I am feeling somewhat a bit sentimental after listening to 'I wish you love' by Rod Steward (you can search it on youtube...very suiting to this story). And inspired further by the marvelous work of Kippis05 'Hard habit to break', here goes my version.

The timeline would be a bit ambiguous, flashing back and forth… just for the sake of putting the right suspense. And if you like TiPo fluff and romance plot, make sure you check 'Kissing Conundrum' and 'Attraction.' I couldn't quite decide the genre of this story, but I tried to balance the humor, angst, and romance in equal measure.

Depends on the response, I will decide to make this a 3-4 chapter or a full 5-6 chapter (maybe even bonus chapter.)

WARNING: A LOT OF NONSENSE FLUFF AHEAD!

Enjoy now, read and review later :-)

The best part of life journey is who you get to share it with.

We've all been through a moment in time of our life, where we wondered who our significant other would be. Many times, our eyes fell on a man, or a woman that carries an undeniable attractiveness to our eyes striking a lasting first impression. But, is there a love at first sight? Is it possible to love someone without knowing who they are?

There is a time that you will try hard to convince your brain what your heart already knows―that you have chosen a wrong person, while the right one merely stands next to you. Sometimes that special someone entered your life as your friend, even so as your enemy. Subsequently, we stuck on the obstinate hurdle of giving the new definition of friendship into romance. Our mind has become so accustomed to our friendship, that it does all it could to retain them.

Then comes the inevitable moment of playing true and dare, whether you choose to take a chance to the unknown and express your feeling, or decide to go on with the flow―hiding the truth from yourself in order to preserve your friendship pledge forever. You won't regret it today, or tomorrow…. but maybe someday, for the rest of your life. The worst feeling is regretting not having done something when you had a chance, because as life went on, you will be locked in the past and left wondering about how things could have been should you decide otherwise.

Good relationships don't just happen. They take time, patience and numerous sacrifices. And when you meet the other half of your soul, you would understand why all the others let you go.

"Man… never thought they would arrive at this." Turning around his green head, Mantis swept his sight on the dining table, which was uncharacteristically empty during the rush of dinner time. The usual head chef had absconded from his post for unknown reasons. Inside the cozy confinement of warm kitchen, four members of the Furious Five were seriously discussing the fate of two of their missing kin.

Dragon Warrior and Master Tigress.

"This is bad, both of them are keeping something away from each other." They heard the only feminine voice in the room. It's been a week since the duo, whom well known to be partners in crime and very much inseparable confidant, had not talked to each other. In fact, they were voluntarily avoiding places they used to rendezvous.

"This is also bad...because we would be left starving until they resolved this." Monkey whined, but Viper quickly slapped him with the tip of her tail to bring some sense into his thick skull.

"Ouch, sorry," the simian briefly apologize for his lack of sympathy.

"Good grief, it's like watching a soap called 'The Jade Opera'... If they confessed years ago, all these would never happen," the insect melodramatically groaned while placing his appendage on his forehead.

"So where is Tigress?" Viper shot her interrogating gaze towards each Master.

"I confront her in the training hall just now, as you may have guessed whatever she was doing there when something was bothering her. So, I told her to nurse her bloodied paws," Crane replied, he already had a strong inkling right after Tigress received a strange message from Gongmen, which later on lead her to do incessant meditating and a lonesome trip to the Ironwood Forest.

"And how about Po?" Viper raised her anxious voice again.

"Stuffing himself to the limit with some peaches under the Sacred Peach Tree," Monkey replied tonelessly.

"That big guy eats when he is upset," Crane concluded. Monkey chuckled softly to himself on the depiction of Po with a serious amount of peaches inside his mouth. "Which is bad when we remember about his stature."

"I think this is time to intervene and call for a contingency plan," Viper recalled, looking at the other master for approval.

"No...no… we should never meddle with other people love life." Crane voiced his disagreement. He reminisced that almost every single elaborate prank they ever pulled on anyone relating to romance, had ended up in absolute catastrophe."We are Kung Fu Master―solving love problem is clearly not our forte."

"But would you want one of our friends becomes an emotionally-crippled-kung fu addict and the other turns into a fat monk with morbid-appetite-disorder? I bet that peach tree soon screams for mercy, Po has been there for days divulging it non-stop!" Viper resolutely defended her opinion.

"And we do need to eat too!" The simian quickly added his two pence worth of opinion, twiddling the chopstick and empty bowl in his hands.

