Chapter Twelve: Rushed?

Author's Note: Hey! I'm soooooo sorry. I've had so much on my plate this past week with sports and the homework that I couldn't find room for my story. This might be the last update for another few days. I'm sorry, but as many of you know, life happens. Thanks again for the support and I welcome the new Rio fanfiction writers Kimgstonthroop and Roslet. A shout out to them for their first great written stories. If you two are reading this, welcome to the community. Anyways, I hope you enjoy this chapter. :)

The plane touched down in Rio De Janeiro and the two lovebirds were still cuddling. Blu was thinking for the past few hours of their flight. He wondered how he would adapt to the jungle, if and when he became a father, how he could raise his chicks. The list went on and on. Blu started to panic a little. You think too much. Rafael's voice echoed in his head.

Maybe he's right. I am really over thinking all of this. Blu thought. Let me start over. Blu thought of marrying Jewel, the love of his life. He thought about the pros and cons, but there wasn't really any cons, except one. He knew that they would fight, it was natural. The one exception was that their relationship was still young. Sure, he loved her to death, but he was still being put at a pace that he really felt uncomfortable. What if their marriage ended badly because they didn't really know each other well enough? Then I won't let that happen. Blu thought. When I get some free time, we'll get to know each other better.

The cage was unloaded off the plane. The difference was that Linda and Tulio were personally picking them up right as they got off the plane. The two didn't want anymore trouble to go down with the two lovebirds. They took a cab back to the aviary, where Tulio wanted to examine Jewel's wing again, considering their whole adventure in Great Britain.

The car pulled up and Jewel was still asleep in Blu's wings. Tulio took them inside while Linda went back to her new bookstore to start unpacking. She still hasn't told Blu that she's staying in Rio. I'll tell him the next time I see him. She thought.

Tulio took the two lovebirds inside the aviary. He put the cage down on a table, and was welcomed home by all of the other birds (kind of how he was their 'great big mama bird' in Rio, the first film). Blu, still found this disgusting. When Tulio finished, he opened the cage to see Jewel asleep in Blu's wings. "Man, I still can't believe that you two aren't mates yet." Tulio said. Blu gave him a scowl. Tulio responded, "Really? Why the face? Look at you two!" Tulio said, trying not to wake Jewel and make her mad.

Blu looked to Jewel. She was smiling, digging her head deeper into Blu's chest as she slept.. This relationship is still young. That one thought kept ringing inside of Blu's head for the past few days, ever since Jewel asked to be his wife. Blu and Jewel haven't even been in a relationship for a month. Humans took a few years before proposal, but he assumed that it was different for birds like himself. I'll look more into it later. He thought.

"Come get me when she wakes up." Tulio said. Blu just sat there in his thoughts on marriage and time. Jewel was dreaming an almost perfect dream. She wouldn't wake up for another few hours.

Jewel was reliving her life. The worst parts were when she had to flee from her family because of the fire. She then re experienced her lonely years in a quick flash. The best part of her dream was getting to the part of her life when Blu came. She watched from the sidelines, almost as if she was a ghost. She felt bad for attacking him when they first met. I still need to apologize for that. She thought. She continued watching her and Blu's adventure. She saw how different Blu has become. When they first met, he would shudder a lot while trying to talk to her. Now whenever he wanted to say something, he wasn't as nervous. He was open. Jewel watched them dance and then the trolley ride. She laughed as she saw how Blu failed at being romantic. She then watched her argument with Blu at Luis' garage. She noticed how it was her fault. She didn't offer a solution when Blu made his argument that he couldn't fly. She should have offered to help him learn instead of criticizing him. I still have to apologize for that too. Then she got to the best part. She watched Blu jump out after her. She loved this part of her life. It was the best part of her life so far, even if she did break her wing. How much longer until I heal, I wonder. She thought. She then watched herself snuggle into Blu's warmth after he brought her a mango. As that memory faded, she started to wake. She opened her eyes and saw dark blue feathers. She turned her head slightly to see Blu asleep. His grasp around her never loosened, even when he was asleep. She liked that part about him. He was always there, giving her his love. She watched him for a little while and enjoyed his embrace. But like all good things, it had to end.

Tulio came into the room. "You're up. Blu's been keeping you company for the past few hours." Tulio said.

Jewel started loving Blu even more. He stayed there for her throughout the flight and a few hours afterwards just to keep her company and to keep her warm. I wish he would marry me. Then I would have that forever. She thought. A despicable plan entered her head. Well, if he takes too long, I guess I'll have to. She thought, smiling. Tulio picked her up and brought her into the operating room. Tulio took the cast off and examined the wing. A few x-rays were taken (which was one of the only human things Jewel thought to be pretty cool), and Tulio had Jewel extend her wing. It was very sore, but no pain surged through it like how the past visits. "Well, it looks like your wing is healed." Tulio said. "But I'll give it another day to stop being sore." Tulio said.

Jewel was dancing and cheering. She couldn't have had a better day. Tulio brought her back to the cage. The only problem was that Blu wasn't there. "Blu!? BLU!?" Jewel shouted. No one came. She started to walk back up to Tulio. She squawked and got his attention. She pointed towards the artificial jungle. Tulilo understood. She had to get his help to get inside. She knew Blu would probably be there. Hopefully. She thought. Tulio picked her up and carried her into the room.

"Now, Jewel. Take it easy with the wing for one more day." Tulio said. "I know you can wait that out." He said as he opened the hatch. Jewel walked into the room.

