Ch. 2 Dolphins, Whales, and Willy- oh my!

Melissa stared out over the ocean. Jackson was busy completing Taylor and Eric's hut, and Melissa was bored.

Very bored.

She didn't have anything to do, really. Jackson ordered her to rest for the baby, and it wasn't like there was anything else for her to do. Jackson was building the huts, Abby was weaving cloth items, Nathan was making furniture, Lex was working on technology, Eric was lugging water, Taylor was carrying food and firewood, and Daley was watching Lexie. Soon Melissa would have someone to watch, but till then…

Slowly but surely, a fin broke the surface of the distant ocean. Melissa got up abruptly, and squinted into the distance. Another fin came up- and another. And another. Melissa ran over immediately to where Lex was working on the solar panels.

"Lex, Lex!" she called excitedly.

"What?" Lex looked up.

"The whales are here!" she cried, referring to the rather large transient orca pod that migrated to the island every 3 months.

"They're early," Lex laughed and Melissa shrugged.

"Whatever! They're here, I'll call everyone, and you go greet them."

Lex ran off to the ocean, and Melissa ran (to the best of her ability that is) to the others.

Soon all 9 were out on the beach, Daley cradling Lexie. The orcas (who are some of the few whales who can beach themselves and get back into the ocean easily, save for a few special incidents,) came up partway on the shore to greet the stranded.

"Let's see," Lex murmured, counting head, "yes, all 8- I stand corrected, 9, newborn calf," Lex patted the orca calf's head, "now, where is… aha!"

Lex found the orca with the (waterproof) marker name on his white eye patch, Willy. Even though it was waterproof, all were astonished that the marker hadn't even be or smear yet.

"Hey Willy," Lex patted the whale and rubbed his blubbery skin. The others made their way to pat the whales, Daley lowering Lexie to curiously pat the calf, who was probably about the same age as Lexie (both born two times ago when the group came.)

"Wa!" she murmured inquisitively.

"Aa!" Daley squealed, "She said her tenth word! Whale!"

"That's wonderful," Nathan smiled and kissed Daley, then Lexie.

"Let's see, that's Ma, Da, Ja, Mel, Ta, Er, Le, Ab, Lee, and Wa now," Lex counted off on his fingers.

"You're so smart! So, so smart!" Daley cuddled with the baby, making Eric fake a gag.

"You make me sick, Eric. You're getting married, may! You're bound to have kids!" Nathan laughed.

"And when you treat hem the same as we do, we get to call you a hypocrite," Daley smirked triumphantly.

"Well, fine," Eric rolled his eyes and patted the muzzle of a whale for a while as Lex ran off, then came back in his swim trunks. Willy seemed to know the drill, and soon they were swimming together, as they did every time the whales came.

Everyone else laughed and jumped in themselves, except for Daley and Nathan, who reluctantly stayed behind with Lexie.


Daley washed the diapers carefully, knowing that they were some of the few things that they couldn't loose until Abby got around to making more. She had a lot to do- she was making clothes for Lexie now.

Nathan walked over to her, wet from swimming with the whales. Lexie was being watched by Melissa, who definitely needed to practice.

"Hey love," Nathan smiled as Daley finished cleaning the last of the diapers.

"Hey love," Daley mimicked, getting up from her spot by the washtub and facing Nathan.

"I just came by to tell you that it's almost dinner time and that Lexie's been wailing for you all afternoon. Melissa is going insane," Nathan laughed.

"Oh dear," Daley sighed and picked up all the diapers, "Well come with me, Nathan," she smiled, latching on to his free hand.

"I hate leaving your side, anyway. I'd be happy to," Nathan murmured into ear. Daley smiled back at him, and rested her head on his shoulder.

"I love you too, Nathan," she laughed as they neared their hut. Walking inside, Lexie was indeed wailing "MA! MA! MA! MA! DA! DA!" over and over again. Melissa looked like she was about to die.

"Oh, here I am sweetheart," Daley ran over to Melissa, and too Lexie from her arms.

"Thank you," Melissa gasped and stumbled out of the hut.

Nathan laughed as Daley cradled Lexie, whispering to calm her.

"Ma!" Lexie smiled

"Yes, I'm here. I'm here, baby," Daley lifted her head up to her cheek, and continued rocking her. Lexie soon began to fall asleep.

