Alone Together

"FINALLY! Some time alone," Po said in a big huff of air.

"It is good to get some private time. Especially since everyone has been very... intrusive lately," Tigress replied with a growl.

"I know, right. What's the big deal? Mantis throwing me into you, Crane wanting to teach you how to dance. How did that go by the way?" Tigress looked away nervously. She didn't want to tell him that she nearly gave Crane flat feet from stepping on him so many times.

"It was okay," she said shortly.

"Anyways, then there's Viper dragging us to the clothing store and then Monkey getting us in trouble and then bailing on us, leaving us to do all the work. What's up with that?"

"You know he had to do...what ever mission Master Shifu sent him on," Tigress replied.

"But still, what's all the hubbub," Po complained. They became silent for a while when they strolled through the forest. The overhead trees started to block out the sun's full rays, but streams and rays of light that managed to get through light up the ground. Then Tigress realized something.

"Po, why did you want to go with me on the patrol? You could have just hung out with your father," Tigress questioned. "Or you could have just gone to some quiet place." Now Po became nervous.

"Well...um... I did need a break from the others and you usually take trips that are peaceful and quiet so...yeah," Po said, trying to figure out what to say after each word. Tigress smirked at him with a raised eyebrow. "What?"

"YOU wanted some quiet time? Po, either you're talking to us or you're talking to yourself." Po was caught. He tried to casually shrug it off.

"Well, even the talker wants to be quiet sometimes. Otherwise I would develop a sore jaw," He said as he moved his jaw around in an awkward way. Tigress chuckled.

"That I'm sure you would," Tigress replied with a small smile. They continued walking together. "But thanks for coming with me."

"Why," Po asked, curious as to what she was thanking him for that.

"Well, it does get kind of lonely when I'm doing these patrols alone," She said looking away from him in embarrassment. She never wanted to seem...soft to her teammates, but Po seemed to always be the exception. Po slung his arm around her and brought her close to him. Now Tigress was blushing, but Po had a warm smile on his face.

"Hey, I'm always here to keep a friend company," He said. Tigress smiled back. Then Po's stomach growled loudly. "On the fact that you have something to eat with you." Tigress rolled her eyes and playfully pushed him away. She reached into her shoulder pouch and gave Po some dumplings that looked suspiciously similar to Po's. "Where did you get these," He asked as he was about to eat them.

"Oh, Zan gave them to me. He made them himself for some reason. Told me not to eat them until I needed to," Tigress said eating one. Po stopped with his mouth about to consume the dumpling. His noggin realized something.

"That clever duck," Po mumbled.

"What?"

"He knew that this would happen. He knew that I would get hungry and you would have the snacks to feed us," Po replied.

"You really don't think that Zan planned this, do you," Tigress asked.

"Think about it. Why would he tell you not to eat the dumplings until you needed them. Dumplings go bad pretty quick. When did he give them to you," Po asked.

"In the morning, when he was working the shop. If he did plan this, why," Tigress asked.

"I don't know," Po replied unsure. Then he brushed it aside. "Ah, if he planned it, he planned it. No harm no foul. Mmm, these are very good!" Again Tigress rolled her eyes as she smiled.

"I didn't necessarily know," Zan explained when they came back and sat him alone in the kitchen. "I knew that you were going to be with Po somewhere along in the day but I just didn't know when. So I wanted you to give it to them. Were they bad?"

"No, no, Zan. They were very good. We were just wondering why," Po said with a smile. With that, Zan shrugged as he went to Master Shifu for princely duties. But Shifu was standing outside the door of the Hall of Heroes waiting for him with a smirk.

"You knew," Shifu simply said. Zan raised his wings as though he were guilty.

"I'm innocently telling the truth. I didn't know they were going to be going on patrol together." Zan paused for a moment. "I did however know they were going to be together, but that's it. I thought they were going to be with us in the kitchen. The fact they were alone made it perfect." Then something dawned on Zan. "Hey! How did you know about that?" Shifu chuckled.

"I maybe old, but these ears can pick up a lot of things," he replied. "Now, on to your political training."

"This kid of yours is really something else," Po chuckled shaking his head as he and Tigress went to the Training Room. Tigress stopped where she was.

"My kid? He has your mischief in him," Tigress argued with a smirk.

"Oh really, like you haven't been mischievous yourself," Po countered.

"'Mischievous'? Me? I have no idea what you mean," Tigress replied with a smart smile.

"Ah HA! See, right there! That mischievous smile and look in your eye," Po said.

"Well, I can't help it. This is an involuntary look," Tigress remarked. "Besides, he's got your way of getting into trouble."

"I don't get into trouble," Po said defensively. Tigress looked at him with a raised eyebrow in unbelief. "On purpose anyway. Trouble just finds me. Plus, he gets OUT of trouble better than I can."

"That part is true."

"And that part comes from you," Po accused.

"How?"

"Monkey always blames me for eating his almond cookies but it's you who eats them," Po replied with a smirk. Tigress looked around nervously.

"You don't have any evidence." Po walked closer to her and took her hands in his.

"Then how is it that you always have crumbs when you come to breakfast?" Caught. But Tigress was quick on her feet.

"And why are you looking at my hands, Po," Tigress asked gently putting her hands on the sides of Po's face. "Do you like them?" Po gulped and pulled her hands off of him.

"It's not that," Po said, avoiding the question." It's just that I have to sweep up the kitchen after breakfast and there are always crumbs where you sit." Tigress laughed. Po blushed a bit.

"What's wrong," Tigress asked.

"Nothing. So, it is you, then," Po asked. Tigress just continued to go to the Training Hall without answering him. "Tigress," Po called.

"Yes," she replied in a mischievous fashion.

"You didn't answer my question."

"What question?" Po shook his head as he walked with her.

"Yep, Zan takes after you," Po muttered making Tigress chuckle again. When they finally reached the Training Hall, Po did an awkward cough. "So, I'll...leave you to your training...thing." Tigress grabbed his hand and stopped him from going.

"Wait. Maybe...you and I could spar for a while," Tigress asked.

"Sssure," Po replied nervously. Just then, Ai and O came into the Training Hall. "O, Ai. What are you doing here," Po asked.

"We were just wondering where Zan was. Have you seen him," Ai asked. Po looked at the position of the sun.

"He should be done with his lessons with Master Shifu."

"Great! Thanks!" And off she was. Po and Tigress looked to each other to see O right in between them.

"AHH," Po exclaimed as he jumped back. "How did you get there?"

"I don't know...feet?" He said this as if he were actually wondering.

"What are you doing here in this spot," Tigress clarified.

"Oh, I just wanted to see you guys spar," He replied cheerfully.

"Well, you can't be in between us. Otherwise you'll get hit."

"Oh, okay," O said. As he moved to the side. Then he said, "Hhmmm very interesting. Interesting how you can remove something blocking or in between a relationship with just simple words."

"O, come here," Zan called and O ran after Zan. Po and Tigress looked at each with embarrassed and surprised faces.

"Do all these children take after you," Po asked. Tigress smirked as she got into her fighting stance.

"No, they just take after Zan," Tigress smiled.

to be continued.