Disclaimer: Ocean Girl and all its characters and places are the property of Jonathan M. Shiff Productions. I am a fan of the show and this is my own personal take on what could have happened if there had been a Season 5. Please also note: English is not my native language, therefore, please forgive me for any linguistic mistakes.

A/N: So, this is it! After more than two years, this fan fiction has come to an end. Like probably everyone who reads this, I'm very curious to see JMS Productions' "Ocean Girl: A New Generation". I have my own ideas what it could look like, so I may be back some day with a fan fic involving the new generation of OG characters. Thanks again to everyone who read and reviewed this story, it meant a lot to know you enjoyed it.

Paul and Dianne Bates had planned on spending the Saturday afternoon at the family's farm trying to discuss the latest draft of a scientific essay she wrote, but Dianne couldn't focus. Sitting on the veranda, she kept glancing down to the river, from where their grandchildren's shrieks and laughter reached them.

Paul thought back to when he bought the farm many years ago. It was its quietness Paul had fallen in love with. Quietness however has officially become a thing of the past since Adam and Ari were born. Not that Paul and Dianne minded much, as they loved their grandchildren dearly and spoilt them as much as they could get past Jason and Neri.

Dianne and Paul definitely were involved grandparents. Just this past week, Dianne watched the two children while Neri and Jason were speakers at an international anti-whale hunting conference in Tokyo. Dianne had to admit she felt a bit tired from taking care of the kids full time for several days, even though Paul came in from headquarters twice that week to help out. Their grandchildren had so much energy, and it became obvious that even going on research boat trips with Dianne and Winston couldn't compensate for their daily swims with Neri to see Charley and the days spent on Neri's island. All that pent up energy from being mostly confined to ORCA and the research boat was finally released on the farm.

Dianne finally put down the papers with a sigh, admitting the futility of the endeavor under the current circumstances, and lovingly watched as the kids were running the entire length of the wooden landing stage to jump into the water, splashing water as high as they could, all accompanied by a lot of joyous noise. Neri and Jason, sitting at the end of the said landing, just got showered by splashes of water.

Neri's eyes scanned Jason from top to bottom. His clothes had gotten quite damp since Adam and Ari started their game, and she ran her hand through his hair with a smile.

"You're quite wet," she said.

"I haven't noticed," Jason responded. Neri rested her head on his shoulder and continued to smile. It was true, he probably had long stopped noticing as hugging his wife or children after their swims would soak his clothes all the time.

Their children, in the meantime, had waded out of the river to run a fast as they could to jump back into the river, once again screaming out mid air.

Once the heads of their kids resurfaced, Jason spoke up: "Please keep it down a little, you two! Your grandparents were hoping to get some work done."

"Yes, Dad," Adam replied, and in a much quieter tone challenged his younger sister to a competition to see who could be back first when swimming to the bend in the river and back.

"Will you swim with us, Daddy?" Ari asked, looking up at Jason with her big round eyes while tugging at her father's leg.

"I don't think so. You just want me to lose against you two, don't you, pumpkin?" Jason responded, smiling down at his daughter. Both kids had inherited Neri's talents in the water and could already outswim their father.

"No, Daddy, you won't lose. Please swim with us," Ari pleaded, and since Ari had her father wrapped around her little finger since the moment she was born, Jason took off his shirt, pressed a gentle kiss near Neri's earlobe and joined his kids in the water.

"Mum, will you swim with us, too?" Adam asked.

Neri shook her head. "I'll watch."

"Your Mum needs to rest a little, buddy," Jason explained, as he and Ari joined Adam at the imaginary start line.

"Alright," Adam said, and then, looking competitively at his sister and father, he called out: "Ready – set – go!" and took a dive to swim off, followed by his younger sister and father.

Neri looked lovingly after the three blond heads disappearing under the surface of the water and put a protective hand on her abdomen, dreaming a new sweet dream. Just when she and Jason had thought that they couldn't be any happier with their lives, they realized that a new life was growing inside of her, and while Jason said he would have been perfectly content with two children, Neri was elated about the new pregnancy.

