A/N: Ack. Once again, I wanted to update "Saving Dory" before this, but I guess I'm a bit brain dead on that story at the moment. Hope it clears up. I shall thank all those who left wonderful reviews, and I shall also cheer that I still haven't gotten any flames since chapter 3. ^___^
I want to leave a special note to Dark Ash, who left me a very nice note. I really don't blame you for being disturbed at how I have a lot of incorrect scientific facts in this story. I would be too, if I was really big in science like you. And I really do feel stupid with making such a huge mistake.
And you know, you're right about us being two of a kind, even though there are a few differences. Kinda weird, huh? And as for the type of couples we write about (homosexual, and heterosexual), I really just write about what couples inspire me most. Just turned out that none of the homosexual couples I like I just don't write for. (As in Utena and Anthy from 'Revolutionary Girl Utena,' Michiru and Haruka from 'Sailor Moon,' and Kiyone and Mihoshi from 'Tenchi Muyo.)
Yes, I am straight, but I really don't mind bisexual people. I mean, I despise most of my family because they're homophobic. I absolutely CANNOT stand people like that. And I guess everyone has their differences, like with the Big O and Trigun thing.
So thank you. I really do appreciate the review. ^_^
This chapter is half in Dory's POV, then switch's to Marlin's.
Disclaimer: see chapter 1
Chapter 6 – "Kida"
I wasn't able to describe my feelings during that kiss. If I would have tried to, I would have been better off trying breath without water. It was all so unreal, like a dream or fantasy. I had always had a special feeling for Marlin, but I had never been able to name it. But now I knew that it had been love all along. And I felt so overjoyed that now that I knew what the feeling was, I knew that he felt the same way. He loved me…
We stayed in each other's fins for quite some time, and it felt too good to be true. I was sure that I was going to wake up any given second, and none of this would have happened. But somehow, with Marlin there, I was able to assure myself that it wasn't a dream.
When we pulled away, we were quiet for a second. But then, I felt my stomach jerk very lightly. I almost wondered why, but then I remembered that I was pregnant. It was so hard to believe that in a short time (or at least, it will seem like a short time), I was going to be a mother. And that horrible fish was their father. It made me sick to think of such things, but I knew they were true.
"My stomach is starting to jerk," I said. "Is that supposed to mean anything?" I really had no clue about this kind of thing. Marlin shrugged. Obviously he knew no more than I did.
"I don't know. But you know, I think I'm going to have my old friend come and help us out with this. She's the best doctor in the Great Barrier Reef, and since we're old pals, I'm sure she'll help," Marlin told me. I smiled, wanting to meet one of his friends.
"Really? Well where does she live on the reef?" I asked. "I know I haven't seen you talking to anyone."
"She lives on the other side. Which is why I haven't seen her in years. But I guess I'll have to go and see her myself," he told me.
"Oh, can I come with you?" I asked anxiously. He shook his head. "You need to stay here and rest, Dory," he told me. I frowned disappointedly. "You only got twenty minutes of sleep anyway. You must be tired."
Now that I thought about it, I was tired. "But so did you," I argued. I was worried about him; he didn't get anymore sleep than I did. He smiled and patted my fin.
"Yes, but I'm not the one carrying the eggs, now am I?"
Okay, he got me there. I wanted to argue more, but I knew he wasn't going to let me come. He wanted me to stay here and sleep, even though I really didn't want to be here alone.
~~~~~~~~~~Marlin's POV~~~~~~~~~~~(only switching POV's because this chapter wouldn't work without me doing this)
"Okay, you win," she said, going back over to the spot she had been sleeping before. She nestled herself into the warm sand and lied against the wall. I swam over to where she was and smiled. She smiled back, but tiredly.
"Go to sleep now," I told her, patting her fin lightly. She nodded and closed her eyes, yawning once more. I swam back over to the entrance, but I stopped before leaving. I turned and looked at Dory, and smiled to myself.
"I love you," I whispered. I didn't expect her to hear me, but judging by her sudden smile, I guessed she had.
Then I left, going to look for probably the only fish who would help Dory and I.
***
The trip to the opposite part of the reef wasn't a very exciting one. I guess I had gotten accustomed to having some company whenever I went somewhere, ever since I met Dory. Before I met her, it was very lonely. I know I had Nemo, but I was lonely as in, didn't have any friends. After Coral died, I didn't even try making new friends, because I didn't want to take the chance of being hurt again. I wasn't going to make new friends and then something happen to them. After Coral, I didn't think I could take any more deaths to the people I cared for most.
But when I met Dory, it was different. She was different. Never before in my life, had I met someone as optimistic as her. And somehow, her optimism made me think that maybe she could be my friend, and I still wouldn't worry about her being hurt. But then when I thought I had lost Nemo back in Sydney, it was just the last straw. First Coral, then Nemo. Everyone I loved had been killed, so I made the decision to leave Dory behind. I figured that if I never saw her again, I would forget about her and wouldn't have to worry if she was killed…
I was taken from my thoughts when I realized that I had made it to my destination. I was now on the East side of the Great Barrier Reef, and now all I had to do was find Kida.
I thought this would take quite a bit of time, considering that this was the more populated part of the reef, but I thought wrong. It hardly took any time at all! Kida had to have been very popular, or well known, because I actually only had to ask two fish to find where she lived.
