I am so glad to see so many people enjoying my story!

I hope I get more comments on them too :P I am a greedy person, I knows

lexboss: I am glad you like it! :D

Alex almeida: I am very happy you enjoy it :)

niloc: I most certainly will continue it! You bet I will!

JangoASF: I am glad you really like it, and I certainly plan to continue it. I won't let it die!

Blurasxbery: Hey I am just glad you took the time to comment at all! I am glad you are enjoying it, and thank you SOOO much for letting me know my mistake! Sometimes I don't reread my chapter so while I hope I don't make mistakes, I sometimes do. What can ya do, I be human :P I should have you as mah editor :P


Chapter 3

"Mooooommm, do you have everything NOW?" Gumball whined, sitting on his parent's bed as Nicole was rummaging through her closet.

"Now Gumball, don't rush me. This is a two day trip and I must make sure we have everything we need."

Gumball groaned. "It's two o'clock and we have to drive for five hours! Dad's outside waiting for you to be done, everyone is!"

Nicole glanced at him as she pulled out some clothes and placed it in a suitcase. "Go make sure your dad has everything in the car please."

"Finee." Gumball groaned, walking out of the room and making his way outside. The sun was beginning to set in the distance behind houses along their street. Anais was climbing in the the backseat with a backpack, and Darwin was in a fish tank, strapped in and taking up a seat and a half in the back. His body was twisted so his entire lower body was in the water, and only his chest and head sat out of it.

Gumball walked to the back and saw Richard trying to shove a large suitcase in the trunk. "Dad, what are you doing?"

"Trying to get this in the trunk." Richard grunted, pushing against the suitcase.

"Why? That one's empty." Gumball pointed out.

Richard stood back and held the suitcase. "I was wondering why this was so light! Thanks Gumball!" He hummed to himself as he took the suitcase back inside. Gumball rolled his eyes and sighed.

"Gumball!" Darwin called out, making Gumball walk over to the open door and peak inside.

"Yeah?" He asked.

Darwin smiled cheerfully. "Are you excited? I am!"

Gumball grinned. "Of course I am Darwin!"

"Of course he is Darwin." Anais said quietly, giving Gumball a pointed look and earning a scowl.

"Besides..." Gumball growled before smiling at Darwin, "I'm really excited, it's our first outing as a family."

"Yeah!" Darwin cheered, throwing his hands up and splashing some water around.

Gumball started to say something before Richard and Nicole came out of the house; Richard locked the door as Nicole walked to the vehicle with her last suitcase and easily placed it in the trunk. Nicole got into the passenger seat and buckled up. "Gumball, please get in the car. It may be a bit tight since the fish tank is in here, but Anais is small so it should work. Sit in the middle Anais."

Anais grumbled as she moved as much as she could to the middle and buckled up. Gumball hopped in and buckled himself up as well. Darwin reached down, splashing some water out of the tank, and grabbed the lid to the fish tank that was sitting on the floor of the car. The lid of the fish tank had a hole in the top just big enough for Darwin's head and arms to be out, but small enough that the water would not splash out.

Richard finally got into the driver's seat and buckled up as well. "Well, here we go everyone!" He grinned and started the car. The group cheered and Gumball started to get excited as he began to think of his plan. He couldn't wait to see and hoped that it would work.

Gumball glanced at Darwin and saw the happiest look he had ever seen in his life. Darwin looked like he finally found his home, that he finally found the place he loved. Gumball then felt his heart drop.

"What if he rejects me? That would just make this whole family awkward.. Maybe I shouldn't do this... it may ruin everything this family could have!" Gumball began to bite at his nails nervously as he considered the thought of Darwin hating him. Anais noticed Gumball's nervous look and elbowed him, snapping him out of his trance.

"Snap out of it Gumball!" Anais hissed at him, glancing over at Darwin, who had immediately fallen asleep the moment they got on the road.

"But what if he hates me!" Gumball hissed back, biting harder at his nails.

Anais grabbed his hands and pulled them down. "Calm down Gumball! Just stick to the plan and everything will be fine! Now get some sleep because we have a long drive." Anais tried to give him a encouraging smile, before curling up in her seat and trying to sleep.

Gumball felt like he was too nervous to get any sleep, but as the drive went on, his eyelids drooped and before he knew it, he had passed out.

~.~.~.~.~.~

"Gumball! Come on, the water's great!" Darwin called out. Gumball and Darwin were alone at the beach, their family taking a nap at the cabin they were staying at on their vacation.

"I don't know Darwin, I don't do well in water..." Gumball gulped, feeling nervous.

"Don't worry, brother! I'll keep you safe!" Darwin smiled encouragingly. Gumball looked down at the water lapping at his feet in the sand. Darwin was a few feet away, his bottom half in the water; his mermaid-like fins gliding left and right as Darwin kept one hand in the water, and the other waving at Gumball.

