Authors Note and Insights:

I don't own H2O. As usual I will only post that once here at the start.

So here is the third story in the series. I think I've waited long enough for everyone to have a chance to read the end of the last one. Also, as promised, here is the bonus content I promised.

While reading various fics from people I kept looking for a story that had all four girls and had a way to bring them together. I saw many that had things go either good or bad between Bella and Emma. So I got to thinking about the situation and realized that it all could be solved by Rikki and Cleo having kept in touch with her via e-mail and phone. The modern age has a lot of wonderful ways to keep in touch after all.

Using that premise I figured that Emma would be kept fully up to date on everything from the moment of Bella's arrival to the stopping of the comet. They might even have had a chance to talk to each other over the phone or a vid-conference program. This wasn't actually shown in the shows which, thankfully, left it open to personal interpretation and I took advantage of that.

My original idea was to start with Emma's coming home party and the exchange of the necklaces, but I had no idea's for how to carry it on beyond that point at first. After a lot of thinking I toyed with the idea of adding a fifth girl to the group but couldn't come up with a convincing reason for her to be there. So I found myself once again stumped.

So one day I decided to re-watch the first season. After watching the final episode again I couldn't help but think that the look on Denman's face practically screamed at me "Oh God! What have I done." Suddenly things started to fall into place.

So the idea came to me that if there was a fifth girl and she met Denman who was silently wishing for a chance to undo her mistake, then how would things happen. Then I started filling in the gaps, how the new girl was to meet her, why would they be in Australia, and why the new girl would be willing to work with her. As I answered these questions Laura started to take shape in my mind. Her reasons, motivations, personality, and quirks.

Lastly I had to decide on a power for her. At first I toyed with the idea of another Charlotte, but adding in Bella's power, but then decided that would make her too strong. I wanted a way for her to fit in and have a reason for being with them. So I decided that she would be able to enhance the others. That worked, but it offered her no way to protect herself. So I figured what if she did have all the other powers but just so weak that it was more like a token offer then actual powers. After turning it over in my head for a few days I found I liked it.

The rest has been slowly unveiled in the stories. However, should you wish to know more feel free to send me questions in a review or a PM and I'll be happy to provide any specific detail you'd like to know. Now on with the third story.

One last note for you all. This story will be from a lot of different character's viewpoints. You're even going to get the chance to see Laura from the outside too. The only thing that will stay the same is Laura's view point will be in the first person, everyone else will be in a subjective third person. So I hope you all enjoy the chance to see Laura from the others view.

Chapter 1:

Countdown: Monday.

Lewis sat on the couch in the office of Rikki's Cafe. He'd been here for several hours so far and he was no closer to figuring out how to tell everyone what he'd found out then he was when he'd first arrived. Should he just come right out with it or should he build up to it slowly? Would some background on his research help or just confuse them? He had no idea.

Frustrated he stood up and began to pace. He started to go over in his mind how the others would each react. Cleo, Rikki, and Emma might be interested in the news but Bella would probably react badly and he didn't yet know Laura well enough to predict her reaction. She always surprised him. Like the way she kept mixing up the measuring systems. He found it so confusing how she automatically used metric for somethings and that other one for others.

He groaned as he realized he was going off on a tangent to avoid thinking about his real reason for being here. He gave himself a mental shake and told himself to focus. He had though about the girls but what of the guys. This information could effect them too. How would they take it? He had no idea.

Zane had changed so much Lewis admitted to himself he no longer had any idea how he'd react. He hadn't really gotten to know Will or Ash. As for Byron, he'd never even considered that he'd have gotten mixed up in all this. What should I do? He asked himself. He had no answer.

Lastly he considered Denman. Even though he didn't like her much, he wasn't the type of person to hold a grudge, and she had proven that she'd learned from her mistakes, too. This development would definitely interest her, and Laura would fill her in. Unlike Cleo, Emma, and Rikki, Laura, and Bella too, had never suffered being captured by her and thus didn't have a bad impression of her. They actually viewed her as a good friend. Add in that she was back in town to get some R and R and he knew it would be impossible to keep this from her for long.

"Damn it," he muttered as he realized he was once again going off on a pointless tangent to avoid the main issue. "Come on, Lewis, stay focused."

A knock at the door startled him and, after he calmed himself, he asked who it was.

"Just me." Zane said as he opened the door and stuck his head in. "They're all here. Should we come back now?"

Lewis let out a deep breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding and nodded. Zane turned and nodded to the others just out of Lewis' view and they all filed in. Lewis stepped over to the desk and stood there as he waited for them all to get seated. He found himself suddenly unable to speak.

"So, Lewis, what's up?" Rikki asked, blunt as usual.

"Well," he cleared his throat and tried again. "Well some time ago while doing research on mermaid legends in the hope of finding out more about what you all can do I came across a particularly unusual one."

"More unusual then that wish granting paste?" Emma asked.

"Wish granting?" Bella and Laura both asked. "We can do that?"

"Save that for another time." Lewis said definitely not wanting to get into speculation on what would happen if they used all five powers in the making of that stuff. They nodded but he figured they'd ask about it again. "Anyways, this one concerns the moon, eclipses, and their effects on your powers."

He took a deep breath about to continue when Bella held up her hand. He let out his breath and nodded to her. "This meeting is to warn us about an upcoming eclipse?"

"Part right," he answered her. "Next Sunday there will be a partial lunar eclipse."

"So it will only draw away our powers for half as long?" Cleo guessed.

"If you let me finish I am about to explain." They all motioned for him to continue. "Well, that is not entirely accurate. The partial eclipse does draw them away but would also just give them right back. Unless you are touching someone else that isn't already a mermaid."

"Why would something like that matter?" Zane asked clearly perplexed.

"Only in that the person in contact with the mermaid would get them." Lewis answered.

"P... p... permanently?" Bella stuttered.

"No." Lewis assured her. "According to my research it will only last for one week and then they would return to their original owner."

"A week?" Will asked. "As in someone else could borrow them for a week. Why would they want to do that?"

Bella head snapped around to look at him in surprise. Clearly she had though he'd be all for borrowing them and was surprised that he clearly wasn't interested.

