Chapter 3: Getting Things Ready-Macaw Style

Back at Ipeanema Beach, Blu was still at his proposal meeting with Nico and Pedro who had

just finished reading what he wanted to say to Jewel when the time comes for him to propose (well, that's if Blu can manage setting the whole proposal up now that he has a location).

"Wow baby bird, this speech is the sweetest one I have ever read" praised Nico as he and Pedro had finally finished up reading the last few sentences of Blu's proposal speech for Jewel.

"Now that you got that lovely speech out of the way" said Pedro who was very satisfied about how beautiful his spix macaw friend's speech was "You now need two more things. The first thing you will need is to know how to set up the whole proposal from beginning to end like setting the mood at the tree house and the second thing you will need is an engagement ring" Pedro explained to Blu who was still nervous about the outcome of the proposal all together.

"A ring?" Blu asked his cardinal friend in a shocking manner as if he forgot about the whole concept of engagement rings.

"Yes Blu" said Pedro in a very exciting manner. "An engagement ring would be the perfect symbol of you and Jewel being two hearts becoming one".

Blu almost forgot about the use of an engagement ring and it how it would symbolize their pending union and it was starting to down on him that he should propose to his girlfriend with an engagement ring.

"Do you guys think it's possible for me to use Linda's grandmother's old engagement ring?" he asked. "Well, you see, I would like to use my human Great-Great-Grandma Gunderson's old engagement ring because it was first given to her by my human great-great-grandfather shortly after they started dating and it was then passed on to Linda's grandmother, then her mother, and then, to Linda herself because it symbolized their love in a very special manner" Blu explained as the choice of engagement ring dawned on him.

"That's a good choice of an engagement ring" praised Nico, who was relieved that his friend did not have to bribe Mauro and his fellow marmosets because they still do not like the monkey after trying to kidnap Blu and Jewel at the Samba Club. "So where is this engagement ring of your human great-grandma?" he asked.

"Linda does not wear it so much like used to when she was young, but she always keeps it on her dresser in her room" answered Blu whose owner, Linda had recently become a Brazilian citizen which means she can spend the rest of her life living in the South American country.

Nico and Pedro gave each other a high five as they were very pleased to see that their friend felt a little more confident about his proposal despite the fact that he was still nervous about its outcome. Still, the three friends had to get that ring first before they can map out everything else.

"Let's fly over to Linda's and get that ring!" exclaimed Nico.

"Okay" said Pedro.

"Aww, thank you guys so much for your help" said Blu in a gracious manner as he looked at his two friends with a gracious smile.

So the three friends took off for Linda's new home which was not too far away from the Bird Sanctuary.

….

As for Jewel on the Other Hand,

While Blu was planning his proposal with Nico and Pedro, Jewel was at the toucans' nest just to spend some time with them until Blu returns from his meeting with the two rambunctious party-birds.

"What in the world is taking Blu so long?" asked Jewel as she began to worry about her boyfriend. "Is he even finished with his meeting with Nico and Pedro yet?"

"Don't worry Jewel" said Rafael as he tried to make sure his spix macaw friend would not worry about the love of her life. "Nico and Pedro would never keep Blu for long knowing that he has other things on his mind including a future with you".

While Jewel knew that Blu had to meet up with Nico and Pedro in order to discuss "important things" with them, she didn't have any idea and what these "things" were about. "Whatever these important things are, I do hope Nico and Pedro are able to help him out with it" said Jewel in a hopeful manner even though she did not get why her boyfriend would withhold certain things from her for she and Blu have always shared everything together, especially if it's personal to them.

"If it's very important to Blu" Jewel mumbled "then, he should have at least shared it with me because after all, we are a couple and we always share everything together".

"Jewel, Blu told me it was just between him, Nico and Pedro" Rafael muttered before four of his children started to pulling on Jewel in a very playful matter which has caused him to discipline them. "Hey! Stop pulling on Ms. Jewel like that because she's not a rag doll" Rafael yelled as he pulled the four children off of Jewel's head and back. Rafael managed to get the rambunctious baby toucans off of Jewel before they were able to pull off her feathers.

With the baby toucans off of her, Jewel was still puzzled by why Blu was withholding information from her but still, as a couple, Blu and Jewel always shared everything together like stories and feelings and for Blu to not share with her this "important thing" was not unusual of him.

"I wish Blu would just tell me about this thing that's important to him" Jewel said to Rafael "but whatever it is, it must be a secret"

…..

Meanwhile, Blu, Nico and Pedro have flown over to Linda's new place to get her great-grandmother's old engagement ring. When they got there, they soon realized that they were not the only guests at her new home. It appeared that Tulio was over at house for something very special. Although he was dressed in regular clothes, he held a bouquet of roses in one hand and a tiny box in the other.

"You guys" said Blu in a happy manner "It looks like Tulio is going to propose to Linda any moment now.

"How awesome man!" exclaimed Pedro as he continued to lay his eyes on warm-hearted man with the St. Francis touch who was approaching Linda in her living room.

"Baby Bird, you should take some notes on this one because you may learn something about confidence when it comes to proposing" said Nico as he looked at his spix macaw friend.

