Author Notes - This is a shorter chapter than the last few, but don't let that fool you into thinking that it'll be a less intense fare because of it. I actually cried while writing this chapter. It was a brief cry, I must admit, but dang. It's rare that writing something will get that kind of a response out of me. The fact that I was intentionally listening to sad music to get into the mood probably didn't help. So consider that your warning, I guess.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR - A BLAST FROM THE PAST

A FEW YEARS EARLIER…

Mr Grouper couldn't quite stop himself from coughing. Over the couple months since he got the terrible news, his body had deteriorated quite quickly. On one fin, he wanted it to just hurry up so he could be done with it. But on the other, a more drawn-out approach gave him far more time to finish some things up.

He was lucky, really. Compared to other people who got news like that, he had already done most of the things he'd wanted to do. There weren't many loose threads left to tie up. His former students had dropped by to visit him one last time after he sent them those videos. Of course, they all arrived separately. Only Molly, Gil, and Deema were still together, and even then just barely. He wasn't expecting all of them to bother with the videos - Goby even told him that it took him multiple sessions to get through his own - but they did. And they all went out of their way to say goodbye.

After watching all seven of his old students return, if only for a day, he couldn't just leave them with nothing. He told himself that if they had all returned to say goodbye, he would make something special for them. And he was not one to back out or break any of his promises.

He was feeling a little tired still, but he knew it couldn't wait. Tomorrow, he wouldn't feel any better after a good night's sleep. He'd just feel more tired. And then he'd feel more tired the next day. And it'd just keep repeating until he got so tired that he just… never woke up again. A disturbing thought if he let it linger too long. So, if he wanted to do this extra special thing, he had to do it and he had to do it NOW.

He set the camera up, brainstorming all the things he'd say as soon as he hit 'record'. When it came to the videos he had made for each individual Guppy, he had it all planned out. He knew exactly what he wanted to say to each of them, even if his message to Molly had been more negative than he had been hoping. But this time? He had so many things to say that he didn't even know where to start. Even all his brainstorming made him come up empty. So, when he hit 'record', he decided that there was only one thing for it - to talk from the heart.

All he needed was the basic idea of the video: something he'd give to Mia to show the rest of the class, should they manage to reunite and become a band once more after he was gone.

'Well, good morning, everyone,' He said, just like he had done years and years ago. 'If you're seeing this, then that means I'm no longer with you. But, it also means that, despite all odds, you finally came back together to be the band you used to be. After seeing you all again, I decided that I needed to make something special. Just in case.'

His breath shuddered. Really, seeing his beloved students back together as a band was something he had hoped would happen in his lifetime. Before this nasty cancer finally did him in. It was a thought he had to ignore. The knowledge that he likely wouldn't live to see his students - his family - together at last would make getting through this video near impossible if he let it consume him. So, he had to simply shove it aside. He took a deep breath, and talked.

I'll make the rest of this video assuming that you really did do it, and that Mia isn't just showing this to you so someone else can see it. And if so…

I knew it. I knew you guys could do it. I always believed that you could come back together, no matter what life threw at you. Yes, even you, Molly. I'm so proud of you. Every single one of you. The seven of you were the best of friends. The tightest group I had ever seen. Nothing got in your way. It may seem like the passage of time was the one thing that could stop you, but look at you now. Not even time itself could keep you apart. Even if it kept me apart…

You know what made the seven of you special? It wasn't the catchy songs or the adoring fans. It was the friendship you had. You weren't just a group of people singing for the sake of fame or money. You did it because you loved doing it together. I could see it in your eyes. Hear it in your voices. Feel it in the air as you all sang together.

You were like a second family to me. Sometimes, I'd even find myself forgetting that I wasn't your dad. It really did feel like I had adopted you. There's no doubt in my mind that without you, I would've succumbed to my cancer much earlier. Just a little something else to keep me going.

But I don't want to address this video to all of you at once. You're not just a collective. You're seven fin-tastic people. Seven wonderful kids who grew up to be wonderful adults. So please don't mind that I'll be addressing each of you personally. Just briefly, though. I've already made videos for you all individually, after all.

Zooli… You were a late addition to the class. I was always worried that you felt excluded or like you weren't really part of the group. But when I saw you with the others, I should've realised I had nothing to fear. You arrived late, but that didn't change a thing in my eyes. It didn't make you any 'lesser', as far as I was aware. You were just as much of a daughter to me as the others. A student is a student, no matter when or how they entered the class.

Nonny… You went so far in just a couple years. You started out class as a quiet, anxious student. And perhaps you're still a little quiet and anxious now, but that's okay. Look at you now. You pushed yourself, just a little. You tried new experiences. You made some great friends. I watched you grow and change, and I'd watch it all over again if I could. Most people never would've imagined that you'd grow so much, but I knew you would. You made me so proud.

Oona… I must admit, your - let's say - colourful language surprises me. I never expected you of all kids to develop such a sailor mouth. You're so much more confident than I remember. It made me so happy to see that you turned out to be such a little spitfire. But, of course, you're still that sweet and loving person underneath all that swearing. And you've already proven yourself to be a better teacher than I ever was. Keep it up. I'm so proud of you.

Deema… Time hasn't changed you one bit. You're still that goofy little girl I can remember. And you're still so good at making me laugh, even at a time like this. I just hope that you hold onto that part of you forever. Please, don't let this video or my death change that about you. The world needs your silliness. Crack the dumbest joke you can after this video ends. Heck, make jokes ABOUT my death! You have my permission. Your emotions run high and intense. You'll need it.