"Well," Lewis started. "I know that after the incident with Charlotte," he couldn't help a slight shudder. He noticed that Cleo, Emma, and Rikki had a slightly angry look at the mention of her too. "Well after that incident, I know that Cleo, Emma, and Rikki all had doubts about wither or not they should have jumped into the pool that night too. I guess that by loaning their powers to someone else for a week and living with out them they could find out if they made the right choice or not."

He noticed that Cleo, Emma, and Rikki all looked thoughtful about that. However before they could get any chance to start a debate he continued. "Anyways I figured I'd leave the choice up to you all. To that end I came up with some ideas for rules about this for you to consider. First rule is that final choice is up to the girls. We don't pressure them either way. That OK?"

They all though about it for a moment and then nine heads nodded. "OK. Then second rule is that if the girls want to talk to us about it we answer honestly. If they ask us for reasons why they should, we give them, if they ask for reasons they shouldn't we give those too. We just give them our opinion and try not to push them to one side or the other. OK guys?"

Will, Zane, Ash, and Bryon considered that and agreed that would be best. "OK. Third rule is that we don't talk about this around the girls unless they bring it up first."

"But how are we supposed to talk about it for ourselves then?" Byron asked.

"We can talk about it with each other when they are not around, we just don't bring up the topic so as to not seem as if we are trying to pressure them about it."

"Don't we get a say in that one?" Laura asked.

"If you don't like that rule you are free to say so. I'm just trying to think of ways to make sure we don't pressure you." Lewis answered her.

"I say we leave that one up to a one on one basis." Emma offered. "For example if I don't mind Ash bringing it up when it's just the two of us then that would be OK."

"That sounds good." Laura said. "No bringing it up when it's a group but if we want to do it on a one to one thing we can."

Everyone agreed to that one. "OK. Last rule I came up with. You all have to agree." He held up his hand to stall them. "By that I mean if only, let's say Cleo, wants to do this then the rest of you have to agree to it since you'd be responsible for keeping who ever she chose to loan them too out of trouble. I don't mean that you all do it or you all don't do it."

"OK. That one I can agree too." Laura said. "I would like some say if I was going to have to babysit one of you guys. Though if it is Cleo that does this I'm sure we'd be watching you, Lewis."

Everyone laughed. "Anyone want to add something?" He asked.

"Only that we should all agree now who we'd loan them too." Bella said. "You know, just in case we do decided to do this."

"I think Laura hit that one on the head already." Cleo said. "I'd end up loaning my powers to Lewis. I'm guessing each of you would choose your own guy."

Each of the couples exchanged looks. Not sure yet what they wanted.

"Well how about from this point on we drop this as a group discussion for now," Zane said. "And talk about this one on one when the girls are ready to."

They all agreed and filed out leaving Cleo and Lewis alone in the office.


Cleo looked up at Lewis from where she was sitting. He looked nervous and deep in thought. She knew that he would love the chance to borrow her powers so he could do some tests on himself he wasn't comfortable asking her or the others to do. At the same time he didn't want to push her into this for his own interest. She knew him well.

However there was one complication that she and the others hadn't mentioned during the group discussion. That of the pact they'd all made the day the moon pool had shown them about their descendants. This now conflicted with the questions she had thought buried.

"Lewis." She said.

"Yes?"

"There's something you should know." She took a deep breath to steady her nerves then plunged forward. "On the day we went to the moon pool for the first full moon after it was fixed, we all agreed to stick this out for the long run. However, I don't know if I agreed because there was no going back anymore or if I truly had come to accept this." She slowly looked up at him. "I don't know what to do."

"How... how do you mean?" He asked.

"If I take this chance to find out it would feel like I'm going back on that agreement, but if I don't I'll always wonder, 'what if?'" She hung her head, her indecision clearly showing on her face.

"Hmmm..." Lewis hummed while pacing the office. Cleo didn't stop him. She recognized that he was thinking it over. He didn't usually pace though and that worried her a little.

"Well," he said at last coming to a stop in front of her. "I suppose the best thing to do is ask the others about how they'd feel. If they would think it would be bad that you wanted to go back on that or not. Maybe they'll surprise you though. They might feel the same too. You'd never know if you didn't ask them, however."

Cleo looked up at him. He took her hands and smiled at her. She could see that no matter what she, or the others, chose, he would be here for her.

"Thank you, Lewis." She said with her first real smile since his announcement earlier. "That's the best advice you could have given. It's exactly what I need to do."

"No problem." He said. "I'm always here for you."

"I know. Thank you. For everything." She leaned over and kissed him. "I love you."

"I...," he cleared this throat and tried again. "I love you, too."

She threw her arms around him and held him close. It was the first time he'd said the words out loud to her, and it meant the world. She felt tears of joy slide down her cheeks, but she didn't care. This was the most perfect moment she'd ever had.

"I'm going to call the others to the moon pool tonight." She said not letting go of him. "Better to do this as soon as possible."

"Then you better round them up before they all scatter off." He said a less serious tone.

"Will you be here when I get back?" She asked.

"I'll be where ever you need me to be at. All you need to do is tell me where to wait." He said. "And I'd wait for as long as it takes."

"Well I don't know how late we'll run tonight, but I'll let you know as soon as I can. I don't want to keep you waiting too long."

"I'd wait forever." His face suddenly went from serious to joking. "However the girls are likely to scatter if you don't call or text them soon."

"Right. I'd better get on that." She shared a laugh with him as she pulled out her phone and sent a mass text to the other girls.


Emma led Ash outside and over to a nearby tree that was in front of the cafe. She sat next to it and, after a moment, Ash joined her. He kept silent, waiting for her to think out what she wanted to say or ask. She was glad. She had a lot to think about.

Eventually she felt ready to begin. "Ash, what do you think about this?"

"Lot's of different things." He admitted. "You'll have to get a bit more specific on what part you want to know my thoughts on."

"Should we do this or not?" She looked at him. "I guess that's the biggest part."

He smiled. "Honestly?" He asked. She nodded and after a moment of though he continued. "Honestly I think that's going to be answered by a question of do you have a reason to do it or not to do it."