Neri loved being a Mum, teaching Adam and Ari everything she knew, while learning from them as well. Adam was very curious, a quick learner and caring older brother to Ari, who was very gifted, speaking to Charley before she even communicate with humans. She had a great intuition, and empathy for others. Neri also loved being married to Jason, who was the most loving husband and father Neri could have wished for. Neri was very proud of him, as he had just recently gotten his PhD, all while working with Dianne and Winston on ORCA, and traveling with Neri to support her on Ocean Planet business, as Brett called their diplomatic efforts. Even after being married for more than five years, having two kids, and being referred to as "the old married couple" by Brett, Neri and Jason still looked as young and in love as before their marriage. Neri and Jason knew how lucky they were, as they saw their own siblings struggle with respect to settling down; Brett bouncing from one relationship to the next, and Mera refusing a number of suitors right from the start. However, the luck may have turned for Mera, who had finally met someone whom she wanted to introduce to her family. Jason, while happy for Mera, did feel concerned for his brother when Neri relayed the news, as he suspected Brett's commitment issues may stem from Mera's refusal many years ago..

Neri dropped these thoughts when she saw her son swimming her way. She broke in a wide smile as Adam reached her first.

"I won, Mum!" he exclaimed.

Neri slipped down into the water and hugged Adam.

"Well done!"

Ari and Jason reached them shortly after, Adam protesting: "Ari, you didn't really try! You usually swim faster than Dad!"

"I swam with Daddy because Mummy wasn't there," Ari explained.

Neri was touched: "That was very kind of you, Ari."

"Yes, thank you for watching out for your old dad, pumpkin!" Jason said, pressing a kiss into her wet, golden curls, and was met by the same dazzling smile as her mother's.

"You're not old, Daddy," Ari protested

"If you say so, it must be true," Jason smiled, and then looked up as he heard a car approaching.

"It looks like your Uncle Brett finally made it," Jason said.

"Yeah, Uncle Brett!" both kids exclaimed, as their uncle was so much fun to have around. He could spend hours chasing them around, and he allowed them to eat as many sweets as they liked, whereas their parents and grandparents had strict rules on candy, cookies and cake.

Adam and Ari immediately swam towards the bank of the river to run and greet Brett.

As soon as Brett got out of the car, his nephew and niece called out his name. Brett grinned and crouched down.

"Hey, birthday boy," he greeted Adam, and then he grinned at his Ari. "Hey, Princess. Did you guys just wet down?"

"I raced Ari," Adam explained.

"Please tell me that you won that race, Princess," Brett said. Ari shook her head.

"Never mind, you will on another day," Brett said, in an upbeat way. Paul and Dianne joined them at that point, and so did Jason and Neri. After everyone said hello, Paul asked his younger son: "Did you remember to pick up Adam's gift?"

"A gift for me?" Adam asked excitedly.

Brett laughed and answered his father. "Of course I did."

He walked to the back of his car to open the trunk. An Australian Shepherd puppy was sitting obediently, looking a bit lost with big eyes and hanging ears.

"A puppy!" Adam cried out. Paul smiled as he reached for the dog and held him in his arms.

"Dad," Jason said reproachfully. Paul's eyes reflected a small amount of guilt as he looked at his older son and daughter in law.

"A neighbor down the road called me about two months ago. He said that his dog had a litter and if I was interested in having a dog for the farm. Adam always mentioned he wanted a dog, so I figured he'd enjoy a dog whenever he comes here, after all, Ari's got her pony here, too," Paul explained.

Neri was instantaneously in love and reached out to pat the soft fur. "She's beautiful."

Paul took that as a sign of approval and put the dog in front of Adam, who went down on his knees to hug the little creature.

"Adam, please be gentle," Jason said as he put Ari down next to his son.

"What's her name, grandpa?" Adam asked.

"It's Coco, but you can pick your own name." Dianne explained, putting her arms around Paul, very happy to see Adam's excitement about the gift.

"I like Coco. Can she come to ORCA with me, Dad?"

