Confessions

Wally rested his arms behind his head and took in the peaceful scene around him. He felt the calm saltwater breeze brush across him as he gently rocked from side to side. Ages ago when he had first bought his home, he had stumbled upon two large palm trees only a short walking distance toward the sea. Using the two trees as support, he had installed a large threaded hammock. It was the perfect place to relax, or when he needed a place to think.

The two lofty trees majestically overlooked a shallow cliff that gave way to the nearby shore in the distance. Down below he could just make out the dark silhouettes of the surfers graciously catching wave after wave against the contrast of the setting sun. He inhaled deeply, the briny scent of the ocean filing his nostrils. It was a beautiful evening, or at least it would have been if one key element hadn't been missing. He let out a long-winded sigh as he watched the dancing figures in the distance play against the setting sun.

He tried to wrap his head around what Abby had said the night before. He knew she hadn't meant it as an insult, and he hadn't really been all that hurt by her words. But still, he wondered. Why had she said it? Could he really be stupid for letting Numbuh Three go? It's what's best for Kuki, right? Isn't that what you were supposed to do when you loved someone? Let them go?

He knew she would do just fine without him in her life. While he hoped she didn't settle for a selfish prick like Mark, it was possible she would meet a much nicer suitor who could take good care of her and give her the life she deserved. Not that he doubted someone as headstrong as her would settle for such a jerk anyway. He just hoped whomever she ended up with would be able to make her happy.

He continued to watch as a young couple, obviously on their honeymoon, strolled along the shoreline hand in hand. They stopped and turned to admire the sunset. Just as they rays began to stretch out into rich hues of orange and yellow, they came together for a long, romantic kiss. Wally groaned and leaned back in his hammock. Was the universe trying to taunt him? Was this punishment for all the times he made fun of romantic movies and lovey-dovey gestures? It seemed like lately everywhere he went, he was constantly reminded of his loneliness. And he could certainly do without such reminders.

As much as he tried to put her out of his mind, his thoughts constantly drifted back to Kuki. Tonight was her last night on the island and tomorrow morning, she would be boarding a plane along with the rest of his friends and heading back home. She would walk out of his life forever and there wasn't a damn thing he could do about it.

Again, he brought his arms up behind his head and stretched out a bit. His mind clouded with uncertainty, he listened to the faint rustle of the palm trees. Am I really ok with this? he wondered. He wasn't sure. Despite what it was he wanted, he was battling against his own wishes. Most of all, he just wanted her to be happy and he knew there was no way he'd be able to afford to give her the life he felt she deserved.

As the tropical hues began to fade, the temperature around him began to cool. He was grateful he had worn his orange sweatshirt. Against the brisk air, it acted as a warm blanket and kept him comfortable. He started to doze off, thankful that exhaustion had finally caught up with him enough to allow him to sleep.

Off in the distance, he listened to the sounds of the kids playing on the beach as the glow from the sun slowly dissipated behind the ocean, leaving an array of warm colors behind. In a strange way, he felt at peace, like he had lost some big competition and after passing through the many stages of grief, had finally come to accept defeat. Exhaling deeply, he let the sounds around him fade away as he drifted into a much needed rest.

Kuki fiddled with the thin emerald necklace draped around her neck. It was the perfect accessory to match her fitted, verdant dress and she was determined to include it in her outfit for the night. Unfortunately, the two ends were unbelievably tiny and she was having an extraordinarily tough time getting them to successfully click together.

"Ugh. This stupid thing won't stay open," she complained, vocalizing her frustration. Abby, who was tidying up her makeup at the sink next to her, reached over to help. "Here, let me see it," she said, taking the stubborn end and with some careful dexterity, finally managed to click it into place.

Both of them were using Kuki's hotel room to pamper up before the final night's dinner. Mark had booked another reservation with the same restaurant he had planned on taking her to earlier, but this time had graciously invited all of her friends to join as well. He had acted surprised upon hearing about the incident at the beach, not wanting anyone catching on that he was actually the one who arranged the whole thing. He had simply forgiven Kuki in exchange that she gave him a fighting chance to court her. It was possible she may have just been emotionally vulnerable, but she agreed accordingly.

