So here it is, long overdue, Chapter 3! Part 1… I hope I didn't over-revise it and ruin it. Though maybe it just seems drab cause I've been starring at it for far too long XD . Anyways enjoy!

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Kovu let out a long yawn. He opened his eyes in a squint, letting the first rays of morning light enter and fill him with life. Blissful quiet… if only for a moment.

"Yeesh! Kid! what have you been eating!"

Kovu looked down to see Timone with his hands clasped around his nose. He smacked his chops sleepily.

"Oh you know, just meerkats."

He spat out the witty remark without putting in much effort. He was far too tired to come up with anything better or to realize that the sarcasm wasn't necessary or welcome.

Timone moved one hand from his nose and pointed his index finger at the dark lion.

"Crude me Compadré. And that stench is awful."

Kovu smiled at the meerkat smugly.

"If you don't like it, find somewhere else to sleep."

Timone pinched his nose with one hand and tried to fan the stench away with the other.

"Noted."

Kovu yawned again as Timone began walking away to join his companion Pumba. It took only a moment for the meerkat to spin back around and lock an intense stare on him.

"Two words!"

Timone raised his voice and yelled.

"BREATH! MINT!" He gestured wildly with his hands, punctuating both words.

The cranky meerkat turned back around and resumed his pace, tired and obviously perturbed.

A sly expression spread across Kovu's face as Timone marched away. He disinclined to let the meerkat have the last word, and he knew just how to get the meerkat's attention. He issued a challenge.

"... Snail slurping contest..."

Timone froze in his place just as Kovu knew he would. The meerkat turned and locked eyes with him.

"What did you say?"

Kovu's smug gaze was fixed intensely on Timone. He knew the words 'snail slurping' would get the meerkat's attention, so he boasted on in his cocky tone.

"You heard me. You, me, snails, whoever eats the most wins."

Timone crossed his arms, his expression filled with his own egotism.

"Well, well, well, I guess you've heard the stories then junior."

Kovu smirked.

"I might have."

Timone closed his eyes and raised his chin pretentiously.

"Weeell, then you should know that I am the reigning champion of such a competition."

Kovu's smirk grew wider. He knew for a fact that that wasn't true. The meerkat was only flattering himself with his own delusions.

"Oh really? That's not what I've heard."

"Completely undefea- wait what?"

Timone's eyes popped open, obviously thrown off by Kovu's unimpressed response. Pumba stepped into the conversation beside Timone pointing out Kovu's correction.

"He's right Timone, Simba's still reigning champion of snail slurping."

Kovu's eyes were crescented at the satisfaction he got from deflating the meerkat's ego.

"Are you sure you want to do this Timone? It didn't go so well last t-"

"Of course I am!"

Timone barked feistily over Pumba's attempt to provide advice.

Kovu sat and watched Timone point his fingers and shake his fists with amusement.

Finally the meerkat turned back towards him with fire in his eyes.

"Alright sunny boy" Timone shouted, "you're on! At noon! by the watering hole!"

"Ahmm" Kovu replied smugly, uttering a familiar phrase,

"I look forward to it"

He flicked his wrist at Timone and shooed him away.

Without so much as another word the meerkat turned and stomped off, his warthog companion close behind.

Kovu wasn't afraid of losing. If Simba could beat Timone at eating bugs, then he surely could. He was after all trained to be a survivalist by his mother, and that was beside the fact that he was ten times the meerkat's size. So of course he could eat more bugs than the meerkat could.

Kovu relaxed his posture as his opponent left him. He rested his head on his paws, pondering what to do until his grand competition began.

"What else is there to do?..."

He surveyed the rest of the den to consider his options. His eyes fell upon Kiara, lying peacefully on the other side of the den. He sighed happily, the tip of his tail gently batting the rocky cave floor. He could sit and watch her all day if she would allow him the opportunity, but his beloved mate would surely want more interaction from him if she noticed that she had his attention. Kiara had been sleeping over by her parents recently, not to avoid Kovu, but because her pregnancy had put a great amount of stress on Simba; He seemed to worry about it constantly.

