Another great story by guestsurprise, who owns Maxine, Zambanza, Ecstacio, Optimo, Madison, Jocu, Jape, Jest, Queen Bliss, Clarice, and Amio. :)

Mythology belongs to its respective owners. Dana (mentioned here) belongs to Redbat132. I only own Rachel and gave guestsurprise full permission to use her. :)

Nuzzles And Wonderful Cuddles

Maxine, Zambanza, and Madison stared in shock as they were whisked into the realm by Jocu and the brothers. They had been summoned by Jape and Jest.

"It is about time that you all came," Jape smirked, now easing forward towards Zambanza. "I have been waiting for some quality time with my daughter."

"And I have been waiting for you two," Jest smirked in delight.

"Rachel is already here; she was helping Queen Bliss with some chores," Amio grinned. "There's been a lot happening here."

"Speaking of which…when are you going to visit Dana?" Zambanza smirked.

"Well…," Amio's face turned red as he spoke.

"You know…I'm sure she misses you. She's a sweet friend and I do think that she likes you." Zambanza answered.

"I like her too, but…I guess I don't know how to express my feelings." Amio chuckled.

"Well, she's not shy and if she finds out that you're being shy…she's going to tickle it out of you," Rachel laughed, now walking up as she heard the conversation.

"I uh…gotta go," Amio said, now shyly running off. The girls only giggled; they knew what that meant. But before she could say anything else, she saw Ecstacio walking past and mentioning something to Optimo. Now stiffening her upper lip, Rachel walked over to the large, white titan and cleared her throat.

"H-Hello Ecstacio." She said softly. He turned and looked at her with an inquisitive brow and his tail gave a small shift.

"Good evening, Rachel," he said. He then watched as she got closer to him and gave him a small smile.

"I'm sure you know that the girls came to see Jape and Jest. It's their night for bonding with them," she said.

"Yes. Cuddling is a type of bonding in our species," he said.

"Then I hope you one day consider my sister and I bonding with you. Only the other night we had a nap with King Lauhin," Rachel giggled, but was also serious.

"He is king. It is an honor to rest with him if he asks," he said.

"And…," She said.

"And what?" Ecstacio said, now seeing her come a step closer.

"And I hope that you too will allow my sister and I to bond with you," Rachel said. She saw his ruby-red eyes narrow and he stepped back.

"Ms. Rachel….I am not a being to cuddle with. I am not like my brother," came the deep response.

"You may not be, but your cuddles are legendary." Optimo spoke up. Ecstacio shot him an agitated gaze, but he continued. "Great Prince…I do not mean it in disrespect, but the young cubs that you used to watch and your nephews all remember how soft and silky your fur was. They even say that you are one of the few that can hug almost as good as Lauhin himself. All Lauhinians believe that you, Bliss, and Lauhin are the best."

"Which is why I hope you will agree to let us….and…soon?" Rachel said, now getting closer. "I'm not trying to be pushy. I just want to get to know you more."

And with that, she gently reached her hand up and placed a hand on his furry chest. She saw him look at her and there seemed to be a softness in his eyes until he gently took her hand and she for a second thought she felt him squeeze it.

"Until we meet again," he said, now gently placing her hand down and he turned and walked back towards the garden. As he did, she wanted to reach and touch his tail but Optimo cleared his throat, which made her stop.

"Sorry," Rachel said sheepishly.

"No, you have no reason to be sorry. I did that because if you let him…he will let you touch his tail. Give him time," Optimo smiled, now walking over to her and giving her a playful nudge.

"I just want to get through to him; I need to somehow touch deeper in him," she said, now seeing Ecstacio walking inside and getting ready to pass her again. As he passed her she smiled, but he did not smile back and she sadly hung her head. "Well maybe, I…,"

She paused because as she looked down, she saw his tail gently brush past her arm and twirl around her wrist. The motion was so graceful and quick that all she could do was give a small giggle. His tail was as soft and silky as Optimo described; it felt so wonderful. Optimo smiled with the biggest grin he could.

"I knew he would…after all…he is the Great Prince," he whispered to her. Rachel felt happy tears come to her eyes and turned and blurted out his name before she knew what she was doing!

"Ecstacio!" She said in glee. He turned and glanced at her over his shoulder and for a second, she saw a ghost of a smile. As he walked through another door, Rachel took off after him! She had a LOT of questions for the great, white prince! Optimo could only laugh as he turned to get back to his duties.

"Rachel has got to be almost as determined as Clarice was," Optimo chuckled. And his ears perked up as he heard a surprised and happy squeak from Rachel. It appears she too got more than she bargained for! After all, Ecstacio was full of surprises….

Meanwhile…

Zambanza watched as Jape walked with her down the hallway and led her to his room. It of course was covered with gold and varieties of deep and light purple decorations around the area.

"I…uh…," She said, now taking a step back as he walked into his room.

"Everything alright?" He asked, now turning and looking at her over his shoulder. "What is it?"

"I….I don't cuddle good, Jape. I mean…I don't know if I can…," she said, her face turning red.

"Hey, hey, hey….easy there, tough one. There is nothing to be worried about," Jape chuckled, now using his tail to pull her closer inside. "At least come inside and not stand in the doorway, young one."