"Let me remind you. Before Po came, Tigress was already emotionally-crippled-kung fu addict with a strange obsession to tofu." The avian remarked.

"Crane, are you sure you did not imagine things? Are you sure they were kissing? And not something else?" The insect inquired, completely unconvinced. At the beginning of their discussion, Crane had told them that he accidentally witnessed the intimate encounter between the tiger and the panda under the Sacred Peach Tree. Which came as an absolute surprise for all the Masters, considering the culmination of recent events between the two that eventually manifested itself into a complicated affair.

"What? Like purposefully exchanging saliva? Or maybe giving her CPR?" Crane replied irritably responding Mantis' insulting question. "You don't think I know how kissing look like, do you?" He provocatively returned. Mantis just rolled his eyes replying his comrade defiance.

"Maybe Po tries to feed her some peaches with his lips." Monkey joked while the insect hopped onto Crane's beak, impulsively performing a medical inspection.

"Hey, what are you thinking you're doing!" Crane expelled the unauthorized access to his eyes.

"No, just checking for cataract." Mantis quipped solemnly. His satirical comeback invited a barrage of boisterous laughter from the rest of the master on Crane's expense.

The bird glared angrily at the insect, but Viper averted all their attention back to the topic. "This is insane, Tigress just broke up with that tiger a month ago, and Po were just engaged… and now they…. kissed?"

"And that tiger with nice muscles apparently had engaged with someone else." Crane added extra information about Tigress' ex, "... that parchment from Gongmen was his wedding invitation."

Viper face dropped hearing a piece of news she just learned."That quick? Oh, poor Tigress!"

"I bet Po would want to do the honorary task of plowing his fist into that spoilt brat's face." Monkey expressed amusingly, imagining Po's meaty paw ruining that tiger's hansome face.

"We don't know who is at fault here, Monkey. I hardly believe that guy had cheated on Tigress." Viper neutralized the simian empty accusation,"...it may well be they broke off on a valid ground. But yes―a month felt very much too quick to embark on another romance with someone else."

"If Po wasn't engaged, I bet this would be his golden chance to finally win Tigress over." Monkey openly declared. Viper nodded expectantly showing her approval. She was one of the few that knew how much Tigress, even with her lack of admittance, cherished the panda's company.

"I don't think Tigress would stop Po from marrying that panda." Crane stated, "... remember she was endorsing their relationship in the first place. I think now she realized her mistake―but it is way too late."

"Well, if she won't then I will!" Viper responded half yelling. She couldn't let her best friend being that emotionally-crippled-kung fu addict permanently.

"You said that as if it is as easy as swallowing bean bun." Mantis chided her spontaneous response but stop at the piqued face of aggravated serpent. "Ugh, just sayin'..."

Letting a troubled sigh spew from her lips, Viper repeated her utmost concern,"I know it won't be easy, but we can't let two of them regret this for the rest of their life."

But it was down to the creative simian, the mastermind of many of imposing pranks around the Jade Palace."Guys listen, I have a plan." He invited everyone to huddle over.

All this story began a year ago….

Exactly one month onwards, right after the defeat of Kai, the deranged Chi collector, the life in the Valley of Peace settled back into its usual routine. Once again, the citizen could pridefully say their village lived up to its name, and calling it 'Valley of Peace' wasn't a mere biting irony. Again all the credits were given to the brazen and fearsome warriors―the Furious Five, combined forces with the greatest culmination of Kung Fu prodigy, the Dragon Warrior.

Almost like a story out of fabled legend, a mythical tale, but Po, despite people's prejudice over his less than ideal stature as a pronounced warrior, had proven that no dream was too wild, too unattainable, too absurd or too impossible to come true. He was once was a son of a humble noodle marker, a dark horse when it came to bearing such dignitary―however, had proven himself worthy of the honorific, even climbed in rank―combining hard work, earnest dedication to the art and injecting his own spin of creativity to transform his shortcomings into strength.

Po had become China's most illustrious hero and distinguished warrior in his own decree.

But underneath all his notable accolades, heroic virtue, famed achievement and being immensely renowned as China's keeper of justice and peace, unfortunately, just like anyone else, Po was not immune to the love-life problem.

That day, sitting among the immense beauty of Wu Dan mountain, Mantis, Monkey, Crane and Po ventured for a boys-only meditation session.

Or more like gossiping session.

"Dude...what's up man, you look awful!" Po opened his eyes from his fake meditation to meet the perplexed gaze of his simian friend.

