Molly didn't know what to expect. It wasn't like she'd had many chances to meet royalty before. The closest thing she could equate it to was when she was twelve and her dad's friend had taken them backstage at a Queen concert. She'd been so starstruck she couldn't speak and just stared at the band members as they chatted with her father and his friend. As she walked into the cave where Mufasa and Sarabi waited for them, she felt her brain seize up for an entirely different reason. The King and Queen sat atop a raised bit of rock, looking down at Molly and Scar as they came forward. Molly stared up at the huge golden lion and felt her tongue stick to the roof of her mouth.

Zazu flitted down from his place next to the royal couple and announced them, "Prince Scar and Molly, your Majesties."

Molly glanced at Scar. It had escaped her that if his brother was King, he would be a Prince. It boggled her mind for a moment. Did that mean she would be a Princess if they..? She shook her head and brought herself back to the present.

"Scar," Mufasa's voice was deep and filled the space, "And Molly," he smiled kindly at her, "Welcome."

"Brother," Scar responded coolly.

Molly cleared her throat and managed, "Thank you, your Majesty."

"Ah, so at least your mate knows her manners," Mufasa raised an eyebrow at Scar.

Scar huffed and sat. Molly didn't know what else to do and so sat as well.

"Sarabi tells me you were injured, Molly?" Mufasa returned his attention to her.

"Y-yes, but thanks to her and the other lionesses, I escaped any worse."

"I am glad to see you are well."

"Thank you, your Majesty."

"Sarabi tells me you have recently been released by humans. I am curious about them."

"Oh, well... I will answer whatever questions you have, your Majesty, to the best of my ability at least."

"Why would the humans take you in the first place?"

"I was hurt. My Pride was destroyed. They saved me, healed me."

"Your Pride? Where are you from?"

"Far to the West."

"The name of your King?"

Molly swallowed, hesitating. She had no idea if Mufasa could know the names of all the King lions in Africa. If he did and she made up a name, he would know she was lying. She remembered what she'd said to Shenzi. "I don't remember. I was very young when I was taken. I don't remember much from the humans."

"But you remember where you're from?"

"I told her where I thought she was from," Scar broke in, "She described some of her fragmented memories. I could be wrong, but it doesn't matter. She isn't going back."

Mufasa raised an eyebrow, "You seem sure for a male that hasn't claimed her yet."

Scar growled low in his throat. Molly leaned against him. "She's injured," Scar explained. Molly could hear he was fighting to keep his voice under control. "I will claim her when she's healed and more pressing matters are handled."

"Unless someone else does before you."

Scar got to his feet and glared up at his brother. Molly took a step behind him. "Try it, brother."

"Mufasa," Sarabi broke in, "Enough provoking your brother."

Mufasa chuckled, "My apologies, my love. Molly," he nodded, "I'm afraid my urge to tease my brother has won out over my sense of decorum."

Molly swallowed hard and tried to steady her breathing. Teasing or no, she was wary of the big lion. Scar huffed next to her and slowly sat back down, his claws relaxing back into his paws.

"So, Molly, I know my brother is smitten with you. But what of you? What reason do you have to want to be the mate of an outcast?"

She hadn't expected to be put on the spot like this. She glanced at Scar and her mouth worked but no sound came out of it, "I, uh... I-" she cleared her throat, "Scar found me wandering alone and afraid. He offered to travel with me and to keep me safe. I have come to understand he is not favored among this Pride, but to me," she turned and smiled at Scar, "He is the perfect mate."

"Perhaps your time with humans has lowered your expectations?"

Molly turned back to Mufasa. You really are just a bully. "I don't believe so. If anything, my time with the humans has taught me to value kindness when I find it."

"It is not often that I hear my brother described as kind."

Lifting her chin, she tried to keep her voice steady, "That is because your Pride does not know what kindness is. It isn't getting along with everyone all the time. It isn't being perfect. Kindness is reaching out and helping those around you that are hurting. It's realizing when someone is weaker than you and making sure they feel as though they are your equal and not a subordinate." She could see Scar staring at her from out of the corner of her eye. She had a feeling she was overstepping those bounds she'd been so worried about, but didn't much care. There was something about Mufasa, a holier than thou attitude that grated at her patience. "True kindness seems to be in short supply in this kingdom."

Mufasa stared down at her, his features darkened. Silence stretched over the chamber. Molly could hear her own heart thudding in her chest. She'd come in here not wanting to provoke anyone and she'd just insulted the King himself. She flinched when Mufasa threw his head back and laughed loudly.

"My, brother, you certainly have chosen a remarkable mate. She's just as insubordinate and opinionated as you are." He laughed again and shook his head. "I can see you care for my brother very much, Molly. I have not heard anyone stick up for him like this since..." he fell silent, his mirth fizzling out. He and Scar exchanged a silent look that seemed to mean much to them. He cleared his throat and forced a smile again. "Well...in a long time."

