The Purple Tie

Despite their constant bickering, Rikki knew her two children loved and valued each other. As they grew, their fights became less and less frequent but that didn't necessarily make the subject of their fights any less silly.

Zane had gone upstairs to check on their teenage kids when they heard them shouting from downstairs. It was the night of their school dance and Flint had gotten an annoying last minute date who wanted to be the only one wearing purple. How silly, Rikki had thought. She didn't understand where her son's mind was at times, that of her daughter too.

They had both looked so handsome and beautiful all dressed up. Flint wore a black suit, save his dress shirt and dark purple tie and Brenna wore a purple dress. Rikki didn't imagine Flint could convince her not to wear purple. She might have sacrificed it but once he gave her his reasoning, Rikki was sure that only made her want to wear the purple dress more.

Rikki and Zane said goodbye to their children for the night and got ready to enjoy a rare night to themselves. Rikki was glad she had suggested sex as soon as the kids left as they came back much sooner than they thought. Brenna burst through the garage door at 9:00 on the dot and Flint had followed behind her, standing by the stairs. He went on to tell his parents how she had transformed into a mermaid and been exposed in front of her boyfriend, Jack. Rikki and Flint had gone upstairs, Rikki to talk to her daughter and Flint to likely change out of his suit and turn in for the night.

Rikki talked to her daughter as she cried in her mother's arms. Rikki always felt awful she had managed to pass on her mermaid genes to Brenna, the only one to do so in their mermaid club, as Zane liked to call it. Brenna was scared Jack wouldn't want to date her anymore and that he wouldn't keep her secret. Rikki had shared her own feelings with her, remembering she felt the same way when Zane had found out about her mermaid identity. They had broken up but it wasn't because she was a mermaid. He had kept the secret even when he didn't want to. Jack was a good kid, Rikki had a feeling he would keep the secret but she assured Brenna if he didn't, he'd pay.

"Hey," they heard Zane's voice from the door after a few knocks. "I just thought I'd check in."

"Thanks." Rikki said. "It'll be okay."

"Yeah." Brenna mumbled, taking in a sniff.

"Jack just came by the house." Zane told them. Brenna flew off the bed, turning around to face her father.

"Really?" She asked. Rikki could tell she had all the hope in the world in her voice. It was as if she was hoping all her doubts in her boyfriend were wrong.

"Yeah." Zane said. "He seems to be taking it well. He'll be back tomorrow."

Brenna smiled to herself. Rikki was happy the boy had not only dropped in but seemed to be ready to accept all the challenges of dating a mermaid.

"Are you feeling better now, sweetheart?" Rikki asked.

"Yeah," Brenna said. "Thanks, Mum."

"Of course." Rikki said as she hugged her daughter and then left the room with her husband.

"I didn't want to say this in front of Brenna but I think you had an eavesdropper during your chat." Zane told Rikki, pointing to Flint's room. "I heard his footsteps and his door close as I came up the stairs."

Rikki laughed silently. She knew Flint cared about his sister. "I'll go check on him."

"All right." Zane said. "I'll eavesdrop like a pro."

Rikki smiled and rolled her eyes before she entered her son's room. He was still dressed in his suit, only his tie had been loosened a bit which lead Rikki to believe he had indeed been listening in to hers and Brenna's conversation. It wasn't until she heard him sniff that she realized he might be crying too.

"Flint?" Rikki asked.

"Mum!" He exclaimed, jumping out of his bed and turning to face the window. "Don't you ever knock?"

"I'm sorry, I just thought I'd check on you." Rikki said.

"I'm fine." Flint responded, turning around. "Brenna's okay?"

"She'll be fine." Rikki said. "I think Jack's taking it well too."

"That's good." Flint said as he placed his hands on his hips.

"What's wrong?" Rikki asked him.

"Nothing." Flint said. "Nothing's wrong, I'm glad she's okay and I'm glad the night is over."

"Darling, I'm your mother." Rikki started. "I know when you're hiding something, what's going on?"

"It's nothing, really," Flint started. "It's just... well, there have been times when were out where Brenna got wet and you or Dad had to help her and I've never been scared before because you had never failed. Tonight, it was all on me... I was nervous and scared and I screwed it all up."

"You didn't screw it up." Rikki said taking a seat next to her son as he had flopped on the bed himself. "You helped her tonight."

"Jack still found out." Flint sighed.

"Hey, that's better than the whole school." Rikki said.

"I should have known to lock the door." Flint said.

"You get better with practice." Rikki said. "Did I ever tell you about the time your dad found out I was a mermaid?"

"Yeah," Flint said. "Something about a marine biologist trapping you, Aunt Cleo and Aunt Emma?"

"The second time he found out." Rikki clarified.

"The second time?" Flint asked. "What do you mean? Did Dad get a concussion in a bike accident and forget?"

"No," Rikki laughed. "No, he didn't. See, to get the marine biologist to leave us alone after we escaped, we gave up our powers. We thought it was permanent but it only lasted for twelve hours. Anyway, your dad left town and when he came back he didn't think I was a mermaid anymore. I went to talk to him out by the docks but his friend splashed us with water. He ended up helping me but I exposed myself to him in the process."

"Where are you going with this?" Flint asked.

"I'm just saying, sometimes it's not perfect." Rikki said. "Sometimes us mermaids get exposed to a few people at no one's fault but it's a lot better than being exposed in front of everyone.

"I'm proud of you, Flint." Rikki continued. "You helped Brenna the best you could and you saved her from a lot of trouble. If you ask me, she was probably going to have to tell Jack sooner rather than later, anyway."

"Yeah, maybe so." Flint chuckled. "Thanks, Mum."

"Of course." Rikki said as she stood from the bed. "I'll give you some privacy if you'd like."

Rikki closed the door to her son's room and found her husband was indeed listening in to their conversation.

"Brenna and Jack aren't that serious." Zane said with a furrowed face. He always was so resistant to his daughter growing up.

"Sure, love." Rikki patted his shoulder and walked past him to their own room.

"Besides," Zane started as he leaned against the doorway of their bedroom. "I thought you were going to tell me you were a mermaid that day on the docks."

"Maybe I was, maybe I wasn't." Rikki said. "It wouldn't have made for a good story for Flint if I was going to tell you, would it?"

"I suppose not." Zane said. "Come on, though. Between you and me, the love of your life, the father of your children, you were going to tell me, right?"

"I don't know." Rikki replied, sarcastically. "It was soon long ago, I can't remember."