Author Notes - Alright, just a few more chapters of this surprisingly long story to go! I don't think it's quite as long as "I'm Not Okay" (I'm not sure if anything I write will ever dethrone that in terms of length or attention), but it's up there. This chapter also contains a brief dig at the 'Super Princess Mermaids' thing they're making on YouTube. I've seen every episode released thus far, and while it's not the worst thing ever and some of the episodes are surprisingly good... yeah, it's not great.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE - GOODBYE NEED NOT BE FOREVER

This had been, without any doubt, the most difficult visit the three of them had ever made. Molly, Gil, and Deema had each been through tough times. Sometimes together, sometimes on their own. But nothing compared to this.

'I-I just can't believe it…' Gil said. 'Y-You're really…'

They had received their videos and - for the first time in years - were all able to agree on something. They agreed that they had to visit Mr Grouper as soon as possible. They knew it was going to be difficult. They just didn't realise how bad it was going to be until they finally got there. His scales were pale and his eyes were always tired. His voice cracked and crumbled as he talked. You could see the life draining from him.

But somehow, he managed to keep the same warm smile that they were used to.

'I've had a good life,' Mr Grouper said.

'I know,' Gil said. 'But that doesn't… that doesn't make any of this okay!'

'No. No, it doesn't. It isn't right, is it? I could've lived another twenty years. But you know how it is.'

Gil had done most of the talking. He couldn't help it. Molly stood by his side the whole time. Deema, however, was standing in the corner. Her emotions ran stronger than the others'. Always had, always would. Even when Molly wasn't looking at her, she could hear Deema sobbing and sniffling loudly.

'How can you be so casual about this?!' Molly shouted. 'You… you're going to die, within a year!'

'It was scary,' Mr Grouper replied. 'Terrifying, actually, at first. But there's nothing I can do about it.' He paused to cough. 'So, why fight against it? Like I said, I had a good life. A great one. I can't imagine there's much else I'd want to do.'

Molly couldn't take any more. Tears trickled down her face as she gave Mr Grouper the biggest hug she could manage. She didn't want to let go. Everything was telling her that this would be the last time she ever got the chance. It couldn't end. If the hug ended, then she'd lose the chance to ever do it again.

Gil, upon seeing the hug, broke down into tears as well. He joined in on the group hug, just as desperate as Molly to keep holding on for as long as he could. Mr Grouper returned the hug to the best of his ability. Somehow, he was the only one in the room not crying.

'Come on, Deema,' Mr Grouper said. 'This might be your last chance. Don't let it slip past you.'

Deema almost denied his offer. How could she bear to look at him in the state that he was in? That wasn't how she wanted to remember him. She wanted to remember him as a happy-go-lucky man with a warm smile on his face, not the guy practically wasting away before her. But she knew that he was right. With how hectic her life was, she might never get the chance again to hug him one last time before he left. Still a snivelling mess, she joined the group hug as well.

Despite the deep sadness looming over all four of them, there was something about this hug that felt warm. Welcoming. Wonderful. It had been the first thing in years that the three Guppies could do together without devolving into a fight. They just wished it had been anything else. In that mess of sniffles and tears, there was a strong feeling of togetherness.

'W-Why did you have to go?' Gil asked. 'W-Why did this have t-to happen to you?'

'There is no reason,' Mr Grouper replied. 'Sometimes, these things just sort of… happen. And there's nothing that can be done. There is no reason. This isn't a punishment. Sometimes, injustices like this happen.'

'That's ridiculous!' Molly yelled. 'Y-You can't just sit there and act like this is fine. It isn't fine! Awful things are happening and there's not a thing we can do about it!'

'It's difficult to accept. I understand. In time, the wounds will heal. That doesn't mean there won't be scars. Those scars could even last a lifetime. But eventually, those wounds will stop bleeding. You will be able to move on. The pain might hurt forever, but it will hurt less. All I ask is that, one day, you guys can look back on your time with me and be happy. I don't want you to be upset that your time with me is over. I want you to be happy that it happened at all. It will be tough at first. Impossible, even. But I know you'll make it there. I know you guys well enough that I know you'll grow strong enough to overcome any pain life throws at you. Just, please, don't let my passing ruin your lives.'

'YES, we're back together. YES, we're probably going to do one more performance. NO, we are not in the mood for any freaking interviews right now! COME BACK THIS AFTERNOON OR SOMETHING!'

The Bubble Guppies had been taking turns getting rid of the paparazzi and journalists from Mia's house. None of them wanted to deal with that in the morning after they all stayed up a little too late the night before. The concert was a success. A bit too much of a success, really. And now the media wanted to know all the juicy details. Most of them were able to wave off the journalists nicely and politely. Oona, on the other hand, was not so polite. Famous Child Star Swears at Journalist would be an interesting headline, though.

She returned to the group with a groan. 'Seriously, can't they just get a clue already? We're tired as frick and we just wanna rest for a bit!'

'I can't blame them!' Goby said. 'We put on the concert of the century. Social media is buzzing about it all over!'

'Yeah,' Deema said. 'Even more than when we announced that weird spin-off album thing no one liked.'

