I do not own The Jungle Book or Tarzan. Both are owned by Disney.

Mowgli and Tarzan are both the same age, around 10.

Chapter 1

Fire. Chaos. Fire and chaos are what Kerchak woke up to. Quickly gathering himself he scanned the area to see everyone in a panic frenzy. He delt with fire before when he was young so he knows how destructive it can be, for the others this is the first time seeing it.

He needs to get everything under control of things will get much worse. He stood up tall and loudly banged his chest getting everyone's attention.

"Go to the river!" He ordered. A simple order but was one that no one dared to argue about and soon everyone began traveling towards the lake. From previous experience Kerchak knew that the only thing that can fight against fire is water and as long as they stay near the lake, they'll be safe.

As he watched his family escape one thought suddenly came to him and he nearly pounded himself for forgetting.

Kala!

He ran as fast as he could, bypassing the last of the stragglers and headed into the direction of the small hut Kala built for her and the boy. The strange creature that Kala called Tarzan to replace their son. Now Kerchak knew that wasn't what Kala meant when she brought the boy to their home, but his heart felt betrayed non the less.

Their own son had died not even a full day and there she came to him with a furless, pale, weak creature in her arms claiming it to be "their son". He couldn't accept it. Not the boy and what Kala tried to push on him.

Perhaps if he was given enough time to grieve for their son, he may have accepted the idea, but the wound was too fresh to accept another creature in his heart. So, he dismissed the boy and was cold to him, though it's not the boy's fault. And no matter how many times the boy tries to prove himself to be part of the family, even if it put himself in harm's way Kerchak didn't acknowledge him.

Nevertheless, Kala loved the boy like her own son. He remembers the fight they had which resulted in Kala taking the boy and sleeping in an area away from the rest of the family. It hurt him to see her make a nest somewhere else…away from him. He misses the nights when he can feel her by his side, how she would lean up against him and he would softly stroke her peaceful sleeping face. If only he wasn't so stubborn at the time.

He shook his head from those thoughts. There's no use in regretting the past, what happened, happened and there's nothing he can do to change it. He made it to the hut and like everywhere else it too is surrounded by flames. His heart stopped just for a moment thinking he was too late.

"Tarzan!" It's Kala! She's alive! He quickly made his way up to see his mate, though extremely distressed, but alive. Kala tuned around hearing him approaching. He was surprised when she rushed to him.

"Kerchak!" She said in relief as he wrapped his arms around her. He let lose a breath of relief, knowing that she was safe and in his arms was all he could hope for. He could barely remember the last time he held her in his arms like this. If it wasn't for the dire situation, he could stay like this forever. However, the moment ended with Kala's panicked face looking at him.

"Kerchak! It's Tarzan! He's trapped!" It was then he realized that the boy wasn't with her. Though a brief moment a thought passed saying that wasn't his priority and he figured the boy escaped on his own leaving Kala behind. That single thought infuriated him, but he quickly dismissed it. Despite his feelings for the boy Kerchak knew he would never abandon Kala. And if he was to abandon the boy Kala would never forgive him.

"Where?" He asked and Kala pointed to a stack of burning logs that was on top of where the sleeping nest was. Gathering his immense strength, he moved the logs as fast as he could until he could see the pale face of the small creature. Without thinking he reached in to grab Tarzan and held the boy close to his chest.

He grabbed Kala and together they escaped out of the hut before it completely burned to the ground. Through the trees and bushes he held onto Kala and Tarzan as his life depended on him. He looked down at the boy and realized that this was the first physical interaction between them both and it only came because their home was being destroyed.

They reached the river in which he was thankful that everyone else was there too and it looked like the fire hadn't spread to the riverside yet.

"We must cross the river! Hurry!" The others obeyed as the mothers gathered the younglings and started to cross the river. He looked at Kala who had her eyes on Tarzan, knowing that she wanted to take the boy. He oved his hand transferring Tarzan to her. She held the boy tightly to her chest and looked back at him.

"Go. I'll be with you soon." She nodded as she went to the water. He stayed behind and followed the last mother until they all crossed to the other side. By the time Kerchak set foot on the other side it finally decided to rain. The water pouring down took out the fire and unfortunately also their home.

