AN: This chapter is dedicated to Teobi. Happy Birthday!

Gilligan sat on the beach blushing as he undressed and went into the water. The merman had told him not to worry about clothes because they'd just get destroyed when his legs turned into a tail. Once in the water he took off his swimtrunks and waited for the Skipper to come with Urchin.

It hadn't taken long. The captain had a soft look on his face as he carried the merman bridal style to the water. The night before he had gone over to the merman and asked him for help in releasing his own burdens and bringing his good forward like he had done Gilligan. Before he could get the words out Urchin had his hand on the captain's heart and was working his magic. Urchin told him about Silas and the Skipper had to grin at the similarities.

Now the Skipper walked until he was knee deep and placed Urchin gently in the water. He then put a hand on Gilligan's shoulder. "Have fun Little Buddy. Just be back before sundown."

Gilligan smiled. "Thanks Skipper!"

Urchin grinned as he waved his hand over Gilligan's legs and instantly he was given a fin. To no one's surprise it was a dolphin's tale.

Gilligan stared at it for the longest time. "W-wow…!"

Ginger grinned. "You're twins!"

The Professor shook his head in disbelief before smiling. "Remarkable. Enjoy yourself Gilligan. If you come across a boat don't approach it. Rescue is not worth your freedom."

"Are you sure Professor?"

"He's right Gilligan," Urchin said. "Even in my world merpeople are considered rare and valuable. I can't tell you how many times I've had to outswim a boat or trick a pirate. If you were caught you'd be put into a tank and it would probably be sealed shut so you couldn't escape. You'd drown."

Gilligan nodded and smiled in excitement.

Urchin showed him how to use his tail and his eyes danced in amusement as recounted the tale of Captain Silas with a tail for the first time and how funny he looked trying to swim that sent everyone, Skipper included, into hysterics!

The castaways watched smiling as Gilligan quickly got the hang of his new tail. They watched as the two left the lagoon and swam into the ocean.

Gilligan was amazed as Urchin lead him deeper into the water. The colorful fish...the beautiful coral...the soothing sounds and colors that his ears could now hear thanks to Urchin's magic.

Urchin glanced over at him with a smile as he lead the sailor through the water. He looked around and sent out his magic.

The ocean answered him and Gilligan stopped and stared as a blue whale swam over them. His eyes were wide with awe as it swam above him. He was even more in awe of the baby that was swimming with it.

"It's amazing isn't it?"

Gilligan nodded. "Sure is! Gosh I could stay down here forever!"

"Gilligan...when I helped those bad memories I saw something else that has me worried about you."

Gilligan looked at him. "What?"

"I felt a darkness that had nothing to do with that hunt. It was set so deep that I couldn't get to it." Urchin put a hand on his shoulder. "I've seen that darkness before. It's a wounded heart."

Gilligan looked down. "I'm fine." It was then that he saw Urchin's left tailfin. "What happened?"

He looked down before looking back at him. "I could ask you the same thing."

Gilligan blinked before he looked at his own tailfin and saw it ripped in the same spot Urchin's was. He drew in a breath. "We're the same…"

"I got my fin torn from saving Silas' life."

"My foot got crushed saving Skipper's."

Urchin frowned. "What is it?"

He swallowed. "I don't think he likes me much any more. He's always yelling at me, capslapping me, and he's quick to blame me for everything bad that happens."

"Have you tried talking to him?"

"He won't listen."

The merman frowned in worry. "You have to talk to him. That darkness is growing and consuming your light. I was able to keep it at bay but the only one that can release it fully is you."

"I've tried Urchin. So many times. I've saved their lives, put myself in danger, ran away, do all the work…" Gilligan swallowed. "I shouldn't be telling you this."

Urchin nodded. "No you shouldn't. You need to tell them. Make them listen."

"How?" Gilligan asked.

"Start by saying no. They get mad then let them. It won't be easy but I fear that if things don't change you might give them a permanent lesson that would break their hearts." Urchin drew in a breath. "I can tell they care for you. It's in the way they look at you. They love you but something's holding them back. If the Professor didn't care he would not have told you to stay away from boats. Erik's always telling me and Corla to take it easy. Especially with the new baby coming."

Gilligan smiled a bit. "Congratulations!"

"Heh thanks! Not sure how the baby's gonna be what with Corla originally being a fairy and all but we're both excited." Urchin's eyes turned sad.

Gilligan immediately picked up on it. "Hey, you'll get home. I promise!"

"Heh, knowing Erik he's already forgetting to eat and sleep while figuring everything out!"

Gilligan laughed. "Sounds like the Professor!"

A sound got both of their attentions and they looked to see a family of dolphins swimming up to them. Urchin sent out his magic to prove they were friendly and before long the playful creatures were circling around the mermen and nuzzling against them.

One of them, a baby, swam to Gilligan and clicked at him. The boy smiled as he pet it.

They spent the rest of the day with the dolphins just playing and swimming. At one point Urchin used a playful game as an excuse to touch Gilligan's back.

He knew this darkness. He had seen it in Silas. He had seen it in King Truan. One once hid behind alcohol. The other behind his duties as king.

Gilligan hid behind a smile. The darkness had receded for the time being thanks to this day but Urchin feared what would happen when he left to go home. He trusted Erik and knew that he could come get him. It was why he wasn't scared.

For himself anyway. He didn't mention anything but Gilligan's mind and heart were severely scarred. If something didn't change he was in danger.

Urchin put himself on the mission. It was time to make the Skipper actually SEE what he was doing to the boy. He knew just how to start it too.

When they returned the Skipper and Professor were waiting with Gilligan's clothes. Once they were able to sit in the water Urchin pointed to Gilligan's left tailfin before telling the story of how he got the tear in his own fin.

He watched closely as the Skipper's eyes turned soft as he looked at his first mate's tailfin. "The scar's still there isn't it?"

Gilligan nodded. "Yeah...when I prolonged your life."

The captain frowned. "Gilligan you saved me."

Gilligan was about to clam up but Urchin had none of it. He touched the back of the boy's head and used his magic to make him speak his mind for once.

"You said I didn't save your life I prolonged it!" Gilligan blurted out before his eyes went wide and a hand flew to his mouth.

The Skipper blinked in surprise before he remembered when he had said it. "Gilligan I was angry when I said it. You know me better than that."

Urchin kept his hand there. 'Don't hold back. Remember what I said."

Gilligan tried to fight the magic. He really did but the next thing that came out of his mouth wasn't angry...just sad. "You forgot. You don't care anymore."

The captain sat there gaping like a fish in shock before his jaw clenched.

The Professor frowned. "Now Gilligan that's hardly fair…"

Gilligan quickly moved his head away from the merman's hand. "Urchin please stop!"

Urchin put his hand down. "I'm sorry Gilligan. I just wanted to help."

Gilligan sighed. "I know. Thanks but...it won't last long anyway."

"What do you mean?"

"I'll mess up something and it'll be a disaster. Then they'll turn on me."

"Turn on you?" Roy asked.

Gilligan looked up at his captain. "Skipper…"

The older sailor's eyes were unreadable as he dropped the clothes before getting up and storming off.

The Professor looked at Gilligan seeing the heartbreak.

Urchin stayed in the lagoon as the magic faded and Gilligan got dressed before silently leaving.

Roy looked at Urchin. "What just happened?"

Urchin sighed. "Gilligan's heart and mind is wounded. I can only help so much to heal it but he buries it behind a smile and a joke. That darkness has been there for a really long time. It's buried so deep that my healing can't get to it. He gives to all of you the one thing he can't give himself: hope."

Roy's eyebrows narrowed in thought. "I see...Urchin will you be alright here?"

The merman nodded. "Yes I'll be fine. I belong to the sea." He swallowed. "I only wanted to help…"

"You might have helped more than you think." Roy stood up. "I think a long overdue conversation is going to happen tonight."

"He looked really mad."

"Trust me that wasn't Skipper when he's mad. If he was mad you'd know and you can hear him all the way across the island!"

The merman chuckled and nodded.

When Gilligan entered the hut the Skipper stood there with a small box in his hands. He opened it to reveal Gilligan's medal. "Little Buddy I never forgot. You saved my life and my soul that day. It's because of you that I turned my life around." He put the medal on the table before putting his hands on the boy's shoulders. "I never stopped caring Gilligan. How can I? You mean more to me than any amount of money. I would lay down my life for you. I would kill for you."

The boy swallowed. "Skipper I…"

"It's time I told you." The Skipper put his hands on both sides of Gilligan's face and made sure their eyes locked. "I love you and there is nothing...NOTHING you can do that would make me stop. I don't care how many times you drop something on me or trip or whatever but know this and sear it into your brain: I love you. I would be lost without you. I need you."

Gilligan had tears rolling down his cheeks before he threw his arms around him. "I love you too Skipper…"

"You don't have to tell me that Gilligan. Your actions prove that. I'm sorry Little Buddy. The last thing I want to do is hurt you."

"I know Skipper. I know."

In the lagoon Urchin breathed a sigh of relief when he felt Gilligan's darkness begin to lift.