'I told them getting rid of half the damn band was a mistake!' Oona said. 'Especially me. Who wants a girls-only band without me?'

'Forget that weird spin-off thing,' Zooli said. 'We've really made it! We didn't think the concert would get that much attention, but it's all people are talking about!'

'I told you that you guys are awesome!' Brianna said. 'Awesome enough that people were still talking about you even now. I'll admit, sometimes I felt like I was your last fan left. But I think we've had all the proof in the world that I'm not!'

Even though they were all crowded around Mia's living room and still rather exhausted from the night before (especially Brianna), they were still brimming with joy. The previous night had been their best in what felt like forever.

'So now what?' Mia asked, after a brief silence.

The silence that followed was a lot less brief. The seven Guppies, plus Brianna, had been so caught up in the festivities that they hadn't really thought about the long-term. They glanced among themselves and tried to answer Mia's very good question.

'We're not splitting up again,' Molly said. 'I - we - are not making that mistake again. We're staying as a team. From now until we die.'

'Yeah, that sounds practical,' Gil remarked. 'It's not like I have a very important firefighting job all the way in Big Bubble City or anything.'

'She didn't say we'd have to be together the whole time,' Nonny said. 'Just that we shouldn't end up splitting apart like we did before. Some of us barely even remembered that the others existed. I don't want to do that again.'

'Neither do I,' Goby said. 'Not after everything we went through to make this possible. It's unheard of for old friend groups to come back together like this, especially after so long. We lucked out. If we weren't an old band with one passionate fan left, we never would've crossed paths again. I'm not prepared to lose that.'

Deema leaned back in her seat. 'Yeah. It took our old teacher dying to bring us all back together. Are we gonna split up and then wait for some other life-changing event to bring us back? Not happening. We waited too late the first time around. I don't want to go through that again.'

Nonny, for once, took the initiative. He stood up from his seat and swam into the middle of the room. Before anyone could ask what he was doing, he held his hand out in front of him.

'Let's see some hands down,' He said. 'Let's make a promise here and now that we won't be splitting apart again. We can't be by each other's sides forever. We know that. We've all got different lives left to live. But that doesn't mean we can't stay in touch. That we can't come together now and then to put on another amazing performance. And we will. The Bubble Guppies are meant to be together, and they're meant to stay together. Who's with me?'

He was barely even done with his sentence when Oona sprang from her seat and all but slammed her hand down onto his.

'Hell yeah!' She said. 'We ain't letting something like the passage of time stop us from being friends! Bring it in, everyone!'

Goby and Deema joined next at the same time. Deema even blushed slightly as Goby's hand fell upon hers. Zooli was the next up. Gil, after debating what it'd do his dignity, shrugged and joined in. Almost the entire band was part of this now. Even Mia, who technically was never part of the band but really wanted to join in. All except for one, of course. Molly stood on the side, watching from the outside. It wasn't that she didn't want to place her hand upon theirs. It was what she wanted to do most of all. But her cruel words from days ago kept coming back.

'I've done just fine without you for over twenty years now. I certainly don't need you now.'

No amount of forgiveness could erase those words. And no amount of denial could soothe her soul. It had been near impossible for her to move past what she had said, even if it seemed like her other friends had forgotten the whole thing.

'I… I-I can't,' She said. 'I shouldn't. Not after everything I've done. I can't make a promise like that. I don't belong in the-'

'Molly,' Gil said.

Just hearing him say her name was enough to quiet her worries.

'Enough of that nonsense,' Gil continued. 'You're part of the band. You're our friend. Hell, you're my girlfriend again now. Get over here and join in. You know you want to.'

'But,' Molly said. 'What about-?'

'Come on. Do it. If you're so worried about disappointing Mr Grouper even after his death, imagine how sad he'd be to see you exclude yourself from the band because of something you did in the past. He wanted us back together. And he meant all of us.'

Molly took a deep breath. 'Right. Of course. This is what Mr Grouper would've wanted.'

Though it was tough to do, even with the thoughts of her former teacher looming over her, she eventually plucked up enough courage to place her hand on top of Gil's. The warmth emanating from all of their hands was warmer than any fire she had ever been near. Something told her… this was how it was meant to be.

'We're not done yet!' Zooli said. 'There's still one last person who needs to join in. Hey, Bri!'

Brianna flinched. 'M-Me? Wait, you want me to join your little hand-holding thingy?'

'Yeah! After all, we wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you. We owe you so much. So get your tail over here and join in!'

She beamed like the sun itself. 'Y-Yeah! I will!'

It may have been getting a bit crowded at that point, but the nine Guppies still stood in the middle of that room with their hands together.

'Friends until the end!' Molly said. 'Isn't that right, everyone?'

'Yeah!' The others chanted at once.

'I said, isn't that right, everyone?'

'YEAH!'

'That's the enthusiasm I like to hear! On the count of three, we raise our hands into the air and chant 'Bubble Guppies' as loud as we can. Ready?'

The others nodded.

'Alright. One, two-'

'Wait, stop,' Deema said. 'Is it on three, or after three?'

'... We raise our arms on three, and chant right after.'

'Ah. Okay. Got it!'