Kuki turned the necklace back around so it was facing the correct direction. "Thank you Abby," she said, grateful for her friend's help.

Abby chuckled. "Sometimes you just gotta have someone else to help you out," she smiled. She was glad to see Kuki had cheered up a bit, even if it was only for a brief moment. Being with the rest of her friends seemed to be keeping her mind off recent events.

Suddenly, Kuki perked up. "Oh! I almost forgot, I have a super cute pair of ear studs that would go great with this dress! I'll be right back." She rushed out of the bathroom to grab her suitcase and unzipped it. When she flipped it open, she was surprised to find a small metallic device resting on top of her belongings.

"A flash drive?" She stared at it in confusion.

It had been carefully placed, as if intentionally, in the center of all her belongings, gently resting on top of her neatly folded clothes. Puzzled as to who's it was or how it got there, she picked up the tiny device and studied it carefully. It didn't belong to her, so who had put it there? She didn't recall buying it, and it looked nothing like the one she already owned. Perhaps it was Mark's and he just misplaced it.

Curious, she pulled out her laptop and clicked on the power button. The login screen only took a few seconds to load. She carefully entered her login info and inserted the flash drive into the USB drive. When it finished installing, she opened it up the device on screen. There was only one file listed:

Audio Recording - 11:24 AM

She clicked on the file and the recording began to play. She turned up the volume and listened closely.

Noticing Kuki had been gone for a lot longer than expected, Abby walked in from the bathroom to see where she had gone. "Numbuh Three? Where'd you run off to girl?" She peeked around the corner, only to find Kuki staring intensely at her computer screen.

The recording had ended, but Kuki hadn't moved from where she was sitting. Abby watched her apprehensively. She had been the one to intentionally slip the flash drive into Numbuh Three's suitcase on the off-chance that she would stumble across it sooner or later. From what Abby could see, her plan had been a success.

"Kuki? You okay?" she asked, concerned. She didn't regret what she had done. After all, what kind of friend would she be if she let a guy like Mark get away with being such a scumbag? Still, she felt empathy for the shock the poor girl was almost certainly feeling.

"I...I don't believe it," muttered Kuki. She looked completely lost. Abby walked over and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry Kuki," she said empathetically. "You had the right to know."

Kuki glanced up at her. "You did this?" she asked, confused. Her tone was not angry or demanding. "Have you been spying on him this whole time?"

Abby winced and shifted her eyes to the side. "Well...not exactly," she sighed. "Listen Kuki." She took a seat on the bed next to her. "Yesterday mornin' Numbuh Four came to the hotel cafe and practically begged me to listen to him. He told me the whole story of how everything went down with Amber. To confirm my suspicions, I did a little...spy work. After I found out the truth, I tried to give him the flash drive later that night, but he refused it."

Kuki looked up at Abby, surprised. "He refused it?"

Abby bowed her head. "He decided to let you go. He said it was...for the best. That he'd never be able to make you as happy as a real suitor," she said, her voice cracking slightly. "I'm sorry Kuki."

Kuki stared back at Abby in shock. There was a pause between them as she fought to choke back the waterworks."It wasn't his fault," she said, her voice trembling. "He was telling the truth the whole time and I...I didn't believe him." Her fists clenched onto the comforter, digging her nails in slightly. She tried to fight the bubbling guilt that threatened to overtake her, but it was pointless. If only she had given him a chance to explain. If only she had been brave enough to answer one of his calls and listen to him.

She griped the comforter tighter. Suddenly, she felt her mindset began to switch. What was once despair began to slowly melt into a burning rage. Fuming, she ripped out the flash drive. Before Abby could say anything, she shot up from the bed. "Come on Numbuh Five," she commanded, her tone authoritative and posture erect. The evidence of the few tears that had fallen were quickly wiped away. "There's someone I would like to have a word with." Without looking back, she stormed toward the door.

