Parts 48

The following week wasn't good for Cheetara. Her morning sickness was hitting her big time. The only thing she could eat was her craving for strawberries and crackers in the morning. Anything else would cause her to throw up. Cheetara awakened the morning of her first exam. She rolled over and looks at her nightstand. Not much to her surprise she saw the same thing she has seen on her night stand every morning since she announced her pregnancy: a single red rose next to an unopened package of crackers. She knew instantly Lion-O was in her room. He has been spending as much time as possible with the cheetah and helping her when she needed it and even times when she didn't need help.

Smiling, she sat up in her bed but soon groan as she felt her stomach acting up on her. Immediately, she begins nibbling on the crackers to ease the nausea. Staring at the flower, she began thinking. Lion-O really does love me. He didn't pretend to love me to sleep with me. I know that now. But that means Tygra lied to me about what he said about Lion-O, but why? The bad thing about this is that I cannot confront Tygra about this otherwise he'll ask questions and learn what Lion-O and I did. "What to do?" Cheetara didn't have time to answer her own question for she had to rush to the bathroom to throw up.

Vasa was in the kitchen preparing breakfast and thinking about Panthro when she heard the doorbell rang. "Now who could that be?" She went to the door and opened it. "Panthro?"

Panthro stood at the door looking a little at peace with himself. "May I come in?" He asked quietly.

Vasa was surprised at the Panthro showing up. She didn't expect to see him. He wasn't looking like himself --not the tough looking man who was confident about everything. Now he was looking soft, gentle, and a little insecure. "Uh, yeah. What brings you here?" She asked.

Panthro looked around the room. It was as he last saw it. He smelled the fresh scent of bacon and eggs that were filling the room. He smiled, thinking about the times where they had a romantic breakfast.

"Panthro?"

Panthro looked at Vasa standing in front of him.

"You came over here because...."

"I want to talk to you about us. I have been doing some thinking about us and Aline and I have come to a decision. I know what I want."

Cheetara found the other Thundercats in the dining room as they finished their breakfast. "Good Morning," Cheetara managed to say. The smell of the breakfast food was getting to her and she begins eating the crackers in her hand so she wouldn't throw up again.

"Good morning, Cheetara," everyone said except Leela.

"Where's Panthro?" Cheetara asked noticing him missing.

"He had added some modifications to the Thundertank and is checking it out," Lion-O answered walking to her. "I need to have a word with you outside."

Cheetara, a little confused, nodded and left with him. She noticed the dark look Leela was giving them as they left but did her best to ignore it.

They were quietly walking down the hall until Lion-O spoke. "Your doctor's here. She came here earlier so she could setup some special equipment for the exam," he put an arm around her. "How are you feeling?"

"Terrible after all the vomiting I did and very tired," Cheetara answered leaning on him as they walk to the lab where she will have her exam.

Tygra stepped out of the dining room and saw the closeness of Lion-O and Cheetara as they walked down the hall. "Now why is he holding her close like that?" Tygra asked himself quietly, jealously.

When Lion-O and Cheetara came in, Sarah was just finishing setting up the equipment she brought from her clinic. Lion-O helped Cheetara up on the exam table. Sarah turned around as Cheetara got on the table.

"Morning, Cheetara, how are you feeling?"

"Terrible." Cheetara answered.

Tygra entered. He wanted to assist with the examination. He stood on Cheetara's left side while Lion-O was on her right. "Well, I guess we should get started," Sarah said and looked at Lion-O. "Lord Lion-O, you don't have to be here. I'm just going to do a routine check and see everything is as it should be."

"I want to be here," Lion-O insisted.

Sarah nodded not sure why Lion-O wanted to stay. "Okay. Cheetara have you been eating the proper foods I mentioned when we went out?"

"Yes."

"I know you are experiencing morning sickness now so how is that?"

"It's terrible. It happens every morning and I feel so weak after vomiting that I can barely walk back to my room and I sleep so late that I miss my early duties," Cheetara explained.

"Cheetara, why didn't you tell me this?" Lion-O and Tygra asked concern.

Sarah looked confused at Tygra and Lion-O, trying to comprehend what was going on.

"I didn't want to worry you. I know how you get," Cheetara said looking at Lion-O and not Tygra.

Sarah had a feeling something was up but concentrated on business. "How long have you've been experiencing this?"

"It's been almost a week now," Cheetara answered.

"Well, you should have contacted me. You can't fool around with your health when you're pregnant. The only cause for this is that you must have been under enormous pressure, fatigue, stress and overwork," Sarah said and Cheetara nodded.

"I thought I could do some of my normal duties until late in my pregnancy," Cheetara explained.

"You could handle simple duties around the lair as long as it's not stressful, but I get the feeling it's more than work. I have a medication that--

"No," Cheetara interrupted. "I don't want to take any kind of medication that's not normally given. Research has shown that medication or pills that's not usually taken during pregnancy can harm the fetus in its early stages."

"True. The medication is safe and if you don't want to take it, that's all right. However, I do want you to remove yourself from work for a while and anything else that is causing you stress. Any type of serious stress as well as other factors raises the risk of a miscarriage. Rest is also important, and I want you to get as much of it as possible. You need that now," Sarah pointed out.

"I understand," Cheetara said.

"And I'll make sure Cheetara follows your orders," Lion-O said.

Sarah looked at Lion-O oddly. A thought came in her head but she ignored it. "With that out of the way, we'll go through the examination. You'll have a urinalysis, I'll have to check your blood pressure, give you a pelvic exam--don't worry it won't be much at this stage of your pregnancy and maybe we will do an ultrasound."

"Ultrasound? Isn't that too early?" Cheetara asked.

"Not really. With the latest technology we can get a picture as early as two months. It'll be an inch now, but we can enlarge it and it'll be your child nonetheless. It'll also give me a chance to check the fetal heart rate, making sure the beat isn't irregular."

