Though I suppose it would be little consolation for me to apologize, you all know it's been too long. FAR too long. So I guess all I can do is offer this and hope people are still around to read it. For the few people that have periodically pushed me to release this, you have my thanks. I've always said I'm rusty after long breaks, but I guess that goes without saying. I feel like I wanted to progress with the story because that's what has inevitably held me back, so I tried doing that just a bit. Hope you guys enjoy, the whole 6 of you who will read this.

I awoke earlier today, making especially sure not to disturb Blu as I crept out of the nest ever so slightly. I had to wiggle my way out from under his wings from which he used shelter me through the night with his warmth. As soon as I broke away from the barrier of warmth in the nest, a sharp, chilling wind tickled through my feathers. I quickly paused and shuddered as I looked back towards Blu, making extra sure I didn't wake him.

Blu's slumber left him peacefully cuddled in the nest breathing steadily as he dreamt sweet serenades of a perhaps more happier time. I couldn't help but watch him with a smile on my face for a few moments. How calm and peaceful he looked; there was nothing more I wanted to do then to cuddle back up with him. However there was something I tasked myself with and I quickly readied myself for flight. Peaking out of the hollow I surveyed the morning sky and the forest around me. The jungle itself had yet to dawn its lively apparel of active animals and other beings that deemed it their home. Instead it was more as if the jungle was sleeping, or breathing rather, as the wind sifted through the many tree leaves.

I put all of that aside and lifted into the air. I was racing against time, after all. It wouldn't be long before Blu roused himself out of his sleep and I wanted to be back by his side the moment he did.

I took a small turn, banking to the left as I sailed towards my destination. My whole goal was simple, I wanted to surprise Blu with breakfast and maybe we could just sit and cuddle while we ate.

Giddiness was in my movement as I came to a soft landing on a branch of the tree in question. I inspected my surroundings quickly before I went to peck at a few mangos, making absolutely sure they were of desirable quality. It wasn't hard, but I did have to carefully select my fruits as, to my knowledge, many birds did frequent these trees.

Once I procured three mangoes I readied myself to take off back to the hollow, however the second I was about to take off I heard the faint sound of struggle behind me. Curiosity peaked my interest as I carefully placed my fruit down on the limb, making extra sure they wouldn't just roll off, before I slowly raised into the air and glided closer to the sound.

What could be happening this early? I wondered as I sailed down a short ways towards the sound. I had to work my way around a few branches, landing on one and hopping to the next to cautiously approach what ever was causing the disturbance.

When I finally located the source of the sound I was surprised to find that it was of two Hyacinth macaw chicks and apparently they had gotten into an argument over a mango. Curiously, I perched above them and watched how they argued, each side wanting the one fruit in question for their own nourishment even when many more surrounded them. More importantly, I began to question where their parents were as well as why two chicks at their age were out and about this early in the morning.

Finally, feeling that the charade had gone on long enough, I swooped down with the intent to solve the debacle.

"Excuse me," I exchanged softly in a calming tone, "but why are you two fighting?" I finished as I landed behind the two, swiping up the mango and inspecting it for myself in the confusion I had caused upon landing. At first the two little macaws were surprised by my presence and I observed their expressions as I cocked my head to one side.

"Well?" I asked, "Why were you two fighting over this mango?"

One chick turned to me finally and very angrily began elaborating on how idiotic her sibling was in almost unintelligible speech to which her sibling began protesting in a similar manner. Their complaints quickly began too much for me to handle so I patiently hushed them both, offering a solution.

"How about you two share the fruit? Half and half?" I said trying to strike up a bargain, but the two chicks looked at each other, scoffed and turned away.

"I wouldn't share this juicy fruit with someone as stupid as him," The female chick screeched venomously. The brother rolled his eyes and angrily tugged at the mango they were arguing about, "And I wouldn't share this with you!"

"Hey now," I said putting my wings around the both of them, clutching the fruit with my talons, "You two are related, are you not?" The brother rolled his eyes, "Unfortunately," he said in almost a sarcastic tone. It took almost my entire being to repress the giggle that almost escaped me and I just clicked my beak instead.

"You shouldn't treat each other like this," I started in a very lecture-y tone, "Instead of fighting over one fruit, why don't you just get another fruit?"

The female of the two looked at my silly and then gestured to herself, "Do you see how small we are? There is no way I'll be able to pick one of those."

I couldn't help but smile, "Of course. There is no way that 'you' will get the fruit by yourself. Maybe if you had help from a relative, say, your brother?" I pointed with one motion of my head towards her sibling and she narrowed her eyes as her glance turned to him.

