A/N: Well, this is the last update I will apply to ACOSS II. I hope you have enjoyed the buffet of mini-stories I have served you all (if the 8,450 word chapter before this can be referred to as mini :P) because I sure have enjoyed writing them all.

Toss me a review if you like. The ones I have accrued so far are very nice, so feel free to add one of your own.

So long, everyone, until my next update to NtY: TSC!

Love Isn't Blind

It was the most sensational, heartwarming feeling I had ever experienced in my troubled life, and it almost brought me to the brink of tears.

Two young hybrid macaws were huddled against my belly, their tender bodies like a pair of warm marshmallows. They were sleeping so peacefully, I did not dare disturb them and put an end to their delightful dreams.

Serena and Violet were their names, and they were my daughters.

They were forever a part of me, two heavenly bundles of life that I had jointly created with Brooklyn.

The sense of utmost pride that had swelled within me since their hatching two weeks ago had not yet faded, its invigorating quality making me feel like I was a teenager again. Granted, I wasn't some elderly bird either, but my point still stands.

Just one year ago I was a lonely macaw with a slim chance at a normal life, my parents the only macaws I had ever known and been close to. But now I was a mate and a father, a monumental duo of achievements for someone with a disability like mine.

It was no one's fault that I turned out the way I did, blind since the very day I was born.

Life was so very hard back then, Mom and Dad lapsing in and out of depression as time flowed on because they couldn't heal me, their first and only son. And on top of that, I often trapped myself at the razor's keen edge a multitude of times, coming so very close to giving up on my life and purposely casting myself into an ocean of despair and worthlessness.

But by way of some multi-faceted miracle, I pulled through and made the best out of my existence, as any other bird would have done. My parents were the driving force that helped me become the macaw I am today, and my sweet Brooklyn came along at precisely the right time to seal the deal.

She had her quirks and her flaws, but there was no other female better suited to be my mate and the mother of my children. And let's face it, not one single living thing on this planet is a true angel.

As my Dad had once told me, "Samuel, we are all broken creatures, and yes, some are more broken than others. But no matter how many imperfections someone has, it is their job to face the music and keep moving forward. You only have one life to live, son, so live it to the fullest while you can. Because when it comes to an end, you'll be happy that you did the best with what you had."

I had never forgotten those valuable words of his, and I called upon them whenever things got rough.

But honestly, it had been nothing but smooth sailing ever since the eggs that Brooklyn laid cracked open and released my daughters, the very beings that were tucked against my midsection right this very moment. Their hushed breathing was like the sound of a slow breeze slipping through a weeping willow, their delicate chests rising and falling in two distinct rhythms.

It was now my turn to nurture them and teach them and shape them into strong, intelligent macaws, just as Mom and Dad had done with me. I had already proven I had overcome my handicap by learning how to fly, and I swore that nothing would stop me from doing it yet again.

To raise two healthy, vibrant daughters was my short-term and long-term goal, one that would keep me occupied for some time. And without a doubt, my mate would be right beside me to help me out whenever I needed it.

I may have shown fate who was stronger by besting my blindness, but I still couldn't do everything. That's when I could depend on Brooklyn to take my wing in hers and give me a helping hand.

We were a family through and through, and it was our collective duty to support each other without pause.

But for now, we were at liberty to relax and revel in the bliss of the journey known as parenthood. And I was determined to take things slow and steady for one blatant reason: I needed to store up energy for when Brooklyn and I taught Violet and Serena how to walk and fly.

Basically, I needed to be prepared for when they started causing general havoc in this cozy hollow, lest I get stressed out and start plucking my feathers. My mate had always complimented me on my handsome, boyish appearance, and I wasn't about to ruin that now.

Speaking of my mate, she had taken off earlier to fetch breakfast and had not yet returned. A small part of me was inherently worried about her safety in this ruthless jungle, but my anxiety was drowned out by the positive emotion bathing me from head to tail.

I lifted my left wing and stroked their exposed cheeks as lightly as possible, timing my sweeps with their breathing. They were easily distinguishable now that their plumage had sprouted from their once-bare skin.

