A/N: Boy, it seems like every time I finally manage to get another chapter of this story up, I have to apologize. It's almost a routine now, and I know it's my fault. I swear I don't mean to take so long, and I swear I'm not losing interest whatsoever. School's just been pounding projects, papers, reports, and all kinda of stuff on me at once. It's the end of the year, and I had a million study guides to complete for Finals this week. Each study guide was about 5 pages, and one for each subject, PLUS two major grade-deciding projects due for two different subject due in the same week. After finally finishing all those things I just didn't have any strength in me to write. But I had a day off today, which was MAJOR mental health regain for me, so I decided to write. I don't think I'll have any more updates after this for a little bit more than week, which is when school is out for me. After that, I'll probably be updating once a week
One note – I've had a lot of reviews asking where Nemo went, and to write what his say in the whole situation is. Well, for the questions of where Nemo went; remember that, believe it or not, the first seven chapters took place during only two days. So I know it seems like Nemo's been away forever, but it's really only been a bit more than a day. I never thought I'd have the writing capability to write seven chapters that took place in such a short amount of time. Geez, when I was told I went too fast with my stories and that I should slow them down, I think I overdid it OO
Disclaimer: See chapter 1
Chapter 8 – "Changed"
It's been about three days since Dad brought me home, and everything's so different. Dad has a new friend over, we're not living at our anemone, and Dory can't play with me, or take me to school anymore. It's definitely been a lot to get used to.
When Dad brought me home, he explained to me what happened, but not very well. I guess I'm not old enough, or at least that's what he said. Parents are so weird sometimes, and I hate being called 'too young.' But I think that I shouldn't be complaining about that right now.
When Daddy told me about Dory laying eggs soon, I was very surprised. Excited a bit to have more friends to play with, but surprised. At first, I thought Daddy made it happen, but when I asked him if he did, he told me the real story (he was stuttering a lot, which usually means he's embarrassed) about the fish named Alan. He wouldn't tell me everything that Alan did, except that it was something bad -- to Dory and her sister Luna.
Today was Saturday, so I didn't have to go to school, and I was glad. Ever since what happened, Dad's been late picking me up from the drop-off, and he's quiet on the way home. I hope Dory has the eggs soon, so things will be a little bit more normal around here. All Dad and his friend do is take care of Dory, and only let her out for exercise. I think I'm the only fish besides her who knows she doesn't need all the attention she's getting.
I feel bad for her – being cooped up inside all day, and the only time she's allowed out, she has to follow an exact path made for her. And this path follows through the most crowded parts of the reef, so that Alan guy doesn't get her again. It's no wonder she isn't herself anymore. She hardly smiles, talks, laughs, or anything. It's almost scary…
Dad also told me (very difficultly) about him and Dory. He told me that he and Dory 'liked each other a lot and were more than friends anymore.' I was happy when he told me this, and it really didn't surprise me at all. Actually, the only thing that did surprise me was that it didn't happen sooner. Daddy was always looking at Dory in a weird way, and never failed to blush when she held his fin.
There was one thing that did make me a little uneasy about Daddy and Dory, though. I had this weird feeling that Daddy's friend, Kida, liked him. I don't know why; she hasn't made any kind of movement or anything that would even hint at it, but something's telling me that she does. I do like her, she's nice and all, but I think she might cause some trouble soon… I hope I'm wrong.
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"Daddy?"
"Hmmm?"
Daddy and me were outside of Dory's cave waiting for her to come back from her exercise. Kida was out getting more of those strange leaves for Dory.
"How much longer till Dory lays her eggs?" I asked. He looked at me for a moment, and then returned to gaze in front of him. "We're not exactly sure, Nemo, but Kida says anywhere from two to four more days." He paused for a second. "Why?"
He was looking back to me again, and I looked down for a little bit. I didn't want to make him worry about anything more, especially if it was something as little as my own comfort.
"Well, I… things are really different now, and I'm just hoping that once Dory has the eggs, it won't be as different," I told him. I kept looking down, but I could sense his worried stare.
"Nemo… why didn't you tell me this before?" he asked. I finally decided to look at him. Yep, he had a worried look on his face. I was quiet for little while.
I shrugged. "It's… really not that important," I said, hoping he would drop the subject. I know how Dad can overreact sometimes, and I didn't want him to now. With all that was happening, he was probably gonna have some kind of seizure if he has something else to be concerned about.
"Of course it is, Nemo," he argued. "If you're not happy, then you should have come and told me. I know Kida and I have been paying most of our attention to Dory, and I'm sorry."
I didn't say anything.
"How about," Dad started. "If we go out tonight just like we used to? Just you, Dory, and me, and we'll go to the drop-off. That's where all your friends go, right?"
At this, I smiled without even meaning to. I felt happier than I had in days. I jumped up and down shouting, "Yeah! I wanna do that!" I couldn't wait until Dory got back and heard about what we were gonna do. It's gonna make me even happier to see her act normal.
"I'll be right back, Nemo. I'm gonna go look for Kida to tell her we're leaving after Dory gets back," he told me. I nodded, still smiling, and he swam off. I waited there for a few minutes, wishing Dory would hurry back. Then, finally, I saw her in the distance swimming towards where I was.
Only about a minute later, she was right in front of me. She smiled and greeted me, but not in the way she used to – there was hardly any enthusiasm in her voice. I greeted her back, and she was about to go in the cave before I stopped her.
"Wait, Dory," I called. She stopped and turned around. "What's up?" she asked. I smiled and she came out of the cave's entrance and next to me. I told her about what Dad had said we were gonna do tonight.
"He said that we were gonna go out by the drop-off for a little while. Just to get things a little less crazy, like they are now," I explained.
As expected, Dory's face lit up like never before. I don't think I'd ever seen her mood change so quickly. I smiled at the fact that she was smiling. It was good to have Dory back.
"Really?" she asked happily. I nodded and said, "Daddy's out talking to Kida about us leaving, so he should be back in a minute." She continued smiling and nodded. We waited there for a little while more before Dad finally came back. He smiled at both of us, and we were smiling back. It felt good to have us all smiling at the same time again.
"Shall we?"
A/N: How about I make a promise? I usually have a hard time breaking them, so… I promise that I will have the next chapter written and posted her on June 9th. You can wham me with tomatoes if I don't.
