Chapter 9: Time for some rest

(This happened right after the celebrations ended and when Eduardo and Sapphire left for their hollow)

Blu, Jewel, their kids, the kids their paramours Renaldo, Skye and Miguel, Roberto, Thomas and Jasmine landed on the nearest branch.

"Wow, you truly danced wonderfully, Blu." Jewel complimented her husband.

"Yeah, and I must say it was amazing dancing with you in this song, honey, especially since I couldn't do it the first time we were here." Blu said.

Jewel chuckled "I'm sorry I didn't look after you at that point, I was so happy to be reunited with the tribe, Roberto and my dad that I let my emotions speak above reason. But remember, Bluey, you're still my one and only." Jewel said as she and Blu touched their beaks romantically.

Roberto chuckled before looking at Jasmine.

"You danced pretty great yourself, Jasmine." Roberto said to Blu's sister.

Jasmine blushed a bit. "Thank you, mr., uh, what was your name again?"

"Roberto is my name, but you may also call me 'Beto'." Roberto said smoothly.

Jasmine gave a small chuckle. "Beto… I like that, how did you come by that name?"

"Oh, it's what I called him when we were kids, he called me 'Ju-ju' and still does". Jewel told Jasmine.

Thomas yawned a bit "Oh, what a day, I'm so exhausted."

"Oh, that's right!" Jasmine just realized. "We don't have a hollow at this point to sleep."

Blu stepped in. "How about the two of you temporarily stay at our home until Eduardo found a good place for you to stay at." He then looked at Jewel. "If my wife agrees to that, of course."

Jewel chuckled, "For my husband and his siblings? Of course I do.

Thomas smiled and said: "Thank, you, little brother, and Jewel."

"Hey, and if it becomes too crappy, you two can always stay at my house." Roberto suggested. "I also let Blu, Ju-ju and their kids stay at my nest until they gained a nest of their own."

"Yeah, Uncle Tommy and Auntie Jassie, it is huge! It had six bedrooms and even a birdbath. Remember how I wanted the big one?" Tiago said whilst looking at Carla.

"Oh, yeah, and I stepped I because I am the oldest." Carla boasted proudfully.

"Only by 3 minutes and 2.5 seconds to be exact, sis." Bia added.

Roberto chuckled and thought to himself: Ah, if only I could have a flock of Little Roberto's that would share my blood.

"Anyways, today it's my turn to go on patrol tonight. See ya'll and rest well!" Roberto said as he flew off.

Blu: "Goodbye!"

Jewel: "Bye, Beto!"

Bia, Carla and Tiago: "'Till tomorrow, Uncle Beto!"

Renaldo, Skye and Miguel: "Bye!"

Thomas: "See, ya!"

"Bye." Jasmine said softly.

Then, a voice came from afar.

"Miguel!"

"Mom?" Miguel said.

A green-winged macaw lady landed on the branch.

"Where have you been, my boy? You weren't at dinner. Have you and Bia been studing plants and insects for That long?" Miguel's mother asked with some worry.

"No, mom. The things have unexpectedly changed. I've been celebrating with Bia and the others."

"Celebrating?" Miguel's mom asked confused. "I thought partying wasn't really your thing."

Bia then stepped in. "Well, Miss Ana (Miguel's mother), today me and my siblings found out that our grandmother was alive and is back with our grandpa."

"Grandmother? Does Eduardo still have a mate?" Ana asked.

Blu: "Well, I found her this morning as I was searching for food."

"And that's not all, miss, Felipe even brought us our dad's older siblings, making us have a biological uncle and aunt." Carla said, while presenting Thomas and Jasmine.

"That's why Miguel didn't show up at home, miss, he just wanted to celebrate this moment, ain't that right, Mig?" Skye said whilst giving a pat on his back.

"Yeah, it's true." Miguel said modestly.

Ana smiled and asked: "And did he dance well?"

"Oh, most certainly, miss Ana, he particularly danced with me." Bia said while putting her right wing on Miguel's shoulder. Miguel blushed at this.

"I'm happy that you had fun, Miguel, but your father is also worried, you should come home." Ana said.

"Alright, mom, I'm coming. See you later, guys!" Miguel said goodbye to Bia and all his friend. Suddenly, he felt being pulled back by his wing and when he looked back, he looked straight into the eyes of Bia's.

Suddenly, Bia gave him a short, but passionate kiss, much to the adult's awe. This made Miguel blush.

"Make sure that your dad doesn't have to worry about you being lost." Bia said teasingly.

"Yeah, I'll sure do." Miguel said awkwardly and flew home with his mother.

"I think I am gonna go home too. I feel a bit tired after all that celebrating." Skye said.

"Me too." Renaldo said.

Skye gave Tiago a short kiss and so did Renaldo with Carla, before they flew to their homes.

"And to think that when your dad and I kissed that you would look away and telling it's gross." Jewel said amusingly, teasing her children a bit.

"Alright, everyone, let's get to our nest." Blu said as they flew off.

After only 6 minutes of flying, the 7 spix macaws arrives at the Gunderson's nest.

"Wow, Blu and Jewel I have to say that you have a nice home." Jasmine complimented.

"I've got no complaints either." Thomas said as he observed the insides from the hollow.

"We got this tree about 3 to 4 weeks after we had moved into the tribe." Blu told his older siblings.

Tiago then yawned heavily and said: "Well, you guys, I'm going to bed. Skye and I promised that we would train with each other at the Pit of Doom tomorrow."