"What do you mean?" He articulated innocently, trying to hide anything suspicious from staining the quality of his tone.

"I know there is something wrong Po, you skipped lunch and didn't finish the almond cookies I save for you." Monkey rebutted, looking pointedly at the half empty bowl which usually would be devoured within seconds. It was uncharacteristically odd when Po either eating non-stop or not eating at all.

"Po, you just vanquished a formidable spirit warrior and appointed as Oogway Successor," The chatty insect dictated as he rested on Po's ample belly.

Monkey nodded expectantly, agreeing with the green bug. "Yeah, you even get a stick bigger and way cooler than Shifu! So, what's wrong?" Both of them relentlessly pressing the panda to tell them the truth.

"No guys, of course, there is nothing wrong with that." Po chuckled edgily, knowing that it was inevitable two of his friends to dig out information from him.

"No, I mean… what's wrong?" Monkey pressed. For a moment of repose, the panda remained silent while toying with his blunt claw. With a heavy sigh, he finally explained. "It's… It's my dad. He brought up the things about my betrothal."

Mantis eyes nearly fell out while Monkey covered up his mouth to muffle his gasp. "What? I thought your father dropped it?" Mantis voiced clearly showing he was immensely surprised.

"He was… but…. you see, both my panda dad and goose dad aren't getting younger by the day, and… I kinda wish I could give the life that they deserved." Then they understood, Po just had a heart to heart conversation with both of his fathers. And being the benevolent, respectful son that he was, it hardly inconceivable that Po wished to make them both happy.

"Lemme guess, and that entails marriage and grand cubs." Monkey grinned resplendently but quickly exchanged it into more sympathetic smiles when he met the eyes of the apprehensive panda.

"My panda dad was totally cool for me dropping the betrothal, and even Mei Mei already hooked up with another panda soon after they returned to the Secret Panda Village. But I got the point; I need to find suitable girl real soon." Po spelled out the main reason for his trepidation.

"And?"

"And… I have a problem with that," Po sighed as he brought both of his paws to his face.

"What? You are bodacious freakin' Dragon Warrior! A lot of girls will just waltz into your arms!" Monkey whacked his palms with feverish enthusiasm onto Dragon Warrior's meaty shoulder.

"Yeah man, I mean don't tell me you still have confidence problem, you being a peasant underdog was all history―not saying noodle maker is a bad profession ―but... I mean look at you." The insect pointed at Po's rotund belly, "You have proven worthy of dignitary and bodacious status as the mighty Defender of China!"

The panda just grunted in a petulant display, inviting nonplussed expression from the other Masters.

But a moment of enlightenment dawned upon one of the oldest and wisest member of the Furious Five.

Of course, the root of the problem wasn't the number of suitors but the suitors themselves!

"Wait… you are the one who is being picky right? I bet you already have someone in mind? Just saying." Crane inserted.

The rest quickly turned into the same page and realized what Crane meant. They nudged the panda back with a sly smile. Obviously, everyone, except for the valiant feline subject they had in mind, knew about Po's secret crush. The panda squirmed and fidgeted in his seat, his mind frantically trying to deny all account about his first love, but his brain had frozen solid at the teasing lips of his knowing comrades.

Duh, apparently this lot already knew.

It was true that during the years of their friendship, Po had slowly harbored a special feeling for his feline comrade. While Tigress treated him like her closest friend, Po's lack of confidence had impeded him from confessing his sentiment to her. Po was certain that Tigress would never feel the same way as he did her. But in his consolation, at least he had come this far, from no one to her best friend, from noodle maker to her partner in combat, and that sufficed to grant a considerable amount of happiness for him.

"Oh geez, Po… couldn't you pick, an easier candidate? Like Mrs. Chu's daughter… she is a cute sheep, and she was in the intermediate Kung Fu class, very talented and promising young lady…. I bet she'll make a good partner in crime." Mantis eloquently returned, his eyes sparkled mischievously.

"Mrs. Chu the vegetable seller?" Po rebutted unconvinced. He disliked the way Mantis eyes twinkled.

"Yeah! I bet you'll get a free-flow supply of veg for a year if you dated her daughter. Not to mention how happy your goose dad will be closer to the food-chain which could translate into more lucrative profits." He reasoned, still retaining the despicable smile that spread wider from side to side.