The large golden lion did seem to make an effort to hide his concern, but did a rather poor job of doing so; he was constantly fretting and discussing the topic with his own mate Nala. Perhaps he assumed that no-one else was listening, but at times it was hard to believe that the whole pride couldn't hear him. Kiara being close-by, however, seemed to bring the great king a noticeable amount of peace, especially in the night hours when the pride slept.

Kovu had picked up on the fact that Simba must have been having nightmares of some sort, as he had seen Simba go off by himself in the mornings increasingly to meet with Rafiki. On one occasion, being nearby, he had even overheard the two of them discussing dreams and bad omens.

He wondered to himself though, "What are the nightmares about?"

He had at first feared that there might have been spurs of distrust forming once again between the two of them, but as he observed Simba's nerve wracked behavior, he came to realize that such could not have been the case. Simba had in fact gotten evee closer to Kovu.

Kovu had thought of asking Simba about his dreams, but he feared what he might have learned, and he did not want to intrude upon Simba's personal space. One phrase, however, had begun to haunt him. Something Simba had said quite a while back.

…"'What if she's too young?'"…

The utterance hadn't bothered him at first, it was something Kovu had overheard Simba say upon first learning of his daughter's pregnancy. It hadn't meant anything to him once he had settled the conflict with Simba; He had thought it mere exclamation made in the stress of the moment. Not until he started to think about it had it bothered him. The supposed problem didn't quite add up in his mind.

"…Even if she couldn't handle a child herself, and even if I turned out to be a rotten father, why couldn't her parents help to raise the cub? It's not like they're going anywhere… It has to be something else…"

He continued to dwell on the matter even now.

"The hell she's too young?... I almost don't want to know... Maybe I'm overthinking this. Maybe he didn't mean anything else by it. Maybe-"

"I can see you over there watching me Kovu."

He jerked from his thoughts. Even though her voice was soft, it was enough to attract his full attention.

She smiled at him.

He returned the joyful expression, perking up at the sound of her voice. "Oh?"

Her smile sharpened into a slight smirk. "Why don't you come over here and keep me company?"

Kovu stood silently and made his way over to his mate. He sat down and snuggled up next to her, speaking softly; just as softly as she had to him.

"Better?" He nudged his nose to hers; she in return nudged hers to his, the two mutually nuzzling.

"Better," she replied.

She was as beautiful as ever, and despite his growing worries, her plumpining belly still made his heart grow soft. Being in such a delicate state made Kiara all the more precious; she and the one inside of her. He would soon have another soul to hold close to him, another precious little life.

Kovu came to rest his head once again on his paws, his mate burrowing her face into his mane. He looked at her from the corner of his eye grunting lightly at the slight tugging of his mane.

"Getting comfortable there?"

She merely giggled at him and continued, swishing her tail slightly.

"Yep."

Despite the tugging of his hair, it felt good having her right up next him, wallering in his mane. It was after all, her silly antics and her innocent disposition that he had fallen in love with from the start, the innocent little daddy's girl. Even as a cub he had tried to feed her his bad boy attitude; she of course broke right through it and found something gentler in him. Being so innocent and carefree herself, Kiara had found something long suppressed within him; His inner cub. She showed him how to play and have fun, how to chase butterflies and watch the stars and in the process she had even stolen his heart. The honey colored lioness seemed to simply be blessed with the wonderful ability to find the good in anyone.

Her presence now and the reminiscent memories of the past, both helped to bring his mind away from the uncertain future and about what unexpected complications it could hold. For the time being it would just be him with his beloved mate, in the present, with all their beautiful memories together.

"I love you Kiara"

The two of them spoke softly to one another.

"I love you too Kovu"

Kovu couldn't help but smile at the nostalgia.

"Hey, do you remember when we first met?"

She smiled back at him warmly.

He could tell her memories of it were just as fond as his were.

"Am I supposed to be able to forget?"

"I guess not." Kovu laughed

"Remember how I tried to convince you that I was a loner? And that I took care of myself with no help?"

Kiara giggled at the mentioning of their initial encounter.

Kovu smirked at her.

"Daddy's little girl."

Following his teasing comment she lifted her head from his mane, and looked deep into his eyes. He turned his head fully towards her in curiosity.

"Maybe"

A very warm, very sincere smile spread across her face.

