A/N: Hey guys, I'm back again with a new chapter! sorry it took a bit of time there, I've been disracted with work (omg I remember first starting this fanfic and complaining about homework in eighth grade. now I'm complaining about my JOB. -dies-), and my Cars fanfics. but I managed to get this written in a little over an hour tonight, knowing I had to update this asap. so yeah, nothing INSANELY major, mostly Marlin mulling over things n' some angst (o' course). Oh, and this isn't the last chapter.
Marlin's POV.
Disclaimer: see chapter one.
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"All You Wanted"
Chapter XIII - "So Many Things"
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I swam outside of the cave, completely shaken with worry. I knew that laying eggs wasn't that big of a deal in and of itself, but I guess it was just a reflex of mine to worry. That, and because of the rape, I had to assume the worst was going to happen. Kida told me there might be complications, but she hadn't specified what those might be.
I sighed, trying to get my heart rate back to normal. It hadn't stopped pounding in my chest since I had chased after Dory during the incident with Kida. Since then, I've been on a roller coaster ride of emotions; fear, worry, shock, panic, guilt, and even happiness. But I think I was beginning to calm down now. Dory and I were back on good terms, she was laying the eggs, Kida was there to help her through it, and Alan was gon-
My eyes widened as I took in the information for the first time. Alan… was gone. Dead. And at Dory's fins. It seemed impossible. I was relieved by all reason of course that the fish could no longer be a threat to Dory – or anyone for that matter – but to think that she, of all fish, was the one who killed him. Dory – sweet, innocent, and childish in every way had committed murder. I couldn't get over it, and probably never would. But then… she probably wouldn't either.
In that instant, I suddenly felt horrible for her. How having killed him must make her feel. It was true that he most likely would have killed her if she hadn't done so before he got the chance, but still… to have the blood of someone else on your fins… even I would take a lot of time to get over, if ever. Sometimes I wonder how she manages how she's able to be happy all of the time, with all of these terrible things that befall her. One would think that she'd barely ever be happy at all. But then again, she probably is just able to forget all of the bad things that happen to her, blocking them out for good.
I shook my head, feeling dismal. For the life of me, I'd never understand how someone as pure as Dory would have to endure what she's gone through. How did she deserve any of it? The only thing she deserved was a perfect life filled with nothing but joy and beauty. She never got angry, always thought of others before herself, was intensely kind to anyone and everyone… there was nothing negative about her at all. And yet she still went through ordeals that most fish only have nightmares about. And though it all… she still smiles.
She truly was an angel. There was no other word for her.
I had always believed that Coral had sent Dory to me, because in so many ways, Dory had helped me become everything that I needed to be. For Nemo's sake, and my own. Coral saw how poorly I had been doing with Nemo, and how scared I was of everything because of her death. And when Nemo was taken away, she knew I wouldn't be able to get him back with the state I was in. She found Dory and said to her, 'Go to him for me. He's an absolute wreck, and you're the only one who can fix that.'
I thank her every night of my life for that.
It seemed like hours before Kida finally came out of the cave and told me it was all done with. The look on her face and the tone of her voice could only be described as somber, though. I asked if anything had gone, if anything will go wrong.
"No, everything went fine, Dory's in there resting now. But…" she trailed off.
I suddenly felt panic rising up in my throat. "What?" I asked urgently.
She looked up at me sadly. "Marlin, I… I examined all of the eggs, and… well, it looks like most of them won't even hatch."
My heart sank to the ground, an intense sadness sweeping over me at Kida's words. I couldn't even reply. She just nodded, also looking extremely disheartened.
After a few moments, I finally found my voice. "Are you sure?" I had to ask.
She nodded again, remaining silent.
"Does she know?" I inquired. I knew that if I felt horrible about this, Dory has to feel thousands of times worse.
This time though, Kida shook her head. "No, I… couldn't bring myself to," she said guiltily. "I'm sorry, I just… I didn't think it was my place."
She really did seem sorry for not telling Dory the truth. But I guess if Dory hadn't asked, there was no truth to be kept from her. I placed a fin on Kida's shoulder, and she looked up at me.
"It's alright," I told her. "You've done so much for Dory and I already. Too much. Besides… I think I should be the one to tell her, anyway. It might be a little easier to hear from me."
Kida just smiled sadly at me, and nodded. "I'll wait out here," she said quietly.
And so I swam into the cave. The further in I went, the more heartbreak I felt inside of me. I couldn't believe this was happening… after everything else, now Dory has to learn that most of her children won't even be born. My head hurt, and my heart ached… I didn't know how much else I could watch the one I loved go through like this.
I reached the end of the cave, and saw her in her usual sleeping spot. But next to her lay the immense amount of crimson colored eggs, taking up most of the room. I took in a shaky breath at the sight of them, but then continued over to Dory, who had her eyes closed.
"Dory…?" I said softly. Her eyes slowly opened, and her gaze landed on me. She smiled, but it seemed extremely weak. And I barely did it, but I managed a small smile back.
"Marlin," she spoke quietly.
I swam over to her and put a fin over hers. "How are you feeling?" I asked.
"Fine," she answered. "It wasn't nearly as scary as I thought it would be."
This, I was glad for, but still I knew I had to tell her. For a while though, I remained silent. I knew it was going to be one of the hardest things I'll ever have to do in my life, but I knew I had to.
So I did.
With a deep breath, I told her the exact same thing Kida had told me. For a moment, Dory had seemed to have frozen completely still. She looked at me with wide eyes, but didn't move at all, nor did she say anything. But not even seconds later, she had broken down in the tearful sobs, clutching me to her like I was the last fish left in the world. I held her, wishing like mad there was something at all that I could've done to help her. But there was nothing. Soon, I found myself crying along with her.
We went on like this for who knew how long. But after a long while, we both fell into silence, but still holding onto one another. Dory was still crying, even though she was quiet now, I could tell. I patted her affectionately, putting all the love into it as I could, letting her know that I was there.
At some point, I heard Dory whisper something that I couldn't hear. I asked her what it was she had said, and it took her a few moments to say it again.
"I want…" she stopped for a moment to choke back a sob. "I want you to be their father."
My eyes went wide, and I pulled away from her to look at her properly. Her eyes were swollen and red from all of the crying, and lone tears still trailed down her face. She looked absolutely pitiful, and it took all I had not to start crying again myself. But I held it back.
"What are you talking about?" I asked, knowing it was a stupid question. Of course I knew what she was talking about, but…
"They don't have one," she stated simply. "And for the ones that… that do hatch, I know you'd be the perfect dad, Marlin. Nemo's the perfect example of that, and you'd be the next best thing to a real father, right?"
I could only look at her for a long time. She… was asking for something very serious. I knew that they would never have a real father, but… for me to pose as that father? I… really wasn't sure. Of course, I wanted nothing than to do anything I could to make the future years of Dory's motherhood as easy on her as possible, but wouldn't telling them that I'm their father be lying to them?
I thought about it for a moment. It wasn't like they wouldn't find out someday, but… I guess what Dory was asking was that I fill in for the empty whole in their lives that would be having a proper father. And of course I would love them as though they were my own… and I think it's similar to how Dory helped Nemo know how it felt to have a mother figure around, even if she was clueless a lot of the time. I knew as well as anyone that all children really did need both parents.
I smiled at Dory. "I'd be more than happy to, Dory," I said to her. And with that, a real smile appeared on her face. Something I had a hard time believing I'd see in such a short amount of time, even if it was Dory. She looked relieved as well.
"Thank you, Marlin," she then said, her voice still cracking under her sore throat. She pulled me close to her, embracing me.
"So much…"
