Chapter 3.

A/N: - Thanks to all of you who have put up with my last two extremely short chapters! Also, thanks to Dory_fan who gave me my first review!!!! I hope you all enjoy my next chapter because it's gonna be a party!!!!!!!!

        Marlin was up early the next morning and he gently shook Nemo until he woke up. While Nemo got up, Marlin went to see Dory. He reached the hollow but she wasn't there. He shook his head in confusion and turned to call for her. To his surprise, she was directly behind him, grinning widely.

"Hi!"

"Dory! You're ok!"

"Yip," she laughed, "what are you doing?"

"We're going to my old home, Dory."

"Yippee!!!!" Dory bounced up and down but halted sharply, wincing, "ouch, I'm not going to be bouncing for a while."

  They left soon afterwards and reached Marlin's home in the evening. They arrived outside a large reef where a party seemed to be taking place. Several fish swam up and greeted them heartily.

"Marlin, Nemo it's so good to see you. My, you're a fine young lad to be sure Nemo! Where's Coral? And who's this you've brought with you? Babysitter?"

"Coral is dead. She died a long time ago. This is Dory. She helped me find Nemo and she's my best friend." Marlin whispered.

"Really. That's nice. Hello…Dory." The fish sneered.

"Hi! I'm Dory! I suffer from short-term memory loss!" Dory chirped, eyes bright.

"Indeed. Well, your family should be arriving soon and I, personally, do not see how you are going to explain bringing this fish here with you."

"Yeah, but if Dory can't stay then me and dad won't stay." Nemo stated firmly.

"Very well. Come and join the fun."

      He led them into the crowded reef. Dory whizzed off to find someone to make friends with but the little snooty clownfish was way ahead of her. No one seemed to want to talk to her and so she contented herself by playing with the kids who couldn't care less. While she played hide and seek with Nemo and the others, Marlin went off to find his family. They had just arrived and Marlin was instantly enveloped in several huge, crushing hugs at once. He then went with his older brother, Morris, to find the food. When they reached the improvised food court, Marlin overheard someone making some very bad jokes nearby. Sure enough, it was the same clownfish that had been mean to Dory. Marlin tried to pick up on what the jokes were about and eventually heard something that made his blood boil.

"All these jokes tonight," the fish started, "are dedicated to Marlin's 'friend' Dipsy…..I mean, Dory. They are all 'blue jokes'. Pink is no longer the blond of the ocean. BLUE IS!!!" With that, all the surrounding fish burst into manic laughter. Morris turned to his brother with a questioning gleam in his kind eyes.

"Marlin? Who's Dory? She is just a friend isn't she?"

"Yes."

"Promise?"

"Yes. I could never replace Coral and I would never want to either."

"Good. Well, come on! I want to meet this new friend of yours!" Morris said, and he grabbed Marlin by the fins in the direction of Dory. Seeing as she was the only one playing with the little kids, she wasn't too hard to pick out.

"Dory! Come here a moment."

"Uh-huh?"

"This is my brother, Morris."

"Hi, I'm Dory! It's nice to meet you!"

"It's nice to meet you to." Morris replied politely, shaking fins with her.

"Morris, Dory suffers from short-term memory loss…though she has been better lately."  Marlin informed his brother before Dory could re-introduce herself.

"So, Boris." Dory started.

"Morris," Morris corrected her.

"Morris, um……sorry……are you older or younger than Marlin?"

"Older. Say, Dory, would you like to come and meet our parents and other brothers and sisters?"

"Yeah!"

   Dory sang as they swam and Marlin spoke quietly to his brother.

"Are you sure this is a good idea? I mean, will mum and dad like her?"

"Are you kidding me? They'll love her! They always liked your friends Marlin, so if I were you I would quit worrying." Morris laughed, patting his fin in re-assurance.

"Marlin?" Dory asked, "Why is no-one talking to me?"

    Marlin hadn't noticed but every time Dory passed someone they looked away or whispered a nasty comment to their friend and giggled.

"Because you're different, Dory. Don't worry about it, ok?"

"Ok." Dory mumbled, but Marlin and Morris could see tears in her eyes and her singing quietened and sounded sadder and slower. Marlin didn't want Dory to be excluded just because she was a little crazy. "Just keep…….swimming……….swimming…………swimming," she sang dejectedly, "what do we do? We………swim……swim," she sighed and sniffed slightly, "swim……"

   Dory was never usually upset. She usually ignored things, or didn't show it, or looked at the bright side. Marlin had once thought someone was looking out for them when they were looking for Nemo. Now, he felt as if everyone was against them.

    Dory cheered up when they reached Marlin's parents.

"Hello, Marlin," his mother greeted, "who's this?"

"Mum, this is Dory. Dory, this is my mum."

