lovingly and sighed happily.  Then she shifted her paws gently and carefully as not to disturb Niru, who had just nodded off into a nap.  She looked her son over for a moment and then looked back up at Simba and asked, “Would you like to personally meet your new grandson?” she beamed. 

Simba felt relieved and excited at the same time.  He was going to personally closely look upon his first and only grandson.  “Nothing would make me happier,” he whispered. 

Kiara grinned and then gently and carefully bent her head down to the small golden-orange ball of fur in her arms and gave it a soft, warm lick.  Much like Simba had done as a baby, Niru turned his head to look up at his mom and spotted Simba gazing proudly and amazed upon him.  Knowing this was someone new that kind of resembled his mother and father, Niru wanted to get a better view of Simba, so he turned onto his back and stared up curiously at Simba. 

“Daddy, this your grandson, Niru.  Niru, this is your grandpa Simba,” Kiara introduced in a soft tone. 

Simba’s gaze was attached to his grandson, taking in every detail the cub possessed and all his features, his coat, paws, and tiny nose and eyes; the beautiful, innocent look on his face and the purity that radiated from the small cub’s body.  It was a gift, a treasure, a blessing—one that Simba would celebrate and watch over and love forever. 

Kiara saw her father experience the same emotions and thoughts she had just a week ago, when she first looked upon her son when he was born. 

“Daddy,” she whispered blinking slowly. 

“Kiara?” he asked warmly. 

“I feel and see them in him, too,” Kiara whispered. 

“Oh Niru,” Simba inhaled and sighed deeply, enjoying the moment he was in. 

Kiara remembered Timon and Pumbaa.  “Timon, Pumbaa, it’s alright.  You can come see Niru if you like,” she said motioning them over with her neck. 

The two friends’ faces lit up. 

“Come on, Pumbaa, we got a cub to meet,” Timon exclaimed and trotted over to Kiara and Niru on the opposite side from Simba. 

Timon and Pumbaa stared in awe at the small prince. 

“A new little guy, how about that, Pumbaa?” Timon gushed. 

“Yeah, just like Kovu,” Pumbaa sniffled happily. 

“Kovu? We hardly knew him as a cub, well at least not personally, but I think he’s like Kiara,” Timon said. 

Niru whimpered a little at seeing Timon and Pumbaa, as they didn’t look or smell anything like his mother or grandfather.  He was afraid they would hurt him, and cried out.  He hid his face in Kiara’s paw. 

  “Aww poor baby it’s OK.  Mommy’s here,” Kiara soothed. 

“Oh no.  Now look what you did, Pumbaa!” Timon scolded. 

“What? You’re the one who was talking,” Pumbaa defended himself. 

“Well you’re the bigger, smellier, and no offense, smellier one here my corpulent compadre,” Timon retorted. 

“Guys,” Simba spoke up.  “It’s neither of your faults.”

“Yeah, Niru’s only two weeks old and the only animals he’s been around are lionesses, specifically me, so he’s just getting used to seeing you two,” Kiara explained. 

“Ohh,” Timon and Pumbaa said in unison. 

“Don’t worry, when Niru and Vitani’s cubs get older, you’ll get to see them everyday,” Simba reassured them. 

The two friends gasped happily and grinned excitedly at each other.

“Just as long as they don’t run away,” Timon said jabbing his index finger into the air.  “I’m getting too old for chasing cubs.”

At this remark, Simba and Kiara laughed and then Timon and Pumbaa joined in. 

Niru lifted his head again, sensing the happy aura around him, and giggled. 

The four animals stopped laughing and looked down at Niru, who was now giggling in high-pitched squeals.  They all began “awwing” at him, and visited with him for the rest of the morning. 

Mufasa and the great kings watched from above and shone their rays of happiness down on the Pridelands.  A cool breeze blew across Niru that afternoon, and he drifted into a peaceful afternoon nap. 

3 weeks later

After three more weeks of developing his body, Niru was now a month old.  He knew how to roll over, kick, and had just recently begun sitting up by himself.  He had also learned how to use his tongue to speak.  After being educated largely by Timon and Pumbaa in the art of speaking, Niru could say simple words including “Mama”, “Dada”, “Gampa”, “Gama”, “Tion” (pronounced Tee-own), Pua (Poo-uh), and “Nioo” (Nee-oo), his own name. 

