-Blu's POV-

"Maybe we can spend summers in Rio."

That was a compromise that I didn't particularly mind. Sure, I would've preferred to stay in Rio, but as long as my family is happy living life in the Amazon, that's all that matters to me.

Besides, happy wife, happy life, right?

Unfortunately, not so much.

Things in the Amazon didn't start off perfectly. Whether it was Roberto flirting with Jewel, Eduardo not being able to accept me for being a... companion... and treating me like garbage... actually, scratch that. The whole tribe treating me like garbage, Jewel's oblivious nature to everything that was going on, the Pit of Doom... I could go on and on about the problems I was having, and how I felt about it.

But, I'll summarize: I felt like complete crap throughout it all.

I felt worthless.

Unloved.

Neglected.

Basically, any synonym for those words that you could think of.

Last month, however, after I saved both the Spix tribe AND Scarlet tribe, all those literal problems seemed to go away.

But those feelings didn't.

In fact, they seem to have gotten worse. Everyday gets harder and harder mentally.

I don't even feel like getting out of the nest when I wake up. Normally I just sit there and wait for Tiago to "scare me awake", or for Jewel to come back with breakfast. At least it forces me to get out of the nest, because without my family, I wouldn't even consider getting up. I love my family with all my heart, and I want them to be happy.

So why should I cause them to worry about me? Why should I make them deal with my feelings and unhappiness?

Besides, if I did that... my family would think I'm ungrateful for them... being so unhappy despite them being there for me...

I'd drive them away. Scare them off.

I'd lose them.

And I can't let that happen.

Blu laid in his nest, his body turned on its side, his wings tucked in gently. His amber eyes stared off into the wooden wall inside the room that he and Jewel shared in their hollow. He was zoned out, almost in some sort of trance-like state. He had no idea how long he had been awake for, or what time it was, but due to how quiet it was, he assumed it was sometime in the morning.

Jewel was most likely out getting some fruits and nuts for breakfast, and the kids were sleeping in. Surprisingly, Blu was awake at an early time, as he normally slept in until the afternoon.

Just then, he heard a quiet snicker come from the entrance, which brought him back to reality. It was a young, mischievous snicker, and Blu could only assume it was coming from Tiago, ready to play some sort of prank to cause his father to awake in fright.

Just before Tiago walked over, Blu spoke up.

"I hate to ruin your fun", He said as he turned his body and wings over to the other side so he could see Tiago, "but I'm already awake." he said with a gentle smile on his beak as he looked at his son.

"Wha- How'd you know I was in here?" Tiago responded in confusion.

"I heard you giggling. I know what you sound like when you're about to cause trouble."

Tiago sighed in defeat as he looked at Blu. "Alright, dad. You win. This time, at least." he smirked.

Blu let out a small chuckle. "Right. This time. Give me 5 more minutes, I'll get up soon."

"Actually, you have to get up now. Mom's orders."

"Mom's orders, huh?"

"Mhm." came a female voice from behind Tiago. The 2 birds turned around to see Jewel leaning against the entrance to the room.

"Oh, hi sweetie." Blu said. "I thought you were out getting breakfast?"

"I did get breakfast." she smiled as she walked to the side of the nest. "I've been calling your name but you didn't answer, so I figured you were sleeping. That's why I had Tiago come and try to wake you up."

"Sorry mom, but it didn't work. Dad was already awake." Tiago said obliviously, not knowing that it had made Blu seem like he had been ignoring Jewel.

Jewel's smile turned into a look of confusion, and slight anger. "Oh?" she simply asked. "Blu, if you were awake, why didn't you respond?"

"Sorry, honey. I didn't hear you."

"Uh huh." she stated as she turned to Tiago. "Tiago, please go wake up your sisters and tell them breakfast is ready. I'm sure they'll be happy to eat." she smiled.

"Okay!" Tiago chirped as he left the room.

As soon as Tiago had left, the smile on Jewel's beak faded, and turned into an annoyed frown. "You weren't ignoring me, were you?"

"No!" Blu responded, quickly lifting his head from the nest. "No, no, I wasn't ignoring you. I really didn't hear you. I was... I was zoned out. Sorry."

Jewel seemed unsure of that answer, but after a few seconds, she seemed content with that response.

"Alright, well... come on, time to get up." she smiled. "I got you a passionfruit."

Blu smiled. "Thank you." he said as he used his talons and wings to push himself out of the position he had been laying in.

Jewel laughed. "You don't sleep like a bird, you know."

Blu chuckled in response. "Maybe not, but, it's comfortable.", he yawned as he stretched his wings out. Jewel turned around and began to walk out into the main room of their hollow, where their children had been eating.