Jason shook his head. "Sorry, dogs aren't allowed on ORCA."

"Then on Mum's island?" Adam pressed, looking at his mother.

Neri pressed a kiss on his head and shook her head.

"She would be lonely on island, we are only there during days, not nights."

"But where should she live?" Adam asked, looking positively alarmed.

"She'll be here on the farm, we got Luke and Pat here looking after all the animals. Coco will just be fine."

"But we only come here on weekends," Adam objected.

Ari patted Coco between her ears. "She can stay with Wendy." Adam thought about it for a Moment, then shrugged, thinking that at least Ari's pony would now have company.

"Now that this is settled, can we head back to the house, I wouldn't mind a bite after the long drive." Brett asked.

"There's no cake, yet, Uncle Brett. We are waiting for Pakum to bring by Grandmother, Auntie Mera and our new uncle. Then we may eat," Adam explained, while trying to lift the puppy that emitted helpless yelps.

"Adam, please put the puppy down, she can walk by herself while you hold the leash," Jason said more sternly than he had meant. He had not intended for Brett to find out about Mera's new boyfriend like that, and he encouragingly patted his brother's shoulder once he made sure that his son walked Coco towards the porch and was out of ear shot.

Brett swallowed hard as he closed his trunk. He and Jason stayed behind at the car as the rest of the family returned to the porch, Neri looking back at them with a sympathetic look in her eyes that was clearly meant for Brett.

"Mera's engaged?" Brett asked, feeling as if the air has been knocked out of him.

"I believe not yet. But it sounds like it's serious, she is bringing him here so he can meet all of us, and to see the planet where she grew up."

Brett nodded dully. Jason smiled at his brother encouragingly. "How about you give it one more try? Tell her how you feel, ask her if her feelings have changed. This may be your last chance."

Brett looked at his brother and wondered if he was right. He clapped on Jason's shoulder, as if he had to encourage Jason rather than himself, and suggested they join the rest of the family on the veranda.

In anticipation of Coco's arrival, Paul had bought bowls and dry food and showed Adam on how to fill one bowl with water and one with food for the puppy and put it in front of him. Coco sniffed the dog food a bit suspiciously and then decided to have only water before stretching out in a shaded corner of the veranda.

"Why doesn't she eat the food, grandpa? Do you think she doesn't like it?" Adam asked in a concerned voice, sitting down next to the dog and stroking his fur. The little dog clearly enjoyed the feeling as it lazily closed its eyes and shortly after fell asleep.

In order to not wake her up, Adam tiptoed to his parents and climbed onto his mother's lap, informing her that Coco had fallen asleep.

"So has your sister," Dianne remarked, looking at Ari's limp body in Jason's arms.

Neri leaned over and tenderly brushed a few strands of curls aside to check that indeed, Ari had fallen asleep, her head resting against her father's chest.

"I'll put her down for her nap. Buddy, how about you take a little nap, too?" Jason asked quietly.

At that moment, they noticed a boat approached the landing area.

"Looks like your grandmother made it," Neri said to Adam, who ran off to greet their special guests.

Shalamorn, helped onto the landing by Pakum, smiled widely at the approaching little figure. She bent down to scoop Adam up in a big hug and showered him with lots of kisses. As first grandchild, Adam would always hold a special place in Shalamorn's heart. While the news of the first child of Princess Neri's being male was cause for disappointment on the Ocean Planet and even brought about some murmurs that this must have been inevitable since the Princess after all only married a human, Shalamorn loved her grandson no less than his younger sister, and over the years, little Adam has become beloved with the people of the Ocean Planet as he was a genuinely friendly and affectionate little fellow.

"Hi Grandmother, it's so nice you are finally here!" Adam exclaimed.

Shalamorn hugged Adam tightly and pressed another kiss on his cheek. "Would I miss my grandson's fifth birthday? Happy Birthday, sweetheart."

"Thank you, Grandmother. Guess what Grandpa gave me for my birthday?"

"Hmm, is it a pet?"

"Yes!"

