To Say I Love You

Disclaimer: I own nothing -_- yeah, I wish.

I love you.

Three very simple words, such a complex meaning.

L-O-V-E

Love:

To feel tender affection for somebody such as a close relative or friend, or for something such as a place, an ideal, or an animal.

To feel romantic and sexual desire and longing for somebody.

To like something, or like doing, something very much.

An intense feeling of tender affection and compassion.

A romantic affair, somebody who is loved romantically.

A foolish, unreasoning, or extravagant passion or attraction

All of the above.

Love is an emotion of strong affection and personal attachment.

Being in love is like having a fire inside of you. To put it simply, it eats you up alive.

And once you start the fire, once you have a flame, it is nearly impossible to put out.

I love you

He hadn't meant to say it.

I love you

It was a mistake, an accident.

I love you

But there are no accidents, right?

I love you

Right?

He had regretted it immediately afterwards. It had just come out, no warning, no hints or clues for him to be able to tell that it was coming. Just random and spontaneous. Free and truthful. It had ruined everything.

It had been a normal morning. They got up, they trained. They ate, trained some more. Break, more training. Meditation, training. Then it was time for dinner. It was the same as any regular night. Po made noodles, he was as loud as ever, Mantis and Monkey made jokes, keeping up the witty banter from everyone in the room. Crane sat quietly, watching and occasionally laughing to himself. Viper chatted with Tigress, who would often use her fast tough and quick wit to comment on the others conversations. Master Shifu sat at the head of the table, observing his students carefully, putting in his two cents here and there. Normal, all together normal.

"Po, Tigress, it is your turn to do the dishes."

Until then

Tigress sighed inwardly, why did she get stuck with the panda.

"Yes master." they said simultaneously, bowing to the elderly red panda.

The rest of the masters quietly left the room. Heading to their bed chambers so they could turn is for the night. Po and Tigress stood side by side silently watching them go. Master Shifu took up the rear, he paused and looked at his two prized students.

"Behave, you two." he said, then, more light-heartedly, "Goodnight." and left the kitchen.

Tigress's lip curled and she let out a small growl. Behave, of course she would be have. The panda, well, that she couldn't promise. Let's get this over with, she thought, walking over to the sink.

"I'll wash, and you dry, okay." Po instructed.

"Sounds good, Po." she said, she didn't really hate the panda. She actually liked him. He was loud and annoying. Clumsy and foolish. And a goofball of a dragon warrior. But she was his best friend, and he was hers. Tigress was quite fond of the fluffy panda, but she couldn't let anyone know that, now could she?

I love you.

Tigress took a dish that Po handed her, drying it carefully, then pacing it in the rack. This went on for a little while. He washed, she dried. They cleaned the dishes in comfortable silence. Po began to hum softly as he washed. Tigress looked at he annoyed.

"Ahem."

Po stopped humming a turned to her. "Yeah."

Tigress raised her eyebrows, a knowing smirk on her face.

"Oh, sorry."

"It's okay, Po." she said lightly. And they turned back to the dishes.

"What were you humming.?"

"What?"

"When you were humming back then, what were you humming?"

"Oh, just a lullaby that my dad used to sing to me when I was a cub." Po told her.

"Hush baby, hush darling, don't make a sound." he sang quietly.

Tigress's eyes widened in realization. "I know that one." she said, and sung

"Hush baby, hush sweetie, lay your head down."

"Hush little panda, don't be so blue." Po sang the next verse

"Hush little tiger," Tigress continued.

They sang the last part together. " Your dreams will come true."

They stepped closer to each other, lost in the other person's eyes. Tigress was just an inch or to shorter than Po, so she had to tilt her head up slightly to get a good look at him. They stood there, noses touching, breathing heavy. Her heart sped up and she could fell his breath on her face. Po smiled down at her.

I love you.

"You're a wonderful singer, you have a beautiful voice." he whispered.

Tigress felt her cheeks heat up, who knew that the panda could be so smooth. "Thank you."

" You should sing more often, your great." he complemented.

She shook her head, "No, I haven't sung since I was very young."

"That's a shame." Po said, leaning in closer. Tigress's mind whirled, and at the last second, she stepped away. She just couldn't do it, she couldn't. Long ago she had built a wall around her heart, and she couldn't let him in. She just couldn't.