Molly looked from Mufasa to Scar, but Scar avoided her eyes. "Yes, your Majesty," she turned back to Mufasa, "I care very deeply for your brother."

He smiled down at her and nodded, "That is good to hear. Where do you plan on establishing your Pride, brother?"

Scar shifted, "That is still...undecided."

"What about with the hyenas?" Molly piped up.

The three lions stared at her. Sarabi and Mufasa looked as though she'd suggested they move to the moon. Molly blushed. She felt like an idiot. Of course they would think lions living with hyenas was ludicrous. Scar had only been doing it because he didn't have anywhere else to go. She hoped she hadn't embarrassed him by mentioning it.

"Hyenas?" Mufasa's voice was holding back laughter. "Is that your true family then, Scar?" He chuckled and Sarabi smiled. "I didn't think you'd become so friendly with them."

Scar hesitated, staring at Molly a little while longer before blinking and turning to his brother. An odd smile pulled at his lips. "Yes, brother, they are my family."

Mufasa and Sarabi exchanged a look. The King sighed, "Brother, they are scavengers. Just because they let you live with them does not make them your family."

"Neither does your allowing me to live here. Molly is right, the hyenas are our family. And... I realize now I trusted the wrong family to aid us." He turned to look at Molly again. "We should have stayed with them."

"You would trust that pack of mongrels over your own flesh and blood?" Mufasa scoffed.

"My own flesh and blood has done little for me in my lifetime. It seems I can only find kindness in strangers. Outcasts." Scar got to his feet. "May I make one last request from you, brother?"

"Ask," Mufasa shrugged.

"Will you lend me Zazu? I have a message to send."

...

Mufasa stared at him from his high rock. "Zazu."

The annoying bird bowed. "Yes, your Majesty?"

"Answer to my brother. See what message he wishes to send."

Zazu flitted down to Scar and waited.

"I need you to go to the hyenas and find the female named Shenzi. Tell her I need her to bring the pack here, to Pride Rock."

Mufasa growled, "Absolutely not! I will not have those creatures defile this place."

Scar raised an eyebrow, "Will you lend me aid then? Will you sacrifice your lionesses to fight Pacha?"

"I have already told you." Mufasa glanced at Sarabi and Scar noticed how his eyes lingered on her belly.

So...my suspicions were correct. "Then let me use the hyenas."

"They won't come anyway," Sarabi sniffed and gave Scar a cool look, "They run from my hunting party. They certainly won't come to aid you."

"We shall see. If you are so confident, let me send for them."

Mufasa looked down at him for a moment then sighed and waved a paw. "Very well, Zazu. Deliver the message."

"Sire," Zazu hesitated, "I am not well liked among the hyenas. I cannot see how I am to safely deliver this message or that they will believe me."

"Dakarai," Molly said from Scar's shoulder, "Dakarai is a pup in the pack. You wouldn't know that name. Tell them Molly will play hide-and-seek with Dakarai when she comes back."

Zazu gave her a sideways look then looked back up to his King.

"Go," Mufasa said, "Do as she says."

The bird grimaced but nonetheless took flight and zipped out of the cave. Scar smiled at Molly before turning back to his brother and Sarabi.

"Congratulations." They both blinked, faces carefully hiding all emotion despite their eyes widening. "I hope your children grow to be strong leaders." He nudged Molly towards the entrance. "We will leave as soon as Pacha is taken care of. You can rest easy knowing I have protected your lineage."

Scar didn't wait for a response and lead Molly back out into the fresh air. He waited until she came up next to him before turning to give her a slow lick. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For what you said in there."

"All I said was the truth."

"Yes, and you made me see the truth. I haven't been who you know for very long. You described kindness as if it applied to me. For a long time, it hasn't. No one in this Pride has any reason to describe me as being kind. But you did. If I want to be who you see me as, I need to change. I can't keep treating the hyenas like they are less than I am. That is my brother's way and my father's legacy. I am not them. I must choose a new way. I choose your way."

She cleared her throat and looked away. "I...I didn't think I had made such an impact just by stating what I thought of you."

"What you think of me is what matters most to me."

She smiled and licked his cheek as they started towards their cave. "Do you really think the hyenas will come?"

"I don't know," he replied honestly, "I think if they do come it will have more to do with wanting to help you than me."

"Will they be strong enough to help?"

"The pack is large. If they were organized, they could be a danger to even a Pride this size," he indicated the lions around them. "I do not think Pacha has a very large Pride, maybe the size of a large hunting party. They should be enough."

"Will... Are any of them going to die?"

