The unconscious Agnes survived the dreaded storm and landed on the raft. The large waves began to wash her farther and farther away from the ship. The next morning, the raft that contained her kept floating.

Nearby was a colorful town. The summer season was about to start and everyone was outside playing. Some were playing cards, some were grabbing gelato and some were playing soccer.

Alberto and Massimo were trying to get a lot of fish on their boat. Massimo smiled proudly at his adoptive son as he reeled most of the fish into the net.

"Okay...that should be the last of the fish…" Alberto grinned proudly. Then Massimo ruffled his light curly locks, proud that he was doing his job with his father.

"That's my big strong one…" Massimo smiled. Alberto just smiled back at him and continued his work. He was glad that he got to do this job with his father figure. It made him feel love ever since his other father left him but with the loving heart of Massimo, his heart filled with joy. But he couldn't help but feel lonesome since Luca left for Genova for school with Giulia. However, since summer is coming, Luca and Giulia will come back to him and they will have a blast.

When he glanced up at Massimo again, the large man's attention was on something in the distance.

"Alberto...do you see that?" He pointed his only arm out to something floating in the ocean.

"Yeah...It's another boat…" Alberto was now alarmed. Then Massimo started the boat and the duo made their way to the raft. When they got side by side with the raft, they saw the girl lying unconscious on it.

"It's a girl...but what is she doing in the middle of the ocean…" Massimo thought out loud. Alberto just stared at her. Something about the girl made him mesmerized. Maybe her raven locks, her pale skin, or the unconscious state she was in.

Then a train whistle blew in the distance.

"We should get back to land, Giulietta and Luca should be back soon...Help me get this girl on the boat…"

"But how is she doing to fit with all of the fish on it…" then Massino raised his eyebrows, showing his small eyes. He spotted a rope and then pulled the raft to it. Tying the raft and the boat together, they sail back to land with some time to spare.

With a bit of difficulty, Alberto carried the young girl into his bed that he borrowed from Giulia. He just stared into her beautiful face. So many thoughts ran into his head

"How did she get here?"

"I wonder what happened that got her in that boat…"

He glanced at her hands and slowly but surely he placed his palm into hers. Her soft and gentle hands were cold as ice but when he took his left hand off of her hand and placed it on her cheek, it was burning hot. She had been under the sun for a long while now but she was now in a safe and shady place to keep cool and warm

Then he left the room and came back with a glass of water. Not seeing Machiavelli underneath him, he tripped and spilled the water on her hand.

"Machiavelli…" He scolded silently. Then he tried to dry off her hand but he saw that she had scales on her hand. Seeing that there was a little bit of water left in the cup he glanced at her.

"I wonder…" he said out loud. He poured the rest of the water on her arm and revealed her light purple scales.

"She's like me…" Alberto whispered.

"Alberto…" Massimo told him. Alberto glanced at the girl and back at his father. "We should go…"

"Right right" Alberto followed after his dad out of the door, leaving the girl unattended temporarily.

When they got to the train station, Luca's family was there too.

"Oh I can't wait to see Luca again…oh it's been so long…" Daniela beamed.

"I can't wait to see him too honey…" Lorenzo tried to calm his wife.

All Alberto could think about was the girl and how he was going to show her to Luca and Giulia.

Then the train from Genova arrived and two young individuals ran out to greet their family members

"LUCA...my school monster…" Daniela wrapped her arms tightly around her son

"Mom...You're holding me too tight…" Luca gasped for air under his mother's tight grasp.

"Sorry...I'm just SO happy you're home…"

"How was school...tell us all about it-" then Luca turned to Alberto. He squirmed out of his parent's arms and raced towards his best friend.

"Alberto...I missed you…" Luca smiled, small tears already forming in his eyes.

"I missed you too Luca…"

"Hey, room for one more.." Giulia called. Then the three of them pulled themselves into a three-way hug.

"Tonight we celebrate the return of Giulietta and Luca…" everyone at the train station cheered.

As everyone celebrated outside of the Marcovaldo's house, Pasta was being served, music played and everyone danced. As the trio of kids were laughing it up, Alberto couldn't help but stare at Giulia's bedroom window. Something about him felt concerned for the girl that was resting up in the room. He only hopes for her to be okay

"Alberto…Are you okay?" Luca asked him, making him snap out of his trance.

"Yeah…you've been staring at my window for the past ten minutes…" Giulia added.

Alberto stammered for a little while but he got straight to the point

"There's something I need to show you guys…" Alberto got up from his seat and waltzed his way inside the house with his two best friends following after him.

When they got to Giulia's room, He gently hushed them and slowly opened the door, revealing the young, beautiful girl lying in the bed.

"You brought a girl into my room," Giulia whispered.

"Well...Massimo and I found her while we were out getting fish...Her raft was just floating there...She's been asleep since we found her…"

Then Luca crept closer to get a good look at her. Her position reminded him of something he read at school.

"Santa ricotta...She must've been shipwrecked…" Giulia quietly exclaimed.

"Shipwrecked?" both boys asked.