The others laughed. It brought them all back to the good old days, where Deema would say something silly and she'd never fail to get a laugh out of them. Even Nonny, stoic as he was, would giggle at the absurd things she'd say or do.

'Okay,' Molly said. 'One, two, three…!'

Right on 'three', the Guppies raised their arms into the air. And as soon as Molly was done…

'BUBBLE GUPPIES!' They yelled at once.

It felt so good. On 'window so clean it is practically invisible' levels of satisfaction. They laughed and they cheered. It really felt like a proper pact. An oath. A promise that even if life tried to tear them apart, they'd never truly separate again. Not until death pulled them away, at least.

'Oh, that felt good!' Oona said. 'So. Freaking. Good.'

'Get out your phones, everyone!' Zooli said. 'We've got some numbers and emails to exchange.'

The room became full of chatter as every Guppy exchanged their contact details with each of their friends. There were a lot of numbers to share, especially with Brianna in the mix, but they soon had everyone's names in their contact lists. For what must've been the first time in at least a decade. Brianna stared at the numbers on her phone. All belonging to her heroes. For the first time in her life, she actually had people to put on that list!

'I'd hate to break this to you all,' Gil said. 'But I think we'll have to use these numbers a lot earlier than you realise. We've all got important jobs that we have to get back to at some point soon.'

The cheery mood in the room died down. But not completely.

'Yeah, he's right,' Oona said. 'School holidays end pretty soon, and the school won't be happy to know that one of their best teachers just up and freaking left to join a band.'

'And my nieces won't be so happy if they can't see their favourite uncle,' Goby said. 'Swimfield is pretty far from here.'

'And I've got a whole store to run!' Deema said. 'And it won't take much longer before my agent calls and demands I audition for the newest romance or whatever.'

Molly shrugged. 'So? We may live in different places and do different things, but we're still friends. If we were able to come back together after all these years of separation before, it's not going to stop us now. We're a band until death do us part!'

'Yeah!' The others cheered.

'I suppose we don't have to go our 'separate ways' again until tomorrow,' Gil said. 'I can stay for the rest of the night. But I'll need to leave first thing in the morning!'

As the Guppies chattered about their plans for the next day, Brianna slowly drifted away from the group. Something was dawning on her - once the band 'split up' to return to their normal lives, she'd have to go back home. Return to a life of having little to no friends, and dealing with parents who barely acknowledged her existence. The only difference would be the extra emails in her contacts. And she wouldn't be able to just call them up whenever, since they would be busy with their jobs and families.

She sat down in silence. Would she say anything about her worries? Absolutely not. Her friends (they were her friends!) didn't need to hear about her problems. Everyone was too happy for that sort of thing. She'd just worry about it the next day.

No one noticed Mia connecting her phone directly to her TV, screensharing on it. And no one noticed her scrolling through all her saved videos (many of which were about her and her sister) until she reached a particular video from a few years ago.

'Hey, uh, if I could have your attention,' She said.

'Hey!' Molly said. 'My sis is talking. Everyone better pay attention to her!'

It did the trick. The others aimed their attention at Mia. The sudden looks coming her way made her flinch, but she continued without a sweat.

'There's a video that, um, I need to show you,' She said. 'If you'll just look at the TV…'

The Guppies turned around, and gasped at once when they saw what video was on the screen. It was Mr Grouper. Judging by the pale scales and tired look in his eyes, this was soon after his cancer diagnosis. He looked a little more tired than he did when they all visited him.

'Mia… what's this?' Nonny asked.

'It's a video Mr Grouper sent me,' Mia replied. 'Not the same kind of video he sent you guys, though. It's a special one. He told me to keep it a secret, and to hold onto it in case the band ever came back together. He really believed that it could happen.'

'And he wanted you to play that video for us when he did,' Goby said. 'Didn't he?'

Mia nodded. 'That's right. Since we're all going to be heading back to our normal lives tomorrow, I think this is the best time to watch it. If you guys think you're up for it, of course. Mr Grouper told me that he'd understand if it was too much for you to-'

'No!' Molly said, before clearing her throat and speaking more calmly. 'No. We want to watch it. We have to watch it. If Mr Grouper sent us a video that he wanted us to watch if we ever reunited, we can't just ignore it. Who's with me?'

She was met with an affirmative chorus. Everyone gave an enthusiastic 'YEAH!', including Brianna. Even Nonny raised his voice just a little.

'It won't be easy,' Gil said. 'But we owe Mr Grouper that much.'

'Get the tissue boxes out!' Deema said. 'I have a feeling there's gonna be a lot of tears. And snot. Mostly from me.'

'I didn't need that mental image,' Nonny murmured.

'Let's do it,' Goby said. 'Mia, as soon as we sit down. Play the video. Don't give us even the smallest chance to say no or back out. Because I'm worried if you give us the chance, we're going to chicken out.'

Mia took a deep breath. 'Alright. And I won't pause it or rewind it unless I absolutely have to.'

Author Notes - A more lighthearted and calm chapter, sandwiched between the intensity of the concert and the next chapter. Heads-up, the next chapter deals primarily with Mr Grouper's video. To say that it might be a more emotionally intense chapter would be an understatement...