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Awoooooooooo! How are you doing my dear readers? It's that time again! Christmas? HA NO! Time for another update from the one the only the Lone Wolf! First of all I'd like to thank LadyNala for once again pulling me out of a pit of despair and being so supportive. Seriously mess with her you mess with me…swiftly moving along and yes I will mention her a lot and no im not madly and overly in love with her… or am I? That's for you to decide dear readers, now I know you will rip my head off for the chapter so here it is! Merry Christmas my dear readers Enjoy!

A Different Shadow

Chapter 5: A secret place in her heart

"She's not my girlfriend!" Not for the first time that day Chumvi shouted desperately at Simba.

"Sure she isn't" Simba grinned winking.

"You just happened to stare at her for a full day" he added much to the amusement of all the boys. Chumvi blushed.

"I do not stare at her!" he yelled angrily. Simba and the other boys laughed harder teasing their friend. Chumvi was one of Simba's closest friends aside from Nala and they had grown up together. Chumvi had a gleaming brown coat and pale under belly. His bright green eyes often sparkled with mischief and fun. The latest joke was the fact that he was caught often staring at one of the lionesses who's closest friend happened to be Nala. It was painfully obvious that Chumvi liked Vixy. Vixy had a darker coat than Nala though it was still fairly light; her dark blue eyes often captivated Chumvi.

"Hi guys" Vixy had wandered over her hips swaying slightly at the sight of Chumvi and Simba. Chumvi was suddenly struck dumb and stammered out a fragmented greeting to her. He was oblivious to the others snickering and continued to stare at Vixy who kept eye contact.

"Well erm bye guys" she said slightly disappointed.

The boys all waved and laughed at Chumvi who seemed unable to keep the redness from his cheeks.

"Oh yeah! You don't like her at all do you Chummy?" Simba guffawed thumping his friend in the shoulder. A sudden grin formed on Chumvi's face.

"A bit like you don't like Nala at all do you?" the question caught Simba off guard completely. He glanced over at Nala who seemed to be glancing nervously over to the boys talking to Vixy.

Simba desperately wanted to find out what was wrong with Nala, Quite suddenly he realised she was walking over to them. He immediately tried to subtly tidy himself up.

"I don't know what you're talking about Chummy" Simba responded uncaringly and licking his shoulder.

The boys fell silent watching Simba.

"Dude are you grooming yourself?" Simba fought a blush.

"Yeah I need to be tidy some of the time" Chumvi noticed Nala and all hell broke looses for Simba.

"I know why you're doing it now. Is it because your precious Nala is coming over?" he teased. Simba yelped in shock. But quickly hid it as he turned around to grin shyly at Nala.

Nala stared at the ground blushing all too aware of the number of eyes on them both.

"Err Simba I just wanted to thank you for last night, I err had a great time. And I was wondering if you would like to take a walk with me?" Nala mumbled quietly. Simba heard every word and flushed causing whoops from the boys and giggles from the girls.

"As long as it's just us two!" Simba exclaimed out of nerves and realised what he said. The onlookers cheered teasingly. Nala smiled embarrassed and surprising herself more than any one else said,

"I wouldn't have it any other way" The crowd fell silent as both cubs gazed lovingly at each other. Yet ironically neither knew of the others feelings, although everyone could see it.

The two set off together walking side by side. The girls giggled madly at the blushing Nala, and the boys wolf whistled at the love struck Simba. Both cubs walked off away from them and Simba was given an idea. He whispered in Nala's ear to walk very close to him to trick the other cubs. She blushed and chuckling agreed.

Nala rubbed her side up against Simba and rested her head on his shoulder forcing gasps from the cubs. Fighting a laugh they both headed away from the watering hole Nala leading. The two cubs raced towards a small cave in the distance. Nala skidded to a halt but Simba noticed that far from a smug smile being on her face as usual, she held a sad expression.

"What's wrong?" he asked worriedly.

"This is where I was born" Nala whispered quietly. Simba stared at Nala as tears filled her eyes.

"This was the last place I ever saw my dad" she whispered sadly.

Simba walked over to her and embraced her, Nala was too upset to blush she just lay in his arms letting the tears fall silently.

