Chapter 7

About two weeks later, Lilian was sitting with Jewel and helping look after some chicks at the school. "Soon, I'll have one of my own." Lilian sat a chick on her leg and bounced him up and down as she sat on a chair. "Yeah, well I got three already. And already two have found love. Won't be long till Bia does. I've already noticed some looks she gets from some boys, especially Tiago's friend Dan, who was an extreme pyro with his power. "You mean that crazy fire bird Dan?" Jewel nodded. "Isn't he a Red Lory. They're a type of parrot, right?" Jewel nodded again. "Well I think he is just too crazy." Lilian saw the time and wondered why Cody was late. Again. "This is the fifth time since he started having boy time with his mates. I'm getting worried for him." Jewel knew what she meant. "Hey, don't worry. I felt the same way when we lived in the Amazon with the tribe. He would leave sometimes, promising that he would arrive around lunch when he arrives two hours late." Lilian looked at Jewel, wanting to hear the rest. "What was he doing?"

"Not what you think."

Flashback

Jewel sat in the nest, waiting for her mate, Blu to come back. This is the third time he's been late. And it's our anniversary. That's it. This time, I am asking him straight up. As if on queue, a wingbeat was heard, and Blu appeared at the entrance of the hollow. "Good afternoon, honey. Sorry I'm late again." She unexpectedly charged at him and held him to the wall. "Answer me now, and it better be the truth. Why are you late?" He made choking sounds, so she loosened her grip. "You really want to know?" She gave him a menacing look. "I'll take that as a yes. Fine, if you want me to, you must follow me. But first, you have to let go of my neck." She hesitated, and let go. "Fine, but if you take off on me, I will hunt you down." Blu gulped and nodded nervously. "Follow closely now." They took off from the hollow, not noticing the bird that went around and a head of them at a faster pace.

Blu didn't want the surprise ruined. But he was forced to show it to her, even though it was meant for later that night. He glanced over to his right and saw a bird flying. He recognised it as Tiago, his son. He looked back to see Jewel not looking and quickly made signals with his talon. Tiago returned signals and took off. Blu had to stall her. He began faking being puffed out, and landed on a nearby tree, an imaptient Jewel landed right behind him. "What is it now, are we here?" He held a wing up, then saw some mangoes above him. An idea popped into his head. "I need to eat, or I'm gonna...gonna...timber!" Jewel quickly turned from getting a second mango. to him at his last word and saw him falling. "BLU!" She dove at him and caught him before he hit the hard ground below. "Blu, eat this." Blu began eating the mango and put a pleasant face on. "Thanks Jewel." She stood up and put her wings on her hips. "Now, about that thing?" Blu sighed. This was not going to be easy.

Thanks to a few other distractions from passing birds, falling branches and a well placed spider, they made it in time. Blu went ahead a bit and saw Tiago. He saw Jewel not far behind and whispered to him quickly. "Is it done?" Tiago made an 'O' shape with his talon, signalling everything was okay. Blu gave a quick nod and turned his attention to Jewel, who had just landed. "So, where is it?" Blu put a wing on her shoulder and moved her forward. "Right here, darling." He moved a curtain of leaves to reveal a beautiful scene. "Blu, what is all this?"

"Happy anniversary, sweetheart." Their kids, Roberto, Nico and Pedro, Rafael and Eduardo and Mimi appeared from their hiding spots. "HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, LOVEBIRDS." Flower petals showered them as they made their way towards the small box that was a table. When they sat, Roberto came and place a plate. "Thank you, buddy." Jewel couldn't believe what she was seeing. The plate was stacked with fruits. "Did you do this, Blu?" He nodded, then gestured to the others. "And with their help. This is why I have been coming late home." They shared a long kiss, which the others left quickly for. "Let's leave them to each other." They exited, leaving the love birds alone to themselves in peace.

End Of Flashback

"That day I felt so loved." Jewel was crying as she told the story, remembering a time when Blu was still alive. "I know, we all miss him. Please don't cry, not in front of the kids. Cody should be back soon. Do you want to go back to your room?" Jewel nodded slowly, crying on Lilian. When they stood to leave, Cody entered the room. Before either could speak, he raised his wing. "It's okay, I'll stay here and look after them while your gone." Lilian smiled at him and kissed him on the cheek. As soon as the girls left, Cody looked to the chicks, who were about to show their other side.

When Lilian returned, she saw all the kids alone, Cody nowhere in sight. Why that-when I find him, he is going to get the talking to of his life. The thing she didn't know was that he was very close. She heard muffled cries coming from somewhere in the room. When she looked up, she froze, then fell on the floor, laughing. What she was laughing at was Cody, who was hanging from the roof with a gag around his beak. He mangaged to open his beak enough to snap it off. "Yeah, ha ha, very funny. Now could you let me down please. I can't feel my talons." She recovered from laughing and cut the rope holding him up, whcih resulted in more laughing not only from her, but the kids as well. "Yeah, thanks for the help. I'm going now." He went towards the door, which was opened by Zeel. Zeel quickly moved to avoid being knocked over by the upset Cody, and analysed the scene. "Children, what have I told you about tying your sitters up." They looked down in guilt. "Sorry Zeel." He looked at Lilian, expecting an apology from her. "And you, laughing at your mate when he was in need. You should apologize." She looked up from the floor and slumped out. "Yes, Zeel." She walked out, and Zeel gave a disappointed look at the chicks.

Cody went through to Boah's room and opened it to see Logan and Boah playing a bird-sized battleship. "Fire to C3" announced Logan. "Aw, come on man. You sunk my sub." Boah banged his wing on the table, then grabbed it in pain. "Nice man. Now you hurt your wing." Logan would have fell off his chair laughing if he didn't notice Cody in the door way. "Hey mate. Did you see that? So funny." He saw that Cody was upset about something, and stopped laughing. He kicked Boah from underneath the table to get his attention. Boah saw Cody's look and asked what was wrong. "Something got you down, mate?" Cody walked in to their room and sat next to Logan. "I got tied up by little chicks and when Lilian saw, she laughed instead of helping me. Then when I fell in pain, she just laughed more." He had his head in his wings while Logan put a wing around him. "Hey, I know women, and Lilian is not like that." Boah grunted in disagreement. "Like you would know. When was the last time you were with a girl?" Logan looked at him angrily. "I know Lilian. She wouldn't do that. I've lived with her for about 11 years." Cody grew a smirk, coming up with a plan. "Then maybe you can help me." Logan nodded slowly, knowing what he meant. Boah on the other hand, was confused. "What are you guys thinking?" When they heard his question, they both wing palmed.

Lilian felt sever pain again in her stomach. She hoped it was a normal cramp, but knew that it was more. It's almost time. Very soon. She clutched her stomach, feeling the pain die down, and laid on her side. She hoped that Cody was alright after what she did. She blamed herself for what happened, and only herself, and partly the chicks. She drifted off to sleep, thinking of a name for their child.