"Father! Nala!"

Every ear and set of eyes turned, all going silent at the sound of the faint and distant voice. Several lionesses whispered to each other.

Kovu hissed for silence. "Quiet, everyone," he snapped as he stood up. They had been searching endlessly until the sun had risen in a wash of pale gray and champagne, and had paused to rest and regroup, sharing information that wasn't new to anyone. The dark-maned lion's body stood at attention, his body tensed as he tried to pinpoint the source of his son's voice, a sound he thought he'd never again hear with much regret. His whiskers quivered as he took a step in the direction that most likely the source.

And then he heard Asuma's voice again.

"Dad!"

Once Asuma is safe, you have to tell them, Kovu thought as he began to trot in the direction of the young lion's voice. That way, if Nala disapproves, I can just leave from here. I won't have to hurt Kiara with my presence. I can pull Nala aside and tell her privately. She'll know to keep it from the cubs.

"Dad!"

When he laid eyes on Asuma, Kovu's muzzle broke into a smile, hot tears stinging his eyes. His cautious pace turned into a full sprint as he went to reunite with his son.

But before he reached Asuma, he stopped short, his eyes narrowed on a lion who appeared to be accompanying his son. He snarled, startled, and so did the lionesses that were following him. Kovu glared at the lion and flinched, reminded somehow of Simba in nearly every feature. He had to blink to make sure it wasn't the king back from the dead. Perhaps it had all been some horrid dream, that his mind had been playing a terrible trick on him the entire time?

But it wasn't. This lion is different... yet... no, it's just the guilt in my mind. He's only a rogue. His fur and eyes aren't even the same color. It's just my mind...

"Who are you?" one lioness demanded.

Asuma went to his father's side, but the stranger stopped a few lengths away, frowning with concern at the small group of glaring lions. "Dad, he's with me," Asuma said. "He's alright."

"I just wanted to see him home safe," the rogue explained. He lowered his body slightly in a show of submission as the rest of of the hunting party surrounded Kovu and the prince. He'd avoid trouble unless trouble found him. "He's been through a lot."

"He saved me from a pack of wild dogs!" exclaimed Asuma, his face alight with the joy of seeing his family again. "I'd be dead without him."

"But he's a rogue..."

"Yeah, how can that be?"

"What does he want!"

"I want nothing," the rogue spoke up. "All I wanted was to bring him home safe."

Kovu couldn't help but scoff. The hair along his spine stood on end. "No rogue is that selfless," he said.

Taking the blow, the rogue took a step back, his features setting in a mixture of irritation and shame.

It was Nala then who spoke through the confused voices of the lionesses. "You did a good thing by saving Asuma," she said. The others began to quiet at the sound of her calm voice. "Surely a proper thank you is in order," Nala continued.

The look she pointedly gave Kovu didn't go unnoticed by him, and he rolled his eyes and turned his head.

Nala went on. "After all, you saved the life of our prince."

"Yes, there's no way we could repay such an act of kindness," Kovu added, his tone dull. He wanted the rogue to go away quickly and be forgotten even quicker, but with his pride watching he had no choice if they insisted on being tolerant of him. It was his duty as king, after all, and the rogue had saved the life of Asuma. "We are indebted to you."

"I don't think there's a need to repay me," the rogue said. "It would've been cruel of me to have done anything but."

"Of course," Kovu replied.

Nala returned a smile to the rogue. "But, surely there must be something..."

The rogue then pulled a face, and Kovu narrowed his eyes as the lion spoke. "Well... would... would you know the way to Pride Rock? There's lions there who I need to talk with. I've been told that it's urgent."

Why would he need to talk to us? Kovu thought, grinding his teeth in irritation as Nala gave their reply. Why the urgency?

"We don't normally hunt this far out," the queen mother said, "but we are the lions you're looking for, and maybe more specifically Kovu here." With that, Nala gave a little nod in the dark-furred lion's direction.

A flicker of uncertainty passed over the rogue's face when he laid eyes on Kovu, but he didn't look away. "Oh. Suppose since he is the... king? ...I should talk to him... But, I'm more specifically looking for a lioness named Nala."

"That would be me, er... what is your name?"

Before the lion could answer for himself, Asuma spoke up. "He told me his name is Chaka." The young lion beamed. "Isn't that right, rogue?" This time, the term "rogue" was used with some affection.

