Po came into the Training Hall with Tigress punching out the splinters of the dummies. She jumped through the hanging spiked rings and tumbled through the tumblers before sticking the landing right in front of him. "I see you're up early this morning," Po smirked. Tigress panted heavily. The panda tilted his head. "Are you okay? You're not usually winded from training."

"When I'm on heat, I train harder. Just to get my mind in order."

"Your... mind?"

"I... never mind."

"Okay, uhh does it have anything to do with why you decided to go up to the highest part of the mountain yesterday?"

"I had to bathe?"

"WHAT?!" Po shouted. "Tigress, we have a bathhouse."

"Not a cold one."

"What do... ooohhh that kind. Huh, I never would've thought of that."

Tigress squinted. "Really?"

"I don't know it just... never would've dawned on me to do that." Po looked at the tiger. Her furrowed eyebrows fiercely sharpened her angry mood. She crossed her arms and cast her lips into a hard frown while her amber eyes poured into Po like a villain trying to kill him. And yet, no one part of Po was overly scared of her. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

Tigress sighed and took the bowl of food from him. "Right now, no. I'm just... having a rough time."

"I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault."

"It kind of is. You're like this because I'm not Viper. I wish I could help more."

"I don't think Viper would've helped this time." Tigress shook her head as she sat down. Po did the same, quietly watching her eat the food he made. She slowed down a bit, eating like she enjoyed the food rather than just angrily munching on it. She glanced at Po. The panda quickly averted his gaze and scratched the side of his face. Tigress smiled.

"Uhh. What makes you say that Viper wouldn't have helped you?" Po asked.

The tiger sighed, "Lately, my heat has been more intense. I don't really know why." She narrowed her eyes on some spot on the wooden floor. "And they have been more focused recently."

"Focused?"

"I mean... involving a certain person."

"Oh," Po said flatly.

Tigress snapped her neck around, staring at him hard. "You... don't sound excited about it."

"W-Why should I?"

"Because you usually are when it comes to me or the others."

Po squirmed a bit, tapping his fingers together. "I mean... yeah, I'd love to know the guy you're thinking about but... I don't want to make you more uncomfortable than you already are. That and I'm curious about the kind of person you actually like. I mean, the guy that has the heart of THE Master Tigress is going have some major street creds."

Tigress smiled, "I don't think that's credit that they would want." Her smile quickly went away. "Besides, while I'm on my heat, it's hard to tell if I actually like this person or if it's just feelings."

She spun her head to Po and jerked it back when she saw the panda staring at her. Was he shocked or offended? She couldn't tell. "Po? Is something-"

"Do you know how love works, Tigress?"

"I... I believe so."

"Are you sure? Because true love wouldn't ask that."

"What do you mean?"

"A crush doesn't feel anything like love. A crush is a thrill, it's an emotion. It's something that happens to you like a disease or a cannon shot to the gut."

"Please don't say that," Tigress shivered. Even years after Shen, the cannon incident still shook her to her core. Po rested his hand on her shoulder and gave a reassuring smile. "As you were saying?"

"Love is... quieter. It's something you put effort in and something you kind of... rest in. I don't know. I know what a crush feels like. How long have you liked this person?"

Tigress thought for a while. "About... Five plus years."

Po snorted. "And you still haven't told him you liked him?"

"And what's so funny about that?" Tigress glared.

"Most crushes end within a year. If you still feel this way about someone, you don't have a crush. You're in love."

The tiger blinked with a bit of wonder as she gave a large sigh. She stood up, waiting for Po to get up as well. "I... I don't know if he loves me."

Po smiled, "Do you love being around him?"

"Yes." She said without hesitation. "It's... it's very peaceful and soothing. And even though he does irritate me sometimes, he's dependable."

"Sounds like an awesome guy," Po smiled. "I can't imagine him hating you."

"He... he wouldn't," Tigress smiled back. She looked at her empty bowl and gave a long sigh. "I'll be back. I... I need to think about some stuff."

"Are you-"

"I'll be okay," She said. Po nodded and left Tigress to go back into the village. The travel down the stairs was always easier than going up. It gave Po ample energy to think about what was going on with his feline friend.

"Huh, I wonder who she's in love with. Must be a super awesome guy. Five years? I mean... Maybe Crane? Hmm, no. I don't think Crane would be able to take Tigress on like that. That and Tigress kinda treats him like he's being a baby sometimes," Po shrugged. "I mean he can be a baby sometimes, but so do I." The panda strolled into the village where vendors, carts, and shoppers all stood. Po focused on his path to Mr. Ping's where he waved to the kitchen. The goose waved back.

"Ah! Po! How are you? Where's your tiger friend?"

"Tigress? She's training. I'm just... giving her some space."

"Eh, what's wrong? Did you two have a fight?"

"No, no, nothing like that. She's just... a little sick."

"Oh no." The goose placed a wing to Po's forehead. "Hope you don't start catching her sickness."

"Dad. It's not like that."

"So it's just you and the feline up in the Jade Palace?" Li Shan asked, coming from the back. Po nodded. "How's that uh... going?"

"Fine. I mean, as fine as it can be."

"And you two are... good?" Li Shan asked. A wooden spoon whacked the panda. "Ow!"

"Li, don't ask the boy questions like that. What if he doesn't want anyone to know? Ah, but you can tell us anything, Po."

