Alli's POV

I was talking with John and Yoshi when Tommy started roaring. I gave my brother a look, "Enemy Starboard aft." He said. I stood up grabbing my telescope, "Elliot, you and Elsie ready the machine." He said. "We're gonna need speed." He said. "How?" I asked sliding down after him. "Do you trust me?" He asked. "Little bit but anyways Stubbins stand still." I said.

I looked and saw Müdfly, "Oh hello Müdfly you chinless wonder." I said smiling. "We're in their sighting Cannons are taking their aim." I said. "Turn the ship." I said to Tommy. He ran up and turned the ship, "It is time for me to slip into something less comfortable." John said. "What?" I asked.

I took over the wheel as Tommy got everything John need to go hook up the whale with Yoshi. I slid down, "Yoshi buddy you be careful." I said and walked over to John. I grabbed his arm, "Are you sure about this?" I asked. "Positive Chee Chee will pull me up you just steer the ship." He said. I nodded scared for him. Why am I scared?

"Once Humphrey's been secured you pull me out on Yoshi's signal." He said to Chee Chee. Chee hooted, "Don't worry Cheech you'll rise to the occasion you are stronger than you know now remember courage is not the absence of fear but it's......" He was saying as he put the helmet on. Chee Chee started to freak out, "It's okay buddy you've got this." I said. "Tommy go to the wheel, Yoshi get ready to jump in, Chee Chee." I said. He looked at me, "I am here for you buddy." I said. "Dab-Dab." I said pointing at her.

She let out the harness, "Don't need to tell you twice." I said. "Now Yoshi." I said taking his hat off. He jumped in and now is a stressful part. I put my hands on my head nervous, "He'll be alright dear." Poly said. "I am feeling things I haven't felt in a while." I said. "It might be that dreaded L word you don't want us to say." She said.

I shook my head and saw Chee let go of the rope. I dove catching it, "Yoshi! Stubbins!" I called to my brother and Polar Bear. I held the rope and pulled but saw the top break, "No, no, no." I said. I laid on the ground and started to cry, "Alli, Alli look." Tommy said. I looked and saw John laying down, "You saved me?" He asked. I nodded smiling, "Stubbins helped too." I said. He looked at my brother, "Fair play." I sat up and walked over to him, "Are you okay?" I asked. "Yeah." He said out of the diving suit. I looked at him, "Oh my god hug him you know you want to." Poly said. Tommy laughed, "Alli doesn't like giving hugs out." He said. I rolled my eyes and looked at John then hugged him. He hugged me back, "Seriously do that again and I kick your ass." I said against his chest. He chuckled and nodded.

Stubbins' POV

I watched as Alli and Dolittle hugged making me smile. I've never seen her be like that with anyone in a long time and it's good to see. I laughed hearing what Poly said, "Alli doesn't like giving hugs out." I said. I knew she rolled her eyes. "Seriously do that again I kick your ass." Alli said. I sat up watching the two and it made me smile seeing my sister happy.

I knew he wasn't James and I know Alli knows that as well, "What you think?" Poly asked. "She's happy and he seems happy of course she won't say that to us." I said. She held him like he was going to be gone and him doing the same thing, "You know he's not James but I think he's even better than that. She was broken but he's fixing her once piece at a time." I said. "She's doing the same thing to him Stubbins'." They pulled away and looked at each other and we watched.

Come on Alli don't just leave him with a hug. She kissed his cheek, "Aw come on." I said as she walked by. She stopped, "I wasn't watching." I said. "Hugging is a huge step for me and you know that." She said. "You two almost kissed last night." I said. "You did?" Poly asked her. "That is between me and John." She said. "Oh so now he's John." I said. She looked at me and I just smiled, "Shush." She said and walked away quickly.

I got up quickly following her, "You L word him don't you?" I asked. "Like him yes." I said. I rolled my eyes, "My god Alli you're blind he L word loves you too." I said. "Does he?" She asked with a small smile. I smiled at her, "I mean whatever." She said. I laughed at her, "Don't do what you just did missy and play it off." I said.

"I know you're scared to......" I was saying. "Aw." She said. "Let someone into you heart again but everyone sees they way he looks at you how you two act together more now than the beginning." I said. She looked at me, "James would want this for you Alli. He'd be right here right now saying you blind this guy is crazy for you and you're crazy for him what's the matter with you move on and live a happy life." I said. She looked at her necklace then at me and over at John who was talking with Poly hopefully about the same thing.

"What about you tho huh?" She asked. "I'll be fine all I want for you is to be happy and with him I see you happy." I said. She nodded and I walked down to finish cleaning.

John's POV

I went to walk away when Poly was there making me jump, "Do you have to do that?" I asked. "What's your problem John?" Poly asked. "What are you talking about?" I asked. "John." She said in a stern voice. "I don't know what you're talking about." I said.

"John you know exactly what I am talking about. You like that girl and you know it." She said. "I don't like her I think I falling for her." I said. "She's falling for you too." Poly said. "Really?" I asked hopeful. "Yes John she is Stubbins told me he hasn't seen her this happy in a long time and I haven't seen you this happy in a long time either." "Aw!" Alli yelled.

"Ugh he must've almost said the L word." "L.O.V.E. that L word?" I asked. "Yes John she loves you for you I see it. I know you miss Lily I miss her too but this girl knows what you've been through she's had the same pain as you." I nodded, "She's looking at you right now." Poly said. "Really?" I asked and turned when I saw Alli look away quick. "Lily would want you to be happy John you need to tell this girl how you're feeling you'll never know how she feels." Poly said. "All clean sir what else can I do for you?" Stubbins asked. "Nothing kid just go on your business." I said. He nodded, "And yes Poly I almost said the L word." I looked at Alli who was chatting with Elliot and Elsie.

*Skip until sunset*

Alli's POV

I was at the wheel watching Stubbins playing cards with the animals making me smile. Elliot was on my shoulder chatting with me and holding a banana, "If you wanted me to open it for you could've just asked instead of telling me how you got it." I said opening it for him. He jumped off my shoulder, "Split that with your sister!" I told him. "You're talking to monkeys now huh?" A voice asked. I looked seeing John, "Apparently." I said.

He chuckled, "I am also learning little polar bear." I said. "That's a hard one." He said. "Yeah it is I prefer monkeys Elliot I told you to share with your sister." I said seeing the two of them chasing each other. "Elsie here." I said grabbing a second one and handing it to her. She hooted at me, "You're welcome." I said.

John just smiled at me, "What?" I asked. "They haven't been well behaved in a long time." He said. I smiled, "You're something else Alli." John said. "Lay it on me doc." I said. "You're not like any of the other women I've met one of a kind." He said. "I thought you were annoying and weird even more weird now that you've started talking to the animals." He said.

I laughed as did he, "I thought you were crazy, annoying, and weird doctor who I was gonna be stuck on a ship with that I was gonna hate but turns out I don't hate you." I said. He nodded and we just stood there, "I speak Alli." Stubbins said. "Thomas." I said pointing at him. "Alli's crazy about you she smiles whenever you're around but she's scared because she lost James and doesn't want to lose you." Stubbins said. "I mean......" I was saying when I felt lips on my own. I kissed John back smiling against his lips, "You won't loose me love. You could never loose me." He said. "I almost did already." I mumbled. "Okay again you won't ever loose me again." I chuckled then pecked his lips.