John Dory awoke in his room, he blinked sleepily and looked around for a moment he felt confused. When did he redecorate Rhonda? As he tiredly looked around, slowly he became aware that he was no longer in Rhonda, and just as he started feeling panicked he remembered, he was in his room in branch's bunker. John dory chuckled to himself, shaking his head as he got out of bed. He looked at the Callender and got excited. Today was the first day of Winter. John dory got excited. Still in his pajamas he ran to the lift and pulled the lever riding g it until he came to the trapdoor. He pushed it open and saw Rhonda asleep nearby. Excitedly he went to Rhonda. "Rhonda. Rhonda wake up girl. It's the first day of winter." Rhonda blinked her eyes open sleepily. John dory couldn't contain his excitement. "We are going to have a great time this winter Rhonda we..."

John Dory froze. Rhonda was sleepily yawning. John dory felt worried. Rhonda looked really tired. "Rhonda? Are you ok girl?" He asked concerned. Rhonda hugely yawned. The trapdoor opened and branch poked his head out. "John what is going on?" Branch asked.

John Dory looked worried. "Branch something is wrong with rhonda. She's never been this sleepy before." Branch frowned he observed rhonda who yawned sleepily. Branch touched John dory's shoulder. "John I think we need to get Milton moss. He's really good with critters. And he might know what's going on but first. We should change out of our pajamas and into out usual clothes."

John Dory blushed. "Good point bro."

As soon as John dory and branch were dressed Branch raced off to get Milton moss. John dory paced the whole time. Finally Milton moss arrived and began to examine rhonda who was yawning. Branch touched John dorys shoulder. "Rhonda's gonna be ok john."

At that moment Milton moss finished his examinations and said something John dory hoped never to hear. "Rhonda is going to enter hibernation."

John Dory knew what Hibernation was. Branch looked at John dory. He had a feeling John wasn't going to take this well.

John Dory shook his head. "Rhonda doesn't hibernate Milton. She's never hibernated as long as I've known her. She just needs a run to wake up."

John Dory got inside rhonda and tried to get her moving but rhonda was too sluggish and tired. John dory started feeling panicked. He didn't want to spend winter without rhonda. He ran out of rhonda and began rubbing her begging. "Please girl wake up, come on."

At that moment bruce, Floyd, clay, climbed out of the trapdoor. Floyd had a blanket wrapped around him, he was stil waking up. Viva and poppy, who were in their usual clothes just arrived. They all watched as John dory placed a large blanket on rhonda. Clay sighed. "What is John doing?" He asked.

Branch sighed. "He's trying to stop rhonda from hibernating."

"She doesn't need to hibernate. She's fine see? The blanket will keep her warm all winter." John Dory said, looking slightly crazy. Rhonda yawned again.

Poppy sighed "I'll talk to him."

"Don't." Clay said. "John will keep denying it he did The same thing when his pen quit working."

Bruce sighed. "And he wouldn't quit trying to get it working for months he was so heartbroken."

Floyd sighed. "I feel bad for him maybe if we give John reassurance and support..."

Clay rolled his eyes and marched up to John. "John listen to me buddy. I get you had plans on activities to do with rhonda and that's great but..."

Viva cut in "sometimes things don't go your way."

Clay sighed. "John please just accept the truth: winter from now on is the time you spend... without rhonda."

Everyone was shocked at clays bluntness. Clay turned to everyone and checked his hugtime watch. "4....3...2..and...."

John Dory then did sonething he never before did.... He cried hugging rhonda tightly. "It's not fair." He sobbed. "I've never spent a day without my..rhonda!!"

Clay patted his shoulder. "Let it out John dory. You'll feel better. This is the crying after pulling out the thorn stage." He turned to everyone. "John will never accept rhonda's need to hibernate unless he comes to terms ." He said

John Dory sniffled. Clay asked simply " do you feel better?"

John Dory whimpered. " A little. I think I'm past the crying part now."

Bruce smiled and hugged him. "I know it's hand bro. But I'm proud that you finally accepted rhonda needs to sleep. She's gonna wake up bro."

"I know." John dory said. " but won't I be betraying her if I have a good time without her."

"Of course not." Poppy said.

Suddenly rhonda nudges John dory gently as if asking 'are you gonna be ok?'

John Dory sniffled and smiled. "I'll be ok girl. I'll manage. I'm gonna miss you but I'll make memories and I'll come by often to check on you."

Rhonda licked John dory affectionately. John dory smiled. "Come on let's find you a place to hibernate. Hey this could be our winter tradition."

Rhonda's eyes sparkled excitedly as she and John dory wandered off.

Later branch found John dory near a hole reading a book. John dory smiled at branch. " I thought rhonda might like her favorite story. It helps her when she can't sleep." Branch smiled. He took John dory's hand. "I'm proud of you bro. You're taking it like a man."

"Clay's words hit home and I realized I could do nothing to stop it. Rhonda needs to hibernate and I care about rhonda so much. It did hurt thinking about spending the holidays without her but I know she will wake up for spring. I'm gonna make some memories and share them with her." He smiled seeing clay walk by. "Starting now." He took a handful of snow and flung it at clay who yelped. "Seriously john?"

John Dory stuck his tongue out. "Catch me if you can clay or are you too serious?"

Clay smirked and whistled and John dory saw viva and a bunch of put putt trolls with snowballs.

John Dory backed up yelling. "Wait I surrender."

"Too late bro." Clay smirked as he threw the first snowball at john dory who ran yelping as each snowball hit him.