He turned to see she was fighting tears. He had forgotten her softness towards death. What a world she must live in for it to bother her so much. "Yes. In a war there is always risk of death."

She nodded, "I understand." She raised her eyes to look up at him, "I need you to try ad train me again. If the hyenas are going to put their lives on the line for us, I won't sit back and watch from the safety of Pride Rock."

He took a deep breath, about to protest, but knew it would be futile. The fire in here eyes told him she would have no argument. "Alright," he said, "But not until you're healed and..." He didn't say when she was out of heat. The way she looked away and flushed red told him she knew what he had been going to say.

...

Molly followed Scar back to their cave and at the sight of it realized how tired she was. She hesitated next to him at the entrance.

"It's alright, I'll keep watch," he reassured her.

She shook her head, "It's not that… Earlier you said…" she couldn't meet his gaze. This whole being a different species thing was really starting to annoy her. She wanted him, but normal human taboos loomed up in her mind every time she thought of him that way. She worried her feelings were getting mixed up with her compromised physical state and it was worrying that she didn't know how to untangle them. Finally she said, "You are mine too, Scar."

The smile that lit up his face made her stomach do little flips, "You know you really were wonderful in there today," he moved closer and leaned his body against her, "Taking on the King of Pride Rock himself, just like you promised," he gave her several slow licks and she found her eyes drifting shut as she tucked her head under his chin.

"I told you I'd have your back."

He chuckled, "Yes. I shouldn't have doubted you."

"Scar," she swallowed, "If…if I wasn't human… I mean, I know I'm technically not now, but- If I was a normal lioness…would you have already claimed me?"

He pulled back slowly to look down at her. She had to force herself to meet his green gaze, "Do you want me to?"

Heat flooded her body, the physical answer being a resounding YES. But somewhere deep inside, she was afraid. It wasn't the act itself. She'd had experience with human men. But this…this was different.

Licking her lips, Molly answered honestly, "I think so."

"I want you to be sure, Molly. This is an unusual relationship. I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to, but there's no reason we can't wait until you're sure," he licked her forehead, "I think I'd rather wait until you're not in heat to have this conversation. I can't know for sure that it's really you making this decision right now."

Nodding dumbly, Molly reluctantly let him pull away from her.

"Go on and get some rest," he said, spreading himself along the cave entrance, "I'll protect you."

Molly didn't go very far into the cave. Curling up, careful of the scratches and cuts that still hurt, she closed her eyes. Her imagination was racing and even as she tried to jump ahead and put a stop to it, she slipped into a dreamland that would have her blushing with embarrassment if Scar knew about it.

…

Scar fought to get her out of his mind and concentrate on the coming confrontation with Pacha. It was a losing battle. Her eyes peering up at him so openly, admitting she wanted him as badly as he wanted her… He shook his head to clear the image, but every time he thought he'd been successful at getting his mind focused on the problem at hand, those eyes would swim up into the forefront of his thoughts. Sighing, he sat up and glanced behind him into the cave. Her scent was overwhelming. Retreating to the ledge above that he'd taken refuge on the night before, Scar removed himself from the immediate area where her scent lingered.

It didn't completely remove the temptation, but it did help. He'd been surprised at his own restraint. He'd thought Molly had only but to give him one word and he'd have leapt at the chance. But…something had held him in check. He knew Mufasa and his father had never bothered to hesitate when a female showed interest. Perhaps Molly's question about it mattering or not that she was human had given him pause? He'd told her he wanted her to be sure because he didn't trust her frame of mind. That sort of thing wasn't an issue for a real lioness.

But, if he was being completely honest with himself, it was also because he never had before. Sarabi was going to be his first, then… He'd never had the chance again. He wasn't sure what Molly's experience as a human was. She'd never mentioned a mate, but so far not much of his world and hers seemed to match up. Maybe she'd had plenty? Maybe she was like him? Huffing, he silently berated himself for letting himself think about this when he should be focusing on finding a way to keep her safe.

He looked off into the distance and could just make out the Elephant Graveyard. He wished they were back there. He wished he'd finished Pacha off instead of leaving him to crawl away and return. He and Molly could have stayed among the hyenas. Now he was asking them to leave their home to come and help him and by extension, the rest of the Pride. He had to make sure as few of them were harmed as possible. Scar laid his head down on his paws and let his mind finally begin to work on a plan.

But now and then, unbidden, came the memory of those blue eyes giving him permission…

Poor babies want each other so bad... XD

Hope you're all doing well! This chapter was a rough one to write. I went through so many drafts and just continued to be unhappy with it. I don't know why I struggled so much with this one, but here it is! Hope you're all still enjoying the story.

Your comments truly give me life. I appreciate every last one of you so much! Your love for this story is what keeps me going!

Early posting for July because I'll be out of town the weekend of the first.