Not needing an explanation, Abby smiled. "Thata girl Numbuh Three," she whispered under her breath. She may not have said so out loud, but she was just as eager to set the record straight. Grabbing her belongings, she quickly followed Kuki to the elevator.

When the two of them entered the restaurant, they could see that the rest of the gang had already been seated along with Mark. The boys were currently enjoying the complimentary bread sticks while ceremoniously chatting about their exciting events throughout the week. Having been seated facing the entrance, Nigel Uno was the first to notice the girls approaching. He could tell their demeanor was hostile and they were walking entirely too quickly. Instinctively, he knew something was wrong.

Noticing Nigel's attentive gaze staring past him, Mark glanced behind him. Not wanting to be rude and to show off his gentleman-like poise, he stood up and turned to greet the girls. "Welcome ladies. Might I say you both look fantastic tonight. May I show you to your seats?"

"Pfft. No, you may not," Abby scoffed, crossing her arms.

Staggered by her sudden hostility, Mark stared back at them confused. "Um, pardon me? Is there something I've missed here?"

Fuming with rage, Kuki stormed past Abby. "You've got some nerve, you know that!? How could you do something like this? I can't believe I listened to you!"

He looked at her vacantly. "Uh babe, I have no idea what your-."

"And I am NOT your babe!" Kuki yelled, cutting him off. The rest of the diners started to take notice of the scene before them. Kuki shoved the flash drive she was carrying into his chest. "It was all you wasn't it!?" she shouted, giving him a quick, aggressive shove. "You paid Wally's ex girlfriend to do those things in front of me, didn't you?"

Shocked, a silence fell around the table. Mark paused for a moment, as if taking some time to think. He then straightened out his posture and adjusted his tie accordingly. "Well, since there's no benefit in denying it now," he said bluntly. Kuki gasped, along with the rest of the table. He ignored them and continued. "Honestly Kuki, you know as well as I do that your parents would never approve of him. He's chump change. Garbage. Worthless. Nothing more than a pathetic, low life loser who lives in the dirt and barely has a cent to his name. Is that really the kind of man you want supporting you? Can't you see he's no good for you?"

Kuki felt her blood boiling. The insult had been the final straw. With clenched fists and nostrils flaring, she stomped up to him. Bringing her face only mere inches from his, her next words escaped the very depths of her throat in a low, dangerous growl. "The only one around here who's no good for me is you, you conniving... despicable...bastard."

Leaving him stunned, she turned to storm out of the dining hall. However, she hadn't taken more than a few steps before she felt something grab hold of her arm forcefully. "What are you-" She turned to face the culprit.

Mark's face was disgruntled. He looked insulted and angry, like she had just slapped him in the middle of the restaurant. She struggled to pull her arm free, but he had a firm grip on her. "No one talks to me like that, let alone dares to cheat on me," he threatened angrily. "After all I've offered to you, you honestly think I'm just going to let you insult me and walk away? You do realize I could destroy your entire career in the blink of an eye? A single phone call to my board and you'll never work in business again Ms. Sanban."

Kuki stopped. She no longer tried to pull free, but instead just stared him down, her venomous glare matching his. "Let. Me. Go." she demanded.

He shook his head. "I'm only going to say this once Kuki. Please sit back down so we can all enjoy our dinner. You can leave when I excuse you."

She was about to respond with another insult, but before she could say anything, there was a scuffling of chairs as Nigel and Hoagie stood up from the table. "I believe the lady asked you let her go," said Nigel sternly. Hoagie, standing next to him, had his fist in hand, ready for a fight. Abby stepped up on the opposite side, completing the circle.

Mark felt the team's gaze boring into him as they approached him. "And what if I don't?" he asked stubbornly. "What could you losers possibly do to me?"

Nigel lifted an eyebrow. "Trust me. You really don't want to find out," he warned, cracking his knuckles.

Mark glanced between them and Kuki, weighing his options. Realizing he was clearly outnumbered, he unwillingly released her.

