Confessions and Missed Calls

By the time Emma arrived back to the hotel room; it was midnight, her little brother trailing silently behind her.

"You have to promise me, you won't tell mum or dad." She turned to look at him.

He was silent for a few moments. "You lied to me." He didn't accuse her this time; Elliot merely stated a fact. "And now you want me to lie to mum and dad." he scoffed. "Goodnight Emma." He went into his room. Not what I should have said...

She knew better than to go after him and force him to answer. She saw his face, he felt hurt and betrayed. She felt guilty. The thing about this secret is that when you have people that understand, it makes it easier. To keep this alone, it turns something magical into a burden.

Emma collapsed on the bed. She had a chance to tell him a few years ago. Back when Kim found Cleo's diary, but the whole mermaid thing was still so knew to the trio that they barely knew how to handle it themselves, let alone image other people's reactions. Telling anyone that she was a mermaid would cause them to look at her like she was mad, actually showing them could make her the next scientific break through. Dr. Denman made that clear. So they kept their secret.

Elliot's word cut through her like a knife. You didn't trust me. Us, your family? He could barely look at her.

Now there was nothing she could do. Anything she would say to him now would fall on deaf ears. She would just have to wait until morning to see if he told their parents.

Attempting to take her mind off of the pressing matter, she went on her phone. After all she promised to send Bella the pictures of the moon pool.

There was still sand on the screen; when Elliot startled her, she dropped her phone.

The screen flashed with missed calls and texts from Cleo, Bella, and Rikki. The light from the full moon shined through the window, Bella must have told them about the phone call; Emma called Bella earlier in the day asking for directions to the moon pool. She knew Cleo and Rikki would object because of the full moon, but curiosity got the better of her.

The phone screen light up with an incoming call.

"Emma," It was Cleo once again.

"I can't believe you would do something so stupid." It was Rikki's voice. "And I can't believe you actually gave her directions." Emma assumed Bella was also in the room. There was a quiet apology.

"I would have gone there anyway." Emma did not want Rikki getting angry at Bella; after all she called Bella. "I would have found my way there anyway."

"Wait what do you mean?" It was Bella who asked.

Emma told them about what she saw. What caught her eye wasn't larger than a garden snake. Curled up it looked like a puddle of water, but it moved. She had the overwhelming desire to follow it. "Once I got to the cave it vanished."

"But it didn't attack you?" Cleo was puzzled.

"Did you see anything?" Rikki asked.

"Not necessarily attacked..." Emma though about how the walls of the cave, look similar to the walls of the moon pool; it was the same rock. When the water started to bubble, the appeared water snake wrapped around her legs, pushing her in. "It pushed me into the water, though. Nothing else." She remembered something odd though. "Bella did the walls of the cave always glow?"

There was a pause. "No."

"So what does that mean?" Emma wondered if there would be any strange effects from her the moon pool. That's the last thing I need.

Once more, they ended up discussing theories, which again can to nothing. Emma promised to call if something change with her powers or if she saw any more water snakes. Bella had to left to go to do sound check.

"Okay, what wrong?" Rikki and Cleo asked simultaneously.

Of course, they would be able to pick up when something was wrong. "I wasn't the only one who saw the water snake. Elliot watched me follow it."

"He saw you." Rikki put two and two together.

"Oh Em," Cleo knew how close her family was and how Elliot would be hurt.

"He won't tell anyone right?" Rikki asked.

"I don't know; he's barely spoken to me."

"I'm sure he'll come around," Cleo tried to be optimistic. "He just needs time."

"I hope so." Emma was really starting to hate this trip and they were only a few weeks into it.

Both Rikki and Cleo concluded that in Emma situation, it might be best to tell her younger sibling everything. "It'll help to have some one watch out for you." was Cleo's statement.

Elliot knocked on her door early that morning. Emma was nervous.

"We were taught to solve conflict with communication. So tell me everything, no lies."

So, she told him everything: The first night at Mako, the close run with Dr. Denman, the full moons power, their powers over water, everything.

Elliot's face gave nothing away. Finally he spoke. "I'll help you."

A weight was lifted off of Emma's shoulders. "After you told me," he continued. "I can see why, you'd want to keep it a secret. Besides Mum and Dad would probably pass in disbelief. I'm doing them a favor." He chuckled.

Emma smiled. Everything was going to be alright.

A/N: So thing quick before I go to camp. Hope you enjoyed!
so Fictionlover94 and I appeared on be on a similar train of thought, but idk if I'll have Emma whole family in on the secret. Also thanks for the video meeting suggestion, I'll definitely try to incorporate that!
Also I have an idea for about two/three more of these maybe. Can you think of anything significant? (like even wise. I'm a little fuzzy on season 3. kind want add one involving Sophie... suggestions?)
R&R?