"I don't like her. She is very… delirious, and errr… a little weird." Crane explicated his objection, "One time she came to class after dyeing her hair pink. I mean seriously? Pink? She gotta have an appalling sense of taste, lacking social awareness or downright demented," the bird complained incessantly,"...besides it's horrible for stealth. How can pink be an appropriate hair color for a warrior? Even so a wife?" Crane frivolous yet spontaneous sarcasm invited a generous gale of laughter from the rest, even Po. Well, who could have imagined a panda with a pink haired goat wife?

After the jarring noises had subsided, Crane continued his line of opinion,"Moreover, Po had a reputation to maintain. So, at least his potential suitor has to be as formidable as him."

"The only formidable part of Po is his belly… second to his appetite," The panda pouted at the insect remark,"...just joking Po… but your belly indeed a formidable weapon. You won't win against Tai Lung without it." Mantis teased.

"Don't you think it's a little scary to have a boyfriend that could make you disappear by flicking his pinky?" Crane commented while adjusting the position of his straw hat.

"Put it this way, if your girlfriend constantly got your nerve, you can send her to the Spirit Realm for Master Oogway to deal with." Monkey jived, laughing profusely on the image of the ancient tortoise surrounded by a bunch of chatty, gossipy and irritating women.

"What about Mrs. Chang's daughter―the rabbit."

"Er… guys, don't you think she is a bit… small?" Po retorted, welcoming the indignant look from the tiniest member of the five.

"What do you mean small?" Mantis narrowed his eyes and glared at the panda vindictively. He would never allow being second-classed as less insignificant creature due to his size.

"No offense there Buddy, but let face it… size matter." Po replied vaguely, while Monkey and Crane this time round had beaten the perverted bugs and grinning expectantly like a mindless idiot.

"Po is referring to the mechanic side of the marriage." Monkey offered a hint while flashing a smug smile. The panda had grown pink, but smiling nonetheless.

"And that's also why Po never got jealous about Lei Lei endorsing you to get hitched with her Tigress' dolls." Crane remarked knowingly at the vexed insect, "... because you and Tigress will never―"

"Oh yeah, I got you," the insect deadpanned, noting his friend polite sarcasm over his unprivileged size."I thought Po only knows that panda hatched from an egg?" He administered his witty retribution.

"Give me a break, I am 33 this year," Po replied, crossing his chubby arms and pursed his lips adorably like a cub. Wait, did he just said he was thirty-three? Oh, the irony thereof!

"Have Mantis finally contaminated your 'clean' mind?" Monkey inquired, stifling an amusing cackle between his hands.

"Oh come onnnn! Po was more capable of digging up such information from another source. Like scroll number 69 that stored inside Shifu's bedroom." The insect insolently defended his innocence and denying his involvement of staining the panda's virgin mind,"I bet Dragon Warrior need to master that scroll before his inauguration as Oogway Successor." A jarring laughter went on again.

But inevitably, the boys understood that, at the moment, no one could rival the striped feline that had smitten the naive panda.

"Well yeah, had to admit, Tigress is a complicated creature. No one will know what's going on inside her head… except for training of course." Mantis explicated his opinion, "But if you wanna know, you have to ask her, Dude." He urged, "Don't you wish to know what she thinks of you?"

The green insect word struck hard into Po's heart. Here he was, finally stood a chance to be with his idol, but his heart and mind wanted more. But was he ready to risk their much-treasured friendship at stake?

In closing, Crane wisely concluded, "Po, only you could decide whether Tigress will worth all your pain and effort…..or whether you'll be happier to settle with someone else."

That night, Po helped out in the restaurant, and since the Grand Master had generously offered a day off for everyone, the panda had taken the liberty to make a full use of it by staying in his old room, escaping the merciless warning of the gong to meddle with his peaceful slumber.

In the silent confinement of his chamber, he brood over his friend's words, while his paws were synchronously dusting all assortment of Kung Fu memorabilia which resting in various position around the dresser. Behind two of his favorites, rare collection of Master Rhino and Master Ox action figures, he saw a tattered lacquered box, which had been sitting there for generations… well, that hyperbolical, what Po meant was it had been there for a long time ―purposely left alone and untouched.

He extended his hand, carefully embedded the small box within his paws. The box was firmly sealed with little padlock, even secured further with linen ribbon that fastened around it; as if spelling out a warning message 'Do not open me…. Unless you have to.'

His claws craftily picked on the components that safeguarded the content of the box from the prying eyes of the interlopers. Soon, the key harmoniously made a sound of a modest click, and the secret underneath was revealed.

...to be continue...