Hey guys this is chapter 2 of this story. I am having a great time writing this, but I am also having a great struggle deciding where to go with this story. This a very controversial chapter, because I could have gone so many directions with this one and I hope you guys enjoy. Let me know what you guys think :).


A Moment with Fate

"The ice isn't cold anymore" Gab dully noted. He was losing all feeling in his body. Syrena was right in front him, staring at him with eyes full of worry. He felt pain, so much pain it was unbearable. He knew he had to get away.

"Gab?" Syrena called. This sound of her voice immediately stopped any thoughts of escape.

"..."

"Gab please tell me what's wrong?"

"..."

"Gab?" Syrena called again. Syrena felt dead inside as if a part of her had just disappeared from existence. She still remembered the first she saw him and remembered talking to her father about him.

Flashback

"Gab come on back here!" They two new chicks came back and Gab hopped on his daddy's feet, and he walked away with Mumble, talking about something Age couldn't hear. Syrena had watched the four of them leave, but she could take her eyes off of Gabriel. Then she turned to her daddy and asked the only question he knew he could answer without hesitation.

"Daddy, how do you know when you're in love?" Syrena was much too young to ask such a question, but there was no question, after all Age had been through, and he was going to go through, he knew the answer.

"Oh my dearest Syrena…" She looked at her Pa, "You know when."

Flashback End

Gab was still unresponsive. Syrena was slowly getting frustrated with Gab's lack of response. She felt frustrated, because she could not stand to see Gab like this and not be able to help him. There was something clearly wrong with Gab and it was frustrating for Syrena to not be able to help her friend.

"Do you hate me?" Syrena asked.

Gab then turned his head to look at her. He was shocked that she would think that he would hate her, but he didn't say anything.

"Do you hate me, because I didn't come back?" Syrena said as she shed a tear. She really did feel guilty about not saying goodbye to Gab.

"Do you hate me, because I didn't say goodbye?" Syrena whispered.

"..."

"Gab please! Why won't you answer me!" Syrena shouted. The ice shook from the volume of her voice. She was extremely flustered, so Syrena turned away from Gab.

All Gab could do was stare at her. He then heard the dreaded sound of footsteps. Syrena was slowly walking away.

- Meanwhile -

"Pa I'm worried for my son. I know he loves Syrena, but Syrena is with Zev and I-" Erik was cutoff.

"Son calm down. Sometimes love has a weird way of presenting itself, but one thing about love is always true."

"What is that pa?" Erik eagerly asked.

"True love always finds a way. No matter how far; no matter how difficult; True love always finds a way."

Erik looked at his father in awe. These words really touched Erik and he remembered what his father had to go through to be with his mother.

"Erik are you alright?" Mumble asked.

"After all this time, I still look up to you pa. Ma was right when she talks about you." Erik explained.

"Gloria talks about me?" Mumble asked surprised.

"Yeah since I was little; she told me stories about you. The stories sounded so unreal I didn't believe them until the Dooms-berg incident, when I saw it for myself. She talked about what a big heart you have and how strong of penguin you really are."

"Well thanks son that really means a lot coming from you" Mumble said. They stayed in a comfortable silence, but after a bit Erik decided to break that silence.

"Do you think...Gab looks up to me that way?" Erik asked.

"Of course he does! You are one heck of a penguin and I am proud to call you my son. Remember you were the one to convince Bryan and the elephant seals to come with us to Emperor Land." Mumble replied.

"Erik don't ever doubt yourself; That's one mistake I made and maybe if I hadn't doubted myself so much my life would have been easier. I remember when you first hatched Erik. I was so worried that you were going to turn out like me and not be able to sing, because you reminded me so much about myself. But then I realized that I should have never doubted myself and more importantly I should never have doubted you son." Mumble explained.

"Thanks pa. I really needed that." Erik said while staring at Mumble in pure admiration.

"Anytime you need to talk, I will always be here Erik."

Suddenly they saw Zev walking up to them. Zev had been looking for Mumble and Erik to ask them about the situation with Gab.

