A/N: I've hopped aboard the Nate Train!(H2O fandom) I just whipped this up, and pray that it will hopefully blossom into a good story. This takes place after the third season, where I've arranged Bella to leave and Rikki and Zane get back together.(I couldn't help it; I love those two together, besides the point that Zane was a jerk to Rikki in the third season) This mainly involves the ships Cewis (obviously), Zikki, and mentions of Bella and Will, whatever they're called. Hope you enjoy!

There was never a day in her life where Cleo felt alone.

Someone;anyone was always beside her, always. From her best friends, Emma, Rikki, and Bella, to her on and off boyfriend Lewis, to even annoying bratty Kim.

Point was, she was never alone.

Until now.

The feeling seeped in just a moment after Rikki had sent her a text, exictedly stating how after a long talk about their very(re: extremely) rocky relationship Rikkki and Zane had decided that they still liked each other after all, and they couldn't give up all of the adventures they had endured together to come to a close. They were on their make up date right now, something about an Italian restaurant and the best night of her life.

Cleo was excited for her, she really was. But there was still that pang of lonlieness and boredom. Bella was gone(her dad had gotten a new job in Melbourne, far from the Gold Coast), Will was mourning, acting like she had died or somthing, and Rikki and Zane were together. It seemed good, but the mermaid gang was not complete without him. Lewis. Their nerdy, scientist, big brain who would rather spend all day fantisizing about mermaid philosophy then catching a football.

Cleo rolled off her bed spread and sighed. She palmed her phone, debating to call Emma or maybe even Ryan, but decided against it. No, she wanted to actually talk to someone. For a crazy second, she considered Kim. But she knew how pathetic that would look. So, the mermaid reluctantly settled for Will, hoping to catch him at a time when he wasn't either working out or howling at the moon for Bella.

The phone rang a few times, and a weary voice finally answered. "Hello?"

"Will?"

"Oh, Cleo, uh, hi." There was some shuffling in the background, and the sound of shells clinked together before he responded. "What's up?"

Cleo scratched her head, thinking of the right words to say to their semi awkward diver. They didn't have a lot in common, not even a real solid friendship. Mostly he had established that with Bella when he dated her and Rikki when she saved his life. There wasn't really even a time she could recall when they spent quality time together, besides that dinner at her house. But Lewis had been there. Just thinking about him made her heart hurt and she quickly repsonded.

"Er... We haven't had a real time to chat, you know? Lately, with everything at Mako and with Rikki and Zane." Cleo paused a little at how lame her excuse sounded, but trudged on. "And maybe we could grab a juice or something?" She waited for a second, hearing nothing but Will's slight breathing. Finally, he sighed out.

"Sorry Cleo, I'm not really sure I'm ready for another girl after Bella left." Cleo opened her mouth and started to say that that wasn't what she was implying, but he cut her off. "Thanks anyway though. See you."

The mermaid groaned as the line went dead and flopped back on her bed again, putting her phone on her nightstand. Just then a familiar glint of silver caught her eye, and she moved her gaze back to it.

The locket.

Without even thinking, Cleo touched her blue moonstone necklace, feeling indignation rise within her. What was even the point? Bella was gone, Will wouldn't crawl out of his shell, and the moonstone fiasco was over. The lockets were meant for the original three mermaids. Cleo made a move to undo her necklace, when suddenly her phone did the usual ringtone. She grabbed it and flipped it open.

"Hello? Rikki? I thought you were on a date!"

"Cleo! I know, I was, before I got the call!"

"The call? What college did you get into?!"

"College? No way, think of something that's more important than schoolwork!"

"..."

"Emma!"

Cleo's heart leapt into her throat. "What about her?"

"She's coming home! Emma's coming home!"

Cleo felt as if the world started to spin. She didn't even know if she heard her friend right.

"Cleo? Did you hear me? Emma's coming back to Australia!"

Cleo squealed so loudly, every window in the house must've rattled. Rikki laughed jovially, happy that her friend was excited. And the mermaid was. Her eyes were shining with joy, and threatened to burst out as she sprinted down the stairs, yelling to her dad, "Emma's coming back!"

swung out of his office, grin as wide as a watermelon slice. "That's great news pumpkin! Your trio's back together again!"

Cleo stared at him, gleeful smile stretched across her tan face.

"Yeah, I guess we are!"

******* Page Break********

Rikki's was overflowing with thirsty teenagers, all drained by the hot summer sun. The bronze skins showed how long everyone was spending outside, from the rise of dawn to the low dipping moon at dark. Will, however, looked like a vampire. His tan skin was paler than usual, and there were bags under his eyes. Rikki and Zane were seated with him, sipping tropical colored juices through straws. They immediately spotted Cleo as she practically skipped in, smiles as wide as hers. Only Will remained serious.

