Cleo, Lewis, and Sam walked down the stairs wordlessly and entered the kitchen, where Don stood, looking in the refrigerator.
"Hey Dad." Cleo got his attention.
"Oh, hi sweetheart." Don said absently as he searched for the jug of milk that usually lived in the back of the fridge.
"Dad, I have something I need to tell you." Cleo said boldly, though she didn't feel nearly as confident as she sounded.
"Yes?" Don was still rummaging through the fridge, not paying any attention Cleo, Lewis, or Sam.
"Don..." Sam walked up to him and put her hand on his shoulder. "I really think you need to listen to Cleo right now."
"What?" Don looked confused as he stood up straight. "Do you have something important you need to tell me?" He asked Cleo worriedly.
Cleo nodded slowly as she stepped further into the kitchen.
"I need to tell you something really important, Dad." She said quietly.
"Oh my god." Don's hand went to his head. "You're pregnant. I knew it. Lewis, I strongly advise you to run. Quickly."
"No!" Cleo shouted. "Dad, I'm not pregnant."
"Thank god." Relief spread across Don's face. "You had me scared to death. No offense, Lewis."
"None taken." Lewis gave a small shrug.
"Alright then." Don smiled at Cleo. "What is it you need to tell me?"
Cleo felt a fresh wave of nervousness sweep over her. She shot a look to Sam for support.
"Ah, Cleo," Sam spoke comfortingly. "Do you think you should just show him?"
Cleo managed a nervous smile. "I think that's a great idea." She agreed.
"Now Don," Sam spoke as they followed Cleo to the sink. "I need you to take a few deep breaths and get ready. Your daughter is getting ready to tell you something that is going to change things. It's big."
"But she isn't pregnant?" Don looked at Sam seriously.
"No," Sam grinned. "She is not pregnant.
"Thank the lord." Don breathed.
Lewis shot Don a withering look before turning his attention back to Cleo.
"Well, whatever it is, there's nothing worse than that!" Don laughed.
Lewis's eyes narrowed in irritation but he managed to keep his mouth closed.
"So what is it, sweetheart?" Don looked at Cleo expectantly.
Cleo looked from Sam to Lewis, suddenly loosing her nerve.
"You can do this." Lewis encouraged her with a smile.
Cleo nodded solemnly. Lewis calmly handed her a cup of water and positioned himself, ready to catch her.
"Dad, I need you to just be calm. I think the best way is just to show you." Cleo stammered.
"What is it?" Don asked, more curious than before.
Before she could convince herself not to, Cleo poured the water over her arm. A few seconds later, her legs changed into a long golden fin. Lewis caught her under the arms as she began to fall towards the floor, easing her down slowly.
"Thank you." Cleo whispered to Lewis before turning her attention back to her father.
Don's eyes were opened wider than Cleo had ever seen before. He was standing, frozen, staring at Cleo's fin.
Cleo waited several seconds before starting to become worried. "Dad?" She spoke softly.
Don didn't move a muscle.
"Don, sweetie." Sam stepped to him and rubbed a hand on his back. "Say something." She prodded. "It's just Cleo." She reminded him quietly.
"Dad?" Cleo spoke up nervously.
Don managed on staggering step towards Cleo. His face was frozen in a panicked expression, his eyes opened wide.
"It's ok, Dad." Cleo didn't feel like her voice was comforting enough. She looked up at her father with pleading eyes. "You don't need to freak out."
Don nodded his head once, twice, three times. Then, quite neatly, his eyes rolled up into his head and his knees buckled as he collapsed on the floor in a dead faint.
"Dad!" Cleo panicked.
Sam quickly took Don's head in her lap and began rubbing his temples. Lewis jogged to the kitchen to retrieve an ice pack. He offered it to Sam, who laid it gently across Don's forehead.
"Now Don," Sam lectured. "It's just Cleo. Same as she's always been."
Don blinked several times, trying to compose rational thoughts. He breathed heavily, trying to work his mouth to form words. "How?" He managed to gasp out.
"It's a long story..." Cleo began toweling herself off. She quickly retold the story of how she'd become a mermaid to her father, who remained motionless the entire time. She finished her story at the same time she finished drying off.
Don watched, paralyzed, as Cleo's legs reappeared. He instantly began hyperventilating, gasping for oxygen.
"Don," Sam said comfortingly, "Just take deep breaths. Everything is fine."
It took several more minutes before Don's breathing returned to a somewhat normal pace. He hadn't looked away from Cleo since he'd seen her change.
"So let me get this straight." Don managed to speak in normal tones. "You, Cleo, my daughter, turn into a- uh...a-"
"A mermaid." Lewis spoke up.
Con shot Lewis a look out of the corner of his eye before continuing. "A...mermaid whenever you touch water, and when you dry off you turn back to normal."
"That's about it." Cleo said simply. "Except for..."
Cleo locked eyes with Lewis. She'd forgotten to tell Sam or her father about her power to move water.
"You might as well get it over with." Lewis shrugged.
