Hey everybird! What's up!?

Now this is the last chapter of this year's Christmas story… Yeah I know it's a bit shorter this year, but this was hastily written, what with other things happening that required my attention and trying to finish this before Christmas Day.

But either way, I hope you all had as good of a Christmas as you could or are enjoying the end of this year, this year has been very rough on everyone in the world, but just remember that things will get better and life will return to normal one day. We all just have to keep praying and hoping for the best!

Now onto the story!

Chapter 4: A Promise

Christmas Day has passed and after getting on the plane, in which Tomada had to be put in a cage, which was a little uncomfortable for him, but after some reassurance and also the fact that Alex shared the cage with his friend, he became fine with it. After the trip back to Rio, Linda went back to the house she shared with Tulio in the city, while the group of birds flew themselves back to the Amazon. It was a trip of a few days, which every day that passed Tomada became a little more anxious as well he hasn't been back in so long and also…

Seeing his family and how they would react to him being back. By the time they had only a day left of flying, resting the night before on top of the one of the river boats, Tomada was still awake, staring up at the beautiful display of stars that twinkled and shined above. He was so transfixed at the nighttime show that he jumped a little feeling a wing on his shoulder, looking to see the red feathers of his Scarlet friend.

"Can't sleep?" Alex asked with a smile as he came besides his friend.

"Yeah, it's just been so long since I been here, it's like one of my dreams I used to have since I left, only this time it's real." Tomada replied. "You really think my family will forgive me Alex?"

"I do, it may take some time for them to accept what happened, but they're going to be happy you're back, just like with us." Alex looking back to Blu and his family, who were all asleep, resting for the final leg of the journey tomorrow.

"Thanks Alex, you always know the right thing to say." Tomada commented.

"It's a gift I have." Alex smirked and chuckled. "Now come on, we both need some sleep if we're going to make it back home tomorrow." Alex urged his friend to lie down and get some rest.

So the two friends had a good night's sleep before waking up the next morning, the sun shining brightly over the jungle, coating the land with its yellow light as the group of birds took off and flew back to the protected area of the Blue macaw tribe. As they crossed the border of the tribe, the Blue macaws were rather surprised to see Tomada back, not expecting him as they flew back to where Blu, Jewel, and their kids lived.

"Home sweet home." Bia commented.

"Not yet for this guy right here." Alex reminded the young bird. "You guys can stay here, I'll bring Tomada over to his family.

"You sure Alex?" Blu asked.

"I'm sure, I think it'll be more comfortable for Tomada." Alex replied.

"That's fine, we should tell my dad we're back home anyway." Jewel remembered. "He's going to be happy to see us."

So Alex and Tomada left, Alex leading the way to where Tomada's family was and as they came within view, the two saw Tomada's kids outside and when Bobbie and Junior saw the two, well surprise doesn't even come close to how they felt. As Alex and Tomada landed down, the two kids at first didn't know how to respond, just staying where they were with beaks wide open, luckily Tomada spoke right away to make it less awkward.

"Hey… Bobbie, Junior…" Tomada started, rubbing the back of his head with a wing. "I'm back and well… I just want to say I'm sorry for…" Tomada continued, but he didn't have a chance to finish as the two kids looked at each other as their father spoke and well speaking to each other without words, Bobbie simply launched herself at her father, hugging tightly onto him.

"Daddy…" Bobbie spoke as she was crying softly, unable to simply believe her father was really here as Tomada, after a couple seconds in surprise, wrapped his wings around his daughter.

"I'm right here sweetie." Tomada lowering his head as the two stayed like that for a couple of minutes before they finally separated. "You look as beautiful as your mother."

"Thanks daddy." Bobbie replied as Tomada helped wipe away his girl's tears before looking to his son.

"Junior…" Tomada said as his son came froward and well the two didn't hug, but Tomada looked up and down the junior falcon, who of course has grown up quite a bit since the last time Tomada saw him. "Look at you… You're almost as big and strong as your old man."

"Thanks dad." Junior replied.

"Have you been taking care of your mom and sister while I was gone." Tomada asking to make sure.

"Of course sir, it's my job after all." Junior smiled. "And welcome home dad, I can't wait to show you everything I done since you left."

"Can't wait." Tomada chuckled as his eyes caught something behind his kids, moving past his kids, to come right before Alex and his one and only… Sorrel…

While Tomada was talking to his kids, Alex went into the hollow and got Sorrel and at first not believing the Scarlet since it was too good to be true, she came out and well just like the two kids was stunned beyond belief. And now the two were face to face for the first time in what was years now.

"Hey Sorrel…" Tomada started while Alex quietly move to where Bobbie and Junior were. "Listen, before you say anything I just want to say I'm sorry, I shouldn't have put you through all that pain of me leaving. I know you're angry at me and I don't blame you, you have every right to be, but I'm back and…" Tomada continued and just like his daughter, Sorrel threw herself into the falcon, feeling his warm feathers.

"Don't ever leave me again…" Sorrel cried. "Promise me you'll stay here."

"I promise." Tomada said back, holding onto his one and only more tightly as Bobbie and Junior looked at their Uncle Alex.

"Go ahead." Alex told them knowing what they wanted as the two siblings came froward, sharing a big happy family hug.

The two were still holding onto each other as Alex decided to leave them to their moment, go back to his own home in the Scarlet macaw tribe to make sure his own family knew he was back, he had quite the story to tell them. As the day was ending and night returned over the Amazon, Alex was standing outside his hollow, enjoying the peaceful night when he spotted a dark, black figure flying towards him, Tomada. The falcon landing down next his friend with a smile on.

"Surprised to see you here." Alex told his friend. "I would imagine you and Sorrel would be catching up on some things for lost time." Alex joked as Tomada blushed, knowing what Alex meant.

"We have plenty of time for that, I'm not going anywhere." Tomada replied. "I just came to say thank you again buddy, for bringing me back home where I truly belong."

"Np problem buddy, but if you try to leave again, I'm going to come after you and kick your butt." Alex chuckled as Tomada did so too.

"Don't worry, I'm here to stay where all my family and friends are, I promise." Tomada said.

"Thanks." Alex said as he came froward for a hug. "Glad you're back buddy, love you."

"Love you too Alex." Tomada hugged back as he gave a quiet sigh of happiness.

And so Tomada was back at home in the Amazon, for real and to stay now, it was going to take some time for things to return to normal, but they were all going to get through it and enjoy the rest of their lives together as friends and family.

And that's the end of this short story!

I hope you all enjoyed it, especially my good friend Tomada The Falcon!

And before the end of the year, I will start that new fun series I been thinking of lately! So look froward to that and until than…

See everybird later!