Marlin slowly swam out of Dory's home, thinking over what he had just said. Why did he have to get so...serious and emotional around Dory? He didn't want to spoil her fun and happiness, and he definitely didn't want to plague her with his problems. Why did he have to tell her? Marlin sighed, feeling his cheeks grow hot with embarrassment. I guess I just want to make up for all the times I've snapped at her. It's not her fault she has a memory problem. He cringed as he remembered how he had yelled at her for indirectly injuring Nemo, and how hurt she had been. He hoped she had felt better ever since he had told her how amazing she had been when finding her parents. Dory had certainly made his life much more interesting, and Nemo loved her. Marlin owed so much to her.

Just keep swimming...

Just keep swimming...

Why had Marlin felt slightly disappointed when she left? What did he wish she had said?

Shaking his head, Marlin dismissed the thought from his mind, and swam over to Dory's parents' house. He could hear a childish voice proudly describing events of his past, while voices of two older fish chuckled and occasionally asked questions. Marlin swam over to the entrance of the home and cleared his throat. "Nemo! Bedtime soon!"

Laughing as he heard a dejected aww come from inside, his son swam out, waving a farewell to Mr. and Mrs. Tang.

"Please come back soon, Nemo!" Jenny, Dory's mother, called, as Charlie, Dory's father nodded. Nemo grinned and waved again, and swam quickly to catch up with his father, who was swimming back towards their home.

"Why do you always have to drag me away when I'm having fun?" Nemo whined. Marlin smiled.

"I don't mean to do it on purpose, son. But you need rest."

Nemo gave a long, loud sigh, but didn't argue further, as he swam back to their home in the anemone.

...

Marlin quietly swam out of the anemone, careful not to wake up Nemo, who had just fallen asleep. He headed towards the clearing where Dory, Destiny and Bailey were playing tag. A current caught him as Bailey swam by, and he yelped, steadying himself. He opened his eyes to see a huge eye right in front of him.

"Ahh!" he screamed, jerking backwards. The eye belonged to the whale shark in front of him, and she laughed hysterically.

"Dory, your friend is so funny!" she giggled.

Dory swam over. "He is, isn't he?" she said, grinning at Marlin. Marlin sighed, his heart rate going back to normal.

"Oh, by the way, Destiny..." The surgeonfish drifted over and lightly tapped the whale shark, "You're it!" Destiny smiled and chased after Dory, who quickly swam away, Bailey following her.

"Wait!" Marlin called. "Dory, it's getting dark!"

"Okay?" Dory called back, grabbing on to one of Bailey's flippers as he swam away from Destiny. Marlin quickly followed them.

"I'm saying, it's dangerous when it's dark! We need to head home!" yelled Marlin. Dory let go of Bailey as swam over to Marlin.

"I guess you're right..." she said, sounding dejected. Marlin touched her fin lightly.

"It's alright that you want to keep playing, but I want to make sure you three are safe." Bailey and Destiny, realizing their cue, called a good-bye to Dory and swam away in the direction of their homes. Dory waved, and turned to Marlin. He smiled and swam back in the direction of the cove.

"I hope I didn't make you...uh, uncomfortable when I talked to you earlier," Marlin commented. Dory nodded, but she looked slightly confused.

"Where did Bailey and Destiny go?" she asked. "Oh, duh," she suddenly said, slapping herself, "They must have gone home. Oh wow, is it dark already?" She glanced up at the surface.

Marlin just smiled, looking at her. She was a gorgeous fish, he realized. She was such a beautiful shade of blue, and the curve of her fins were perfect -

"I'm gonna say goodnight to parents, okay?" Dory suddenly asked.

"That's fine," Marlin answered. Dory smiled at him and swam off to her parents' home. Marlin quietly slipped back into the anemone and laid down, watching his son sleep. Nemo's quiet, steady breathing calmed him, and soon, he fell asleep too.