"But I'm your girl now."

She dotingly rested her neck over his in a gentle embrace.

Kovu felt a pleasant flutter in his chest; he closed his eyes contently, the tip of his tail slowly batting the floor as the same blissful smile covered his face. All thoughts of worry left him in that moment; he was completely devoid of anything, but happiness.

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Simba made his way towards the cave as he returned from his morning duties. They were never quite so fun as his father Mufasa had always made them seem, with all the song and dance. He expected his family to be just waking as he walked into the den.

As he approached his usual place, he found two lions, his daughter and her mate, lying together in his sleeping spot. The two of them were whispering softly to one another, their voices gentle enough to allow his mate Nala to sleep soundly only a few paces away. He presumed the whisperings between the two of them to be intimate so he took the opportunity to sneak up on them.

"Practicing being royalty?" Simba smiled; his sudden presence surprised the both of them. As a father he always had the playful urge to interrupt their private moments.

They both smiled back at the large golden lion.

"Kovu's just keeping me company daddy."

Simba's warm expression showed his joy at finding Kovu taking care of his precious daughter, just as he had always promised he would. He commonly observed how gentle Kovu was with her. Even when they were at odds he had never laid a paw on her unless it was one of loving support. Simba was truly happy with Kovu as his daughters mate, a position quite some time ago, he had thought he'd never be in.

"Kovu" Kiara called for her mate's attention; as he turned and looked to her she stood slowly to her feet and walked past the dark lion, giving him a light flick to the chin with her tail.

"Comon'," She spoke perkily. "Let's go out and get some fresh air."

Simba watched as his daughter slowly made her way up towards the mouth of the cave. His sights then shifted to Kovu who was just rising from his spot to go and follow her; a cheery warm smile covered the young lion's face.

"Kovu"

Kovu stopped and looked to Simba as he heard his name called, replying with a quiet and casual "Huh?"

"I noticed Pumba and Timone were out pretty early this morning."

Kovu's expression lit up and shifted nervously at the mention of the pair.

"Do you know anything about that? They usually sleep in a bit more."

"Uuaah"

Kovu smiled nervously.

"I may have challenged the meerkat to a bit of a competition."

Simba smiled and inquired futher, amused and curious.

"What kind of competition?"

An embarrassed expression crossed the normally pompous lion's face.

"Oh you know, eating bugs, I think"

Simba's amusement inside grew at the mention of bug eating. He smirked at the young lion.

"Oh, I see. Good luck with that Kovu you may need it."

The humor of the situation began to fade from Kovu's expression, a bit of worry seeping in.

"Well how hard could it be? It's just bugs right?"

Simba broke eye contact with Kovu and moved to lay down with his mate Nala before replying with a bit of laughter in his voice.

"You'll see soon enough. I'm just giving you a fair warning; I don't think you've got any idea what you've gotten yourself into."

Kovu's anxiety was now becoming audibly apparent.

"Didn't you say you beat Timone easily all those times though?"

"I did beat him, every time, but I never said he wasn't a worthy opponent. I certainly hope you've got the stomach for it Kovu."

Kovu was quiet for a moment.

"Right, well um, I'm gonna go catch up with Kiara then"

Simba gestured in approval, raising his eyebrows, his smile twitching, widening slightly. Kovu followed the familiar gesture and turned to run and catch up with his mate, who had already made her way out of the cave.

Upon his departure Simba turned his attention Nala who was just now waking. She yawned showing her sharp rows of carnivorous teeth.

"Good morning," Simba uttered to her gently turning his warm smile on his own groggy mate.

It took her a moment but she spoke gingerly. "It's good she's getting out of the den."

Nala stared out through the mouth of the cave, offering Simba no direct reply. Her eyes were heavy and she was noticeably drowsy, but pleasantly so. A smile sat upon her face as she looked out into the blue sky, and finished her thought.

"She needs to enjoy being active while she can still get around."

The two lions had been walking through The Pridelands for what was nearing the entire morning. The savanna was abnormally wet and fertile this season; tall, lush grass grew in abundance out from the grasslands. It challenged the dusty golden sand for it's turf, spreading into the typically drier areas. The watering hole was filled to the brim with fresh rain water. Most animals that called that particular portion of the savannah home were either drinking the fresh water, or grazing in the warm sun. Others, higher up the food chain, slept to preserve their strength until Dusk, when most of them would begin hunting.

