Notes: Written for The-Mocking-J, who gave me the prompts Janice/Melina and "I can't breathe!". Set sometime before the events of Eternal Diva, with spoilers for that movie.


"Help! I can't breathe! Please, come help!"

Janice and Mr. Whistler's heads both jerked towards where Melina was splashing about in the water. It was Janice who moved first, being the younger and more nimble of the two. She pulled herself up from the beach towel and sprinted towards the edge of the rocks, then took a dive into the water below.

She might not be the strongest swimmer, but that didn't matter. Melina needed her.

They had been so foolish to let her swim so far by herself. Especially with her health declining as it had been lately. Melina had stubbornly assured them both that she was fine and they were fretting about nothing, but clearly that wasn't the case.

It seemed like an eternity until Janice reached Melina, but in truth it could only have been a few seconds. She threw her arms around the other woman, pulling her close.

"It's all right, Melina! I've got you!"

With that, Melina burst out laughing, now really having to cling onto Janice so that she didn't sink.

"You two really are such worriers! I knew you'd do that," she giggled, shaking her head.

"That's... not funny..." gasped Janice, "We genuinely thought you were drowning!"

Blowing her hair out of her face, Melina replied, "That just proves what I was saying earlier – you both worry far too much! I've got an illness, but that doesn't mean I'm going to die tomorrow. So let me have some fun. Let me swim with you. Please..."

Melina was now using one hand to play with the braid in Janice's hair, looking shyly down at her shoulder.

"I suppose I can't say no to that," sighed Janice, "But first, can we please go explain to your father what's happening. He's going to be s panicked."

"He does get flustered too easily. And so do you," Melina accused.

"Only because we care about you," Janice assured her.

Taking her hand under the water, Melina softly hummed, "...Thank you. I know I get annoyed about it, but I am very glad that you care about me."

They stayed there for a few moments more, swaying together in the ocean's current and listening to the gentle sound of the waves. Silently savouring this time they had together, as long as it may last.