"Does it live on land or in water?"

"Land?"

"A cat?"

"No, a puppy. Her name is Coco, let me show her to you!" Adam suggested enthusiastically, trying to drag his grandmother to the veranda.

"Adam, in a little bit, please let us say hello first," Neri said, gently stopping him by placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Hello, my daughter!" Shalamorn wrapped Neri into her arms.

"Mother, it's so good to see you."

Shalamorn put a tender hand on Neri's cheek.

"You are perfectly glowing, my daughter."

Neri smiled and turned around to Jason: "We are just very happy, Mother."

"So, another pet?" Shalamorn said to Jason with a smile as she hugged him carefully, given the sleeping Ari in her son-in-law's arms. She was present for her granddaughter's third birthday surprise and remembered the discussion about inappropriate gifts Jason had with his father afterwards.

Jason rolled his eyes. "Can you tell who's winning the best grandparent of the year award around here?" He then looked at his still sleeping daughter in his arms: "Ari will say hello a bit later, she's just fallen asleep."

Shalamorn smiled and softly touched the blond curls: "She looks very comfortable."

Neri slightly shook her head, but smiled: "She's a daddy's girl. Whenever Jason's around, I seem to stop existing for her."

"Mother said you were the same way with Father," Mera said, who had kept a little in the back, stepping forward along with a dark-haired young man who reminded Neri and Jason a little of Kal.

"Auntie Mera!" Adam exclaimed. Ari opened her eyes a bit at the commotion but felt safe and secure in her father's arms and fell back asleep.

After Neri and Jason had greeted Mera as well, their gazes shifted towards her companion.

The Kal look-a-like noticed that the attention had shifted to him. Mera turned to him, as he stepped forward and bowed.

"Neri, Jason, this is Tomor, but we all call him Tom."

"Highness, Royal Ambassador, thank you for welcoming me to your home."

Jason stretched out a hand he freed from holding Ari: "You can call me Jason. Welcome to Earth."

Neri smiled at Tomor: "Just Neri is fine. It's nice to meet you, Tom."

Tom shook their hands and smiled a little nervously.

"These are our children, Adam and Ari," Jason said.

"Are you really going to be our new uncle? " Adam asked him, looking at the tall man suspiciously, which in turn made Tom feel quite uncomfortable.

"Adam," Jason warned his son gently.

"We already got one uncle, Uncle Brett," Adam explained. That, in turn, made Mera blush, to Neri's secret delight.

"Please come to meet the rest of our family," Neri said, and the guests all walked towards Paul, Dianne and Brett, who had kept at a respectable distance.

Neri and Jason in the meantime approached Pakum to thank him for bringing the guests from the island to the farm.

"How's the wedding preparation going?" Neri asked, as Pakum's daughter Mia was getting married to Benny Malcovitch in just one week.

Pakum responded: "I would have never thought how much work goes into planning a wedding on this planet! I don't know who's happier when it's over, Mia and Benny, or Malin and I."

Jason immediately felt bad. "I should have kept that in mind that before we asked if you could bring by Neri's family. I'm sorry," Jason said.

"Not at all, it was a good excuse to get away from the mad-house for a little bit, but I better get going now. Happy birthday to my young friend Adam. It feels like yesterday when he was born." Pakum said.

"Tell us about it," Neri said. "Thank you, and safe travels back home. Please give our regards to Malin and the girls."

Pakum waved good-bye and took off again. "I can take Ari to put her down for her nap," Neri suggested to Jason as they walked back to the house.

"It's alright, I'll put her down. Go and join your Mother and Mera, I'll be there, soon," Jason responded. He gently pressed his lips on Neri's and walked into the house while Neri took a seat next to her mother.

Later, after enjoying the afternoon coffee and cake, Ari and Adam didn't waste much time, and dragged their aunt to the enclosure where Ari's pony was spending the day. Adam proudly walked Coco on her leash, and Brett offered to go along, as Shalamorn and Tom were in conversation with Dianne and Paul.

"So, how are you doing?" Mera asked Brett, as they trailed behind the kids.

