AN: I understand there might have been a little confusion in the last chapter where I'm going with this but stick with me o3o hopefully this one will solve it.

Chapter 2:

Alfred jerked awake hearing splashing coming from the bath, he sat up and looked over to see the boy hiding his face behind his tail fin, his large eyes were a beautiful emerald. "Hey you're awake." He grinned.

The boy lowered his tail not sensing any danger and looked at him puzzled. "▲ Δ?"

Alfred blinked "H-huh? What did you say?"

The boy shook his head and repeated "▲ Δ?"

Alfred sighed "Oh boy…you don't speak English do you…?"

The boy just returned to twirling his fins giving up on speaking to the stranger. He looked down and noticed the stranger had two weird things sticking out of his hips…where was his tail? He looked puzzled and reached out to touch his leg "‼" he squeaked in shock.

Alfred smiled "So you're a real mermaid?"

"▲ Δ?" the mermaid tilted his head again.

Alfred cupped his face smiling "You're so unusual it's cute."

The mermaid placed his hands over Alfred's puzzled by the tenderness, he smiled at Alfred and happily chattered in his own language telling him how grateful he was that he was helped.

"My name is Alfred." Alfred said gently pulling his hands away "What's yours?"

The mermaid sat there puzzled for a little while until he pointed at Alfred and said "Alfred?"

Alfred nodded "Yeah! My name is Alfred!"

The mermaid clapped in excitement happy to get something right, he pointed to himself "Arth Δ•❤"

"A-Arthint? Arthis? Ar…Ar…?" Alfred tried to pronounce his name, the mermaid giggled he sounded like a sea lion.

He shook his head and repeated it again.

Alfred laughed awkwardly "I'm just gonna call you Arthur 'kay?"

The mermaid nodded swishing his tail fins. He slightly understood the strange man's language now. But he didn't know if he could speak it yet. Francis walked in after knocking "Alfred mon chere?"

Alfred smiled at him "Hey. Look who's awake." He pointed to the bath.

Francis gasped and walked in "Mon chere how is he?" he knelt down next to the bath. The mermaid covered his face with his tail fin shyly.

Alfred smiled and reached out "Don't be scared. He helped you too."

Francis nodded "Please Belle."

"Arthur." The mermaid whispered repeating his new name "Name Arthur."

"Arthur? How unusual." Francis smiled softly.

Alfred blushed "H-he has a more complicated name…he doesn't speak our language…"

"But-"

"Yeah I know…I guess he's grasping it quickly but he still speaks his own." Alfred answered his questioning face.

Francis smiled at Arthur "Can I hear your language?"

Arthur nodded and started to talk all about the ocean and his friends. " ▲ ‼Δ•❤ ▲ Δ !"

Francis looked puzzled "What a curious language." He smiled thoughtfully. He wondered what the language would be called. Mermish maybe?

Alfred smiled "It's pretty huh?"

Francis smiled "Oui I am not denying that." He gently touched the mermaid's hand. Arthur gasped and watched him with shy eyes.

Alfred grinned and touched his cheek again "We will look after you."

Francis nodded "I will go get you some salt water so that you feel at home."

Alfred nodded smiling "Yeah I bet he will love that!"

Arthur watched the older man stand up and leave, he was curious the man seemed very familiar he remembered seeing him a lot on the beach doing something with a piece of driftwood standing up and a piece of white skin stretched over it. He looked up at Alfred and tried to ask what the strange thing was that the man did on the beach but Alfred just gave him an odd look.

"Do you want to know his name? Is that it?" Alfred smiled "His name is Francis. Can you say it?"

"Fran…cis…" Arthur mimicked "Francis!"

"Yeah that's it!" Alfred cheered "Francis!"

Arthur laughed happily and splashed his tail down in the bath water soaking Alfred's face and shoulders. Alfred laughed and held his hands out in front of him "Hey hey watch it!"

Arthur took his hand and placed his own outstretched against his "Alfred…" he whispered.

Alfred's breath caught in his throat as he stared into the beautiful emeralds, Arthur's eyes flickered up from their joined hands to meet his own ocean blue eyes. Arthur felt his eyes sting with tears, he missed the ocean and the boy's eyes just reminded him of home. Alfred reached out slowly and brushed his finger lightly against his cheek "Hey…don't look so sad. Once you're better you can go home." He didn't know how…but it felt like he knew what the mermaid was missing.

Arthur nodded and was just about to say something when Francis walked in, Alfred pulled away from Arthur almost like his skin was burnt. Francis smiled at them "I brought some seawater for you Arthur."

Arthur cheered at the familiar smell of the ocean water. Francis laughed and held the bucket out; Arthur dipped his fingers into the salty water and looked happier than the two had seen him that morning. Francis leaned around him to pull out the plug, Arthur gasped and moved out the way startled at the way the water sucked as it went down. He looked at Alfred in shock. Alfred grinned "It's okay he's going to fill up the bath with salt water."

Francis nodded "Oui you will love it."

"Oui…" Arthur repeated "Oui!"

Francis looked at him in shock "Is he French?"

Alfred laughed "No I don't think so I think he just repeats us to try and grasp our language. Well if you call mine and yours the same." He grinned mischievously.

"Oh you cheeky boy!" Francis laughed swatting at him.

Alfred laughed and dodged out the way. Arthur watched them curiously he wondered if the older man was the younger's boy's father. He gasped as the salt water was poured in, he touched it pouting it wasn't deep enough…it was merely a puddle. Francis smiled "Don't look so annoyed I have more. Alfred come help me, put those young legs of yours to use."

"Sure I mean you ARE old!" Alfred ran off laughing before Francis could retaliate.

Arthur giggled to himself he liked this family! The boy was very kind and he seemed like he had a good sense of humour. The older man was very kind too and he had a soothing voice. He felt his stomach growl and whined he wondered what human food would taste like…