What? Kovu's heart skipped a beat. Impossible... It's just a co-

"Chaka?" Nala repeated. Her eyes grew wide and the fur on the back of her neck stood on end as she stared at the stranger. Her eyes narrowed with uncertainty as she looked from his paws to his face. "You're name is-"

"Chaka, yes," the lion said. "For a time it was Koofrey before I learned my given name again."

"Who told you that your name was Chaka? You may not realize what that name means to me."

The lion shrugged. "Some crazy old monkey told me this was my true name when was wandering one night, and told me to seek out the Pridelanders at Pride Rock. He said they were my family."

Rafiki!

Nala drew closer, and the lion took one step back before he caught himself. "Have you come home?" she asked quietly. "If your name is Chaka, then surely..."

No! This can't be! The cub died even if she couldn't admit it! This is not their son! Zira killed him in cold-blooded revenge and lied to Simba's face! That's why he's dead!

He saw the joy in Nala's face and the ache in the green eyes of Chaka as he began to nod. "I've returned home to my family," he said quietly.

Kovu's world crashed down around him. Simba's son! Why he hadn't he bothered to show up earlier? Why, why now? How long ago did Rafiki tell him? Why... How did Rafiki know? Zira wouldn't have been able to tempt him with the confession that Simba had wanted most, the very confession that had cost the murdered king his life. Did Rafiki know about the truth about Simba, and had he sought out his son to expose and turn Kovu out of the Pride Lands? Someplace in the back of Kovu's mind, he knew it was over-thinking the situation. Rafiki had just happened to find Chaka and, somehow knowing who he was, had thought to bring him home to his family, right? But a much stronger feeling inside Kovu's mind told him that Rafiki knew Kovu was guilty. It was the only explanation to his long disappearance, he thought. What were the chances that the old mandrill would leave right after Simba's death and not return for nearly a month?

Kovu stood there, numb, as he watched Nala with the true heir to the throne. Soon, the other members of the pride had surrounded them. Only Natin, Tanga, and Asuma stayed with Kovu.

"I don't know what's wrong with him, why are you asking me? Daddy? Daddy?"

Feeling very disillusioned, Kovu forced himself to look down at Tanga and respond to her. He cleared his throat. "Yes, Tanga?"

"What's going on, Daddy? Who's Chaka?"

"He's..." he answered. Steady... "He's Simba and Nala's son."

"I thought that Mom was their only cub," Asuma said.

"So did I..."

"What happened to him? He told me about being in another pride. Did he run away?"

"I'm not sure Asuma." Kovu didn't want to be there. He briefly considered taking off at a dead run, no explanation needed, no hurtful confession given. He couldn't bring himself to do so however though he knew he really should. "Natin, show me where the kills were brought down," he said. "Chaka or not, the pride is hungry and they will need to be fed. Let's just hope the kills haven't been dragged off already by scavengers."

"Yes, Kovu."

He followed after Natin and Tanga, leaving the lionesses and Chaka behind to their little reunion. Millions of more thoughts ran through his head. What would this mean for him now that the true heir had return?

He noticed too late that Asuma was walking beside him, his face expectant in a way. "Father?"

"Yes, Asuma?"

"What happened to you? Where were you?"

"I," Kovu began, searching for his response as he spoke, "thought I told you to meet me back with the others, didn't I?" Stupidstupidstupidstupid...

"Oh," Asuma said, "no, you didn't... or at least I don't think you did. Did you really? Because I don't-"

Why don't you just run? Why why why? Kovu shook his head adamantly. "No, it doesn't matter now. I'm very sorry that this happened to you, really I am. You don't know how much it means to me that you back here with us." He sighed, a crinkle growing in his nose. "I haven't been the best father to you lately, son, and from now on I'm promising you that I'm going to help you. I'll make sure it never happens again."

"No, father, I'll be making sure it never does," Asuma replied, his tone resolute and his face turned away from Kovu. Kovu moved closer, his tongue tied for words to comfort his son, but none came in time. Soon, the young lion was off like a shot, tagging behind his sister and cousin who were some distance ahead of the lonely king.

Is the lying worth it anymore? Kovu thought to himself.

Immediately, before he even thought of doing anything so rash as telling his trying, dark secret, he reminded himself of what could happen if he were to do so. All he wanted was to not hurt them, to protect them from what he had so horribly done, and if he told them he'd be doing just that. And he couldn't leave them without their king, especially with Chaka newly home, "hero" and returning prince or not. Another slip in his resolve like this again would cost him much more.