"Well," she started. She let out a breath and after a few more deep breaths she had worked up the never to continue. "I have to admit I've always wondered if we made the right choice by not jumping into the moon pool the night we had a chance to give it all up. Yet we all made a pact of sorts to stay in this till the end. So you see I have good reasons for both sides."

"I see that." He took her hand. "I think you should talk with the others. They might agree to let you do this simply to lay those doubts to rest. Then you can continue on knowing that you made the right choice and the pact because you truly wanted too."

"You really think so?" She seemed doubtful.

"Well, I can't speak for them." He said with a half grin. "But I can say that I've spent enough time with you all to know that the others are not totally unreasonable if you use good logical reasons for it."

"You know, you're right." She smiled at him. "I just have to ask them. If they'd be alright with it then I can decided if I want to do it or not."

"So when will you do it?" He asked curious.

"Tomorrow." Was her answer. "I'd like to sleep on it. Best not to do this in haste."

"That's what I like about you. Once you decided to do something you stick too it."

"Is that all you like?"

"No. Just one of the many uncountable traits of Emma that make you completely unique."

"Thanks, Ash."

"Well what ever you decided to do, I'm here for you. I love you, you know that right?" He told her.

"I do now. You've never said that out loud to me before."

"Really, hm. I though I had already. But are you going to leave me hanging here?"

She laughed. She didn't need to be told what he was waiting for. "I love you, too."

Just then her phone beeped with an incoming text. She quickly went over it and then turned to Ash.

"Seems Cleo's having some of the same doubts and questions I am. Only she want's to meet at the pool tonight for us to talk it out."

"Well then you better not keep her waiting." He stood and offered her a hand up. "Let me know when you get back if you'd like to talk more. I'll come right over if you need me too."

"Thanks." She smiled. "Depending on how this talk goes I might have to take you up on that."

He walked her to the water and kissed her one last time before she dove in. She swam the whole way there with a smile.


Rikki walked outside and around the cafe. She'd asked Zane to follow her and she wanted somewhere a little more privet to talk. Once she was satisfied no one could over hear them she turned to him.

"What should I do?" She moaned. She'd never have though she'd ever have been asking Zane for advice. It was amazing how much things had changed in the last few years for her.

"I honestly have no idea." He said rubbing his hands on his face. "This isn't something I'd ever considered possible. I'm not even sure I'd be willing to go along with the exchange unless you really needed me to."

He eye's widened in shock. Zane would turn an opportunity like this down?

"You seem surprised by that." He commented.

"I'd have though you'd have jumped at the chance!" She blurted out.

"Not really. It's not something I think I was meant to have. I mean if you absolutely needed me to I'd do it, but only to hold onto for safe keeping, if you trusted me with that." He explained.

"But this would be a chance for you to understand me better?" He put a finger over her lips.

"I understand you just fine. I don't need to do this to know you better. I love you just how you are. I wouldn't want to change anything about you. Not even this. It's a part of you that I think makes you whole."

"But that's just it, Zane. I don't know if it's supposed to be a part of me or not some days." She turned away and threw up her hands. Then she suddenly turned back, indecision clear on her face. "But we all agreed to see this through to the end. I don't know if I'd feel right going back on that just to be sure."

"Ask the others." He said in a moment of inspiration. "See how they feel about it."

"Zane?" She was stunned. "That's the best idea you've ever had."

"Uh. Thanks I think."

"No I mean it. That is seriously the best idea you've ever had since I've known you. You really have changed."

"Well I've been running all my ideas past you guys for the last year or so."

"I guess we've started to rub off on you." She smiled.

"That's a good thing right?"

"Yes. That's a very good thing." She felt a warm feeling in her heart. Zane had changed. Oh he still had his old bad boy tendencies but he'd learned to balance them with his responsibilities. The combination drew her to him even more then when he was just a bad boy.

"So you'll ask the others."

"Yes. I think I will." She put her arms around him.

"When?" His tone was curious.

"Don't know yet. I'll think about it some." She looked up at him. "But if I do go through with it - safe keeping right?"

He let out a breath but nodded his agreement. "Safe keeping."

"You would have a little fun though I'd hope."

He looked at her strangely. "What do you mean by that?"

"Well think of it like I'd be asking you to watch over a speed bike or a really fast boat. I'd kind of expect you to take it out for at least one test run."

"Well only if you said I could. I don't want to think I'm still that foolhardy."

She smiled. She had the answer to her question. He had learned balance. If he could fine tune it a little more she'd be content to stay with him. She knew he knew that. She also knew he felt he had a long way to go yet. She wasn't about to let him know how far he'd already come. That might make him stop trying so hard.

Just then her phone beeped. After checking it she turned back to Zane.

"It's Cleo." She said. "She want's us to meet her at the moon pool. Seems she wants to talk about the same stuff you just suggested I should ask them about."

"Well you should go then." He said. "I can wait until you get back. Besides I have to close up tonight. I'll be here late. We can talk more then if you still want to."

"I'll let you know." They heard several splashes from the other side of the cafe. "I guess I better get going or I'll be the last one there."

They shared a laugh and Rikki hurried around the cafe. She saw the other guys at the waters edge and Cleo was on the small pier about to dive in. She started to run. Her competitive side taking over. She really didn't want to be the last one there.


Will took a seat outside on one of the benches and Bella happily dropped into his lap. She put one arm around his shoulders as he wrapped his around her waist.

"So what do you think?" She asked him.

"About the concept or the remote possibility you'd actually go through with it?" He joked.

"The concept." She laughed back. "You're right about the second. After eleven years I'd have to have a really compelling reason to actually do this. I can't think of one."

"Well then how about if some of the others wanted to?" He asked instead. "That one seems far more likely."

"Well we did kinda agree not to give it all up." She said then paused to think. "But I guess if they really needed to be sure it wouldn't be right to force them not to. Ya know."

"Yeah. I guess that's a good view point." He kissed her. "So when are you going to tell them?"

"I'll wait until they ask. That way I don't overly influence them one way or the other. That wouldn't seem right."

"That sounds fair." He smiled.

She looked up at him and tilted her head to the side for a moment considering something. "What would you do if I did find a compelling enough reason? You know, just for curiosities sake."