Blu dropped his smile, and began to space out again as he slowly walked behind Jewel.

"Today is a new day." he thought. "Maybe it'll feel like one."

"Hey, mom? Is dad feeling alright?"

Jewel was inside the hollow with her children while Blu had uncharacteristically went back to sleep. It was barely sunset, and Jewel just figured that Blu had a long day.

"He should be." Jewel responded. "Why? Is something wrong?"

"Well... he seemed really depressed today." Bia said, worry in her voice.

"Yeah," Carla said. "He was zoned out all day."

"Zoned out?" Jewel repeated in concern. The use of that term reminded her of earlier when Blu said that he had simply "zoned out" when she had been calling his name.

"Yeah! It seemed like he was thinking about something all day and always looked sad. He barely spoke either!"

"We're worried." Tiago joined in. "It's not like Dad to act like that."

Jewel sighed. "I'm sure your father's fine. He probably just had a long day.", she smiled.

Deep down, however, Jewel was worried.

"Now I know something's wrong." she thought. "But why won't he tell me?"

-2 Days Ago-

Blu and Jewel were alone in the hollow.

Well... Jewel was in the hollow, relaxing. Blu, however, sat outside on a branch connected to the tree their hollow resided in, staring off into the luscious green rainforest, as his head feathers, wings and deep blue plumage responded to the gentle warm breeze around them by lightly swaying backwards. He wasn't enjoying the scenery though, and instead, seemed to be staring into space, with little to no care of what was around him.

Just then, Blu's thoughts were interrupted as he heard the quiet sounds of talons slowly tapping against the wooden floor, seemingly inching closer. He turned around to see Jewel, slowly walking up to him.

"Oh, hi honey." Blu said with a warm smile.

"Hey." Jewel responded quietly. "Listen... can I talk to you?"

Blu's smile faded into a look of nervousness and uncertainty. "Oh, uh, yeah! Yeah, of course! What's up?" he asked as he hopped from the branch to the inside of the hollow.

"I just... I wanted to make sure you're feeling alright." Jewel said softly with a look of concern.

Blu seemed confused. "Uh... y-yeah, I'm, I'm feeling alright. Why do you ask?"

"Well, ever since the loggers, I feel like you've been quieter, and... a little distant. It seems like you're... sad... and that there's something that's bothering you."

"Damn." Blu thought. "What the hell am I supposed to tell her? Uh... oh, act like everything's alright! You can't tell her...

You know what'll happen if you do."

"Aw, Jewel..." Blu stated as he gently smiled and walked over to her, wrapping a wing around her. "Don't worry, I'm fine! Everything's alright."

Jewel wasn't sure of what to think. "Are you sure? Because, if there's something that's bothering you... you know you can always tell me, right?"

"Yeah, right." Blu thought. "Come on Blu, you know what's gonna happen if you do tell her."

Blu simply smiled. "Of course I do, honey! Look, I, I appreciate the concern, but I'm okay.

"You promise?" she asked.

"I promise."

"Broken promises." Jewel thought. "He doesn't want to talk about it."

She sighed quietly. "Just remember that you can tell me anything, alright? I love you."

"She won't anymore if you tell her."

"I know. I love you too."

-Present-

"I just don't get it." Jewel thought. "How do I convince him to tell me what's going on?" she sighed in defeat, before her eyes opened suddenly.

"Mimi! She knows what I can do!"

"Kids, stay here. I'm going to see Mimi. I'll be back later, okay?"

"Okay, mom." they responded.

Jewel gently kissed them on the top of their heads before rushing out of the hollow and begun to fly away.

"And don't wake your father up!" she called back as she soared off.

Jewel flew for a minute or so before she spotted Mimi outside her hollow, relaxing in the orange and pink sunset, her face covered by fruit slices and a make-shift face mask. She landed nearby. "Hey, Aunt Mimi?"

Mimi's head jolted up as she peeled off the face mask and fruit slices. "Ah, Jewel! My little wildflower!" she said excitedly as she rushed over to hug her niece. "How are you?" she smiled energetically as she wrapped her wings around Jewel and hugged her tight.

"Well, not good honestly." Jewel responded as she returned the hug. "I'm worried about Blu."

Mimi's smile turned into a worried expression. "Oh, no! What's wrong, dear? Is Eddie being a nuisance again?" she asked, her expression changing into an angry scowl.