"Blu!?" Jewel cried.

A blue figure came towards her. "Someone called?" Blu said.

"Where did you go?" Jewel asked.

"I needed a bath. After the flight and what we went through, a nice relaxing bath is what I needed." Blu said.

"Well, would you want to take another one?" Jewel asked, seductively.

"What, what do you m-mean, Jewel?" Blu asked, nervously.

"Well, I want to spend more time with you. I thought a shower together might be nice." Jewel said, rubbing herself up against Blu. "Besides, I can't preen my own back." She said, giggling.

Blu was fearful. It wasn't because of what Jewel offered, but rather how she was going about it. She treated it like it was some scheme of her's. Blu didn't like it. His gut never lied. "Uh, I already had a shower. I'll cuddle with you after you're clean." Blu proposed as a counter offer.

"Come on, Blu. For me?" She asked, batting her eyelashes at him.

Don't give in! DON'T GIVE IN! Blu's mind screamed. "Uh, sure." Blu said. His mind just smacked itself in the head (metaphorically, of course). Well, you got yourself into this one. Blu's head said. Jewel grabbed him by the wing and started to pull him over to the running river. She was very happy. Blu noticed her cast was gone as soon as she grabbed his wing with both of her's. "Uh, is your wing healed?" Blu asked.

"Yes! I'm sorry, I meant for that to be the first thing I brought to the table." she said. Blu shrugged it off. He was happy for Jewel.

So, what now then? Blu thought. Off to the jungle with Jewel. He thought. He was still very worried because he still had no experience in the wild. "Jewel?"

Jewel pulled Blu into the water. She started preening herself. Blu looked away. "Yes, Blu?" She said, picking out her bad feathers. She looked up and saw Blu looking the other way. "Why are you so scared of me?" She asked.

"Scared? I'm trying to give you some privacy!" Blu said in defence. "But, I need to know something."

"I'll only answer when you turn around." Jewel said.

What a mean little choice you made. Blu thought. He turned around, but his eyes stayed shut. "Okay, I need to…" he was cut off.

"Nope. You have to look at me when you talk to me. Hasn't anyone thought you eye contact is polite?" Jewel said. She was trying to be more intimate with Blu, but it seemed like he didn't want to join in.

"Nevermind, then." Blu said as he took off for the hollow. Jewel was sad. She didn't think that he would mind a bath with her.

Does he hate me now? Jewel thought. She sat there, in the water.

Blu went into the hollow. What are you doing!? Jewel is trying to be your bird and you just kind of rejected her! Blu thought to himself. He took off towards the door, careful for Jewel not to notice. He got one of the assistants to open the hatch. He flew out and continued until he was out of the aviary.

Jewel saw the whole thing. She was curious to what he was doing. She was also worried that her attempts at making Blu a little more intimate with her caused him to leave and never return. Her mind kept focusing on the last thought, of course. She started to cry, knowing if that was the case that she couldn't really bear life again, alone.

Blu was in the jungle. He was looking for something and someone. He first made a stop at Rafael's place, to heed advice. "Rafael!?" Blu shouted. Rafael flew out of the hollow.

"KIDS! No attacks!"

"AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW MAAAAAAAAAAAN!" they said in usion, flying out of their hiding spots and back into the hollow.

"Hey Blu! Long time no see! Where's Jewel?" Rafael asked.

"That's just the problem." Blu started to say. Rafael's cheerful face went into a face of sadness.

"How so?" Rafael asked. He was worried a break up was in progress, but he was far from being right.

"Jewel is trying to be more intimate with me, and I just feel like, what's the word, scared." Blu confessed.

Rafael was confused. "So, your problem is that Jewel is trying to take your relationship to the next level, but you really don't want to take that step yet?"

"Yes!" Blu said.

Rafael shook his head with a smile. "Amigo, you remember the first time you went to Nico and Pedro's samba club?"

"Of, course I do. Why?"

"That was taking things to the next level. You, my friend were hesitant. Look at how much you enjoyed it! Maybe taking this relationship of yours to the next level is what you need." Rafael said.

"Oh, um, thanks Rafael." Blu said. Those words were very logical, and Blu understood those words as clear as glass.

"Anytime. Is there anything else?"

"Uh, yeah. A few things. One, I could use some help to survive in this jungle."

"Jewel can teach you." Rafael said.

"I know. I just thought some tips could help."

"Okay, uh, I guess all I can really say is don't go to the ground unless you are with an experienced bird." Rafael said.

"Okay, thanks. And one more thing."

"Yes, amigo?"

"Jewel proposed to me about a week ago and..." Blu was cut off.

"Congratulations!" Rafael said.

"No no no. That's the problem. I declined."

Rafael gave Blu a 'what!?' type of glare. "I'm sorry, what?"

"I declined." Blu said. "I felt like the relationship was still way to young and…"

"I yi yi Blu. You think too much! Jewel wants to be with you. Why can't you just be with her? It's going to happen anyway." Rafael said.

"Uh, okay. Thanks Rafi."

"Anytime. Hey! Carlos! Stop chasing your sister!"

Never having more than three kids. Blu thought as he flew away. Wait, kids? Why am I thinking about kids? Rafael's words rang through his head again. "It's going to happen anyway." Blu flew back to the aviary. He then spotted the other thing he was looking for before Rafael's advice and plucked it from the ground. He then flew back into the aviary, hoping Jewel was still there (knowing her wing was healed).