EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AUTHOR'S NOTE:

This story is not so much a spin-off from the TV series H2O: Just Add Water, as it is a spin-off from Krystalslazz's H2O: A Fishy Tail. Krystalslazz is my real-life best friend, and I've been very engaged in her writing process on Fan Fiction. I'm not actually the biggest fan of H2O, but I got so involved in the storylines Krystalslazz was writing that I couldn't help but put my own spin on things. If you HAVE read (or are reading) Krystalslazz's story, please keep in mind that my own story takes place AFTER the first part, but completely removed from her second part. I realise a lot of the characters will be different, but please bear with it. If you HAVEN'T read Krystalslazz's story, I would suggest doing so before you read this (but only read part one!), as it will fill in the gap between the end of the TV series and the beginning of my story, most importantly making a few of these plot lines make sense. The other important thing to remember is that I wrote this a little while ago, and then gave Krystalslazz permission to use one or two of the storylines thinking I'd never publish it... and then I did. So if any details seems a tad too familiar, many apologies. I know that's a lot of information, but hopefully it all makes sense! I promise that once you wrap your head around it, it'll be quite simple. Enjoy reading, and many MANY thanks to Krystalslazz: You're an incredible writer, an inspiration and a wonderful friend.

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N.B. H2O: A Fishy Tail Part One finished with the building of their water village, which took place around the end of 2016.

Character Profile as of 1st January 2019

New Characters are indicated in Italics

The McCartneys

Lewis (February 5th) and Cleo (July 12th)

Jennifer Raine b. 19th February 2015

Max Isaiah b. 29th September 2017

The Bennetts

Zane (30th November) and Rikki (1st October)

Leila Mary and Charlie Allison b. 4th June 2015

The Doves

Ash (2nd January) and Emma (15th March)

Eric Hayden b. 17th May 2016

Lucy Sienna b. 28th January 2018

The Charles

Anna (7th March) and Ben (14th August)

Matthew James b. 3rd July 2017

Thomas Robert b. 20th September 2018

The Benjamins

Will (9th May) and Bella (6th December)

Jacob Forest (Jake) b. 31st March 2015

Danielle Laura (Dannie) b. 8th February 2018

Cleo, Bella, Emma, Rikki and Anna are now all 29 years old

Jennifer and Jake are now almost four

Leila and Charlie are now three and a half

Eric is now two years and eight months

Matthew is 18 months old

Max is 15 months old

Lucy is almost a year old

Danielle is 10 months old

Thomas is 4 months old

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Chapter One

New Year's Eve 2018- Mako Island

"Hurry up Rikki, we're going to be late!" Zane yelled as he picked up Leila's stuffed dolphin toy, "It's already quarter to!"

"I'll meet you down there, okay?" Rikki replied from the bedroom. She inhaled deeply and took one last look at the object in her hand. She grimaced briefly, before hurriedly tying her hair back into a messy ponytail. "It'll be okay, it'll be okay," she whispered to her reflection.

oOoOoOoOo

Down at the water, Cleo was pacing frustratedly. "Come on you guys!" she yelled out to the boat, "It's midnight. Your watches are wrong."

"It's eleven fifty-one and you're not fooling me. Just be patient," Lewis laughed back.

Cleo rolled her eyes and went to sit down beside Emma. "Why must we always wait for midnight? It's not as if anyone can really tell the difference between 2018 and 2019," she grumbled.

Emma smiled at Cleo's impatience and leaned back against the sand, her huge pregnant belly shining in the moonlight. "I swear, Cleo, New Year's Eve always makes you go crazy."

"I know, I know," Cleo sighed, "I just really like fireworks."

Anna wandered over to the bonfire, holding baby Thomas close to her. She looked out over the horizon, remembering their first New Year's Eve here on Mako.

Two years ago she had stood on this same shore, Lewis and Will out in the same little wooden boat with a load of explosives. She laughed as she thought of the way they were back then: She and Ben had been newlyweds, hopelessly happy and in love; Jennifer and Jake, both nearly two, spoke in earnest but garbled sentences; Leila and Charlie toddled goofily around; Eric was only a baby. The gang had increased a lot in numbers since then.

Now Jennifer, Jake, Leila and Charlie were playing tag on the sand, with Ben as a mediator, running around and giggling. Eric tried sincerely to keep up, but his little legs were no match for the bigger kids' energy.

Matthew yawned sleepily and toddled over to hug Anna's leg. Max was curled up on the picnic blanket next to Cleo with his head in her lap, and every so often murmured, "I's awake…" before drifting back to sleep.

Lucy was snuggled against Ash's shoulder, fast asleep, as he slowly walked around the bonfire, humming quietly to his daughter. Bella sat serenely wrapped in a blanket close to the fire with Danielle in her lap.

The nearly full moon smiled down happily at the five young families, and shone brightly over the calm sea.

Zane rounded the hairpin turn of the path down to the beach and looked anxiously back in the direction of the village.

"Hey Zane," Bella smiled, "Where's Rikki?"

"She'll be along, I think…" he replied uncertainly. Zane went over and sat by the water's edge. He and Ben exchanged a sup-nod.

Will called out to shore from the boat. "It's eleven fifty-eight guys- we all here?"

Zane began, "Actually, Rikki's..."

"Right here!" she said, rounding the corner quickly and running down to the water's edge. She smiled and slipped neatly under Zane's arm.

"You okay?" he asked quietly. "Sure!" Rikki said unconvincingly, "Let's just watch the fireworks."

"Alright," Lewis began officially, "By my watch, which I have synchronized perfectly to within an eighth of a second of official atomic time using the..."

"Get on with it!" The unanimous cry from the shore cut off Lewis' tedious monologue.

"Twenty Nineteen will be here in fifteen seconds," Lewis finished hurriedly.

"Twenny Nine-tee! Twenny Nine-tee!" Eric squealed excitedly, spinning in circles before running over to collapse in Emma's arms.

"Ten!" Cleo called, impatient to get the countdown underway.

"Nine," Leila and Charlie screeched.

"Eight," Emma and Ash chimed.

"Seven," Bella sang.

"Six," Jacob and Jennifer giggled.

"Five," Anna and Ben cheered.

"Four," Will shouted.

"Three," Lewis yelled.

"Two," Rikki and Zane whispered.

"One!" they all screamed, "HAPPY NEW YEAR!"

Beautiful displays of bright colour erupted simultaneously over the ocean, reflected perfectly in its clear, calm waters. Sparkles of red and yellow and purple dashed in front of the moon, exploding victoriously before disappearing into the night sky.

Jacob, Jennifer, Leila and Charlie danced about excitedly. Emma and Ash kissed gently, and hugged their two young children. Bella kissed Danielle's forehead and laughed at her son's frolicking. Ben wrapped his wife, son and baby up in a giant bear hug. Cleo stroked Max's sleeping face sweetly. Out in the boat, Lewis and Will shouted jubilantly as showers of sparks erupted over them.

Rikki turned to Zane and kissed him. "Happy New Year," she said sweetly, "Oh, and by the way, I'm pregnant." She frowned anxiously. Zane smoothed her wrinkled forehead and smiled. "Congratulations."