Chapter 8

~~Time~~

Po was not talking to tigress, he even refused to look at her for that matter, which was a little difficult with her sitting in his lap . It was cold and the temperature had been steadily dropping, with the wind rising. The snow was falling thick around them.

"Po, I -" she started, but he snapped back too sudden for her to continue.

"No. I don't want to hear it! Tigress, I asked you to stay behind just this once. It's not like you had to prove or something! You were not dumb. So couldn't you see the weather getting bad, and well!

more bad! And I thought I was the immature one! And the baby's coming any day now! Just what were you thinking?"

Tigress hesitated for a moment, With a sigh, She shook her head.

"I just - well I promised them that I would come and you know that..."

"Tigress! They would have understood!"

"But the little ones..."

" I know its about the orphanage. I understand! But still Ti!"

"Well, you don't! You're not the one who was in the orphanage! I was! And I know how much it hurts! Each and everyone of there parents promised that they would come back after sometime and look! i didn't wanted to be like those-those sorry excuse for a life" tigress snapped back, crossing her arms in front of her both of anger and cold.

Po shook his head,

"I know. Okay? I know, and I do understand. But tigress, think what'll happen if something goes wrong? ." He insisted.

Tigress sighed. Yes, this was one of the odd - not to mention rare times that her husband did happen to be right. She had almost decided to stay home, but that nagging feeling her had made her come along.

"I'm sorry, Po." She whispered, leaning back into him even though her hoodie was covered with snow. Tigress hadn't thought about that - but there was so much snow all around in that cave that it didn't disturbed him. Po sighed, a thing tigress was good at, even better then kung fu!, was to get him to forgive her. Make him say bygones be bygones. He wrapped his arm around his pretty little wife a bit better.

"I can't see you hurt." He explained as softly as he could." I know viper, shifu and everyone else are here but Ti, This weather can kill you, how would I live without you.?"

"I really wonder what was I thinking. I -" She stopped short, her brow furrowed due to fear, but Po couldn't see that. He only noticed when he heard her let out a sharp gasp. He felt his heart stop.

"What is it?" He demanded, turning her around so she was facing him. Her face was more worried then his, more pained. His hand dove to find her sweatpants and his lap soaked.

"Shifu! the baby's coming!" He called out at the red panda, who was standing outside the cave."What!? Viper get the bed sheets, monkey, mantis, crane, Po out now!" He heard him say. Gently, Po laid tigress on the sheet viper had brought.

"Uh, yes! Master " The rest of the boys said, utterly confused and they left." Shifu, can I stay?"

"It'll do. It's too cold, keep tigress warm, till we prepare." Po nodded, seeing no point in pushing the question further. He wrapped his arms around Tigress who was more than willing to lean into his warmth, her brow furrowing with a sudden pain now and then.

Shifu hung a lantern in a pointed ice block. Bedrolls, sheets, cloths whatever he could get his tiny hands on, shifu and viper made the cave as much as hygienic, and warm as possible." Po! Lie her here!" Shifu shouted.

Po nodded, trying to collect his thoughts. He kissed her quickly like he was saying 'It'll be okay'. He picked her up, bridle style and laid her in the pile of cloths. Tigress couldn't hide it, She was worried, she was scared.

No, she was terrified, More then anything. but she couldn't let Po know. Chances were that he was just as worried for the same reasons. Shifting uncomfortably, a whimper escaping her lips despite her best efforts to hide the pain. Tigress grabbed Po's hand without even having to look for it. Po almost cried out too as her claws ripped through his skin.

And then screams. Making Po wish that he could take even half of the pain.

*Four hours later*

Po's lips on hers before he cuddled with the baby girl.

Tigress watched her husband, with a little jealousy, cradling the baby next to his heart, singing softly to her." She's cute, too cute just like viper said". Tigress giggled.

" Yeah. Do you think we should, you know, let all of them come in the cave. There's a blizzard going on outside".

"No, they all are trained kung fu masters, and besides I want this moment to last between you, me and jade".

He smiled at his bride, kneeling beside her, sheltering them both and tucking the baby next to her skin.

"Hey! My turn." Tigress whispered with a smile in her tired face. Po smiled back, rubbing her nose with his.

"Hey, my turn. You had her the first nine months, remember?" Tigress wrinkled her nose at him sweetly and stuck out the tip of her tongue, slipping into one of Po's arms. Po held tigress with one hand, and jade with the other. She was perfect, just like her mother - except... her eyes were such a green color, and her fur which was white." She's beautiful" tigress whispered.

"She's our baby." he whispered back." She's your daughter, so of course. Like mother like daughter".

Tigress smiled again," I think you got it the other way around". She smiled even more heartwarmingly so ready to sleep, far warmer then she thought she would be.

"I could have lost you both ... all because you have to go and make promises to orphans." He whispered, scolding, relieved and joking all at once.

"Hmmmm. I like making promises to orphans. We are orphans too. You should know better". She said, gazing meaningfully up at him.

" I know " He said slowly.

with a laugh, he captured her lips with his.

Slowly, jade opened her green eyes, and the baby wondered when they would stop for the need of air.

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