Hello everyone! This is a one-shot featuring Po and Tigress. Thought I'd do something different to my main story. If you haven't checked out my main story, I would encourage you to have a read of Eye of the Tiger.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters used in the story. They are property of DREAMWORKS.

Please Read, Review and Enjoy!


She's Not You

"PO!"

I ran out to protect Po, who had crashed back into the panda village after confronting Kai. His plan had failed. Po propped himself up as we approached him, with fear laced across his face. "I was wrong! I'm sorry! Run! RUN!"

None of us moved. We were not leaving Po. I was not leaving Po. If Po goes down, I'm going down with him. We'll fight until the end. Po looked around at us as we looked at Po, wondering if this was the end. Was this it? Po and I locked eye contact, and all I could see was fear. Nothing but fear. I held Lei Lei protectively close as she started crying. Hearing her cries felt like I was being stabbed in the heart. I wanted her to be safe, to not be in harm's way, but I couldn't assure her safety. There was nothing I could do. There was nothing Po could do.

"You really thought you could send me back to the Spirit Realm?" Kai asked Po. "You're just a stupid mortal."

As Kai was saying this, Po and I held eye contact for the entire time. I could tell Po was trying hard to think of something. Anything. That's when I noticed his facial expressions changed at the words of Kai. Po didn't have a look of fear anymore. He had a glimmer of hope. "It only works on mortals." Po glanced back at me and showed the faintest of smiles before turning around and facing Kai while standing up. "You're right. I can't send you there… but I can take you there. WHAT'S THAT?!" Po pointed out to nothing, fooling us to look where he had pointed out.

Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Po move. When I looked back, I realised Po had wrapped himself around Kai's neck, holding himself in the Wuxi Finger Hold. I panicked, realising what he was doing. "PO!"

Po looked up at me and smiled before lowering his finger. "Skadoosh!" Po's chi was released into the air in a massive shock wave. The light was so blinding that I closed my eyes while holding my paw out to protect Lei Lei from the blaze. When the chi wave calmed down, I opened my eyes, causing my heart to stop. Po was gone… and so was Kai. The only thing left now were flower petals on the ground in the shape of a yin-yang.

"Wha-what happened? Where's Po?" Li Shan asked as we approached the flower petals.

My ears flattened when I realised what Po had done. "He took Kai away. He saved us."

A few days had passed since the events of Kai. Po defeated Kai and safely returned, as did all the other masters that Kai captured, but what troubled me was the feeling I had felt when I realised Po had sacrificed himself to save us. Knowing that he may not have returned left me feeling empty. It was the same thing I felt when I watched Po get shot by Lord Shen. Why does it hurt me more when Po is involved? Po and I have grown close to each other over the years, but I may have become closer to Po than I realised. Closer than I could let myself.

As I was sitting on a hill looking over the panda village, these thoughts kept playing through my mind. Reflecting on how Po and I had met, to where we are now. We all know how it started. I don't want to remind myself of how I treated Po. It was selfish of me, and to this day, I still regret my actions. I didn't know Po, nor what he had gone through. However, since the events of Tai Lung, our friendship strengthened. At first, we found a mutual understanding of each other, but after the events of Lord Shen, we grew to have the uttermost respect for each other. We learnt we needed each other. We would throw ourselves in harm's way to protect one another. Even though we've had countless arguments about it, we do it because we care for each other.

We've become so attached to each other that the events of Kai have opened my eyes to the reality of our relationship. I've become so attached to Po, more than I could have imagined, that I can't become unattached. When Po gets hurt, I feel the pain. When I am in danger, Po is always there protecting me. As Master Oogway has always said, 'there are no accidents'. Po falling into my life was no accident. He came into my life for a reason, and these events have made me realise why. Without him, I would never have become the person I am today. I need Po, but does he need me as much as I need him?

"Hey!"

I jumped around, startled, but relaxed out of a defensive position once I realised it was Po, and sighed. "It's only you."

Po walked up beside me as I turned around and looked back over the panda village. "It's a nice view, isn't it?"

I turned to Po and smiled. "It is. You must be happy to have found your dad and this village."

"Yeah, it's certainly nice to know my biological dad is alive, and I have this family." We stood there for a few minutes in silence, looking over the village as they went about the rebuild. Po sighed. "Are you okay, Tigress?"

I glanced at Po before turning my attention back to the village. "Why did you do it?"

"Ahh… could you be a little more specific? There's probably a list of things you could be talking about."

"Using the Wuxi Finger Hold on yourself. Why did you do it? You knew you might not have come back."

Po sighed as he looked away. "Ah… that. Yeah… I knew I might not have come back, but I had to do it to protect you all. It wasn't easy to do. Especially seeing the look on your face before I did it."

"It's something I'd rather not go through again."

Po looked at me. "Why?"

I turned to Po with a frown. "Why? Because I thought I lost you, Po. I thought you were gone. Why do you think I rushed in and hugged you after you came back?"

