Author's note: Oh my gosh, so this is it. Thank you everyone who's read this story and encouraged me with your kind words to keep writing it. I didn't think I'd get to the end but I did! Please leave a review about what you thought of the story as a whole and thanks again for reading! But this doesn't have to be the end. What would you like to read next? A sequel to this story? A whole new stand alone? Please leave a suggestion in the comments or tell me you never want to see my writing again XD Thank you lovelies! Enjoy the last chapter and the epilogue!

The moon was almost full this night and it covered the ocean in its reflected blanket of silver. Kowalski sat, his head leaning on Blowhole's, as he lay half in the water on the slipway. The night was peaceful and they could finally say that they were at the end of their journey.

"I guess you're not the stupid bird I always thought you were. All of those failed inventions, your miscalculated equations, your absolute tomfoolery around girls- or rather, my sister. It was all just a warm up for the bigger picture," Blowhole suddenly said.

Kowalski cocked a brow and shifted his position so he could look down to the dolphin. His face was now much more visible without the mechanical eye patch and its place was a smaller elastic eye patch. It made the dolphin look somewhat normal.

"What do you mean?"

"Fate, Kowalski. I believe everything happens for a reason. In the simulation of life, everything has already been calculated and the code is already written, we're just taking our time exacting those actions. So it seems I was meant to be devastated by my own thirst for revenge, only for an enemy to come along and save me, show me the error or my ways and fix me. How ironic are the fabricators of life?"

Kowalski pondered that thought for a moment. It was a short moment before he found himself ensnared and thirsting more.

"So what now? What does the code say?" He asked.

"It says to go with the flow. I've spent most of my life swimming against the current, it's about time I swam with it."

"You surprise me everyday. I never knew you were a philosopher," Kowalski chuckled.

"I do like to broaden my range of abilities. But there's still a lot of work to do."

Blowhole was right. They both had so much to do, so much to think about. Both of their lives had drastically changed the moment they formed their treaty. Blowhole was no longer the cruel monster that wanted to ravage the world, and Kowalski was no longer the second in command to a military master. But the notion of himself being saved for Blowhole was something he would never have given a second thought to. Years of scientific torment that lead up to this?

"Am I really that much of a failure that fate had to save my breakthrough for saving you? This was perhaps the hardest thing I've ever done in my life and half of the time I can't even fix the blender."

This granted a whole hearted laugh from Blowhole. Kowalski was nearly rocked to the floor.

"Hey, don't see it as something bad. I will forever be in your debt now, as much as I hate to say it."

"I don't want anyone to be in my debt. I'm not like you, I don't demand respect and acknowledgement of my superiority."

Kowalski was perhaps a little bit bitter. Change was still hard to accept.

"It's not like that, though. You know well enough I'm not going to grovel at your feet. I told you before, that's not my thing," Blowhole chuckled.

But Kowalski didn't chuckle, didn't even crack a smile.

"I have no idea what I'm going to do next. I was kicked off the team to save you. I have a lot to plan and think about."

Blowhole looked up to the stars for a moment. This moment was perfect and he felt completely in sync with the forces around him. At ease and peaceful for once in his life.

"Kowalski?"

"Hm?"

"Why don't you stay with me?"

Kowalski paused. How much he had wanted to hear that question, but now that it was posed to him, he didn't know what to say.

"Huh?"

But Blowhole wasn't discouraged by the silence.

"Well... after all we've been through, we've been through so much, grown so close. Our minds compliment each other's perfectly. We're like polar opposites but so alike... there's so much still to do in the lair. I can't dismantle my reign alone."

Kowalski let his head relax against Blowhole's again and gently chuckled.

"This sounds like a declaration," he said.

"A declaration of what?"

"You'll have to tell me that."

Blowhole chuckled back to Kowalski. It was a sweet sound Kowalski grew to enjoy.

"Doris was right," Blowhole said.

"About what?"

"Us two idiots are perfect for each other."

Kowalski smiled. Doris usually was right when it came to affairs of the heart. She knew when it was the right time to give it a break, to reconnect, who was perfect for who. She had told Kowalski 16 and a half times that they weren't right together. Never in a million years would he have thought he would end up with Blowhole though. They were so right together and Kowalski finally knew who he was and where he wanted to be.

"I think it's time I make my own way and become my own leader," Kowalski smiled.

There was a long pause where Blowhole thought of what to say next.

"So, is that a no?"

"No, yes? No!" Kowalski said, trying to correct himself but failing. So he just sighed. "You understand, my life has been dedicated to bringing down evil and serving justice. It's going to be hard to stop doing that. To stop wanting to."

Blowhole clicked his tongue in thought, then raised his head off the ground, causing Kowalski to fall onto his back below him.

"Then let's make a partnership. A business venture to making the world a better place. Work with me, help me save all of the other cetaceans in need. Let's save the oceans together. As equal partners," Blowhole proposed, excitedly.

