Chapter 12: Underwater

Liam's POV

When I woke up and saw the way Melanie and I were lying, I couldn't help the smile that formed in my face. Her head was still on my chest and she had hitched her good leg over my own. If I could wake up everyday to that sight and feeling, I would die a happy man. There was no way I would leave that bed until she told me to, unlike I did the day before. This time I just relaxed and my hands drew patterns in her lower back as she slept peacefully. Half an hour after I had opened my eyes I felt her stir and the next moment she looked up. When she saw me there, she flashed me a smile and I did the same thing.

"Good morning, beautiful." I said never averting my eyes from hers. She grabbed the back of my head, pulled my face down to hers gently and kissed me.

"It really is." She said and buried her face in the crook of my neck.

"How was your sleep? No bad dreams, I hope." I said kissing the top of her head.

"No bad dreams at all. Not after you came at least." She said against my skin.

"Do you want to talk about it?" I asked stroking her hair absentmindedly.

"Yeah, but not now... I just want to lie in your arms..." She trailed off.

"Whatever you want, baby girl." I said. That was all I wanted too. Have her in my arms was my paradise. That's what I wanted to do for the rest of the day. But of course that was all wishful thinking. Amy walked in the next moment and smiled at our stance.

"Seems like you two had a good night's sleep. After the nightmare at least..." She said approaching Melanie's bed.

"How couldn't we?" I asked yawning.

"HE TALKS!" Amy exclaimed happily.

"Of course he talks, Amy..." Melanie said turning so she could look at my aunt.

"No... I mean he talks to us. You're the only person he has spoken to since you came back." She answered and I looked away. But Melanie wouldn't have that. She grabbed me by the chin and turned me to her.

"Why haven't you talked to them, Liam?" She asked seriously.

"You know why." I simply answered. "And I did talk to you, Amy."

"True... but your only responds were yes, no or maybe." She said sitting at the bottom.

"It's better than nothing." I said sitting up.

"True again. Your uncle wants to talk to you by the way..." She said.

"Which one?" I asked raising my eye-brows.

"Head down the beach and you'll see." She answered checking on Melanie's leg, who had now sat up.

"Ohhh... By the way.. how could he be hating my dad's guts?" I asked curious...

"Ouch!" Melanie exclaimed as Amy touched her leg not so gently. "Which uncle are we talking about..?"

"One of his favourite... Liam, how would you feel towards the guy that's proof of your father's affair?" She asked.

"You got a point there..." I said after thinking about it for a few minutes. "Did he know?"

"About the prophecy?" Amy asked and I nodded. "Every god did. Some helped in your training, others observed and others, like him, tried to loosen you up. But everyone did." She answered.

"Then why should I talk to him?" I asked getting up and went to the window.

"Because he was one of the first that wanted to tell you, but your parents wanted to protect you... Come on LJ.. My brother really wants to apologize for not telling you.." She said pouting.

"Why do you have to know my soft spots?" I asked groaning.

"So we have somewhat control over you. Now go." She ordered.

"But I don't want to leave Melanie." I said.

"Amy can take care of me for a few hours.. Relax and go talk to your uncle." She said and I took my seat next to her.

"Are you sure, baby girl?" I asked looking in her eyes as she put her hand in the back of my head.

"I'm sure." She said and kissed me gently. "Go before I change my mind." She said and pushed me away smiling.

"Fine. But I'll be back as soon as possible." I said before going out of her room, where I found my parents, aunts and uncles.

I didn't talk to them... I just passed by them and headed for the beach. I knew my uncle wouldn't come out on the shore, so I striped to my boxers and went straight in the sea. I needed to feel the water on my muscles, so I just let the sea embrace me. When that happened, my tensed muscles once again relaxed and a feeling of relief went through every part of my body. Knowing my uncle, I thought that he would probably be somewhere around here hiding so he could sneak up on me, like every other time, but I wasn't in the mood for games. Not when my favourite uncle has been lying to me for twenty years. So I just swam to our usual meeting place and sat on a rock waiting. Some mermaids passed by me giggling and when I waved at them they blushed. How that is even possible, I have no idea.

