[PRIVATE: DGFone & Thewhistlerify]

[DGFone]

Feeling Lina just about collapse in disappointment brought to Delano. He hugged her tighter, not knowing what else to do. He didn't know how to properly explain his feelings, but he also felt as though... as though Lina didn't understand how he felt. He hoped that soon, he would be able to get over his fears and worries, because he knew how much it would mean for her.

---

Umeme lay down next to Muroki, smiling. "Yeah, I can't wait either," she let out a content sigh, "but for now, it's only a matter of time. Although if what mom told me is true, it will also be when we kiss our freedom good bye." She chuckled. "So you might want to run around while you still can."

[TheWhistlerify]

It was true that Lina did not understand how Delano was feeling, but that was because he never really did explain himself to her. Yes, she knew that he wasn't ready, but why wasn't he ready? Why did he constantly refuse to take even the slightest bit of encouragement whenever she told him that she believed in him and that she knew he'd make a good father when the time came? The more she thought about it, the less sense it all seemed to make and the less she felt like continuing to try to figure it all out.

~~~

Muroki chuckled, unable to stop himself from joking a little. "According to what she said?" he asked with a grin. "Knowing your mother, she'd be happy to watch over the cubs every now and then. I'm not saying we won't dedicate most of our time to them, but having a little time for ourselves won't be impossible." The lion placed a paw over his mate, holding her close. "Besides, your father always says that parenthood is worth it. I'm sure we'll be fine."

[DGFone]

Delano opened his mouth slightly, wanting to talk to Lina. Initially, nothing came out, but he eventually forced himself to tart talking. "Listen, Lina... I know you don't really understand, and really... I don't understand myself either. But... I am hoping that I will see what will happen with Muroki and Umeme, and I will understand a lot more after that..." He rubbed his head on her's. "I may be afraid now, but I also know very well that I don't not want to have a family with you."

---

Umeme grinned back at Muroki. "Worth it doesn't mean it will be easy," she told him, "it's going to be a lot of hard work, and if I recall correctly, they also told us that a lot of times, it will not feel like it's worth it, but in the end it will be."

[TheWhistlerify]

Lina remained silent for a few moments after Delano had spoken to her. She hadn't suspected that Delano didn't want to have a family with her because she would have known already. Unless he's been lying to her, which would have been a completely different problem on its own, but that wasn't the case. "I know, Delano..." she said softly, shuffling a little closer to him when he rubbed his head against hers. If seeing Muroki and Umeme's cubs wouldn't give him the encouragement he needed... she didn't know what would.

Muroki smiled warmly at Umeme. Her father did say that parenthood could be hard at times as well. "I know it's going to be a lot of hard work." he said, nuzzling his mate. "But I think that, the harder it is, the harder it is, the more rewarding it'll be as well. And, as hard as it'll be, we'll go through it together.." He gently licked her forehead. "So even when it's hard, it'll be okay."

[DGFone]

Delano knew that Lina was still upset, so he continued to hold on to her. He knew that she really wanted her own cubs as well, so the longer he hesitated, the worse he was making the wait for her. But no matter what they tried, he couldn't get over his fears right now, so he hoped that interacting with Umeme and Muroki's cubs would help him build up the confidence that he needed, and that Lina was desperate for.

---

Umeme giggled as Muroki licked her. "Well, as long as we both work for it together, it shouldn't be too hard," If anything, she was most worried about being driven insane by the long wait as the cubs develop than what will happen after they will be born. Letting out a yawn, she got up to her feet. "I feel like taking a short walk. Care to come with me?"

[TheWhistlerify]

Muroki smiled, nodding his head. "Yeah. We both signed up for this, didn't we?" he asked somewhat teasingly, grinning at his mate as he nudged her shoulder with his own. When she suggested they took a short walk, he happily got to his paws. "I'd love that." As they both prepared to take their leave, he looked at Deoano and Lina. "We're going for a walk." Muroki didn't know whether they'd want to tag along or not, but he and Umeme did have to let their guests know.

