May 23, 2026
Emma Dove walked into the café, it was called "Rikki's" now, with a secretive smile on her face. Neither Cleo nor Rikki knew she had come back to the Gold Coast. Much less that she had met back up with – and married – Ash Dove, while on her travels. And that had been years ago. She had two children now, a fourteen year old daughter, Brooke, and a fifteen year old son, Andrew.
"You look like you're on a mission. Are you here to apply for the position?" a haggard-looking blonde woman came up to her and asked.
"Well, actually…" Emma stopped and took in the woman, and the awfully busy café. She could see Rikki and Zane running around like chickens with their heads cut off trying to keep up with the business. It was the first Saturday after summer break and they needed help."I'd be glad to help."
"God bless you, sweet lady!" the blonde called out in jest. "Let's get you an apron. Rikki! I found some help for the afternoon!"
"Great!" Rikki called back, barely glanced up from the cash register.
Emma soon settled back into the familiar old rhythm. Memories came at her from all sides as she worked. Not long after she'd gotten there, Ash came in, probably looking for her. He raised an eyebrow and she shrugged in response, a smile on her face. Ash shook his head and approached Zane. She watched out of the corner of her eye as they greeted each other and talked for a minute. Then Ash, too, pulled on an apron and set to work.
When everything finally slowed down, Emma introduced herself to the blonde who had given her the job, the only person working that Emma didn't recognize.
"I'm Emma Dove."
"Isabella Benjamin. My friends call me Bella. You're really good at this – working here. You should consider doing it full-time."
"I don't think so. I have two kids at home; we're just starting to unpack from our move…"
"Of course. I understand. Welcome to the neighborhood. How old are your kids? Maybe they'll be in some of Stormi and Eric's classes. Those are my kids."
Before Emma could answer, someone, possibly Cleo, came in. "The crew plus two is behind me." Cleo said as if it were a warning.
"Rikki's in the back room." Bella said over her shoulder.
Yep, that was Cleo disappearing into the back. Emma noticed a band on her left ring finger. She was betting her money on Lewis being the lucky man to put it there.
Again, before a word could be exchanged between Emma and Bella, customers came in, "the crew", Emma assumed. They were a swarm of teenagers. Emma spotted Brooke and Andrew among them. They were the plus two, she guessed. The other kids filed by the counter, asking for their usuals.
"Mum," a couple of tall blonde-haired, blue-eyed kids introduced Brooke and Andrew to Bella.
"I'm Emma Dove, their mother." Emma introduced herself.
"I'm Eric." The boy replied.
"And I'm Stormi." Said his sister.
As Bella handed out the teens' orders, she introduced them one by one. Oddly enough, it was always a fifteen year old boy and a fourteen year old girl. Cleo's kids, they had to be by the looks of them, were Raine and Liam McCartney. So Emma had been right, Cleo had married Lewis. What floored her though were Tempest and Zack – Bennett.
"As in Zane Bennett?" Emma asked, once the raven-haired siblings were out of earshot.
"Yeah. He's right over there." She pointed to where he and Ash were talking to the kids. Do you know him?"
"Yeah. Um, who is his wife?" Emma was hesitant to hear the answer.
"Is someone asking for me?" Rikki emerged from the back room with Cleo, looking much calmer then she had when Emma first came in.
"I was telling Emma here about our kids." Bella answered, as Emma turned her back to her old friends, wanting to shock them in her own time.
"Emma?" both Cleo and Rikki said at the same time. Emma could tell they wanted to know if she was "their" Emma.
"Nice necklace." Cleo said slowly, referring to Ms. Chattum's old locket that she still wore.
"I like it." Emma said, turning around to face them.
"EMMA!" they both screamed, diving for her.
Bella jumped back at the noise. When Cleo and Rikki had finally released Emma, Bella asked cautiously, "An old friend?"
"Oh, you have no idea!" Rikki declared.
"We'll tell you both everything." Cleo decided. "Hey, wait a second!" Cleo picked up Emma's left hand, clearly indicating her wedding ring.
"Ash." Emma confirmed. "And then came Andrew and Brooke."
"The plus two." Cleo laughed.
Emma nodded.
"Brooke." Bella said slowly. "Plus Stormi."
"And Raine." Cleo added.
"And Tempest." Rikki finished.
"Weird." Emma said, sure that she would have a good laugh about it later with Rikki and Cleo.
"Everybody, in the office, now!" Rikki ordered. "Do you have everything under control in here, babe?" she asked Zane.
Zane waved her off. "The old manager and I can close up."
Rikki nodded and grabbed Emma by the hand, practically dragging her back into the office. Cleo did the same with Bella. Emma barely noticed the odd looks and eye-rolls they were getting from their children.
Once she had closed the door behind the four of them, Rikki exclaimed, "Boy, have we got a boatload of catching up to do!"
"The first order of business," Cleo decided. "Emma is a mermaid too, Bella, like us."
"I thought maybe you were." Bella said. "There was just this, I don't know…"
I don't know how often I'm going to be able to update this story, since I have a Criminal Minds story going right now too and I don't really like doing two stories at once. Just warning you. Please review, since I'm not really sure if I should continue this or not. Thank you. :)