I opened my eyes again, I don't know how I fell asleep so often. I turned to Barry, and I licked his forehead lightly. His eyes opened slowly, but I could tell that he wasn't asleep.

He rubbed my back as he sat up, and I curled myself around him. I wagged my tail slowly, and I set my head in his lap. He looked down at me and rested his hand on my neck, making small strokes across it.

I altered my position, and Barry took it as a sign to get up, but I wasn't ready to. But, I got up as well, and decided to wade into the water. The wetness on my fur didn't bother me, and soon I was up to my shoulders in the water.

Barry waded in after me, and held on to me for support. Then, I dove under the water, using my paws to propel me, before I shifted to a koi like those around me. I was a normal white with orange and black spots, and soon I was hidden in the surrounding fish.

Barry stuck his hands in the water, waiting for a specific koi to swim up to him. I simply swam through the water, and headed to the small waterfall, stirring the water. I swam around some more, and headed back to Barry to find he had found a little friend.

The black and purple koi was swimming in circles around Barry as he stroked the friendly fish.

"What's your favorite color?" Barry stared down at the circling fish. He thought it was me. If I had hands I would slap my forehead.

I morphed back into myself, "Well, I rather like blues and aquamarine." Barry's head jerked up with wide eyes. I put my hands on my soaking hips. I tilted my head at him and he looked down at the fish before looking back at me.

He dove under the water and suddenly he was gone. I shifted into a koi, and began the search for him. There must be some way to stop Lizzie from doing that. I at least hoped that he wasn't invisible, because he was the only one who knew about that.

I swam around looking for him. How does one look for a koi in a swarm of them? I shifted Barry back into himself, but he disappeared again after only a second.

"Lizzie! Stop it! I do not approve of this!" I heard her giggle in response, but I did not find it funny. I tried to shift Barry into himself again, and I noted where he was before he was a fish again. I swam towards the spot to find a grey koi that was struggling to swim, or one that appeared to have never swam before.

I changed into the animal that I would thought would work best - a pelican. Before Barry could react, I had scooped him up, and flew away from the water, and landed up in a tree. I opened my mouth, and dropped Barry while shifting him back. He groped at the tree, and I changed back, dangling my legs over the branch, staring down at Barry.

"Do you need some help?" I teased. He stared up at me in annoyance.

I laughed as I stretched out a hand to him, and pulled him up to sit across from me. He laid down on the branch, putting his hands behind his head.

"You need to stop using Lizzie," I smiled, "You said that you weren't going to do that anymore."

He smirked, "Well, I can't do much with my Gift anyways."

"That's not true. There's so much you can do with it." Barry rolled his eyes and shook his head. I sighed. Although I loved my Gift, Barry's was also full of possibilities.

I leapt out of the tree, and was soon gliding down, and when I landed I was a colorful parrot. I looked up at Barry, and he climbed down from the tree. I flew up and landed on his shoulder, resulting in a strange glance from Barry.

"Why do you do that?" He asked as I ruffled my feathers.

"Its comfortable. And it means that I don't need to walk." I squawked in response. Barry rolled his eyes and began to walk back.

Then he stopped, "Can we switch roles in this, please? I feel like I always get the walking part of this."

I huffed, but flew off his shoulder and soon he was on mine. Although he carried me some, I did give him rides quite often.

I began to walk back, "What's wrong?" Something was up. Barry seemed irritated, but why?

"Nothing," I gave him a hard look, and he shifted uncomfortably under my gaze, "I just... I don't know. I want to leave, but something wants me to stay. Are you feeling it too?"

I pondered what he said, "I feel like I didn't really need to rush into leaving, like it isn't that important."

He nodded and we continued on. I watched as the wild birds weaved through the trees, singing a joyous song. Barry kicked off into the air, and began to try and do his own aerobatic display. He flew around for a few minutes, but eventually landed on my shoulder again.

He chirped, and trilled a little tune, bringing a small smile to my face. He nudged my cheek, and I stroked his back and shoulders. He then began softly nibbling my ears, and I giggled.

He spread his wings, and leapt into the air once more, and hovered in front of me. His eyes urged me to do something, and I leapt into the air to fly with him. He weaved around me, and we danced in the sky.

I flew off in the direction of Lizzie's house and found that now she was lounging in a chair reading a book. Nicole was still sleeping, but she had slightly shifted her position.

We landed nearby Lizzie, and she looked up from her book but looked back down.

"You've been gone for a while." I laughed, and realized that Barry didn't understand what she had said, so I repeated it back to him.

