Well... *big sigh* this is it. I promise you more! I've fallen in love with these characters even more thanks to your wonderful reviewing! This is the end of this story but I will be back! I promise I'll continue as soon as possible! Feel free to keep commenting here to remind me too till I get it posted! ;) I hope you like it. I know it's kind of short but sometimes short and sweet is the best kind of ending. I gave it a lot of thought so I'm really hoping you enjoy it as much as the others.

Chapter 14

"Fingal, wake up!"

With a groan, Fingal opened his eyes. "What, Reed?" He rolled over in his badly made nest, trying to get away from the sun.
"I just looked over that big hill we said we'd tackle today." Her voice was quivering with excitement. "We made it. We're home…"

Fingal leapt up immediately and grinned at her. Together, they whipped up the hill and the moment Fingal saw his dear Mistmantle, he cupped his paws and cheered, "What do we love?"

"Mistmantle!" Reed laughed.

Grinning at the fact that she was playing along, he cheered into his cupped paws again, "Where do we belong?"

"Mistmantle!"

"Where are we glad to be?"

"Mistmantle!" she replied in a singsong voice. She grinned. "I got one. Who needs his uncle?"

"Tide!" Fingal raced down the hill, towards his beloved home, Reed right beside him. And that was how it should be.

The moment they entered the castle, cheers erupted. Fingal grinned as he tightened his grip on his bag automatically. He didn't want to let it go until Tide was cured. Padra ran to him and hugged him tightly. "Are you okay?" he asked softly.

"Yeah, I'm okay. And I got it," Fingal whispered, hugging his hero.

Padra tightened the hug for a minute then let him go slowly. "You got it?"

"Would I ever fail you?" Fingal smiled softly.

"No.… No, you wouldn't. Come on. Arran, Crispin and everyone are up with Tide."

Fingal and Reed were both impatient to get up there. But the moment they did, they handed the rock to the Queen, who gave it back. "You should do the honors, Captain Fingal." Fingal blinked for a moment. He'd completely forgotten about Crispin's promise to make him a captain.

He turned to Reed. "Together?" She smiled and put her paw over his. Together, they reached down and pressed it to Tide's fur. A bright flash of light made everyone close their eyes.

When it was gone, Tide shifted, moaned quietly, and opened his eyes. "Dad? Mom?" he whispered. Padra and Arran rushed to him and lifted him, crying softly, and hugging him. Everyone was thrilled and buzzing with talk. Everyone wanted to know how it'd happened. Before he could answer any questions, Reed hugged him tightly. Fingal hugged her back and they stood like that until they finally broke apart to answer the buzz of questions.

After they were finally done with the interview, Fingal moved outside to the balcony. He leaned against the railing, smiling to himself. Night had already fallen. The day had whipped by throughout all the excitement and deep questioning. Someone leaned beside him and he knew from the wonderful smell that it was Reed. He turned his head to her and smiled softly. "Hey."

"Hey…" she smiled at him. "You're a hero."

"I couldn't have done it without you…"

"Sure you could," she replied. "I was just your partner in crime." Her smile faded slightly and she looked out at the sky.

"You okay?" he asked gently.

"Fingal… I used to think you were an idiot. And incapable but… you're amazing. You are the most capable otter I've ever met." She looked at him again. "I, uh…. I feel stupid saying this because after the way I treated you, you're probably hardly putting up with me but… I love you." He didn't know how to respond. He should've but all he did was look at her, lost for words. She hung her head and walked back inside.

Fingal turned and moved after her. "Reed! Wait!" When he caught up to her, she was almost to the door. He grabbed her arm and turned her to him. "I love you too." And he kissed her.

Captain Fingal married Reed soon after their return. Some animals thought that settling down would calm both of their wild spirits but it didn't. Reed was always just as snappish and stubborn and Fingal remained fun loving and stubborn as always. Although, Reed never admitted this to anyone but everyone knew, she was ready to have kids and when she did she would have a whole different mind set towards them and they'd see a softer side that no one besides Fingal had seen.

Now, sometime in the autumn after his marriage to Reed, Fingal continued to take care of Padra's children. He loved those kids as much as they loved him.

So, as Fingal walked into Swanfeather's room, he decided on a story to tell her that had been his very favorite growing up. "Fingal," she croaked.

"Hey, you," he said softly, sitting by the bed. "Feeling any better?"

"A little bit," she said softly. "Are you gonna tell me a story?" Her eyes immediately brightened with hope and he chuckled softly.

"Yeah, yeah, I am." He cleared his throat and thought for a moment, deciding how to begin. Finally, Fingal decided on the most obvious opening line and smiled as he said, "Once upon a time…. There was a young otter named Padra…"