And with that, she squeaked as he pulled her inside and let his tail close the door. As she stood, she saw Jape walk over to his fluffy purple couch and sit on it. He then arched an eyebrow at his young daughter and smirked as he crossed his legs.

"I must say that I am surprised at how afraid you are of me," he chuckled, now resting his strong arms behind his head.

"Afraid?! I'm not afraid of anything!" She said, now placing her hands on her hips. He wiggled his eyebrows playfully making her huff more. He loved teasing her!

"I am sorry, but I'm not convinced," Jape said, now nonchalantly grabbing a nearby chalice and drinking from it. Zambanza stomped over to him and huffed.

"I'm not scared!" She said, now looking up at in his purple eyes. He was still taller than her even when sitting! This was just a glimpse of how big they really were.

"Well then, why not sit down and relax then?" He said, now seeing her sit on the couch. "You look tired."

"I'm not tired! I just…," and with that she yawned a bit. Jape only gave a sly smirk and placed a hand on her head.

"Are you sure?" He asked.

"H-Hey! No! You are making me sleepy," she said, now trying to stay awake.

"Oh, relax…you need to calm down that spiciness of yours," Jape chuckled. "I'm not intimidated by you at all; after all, you are part of me."

Zambanza looked up at him and saw him give her a gentle smile and she could only smile back. He was one of the few that was not intimidated by her. And deep down…she loved that.

"T-Thanks, Father. I'm sorry I don't cuddle with you a lot or spend a lot of time in the realm like I should," she said, now hanging her head.

"Oh stop that," came the deep coo he said now gently grabbing her legs and placing them over his lap.

"H-Hey!" She said, now trying to pull her legs back.

"Ah, ah, ah…relax, Banza…," he smirked devilishly, now taking off her boots and socks.

"J-Jape! N-No! NOAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" She laughed as he began tickling her toes and her arches. After a few minutes, he let her legs go and he jumped up and ran to his bed.

"Can't catch me, can't catch me," he chuckled, now waving his backside and tail at her playfully.

"You're not getting away from me!" She said in a laugh, now running after him and pouncing on his back and landing on him! "GOT YOU!" And with that, she practically buried his head and shoulders under pillows!

"Hey! Who turned out the lights; young one, you're messing up my hair," came the deep laugh. For his head was buried under pillows and his hands were blindly looking for her. "Come here, you little rascal!"

"Nope! Gotcha!" She said, now sitting on his back and keeping him pinned under the pillows. And with that he started bouncing her on his waist and bucking her playfully. "JAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAPE! STAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAP!"

"This is for getting me sweaty, you naughty magician," came the muffled and playful response. And with that, Zambanza turned and gently grabbed his tail and began tickling it. "AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA ZAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAMBANZA! C'MON! NOAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"I've got you, Father! I'll tickle you until…," She paused, now realizing that she was tickling him more. She was becoming more like a Lauhinian! After a second, Jape lifted his bum and let his tail gently touch her face.

"Banza? Why did you halt? What's going on up there?" Came the gentle question.

"I…uh…," She said.

"Banza? Honey?" Came the gentle persistence as he lifted his bum more and let his tail caress her cheeks. "Hey…,"

"I-I think I better go…," she said, her cheeks turning red.

"Go? You just got here…come here," came the gentle coo.

"I…," she paused.

"Banza….," he asked, now letting his tail caress over her forehead more. "Answer me, sweet one."

"I-I'm not sweet, Jape; I haven't been…," Zambanza paused.

"Hey now…that's enough of that," Jape soothed, now freeing himself from the pillows. As he looked over his shoulder, he smiled gently. He now saw why she paused; she was showing more emotion than she thought and has done before. "Come here….you're not going anywhere but in my arms."

And with that, he used all four arms to pull her to him and she was now cuddling beside him and he looked down at her.

"Listen to me…you will need time to understand our ways. You will be fine, Zambanza, because you are trying to learn about love and you are letting us help you get through this. Now you are going to let me hug you and cuddle you tonight," Jape said, now wiping her hair from her face. "You are special to me and I love you…,"

"And I love you too, Father…," she said, now slowly letting her head rest on his chest as he lay next to her. He knew she was on the verge of falling asleep so he nudged her.

"Go and take a hot soak in the hot tub over there and change into your pajamas; I'll be waiting for you when you return," he whispered.

She smiled at him and got up and went to soak and change as he said.

Meanwhile…

Maxine and Madison saw Jest walk up to them and he gave them a small smile.

"Do not look so nervous, you two; I don't bite," Jest smirked, now having them follow him. "Come, follow me….we will have a soak first."

"A soak?" Madison asked.

"Yes, it will be just the three of us. However, if my brothers show up, do not be concerned. Now come on, you two," Jest chuckled, now gently walking up behind them and gently ushering them forward.

guestsurprise's words: The girls are in for a treat! Part two will be coming soon!

To guestsurprise: I think I speak for everyone when I saw we are looking forward to the next part. :)

To everyone else: Please leave guestsurprise a review, but no flames! Remember, I'm watching those reviews very closely.

GoldGuardian2418