Here's chapter two and please review. Reminder that I don't own Lion King, Disney does. And thank you to everyone who reviewed so far. They meant so much to me.

After about two days of travel in the sandy desert, Nala spotted a Jungle.

"It could just be a mirage," Nala reminded herself but she knew she had to try.

Nala walked closer to the Jungle and she was happy to realize that it wasn't a mirage.

Suddenly Nala saw something moving. It was a warthog.

"Perfect," Nala thought as began to stalk it.

Just as she got within pouncing distance, the warthog spotted Nala. Letting out the strangest scream Nala had ever heard, it turned and ran.

Not willing to give up, Nala growled and sprinted after it. She was gaining on it when out of nowhere a meerkat ran in yelling, "Pumbaa! Pumbaa!"

"What's going on?" Nala thought but continued the chase. She refused to give up the opportunity at a meal.

The warthog got stuck in a tree root while the meerkat was doing his best to try free him.

"I've got you now!" Nala thought and was just about to pounce on it when she heard an ear splitting roar!

Nala looked up to see a male lion jumping on her and sent her crashing down.

Roaring, Nala got onto her feet and the two of them began to battle.

On the sidelines, the meerkat was cheering the male lion on.

This was the strangest battle Nala had been in, but she wouldn't give up.

The male lion threw himself at Nala, but Nala managed to pin him down. She stood on top of him, growling dangerously.

"Nala?" The lion breathed.

"How does he know my name?" Nala thought and backed away from him as he got onto his feet.

"Who are you?" Nala asked, narrowing her sapphire blue eyes.

"It's me," The lion breathed. "Simba."

Nala studied his features carefully. He did have the same coloring as Simba. His mane was the same color as Mufasa. He even had the same scent as Simba!

"Simba!" Nala gasped.
The two of them immediately ran forward embraced each other, both of them in shock.

"How did you get here?!"
"What are you doing here?!"
"What do you mean what am I doing here, what are you doing here?"
"It's great to see you!"
"It's great to see you too!"

"HEY!" The meerkat yelled, storming up to them. "What's going on here?"

"Timon, this is Nala. She's my best friend." Simba explained.

"FRIEND!" Timon exploded.

"Hey Pumbaa!" Simba called, as the warthog trotted up to them.

"Nala this is Pumbaa." Simba introduced. "Pumbaa, Nala."

"Pleasure to meet your acquaintance." Pumbaa said.

"The pleasure is all mine," Nala smiled.

Nala turned to Simba," Wait till everyone hears that you've been here all this time. And your mother...what would she say?"

"She doesn't have to know," Simba said. "No one has to know."

"Of course they do, everyone thinks you're dead!" Nala exclaimed.

"They do?" Simba breathed.

"Yeah, Scar told us about the stampede." Nala said, her expression growing more serious.

"What else did he say?" Simba asked his voice tense.

"What else matters," Nala said. "You're alive and that means you're the King!"

"King!" Timon laughed. "Lady, have you gotten your lions crossed. ''He isn't the King! Are you?" Timon turned to Simba.

"Well no..." Simba began.

"Simba!" Nala exclaimed.

"Nala, no," Simba said. "Maybe I was going to be the King but that was a long time ago."

"Wait, so you're the King and you never told us?" Timon asked.

"Look, I'm still the same guy!" Simba exclaimed.

"But with power!" Timon added.

"Could you guys excuse us for a few minutes?" Nala asked.

Timor opened his mouth to say something but Simba shot him a look.

"You think you know a guy..." Timon grumbled and he and Pumbaa went off.

"Simba, why have you been here this whole time?" Nala asked. "Why didn't your return to Priderock?"

"After my father's death...I just couldn't. So I ran away." Simba sighed.

"You don't know how much this means to everyone," Nala whispered. "And how much it means to me…I've really missed you." She rubbed her head against his mane and Simba returned her affection.

"I've missed you too," Simba whispered into her ears. Nala didn't want to let go of him. He felt so warm and his presence felt so good after all these years.

After a few minutes, Simba pulled back.

Simba gazed at Nala with loving eyes. He has missed her so much. After all these years, he had no words to explain how happy he was to see her.