The subtle scent of the lush grass wafted through the air, faint, but pleasant. The two lovers laid out on a small grassy hill out of the rest of the world's sight. The silence was soothing; not having to please anyone, not expected to do anything, there was just the soft sound of tall grass rustling.

Kovu, who laid on his back, was especially enjoying the stress free environment. It was just him and his mate right beside him. The warmth of the rising sun relaxed him and it's bright rays coerced him into closing his eyes. He did not realize he had fallen asleep until he felt something tickle his nose.

With that sensation his eyes popped open; on his nose was a butterfly. The wings of the small creature spread and folded slowly, revealing the colorful pattern that covered it. He watched and allowed the small insect rest on his nose until it began itching. He then batted at the butterfly softly with his paw, and watched as the elegant little bug took flight from him and fluttered away.

Something then drove him, in that relaxed environment, to spring to his feet and make chase of the small insect. He kicked up a cloud dust and he took off after the butterfly down the hill. He laughed carefree. He felt like a cub again!

Some time ago, he would have been ashamed of such a feeling; he would have considered it weak. But now, it was different, it was liberating, it was worth embracing.

He sprang onto his hind legs as he caught up with the butterfly, and swatted at it with his front paws. The butterfly evaded both his powerful blows, and continued to flutter it's wings without a care; it did not seem particularly perturbed by his presence.

As soon as his paws hit the ground he was off again after the bug. It hadn't gotten far from him so he was quickly upon it once again. As he caught it the butterfly shifted in it's course and flew upwards higher into the sky. Kovu quickly leaped back onto his hind legs and slapped his paws together around the butterfly, trying to grasp it, but his footing twisted and he fell back down into the grass, laughing as he landed on his back. His lunge had been just short of the delicate creature. He watched it as it flew up and away into the sky, flapping it's colorful wings.

Kovu looked down as he heard the sound of clumsily loud paws thumping against the ground. Knowing what was coming, he looked between his two sprawled out hind legs to see his mate crossing the crest of a hill, running towards him.

She giggled at him with delightful warmth as she approached. "Having fun?"

"Yeah." He said giving her a smile.

A second butterfly then flew over Kovu's head; his attention quickly fixed on it.

"Care to join me?" He spoke to her distracted by the bug, batting at it with his paw.

"Of course"

She smiled; Kovu was preoccupied playing with the small bug that fluttered in and out of his reach.

Kiara laid down beside him and rolled over on her back, the curvature of her plump belly becoming even more apparent. Kovu continued to play with the delicate insect, further comforted by her warmth beside him. He pawed and pawed at it, as if he was only a little cub, until finally it flew up and away, just as the first one had. He watched it flutter away, not breaking his gaze until it was lost from sight.

Kiara's warmth now pleaded for his attention, so he turned his head to face her. Her eyes were closed, only winking open. The warm sun was lulling her to sleep just as it had him. He carefully woke her from her daze, gently placing his paw on her belly. Her eyes opened and she became alert once more, turning her attention to him.

"Hey, what do think he'll look like?" Kovu asked her as he removed is paw from her belly and rolled onto his side to face her. She giggled softly at his question.

"What makes you so sure it's a he?"

"Well I... didn't mean it couldn't be a girl."

She smiled at him teasingly.

Kovu frowned in response.

"Why do you always patronize me?"

"No reason..."

Her voice dropped to a lower more sincere tone, her eyes widening apologetically as she rolled onto her side.

"...I'm… sorry."

Kovu could see the sincerity in her expression, but before he could accept her apology with mere words, she pressed her nose up against his and her lips followed soon after. He closed his eyes in the warmth of the moment and enjoyed the kiss. Kiara was drawing closer and closer to giving birth, but it did nothing to put a damper on their romance. Their lips separated with their noses rubbing gently together.