Violet was the one on the left, her deep navy feathers a trait she inherited from her mother.

Serena was somewhere in the middle, lighter than Brooklyn but darker than me, also sporting the yellow flesh around her eyes and along the edges of her lower beak. Teal was probably the best description of the color she wore, and it was a very fine color indeed.

I exhaled a sigh and continued massaging their cheeks, but then withdrew my wing when I felt them stir and utter weak chirps.

"I'm sorry, my dears. Forgive me for disturbing you…" I murmured in a liquid voice, ushering them back into their mysterious fantasies.

After a short spell of silence, the faint whooshing of wing-beats resounded from outside, past the leaf curtain draped over the entrance to our home.

I lifted my head and peered in the direction of the noise, hearing the rustle of the curtain as my mate slipped through and thump she made when she landed. I shielded our chicks from the rays of sunlight that streamed in, and then stowed my wing away one the telltale heat vanished.

"They're still sleeping?" she asked in a mere whisper.

"Yes, they are. It actually makes me feel tired," I replied with the same amount of volume.

"They wore themselves out yesterday with all their moving around in the nest, so it makes sense."

"Yeah, it does. Just wait until they open their eyes and see the world for the first time. It's going to get worse," I said with a restrained chuckle.

She giggled in return, a fitting smile probably forming on her beak.

"What did you bring back for us, sweetie?"

"A fat mango for you and me to share, and a bunch of berries for them."

I sniffed the air a few times and picked up the rich odors of the fruit in question, the tangy-ness of a ripe mango swirling with the sugary scent of the berries.

"It all smells delicious, Brooklyn. It'll be a tasty breakfast for sure."

"Uh huh. It sure will, Sam. But I think we should wait for them to wake up on their own, instead of forcing them to."

"Good idea. The poor things need all the rest they can get."

I cocked my head and showed my right cheek to her.

"While we wait, can I have a morning kiss, my dear?"

"You sure can, Sammy."

She graced my feathers with a dainty kiss, sending my heart aflutter inside me.

"Mwah! There you go, handsome. Now, do I-"

Before she could conclude her sentence, our daughters squirmed and squeaked, pushing against my stomach and unfurling their diminutive wings.

They were awake, no doubt about it, and it stands to reason that they were hungry. I stepped back to give them more room, feeling the vibrations they caused as they searched aimlessly for their morning snacks, their eyes still sealed shut.

"Alright, now we can feed them," I said in my normal tone.

"One step ahead of you, Sam."

I could feel the berries plunking into the nest as she dropped them in, and the chicks chirped as they located their snacks and set upon them.

"Wow, look at them go. They're so cute when they're munching away."

"Yeah, they sure are. In fact, I'll bet they're as attractive as their mother."

"Thank you for the compliment, sweetie."

"Anytime, my dear," I cooed.

"You really do take after your father. I always hear him praising your mother."

I smirked haughtily and replied, "That's because we both want our wonderful soul mates to be reminded of how much they mean to us."

"Then I don't ever want you to stop," she answered.

"Trust me, I won't."

She framed my face with her wings and meshed her beak with mine, her luxurious, full-on kiss causing my pulse to race. I melted like a candle held over a flame, my tongue fiddling with hers as my wings crossed upon her back. She then pulled away slowly, inhaling a deep breath and sighing blissfully.

"I love you, Samuel, with all my heart and soul."

"I love you too, Brooklyn, and I always will, even after I'm gone."

I fused my gaze with hers and started endlessly into her eyes. Correction, where I assumed her eyes were.

"A little to the right, Sam," she instructed benignly.

I turned my head just the right amount, and she said, "Now you've got it. Your eyes are so charming, you know that? Such a rich amber shade… like the color of leaves in November…"

I blushed madly and answered coyly, "Well, um, thank you, honey. Your eyes must be amazing too."

My voice quaked a bit towards the end, and my head turned away slightly in regret.

"Oh Samuel… I know it's hard. But you're tough, remember?"

I sighed and face her again. "You're right. I'm sorry. I keep promising not to get myself down with pointless longing, but I can't help it sometimes…"

"No no, Samuel, don't apologize," she replied soothingly.

