"Do you think he's alright?" Ariel asked Eric as she swam around their bedroom.

"Ariel, we just got back two hours ago. Let him rest for now. We'll have plenty of time to spend with Tristan.

"You're right," she said with a sigh and sat on the bed.

"I have to meet with Triton about some Great Whites he just caught terrorizing some of the northern neighborhoods," Eric informed her. He kissed Ariel's cheek before taking off into the ocean.

Ariel sunk her head in her hands and thought about Tristan. She wished she could have him close to her.

"Hello?" a voice said from the door. Ariel's eyes lit up.

"Tristan! Come in!" she told him cheerfully.

"I'm sorry to disturb you. I got a little lost trying to find you- this place is huge!"

"I know," Ariel giggled to herself, "Come, sit with me." Ariel motioned toward the large clam bed. Tristan sat beside Ariel. He found himself staring at her whenever she wasn't looking at him. Ariel couldn't keep her eyes off of him, off of her only son.

"I couldn't sleep; it's too early out. Celia is in poor shape, but Queen Athena says she's hopeful she'll make a quick recovery."

"That's wonderful news, dear."

"I just wanted to talk to you and Eric a bit more. The ride from the Arctic seemed to go so fast," he admitted.

"We're always here for you- anytime. Honestly, I can't get enough time with you," Ariel reached over and took hold of his hand.

"I still can't believe all that's happened in such a short time. A few weeks ago, I was barely scraping by, not knowing when my next meal would be. Sometimes I could find some jobs here and there, on sea or on land, to buy bread or sponge kelp. Now, everything has changed. I have everything I could ever ask for. How am I so lucky? Why me?"

"Oh, Tristan, it was just meant to be. You're meant to be with us- you should've been with us all of this time. I should've gone back to check the grotto. I was so young and didn't know any better. I didn't know how everything worked. I hope you can forgive me one day, but I will never forgive myself for what you've been through," Ariel began to cry.

"No, no- don't cry. My life has been great. I've known no other life to compare it to. I'm blessed to get it now instead of never. What if I hadn't chased those crabbers onto the pier? What if I had never met Melody? What if you didn't take in a hurt stranger? I would've never found you. It's scary to think of never knowing you now that I've met you-" he told her, his eyes tearing up.

"Would you mind if I- well, if I held you for a little while?" Ariel asked hesitantly.

"Sure," Tristan responded, not sure what else to say. His heart began to beat nervously; he was afraid he'd start crying again.

Ariel laid on her side, pulling Tristan along with her. He laid flat on his back while Ariel snuggled herself over the side of his body. She wrapped an arm around his head and stroked his thick red hair that felt a lot like hers. She looked down at him from above like she would a baby. Her breasts pushed up against the side of his face, and she stroked his face with the other hand.

"Is this comfortable for you, sweetheart?" Ariel asked sweetly. Tristan nodded his head. It was a little awkward for him at first, but he became more and more comfortable with each stroke of his cheek. Ariel gazed down at him lovingly and kissed his cheek.

"My beautiful boy," she whispered as she caressed him, rocking herself ever so slightly. "You have your father's nose," she said and kissed the tip of Tristan's nose, "And his handsome smile and chin. You have my eyes, my mother's eyes." Ariel began to hum a soft lullaby, and Tristan turned his head toward her chest; he could feel her voice vibrating against his cheek. Tristan closed his eyes, imagining himself as a little boy in his mother's arms.

"Whose lips do I have?" Tristan asked.

"Hmm, I'm not sure," Ariel said, staring at his lips- she ran her fingers across his bottom lip. She brought her face nearer to his and gave his lips a soft kiss. Tristan exhaled deeply, relaxing into his mother's arms.

"I love you," she told him, "I love you so much, my baby boy." Ariel could feel herself starting to tear up again. "I'll never get tired of telling you how much I love you. Your father loves you, too- so much. He's always wanted a boy. Everyone said Melody was a boy, but I always knew she was a girl. My perfect little girl, she was so beautiful. Now you're my perfect little boy. I'm so lucky to have you. I love you, I love you." Ariel covered Tristan's face with kisses.

"Thank you, Ariel," Tristan smiled, with his eyes still closed.

"Call me 'mom', please," she told him.

"Mom," he laughed, "Mommy."

"Is that funny?" she laughed, "Or call me whatever you'd like. I'm just so happy that you're here with us."

Tristan turned his body toward her and wrapped an arm around her waist.

"I love you, Mom," Tristan whispered before drifting off to sleep. Ariel cried as she watched her son fall asleep in her arms for the first time.

"Ariel, food is ready," Eric walked into the room to find both Tristan and bed asleep in bed. He grabbed a blanket off of the shelf and draped it over the two of them. He watched his son sleeping beside his beautiful wife- both with beautiful red hair. Eric wanted time with Tristan just as much as Ariel did. He wished he could cuddle him and hold him until he fell asleep. Eric pictured himself rocking Tristan to sleep as a baby or wrestling with him as a boy, teaching him how to ride a horse, how to pull a chair out for a lady, how to properly duel with a sword, how to sail, and how to draw a girl in for his first kiss.

"Dad is here when you wake," Eric whispered into his ear and gave him a soft kiss on his cheek.

"Eric?" Tristan whispered, turning his head slightly.

"I'm your dad, son. Just rest, alright?"

"Can you- lay with us?" Tristan asked quietly. Eric smiled and gently laid down beside Tristan, cradling Tristan's back against his chest.

"I feel like I'm in a dream," Tristan whispered, trying not to wake a sleeping Ariel.

"Me too," Eric told him, "I love you, son."

Melody found herself bored as she laid in her seashell bed that evening. Neither her parents nor Tristan had been at dinner or anywhere to be seen earlier in the day, not that she had been looking for them. She decided to swim by their side of the tower.

"Mom? Dad?" she called out before swimming into their room. She found her father, mother, and new brother holding each other as they slept. "That's so weird," she said to herself. She decided it would be best if she didn't wake them. They wouldn't be up until morning, and even then, it would take a while for them to notice where she was. She decided to go up to the surface; she had someone she had wanted to see.

"Emmett?" Melody called out, knocking on a second-story window. She watched as Emmett closed his book, hopped out of bed, and rushed toward the window.

"Melody?!" he beamed, happy to see her again for the first time in days. He wasn't sure how long she'd be gone.

"Oh!" she jumped off the carpet and into his arms. Emmett smiled as he embraced her closely, his head resting on hers. Her familiar scent of the ocean made him feel glad to have her back in his arms.

"I missed you," she whispered.

"Not as much as I missed you," Emmett responded and squeezed her tightly.

"Are you alright, darling?" the door to Emmett's room suddenly opened, and in walked Alice. Emmett and Melody separated quickly. "Oh, your highness," she bowed, "I didn't realize you were here."

"Hello," Melody nodded politely with a smile, a little nervous.

"I'll get your room ready for you," Alice said.

"That's alright," Melody stopped her, "I won't be staying long. I just uh- came by to uh-"

"That's alright, dear," Alice smiled, "I'll leave you two be." With that, she closed the door.

"Oh, no!" Melody felt mortified and began to laugh. Emmett started laughing as well.

"It's alright, I think- everything is fine," Emmett reassured her. He pulled her into his arms again and tilted her chin up.

Melody tiptoed and planted a firm wet kiss on his lips. He dropped his hands to her waist.

"Have you had a girl in your room before?"

"Never."

Melody pressed herself against him, and Emmett loved feeling her breasts against his chest. He kissed her desperately, passionately. Their tongues forged together as small whimpers escaped her throat.

"You're making it hard for me to control myself, princess," Emmett huffed between kisses. Melody ran her hand down his shirt and over his pants.

She took a firm hold of him in her hand over his pants and tugged gently.

"Don't," she told him.

"I'll lock the door," he smiled. Just as he turned around to lock the door, it flew open, and in walked Hugh and Lauren.

"Melody!" Lauren cheered, running toward her.

"Your highness," Hugh bowed his head. "Em, I need to talk to you out in the hall." Hugh pulled his brother out of the room and away from the earshot of the others.

"What? What is it, Hugh?"

"Do you have any idea what you're doing?"

"What?"

"Have you ever been with a woman before?"

"No- so? I-"

"Yeah, bad idea. You're going to mess this one up, brother. You can't have your first time with the woman you actually want. You have to practice a few times, first."

"Oh, come on. You're the one ruining things for me right now- trying to get in my head," Emmett pushed him away.

"Listen, everything is fine, okay?" Hugh placed his hands on Emmett's shoulders.

"Alright," Emmett listened.

"Women like men who take charge and know what they're doing. Trust your body- she's yours, make her feel yours. Grab her like she's yours, kiss her like she belongs only to you. Olivia likes her hair pulled on a little," Hugh whispered.

"Really? Weird-"

"Listen, women take a little while longer to heat up than we do. Don't just jam it in; take your time. She'll tell you what feels good. Ask her what she wants," Hugh continued. Emmett nodded. "Wait until she's wet, really wet- that's how you know when to go in."

"Alright, Hugh," Emmett said impatiently, eager to get back to Melody. Lauren ran out of the bedroom.

"Bye, Melody!" Lauren called out.

"I have to go, Hugh," Emmett told him impatiently.

"Good luck!" Hugh called out.

"Mel?" Emmett asked as he walked into his room and didn't find Melody there.

"She told me to tell you she had to go," Lauren informed him.

"What?!" he looked around the room as if she'd magically appear, "Get out of my room! Get out!"

"Did she leave? Sorry, man," Hugh said from the doorway. Emmett slammed his heavy, wooden door and locked it shut.

He felt his blood boil, angry and upset that he had lost his opportunity with Melody, and he wasn't sure when he'd see her again. She's probably halfway to Atlantica by now, he thought to himself.

He thought he'd still be aroused as he jumped into bed, but he wasn't. Hugh and Lauren ruin everything, he thought. Mom probably told them.

As he turned his lantern up and opened his book, a note fell out of the pages and onto his lap.

JUMP!

"Jump?" he read it aloud. His heart raced. It was from Melody! He rushed to the window and looked around. He didn't see or hear anything. There was no sign of Melody. He looked down at the hedges below him and calculated his possible fall. I must be crazy, he thought. He put his boots on and looked out the window.

He climbed up onto the windowsill, took a deep breath, and jumped.

Tristan opened his eyes that evening and gave a big yawn. He found himself face to face with Ariel's chest and the weight of Eric's arm draped over him. He didn't want to move; he wanted to stay that way forever. He imagined himself as a little boy being cuddled by them, going everywhere they go, watching everything they do, wanting to spend as much with them as humanly possible. He shifted over from his side to his back, making Ariel and Eric shift as well.

"Oh, gosh- it's the evening," Ariel said worriedly.

