Character Profile: Date: 31st December (13 years after Graduation)
Rikki Bennett: Birthday-1st October. Age 31. Works at her café with her husband, Zane.
Zane Bennett: Birthday- 30th November.Age 32. Works at his café with his wife, Rikki.
Charlie Bennett: Age 7. Leila is her identical twin sister. She is older by three minutes.
Birthday: 4 June. Blonde curly hair, blue eyes.
Leila Bennett: Age 7. Charlie is her identical twin sister. She is younger by three minutes.
Birthday: 4 June. Blonde curly hair, blue eyes.
Alex Bennett: Age 4. Jay is his identical twin brother. He is older by five minutes.
Birthday: 13 December. Brown curly hair, blue eyes.
Jay Bennett: Age 4. Alex is his identical twin brother. He is younger by five minutes.
Birthday: 13 December. Brown curly hair, blue eyes.
Cleo McCartney: Birthday: 12 July. Age 31. Works as a dolphin trainer at the marine park with Will.
Lewis McCartney: Birthday: 5 February. Age 31. He marine biologist for the local marine institute. He also has qualifications as a nurse but does not actively pursue the career, it is reserved for when his mer-family needs medical help.
Jennifer McCartney: Birthday: 19 February. Age 7. Blonde hair, tanned skin, brown eyes.
Andrea 'Andy' McCartney: Birthday: 20 April. Age 4. Brown hair, tanned skin, brown eyes.
Emma Dove: Birthday: 15 March. Age 31. Works as primary school teacher (Year 2)
Ash Dove: Birthday: 2 January. Age 33. Works at horse ranch.
Eric Dove: Birthday: 17 May. Age 6. Blonde hair, blue eyes.
Arianna 'Ari' Dove: Birthday: 6 June. Age 3. Blonde hair, brown eyes.
Amelia 'Amy' Dove: Birthday: 5 October. Age 2. Brown hair, brown eyes.
Isabella 'Bella' Benjamin: Birthday: 6 December. Age 31. Works as a high school music teacher.
William 'Will' Benjamin': Birthday: 9 June. Age 31. Works as a dolphin trainer at the Marine Park with Cleo.
Jacob Benjamin: Birthday: 31 March. Age 7. Wavy blonde hair, grey eyes.
Stefani Benjamin: Birthday: 27 October. Age 2. Wavy blonde hair, blue eyes.
Anna Charles: Birthday: 7 April. Age 31. Works as an architect.
Robert 'Ben' Charles: Birthday: 14 August. Age 32.
Daniel Charles: Birthday: 3 March. Age 5. Strawberry-blonde hair, green eyes.
Madeline 'Maddie' Charles: Birthday: 18 July. Age 3. Red hair, green eyes.
Natalie Charles: Birthday: 21 January. Age 2. Red hair, hazel eyes.
Chapter 30
Two months had passed since everyone had been reunited after the stranded on the island fiasco. During that time, everyone had been finding their feet, a family again. It was now the last day of the year. The kids had all been thrilled when it was finally summer holidays time. Two weeks of no school work and they had been swimming to their hearts content.
Christmas was a blast. Each family had fun with their respective parents, away from Mako for a change. The Charles' had gone to Sydney to spend Christmas with Ben's sister and her family.
That night (being New Year 's Eve) they would release fireworks over the water and continue with their yearly tradition of races and friendly mermaid competitions. Of course, the humans had their own small competitions as well. This year all the parents would be coming over, everyone was free this year. Besides, they wouldn't pass up a chance to see their grandchildren. Anna's parents would be coming over especially. They felt a visit was well over due. They felt quite bad that they had only seen Natalie once – when she was born; it was now almost two years later. Fred, Kelly and Perry were also over for the day, they had just arrived. Their guests would all be staying the night in the spare house recently created and furnished.
"Mum? Could I please go with the guys out swimming?" Eric asked Emma with bright eyes.
"How far would you be going?" Emma asked her son.
"Not too far. We want to explore the reefs around Mako."
"Who is going with you?"
"Jenny, Jake, Perry, Dan, Leila, Charlie, Andy and me." Eric said quickly.
"Well, I'm sure if you all stick together it'll be alright. Don't spend too long or go too far. I trust you honey," Emma was not sure whether she should let her six year old and the other youngsters go exploring by themselves, but she knew they were smart enough. As long as they stuck together they'd be fine.
Meanwhile the twins were having the same conversation with their parents. Jennifer, Andy and Jake already had permission from their parents, in fact Cleo had suggested it. She knew that they were responsible and would enjoy a day out on the reef.
