Ice Age: Tale of Man

Summary: What if the trio didn't manage to return Pinky to his family? What dramatic change would this have on not only his life, but the lives of those around him?

Disclaimer: Ice Age belongs to Fox, I own nothing currently.

Special thanks to those who reviewed:

Escaped Ninja- COOKIE! *Munchie! Much!*

Carla68- Thanks! I'm glad you're enjoying it.

Guest- Scroll down.

Tigey Wigey- Thanks!

TMNTLittleTomboy- Thank you!

StoryMaker7- I'm aware, thank you. As for Pinky's first word you'll have to wait and find out.

Mad-Face Pro c.c- I plan to, and thank you!

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The herd traveled for hours that day before the night came. While Manny and the other heroes moved logs to get through, Pinky played with Ellie and her brothers. They had become really close in their time together. Crash and Eddie even helped him to climb up a tree, which worried Manny at first, but he calmed when he saw Ellie was right beneath him and he was only a foot away from her. Manny found himself watching them, transfixed.

"She's not half bad." Manny turned, whacking Sid as he did. "Crazy and confused, but sweet."

"So?" Manny said gruffly. He turned again and smacked Sid as he was getting up.

"So, what's holding you back?" Diego pressed, easily dodging. Manny tossed the log aside before answering.

"My family." He grabbed another log and Sid popped out.

"You can have that again, you know." He said gently.

"No Sid. I can't." Manny said back, firmly. "Besides, I gotta take care of Pinky now. And you." He made to toss the log and Sid screamed.

"Yaah! Okay! Okay! But think about it! If you let this chance go, you're letting your whole species and that's just… that's just selfish!" Manny scowled before tossing the log and Sid away. Diego turned to Manny, looking serious.

"Look Manny," he said softly. "I know you love the kid, but technically, Pinky's not your responsibility. If anything he's mine. So you wanted to go and start a family, you don't have to be held back." Manny seemed shocked for a moment.

"You're suggesting I leave you and Sid to raise him alone?"

"I'm suggesting that you've always put others before you… Maybe you should think about putting yourself first this time. Besides, I've learned how to handle him by now." With that Diego walked away and over to Sid, leaving Manny to think.

*8*

Pinky toddled after Crash and Eddie as Ellie playfully chased them. They seemed to have lost Ellie though as they were now alone.

"Hey, keep up squirt!" Crash called back to him, lightheartedly.

"Yeah!" Eddie called as well. "C'mon this way!" Pinky laughed happily as he followed them into a log, but while crawling through, he became stuck. He wiggle to try and get out, but couldn't. After a few seconds, he started to cry when Eddie suddenly back.

"Shh! It's okay, Pinky! We'll get you out!" he assured him. He tugged at Pinky's hand while Crash pushed him.

"Nghh! Maybe we should get Ellie!"

"Let's try the other way first!"

"Do you know which end is pointing at me?"

Their wiggling made the log they were in unstable and without warning they went rolling down a very tall hill. Crash and Eddie screamed, but Pinky laughed, having fun as they turned round and round until the three suddenly hit a large rock. It wasn't big enough to stop them but it was big enough that when the log hit it just right, the log split opened and the trio bounced into the air, before landing on one of the broken pieces of the log. Pinky and the possum brothers all cheered as they slid down the hill, all three having the time of their life. They screamed even louder when they skidded across a bolder, which sent them spinning in circles until they hit another rock which flipped the log half and sent the three flying high in to the air. Crash and Eddie screamed before they managed to grab a tree branch. They hung there with their tails and just managed to grab Pinky when he flew toward them.

"Nggh! What now, genius?" Crash yelled at Eddie.

"How should I know?"

Pinky laughed completely unaware of the situation they were in. The possum brothers held onto the baby for as long as they cold before he suddenly slipped from their grip. The baby let out a shrill cry before something jumped up and caught him. Pinky blinked for a moment then realized that he was being held by Diego.

"Nice catch!" Eddie said as he and his brother slid down the tree. Diego set the baby down before glaring at Crash and Eddie.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" he snarled, teeth bared. "If you two want to get yourselves killed, you're more than welcome, but leave the baby out of it!"

"We didn't mean to!" Crash defended.

"Yeah!" Eddie added. "It was just a series of unforeseen events!" Diego growled.

"Really? Did you foresee me ripping off your heads and playing your bodies like a yo-yo!"

"You want a piece of us?"

"Did I not make that clear?" he said in a low tone. The brothers gulped as Diego stepped forward, but he stopped when Pinky let out a cry. He didn't like it when he was ignored. Diego hesitated for a moment, before he scoffed and turned away from the rats.

"I'll deal with you, later." He warned.

"Anytime, anywhere, fur ball!"

"Yeah!" Diego ignored them as he grabbed Pinky and walked away. Pinky guessed it was bed time.

*8*

When they were away from the brothers, Diego set Pinky down and looked him over with a sigh.

"I can't take my eyes off of you for even a second, can I?" he muttered. Pinky laughed, reaching out to him as he lay on his back. Then he noticed that Diego looked sad for some reason.

"I got a feeling it's going to be just you and me soon, kid." He said. Pinky tilted his head in confusion and Diego smiled slightly, before looking away. Pinky figured that Diego must still be scared about earlier, not that he could blame him. Those monsters were pretty freaky.

Deciding that he needed some cheering up, he covered his eyes then uncovered them with a roar. Diego blinked before smirking.

"Aren't you getting a little old for peek a boo?" Pinky responded by doing the same thin. Diego grinned before covering his own eyes.

"Where's the baby? There he is!" Pinky let out a gleeful laugh and the two continued like this until Diego got tired of the game and carried Pinky back to where Sid was waiting.

8*8

Sorry, these chapters are so short! But, hey! Shorter chapters, quicker updates! ^^; Thanks so much to everyone for reviewing!