He looked down at her, and smiled a little as she fought in vain the wind pushing her curls into her face.

"Well, I got a front row seat to happily ever after, so how would that make you feel?"

Mera nodded, and looked at him with so much sympathy in her eyes that Brett had to avert his eyes. After looking back to how Neri and Jason sat on the veranda, her older sister leaning her head against Jason's shoulder and Jason's arms around Neri, Mera smiled and said, "They sure are very happy."

Brett smiled too: "And I honestly wouldn't wish it any other way. I love my brother and Neri, and we all are in love with these critters. Mum and Dad are spoiling them as much as they can. Dad's even turned down the offer to be the Commander of the ORCA World Headquarters in Europe since he and Mum wouldn't want to miss see the kids growing up."

Mera laughed. "I can only relate. Mother and I wish to see more of them, too." She gave a loving glance to Adam and Ari, who were climbing in with the horses after tying up Coco's leash at a fence-post.

"Please be careful," Mera called after them as the kids approached the horses.

Brett chuckled. "You sound like a mother." Mera blushed.

Brett climbed in after the kids and picked up Ari to put her on the back of the pony. "Remember to have a firm grasp on its mane the entire time, Princess."

Ari did as she was told and allowed for Brett to lead the horse out of the enclosure. Mera followed suit and put Adam up on a pony and led the horse to catch up with Brett and Ari.

"I can ride by myself, Auntie!" Adam protested.

"I'm sure you can, but under my watch, you won't ride off by yourself."

She caught up to Brett and they went on a little walk talking with the kids and hearing about their adventures with their grandma while their parents where gone this past week. After a while, the kids became a little quiet, so Brett suggested to return the horses to the enclosure before the kids got too tired to hold on.

"So, I hear Benny is getting married," Mera started.

"Yes, next weekend. Ben's been speaking of nothing else for months." Brett said, trying to sound casual, but a little hint of envy was noticeable.

"Whatever happened with- what was her name? Allison?" Mera asked, referring to the only recent long-term relationship Brett has had that she was aware of.

"I broke it off a few months ago."

Mera nodded. Not wanting to pry, she inquired about Cass.

"She just got engaged to someone in the States, she will bring him along to Benny's wedding for all of us to meet."

"It seems like everyone is getting married these days. It's exasperating!" Mera exclaimed, sounding exactly that, exasperated.

"Well, bringing a guy to a foreign planet to meet your sister and her family sounds like a pretty big step in the relationship, too. When do you and Tom plan to make an announcement?"

Mera looked up. Brett sounded hurt. Did that mean Neri was right and he was still caring for her after she turned him down all these years ago?

Once Ari was born and thus an Heiress to the Throne secured for the Ocean Planet, the Council of Elders have noticeably relaxed their views about Mera's marriage prospects, leaving Mera feeling regret for the lie she told Brett after he admitted his feelings to her many years ago. But then it seemed that Brett had moved on, dating one attractive woman after another. Now, from the sounds of it, Brett was unattached. After pondering for a little while on how to respond to Brett's question, Mera mustered all her courage to stop, stretch out her hand to take Brett's and to look up at him. " I think there won't be an announcement," she admitted. "Truth is, I don't love Tom. I care about him, a lot, but I don't love him and never will love him the way that I love you, have always loved you."

Brett stopped, his mouth agape in surprise, wondering if he heard right. Since Brett didn't say anything, Mera continued: "Can you ever forgive me for what I've told you, all these years ago, about just wanting to be friends? Since I want to be so much more than friends."

Brett looked down at Mera, his thoughts and heart racing a mile an hour and him not knowing what to say. Forgetting that his niece and nephew were right there with them, he let go of Ari's horse, pulled Mera up into his arms and kissed her passionately in response.

Adam and Ari, who now and then have seen their Mum and Dad kiss like that, decided with a mutual look of understanding that their uncle and aunt needed some privacy. They quietly slipped off their horses, went back to where Coco had been loosely tied up and ran back to the house.