Having Chaka around wasn't going to make it much easier.

Mid-morning sunlight hit Kiara in the eyes as she watched the small figures of her pridemates grow bigger in the distance. When they were close enough, she called the attention of the lionesses who had remained behind with her. She hadn't slept much, her flustered mind over-wired with concerns for her cubs, but it had done her good to at least have some time to relax and recuperate. The hunting party had been successful, she could see that much, and she expected to be bombarded with any stories her cubs would want to share with her. A part of her wished she had been there for their first night hunt, to share in that experience with them, but for the sake of the pride she'd have to wait until times weren't so tough to enjoy something like that. They're growing up so fast... she thought with a smile on her muzzle. Some of the lionesses were already heading to greet the hunting party, and now she would join them, her mouth already beginning to salivate.

But the lionesses hadn't made it that far. They stood between the party and Pride Rock whispering curiously to each other. Kiara was about to ask what was going on when she noticed that there was a stranger with the hunting party.

"We sent them out to hunt and they brought us back another mouth to feed? And a rogue at that?"

Kiara's eyes did not leave the stranger's face as she spoke. "My mother wouldn't bring him home unless he was important, Vitani," she said gently. "And it's not like they came back empty-pawed."

Vitani sniffed, but said nothing as they waited for the returning lions to meet them.

Her grin was so wide that Kiara thought she'd never seen her mother so happy. "Kiara, I have wonderful news!" The pale-furred lioness stopped in front of her daughter and turned to beckon the stranger forward with her tail. Her blue-green eyes were bright and dazzling, like they must have been when she was a mischievous cub.

"Who is this, Mom?"

The way the stranger smiled... the cut of his jaw... the look in his eye... To her, the stranger looked all too familiar, but she couldn't figure out where she might have seen him before. She caught a glimpse of Kovu out of the corner of her eye and noticed the stormy expression on his face. Who is this lion?

"Kiara, do you remember the name 'Chaka'?" Nala asked.

Kiara nodded slowly, "Yes." Her eyes flicking between the faces of her mother and the stranger, "He was my brother before I was born." Her voice lowered a bit, ever conscious that her cubs were nearby. "You said Zira killed him."

"Well she didn't," Kovu spoke up, his tone surprisingly bitter.

Every eye switched to the king. Nobody spoke as the discomfort of the moment only increased until Kovu cleared his throat nervously and asked for help carrying what meat they had been able to bring with them up to the den. Many of the lionesses looked as if they wanted to stay behind to see what would happen, but in the end they decided it best to leave Nala, Kiara, and the stranger alone. When Tanga and Asuma, who she noticed was an utter mess, went by, they both beamed up at her as they received a lick from their grinning mother. She told them she was proud of them before they continued on to join the others.

"Hope my presence here won't be any trouble," Chaka said, that earnest smile on his face reminding Kiara so much of her father.

"I think once you get to know him, he'll be like a newborn cub," Kiara replied with a half-smile, guessing that Kovu was the problem.

"Full of hot air, is he?"

"Yes, something like that." She still was confused about why this lion was here now, and why Kovu had acted the way he did. She had a small guess about Kovu, but she'd have to talk to him later about Chaka's presence. After all, Chaka had been Simba's original heir, and for a while now he had been the only adult male in the pride. It just made her uncomfortable and embarrassed that Kovu had been so rude.

"Kiara, something happened tonight while we were hunting that you need to know first," Nala said.

"Oh?" Is this about Asuma and the marks on his legs?

Nala nodded, her expression worrying Kiara further. "While we were hunting, Kovu was away teaching Asuma some tricks when they became separated."

"He was lost again?" Kiara gasped.

"Yes, but if not for Chaka we might have never found him," Nala explained. She smiled warmly at the large lion.

"He... he was being attacked by wild dogs. I would not have dared let that happen to any lion so young," Chaka spoke up. He seemed almost apologetic. "He was shaken up, but he should be fine now."

Kiara dipped her head, her eyes misty. "I am so grateful that you were there to save my son. Something like that is so brave, and-"

Chaka shook his head. "It was nothing really... I'd been chasing after those dogs for months, and they were going to take their petty frustration out on him when I was to blame. That doesn't make me much of a hero."