"Hey Erik. Hey Mumble." Zev greeted.

"Hey Zev how are you?" Erik replied.

"Hi Zev, what can we do for you?" Mumble said politely

"I was wondering of something is wrong with Gab? Syrena went to talk to him, but she seemed rather sad." Zev explained

Mumble and Erik looked at each other and stayed silent.

"Please I need to know. Syrena has been happy all this time, but now wall of a sudden she is a bit depressed and that doesn't make any sense since she talked about coming home often. And...I'm just worried about her." Zev explained.

"Zev..It's not our place to say. I'm sorry, but you are going to have to talk to Gab." Erik said in a dejected voice. Mumble agreed with his son.

"*sigh* It's okay I understand. Nice to see you again though" Zev said as he walked.

"You too" Erik and Mumble replied.

Zev then went on to look for Age to see if he could find out more and he immediately spotted Age talking with Haley. Age saw Zev walk up to him with worried eyes and he knew what was coming.

"Age I need your help" Zev said.

"With what Zev?" Age replied.

"Syrena." Zev simply answered.

Age immediately got worried.

"Why? What happened to her? Is she okay?" Age asked desperately

"No it's nothing like that." Zev answered trying to calm Age down.

"Oh okay" Age managed to get out.

"It's just she had been happy all this time and she has been talking about coming back to Emperor Land for the mating season. I thought she would be happy to come back home, but then she noticed Gab wasn't there and immediately got a bit depressed." Zev explained yet again.

"Where is she now?" Age asked

"She is talking with Gab in that cave over there" Zev answered pointing to it.

Age knew exactly what was wrong, but it was not his place to tell that Gab still loved Syrena.

"She will be fine Zev. She just needs to reconnect with her past and put things behind her." Age said. Zev looked at him in a questioning manner.

"Trust me Zev she will be fine" Age said, putting Zev's heart at ease. They walked off together talking about other things until they both felt and heard Syrena's voice from the cave. They both took as fast they could toward the cave.

- Back at the cave -

"NO!" Gab shouted desperately

Syrena turned around looking bewildered.

"I don't hate you. I love you so much it hurts to be around you." Gab thought the last part to himself. The pain was too much for him and he was doing for the both of them. He knew if he stayed away from her she would live her life in the bliss.

"Then why? Why weren't you there when I came and why are you like this?" Syrena

"...Syrena...I..can't tell you" Gab managed to say.

"Why!" Syrena shouted. Gab flinched at the volume of her voice.

"..."

"I-It would better if...no one knew." Gab said.

"KNOW WHAT? I don't understand!" Syrena shouted as loud as she could.

Syrena was very frustrated at this point, because she could not understand why Gab was like this. He was not the same chick she once knew. They stared at each other in total silence. Gab took this chance and sledded out of the cave as fast as he could. Syrena was about to take off after him, but Zev and Age showed up.

"Syrena are you okay?" Zev and Age asked at the same time.

"Yes. I just...never-mind." Syrena said in a sad voice.

"Syrena please tell me what's wrong?" Zev asked in a sweet, but worried voice. Zev came up and put his flippers around her.

"Zev...I just need to be alone right now okay honey?" Syrena hugged him back and positioned her head under his neck.

"But Syri, it's almost nighttime"

"I know, but I'm just going to walk around for a little while and then I will come back. I promise." Syrena reasoned.

"Okay, but if you need anything please tell me. I love you"

"I love you too Zev" Syrena said as she looked back with solemn eyes.

- With Gabriel -

Gab shot out of there like a rocket and sledded away as fast as he could. He noticed she wasn't following so he relaxed and slowed down. He knew that he probably was going to endure another sleepless night, so he started thinking of things to do. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed Mumble and Erik approaching him.

"Gab...are you okay?" Erik asked worriedly.

"Of course I'm okay pa! Why wouldn't I be?" Gab replied.

"You were going kind of fast and I thought something happened." Erik answered. Gab's face immediately showed a disdained expression and Erik knew something had indeed happened.

"Son what happened?" Erik asked.