"No... but Blu's been really depressed lately.", Jewel said, her face becoming heavy with sorrow. "And he won't tell me why! He thinks I can't tell, but it's become obvious. The kids are worried, I'm worried... and I feel like he doesn't trust me enough to tell me." She stopped and sighed. "I need your help. How do I convince him to open up to me? How do I make him happy again?" Jewel dropped her head and beak in defeat.

"Oh, darling..." Mimi sympathized. Her wings gently lifted Jewel's head from the ground, their beak and eyes meeting at the same level. "You can't blame yourself. Or him, for that matter. If he's reluctant to tell you how he's feeling, he's afraid of something. It's up to you to figure it out."

Jewel nodded, thinking of what those possible reasons could be.

"Now, if you want my advice on how to make him happier... have you considered sex?"

"Mimi..." Jewel blushed.

"I'm serious! Sex is important in a healthy relationship. And if you don't want to do it yourself, there's a few females in the tribe who I know would be glad to..."

"Mimi!" Jewel glared, which prompted laughter in response. "Relax, wildflower! I'm just joking. Well, not really honestly... but, seriously, have you tried?"

"I did try, actually. The other night, but he wasn't interested."

"I see... well, maybe you two need a vacation!"

"Vacation?"

"Yeah! Maybe Blu's gotten homesick and misses Rio."

Jewel sighed. "I promised him we could spend summers in Rio... would it really be worth it to leave early?"

Mimi looked confused. "Leave early? Darling, can't you tell? The days are getting longer, the weather's getting much more hot... summer should be starting any day now!"

Jewel's eyes widened. "Is it really summer already? It feels like we just got here yesterday!"

"Oh, yes! Time's flown by. If you really want to spend the summer in Rio, it would probably be best to start preparing soon, wildflower." Mimi smiled.

Jewel returned the smile. "Thanks, Aunt Mimi! You're the best." she said, hugging her.

"Aw... you're too kind, wildflower. Now, go make your Blu happy!"

Jewel nodded. "I will.", she said as she turned around to fly back to her hollow. "Thanks again!"

"Blu? Blu, wake up, sweetie."

"Whuh?" Blu mumbled as he slowly opened his eyes and turned over to see Jewel standing above him.

"Sorry for waking you up. But I've got something important to tell you."

"Ah, don't... don't apologize, sweetie." Blu smiled tiredly. "Wha, what is it?"

"Guess what day it is."

"Uh, hm... Tuesday?"

"No, silly." Jewel laughed softly. "Guess the date. Besides, it's Friday."

"Um... November 15th."

Jewel was surprised. "Actually, you're pretty close. You're one month off."

"October 15th?"

Jewel rolled her eyes, smirking. "No... the other way."

"Oh, December 15th." Blu smiled.

"Mhm. Now, what day does summer officially start?"

"Well," Blu began as he tiredly readjusted the position he had been sleeping in. "In the States, which is in the northern hemisphere, summer starts on June 21st. But because we're in Brazil, which is in the southern hemisphere, summer starts on December 21st."

Jewel smiled. "I don't understand that... northern and southern thing, but you're right. Summer starts soon. Don't you know what that means?"

"Um, no... should I?" Blu responded tiredly as he closed his eyes, presumably to go back to sleep.

"Maybe we can spend summers in Rio..." Jewel sang softly.

Blu's eyes widened, and he instantly shot up in the nest.

"Wait, seriously?" he asked as he climbed up from the nest to meet Jewel's eyes, and stepped outside it. "Do you mean it?" he asked excitedly.

"Of course I do! I keep my promises." she smiled.

"Oh, Jewel!" Blu cried happily as he embraced Jewel, his dark blue feathers squeezing her light cerulean feathers tightly. "I'd love that!"

Jewel chuckled as she hugged him back. "I knew you'd be excited. We'll pack tomorrow."

"Wait, what about the kids?"

"They're coming with us, silly! Did you think we were just gonna leave them behind?"

"No, I... I just wanted to make sure that's not what was gonna happen." Blu smiled nervously.

"Of course not. Let's get back to bed, we have a busy day tomorrow." Jewel said as she climbed in the nest, which Blu followed, laying down next to her.

"Hey, Jewel?"

"Yeah?"

"How'd you know what day it was?"

"I had Bia tell me." Jewel smiled.

"Ah, got it. I didn't really process that until now."

Jewel chuckled, and sighed softly. "Well, I'm glad you processed it. Goodnight, honey. I love you."

"I love you too, honey. Goodnight. " Blu responded, as he gently brought his beak to hers and kissed it lightly.

Blu slowly closed his eyes and began to drift back off to sleep.

Unfortunately, it wouldn't be a "good night's sleep"...