"We must've slept all afternoon," Eric looked at her and smiled. It warmed her heart to see him there with her son.

"Darling, you must be starved. I'll see what Octochef has prepared for dinner- we must've missed it," Ariel told Tristan. "When did you join us?" she asked Eric.

"I asked him to," Tristan said sleepily with a smile. Ariel hovered over Tristan's body to meet Eric's face for a kiss.

"I love you," Ariel told Eric, with sincerity in her eyes.

"I love you, too. Ariel, I'm so sorry," Eric began.

"I'm sorry, too," she answered and kissed him again. Tristan watched as his parents kissed over him. It was sweet at first, but then it was a little weird since they were just inches away from his face. He wondered what they were apologizing for.

"Let's go eat as a family," Eric said, first to get out of bed.

"Where's Melody?" Ariel asked.

"I could've sworn I just saw her here when I woke up. She was just leaving," Tristan said.

"Oh, then, she's probably around here somewhere," Ariel said.

"So, Tristan, who took care of you when you were on land? You mentioned the Baker's wife?" Ariel asked as she and Tristan ate at a smaller table in one of the lounges.

"She's not in her room, and I can't find her anywhere," Eric swam into the room.

"It's alright, darling, just sit with us. She'll turn up," Ariel said casually, eager for Tristan's response.

"Yes, the Baker's wife. She found me when I was a boy."

"How old were you?" Ariel asked.

"I'm not sure. I don't know how old I am now, to be honest with you."

"What is your birthdate?" Eric asked. Tristan shook his head.

"I've never had a birthday," Tristan laughed; birthdays seemed silly.

"Alright, well, how long does it take for mermaid eggs to hatch?" Eric asked Ariel.

"I believe it's 24-25 weeks- six months?" Ariel guessed, "You were conceived a few months after our wedding."

"So, he was hatched in the summertime," Eric thought out loud.

"July? August? Mother may know," Ariel said.

"Tristan, you're nineteen years old," Eric informed him.

"So, the Baker's wife raised you on land? How was she with you?"

"She was great. She found me crying on the pier one morning after a bad storm. Celia and my mother had migrated south for the summer, and I can't swim as fast as they can. The Baker's wife took me in, showed me how to read and write. The Baker hated me, but it kept her busy and out of his way from fall to spring until my mother returned. They couldn't have children of their own," Tristan told them.

"He was right in town this whole time, Eric," Ariel almost began to cry.

"It was really alright, Ariel. I had plenty of love and plenty of food once I met the Baker's wife."

"Are you still in touch with her?"

"Uh, not exactly," Tristan placed his hand behind his head the way Eric did when he was nervous or about to lie.

"What happened?" Ariel glared at him.

"Well, over the years, I grew up and became more aware of my body. I started getting attention from girls and women alike," he said nervously.

"Like your father," Ariel said, now glaring at Eric.

"What did I do?!" Eric exclaimed.

"What happened?" Ariel asked again.

"Well, she'd ask me a lot of questions about girls I liked or if I liked any of them. She had friends asking her questions about me. I could tell it upset her or made her jealous. One day during a reading lesson, I just kissed her, and she kissed me back."

"What?! Kissed you?! How old were you? You were just a baby."

"This was a few years ago. Maybe 3 or 4 winters ago. We did more than kiss," Tristan confessed. Eric smiled to himself, proud of his son.

"Oh, no. You didn't!" Ariel covered her mouth.

"Yeah, we did. A lot. Are you sure you want to hear more?... Alright. She was my first, and it went on for two years or so. I was baffled about my feelings for her. I loved her as my caretaker, but I couldn't help but notice other women as well. Women in town were always great to me, mermaids as well. Anyway, it all ended when the Baker found us one day. Chased me out of town while I was completely naked. I jumped off the cliff into the ocean. He said he'd kill me if he ever saw me again. A few other husbands weren't too happy with me either." Tristan laughed. Eric laughed as well, listening attentively.

"That's not funny, Tristan!" Ariel lectured him.

"It's not my fault. I had no one teaching me between right and wrong," Tristan said slyly. Ariel pursed her lips and then let out a giggle.

"Tell me more about your mother who raised you in the ocean, the seal."

"She was the sweetest. I wish you'd met. You would've loved her. She had Celia a few months before they found me in that hole. I drank seal milk for almost two years. I don't know what's in that hole, but I must've fallen in as a baby. I didn't know my letters would ever reach you in there. How did you find them? How did you know to look?"

"We didn't know any better. That's your mother's secret place where one day we- uh, just didn't know any better. We went back to search for an egg later that day and didn't see anything," Eric explained.

"It's my grotto, where I kept all of my things, my human things. I should've gone back at least once," Ariel said to herself.

"So, you're a human and you're a mermaid, right? And you met when you were sixteen and eighteen. And you, Ariel, somehow became a human?" Tristan tried to piece the puzzle together.

"Oh son, there's so much to tell you."

"So much," Ariel echoed.

"Tell me everything about you," Tristan beamed, "I want to know it all. What was it like growing up? How did you meet? Did you love each other right away? Did you face any challenges? What do you enjoy doing? How were you when you were my age? I just want to know it all!"

"And we're both dying to know more about you, what you like and don't like," Ariel said.

"Well, I'm wide awake," Tristan laughed as he took another bite of his meal.

"It's weird being back in your room," Emmett told her moments after they hopped off the carpet and into Melody's newly decorated bedroom. The night sky was cool and crisp behind them.

"Weird? Why's that?" she asked as she moved more closely toward him.

"I don't know. I guess, I never really thought I'd ever see it from the inside, and after that night, I figured it might have been a one-time occurrence."

"We could make it a more frequent occurrence," she said slyly, tossing her arms over his shoulders.

Emmett took her by the waist and kissed her desperately. Melody loved how tall and strong he was and how much he had to bend forward to kiss her. She felt her privates burning for him and pressed her hips against his thigh.

"Mhh," she moaned, pulling away. She walked toward her desk and opened the drawer.

"What's your favorite book?" Emmett asked nervously, making chit-chat.

"I want you to draw me," she told him. She pulled a stack of thick sketch papers from her desk and some pieces of pressed charcoal.

"Draw you?" he echoed. Melody pressed the papers and charcoal to his chest until he grabbed them.

"Yes," she said, tossing herself on the large bed adorned with silk linens. She had on a plain, light blue dress with a dark blue bodice, a bit of her cleavage exposed.

"Now?" he asked, adjusting himself in his pants subtly.

Melody sat up against her pillows with her elbows propped beside her as she stuck her chest out. She slowly parted her feet and bent one knee up, exposing her soft, smooth legs. Emmett pulled his boots off and sat down at the foot of her bed with his legs in toward him. He rested the papers against his propped thigh and watched as she inched her feet closer to him.

"Draw what you see," she told him, with a sultry look in her eye. Her long dark hair fell forward over her chest, and she lowered the neckline of her dress, exposing her shoulders. Melody's foot gently pressed against his thigh and made its way up to his covered bulge. Emmett swallowed hard as she pressed her toes softly against his pants.

Emmett got comfortable as he began pressing the charcoal to the paper. He started with her face and neck.

"Don't make me look like a little girl," she said. He smirked at how much she sounded like his sister, Lauren.

"You're going to be the death of me," he told her, referring to her foot rubbing him over his throbbing erection.

"I've spent so many hours wondering what it was like to kiss someone, anyone," she started telling him. "I'd lie awake at night, thinking about the first kiss and when it would happen."

"Are you happy with the outcome?" he asked her.

"I've replayed that night in my head over and over again. It was perfect," she said.

"You're perfect," he blurted, drawing her hair and her lips parted.

"The following night, as well. I felt your eyes on me all night."

"I'm always looking at you," he said, drawing the details of her collar bones and the tops of her chest. Melody felt suddenly bashful but then turned it into nervous energy.

"Let me see what you're doing," she said, leaning forward and then crawling over to him at the end of the bed. She hovered over him and looked at herself on the paper. She looked beautiful, sexy, and sultry.

"I'm not finished," he told her with a smile. She leaned in and kissed him, lapping a few circles around his tongue.

"This might help for the next part," she told him and released her arms from her dress. Emmett's heart raced, wondering whether she would show him- show him her precious breasts.

"Wow," he whispered to himself quietly as Melody slowly inched the fabric down her chest, revealing two full, bouncy breasts with light tan nipples just inches from his face.

"Can you see them well enough?" she asked seductively. He swallowed hard and nodded before outlining the shapes of her breasts on the paper.

"You're so talented," she continued, watching him draw the circles of her chest, an inner one, then an outer one, and some shading around the sides.

"Have you ever seen breasts before?" she asked him curiously. Emmett wanted to say only his mother's when he was a child; she was always very free with her body.

"No."

"Would it help your drawing if you tasted them?" Melody asked innocently. Emmett adjusted himself again, feeling the fabric around his erection ready to tear open. He bent forward a bit and kissed the tip of her nipple before giving it a hard lick with his tongue.

"Ohhh," Melody felt her entire body shudder with arousal as she pressed her chest closer to his face.

"This might help," Emmett huffed and covered her entire nipple with his mouth. He sucked on it gently at first and then a little harder.

"Oh, my!" Melody moaned loudly and pulled his head against her chest, digging her fingers into his silky, golden hair. She had wondered for so long what it was like to have her breasts licked.

"Let's keep going," she sighed, pulling away. He clenched his jaw in frustration and picked up the charcoal again. "Ready to see more?" she asked. He didn't respond.

Melody undid her bodice and slipped the dress down her hips, tossing it to the floor. All she had on were short, white bloomers.

"Want to take these off of me?" She asked.

"If I put this charcoal down, I'm not picking it back up again," he responded sternly, and was a bit annoyed.

"Fine," she responded and slid the bloomers down her hips and over her firm buttocks.

Emmett felt his mouth water at the first glimpse of her plump slit. She sat up in her bed and slowly spread her knees open, allowing him to see all of her. "What? Say something," she added insecurely.

"You're- breathtaking," he stared in awe before putting the charcoal to paper again. He filled page after page of Melody in different positions, one more seductive than the next.

"Is it what you expected?"

"Better," he smirked. "Last page," he told her after a couple of hours of sexual agony.

"The sun is coming out, we've been up all night. Any requests?"

"Hmm, get on all fours- okay, but face away from me. Okay, now spread your legs open. Oh my god, yes… Now, place your head on the pillow and leave your hips up. Yes!"

Emmett drew her round buttocks, widened hips and a small bulging clitoris peeking through her slit.

"You can see everything in this position," she whined, a little embarrassed.

"Everything," he echoed, drawing in the shadows around her tiny back hole.

"Okay, that's enough," Melody said after a few minutes, "Take your clothes off."

Emmett put the paper and charcoal down and raised an eyebrow. "Well?" she asked.

"I'm not going to undress myself," he told her, "You're going to have to do it."