The three friends took a moment as they watched the bird doctor make his way into Linda's living room for his moment of truth. Tulio said a few things that got Nico and Pedro awed all the way before he got on knee and presented a small opened box that contained a diamond ring and right at that moment, Tulio asked Linda that four word question.

"Linda, will you marry me?

Linda was shocked by the presence of the ring in a very happy manner that she knew that it was the start of a whole new life for her because after all, if Blu, the bird she has raised for the past fifteen years started a new life with Jewel, then she should be more than happy to do the same with Tulio, the man who has been with her all the way since she first came to Brazil with her featured companion because after all, even though it's been only a couple of months since they first met, the two have already shown strong feelings for each other and their love for birds has drawn them closer to each other.

"Yes Tulio, I will marry you" declared Linda and right away, she hugged and kissed her new fiancé in a romantic manner.

"Aww Pedro, just at them" Nico said to cardinal friend in a delightful manner. "Don't they look like a beautiful couple?"

"They sure do" answered Pedro. "I hope Blu is taking some notes from them" he said as he watched Blu observe Linda and Tulio's romantic moment together.

For Blu, seeing Linda getting engaged and Tulio asking her the question had finally gave him the reason to be unafraid of popping the question to Jewel when the time comes. Still, however, he first had to get that old engagement ring from Linda before he can go on. So, right at the moment, Blu took a piece of paper out of an old notebook, got himself a pencil and started writing a note to his beloved human companion and after that, he flew over to Linda to give her the note.

"Oh hello there Blu" greeted Linda who was surprised to see her old friend show up to watch her get engaged. "I never though you would watch Tulio propose to me but I'm guessing that you agree with him being my fiancé". Soon, Linda peered at the piece of paper Blu had in his mouth for she knew that it meant that he written something for her that was on his mind. "Is this a note for me? Linda asked Blu. The male spix macaw nodded his head and Linda took the note out of Blu's mouth and began to read his request.

"Linda, I'm planning to propose to Jewel and I wonder if I can give her Great-Great-Grandma Gunderson's engagement ring? Oh, by the way, congratulations on your engagement to Tulio, I am so sure that he's going to make you happy for as long as you live and good luck with the wedding.

~Blu~"

After Linda read his note, Linda went into her room to get the old family heirloom for Blu. "Hold on for one moment Blu" she said "I'll get the ring for you so that you can give it to Jewel". So, Linda left the living room, and briefly went into her room where she got a small blue velvet box from her dresser and brought it back to her feathered friend who eagerly waited for it there.

"Here you go sweetie" said Linda as she gives the small box over to Blu who graciously squawked at her "I hope things continue to go well for you" she said before giving him a kiss on his left cheek.

"You have a nice day Blu and good luck with your little proposal" cheered Tulio as he and Linda watched Blu fly away with the blue box.

….

Blu, who now had the engagement ring in his possession, caught up with Nico and Pedro who were waiting for him out on the deck looking at the window as they continued to be awed by the engagement of Linda and Tulio.

"I got the ring guys" Blu said to his two romantically challenged friends.

Before long, Nico and Pedro shook themselves off to focus on the engagement ring that was now in their friend's possession.

"That's great that you now have that ring on you" said Pedro.

"Now that you have the ring, we can now discuss how we are going to set the romantic mood for your big night when you ask Jewel for her wing in marriage". Nico suggested.

"Well" said Blu as he began to come up with ideas on his proposal in regards to how to set the romantic mood for his and Jewel's special day. "I would like to see the tree house be decorated with roses and orchids which are two of Jewel's favorite types of flowers. As for the music, I would like some very soft romantic music and reminds Jewel and I of how much we love each other and how much we would love to spend the rest of our lives together as a couple." He explained to his friends who listened to Blu's plans for his heartfelt proposal to his girlfriend.

"That's a really good on that you want to have decorations at the tree house" said Nico "those two types of flowers are the most romantic in all of Rio and they are perfect for setting the romantic mood."

"Yeah Blu" said Pedro "I'll make you a bouquet of orchids if you like so that you can have some to give to Jewel on that special night" he offered.

"Aww Pedro" said Blu as he looked at his cardinal friend in a very gracious manner "that would be perfect" he said as he praised Pedro's suggestion. Now that Blu got the choice in decorations out of the way, he can now think of two more things. The first would be how to start off what could be the most romantic date he ever had with Jewel and secondly, the romantic music that would set the mood at the tree house.

"For how to start the day, I was thinking maybe the top of that trolley that brought us to Luiz's garage and then the samba club" Blu suggested as thoughts of the pre-engagement date began to dawn on him like the morning sun.

"Now that's more like it bro" praised Nico "and don't worry about the music, Pedro and I will make sure it will be best fit for the special night".

For a pair of party-animals who think too much of parties and fun, Nico and Pedro were very determined to make sure their friend's special moment would become one that he would never forget which meant that everything has to be perfect as possible.

"Thank you, thank you so much" praised Blu as he gave his friends a hug before taking off to go back to the toucans' nest to meet up with his girlfriend "you have no idea how thankful I am to have you guys help me out with this".

"Anytime Blu" Nico and Pedro both said as they said good-bye to him.

So Blu went back to the toucans' place to meet up with Jewel while Nico and Pedro planned out what could the spix macaw couple's very special night.