"You really shouldn't dazzle our women like that, kiddo." Someone said in front of me as a trident was shot my way. I easily grabbed it and stood up.

"And you really shouldn't attempt to kill me, uncle Triton." I said and threw him back the trident.

"Like that could ever happen. How are you squirt?" He asked me swimming my way.

"Pissed off." I answered simply.

"LJ, I'm really sorry. I wanted to tell you, but I couldn't. Your mother wanted to let you have a life..." I cut him off there.

"They've been training me since I could hold a sword. Until I left for college, I haven't done anything but train. Is that really a life?" I asked.

"So what if you did know? Would your life be any different?" He asked.

"No. But I would know what I was being trained for." I answered.

"You would never let Melanie in, if you did. We both know you would want her as far away from you as possible." He said and I knew he was right.

"That was low." I replied not finding anything else to say.

"But it's the truth." He said and swam right next to me putting a hand on my shoulder. "Kiddo, I wanted to tell you, but now I'm glad I didn't. I'm glad your parents made us not tell you. I just hope that you will forgive us for that."

"But my whole life is a lie. How can I forgive you?" I asked looking away.

"Was it a lie? When you used to ask why they trained you so hard, do you remember what I told you every time?" He asked and I tried to remember.

"That they do it because I'm meant for some great things or something similar." I replied.

"Isn't your prophecy a "great thing"? We never lied to you. We just didn't go into details." Triton said smiling slightly. I knew he was right, but they kept this from me... Shouldn't I be mad?

"Why do you have to make my being mad so hard?" I asked and he chuckled.

"Because you shouldn't be mad at your parents. Especially now. And I know which of your buttons to push." He said and I huffed.

"Sometimes, I hate you so freaking much!" I exclaimed.

"Only when I annoy you to no end..." He said chuckling.

"Can I go now? I've left Melanie with Amy..." I trailed off.

"My little sister will drive her crazy... Good luck with that. By the way, Melanie is really sweet." He said smiling.

"I know, but can I go?" I asked again.

"You can, but Tyson wanted to see you, so I thought you could come back with me and then return to your girl..." He trailed off looking at me sheepishly.

"I guess I could do that." I said after thinking about it for a little while.

"Excellent." He whistled and the next moment two seahorses came into view with Triton's carriage I have been so many times on.

"Hey boys..." I said stroking their heads.

"Good to see you again LJ." They both thought happily.

"Squirt... The faster you get on, the faster you'll be back in the infirmary." I didn't need anything else. I "jumped" on and the boys started swimming back to the castle. The whole ride lasted only five minutes, so soon Triton and I were passing though the "gates" of the underwater castle. There, as always, a guard waited to take away Triton's carriage.

"Master Liam... It's nice to see you again, my lord." He said bowing in front of me and I nodded before he turned to Triton. "My lord, your mother would like to speak to you and your nephew."

"We'll go to her right away, but don't take away the carriage because I'll have to give him a lift back. For now, go and bring Tyson to the throne room." Triton ordered and the guard bowed before going his way. "You know you don't have to be afraid right?"

"I think so..." I trailed off as Triton chuckled.

"Come on... My mother has always had a soft spot on you and Alex, despite the fact that you're not her grandchildren." he encouraged me.

"I know, uncle, but I've seen her only a couple of times in my life. I may have been here more than once, but she was never around, when I was here." I replied.

"Don't worry. I won't let her hurt my favourite nephew..." He said giving me a noogie messing with my hair in the process.

"Did you really have to do that?" I asked trying to straighten my hair.

"Yeah..." He said and swam forward. I shook my head smiling and followed after him. Inside the throne room, we found Amphitrite, the queen of the seas and wife to my grandfather, sitting in her throne observing us. She was as beautiful as I remembered. Long black hair with two little strange looking horns just like crab claws. Triton went to stand before her, while I bowed next to him.

"Mother, you requested our presence?" He asked her formally.

"I did, my son. Liam Kai Jackson, you can stand from your bow." She said and I did just that. "You have evolved into a fine young man, Liam. When was the last time we saw each other?" She asked stepping down from her throne and swimming to us.

"A little less than ten years my lady. When I was ten years old." I answered respectfully. "And you haven't changed one bit, my lady. Beautiful as always."

