Ice Age: Collision Course

Chapter Nine: Hearts Joined

"Are you sure you can't come with us?" Sid sadly asked and elderly Brooke. The two sat on a log in the middle of a tropical foliage of trees and ferns and flowers. It was a beautiful place the herd had stumbled upon on their way back to their home, not far from where Geotopia used to stand in all its hidden glory.
"Oh Sidney I wish I could. But we both know this is for the best." Brooks consoled. "You've got your whole life in front of you. Besides, I'll have Granny to keep me company." Sid gasped in horror and sprang to his feet.
"What!? You're staying too!?" He asked his grandmother.
"Are you kiddin'? This place is great! Tonight's the big talent show and tomorrow, naked bingo!" The entire herd visibly cringed not far away, observing the sad scene.
"You comin' Gladis? I ain't gettin' any younger!" The now withered and bushy bearded teal bunny called to the grouchy sloth.
"What? I can't hear you!"
"What? I can't hear you!"
"What? I can't......" Everyone blocked the two out and turned their attention back to Sid and Brooke.
"You'll always be my one true love." Brooke cooed and handed Sid an engraved crystal portrait of herself for him to remember her by.
"Wow!" Sid said in awe and then his eyes lit up. "Oh wait!" He turned his back for a moment and then presented Brooke with the same thing, only his portrait was scrawled and lopsided. Brooke giggled.
"It looks just like you."
"Now we can be together for ever." Sid said as the two exchanged the crystals and Brooke kissed his cheek. Sid walked back to the herd and looked back over his shoulder once more.
"So long handsome!" Brooke called, waving.
"Bye Sidney!" Granny echoed and waved her cane. Sassy saw Sid's face drop in sadness and she left Denali's side to nuzzle into Sid's, licking his cheek comfortingly as Manny placed his trunk on Sid's shoulder. Sid sighed and placed his hand on Sassy's back and they walked away from the two females, leaving the volcano and Sid's heart behind. He was melancholy all the way home, and Sassy's heart broke for her friend. Denali nuzzled her neck.
"You ok?" She nodded solemnly.
"I just hurt for Sid. He finally found love and he had to leave her behind." Denali nodded in understanding.
"He's a tougher mammal than I am."
"Why do you say that?" Denali looked down at Sassy's softly confused expression.
"Because I could never have left you behind, or given you up. It'd kill me." Sassy's eyes widened and then she smiled, love for the male filling her heart. She licked his maw and nuzzled her head under his chin and into his warm fur.

Hours and hours of long preparation and annoyance later, a wedding was minutes away from taking place. Sid had preformed a miracle and had somehow gotten all the flowers and decorations up in record time thanks to the help of his hyrax friends. All the guests were assembled, awaiting the arrival of the bride. Animals tittered and talked and gossiped about one thing or another. Sassy was content to stay away from it all until absolutely necessary, meaning until the exact moment Peaches appeared down the aisle and not one second sooner. She and Denali had found a cluster of bushes not far from the clearing where the wedding would be taking place, and there, they go to know each other just a little bit better. Sassy moaned in contentment as Denali licked her sweet spot just under her ears. He had tucked her into him and had been busy licking her for quite some time. Sassy smirked and finally pushed him away.
"The wedding is about to start. We need to take our seats." Denali groaned and pulled her down again.
"Do we have to?" He muttered in her ear. "We could have so much more fun here." Sassy shoved him playfully.
"Excuse you sir but this is my niece's wedding we're taking about. I wouldn't miss it even if the world were coming to an end." Denali shuddered.
"Ok ok just please never mention this end of the world stuff ever again. I had enough excitement to last me a lifetime." Sassy smirked.
"You won't last long with me then. I'm quite the handful." She winked and trotted off before he could pounce on her and cause a scene. She took her seat and he begrudgingly joined her, but then brightened as everyone shushed and the service started. Sassy looked behind her and smiled. Peaches was beautiful. She was so very proud of her niece. She had picked a good man. She winked at the young mammoth as she passed with Manny and Ellie beside her and Peaches smiled at her favorite aunt. She definitely loved Shira, almost as much as Aunt Sassy, but the wolf had been there since her birth. No competition there.
Sassy smiled as Manny and Ellie handed their daughter over to Jullian's awaiting trunk and they turned toward the hyrax minister. He babbled off a few words in his language and looked to Peaches.
"I do." She said happily and then the hyrax turned to Jullian and repeated his words.
"Most def!" Jullian said excitedly. The hyrax finished with a few more words and then the crowd erupted in applause as the two mammoths embraced. The celebration then went into full swing as mammals celebrated and and danced and hugged each other. Sassy ignored Denali when he wouldn't join her on the dance floor and began dancing with Buck, a smirk of complete and utter defiance on her maw as she danced with no shame. Denali finally had enough and cut in.
"Excuse me weasel, but that's my girl." Buck looked up and grinned knowingly.
"I figured as much wolf. Ya got yourself a rare gem here." He elbowed Denali in the side with raised eyebrows and gestured to Sassy. She stuck out her tongue at both of them and then pranced around happily. Denali chuckled.
"Buck, you are always right." The weasel nodded.
"I know it." Then he whooped and took off with his pumpkin still tied around his body. Denali smiled at Sassy and she smiled back, inviting him to join her with her eyes and a jerk of her head. He did for a minute until they were interrupted by a voice from the stage.
"Excuse me all!" A british, female voice announced. "But this song is dedicated to my one true love!" Sassy looked up in surprise to see Brooke, younger and more gorgeous than ever, and dedicating a song to Sid, who was standing right in front of her in the crowd.