Her brother, who didn't seem very convinced, shrugged and rolled his eyes. "That way," I continued, "You won't have to share the fruit and you will both have your own."

The brother simply sighed, "If it will get her to stop yelling at me, I'm willing to do anything."

Swiftly, he hopped up on the branch above and found a near perfect mango. he jumped to the top of the fruit and he looked down at me and his sister, "Hurry up and get over here, sis," He said in a dry, exasperated tone. His sister, in turn, hopped up with him and the two began pulling at the stem, clawing and struggling with it in an attempt to free it from the tree's grasp.

It was almost comical to see two tiny chicks tugging at a fruit and I had to put effort into controlling my laughter. Before long, the stem gave way abruptly and I watched as the sudden jerk sent the two chicks off balance, spiraling down. I wasted no time in opening my wings and swooping down, catching one and helping steady out the other.

Despite almost having a nasty fall, the chicks looked with disdain as the fruit fell to the green foliage of the forest floor below. We landed as a group on a branch and I put in the extra effort of retrieving the two chicks a fruit myself.

It was surprisingly silent as the two ate, which seemed like such a contrast to how they were acting earlier. I guess when it came to nourishing theirselves, the focused in on the task and didn't bother with anything else. Or maybe it's the fact they had fruit stuffed in their face that they couldn't talk, either way it let the breeze whisper its melody through the leaves and into my ears.

During the silence I couldn't help but think what two little birds were doing out here by theirselves. It wasn't that they were too young to function in the real world, it was more the fact that they were too young to be out an about without their parents. It felt strange that they should be alone, so I opted to stay with them until I at least received an answer. My query, however, would have to wait until after they finished eating; that much was apparent.

As the kids finished up their meal, the sun had reached a respectable amount of distance in the sky and my thoughts turned to Blu. He'd surely be up by now, if not, he'd be up in a few minutes. Turning my attention to the kids, I quickly observed them push what remnants of their meals they had off into the maw of the foliage below. I shook my head in disapproval as I noticed that of what was left of the two mangos, one would have sufficed in feeding the two of them. I put that aside, however, and began focusing on questioning the two little birds in front of me.

"So why are you two out so early?" I questioned masking my impatience to get back to Blu.

They looked at each other and the female quickly replied, "Because our daddy was still asleep and we were hungry."

Daddy? I thought, but before I could open my beak to ask another question a masculine voice resounded behind me.

"There you two are!" The voice said in a tired, yet relieved tone, "You guys scared the life out of me, never run off again!" The adult bird scolded. Assumably he was their father and when he noticed me he smiled sheepishly and shrugged.

"Sorry, ma'am. Did my kids bother you?" He asked as he landed on the other side of the two children from me.

"Not at all," I replied, "They were just having trouble looking for an early breakfast. I wasn't really doing much so I decided to help."

The bird, sleep deprived and with fatigue in his eyes, let out a huge sigh. "These kids are more of a handful than you know."

His expression hinted at what appeared to be weeks of restless nights and hard days. "Kids will be kids," I remarked as an idle joke.

"No kidding," he said without realizing the unintentional pun. I giggled a bit on the inside and let it slide. The chicks returned to their own devices as they flew off a short ways, but still in eye sight of the dad and I.

"It's been rough since their mother jumped ship," he said as he sighed deeply. His words shocked me and I couldn't help but gasp a bit, "I'm so sorry, what happened? Did she die?"

"Oh no, it's nothing like that," he said rolling his eyes, "She just felt like she didn't deserve to be stuck down with kids, she was adventurous and outgoing. For what ever reason she just didn't want the kids. Plus we weren't exactly in love when she got pregnant."

My mind analyzed his words for a few seconds but I couldn't grasp the logic behind them. Why would any mother just leave her children? How could she not want to take care of them? Did she not have any motherly instincts?

"Th-that's terrible," I said as I patted the poor bird on the back, "It must be really hard for you."

"Well, it certainly isn't easy, but it's for the best I suppose. I can't tell you how many times I wished I had help, but she and I wouldn't have gotten along anyways. She only wanted to serve her time with me while she laid her eggs and then she wanted nothing to do with me or them."

I shook my head in disgust, "She is no mother. She is a pathetic excuse for a bird."

The bird merely sighed and shook his head, "What's done is done. Besides, I love my children. They are the best thing that has ever happened to me. I'd honestly be lost without them."

"Can I get your name, if you don't mind?" I asked almost bashfully. It was so out of place that I blushed slightly out of embarrassment.

"Oh sure, my name is Riley."

"I'm Annabelle."