Rikki and Zane were sitting in the living room watching the TV; Zane's arm was protectively around Rikki's middle. Leila and Charlie approached their parents.
"Mum, Dad?" they said in unison.
"Yeah?" Zane asked.
"Could we go swim on the reef with the others?" Charlie asked.
"Sure. Just make sure you don't go too far." Rikki said and then looked back at the TV.
"Yes!" Charlie and Leila hi-fived each other.
"Would it be safe?" Zane asked Rikki, not too enthusiastic.
"Come on Zane, it's just the reef, they're old enough." Rikki turned to Charlie and Leila. "Girls, just make sure that your brothers don't come." She said quietly. Alex and Jay had gone outside to play.
They nodded solemnly.
Charlie and Leila met up with the others, they had all got permission and all had been told not to go too far or spend too long. The group began walking down to the beach. They passed the twin brothers on the way out of the village.
"Where are you going?" Alex asked.
"Nowhere." Leila replied quickly.
"You are going somewhere." Jay said.
"You can't come." Charlie said.
'Why not?"
"Cos Mum said so."
"You guys are meanies." Alex whined.
"You can't come!" Eric said, "You need your parents' permission. You aren't old enough."
"Go back home." Charlie said. The group continued walking. They all sighed with annoyance when they saw Alex and Jay still following.
"You aren't allowed to come!" Leila said.
"We are coming."
"No."
"Yes!"
"No!"
"Yes!"
"Guys!" Jennifer interrupted. "They are not going to go away. Take your brothers back to Rikki, we'll wait for you."
"Fine." Leila and Charlie said in unison. "Come on you two."
"We aren't going home," Alex whined.
"Yes you are,"
After a lot of persistence, the twins finally got the troublesome younger twins back home, and finally the group got down to the beach. The reef was beautiful, this sea life abundant. They swum back and forth over the reef and in and out of the moon pool. Their parents really hadn't needed to worry at all. After about an hour, Rikki and Emma came swimming as well. Alex and Jay had worn Rikki down and Emma had felt like a swim anyway, as did the headstrong Arianna. A short while later all the mers were swimming together like one big happy family. It was days like these that made them eternally grateful for becoming mermaids and mermen.
OoOoO
Fireworks lit up the coast as everyone celebrated New Year's Eve. After the fireworks the kids were tucked up in bed. Once that was done with the adults returned to the beach for the count-down to midnight.
Tradition upheld as when the countdown reached zero, all the couples kissed as Terry let off another few fireworks. They loved New Year's.
OoOoO
After a sleep in, they all drifted into the dining hall at different times.
"I'm so hungry! I haven't eaten since last year!" Jennifer exclaimed dramatically, the other kids caught on immediately. The adults all found this cute.
"This is the first time we've all seen each other since last year," Jake said. They continued with these sayings.
After breakfast the kids all spent valuable time with their grandparents, especially the Charles' kids.
"They all really have grown," Anna's father commented to her.
OoOoO
A few days later, it was Ash's thirty-fourth birthday.
Ash opened his eyes to see his wife coming into the room.
"Good morning," Emma said smiling "Happy Birthday,"
His eyes drifted to what she was carrying.
"What's this?"
"Breakfast in bed."
He sat up and she placed the tray of breakfast on his lap. She sat beside him and kissed his cheek.
Just then, three kids raced into the room and pounced on their father. Emma saved the tray of food just in time.
"Happy Birthday Daddy," Arianna said.
"Happy Birthday," Eric said. Not to be left out Amelia added a birthday wish of her own.
"Thanks kids," he smiled.
"We have your presents Daddy," Arianna said.
"Okay, which one should I open first?" Ash asked them.
"Mine!" Eric said.
"No mine!" Arianna argued.
"How about he opens my present first?" Emma said to resolve the argument.
They nodded.
Emma had placed the tray of breakfast on the bedside table and had returned with a large wrapped parcel.
"No way! Is this custom made?" Ash asked
"Yeah, I took the measurements and you wanted a new saddle so…"
"It's just what I wanted. Thank you." He kissed his wife firmly.
Ash took Eric's present next. "Wow, thanks Eric," Inside was a new shirt, it looked like Emma had picked it out. He gave Emma a hidden look of acknowledgement.
Arianna had some chocolate for him and Amy had drawn a picture for him at pre-school. (She had just started along with the other pre-schoolers in the village. Their parents thought it was about time that they went back to work full-time.)
"Come here," he said opening his arms. Emma smiled at the sight of her kids and their father embracing.
A/N: Please review!