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(Aw, dang it... I'm so sorry, buddy *hugs you* I know what you're going through, I lost my grandmother a couple of years ago...)

Sergei's whole life was flashing before his eyes. From the moment Rafiki found him as a cub, to the point where he first met Amali, and realized he loved her. But he wasn't going to give up, he did his best to fight and stay strong, because of his mate and future cubs.

(Thanks, buddy. It was pretty sudden too...)

"Thank you, Rafiki. You have been a great help." Amali forced a smile through her tearful eyes before putting her head down. She felt a warm paw on her shoulder and turned to see Rafiki looking at her sympathetically.

"It will all be over soon. Your mate is not a quitter", the old baboon said, "He will live to see his cubs. I will promise you that."

(I know, it was for me too...)

Sergei was still trying to fight against the illness, but was still getting weaker every minute... now he couldn't hear anything going on around him anymore.

(How did your grandmother die?)

Suddenly, Amali fet a piercing pain in her belly. She pushed it away to look after her mate, but found that t was getting stronger every minute. As she wondered about the pain, the realization struck her.

Oh no, she realized, the cubs! Not now!

(It was a cancer for which there was no cure... but I'd rather not talk about it )

Things couldn't have been any more tragic than this. Amali was about to have cubs, and Sergei's life was slowly slipping through their fingers...

(Please excuse my writers block... >: )

(Sorry about it )

Amali desperately looked for Rafiki as he was the only one who could help her, but he was nowhere to be found.

Okay, Amali, you're on your own this time, she thought, Just breathe, and everything will be fine.

(It's okay )

Somewhere deep, deep in his consious Sergei could sense something was going on, something including Amali. He knew she needed him, and was now fighting the illness even harder.

(I'm glad even you understand though^^)

Amali lay herself on the ground, trying hard not to hold her breath and wait till this was over.

If this is life, I'd love to not do it a second time, she thought through the blinding pain.

(I sure do^^)

Sergei moved now but only slightly, he didn't open his eyes but let out a really small, nearly silent growl from his throat.

(Thank you^^)

Amali let out a growl of relief as the first cub came out and the pain subsided a little.

Just one more, and then it'll be over, she thought, bracing herself once more.

(No prob^^ Hey, uhm... I'm having a writer's block, could we just skip to the point where the cubs are both born?)

(Sure^^)

Amali held the two cubs in her paws and stared at her mate. "Why did you have to go?" she whispered, licking one of them. They y were a girl and a boy. The girl looked a lot like her and the boy took after his father.

(Are we going to put them up now? I thought I'll name the boy Aleksei. It means "defender" in russian, just cause, you know, his father has a russian name^^)

Suddenly Sergei moved himself just a little bit, and let out a small, really small growl that could barely be heard, he frowned, and moved his head slightly to the direction of Amali and the cubs.

(Sure^^ I'll name my girl Anuli. It means "joy")

Amali put her head up so fast she thought her neck snapped.

"Sergei? You're still alive?"

(Cool, I like that name^^ she can be the oldest if you want?)

Sergei moved his head back on his paws, frowning again, and now he began opening his eyes. He saw a blurry, familiar looking figure laying beside him, and the picture got clearer, he recognized his mate, and didn't see the cubs she was holding at first.