The Lion and the Lamb

"Well, she's gone," Po sadly said.

"And who knows what will happen to her," Tigress said worriedly.

"Actually, that's what I wanted to tell you about. I don't think we have to fear for Leona's safety. I didn't see Zora in the dream. Maybe we're overreacting.

"Maybe," Tigress said, still worried. She sat up on the side of their bed. Po went over to her and sat next to her.

"What's bugging you," Po asked.

"I... do you think I'll be a good mother. You know, if we decide to have kids," Tigress asked. Po thought about it and smiled as he drew her closer.

"You would make a great mother," Po smiled. Tigress smiled back. Then there was a knock on the door. The two got up and opened the door to see Lillia. "Oh, Lillia, what's wrong?"

"Why do you assume something is wrong?" Lillia calmly replied. Tigress and Po looked at each other. Normally, Lillia wouldn't reply in that smart a voice. It wasn't offensive but it did show she was hiding something. "Anyways, I came here to tell you that your dad wanted you to help him with the shop. He needs some help cleaning up after Leona's going away party. He could use your help as well, Tigress."

"Okay," Po replied, seeing nothing was wrong with it. As the two descended down the mountain, Tigress spoke to Po.

"Don't you think that was a little out of character?" Tigress asked. "It's not like her to act... that shady." Po considered it.

"One of two things are about to happen," Po hypothesized, "One, she's about to kill Maz. Two, she's about to have-"

"I don't need that image in my head, Po," Tigress quickly interrupted. "So you don't think we should be worried? Things have been... silent between them." Po shrugged.

"They seem fine to me," Po replied. As they finally got to the bottom of the shop, they were surprised to see everyone there. "Dad, did you call all of us down here?"

"No, I only told that lamb to get you and some help, not the whole Jade Palace. But it is good for business," Mr. Ping said. "The cleaning will go much quicker with everyone helping, but it is a lot of stuff since that lamb practically dumped the bandits she fought here." Everyone was there, except Maz and Lillia.

"Yep, she's either going to kill him, or-"

"Don't finish that sentence, Po," Tigress muttered.

Meanwhile, Maz was in the Training Hall, practicing his high kicks. "You're still not jumping as high as you should," Lillia criticized. Maz sighed.

"What is it, Lillia?"

"Tell me what is wrong? What is it that you've been thinking about that you can't even tell me," Lillia asked, no, demanded.

"It's personal," Maz said, trying to pass Lillia, but she blocked his way.

"I thought we were close enough to tell each other personal things. You don't trust me anymore?"

"This has nothing to do with trust," Maz retorted. "It's just something very personal." Lillia drew her dagger and held it to his chest.

"You're going to tell me."

"Why do you want to know all of a sudden," Maz asked.

"Because I want to know," Lillia stated. There was a lot of things going through her mind as to what Maz was hiding. He usually wasn't this distant and hostile towards... anyone. Though it wasn't anywhere near as hostile as Lillia could be, it still surprised her. And what he did next also surprised her. He ducked down, lifted Lillia off her feet and held her like a bride. Lillia gasped dropping her dagger. Maz sighed.

"I can't tell you," Maz said tenderly. That should have calmed her, but it only made her more stubborn. She shifted her weight around and held Maz tightly around the neck. This caused Maz to fall on his back with Lillia pinning him down on the floor. She glared into his yellow eyes.

"Tell me," Lillia ordered. Maz easily switched their positions. Now he was hovering over her with an angry face on.

"I CAN'T," Maz growled back. He knew she didn't like this. A lion hovering menacingly over her. So, he was about to leave her there and get up from her, but she yanked him back down by his mane. Her stubborn look was glaring back at Maz's shocked face.

"I did not get everyone in the Jade Palace out of here just for you to not tell me. Even though this position gives me the creeps, you're going to tell me and now!" Lillia huffed, "Please Maz. I don't want you to be suffering whatever you're holding back alone. Please, let me help you like you helped me." Maz looked her in her blue eyes. He couldn't say no.

"The council wants me to marry someone," Maz whispered. Lillia's eyes widened. Maz was about to stand up, but Lillia yanked him down again.

"Who?"

"They wanted me to choose someone."

"And who do you choose?" Lillia asked, fearing there was another. Maz looked away embarrassed and ashamed.

"I... I wanted to choose you," Maz replied. Lillia gasped. She was silent for a moment then laughed.

"That's it? That's why you were so upset?" Lillia laughed. Maz was too surprised to be angry.

"Why are you laughing?"

"Because, I thought it was something like you were seeing someone else, or you were falling ill, or you were not who you said you were. Why didn't you tell me sooner? We could have done something terrible to each other."

"You mean you would have done something terrible to me," Maz corrected. "I didn't want to tell you because... I thought you would reject me." Lillia smiled.

"You dumb cat," Lillia said still laughing. Maz grinned nervously. "Don't you know I love you by now?" That shocked both of them.

"What did you say?" Maz asked. Lillia looked away embarrassed. Maz rubbed her cheek, making her look up at him.

"I... I love you," Lillia replied softly.

"Do you really mean it?"

"... Yes," Lillia slowly smiled.

"I thought you didn't want to get attached to me, and that you didn't like people who were bigger than you, and that you didn't like lions," Maz said. Lillia smiled.

"Nothing is as it seems," She said. Maz smiled back.

"I love you, too," Maz whispered. "So does this mean you want to marry me?"

"Yes," Lillia said. Maz realized the position they were in. He knew it terrified her to be hovering over her like this.

"Okay, I should get up. I don't want to scare you," Maz chuckled a bit. Lillia felt a little insulted that he thought she was scared. The truth was she was scared but she didn't want him thinking that. She yanked him down again.

"Stay like this. I'm getting over my fears."

"But-" She shut him up with a loving kiss. Maz just gave in and purred into the kiss. He could practically feel the smile on her face.

"Well, that's that," Po sighed as the job was finished. It was late in the afternoon when they were done. Just then, Maz and Lillia came in. "Ah, you're alive, Maz. So that means you guys-"

"PO! STOP SAYING WORDS!" Tigress exclaimed.

Continued...