Chapter 3

They got their answer later that night.

Po told his fathers that he, Tigress, Shifu, and the others were coming down to the restaurant for dinner. For whatever reason, Po didn't want to cook dinner, so he made a reservation, adding two additional seats for them to join in. They came when the restaurant was quiet which allowed them to eat together peacefully, when no one else was about.

It was quiet; the food was great as usual, the atmosphere was cosy. Li managed to talk to Po for a bit, while Tigress lost in conversation with Viper and Crane. The buzz in the air was created by the conversations that moved between everyone, and it was nice...

Po got up at some point to help Mr. Ping with the dishes, but Mr. Ping was sent straight back out. He took Po's seat, saying he was keeping it warm, before nudging Tigress, who smiled back at him. Mantis and Monkey were laughing, until Po walked back out, his paws behind his back. Li Shan raised a brow at this movement, but didn't comment.

"Are we ready for desert?" Mr. Ping asked.

Everyone at the table nodded excitedly- but Po pulled one paw from behind his back, and raised it to level with his head. "But first..." looking at Tigress, he asked her to come up. Of course, she obliged, and got up and stood by him, facing their friends. Li Shan was just reaching for his cup of tea as Po wrapped an arm around Tigress. "As you guys know, Tigress and I are almost together a year now... and I just wanna say, on our behalf, we thank you guys for the support..." he nodded to Master Shifu, who just smiled back at him knowingly, "your blessings..." he turned to Monkey and Mantis with raised eyebrows, "your jokes..." both blushed deeply, which made everyone laugh. Li was watching quietly, sipping on the tea, not sure where this was going. "For this year... but maybe things need to change." Oulling away from a slightly confused Tigress, Po pulled a closed fist from behind his back, and got down on one knee.

Everyone was up on their feet, Li Shan a little bit quicker then the others. Tigress' eyes went wider then dinner plates. Her paws were collected over her mouth, as Po's paw opened from the tight fist, to reveal a gold ring with a jade green stone. "Tigress, I love you... but I need an answer; will you marry me?"

There was an overwhelming silence for both parties: Po, his dads, and the others could hear their hearts racing, anticipating her answer with immense anxiety. Tigress must of felt the same emotions (obviously for different reasons)... but it was all washed away when she pulled her paws away, and while reaching out for Po's paw, she whispered loud enough for everyone to hear;

"Yes..."

Before Li could say anything, the ring was on her finger, and Po had her in a tight embrace, which she welcomed, with their loved ones cheering. Shifu was watching on with a blessed smile on his face. Mr. Ping was nearly crying, turning around to Li to sing his joy, but song a lot softer when he saw the strain in Li's smile as he kept his primary focus on the scene before them;

When the goose turned, he saw Po and Tigress were surrounded by their friends, getting hugs, and laughing as Crane cried out he got to help plan the wedding, Monkey trying to keep himself together, and Viper gazing down at her best friend's ring with admiration, and slight envy. In the brief distraction with the paw/wingshake with Master Shifu, Li sank back into his seat, and Po came up beside him. "You okay dad?" He asked.

"I'm fine!" Li's voice came out in a higher pitch then he had wanted. Po looked a little confused. "It all seemed so... sudden! Out of nowhere!"

Po just chuckled sheepishly, shoulders shrugging higher then they should. "Maybe to you... but Tigress and I have spoken about engagement for some time now so... what better time then before the winter festival?" Po pat him on the shoulder. "We won't be public about it until the winter festival, but we wanted to share the moment with those who we love most..." Pulling him into a heartfelt hug, Li slowly wrapped his arms around his only son; visions of Shen's attack, the lonely years without Po, finding him... were swarming around his head as Po whispered. "I'm glad you were here to see it."

2 days before the Winter Festival...

Knock knock knock!

Ping didn't even wait for an answer; it was the next morning, and Li went straight to bed after last night's events died down once the others left. He tried to talk to him, but Li hastily mentioned all the excitement had him tuckered out, and he was 'asleep' within minutes.

The goose opened the door, and found Li asleep in the cot, snoring obnoxiously loud. Louder then before. "You've been awake since the gong. Get up Li!"

The panda turned over, half defeatedly. "Is it noon?"

"Nearly, now get up." Ping spoke sternly, folding his wings as Li sat up and looked down to the dining area outside.