"Cleo!"

"Rikki!"

The two hugged each other and Cleo greeted the two boys before settling down, crossing her hands in front of her. It seemed like milliseconds before they burst out at the same time. "Emma's coming!" Even Zane looked happy. Will rubbed his eye with the heel of his palm, glaring coolly at the top of the table. "So what? It's just a girl."

Rikki, Cleo, and Zane all exchanged glances before gazing at their friend. "Yeah." Rikki said slowly. "But she's our best friend, and a mermaid. She's been gone for a year."

Will stared hard at the surface before shrugging, playing with the beaded placemat. "I guess."

"You guess?" Zane's voice was sharp. He still hadn't quite forgiven the diver after all the drama that had happened between the three of them. "Emma's our friend, who hasn't been here for a year. The least you can do is make her feel welcome."

The next thing that came out of Will's mouth greatly suprised all of them. He glared at his friends. "I never asked to be her friend!"

The two girls widened their eyes in shock, swapping surprised glances at their friend's negativity. Zane looked like a shark about to bite a unprepared seal as he narrowed his eyes down at the built boy. For a second their was an awkward, tense silence; something that never happened to their group. But Will broke it as his shoulders slumped forward. "Sorry," he began dryly. "I just don't see why she's a bigger deal than Bella, that's all."

Rikki stared at him, not knowing where this attitude was coming from. "We never said she was. We're just excited to see her." "And if you don't like it you can leave." Zane added on, earning himself a warning glance from his girlfriend but nothing more. Cleo sat in the tension, waiting as the three stared each other down. Finally, Will scooted out from the table, sinking into his chair more but not getting up to exit. The group stared at him for a second to make sure before continuing.

"Okay, so full moon's in a day. She should be back late afternoon tomorrow, which'll give us enough prep time for it. Maybe a sleepover and movie variety?" Cleo nodded, and Will cut in. "I thought you already conquered the full moon trance. " Rikki rolled her shoulders, replying with a look at Cleo. "Yeah, well we sort of have a tradition with Emma about the full moon..." she sensed she shouldn't talk anymore and was corrected by the anger in his eyes.

"Oh. Another tradtion that no one did with Bella. Please, go on." Cleo touched Will's shoulder gently, taking it back as he recoiled away. "Will, we only knew Bella for a year. You have to understand where we're coming from." In an instant Will was on his feet, blue eyes blazing with a fire that was foreign to his eyes.

"No, I don't understand!"

The cafe was dead silent, only the sound of the mixer buzzing in the anxious air. Zane, Rikki, and Cleo were all standing up, eyes angry, frustrated, and concerned.

He continued on. "You act as if Bella was never here in the first place!" he bantered. "Well guess what, I know she was here! And I won't walk out on her just because some other..." he paused for a second, controlling his anger for a split second. "girl, comes back! Unlike you guys, I don't turn on my friends." He ended his rant and whipped away, stomping out of the cafe. The instant he was gone, it burst into chatter again. Rikki, Cleo, and Zane all stoodt there, cemented to the ground.

"Well." Zane started. "Now what will do now that Mr. Pessimist is gone?"

The mermaids looked indecisive, considering running after their friend even they know it would do no good. Rikki was the second to speak. "I don't know. Just keep Emma away from Will, I guess?" Cleo shrugged, not knowing what the best solution was either. With a sigh she struggled out, "Ugh, this would all be so much easier if Lewis was here!"

Rikki shot her a sympathetic glance, and Zane just stared at the ground. They didn't know what to say at the mention of their over seas friend. "Let's keep Will updated with everything. He may just be sad and mourning still, but he can always pick a time to start being cheerful. Maybe he'll get in the spirit after he meets her." Cleo suggested half heartedly afterward.

"He should already be on board with being cheerful. He's had plenty of time to mourn." Zane snapped.

Rikki nodded to her friend, looking like she wished she knew what to do. "I guess that's all we can do for now. In the meantime, I'm going to go make sure there's no more rock littering the merpool for her arrival. You want to come?" she asked her boyfriend and best friend. Zane nodded, already by her side, but Cleo shook her head dully. "No, it's fine. You two go ahead."

The lovebirds switched gazes, worried for their friend, but nodded their heads in farewell. "Okay, you know where we'll be."

Cleo nodded numbly, still thinking about her boyfriend. Then, the phrase that she had said moments before echoed in her head, making the mermaid turn it over in her mind.

Everything would be so much easier if Lewis was here.