[PRIVATE: DGFone & Thewhistlerify]

[DGFone]

Some time later, Delano lay by the water's edge next to Lina, simply content to not say anything at the two of them basked in one another's presence. While he already knew that he really did need a day off just to be with her without having to worry about Akili, he really didn't know just how much he needed this short break. It wasn't even over yet, and he was already feeling so much better, as though so many of his worries had simply vanished.


Eventually, he decided that he might as well say something, because he wanted to also share how he felt to Lina, who also looked quite content next to him. "Lina... well, thanks. I really needed that." He grinned as she chuckled at his comment. "I guess you needed it too, huh?" He allowed her to start nuzzling him, which he returned as well. "So now that Akili is a little older, you think we will be able to take more days off like this?" He was hoping that she would agree, because he really didn't want to get back to another long grind. Sure, it was well worth it, but it was very demanding all the same.

[TheWhistlerify]

Later, as she and her mate lay closely together by the shore of the waterhole, Lina was content enough with simply watching the water as her head rested in Delano's warm mane. The water was completely still, a sight which the lioness found to be very peaceful and relaxing. Just looking made her feel at ease (not that she was even a little bit tense, of course). But it definitely emphasized the atmosphere in addition to the silence around them that was accompanied by the occasional sound of leaves swaying in the wind.

Smiling uncontrollably as the lion at her side broke the silence, and chuckling at his cheeky comment, Lina went ahead and nuzzled her mate lovingly, purring as he returned the gesture. "Yeah, I really needed this too..." she said, giving the male a soft lick behind his ear. The option of taking some time off for themselves more often had obviously crossed her mind now that Akili was older. She could really use more of, well, this. "I'm certain we will." The very thought was almost as nice as actually doing so would probably be. "I know my parents won't mind at all." The two would be happy to have their grandcub over more frequently.

[DGFone]

Knowing Lina's parents, Delano chuckled when his mate mentioned them. "You know, I think we just figured out how to fight their teasing of us then," he answered, knowing that Lina would wonder as to what made him laugh. "We really can bring Akili over more often, but not if they start teasing us again." He put on a thoughtful face. "We can... explain to them that they are saying things that we don't want to expose Akili to, so for his good, we want to keep him away from them. Or they can lighten up a little and we will indulge them and let them enjoy their grand-cub."

He looked over at Lina, grinning proudly about his idea. "What do you think?"

[TheWhistlerify]

Lina found it impossible not to giggle and roll her eyes playfully as her mate actually began to plot and think of ways to reduce the amount of teasing they received from her parents. "I think that saying we're keeping him away from them for his own good would be a bit offensive." she said, chuckling. "We can just make a simple deal - we'll bring the fuzzy maraca over more often if they don't tease us. To make both sides happy. Although, they were rather quiet in that regard today." Hopefully it would stay that way because, knowing her mother, the older lioness would counter tease the threat by wishing them good luck in finding somebody else to keep an eye on their Akili so that they could go off and, well, she probably wouldn't say that in front of the cub, but she'd definitely give her a look that would send that exact message! "Eh... Let's just hope it stays that way for now..." The lioness licked her mate across his muzzle before once again nuzzling him tenderly.

[DGFone]

Delano chuckled in agreement about how Lina's parents were unusually well behaved today. "Yeah, I hope too," he replied, "I don't want to have to explain to Akili that some parents are like yours." He fell silent as Lina licked him again, most likely a sign from her that he was talking too much again. Grinning at his mate, he returned her nuzzle, deciding that talknig wasn't the best thing to do right now. They came here today to enjoy an entire day together without having to worry about anything, so why ruin that?

[spoiler]Sorry for the long wait. School has been very... narly lately[.spoiler]

[TheWhistlerify]

Knowing Akili, the cub would have been way too busy being excited about getting to spend the whole day with his grandparents in order to notice the way they were teasing their daughter and son-in-law, especially with his grandfather instantly offering himself as a playing partner. Lina playfully rolled her eyes and licked Delano across his muzzle once more, purring happy as he got the message and stopped talking about something they wouldn't have to worry about until they went to pick their son up in the evening. She always enjoyed their affectionate displays, even the plainer ones (in light of what they'd done just earlier, that is).

Spoiler: show

No worries.

[DGFone]

While he did enjoy laying on the bank with Lina, Delano started to feel like there might be better ways to spend the day with her. While it wasn't the same with Akili nearby, he still got to do this with her every night. His mind started to wander about trying to think of what else they could do that would really be fun, and he quickly got an idea.

"Hey, Lina, you know, since you did cheat on the race here, how about we try again?" He knew that she would immediately object, because he was faster than her when running, but not for short enough distances, which is why he quickly added, "not for too long. Around the waterhole or so. Just this time, no head starts!" He grinned at his mate, hoping that she would accept. "Eh, what do you think?"

[TheWhistlerify]

Lina was about to ask her mate just what made him think he could dare to mention the way she'd cheated the race earlier after the apology he received afterwards, but decided that she might as well entertain her overgrown cub of a mate a little. He obviously just wanted to spice things up a little more, and they still had the majority of the day ahead of them. "Okay, fine." she said, rising to her paws and stretching her somewhat hind legs. She could always push him into the waterhole once the race would end (or in the middle of it).

[DGFone]

Delano was able to tell that Lina wasn't too keen on the idea, but since she accepted it in the end, he was all for it. "All right, you're on!" He too got up and followed Lina to where she chose a starting spot. "So you want to start the countdown or should I?"

As he said this, he quickly realized that apart from "around the waterhole or something like that", they hadn't actually chosen the course of the race. Well, too late to change it now, they were already about to start. Besides, it might be more fun if what he chose to be the race was different than what Lina chose.

[TheWhistlerify]

Already thinking of multiple methods in which she could push her mate into the waterhole as they ran and startle the living hell out of him, Lina nodded. "Sure, I can count." Oh, she could already see the cute, startled, soaked-mane-covered look on his handsome face. "Ready?" she asked with a teasing, flirtatious grin as she bent over next to him a little while crouching, shifting her shoulders ever so slightly to indicate that she was more than ready to break into a sprint and leave him in the dust (or at least try to). "One, two, three!"