"We have to finish the dishes." she whispered, gesturing to the counter, her voice was a little hoarse. Thick with tears that were threatening to fall, but that wouldn't happen, she hadn't cried for 15 years. Tigress turned back to the sink, letting out a deep breath, eyes sparkling. Her heart ached, ached for Po.

They finished up the rest of the dishes without any further talking, or humming, for that matter. Tigress finished up drying the last dish and put in in the rack, she turned to Po and nodded.

"Looks like we are done." she said

"Yeah, night." he replied

"Goodnight."

Po turned to go, walking towards the door. And then, with out really thinking about what he was going to do.

"I love you."

There was a moment of silence, when they both froze, trying to comprehend what had just happened. Po was the first to react, hands flying to his mouth, wishing he could reverse time and take that back.

Tigress on the other hand, didn't react at all. She just froze, her body stiffened and teeth clenched, breathing erratic as her head pounded and mind whirled. No one had ever said that to her.

Po turned around to look at the tiger master, who had not moved since his confession. He didn't know what to do, he wondered what she was thinking. And now, to try and make things better, he did what Po did best, besides eating, he talked.

"Tigress?" no reply "I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say that. I-I, umm, I mean, it's not like I didn't mean it, I really do love you." Tigress flinched, he said it again. "I mean, w-who wouldn't love you? Your so cool and awesome, and nice and super beautiful. I mean, and umm, your kung fu is like, totally awesome and stuff, and umm, I, ugg, I'm just going to stop talking now." he finished, out of breath.

Tigress still hadn't moved, her arms were braced on the edge of the counter, claws digging into the wood. Her body was now visibly shaking, her shoulders buckling as she held her self up against the sink.

"Tigress?" Po asked, worried "Are you okay?"

"Nobody has ever said that to me before." she said, her voice shaky.

"What?"

"Nobody has ever told me that they loved me before you."

"Nobody?" he asked. Tigress shook her head. "No." she whispered.

"Ever?" She shook her head no again. "Never."

"Well I love you." he told her. Tigress flinched once more.

"It's true, I do, I love you Tigress, you're my first love." he announced confidently.

Tigress took a deep breath and turned to face him. Her whole body was trembling slightly, eyes glistening with tears. She looked up at him, opening her mouth to speak, but now words came out.

"Tigress?" Po asked, taking a step towards her.

Tigress looked at her feet, taking a deep breath she opened her mouth again, then closed it, then opened it once more. When she finally spoke, her voice was just above a whisper.

"Yes."

Po took another step closer to her.

"You beautiful."

Another step.

"You sweet and kind."

Tigress flinched again, sighing she looked up into his beautiful jade green eyes. Her chest tightened and her heart beat sped up into overdrive.

This time she took a step.

"And your loyal, and graceful. Pretty and thoughtful." Po continued.

Step.

"Your perfect, and that's why I love you. I don't understand why you have never been told that before. Your so perfect, and I love you so much. I do." he finished.

They were now nose to nose, neither of them dared to move, or say anything that might ruin the moment. Tigress even held her breath, biting her tough inside her mouth.

Po leaned in, closing the small gap between them. Her breath hitched as there lips touched, and the sparks flew, but just before it could ignite, before a flame began to burn, Tigress pulled away slightly. She closed her mouth and looked down, hands flying to her lips and stroking them carefully. Her breath came out in fast pants, heart beating faster then a hummingbirds wings.

"I can't." she whispered. Ducking her head and hiding her face.

"Why?" Po asked.

"I-" she began, but quickly closed her mouth, she couldn't continue. She had been hurt before, and more importantly, she had hurt before as well. Damaged people that she loved. It seemed that she hurt everyone she cared about, everyone. They all got hurt. She didn't care about many people, and she wouldn't add Po to that short list. "I just can't"

Po put a finger under Tigress chin, lifting her head towards him. He smiled down at her and wrapped an arm around her waist.

"Yes, you can." he told her, pulling her in.

This time Tigress didn't resist, she gave in, fully and truly. Po closed the gap, lightly pressing his lips against hers. The kiss was full of passion and love. They both wanted this so bad. And they got what they wanted.

Tigress pulled back first, smiling for the first time that night.

"I love you." Po said once more.

And Tigress loved him back.

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