Before either his brother or sister in law could respond, however, Muroki heard a familiar voice behind him. "Hey guys!" He turned around, grinning upon seeing Kato running in their direction. The prince came over to him and Umeme, embracing them both. "How's it going?" Ever since they'd met Kato, before Muroki and Delano's weeks of recovery and before the month that has passed since Umeme became pregnant, the prince has grown. While still an adolescent, he's gotten somewhat bigger and his mane was now growing on his chest as well.

Muroki chuckled, returning the young lion's hug before letting him go. "We're doing great." he said, smilng at Kato. "We were just about to go for a walk." Umeme probably wouldn't mind. "Care to join us?" The prince nodded enthusiastically.

[DGFone]

With Kato having developed such a close friendship with Muroki, it had in the end rubbed off at least somewhat on Umeme. So she didn't even try to argue when Muroki didn't ask her if she wanted the prince to accompany them or not, because she liked for Kato to come along as well now that he was here. "We won't be walking for too long," she informed him. And then not to miss a good opportunity for teasing, "we wouldn't want to keep you away from Desta now, would we?" She grinned triumphantly as Kato had to look away to hide the fact that her teasing caught him right on.

Turning to her sister and brother in law, Umeme didn't really want to interrupt their moment, but since Muroki had already told them that they were going, but they didn't seem to react, she figured that she might try as well. "We're going for a walk. Care to join us?"

Delano slowly broke away from the embrace he had on Lina. He smiled at her reassuringly. "Let's go with them. It wouldn't hurt us, will it?" He nuzzled her as well as nudging her up on her feet.

[TheWhistlerify]

Kato found himself looking away and blushing at Umeme's teasing. He didn't know why it still got to him considering the fact that he's known Umeme and Muroki for quite some time now. For a moment he considered teasing the lioness back, but he had a feeling the mentioning weight gain would be a very bad idea. "I-i suppose not..." he said sheepishly, deciding to not give in to the urge to throw something right back at her. The prince too was very excited about the fact that she and Muroki had cubs on the way. He just knew they'd do a wonderful job raising them together.

Lina looked at Delano, slowly noddng. "No, it probably won't." she said, rising to her paws as well. Anything aounded better than just lying there with Delano and feeling sorry for herself. Plus, she liked having Kato around. His energy and high spirits always seemed to rub off on her a little whenever he was there.

Together, the four young adults and adolescent began to walk. They didn't go fast so that Umeme wouldn't have trouble keeping up with them. Every once in a while Kato would ask Umeme and Muroki a question about what they were going through or about what lay ahead of them, out of curiosity. At some point Muroki couldn't help but tease him. "You sound like you're really desperate to know."

The prince seemed to catch the older male's drift. His cheeks turned red in an instant. "Am not!" he said, frowning. "I'm just curious!"

[DGFone]

Glad that Lina accepted to go on the walk with the others, Delano took his place by her side. He quickly ran his paw over her head and gave her a lick before walking off after the others, Lina by his side.

With Muroki and Kato, Umeme struggled not to laugh at the back and forth between her mate and the prince. "I have to agree with Muroki here," she commented when she found a good break in their 'bickering', "you really do sound far too curious. Are you planning anything with Desta? I hope not, considering how young you are..." She grinned at him. "On the other paw, I am not your mother, and I don't know what she considers to be 'too young'." By now, Kato was looking like he wanted to disappear, and for some reason, it made Umeme very delighted to see him so embarrassed out of his mind.

[TheWhistlerify]

Muroki's first comment was bad enough. When Umeme joined in, however, it actually became a lot worse. Was this conversation really taking place? "I am not!" he said defiantly. Sure, Desta was the most beautiful and attractive lioness in his eyes, but for goodness's sake were the two of them young. Heck, if his mother somehow got the wrong impression he'd never hear the end of it!

"Give the little guy a break, will you?" asked Lina with a chuckle. Somebody had to come to the prince's rescue. "You two are teasing him to the point where it sounds like you're jealous," she grinned, "but we all know that you're all over each other whenever nobody else is around." To her satisfaction, her sister and brother in law looked each other in embarrassment.

Kato seemed especially amused by this. "Ha!"