He shared a laugh with her. "I guess I'd go out to where we had the competition and see if I actually could dive down 540 meters."

"Really? That's what you'd do?" Her tone was a mix of surprise and amusement.

"Well? What did you think I'd do?" He asked her.

She though it over for a moment. "Okay, yeah. I can see that.

"So what do we do now?" He asked.

"Just sit here and relax. Nothing to do about this until the others want to talk."

"We could go back to my place." He said, his tone slightly suggestive.

"You know Laura's figured it out, right."

"That's OK. Not nearly as bad and when Sophie found out." His face turned slightly red.

"Sophie found out?" She felt her own face start to heat up.

"Yeah I kinda left the box out after one time. She spotted it and I haven't heard the end of it since." He was really turning red now.

"I guess it's time we put a lock on your door I suppose." She said.

"And shutters or blinds over the windows too." He added.

They lapsed into embarrassed silence after that. Unable to work past having been found out. They stayed that way until Bella's phone beeped. After looking over it she let out a breath and she felt her face return to normal. Will didn't miss the change.

"What is it?" He asked.

"Just Cleo. She want's to meet at the moon pool. I guess she has her doubts and wants to talk with us about them."

"Well you should go. This will be a good time to tell them they have your support in this if that's what they need."

She nodded. "I guess I could drop by your place later. You know to tell you how it went."

"You're always welcome there you know. You don't have to ask. Not with all you mean to me. I love you and always will." He smiled. "So let the others know they have your support and if you want to you can drop by later."

"Why wouldn't I?"

"Depends on how mentally exhausting the conversation is."

"Good point. I'll let you know either way. Keep your phone on."

"Sure thing." They heard a splash behind them. They turned to see that Ash was by the canal and Laura was walking towards it hand in hand with Byron. A quick glance back inside the cafe was enough for them to see Cleo come out of the office.

"I'd better get a move on." She told him. "Walk me to the water?"

"Sure." He said as they stood up. He took her hand and they headed to the water. After one last kiss she dove in and followed after Emma and Laura. Cleo wouldn't be too far behind and knowing Rikki she'd be going as fast as possible to avoid being last. Bella didn't care to race that often, but she didn't feel like delaying this by making the others wait on her either. So she hurried but didn't mind over much when Rikki finally did pass her.


I went outside with Byron. Lewis' news spinning around in my head. I didn't know what to make of it. I had agreed, along with the others, to stay in this for the long haul. I didn't doubt that much, but there were days where I wondered if I had been there, if I had know, would I have jumped in.

I doubted Bella would go for it. Of all of us she was least likely. Cleo would be my top choice if I had to be honest, and I wasn't ready to face my own questions just yet. So I led Byron off to the side and we sat down on the stairs. I could see Emma over by the tree in front of the cafe, Rikki had led Zane around back, Cleo was still inside, and Bella had gotten cozy on Will's lap. I turned to Byron and suddenly found myself unable to voice my concerns.

"I'm going to guess you'd like my opinion on all this." He said.

"Yeah. That about sums it up." I admitted. "What should I do if the others want to do this? We kinda agreed to stick it out. I'd don't know if going along with this or not would be good or bad."

"Well, the way I see it is if you have any doubts then it's best to lay them to rest." He turned to me. "It's like surfing or anything else really. If you don't think you can do something then no matter how many times you try you'll never get it right."

"Sometimes wrong, but never in doubt?" I asked.

"That's a good way to look at it." He smiled and I suddenly felt better. "If they have doubts about if they made the right choice then I think you should let them face those."

"Yeah. I think you're right." I looked over at Bella. Byron followed my gaze.

"Now her," Byron said. "Her I don't see as having any doubts. She's had more then half her life spent this way."

"Yeah. I know." I stared at my roommate and good friend. "But does she even remember what it was like before?"

"No idea. You'd have to ask her." He turned to me. "But be sure about it before you ask. You might not be doing her a favor if you do."

"Good advice. I'll make sure to keep that in mind."

"And what of you? No doubts?"

"No I have them." I admitted. "I often wonder if I'd been there on that night, if I'd even have know to be there, could I have jumped in? Would I have?" I sighed.

"Well if you decided you need the answers I'll keep things safe for you."

"Huh?" I asked confused.

"Well I'd have to completely stop surfing for the week. Giving that up would be as much a challenge as you giving your powers up." He took me in his arms. "See, surfing is something I've been doing for so long now that it's a part of me in a way. It would be just as hard for me to find out if I could do with out as for you to. But if you really need answers I'd do it."

"Why?" I asked feeling choked up with emotions. That he would do something like that for me was in a way just amazing. I wanted, no I needed, to know why he felt I was worth it. "Why do that? Just for me?"

"Because I love you." He said simply. "And if you need do this, to give up a part of yourself, to find answers then how can I not help you?"

"Even if you have to give up something you love? Something that is a part of yourself?"

"It would be wrong of me to expect you to sacrifice something and not be willing to do the same." My heart nearly burst. I realized I would never find another man so right for me. "If you need to do this, just ask. My answer will always be yes."

"I love you too." I said then kissed him only to have the moment broken by my phone. I was half tempted to ignore it but I'd set individual tones for the others on texts as well as calls. I knew with out looking it was Cleo. I could guess what she wanted.

"It's Cleo." I said as I pulled it out. "I'm guessing she wants to ask our permission."

"I understand. I'll be here when you return."

"Here here?" I said indicating the cafe.

He laughed with me. "You know what I mean." He said.

"I do." I kissed him on more time. "I'll call you when I get back. Mind coming to the water's edge with me?"

"Sure." He stood up and offered me his hand. I took it and he didn't let go even after helping me to my feet.

We'd covered half the distance when we saw Emma dive in. I knew right off to not even bother to try to catch her. The only one that could come close to Emma's speed was Rikki, and Emma now had a good head start. I also didn't feel like racing either. It was still early in the afternoon and we'd have plenty of time to talk regardless.

I paused at the edge and gave Byron one last kiss. He ran his hand gently along my cheek one last time before stepping back to let me dive in.


