"Dad..." I whispered, my opinion of him doing a complete 180, but I still had a few questions. "Why did you ignore me for all of those years?" I asked him calmly. "Because every time I looked at you, I saw too much of Jason; you brought up memories that were too painful to remember" my dad explained. "Why did you react the way you did when you found out about Tiago and I?" was my next question. My dad sighed before he began to explain.

"My own father did not approve of my relationship with James, cursing me when I he found out. The only way for me to have been able to stay was to mate with a female bird, one that he picked and to stay with her. I was forced to stay with a female and love her or my father said he would kill me if anyone else ever found out; I am glad to say he is out of my life forever. He did not see love like ours ever before, claiming that it was unnatural for two to love each other as much as we did. When my mom found out about my father's harsh opinion about same-gender relationships, she left him and partnered up with a fellow female, one that I proudly call Momma" my father told me, clearly bringing up bad memories if the tears on his face were anything to go by.

James then turned Zachariah to him and smiled at his love with a smile of pure, untainted love; I also smiled when then hugged and kissed. Rather unexpected, a loud cheer came from the crowd, causing I and Tiago to hug each other; it looked like our family would be untied with no grudges after all. "What do you say about your father's fate?" Blu asked me unnecessarily; he was smiling, already knowing the answer. "He stays!" I cried; glad to know that my dad would stay by my side despite his actions.

After declaring it to the P.O.D, we all left, I talking with James while my dad talked with Tiago, speaking of forgiveness and that he supports our relationship. "How have you been all this time?" I asked James. "Fine for the most part; you never knew, but I have watched you grow up from afar. I stayed away from you two, but never interfered in any way; well, other than teaching that scarlet macaw not to bully you any more when you were little. His name was Jacob, right?" James asked to clarify. I nodded to confirm; I was bullied as a child.

When Tiago made a sudden stop, I followed suit; James and my father flying ahead, talking amongst them. "Jason, do you want to meet more of my family, one of my sisters?" Tiago asked me with a smile. I nodded, eager to meet more of Taigos family. "Bia wait up!" Tiago called out, leading the way to someone. The bird, Bia I assumed, stopped to turn around, greeting her brother happily. "Hey Tiago! How are you?" Bia asked him. "I am fine thank you. I just wanted you to meet" Tiago began. "Your boyfriend Jason? Dad already told me about you two; congratulations by the way" Bia told us with a smile.

"Do you want to eat lunch with me and my family? We were just about to head to the grove" Bia offered to us. Tiago just looked at me, asking me silently before I nodded; I would love to grab something to eat. "Great! We'll meet you two in five minutes by the mango trees: see ya!" Bia told us before she left for her tree. "Come on; I know where the best mangos grow!" Tiago told me before leading me to the grove with a smile; my stomach rumbled at the mention of food. I followed after Tiago: I knew where to find a good patch of acai berries grew of my own.

After designating a tree to meet at, we both separated to gather our own portions of the meal. I flew at a steady pace, wondering what Bia was like; from what Tiago told me, she was a smart and kind bird. After gathering a leaful of berries (as I was unsure on how much to gather), I flew back to the mango tree to see Tiago already there with two good sized mangos. "Nice choice" I congratulated with a smile as I placed my own bounty on the branch. Only when Tiago turned to me was when I saw the grim but angry look on Tiagos face. "What happened?" I asked, concerned. "I had been flying by hollows that grew near the mango trees when I heard screaming, that of a chick. I raced to the child and when I looked inside the hollow, I saw the parents beating on her, pulling her wings, kicking her and" was all Tiago said before I heard it; the sobbing of a young child from a small hollow a few steps away.

Giving Tiago a concerned look, I quietly walked over the hollow before peering in, letting aout a gasp at what I saw. I immediately swept up the near-featherless chick (the feathers it had were ragged and torn) and held the child sobbing child close, humming the lullaby my mom sung to me when I was a chick.

Moon beams and starlight,

Magical twilight,

The warmest rain,

Hear it whisper your name.

Rainbows at midnight, sparkling night skies,

Don't go away stay another day

As I quietly sang, the chick calmed down, even revealing its hazel eyes, the color breath taking; its face was of a innocence rivaled by angles. As the song finished, I kid you not, I felt a connection to the child, almost as if we were linked together. A smile spread across my beak when the year old chick did the same, a warm feeling spreading over my heart. "Don't you worry little one; no one will hurt you again as long as your with us" I promised with Tiago by myside.

"Sorry were late" Benny here just had to arrange his hair the 'perfect way' and Ozzie wanted strawberries for lunch" Bia voiced, bringing us out of our moment as she plus her family landed by our bounty. Benny looked very much look the type one would call a charmer. Ozzie on the other wing was a bundle of feathers (half of which were stained by strawberry juice) and had his mother's eyes while having his father's feathers.

"Whose child is that?" Benny asked us: Bia told us that he already knew that we were a couple. Tiago explained the situation of the chick's presence while I fed her; Bia gasped and looked angry throughout. "For now, if Jason agrees, I plan on taking the child in as our own" Tiago told them; I nodded in silent agreement, more than willing to take the child in. "Well, I wish you two luck" Benny told us before we began to eat (the child fell asleep in my wings), keeping quiet during the meal. 'I'll protect her with all my being: no one will hurt her again' I swore to myself in my head, holding her close. 'No matter what'

Like I promised, this chapter is in the 1200 word mark. Also, I know that the lullaby is not orginal, but hey, it is a good one. Remember, Read and Review!