"You still saved my son, Chaka," Kiara pointed out softly.

The corners of Chaka's mouth twitched. "That I did."

Nala nuzzled Chaka. "Why don't we go into the den? It is much cooler there," the lionesses said.

The voices inside the den died down when the shadows of Chaka and the two lionesses fell on the excited lions in the cave. Those who were not eating what they could get were standing together in a tight group at the back of the den, though Kovu was off by himself with his back turned to them all. While the lionesses and the cubs converged on Chaka, Kiara went over to her mate.

It surprised her when, under her tongue, he flinched and growled. Kiara quirked a brow. "You alright?" she asked.

Kovu's mouth remained in the shape of a tilted crescent moon. "Fine," he muttered, eyeing her at first. His gaze then drifted to something behind her, and Kiara thought it safe to assume that he was staring at her brother.

She laid down next to him. "Hey, I heard about Asuma. Is he really okay?" she said in hopes of distracting him a little.

As he lowered his head back onto his paws, not meeting her eyes, he replied, "He's shaken but he'll live, Kiara. That's all that matters."

Kiara sighed. "Kovu..."

She was about to put a paw out to comfort her mate when a voice called her name. She looked up and found Vitani.

"Chaka wants to talk about the past, Zira more specifically. Everyone wants to hear why he was gone," Vitani said. "We've asked him to wait until I could ask you what you thought about the cubs hearing the truth about the past. We have to tell them one day. Why not now."

Kiara tilted her head to the side in thought. "I suppose this would be as good a time as ever," she agreed, a crinkle forming in her brow. This moment had been a long time coming, and she had hoped to put it off for a little longer, but then she reminded herself again that her cubs weren't so little anymore. She then turned to Kovu. "What do you think? Do you think they're ready?"

Kovu shrugged indifferently, his expression still surly. "I see no point in hiding the truth anymore." He stood up then and began walking away, but not over to their pridemates.

"Kovu, wait, where are you going?" Kiara called after him. "They'll appreciate it more if you're there, too. Why are you leaving?"

"I need air," Kovu muttered, not looking back. "I feel like I'm being suffocated in here."

Kiara wanted nothing more than to follow Kovu, but she knew well that he needed his space to think and that they were waiting for her. Nala and Chaka gave her and Vitani sympathetic smiles when they joined the group. Worry was creeping into Chaka's face, but when one lioness ordered him to start his story, it lightened instantly.

"I think Kiara has something to say first," he said. He gestured for her to take the floor with a nod.

"Alright..." Kiara took a deep breath and turned to Asuma, Tanga, and Natin. Their miniature faces were openly curious.

"Mother, what is it?" Tanga asked impatiently. She fidgeted.

Kiara began. "There is something you three need to know before Chaka tells his story. We were waiting to tell you until you were older," she said.

"What is it?"

"Be patient and listen," Kiara told her daughter with a smile. "This is important... Long before you were born, our pride was not how it is as you see it now, unified and strong. We were two parts divided, and one part lived here while the other lived across the river outside of the Pride Lands. We called the placed they lived the Outlands."

"Why were they divided, Mother?"

Some of the lionesses in the pride giggled while a few others groaned. By now, many were lying down as they enjoyed the story, watching the faces of the three eldest cubs.

"Because the lioness who had..." Kiara paused briefly as she searched for the right words. She glanced at Vitani, who gave her the nod to continue. "... done something to upset your grandfather and had decided to live out her exile there with the lionesses in the pride who believed, like her, that your grandfather was wrong. This lioness was named Zira."

"Zira was my mother," Vitani spoke up. "That would make her your grandmother."

Now all the cubs were fidgeting, but none were smiling.

"Wha... what was the thing she did that made Simba exile her?" Natin asked.

"Our son, Chaka, was very young at that time. This was before Kiara was born," Nala said, picking up the story where she knew the details the best. "We knew she was jealous. She believed that Simba had killed her mate after he had dishonestly taken the throne from Simba when he was just a cub. Her mate was Mufasa's brother, Scar, and he had destroyed the land. Times were much tougher than they are now."

"But Simba wouldn't kill anyone," Asuma said, brows arched. He frowned. "And why did the pride let Scar get away with it? Didn't you know?"