Cheetara smiled; excited at seeing her child even though it will be an inch big. She looked at Lion-O who was smiling proudly as well. Sarah pulled out the hospital gown for Cheetara to wear during the exam. Cheetara gently squeezed Lion-O's hand and went into the small room in the lab to change into a hospital gown. Both Tygra and Sarah noticed the action and gave each other odd glances.

"Have a seat," Vasa said walking Panthro to the sofa. She sat on the sofa with him but kept her distance. "You said you have a decision; you know what you want."

Panthro tried to move closer to her but kept his distance. "Yes."

"Well, before you say anything Panthro, I should tell you something first. I will agree with any decision you make. It wasn't fair of me to make you chose between Aline and myself. You loved her, always have, always will. I was jealous of your love for her, and I did feel like a replacement but after thinking over it, I shouldn't make you choose, especially after what my brother, his wife, and what I did."

Panthro was confused, "What you did? What do you mean?"

She knew she had said too much. "It's just that I suspected Ursula was up to something with Ral and I didn't know what, but I should've investigated."

"It's not your fault. You didn't know they were spies," Panthro reached out to touch her hand. "I will always love Aline and I believe that I am over her. You are my love now. Aline is my past, but you are my future."

Vasa smiled and hugged Panthro happily. Panthro returned the hug but there was one more thing he'd have to say.

Panthro pulled back to look in her eyes. "I want a relationship with you, and I want to tell WilyKit and WilyKat about us but something's come up that will cause us to wait."

Tygra pressed a button on the reclining bed that Cheetara had her exam on. It was now in a more comfortable position for the cheetah. Sarah stood from her stool at the foot of the reclining bed after Cheetara's pelvic exam, the last part of the exam Sarah decided to do.

"Everything is fine. Your uterus is growing and is the normal size for you at this stage of your pregnancy. If you are experiencing cramping right now, it's because the uterus tightens and contracts, preparing to grow until labor," Sarah explained pulling off her plastic gloves and putting it in a nearby wastebasket to dispose of it. She looked at Tygra who kind of hovered over Cheetara as much as Lion-O was.

"Oh..kay," the doctor said a little confused. "Remember, Cheetara, you should never let your stomach get empty. I want you to eats lots of small healthy fruits, meats, and snacks around the clock. This will also help settle your queasy stomach."

"Speaking of queasy stomachs, I've been having that myself. Must be Snarf's cooking," Lion-O said nonchalantly.

The doctor looked at Lion-O curiously. "When did this begin, my Lord?"

"Two weeks ago, and I've been having some abdominal pain," Lion-O answered innocently.

A realization hit Dr. Lane but she had to be sure. "Um, Tygra, could you excuse us? I need to talk to Lord Lion-O and Cheetara alone."

"Why?" Tygra asked.

Sarah didn't know what to say exactly. She looked to Lion-O for help.

"Go ahead, Tygra," Lion-O said, although he was curious as to why Cheetara's doctor wanted to talk to him and Cheetara alone.

Without causing a scene, Tygra obeyed his lord and left.

"Thank you, my Lord. I didn't know how to get rid of him."

"Why did you want to speak to us alone?" Cheetara asked.

"You're the father of Cheetara's child, aren't you, Lord Lion-O?"

Tygra pressed his right ear on the lab doors. He tried to listen in on what they were saying but there voices were too low for him to hear. He was wondering why Dr. Lane sent him out. Why did she want to talk to Lion-O and Cheetara alone? Was something wrong? Did she discover something he didn't? All these questions and more were running through his mind. He heard footsteps approaching him and turned around to find the owner.

"Tygra, have you seen Lion-O? The last time I saw him he was walking out the dining room with Cheetara after breakfast this morning."

"He's with Cheetara and Dr. Lane," the orange tiger answered.

Leela eyes grew dark and appeared to be shooting sparks out. "Why?" she asked through clenched teeth.

"He wanted to be with her during the exam. It surprised me when he did that too, but I thought he told you."

"No, he didn't," Leela growled angrily. "But why is he in there? He's not the father."

Lion-O and Cheetara looked at each other a little stunned. "Why do you say that?" Lion-O asked.

"First of all, you're in here. The gentleness and subtle affection are the same ones I've seen from other expecting parents, but what really made me suspect was when you mention you were experiencing nausea and abdominal pain. You are experiencing sympathy pains, my Lord, but it will probably subside as it does with all expecting fathers."

Cheetara knew she couldn't hide the secret from her doctor any longer. "You're right. Lion-O is the father, but please do not tell anyone. I don't want to cause a scandal."

"You know me better than that, Cheetara. Of course I won't tell. I can see why you are stressed but as long as we know, know one else will, but I caution that you two be careful on how you express your feelings or the others will know," Sarah advised walking to the door, opening it. Tygra walked in. "As far as I can see everything is fine," she said walking to her black doctor bag and pulling out some pills and handing it to Cheetara. "These are your prenatal pills, Cheetara. Take them as directed. It will build you and your child's nutrients." Sarah walked to the ultrasound machine and took out the picture of Cheetara and Lion-O's child from the printer. It was taken earlier during the exam. It was a black picture with an image if a child as big as a quarter. The doctor enlarged it so the parents would have a better view. "I always give this back last so the parents would listen to me during the exam," Sarah teased and handed Cheetara the picture. "If you don't mind, I'd like to keep Cheetara's medical files here. That way there's no chance anybody can hack into the computer files to get this information."

"Thanks, Sarah. I'd really appreciate that," Cheetara thanked her friend.

"No problem. Well, that's the exam. I'll come back in a month."

Lion-O helped Cheetara out of the reclining bed, so she could change clothes in the small room. Afterwards, they walked out together looking at the first picture of their child only to stop to see Leela once opening the lab door.

Leela's arms were folded and it was obvious that she has been waiting there impatiently and angrily for Lion-O to come out. "I want to talk to you now," Leela said to clenched teeth and storm off to her and Lion-O's chambers.

"You better go. She's going to blow her top," Cheetara told him.

Lion-O nodded and left Cheetara, following Leela to their bedroom. He closed the door when he entered. "What do you want to talk about?"