"Hi mum."

"Oh for goodness sake. Call me Diamond or Di will you, dear?"

"Ok, vi." Dory agreed happily. She was sure she had the name right until Marlin hissed in her ear. She hurriedly corrected herself and clamped her fin over her mouth, hoping her error hadn't been that noticeable. Dory wanted to make a good impression on Marlin's parents so he didn't get into trouble again. She waited a while before telling Marlin where she was going and heading off to play with Nemo and his new friends. 'They like me,' she thought as she swam. She started singing her little song again, ignoring anyone who made a comment. Dory didn't care about these stupid fish anyway……she was at a party!

Eventually, the official introduction of Nemo to the entire reef arrived. The evening had passed quickly and everyone, without exception, had a brilliant time. A rather large green and white fish rose up above the guests and sent a big, booming voice echoing around the reef

"Ladies and gentlefish! I do hope you are thoroughly enjoying yourselves…I most certainly am having a marvelous time! But now, the moment has come to present a hero's welcome to Marlin and to his adorable son, Nemo!"

  The fish cheered and whooped. Marlin had never felt so flattered in his life, and he and Nemo swam up to join the important-looking fish.

"Um…..yes……thank-you, everyone, for this kind welcome……and……I hope I will be always welcome to visit……and bring Nemo along, of course. My journey started as just me, a desperate father, searching for his only son. However, it would've been a complete failure had I not met a certain special fish along the way. Dory saved my life many times and it was she who found Nemo. So, it shall be my honour to share this award with her." Marlin finished. Whatever he had been expecting, it hadn't been tumultuous applause! Dory was grinning like a catfish and the kids were bobbing round her with a barrage of questions. Sure, some of the fish remained silent, but the hundreds of clownfish, and many who had just arrived, were uncontrollable. Marlin smiled to himself as he stepped down. Hopefully, the cheering and clapping would cheer Dory up.

    "Fish loving and caring, heroes in our midst……la la la la laaa," Dory sang as they swam through the remains of where the party had been. The song was one that Marlin's two elder sisters had sung about him, Dory and Nemo. Most of the fish had returned to their homes but Marlin was taking Dory and Nemo on a guided tour.

"Dory, no……oh, never mind." Marlin muttered as he swam slightly ahead of her.

"When are we gonna get there, Dad?"

"Soon, Nemo, very soon."

"Where are we going anyway?" Dory piped up from behind.

"To my old school…where I met…where I met Coral."

"Oh," Dory grimaced, "Ok!!!!"

   They reached a beautiful area in the reef. There was something about it that made the trio feel sleepy. It was calming, taking their burdens from them. The seaweed and other exotic plants swayed lightly, and everything was bathed in a soft, rippling moonlight. Nemo went off with Dory to explore, leaving Marlin to reflect on what had happened all those years ago.

"Umm…excuse me?"

"Yes?" Marlin turned around to see the most beautiful fish gazing back at him.

"I'm Coral, and I'm new here. Could you help me out?"

"Sure. I'm Marlin, and I live over in that crimson anemone."

"Really? I live next door to you! Maybe we can hang out sometime……if you want to…………" she smiled coyly.

"Yeah, I would love to go out……I mean hang out with you. Anytime you want to go somewhere, just call for me and I'll do likewise for you."

"Ok, you know what Marlin?"

"No, what?"

"I only met you a few minutes ago and I really like you." She said as she planted a small kiss on his cheek/ He blushed furiously as she swam back into her anemone.

"See you soon, Coral. Bye."

Marlin was roused from his train of thought by a piercing yell.

"Daddy!!!!!!"

"Nemo! I'm coming Nemo! Hold on!"

"Daddy, help me!!!!"

"Hang on! Where are…………oof!" he blinked, trying to force his vision to focus. He had banged straight into none other than Dory.

"Marlin, Marlin, Marlin, Marlin, Marlin!!!!!!!!!! Hurry up! It's Nemo! He's stuck!"

"Stuck? Where?" Marlin was panicking. He couldn't lose Nemo, not now.

"In this…in a…oh, I can't remember!"

"Well, then come on!"

   They whizzed round all the coral, the anemones and a few passing fish until they reached the place where Dory said Nemo was. To their horror, the two spikes Nemo was wedged between were moving. Suddenly, as if by co-incidence, something rose up from the coral that they would rather not have met……………………

A/N: - I hate doing that! I hope the chapter was a better length for all you readers! I will update the next chapter as soon as possible. In the meantime……you could always review the story so far…..*wink wink, nudge nudge!*……………I am also gonna remind you that Dory and Marlin are BEST FRIENDS, and they are not in love……I thought I'd tell you now for anyone who thinks there might be some romance coming up!