"Nothing pa, I'm okay."

"Gabriel I know when you are lying to me. Please tell me what happened?" Erik calmly asked.

"..."

"You wouldn't understand" Gab answered.

"Gabriel! I can't understand if you don't talk to me! Please Gab, tell me what happened" Erik screamed desperately.

"I said you wouldn't understand!...Just leave me alone!" Gab said as he, yet again, sped off into the unknowns.

Erik was about off take off after him, but Mumble stopped him.

- With Erik and Mumble -

"Erik its better we leave him alone for now. He needs to figure this out" Mumble calmly explained.

"But pa! Shouldn't a father be able to help his son with any problem?" Erik asked.

"Sometimes the best help is to let them figure out their own problems. Trust me, I ran into the same problem when you ran off to Adelie Land. Sometimes they need someone other than their father to talk to them. I will talk to him later." Mumble said.

"Pa I know you're probably right, but why should someone else help him. I thought that was a father's job! I just don't see why someone should do what I should be doing." Erik said.

"Well son, you are right that is a father's job, but sometimes our kids rather listen to someone else because they think the parents won't understand. They assume their parents are normal and haven't dealt with whatever they might dealing with."

"Don't you remember I had the exact same problem?" Mumble asked.

"Wait what do you mean?" Erik asked, confused.

"Remember when I came to get you at Adelie Land? I couldn't convince to come back with me. Sven had to talk to you and convince you that coming with me was the best choice. I felt helpless, because I too thought a father should not have this much trouble talking to his son and on top of that a stranger could do, what was supposed to be my job, with such ease. It was not after going through everything else, that I finally realized that a father's job was to help, but a father had to also persevere through he many challenges of bonding with his son." Mumble explained.

Erik got it now. He remembered how he used to look up to Sven and how he ran away, because he thought he didn't belong there.

"Eventually I got my chance and you recognized me. From then on we bonded more and more and now we're here."

"What about grandpa, did he chase after you when you ran away?" Erik asked

"*sigh* No he didn't. Pa always disapproved of my dancing until I taught him and showed him how much fun it can be."

"But from that I learned and that's why I came after you. I didn't want to make the same mistake my father made." Mumble explained.

Erik walked up this father and gave him a hug.

"Thanks pa."

With that Erik started walking home, while Mumble was trying to find Gab.

- Meanwhile -

Five female penguins could be seen in a circle. It Gloria, Bo, Nicki, Haley, and Carmen! They were currently talking about their respective lives, as usual.

"I'm kind of wondering what's happening with Gab and Syrena? Anyone else curious?" Gloria asked. They all nodded.

"I don't know what's going to happen. With Gab saying he loves my daughter, but at the same time my daughter has already chosen a mate! I hope nothing bad happens." Haley inquired.

"I'm sure everything will be just fine" Carmen said with her Spanish accent.

"I don't know Carmen, this seems to be like a ticking time bomb" Nicki noted.

"I just hope my boy doesn't do anything desperate." Bo said in a worried voice

"I'm sure he won't Bo. Gab just graduated top of his class, he knows better." Gloria said, trying to ease Bo's worries.

"Thanks Gloria. I will make sure to talk to him later though." Bo said.

"Speaking of sons. Has anyone seen Jake anywhere? I haven't seen him all day!" Gloria asked. Everyone shook their heads.

- With Jake -

Unknown to everybody Jake was currently far away in one his special spots, where he knew no one would find him. He uses these spots to think and reflect on his life. Jake felt like something was missing in his life, but he didn't know what. He graduated in the top 5 of his class, he had a great family, and Syrena had just comeback; so why wasn't life as good as it was supposed to be?

"Where are you?" Jake inquired.

Jake looked at the sunrise as night was slowly overtaking the day. It was a beautiful mix of light and darkness, just perfect to see the world in its actuality. Jake then started walking homeward.