Cleo sighed before holding her arm up towards the sink. A column of water rose into the air. She held it there for several seconds before allowing it to splash back down into the sink.
This time both Sam and Don had matching expressions of surprise on their faces. They managed to pull their faces back into a somewhat normal expression after a few seconds.
"Ok." Don said calmly, still breathing hard. "Let me try again. You, Cleo, turn into a mermaid when you get wet. You change back when you dry off, and you can" Don swallowed. "Move water with your mind. Is that it?"
"Yes." Cleo smiled, relieved that her father seemed to be processing things relatively well.
"Ah." Don nodded deep in thought. Suddenly, his eyes narrowed. "And Lewis, here, has known about this from the beginning." He said accusingly.
Cleo looked from Lewis to her father. "Yeah..." She said hesitantly. "He's been a big help actually."
"I see." Don said stuffily. "And I guess you couldn't come to me with this because...?"
Cleo realized quickly what her dad was miffed about. "Dad," She said warmly. "I just didn't want to stress you out."
"Ah." Don crossed his arms over his chest.
"Oh, stop it." Sam swatted at Don's arms. "Don't pout, it's childish."
"I just don't see why she came to Lewis and not to me." Don shrugged.
Cleo rolled her eyes a bit to Lewis before looking back to her dad. "So you can handle this?" She asked as she stood up.
"Of course I can!" Don said defensively. "Frankly, I'm insulted that you doubted my ability to handle this sort of thing."
"Well good then." Sam rubbed the back of Don's neck affectionately. "Cleo, I have a question. Why now? Why tell us now, I mean?"
Cleo took a deep breath before speaking. "I want... to go... public." She said slowly.
"What? Why?" Sam asked, surprised at Cleo's answer.
Cleo took several minutes to tell her parents how overwhelmed she had felt about keeping her secret. She told them about how hard work had become, how much she wanted to live without worrying, and about how she wanted to be able to be honest with people. She also explained her reasoning. If she cooperated with the scientists she had a pretty good chance of regaining a normal life eventually.
"I just want to start small." Cleo said meekly. "I want to tell Laurie and maybe a few other people at the marine park. It'll help me out with my job a ton."
"I don't know, Cleo." Sam said thoughtfully. "Do you really think that's wise?"
"I don't know." Cleo said firmly. "But I'm never going to find out if I don't go for it."
Sam nodded, but Don shook his head firmly. "I just don't know about that, Cleo." He said.
"It's just Laurie." Cleo said calmly. "It'll be fine."
"When are you telling him?" Sam asked.
"Tomorrow? Before the park opens." Cleo said, unsure.
"And I assume you'll be bringing Lewis with you." Don said stuffily.
"Yeah, I was planning on it." Cleo said, unsure of how her father would react.
"I'm coming too." Don said firmly.
"Dad," Cleo started.
"No, stop." Don said firmly. "You're my daughter and I will be there to protect you."
"Alright..." Cleo said hesitantly. "We'll head over tomorrow morning around 8? Before the park opens?"
Don nodded firmly. "Yes." He stated.
"Great." Cleo smiled genuinely for the first time that evening. She tackled her father in a huge hug. "Thanks, Dad." She murmured.
"Of course, sweetheart." Don patted the back of her head. "It's getting late, you'd better be getting to bed."
"Late?" Cleo pulled back from the hug, her eyes narrowed. "Dad, it's only 8?"
"Oh, right." Don shook his head. "It just feels a lot later than that. What's for dinner?" He looked at Sam expectantly.
As Sam busied herself in the kitchen preparing dinner, Cleo and Lewis took the opportunity to duck out of the house and head down to the dock.
"So, how are you feeling?" Lewis asked as they walked. He had one arm loosely draped around Cleo's shoulders.
"Good." Cleo smiled. "I feel really, really good about this."
Lewis nodded. "And when are you going to tell Kim?"
"In twenty years?" Cleo said sarcastically. "I'll tell her soon enough. But not today."
"Good call." Lewis agreed. "So you're ready? To tell Laurie?"
"Yes." Cleo said confidently. "I've known him for years. If I can trust anyone at the marine park, it's him." She held Lewis's face in her hands. "This is a good thing, Lewis."
"I trust you." Lewis looked deep into Cleo's eyes.
The pair held each other closely for several seconds before Lewis guided Cleo's mouth to his. Their kiss lasted for several seconds, both of them glad to be able to relax after such a stressful day.
"I should let you be with your family." Lewis said softly, breaking the kiss.
"I'd rather be with you." Cleo looked up into Lewis's eyes.
"I always want to be with you." Lewis hugged Cleo to him. "I'll be here tomorrow morning. What time?"
"Seven?" Cleo suggested. "Is that too early?"
"I'll be here at 6:30." Lewis said, pulling Cleo to him for one more kiss before heading off towards his own home.
Cleo watched him walk away. She'd ever felt so lucky to have such a supportive guy in her life. She sighed happily before heading into the house. Tomorrow was going to be a big day.