When the week of the wedding had finally come, Sarabi had been throwing up for a few days. It had been Uru to catch wind of the illness. There was no doubt in the Queen's mind that Sarabi was pregnant, with the rogue's cub. Mufasa didn't know about the rogue. Ahadi didn't know about that rogue either, the only ones who knew were Uru and Sarafina, and they kept it a secret.

So when Sarabi told Taka about her pregnancy, he couldn't help but feel overjoyed and asked when the wedding was; it was tomorrow morning.

That's when he swore he'd be going to Pride Rock to stop the wedding.

"Just you wait, daddy and mommy will have this all settled soon!"

Sarabi giggled as Taka spoke to their unborn cub. He was already acting like a father despite just finding out about it. There was a protectivness that had suddenly formed at the mere mention of having cubs and now, they were finally going to have cubs.

"The only problem is how Mufasa will react." Sarabi sighed as Taka nuzzled her stomach. "There's no telling on how he'll react."

Taka narrowed his green eyes. "Whatever the reaction; I'm going to protect my cubs and you."

"Taka." Sarabi purred happily as she licked his cheek.

The rogue smiled as he nuzzled her before sighing. This would be hard as he watched from the distance, only to show up last moment to steal her away from the lion.

"What's wrong, Taka?"

Taka looked away from his love before turning back with his eyes shining a little sadly. "I'm just getting used to the fact you're going to be marrying a different lion than I."

Sarabi smiled. "But you're going to stop him."

Taka laughed. "Of course I am, but what if this fails? I couldn't live with myself."

"You won't." Sarabi told him gently.

"But what if I do, Sarabi and you're forced to marry this lion? He'll surely kill my cubs and force you to have his own to make sure the bloodline for the royals remains with the blood of the current King. If I fail, the cubs die."

Sarabi narrowed her eyes. "I wouldn't let that bastard kill my cubs."

"I'm just worried." Taka replied as he nuzzled her stomach once more, purring happily at his unborn cubs.

Sarabi smiled as she knew Taka would be a wonderful father to the unborn. "Our cubs will be raised in a loving family."

Taka nodded as he looked at the sky. "The sun is setting."

Sarabi sighed as she stood up. "Then it's my cue to leave for Pride Rock. Tomorrow, our future awaits. I'll be waiting for you, Taka. I don't want to marry that lion. My heart is yours."

Taka sighed as he accepted everything in that moment. "Until tomorrow, love."

She gave him one more nuzzle before padding away. "Until tomorrow."

How she wished she didn't have to marry Mufasa so soon.

*TP & TR*

When the morning sun rose over Pride Rock, Sarabi's heart twisted. She wanted to be with Taka already. The unborn cubs were his' and not Mufasa's. She knew this would crash Mufasa's heart but what could she do now? Without a doubt, Sarabi's heart belonged to that of Taka, the lone rogue in the Pridelands.

"Morning." Uru said as she padded into the den, her mate and son already outside.

Sarabi sighed heavily as she looked at the queen. "Good morning, Queen Uru."

Uru looked at her son's future mate. "Is something wrong?"

Sarabi flicked her tail nervously. "I don't wish to marry him."

Uru sighed heavily as she nuzzled her daughter-in-law with. "Sarabi, we both know there isn't a choice in the matter."

"But Uru! I just can't!" Sarabi pleaded with the queen.

Uru sighed as she shook her head. "You have to."

In that moment, Sarabi's heart ached so much she could stop herself. She revealed the biggest secret she wanted to keep away from the royals.

"I'm pregnant!" Sarabi said before gasping.

Uru's jaw dropped but she managed to recover as she took in Sarabi's words. It clicked easily as she knew the lioness hadn't spent much time with Mufasa over the past few weeks and she swallowed as she realized the truth.

The queen took a deep breath. "You're pregnant... with that rogue's cubs?"

Sarabi looked away, ashamed but before she could respond, Rafiki showed up with a big smile, and she knew it was time to have her fate sealed until Taka showed.