Kimaria33: Amari was looking a little happier but a little nervous too, and that was understandable considering he was returning to a place he had vowed never to go to again. In his heart he knew that he had done wrong by Maawio and though he yearned to stay by her side he knew she deserved better. Mbari deserved a caring and responsible father and Maawio...she deserved a mate who would treat her how she deserved to be treated.

Amari could do none of these things, or so he thought.

In fact, he was quite sure that he was never supposed to be happy again after what he had done and all the grief he had caused. It was because of this that he had wandered for many days, dodging others and moving quietly and alone. This was his punishment for his crime: complete isolation.

And yet whether he had meant it to or not, his path had led him back towards the pridelands where even now Priderock dwindled on the horizon. His heart lurched and tears of loneliness stung at the back of his eyes.

Home...

Zo-Zo: Her young son had grown a little, though showed no signs of mental development. he was still as clingy and nervous as ever, his small form hidden in Maawio?s golden pelt. The pair walked happily along the border, the sun beating down on their backs as they padded ahead. Mbari stirred, falling from his mothers back to land beside her, stalking along against her stomach. His mother looked down to his paw, recognising the same tattoo her eyes had dismissed before. Amari?s tatoo. Despite what she now thought of the cheating male, she couldn't deny the fact that he was half of her son. However she could also see her mother. Mbari had the same eyes and white stripe on his stomach.

It was peaceful for a moment, until Maawio?s sapphire gaze met a rusty orange figure. Her golden figure was visible on the horizon, and she couldn't turn back, for she was no longer a coward. She moved forward sweetly, eyes widened. Although she was angry and upset, she felt a little longing tugging at her. She hadn't seen him for so long, and already his son had grown. She realised she never really let him explain himself.

Kimaria33: Perhaps he had missed her before because he hadn't wanted to see her, but it was unmistakeable as she moved towards him. His breath caught in his throat and his heart contracted almost painfully. It was her; his beautiful goddess, his sunshine, his hope and his life. It was true that Amari had never fallen out of love with her, and perhaps it was because he loved her so much that he had become afraid in the first place. Afraid that he might make a mistake and hurt her.

Seemed he had made that mistake anyway.

He took a step back, and now where Maawio was strong he was weak, for he feared what she would say. If they spoke then she could very well say that she wanted him to leave and never return. His life would be left without hope and no amount of denial could hide the fact that it was over.

And yet...what if...what if she was willing to forgive? Could he forgive himself for what he had done?

He wasn't sure and yet he needed to know.

And so he remained where he was, staring at her with a solemn expression on his face. Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion and for a moment he saw every move of her muscles, the wave of her fur in the breeze. She was beautiful.

vampirekittenzoe: Expression still one of utter surprise, she moved forward, managing to do so gracefully, although her nervous paws made it seem like she would stumble and fall. Her gaze never left the figure, heart heavy as she felt her son beside her. What would he say, would he even recognise his father? Her heart stopped as she approached him. What would she say? What was her plan? She had a fault which some could take advantage of, she was extremely forgiving. A shaky smile, a hidden smile crept onto her face, voice stuttering as she welcomed him. "Hello, A-Amari."

Kimaria33: He shuddered at the sound of her voice feeling almost as if he would melt into a rather rusty-coloured puddle. Yet he stood firmly, his face serious and eyes sad as he gazed down her. He was still the same large and bulky male he had always been and yet inside him something had changed.

He was broken.

He forced a soft, sad smile and took a step forwards, lowering her head as if going to nuzzle her. Yet he stopped himself just in time, eyes flicking towards the small lion beside her. His golden son.

"Maawio..." And he faltered there, "how...how have you been?" It was a pathetic greeting but he was completely lost for words.

vampirekittenzoe: "I've been coping." She said simply, her voice soft as usual. "You?" She could think of nothing to say, and her face fell, expressionless to say the least. She felt Mbari press closer, his fur rising on his neck, topaz eyes narrowed. "Who's that?" He whispered, although he had a good idea who this mystery lion was, he wasn't about to give him the satisfaction of letting Amari know that. Amari had hurt his Mommy, and that was a bad, BAD thing to do.