"Nice to meet you!" He said with a contagious smile, "So what are you doing out this early?"

"I was just grabbing some breakfast, nothing too special..."

My voice dragged out towards the end of my sentence as I stopped to see Riley looking over me more closely.

"I'm sorry," He began, "But what species are you? I haven't seen anyone like you before."

I blushed again, "Oh, I'm a Spix's macaw," I said timidly as I observed his eyes widen slightly out of realization.

"Hmm, that's interesting," He said in a way that made him seem like he was deep in thought. His gaze drifted off into the distance as he looked towards his kids who were playing tag around a tree a short ways away. His expression softened and he sighed again, looking back at me.

"Say, If you don't mind me asking, maybe we could get together later and talk more."

"Talk?" I asked, "Sure, why not?" I said in a cheerful, friendly tone.

Riley smiled and cocked his head, "You wouldn't happen to be single, would you?"

I smiled slightly and blushed, "No, actually. I'm taken," I said in a bashful, almost embarrassed tone.

"Aw," Riley clicked his beak, "That's a shame, you're quite the catch." Riley winked at me and then sighed, "I'm only kidding, it's probably better off that way."

"Speaking of which," I started remembering of Blu, "I must get back, I was supposed to pick up breakfast and I ended up babysitting for a little while!" I laughed a bit at the situation but then turned away and bid my farewells.

"Good luck with your children, I wish you the best!" I called out as I ascended into the air.

It felt a bit abrupt and Riley flinched at the sudden change of pace, but he relaxed and simply waved and yelled something back at me, but I couldn't make it out with the wind picking up almost instantly as I lifted into the sky, but I took it as a 'see you around' and beelined straight to the mangoes I had set down before, then to Blu's hollow.

On the way back, my mind swarmed with questions trying to come up with some possible motive as to why any mother would abandon her young for such a careless reason. I also thought about the young kids and how precious they were, despite arguing and having their differences. Without a mother figure to keep them in check it must be difficult, but they seemed to be growing up just fine.

Riley also occupied my thoughts and I couldn't help but feel sorrow for him. It's a shame that he's been burdened with the task of raising two birds, but it was heartening to know that he took the responsibility up with all of his strength. I also couldn't help but laugh a little at the fact he asked me out, it was cute, but I wasn't attracted to him. Besides, the feelings I'd been developing for Blu were true and strong, but whatever the justification I was sure anxious to get back to Blu.

It was quiet on my breezy flight save for the rush of the wind, but the comparison between the activity and my head and the serene, peace and quiet of the outside world contrasted greatly. Blu was at the forefront of my thoughts, and as I continued my journey I only began to realize that for the past few days he was all I could think about. I couldn't get the silly bird out of my head and I really enjoyed his company.

The feelings I was experiencing when I thought of him weren't something I had felt before, and when I asked myself if it was love I couldn't say for sure. Blu's words the other night reverberated in my head, "If I was in love, I'd know for sure," but what if it wasn't as simple as that?

What if I was in love with Blu? Everything I've heard about love matches how I feel about him, the butterflies, the attraction and desire to be around him, the uncertainty...

Before I could even grasp the lapse of time that occurred as I myself in my thoughts, Blu's hollow materialized in the distance and a wave of giddy, anticipation-soaked happiness inundated me. I took a deep breath as I swooped in closer, nearing the entrance as a familiar lump of blue feathers came into reality.

Blu was still asleep when I entered ever so quietly. I made extra sure to make not a single sound as I placed the fruit in a small corner of the hollow, stashing it away for the time where we'd both enjoy the fresh juices within.

I took another deep sigh, taking in a deep breath and slowly releasing it letting vitality fill my lungs and being. Blu's breathing was steady, but something wasn't off about him. The expression that was plastered on his face seemed a bit troubled, almost as if he was missing something.

Meekly, I approached slowly with the intent to sneak back in to the nest. I managed to place myself next to Blu and snuggle up closer to him.

Even though he was asleep, the second he registered my presence his face relaxed and he let out a deep sigh of his own. I placed my wing over him and cuddled closer, compressing my body next to his and taking in his presence.

I closed my eyes and focused on my breathing.

In... Out... The breath of life filling my lungs and cycling out. My muscles relaxed and I rested my head on Blu like a giant pillow. He was warm and his scent was nothing short of erotic.

A minute passed, perhaps two, and I was lulled into a sense of security. Peace... Serenity... It was almost like every female's dream being in such an intimately close and secure relationship, be it newly formed or not, with a male. And it wasn't just any old male, but one that was as genuine and caring as Blu.