"You? What's with you? The baby's not yours and you're treating it like it is."

"How?" Lion-O asked.

"How?" Leela mocked. "I'll tell you how: first of all you seem so calm and relaxed about the whole thing. I mean, she slept with another man while dating Tygra. She could've done the same thing to you."

"She never would have."

"How do you know that?" Leela asked but Lion-O didn't say anything. "Second, you have been hanging around her more than you ever had since we married, acting so concern about her health and that bastard she's carrying."

"Don't call my baby a bastard!" Lion-O shouted angrily.

"Your baby?" Leela said shocked. "You're the father?"

Vasa looked concern at Panthro. First he was telling her he wanted to tell the others about them. Now he was backing off. "What's come up?"

"Well, I don't think I should mention it because we've received some really shocking news two weeks ago. Everyone is still adjusting to it, so I think we should wait before telling them about us."

"I'm fine with that, but when are you going to tell the twins what happened to their parents."

Panthro calm face became serious. "Never. They cannot know. I've thought long and hard about it and I believe that their parent's death is best left in the past. The children don't need this now."

"They are not children, Panthro. They are adults. They should know."

Panthro sighed, "We just got back together. I don't want to talk about this now. I only want to talk about you and me."

"But how can we talk about us and a possible future together without telling the twins about their parents and the accident that caused their death?"

"They won't think of it as an accident, Vasa. They will think I intentionally killed them," the panther growled getting up.

"What-where are you going?" Vasa asked getting up and following Panthro to the door.

"Back to Cat's Lair."

"But we didn't finish our conversation?"

Panthro opened the door. "I know, but I've been gone too long. The other will get suspicious of my whereabouts." He pulled Vasa close to him and gave her a quick kiss. "We'll finish this later," and with that he was out the door.

Vasa smiled, "He's back to his old self."

While Tygra finished cleaning up the lab, Cheetara's doctor typed information of Cheetara's exam in her medical files. "There. Finish," Sarah said relieved and closed the file.

"Did you put the shot you gave Cheetara in her files?" Tygra asked.

Sarah slaps her forehead. "Oh, I forgot."

"If you have to go, I can just type it in," Tygra suggested as he walked to her.

"No! I'll do it."

"It's really no trouble," Tygra said.

"Yes, but Cheetara is my patient and we have doctor-patient confidentiality. I cannot let you see her files unless she wants me too, and I think she'd like to keep it quiet."

Tygra had a feeling Sarah was hiding something. He forced a smile and left, heading to Cheetara's room, hoping to get some answers. Tygra knocked on Cheetara's door. When she told him to come in, Tygra saw her lying in her bed under the covers.

"Are you all right?"

"I'm fine. I'm just following the doctor's orders by catching up on some lost rest."

"Why did your doctor wanted to talk to you and Lion-O alone?"

"It was really nothing and I don't want to get into it," Cheetara answered.

"If that's what you want," Tygra said sitting on her bedside. I guess I'll have to figure it out on my own. "Do you think we can pick up where we left off on our relationship?'

Cheetara shook her head. "No. We cannot."

Leela eyes flared. "YOU'RE THE FATHER?!" She blasted. Leela grabbed the nearest thing she could find--a lamp. She pulled it out of the wall socket and threw it at Lion-O. Lion-O dodged out of the way and the lamp shattered on impact once it hit the wall.

"No," Lion-O lied.

"Then what do you mean 'MY BABY'?!" She was furious.

"I'm going to make the baby my heir."

"WHAT?! You can't do that. That's not even your kid."

"I will raise it as my own," Lion-O said determined.

"And what, you expect me to take care of the baby and raise it as if it's my own?"

"No, Cheetara and I will take care of the baby and I will claim it as my heir," Lion-O explained.

"How can you claim the baby as your heir when you're not the father?! The heir is by you and your wife, which happens to be me!" Leela yelled angrily.

"Will you stop yelling? Everybody on New Thundera can here you."

"Well, at least they'll know one of us is making sense!" Leela shouted and calmed down. "Does Cheetara know this?"

"Yes."

"Oh, and I bet she was jumping for joy when you told her that."

"Actually, she was shocked and told me that it wasn't right."

"So, she actually has some sense in her head."

Lion-O ignored the comment.

"Did she agree to it?" Leela asked.

"She didn't give me a direct answer but she has agreed with it."

"I see, and what about me? You didn't think I was going to say something. You just thought I'd be okay with it? No chance at that! I am your wife! I'm supposed to have your baby!" Leela blasted at him again.

"I understand that you're upset," Lion-O said trying to calm Leela down.

"Upset? I'm more than upset! I'm infuriated, enraged, furious! Just when were you planning on telling me this and what about the other Thundercats?!"

"I wasn't going to say anything until Cheetara and I sort everything out, but I have made up my mind and Cheetara knows that."

"So, your mind's made up?"

"Yes."

"So you rather let Cheetara's baby, whom you're not the father of, be the heir rather than a baby by your own wife? Am I so distasteful to you?" she asked, tears forming in her eyes.

This was a surprise for Lion-O. In all the time he known her, he has never seen her cry. She was always so strong, but now she was showing a soft side, making the young lord feel guilty.

"No, Leela. A baby is created by two people who love each other."

"I understand that, Lion-O, but the baby's not yours. Are we ever going to have a baby together?"

Tygra sat on at the edge of Cheetara's bed, stunned by her words. "Why not, Cheetara? I know this baby has put a strain on our relationship, but I still love you and I want to help raise your child."

"I don't deserve you or your love Tygra. I slept with another man and I having his child, not yours. I betrayed you. Seeing you right now, so supporting and caring, makes me feel so guilty and terrible on the inside. You should find someone else, someone loyal. I'm not worthy of you," Cheetara explained almost crying.

"But you do deserve me. It's not your fault that you got pregnant, Cheetara. I don't feel worthy of you. You have always been there for me. You are everything to me. I am nothing without you."