Cleo was the last one to arrive. She didn't care. Racing to and from Mako was never her thing. She was just glad the others had shown up.

"Glad you're all here." She said. "I need to talk to you about something."

"You want our permission? Right?" Bella guessed.

"Well I know we all agreed," Cleo started.

"Don't worry." Rikki said. "I was going to talk to you all about the same thing once I'd slept on it for a day or so."

"Me as well." Emma admitted.

"I guess myself as well." Laura added.

"Wait. All of you?" Bella said. "So much for being sure."

"Well I just need to know if I agreed because I honestly have come to love this or if I just felt there was no way out." Cleo said. "I hate not being sure."

"I occasionally wonder if not jumping in that day was the right or wrong choice." Rikki said. "I know I love this, the speed, the ocean, and everything else." She sighed. "But I need to be completely sure I made the right choice that day."

"Same for me." Emma said. "Almost word for word."

"And you?" Bella asked looking at Laura.

"I wonder what I would have done if I'd been there that day. More so if I'd even know at the time." Their red haired friend flopped on her back and looked up the cone of the dormant volcano. "I love this. I do wish it could be forever, but there are days I just wonder. I don't know yet if I want the answers or not. It's something I'll need to think really hard on."

Cleo looked at Bella. She took a deep breath and then voiced her question. "I'm curious if you have any doubts or questions."

Bella looked like she was trying hard not to laugh. "Nothing springs to mind."

"What?" Emma asked.

"Huh?" Bella looked at her.

"Not you," Emma said. "Her." She was pointing at Laura.

"I'd rather not say." Laura said firmly. "It would just make a mess."

"No." Bella said. "Now I want to know. What did you think of that I might want to know?"

Laura let out a sigh and righted herself. She deliberately looked Bella in the eye. "Do you even remember what it was like before you became a mermaid anymore?"

"I... I..." Bella sunk in on herself. "I don't know." She shook herself and then said. "But why should I even worry about that?"

"Because, like us, you weren't born a mermaid." Cleo said having figured it out. "I hope I never do forget what life was like before hand. It's a part of me that I don't want to loose. Whether or not I do this and choose to stay this way I never want to forget that."

"Why is that such a big worry?" Bella said. "It's not something any of our kids would worry about."

"Yeah, but if we all stay this way any kids of ours would be mermaids from day one. They wouldn't know any other life." Rikki pointed out.

"This is why I didn't want to bring it up." Laura said. "I would have preferred for you to have asked that question on your own. I didn't want to dig that up."

"Well don't worry." Bella said. "It's been so long now that's not a big deal for me."

Cleo was willing to let it slide for now. It seemed the others did to. So instead she brought it back to the original reason for asking the others here.

"I want to do this." Cleo said. "I know it's a bit of a fast decision but you all know I was the most reluctant to accept the change. I need to know for sure."

"I don't mind." Emma said. "I don't know yet if I'll do this as well but I'm behind you. If you need to be sure then be sure."

"Yeah." Rikki said. "I don't see how I could say no when I occasionally wonder about that too."

"I agreed to support you." Bella said. "Even if I don't have a reason myself. Better to be sure after all."

"I guess it's cool." Laura said. "I might, just might mind you, be asking the same thing. I'd tell you not to hold your breath on that one but with it being us...," they all laughed at the expression.

"I'm sorry about the pact we made." Cleo said.

"Don't be." Bella replied. "We made that with the best of intentions. We didn't know something like this would come this soon."

"She's right." Laura said. "We all believed that it would be almost fifty years before we could choose to change our minds."

"And after fifty years it would be kind of pointless to do so." Rikki finished.

"Thanks guys." Cleo said. "Emma? You sure you're OK with all this?"

"Yes. However, we need to start preparing now. If you're going to do this then we all need to get ready. More so because some of us are still undecided."

"I take it that means you have a plan." Rikki stated bluntly.

"Of course I do." Emma said with a smile. "We're all going to arrange to have as much time off next week as possible. You and Laura especially. Can't have either of you at the park now that we are public."

"Oh shoot." Cleo said. "I completely forgot to factor that in."

"Lucky for you I didn't." Emma said. "We'll all get as much time free as possible. Even if all the four of us have to do is keep an eye on Lewis that will still be an almost full time commitment. Worst case and we all go for it it's going to be absolutely necessary for us to stay out of the public eye for the whole week."

Bella made an indelicate snort. "I did say worse case. Best to be prepared for all possibilities." Bella held up her hands in surrender.

"Lastly," Emma continued. "Lewis will stay with you."

"With me?" Cleo said.

"Yes." Emma answered. "And the same goes for the rest of us should we decide. The guy's stay with us so we can keep an eye on them all the time."

"You think that's really necessary?" Rikki asked?

"Raise your hand if you think the guys will try and take a shower." Emma told them.

"We'll warn them first." Cleo said as Laura raised her hand. "Huh?"

"Raise your hand if you think the reason they'll do it, despite any warnings, is because they believe a bath isn't manly." Laura said.

Cleo groaned as every hand, including hers, was raised.

"I'll work it out that he can sleep on the couch." Cleo said. "Don't try and suggest that he say in my room, my Dad would kill us both."

"True. Which brings me to my last point." Emma said. "For the three of us that still live at home we will need to tell our parents if we choose to do it. That way there are no undue surprises for them."

They all agreed to that.

"Any other questions?" Emma asked. There was a general chorus of negatives. "Then let's head out for now. We have a lot to arrange and a lot of thinking to do."

One by one the others dove down and headed out. Cleo lagged behind not quite ready to leave yet. Once she was alone she floated on her back and looked up at the sky through the cone.

"I hope I'm making the right choice." She said to herself.


Zane was in the back office looking over the cafe's accounts. He had an accounting text book open and was flipping pages trying to figure out what he was missing when there was a knock at the office door.

"Come in." He said absently while flipping another page.

He heard the door open and then close. He didn't look up still perplexed by what should be a simple task.

"Zane I'm back." He heard Rikki say. He immediately looked up.

"How did it go?" He asked with real concern for her.

"Cleo's going to do it." She answered. "I'm still undecided." She let out a breath.