"Are you sleepy at all?" she asked him.

"Not one bit."

There was a sudden commotion in the hall and what sounded like deep voices.

Melody's eyes went wide, and Emmett was frozen in place, trying to listen.

"Princess Melody isn't here, your highness, we would've seen her come in," one of the servants said outside the door.

"It's my dad! Let's get out of here!" Melody jumped off the bed with one of the bedsheets around her naked body.

"Melody!" Eric pounded on the door. Emmett rushed off the bed and looked for somewhere to hide in a panic.

"Come on, let's go," Melody whispered to him, opening the window and jumping onto the magic carpet.

"Open the door," she heard her father say, and keys began to jingle near the keyhole.

Eric burst through the door to find no one there and the window wide open. He ran to the window and there was no sign of her.

"I can't believe my father almost caught us," Melody laughed maniacally.

"That was terrifying," Emmett huffed, his heart still racing.

"Are you afraid of my dad?" she jeered at him.

"I'm afraid of all fathers of daughters."

They flew above the town and over some nearby hills, then back over the ocean.

"You're still naked," he reminded her.

"I know," she responded bashfully, "I have to go before my dad returns to Atlantica. Carpet, take me over Atlantica, please."

"When will I see you again?" Emmett asked worriedly.

"I'm not sure, soon," she told him, leaning in for a kiss.

Tristan sat on the edge of the clam bed as he watched Celia sleep. She hadn't woken up since the battle with Morgana the day before, and there were many things Tristan was dying to know. He also longed to see Sienna again, although he now understood she didn't truly exist.

"Hey," Melody said near the door.

"Mel! Hey! Everyone's been worried sick about you," he told her.

"Oh, I just woke up very early and went for a swim this morning."

"Ah," he responded, knowing it was a blatant lie.

"I was with Emmett," she confessed.

"Alright," he shrugged, as if it wasn't his business.

"How is she doing? Has she woken up yet?"

"Not yet- but Queen Athena says she's on the mend.

"That's good, she'll be awake soon. She's been through a lot."

"I hope so, everyone here has been so kind to us. Growing up we only had each other."

"You've found your family now, Tristan. It's quite the family to belong to," Melody rolled her eyes.

"It hasn't hit me yet. My mother- I've thought about her my entire life. I pictured her singing to me and holding me close. It just feels good to know finally," he said, almost beginning to tear up.

"Oh, Tristan-"

"Lunch is served, your highnesses," a tiny seahorse announced briefly and swam away.

Tristan had missed breakfast that morning because he had slept in after a long night of being up talking to Ariel and Eric.

The dining room was large and majestic, much like the rest of the castle and the table and clam seats were made entirely of gold. There were at least thirty seats, the king and queen at opposite ends, seven seats for each of the seven daughters, times two for their husbands and countless cousins.

"Tristan, my boy!" King Triton bellowed, "Come join us! We missed you at breakfast this morning!"

"Hi," Tristan said nervously, adjusting to the new environment. A few of his female cousins giggled at each other and Athena waved him over to her end of the table.

"Come on, we sit on this end," Melody explained, leading him by the arm. "The daughters of Triton sit in birth order from oldest to youngest. My mom- our mom, is the youngest. They sit with their families in the same order, so we're always at the end- near grandmother."

"There is so much food!" he exclaimed.

"I know, every meal is a feast here at the castle," Melody took a seat in the opposite side of the table, adjacent to the queen. She motioned for him to sit across from her.

"Oh, darling, you're here! I was just looking for you," Ariel said as she swam into the dining room.

"Yeah, mom, I went for a swim this morning," Melody responded.

"Melody?! Where were you?"

"Oh, guess you were talking to Tristan and not me. I just said, I went for a swim early this morning. Couldn't sleep."

"Your father just went to look for you at the castle."

"See, I don't know why you both overreact like that. Why did he go all the way to the castle to look for me? It was just a few hours- that doesn't make any sense," Melody responded, a little agitated.

"Melody, your parents have been through a lot recently. We all have. We just want to make sure you're safe," Queen Athena responded.

"When you have children of your own, you'll know what it's like to worry," Alana said to Melody from her seat, her blond, twelve year old son sitting beside her hurling a piece of fruit at his crying, six-year-old sister.

Ariel didn't want to make a fuss, instead she sat beside Tristan and across from her is where Eric usually sat.

"Are we all here?" Triton asked from the end of the table. Athena nodded. "Great! I want to thank everyone for being here this week as we welcome Tristan to our family. As many of you know, Tristan has been a brave, independent, and responsible merman who has had to endure things that many of us couldn't begin to imagine. We've been fortunate to find him and have the pleasure of meeting someone of his great character. Tristan, my grandson, this is now and forever will be your home. Welcome home."

"Thank you- everyone," Tristan said, a little bashfully- unprepared for that touching speech.

"Now, let's eat!" Triton announced, and everyone began to eat.

"How is Celia doing, dear?" Ariel asked Tristan beside her.

"She looks better; I hope she wakes up soon."

"She should. It won't be much longer," the queen added.

"Thank you for all of your help," he told her.

"You don't have to keep thanking us," Athena chuckled, "This is your family. Celia is our family now, too."

A frantic Eric showed up at the entryway to the dining room in a panic. He spotted Melody and swam next to Ariel.

"Where were you?!" he shouted from across the table at Melody.

"What? I went out for an early swim this morning," she lied, defensively.

"Don't lie to me, Melody!" Eric screamed, furiously.

"Eric, calm down," Ariel told him- not used to seeing him so upset. The family around them grew quiet as they listened in.

"I'm not lying!"

"Yes, you are. You were at the castle- who were you with?!"

"No one!"

"Who were you with, Melody?!"

"No one! And what do you care?! I'm sixteen, I'm not a little kid! You're embarrassing me!"

"You're embarrassing yourself!" Eric hissed between his teeth, "I found the drawings!"

Melody's eyes went wide and the blood drained from her face.

"Who drew those pictures, Melody?!"

Melody looked around at her entire family, all looking at her. She felt that they all knew what happened and had seen the pictures themselves.

"I hate you!" Melody screamed, slamming her plate down on the table. She began to swim out of the room.

"Where are you going?" Ariel asked her.

"Leave me alone. I'm not your prisoner!" she yelled, before exiting the room.

There were a few moments of silence before the chatter started up again- everyone back to their previous conversations.

Eric left the room and Ariel swam after him.

Tristan looked around at everyone, confused.

"This table has seen a lot of outbursts," Athena winked at him. Triton looked over at Athena across the long table and smiled.

"What goes around, comes around," he laughed, glad Eric had a sixteen-year-old daughter of his own so he could feel what he felt.

"Eric, what happened?"

Eric took a decorative conch shell off the dresser and violently threw it across the room, smashing it to pieces.

"Eric!"

"You should've seen it, Ariel- those drawings!"

"What drawings?"

"Naked drawings- of Melody! Completely naked!"

"Sshh, Eric, don't let anyone hear that," Ariel told him.

"That's what you're worried about? Not who drew those pictures of her? Not why was she naked with her legs spread wide open for all to see!"

"Eric, you have to calm down," she told him.

"Was it that prince?" Eric began to swim back and forth across the room, "I swear if it's one of George's kids, I'll kill him."

"Eric!"

"Ariel! Our daughter is tainted- ruined! Before marriage!"

"You don't know that," Ariel was trying to calm him down.

"Yes, I do. What else could she have possibly been doing in her bedroom alone with someone completely naked?!"

"It has to be Emmett," he growled, blinded with rage.

"Emmett? How? She did mention one of the guards."

"A guard?! Which one? I'll kill him!"

"Eric! You need to calm down. You're only going to push her away."

"I knew we shouldn't have let her spend time around Elizabeth. I told you, Ariel!"

"You told me?!" Ariel laughed.

"I have to go to Meridian manor. I have to find her and bring her back."

"Eric, give her some time and see what happens. Wait until the afternoon, maybe you can take Tristan with you," Ariel tried to Melody was his worries.

"Melody? What happened?" Emmett jumped up from his bed when Melody appeared in his window.

She ran toward him and threw herself onto his body tightly.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Do you want to be with me? Truly be with me?"

"Yes, of course. You know I do."

"Then, let's do it. Let's just be together. We can leave, see the world!" she pulled him by his arm toward the window.

"Wait- we can't just go," he laughed, nervously.

"Emmett, please, I have to get out of here," she started to cry. Emmett pressed her tightly against his chest as she sobbed lightly.

"It's okay, everything is going to be fine." he said in a calm, comforting voice. "What happened?"

"My dad- he found the drawings you made."

"The drawings? All of the drawings?" Emmett's heart began to race.

The door to Emmett's room opened and in walked Alice.

"Emmett you-"

"Princess, good morning, how are you?"

"Good morning," Melody said, pulling apart from Emmett.

"You didn't spend the night, did you?" Alice asked, curiously.

"No," Melody shook her head.

"No, Mom, she just got here," Emmett explained.

"Alright, well - I'll leave you two. Emmett, you have work to do today. Don't forget. Leave the door open, if you don't mind," Alice said before widening the door and walking out.

"Let's get out of here," Melody whispered.

"I can't," he lamented, "I need to work today."

"What do you mean 'work'?"

"I need to do things around here, and then there's some work down in town, Hugh and I are headed down there after lunch."

"But aren't you tired? You haven't slept."

"I'm exhausted," he laughed, "But, it was worth it." Melody blushed and bit her bottom lip, remembering the last 12 hours. He smiled at Melody and took her hand, "Stay here- with me. Just for a little while. I want to spend time with you."

Melody thought about where she'd even go if they left, she had no idea. She felt more secure in her family's summer manor with a family she's known her entire life- with Emmett most of all.

She let out a slight grin, inviting him to kiss her, and he did- eager to have her there with him and in no hurry.

"So, where will you be?" she asked.

"Out by the barn this morning, then we'll have lunch, then we're heading to town to help repair a roof for the locksmith."

"Repair a roof? You know how to do that?"

"Yes," he laughed.

"Can I come with you?"

"Uh- I'm not sure you'd want to do that. It's only for a few hours. I hope to make a couple of coins. You can come to town with me if you want, but I just don't want you getting hurt. You can wait for me near the fountain."

"Emmett!" Hugh shouted from outside, hurrying his little brother.

"I'll find something to do around here," Melody told him, not too thrilled about waiting around town.

"Lauren might be up to something," he told her, "You're always welcome to join me near the barn."

"Emmett! Wake up!" Hugh shouted again.

"I have to go," he told her before kissing her lightly, lip to lip.

Melody felt suddenly alone in Emmett's room. She didn't expect him to leave and didn't expect him to say no to going with her. She hopped on her carpet and took off.