Thomas and Jasmine looked a bit startled, and both said: "The Pit of Doom? What's that?"

"It's a rock-like stadium not far from here, where the spix macaw tribe and red macaw tribe used to fight their 'wars' when they were still rival, by playing a ball game. Now, the pit is used by both tribes for training and to play friendly sports to channel our friendly rivalry." Blu told Jasmine and Thomas.

"Oh." Thomas said surprised. "I wish to see that place myself."

"Then you can come with us tomorrow, Uncle Tommy." Tiago insisted.

"Thanks, Ti, but what did you say, Blu? That this ball game used to be a war between the blue and red tribes?" Thomas asked.

"Yeah, the first time I saw it, was after I accidentally took a Brazil nut from their side of the groove and thought they were going to physically attack each other, but then it turned out to be a game." Blu replied.

"If they call that a war between birds, then they have seen nothing…" Thomas said while looking to the outside with his faced dropped a bit.

Everyone noticed this and Jewel even asked: "Uhm, everything alright, Thomas?"

Thomas snapped out of his stance and said: "Yes, just something from our past that came up."

"Come on, Thom, let's try not to think about that at this moment, shall we?" Jasmine urged her older brother.

"Anyways, I'm also going to get some sleep. Miguel and I promised to study some specimen tomorrow." Bia told her family.

"Are you someone who loves to learn the details and the secrets of nature, Bia?" Jasmine asked her niece.

"Yes, Auntie Jassie." Bia said enthusiastically. "And I am lucky I found someone who has similar interests, even if he comes from another tribe."

Carla then leaned herself more to her sister and smoothly said: "And don't forget that you also found something more than 'specimens', if you get what I mean, Bia?"

Bia smiled but rolled her eyes. "Not this again, Carla."

"Just kidding, sis." Carla added playfully.

Jasmine seemed to have been interested that her niece loves to learn about nature and asked: "For years I also have studied plants, insects and other animals alike. Do you wish that I could show you its secrets if you and your friend haven't found those already?"

Bia looked wondered and happily said: "If that is possible, then I would be glad to take you tomorrow with us, Auntie Jassie."

Jasmine was happy to hear that she could spent some time with her niece tomorrow.

"I am also going to dreamland, because I also will have a busy day tomorrow with Uncle Pedro, Nico and Rafael."

"Still focused on those auditions, sis? When will you ever get tired of it?" Tiago said, rolling his eyes.

"Like I told you before, baby brother, not in this life or even the next. The show will forever go on with me." Carla grinned.

"Auditions?" Thomas asked.

"Yeah, the ones for a festival called Carnival. Have you ever heard of it?"

"Heard of it by other birds and even celebrated it with other birds." Jasmine told her oldest niece.

Carla: "Cool! Where did you celebrate it and how long has it been?"

"I believe it was about 2 to 3 years ago at coastal city of Natal. It was quite nice to see" Jasmine replied.

"Well, then you haven't seen the Carnival parade in Rio, that is a real spectacle to behold." Bia told her aunt and uncle.

"We have lived in Rio not long after we were born and even flown through Rio de Janeiro once when your auntie and I lived alone." Thomas said, which surprised everyone.

"You did?" Jewel asked curiously. "How long ago?"

"Hhm, don't truly remember it that well, but I think it was 4 to 5 years ago. We even visited our old tree…" Thomas said while looking at Blu. "The one where you too were born and where we lost you."

Blu's face fell a bit.

Then Jasmine said: "For today I believe we have told each other enough; we can catch up tomorrow. But what I truly wish to hear in one of the coming days, is the road you have traveled to get here, Blu."

Blu thought for a moment and said: "How about I'll tell you tomorrow after dinner?"

"That sounds amazing, little brother." Jasmine said.

"But I am also interested in what you have to tell us." Jewel said.

Thomas looked at Jasmine and they both nodded in agreement that they would tell, but at their nod they also shared a look of some concern.

"Alright, everyone. Time for bed." Jewel said.

"Oh, one final thing before you get to sleep, kids." Thomas said to Bia, Carla and Tiago.

"What is it, Uncle Tommy?" Carla asked.

"If you somehow get awoken at night by my screaming, you can kick me in my butt." Thomas said.

Tiago laughed at this, but Jewel and Blu shared a confused look at each other and then at Jasmine.

"Why should you scream at night, Uncle Tommy?" Carla asked.

"Let's just say this, kids, your uncle hasn't had a nightmareless night or full night sleep in about 8 months." Jasmine said with a sigh.

This was something the kids hadn't expected. Eight months? How could their uncle survive such a thing?

"Let's just hope I can get a full night sleep this time." Thomas said.

And with that, the kids each went to their room and went to sleep.

"Good night, Blu. Good night, Jewel." both Jasmine and Thomas said at the same time.

"Good night." Blu and Jewel said together.

Blu and Jewel then stood at the hollow, looking to the darkness outside.

"What another glorious day…" Jewel said while her face dropped. "For a long time, I… I thought my mom wasn't of this world anymore and that she would be watching us from the heavens."

Jewel's face then turned back to a happy one. "But here she is. Alive and well. And to make things even better, I also found out today that I've got a brother-in-law and a sister-in-law."

Blu smiled and took his wife under his wing. "Yeah, and I couldn't be happier either, especially after the good year we had here in the Amazon." Blu said in a happy tone.

After about 15 minutes of standing at the hollow's entrance, the two lovebirds went back inside, laid themselves down and went to sleep peacefully, getting energy for the day that would come.

To be continued…