Gumball slowly stepped into the water, pushing himself against the soft waves until he reached Darwin. Darwin reached up and grabbed Gumball's hand; causing Gumball to blush. "Let's go deeper!" Darwin chirped, twisting his body around and dragging a protesting humanoid cat with him.

Before Gumball could speak, his feet left the ground and he started to freak out, his head ducking underwater a few times. "D-Darwin! Let's go back! I-I can't swim!" Gumball cried out, desperation fueling his fear.

Darwin turned around and wrapped an arm around Gumball's waist, supporting him as his fin moved back and forth, keeping them both afloat.

"D-Darwin!" Gumball blushed; Darwin's smiling face too close to his.

"I promise that I'll keep you afloat." Darwin smiled. "I love you Gumball." Darwin said, bringing Gumball's eyes back to his.

"Y-You do?" Gumball gasped.

Darwin smiled again. "Of course! You're my brother!"

Gumball's heart dropped. "I see..."

Darwin frowned at this. "Did I say something wrong?"

"No no that isn't it... I just... I love you too Darwin." Gumball mumbled.

Darwin flashed a big smile. "I'm soo happy!"

Gumball glanced at him again, and felt the urge to kiss him. "Please... don't get mad at me Darwin." Gumball whispered, earning a confused look from Darwin. Gumball took a deep breath and closed his eyes, leaning towards him. He could hear a surprised gasp from Darwin, but he didn't feel the boy move away.

His lips were just about to touch Darwin's; those soft looking lips that Gumball has has his eyes on for a long time. His heart started to race, and as they were just about to share a kiss, Darwin suddenly shouted.

"GUMBALL! WAKE UP!"

~.~.~.~.~.~

Gumball jerked awake in shock. "What? What is it?" He looked around, trying to remember his surroundings. It all came back to him a few seconds later. Turning to look over Anais's head, he saw Darwin staring at him with huge excited eyes. "What is it Darwin?" Gumball asked, scratching his head and yawning.

"We're here!" Darwin chirped, smiling at Gumball.

Gumball gave him a small smile and looked away, a blush seeping on his cheeks from the dream moments ago. "Y-Yeah! About time!" He cheered.

Darwin turned and looked out his window, his fin under the water in the tank moving around as much as it could of excitement in the small fish tank. Richard was humming to himself as they parked in a free parking spot near the beach. The beach was huge, though not many people where there. There was a large cabin where you could check in and get a smaller cabin to stay in, which were all scattered near the beach.

"Alright kids, we're going in to get our cabin, all of you just stay in the car please." Nicole said, peering at the three of them before she and Richard left the car.

"Aaahhh, but I'm too excited to just sit around and wait!" Darwin whined, pressing his hands to the cool glass of the car window. Gumball watched him with a small smile on his face.

"I really want to just hug and hold him right now..." Gumball thought. Anais reached down to grab her backpack from the floor and shoved a book she had been reading in it. She glanced up at Gumball about to say something, and noticed him staring at Darwin.

"Oh Guumbaalll," Anais whispered, nudging his arm and grinning. Gumball shook out of his trance and looked down at Anais. "What?" He hissed, his ears flattening against his head. Anais wiggled her eyebrows.

"You ready?" She giggled.

"Hush!" Gumball hissed, earning another giggle. "Fine, fine, but I wish you luck." Anais said, a little too loudly.

Darwin turned his head and raised an eyebrow. "Luck in what?" He asked.

Gumball waved his hands in front of him. "Ohhh nothing! Anais and I are just daring each other on who will go in the water first, that's all!"

Darwin nodded. "Ohh I see! That's right, you don't like the water Gumball! Well I hope you are able to get in now, since you guys are daring each other!"

Anais giggled. Darwin smiled and turned back to look out the window, which gave Gumball the time to glare at his little sister. Anais just shrugged and was about to say something, before Richard and Nicole got back and opened the doors; climbing back into the car.

"Well, we got a cabin everyone!" Nicole said, smiling. Darwin cheered and Gumball and Anais threw their hands up. The family drove off a little bit down the narrow path before reaching a small wooden cabin. Gumball and Anais rushed in and looked around as Richard placed the fish tank Darwin was in on a sturdy piece of wood with wheels. Richard and Nicole brought Darwin in the house a few minutes later, and he gasped.

The cabin was small, but it had so much nice furniture that made the place feel like home.

There was a large couch placed in the middle of the living room, with two large chairs on both sides. They were facing a large fireplace; a beautifully colored rug on the floor between them.

The kitchen was small, but big enough for any food to be cooked and made there. There was a room on the left, and a larger room on the right. In the larger room were two beds; in the smaller room was a queen size bed.