About ten minutes later, I found her anemone. And boy was it ever huge! It had to be one of the biggest ones I've ever seen. Well, I guess that's the privilege you get when you're a doctor…
"Uh… Kida?" I called her name for the first time in fifteen years. There was no response at first, but then I heard her reply, "What, what, what? Who is it?" in her strong, southern accent.
She poked her head out of the anemone and looked at me. I looked at her for a few seconds and remembered how pretty she was. Instead of orange, she was a deep gold color, and her white stripes seemed almost silver.
"Kida? It's me… Marlin," I stated. She was silent for a few seconds before widening her eyes.
"Marlin?!" she exclaimed. "Is that really you?!" She rushed over to me and hugged me tightly. I gasped for air, and I was strongly reminded of how Dory hugs me.
I coughed quietly and she let go of me. She looked me over and smiled.
"Wow, Marlin, it's been so long," she said. I nodded and said, "I know."
It was quiet for a few awkward seconds, before she spoke up. "So… what brings you here after so long?"
"Well, uh…" I started. "I was hoping you could help me with something…" She smiled again. "Sure, no problem. What is it?" she asked. This was when I got a bit nervous. I never really thought about what I was going to tell her…
"My friend, she's uh…"
"Oh, she?" she interrupted. "Lemme guess. She's pregnant?"
My mouth opened slightly, and seeing this, she laughed. I think she was getting the wrong idea!
"Well congratulations, Marlin!" She said happily. Yep, she was getting the wrong idea.
"Kida, uh… they're not my children."
This kinda caught her off guard. She was frozen for a moment, obviously a bit embarrassed. "Oh! Uh, well… sorry then…"
She looked down at the ground for a second, then back up at me. Her smile returned, and she said, "Anyway, I'd be glad to come and help you out with her. We can leave now, if you want."
I nodded, and we headed back to my home.
This trip was a lot less boring since I had someone to talk to, to pass the time. We talked about this and that, mostly about what we had been doing in the past fifteen years that we didn't see or hear from each other. And when we were almost back home, she asked me,
"Are you still single, Marlin?"
I looked over at her, a mild shocked expression upon my face, and she quickly added, "I mean, I know about what happened to your wife, and you do have one son, but I was just curious if you're seeing anyone again."
I returned my gaze to in front of me. "Actually, I am," I said, not afraid to admit it. "And her name is Dory. She's the one I need your help with."
She looked at me questioningly. "Wait… you mean, you're seeing each other, and she's pregnant, but not with your children?" she asked.
"Yes," I said. "She was raped last night, and that's what caused it."
"Oh, I see," she said, now understanding the situation.
"How long have you two known each other?" she asked after a few moments of silence. I looked over to her, wondering why she was so interested.
"A year. Yesterday was our anniversary of the day we first met," I told her. But she still wanted to know more.
"How did you meet?"
"Well, my son Nemo was taken away from me by divers, and on the way to find him, I ran into Dory and she helped me get him back," I told her. "I guess you can say we fell in love with each other during the journey, but our feelings weren't taken into the open until just recently."
She didn't say anything, but just nodded. It was quiet the rest of the way there, and it was right before we reached her tunnel, that Kida reminded me of something I hadn't told her.
"She doesn't live in an anemone?" she asked, when we came to her home. I suddenly felt very stupid for not remembering to tell Kida that Dory wasn't a clownfish. I guess she just figured she was when I told her that we were together.
"Uh, Kida?"
She looked at me. "There's er… something I forgot to tell you…"
"What?" she asked. I paused before saying anything.
"Dory's… not a clownfish," I said. "She's a blue tang."
Kida had a confused and shocked look on her face at my words. I could tell that she was desperately trying to hide her reaction, but it wasn't working very well. "Oh… um…" She started stuttering. "Well, I won't deny that that didn't surprise me, Marlin, but I also won't disapprove of it either. I'm happy for you."
She smiled, and something told me it was a genuine smile, and not a fake one to cover up anything she didn't want to say.
I smiled back and said, "Thanks. Now, let me go get her." I turned and went inside the cave to see Dory still sleeping. I didn't want to disturb her, but I had been gone for a good few hours, so she should be rested up by now.
"Dory?" I called softly. She didn't wake up, so I decided to just watch her for a couple seconds. I smiled and got that special feeling inside of me as I looked at her. I was so in love with her, it was incredible. I never would have guessed that things would end up this way… but I'm really glad they did.
Then I saw her eye flutter open. She looked over at me and smiled. "Hi, Marlin," she whispered. I took her fin in mine and continued to smile. "Hi, Dory."
We were quiet for a bit, and it was a pleasant moment. But then I remembered that she had to meet Kida, so she could start helping us out.
"Come on, Dory, you have to meet Kida. She'll be helping us out with this whole deal," I said to her, helping her up. Once she was upright again, she swayed a bit before catching her balance. And when she did, she had fallen towards me and our faces were inches apart.
I smiled slyly and was about to kiss her, when I heard Kida from outside, "Marlin, you coming?"
I looked back at Dory, who smiled. She kissed me quickly on the lips, took hold of my fin, and lead me outside.