It wasn't too long before Blu stirred and let out a big yawn and as if on command I released the shackles on my eyes and set them loose to view the world before me again. Blu's chocolate iris came into view accompanied by a silly smile as he cocked his head and placed his wing over me.

"Morning, Annabelle," he said as he stroked my wing and side tenderly.

Blu let out another yawn and raised his head, surveying the hollow, "Did you bring these mangos?" Blu asked gesturing towards the fruit with his head.

"Yes," I said as I closed my eyes in and felt his wing pass over me again. Nothing I had ever experienced before had been so comforting or felt so good. It was safe to say there was no other place I'd rather be.

"Welp, one sec. Let me go grab-" I cut him off, clutching him in my wings as he got up to grab the fruit.

"Wait," I said, "Just wait a few minutes..."

Blu relaxed himself and nestled himself down again, continuing his repetitious strokes. I held him close and closed my eyes again.

Silence... A mutually pleasant moment shared between us... I smiled and took it all in, but only to be ruined by the rumbling of my stomach.

I shot up immediately wish a sheepish smile, "Sorry," I said half embarrassed. Blu only laughed slightly, "It's okay, let's eat."

Blu jumped up to his talons quickly, grabbing one mango and tossing it over to me before obtaining his own and perching back beside me.

I ate slowly, watching Blu carefully as he carved into the mango with his beak. This moment was perfect, Blu was perfect, the fruit was perfect... it was all perfect.

Blu was so absorbed by his breakfast that he appeared to be in his own world. Perhaps he was thinking deeply about something or maybe he was still in a sleepy daze. What ever the case, it took him quite some time to finally notice me staring at him.

He slowed his chewing and tentatively gulped down a chunk of pulp as he met my gaze back. He shifted a bit and his plumage retracted down a bit making him look somewhat smaller.

I couldn't help but giggle at his nervousness, "You're silly," I teased as I took another bite of my fruit. Blu smiled and let out an uneasy laugh as he dipped into his fruit as well.

"Something on your mind?" Blu asked as he matched my gaze with those chocolate irises of his.

"Nothing in particular," I started tactfully, however I quickly rolled my eyes back around to look at him more seductively, "Only you," I said in a more seductive tone.

My intent wasn't to actually make a move on Blu, but rather to see how he would react as I played with him a little. Blu's gulped down the bite of food in his mouth immediately and coughed a few times, clearing his throat of the juices that still lingered.

"Wh-what?" He stammered slightly as he averted his eyes, "This is so out of character for you, Annabelle."

I giggled, "I'm only messing with you Blu," I said bringing the mood back to a more grounded state. "I just wanted to push your buttons," I said as I averted my eyes out of the hollow and into the vast jungle.

Blu eyed me suspiciously and went back to enjoying his meal.

Time passed and so did an awkward silence. I came to understand that the relationship between Blu and I was filled with these for no other reason then because it was such an awkward relationship. I was still relatively young, well, not too young mind you, and he was just recovering from a lost loved one.

It was silent moments like these that brought out the profound thoughts and as much as I appreciated them, I longed to know Blu on a more friendly basis. I wanted to joke around a little bit with him, and have fun.

However as is the nature of the awkward silence, my mind began to drift off out of restlessness.

I thought back to Riley's kids and began wondering what it would be like to raise kids. Perhaps someday I'll have kids of my own, and I began to put myself in that situation.

Subjectively, I loved the idea of raising kids, but being a parent requires another and that's when I started thinking of Blu again. Of course we were a way off from becoming mates, but I toyed with the idea nonetheless.

I thought of long summer days of leisurely sitting a clutch of eggs waiting for Blu to return home with food. I thought of the chicks that would eventually hatch and finally I thought of the great birds they would turn into eventually and the lives they would lead after I was gone.

A considerable time must have past for when I finally broke out of my trance I was greeted by Blu's stare. He donned an amused look as he watched me return from the fantasy world I was in and he couldn't help but laugh a little when I finally acknowledged him.

"Back from the beyond, are we?" He said jokingly as he narrowed his eyes slightly in a joking manner, waiting for my response.

I consciously closed my beak with a thud and digested his words, "Yeah..." I said in a detached voice.

"What were you thinking about?" Blu asked as he shifted around and began preening a couple of feathers here and there.

I stopped for a second but eventually just blurted out a question as my answer to him, "What do you think of having chicks of our own?"

Abrupt, and it definitely caught Blu by surprise, but it was a genuine question that required a genuine answer. Blu was taken aback first, stunned at first, but he reverted to shifting uncomfortably and scratching his head.