Nigel turned his attention toward Kuki. "You go ahead Numbuh Three. I think the four of us still have some business to discuss in the parking lot."

Kuki nodded and without thinking twice, she sprinted for the exit as quickly as her dress would allow.

Not wasting a second, she raced back to the hotel and changed into some regular clothes. From the moment she exited the taxi to the time she frantically rummaged through her neatly packed suitcase, she tried calling Wally's cell phone incessantly. There was no answer. She tried again and again, but still nothing.

With great haste, she shoved all of her belongings into her suitcase haphazardly, including all of the things scattered around the bathroom and bed. She zipped it up and after ordering a taxi from her phone, rushed back downstairs.

When she hopped into the cab, a friendly tattooed local man in his early forties greeted her. "Hey howzit girl? Where you off to?" he greeted happily. She gave him Wally's address. He looked flabbergasted. "Ey, you sure about dis girl? You know how much dis trip cost?"

"Please, I'll pay whatever the charge," she begged. "It's an emergency!"

"Well okay den," the driver shrugged. He shifted into drive and carefully pulled out onto the road.

A little over a half hour later, the cab stopped in front of Wally's home. Kuki politely paid the driver and stepped out, hastily dragging her suitcase behind her. She made her way up the dirt driveway, careful not to get it caught on any large rocks. The lack of lights in the area made it nearly pitch black and difficult to see, but the glow from the moonlight shined just enough for her to recognize some of her surroundings. Luckily it was nearing a full moon, so she could even make out the silhouette of his truck parked near the house and the spaced stone pathway leading to the entrance.

The house itself was completely dark. She wondered if he was even home. She knocked on the front door. There was no answer. Out of curiosity, she twisted the knob.

It was open.

She walked inside. Everything was dark and lifeless. She called out his name softly, but there was no response. She left the suitcase resting against the wall in the living room and continued on down the short hallway until she reached his bedroom. She felt around for the light switch and flicked it on.

The bulb was dead.

She sighed and flopped down on the bed. The soft fabric welcomed her and adapted to her form. It was just as comfy as she remembered. Smiling, she inhaled a deep breath. His scent was faint, as if he hadn't slept there in days. Disappointed, she checked her phone again.

Still no response.

Where could he be? She wondered. His truck was still here, but why was he nowhere to be found? It was far too late to be at the beach surfing, but it was a Saturday night. Maybe he had gone out with some of his other friends.

Suddenly a thought stuck her like a bolt of lightning.

Amber.

Was it possible he had gone back to her? Could he be at her place right now? She tried calling again. Still no answer. She felt her throat tighten at the likelihood of him being with someone else. She knew it was partly her fault. She had made it pretty clear to him that she never wanted to see him again. Even if Amber had been in on the whole thing, she probably wouldn't turn him down if Wally had sought her out for some emotional bandaging. He had every right to.

She fell into his pillow and the tears began welling up again. It was no use. She was too late. Even if she told him she knew he had been telling the truth, he may still be angry at her for not believing him in the first place. And how could she blame him? She had humiliated him in front of all their friends and walked off without saying a word.

She buried her face further into the pillow. She thought about their time together and the memories before he left. After he had gone away, things just never had been the same. Every time her and the rest of Sector V had gone off on a mission, there always seemed to be something missing. She had missed him dearly and would have given anything to have him back. He really was, and had always been, her best friend.

As the memories continued to flow, the pain became more and more overwhelming. Eventually she lost the battle with herself and decided to cry her heart out into the soft fabric. She squeezed the pillow firmly and buried her face further and further until it almost hurt, her heart aching with every sob that managed to make itself heard.

Once she had exhausted all of her tears, her sobbing slowly quieted into sniffles. As she felt the heart-wrenching feeling of anxiety gradually fade away, she took a few deep breaths to calm down. The faded scent still lingering on the pillows helped sooth her. She closed her eyes. Exhausted and drained from the roller coaster of emotions, it wasn't more than ten minutes before she found herself drifting off to sleep.

