Home Continued

"ZAN," Viper exclaimed as she wrapped herself around Zan. "It's so good to see you again."

"Good...to...see... you too," Zan wheezed out. Viper released the duck.

"It is good to have you back, little one," Monkey smiled.

"Zan. My name is Zan! Why is that so hard," Zan grumbled. The others laughed. "But it is good to see you all again." Zan looked around. There were two people who weren't here. "Actually, where are Uncle Po and Aunty Tigress?" Viper, Mantis, Monkey, and Crane looked at each other with smug smiles. "What happened? Tell me!"

"Why don't you go see for yourself," Monkey smirked. "They should be in the kitchen." Zan and Ai ran to the barrack's kitchen. The familiar smell of Po's cooking quickly came upon the kids' noses, but there was another smell. It smelt like something not only new but spicy. It tasted like something rare to the atmosphere of the kitchen. When they turned the corner, they saw that the kitchen's entryway was pouring out white smoke. They rushed in, and tried to see what was going on. They couldn't see much for a while, but they could hear something. Laughing.

"I told you you shouldn't have added that," Po chuckled.

"Well," Tigress said as she managed to open the window, "We figured out that it makes a good smokescreen." As the smoke cleared, there were Tigress and Po cooking together. They looked at each other smiling.

"Well, I would ask what happened," Zan said, making them notice the two kids, "But I guess that you two are just experimenting." The panda and the tiger were surprised to see him.

"Zan," Po replied excitedly hugging him. "Welcome back, welcome home."

"We haven't seen you in a while," Tigress said hugging him, too. "You certainly have grown. You look as tall as Crane."

"I don't know if I'm that tall," Zan shrugged.

"What were you guys making," Ai asked looking into the pot. It had a purple content inside of it. It bubbled unnaturally.

"HAHA! You don't want to know," Po laughed. "So how were the courts?"

"It was interesting. The situation in my kingdom might be able to come back together," Zan explained.

"Oh, I forgot. I had something for you when you came back. I'll be right back," Ai said, going out the door.

"So that means you'll be able to-"

"SSHHH," Zan shushed Po, looking out the door to see if Ai was there. "Yeah, I...maybe going back soon. But there's still a possibility that I will have to stay here." Tigress picked up what was happening.

"You don't want to leave your friend," Tigress realized.

"Friendssss," Zan corrected. "Ai's not the only friend I have." He said this blushing though and gave himself away. "I don't know what to do. I can't just bring them."

"You're a smart kid, Zan," Po smiled. "You'll figure out something."

"That doesn't help me, Uncle Po," Zan grumbled.

"You should tell them however," Tigress said. "You don't want a repeat of what happened with you being the prince." She right about that, Zan thought as he sighed.

"I'll be right back," Zan said as he flew through the window that Tigress opened.

"He really has grown," Tigress observed absentmindedly. She looked at Po staring at her with a smug smile. "What?"

"'Where do you learn how to take care of children.' 'You don't learn it, you just feel it.' 'But I don't feel anything.' Worst lie ever. I knew you could take care of a kid," Po smiled. Tigress rolled her eyes though she blushed.

"He more or less takes care of himself. I just make sure he doesn't end in trouble," Tigress replied. Po lightly chuckled. They were silent for a moment before Tigress spoke again. "Do you think I would be a good mother?" This took Po for a loop. "Let's...hypothetically...say that we I MEAN...I would get married and adopt a kid. Do you think I would be a good mother?" Po thought about it for a moment.

"You're very protective of Zan, you over packed his bag with more food than I could eat in one day, and you and Ai were worried about him the whole time he was gone."

"I wasn't that protective," Tigress retorted. Po looked at her with an unbelieving look. "Okay, I was protective." Po smiled.

"You would be a great mother," Po reassured her. Tigress smiled at him. They were rather close to each other. So close that Tigress was beginning to think that the heat from him and the oven was making her dizzy.

"Hey guy-"

"NOTHING!" They both shouted as they backed away from each other. Monkey just awkwardly stared through the silent room.

"I was just going to ask if you've seen my almond cookies. Po, you better not have eaten them again," Monkey said sternly. Po looked at Tigress and then sighed.

"I gave some to Zan and Ai. Sorry," Po replied.