"I don't know exactly what you're feeling, but if I were you, I wouldn't try to trap my emotions. Don't ever feel bad about expressing yourself."

"Yeah. You have a point. Look, I'm sorry for... oh great, there I go again. How about we eat now?"

"Sure thing, Sammy."

I smelled the penetrating aroma of the mango as she held it in front of my beak.

"You take the first bite."

"Why thank you, my dear."

And so I did, carving out a pleasing portion with my sharp beak – another feature passed down from my Dad to me – and then motioned for my mate to do the same. We consumed the mango after taking three bites each, licking each other's beaks clean in a show of playful affection.

When we had both stopped giggling, she wiped off the excess saliva she had left in place of the mango stains, and I returned the favor.

"That was exciting, Sammy."

"I agree one-hundred percent, Brooklyn."

"Oh my… can it be true?"

Caught off guard, I asked in a hurry, "What? What's going on?"

"It's Violet… she… she opened her eyes. And they're just like yours, Sam."

I blinked and peered down at Violet, overjoyed by the sudden completion of her milestone. She had taken her first big step in life, the natural world now hers to behold and savor.

I felt her out with my wings and raised her up, locking my useless eyes with her functional ones.

"Congratulations, my dear daughter. I'm so happy for you…"

I rested her against my chest in a fatherly hug, and she let loose an acceptant chirp of glee.

"I love you, Violet… just as much as I love your mother…"

I tilted my head a bit and gazed at Brooklyn, sensing rather than seeing the smile that erupted on her beak.

And then a second round of uplifting words poured from my mate in that deep, mature tone of hers: "Now Serena's opened her eyes too… and she's got my irises. Oh Sam, they're so pretty…"

I heard Brooklyn sniffle, as if her jovial tears were on the brink of spilling over.

She reached into the nest and claimed our other child, cooing, "This is a day I won't soon forget. You and your sister are growing up so fast... it's like a dream come true…"

I sighed and intoned softly, "They've only been out of their eggs for two weeks, and they're already creating memories. Moments like these are what starting a family is all about, Brooklyn. Bringing new souls into the world and watching them expand their horizons…"

"So true, Samuel. So very true…"

She paused and sniffled once more, then resumed speaking.

"We need to take them to your parents right away, so that they can witness this crowning achievement in their grandchildren's' lives firsthand."

I may have been a natural at flying blind, but navigating the rainforest was a whole lot trickier than soaring through the open sky with no obstacles. And for me to have to carry a chick while doing so… it was a recipe for likely disaster.

"Are you suggesting we fly? Because I would have to go very slowly, and carrying one of our chicks would put them in too much danger."

She retorted, "Yes… I mean no!"

Cooling off, she added, "The only option we have is to walk."

"Yeah…"

"Let's go then... and hope we don't run into any snakes or eagles on the way…"

"Brooklyn, please, no need to go there," I said in a warning tone.

She sighed, but said nothing more.

"We're going on a trip, Violet. I promise I'll keep you safe."

She squeaked and pulled herself against me, as if in preparation for the journey ahead. I straightened my legs and stood up, setting one down outside the nest.

"Oh wow… what a coincidence! Looks like we won't be leaving after all."

I froze and asked, "Huh? What do you mean?"

"I see your parents. And they're on their way here right now."

I secretly let loose a sigh of relief that the trek was cancelled.

I didn't think it was worth going and risking our lives – and theirs, for that matter – but Brooklyn would have started arguing if I voiced my inner opinion. Best we not expose our daughters to that kind of conflict and inflict a long-lasting emotional scar.

I unfroze myself and withdrew back into the nest, assuming my former stance. Brooklyn retreated from the entrance and climbed in the nest, planting herself on my right.

"Quick, let's hide their faces so we can surprise them," she ordered in a fast whisper.

"Right, good idea," I responded, tucking Violet's beak into my chest with a light push of my wing.

The volume of their wing beats was amplified more and more, peaking as they drifted into our hollow and then dropping off.

"Whew… we made it. I wonder why it felt like it took us longer to get here, Blu."