- Later -

Syrena was still walking around, trying to get Gab out of her head. She couldn't stop thinking about him! She really wanted to help him with whatever the problem might be. Syrena always talked about going home for the mating season while she was with Zev. She really wanted to raise her little penguins with her family, but she really didn't think something like this would happen. One of her closest friends has some sort of problems

She then heard a voice. This voice was amazing! If she was not there to hear it, she wouldn't believe a voice like this would exist. As she got closer to the source of the voice, she could make out the lyrics. (Two is better than one - Boy Like Girls)

Gab: "I remember what you wore on the first day
You came into my life and I thought
"Hey, you know, this could be something"
'Cause everything you do and words you say
You know that it all takes my breath away
And now I'm left with nothing"

Syrena now could see the figure of the singer. It was Gab! She couldn't believe this amazing voice was coming from him. She also saw Mumble there, tapping Gab's song. Syrena immediately forgot about all her problems.

Gab: "So maybe it's true
That I can't live without you
And maybe two is better than one
But there's so much time
To figure out the rest of my life
And you've already got me coming undone
And I'm thinking two is better than one."

Syrena suddenly felt an irresistible urge to sing, so she began.

Syrena: "I remember every look upon your face"
Gab: "The way you roll your eyes
The way you taste
You make it hard for breathing"
Syrena: "'Cause when I close my eyes and drift away
I think of you and everything's okay
I'm finally now believing"

Gab was appalled. He was out here with his grandfather talking and singing, when suddenly Syrena comes and starts singing his heart-song! Mumble was also very surprised to see Syrena out this late and much less singing with Gab. Mumble knew he could not stop them, so he kept tapping the rhythm of the song even though he couldn't shake this apprehensive feeling.

Gab & Syrena: "That maybe it's true
That I can't live without you
And maybe two is better than one
But there's so much time
To figure out the rest of my life
And you've already got me coming undone
And I'm thinking two is better than one"
Syrena: "Ooooooneeeee"

Syrena's voice extended to range unknown to everyone. It was a beautiful sight, both penguins were dancing in circle around each other; the radius of the circle was slowly decreasing as the two penguins came together.

Gab: "I remember what you wore on the first day
You came into my life and I thought, "Hey,"

Gab & Syrena: "Maybe it's true
That I can't live without you
Maybe two is better than one
But there's so much time
To figure out the rest of my life
And you've already got me coming undone
And I'm thinking
I can't live without you
'Cause, baby, two is better than one
But there's so much time
To figure out the rest of my life
But I'll figure it out
When all is said and done
Two is better than one
Two is better than one"

As the song came to an end, their beaks came closer and closer until they touched. They were so close to each other. They stared at each other in silence. No words needed to be spoken in that moment, the song said it all. Mumble was happy for Gab, but at the same time he was worried about the problems this would bring to his family. Mumble knew he couldn't stop them, because he was the one that that told Gab true love always finds a way.

"Syrena I don't hate and I will never be able to hate you" Gab said in all honesty. He looked in to Serena's eyes, which were filled with tears and said those three words.

"Syrena I love you"

Syrena was extremely shocked and didn't what to say. The last few moments were full of blissful experiences, but now it is if all her problems came crashing down in this one magical moment.

- With Zev and Age -

Zev was starting to get antsy; Syrena had not returned yet. She said it was going to be a little while, but it had definitely been more than a little while.

"I'm going to go look for her" Zev declared.

"Zev wait! Don't!" Age said.

"Why should I? Something could have happened to her!" Zev exclaimed.

"Zev just trust her. She will come back; She's a tough penguin after all she is my daughter." Age said putting his flipper on Zev's shoulder. Zev calmed down.

"I guess you're right Age, but can you stay with me until she comes back?" Zev asked in a hopeful tone.

"Of course I will! After all I have to get to know the man that is my daughter's mate right?" Age asked in witty tone.

The two penguins shared a laugh that was carried through the icy night by the freezing winds.


Suggestion: Listen to the song (Two is Better than One by Boys Like Girls) while reading the Syrena and Gab scene. It will enhance your understanding of the scene and how it relates to this story and its predecessors.

Okay guys that's a wrap! I have a poll in my profile that will help me decide what I should do with this, so please check that out!