Part four, Alberto's P.O.V.-

I waved at Ilaria until the dock was out of sight. It was my first time ever being out on the boat with Massimo and I didn't want to blow it. I wasn't lying when I told Ilaria that I liked her uncle. He had this "daddily" quality about him, even if he wasn't actually a dad. He reminded me nothing like my own father, but I still enjoyed spending time with him. It's obvious that he loves his niece very dearly…

A kind of fatherly love I could only dream of.

Massimo drove the boat out as I sat there a bit awkwardly in silence. Another boat passed by with an old man calling out to us, or rather Massimo. "Boungiorno, Massimo. You keep an eye out for those sea monsters, right? We're all counting on you." Oh boy. Maybe Ilaria had a bit of reason to worry about me going out on the water with her uncle. I watched anxiously from the side as Massimo chuckled, holding up his giant fishing spear. "Don't worry, tomato. I've got my spear. They won't get away." Uh but we have, and we do. These guys realize that they've never been able to catch one of us before, right? Still, best to stay on guard and not get wet. Wouldn't want to worry Ilaria more than she already was.

Transforming into my true self in front of her was one of the worst things to ever happen to me- right up there with my dad leaving and Ilaria almost drowning. I swam back to the island, sure that I'd never see her again. I felt numb, my limbs could barely move. Tears streamed down my face nonstop as I somehow managed to get back on land and over to my tower. Shock and despair soon turned to utter rage when I climbed back into my collection room, full of human things. Things of her kind….. Now whenever I came in here, I'd think of her. She was everywhere still; I could still feel her all around me. I wanted to die. I never asked for any of this. My hands balled into tight fists about this point, shaking I was so irate.

I never asked for any of this! I never asked to be born a sea creature! Why? Why couldn't I have a human like her?! Then maybe I'd still be….. We'd still be….. God dammit, why?! It's like I was born to suffer, and the moment a sliver of happiness shines into my life, it's snatched away from me with the harshest cruelty and violence. It was my fault. I knew I shouldn't have gotten attached to her. I knew better from the start, and still… Yet still I… I don't remember trashing everything in my room or destroying my homemade ladder, but when I finally snapped out of it, all I saw around me was chaos.

Thankfully fate decided to give me a break this time.

I guess I was too busy thinking about Ilaria and how happy I was she stuck around because Massimo's voice broke my train of thought rather quickly. "Hey, this isn't a joy ride. Make yourself useful," he tossed the top of the net to me. I began pulling it into the boat; Massimo only stopping when a piece of driftwood was found caught in the net. He put the wood in between his teeth and cut the net with one of the big knives he carried on his belt. "Whoa," I didn't hear myself say out loud as I stared impressed. He knelt down in front of me to inspect the catch of the day, or lack thereof. He muttered something I didn't understand to himself and then noted the lack of fish in his net.

"It might because we're over a haunted fish graveyard," I stated sort of absent-mindedly. My insides froze when Massimo's eyebrow raised up my way. Oh man, oh man! Fix this, Alberto! Fix this! You can think about Ilaria later! Focus on the task at hand right now! "I know it's not haunted! The fish think it's haunted," good, keep going. I stood up to take a look around the horizon, grabbing my bearings. "This time of day most fish will be right around…. there," I pointed in a popular fish hangout spot. "Mmmmmm," Massimo's eyes shifted back to me somewhat suspiciously.

I was a little bit nervous I got the location wrong, but it turned out to be ok! Our net was jam packed full of fish! I rubbed my hands together eagerly as they just kept piling up into the boat. "Wait until Ilaria sees this!" My dumb mouth really didn't mean to say this aloud, but it did and Massimo blinked back at me in surprise. "Ilaira?" He sounded…. Well, you know how father-figures sound when they talk about their girls. I don't think the colour had drained from my cheeks so fast. My hands stopped rubbing together, freezing stiff in front of my pounding chest. "Uh, y-yeah. I mean she'll be happy we caught enough fish to cover the entry fee….. We did catch enough for the entry fee?" I sounded less confident the second time around. After watching me for a moment, Massimo's eyes lowered a bit- there was softness in them. "She's on your mind often, isn't she?" "Uh, no! I mean, no. W-Why would she be?" I flashed a grin, praying he'd buy my blatant lie. I couldn't tell if his proceeding chuckle and shake of the head was a good thing or not. I don't think he believed me, but he didn't yell at me or bring it up again either. Is that a good sign? Bad sign? Man, humans are so hard to read!

Course all that worry melted away as we went back toward shore. Ilaria wasn't on the dock yet but I wasn't concerned; she'd be back soon. I kept the seagulls away from our fish while Massimo tied the boat to the dock. Both our heads turned at the sound of his niece returning down to us. Seeing her there I was more than a little excited to show off our haul. My arms outstretched to draw her attention toward the boat.

"Ilaria, look at all the fish we caught!" My voice was filled to the brim with exhilaration and pride. My heart began to race in a brand-new sort of way as Massimo gave me a pat on the back. "Turns out Alberto does know fish," he said in this way that also made me insanely happy. I don't know why but him doing that just now…. It reminded me of when my dad used to tell me "good job", which wasn't often. Massimo's praise just now was something precious to me. It made me feel good….. really good. And of course Ilaria only added beautifully to the situation. She smiled at me brilliantly. "Wonderful! Excellent job! Very well done, you two!" She said it's wonderful….. She said I did a good job. Is it possible to bottle up words so you could hear them again later? If so, I want to record what she just said. It could be the last thing I ever listen to and I'd die happy. She put a cup in my hand, her fingers brushing up against mine in the progress.