"There she goes," Hugh said, looking up at the sky at Melody flying away. Emmett looked up and felt crushed, nervous about when he'd see her again. He wondered where she'd go and whether she would be back. He wondered if a small-town life wasn't enough for her and she really did take off to see the world.

"She'll be back," Hugh said, almost reading his mind. "So what happened last night?"

"Nothing."

"What do you mean nothing- did you… do what I told you?"

"Hugh, it's private."

"Oh, you must've been awful," Hugh teased him.

The two young men began gathering bales of hay off of a cart and loading it into the barn.

"Are you okay? What really happened?"

"Okay, I'll tell you- but you can't make light of it."

"You have my word," Hugh told him, earnestly.

"Okay so, we went to the castle- to her room. We kissed a little, but then she said she wanted me to draw her- naked," Emmett stopped to await Hugh's reaction. Hugh raised an eyebrow, speechless.

"So, I did," Emmett continued, "I drew lots of small sketches of her- her body, all night."

"Did you get to do anything else?"

"A little bit, not much, here and there. But then early this morning, her dad started pounding on the door, she's completely naked. We both panicked, hopped on the carpet and left. I came home."

"Wow, man, that's some night."

"Well, that's not the end of it. She showed up this morning saying that Eric found all of the drawings in her bedroom."

"You're dead."

"I know. We hardly did anything, Hugh, I swear," Emmett said nervously, unpacking another bale of hay.

"Hey, I believe you, you have no reason to lie to me. I'm not sure how you're going to cover that up- but, he probably doesn't even know it's you."

"I kissed her in front of him last time I saw her."

"It's fine. Have your fun but, royals aren't a forever thing. Keep that in mind."

"What do you mean?"

"Be realistic. I've told you. Royals don't really love you; it's just an escape for them. A rebellion against their parents and the imaginary pressures of royal life. I was Elizabeth's first, I held her when she cried after it happened. We'd tell each other everything, we wanted to run away. She was all talk, never actually did anything," Hugh told the story regretfully.

"She's crazy, Hugh!"

"I know," he laughed, "But, I love her. I mean- loved her."

"Your mother says lunch is ready," a high-pitched female voice said from behind them.

"Olivia!" Hugh greeted his fiance warmly, "I was wondering when you'd be by today." Olivia walked out without a word.

"Great. She's already mad about the camping trip because Elizabeth was there. She doesn't think we actually went camping."

The two brothers were sweaty as they made their way back to the house.

"What will you do now? To make things better," Emmett asked his older brother.

"She'll be fine. You have to act like nothing's wrong, and she has no reason to be mad. You can't give in. Touch her as much as possible, if she pulls away, grab her like she's yours- dig your fingers into her. Let her know you crave her, get her body hot."

"What if that doesn't work?"

"Give them space, ignore them a little bit," Hugh shrugged.

"Don't you feel bad about what happened with Elizabeth? Bad for Olivia?"

"Nah, we're young. Have fun. Besides, I'm not married yet."

"Then, why get engaged?" Emmett asked, genuinely interested.

"Because- I don't want anyone else to take her. Olivia is the best one out there for me."

Emmett didn't really understand what Hugh meant- he only had one person on his mind, Melody.

"I can't believe she left."

"Royals. She'll be back. In the meantime, get a girl who is around. What about Sarah? Didn't you and her-"

"That was one time," Emmett tried to brush off the comment.

"You were at it for a while."

"I hate drinking with you, and she practically attacked me!"

"Attacked you? What are you, a woman?" Hugh laughed.

They walked through the side door into the kitchen.

"Go wash up for lunch, put some shirts on."

Emmett ran up to the washroom with a bucket of freshwater. His muscles looked swollen from the labor, and his tan skin glistened with sweat. He rinsed his body off with the cool, clean water and then dunked in his bright, golden hair in the wooden pail.

"Hurry up," Hugh showed up at the door. Emmett made his way back to his room, dripping water through the hallway and onto the floor. He searched the room for a clean towel.

"Hi," a voice said from the door. It was Melody, smiling from ear to ear, happy to see him. His heart raced, glad to have her back. He wanted to scoop her up and just hide her away from the world, where they could be together and alone.

"Hey," he said cooly, finding his towel and drying himself off. Melody couldn't help but notice how good he looked shirtless.

"Are you alright?" she asked, noticing a change in his demeanor.

"Yes," he said curtly, busy finding a clean shirt to wear.

"I went home to get some things," she said, looking down at a new dress she was wearing. "Just finished putting it all away. Took me a little while." Emmett glanced over at her but didn't really respond. He got a shirt out from his dresser and slid it on. Melody watched his muscular back contract and disappear beneath the fabric.

"Alright, so I'll see you downstairs, I guess," she said passively and turned to leave. Emmett rushed to Melody and took a stronghold of her arm, pulling her into the room and shutting the door. He wrapped his arm around her waist and dug his fingers into her side, like Hugh had told him. Melody felt breathless, adrenaline suddenly rushing throughout her body. He kissed her roughly, pulling her bottom lip back with his. He plunged his tongue deep into her mouth and Melody welcomed it eagerly.

"Tell your father you're mine and mine alone. You're not going anywhere," he growled against her lips. He kissed her again, squeezing her tightly and rubbing his hand across her covered left breast. He kissed down her chin and to her neck, taking in her fresh scent.

He suddenly released her, opened the door and made his way downstairs.

"Tristan!" King Triton bellowed from the distance, "Come!"

Tristan wasn't used to hearing his name called so often by so many different people. He turned and made his way down the hall toward the throne room. Triton sat majestically at his throne with his trident by his side.

"Meet Thaddeus, your cousin. He's Attina's eldest son. My eldest grandson, next to you now, of course," Triton started, "He's a warrior and a fearless leader. I want you to train with him." Thaddeus was a young, yellow-tailed merman with dark tan skin, like his father. He had Attina's green eyes. He was a strong merman with a broad chest and thick arms.

"Training? What for?" Tristan asked, a little taken back.

"For- battle," Thaddeus responded matter-of-factly.

"Uh, no thanks, battling isn't really my thing," he said casually. Thaddeus looked at Triton, confused.

"Tristan, maybe you'd like to watch Thaddeus train," Triton suggested. Tristan muffled a laugh at such a ridiculous thing to propose.

"Uh- sure, at some point," Tristan deflected.

"How about now? I'm training for the TideWarriors match in two days," Thaddeus informed him.

"Yes, join us," Triton took a hold of Tristan's arm and wouldn't let go.

A short swim away, Tristan found himself in the middle of a large arena that was a bit detached from the castle. The seats were empty, but he could tell that it could fit thousands of people.

"Hey! I was looking for you," Eric swam through the entrance, "Ready for your first Arena challenge?"

"Me? No, I'm not fighting," Tristan refused.

"Oh, come on!" Thaddeus tossed him a spear. Tristan caught the spear with his right hand and then held it firmly with both as he blocked a lunge from Thaddeus. "Come on!"

The arena suddenly filled up with young mermaids and mermen, his cousins and a few of his aunts. They watched eagerly as Tristan and Thaddeus readied for combat.

Thaddeus threw his spear at Tristan, barely missing his head.

"Tristan, go get him!" Triton cheered.

"Get him Tristan!" some of the younger cousins echoed.

"Put him to sleep, Thad!" another few cheered.

"I don't want to!" Tristan yelled, dodging another attack from Thaddeus. "Stop it, I don't want to fight." Tristan dropped his spear to the ground and Thaddeus struck a blow to his chest with his fist, making Tristan cower in pain.

Eric swam in between the two merman, surprising Thaddeus and grabbing him by his wrists.

"Show me what you've got, old man!" Thaddeus taunted Eric. Eric laughed, struggling to keep Thaddeus' wrists down.

"Let's see those moves I showed you last summer," Eric grunted. Thaddeus slammed his head against Eric's face, forcing him to release his wrists. Eric quickly pulled Thaddeus toward him and turned him around, he wrapped his bicep around his neck and held his forearm tightly with his freehand.

"Get him, Uncle Eric!"

"Give up?!" Eric grunted. Thaddeus' couldn't breathe as he struggled to get out of Eric's grasp.

"Okay! I give up!" Thaddeus tapped on Eric's arm.

"I give you, our champion!" King Triton roared. It made Tristan smile to see his father gloating about with his arms up in the air.

"You must be really tired," Eric said to Tristan, excusing him from the battle.

"Fighting just isn't my thing," Tristan told him, clutching at his side with a smile.

"Let's go find your mother," Eric rested his hand on Tristan's shoulder.

"I thought you said he beat the great sea witch," Tristan and Eric heard Thaddeus whisper to Triton as they swam out of the arena.

Once out of the arena, Eric led Tristan over to where Ariel was waiting for them near the gardens.

"How long are they usually gone in the afternoon?" Melody asked Lauren, craving Emmett's touch again sometime in the late afternoon

"Miss him already? You know, he's really not that great," Lauren told her.

"Who?"

"You know he's in love with you, right?" Lauren told her, matter of factly. Melody felt a little embarrassed. It was almost as if she was being scolded by a fourteen-year-old. She did like Emmett- a lot, and her feelings for him were growing but 'love' was such a strong word.

"Have you told prince James you love him?" she asked her.

"No, we've been writing to each other."

"Well, why not?"

"Because I don't know if I love him yet. We've just met, and I'd like to get to know him better," Lauren answered.

"I feel the same way. I haven't seen Emmett in years. I really like him and enjoy his company," Melody explained, not wanting to give too many details.

"I understand that, does Emmett?" Lauren said, maturely.

"You never told me what happened with James when we were camping."

"Oh! Okay, but please don't tell Hugh- or Emmett, or anyone!"

"I swear,"

"We kissed - a lot. Mostly on the second day when we had our assignment to do together."

"Was it your first time kissing a boy?" Melody asked curiously.

"Oh gosh, no. I doubt it was his either. But, anyway, it was so good," Lauren gushed, her pale cheeks turning bright red. Melody felt more prudish than ever.

"I feel so behind everyone," Melody sighed, which made Lauren laugh.

"My brother hasn't kissed you yet?!"

"No, he has. He definitely has. I just got a late start."

"Well, you're pretty sheltered," Lauren said honestly. Melody thought about being 'sheltered' and how much of the world she had missed out on by being trapped in the castle her whole life. Sure, the ocean was spectacular- but, life on land was much more intricate and complex to her.

"I'm getting pretty sick of my parents, to be honest. Your parents are great, and you get a lot of freedom."

"Uhm, they're alright. As long as we do our chores and our studies and are kind to people, they're pretty content with us. They're harder on me than my brothers, but my brothers will tell you I get away with everything. I really don't. I've learned that if I do everything they ask for and get it out of the way early, I have more time to do the things I want to do."

"Like what?"

