as his uncles though). Hoping he'll fall asleep soon.

The next morning when he went on patrol with the other lion guard, Beshte, Fuli and Ono told him and Kion to rest. He and Kion answered no as they needed to do something besides than crying, yet when Kion returned to Pride Rock in the evening he started to cry again. Bunga sighs, he rubs his eyes as he feels his eyes watery. Bunga turns and sees Nala walking with Kiara and his uncles, feeling well... sad.

He remembers when he and Simba were in that cave, they finally accepted each other as brothers. Tears escaped his eyes, he couldn't believe that his brother is really gone. He hates the word gone, it makes him sadder. He won't help the others feeling better, how could he? Himself is feeling sad.

"There you are, you two," calls Nala as she rushes to them, "how did it go?"

"Well… fine I guess, it helped us stop thinking of Simba," Bunga said, this earned quick glares from Kiara and Kion while his uncles starts to sob uncontrollably. This immediately made Bunga regret what he just said, "I- I'm sorry…"

"Don't be Bunga," Nala said softly as she felt tears coming. "It's good to know that you guys didn't think of him all day."

"What have you guys been up to?" asked Kion, wiping more tears away from his eyes.

"Just taking a walk, really… mom and I were trying to eat before we went to Hakuna Matata Falls. Timon and Pumbaa were also trying to eat those nasty…" started Kiara, making a grimace. Nala has given her a warning look, she rapidly changes expression. "Well grubs! Yeah they were trying to eat grubs!"

Kiara continues as she turns to Pumbaa and Timon, "Anyways, I'm- I'm glad that mom and I walked with you two today. Talking about all those great memories about daddy."

"It's a pleasure Kiara, your father will always be our baby even if…" Timon didn't want to continue the sentence, scared that he will loose control again. He and Pumbaa kisses Kiara's cheeks.

"He's gone? I hope he's with the great kings of the past now," Kion said, exhausted from his day and wanted to eat something before going to sleep. "I'll try to go eat something, excuse me."

"Ready to go back home, Uncle Timon and Uncle Pumbaa?" questioned Bunga, the two of them nodded and returned to their home. Again the appetite wasn't really there but they forced themselves to eat a little, Bunga even if he's in his sadness hopes that the grief will be over soon, he couldn't stand seeing his uncles crying.

Two weeks later...

Bunga was pretending to sleep as his back was facing Timon and Pumbaa.

"Pumbaa, do you think we'll ever tell our love to Bunga and the others?" he hears Timon say with emotion. "We should've had confessed our love to everyone before our little Simba died."

Bunga put a paw in front of his mouth and his eyes have widened. He thought, since when they started to consider themselves as 'mates'?

He was now thinking of Simba, tears would escape from his eyes again and he forgot for a few seconds that his king bro was gone, what would Simba think about that? I should tell him... oh right, he's dead. I really wished he was still with us... that stupid scorpion…

Then with that he just felt like doing a quick peak at his uncles, he just witnessed his Uncle Timon kissing his Uncle Pumbaa on the snout as the both of them were blushing. He quickly turns his back on them again so that his uncles doesn't know that he was spying on them. Timon sniffles, "Oh how I wish Simba was still with us, I miss my baby so much!"

"He was also my baby. Let's try to sleep even if it hurts that we lost our baby, our little Simba…"

Bunga didn't hear the rest of Pumbaa was saying because he fell asleep. By the next morning Bunga has yawned and stretched his arms and turns to see his uncles were still asleep. Like the two weeks that had passed since Simba's death they continued to cry in their sleep. He touched his face if was still wet and it was, he sighs.

"Bunga!" he hears Ono calling him, that made Pumbaa and Timon wake up. Timon snaps at Ono. "Dammit Ono, Pumbaa and I finally fell asleep three hours ago!"

"Sorry to disturb you," said Ono, taking a step back. He turns to Bunga, "Are you okay to go on patrol? Kion doesn't feel well enough to go but you…"

Bunga snaps at Ono, "Of course I'm doing well why shouldn't I be okay?"

He realized what he just did, "I'm sorry Ono, I didn't mean to snap at you."

"That's okay. If you want to I'll let you know if it's really urgent."

"Thanks Ono, I think it will be better for today. Let me know if it's really important, I'll take care of my uncles." Bunga groans, he puts a paw on his eyes, Ono nodded and left. Bunga finally realizes that today isn't really a good day and it's only in the morning. Timon went to him and put a paw on his shoulder, "Kid… you don't need to stay, Pumbaa and I will be alright."

Bunga shook his head, "Nonsense Uncle Timon, I'll take care of you and of Uncle Pumbaa. Right now, you two need to rest, you really didn't have a goodnight sleep. Besides you guys needs some support and I'll check if you guys eat something today."

Pumbaa and Timon smiles weakly but it doesn't last long, they start crying again and Bunga's heart crushed a little as he felt his eyes getting watery. He hugged both his uncles, "I- I- I hope that our grief for Simba will be over soon. I find it hard to realize he's really gone."

Timon kissed his cheek, "I know baby, it hurts… I… I…"

He starts to sob uncontrollably, Pumbaa quickly made him lean against him with his forelegs and telling him that everything will be okay even thought it isn't, Pumbaa too had problems controlling his own sobbing. Bunga told them that he'll try to eat but he doesn't think they heard him. When he managed to eat some grubs, he went in the water going to go on his back but stopped. Why's that? Because he just thought of a wonderful memory with Simba.

Simba had splashed him while he was on his back, Simba was laughing and Bunga laughed at his turn while Timon and Pumbaa watched them with happiness… fresh new tears starts to trickle down Bunga's cheeks. He wipes away his tears and thought, those were the days…

He just sat there and stared at the water and for how long? He doesn't know, all he knows is that he looked down at the water and feeling tears coming down his cheeks. He hears footsteps thinking it was either Fuli or Beshte and took a deep breath, "What's the emergency?"

"What emergency, Bunga?" questioned a female voice and he turns to the source of the voice. It was Tiifu and Zuri, Tiifu looked puzzled by his question and Zuri couldn't care less as she looks at her claws.

"I'm sorry girls, I thought it was the Lion Guard…"

"No need to apologize Bunga, I know that you miss the king like all of us. Queen Nala would want you, Timon and Pumbaa to sleep at Pride Rock tonight. Do you think you guys can do that?" asked Tiifu, hugging Bunga. Zuri sighs and she too hugged him. It felt good that he was hugged today and wipes away his tears.

"Y- yeah," he answered, smiling weakly. "Let's go find my uncles first."

When they found them Kiara was on Pumbaa's belly and holding Timon, the three of them were asleep. Bunga, Tiifu and Zuri stares at each other with a smile. Bunga asked, "Should we let them sleep?"

This causes Kiara to wake up slowly and as she saw the three of them looking at her with big smiles, forgetting for some minutes about being gloomy. Kiara's eyes have widened, "I-I- I must have slept longer than I thought, Pumbaa's belly is so soft to sleep on. You're so lucky to have a soft place to sleep on, Bunga!"

"I won't argue with you on that one," smirked Bunga and Kiara hops off of Pumbaa and goes join them. Timon follows her and he suddenly remembers that Kiara wanted to ask them something, "What did you want to ask us?"

"Oh right! Mom wants to invite you, Pumbaa and Bunga to sleep at Pride Rock tonight," replied Kiara. She had completely forgot what she had to say earlier. "And she doesn't take no as an answer, so… it was mostly an order."

Pumbaa and Timon looks at each other and then return their gaze to Kiara with a smile, meaning they accepted not because they had no choice but because Simba's family are also their family and family is important to them. Bunga turns to them, "Did you guys eat a little?"

Kiara butted in, "They were eating a little… well, I made them eat a little before we went for a little sleep. Too bad it was only for a few minutes, I would have taken a couple of more hours."

Timon went to snuggle her with tears in his eyes, "You know Kiara, you're more than welcome to sleep here. You are family after all."

They snuggled a little more and right before they started to go to Pride Rock, Pumbaa nuzzled a little Kiara. Kiara enjoys some family time with her family but it's quite rare it's with her grandfather meerkat and great-uncle warthog- heck! It will also be nice to spend some time with Bunga, even if she doesn't feel like calling him uncle. It's just so weird to call him that. Suddenly a voice interrupts her thoughts, "Help!"

Everyone turns to see that Zuri has her claws stuck in a tree. Then Ono's voice was heard, "Bunga! We need you, it's an emergency! Janja, Reirei and their clan are trying to attack the zebras!"

Bunga exhales and turns to his uncles, "Are you two going to be alright? I mean…"

Timon waves him off with a grin, "Don't you worry, junior. Pumbaa and I will be okay."

"Alright then," Bunga said as he left with Ono.

When he and Kion returned to Pride Rock, they were hungry. Timon and Pumbaa were waiting for them, Kion and Bunga were wondering why. Timon hugs Bunga, "Are you hungry? We've got grubs for you, plenty for you and Kion."

"No thanks," Kion said with disgust, "I'll go eat to what mom has left me."

Bunga nodded and saw his uncles giving each other a sad look. Timon mumbles, "It's too bad that none of them loves grubs like their father did."

On the last part of Timon's sentence tears appears in their eyes, then going down their cheeks. Pumbaa gazes at Bunga, "Go on Bunga, eat. Don't mind us."

Bunga digs in the grubs that his uncles has kept for him, his eyes started to water. Kiara approaches them with tears in her eyes, she knows it's not easy for the three of them either, her grand-pops and great-uncle raised her father like if they were their own son and nephew. This was beyond her control and with that…

"Grand-pops Timon! Great-uncle Pumbaa!"

This quickly caught Timon and Pumbaa's attention as it made them have a little smile, she immediately hugs them. "I'm sorry that I didn't spend more time…"

Timon cuts her off as he places a finger on her lips, "Kiara… kid, you're going to be queen one day and that's understandable. I just hope that you won't forget to pay us a little visit once in a while."

"No… no, I won't" she replies. Then there is something that no one would have expected the future queen to blurt out, "I would want to try a grub, if you don't mind!"

Timon and Pumbaa were bewildered, Bunga saw that there was only two grubs left. He picks one and hands it to Kiara, she takes it as she swallows it down. She passes her tongue around her lips, she never thought grubs were delicious.

Pumbaa starts to speak, "Um, Kiara… why did you want to try one? You were never into…"

"I don't know why. I know I said grubs were disgusting in the past but now I find them delicious, I hope I can come and eat some more with you guys sometimes." Kiara glanced sideways in embarrassment. When she finally looks at them, they nodded.

Later on...

When it was the evening, the three children were sitting on the edge of Pride Rock, looking at the sun going down. They stayed in the same position for several minutes until Kion exhales, "Looks like this won't be easy. I hope it won't be very long to defeat Scar and his army once and for all. We still need to look over the Pridelands, even if our father is now with the great kings of the past."

"Don't worry, Kion," softly says Bunga, still staring ahead even if the sun has disappeared from their view. He is laying on his abdomen but when he suddenly feels uncomfortable, he sits up again. "I'm sure we will beat them once and for all. We will do this for Simba."

Kion agrees and Kiara lets out a yawn, "Well I'm going to bed, hope you guys don't mind."

Bunga and Kion looks at each other with confusion and they return to stare at her, Kion questions her, "Why would we mind, Kiara? Bunga and I were going to bed anyways," and then Bunga adds in with a grin, "you really want to sleep longer with Uncle Timon and Uncle Pumbaa, don't you?"

Kiara does a small giggle as she was half inside, staring at the boys, "Maybe so, I…"

Kiara then turns to scan where her grand-pops and great-uncle were, she lets out a gasp when she found them, the two boys were right behind her. Kion places a paw on his sister's shoulder, "Kiara, what's the matter?"

When he follows her gaze, he exclaims. "Hevi Kabisa!"

Like Bunga had seen last night, they saw Timon kissing Pumbaa on the snout. Bunga let's out a long sigh, they had frozen in place, minus Bunga who was rubbing the back of his head. It looks like they stayed in the same position for a long time because Nala has done a loud cough and the three jumped a little. Bunga stammers, "I'm sorry… sister-in-law… I mean… Queen Nala…"

"Bunga, calm down. What's the matter you three? You should be sleeping by now, it's getting late. It's getting dark outside," ordered Nala. She goes to them and her severe gaze is still painted on her face, she adds and points the uncomfortable pair who were caught by expressing their love, "you two better behave with them and accept the way they are. They are still part of the family. Your father wouldn't approve that you would reject them because of their love towards each other."

Kion and Kiara whirls around to see that it was indeed darker outside, they quickly returned to face their mother and nodded. They go to the duo and cuddles them, then they let have Bunga cuddle them. Nala looks at her family with joy, Kiara looks at Pumbaa in admiration. "Does that mean I can call you grand-daddy?"

"Grand-dad for me." Kion replies very fast. Pumbaa sniffles as he takes both Kion and Kiara with his forelegs into a hug, "This is perfect for me. I'm pretty sure that your dad would had accepted us the way we are."

Kiara does a big yawn, everyone nods in to say it's time to go to sleep and for real this time. No more times for chit-chatting. Nala embraces her children and nuzzles her family-in-law before going to bed. Pumbaa lays on his back and Kiara jumps right on him, making him a loud moan, she apologizes and he says hakuna matata. The two boys went to sleep each side of Pumbaa and while Kion was laying down, Timon went to sleep on his back.

Three hours later had passed since and for some unknown reasons Bunga woke up, rubbing his eyes for a moment. He tries to go to sleep but it looks like it doesn't work, he tiptoes to go outside and decides to go to the waterhole. Again, for some unknown reasons! He just feels like going to the waterhole before going back to bed.

When he arrived he sits down and wraps his arms around his legs, he looks up at the black sky filled with stars, he knows the great kings of the past that are watching over them, he even starts speaking even if it was a little difficult. "G- Great kings of the past… I wonder if… my king bro is with… you know?"

He feels tears pricking his eyes, he rapidly lowers his head and wipes his tears away. "I miss you, king bro. I wish you were still with us."

"I wish I was still with you guys," said a voice behind him, Bunga whirls around and his eyes have widened. Here was Simba's ghost, smiling at him. "But yes I'm with the great kings of the past now."

Bunga was rubbing his eyes, harshly. Was he hallucinating this? Was his brother's ghost really talking to him? He doesn't know what to think. It's if Simba had read his thoughts, "No Bunga, I am not an hallucination and yes I'm talking to you."

"It's un-bunga-lievable!" Bunga exclaimed, then calms himself, reminding himself that it's the middle of the night so he lowers his voice. He had to ask this question, a question he so wanted to ask Simba if he wasn't killed by that scorpion. "Would you had accepted Uncle Timon and Uncle Pumbaa's as, you know?"

Simba has chosen his words wisely, "You know what is my answer. Take care of my family, bro. Timon and Pumbaa will stop crying in their sleep, them and all of you will stop mourning for me and move on."

Bunga half smiles as he rapidly stands up, "Will we defeat Scar and his army, one day? Do you know the answer, king bro?"

"Bunga! Slow down. You guys have to be patient, only time will tell you."

Bunga apologizes but he stops when Simba chuckles, "Hakuna matata, little bro. Now, you'll have to hurry back to Pride Rock and get some rest. I have a feeling there's going to be some action tomorrow."

"Yeah, already time to say goodbye, what a bummer," mumbles Bunga, a tear rolling down his cheek. "Well, I hope you'll watch… oh right! I don't need to tell you that."

"You are correct. Now off you go!"

Then with that his ghost had vanished and Bunga returns to Pride Rock, when he goes in the den he sighs in relief when he sees everyone is still sleeping. He goes back to the spot he was sleeping and fell asleep with a smile on his face.

Author's Note: I know that some are confused about the scene with Kiara, Timon and Pumbaa sleeping together in the jungle but it's based from the one and a half movie (The Lion King 3 in some countries), the scene of the where the duo is sleeping with young Simba- wanted so bad to do it with the duo and Kiara. As for the ghost of Simba well... I know that it doesn't make sense (especially in TLK/TLG) but in my head I thought it was a good idea.

Anyways, I enjoyed writing this fanfiction. Not to forget that "Grand-pops" and "Great-Uncle" is because in the one and a half movie of The Lion King we see Simba call Timon Pops once and because Timon and Pumbaa (uncle to Simba) are best friends, well... grand-pops and great-uncle it is. However in some fanfictions that I'll put them as a couple (like this one for example) it's going to be grand-pops and grand-daddy (for Kiara) and grand-dad (for Kion).