"We thought it was an accident. Mufasa was killed by Scar in a staged stampede that was meant to kill both king and prince," Nala continued. "Scar, when he saw that Simba had remained living, guilted him into believing that it was his fault that Mufasa was dead.

"Simba ran away, far away from the Pride Lands, and did not return home until I found him during my search for help against Scar. Nobody knew that he was alive, and in his place Scar had taken over. Scar had been next in line, and had known that he would never be king unless Simba was dead. He had brought a horde of hyenas to rule with him. Simba was living a carefree life with Timon and Pumbaa, who had adopted him and raised him. If I, with the help of Rafiki, hadn't reminded him of what I'm sure he had been thinking deeply about, I doubt he would have wanted to return home. He had been very upset for years about the death of his father."

"What about that Zira lioness?" Tanga piped. She had draped herself over Natin's back while Asuma had gone to lay next to Kiara, who was was cleaning his wounds. She hoped they wouldn't scar.

"Well," Nala started, "in the end, Scar's hyenas turned on him, and Simba reclaimed his throne. He realized that a few of the lionesses were still loyal to Scar for one reason or another. In fact, Scar had made Zira his queen in the place of Sarabi, Simba's mother. They had one son, Nuka. Zira also had two newborn cubs with her, but she swore that they were not Scar's."

Natin glanced at his mother before speaking. "Why didn't he kill them? That's what I would have done after the mess Scar made and the thorn-in-the-paw Zira probably was."

"Natin, don't say things like that."

The young lion ducked his head in acknowledgement of his mother when she snapped at him. "Sorry," he muttered.

As Nala went on to explain why her father hadn't been able to bring himself to be a cub killer, Kiara looked over at Chaka, who seemed to be clinging to each word their mother said. As she went on, something changed in his expression, and it grew more thoughtful and distant.

"...When we discovered that Chaka was missing, we justified that it had been the babysitter who had had a paw in the matter. We questioned Zira relentlessly, but she stuck to the story that our son had just wandered off on her watch. We didn't believe her. We never thought that Chaka would be foolish enough to leave the safety of the pride by himself." Nala paused then, her face growing depressed. "Though we suspected that Zira wasn't above killing the heir as revenge in the name of Scar, I suppose we were wrong to accuse her like we did. It's not as if we found a body."

"Foolishness is something I'm not above. I certainly wasn't then," Chaka suddenly spoke up. He had all ears and all eyes in the den on him, but he didn't look up, his eyes still distant.

"Are your memories coming back to you?" Nala asked, hope in her voice.

"What do you mean?" Kiara asked Chaka.

"I was clueless until now, my memories gone," Chaka began. His eyes then refocused and he looked at Nala. "Nuka, I remember now, and I were playing together, wrestling maybe. Still a little hazy. We had wandered far away from his mother when she was resting so we wouldn't disturb her. I... I must have knocked my head on a hard object because I woke up with a headache and I had no clue about who I was or how I had gotten there."

"You mean the war was only because you decided to run off to play?" Vitani sneered. "Nuka died in the war."

The hairs along Chaka's spine raised slightly. "It's not as if Nuka defended your mother, either," he retorted quietly.

Vitani looked away. Kiara was surprised when the lioness didn't say anything to defend her brother. Did Nuka even say anything to his mother? Then another thought moved into Kiara's mind and she wondered if it were even possible: in lacking to mention that Nuka had been with Chaka, had Zira been protecting her son from Simba? And why had Nuka left Chaka alone? The only lions who could fully answer those questions are dead now, she thought with regret.

"What war?" Tanga asked.

Now it was clearly Kiara's turn to speak again. She wished that Kovu hadn't left the cave, but she knew she was on her own. "By the time I was born," she said, "there was a clear line between Simba and Zira's prides. They hated each other for years and your father and I were aware of this as we grew up. When we were cubs, we had met, but our parents made sure we knew that we were forbidden to see each other again. It wasn't until we were much older that we would meet again."

Kiara paused. She knew what she was about to say was going to change the perception her cubs had for Kovu dramatically. She spoke carefully and slowly.

"Zira sent Kovu back to the Pride Lands to avenge Scar's death. The plan was that after he rescued me from a fire that they set, he would win the trust of Simba so that Kovu would live freely in our pride in exchange for saving my life. She trained him from the time that he a very young cub to take the throne from Simba by means of force."

"You mean she wanted him to kill Simba?" Asuma interrupted quietly.