Kiara and Kovu were very proud indeed of their son and were most grateful to Timon and Pumbaa.  Kiara decided to give them the honor of being Niru’s godparents to show her gratitude of teaching Niru how to speak. 

Now that Niru knew what he could do, he began getting bored of rolling over, kicking the air, and listening to Timon and Pumbaa trying to get him to pronounce the names he could already say, clearer.  One day he got a feeling that he hadn’t felt before.  It made him want to get up and move around like everyone else he knew.  He was just about to attempt walking when his mother lay him out on the ground on his back. 

“Timon, Pumbaa!” Kiara called out quickly. 

Pumbaa came rushing in the cave with Timon on his back.  “What is it Queen Kiara?” Pumbaa asked concerned. 

Kiara gritted her teeth and smiled politely.  “Could you keep an eye on Niru for a second? I got to go—do something! Be right back!” She shouted rapidly and she sprinted from the cave. 

Pumbaa stared at Niru and blinked.  “I think it’s been a second, Timon,” he said beginning to walk away. 

“Pumbaa! She means watch him till she comes back.  Yeesh,” Timon said, rubbing his head. 

Niru giggled, amused and kicked his hind paws in the air. 

Just then there came a high-pitched infant coo from across the cave. 

Niru’s ears flicked in the direction of the noise.  Rolling over, he looked over at the area where the sound came from.  He found himself staring at Vitani, who he hadn’t seen before yet and two dusty golden colored cubs his size.  One was getting a bath and the other was lying on the ground on her back, kicking the air like Niru had just done.  The girl cub grunted whenever she batted the air with her front paw. 

Niru was intrigued by this cub and wanted to go over to her.  He reached out a paw and grunted, trying to figure out how to stand up. 

Timon and Pumbaa were now talking about how Kiara used to run away, and Timon glanced at Niru every few seconds.  Then he lost count of seconds and became absorbed with stories they were re-telling. 

Niru began worrying he’d never get to see the cubs on the other side of the cave.  Then he remembered he could sit up now.  He pushed against the ground with his front paws and tensed his small back muscles until he was sitting up.  Phew, the hardest part was over! Or so he thought.  Niru pushed himself forward, trying to stand up on his hind leg, but they weren’t ready to support his back end yet, as this was his first attempt.  Not able to drag his body weight anywhere yet, Niru began to whimper, frustrated.  He looked longingly at the girl cub on the other side of the cave as she rolled over.  This gave him an idea.  He smiled and lay down.  Then he positioned himself vertical to the other side of the cave, so he would roll to the other side. 

Timon glanced at Niru again and smiled.  “Good cub,” he chuckled before returning to his original conversation with Pumbaa. 

Niru began rolling.  The first few rolls were rough, but then he got the hang of them and began rolling faster.  He was having so much fun that he forgot to stop and rolled right into the girl cub’s side. 

She winced, startled, and looked at Niru, who turned to face her.

She gasped at the new face she saw before her, and the two cubs stared at each other. 

Vitani looked over at her daughter and gasped surprised to see Niru.  “Oh little prince! What are you doing over here?” She asked in an affectionate tone and looked over at Timon and Pumbaa, who were still chatting. 

Niru looked up at Vitani with wide, curious eyes. 

The other cub, which was in Vitani’s arms, peeked over them at Niru, curious of whom he was.   

Just then Kiara returned.  “Hey guys, where’s Niru?” she began to worry when she saw the empty space behind Timon and Pumbaa where she had left Niru. 

Timon and Pumbaa turned, and gasped at the empty space.  Before they could make up an excuse, Vitani called out to Kiara. 

“Kiara, your highness, Niru’s over here!”

Kiara gasped and quickly trotted over to her. 

“Huh?” Pumbaa asked, confused at how Niru got over to the other side of the cave. 

“What she said!” Timon said nervously to Kiara as he and Pumbaa rushed over to Vitani and the