"Come on," Simba said. "Let's go take a walk." He and Nala walked side by side, bodies brushing one another as they made their way down a slope to the waterhole.

Nala couldn't keep the smile of her face as they made their way down the rocks towards the lake to get a drink of water. She and Simba were locked in each other's gaze many times as they settled down to take a drink.

Simba looked at Nala as she lapped the water. She had grown beautifully over the years. There were so many things that he wanted to tell her but he was too nervous.

Nala felt Simba's gaze on her and she raised her head and gave him a questioning look. Simba grinned at her mischievously, and Nala knew that look to well.

Simba disappeared into the bushes and came flying out with a vine between his teeth and he dropped into the lake, with a huge splash!

"Simba!" Nala called. She bent down, trying to see if she could spot him.

Suddenly, Simba burst out, wrapped his paws around her and pulled her in with him!

"Simba!" Nala screamed, as she burst over the surface. She glared at Simba who was laughing hard.

"I'm glad you're taking this well, sweetheart!" Simba laughed.

"Don't call me sweetheart," Nala muttered, but she had to fight off a smile when Simba had called her "sweetheart".

Nala climbed back onto the grass and Simba did as well. He was still laughing.

Nala grinned at him and pushed him back into the water as she turned and ran.

"Watch out, I'm gonna get you!" Simba called after her.

Laughing, Nala ran through a meadow that was teeming with butterflies. She ran up a hill with Simba behind her.

Simba managed to catch her and the two of them tumbled down the hill together. Nala landed on the grass with Simba on top of her.

Nala gazed at Simba for a minute, and suddenly realized what she had been feeling this whole time.

"I love you," Nala whispered. She wrapped her paws around his head and licked his cheek.

Simba looked stunned for a second before smiling back at her.
"I love you too," Simba whispered back.

Nala pulled herself up and buried her face into his mane and chest as Simba gave the top of her head a lick. Nala stayed against him, letting him hold her, enjoying every second she had with him.

TLKTLKTLKTLKTLK

A few days passed and Nala stayed in the Jungle with Simba. She couldn't remember a time that she had been this happy. There wasn't a single second that he wasn't at her side.

But as days passed, Nala knew that she had to convince Simba to return to the Pridelands. They had avoided that conversation, just wanting to enjoy being with each other, but Nala knew she had to bring it up. The Pridelands needed a King.

One evening, she and Simba were taking a walk by the waterfall. Nala was still amazed by the beauty of the Jungle.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Simba asked.

"It is," Nala nodded.

"Nala," Simba said. "Stay with me."

"What?" Nala asked.

"Stay with me. Be my mate." Simba whispered, pulling her in closer.

Nala looked into his warm, amber eyes. She was so badly wanted to say yes. She loved him more than anything.

"Simba, we have to go back." Nala said.

"No we don't. We could be happy right here, just the two of us." Simba said.

"Simba, you're the rightful King." Nala reminded.

"Nala, we've been through this. Scar is the King." Simba said his tone hard and firm.

"Simba," Nala said, quietly, "He wants me to be his Queen."

"What?" Simba cried.

Nala just nodded weakly.

"I can't go back," Simba moaned, closing his eyes.

"Why?" Nala demanded.

"You wouldn't understand." Simba sighed, shaking his head.

"What wouldn't I understand?" Nala demanded angrily.

"Hakuna Matata," Simba said.

"A what?" Nala asked.

"It's something I learned out here. Sometimes, bad things happen. And there's nothing we can do about it. So why bother?" Simba explained.

"Simba..." Nala pleaded.

"I'm staying here and that's final!" Simba snapped. "Now are you satisfied?"

"No," Nala growled. "Just disappointed."

"You know you're starting to sound like my father." Simba said.

"Good," Nala snapped. "At least one of us is."

"Look, do you think that you can just come into my life and tell me what to do? You don't even know what I've been through!" Simba roared, getting into her face.

"I would if you just tell me!" Nala cried.

"Forget it!" Simba snapped and stormed away.

"Fine!" Nala called after him and stormed away in the opposite direction. She was furious but at the same she was doing her best to hold back tears.