Awoken by the pleasant sound of birds chirping and rolling waves crashing against the shore, Wally groggily opened his eyes. From the vibrant light of the morning hue, he could tell the sun had risen recently. It illuminated everything around him, breathing life into the rich, tropical landscape.

Wally scoffed. It was almost as if nature was mocking him.

He had finally managed to sleep through the night, but mentally he was still exhausted. Still bleary, he looked around for his phone. He instinctively dug around in his pockets, but they were empty. Thinking back to where he last had it, he remembered he had purposely left it in the safe back in his room. He shrugged. No matter. It's not like he had anyone important to call now anyway.

He stared at a jet plane cruising far off in the distance. So she's gone, he thought to himself. She's really gone for good. He felt the weight of loneliness begin to take hold of him. He sighed. Guess it can't be helped now.

He rolled out of the hammock and stretched, but his grumbling gut quickly caught his attention. Realizing he couldn't remember the last time he'd eaten a decent meal, he subconsciously pressed a hand against his empty stomach. Famished, he started back to the house hoping to scrounge up some breakfast. However, upon approaching the yard, he noticed the black garbage can stowed on the side yard near his truck.

Aw crud. I forgot today was garbage day.

Breakfast would have to wait. He scurried to the curb and stuck his head out from behind the fence to see if the neighbor's cans had already been emptied. Luckily for him, they were still full. He rushed back to the house and entered through the front door. Completely oblivious to the black suitcase resting against the wall, he grabbed the large trash bag he had set out the day before and hurried to throw it out before the garbage truck arrived.

Back in Wally's room, Kuki was still sleeping peacefully on the bed. The beams from the morning sun shining through the blinds had managed to stir her a bit, but she remained how she was. Eyes still closed, she preferred to rest a little while longer.

As Wally wrestled the garbage can away from the side of the house, she could detected the faint rustle of glass bottles and cans.

She snapped awake. Wally? Could he be back home? Practically bolting out of the bed, she rushed out to the front door. Fully aware it was possible Amber could be with him or it was just some homeless guy rummaging through the bins for recyclables, she was afraid to get her hopes up. But still, it was worth a look.

After dragging the can to the curb, Wally lifted the lid and loaded the garbage bag on top of the rounded pile. After closing it back up, he shifted his weight to rest his elbows on the top of the container and grasped the back of his neck with his hands.

Just how long will I have to suffer like this?

He closed his eyes tightly and held them shut. Maybe if he wished hard enough, the pain would all just go away. Like a bad dream, all of his problems would vanish into oblivion and when he opened them again, she would be standing there in front of him. Was it was too late to be fully decommissioned? he wondered. He wished he could go back in time to the moment before he left and tell her how he felt. Or better yet, tell his ten year old self to wise up and stop being such a damn coward and tell her long before it was too late. He wished that instead of losing contact with her he had messaged her every day, even if it was just to see how she was doing. But more than anything, he wished he could be with her again, just one last time. To say goodbye and to tell her how sorry he was for everything that had happened.

Suddenly he heard the familiar creek of his front door close. His eyes instantly flew open.

Someone had been in his home!

He could hear the footsteps of the intruder slowly approaching him. He felt his muscles grow tense. Years of hand-to-hand combat training had him well prepared for moments like this. After all, he still had a few enemies that would jump at the opportunity to ambush him. Not to mention some of them may be foolish enough to try to sneak an attack from behind. He clenched his hands into fists, ready for the attacker to strike.

"Wally?"

His heart nearly stopped. Was he going insane? The voice was soft and almost inaudible, but it was undoubtedly hers. She couldn't be there could she? Her plane had already left. It had to be some kind of trick. She was on her way back home! He took a deep breath. Relax mate. It's probably just your mind playing games with you. There's probably no one even there. Without getting his hopes up, he wheeled around to face her.

He was speechless.