"Always one to flatter women. You're a lot more like your father than I originally thought." She said hugging me.

"Ummm... thank you, I suppose." I said in a low voice.

"Mother, what did you want to discuss?" My uncle asked the queen.

"Nothing, Triton. I just wanted to see how Liam is dealing with the whole Prophecy." She said looking at me expectantly.

"I can't say that I'm pleased it was kept from me for so long, but after my talk with your son, I'm starting to understand my parents' logic." I answered formally as Triton smiled proudly.

"Don't be so full of yourself Triton." She warned my uncle.

"LJ!" we all heard the booming sound of Tyson's voice coming from our right side. My other uncle appeared just a few shorts moments after we heard him yell and he ran straight to me lifting me up and spinning me around.

"Tyson, let the boy breathe..." Amphitrite said amused.

"I'm sorry my lady." He said and put me back down. "How have you been champ?"

"I'm good, uncle Tyson. Just a little overwhelmed with everything that's happened." I answered flexing my muscles so that the blood could flow in my body once again after Tyson's TIGHT embrace.

"I'm really sorry I didn't tell you. I..." I cut him off then.

"I've already heard of it, uncle. It's okay."

"So you forgive us?" He asked excitedly.

"I forgive you, but don't ask me to trust you yet. You have to earn it again." I said and the faces of everyone in the room fell. "You didn't really expect me to trust you again right away, did you?"

"No. But we hoped you would. Wishful thinking, huh?" Triton asked.

"Totally. Um... would you mind if I returned now?" I asked.

"Do you really have to?" Tyson asked pouting.

"The boy misses his girlfriend. Let him go." Amphitrite said winking at me.

"Thank you my lady." I said despite my surprise.

"You're welcome Liam. Now Triton, why don't you give your nephew a "lift" back?" The queen asked her son.

"Of course mother. Come on squirt." Triton said and dragged me outside. The ride back was as quick as the always. Five minutes and we were back in our usual place. He let me get off and just as I was about to swim back up, he grabbed my wrist. "Hey kiddo... show your parents you forgive them. They've been a wreck all these hours."

"Okay, I will. But please, don't push me." I said turning my gaze away from him.

"I'm not trying to push you. I just can't see my family so wrecked." He said forcing me to look at him. "Just try to understand them. Okay, squirt?"

"Yeah, uncle. Thanks." I said flashing him a smile.

"No problem. See you later." He said and left.

I resurfaced and went to where I had put my clothes. After I got dressed, I ran as fast as my legs could take me back to the infirmary, where my family still was. They all looked at me longingly except for my mother, who had the most desperate look I had ever seen. I was about to pass by her again without any signs of affection, but the I remembered Triton's request and hugged her tight. She returned the embrace with just as much force.

"I'm so sorry, baby. I just wanted to..." I cut her off.

"I know what you wanted, I can somewhat understand it, but don't ask me to trust you right away, mom. You have been keeping this from me for way too long." I said pulling back to look at her and she nodded.

"I'm sorry too, big brother." Alex said coming out of nowhere and wrapped her arms around both me and our mother or at least she tried.

"Do I really need to say that I'm sorry too, champ?" My dad asked smiling and effectively wrapped his arms around us all.

"Hey Jacksons!" Amy yelled from behind us, so we turned around to look at her. "It's really cute to see you reconnect, but there is an eager hurt girl in there that wants her man."

"Go to your girlfriend, baby." My mom said kissing my cheek. "We'll get your trust back. One way or the other."

"Well, for now, I'm going to my girlfriend." I said and ran inside. I went in her room and when she looked up noticing that it was me, she smiled brightly. "How's my girl?" I asked sitting next to her.

"Better now that her baby boy is here. How did it go with Triton?" She asked burying her face in the crook of my neck.

"Pretty good..." I started and then told her about my conversation with my uncle, my going to my grandfather's castle, meeting Amphitrite after ten years, Tyson and everything else. We just kept talking and talking until we once again fell asleep in each other's arms.

We're really sorry for the little delay, but there was a little problem we had to deal with. We hope that the chapter was worth your wait. Too sleepy, so that's just about it. Good night guys (at least for us)

Catherine & Tony P.