"What happened?" Simba asked curiously.

"H…he said he didn't want me, th… that he never loved me" Nala sobbed loudly letting through tears she had held back for so long.

"Oh, I'm so sorry Nal, are you ok?" Nala shook her head staring at the ground.

"I think only my mom loves me now" she whispered almost silently.

Simba felt his heart break a little; somehow he knew what to say to her.

"That's a lie" he stated simply. Nala looked at him.

"Don't call me a lier!" she screamed furiously.

"I will!" Simba shouted back.

"I thought I could trust you!" Nala cried tears falling faster.

"It is a lie because I LOVE YOU!" Simba bellowed. Nala opened her mouth to respond but no words left her. Her expression changed from anger to shock.

"Y… you l…love m…me?" she stammered feeling the heart beat faster. She could hear the rhythmic beating in her ears.

"Yes, I do. I love you with all my heart Nala" Simba told her on the verge of tears. Nala noticed how hard he was holding back.

Meanwhile Simba was shaking inside, he thought he had just ended their friendship, the friend he had grown so fond of was going to hate him now.

Nala let out a strangled gurgle.

Simba's ears struck his head as he bounded out of the cave after issuing a quiet sobbing apology. Nala turned and bolted after him. Her mind was racing as fast as her heart, but one thought was linked with both organs. Simba loved her. He loved her with all his heart; he loved her and her alone. She knew she loved him more than life itself the moment he ran. An explosion of emotions erupted inside Nala's stomach.

She loved him. He loved her. It was perfect, the moment was perfect and she blew it.

After hours of searching Nala found Simba sobbing uncontrollably in front of the watering hole his friends watching from across it unsure of how to comfort the prince.

The cubs looked over to Nala who began to walk towards Simba with tears in her eyes.

"Simba?" Simba looked up his eyes red and swollen a thick blush upon his face.

"I.." Simba choked but Nala leapt over to him and pressed her paw against his mouth.

"Shhhh, its ok… I" Nala blushed crimson at the words she needed to say. Simba's eyes held no spark no hope, only love reflected in them, love that would tear him apart.

"Simba I love you too" Nala finally spit out the words she had wanted to say for so long.

Simba froze.

Nala grinned.

"B…but I -" Simba never finished what he had to say for his lips were busy with Nala's. The love between them was strong and both cubs wouldn't be the one to break the moment. When the kiss finally ended Nala nuzzled Simba fiercely.

"Never do that again!" she growled at him passionately.

"I love you ok, I love you, I love you, I love you!" she repeated to him angrily showing her affection in full. Simba began to grin the sparkle in his eyes returning.

Moments of silence followed before Simba made a sound.

"WHOOOHOOOO!" Simba jumped into the air and started dancing around giggling excitedly. Nala began to worry for his sanity.

Chumvi wandered over asking what was happening. Simba grabbed his shoulders leaping up and down with his nauseous friend.

"Simba what the -"

"She loves me! She loves me! She actually loves me!" Simba dropped Chumvi who hit the ground with a groan; Simba continued to jump around whooping and cheering.

Nala watched Simba bound around shouting to the world that she loved him. After Simba had tried sticking his head under the water to yell the story to the fish Nala decided she would put and end to his rampage.

"Hey calm down Simba, I'm not that special" Nala rolled her eyes embarrassed but clearly happy.

Simba pinned her to the ground grinning wildly.

"You are the most special cub I have ever met, you're amazing and wonderful and…and!" Simba fought for the right words desperately settling on just kissing her again. Simba pressed his lips on Nala's whose blush melted in with his. The two finally calmed down and headed off to tell their parents the good news, Simba felt like a king already. He knew he had found the right girl for him, he would make her his mate, and he loved her more than he loved himself. And Nala loved Simba too much to let him go.

The problem was how were they going to break it to their parents and friends about a love they had denied so adamantly.

Awooooooo! Oh god how I wish I had a girlfriend, I'm tired of being the one to fall in love. I must be hideous, any way hope you enjoyed this chapter, its not yet over, but please read the howling and don't forget LadyNala's story and Prince Simba's. Both brilliant and part of the trend setters. So until next time merry Christmas from this English author. And have AWWWWWWWWonderful time!