"It's quiet." He commented, getting out of bed and fixing the blanket."What's the rush?"

"We need to talk." Li's actions gradually turned slower. "Po is busy preparing the winter festival, so I can speak freely without him getting upset."

Li knitted his eyebrows together, as if not to understand what was going on. "What do you mean?"

"Your behavior last night was very concerning."

"What do you-" Slap! A sharp pain cross his right cheek. "What the- where did the spoon come from?!" The instrument was waving close enough to his face to hit him again, so he jumped back a little.

"No time to explain! Now talk."

"About what?!"

"You disapprove Po and Tigress' engagement!" Ping squawked, waving the spoon above his head, "and I want to know why before anyone catches wind of it."

Li clamped his paws around Ping's beak, who tried to retaliate, but Li shushed him. "They will catch wind of it this instant if you sing from the roof tops!" Mr. Ping stopped struggling very quickly, and once Li let go of his beak, he proceeded to wait for Li to speak...

Silence. "Well?" His tapped his foot off the grown impatiently. "I'm waiting..."

"I..." Li sighed in annoyance. It was too early, but that stubborn goose won't leave him alone. "I think he is rushing into everything..."

"What makes you think that?"

"I don't know why I feel this way." Li gabbled, while darting his eyes else where, and wringing his paws to together. "It's just my opinion."

"You liar! There's a reason you don't want to talk, and I want it out of you this instant!"

"I don't know what to say to you..."

Mr. Ping narrowed his eyes. "I guess I'll have to speak with Po. Maybe you'll open up more if he confronts you about this sooner rather then later."

Li raised his arms so his paws were at equal level with his head. "Po doesn't need to know. You will say nothing to him!" He turned away, and hid his head in his paws.

Mr. Ping's wings were curled against his sides, the spoon tight in his hold. "Well give me one good reason I should hide the fact you hate the idea of our son finding happiness!"

"Because that happiness he found took him away from me!"

He finally said it; he said it loud, and with the confused look on the bird's face, he had to make it clearer. "When I found Po, I couldn't wait til the Winter festival. I was going to make memories that I should've made years ago. Twenty years I lost, twenty years I waited... all was taken when they took lead in that dance... when they kissed..."

It was all coming out now; Po and Tigress disappeared later that night. Li wasn't sure where they went, and he was afraid to even think what they were up to. He didn't see his son til the next morning, and even then it was a brief encounter. There was a raid or something... maybe it was an excuse to be with her. He didn't go looking him; it wasn't worth the attempt. There was no explanation needed.

"I told Po that I was never going to lose him again... for the whole year, it was like she had him under a spell. He was always with her; we never got to see him without her. I never had that memory that should of been ours, because she took him away, he goes nowhere without her. Now, he decides, just before our second Winter Festival together, that they're engaged?"

Mr. Ping just stared at Li with confusion. "I thought you liked Tigress..."

"I do... but at the same time?" Li Shan sat down on the bed, propping his head on his paws. "It's a burden. I can't have my son with her around."

Mr. Ping took an intake of air, collecting the words in his head to talk, but a voice from the door spoke for him.

"So you hate her then." The goose's head spun so quickly he nearly fell over. Li Shan's head shot up, and his heart sank.

Po was at the door for a brief second, but the short time he stood there, it was clear to see the pain in his eyes. It was a parent intuition; when you knew something was bothering your kid, you could sense it without them having to say anything. "Son..." Li Shan stood up, but they could hear him running downstairs. Both chased after him. Mr. Ping was a lot faster, and caught up with Po in the empty dining area.

"Po-"

"Just- don't!" Po snapped, pausing in his tracks and turning to face his father. "I heard everything! Why he didn't tell me that he hated her at the start."

Li Shan made it outside, completely out of breath. "I don't hate her-"

"You don't? I heard what you said! I'm marrying a burden am I?"

"Son-"

"Don't even try to change your words. I don't care what you think! I love Tigress, we are getting married, and it will be publicly announced at the winter festival, with or without your blessing! You lied to my face. Not the first time either, big surprise coming from you, Li Shan," and with that, Po stormed out of the restaurant, his footprints deep in the snow.

"Po wait!" Mr. Ping called out, but Po was gone.

Hope you liked it guys!

The story is longer then I thought it would be previously... nothing I can do about that!

Please review!