She stared back at him with a blank expression. Her hair was messy and unbrushed, the same way it always was right after she woke up in the morning; her clothes were rumpled and loose, like she had thrown them on last minute; and her eyes were still puffy from crying herself to sleep the night before. But like a god-given miracle, there she was, standing only a few feet away from him.

"Kuki?" he questioned, still unsure if it was really her. "How did you-? Are you really-? I thought you left hours ago?"

She shook her head. "I switched my flight to a later one. I didn't want to be on the same one as Mark anyway."

Puzzled, Wally approached her cautiously. He stopped short when her arm extended to give him something. He held up an arm and allowed her to drop it into his hand. His eyes widened.

It was the flash drive.

"Abby told me about the deal Mark made with Amber to blackmail you," she explained. He took the flash drive and studied it briefly, then looked back up at her. A fresh set of tears began coating her eyes and she did her best to hold them back. "Wally I'm so sorry."

He stared at her for a moment, silent. Caught completely off guard, he was still unsure how to respond. He wasn't upset with her. How in the world could he be? He had just been handed a miracle and the last thing he wanted was to push her away again.

Without warning he reached out, and in one smooth motion, took her into his arms and hugged her tightly. Not anticipating the gesture, she was surprised at first, but quickly accepted the embrace. Almost simultaneously, she buried her face into his chest, her fists clenching desperately to the fabric of his sweatshirt. Everything surrounding them seemed to fall away as she let the waterworks flow uncontrollably.

All Wally could do was comfort her. He was overjoyed and more than grateful to have her back in his arms, but he still hated to see her cry. He knew her tears were mostly out of remorse than sadness, but it still pained his heart to see her so upset. Eventually the sobbing came to an end and Wally allowed a little extra space between them. Confused at the sudden parting, her head tilted up to face him.

His eyes locked onto hers. He wasn't going to make the same mistake twice.

"Listen Kuki, there's something I've been meaning to say for...a long time now."

Sniffling, she wiped away the remaining tears and looked back up at him. He took it as his cue to continue.

"Kuki I...I love you. I have always loved you. Even when we were kids and I said all that stuff about how girly things and rainbow monkeys were dumb. It was all just to keep anyone else from catching on. Truth is, I wanted to tell you back then, but I never had the courage to. And I'm sorry too...for Amber and for everything that's happened. You've always meant more to me than she ever will. Please Kuki. You've got to believe me."

She felt the tears building back up at his heartfelt apology. She smiled. "I love you too Wally," she whispered. She rested her head on his shoulder and pulled him a little closer. "I think I always have."

Wally felt like his heart was about to leap out of his chest. The pain that had tormented him only minutes ago had completely washed away, like the weight of the world had been lifted from his chest. In its place was an overwhelming sense of euphoria. He felt as if he could take on the world.

He leaned in closer to her and she eagerly met his lips with her own in a passionate kiss. It was slow and sensual, not unlike the time together they had spent a couple of nights ago. It should have been clear to him then how she felt about him. Their actions toward one another had been more than obvious. But then again, he never claimed to be a smart man. He was just thankful too have been granted the chance to see her again. He didn't care what price he would have to pay later for such a miracle. All that mattered now was that they were finally together and safe in each other's arms.

They remained that way for a long time, simply relishing the moment, lost in each other's warmth. Wally desperately did not want to let her go, afraid that if he did, she would suddenly disappear into thin air and leave him all over again. He was afraid that this was all a dream. That if he released her, everything would fade away and he would wake up to a lonely bed and an empty life all over again.

Eventually a ping from her cell phone caused them to finally break apart. She apologized and fished it out of her pocket. She checked the screen and looked back at him sadly. It was a reminder for her newly scheduled flight.

He looked at her woefully. He had been given the opportunity to see her again, but now she really did have to go. He knew he was being selfish and pressing his luck, but he just couldn't leave it at that. He sighed and shifted his gaze nervously to the side. "Eh Kuki, I know it's kinda sudden, but...how would you feel if I followed you back home to meet with your parents?"

Kuki stared up at him astounded. "What? You know I couldn't ask you to do that Wally. Your whole life is here. Your home... and your family..."