"You are someone without me, Tygra. Someone a lot better than me."

No, I'm not, and I'll soon proved how I need you," Tygra said.

WilyKit and WilyKat passed the room, allowing the adults to hear them.

"I'm telling you, WilyKat, they are really going at it,"

Tygra got up, stopped the twins in the hall, and brought them in Cheetara's room. "Who's going at it?" Tygra asked the twins.

"Lion-O and Leela. They're yelling like crazy in their bedroom, especially Leela. I wondered what happened to get Leela so upset," Kit wondered.

Cheetara suddenly had a bad feeling about their argument. "I think I do," she got out of bed and ran to Lion-O and Leela's chambers.

There was a long pause after Leela questioned Lion-O. She folded her arms. "Aren't you going to answer me or am I looking at the answer?"

"I don't see us having a child anytime soon and since the people are asking for a baby, they will have one," Lion-O answered.

"But the baby's not yours. How many times do I have to tell you that for you to understand?"

"I will make the baby mine," Lion-O said.

Leela ran a frustrated hand through her red hair. "Ooh! It's like talking to a wall." She calmed down and looked at Lion-O. "And when are you planning to tell the Thundercats about this?"

"In a few days, but until then, I don't want you to mention this to anyone."

"Oh, like I would. Mark my words, Lion-O, this baby is going to cause nothing but trouble."

Cheetara has been listening to the conversation for the past few minutes. Her sixth sense soon began to act up. She heard footsteps coming to the door, so she went into a storage closet nearby.

Leela stepped out. "This doesn't make sense. Why would Lion-O claim Cheetara's baby as his heir? Is he that stuck on her? She's taken everything from me now. Cheetara is always in the way. She has to be eliminated somehow." Leela noticed that the storage closet was slightly opened. She remembered that it wasn't opened before. Taking a precaution, she walked to the end of the hall fuming and went around the corner.

Cheetara stepped out of the storage closet. "There's no doubt that Leela is going to cause trouble for us, little one," Cheetara told her unborn cub. "But what exactly is she planning to do?"

Leela peaked her red head from the corner and saw the cheetah. "Hmm. I killed one person who stood in my way, and I might just have to do it again, and I don't care what Tygra has to say. I'll kill him if I have to," she told herself.

Part 49

A few days later, Lion-O called an important council meeting. Lion-O was planning to tell the others that Cheetara's child would be his heir. The other Thundercats, Tygra. Panthro, WilyKit and WilyKat, had a feeling Lion-O was going to say something important, but didn't know what but had a feeling Leela and Cheetara knew. Once everyone was in attendance, Lion-O spoke.

"I called this meeting to make an important announcement. I've decided to claim Cheetara's child as my heir."

"WHAT?!" The Thundercats shouted in unison. The four stunned Thundercats looked at Leela and Cheetara. Noticing their quietness, they now knew what the women already knew.

Panthro was the first to speak. "You can't declare Cheetara's child as your heir."

"That is my choice."

"But the baby's not yours. The heir is suppose to be by you and your wife, Leela," Tygra pointed out.

"Cheetara, may I have a word with you outside?" Leela asked.

Knowing the confrontation would happen sooner or later, Cheetara got up, glanced at Lion-O and followed Leela out the council doors. The women were quiet as they walked down the hall together. Cheetara wrapped her arms around her stomach as if protecting her unborn cub from Leela. The thought of Leela harming her child frightened her. She hadn't been able to talk to Lion-O about it because he was helping Leela prepare for a meeting with the clan elders' wives tomorrow in another city, miles away and was going to represent Lion-O at a city opening nearby. She was to leave with Panthro tomorrow morning and was to return the day after that. Lion-O wouldn't be able to go because the clan elders were meeting with him at Cats' Lair. He also had a city opening to attend. Tygra wasn't able to go because he was attending a city opening with Lion-O and he had another city site to attend to. With Leela gone tomorrow, Cheetara would talk to Lion-O and tell him he couldn't claim their child as the world's next ruler. She couldn't risk her child getting hurt.

"I'm pretty sure you know why I want to talk to you," Leela said finally breaking the silence.

"Yes. Lion-O claiming my child as his heir."

"Lion-O told me you were shocked that he wanted your baby as heir."

"Yes, I was."

"Do you want your child to be the heir?" Leela asked.

"I-I don't know. I know I'm not comfortable with it, but this is what Lion-O's want. I cannot go against my leader," Cheetara responded nervously.

Leela grabbed Cheetara's arm, forcing the woman to look at her. "Leader or lover? Tell the truth, Cheetara. Is Lion-O the father of your baby?"

On 3rd Earth, Snarf, and Snarfer were guarding Cat's Lair while Lynx-O, Bengali, and Pumyra were at the Tower of Omens having a private meeting. They were in the kitchen having coffee when Bengali decided to tell them some surprising news.

"Snarf and Snarfer thought it'll be best if I tell you this so here goes. Cheetara is two months pregnant."

"What?!" Pumyra and Lynx-O said in unison.

"Is Tygra the father?" Pumyra asked.

"No, some guy she met at a bar," Bengali answered.

Lynx-O began to think back to a conversation he had with Cheetara two months ago.

"What have you done, Cheetara?" Lynx-O asked.

"I rather not say.

"In time, you will soon forgive yourself for what you've done and forget it." Lynx-O advised her.

Cheetara thought about last night and making love to Lion-O. She looked at Lynx-O. "I don't think I can ever forget it." (43)

"That must have been what Cheetara was talking about," Lynx-O said aloud.

"What are you talking about Lynx-O?" Bengali asked.

"Two months ago, Cheetara told me she did something she regrets doing but never told me what it was. This must be what she was talking about," Lynx-O answered.

"What's Cheetara going to do now?" Pumyra asked.

"Cheetara's keeping the baby."

"How is Lion-O taking this, Bengali?"

"He's really laid back about it. I guess he has no choice but to act calm. What's done is done? However, Tygra's the one who I'm wondering about."