He checked to make sure that everyone was present and once he was satisfied, he made his way to Kala who was a little away from the rest next to the river hunched over. He saw her checking over the boy and seeing the boy lying there brought up emotions that Kerchak thought he banished a long time ago.

He was such a small creature. Small and thin and absolutely nothing like them. Nothing like his son, who was strong even when he first came out screaming into the jungle. So why? Why does looking at this tiny, weak creature make his heart ace so? He stood for a few awkward minutes until Kala broke the silence.

"Thank you Kerchak." Her thanks were sincere, but he wished that she would say more than that to him. He wished that she would worry over him as she does for the boy. At that he almost huffed, him, actually jealous of the boy. But in truth he was.

Even when it was afar, we would watch them and the way that the boy would make Kala smile and laugh. There was a point in time where he could bring that out in her, but ever since that day only this boy would be the one that can bring that side out of Kala. He wanted so much to reach out to her once more, to try and talk it out again. And to think he almost lost her…again. He wanted to say something. Anything, but what? Kala looked up at him expecting a huff and that he'll go away like he always does, but something completely unexpected happened.

"How is he?" Kala was stunned. Of all the things he could ask or say. Not once has he asked or concerned himself over Tarzan. At best he ignored him and pretended he didn't exist and others he would be so cold to him when all Tarzan wanted to prove that he could be one of them. That he belonged. Her precious Tarzan. Her brave baby boy. She glanced back at Tarzan, when she checked him over, he didn't have serious injury. A few burns but other than that he was still alive and fine. But he hasn't woken up, yet, which worries her.

"He's alive. You didn't have to, but you saved my son. Thank you." Again, she didn't ask how he was, or if he was injured. Not even a "I missed you.". A thanks for saving her son, because that's who the boy was. Her son. Not their son. Her son. And her saying that twisted his heart in guilt more than ever.

He doesn't know what possessed him, but he started to come closer. Kala at first tensed as he came closer and that nearly broke him that she had to be on her defense around him. He stopped right in front of the boy.

Seeing the boy lying there something inside of him acted on its own as he reached his arm out and for the first time softly stroked the child's face. Kala held her breath at the strange action Kerchak was displaying. Not once has he ever shown any affection towards Tarzan. As Kerchak brushed his palm on Tarzan he noticed just how soft the child was, he really was such a fragile creature. It's a wonder how he could survive all the trouble he would get himself into.

Seeing the boy reminded Kerchak of his son; what would his son be like? What kind of trouble he would get himself into? How much would he worry his mother? How much would he have grown? Would he have been reserved and sweet like Kala or loud and headstrong like him? Would he have liked to have sibling? Would he have been a good big brother? Would he have accepted the boy? No…Accepted Tarzan.

Deep in his heart he knew that his son would have. Like Kala, his son would have welcomed Tarzan as part of the family. He would have cared for him and protected him. He would have taught him to fight and protect the family.

His son would have treated Tarzan like a brother. In that moment something clicked. He lost his son. He pushed Kala away and almost lost her twice. Once to the Jaguar and the other to the fire. This is a second chance. He can have a family again, though it would never be the same. It was better than nothing and he refused to let them go again.

"Our family has lost enough." He said to her. Kala's eyes widen in shock and hope. The words he spoke said more to her than anything. She had prayed that one day he would see Tarzan not as someone that she had tried to replace their son, which she didn't, but as his own person. Someone who is kind, brave, curious, loving and a little mischievous. Her Tarzan was a wonderful boy that she knew if Kerchak could just give a chance he would prove that he belongs with them. Hearing Kerchak say that brought tears in her eyes.

"Kerchak." She whispered as she came closer to him.

"Kala." He whispered back holding his other arm out to her. Once she was close enough, he picked up Tarzan and together they moved under a tree to get out of the rain, like how the others were doing. Kala folded in his strong embrace and even Tarzan snuggled up against him for warmth.

"Our family." Kala whispered again as she laid her head on his chest, closing her eyes.

"Our family." He responded back confirming it. As he looked across the river and at the aftermath of the fire. Though their home was destroyed, he was able to find another. Where they will live from here, he doesn't know, but from now own they will be together. Him, Kala and Tarzan. His family.