"I want my home to be with you," he interrupted.

Her breath caught. Does he even realize what he is saying? she wondered. She wanted more than anything to be with him too, but not if it meant forcing him to take such a large risk.

Before she could open her mouth to object, he took her hands in his. "Listen Kuki, I've loved you my whole life, probably ever since the day I met you. And now that I finally got ya back, I don't think I can stand losing you again. My cruddy home is probably worth at least a decent lot. If I sell it, I could use the money to help ya pay off your loans and who knows. I may even have some leftover for...idk...college or somethin'. Whaddya say?"

Kuki was speechless. Was he really willing to throw his current life away to be with her? She couldn't help but feel flattered at the thought. Tears threatening to form once again, she practically leaped into his arms and titled her head up toward him for another kiss, which he gladly returned.

They were still lost in each other's passion when a few moments later, a white rental car pulled up in the driveway. With a mischievous Numbuh Two, leaned out of the driver's side window. "Well if it isn't Kuki and Wally sittin in a tree. K. I. S. S- ow!" He curled into a defensive position as Abby militantly whacked him with her hat. "Ok ok, Uncle!"

Abby withdrew her weapon and adjusted it back to its proper position atop her head. "What's da matter with you fool?" she scolded, giving him a berated look. He smiled and laughed nervously. She rolled her eyes and turned to wave at the happy couple. "Hey Numbuh Four! Glad to see things all worked out!" she yelled out with a wink.

Wally blushed, only to have it intensified as Kuki hugged him even tighter. Abby and the rest of the team chuckled. Numbuh Two parked the car and they all stepped out of the vehicle to approach the young couple. Nigel was the first to greet them.

"We all agreed to stay an extra night," he explained. He then turned to Kuki. "After all, you know we'd never leave a fellow teammate behind," he said with a smile.

Kuki blushed and smiled back. "Thanks Numbuh One."

He held up his hand gracefully. "Please Kuki. For tonight, Nigel is fine."

She nodded, knowing what he meant. For the last night they were all together, he wanted to be on informal terms. No Kids Next Door, no secret undercover missions, just five friends together for one last hurrah.

"So what did you guys end up doing with Mark?" Kuki asked, genuinely curious about what became of her potential suitor.

Nigel grinned impishly. "Oh don't worry. We took good care of him."

"Yeah," added Hoagie, nudging Nigel in the side. "He's currently on his way back to be admitted to the hospital. Liz just say Nigel still has an old friend he called up who will be nursing him back to health."

Kuki's eyebrows perked up. "Lizzie? You mean you still keep in contact with her?"

Nigel blushed and rubbed the back of his neck. "Well...I check up on her once in a while," he said with a sheepish grin. "She currently works as a nurse in the hospital back in our hometown. Let's just say she's not to keen on anyone messing with her friends from the old days. All it took was a temporary assignment transfer. Simple really. Oh, and did I mention her cooking skills haven't improved much either?"

The five of them chuckled. Hoagie shuttered at the thought of the pie he and Numbuh Three ate all of those years ago.

Growing restless, Abby directed the attention towards her. "Anyways, enough with the mushy stuff. Who wants brunch yall!?"

The five of them cheered and rushed to pile into the car. Wally watched his teammates as the clock seemed to turn back in front of him. It was like they were all kids again, hurrying off together on another big, exciting mission. Numbuh Two was at the driver's helm, Numbuh one climbed in the passenger's seat and was giving orders, and Abby, who had hopped into the backseat, was urging the rest of them to hurry along. Wally smiled and looked up at the sky. It was then that he realized it wouldn't matter how old they got or where in life they went. They would always be friends no matter what and nothing could ever change that.

Suddenly Kuki's giving him a quick peck on the cheek snapped him out of his daydream. "Come on Numbuh Four!" she called out to him as she ran ahead. He smiled and followed her eagerly.

Well, maybe some changes are not so bad.