"She must've been...You found her out in the ocean...so there has to be a ship nearby...Did you see anyone else…" Giulia asked.

"No...just her...But wait...that's not the best part about her…" Alberto grabbed a cup of water and slowly dipped her hand in the water, revealing her scales.

"She's a sea monster...but what was she doing on the raft…" Luca wondered.

"I don't know, let's ask her…" Alberto was about to open his mouth but Giulia covered it before he could say a word.

"Non Essere un idiota...You're going to wake her up…" Giulia scolded.

"I'm not going to wake her…" Alberto argued.

"You will...especially dipping that water in her hand…" Giulia countered.

"Shh...We should go..." Luca pushed them both out of the room and shut the door behind him, leaving the unconscious girl in the bed alone.

Then the next morning, the trio of kids slept in the room to keep an eye on the girl.

"I don't think she's going to wake up soon…" Luca told them.

"Silenzio Bruno...She'll wake up...We just gotta give her more time." Alberto told his friend. Then He glanced at her and tried to grab for her hand until Massimo came in

"Breakfast is ready…I'll be sure to leave a plate for her when she wakes up…"

The trio of kids followed Massimo to the kitchen and the large man turned on the radio.

Meanwhile, the girl slowly woke up to the sound of the music. She glanced around the room and took a sigh of relief that she was okay.

She slowly got out of bed and took a few slow steps around the room. One step, however, managed to be a yowl from Machiavelli who was watching her too. She screamed, stumbling backward out of the window. She landed in a heap of wood, rubbing her back and looking around the backyard. Then she heard a yell from upstairs

"SANTA MOZZARELLA ARE YOU OKAY?!" she heard a girl scream. She saw a red-haired girl and two boys making their way towards her.

"Yes...I'm okay...Just had a little fall…" Alberto and Luca helped her up. "Thank you…"

"I gotcha…" Alberto held onto her and the two of them lock eyes for the first time.

Then Massimo stormed outside hearing the scream and saw that the girl was finally awake from her brief coma.

Then they all sat at the table beginning to question her.

"How long was I asleep…" the girl asked.

"Since yesterday when my dad and I rescued you...You were just floating in a raft in the middle of the ocean...We thought you were dead for a minute but now you're wide awake and beautiful…" Alberto blushed, covering his mouth at the last word he just said. The girl blushed too hearing the compliment.

"Well thank you so much for saving me…" the girl said appreciatively.

"Signori...do you know what happened when you were floating on the raft...on your own…" Massimo asked.

"Well I remember a large ship and a horrible storm...but...I can't remember anything else…"

"That's all you remember…" Luca asked. The girl nodded. Then Alberto jumped in front of her.

"Alberto Scorfano…" then Luca pushed him out of the way a little

"I'm Luca Paguro…"

"And I'm Giulia Marcovaldo…" the trio of kids held out their hands to her which she took.

"It's nice to meet all of you...Oh I'm sorry my name is Agnes Russo…" then Alberto pridefully stepped in front of her again

"Piacere Girolamo Trombetta...It's a human thing...I'm kind of an expert…"

Agnes tilted her head. "What does it mean... since you're an expert and all…"

"Well...I…"

"So you don't know what it means?" Agnes tilted her head.

"That's not the point...anyway...where did you come from in the first place…"

"Well the ship I was sailing in was a little more north from here and...well I'm from a circus…"

"A circus…" all three kids exclaimed.

"Yes...When my mother and father died I was all alone...I lived in the northeastern waters...I went up to the surface to get some food but then everything changed...the circus came and took me away…"

"Wait, you're saying that the circus kidnapped you…" Luca asked her. She slowly nodded her head.

"I guess the storm finally gave me that chance to escape…"

"Well I don't know about you but I'm gonna…" Alberto pointed a thumb outside.

"Please don't send me away...I have nowhere else to go...and I don't really have any friends to turn to…" Giulia then gained sympathy from her.

"Well, Why don't you stay with us…" The curly redhead suggested.

"You really let me…" Agnes beamed.

"Wait a minute Giulietta...We don't know about this girl…" Massimo pointed out

"Wait...Sir...maybe I can work here...I promise I'll do my best…" then Alberto scoffed.

"So you're saying if we let you stay here...You'll work for us…"

"I'll clean...I can cook a little...but please don't send me away…" Agnes begged.

Then Alberto changed his tune, seeing that the ebony-haired girl was on her knees begging to stay. He turned to the others who nodded their heads. Then he turned to her and nodded his head. Agnes smiled and tried to get up but slipped from her skirt and Alberto caught her in his arms. The two lock eyes for the second time, even when Alberto picked her up and placed her feet on the ground

"Yeah you can stay here…" Alberto blushed, clearing his throat. Giulia smiled, seeing Alberto beginning to crack around Agnes. then Agnes pulled Alberto in for a hug.

"Thank you so much..." She said gratefully. Alberto wanted to hug her back but he shook himself off of her.

"Come on...there's no time to waste…" Alberto walked outside, trying to shake off any feelings he had from before. Agnes frowned and walked after him, already regretting what she got herself into