The bathroom for the cabin was placed right next to the larger room, and had a huge bathtub. Richard pushed the fish tank over to the bathtub as Nicole filled it. "I hope you're ok with sleeping in a bathtub, Darwin."

"There's nothing better!" Darwin smiled.

Nicole smiled back. "Well, we'll be sure to change the water in your fish tank to fresher water, since we'll have to move you back to that when we take baths in the morning."

"No problem!" Darwin chirped. Gumball and Anais ran past the bathroom to their bedroom, before Gumball stopped and walked backwards to see the bathroom.

"Wooaaah!" He gaped. "This bathroom is huge!"

Nicole and Richard laughed. "I might want to live in here too!" Richard hooted.

Nicole gave him a look. "Now Richard, our room may be a bit smaller than usual, but it's where we can be alone from the kids."

Richard looked confused and scratched his head, his rabbit ears flopping to the side. Nicole raised an eyebrow and gave him a look. Richard stared at her for a few seconds before he realized what she was hinting at. "Ooooohhh, I gotcha." He winked and nudged her with his arm.

Nicole sighed. "Don't do that, honey."

Richard only giggled, before reaching down and picking Darwin out of his fish tank. "Here we go boy!" Richard hooted, placing Darwin in the tub.

"Is it too hot or too cold, sweetie?" Nicole asked.

Darwin smiled. "No it's perfect! Thank you!"

Nicole smiled. "Alright. Richard and I are going to bring in all the suitcases, you guys grab yours and take them to your room. Anais did you hear me?" Nicole leaned up, earning a "Yes" from Anais. Richard and Nicole both left to get the bags, leaving Darwin and Gumball alone.

Darwin yawned and stretched his arms. "I am so happy to be out of that fish tank!" Darwin giggled.

Gumball smiled at him. "I can imagine."

"Are you excited to go to the beach tomorrow?" Darwin asked.

"Yeah.. wish we could go now though." Gumball replied.

"Hmmm..." Darwin tapped on his chin. "Weelll, do you think you can push my fish tank down there?"

"Probably, why?"

"Let's go now then!" Darwin said, smiling.

Gumball blushed at this and looked behind himself at the open door. "Well, we have to wait until everyone goes to sleep..."

"Alright, I can wait. But I do want to go down to the beach with you," Darwin smiled at him, one so sincere and sweet that Gumball felt the urge to kiss him then and there.

"Soun-"

"Gumball, come here and grab your suitcase! Grab Darwin's too!" Nicole called out, interrupting him. Gumball nodded to Darwin and ran off to the front door to grab their luggage.

He dragged his into Anais's and his room, and then went back to drag Darwin's into the bathroom.

Darwin thanked him and rummaged through his luggage to get his toothbrush. Gumball went into the larger bedroom and saw Anais in her Pjs, reading a book on the bed.

Gumball walked over to his bed and placed the suitcase there. "You going out tonight with Darwin?" Anais asked, not looking up from her book.

Gumball looked at her in shock. "How di-"

"It's obvious. Like I said, I can read you like an open book."

Gumball sighed. "Please don't tell mom or dad."

"Why would I? I gave you a plan to help with Darwin, why would I ruin it?" Anais asked, setting the book down.

"Well, you always have it out for me to get me in trouble, so you'll look like the better child."

"Oh, I KNOW I'm the better child, but that isn't the point." Gumball rolled his eyes. Anais sighed. "Look Gumball, I'm actually rooting for you and Darwin."

Gumball looked at her in surprise and sat on his bed. "Why?"

Anais looked thoughtful, her rabbit ears twitching. "Well, for one I think you two would be cute together."

"Why do you think that?"

"I just think that you two would be the best pair together. Because no one else really fits your personallities."

"Gee thanks." Gumball hissed. Anais shook her head.

"You are taking it the wrong way. I just think you two match each other the best; more than any other partner would. I know you like him, and I betcha anything he likes you too."

"You really think so?" Gumball asked, his ears perked up in hope.

"I sure do! I mean, I've only know him for a week, like we all have, but I bet he will learn to like you the way you like him." Anais smiled.

Gumball sighed and leaned back on the bed. "Ya know, for an eight year old rabbit, you sure are smart."

"I get that a lot. Now go and take him out to the beach, I'm going to sleep." Anais shooed him out of the room and turned off the lights. Gumball walked out to the family room and peered towards where his parents were. They were talking quietly among themselves, but he could tell that they would be going to sleep fairly soon. Gumball walked back to his room and quickly opened his suitcase and got his swim shorts.

Gumball fumbled in the dark of the room behind his bed to take off his pants and boxers to put the swim shorts on. He was quiet enough that Anais did not wake up; or at the very least, did not say anything to him.