"I do enjoy sewing and knitting with my mother. I also enjoy climbing a tree for apples, running around the forest barefoot, or going for a swim in the river. Sometimes, when it's scorching out, I'll take all of my clothes off. It feels so liberating," Lauren grinned at the thought of being free.

"Do you spend time with your brothers?"

"Not as much. I used to follow them everywhere. Emmett and I used to wrestle around a lot- he'd hit or shove me sometimes. But then he got taller and quieter- more boring. He thinks more than he speaks, drives me crazy. But, my parents finally let me go to town by myself this summer."

"Do you have friends?"

"Of course! I have a ton of friends. Many of them live closer to town or on the way. We're lucky to be right on the ocean."

"You sound happy," Melody smiled, enjoying how much Lauren loved the simple things in her life.

"Melody, you have everything! Your dresses, your room, the castle?! Ugh, I'd die. No chores, music lessons, dance lessons, art lessons, a private tutor that comes to you! You have servants and a chef who makes whatever you want whenever you want. I love taking long baths at the castle, your servants are so lovely."

"Yeah," Melody reflected on her easy life and how much she had grown to despise it, "Can you cook?"

"Of course," Lauren laughed.

"I don't even know how an oven works. I can't even sew a button or hem a dress and wouldn't know the first thing about cleaning anything!"

"You don't need to! Enjoy it," Lauren told her.

"I just feel so trapped, sheltered, like you said. Lauren, I don't even have any friends."

"I'm sure you have friends. You have your cousins and Tristan now, your new brother, right?"

"That whole thing with Tristan is still weird to me," she confessed, "My cousins, I see maybe once or twice a year. After the parties, everyone leaves and it's just me and my parents. I can't go into town and meet people. The only people I see are servants and guards. I have to sneak into the ocean to escape, and it was great when I was younger, but I feel like I've seen all I could in the area from the castle to Atlantica."

"I always forget you're a mermaid. That is the best thing in the entire world. I wish I could be a mermaid, just for a few hours to see what it's like."

"I guess I'm complaining too much, aren't I?"

"Everyone has problems," Lauren said, very wisely with a smile, "Even Princesses." There was a sudden commotion of voices coming from the downstairs foyer. "They're back," Lauren gave Melody a wink.

Melody rushed downstairs to greet Emmett but caught the back of his head as he lugged something into the kitchen. She followed him and what seemed to be Alice and Hugh in front of him.

"We got these from the baker for the roof," Hugh explained to Alice as they set down 2 large baskets of pastries and bread.

"That's nice of him, take one to the Miller's- we can't eat all this. It'll go bad before we go through it."

"Emmett should go, I have to meet with Olivia," Hugh said, "Before she leaves me."

"I can go, I'll wash up first. I'll be back before dinner."

"Thank you, my darling boy," Alice looked over at Melody and smiled, "Melody, you and Lauren should pick out your favorite sweets before he takes these to the Miller's. Emmett can find you a tray to put them on."

Alice and Hugh left the kitchen in conversation about people in town. Emmett had heard Melody's name but hadn't yet turned around to look in her direction. He pulled out a silver tray and placed it on the stone counter. Melody walked over beside him and glanced up at him on her left before placing a couple of cream puffs on the tray.

Emmett felt his heart racing, he was always nervous when he was around her, and his palms would sweat uncontrollably. He turned his head to listen for anyone near, she was being just as quiet as he was. He looked down at her beside him, she had both hands on the counter- perfectly still just waiting.

"Emmett!" Alice shouted from the distance and came closer to the kitchen, "Take a few bales hay to the Miller's. Hugh will load them onto the horse for you."

"Sure, mom," he told her, a little loudly. Alice turned around before walking into the kitchen, and they could hear her footsteps echoing up the stairs.

Emmett looked over his shoulder one more time and then stepped behind Melody, pressing his body against her. Melody held her breath for a moment as she felt his large, muscular arms wrapping around her waist. She turned her head to meet his face and the force of Emmett's kiss made her melt instantly. She kissed him again and again hungrily, tasting a sweet flavor in his mouth. The young couple lost all sense of reality and time in their heated passion.

"Where are they? In the kitchen?" Lauren's voice echoed as she hurried down the steps. Emmett pulled away from Melody immediately, walked out of the kitchen calmly, and hurried up the steps. Lauren hardly noticed her older brother, on a mission to find the treats.

Melody was left dumbfounded and breathless again. She tried hard to make it seem as if she was sorting sweets.

"Oh, this one," Lauren joined her. After a few minutes, Melody heard someone walking down the steps and the front door opening and closing again.

"I'll take this one outside," Melody said to Lauren, picking up one of the breadbaskets, finding it difficult to think. She found Emmett outside, loading up hay onto a cart attached to a horse. Hugh was helping him as well.

"Here you go," Melody said to Emmett, handing him the basket. Emmett took it from her, his hands covering hers as he did. His touch sent little jolts throughout her body.

"Would you like to come with me?" he asked her. She nodded, never more attracted to him. "I'll double up the saddle."

"How was your day?" she asked him as they rode off the grounds.

"Hell," he told her.

"Why?"

"I've been aching to be with you all day," he said, pulling her closer to him. Melody shifted from her saddle to his, right on his lap. "Oh, god, that's good," he moaned, feeling her bouncing against his erection.

"What's good?"

"Having you here," he whispered, kissing her neck.

"You've hardly spoken to me today," she whined.

"I know, I'm sorry. I just don't want anyone saying anything about us."

"Have people been saying things?"

"No, I just want it to be private- between us."

"Between us? Since when?" she asked, guiding his hands up to her chest.

"Imagine if your father caught us- like this, right now."

"My parents are sexual deviants. They think I don't know the things or people they get up to."

"We'll be there in a few minutes," Emmett huffed, tugging at her breasts, "I can't keep my hands off of you." Melody pulled her neckline down, exposing both breasts to the afternoon sun. Emmett immediately covered them with his hands, wedging her nipples between his fingers. "Kiss me," he whispered into her ear as they continued to ride down the dirt road.

It wasn't long before they reached the Miller's home.

"We won't be long, and then we'll go," Emmett said, kissing her cheek before dismounting.

"Emmett!" a young woman opened the door and ran toward Emmett, giving him a big hug and a kiss on the cheek, "We've missed you around here."

Melody began to dismount, and Emmett helped her down.

"Oh, hello! Are you a friend of Emmett's? I love meeting his new friends," she said, with one arm wrapped around Emmett.

She was a pretty young woman with light brown hair and brown eyes, a little taller. Taller than Melody at least.

"We're old friends," Melody said with a smile and looked at Emmett who looked uncomfortable.

Emmett stepped away from the woman and placed a hand on the small of Melody's back, reassuring her.

"This is Melody. Melody, this is Sarah, the Miller's daughter- Olivia's sister," Emmett announced.

"Oh, my," Sarah passed a hand through her hair and straightened her skirt, "Your highness," she bowed her head out of respect.

"Oh, thank you- you don't have to. It's very nice to meet you, Sarah," Melody said, a little embarrassed.

"You're just - stunning," Sarah told her, looking glumly at Emmett. Emmett looked away.

"We've brought some hay and some bread from the baker," Emmett said, moving around to the cart and beginning to unload the bales of hay.

"Who is out there?" an older man appeared at the door and walked out toward Melody

"It's the princess and Emmett," Sarah told him.

"Princess Melody! Is that really you?" he rushed over to her and gave her a big hug, "I haven't seen you since you were up to my knee. My, how you've grown."

"I can help with that," Sarah said to Emmett and began unloading with him.

"I can help, too," Melody added, trying to escape the clutches of the stranger.

"Nonsense, come inside the house," he led her by her waist. Melody looked over her shoulder at Sarah, gawking at Emmett as he walked toward her.

"So, tell me, how is Eric and your mother, Ariel," he asked, "Here, sit." The man pulled out a chair for her to sit. Melody could hear Emmett and Sarah talking near the side of the house through the window, but she couldn't make out what they were saying.

"My parents? They're well, they're back at the castle. I came to stay for a few days," she said, with one ear paying close attention to the window. She suddenly heard Sarah laugh, and her blood began to boil.

"George and Alice are wonderful, aren't they? Princess, what can I get you to drink?" The man got up and began rustling through some dishes in the kitchen.

Melody had just noticed that their house was all but one room. It was wooden and plain and very little light came in through the windows.

"Is that your washroom?" she asked, just out of curiosity.

"That? That's our bedroom, we sleep in there."

"Just one room? How many of you are there?" she asked.

"Only five, but we have three beds in there, we just got an extra one from my brother in law."

"Once Olivia leaves, I can get my own bed- right, father?" a young boy said out of nowhere, no older than seven or eight years old.

"Oh, hello," Melody greeted him.

"Are you a princess?" he asked her.

"Say 'hello' to the princess, Billy," his father told him, as he served a cup of water.

"Do you live in a castle?"

"Billy! Don't be rude! Now, Melody- I hear the King is making new tax laws left and right. The Queen said she's creating new rules based on how much we make and not on the land we sit on. I don't have enough coins to hire help, you see- so,-"

"I'm sorry, I don't know anything about that," she told him regrettably.

"It's alright, I heard it's coming is all."

"Alright, here is the bread," Emmett burst through the door with Sarah not too far behind. He glanced at Melody and smirked.

"Emmett is such a good boy, isn't he?"

"Yes, he is," Sarah beamed behind him.

"He's marrying my Sarah- after Hugh marries my eldest daughter, Olivia," the man said casually.

Melody's heart dropped, and Emmett's eyes went wide.

"I've never agreed to anything," Emmett said, shaking his head after placing the bread down on the table.

"They'd look so great together, wouldn't they?" the man asked Melody. Sarah smiled from ear to ear at Emmett, who looked mortified. Melody felt like she couldn't breathe fast enough as pressure built around her throat. She wasn't sure if she'd cry or throw up.

"Alright, time to go or we'll be late for dinner," Emmett said, hurrying Melody out of the tiny house.

"It was great meeting you all," Melody made out politely, fighting back the lump in her throat.

Emmett took her by the arm, and Melody quickly snatched it away as they walked out. She rushed ahead toward the horse.

"Melody, stop. Wait!"

Melody stopped beside the horse and took a deep breath.

"That's why you wanted to keep it a secret?" she asked him.

"No! I wish I could tell the world you're mine."

"I'm not yours. You don't own me. I want to leave," she said sternly, near tears.

"Melody, I - I, only want you," Emmett stopped himself from saying what he wanted to say.

"Careful, they're watching us," she jeered snarkily. Emmett pulled her into him by her waist forcefully and kissed her for all to see. Melody gave in and relaxed her posture, wrapping both arms around his neck.

"Let's go," he smiled at her.

Melody noticed a familiar figure walking down the road away from them and toward the ocean as they came nearer to the manor. As they got closer, the white shirt, red band, and blue pants were a dead giveaway.