The next morning, there was no sign of Simba and Nala knew that he was avoiding her. Why wouldn't he come back? He was the King of the Pridelands! The true heir! He was Mufasa's son! What had happened to him?

Another plan formed in Nala's mind. She would go back and tell the rebel Pride about Simba. Then, they could all convince Simba to come back.

"I'll do that." Nala murmurered and began heading out of the Jungle. She was too angry at Simba say goodbye. But if her plans worked out, she would see Simba again very soon.

TLKTLKTLKTLKTLK

After the tiring journey through the Outlands, Nala reached the border of the Pridelands Pridelands. Hoping that Scar still didn't have the hyenas on the search for her, Nala began heading towards where the rebel Pride males were when she heard a voice calling her.

"Nala!" It was Rafiki, the old wise shaman.

"Hello Rafiki," Nala greeted.

"Where have you been child? Everyone thinks you're dead!" Rafiki exclaimed.

"Rafiki..." Nala said. "I went to find help and I found...I found Simba!"

Rafiki smiled," I know that he's alive."

"You knew!" Nala gasped. "Why didn't you tell us?"

"Nala," Rafiki said. "Simba is the true King and when he needs to come back, he will. The spirits above will send him back when the time is right."

"This is the right time!" Nala cried.

"No," Rafiki said. "If it was then he would have come back. But it is not the right time yet."

"If not now," Nala said, narrowing her eyes. "When?"

"When the time is right, the spirits will send him back. But right now, I know that you plan on telling everyone but you mustn't. When the time is right, Simba will come back." Rafiki said.

"But…" Nala's voice trailed off.

"The time isn't right," Rafiki said, gently. "But when it is, he will return one way or another." Nala looked into his eyes. He looked like he knew something that she didn't, but she knew better than to question.

"I suppose," Nala sighed. Everything Rafiki said was always right.

"Someday," Rafiki said. "It will all make sense. But for now you must be patient and not tell anyone."

"I understand," Nala sighed but she was close to tears. What was she going to do? Would she have to submit into being Scar's Queen?

Suddenly, wave dizziness hit her and Nala stumbled a bit.

"Nala?" Rafiki put his hand on her shoulder.

"I just felt dizzy all of a sudden," Nala muttered.

"Let me see," Rafiki said and Nala lay down as he began to inspect her.

"Nala," Rafiki said, after a while.

"Hmm?" Nala asked.

"What do you think the cause of your dizziness is?" Rafiki asked.

Nala shrugged, "Maybe because I was in the Outlands and I'm tired."

"No," Rafiki said. "You're pregnant!"

Nala gasped. She was pregnant! She was pregnant with Simba's cubs?

Those nights in the Jungle had made a bigger difference to the circle of life than anyone would have thought possible.

"And I suppose you're pregnant with Simba's cubs?" Rafiki asked, with a smile.

Nala nodded, still in shock.

"Nala," Rafiki said. "You mustn't let Scar find out. He will kill them."

"I won't let him find out." Nala said. Rafiki nodded and after bidding her goodbye, he walked away, humming happily to himself.

Nala realized that Scar would be angry that she mated with a male after him asking her to be his Queen. Even if he didn't find out that they were Simba's cubs, he would kill them because they weren't his.

There was no law saying that the lionesses couldn't have cubs, but Scar would be angry at Nala for refusing him and then mating with another male.

Nala realized that she was pregnant with the true heirs of the throne. She had to make sure her cub, or cubs were given their rightful throne.

Suddenly a new plan hatched in her head. A way to protect her cubs and make sure they got the birthright and a plan that could save the Pridelands.

She would have the sacrifice a lot for the plan to work, but it would be worth it all if her cubs would survive and take the rightful place as the rulers.

She would have the trick Scar into believing that Simba's cubs were his. That was their only way of survival and their best shot at the throne.

Maybe when they were older, Nala could take her children to the Jungle and convince Simba to come back. Surely, he would come back for the sake of his children. Any parent would.

But there was one thing she had to do for this plan to work.

She had to be Scar's Queen.

Well hope you enjoyed and please review. So do you think that Nala' s plan will work?