"Oh, yeah. I forgot about him," Pumyra said. "Did he and Cheetara tell the others that they aren't an item?"

"No, but what's odd about it is that Tygra and Cheetara were an item--twice."

"I don't care what you all say. Cheetara's child will be my heir no matter what," Lion-O argued with his fellow Thundercats.

"Lion-O, I understand that you wanted to father Cheetara's child but--"

"You can't avoid the fact that the baby isn't yours," WilyKit finished her brother's statement.

"The baby will not have your courage, strength, and nobility," Panthro said.

"The Lord of the Thundercats child is supposed to have his blood and qualities inherited by him and his mother. The Sword of Omens will not respond to the baby because it doesn't carry your blood. The blood that carries the knowledge and wisdom of the past Thundercat Lords," Tygra told him.

"That's enough! All of you! The baby will me my heir, the next ruler of New Thundera by my orders! I am the Lord of the Thundercats and whatever I command, you will follow, and I do not want to hear another word against my command! Is that clear?!" Lion-O's angry voice roared in the council room. When there was a moment of silence after Lion-O's command, Lion-O stormed out angry.

"You haven't answer my question, Cheetara. So it must be true." Leela eyes grew dark, her lips curled viciously. "Why, you little b--"

"No! Lion-O's not the father," Cheetara interrupted Leela. "Why would you even think that?"

"Well, for one thing, you would love lording that over me. Excuse the pun. Second, everything would make a lot of sense."

"Well, you're wrong."

Leela folded her arms. "Fine, but if you feel uncomfortable with it, tell Lion-O that. That's your child. He has no ties over it. Just because he's the Lord of the Thundercats, it doesn't give him the right to do whatever he wants. Even the Lord of the Thundercats has limits to his power. You know I'm right, Cheetara. It's not fair. It's not fair," Leela repeated and began crying.

Cheetara surprised about Leela's sudden change of emotion, laid a hand on Leela's left shoulder. "Leela?"

"It's not fair, Cheetara. I'm his wife. I'm supposed to carry the next Lord of the Thundercats, not you. Heck, that's not even his child. It's not fair. It's not," she cried on Cheetara.

Totally caught off guard by Leela's emotion, Cheetara gently tap Leela's shoulder. "Uh..there there?" Suddenly the cheetah was beginning to feel guilty about Lion-O's decision. Never before has she seen Leela cried. It was a surprise. She didn't think Leela was capable of that emotion. "I understand how you feel, Leela. It's not fair. It's not right. You are his wife. You should bear his children," Cheetara said solemnly.

"I tried telling him that, but he wouldn't listen to me," Leela cried and suddenly pulled back to look at Cheetara in the face. "But he will listen to you, Cheetara. He still loves you and respects your decision. Tell him this is wrong. If not for me, then for New Thundera. The people deserve a proper Lord of the Thundercats," Leela pleaded with Cheetara with teary eyes.

Feeling a heavy guilt, Cheetara nodded. "All right. I'll talk to him. I'll tell him that my child will not be the next ruler of New Thundera no matter what."

Leela hugged Cheetara. "Thank you so much, Cheetara. If anyone can get through Lion-O, I know it will be you." Leela broke away and wiped the tears off her face. "I must go now. I have to prepare for my trip tomorrow," Leela smiled and left. When Leela returned to her bedroom, she laughs wickedly. "Oh, that Cheetara is so gullible." She makes up fake tears. "I tried telling him that, but he wouldn't listen to me." She quickly shut off the fake tears. "Now, with Cheetara telling Lion-O, that he can't claim her child as his heir, nothing will stand in my way of making Lion-O mine."

Cheetara stood in the middle of the hall thinking about what Leela had said. She is right. My child shouldn't rule New Thundera. I have to make Lion-O understand that. I have to do this for my child's safety. Who knows what Leela would do. She looked up to see Lion-O walking towards her. She knew from the expression in his face that the meeting with the Thundercats didn't go well. He stopped in front of her. "I see that the Thundercats weren't too happy about your decision."

"No, they weren't and it makes me so thundering angry," Lion-O said balling his fist.

"I need to talk to you, Lion-O, but it can't be done here," she took his hand in hers. "Come with me."

Bengali poured himself another cup of coffee as he finished telling Lynx-O and Pumyra Tygra and Cheetara's relationship.

"Well, it does explain a lot, but I'm not so sure about Tygra betraying Lion-O and his connection to Leela," Pumyra said.

"I didn't want to believe it at first, Pumyra, but after what Panthro, the twins, and Snarfer said, I believe it. In fact, when I go back to New Thundera in two weeks, Panthro and I are going to do some investigating and see if Tygra allowed Leela access to Cat's Lair on Lion-O and Cheetara's wedding day," Bengali said before taking a few sips of his coffee.

"And Lion-O has no idea about this? I think it would best if we tell him," Lynx-O said.

"I thought so, too, but I have to agree with Panthro. It's not our place. It's up to Cheetara to tell him."

"Maybe they are right, Lynx-O. It's not our business. Cheetara dated Tygra, so she should tell Lion-O about her relationship with him. Tygra should have also mentioned that he dated Cheetara."

Lynx-O turned to the voice of Pumyra. "I don't know, Pumyra. I think Lion-O should know this. Secrets like this have a way of coming out at the worst times."

In the Council Room on New Thundera, Panthro, Tygra, WilyKit and WilyKat were still quiet and stunned about their Lion-O's outburst. They never thought Lion-O would snap at them like that. He never had before. Lion-O always respected his friends' advice even if he didn't agree to it, but this time he wouldn't listen or give much respect to it.

"Well, THAT went well," Panthro said sarcastically.

"Of course it did, Panthro. We told Lion-O that what he was doing was wrong, he blasted at us, and stormed out," WilyKat added to Panthro's sarcasm.

"This is no time for sarcasm," WilyKit said.

"WilyKit is right. We must find a way to convince Lion-O that what he's doing is wrong," Tygra said. What is Lion-O thinking? He must know something that we don't. Something is not right. What am I missing?