"I don't think I know… Jewel…"

"So… how have you and Brooklyn been lately, son? And what about our darling granddaughters?"

My finer-than-average sensibilities picked up on a strange sensation emanating from them, and my curiosity was piqued. Their spaced words also added to my intrigue.

"Sorry for answering a question… with a question, but are you two alright? You both seem… flustered. Did you have a race to see who could get here first or something?"

"Um no, we didn't," countered my father.

"Your father and I just finished taking care of… some personal business. It had nothing to do with racing. Anyways, let's drop the subject," my mother said sheepishly.

"We have… much more important things to discuss, son," my Dad professed.

They sure are acting awful sketchy. Why would they avoid my question and get away from that certain topic? Wait a minute… oh brother… I bet I know what they did. Curse me and my heightened intuition…

I groaned and gave my head a shake.

"What was that for, son? Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine, Mom. It's... it's nothing."

"Glad to hear it. So, may I hold Violet, Brooklyn?"

"Oh sure, sure," my mate replied.

"I would like to hold Serena, if you don't mind, son."

"Come and get her, Dad."

A lot of shuffling resounded as Brooklyn and I handed our children over, and the anticipation began to bubble and roil within me like hot magma. And sure enough, my parents uncovered the pair of surprises waiting for them.

"Oh my gosh… Violet! Your eyes are open!"

"So are Serena's! Wow! They're… they're beautiful…"

"That's exactly how we reacted, Mom and Dad. They opened them a little while ago, right before you came," I stated.

"Well, I sure didn't expect anything like this today. This is… such a wonderful time for us all…"

"Isn't it, Blu?" my Mother answered, her voice quaking with unadulterated joy.

"I see you in Serena's eyes, son, and I even see a little glimpse of myself…" my Dad said in a heavenly tone.

"D-D-Dad-dy?"

Me and the other three adults gasped as the high-pitched squeak radiated in all directions.

"Was that… Serena?" I asked.

My Dad answered emotionally, "She said her first word… she thinks… I'm her Daddy…"

I heard footsteps advance in my direction, and then I felt my Dad transfer Serena back to me.

I cradled her against my chest with my wings as he said, "You're her father. She belongs with you…"

I felt Serena's head move in a way that told me she was looking up at me.

"Da-Daddy?"

"Yes, my sweet Serena. I'm your Daddy…"

She chirped in sublime appreciation and snuggled against my feathers, and my self-control was starting to dwindle. And then, Serena's sister imitated her and called for me.

"Dada… Dada…"

"Cristo Rendentor… I can't take much more of this. This is such… a monumental day… for us all…" my mother whispered, on the verge of tears.

Violet was placed in my grasp as well, and I held them tenderly, side-by-side.

"Dada…" Violet murmured in a tone that was slightly deeper than Serena's.

She rubbed her beak against my chest, and then fell still.

And that was when the liquid pooled in my ruined eyes, a few drops snaking down my face. I let them flow shamelessly in front of my family, so that they all could see how blessed I was. To know that I was the father of the marvelous bundles of life in my wings… I was nothing short of ecstatic and moved to tears.

"Oh Samuel… go ahead and let it all out," said Brooklyn as she placed her wing upon my back and massaged my spine.

"Everyone… I have to say some things… but give me a minute… to compose myself…"

I inhaled a deep breath, sniffled, and then opened my beak.

"Where I am now… in this less-than-complete body of mine… I owe my success to you… Mom and Dad… for never giving up on me…"

I rotated my head to the left and continued, "And to you… Brooklyn… for choosing to become my mate… and for being… the light of my life..."

I sniffled again and continued, "Your combined efforts… have renewed me… given me a new purpose in life… allowed me to become a mate… and a father… and I thank you all."

"You're welcome, Samuel…" they all three replied with melancholy voices.

I shifted my daughters to make them more comfortable, and then I prepared to say the knockout line.

"You all have taught me so much… in my life… but the greatest thing I've learned is…"

I sucked in another breath, and let the revelation-worthy words flow.

"My eyes may be useless… but I will always be able to see… because love isn't blind…"

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