"It's a little... um... premature to be asking for things like that. Don't you think?" Blu said with an uneasy smile. Blu held his expression, frantically searching with his eyes as he tried to decipher what I was thinking.

Embarrassed, I tried to ease the immediate tension, "No.. I'm not asking for them.. I'm just curious on your opinion," I explained as I felt heat rise up to my cheeks, "I mean... Yeah, it's a little early but I was just... day dreaming and the thought came to mind."

Blu let out an audible sigh of relief, "Oh," he began, "I'm not sure. Never really thought about it." A concerned look enveloped on Blu's face indicating he was deep in thought and I held my breath in suspense for what he was about to say next.

"It's not that I don't want that kind of relationship with you... It's just I haven't even thought about that..." His eyes flicked right to me as soon as he finished, as if he was returning from a realm of his own with this prophetic answer.

Blu scratched his head and it was obvious to see that he was still uneasy, "I mean," he kept going, "It makes sense, you know?"

"We both understand each other, we're both of the same species... Heck, we even both like each other so the energy is there." He gave an uneasy chuckle at his last statement as he studied me for my reaction, but I was far too in thought to physically manifest how I felt.

Taking in Blu's points, I acknowledged them. Maybe someday, I mused as I delved deeper into my thoughts. It was silent again, another profound moment between us as we both think about the many questions life presented us.

It was almost becoming habitual, almost natural for us to take this time to think. It was the first time I had a relationship on which something like this could take place and it only added to the fact that I felt like I was falling for him. He was so genuine in his character; his demeanor, if you will. Yet something about him felt homely and comfortable in a natural way, like things just clicked between us.

He definitely grew on me and I studied over him again as I thought of this.

The connection that Blu and I had developed as still deepening, yet I felt like I had known him for years it would seem and no other male I had ever met made me feel this way. Perhaps it was the fact that he was so passive in his approach because it was me who approached him. Or maybe there truly is something special about him.

Well, it's not a question of if there is something special... it's more a question of to what degree.

Finally, like all of our profound silent thought sessions, it came to an end with one of us shifting to the side and catching the attention of the other. Blu brushed his wing against mine and caught my eyes as he smiled softly, "So... what are we going to do today?" he asked ever so sweetly.

I froze for a moment and my mind clouded. In fact, my mind actually emptied because I didn't materialize any logical thought or manifest any answers out right that I could reproduce verbally. Instead it was like my body and heart made my decision for me and I just carried it through.

With Blu's wing touching mine I interlaced his feathers with mine and used that connection to bring myself closer to him. It was so sudden and so soft that Blu caught on.

It wasn't as if I didn't have any idea what I was doing, it was more or less that I wanted something in my heart, and without rationalizing it, I acted upon impulse. I kissed Blu ever so slightly and he kissed back ever so sweetly. It was as if we were prodding each other, testing the waters, and communicating deep messages between each other.

We pulled back ending the short kiss very subtly and gazed in each other's eyes, and a sad, longing expression glazed over Blu's eyes as he let out an almost inaudible whimper.

He pulled me in for another frantic kiss, and I yielded to his advance. This time it was like none other, feeling as if there was some sense of urgency, some sense of longing. Emotions swelled in my head and in my heart as I relaxed and let myself be swept away in the current of feelings and be swept away by Blu.

I placed one last fully coherent and logical thought strain that the sense of longing I was experiencing from Blu and myself was that of passion; fiery passion. Passion that rages forth when you've held tight feelings for so long that it pains you to express them. Passion that felt like it was years of torturous loss, pent-up with nowhere to go, and feelings that I've only fantasized about expressing since I was a maturing chick... Feelings that I was now harboring for Blu; be it still developing, but harboring nonetheless.

Years of time must have past when we finally ended our sensational gesture. Blu keeping his eyes closed as he donned his now calm expression.

"To answer your question," he began, "When the time comes, and we are both ready, I shall commit to you."

It took a few seconds for me to remember what we were talking about after going on a huge emotional tangent, but when the realization of his words hit me I began tearing up.

"Oh, Blu..." I said grabbing him with my wings and squeezing with all of my heart. I cried into his shoulder where his wing connects to his body and dumped me emotions out.

"I... realize that neither of us... are ready," I started to speak past sobs of tears, "but nothing would make me happier... For the future, at least..."

Welp I was going to add a tiny bit more, but after something like that it'd almost take away from this chapter as a whole. That, and you guys have waited long enough, huh?

If it wouldn't be too much to ask, would anyone care to review? If not, then I understand after the wait I put you people through :(

Either way, I hope you enjoyed.