"I'm fine." She said finally, "More than fine actually." Her eyes lined with tears as she spoke the words.

"I'm expecting cubs." She waited nervously for his reaction.

He was worried she was going to die at the tears coming out of her eyes. But then she said cubs. His mouth hung open in suprise. "Cubs." He barely murmured, staring at her in newfound pride. He was going to be a father. "Thats great!" He said, no worry in his voice, he went up to her and nuzzled her, licking her ear. "You're foing to be a great mother." He said. He was so proud.

Imani laughed through the tears, pressing her head into his mane.

"The healer said I'm about 2 months along, I don't know how I am only just getting told."

She was so incredibly excited, but she couldn't help feeling scared. She had to raise cubs. She had to be a good mother, keep the cubs alive, and still balance being Queen on top of that.

She looked up into Zeus's eyes, "Zeus...I'm so, beyond happy but...I'm scared." Her voice wobbled as she said the words

Zeus was shocked at her response. "There's no need to be scared." He said, his tone full of reassurance. "I will be by your side the whole way. We will get through this together. You and I will be the best parents this world has ever seen." He finished, giving her a nuzzle of reassurance. They had nothing to worry about. Everything wpuld be okay, they would raise the next King or Queen. Nothing could go wrong right?

Imani chuckled and nodded, "Okay." She said, mostly to herself. She took a few deep breaths, calming her nerves.

"When will we tell the pride?" She asked, "I still have about two months left." She groaned inwardly at the thought. Two more months of stomach aches and anxiety.

"We can tell the Pride whenever you like." He said, a smile beaming across his face. Him and Imani would have cubs. They could teach them everything they needed to know, and they weren't someone else's. They were theirs, heirs to the throne. He went and laid down beside her, and offered her a shoulder to lay on.

Imani nodded again, "Not just yet. I need time to process it myself before we tell everyone else."

She laid down next to Zeus, feeling relieved now that she knew the cause of her stomach aches, and drifted off into a doze, the lack of sleep the past few weeks finally catching up to her.

Zeus decided he could organize the hunting party later, and as Imani leaned into his shoulder, he felt a sense if peace, of belonging. He laid his head on his paws, not moving to let Imani sleep. She needed the rest. He stared out if the den, his thoughts on the future together, and of the lives they'll bring into it. He gave a small smile, more of a smirk, and then hus eyes fluttered shut, and Zeus dized off, into a dreamless sleep.

Imani's head jolted up when someone called her name. "You're Majesty!" One of the lions called. "The former king and queen have been spotted in the area." The lions voice was laced with panic. Imani's breath caught in her throat and she quickly nudged Zeus.

What could they want? They were banished months ago, why come back now?

Zeus's eyes opened to hearing Imani's name. She seemed to have heard it too. He looked up and saw Loki standing above them, yelling 'Your Majesty!' He looked up to the lion and asked. "Yes what is it?" The he heard the news. Ares and the formet Queen were back in their territory. Zeus eased Imani off his shoulder and rose to his paws. "I'll take some of the lions back to inervene." He said, his voice full of authority. He turned back to Imani. "Stay here, Loki will guard you." He said, his eyes flickering from the Queen to the lion. Loki nodded. "No one will get past me." He said, puffing his mane out more than before. "Good." He replied, and gave Imani a quick nuzzle. "I'll be back befire you know it." He said, then headed out towards the lions den. "All lions in deck. Apprentices and lionesses stay back. The firmer King and Queen have returned, and we need to drive them out." He said, "Move out." He commanded, and he and the lions headed towards their last known location, which was on the furthest birder from camp. It would be a theory minute run to get back.

And there they were. He stopped just tail-lengths from the former totals. "What are you doing back on Pride lands?" He ordered, looking from Ares to his mate. "You lost and were exiled, now leave." He growled. Ares seemed a little on edge, but the former Queen was as bright as ever. "You've done all we needed to do. The rogues are attacking your camo right about now. And Imani," she said with a laugh. "Will be coming with us." She snarled, then turned around, but before she ran off she said, "We'll just have to miss all the fun." He laughed, then ran, Ares by her side, back iff of their Pride lands. Zeus, wide eyed turned around. Worry surged through him Imani. "Everyone back to camp now!" His voice faltered, but the Lions got the memo. The Lions, Zeus at the head, ran back towards camp. Hopefully they werent to late.