Oh Sid,
Sid baby, you make me so happy!!

The crowd erupted as Brooke broke into a very catchy pop song that had everyone jumping and dancing to the beat.

Oh I, never knew I,
Would make it out and come this far
Oh I, never knew I,
Would see the day we'd come together

It's not like anything I've ever seen
Yeah baby

You, you make me happy
You keep me laughing
You make my world a better place
You, you are my rainbow
You color my day so bright
I want to stay with you forever
My superstar
My superstar
You shine so bright into my heart
My superstar
My superstar
You shine so bright into my heart

Sassy, Denali, Diego, Shira and the entire herd plus guests went absolutely crazy. It was a time of joyous laughter and of living life and loving each other. At one point Sassy and Denali sat back on the sidelines, Sassy's head resting on her new mate's shoulder. She sighed contentedly as she watched her family dance and just enjoy this special occasion that had brought them all together in celebration once more.
"Happy?" Denali asked, licking her forehead. She moaned her reply and Denali laughed. "Look Sassy," At his serious tone, Sassy raised her head to look at him. "I know this is going to sound forward and probably very rushed but...," She could see the pinkish hue to his cheeks under his fur and took pity on the male. She licked his cheek and smiled.
"Yes, I'll marry you." His head whipped back to hers so fast they nearly collided.
"How did....how did you know I was going to ask you that?" He questioned, stunned at her words. Sassy played innocent and simply shrugged.
"I'm a female Denali. Females just know these things. I knew you were going to ask me before you did." She winked playfully. Denali stared at her for a moment and then a look of amusement passed over his face and he chuckled.
"I guess I should stop being so surprised with you. I'm never going to be able to predict what you do next."
"Nope! And that's what is going to keep this relationship interesting." She winked again and then snuggled back into his side. He rested his head atop hers and they lapsed into a comfortable silence, just watching the festivities. Sassy looked around and caught sight of Diego and Shira off talking in hushed tones at the edge of the gathering. It looked like Shira was doing most of the talking. Suddenly Diego's eyes grew wide and his jaw dropped open. Sassy couldn't suppress a smirk. Seconds later a loud whoop came from the male tiger, drawing everyone's attention. Diego leaped up in stage and spoke in such an excited tone that his words were barely understandable.
"Everyone listen up!" Everyone quieted and turned toward the practically giddy saber tooth. "I'm not meaning to steal the thunder away from Peaches and Jullian's big day, but I can't hold this in! Shira just told me I'm gonna be a dad!!" The crowd instantly erupted in applause and congratulations and Diego jumped down and ran over to lick his mate's burning but happy face. Everyone awed and Sassy has to smile. It was so good to see Diego like this. So loving and carefree, without the weight of the world on his broad shoulders.
"Well nothing for it now." Denali said and stood up and walked away from her. Sassy looked after him, very confused.
"Denali?" She called and ran after him but he had already made his way into the stage.
"While everyone is announcing good news, I'm gonna do my part. Most of you don't know me but you will, cause your resident whirlwind of a female wolf just agreed to marry me and be my mate." Everyone gasped and turned to Sassy in stunned silence. Sassy rolled her eyes.
"Oh put your eyes back in your sockets! You had to know I'd find a mate someday!"
        "We didn't think anyone would put up with you." Diego jeered, smirking. This was payback for all those times she teased him about falling for a girl. Sassy glowered at her best friend and growled out her next words
         "This is a happy day. Don't blow it." Everyone seemed to return to their senses and Sassy was immediately bombarded by her questioning herd. Everyone was talking at once and hugging and kissing as if they needed another excuse to do so. Sassy glared good humoredly at Diego and promised retribution later as he and Shira came over to nuzzle her. Then Denali shouldered her away and they managed to sneak away from the celebration and then they ran! They didn't stop until they were on the other side of the forest, on a cliff facing the sunset. Sassy was laughing so hard she couldn't run anymore and she collapsed into the dirt, tears streaming down her fluffy cheeks. Her sides hurt. Denali was laughing hard as well as he flopped down next to her. Eventually their laughter fizzled out and they just looked out at the sunset and then back at each other. Denali rested his forehead against Sassy's and sighed.
"I love you." She told him. He grinned but didn't move.
"I love you." He said back. They stayed there until well after dark, reveling in their love and privacy away from the family Sassy so dearly loved, but sometimes needed her privacy from, to be with her new mate properly