Kimaria33: "That's good..." He swallowed, finding that his throat felt thick and painful. "I...I went to visit Asikari at the Kusini lands...I haven't seen him for a while." He gave an almost painful looking smile, "he's had a second litter of cubs and getting on pretty well." His sides shuddered and as he cast a glance at his son he felt his heart tear.

Mbari didn't know who he was.

"I...I'm just a." He met Maawio's gaze and then swallowed once more, "a friend of your mothers...or was. We had a bit of a falling out."

vampirekittenzoe: Maawio saw the hurt in his eyes, and almost began to get tearful. She sighed slowly. "But why Amari, why do you do that?" She asked, head low. Mbari gave Amari a nervous glance and tucked himself behind his mothers ivory-toed paws, wide gaze fearful. Maawio couldn't begin to imagine what was going through Amaris mind at the time, but she had her suspicions that Mbari wasn't his only son.

Her sad gaze fell, tail wrapping its way around her son weakly.

Kimaria: "I, I just wanted to help." He choked, lowering his face to stare at his paws. "I told suku and Bakhti to take care of you whilst I was gone. I didn't want you to be alone." He sighed softly, raising his head once more to peer at her, ears twitching sadly.

vampirekittenzoe: "I haven't seen either of them for a while now, and found no comfort but in my own son, I was afraid to return home for a while." She explained. "But that's not what I meant. Why did you do what you did? I caught you with her." She looked to her paws sadly.

Kimaria33: He was greatly saddened by her words, upset that neither Suku nor Bakhti had been able to offer her any support during this difficult time. She had suffered and so had his poor, innocent son. His son...who no longer knew his father. He swallowed hard and tried to reply, finding his throat thick and painful once more.

"I...I was trying to help her." He began, "she was scared and pregnant and I was only trying to protect her from whatever had spooked her." He shook his head sadly, "that's all it was...I didn't father her cubs."

vampirekittenzoe: Though she felt stupid for a while, Maawio bowed her head. Had this really been a mistake? She eyed him. Could she put her trust back into him again? She knew what it was like to be scared and pregnant. Sighing deeply, her sapphire eyes glistening as she looked him over. "I-I believe you." The words stumbled out faster than she could help them, and well, she was a very forgiving lioness. "S-sorry." She said quietly. Her own stupid assumptions had ruined her life for her, not Amari.

Mbari slid out from his mothers side, wide unfamiliar gaze falling onto his father. Such a big and intimidating figure now looked soft, but he could not forgive the father he barely knew. His head dropped, the soft juvenile felt sudden anger flare up inside him.

Kimaria33: "D-don't apologise Maawio..." He stuttered on his words, shaking his head from side to side, "you have nothing to be sorry about. I know how it must have looked and the truth was that I was flirting with her...I was..." He felt tears gather in his eyes, "I neglected you after you gave birth, perhaps in my heart I wasn't ready, wasn't ready for such a responsibility." He paused, "but I won't make excuses anymore. You deserve better than me."

He paused and drew in a deep breath, "that's why I came home...I mean?back to the Pridelands." He felt his voice waver, "I wanted to tell you that you're free now, free of me and my idiocy."

vampirekittenzoe: Maawio?s eyes glimmered as tears collected steadily, a few streaking their way down her face. "You said we'd make a great family." She murmured, voice faltering. "Why didn?t you just tell me? I would've been able to respect that." Her face fell at his words. So he was leaving for good. She didn't know whether to be upset or joyful that she would be rid of this tormenting ghost, but the memories of him would still haunt her. "No.." Her soft voice trailed off as she shook her head lightly.