"It's my dad!" she panicked and dismounted from the moving horse. She hid between the hedges on the side of the house

Eric turned and saw the horse and ran back toward Emmett. Emmett wasn't sure what to do, but he didn't dismount.

"Where's Melody?" Eric demanded.

"I don't know, prince," Emmett responded.

"Your mother said she was with you," Eric raised an eyebrow to the young boy. Melody could hear everything from between the hedges.

"She was with me, I think she took off on the carpet- I can't be sure," Emmett said casually.

"Don't toy with me!

"I'm not sure what you mean, prince," Emmett smiled, terrified inside.

"Did you draw those pictures of her in her bedroom?!" Eric asked, furiously. Emmett dismounted so that he was more at eye level with Eric.

"Yes, I did," Emmett responded confidently, with one hand on the horse. Eric grabbed Emmett by his collar and pushed him up against the side of the horse.

"Did you deflower my daughter?!" he growled.

"No," Emmett said, trying to maintain as much calm as possible.

"Did you want to?" Eric felt that Emmett was lying.

"Yes, very much so," Emmett smiled cheekily. Eric retracted his arm and punched Emmett right on his left cheek.

"Why didn't you?"

"Because, I love her," Emmett panted, clenching his jaw in pain as he breathed heavily through his nose. Eric drove a blow to Emmett's stomach, right beneath his ribs, making him fall to the floor breathless.

"Stay away from my daughter or I'll kill you myself," Eric threatened, enraged. Eric turned to leave, back to the ocean.

"I want to marry her," Emmett huffed from the ground, clutching his stomach. Eric stopped in his tracks and turned to look at the poor boy, holding his own courageously on the ground. "I want to marry her, prince," he got to his knees and then stood straight up again, the side of his face bleeding.

"Does she want to marry you?"

"No- well, I don't know. I haven't asked her," he admitted.

"Son, you have nothing to offer her, and you're not a prince. Don't ruin her life. If you really love her, you'd let her go."

His words almost made Melody cry as she watched poor Emmett suffering at the hands of her father.

"You don't know what love is," Emmett said, shaking his head. Eric felt badly for the boy, he turned around and walked down the road toward the ocean.

Emmett walked the horseback to the stable and dismounted the cart. Melody appeared shortly after and ran to him, throwing arms around him in tears.

"I'm so sorry!" she cried, "I'm so, so sorry!"

"Shh, it's okay," he stroked her hair, embracing her.

"You must've been terrified. I was so worried for you. Why did you tell him all of that? You should've lied, Emmett," she looked up at him.

"No," he chuckled, "I don't lie. Besides, I'm not afraid of your father." Melody tiptoed and kissed him right on the lips, outside of the stables. Emmett was glad that everything he had said about her didn't scare her away- that was his biggest fear.

"Emmett!" Alice called from the front door, "Come inside, son!"

Emmett and Melody separated immediately and both started toward the house.

"Oh, your face!' Alice cried, grabbing Emmett's chin.

"We need to speak with you, son," George said sternly, then grinned at Melody. "Princess, why don't you go and get ready for dinner?"

Melody nodded and watched as they took Emmett into the study. Melody remembered that the sitting room beside the study is where they'd go to listen through a small sliver in the wall. She rushed into the sitting room before anyone could see her.

"You have to end it, son. Look at your face. We don't want you getting hurt," Alice pleaded.

"I've never seen Eric so upset, we've known him for a long time," George added.

"You know how I feel about her," Emmett said.

"Yes, we know. We understand what a difficult thing we're asking you to do.

"Son, Sarah is a nice girl," Alice started.

"Alright, is that all?" Emmett said tersely.

"It's bigger than just this, son, if Eric becomes upset with us, we could lose everything- lose the manor. We'd have to move back to our house where the Millers live," Alice looked up at Emmett, hopeful for agreement.

"I understand."

"We want you to be happy, son, I want you to be safe," George added.

"Yes, thank you. I'll get ready for dinner," he told them and walked out of the room. Alice and George looked at each other.

Melody was hunched over, listening in.

"Do you think he will listen?" Alice asked George.

"I can't tell," George said regrettably.

Melody left the sitting room and headed up the stairs quietly. She considered going to Emmett's room but instead just went to the royal bedroom where she was staying. She had a few buckets of fresh water in the bathroom. It was cold and not the warm water she was used to her servants bringing her and filling her tub.

Melody undressed, detangled her long, thick, black hair and picked up a large sea sponge. She sat in the empty tub and washed her neck, dripping water down her back and chest. She washed under her arms, down her stomach and between her legs. She didn't mind the cold water after a few minutes. She thought about Emmett and wondered what it would be like to have him do more than watch her.

She cleaned herself well with the sponge, spreading her folds and pressing against the hardened nub. It had been swollen all day because of Emmett. She thought about him more and more. She pictured what he would look like naked; she had never seen a naked man before. She wanted to touch him just as much as she wanted to be touched. She felt her breasts; they were full and high. She thought of Sarah's breasts which were much larger than hers, and wondered what Emmett preferred.

"Melody!" Lauren called out to her.

"I'm in here," Melody responded. Lauren brought a lantern into the dim washroom and placed it on the counter.

"I'll help you with that," she said and began to pour water down her black hair. "Just a quick rinse to get the hay out is what my mother says, especially when we didn't like taking a bath. I could've heated this up for you, you should've just asked me."

"Did Emmett love Sarah?"

"No. She's always around though. Emmett has never been too interested, and she knows that. She watched him all summer as he built that statue of you day and night, when he had the time. We joked that she was jealous of the statue," Lauren laughed, "They think we're wealthy, the Miller's- because of the manor and all. We're really not, but we're a bit more fortunate than others in this town- because of your family and what you've done for us." Lauren continued to rinse and detangle Melody's hair. "I like having you around, you're like my sister."

"We're sisters, of course," Melody told her, "Thank you for being yourself around me, Lauren."

"Princess, will you be staying with us for long? I sure do hope so," Alice told her over dinner that evening.

"I'm not sure," Melody responded, looking down at her meatless plate while everyone else had beef. "Can I try some of that?" she asked, quietly. Alice looked at George who looked baffled and shrugged.

"Are you sure, dear? Will your parents-"

"I don't care about what they think anymore," she responded, trying her best to keep her calm. Alice looked at Lauren, who was beside Melody, and nodded. Lauren grabbed the serving tray with beef cuts, potatoes and peas and began to serve a scoop on Melody's plate. "I can do it myself," Melody said and took the bowl from her hands. The family looked around at each other and then at Melody as she scooped one hefty surviving onto her plate. Lauren helped her place the meat back down near her.

"You don't have to eat that," Hugh told her.

"No, I can't wait to try it. It smells delicious." They watched her nervously as she ate all of the potatoes and peas until she only had chunks of meat left. The pieces were small enough to fit the entire thing in her mouth, however, Melody used a knife and fork to cut it into an even smaller portion. She put her knife down and took a deep breath. Her chewing was slow and cautious at first and then quickly sped up as she fed the second piece into her mouth.

Lauren and Hugh giggled, but Alice grimaced at George.

"This is so good," Melody continued to eat her beef eagerly.

"Have as much as you'd like- and perhaps don't tell your parents you ate that here. Please," Alice said nervously.

"Emmett, you're washing up tonight, dear," Alice reminded her quiet son. He nodded in agreement as the family began to clear their plates from the table.

"I can help," Melody said eagerly, rising from her chair.

"Uh, it's alright, dear," Alice told her.

"No, it's fine. I want to help," Melody began gathering the plates clumsily.

"I'll help you clear the table, Melody," Lauren added nervously, hoping Melody didn't break anything.

The family left the three to clean up, and soon after, Emmett prepared the suds to wash the dishes.

"We put the leftovers scraps in this bucket," Lauren showed her as she scraped food off the plates before placing the dishes in the soapy water.

"Thanks, I've got it from here, Lauren," Emmett told his sister, queuing her to leave. Melody helped Emmett scrape off the rest of the plates and placed them into the water in silence. Then he began to wash the dishes one by one and placed them into a bucket of clean water to rinse.

"What did your parents talk to you about?" she asked him.

"Nothing worth mentioning," he responded.

"I thought you said you didn't lie."

"I didn't."

"Then, tell me what they said," she insisted.

"It's nothing I want you to concern yourself with. I have to figure out what to do on my own."

"You don't have to do it on your own," she told him.

"Melody, dear," Alice appeared in the doorway, "Why don't you come and enjoy some sweets with us in the sitting room?"

"Sure," Melody agreed begrudgingly, she looked at Emmett, who was concentrating on the dishes and didn't look at her.

"Join us when you're done, Emmett."

"I'm going to bed, I'm tired," he said dryly. Alice knew he was upset, so she didn't persist. Her goal was to keep the two of them as preoccupied as possible.

"Mr. Richardson dropped off a pail of scrap wood. It's in your room."

"Thanks."

"I can't believe it!" Eric yelled furiously.

"Eric, calm down, where is she?"

"She's at Meridian - with Emmett. Emmett! That dumb kid!"

"He's not dumb, you don't even know him," Ariel smirked.

"I don't have to know him. Don't you understand? She's beautiful and rich- any man would say anything to be with her. Who knows what he's been filling her head with all of this time? Adam told me he was staring at her all night the night of the ball, and then they went on that camping trip doing heaven-knows-what! Now he says he wants to marry her," Eric huffed.

"Marry her? That's so soon," Ariel responded, nervous about Melody getting married.

"He hasn't asked- don't worry. He'll end it if he knows what's good for him."

"May I interject here?" Tristan chimed incautiously, "I would ease off and see how it plays out. I don't think Melody has had much freedom to make choices for herself, and you want her to feel like it's her choice, whether she comes or goes or whether she gets married. You don't want her to feel pressure between being here or marrying Emmett. Handle her easy, don't overreact when she turns up after a long period of being away."

Ariel and Eric looked at each other.

"What does he know? He doesn't have kids," Eric jeered. Tristan and Ariel laughed with each other. "What?! When did I become the bad parent? I've always let her get away with everything! Why doesn't anyone care?"

"Eric, let's go for a nice massage, how's that?" Ariel suggested, "Tristan, will you be with Celia again tonight, dear?"

"Sure will. Have a goodnight," Tristan waved. Ariel swam up to him and gave him a big hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"It's still early- why don't you see what your cousins are up to?"

"I think I'll pass, don't want to get hurt again," he laughed.

"Princess, will you be staying with us for long? I sure do hope so," Alice told her over dinner that evening.

"I'm not sure," Melody responded, looking down at her meatless plate while everyone else had beef. "Can I try some of that?" she asked, quietly. Alice looked at George who looked baffled and shrugged.