Zane felt an impulse to ask her for more but his newer, more responsible self crushed it. Instead he asked a more appropriate question. "Anything I can do to help out with that?"

Rikki looked up at him, surprise once again on her face. He was getting better at knowing when her surprise was because he'd done something right. This was one of those times.

"I know me and the others, even you I guess, weren't always friends." He smiled. "But I hope I can say that's all changed. I want to help. More importantly I know, deep down, it's the right thing to do. I guess you were right about all of you rubbing off on me."

Rikki's jaw had dropped by the end of his short speech. He was starting to worry. It didn't look like she was breathing.

"Are you OK?" He asked baffled. "Did I say something wrong?"

Her jaw snapped closed. After a few tries she managed to get her thoughts together.

"No. Actually you did something right." He resisted the urge to jump up and cheer. He was learning what was not appropriate behavior.

"Okay. Just making sure. I'm still getting used to not acting on impulse here." He tried for a light bit of humor to get her talking more.

It seemed to work as she laughed hard enough to fall over on couch. It was the only comfort item he'd left in the office. He'd removed the big screen and the game system. In it's place was a small telly with a DVD player. It was suitable for playing the health training vids for new hires and that was all the new him felt should be in the office. The rest had been redone to focus on the business.

Rikki had approved when he'd done it. She'd even helped get things set up. He was thinking about adding a second desk, or maybe a table and chairs so employees would have somewhere to sit for team meetings. He'd bring it up with Rikki later. He even absently jotted a note to that effect on a sheet of paper in front of him.

Once Rikki calmed down she filled him in on Emma's plan. "She's going to get me killed." He said once she finished.

"What do you mean?" She asked him.

"Well if you do decided to go through with this I'd have to either stay at your place or you'd have to stay at mine. Your Dad would skin me alive." He said.

"Let's not worry about that right now." She said. "Rather would it be possible to have Ash, Emma, and the two of us free next week?"

"Probably not." He said honestly. "Emma and Ash are our managers and we're both owners. No way can all of us just drop everything for a whole week."

"I supposed you are right on that one." Rikki admitted. "But what else can we do?"

"Office work." He said. "One of us will always be here but we won't pull shifts on the floor." Her jaw dropped again. "After all if you or I wanted time off they'd have to do the paper work to cover for us anyways."

"Who are you and where is Zane?" She demanded. "He's been this.. this... what ever you are."

He laughed. "It's me Rikki. I've just finally learned a few things you've been telling me for the last four years. It's finally made sense to me."

"I'm glad." She said. "And it's a perfect idea. Now what are you working on that requires so many books at once."

"Accounting." Zane said sounding martyred. "I know I'm missing something, I just can't figure out what."

"Mind if I take a look at it?" Rikki asked.

"Please by all means." He said letting her take the chair behind the desk. "You were always better at it then I was."

"Grab a chair. If your ego can handle it I'll help you learn it." She offered.

He didn't even feel bad at her comment. His ego was already so beat down from failing at it her offer didn't even register. "Thanks. I can use all the help I can get." Was what he said instead as he stepped out of the office to get one of the extra chairs kept in the stock room.


Ash had just gotten home when he got a text from Emma. She wanted to talk. He smiled to himself as he sent her a reply asking if she'd like to meet him for dinner. She immediately replied yes.

They agreed to meet at his small apartment. He'd started cooking while waiting for her to arrive. He was just about done when he heard a knock on the door. Sure enough it was her.

"Hi. Come on it. You timing is perfect." He said inviting her in. "It was just finishing."

"So what are we having?" She asked.

"Some pasta, a nice green salad, and homemade garlic bread. I wanted to try a new recipe I found the other day. That is if you don't mind Italian for dinner." He said.

"I don't mind at all." She said. "Anything I can do to help."

If it had been anyone other then Emma he'd have said not to worry, but he knew Emma hated standing around feeling useless while others did the work. "Not with dinner, but if you wouldn't mind getting the place settings ready..."

"Sure thing." She said before he could finish. He smiled at how quickly she set to work. They'd had many meals together since her return from her trip over a year ago and she knew where everything was. She quickly got out what they needed and got the table set.

"I have some soda or juice in the fridge and I took your advice and got one of those water filter pitchers. You were right; you can taste a difference." He said as he brought everything over to the table.

"I'll have some juice." She said.

"And a straw he finished for her." He smiled at her. "I know."

She grimaced and looked away. "Something I said?"

"No. Just ever since the morning of Will's compitition I can't think about a straw without being jealous of Laura." She admitted. "Its just not fair."

"I think I can see your point of view on that one." He said putting two glasses of juice with straws on the table.

"But you don't need one." She stated.

"I know." Was all he answered. Her heartwarming smile was all the reward he needed.

"Well shall I tell you what happened while we eat or save it for later." She asked him.

Ash pondered for a bit while chewing on a bite of bread. After a moment his curiosity won out and he asked her to fill him in while they ate. She filled him in on what they had discussed, and Cleo's decision. She laid out her plan for handling the following week and finished off the admittance that she was still undecided about the whole thing.

"Well," he said as she finished. "Between Zane, Rikki, you, and myself there's no way all four of us can take the whole week off."

"Ugh. You're right." She admitted. "I'll have to talk to Rikki first thing tomorrow."

"Hopefully we'll be able to work something out to avoid spill hazards should worst case happen." He commented.

"So what do you think I should do?" She asked.

"Personally I think that's something only you can answer." He smiled. "I don't mean to be difficult, but I honestly don't know how strongly not knowing effects you."

"You're right." She looked at him. "Logically I should do this. Knowing the answers will help clear up any doubts. My worry is that what if I find I made the wrong choice. I can't get out of this."

"What about that wish stuff? You think that might work?" He asked.

"It's possible. But honestly I don't want to risk it. It's too unpredictable at best and that was with only three of us. I have no idea how much worse it will be with all five of us now." She replied.

"Well I do have one idea." He said.

"What's that?"

"Do what you were planning to do in the first place and sleep on it." He said. "It was a good idea then and I see no reason why it isn't still a good idea now."

"True." She said after a moment of thought. "Very true. I'll help you clean up before I go."

"If you get the left overs I'll do the dishes." He offered.