"Okay, but I'm watching you," Monkey said watching him until he went away.

"Thank you, Po," Tigress smiled.

"My pleasure," Po smiled back.

"You're leaving," Ai said, obviously upset. Zan hung his head.

"Not right now, but if the situation in my kingdom cleans up, I will have to go back," Zan said sadly.

"What do we do," Ruby lamented. O whistled, calling everyone's attention.

"Hey, don't worry about it. We'll think of something. Besides, who knows when Zan's kingdom will become stable again. We have some time," O reassured.

"In that time," Zan continued, "I need to see Tigress and Po together." Ruby, O, and Vick groaned.

"This again? Zan, there's practically inseparable now. Why are you pushing it," Vick asked.

"Because you never know what will happen. What about Song and Qiang," Zan asked. Before anyone could say anything, a pair of arms wrapped around Zan and hugged him tightly. "Never mind." He wheezed out.

"Zan! It's great to see you again. My have you grown," Song said hugging him more. She gently let him go as he stumbled a bit to get his bearings. Qiang quietly came to Song's side wearing a smile on his face.

"It's *gasp* good to see you guys again. How is everything?"

"Everything is wonderful," Song said happily. "Tigress and Po haven't fought or backlash each other in months, and I've finally moved here." Zan was surprised at the last one.

"That is wonderful. I hope you have a great time here," Zan smiled.

"Oh we will," Qiang said. "But for now, we'll let you rest up since you've probably had a long trip."

"Bye Zan, Ai, O. Bye Vick and Ruby," Song said with a mischievous smirk. Zan looked at them to see their faces with red blushes. Zan was confused for a moment. He decided to find out.

"Ai, what was it that you had for me," Zan asked.

"Oh, the gang and I made some new drums for you with Mr. Shin and Mr. Kia's help. They sound great but we wanted to get your opinion," Ai replied.

"We'll get them now," Vick offered, but Zan stopped him.

"Actually, why don't you continue working for Mr. Ping. It seems very crowded here and he's going to need some help. O and Ai will come with me. See you," Zan said before the fox and the wolf could object. Once Zan, Ai, and O were half way to Mr. Kia's workshop, Zan stopped them. "Alright, can you two please tell me what's going on with Ruby and Vick?" Ai and O smiled smugly at each other. Zan picked up on it. "No," He said with unbelief, "They can't be."

"Oh, but they are," Ai smiled.

"I would never thought of it. I guess it makes sense, though. They are always in the same area. But they are?"

"They are but they won't fess up to it," O explained, "And we've been patiently waiting your return in order for you to take charge." Zan's bewilderment faded into a worried frown.

"What's the matter," Ai asked.

"I don't think I should be in this one," Zan replied. Ai and O looked at each other in mild surprise.

"Why ever not," O questioned.

"Think about it. If I do anything regarding those two, they'll instantly pick up on it because they know me. Secondly, I have Tigress and Po to worry about now, plus I have to make sure Qiang and Song don't affect it."

"How could they affect them now," Ai asked.

"If one breaks up with the other, then the other will go back to either Tigress or Po. Then the mess starts all over again."

"What about the deal that Tigress and Po had about relationships," O questioned.

"That's another thing. If that deal comes up anywhere in the relationship now, it's going to be very rough around the palace. Also," Zan paused for a moment. "I think interacting with Ruby and Vick's relationship would be too early. You can't plant a tree without growing the seed," Zan said wisely. "I think it would be best if we just let nature take it's course." O shrugged.

"You're the boss. Hey, I'll get the drums. You look very tired," the ox mentioned. He was right. Zan's eyes, even when they would become wide, seemed to stay at half-lidded. His smiles were weak and it seemed like he would fall asleep if he had the chance. It was amazing that he was able to get up the mountain and back. So, O went off to get the drums leaving Zan and Ai behind. Zan looked at Ai's simple smile.

"What," He asked, wondering why she was smiling. Ai responded by hugging Zan, not tightly, but gently. Though the other hugs restrained his breathing, Zan found himself not able to breathe until Ai let go.

"I just...really missed you," Ai smiled. Zan smiled back as he hugged her.

"I missed you too, Ai," Zan whispered. "Come on, let's get back to the shop."

to be continued.