Cheetara landed the Thunderstrike at the entrance into the Gardens of Thundera. To Cheetara's relief, no one was there. Lion-O helped Cheetara out of the Thunderstrike. As they walked into the garden, old memories of the times Lion-O and Cheetara spent here ran flooded Cheetara's mind. She shook her head erasing the memories. They sat on the edge of the water fountain. Cheetara sat there thinking, trying to put her thoughts together.

"Why did you want to come here? What do you want to talk to me about?" Lion-O asked breaking Cheetara from her thoughts.

"I brought you here so we wouldn't be disturbed or watched. I brought you here to tell you that I cannot allow you to let our child rule New Thundera. I won't let it happen."

Panthro and Tygra entered the control room, still thinking about Lion-O's behavior. They sat at opposite control panels thinking. Panthro turned on his monitor and began working.

"How are the cities coming?" Panthro asked.

"It's coming good. Each day more people want to help build more cities, which are being more quickly build," Tygra answered.

"I don't know about you but I can't get over what Lion-O said and how he said it," Panthro said.

"Neither can I. It doesn't make sense. He knows the baby isn't his."

Panthro wasn't sure if he should keep talking to Tygra about Lion-O because he has his doubts about Tygra and thinks he's a possible traitor to their Lord. However, he continued to talk to him. "I think Lion-O's hiding something."

"Hiding something? Like what?" Tygra asked.

"The real father of Cheetara's baby," Panthro stated.

Lion-O stood up frustrated, a little upset with Cheetara. "How can you say that, Cheetara? I thought we agreed on this," Lion-O said.

"No, Lion-O. You agreed to this. I wasn't sure about it. Now I'm sure. You have to have a baby with Leela, so it would rule. Not mine."

"Leela put those words in your mouth."

"She has a point, Lion-O. We cannot let an illegitimate child rule New Thundera. What if the press finds out?" Cheetara asked.

"The press won't find out. The three people who know won't say anything," Lion-O told her.

"That doesn't mean our child would live to rule," Cheetara shot back angry at the lion.

Lion-O looked at Cheetara surprised by her words. "What is that suppose to mean?"

"Leela."

"Leela? She threatened to kill our child?!"

For some reason Cheetara took back her words. If I tell Lion-O what Leela said, then there is no way he would mate with her and have a child. "No, but Leela isn't the nicest person in the world. She won't take this lying down. She is a fighter, Lion-O. She has evil in her and who knows what depths she may sink to get what she want, and I think you should give it to her. Have her child as heir, Lion-O."

Lion-O knelt in front of Cheetara locking her eyes with his. "I don't believe you meant anything you just said. Look me in the eye and tell me that you don't want our child to be the next Lord of the Thundercats."

"Panthro, are you thinking what I think you're thinking?" Tygra asked.

"That Lion-O fathered Cheetara's child. You bet I am?"

"How can you think that Panthro? Cheetara wouldn't sleep with a married man," Tygra defended his love.

"Maybe, but it could've happened. They might not have meant too, but it did," Panthro said.

"Lion-O and Cheetara wouldn't do that, and even if they did sleep together, when could it have happen? Leela did her best separating them."

"That's true, Tygra, "Panthro said rubbing his chin, "but Leela wasn't with Lion-O on their anniversary. Lion-O slept somewhere else, probably in Cheetara's bed."

Tygra shook his head. "I don't know, Panthro. It's a good chance that you're wrong. What about Devon?"

"I think she's lying. Think about it, Tygra: Lion-O did not sleep with Leela that night, Cheetara was the one who found him, Cheetara has also been acting strange with Lion-O before she announced her pregnancy--"

"Strange? What do you mean?" Tygra asked.

Does he notice anything? The panther wondered. "Before she found out she was pregnant, Cheetara has been keeping her distance from Lion-O, and now that she is pregnancy, Lion-O can't stay away from Cheetara and she doesn't seem to mind. I'm telling you, Tygra. The whole things sounds suspicious. I think--no I know Lion-O's the father. I'll bet my Thundertank on that.

Tygra knew Panthro was serious to bet his Thundertank. He knows how Panthro loves his favorite vehicle, his baby as he sometimes call it, so he knew that it's a good possibility that Panthro could be right.

That was Cheetara biggest mistake--looking into Lion-O's eyes. She always felt mesmerized by them. It was like looking into his soul, seeing his innocence, his strength, his weakness. Her eyes became watery and she looked away. "I don't know. I know it would be a great honor for our child, but I don't think it's right that you would let a child whom you didn't create with Leela rule. I know she was upset about it."

Lion-O nodded. "She was, but I don't care about her decision, only yours."

"It's not my decision. It's our child. It's our decision."

"If we don't make our child the heir, the rightful heir, then we will be taking something from him or her their rightful place in the world, the next ruler of New Thundera. I want what's best for our child."

Cheetara reached out and place her hands on the sides of Lion-O's face. "I want that, too, but it's safety comes first."

"Trust me on this, Cheetara. I will never let anyone harm our child, and if they do, they will regret it."

The dark and serious tone of Lion-O's voice helped Cheetara. It eased her worries, knowing nothing will happen to her child. Her child would grow up safely protected by its parents. Cheetara leaned closer to Lion-O pressing her head against his, eyes only centimeters apart.

"I know you will protect our child no matter what now. So, yes, our child should be the world's next leader."

Lion-O pulled Cheetara close to him enough to kiss her softly. He pulled apart and hugged her. "Don't worry, Cheetara. This is the right thing."

Part 50

Morning sickness hit Cheetara full force later the next night. She has been in and out of the bathroom all night. After rushing to the bathroom to throw up again, she returned looking a little pale. Just the thought of food would send her to the bathroom. She felt terrible and she looked terrible as she glance at herself in the mirror. As she made her way to her bed, she stumbled and grabbed the bedpost and leaned on it. Feeling a little nauseated again, Cheetara held her stomach and sat on the bed, slowly rocking herself.