So, so happy.

But soon thirst overtook me; I polished the glass of this weird but good-tasting liquid off. Then I wiped my lips off with the back my arm and looked at Ilaria, who didn't appear impressed with me for some reason. "So, how'd the deliveries go? Didn't have any trouble, did you?" In other words, tell me everything that happened. You better not have run into Ercole; I'd have to kick his ass if he even looked in her direction. Course I'd have to do it on the down low so Ilaria didn't freak out. I swear, sometimes she was too nice for her own good.

Her expression was sincere and light. "Trouble? Oh, certainly not. No, it went well. We can make them together this afternoon if you want." Uh, yes! Any excuse to spend more time with you is a good one. My face brightened up too. "Are you kidding? We need to do all the training we can! Let's bike this afternoon, and then I'll give you your first swimming lesson."

I immediately gave myself a sharp, swift kick in the head. Why'd I say that?! I don't want Ilaria going anywhere near the sea again. Maybe I can convince her that swimming in her bathtub will work. I had to stifle a grin from that very thought; the mental image of Ilaria trying to do laps in the tub upstairs in her house was funny. But seriously though! I am super not ok with this! What if she falls in again? What if she nearly drowns a second time? What if I don't get to her in time? This is a nightmare! Why did I ever agree to doing that stupid race again? Oh yeah- to cream Ercole once and for all. Looking at Ilaria now though, I wasn't sure it was worth it. I want to bury Ercole in the dirt, but I want her to be safe more.

I need her to be safe.

My heart sank a little as her head nodded in agreement. "Sounds good," no, it does not sound good. Can I tie her to the bed or lock her in her room, just to keep her away from the ocean water? Like honestly, what can I do to protect her? Ugh, why couldn't humans just be natural-born swimmers? Why do they have to drown anyways? Nature really failed them in that department. I was still staring at Ilaria when Massimo came over to give my back another pat. This made me blink back up to him in mild surprise, my mouth opening a sliver.

"I'll process our catch after lunch. How does sandwiches with fresh fruit sound?" Food! Oh thank god! That tangy drink Ilaria gave me made me hungry! "Awesome!" I grinned back. We looked back to Ilaria, who was now gazing at something in the distance. It was the strangest thing; her face had completely changed from a few seconds ago. Her cheeks were pale and sucken inward. Her lips were slightly ajar but no sound came out. But it was her eyes…. Her eyes were the most telling thing about her just now. Too bad I had no idea what they were supposed to be telling me. Gasp! Maybe she's changed her mind about swimming in the race! I'd have to act like I was disappointed, but in reality, I'd be totally on board if she wanted to drop out. I held my breath a little, letting Massimo speak to her next.

"Ilaria? Are you alright, niece?" His tone was peppered with concern. Yes! Tell him you've reconsidered and decided not to enter the race! Come on, girl! You can do it! Just let me go beat the living snot out of Ercole instead- problem solved. There'll never have to be a reason for you to go back into the water again. Never.

Not while I'm alive.

Her head quickly spun back around to face us. "Huh?! What?!" Uh, no. That's not what you were supposed to say. Oh well; there's time. I grinned in her direction, waving at her for her to follow me. "We're going inside for lunch now. Come on." "Lunch? Oh, right; lunch! Yes, let's go," I felt so good as she ran up to my side. My side…. Where she belonged.

Massimo wasn't so sure about the scenario, however. He didn't budge, still eying his niece. "You sure everything's ok, Ilaria? You looked a bit pale just there." She did, didn't she? Hmmmmmm, I wonder if she's getting sick actually? Then she definitely shouldn't be swimming! Oh, this was just getting better and better. My hopes dropped when she shook her lovely head though. "Did I? O-Oh, it must have been all the exercise this morning. I feel fine now." Damn! Can't a guy ever catch a break?! Course it's not Ilaria's fault. I can't tell him I'm so afraid… that I'm terrified whenever I think that…..

Banishing all those insidious thoughts from my head, I made myself touch her. Touching Ilaria always brought me crashing back to reality- in a good way. I gently tapped her arm which made me feel a bit better. My grin returned her way and I began to follow Massimo back up toward the house. As I walked my smile began to both grow and shrink at the same time. The warm summer breeze blew over me.

I don't want her going back into the water. I already lost my dad, and Ilaria just came back to me. I obviously couldn't tell her or anyone else this. I'm supposed to be a big, strong man who isn't afraid of anything. I mean, human men don't seem to be scared of anything. Just look at Massimo! But…. But it's not like that for me. I can't help but be afraid…. when it comes to Ilaria. She's my best friend; the one person I could spend forever with and never get bored of. I don't know how human men can't be afraid when it comes to those who are precious to them. Knowing this however, I knew that I could never tell Ilaria or anyone else about these feelings. She'd never understand. How could she? Men weren't supposed to be afraid. And yet I was… I was beyond terrified, and only when it came to her. Only her.

The only time I feel afraid- truly afraid- is when I think of Ilaria in harm's way.