"Are you sure, dear? Will your parents-"

"I don't care about what they think anymore," she responded, trying her best to keep her calm. Alice looked at Lauren, who was beside Melody, and nodded. Lauren grabbed the serving tray with beef cuts, potatoes and peas and began to serve a scoop on Melody's plate. "I can do it myself," Melody said and took the bowl from her hands. The family looked around at each other and then at Melody as she scooped one hefty surviving onto her plate. Lauren helped her place the meat back down near her.

"You don't have to eat that," Hugh told her.

"No, I can't wait to try it. It smells delicious." They watched her nervously as she ate all of the potatoes and peas until she only had chunks of meat left. The pieces were small enough to fit the entire thing in her mouth, however, Melody used a knife and fork to cut it into an even smaller portion. She put her knife down and took a deep breath. Her chewing was slow and cautious at first and then quickly sped up as she fed the second piece into her mouth.

Lauren and Hugh giggled but Alice grimaced at George.

"This is so good," Melody continued to eat her beef eagerly.

"Have as much as you'd like- and perhaps don't tell your parents you ate that here. Please," Alice said nervously.

"Emmett, you're washing up tonight, dear," Alice reminded her quiet son. He nodded in agreement as the family began to clear their plates from the table.

"I can help," Melody said eagerly, rising from her chair.

"Uh, it's alright, dear," Alice told her.

"No, it's fine. I want to help," she began gathering the plates clumsily.

"I'll help you clear the table, Melody," Lauren added nervously, hoping Melody didn't break anything.

The family left the three to clean up and soon after Emmett prepared the suds to wash the dishes.

"We put the leftovers scraps in this bucket," Lauren showed her as she scraped food off the plates before placing the dishes in the soapy water.

"Thanks, I've got it from here, Lauren," Emmett told his sister, queuing her to leave. Melody helped Emmett scrape off the rest of the plates and placed them into the water in silence. Then he began to wash the dishes one by one and place them into a bucket of clean water to rinse.

"What did your parents talk to you about?" she asked him.

"Nothing worth mentioning," he responded.

"I thought you said you didn't lie."

"I didn't."

"Then, tell me what they said," she insisted.

"It's nothing I want you to concern yourself with. I have to figure out what to do on my own."

"You don't have to do it on your own," she told him.

"Melody, dear," Alice appeared in the doorway, "Why don't you come and enjoy some sweets with us in the sitting room?"

"Sure," Melody agreed begrudgingly, she looked at Emmett, who was concentrating on the dishes and didn't look at her.

"Join us when you're done, Emmett."

"I'm going to bed, I'm tired," he said dryly. Alice knew he was upset, so she didn't persist. Her goal was to keep the two of them as preoccupied as possible.

"Mr. Richardson dropped off a pail of scrap wood. It's in your room."

"Thanks."

Melody tossed and turned that night. She had so much guilt over the effect her presence was causing on a family who had been nothing but kind to her. For the first time, she hated her father and wished she had her mother there to talk to.

The large empty room felt warm and stuffy, she went to the window and opened it. She could see and smell the ocean from her view. It was calm and dark, reflecting the moonlit night.

"Carpet," she whispered and took off into the sky for a ride. She thought about returning to Atlantica only to see her mother but wasn't sure how she'd avoid her father.

She rode the carpet low, hovering over the ocean with her hand-dipped into the water. She laid on her back as she stared at the stars. She could see the castle in the distance. She tried to picture her life with Emmett but could only think of physically being next to him. She didn't care what they did or how they lived as long as he was there. She also imagined her life without him at the castle, another year, another ball, more princes- she could find one she enjoyed and make her father happy. Emmett would be devastated, probably married to Sarah. He'd have to move her into the manor, and she could never really visit again.

She couldn't believe her father's words to him. She didn't need her royal comforts as much as people thought she did. Emmett surprised her with his bravery that day. She had to see him. The carpet knew instinctively to head back to the manor. As she reached Emmett's window, she was excited to see a dim light still on. She peeked through the window to find him in bed, sketching in a notebook. She tapped on the window lightly, startling him.

"Hi," he said when he saw her.

"Hi," she responded, "Can I come in? Is it too late?"

"No, I was just resting," he made way for the carpet to glide in, standing her on the floor. He headed over to the door and locked it- just in case.

"Were you writing?" she asked, looking at the notebook on his desk, open to a recent drawing.

"Sketching," he said and rushed to bed before she could grab the book.

"Sketching what? Let me see it!" she laughed, trying to snatch the book from his hand.

"No, it's not- done," he said, but Melody accidentally ripped the page out. She looked down at the picture and almost felt like crying.

"It's good," she told him. It was her on the night of her birthday ball. He drew her hair in curls and the details of her tiara and earrings. She was smiling widely, almost as if she were about to laugh.

"It's from memory, so it's never as good as a live model," he said bashfully.

"Were you just thinking about me?"

"I'm always thinking about you," he confessed.

"Would you mind if I looked through your drawings?" she asked. He nodded. Melody jumped into his bed and sat up against the headboard. Emmett climbed in next to her.

"These are so great," she said as she looked through portraits of faces she recognized and ones she didn't.

"Some of these were sketches for paintings," he explained.

"Oh, did you get paid for it?"

"Sometimes they pay what they can, most times they trade or barter things for the family or the house. We've gotten food or materials or supplies for painting.

"Is that Lauren as a mermaid?" Melody laughed.

"Yes, that's an old one- she requested it," he chuckled. The following page was Melody as a mermaid, his mother, an old woman, a little baby, and then Sarah.

"Huh, is this-"

"Sarah, yes. I'm sorry about earlier. I drew Olivia on the next page and then Billy- it was all in the same day."

"Were you ever together?"

"No, never- she did kiss me once. At the beginning of summer."

"Oh," Melody said, continuing to flip through the pages.

"We were all drinking, and I hardly remember it," he explained.

"It's okay. You don't need to tell me," Melody said uncomfortably, "Is she the only person you've kissed?"

"Besides, you? Yes,"

"Was I really your first kiss?"

"Yes, well- Lizzy kissed me once, it was weird. But that doesn't count," she laughed

"Yeah, I wouldn't say it counts. Have you kissed anyone else since?"

"Yes, but you can't get mad. Do you promise?"

"Harrison?"

"No, not with tongue anyway," she said quickly.

"Then who?"

"Well, the next day there was this merman, Franky, one of Tristan's friends in his band. They had a concert for my birthday and he kissed me in front of everyone- even my grandparents. It was quick," Melody tried to downplay the kiss.

"Okay, I see," Emmett said, trying to assess her story, "A merman named Franky."

"I haven't seen him since; I don't know anything about him. But, the night before-"

"Someone else?"

"Do you remember the night we kissed on the beach?"

"Yes? How could I forget?"

"Well, do you remember how Tristan kept pushing me to go to bed? It was the strangest thing. He pulled me into my room and kissed me."

"Did you kiss him back?"

"I did for a bit, I think we were both drinking a bit too- but we stopped ourselves after a few minutes."

"A few minutes?!" Emmett raised his voice.

"Sshh!"

"I knew he had been looking at you that way all night," Emmett got himself worked up.

"Stop, he wasn't looking at me in any way- I think it just happened. We talked about it and decided we weren't at all attracted to each other," Melody explained, trying to minimize the impact of the kiss.

"You kissed your own brother!"

"I didn't know he was my brother! Emmett stop- don't ever tell anyone about that."

"I'm just teasing," he laughed, still a little annoyed that Melody kissed 3 other guys after their kiss.

"I thought about you the entire next day, honestly, every day since. I love just being able to talk to you- like this. How do you picture your life? Your future?"

"Hmm, besides the obvious, I'd love to continue my art, learn, get better at sculpting, work with stone, marble. Also, be able to help my family.

"What's the obvious?" she asked, looking up at him. Emmett stared at her. "Oh, yes."

"I know it's new for you, and I don't want to put any pressure on you. You know how I feel. I'm just enjoying my time with you- however long that is. If it's one more day, a week, forever- I'll take what I can get," he chuckled to himself, his heart throbbing.

"I'm sorry about my father."

"He's just worried about you. I understand him."

"You said you had to sort some things earlier. Can I help?" she asked.

"You've really turned everything upside down. I knew I wanted you, I just didn't realize all of the implications of actually making you mine. Too many questions in my head," he sighed deeply.

"Like what?"

"Like, does she love me? Is she just toying with me? If not, can I marry her? Would I be killed? Will my family lose everything? Do I risk everything for someone who may not do the same for me? Is it worth it?"

"I'm sorry, Emmett," she said, "My father would never throw your family out. He will calm down. I- I have powerful feelings for you, and they're a little scary."

"Why scary?"

"For the first time in my life, I've left my life behind- for you," she said as she thought through her thoughts.

"Is it really for me? Or for yourself?"

"I'm not sure. Both, I'm ready to leave and wherever I go- I want you there."

Emmett leaned over and kissed her cheek.

"I want to show you something, but I don't want it to scare you."

"Alright," Melody said hesitantly. Emmett got up and went to his closet, he stepped out with a large glass jug that was filled with coins

"I have over 70 pounds saved. I've been saving it since I was a boy,"

"That's nice," Melody said, a little confused as to how that would scare her.

"If we need to leave, I can take care of you. This can get us a modest place and last us a few years. I can even leave some for my family. Your father said I had nothing to offer you, and I want you to see that we don't need anything from him to survive."

Melody felt her heart-melting, touched by him offering all of his savings to take care of her.

"Can we lay down and blow out the lights?" Melody asked him, wanting just him. She lifted her nightgown over her head and was completely naked underneath.

"Why do you do this to me?" he whined playfully, watching the light from the lantern flickering off of her nude skin. He took his shirt and his pants off, leaving him in his underwear.

Melody quickly buried herself underneath his covers. It amazed him how instantly aroused he became at the sight of her.

It wasn't long before the young lovers were kissing, Emmett laid half of his body over hers.

"Are you tired?" she asked him in between kisses.

"Exhausted," he answered with a laugh, grabbing her breasts and placing his mouth on them. "The two of you love driving me crazy, don't you," he said to her breasts. Melody laughed, it was different to see him behave so silly.

He pressed his hips against her thigh with one leg over both of hers. He rubbed himself against her as he continued to kiss her breasts and nipples.

"Can I see it?" Melody huffed, her mouth dropping wide as she tried to catch her breath. Emmett pulled down his underwear and slid it down his ankles. He got on his knees and held it out in front of her, stroking it a few times.

"Can you put it in my mouth?" she asked. Emmett's heart raced.

"What? Really?" he asked, dumbfounded. She sat up in bed and reached out for it. Emmett guided her to stroke him the same way he would stroke himself.

"Oh-oh, that's so good," he moaned. She looked beautiful, touching him how he'd always imagined her doing. Melody leaned forward and stuck her tongue out.