"You're brilliant with her, you know that right?" Nathan laughed.

"You might have mentioned it," Daley laughed as she set Lexie back down in her crib, fast asleep.

"Well, I should have. You are the most amazing mother I've ever met. Save my Mom and yours of course."

"Why them?" Daley laughed.

"Because I automatically have to praise mine to high heaven, and yours made you the woman I love today."

"Aww," Daley laughed.

"It's true," Nathan pulled her close and held her until they heard Jackson call out that it was time for dinner.

"Come on. Grab Lexie," Nathan smiled as Daley reached into the crib and they walked back to camp.


Jackson stared at his fish, the campfire glowing in the darkness. Taylor was giggling with Melissa and Abby about her wedding plans, Eric was in deep conversation with Lex, Daley's head was resting on Nathan's shoulder and Nathan was holding Lexie. Jackson could hear the whales call each other in the distance, and Jackson felt a kinship to them. They were a lot alike.

Melissa walked over to him, then, smiling.

"Deep thinking again?" she laughed.

"Yes. How did you know?" Jackson smiled.

"You have your thinking face on. You have many faces, you know," Melissa yawned and settled herself into Jackson's chest.

"Like…?" Jackson laughed.

"Well, your thinking face is when you lower your eyes and stare at the sand for a long time. Your 'leave me alone' face is when you look at everyone and everything with a glare. Your 'I'm content' face is when you're closing your eyes and leaning your head back. That's also the way you look when you sleep, but when you sleep you occasionally smile. Your serious, leader face is looking up in an annoyed way. Your 'I love you' face is the only time when it gets soft and indeed the only time you smile. Wait, I take it back, you smile occasionally when you snort when something's ridiculous. Or when someone says something funny. Your 'rest up, you're pregnant' face is also soft, but you're frowning," Melissa was yawning and beginning to fall asleep, "your… your 'I don't want to leave you because I love you face' is… is… like your 'I love you face' but… even more genuinely…" Melissa let out a loud yawn, "happy…" and fell asleep. Jackson smiled and whispered to the group that he was going to take Melissa back to their hut. Gently picking her up, Jackson walked carefully back to their hut and closed the door. He laid Melissa down on the bed and tucked her in, smiling as she smiled in her sleep.

You forgot my 'I can't stop thinking about you' and my 'friendly' face, Mel. The first of which I'm wearing now, Jackson smiled and put on his pajamas, and crawled in next to her. Soon he, too, fell asleep.

(1, 256 Words) I'm not updating "We're Back" until this one is up to speed. That means when I submit Chapter 3 of this story, I'll go and submit chapter 4 of We're Back, and then switch off and stuff. And oh, oh look! I found a song that perfectly describes the way the characters probably feel in the series! Read the lyrics, it's "Believe it or Not" by Nickelback! It REALLY describes the show!

Believe it or not, everyone have things that they hide

Believe it or not, everyone keeps most things inside

Believe it or not, everyone, believe in something above

Believe it or not, everyone, need to feel loved

Feel loved, but we don't, and we don't

Until we figure out, could someone deliver us?

And send us some kind of sign, so close to giving up

Coz faith is so hard to find

But you don't, and you won't, until we figure out

I've seen it a lot

Every time to the world turns upside down

Believe it or not, everyone

Most of us feel like we're losing ground

Believe it or not, everyone, hate admitting fear

Believe it or not, most of us wanna know why we're here

Why we're here, but we don't and we won't

Until we figure out, Could someone deliver us?

And send us some kind of sign, so close to giving up

Coz faith is so hard to find, someone deliver us?

And send us some kind of sign, so close to giving up

Coz faith is so hard to find

But you don't, and you won't, until we figure out

Most of us have nothing to complain about

Most of us have things we could live without

Everyone need advice on how to get along

Get along; we don't, until we figure out

Believe it or not everyone…

Believe it or not, everyone have things that they hide

Believe it or not, everyone keeps most things inside

Believe it or not, everyone, believe in something above

Believe it or not, everyone, need to feel loved

Feel loved, but we don't, and we don't

Until we figure out, Could someone deliver us?

And send us some kind of sign, so close to giving up

Coz faith is so hard to find, someone deliver us?

And send us some kind of sign, so close to giving up

Coz faith is so hard to find

But you don't, and you won't, until we figure out