Chapter 50
"So, are you going to tell me where Forest came from?" Will asked his wife.
Bella was now in bed at home with Jacob lying on her chest.
"Oh, right. Well my grandfather's name was Forest. He was the only one I ever told about my mermaidness – he lived in Ireland. I think he kept me sane and safe. He helped me to protect my secret. Anyway he passed away a few years back...I hope you don't mind...It's kinda like a remembrance?"
"No, no it's fine. Besides, Forest is fitting – he was born on Mako Island," Will said smiling.
"True! I never thought of it that way,"
OoOoO
Anna and Ben swam swiftly hand in hand unfazed that they were swimming at about 90km/h, a moderate speed for mermaids. To them it felt like they were swimming at a normal pace, but to any onlookers all they would see would be bubbles. The mermaid and merman swam into the moon pool. They sat of the ledge still holding hands, their tails against each other, red and gold.
After a long pause of looking into each other's eyes, Ben spoke out of the blue.
"Anna, I was wondering, that maybe...maybe you would like to marry me,"
Anna looked at him shocked, but soon her expression turned into joy and she beamed at him,
"Of course I would!" They kissed.
"I would give you a ring...but I haven't bought one yet...Do you want to choose?"
"Okay, sure." She replied smiling.
"Wait a second." Ben reached out his hand and began to mould something. "Close your eyes,"
"Okay, they are closed," Anna said puzzled but smiling.
He moulded the water into the shape of a ring and then froze it in place. "You can open them,"
Ben slid the ice ring onto Anna's slender finger. "Wow. Thanks."
"That's just to make it seem official." The ice started to melt against Anna's naturally warm skin.
"Don't worry if it melts, it's inevitable," Ben laughed as he saw Anna's grimace as she saw it melting. "Do you want to choose a real one now?"
"Sure," she nodded enthusiastically and they both ducked under the water to swim back to the mainland. As she swum the remnants of the ice ring disappeared into the water that it was made from.
OoOoO
The doorbell chimed as Anna and Ben walked into the Jewellers.
"Hi, could we have a look at the rings?"
"Sure thing," the shopkeeper unlocked the cabinet and pulled out a tray of assorted rings with jewels from diamonds to rubies to sapphires.
"For a special occasion?" the old man asked with a twinkle in his eye, giving an intentional look to the young woman accompanying him who was examining all the rings with interest.
"Yes sir. We are choosing her engagement ring,"
"Ben, Ben, could I have this one?" Anna asked gesturing to a ring with a small emerald.
"If that's the one you want..."
She nodded firmly smiling.
Ben paid the man and slipped the ring onto Anna's finger.
"Wanna go for another swim?" Anna asked
"Definitely," they left the mall and dived into the water. Curiously enough the ring stayed on her finger during the transformation as her moon pool gem necklace that had been made for her soon after she joined the group.
When they entered the moon pool Emma and Rikki were there.
"Hey guys, what's the haps?" Rikki asked casually as the couple came to sit on a ledge. Rikki's stomach was getting gradually bigger and she was feeling the tiring effects of pregnancy while swimming.
Anna showed them her finger.
"Wow! Congrats!" Emma exclaimed hugging them both awkwardly – her tail getting in the way.
Rikki was in thought, "Hey guys, do you think that if you have kids...will they be fully mermaid? Our kids will all be half..."
"Probably,"
"I doesn't faze me," Anna said
"Neither," Ben said.
"So, when did you propose Ben?"
"A few hours ago,"
"That's...recent," Rikki laughed. She paused, "Hey, do you wanna crash Cleo's house? She's been tied down with Jennifer and I don't think Bella is up to chatting...newborns must be heaps of hard work!"
"Okay," Anna agreed
"Isn't that a little rude...?" Emma began
"Come on Em, I'm sure they won't mind. Besides, I'm due for an ultrasound today – I'll stop by and get Zane and meet you guys there," Rikki interrupted.
"Okay," Emma said hesitantly.
The friends departed the moon pool.
PLEAE REVIEW! Thanks