"Put it in," she told him, and he leaned forward. Her hot breath alone gave him chills throughout his body. The touch of her tongue on his shaft made him see stars. Melody enclosed her mouth around the first few inches of his thick manhood. Emmett moved himself slowly against her tongue, feeling as if he'd explode.

"Look at me," he told her. Melody looked up at him with her mouth completely full, and it drove him over the edge. He quickly pulled it out of her mouth.

"What happened?" she asked.

"You almost made me finish," he panted, "That was incredible." Melody smiled proudly and took hold of his staff again. "No, it's your turn," Emmett told her.

He removed the covers from over her legs and spread them apart, placing himself in between them and bending them at the knees over his shoulders. Melody sat up against the headboard and watched as Emmett spread his hands over her hips.

Emmett's mouth watered as he stared at her plump slit.

"Are you sure you want to?" she asked him, knowing his answer.

"I've been thinking of doing this all day," he said, not able to focus on anything else. He placed a closed mouth kiss directly on her lips, followed by another.

"That tickles," she squirmed. He looked up at her and smiled before going back down. He used his tongue to lick along her slit in an upward motion slowly. "Oh," Melody jumped up a bit. Emmett felt himself become ravenous. He covered her lips entirely and gave them a hard, long suck. Melody moaned profoundly and ran her fingers through his silky hair.

"Let's see what's in here," he said, spreading her lips apart with one hand and spotting her hardened clitoris. He flicked it a few times with his tongue, making her tense up. "Do you like that or do you like this?" he asked before covering her clitoris with his tongue and sucking on it gently.

"Oh, that's nice, yes," she scooted her body closer to him, which made him smile. He continued sucking on her small nub softly and then more intensely. "Oh, Emmett! Oh, it's too much."

"I'm sorry, my love," he said and gave it a soft kiss. Emmett felt his chin soaked from moisture escaping her folds. He spread her skin even wider to find warm, gooey, pink flesh. Emmett gave her pinkness a long slow lap, gulping her sweetness down his throat.

It was much better than anything Melody had ever felt. She lifted her hips up slightly, feeding more of her deliciousness to his mouth.

"What do you like to have licked the most?" he asked her, wedged between her thighs.

"There," she said, pointing to her jutting clitoris, "Wait, Emmett, can you kiss me?" Emmett hesitated a moment and then got up from between her legs. Melody sank back down in bed as Emmett covered her naked body. He kissed her passionately, his face covered with her wetness. "Rub it on me just a little bit?" she asked.

She moved her hips, signaling where she wanted to be rubbed. He took a hold of his erection and pressed it against her pearl, moving it from side to side.

"Oh, yes!" she moaned, eyes rolling back in her head. She spread her legs open, allowing him to nestle between her hips comfortably.

"Get it wet with my juices and then rub it up top," she instructed. Emmett's heart raced. Melody had just asked him to touch her at her entrance with his penis! He paused and then lifted himself to kneel over her. Her eyes were small and sultry, and her body wouldn't stop moving. He did as he was told and pressed himself between her folds, wetting the tip and then rubbing it across her hardened nub. Melody tugged and pulled on her own breasts and nipples as she raised her hips to meet him.

"You're so beautiful," he told her, after a few moments.

"Get more," she said, almost impatiently. He did, leaving a sticky trail up her slit. Melody's skin tingled all over, and she felt her nipples burn each time his skin made contact with her wet entrance. Her body moved uncontrollably as their breathing increased.

The young lovers suddenly froze, staring at each other. Emmett's thick organ found itself wedged about a half-inch inside of her. He was nervous and didn't know what to do. He hoped to God she wouldn't become upset with him. Melody pushed her body toward him allowing him to slip further inside her.

"Ohh, ohh," Emmett grunted, feeling half of his tip nestled in her warm, wet dwelling. He laid back down on top of her, careful not to move their position. He kissed her tenderly before she pushed herself against him some more.

"Ahh," she gasped, his entire head inside of her.

Please, don't finish, Emmet begged himself.

"Keep going," she whispered, curious as to why he stopped.

"I'm not hurting you, am I?" he asked, feigning concern. He was more concerned for himself, ending things prematurely.

"No, it's nice," she said, before lifting her hips up more, allowing him deeper into her virgin flesh.

"This is heavenly," he huffed, not ready to move, as he made odd faces.

"Are you in pain?" she asked, concerned.

"Not at all, it feels too good," he chuckled. God, idiot! Emmett thought about the time he saw his old grandfather naked, he almost threw up.

"Emmett," Melody took hold of his face and kissed him, "Make love to me." Emmett kissed her passionately, forgetting his worries and being present with the woman he loved.

He went deeper inside of her, about four inches now. He stopped to kiss and suckle on her breasts; the double stimulation drove her crazy.

"Take my virginity, Emmett," she breathed, "Make me impure."

"Oh, Melody," Emmett groaned, driving himself further inside of her without hesitation.

"Ah, yes!" she winced, digging her fingers into his arms. The intensity of her clutches made him become animalistic. He pumped himself in and out of her, listening to the suction sounds their bodies made.

Melody wrapped her legs around him completely, forcing him all the way in until he couldn't fit in any more. Emmett kissed her again, sloppily.

"I'm inside of you," he breathed in disbelief.

"My body is yours - I'm yours," she ran her fingers down his back. He increased his pace, building pressure against her vaginal walls. Melody felt the sudden urge to reach down between her legs and rub her enlarged clitoris.

"I'm going to finish soon," he grunted.

"No, don't stop," she begged him breathlessly. Emmett couldn't hold it in much longer, filling her inside with creaminess as he continued to make love to her.

"Rub yourself for me, princess," he encouraged her, knowing he couldn't keep hard too long.

"Oh, yes, yes, yes!" she screamed, Emmett muffled her mouth with kisses, hoping no one would hear. Melody's climax was greater than the one she had had before with Helena. Having her body filled with Emmett while she reached orgasm brought her levels of pleasure to new heights.

Emmett slowly pulled himself out of her making creamy richness flow out of her and onto the white sheets. Their bodies were hot and drenched in sweat, her hair was damp and disheveled while her legs trembled and toes curled from the powerful orgasm.

He covered her face and mouth with kisses, making her giggle.

"Are you alright?" he asked her, "How do you feel?"

"I feel- great," she huffed, trying to catch her breath.

"I can't believe we did that," he told her, collapsing beside her- his arms and legs weak.

"I know. It was incredible."

"Did it hurt you at all?"

"A little bit at times, but it didn't last long," she said, reaching down and wrapping the covers over her body.

"God, Melody, you felt- too good. It was so hard not to finish," he told her. She smiled at herself, flattered to hear such a compliment. "Are you sure you've never done that before?"

"Emmett!" she squealed with laughter.

"I'm just joking. You were just, so amazing," he huffed. Melody rolled onto him with her body on his body, she placed her head on his chest and eyes slowly drifted to sleep.

"I love you," he whispered to her before closing his eyes.

"Emmett! Wake up!" Alice pounded on the door the following morning. Hugh was on a ladder on his way up to Emmett's window. When he reached it, he hopped into Emmet's room to find Emmett and Melody sleeping in bed.

"Hey, get up," Hugh whispered, shaking his little brother's shoulder.

"Hugh?" Emmett rubbed his eyes, "Hugh, get out!" Emmett yelled when he noticed that Melody was naked beside him.

"Shhh, mom is outside. She has to go," Hugh warned him.

"Mel, Melody!" Emmett tried to shake her. Melody woke up in a fright, sitting straight up in bed, her breasts exposed to the room. Emmett quickly covered her chest with the covers.

"Emmett! Open the door!" Alice yelled as she pounded on the door.

"Oh, no!" Melody jumped out of bed, wrapped in the bedsheet, taking it with her. She hopped on the carpet and flew out the window. Hugh went to the door and opened it.

"Alright, mom, he's up. He was sleeping."

"What has gotten into you?!" Alice yelled at a sleepy-eyed Emmett, "You've never overslept. Out of bed this instant!" Alice rushed over to Emmett to drag him out of bed.

Alice suddenly let out a sharp gasp, raising her hands to her face with blood draining from her face.

"What did you do?! What did you do?!" she shouted, looking down at the sheets. The brothers looked at the bed to find a dried stain of light colored blood. Alice grabbed the book off the nightstand and hit Emmett with it several times across the shoulder and back. Lauren soon appeared at the door and broke into a fit of laughter.

"Mom, stop!" he yelled, almost laughing.

"I told you to end things with that girl, and this is what you do?!" she said as she continued to hit him with the book. Emmett jumped out of bed, completely naked and rushed over to his closet. Hugh came between his mother and Emmett, grabbing the book from her hand.

"Mom, I think he gets it," Hugh chuckled.

"I don't think he does! Has he thought of where we're going to live when Eric throws us out?! Lauren, stop that laughter and take these sheets off the bed! Wash them twice- no, burn them!"

Lauren giggled to herself as she hurried inside and gathered the linens from Emmett's bed.

"Emmett, of all my children, Emmett!"

"Emmett, the Immaculate. Her favorite child," Lauren joked.

"The prodigal son," Hugh joined in. Emmett couldn't help but laugh to himself while he was getting dressed in the closet.

"Keep laughing, you'll all be laughing when we're begging in the streets for food," Alice ranted.

"That won't be necessary, Alice. Your family isn't going anywhere," Melody appeared at the door. Everyone went quiet and looked at her. "Emmett and I aren't going to be together anymore."

"What?" Emmett's jaw dropped and his heart raced.

"I'm sorry it has to be this way, Emmett," she walked into the room and took a hold of both of his hands, "I can't be with you. I can't hurt my family and your family this way."

"You're not serious, are you?"

"You're not a prince, we don't have any future together," she said, with tears building in her eyes.

"Don't do this, Melody. I love you," Emmett's eyes began to water, "Just, stay- just stay and we don't have to do anything. I just- I want you to stay here- with me."

"I can't stay. Please, don't make this harder than it has to be. I care about you and your family deeply, but that's all this could ever be. You're one of my best friends," she told him.

"I can take care of you, Mel. I'll give you all I have," he cried.

"It's just not enough, I'm sorry," she told him, letting go of his hands. She wiped a tear from her eye and turned to the rest of his family, "Thank you for being so kind to me and letting me stay. I'm sorry for any anguish I've caused this family." Melody left the room without looking back.

"Em, I'm sorry, man," Hugh started.

"Let's go, we're late," Emmett said sternly and stormed out of his room, leaving everyone behind.

"This breaks my heart to have to deal with this with another one of my children," Alice almost began to cry.

"He'll be fine, mother," Lauren told her.

"I don't want you writing to that Prince James anymore- they're trouble!" Alice said to Lauren.

"What?! No! You can't keep me from him!" Lauren yelled and threw the linens on the floor.