"You didn't get the gloves and apron for when I visit yet?"

"Not yet."

She just gave him a look. He took it in stride. "I had to special order them remember. I'm just waiting on the post. I have a tracking number and everything so I know they're on the way."

"Fair enough." She relented. "I supposed there's nothing I can do to hurry that along."

"Say," he commented while starting the dishes. "Do you really need to head home tonight?"

"I suppose I could be persuaded to stay." She said. "What did you have in mind?"

He turned to face her noting her smile matched his, probably her thoughts as well.


Byron was sitting on the beach watching the waves crash onto the shore. He was visualizing how he would surf on each one as it came in. It was a mental exercise that he often did. Its purpose was to help him learn how to read the motion of each wave and prepare him to instinctively move with it. He'd been doing it since he arrived, which was shortly after Laura had left.

He was startled out of his focus when his phone rang. He knew immediately it was Laura, she was the only one he'd set a ring tone for, and he couldn't hold back a smile as he answered it.

"Hey love. How'd everything go?" He asked.

"Hey yourself." She said. "Things went so-so. I'd like to take you up on that offer to talk. Can we meet somewhere?"

"Sure." He looked around. "I'm on the beach right now. If I've got the landmarks right I'm about a ten minute walk from the cove."

"Perfect. I'll meet you there."

"Are you walking or swimming?" He realized after a moment he'd asked that to a dead line. "Well I guess I'd better hurry just in case then." He said to himself as he stood up and put his phone back in his pocket.

Not wanting to keep his girlfriend waiting he opted for a light jog. It was faster then walking and not as tiring as a full out run. It would cut a few minutes off his estimate but if she was swimming, she'd get there first no matter what he did.

He came around the rocks of the cove and paused to look around. He didn't immediately see her, but he supposed she might be laying against the rocks closer to the water. He figured he'd check first and if he didn't see her then he'd try calling her.

Sure enough he found her on the slope of the rocks just beyond the water's reach. She was using her heating trick to dry off. As usual it was taking her some time.

"Hey." He said coming next to her. "I guess you chose to swim after all."

"Byron!" He loved watching her eyes light up every time she saw him. "You got here fast."

"I ran a bit. Figured you might be swimming and didn't want you to have to wait too long." He leaned over and gave her a hello kiss. As usual he had to fight the impulse to hold her and never let go. "Looks like I got here in good time."

"Yes. Sorry this is taking so long." She let out a huff. "Sometimes I wish I could boost my own powers too."

"Not overly surprised you feel that way." He said. "If there is one thing you do complain about it's how much stronger the others are in what they can do."

"It doesn't help that they all have extra powers that I don't share with them." She looked at him and sighed. "I just have watered down versions of their basic powers."

"Well at least you can do a lot of different things if you have too." He hoped that would cheer her up some. He hated seeing her down about this. "That's got to count for something right?"

At that moment she managed to finish getting dry. As she changed back she stood up and walked with him away from the ocean. "I guess so. But that's a topic for another time."

"True enough. So how did everything go?"

"Cleo's going to go for it. Emma and Rikki are undecided. I'm still not sure either." She told him.

"And Bella?" He couldn't keep a smirk off his face as he though how unlikely she would ever go for this.

"Well I think she now has doubts." Laura looked a bit glum at that. It didn't take him long to guess why.

"You told her?" He couldn't help the surprised sound of his voice. "I thought..."

"I know." She sounded even more down as she interrupted him. "But they were talking about their reasons and, like you, they didn't think Bella would go for it," She kicked the sand weakly as she paused.

"Let me guess. Your expression gave it away?"

"Hey!" She seemed annoyed by that. "I'm not that easy to read."

"No. You are." He gave her his best mischievous grin, "But only to those of us that know you well enough to know what to watch for."

"Ugh!" She slumped down on the sand. "And no one knows me better than you all do."

"Actually if I had to rank it I'd put them in the top four with me as number five." He though for a moment. "Will is a close sixth, but only cause you spent so much time coaching him recently."

"I get it. You can stop now." He managed not to laugh. She liked to pretend to be as fiery as her hair would imply but he knew better. She was very even tempered and sweet, but he held up his hands in surrender anyways.

"Well other then that how did it all go?" He asked.

She filled him in on Emma's plan. Afterward he paused to think it over before answering her question on what he thought of it.

"I think it's not half bad." He told her honestly. "Worst case everything is covered and we'll all be supervised."

"And you'd be okay with that?" She had raised her left eyebrow. He knew that meant she didn't believe him one bit. Had it been the right side she would have been amused at his answer. Both at once would have meant surprise. He didn't tell her any of this. No point reminding her how much she actually gave away with her expressions.

"Well the part about the shower would be dead on for most." He told her instead.

"But not you?" The left side again.

"Have you seen me first thing in the morning?" He let out a short bark of a laugh. "I can't even walk a straight line while leaning against the wall until I've either had a shower or a strong cup of coffee. And I'd usually prefer both. I'd do it from being mostly asleep and all."

Her expression at that was one that clearly told him she had a personal story about something similar. He decided to take his chances and asked. "What did you do?"

"Nothing!" She answered immediately. He knew that meant it was big. Most likely the others all knew too.

"Should I ask the others then?" He mock threatened. He wouldn't though. He wanted her to tell him personally.

"You wouldn't dare!" She looked hurt that he'd even suggested it.

He let out a breath. She'd called his bluff. He might as well give in with some grace. "You're right. I wouldn't. I'd prefer for you to tell me. But if you don't want to I won't force you too."

She let out a sigh and stared him in the face. He hoped his expression conveyed the truth of that to her. "I guess it's okay if you know too. I just hate admitting it." She mumbled something.

"I didn't quite catch that." He said.

She leaned over and whispered it right into his ear. He was glad he didn't laugh. He knew that would really hurt coming from him. But he couldn't avoid looking shocked.

"Well. I suppose that could have been worse. Did you at least wake up?"

"Yeah. Though more from the fall then the water." She looked at him. "Thanks for being the only one not to laugh at me for it."

"I'd never do that to you." He said and he meant it.

