Chapter Seven: Some Old Memories

Author's Note: I'm sorry I haven't posted in the past few days. I've been very busy. I hope these two chapters for Rio: A New Bond makes it up for you. Plus, I've added two more chapters to Blu's Secret Admirer, so I hope four chapters for today made up for the last two days. Enjoy. :D

As they pulled up to the bookstore, Blu and Linda saw how cold it must have been over the last week and a half. It was early in the morning, for the four traveled late at night so Linda and Tulio could start packing as soon as possible. The windows had so much frost that you couldn't read the Blue Macaw Books on the window.

"Must have been very cold and wet while I was away." Blu said.

Jewel, never seeing snow before, was still in awe of how beautiful it was. "What do you mean? I thought you said this is what Minnesota looked like."

"Well, I mean you can't see through the windows, so that means it's extra cold." Blu said with a shiver.

"Then I guess someone will have to keep me extra warm, won't they?" Jewel said seductively rubbing up against Blu's chest.

Blu blushed, "Y-Yeah, I guess so." Jewel giggled.

In a tree not far from the book store entrance, in a tree, were two geese; Alice and Chloe.

"Hey Alice, can you see that stupid bl-bl-blue b-b-bird anywhere?" Chloe said, shivering, "The o-only reason I didn't m-m-migrate this year w-w-was to tease that st-stupid b-b-bird."

"Calm down Chloe, and might I add, it's not that bad. We've done this the past few years." Alice said trying to get Chloe to calm down. Then she saw Linda walk into the bookstore door with a big yellow cage, but it was still dark outside, so she couldn't see who was with him. "Well, well, well, it looks like our little dumb nerd-bird has returned."

A few hours later, Linda cleaned off the glass with a scraper and now you could see outside a little bit. Blu requested it because Jewel wanted to see the scenery and the beautiful snow. They also unpacked a little, getting out some movies for Blu and Jewel along with some of the food they brought with them for the few days that they were in Rio, and a book that Blu was reading. Blu sat down, next to the window with a book in front of him with a blanket over him and Jewel.

"What are you reading Blu?"

"Just something I was in the middle of before I met you."

"What is it called?"

"Uh, Recipes For The Best, or in other words, cooking. But some of it is a little confusing. There are multiple steps per recipe, but since I'm living in the jungle, I guess I won't need this anymore."

"You're coming to the jungle with me?" Jewel said, surprised that this was his choice yet very happy that it was.

"Why wouldn't I? Come on Jewel, I love you, and what I said earlier isn't changing since I arrived back to my old home." Jewel smiled at this. She didn't know what to say. He just sacrificed seeing his best friend every day and his home just to be with her.

"Maybe we could come here every now and then, as a summer home." Jewel offered.

"No no, that won't be necessary. Besides, I'm not going to miss this place that badly." Then a snowball hit the window. Jewel let out a yelp of surprise. Blu knew who was out there and was kind of relieved he won't be seeing them ever again after this visit. "Especially since I won't have to see them again." he stated grudgingly

"Who's 'them' Blu?" Jewel asked, but she soon found out.

"Well well, what took you so long, pet? My brain got a little dull seeing you weren't here, nerd-bird." Alice said starting to laugh. What the two didn't see was Jewel who was hidden by Blu's body and the blanket over them.

"Who…" Jewel said, but couldn't finish what she had to say.

"Yeah, I didn't migrate this year to just see my nerd bird fly away, oh wait that's right, you can't fly!" they started laughing. Blu just sat and watched.

Ohhh, they'll see, very soon. He thought. A smile grew across his beak.

"Blu, aren't you going to do something?" Jewel asked in rage. She hated how these geese were treating the bird she loved. She stood up, revealing herself, but Blu just stayed seated.

"Soon, Jewel."

"What do you mean soon!? Do something now!" Jewel shouted. How is he handling this beatdown like this? If I was in his position, those geese would be so dead.

"Hey, who's the girl?" asked Alice, noticing another blue bird snuggled next to him. Family, friends? Probably nothing. He's too much of a loser to have either. She thought.

Perfect. Thought Blu. "You see, Alice, Chloe, while I was away, I met a girl and fell in love. Something you won't ever have as long as you treat birds like this. This is, my mate (putting a lot of emphasis on mate), Jewel." he turned to Jewel and gave a wink and then a kiss on her beak.