"Oh, you really want to bother mommy tonight," Cheetara told her child.

There was a knock on her door.

Cheetara rolled her eyes and groaned. "Can't I be left alone in peace?" She didn't want to see anyone now, especially in her condition. With Panthro and Leela gone until tomorrow and the twins spending the night with their aunt, she knew it would either be Lion-O or Tygra. She struggled to get up again and opened the door. "Lion-O." Cheetara clamped her mouth with her hands, pushed Lion-O aside, and head for the bathroom again.

Tygra entered Cat Hall the next evening looking uncomfortable. He had never been in a tavern before, but he had no choice. He had to find out what happened between Cheetara and Devon that night. He sat on a barstool between to other Thunderians. The bartender looked at Tygra as if he shouldn't be there.

The bartender notice Tygra's Thundercat insignia. "A Thundercat, eh? Haven't seen one of you guys in here for a while. What'd you have?"

"Nothing. I'm looking for a man name Devon."

"He's sitting right next to you," Devon said as he drunk the last of his beer.

Tygra looked Devon over. He does resembles Lion-O a little as Cheetara said. Hmm. Might as well get this over with. "Have you met a Thundercat name Cheetara?"

"Cheetara--the cute blonde? Yeah, I met her. She came in her a little over two weeks ago. Why?" Devon asked curiously.

Two weeks ago. Tygra didn't know that. "What happened between you and Cheetara two weeks ago and two months ago?"

"Why should I tell you?"

Not wanting to cause a scene, Tygra looked at the bartender. "Do you have a room where I could talk to this man privately?"

"Sure, you can use my private office," the bartender put down the glass he was cleaning and showed the men to his office.

The two men got up and Tygra noticed a rubber donut in Devon's seat. He also noticed the Devon's funny gait as he walked to the office. Once inside, Tygra locked the door.

"I don't see how talking to me alone is going to get me to talk," Devon said.

Tygra took out his bolo whip while he was behind Devon. He quickly grabbed the arrogant lion and put his arm around Devon's neck tightly. "Do you see these?" Tygra said coldly as he shoved the red balls on his whip in front of the lion's face. They began to glow. "These balls will burn a whole through that smug face of yours if you don't tell me what happened."

Lion-O let Cheetara lean on him as he walks her back to his room. "You look so tired and drained, Cheetara. I could've carried you back."

"And then I'll have to go again," Cheetara replied smartly. She got back in the covers of her bed and looked at him. "Thank you for helping me out. I wish you didn't have to see it though." A curious thought entered her mind. "What are you doing up anyway? Shouldn't you be sleeping? It's past midnight."

Lion-O sat at the foot of the bed. "I wanted to see you. Good thing I did, too. I thought morning sickness happens in the morning."

"I wish it did, but it happens anytime. I guess it's saying that pregnancy isn't always a blissful time."

Lion-O was going to tell her that she should've taken the shot, but knew that Cheetara would argue against it. He stared at her, taking in the affects the pregnancy on the cheetah.

Cheetara noticed Lion-O looking at her and felt uncomfortable. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Just taken in by your beauty."

Cheetara scoff, "Beauty? I'm a mess. My hair is disheveled, I have bags under my eyes, my gown is a mess, and my mouth taste like a bad combination of vomit and breath mints," she groaned and reach on her night stand and popped another handful of breath mints in her mouth. "I look horrible."

"That's what you think," Lion-O said as he moved closer to her.

Cheetara dodged Lion-O and laid on the bed. "Why don't we talk instead?"

"About what?" Lion-O asked lying beside her.

"Naming the baby. As the child's parents, it's our responsibility."

"What do you think it's going to be? A boy or girl?" Lion-O asked.

"I don't know. I'm not that psychic," Cheetara said propping herself on right elbow. "What do you think it's going to be?'

"You're asking me? The man with zero psychic powers?" Lion-O laughed. "I don't know. It doesn't matter to me as long as it's healthy with ten tiny fingers and ten tiny toes."

Cheetara yawned tiredly.

"I meant what I said."

"I know that. It's just that I'm tired. Being pregnant really takes it out of you." She laid her head down, closing her tired eyes for a moment. Cheetara suddenly opened them. "Say, where's Tygra?"

"I think he's sleeping. Ah, I know why you asked that. You think Tygra will see us. Tygra doesn't know anything and he never will," Lion-O told Cheetara.

Devon panicked as the fiery balls from Tygra's whip began burning his skin. "All right. I'll tell."

Tygra pulled the fiery balls away from Devon, only a few inches. "I want to know every detail no matter how dirty."

Scared for his life, Devon spoke, "Two months ago, Cheetara came in here looking upset. I thought this was the best chance to slip a drug in her drink. I did and Cheetara became dizzy. I took her back to my van and I was planning to do her."

Cheetara and Devon were heavily kissing in Devon's van. He started kissing her neck when Cheetara called out Lion-O's name. Devon quickly pulled back.

"Oh, no, sweet thing. You're going to be calling out Devon's name," he said and resume kissing her.

The small amount of the drug Devon put in Cheetara's drink was beginning to wear off. Cheetara vision cleared and she saw that it was Devon kissing her. Using her legs, Cheetara kicked Devon off her. Cheetara was angry. She was already upset with the events that happened earlier that night and now Devon tried to get her in bed with him. She pulled out her staff.

"How dare you?!" Cheetara snarled angrily.

"Hey, babe, take it easy," Devon said waving his head innocently in front of Cheetara.

Cheetara kicked Devon in the chest, followed by another hit in the chest with her staff. Devon tried to defend himself with the cheetah but he was no match for her. Devon was attacked by punch after punch, kick after kick, and one beating after another from her staff. Soon Devon was on his knees, he had two swollen black eyes, a few bruised ribs.

"Okay. I was wrong. I'm sorry,"

The pleading wasn't enough for Cheetara. "Sorry is not enough. I've had a really bad day, and I'm taking it out on you," she said walking behind him. She pressed his head down on the floor, leaving his lower body, mainly his posterior up. She twirled her long staff and aim at a sudden spot. Suddenly there was a loud, painful scream coming from the van.