She leaned into him and he put his arm around her. "Byron. I don't know what to do. This is a really big deal and I don't want to make the wrong choice."

"Well I can't tell you what to do, but I can give you some good advice." He looked into her eyes. "Don't rush such an important choice. Consider all sides of it and then make the best choice for you."

"Thanks. That is good advice." She looked out over the water and stared off into the distance. He just waited patiently. He knew she was thinking something over and he wouldn't push her, especially not after having told her not to rush it. She'd let him know if he needed him to help.

"Byron." She said at last.

"Yes love?"

"I want you to take a few days and come up with arguments for me doing it. Then I want you to argue that side for me. I'll come up with all the reasons I shouldn't and take that side."

"You sure?"

"Yes." She said. "It's something my Dad talks about. Sometimes to find the right choice you have to hear both sides in full. It's too mixed up in my head so I'm hoping you'll help me by taking one side of it for me."

He considered what she was asking. He knew that if he did this he'd be doing his absolute best to convince he to do the loan. She wouldn't want anything less. As he realized that he realized that he would do it. For her. If she needed it laid out like a debate or a trial with evidence in order to get a clear picture of the situation then he would help her.

"I'll do it." He said. "I'll help you out." She smiled. "But I won't go easy on you. I know you wouldn't want me to do that. I'll make the best case for that side of it I can so that if you are convinced you'll know it's for the right reasons."

"Thanks. That's exactly what I need." She said and snuggled into his side like girls everywhere always seemed to do. He was finding that it wasn't as unpleasant as he'd once considered it to be.

"How long do I have to get this all ready?"

"Thursday be enough time?"

"Plenty." He looked down at her. "You'd just better be prepared yourself."

"I will be."

They let it be after that. He just sat there and enjoyed her company. He was already beginning to plan things out. He just hoped he didn't regret this.


Will was relaxing by going over his collection of shells. Lately he'd taken to doing this anytime he was worried for Bella. This was most often when she was about to debut a new song. Her worry about it somehow became his worry too. He gently put down the shell he'd been holding realizing, finally, that Sophie had been right. He should never have waited this long to ask her.

His reverie was broken by a soft knock at the door. He only knew one person that bothered to not only knock but knock softly enough so as not to startle him.

"Come in, Bella." He said. "I'm home."

She opened the door and quietly entered. He'd expected her to look amused or resigned to idea of the others going for this, but she looked like there was something really bothering her.

"Bella what's wrong?" He asked rushing over to comfort her.

"I don't remember, Will." She said, sounding like she was trying hard not to cry.

"Don't remember what?" He asked know that she hadn't meant she didn't remember what was bothering her.

"I don't remember what it was like, you know, before." She said grabbing on to his shirt and burying her face into his chest. He put his arms around her and held her gently, saying nothing, just silently letting her know he was here. "Laura thought of it, but she didn't want to mention it so as not to get me all worked up."

"Sounds like she did anyways." He said.

She sniffed and looked up at him. "Yeah, but not until I made her tell me."

"Why did you do that?" He asked a touch confused.

"Well we were talking about reasons why and she mentioned that even she had some doubts, but it wasn't until Cleo asked me if I had any that she let it slip with her expressions. You know how easy she is to read."

"Only to us. Most others don't pick up on her that easy."

"I guess you're right." He led her over to what passed for his couch and his bed and got her to sit down.

"Please continue." He gently encouraged her.

"Well I didn't catch it, Emma did." She let out a breath. "Laura tried to get us to drop it. She honestly didn't want to be the one to ask me. She wanted me to ask myself this question on my own but after she had refused to answer Emma's request I kind of insisted."

Will held her tightly. "So where does that leave you, then?"

"Right where Laura feared it would. I understand now why she really didn't want to tell me this." She slumped down and rested her arms on her legs. "I don't have doubts about being a mermaid, but I am worried that I'm loosing my past to it. That's something that does worry me."

"So what do you want to do." He asked.

For answer she turned and kissed him deeply. "I want you to make me forget about this for tonight. I don't want to even think about this again until the sun comes back up tomorrow. I'm not ready to face this just yet. Please?"

He didn't even try to resist.


There was a knock on his door. Lewis rushed out of his small room, almost tripped over more than one stack of books, and nearly slipped on the tile entryway due to wearing only socks, but he managed to make it without mishap.

"I'm here. I'm here." He called out during his haphazard dash. He was more than please to see who was waiting for him. "Cleo hi! Come in, please. Pardon the mess."

She came in and looked at all the stacks of books, most of them for study on one thing or another, and smiled at him. "Don't worry. It's not that bad."

"Sorry I don't have all the book shelves set up yet. I've had other things on my mind."

Cleo gave him the smile that always managed to brighten his day. "I'm going to do it, Lewis."

"You are?" It hit him what she was saying. "You are!"

"Yes. I decided I have to know for sure. I can't do this if I have any doubts."

"The others are OK with this?" He asked. "I mean with your agreement and all."

"Strangely yes." She said moving a stack of books off a pair of chairs so they could both sit down, something he realized he should have done himself, so he hurried to help her. "Everyone other than Bella has doubts as well."

"Ah." He said in understanding. "And as Laura's always so fond of saying they would feel like hypocrites if they said no to you and then asked you to say yes for them."

"Basically." She said. "Emma did decided on a few ground rules though."

"I'm not gonna like this am I?" He guessed.

"Not really." She said. After a deep breath to steady her nerves she filled him in on everything that had been said. Once finished he took a moment to ponder it all.

"You're right. You're Dad would kill me." He finally said. "But at the same time she's right that you'll need to keep an eye on me. So the couch it is."

"I'll work things out with my Dad then. I guess as long as we both agree to the rules he's going to insist on it won't be too bad." She looked somewhere between hopeful and ready for the worst.

"Well don't worry. I'm here for you no matter what."

"Thanks, Lewis." She said and kissed him. "I'd better go and start working things out with Dad. I'll call first thing tomorrow once I have any news for you."

"I'll make sure my phone is fully charged and ready."

"Good night, Lewis." She said as she headed out the door.

"Good night, Cleo." He said back.

Once the door had closed he let out his breath. He now had to get ready to be a merman. He realized he had no idea what to do.