Acting for now, I like it. Thought Jewel. But one day, he'll really be my husband.

"Oh, and good day to you two." he said, as he walked to the curtains and started to shut them.

Alice and Chloe were speechless. How did this bird, the most nervous, nerdiest, flightless bird get a mate in less than two weeks? That's how long it took just to migrate south for half the year.

"And my brains have always been better than yours. Goodbye, Alice and Chloe." Blu said as he shut the curtains. "Don't worry Jewel, I'll open them again later." he said.

Jewel was just in awe. Her one and only stood up to two really mean geese. It looks like she gave him more confidence. There was still just one more question. "Hey Blu?"

"Yes Jewel?"

"Who were those jerks?"

"Oh, that was Alice and Chloe, the geese sisters, my childhood bullies, the ones I told you about on the plane ride. They've bullied me ever since I can really remember. They teased me on how I would always be alone, how I could never fly, how my intelligence always outdid theirs like it was a burden and not a gift."

"Well, it looks like they won't be bothering you anymore. Plus, they were so wrong. Now you have me. " Jewel said as she went into his embrace. "Oh, and one more thing."

"Hmm?"

"When you said, uh, 'mates', was that just to annoy them, or what?" Jewel asked with some slyness in her voice.

"Um, well, I want to be mates one day, but that show was just to get them to stop talking rudely. I hope you don't mind." He said, hoping she didn't hold a grudge against it.

"Oh, of course I don't mind. Those geese were the worst. Plus, I would love to be your wife one day." Jewel said putting a smile on her beak. I hope it's soon. She thought.

Later that day, Jewel was reading a book she found interesting. Then, another snowball hit the window. Blu was upstairs, getting something to eat for the two of them. Oh, they are so dead. Jewel thought. Another snowball hit the window.

"Hey pretty birdie. How's your pet?" asked Alice.

Jewel was about to say something, but Blu came walking up next to her. "Hey, don't let them get into your head, okay?"

"But they're mean, Blu. I don't want you to face that again." Jewel said.

"Hey, they still don't know I can fly." He whispered in her ear. "Before we leave, we could give them one heck of a chase. Would you like that?"

"Yes, I definitely would, my Blu bird." she gave him a kiss, and then went back to reading. Blu started walking to the couch where he started watching Animal Planet, possibly for the last time ever.

"Hey, Alice, we aren't getting to either of them."

"I know. But at least he still can't fly." she said.

"I'm going to try something." Chloe said. "Hey, you two flightless birds! How does it feel to be the weakest birds ever!? Huh!?"

Jewel didn't even look over her shoulder to the two bullies, but she did look at her injured wing. I hope it heals soon. She thought. Then she continued to read.

Blu just yawned and continued watching TV. Then the commercials came on, but there was something weird about them this time. "Next time on Animal Planet, we'll look to one of the most endangered species out there; the Blue Spix Macaw. The last two that have been seen with human eyes were last reported in Rio De Janeiro." Blu was really surprised. Then he saw a picture of himself, and then Jewel right next to him, but sadly with her injured wing. "We'll go looking there for some answers over the next few weeks, but for now, back to our regular scheduled programing."

"Wow. That'll be cool to see, I mean once we get back to Rio and give them some information."

"What will be cool?" asked Jewel as she hopped down from the desk.

"Oh, Animal Planet. They're making an episode on us! It's just, they're going to Rio while we're here in Minnesota. It looks like they'll have to wait a few days." Blu said, laughing. Jewel giggled at this too.

"Wow, I didn't know humans cared for us that much."

"You would be surprised." Blu said. Then another snowball hit the window. "Just ignore it." Blu said.

"Well, we don't care, pet!" Alice said as the two started laughing. But once again, they didn't irritate either macaws. "How are they still not mad?" Alice asked Chloe.

"I don't know. We've used almost all of our best ways that usually gets that dumb nerd bird."

"Not the best one though." Alice said. "Follow my lead." She then turned back to the window, only to see the two weren't there. "Where are...? There!" She said, pointing to the door the two lovebirds just walked out of. "Hey Blu! At least we can fly!"

"Ready Jewel?"

"Yes, my Blu bird, let's get 'em!" she said. Then the two gave a sinister glare at the two geese.

"I think that's our cue, Alice." Chloe said, as she swallowed a lump in her throat.