I shifted back, and sat cross-legged on the ground.

"Nice to see you too. Should I change Nicole back?"

Lizzie shook her head, "No, I think this might be the first time that she has been calm for once, and I have a chance to read my book without her pestering me."

I shrugged, "Fine by me." Barry flew over to me, he was improving quickly in flight. He sat in my lap, and tilted his head curiously up at me. I ran my hand down his neck, and gently scratched it, causing Barry to release almost a purring or cooing sound.

My smile widened, and Barry rubbed his head on my chin, his small form comforting in a way I can't describe.

"Whatch'a reading?" I inquired of Lizzie.

She closed her book, "The Original."

I nodded my head knowingly, "Nice." I had no idea what book that was. I turned back to Barry, who was squawking for my attention.

"Yes?" I spoke.

He hopped onto my knee, "I don't know what I would do without you." He ducked his head shyly, and I smiled warmly at him. I was confused by the sudden need to tell me, but it brought a smile to my face.

He leapt off my lap, and flew up to land on the branch that Nicole resided on. He nudged her head, and she looked up and opened her eyes before snuggling up on the branch once again.

He looked down at me, "We need to get some code-words."

I tilted my head, "What do you mean?"

"I find it tedious to discuss what to shift into, and when I want to stop. Could we make it short and simple?" He asked softly.

I nodded, and he continued, "I was thinking just say the animal to be it, and whatever word you want for changing back."

This was weird, but I didn't argue, "Ok, pineapple."

He did a strange movement, I thought it to be a shrug.

"Well then, pineapple." Barry said almost sarcastically.

I morphed him back into himself, and he leaned back in the tree, and carefully scooped up Nicole and set her on his chest. He lounged in his spot, and since everyone was so relaxed, I decided to go find a place to relax of my own.

I started to set off as a leopard. The wind rushed through my fur, and I took a deep breath of air as I headed to the water. Then I realized that I could create a water form of my own.

I ran back, realizing I hadn't really gone that far. When I re-approached, I made a decent-sized pond, and jumped in with my momentum. I made a splash that would have soaked all my friends had I not placed it far enough away.

I swam under the water, and shifted into various animals while doing so. I then ended up sitting at the bottom of the deep pond, as myself. My ears didn't seem to hurt at the pressure, my eyes seemed to be clear at seeing in the water, and I didn't need an immediate stream of oxygen. I looked up at the surface of the water, the sun shining through, and a few birds' silhouettes flew overhead.

My hair swirled around me and I knew that this was peace. I closed my eyes, and embraced the safe feeling I had underneath the water.

I felt the water move, and I looked up to see two legs sticking in the water. I slowly ascended, and burst my head above the water, and Barry looked down at me.

I smiled, and water dripped from my hair. He stuck a hand out, and brushed some of it aside, causing me to blush slightly. I grabbed his hand, and pulled him into the water after me. I let go and sank deeper into the water as he stared down at me with squinted eyes.

I giggled, and bubbles floated up and into his face. His smile broadened, bubbles leaving his lips, and he began to try and dive deeper into the water. He reached my level, and held my chin in his hand as he kissed my cheek. Bubbles floated up to the sky, and my face glowed with a smile.

He let go, and floated in front of me for a while, looking into my eyes. I swam up to the water's surface, and pulled myself out of the water. I shifted myself to a duck, and all the water dripped off my feathers. I shifted back to myself as Barry burst out of the water.

"How did you dry so quickly?" He puzzled as he ran a hand through his wet hair.

I shrugged with a smirk as he hoisted himself out of the water. He squeezed the end of his shirt, and a stream of water trickled out.

I leaned down, and kissed Barry's forehead lightly, and he smiled.

Lizzie turned a page in her magazine, wait. I must have missed something, since her book was nowhere in sight.

"You two lovebirds. Could you please refrain? I like having normal conversations without some sort of love between you two." She said dramatically, "Also, I think Nicole is due in for some pineapple."

I smirked, and went up to the dozing sloth, gently picking her up and setting her besides the small pond I had created. Once she was back to herself, she still slept, but rolled over to the other side; ending up soaked.

"Get me out!" She flailed her arms around wildly, now much more alert. But she got over her shock, and climbed out of the water.

"Did you enjoy your little nap?" I teased.

She huffed, "Yes, until I was thrown into the water!"

I laughed, "We did no such thing. It's not my fault that you roll in your sleep."

She crossed her arms as she stomped off with mock anger.