Goby… That imagination and creativity of yours is something to behold. Most people lose it as they age, but you didn't. You held onto it. I know my video to you was hard to get through, but I have no doubt that you can come to terms with this difficult situation. The scar may always hurt, but the wound will heal. Just give it time. All I ask is that you hold onto your imagination and don't let it go. You don't have to lose it as you age and as life grows difficult. Keep it.

Gil… You're almost nothing like the silly and jumpy kid I used to know. I look at you, and it really hits me how much time has passed. That scar especially reminds me that those times of old are gone. But you're still a good person. I don't look at you and think you're a stranger. I know you're the kid I used to teach, just bigger. You could dye your hair orange and that wouldn't change. You're living proof that time changes things, but never completely.

Molly… Oh, Molly. Forgive me, students, but I may need some extra time with Molly. We both know that you changed through the years. The fame got to your head. Your behaviour towards other people turned harsh and mean. I'm sure at some point, you considered yourself too good to come back to the band. If there is a major roadblock stopping the whole band from reuniting, and it isn't something as extreme as another death, it's you. But, if you're watching this video, then that means you chose to come back anyway.

And I really, truly believe this. You can take a girl out of the band, but you can't take the band out of the girl. Somewhere, deep in your heart, you knew this band still meant a lot to you. Maybe you chose to come back because you remembered how fun it was. Or perhaps it was to honour me after my death. The reason doesn't matter. You're back. That's all I care about.

I'm sure you think that I was disappointed in you. I won't deny that I was upset to see what you had grown into. You had achieved your dreams, yes, and that was amazing. Truly amazing. But it seemed to come at the sacrifice of your kind and friendly heart. Your great leadership skills. Everything that made you… You. Let it be known, Molly, that I was never disappointed in you. Maybe your actions left me disappointed, but never you. I knew you better than that. I knew you would grow and change. I always believed you could do it. That you WOULD do it. And look at that. You proved me right. I didn't die seeing you as a disappointment, Molly. Truly, I didn't.

As for the whole lot of you, well… I'm not sure what else there is to say. Truth be told, I didn't plan this out very much. I'm just talking from the heart here. I don't even know what I plan on saying. I want to say as much as I can, knowing this could - and probably is - the last thing I'm ever going to say to you. I never got to see the band reunite in my lifetime, and that will hurt until the day my body gives up. My greatest regret will always be not trying harder to keep you guys together. I took too long, and now my time is up. A lot earlier than I was expecting.

Don't feel bad for me. Really, don't. I've done everything I wanted to do. Seeing you kids all grown up and happy was enough for me. There's nothing else I'd want to do with my life. I'm sure I would've spent the next twenty or thirty years just sitting around and watching life pass me by until the day I couldn't watch it any longer. I just wish I had more I wanted to say. This is the last time I'll ever get to talk to you. It should be something amazing. Something big. Something grand. But it isn't. And I don't think it can be.

So, maybe I should end this. I'm sure we're all sobbing our eyes out by this point anyway. The seven of you were always the best part of my life, and I suppose I should be happy that I didn't live to see any of you die before me.

Don't be sad about my death for long. I'm not saying you shouldn't be sad at all. Be sad all you want. But please, don't spend the rest of your lives thinking about mine. I want you all to be happy. To continue living the lives you want to live.

You're all so happy with where you are and how your lives have played out. You've been through all the ups and downs that people your age can expect. Don't let this tragedy ruin it all for you. Keep on going like the brave and wondrous people you are!

Before I sign off, perhaps permanently, I have one last thing to say. I love every single one of you. You're all the reason I was able to live such a fulfilling life, and why it's so tragic that I'm forced to leave you so early. And if you ended up having children, or do so in the future, let your children know that I said 'hello'.

Goodbye, my wonderful students.

And good morning, everyone.

The Bubble Guppies stared at the screen. Mia had seen the video enough times to be totally jaded to it. Brianna teared up, but the tears did not fall. But when it came to the seven adults who used to be Mr Grouper's students, there was not a single dry eye.

At first, no one said anything. What could they say?

After the longest silence they had ever experienced, Deema finally spoke up.

'W-Wow…' She said. 'Shame he's sleeping with the fishes now.'

A joke. She had told a joke. A silly little pun. In any other situation like this, the others would've derided her for her awful timing and tasteless humour. But they couldn't get mad. Not this time. After all, Mr Grouper had told her to do it. Sure enough, Oona began to chuckle.

'N-Not a bad joke, Deema,' She said.

And one by one, the others began laughing too. Even Brianna and Mia. The laughter was quiet. Subtle. Unlike the kind of laughter Deema's jokes usually invited. It was laughter nonetheless. It was exactly what Mr Grouper wanted.

Gil stopped laughing pretty quickly, however, when he glanced over at Molly. She wasn't laughing. Tears were trickling down her face. But she was smiling.

'Are you okay, Molly?' Gil asked.

Molly barely knew she was being asked a question at all.

'H-He wasn't disappointed in me,' She said. 'For the last few years, I-I thought he died seeing me as a disappointment. But he didn't. He still believed in me! H-He died believing I would come back!'

Molly spent the rest of the day, and the whole night, overflowing with relief that her old teacher truly hadn't given up on her.

Author Notes - Guess what? While proofreading this chapter for release... I cried again. I'm honestly impressed with what I managed to do with this. Even taking into account that this is a fanfic so of course we're all attached to Mr Grouper, I'm still impressed. I do not regret my decision to kill off Mr Grouper. If anything, I regret not making the decision earlier so I could properly build up to it. But all in all, this chapter has to be one of my favourite things that I've ever written. Never before did I imagine that I could create something so heartbreaking.