Mbari remembered the few occasions on which he saw his father, he remembered the rusty figure, the loud voice, and that was it. His father had offered him no protection, no love. Maybe he could turn this around. He desperately wanted a family that was whole, and his small paws helped him stumble to Amari's side. "E-every time you leave, you take away another part of my mom." What he said was true. He had often heard his sweet mother saying that Amari had taken a part of her with him, and didn't want her to lose any more of herself.

Kimaria33: "I...I don't know." He admitted sadly, eyes fixing on hers, "I was afraid of losing you, I haven't stopped loving you Maawio. You captured my heart the moment I set eyes on you." He drew in a shaky breath and took a step back, his great paws thudding softly on the ground. "I just want you to be happy, and...and."

It was then that his son spoke and his voice sounded so foreign and strange to Amari that it knocked the lion back. He didn't know his son, not one little bit, and his word's burned into him.

"Maawio...I don't know what to do...is it too late for me to make up for past mistakes? Is it too late to try and make amends? To try and be a true mate and...and...father." He blinked back the tears and awaited her answer, not sure what at all to expect.

vampirekittenzoe: He still loved her? She felt a wave of relief, "I feel the same." She admitted. No amount of time could change the way she felt. Her heart was racing, but her eyes still tainted with sadness. "Amari.." Her head fell, eyes gazing over the dusty ground. "You know me, and you know I'm forgiving." The words almost stuck in her throat. "I'll do anything to have you back as a friend, mate or otherwise." She looked fondly towards her son. "Mbari needs a father, and he always has."

Kimaria33: He wanted to roar out in joy but instead gave a small chuff and took a step forwards - the first one since their conversation started. He wanted to nuzzle her and breath in her delicate scent but he contained the urge. This was not the time for that, no...it was time to forgive and understand.

"I don't want you to forgive me because that's who you are...I want you to forgive me because...because you want me back. I won't let you down anymore I promise." There was a sense of urgency in his voice.

"But...but Mbari, what do you want?" He turned his eyes to his son, his son who had grown so much, "I'll try my best. That's all I can do." But what if his best wasn't good enough? What if he ended up hurting them both again?

vampirekittenzoe: " I do, i do." She was almost pleading, her wide eyes shining. "I forgive you." She stood still, hoping her slender legs would stop shaking, and she would stop looking like a fool. She looked down to her son, who Amari was know addressing. Mbari withdrew slightly, body slumped backwards on the ground. His sweet and quiet voice had been inherited from his mother, and he squeaked in a high pitched voice. "I-i just want my dad." He said simply, his topaz gaze disappearing as he closed his eyes for a brief moment, as if to think. As he opening them again, he gave a slight nod.

Kimaria33: A wave of relief swept over him and he found it suddenly extremely difficult to contain himself from diving forwards. Once step at a time he thought to himself. "Boy are the others going to be surprised to see me." He said sheepishly, "but...I'm glad...so, so glad that I came back to see you."

"Thank you Mbari...I promise...I won't leave either of you again." And this time he stepped forwards, moving to nuzzle against Maawio with great affection.

vampirekittenzoe: "It was a brave thing to do." She smiled warmly, feeling her heart almost bubble with contentment. She reached forward to accept his nuzzle, wide eyes sliding closed, expression joyful and her touch warm. "I'm glad you came back." She gave him a soft lick, affectionate but delicate. "I never stopped loving you either."

Mbari gave a sheepish grin. It was unusual and touching to see his parents reunited like this, and the sensitive cub moved forward, nuzzling his fathers gigantic paw and whispering. "I hope I can get to know you."

Kimaria33: His heart swelled with joy and for the first time ever he felt like he really could be a true parent and mate. He was determined to set things right and now he had been given the opportunity to do just that he wasn't going to mess it up.

He broke away from his mother's nuzzle to brush a rough tongue between his son's ears and then returned to nuzzling Maawio. Suddenly life felt whole, perfect and wonderful. This time he was going to be a pridelander, he was going to get permission and he was going to make sure everything was okay.

"I love you too Maawio...both of you."