I just want to put out, that there are more unexpected twists to come. Until then, enjoy chapter seventeen of Delicate.

It's been a month and a few weeks since the arrival of Aisha, things haven't much changed.

But now, Princess Sherise was on her daily after patrol with her best friend and guard.

"Why does a flamingo lift up one leg?"

Luis chuckled before looking at the grinning dark brown cub. He shook his head before responding, "I have no idea."

Sherise pouted, "You didn't even try." before she smiled brightly that reached her dark purple eyes. "But I'll tell you anyway. It's because if it lifted both legs it would fall over! "

Luis smiled at the joyful laughter. "Alright. I have one. What is grey and blue and very big?"

Sherise frowned as she thought on it hard before shaking her head. "I don't know. What is it?"

Luis smirked as he answered the question. "An elephant holding it's breath."

A unamused trumpet caused the two to smile sheepishly before quickening their pace. When they put a enough distance between them and the not happy elephant bull, they shared a look before bursting out in laughter.

"It's seems for someone who just escape death is in a really good mode."

Luis and Sherise looked to see one of the newest member that joined, Aisha. Luis smiled as Sherise glared.

Luis smiled brightly before walking over and embrace the whitish beige lioness lovingly. "What are you doing out here, love?"

Sherise watched and felt a vile feeling rise up. Feeling that she couldn't stomach anymore of their affections. She turned and headed back to priderock.

Luis turned from his girlfriend to his retreating friend. "Sherise..."

Aisha used a colorless paw to force the creamy white lion to look at her. "I have exciting news."

Luis somehow felt like he knew where this was going. "Oh."

Aisha nuzzled into Luis' black mane. "I'm pregnant."

Luis gulped as he took in the information his girlfriend provided. He was happy but it wasn't with the lioness that still hunts his dreams...and his heart.

...

News of Aisha's pregnancy spread and months after the news there was a royal meeting. Leaving Sherise sitting on the peak of the kopje with her friends, who was Bianca and Bianca's reddish brown pelted cousin, Thomas.

Zendaya was with Kiran and had brought her brother along with Mapenzi.

Sherise had smiled at the cousins that seemed to always bicker like an old married couple. It helped with the irritating situation she was in.

Sherise suddenly frowned when she saw Luis rush off. Off to a now panting Aisha who was being led to the cave under priderock by Thomas and Bianca's mothers, Tegan and Nadine.

Sherise growled before snapping her eyes back to the savannah. To only winced at the cheering a few hours later.

Sherise sneered before turning and quickly leapt down the stoned slope. Stunning her friends.

"Let's go see what's going on." year and a half Thomas quickly stood and headed for the slope. "Bianca, come on."

The brownish preteen nodded before joining Thomas in following after the upset princess.

...

Bianca and Thomas followed their friend's scent to the edge of the kingdom to come to a dead end. With a defeated sigh the two returned home.

A few months later, both Bianca and Thomas were assigned to cubsitting. The sun was highest in the sapphire sky as Prince Amell was playing with Luis and Aisha's adventurous, playful, rambunctious triplets. Brysen, Adrien and Javion.

"Hey guys," came the emotionless tone of the cousins' missing friend. "How's things going?"

Thomas frowned before narrowing his gold eyes. "That's all you have to say. You up and left...been missing for two months!"

Sherise sighed before looking away. "I haven't been missing...just avoiding."

Thomas relaxed a bit feeling that his friend was hurting. "Sherise, what's wrong? Why are you avoiding everyone? Us?"

The bit of a year brownish lioness narrowed her hazel eyes at the year and ten months male. "Thomas, shut it."

Sherise sniffed up some fresh tears before lowering her head. "I have been mostly avoiding a guy...a guy that I liked for a long time."

Bianca and Thomas shared looks before looking back at Sherise who was already leaving.

Thomas quickly stood and began to run after the princess but his path was blocked by Amell, who was looking up with big green eyes.

"Tommy, I'm hungry. When do we go home to eat?"

Bianca smiled at the cubs. "I believe the queen and her hunting party returned."

The cubs cheered before chasing after one another while following their sitters.