"Another surprise," Kowalski smirked.

"Kowalski, I never was insensitive like you all thought. I've always had a heart and a conscience. But you've taught me there's a difference between revenge and justice. I want to be known. I want the whole world to know my name and love me, but not for the bad actions I was once doing. Stay with me. Help me. I'm still in need. Or at least visit once a week."

Kowalski smiled up at Blowhole who stared smiling down. He thought for a moment before he replied.

"What would Doris say?" He asked.

Blowhole tilted his head and cocked a brow.

"She'd say I told you so?"

"She told us so." Kowalski nodded his head. "Partners, I'd like that. But just so we're clear, business partners as well as..."

"Romantic partners, boyfriends, whatever you want to call it."

Kowalski sighed and raised his flippers to grab a hold of Blowhole's beak.

"Perfect," he said as he pulled the mammal down and their beaks pursed in a perfect kiss.

Epilogue

Kowalski sat north from Skipper at the small table he was so familiar with. A deck of cards sitting on the table and a rather unfortunate hand laid out before him. Private was sitting and watching the TV, Rico looking over both Skipper's and Kowalski's shoulders.

He had been back in the HQ a few days now, after staying with Blowhole a few days to make sure he had gotten used to his dolphin body again. The penguin brothers had much to discuss and a lot to think about. Kowalski had gone against the words of his commander, acted treasonous towards the team and actively helped a villain. Though, he did revert the villain and get him to surrender to Skipper. After everything they had all been through, things simply couldn't go back to the way they once had been before. It was sad for some but a ripping adventure lay ahead of Kowalski.

"I think Rico's cheating again, whispering in your ear. Rico! Go sit with Private," Skipper commanded.

Rico huffed and dragged his sorry feet over to Private where he mockingly gagged at the rainbow on the screen. But to his fortune, the commercial break came on and a news bulletin came on with the evening weather report.

Kowalski sighed and placed his cards on the table, face down.

"Is it 5 already?" He asked rhetorically.

Skipper sighed too.

"You don't have time for a few more hands?"

Kowalski chuckled as he picked his cards back up.

"This is hand 18 but sure, a few more can't hurt."

The game continued peacefully as the time ticked on and Kowalski couldn't have been happier. There had been no quarrels between the lair and the HQ and Skipper seemed to accept everything with ease. Or, as long as he got Kowalski 4 out of 7 days a week and daily reports from the lair along with weekly visits to sweep the facility.

But all in all, Kowalski couldn't have been happier.

It was perhaps 5 minutes into their new hand and Kowalski could hear a weird buzzing sound. He discreetly looked around the room for where it could have been coming from but came up with nothing. The noise surrounded him, from every direction. He tried to ignore it for now and concentrate on the game but the second Skipper shuffled in his seat the buzzing fuzzed through his brain and he had to shake his head in confusion.

"K, Skipper's sitting on an ace."

Kowalski looked up and cocked a brow as Skipper did the same. The noise came from him? His leg? Oh!

Kowalski placed his cards down and rounded the table to Skipper. The penguin didn't look too impressed as he was dragged from his seat and it was revealed that indeed he was cheating.

Kowalski chuckled as he gathered all of the cards and tidied the deck but Skipper just groaned.

"That's not fair. Blowhole, you stay out of penguin business."

"I don't appreciate cheaters, Skipper. Especially when said cheater's victim is Kowalski."

Skipper laughed.

"How ironic it is that you're busting me for bad deeds."

Kowalski snickered and gathered his things for the long weekend, making sure to pack the cards away and checking for extra aces as he did so.

The weekend was going to be a fun one, he and Blowhole had planned some fun activities like inventing, experimenting and improving old inventions of theirs. It was going to be fun and Kowalski couldn't wait. He was also particularly excited for the late night movie marathons they were going to have. By the time the 3 day weekend was over, Blowhole wanted Kowalski to have seen most of the Star Wars movies.

"Hurry up, bird brain," his leg said again.

Kowalski rolled his eyes and Private chuckled as he turned his attention from the TV.

"Have a good weekend, Kowalski," he said sweetly.

Skipper clapped him on the back and smirked, pulling the deck of cards into his flipper's.

"See you on Monday. Probation begins then, training starts at 8am don't be late."

Kowalski smiled and gathered his bag, stepping to the ladder. Things certainly were different now. He had 2 homes and 2 sets of family that loved him dearly. He had never felt so wanted in his life. Although Skipper had let him stay on the team, under strict supervision, revision and training, he was still apart of the penguin brotherhood. But he also had responsibility with Blowhole, a new journey, a new purpose, a new partnership. They were going to save a heck of a lot of cetaceans together under their new organisation. Change came slowly and the old stayed firmly rooted. Kowalski couldn't have been prouder of everyone but most importantly, he was proud of himself, genuinely. That was what journey truly meant.

The End