Po's eyes turned from Mr. Ping to Li Shan and back. "What are you two talking about?"

The panda and goose looked at each other and sighed. "Let me guess, you and Master Tigress are just friends right now, right?" Mr. Ping asked.

"Yeah."

"Of course."

"Why did you raise him to be so oblivious?" Li Shan argued.

"Eh, like you're any better! You barely noticed that the kitchen was on fire for five minutes!" Mr. Ping shouted back. The two of them butted heads as they squawked their differences. Po quietly snuck away from the arguing pair and left the shop.

"Well, that was weird. What were they talking about?" Po shrugged and walked back up the stairs. "Hmm, I need to write a letter to Shifu. Hope he and the others are doing okay. I know he said two weeks, but I'm worried." Huffing and puffing up the stairs, the panda finally made it to the top. The sun started to wane across the sky, casting its orange, pink, and blue hues above. Po walked into the kitchen and started preparing dinner. "Hmm, maybe it's Monkey? No, no, Monkey wouldn't have kept that a secret from me. Then again, this guy might not know that Tigress likes them. What about-" Po quickly shook his head. "Definitely not Mantis. No way on Earth. Ugh, maybe I should just quit while I'm ahead. It's obvious that she has her eyes somewhere else," Po sighed.

He shook his head and refocused on the food in front of him. Soon a familiar feline came into the kitchen. Po placed a bowl in front of her. Tigress tilted her head and furrowed her eyebrows as the panda slowly ate. "Is something wrong, Po?"

"Huh? Oh! No, I'm just a little tired."

"Are you sure? You seem upset."

"I'm not eating that much."

"You know what I mean, Po."

The panda sighed, "It's nothing. Really. I'm just... a little sad, I guess."

"About what?"

"Just... this girl that I wanted to date."

"The one that you've been fantasizing about?" Tigress's eyes and frown widened. "Is she... in the valley?"

"Y-Yes. But... I don't think she's within my reach," Po sighed. "Sorry, I should get going."

"Why?"

"I just... need some time. I'll be fine." Po stood up and walked out of the kitchen. Tigress suddenly balled her hands into fists while her glare burned through the table. Her body burned and shook with an intensity she hadn't felt in a while. Why? The food wasn't spicy. She shut her eyes.

Something wet trickled down her face. She wiped her cheeks and stared at the tears suddenly streaming down them.

He had to know. She had to tell him.

She slammed her fist onto the table, nearly breaking it, and shot out of the kitchen. He was out of her reach as well.

But she was going to reach further.

"Po!" It had only been 10 seconds and the panda hadn't moved but a yard down the hall. "Wait! I... I need to tell you something. It's... it's about the person I... I have feelings for."

"Oh, you don't have to tell me. I didn't mean-"

"No, Po just listen. I... I have a hard time showing my emotions or what's on my mind, but... I just want you to know that... I understand? No. That's not what I want to tell you!" Tigress growled, banging her fists on her head.

"Tigress, calm down." Po gently grabbed her wrists and set them down by her sides. "Now, what's wrong? You're shaking."

"I... I just want to say that..." Her brain had concocted several scenarios of this moment. "I..." And each one of them ended in a fantasy. But what was fantasy to reality? "I..." Reality is painful, it doesn't care about her emotions or desires. "I..." It didn't care about how she felt or what she wanted. Why even hope? "I..." Why even try to make a dream like this a reality? "I..."

"Tigress, what is it?"

"I... I love you!"

Po's face froze as his eyes widened. Tigress shut her eyes. This was the pain she was terrified of. Physical pain was nothing to what emotions felt like. In truth, she only inflicted so much pain on herself because of the emotional pain. But it was never easier to face the feelings. To face that kind of agony. She felt small. Even though he held her hands slightly, he might as well have squeezed them with all his might, just to teach her a lesson. "Po, I-"

Her words were cut off. Her eyes shot open. Something pressed to her lips. Something soft, warm, lovely, and caring. Po kissed the tiger before she could have any more doubts. Her back hit the wall, knocking his hold of her hands off of her. Tigress's mind stood still. Was this real? Her breath hitched as she trembled her hands around his neck, scared that he might be another dream. But the panda's body held. His lips were much different in real life. Softer, bigger, more loving and welcoming. Her arms tightened around his neck as she felt his hands wrap around the small of her back and...

Her head lifted a bit. He had gotten a little taller over the years. But he was the perfect height.

Everything felt more than perfect.

Because it felt real.

Po pulled away, resting his forehead atop Tigress's. She gasped. The panda's jade eyes were watery yet he held a wide smile. "I love you too," He whispered. The smile somehow found its way onto Tigress's lips as she kissed him. Her lips were just as Po imagined. Fiery, commanding, almost feral, and controlling. Yet so soft and warm. No, hot. While his hands only stayed on the small of her back, their pressed bodies felt things their eyes couldn't see. Her curves. His muscles.

They parted for breath, smiling widely at each other.

But Po suddenly blinked and furrowed his eyebrows. "Wait, I get on your nerves? Since when?"

Tigress laughed. Of course, the panda would think of that right now. She answered with a kiss, hoping to shut him up and enjoy the rest of the moment.

Why try to make a dream like this a reality? Because some dreams are worth making a reality.