Gumball quickly hurried into the bathroom, where a small nightlight was lighting up Darwin's face and casting shadows around the room.

"You ready?" Darwin whispered, a smile playing at his lips.

"Yeah." Gumball whispered back.

Darwin reached his hands towards Gumball. "Sorry but I'm going to need help back into the fish tank."

Gumball blushed. "O-Of course..." He reached and grabbed Darwin's slender hands. Gumball used his foot to push the board with wheels (I guess a skateboard can suffice?) closer to the edge of the tub.

Darwin grabbed the edge with one hand and held onto Gumball's with his other hand. Shoving himself out of the tub as quietly as possible, he slipped into the fish tank headfirst. Darwin twisted his body and pressed his back to the bottom of the tank. He turned his head back and gave Gumball an upside down thumbs up. Or at least, Gumball was hoping it was.

Gumball placed the lid on the tank as to not slosh the water around, and slowly pushed the tank out of the bathroom. Gumball eyeballed his parents room and heard no noise from them, but their door was slightly closed, meaning they were sleeping.

Gumball opened the door as quietly as possible and pushed the tank outside, closing the door behind them. Gumball's heart was racing as he thought of what that night could bring. Slowly following the path to the beach, they made their way to the ocean. However, their freedom was short lived as the wheels from the board got stuck in the sand.

"Darn!" Gumball growled, trying to shove the board forward. After a few hard pushes, he realized it was useless. Darwin twisted himself some more and popped his head up from the tank. "Hey, don't push yourself too much brother! Do you think you could carry me to the water?"

Gumball was breathing hard, and bent over panting. "A-Are you sure? You'll be ok out of water?"

"I can actually survive out of the water for a few minutes. Even up to an hour if needed. I'm part human, so it doesn't do me much good, but it is something. I'm actually kind of light, so you should be able to carry me a lot better than pushing this tank."

"Why didn't you say so in the first place?" Gumball panted, glaring at him a bit.

Darwin chirped. "I'm sorry brother, I didn't think to."

Gumball sighed. "It's fine. Alright, let me pick you up then." Darwin raised his arms and Gumball pulled him out of the tank. Before he knew it, he was holding Darwin bridal style. "Wow! You really are light!" It felt like he was carrying a couple of stuffed animals.

Darwin wrapped his arms around Gumball's neck, smiling up at him. "I told you."

Gumball blushed. "W-Well, let's get you to the water then."

Darwin cheered as Gumball walked them down to where the water was lapping at the sand. Gumball then remembered his dream from in the car and blushed again. Standing with his feet just barely in the water, Gumball looked out into the distance. "W-Will you be able to push yourself farther into the ocean from here?"

Darwin looked up at him. "You won't come with me?"

"You know how I am about water Darwin."

Darwin smiled and pressed a cool hand on Gumball's cheek, earning him a blushing face. "I'll protect you Gumball. I won't let you go under."

Gumball looked away. "I just.. I don't like water..."

"Please Gumball?" Darwin gave him his best puppy dog eyes.

Gumball sighed. "Fiinneee."

Darwin smiled and hugged his neck tightly, earning another blush from the humanoid cat. "Thank you!"

Gumball took a deep breath and walked further into the water, until it reached his hips. "Alright, you can let go of me now." Darwin said. Gumball let go and Darwin splashed into the water. A few seconds passed and Darwin popped his head out of the water. Reaching up, he grabbed Gumball's hands. "C'mon! Let's go farther."

Despite Gumball's protesting, Darwin dragged him further into the water. Gumball began to panic. Not only was he afraid of water, but this was going exactly like his dream, which frightened him. Gumball quickly jerked his hand away from Darwin and moved towards some rocks in the water, climbing up onto one and huddling it. Darwin swam over and gave him a sad look. "I'm sorry Gumball, I didn't mean to push you."

"You weren't... it was just a bit too much for me."

Darwin placed his arms on the edge of the rock and looked up at him. "Still, I'm sorry Gumball."

Gumball shook his head and leaned down, "Please don't be, I'm still having a good time."

Darwin gave him a hopeful smile.

"Now go and swim, I know you want to." Gumball said, grinning. Darwin grinned back and twisted his body backwards into the water. Gumball sighed and wrapped his arms around his legs, watching Darwin flip in and out of the water, the moonlight lighting up the smile on Darwin's face.

"Being cooped up in that pool definitely made him restless to be out. I wouldn't mind being out here all night just to watch him enjoy his freedom." Gumball sighed, smiling.

The boys spent another hour outside before Gumball carried Darwin back to the tank and made their way into the cabin, where they both collapsed with smiles on their faces.


Comment what you think about the story so far!

Edited by: Blurasxbery