After a full day of adventures, the team went back to Wally's house for a going away party. Nigel was describing some of his adventures with the Galactic Kids Next door while they sat around the bonfire roasting marshmallows and snacking on smores for dessert. Hoagie and Abby were sitting together with his arm draped behind her back and Kuki was lovingly cuddled up next to Wally with her head resting on his shoulder. Wally, exhausted and feeling comfortable, had started to doze off.

Nigel, noticing Wally fading fast, wrapped up his story and stood up. "Well, I think it's about time we head out," he said, giving the cue to his other teammates to follow. "What do you say guys?"

Abby looked back at the adorable couple and smiled. "He he, you got it boss." She stood up and dragged a half asleep Hoagie along with her. She looked back at Kuki. "You coming Numbuh Three?"

Kuki blushed and looked up at Wally. "Um, I think I'll stay here for the night, if that's okay."

Abby grinned. "Suit yourself girl." She gave her signature salute and headed off to stow a drowsy Hoagie into the car. Hoagie gave a quick wave back at Kuki before Abby dragged him away.

Wally suddenly stirred awake "Wha? Where'd everybody go?"

"We were just saying our goodbyes," explained Nigel. Smiling, he walked over to Kuki, who to his surprise, jumped up and engulfed him into a friendly bear hug. He hugged her back respectfully.

"Thanks for everything Nigel," she said wholeheartedly. After a few seconds, she released the hug and wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. "It was nice to finally see you again. We're going to miss you."

"I'll miss you guys too Kuki," said Nigel with a sad smile. "And Numbuh Four," he said, turning to him like he always did when he was about to give an order. Sitting up right, Wally looked up at him. He had fully expected to be given some kind of command, but was surprised when his former leader held his hand out in front of him. Wally stared at it a moment, but then gladly accepted the handshake. "Take good care of her ," ordered Nigel with a smile.

Wally nodded. "I will. So long Numbuh One."

Nigel nodded. He broke the hand shake and went to join the others. He climbed in the rental care and after waving goodbye one final time, they disappeared into the night.

Once they were gone, Kuki tilted her head back up at Wally. "So where did you go last night while I was asleep in your room?" she asked.

Wally smirked. "Why don't I show yeh?"

He led her over to his special hammock. The light of the full moon beamed down, faintly illuminating everything in a dark blue hue. She climbed in after him and they laid down together, safely wrapped up in each other's arms. The hammock rocked back and forth slowly. Wally's eyes started to grow heavy. His head resting above hers, he looked down at her sleeping form and smiled.

Finally, everything was right with the world. No matter what it took, he vowed he would do everything in his power to make her happy. He would sell his home and work hard to get into a good college back on the mainland. He would graduate and get a respectable job that paid enough to support her. And with any luck, he would impress her parents as a passable suitor and be granted permission to marry their daughter.

As he listened to the subtle noises of the calm sea, he allowed himself to finally rest his eyes. Even though she had to leave in the morning, he knew she wasn't really going anywhere, not emotionally anyway. The fear he once felt of losing her once he drifted off to sleep was gone. Now all he could think about was the future and what was in store for them. After all, tomorrow wouldn't be a goodbye, but the beginning of a whole brand new adventure.

Author's note: So yeah it was a pretty short story. I considered throwing in some extra twists, like making Mark a spy trying to steal info from the KND or something, but I felt it would drag the story on way too long. I also tried to include as much fluff as possible. Hopefully I succeeded there. Personally, my favorite part about writing this chapter was the tie to the beginning of the story where Wally pictures their adult selves as kids again. I feel like a lot of us can relate since there's something special about those bonds with the people we grew up with. They seem to be more like family than just friends. I also threw in a little tid-bit at what pushed Wally to eventually go to Harvard med. After watching that INTERVIEWS episode I had so many questions about it! Like for instance: HOW? Maybe his surf skills impressed someone and helped him get in. Who knows? I guess it's left up to us to decide. Anyways, I hope you guys liked the story! As always, let me know your thoughts! Aloha and mahalo for reading!

Song for the this chapter: "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole