Author Notes - Once again, not quite the final chapter even though the title might make you think it is.

CHAPTER EIGHT - A BITTERSWEET GOODBYE

The day had arrived. The furniture was being all packed up by the moving company, and the car was getting ready to go. Nonny stood on the house's balcony, overlooking the lovely town he had previously called his home. Even though he knew he would see Bubbletucky again, it still felt like he was saying goodbye forever.

'Alright, the car's all packed up and ready to go!' Allison said. 'You can stay a little longer, Nonny, but we'll have to leave soon if we want to make good time.'

'I understand,' Nonny said. 'Just a few more minutes.'

Leo gave him a thumbs-up. 'Alright! You matter a lot in this move, so we go by your word.'

Nonny felt quite lucky to have Leo as a father. Someone who always took things slow, allowing Nonny to stay in his comfort zone while always pushing him just a little to experience new things. A perfect mix of comforting yet encouraging. With maybe a dash of 'overprotectiveness'.

'OH, and I have some great news for you!' Leo said, standing next to him. 'You know Nicholas, right?'

Nonny nodded. 'My half-brother.'

'Well, you're now a big half-brother yourself!'

'... Wait, really?'

'I got the news last night. Nicholas's parents had a second child together, a little girl named Tonya. Okay, so you're not related to her parents in any way, but I consider her your little half-sister. Blood or no blood, it's all the same to me!'

Leo placed a hand on Nonny's shoulder, making sure his touch was nice and soft. Nonny was all but certain that if he had someone else for a father, this move to Fishington wouldn't be nearly as easy.

'When we get there,' Leo said. 'We'll arrive to an empty house. While the movers move everything in, I was thinking we could take a quick tour of Fishington so you know where everything is. Would you like that?'

'Yes,' Nonny replied. 'It would be nice.'

Just a few more minutes, Nonny thought, and this whole matter would be behind him. He would make a new normal for himself. Perhaps, his time in Bubbletucky would end up being so short compared to the rest of his life. Or maybe, he'd find his way back home.

The sound of an approaching car tore him from his thoughts. His (old) street wasn't very busy, so cars were uncommon and always caught his attention. He was going to simply see the car off, until he actually saw it. It was very familiar - it was Mr Grouper's car. Undeniably his car, because Nonny could see his former teacher behind the wheel. And there were equally familiar Guppies sitting in the back.

The car parked just outside his house, and the occupants flooded out of it. Everyone, including the puppy, smiled and waved at him.

'Hi, Nonny!' They all said at once, chiming together.

'Uh… hello,' Nonny said, awkwardly waving back. 'What are you guys doing here?'

'I realised last night that you didn't get to have a proper goodbye with the other Guppies,' Mr Grouper said. 'Because the party ended with everyone falling asleep. So, I got everyone together one last time to give you the proper goodbye that you deserve!'

'... I'm leaving in a few minutes.'

'That gives us plenty of time!' Molly said, showing off her microphone. 'We can't think of a better goodbye than a song, and Oona's chosen a good one.'

She handed her microphone over to Oona, who swam forward from the ground. Her smile was so soothing, and Nonny couldn't wait until he'd be able to see it again. Mr Grouper ducked back into his car to turn the music player on, and a soothing instrumental started playing. Nonny knew it from just the first few notes. A song from their sixth album, all about music itself.

The other Guppies behind Oona sang the simple beginning, consisting of little more than a 'dum dum, da da da…', before Oona took over the main vocals. Nonny loved the sound of her singing, and wished oh so badly that she had gotten more songs on the album.

'Let's make music now. Pass the instruments around.'

Of course, there were no instruments. That didn't stop the other Guppies from miming various instruments, especially the ones that Oona was singing about.

'Guitar, drums, or bass. A piano to play.'

On the next line, she approached Nonny and held her hand out to him.

'Each one makes a special sound.'

Nonny couldn't help wondering why she chose this song. Maybe it was due to the subject matter, which was quite appropriate for their band. Or perhaps it was because parts of the song, such as that very line, could be interpreted to be about the Bubble Guppies themselves.

'These sounds and tones are notes, making patterns in a row.'

To drive the metaphor home further, the other Guppies moved into a singular row. There was a gap in between Deema and Zooli, likely meant to emphasise the gap he would be leaving behind. It wasn't exactly subtle.

'You'll find a song that's all your own.'

Suddenly, the reason behind this choice of song became obvious. It was a perfect goodbye song, if one listened to it with that interpretation in mind. All the Guppies joined in for the chorus.

'Everyone can make music. Play along, you can do it!'

Leo leaned onto the balcony's railings, bobbing his head slightly to the music. Allison swam up behind them, taking her place on the other side of Nonny.

'It's time to share your voice, and there's a song, for everyone. Sing, clap, hum.'

The gap in between the first chorus and the second verse gave Allison just enough time to say, 'Cods, I love this song.' And Nonny took a small risk and started singing the next verse himself.

'The rhythm and the beat…'

Oona must've been expecting it, because she stayed quiet. It was as if she could read his mind.

'Snap your fingers, stomp your feet.'

Gil emphasised this line by hitting his hands against Mr Grouper's car, much to his teacher's mild distress. Because 'stomping your feet' was hard to do when, well, you didn't have feet to begin with.

'I'll sing this melody when you join in with me.'

Without thinking about it, he reached for her hands and took them both. Oona dropped the microphone, but Bubble Puppy snatched it up before it touched the ground.

They dueted for the next line, 'Together we're in har-mon-ny…'

Just like the duet during the party, the song carried Nonny away to a whole new world. A place where nothing else mattered but him and Oona. A world where he could stay in this band forever, life or time be damned.

'Everyone can make music. Play along, you can do it!'

Even Nonny's parents had joined in on this one.

'It's time to share your voice, and there's a song, for everyone. Sing, clap, hum.'

'Sing, clap, hum.'

'Sing, clap, hum.'

'Sing, clap, hum…'

The song came to a stop, and Gil rushed to turn the music player off before the next song started abruptly. It hit Nonny all at once that this would be the last time they ever sang together as a class. At least, that's how he saw it.

Oona drifted back slowly, keeping her eyes on him the whole time. Molly swam forward from the crowd, grabbing her microphone off Bubble Puppy.

'It won't be the Bubble Guppies without you, Nonny,' She said. 'I'm not sure if there even will be a band after this. But we'll always be friends, no matter what. And, just to make sure that you come back…'

She handed her microphone over to him, and he almost dropped it about five times trying to get a good grip.

'You gotta promise that you'll take care of my microphone,' Molly said.

Nonny's eyes went wide. 'Y-You're giving me your microphone? But… but it's yours.'

'If there's no more Bubble Guppies, then there's no more need for a microphone. Even if I end up needing one again, I'll just get a new one. I hope this microphone helps remind you of us, and reminds you to come see us again.'

Nonny held that microphone close to his chest, like it would explode if he dropped it. Gil was the next one to talk to him, zooming into the scene so quickly that he almost shoved Molly aside.

'You're gonna be awesome out there!' He said. 'You might be the awesome-est kid in the world, and those other kids in Fishington better realise that. Cos if they don't, they'll be missing out!'

'I'm not that awesome,' Nonny murmured.

'And you're so - what's the word? - humble, too! You're awesome but you don't go around talking about how awesome you really are. And if no one makes friends with you, somehow, we'll always be there for you. Just in case.'

Bubble Puppy yipped happily and gave Nonny a big slobbery doggy kiss all over his face. Usually, Nonny wouldn't like getting dog drool on him, but today, he just laughed. To think that next time Nonny saw him, he might not be so little anymore.

Molly and Gil moved aside for Goby and Deema. Goby was standing right behind Deema, holding her hand. Probably because she looked like she was going to burst into tears any moment now, despite the smile she tried to have on her face.

'W-Well, this is it,' She said, her voice as steady as a raft in a stormy ocean. 'A f-final goodbye.'

'Are you okay?' Nonny asked.

'O-O-Of course! Y-you know me. Ever perky! Heh heh. You were a really cool kid, N-Nonners. And s-so smart. Y-You know all t-those big fancy words you taught me?' Her voice reached a pitch she had never reached before. 'Y-You're so…'

Everything exploded at once. So suddenly that it made everyone jump, Deema let out a sad wail so loud and powerful that the entire neighbourhood probably heard it. Nonny backed away just a little, unsure of what he was supposed to do.

'I-I-I'M GUNNA MISS YOU SO MUB-UH-UHCH!' Deema yelled, tears streaming down her cheeks. 'I–IB WOB BE DA SAME WIBOUD YOU!'

At this point, Deema was completely inconsolable. Goby placed his hands on her shoulders and slowly guided her towards Molly and Gil, trying to ignore how wet his hands were getting. As soon as he let go of her, she wrapped her arms around Molly and held on for dear life, her eyes and nose producing far more fluid that she should've been able to contain. Much to Gil's amusement.

'Uh.. can someone get Deema a tissue?' Molly asked. 'Before she starts using my tail as one?'

Goby just shook his head and sighed, before he focused on Nonny instead.

'Sorry about that,' He said. 'But you know Deema! Anyway, I really hope you like that drawing I made. It, uh, was kind of a big deal.'

Nonny nodded. 'I promise to keep it safe.'

'Okay, good. Uh, that isn't all I wanted to say. I know we've said it a lot, but you really are an awesome guy. It's just easy for you to forget that sometimes, cos you're kind of shy and aren't so good at things like catching the ball. Whenever you forget how awesome you are, I want you to think of us. You've helped us out just as much as we've helped you. I think it would help to remember that.'

Goby used both his hands to grip Nonny's, squeezing them like this would be the last time he ever saw him. Nonny simply stood there and allowed him to do so.

'There's always a chance we won't see each other again,' Goby said. 'But I sure hope we do. Next week. Next year. Maybe even in ten years! I don't care when. Just as long as we do.'

'I will also promise,' Nonny said. 'To see you whenever I can.'

'Well, I guess all I can do now is wish you luck!'

Goby squeezed his hands one last time before moving aside for Zooli. Compared to the Guppies before her, Zooli seemed rather nervous. She looked at the ground for a few seconds before speaking.

'This is… weird,' She said. 'Everyone had a lotta words to say, but I, well, don't know you so well. You don't feel as close to me as the others, do you? You can answer truthfully. I won't care.'

Nonny hesitated. 'I… I don't. Sorry.'

Zooli shrugged. 'Nah, it's cool. It's only natural. I showed up late.'

'You're still a close friend, though.'

'I know that. You're a great friend, Nonny. Anyone who wants to be your friend is a very lucky person. It isn't easy to make new friendships, especially when everyone else has been friends for years, but I know from experience that it can be done. You'll be fine, Nonny. You'll have a great time in Fishington. I just know it.'

Oona didn't say anything, for she had already said everything she would want to. All there was left to do was hug him one more time. Almost everything was silent. Almost, because Deema was still wailing at the top of her lungs. Even that seemed like nothing but background ambience, part of Nonny's memories with the Guppies. He never thought he'd miss her overdramatic reactions, until he was hearing them for the last time.

Most of the other Guppies were crying too, albeit much more quietly. But, strangely, Nonny and Oona were not among them. Perhaps it was because they had no more tears to cry. Or because they knew that they were going to see each other again sooner or later.

'Alright, Nonny!' Allison said. 'If we wanna see all of Bubbletucky on our way to Fishington, we'll have to leave now.'

Nonny did not want to end this hug. He knew that if he ended this hug, he'd have to leave. And then his time as a Bubble Guppy would truly be over. And he would never get it back.

But he also did not want to stall the inevitable. He separated from Oona and gave her a smile. The best darn smile he ever did. He didn't even say goodbye as he made his way to the car, because there was no need for it. His simple wave said everything. Most of the other Guppies waved back, giving him a few more 'goodbyes' of their own. Except for Deema, who was still crying her eyes out.

Even as Nonny got into the car, he climbed over the back of his seat and watched his friends.

'Time to go, kiddo!' Leo said. 'New times ahead of us!'

'We'll swing by Bubbletucky one last time,' Allison said. 'And then, one day soon, you'll see all your friends again.'

The last thing Nonny saw of his friends, before the car turned around the bend, was every single one of them - even the wailing Deema - waving him off one last time. Oona attempted to chase after the car for a while, before it sped off without her and she had no hope of catching up.

This wasn't the last time Nonny was ever going to see his friends.

He just knew it.

Author Notes - While I wouldn't call any episode in Season Six a 'good finale' episode, I think the song 'Sing Clap Hum' would've been a fantastic note to end the series on. Its subject matter (music) is an element throughout the entire show, it has themes of togetherness and harmony, and it carries a bittersweet mood that suits a finale. Hence why I chose it to be the last song that Nonny performs with his friends before leaving.