"Uh-oh," Brett said when after a while, he gently let down Mera and saw the kids waking back to the house with the dog.

When Adam and Ari reached the veranda, Brett and Mera had almost caught up with them. They all came just when Dianne and Paul placed plates with appetizers on the table.

"Hmm, looks like we came back just in time," Brett said, his voice sounding higher than normal, while Mera's eyes were sparkling and she was quite out of breath. Even the kids were different, too, whispering and giggling, so Dianne crouched down and asked: "What happened to you two? Did you drink silly water?"

This made the kids laugh even more.

"No, grandma. Guess what we saw?" Adam asked.

Dianne smiled and shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe a wallaby?"

Adam laughed cheekily and exclaimed. "No, we saw Uncle Brett and Auntie Mera kiss!" Suddenly, everyone was very quiet.

Ari, who had just reclaimed her seat on Jason's lap, elaborated: "A Mummy and Daddy kiss."

Looking bemused, Jason slipped his hand into Neri's.

"Oh really?" Jason asked.

"Yes," Ari nodded emphatically. Neri and Jason exchanged satisfied smiles, one more of those infuriating married people glances that drove Brett insane, the ones that didn't require any words as they understood exactly what the other was thinking.

Mera and Brett, in the meantime, didn't feel like smiling as Tomor looked at Mera in a mixture of confusion and disbelief.

"Tom, we should talk. Now. " Mera said, and she walked away and beckoned for a bewildered looking Tom to follow her to the stables.

Paul cleared his throat, looking as baffled as Dianne and Shalamorn. With a rather confused look directed at his sons and Neri, he asked: "It seems like some of us are missing part of the story. Would one of you three be able to enlighten us of what's going on?"

Jason got up and patted his brother's shoulder. "I think Neri and I are going to clean these two up before dinner. I'm sure Brett is happy to fill you in."

Neri smiled an encouraging smile in Brett's direction before she scooped up Adam to follow Jason and Ari inside.

"Mum, why were Uncle Brett and Auntie Mera kissing each other?" Adam asked, as he started to run water over his hands in the bathroom sink.

"I think because they love each as much as your father and I love each other," Neri said, as she gently distributed soap on his hands and lower arms.

"Does that mean they are getting married?" Ari asked.

"It would be about time," Jason muttered, but the look of confusion in Ari's big eyes showed that she didn't understand her father's sarcasm.

"I think that's quite possible, Pumpkin." He helped her on the little step stool in front of the sink so she could have her hands washed. He pressed a kiss on the top of her head. Once both kids had their hands and arms cleaned and towel-dried, they ran back outside.

Jason folded the towel, then reached for Neri to pull her tenderly in his arms.

"Are you happy with these latest developments?"

Neri laughed. "It was about time!" Neri said, mimicking Jason's earlier tone and words.

"Brett's wild days should be officially over, Mum and Dad should be very pleased once they swallowed the news." Jason added.

"Even if Brett may move to the Ocean Planet to be with my sister?" Neri asked.

Jason's heart sank. Even though his brother lived on the mainland while Jason and his family lived on ORCA, Brett and he had always remained close, speaking almost every day. The prospect of not seeing his brother unless one of them traveled through space took away some of the joy he had felt for Brett a moment ago. But then he thought about how lucky he himself has been, that years ago, Shalamorn allowed for Neri to remain on earth, to allow for them to be together, to get married and have their own family. He wanted his brother to have all of the happiness Jason had, so he smiled and said: "It's not like we're not going to stop seeing him, it just not that often. I think at the end of the day we want for both Brett and Mera to be happy."

Neri placed a gentle kiss on his lips and was about to take his hand for them to return to the others, but Jason held her back with a mischievous smile.

"Neri, you know this wasn't a Mummy and Daddy kiss."

Neri looked up in mock surprise as Jason pulled her very close. "It wasn't?"

"Most definitely not," Jason affirmed.

"Would you mind demonstrating one then?" Neri asked, in a whisper.

"Not at all," Jason whispered back, leaning in closer to his wife and pushing the door shut behind them.