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cause such agony, but I had to. It was the only way to save you from being hurt."

I sighed. "It's just the number of times I've seen you vanish in front of my eyes. I don't think I can take it anymore."

"Trust me… I never plan for any of these things to happen. If I hadn't taken Kai away, we'd be history."

"Just don't do it again, or I'll send you back to the spirit realm myself."

Po chuckled nervously. "I can't promise anything, but I'll try. Besides, I don't think I could live if anything happened to you."

I turned to Po with a raised eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"Well, these events have made me realise that without you, I wouldn't be the Dragon Warrior I am today. I have you to thank because you are always there for me. I mean, if you hadn't arrived at the panda village and helped me when you did, I don't think I would've defeated Kai. If you had been captured and turned into a jombie, that would've broken me."

I thought about what Po had said. He was right. I am always there, but that's because he needs my help. "I don't know how I escaped from Kai, but I'm glad I did."

Po smiled. "I am too, but that brings me to this. What I'm about to tell you will change our friendship. I'm hoping for the better, but if not, that's fine."

I felt my heart rate increase when I anticipated what Po was going to say. "Po-"

"Tigress, when we first met, it wasn't the greatest of beginnings. We both can agree on that. However, over time, we've grown to become so close to each other, to depend on each other. I've become so attached to you that I can't even stand the thought of losing you. And I don't want to lose you, so-"

"PO!"

Po stopped and looked at me. "What? You don't feel the same, do you? That's okay. I thought that would be the case. I just had to get it off my chest. I'll leave you be."

I grabbed Po's paw before he could walk off, causing Po to look at me, confused. I took in a deep breath and looked at Po. "Why me? You're here in a village full of panda. You could pick any girl you want, like Mei Mei. She's great, sweet, and caring. You could get married and have kids. What more could you want?"

Po smiled. "She's not you."

I looked down at our interlocked paw as I couldn't help but smile. All my life, I've wanted to have a place where I belonged. To be loved. I tried so hard growing up to get that from Master Shifu, but Tai Lung had scarred him. I don't blame Master Shifu for closing up to protect himself. He had been broken, but at the time, I didn't understand. I thought there was something wrong with me. Being shown nothing caused me to shut my emotions out. To bury them deep down and become hardcore, thinking it would protect me from harm, but I was wrong. Standing in front of me is the one person who changed that. Po managed to crack my code, untangle these feelings, and show me it is okay to have emotions. I may still be hardcore on the outside, but I'm not on the inside.

As these thoughts were going through my mind, I glanced up at Po, who was appearing nervous, probably fearing that I was about to knock him out. That thought caused me to smile, which seemed to cause Po to relax. I sighed as I tightened the grip on Po's paw. "Po, a lot is going through my head right now. So much that I'm finding it hard to keep it clear, but one thing stands out. I've realised how much I need you, how happy and loved you make me feel. You give me things I have always wanted, but never got. Seeing you disappear with Kai made me realise I couldn't lose you again. I don't want to lose you again, and I won't, because I want you to be mine, as much as you want me to be yours."

The beaming smile on Po's face grew so wide that it caused me to blush. I looked away, trying to hide the blush, but Po recaptured my attention when he grabbed my other paw. "I can't tell if this is real or a dream, but I wanna make this moment even better." Po grabbed me by the waist and pulled me closer to him as I wrapped my arms around his neck. We met in a soft, yet passionate kiss that caused sparks of electricity to explode into the air, as if the world around us had become electrified. As our kiss deepened, it felt as if the energy of the universe was flowing through us. It was electrifying, passionate, and full of love. This moment could have gone on for longer, but something snapped us back into the real world.

"Stripey baby and cuddles together… hehehe!"

The voice of Lei Lei's caused Po and me to break apart instantly. I looked down and saw Lei Lei jumping around in happiness, causing me to smile. When I glanced at Po, his face had turned a dark red. I looked back at Lei Lei who was still jumping around, and so I walked over to her and picked her up. "What are you doing here, Lei Lei?"

Lei Lei giggled as she snuggled into my arms. "You and cuddles cute together."

Po chuckled behind me, causing me to glance at Po before looking back at Lei Lei. "Can you promise me something?" Lei Lei nodded her head. "Can you keep this a secret? It can be our secret, okay?"

Lei Lei giggled. "I keep secret."

I stood up as Lei Lei nuzzled into my chest before glancing at Po, who's beaming smile had returned. "At least she approves," Po said, before his stomach growled, causing him to blush again. "What? It's hard work confessing your love."

I rolled my eyes. "Let's go get something to eat. I'm hungry too."

Po smiled as he wrapped an arm around me before we made our way to the panda village. "You know, you'd make a great mum."

I looked down at the sleeping panda cub and smiled. "One day, Po. One day."


A/N: And that concludes the end of this one-shot. There was no song in this one. Just a lovey-dovey story.

At least that's what I hope you felt. Hope you enjoyed it nonetheless!

Until next time, take care and stay safe!

Adios!