Kovu opened his eyes just in time to see hers open, and in that moment his gaze became fixed on her. He looked deep into her eyes as she gave him a dazed look right back. To him, her beauty still radiated as strong as it had the day they had fallen in love. Even now as she grew swollen and plump, she was still wonderfully beautiful. He felt as if he could lie there in the lush green grass with her forever. Slowly his eyes began closing shut, as he rested once again in the warm sun.

Something suddenly blocked the sun from his face.

"You!"

Kovu jerked, Kiara letting out a small squeaking gasp. The strong voice came quickly and in conjunction with the sudden shadow, startling the two of them. They both opened their eyes and looked up to see Timone standing over Kovu.

He spoke in a sinister tone.

"I've gotta bone to pick with you."

Kovu suddenly and reluctantly remembered the appointment he had made with the meerkat that morning. His interest in the ordeal was long gone, but he wasn't going to back down to Timone.

"You guys got the stuff?" Kovu asked hoping by some miracle the meerkat what say 'no' and walk away.

Timone however crossed his arms expectantly. "Yeah, by the watering hole, like we discussed."

He thought back to what Simba had told him before he had left the cave; it made him somewhat nervous, now that the challenge was soon approaching.

It can't be as bad as he made sound, he reassured himself.

Kiara gave Kovu a confused look but he replied before she could ask.

"It's a long story."

"Actually it's quite simple," Kiara looked to Timone as he interjected, placing his fists against his hips.

"He challenged me, and now he's going down."

She looked back over to Kovu.

"What did you challenge him to?" Kiara questioned Kovu curiously, but Timone answered for him, a sliver of pride in his voice.

"Snail slurping."

Kiara's voice was suddenly filled with laughter.

"You challenged him to eating bugs?"

"Well I..." Kovu responded embarrassed, "...yeah."

It hadn't seemed like such a silly idea until then.

She giggled on.

"I think you've been listening to too many of Daddy's stories Kovu."

Her voice sobered from the laughter, but her amused tone remained.

"I don't think it's as easy as he made it sound."

"Yeah..." Kovu glanced at Timone who still had his fists on his hips, eyeing him back.

"...I've been starting to get that vibe since this morning."

He looked back to his mate, waiting for her to make something of the situation but she simply gave him an amused smile. "Well um… good luck!"

Kovu sighed lethargically, not wanting to move from his spot.

Timone spoke with pride and nudged his head with his scrawny elbow.

"You're not chickening out already are ya?"

It took Kovu moment to even budge, but he looked back and forth between Kiara and Timone.

Timone continued to hit Kovu with his elbow and tease him.

"Heh? Heeeh?"

Kovu, finally fed up with Timone's taunting, stood swiftly to his feet, dwarfing the meerkat. He smirked with a glimmer of confidence in his eye.

"Nobody's chickening out of anything."

Timone kept his eye contact "Aaaah, good sportsmanship." Timone gingery pointed his finger to Kovu. "But ya still gotta play the game."

He turned and waved Kovu to follow him and set off at leisurely pace.

"Kovu!" Kovu hesitantly started off behind Timone but paused as Kiara called his name.

He took a step to the side and looked to her over his shoulder.

"Huh?"

She carefully rolled herself onto her feet and stood; she slowly made her way over to him.

"Hold on, why don't I come with you"

Kovu looked at her surprised as she smiled. He turned his whole body to face her as she approached.

"I thought eating bugs grossed you out?"

"Well I gotta cheer on my big hunk don't I?"

He smiled as she refered to him so intimately.

"Ok… I guess so."

His smile widened.

Timone's voice boomed back at the two of them impatiently.

"Are you comin or what!"

Kiara giggled as the meerkat yelled, and then looked to Kovu. "Comon let's go, don't wanna keep our friend there waiting." She spoke to her mate with amusement in her voice, and quickly set off in the direction of the feisty meerkat, Kovu turning and following close behind.

It was time to face the music, and a challenge he was just starting to realize would not be so easy.

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And that's a wrap… for now. I'll see to it part 2 rolls out MUCH faster than this did, I guess I learned that life always throws hurdles your way, so the lesson learned is don't wait until it's absolutely convenient to write. Just write. I was gonna give you a bit more in part one but this makes a better cliff hanger and I didn't want to wait even longer to post, you guys deserve a treat.

Please review, I want to know how this chapter compares to the other two.