Tygra kind of winced as Devon finished talking. "Cheetara stuck her staff--"

"Yeah," Devon said.

Tygra released him. Now he understood why Devon was sitting on a rubber donut.

"The doctor said it would be another month before I'm completely healed. She shot something out of the staff, lasers I think. That's why it's taking so long for it to heal," Devon groaned and rubbed his stomach. "My whole upper body is still sore."

"What happened two weeks ago?" Tygra asked.

"She came by to see me. She said she wanted to apologize for hurting me like that. She said she was having a bad day and since I made her even more angry, she took it out on me. Man, you do not want to get on that woman's bad side."

Tygra nodded understanding. "Well, thank you for this information. It was vitally important." Tygra unlocked the door and exited out the bar. As he walked to the Thunderstrike, Tygra begin thinking. "So Devon's not the father. If he's not then who, Lion-O? No. I cannot jump to conclusions. I do know one person who knows the father beside Cheetara and that's her doctor. She must have told her. Why else would she not want me to opened Cheetara's medical file? I've to get on the computer and learn who the father is."

Tygra flew back to the lair at full speed. When he arrived back home, he ran to the lab as fast as he could, almost knocking the door down upon his entrance. He turned the computer on, and once it booted up, he clicked on a stethoscope icon on the computer. This led him to the medical files of the Thundercats. Tygra had access to all the files. All he had to do was type in the name of the Thundercat and a password. Tygra typed in Cheetara's name and 'cheetah' her password.

"Access denied," the computer said.

"Hmm. I should have known. She changed the password. Now I know the father's name is on here. How about yellow. That's Cheetara favorite color," Tygra said to himself as he typed it in.

"Access denied."

"Speed," Tygra typed.

"Access denied."

"Baby."

"Access denied."

"Strawberries," Tygra typed. "She had a craving for those."

"Access denied."

"Mother."

"Access denied."

"Father."

"Access denied."

"Sword of Omens."

"Access denied."

Tygra slammed an angry fist on the table. "What is it? What could that password be?"

Tygra began thinking.

Tygra shook his head. "I don't know, Panthro. It's a good chance that you're wrong. What about Devon?"

"I think she's lying. Think about it, Tygra: Lion-O did not sleep with Leela that night, Cheetara was the one who found him, Cheetara has also been acting strange with Lion-O before she announced her pregnancy--"

"Strange? What do you mean?" Tygra asked.

"Before she found out she was pregnant, Cheetara has been keeping her distance from Lion-O, and now that she is pregnancy, Lion-O can't stay away from Cheetara and she doesn't seem to mind. I'm telling you, Tygra. The whole things sounds suspicious. I think--no I know Lion-O's the father. I'll bet my Thundertank on that. (49)

Hoping Panthro was wrong, Tygra typed in the words he hope it wouldn't be. "Lion-O."

"Access denied."

Tygra let out a sigh of relief. "Panthro's wrong. It's not Lion-O. Wait. A password doesn't have to be one word." With a heavy sigh, Tygra typed, "Lord of the Thundercats."

"Password accepted."

Tygra gasped in horror at what the computer said. The computer screen pulled up Cheetara's medical file. He scroll down the computer screen from Cheetara's parents name and shots she had, the basic things one would have on a medical file. He scrolled down to the bottom where it mentions her pregnancy. Under the word 'Mother' it said Cheetara. Tygra moved his eyes to the other side of the screen where it said 'Father.' Tygra eyes widen in horror and disbelief as he saw the name under it. Lion-O. It was like the name was flashing in front of Tygra's face. Lion-O. Lion-O. Lion-O.

"No, it can't be. Lion-O can't be the father. He just can't be." He shook his head vigorously. He got out of his seat and went to the kitchen, grabbing a large butcher knife. Tygra headed for Lion-O's room. On his way there, he heard Cheetara talking in her room. The door was slightly cracked but he was able to see what his eyes hoped he'd never see. Cheetara was sitting up on her bed and Lion-O was sleeping beside her. His head nestled against her bosom. Cheetara gently stroke Lion-O's mane as he slept.

"I don't see how you can do it. You seem so calm about this. I'm so worried that someone will find out I'm carrying your child and you just have this innocent look on your face. So serene, thinking nothing can go wrong. If that's true then why am I worried?" She asked him as he slept. Cheetara laughed softly as she ran a free hand through his red hair and traced her finger over his face. "You can sleep through anything, Lion-O, even a scandal that could ruin us." She placed her soft lips on top of his head.

Tygra stood in shock at the scene before him. He quietly walked back to his lab. Upon entering, he threw the butcher knife at the wall, leaving it wedge in there. "Pregnant? By Lion-O? How could you Cheetara? How could you sleep with that boy? How could you let him, kiss you, touch you, when it should have been me? He knows nothing about love or making love. How? Why?" he asked again the silence in his lab. Suddenly something snapped in the tiger. He was enraged furiously. "WHY?!" He roared angrily lifting up a lab table and throwing it against the wall. "WHY?!" He cried knocking chemicals off the table, breaking and tearing thing in sight. With his lab destroyed, he used the rest of his angered strength, he punch the walls until it was full of giant holes. Finally he felled to his knees and shouted, "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!"

In her room, Cheetara sat up. She thought she heard a loud cry. She shrugged her shoulders and laid back down to go to sleep, with Lion-O sleeping beside her. She didn’t want him to be in there with her, in fear that Tygra would spot them, but she was already tired from vomiting all night that she didn’t have the strength to get Lion-O to leave

In the lab, Tygra cried, now knowing the truth, now letting the truth set it that Lion-O is the father. "Everything makes sense now. He won't get away with this, but I can't do it alone. I'll have to roll out bigger guns. I'll have to bring in Leela."

Parts 51-54: WilyKit has a flashback about Aline. Leela's not too happy when Tygra tells her who the father is. Leela gets her revenge.