Kiara made sure to keep her emotions in check. She herself still couldn't wrap her mind around the horrid things that Zira had expected out of Kovu. "Yes, she did" she said. "But when he saw that it was the wrong thing to do, he changed his mind. I showed him that there was more to life than fighting, and he accepted this. There were times when the misplaced interests of our parents got in the way, but we overcame that and brought the prides back together. When we interrupted the final battle and told them what we had discovered about standing together and living as one in peace, my father accepted it, but Zira did not. She fought it to the bitter end and she died because of it."

"Wow..." Tanga breathed. "You two stopped a whole battle without fighting? That's amazing!"

"Three," Kiara added with a smile. With a jerk of her head, she inquired to Vitani. "She saw what we were trying to tell them and convinced the Outsiders that they didn't have to fight anymore. Our prides were one in the same."

A few of the lionesses began to whisper to each other, smiles playing on the corners of their mouths. Kiara looked down just in time to see Tanga as she yawned quickly and shook her head to bring back some life to her tired eyes. Of the three young lions, Asuma looked the most exhausted despite the thoughtful look on his face.

"Do you have any more tales to tell, Chaka?" Nala asked her son then. "You, and I'm sure some others are looking forward to a long nap. I know I am."

The big lion shrugged, his mouth turned up in a half-smile. "Can't think of any," he replied lightly.

Several of the lionesses who were listening chuckled at this.

It was to Kiara's surprise when her children came to her without being told. They followed her to their normal sleeping spot, and although Kiara wasn't tired, she planned to lie there with them until they fell asleep. Then she would find a bite to eat- there were a few pieces of meat at the back of the cave yet- and to see if Kovu had gone far from Pride Rock. He hadn't returned since, and she couldn't see him nearby.

"Mind if I sleep over here? My mother has something to do and she's not tired."

Kiara smiled at the dark-furred cub. "Of course, Natin," she said. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Vitani's shadow. The wiry lioness was leaving the cave, and Kiara guessed that she might be going to look for Kovu. Part of Kiara wished she wouldn't, as she wanted to talk to him herself first, but she also knew that he'd have a greater chance of listening to his sister with the way he had been acting as of late. There's nothing wrong with talking later.

As usual, Asuma sought comfort in the warmth of his mother's body. "I'm glad I'm home. I never thought I'd see this place again... or you," he said quietly to her. His eyes were almost closed as if he were struggling to keep awake and alert. He let out a small moan. "I still can't believe I got myself lost again."

Kiara began grooming the small, brown mane tuft on his head. "Your home now, my son," she whispered to him. "You couldn't be any safer, right here."

Asuma seemed to shrug. "Father even told me the right way, and I messed up."

For a moment, Kiara didn't know what to say. She then thought of something, and smiled fondly down at her son. "Hey, did I ever tell you that I used to be the worst huntress in the pride?" she said.

He opened his eyes a little wider. "No," he mumbled. "You could have fooled me."

"Exactly, Asuma. Everyone has a flaw, but if you try hard enough you can overcome it," she told him. "I'm sure someone in this pride can teach you a trick or two that will help keep you aware of where you are even if you've never been there."

"Father?"

"Yes, him, but I'm sure some of the lionesses could help you, too. We all have our talents, and what's the point of having a pride if we can't help each other out a little from time to time?" Kiara told him. Just then, she looked up and saw that her mother and Chaka were standing by themselves to the side, having a hushed conversation. Her heart went out to them when she made out the stricken expression on Chaka's face and the same expression her mother had worn on her face ever since the death of the king. She must be telling him the details about Father... she guessed.

When she turned her attention back to Asuma, she found that he had slipped into sleep. His breathing was even and sweet for once, so she guessed his nightmares hadn't begun yet, his fatigue overcoming them at least for now. A length or two away were Tanga and Natin, who were resting with their outstretched paws touching by a hair's breadth. An easy smile formed across her cheeks at the sight of this. It's good to see that they get along so well, she thought.

The thought of getting up from that spot was almost unbearable, and she didn't think that a short rest could hurt anything.

Chin on her paws, she closed her eyes.

Hope this chapter was worth the wait! I've been working off and on the chapters a little more recently, so I hope that I can post them more often than I have been. In the mean time, thanks for the favorites on my story and the author alerts! Means someone is willing to put up with my laziness :)