There was a drumming heartbeat warm and steady. Echoing deep through the water, searching. Reaching. Life was breathed where life had been lost. A single sorrowful flower was given to the ocean.
Water filled her mouth as she answered the call.

[*][*][*]

The heart of Te Fiti was restored. The world was saved, Motunui was saved. Te Fiti had rebuilt the canoe, Moana was ready to sail home. But Moana stared at the flower she held in her hand wishing for the fish woman who hadn't come back. With a trembling breath she stepped into the water wishing she had more to say than thank you, because it wasn't enough. Cupping the flower she brought it to her mouth whispering a prayer, and she lowered her hands to the water letting the sea take it to wherever she'd fallen.

She looked over her shoulder at where Maui stood looking at the hook he held in his hands, tracing a specific carving. Moana looked back to the flower finding it still where she'd left it.

From beneath the clear blue water rose the woman of the sea, the flower catching in her hair, her face upturned toward the young girl. A wet hand reached from the water touching her already wet cheek.

Moana held her hand over Vahi'a's finding it warm. She threw her arms around the fish woman's shoulders letting her tears slip into her reddened hair. "You heard me," she said feeling Vahi'a's thin arms around her back.

"I always do," Vahi'a told her kissing her cheek.

Moana smiled turning for the shore. "Maui," she called seeing him still staring at his hook.

Maui first looked down to the tattoo who jumped wildly on his chest pointing to where Moana stood in the sea. He quickly looked up finding the red in her hair. His hook stuck in the sand from where he dropped it as he rushed forward, his large feet splashing in the water. Nearly shoving Moana out of the way he wrapped strong arms around Vahi'a's waist holding her to his chest, feeling her cheek warm against his.

With a smile her arms came around his broad shoulders as she dangled above the water. "You came back," she said having never been so glad to have been wrong.

He leaned back looking at her bright eyes, noting the glow of her skin. But his mouth was frowning. "Well that just figures. I'm a hero and you miss it."

"Well excuse me for being dead," she said sitting up in his arms staring down at him. "I'll make sure to work on my priorities next time."

Hugging her waist he paused as though considering her words and nodded. "That's all I ask." He grinned as her half irritated face curled into a wide smile crinkling the corners of her eyes. And then he was left with what to say next, that he was happy she was alive, that he wanted her come with him, that he wanted to stay. He didn't know how to tell her any of that, if he even could.

"Vahi'a."

They turned at Moana's soft voice and followed her wide-eyed open mouthed stare to Vahi'a's tail. She only saw a flash of brown before Maui hoisted her up onto his shoulder where she sat with a hand resting on top of the hand he'd curled over her legs to keep her still.

Her legs.

The air stilled in her lungs. The scales that once encircled her hips had been replaced by a skirt as blue as the sea, the heels of her feet brushed against the leaves around Maui's waist. And it tickled.

"Look at that," Maui mused running a hand over her calf hardly believing it himself. Te Fiti had done much more than bring her back to life. He walked to the shore and gently lowered Vahi'a to the warm sand. Like a newborn deer her knees buckled and the arm he held around her back tightened. "I've got you," he told her, his voice low and deep by her ear.

Her palm was flat on his chest steadying herself as she stood, finding that she neared Maui's height. A breath she couldn't catch left her as she leaned against him unable to see anything for the water in her eyes. The sand was soft under her feet, and warm. And the grass. Timidly she took a step feeling her quivering leg giving out. Two small hands grabbed hers and she turned to see Moana whose eyes had filled with tears as she smiled. Finding her footing, and her balance, she took another step. And another. And another. Without her realizing Maui let her go and motioned for Moana to do the same.

They watched her step on the tips of her toes onto the grass bending so she could look at each blade. How she'd missed the grass and the smell of dirt. Moana glanced at Maui to see his mouth had fallen open as he stared. With a small grin she turned back to Vahi'a who looked up as a butterfly circled her head.

Her bright eyes followed it as it fluttered around her, and then her gaze fell to the long stretch of grass in front of her. The smile fell from her mouth as a thought struck her: I could run. So she did.

Her feet pounded against the earth, with each step her pace quickened. Her hair flew behind her as she bounded along. Gaining more and more ground she panted hearing her heart beating in her ears. She could've run forever.

A hawk swooped around and in front of her. In a flash of blue Maui stood catching her. "Okay," he laughed as she hit his square chest throwing him back a step, his hands coming around her back. "Easy now. Don't go too far." What he really meant was, I don't want to lose you again. He felt her chest brush his with each heaving breath as she settled, and he could do nothing but stare. This woman with fire for hair and the sun for a smile, and a thousand stars twinkling in her eyes. A warm sigh shrunk him and his forehead rested over hers.

Catching her breath she found herself wanting. "I," she started but the words failed her. They always did. Run with me – "I" Dance with me – "I" Whatever you do can it just, be with me. At his smile she gave a breathy laugh looking down, feeling heat rising in her cheeks.

He brushed the hair out of her face letting his hand cup her cheek forcing her to look at him. She leaned into his touch seeing on his warm face he didn't need the words to know what she was asking, and from the small smile he wore his answer yes. She took a breath. "Race me." With a smile he nodded, watching her own curl on her mouth. "Promise," she requested, knowing he was a trickster.

He chuckled softly pulling her hand to his chest placing her palm over his heart. "I promise." Bending his head to hers he watched her smile as his nose brushed the tip of hers. And then her eyes glittered playful and mischievous. Her hand slipped from beneath his and she turned racing back to the beach. "Hey," he called running after her. "You said no cheating."

"I said you couldn't cheat," she yelled back, her laughter bubbling as she ran.

Moana turned from the resurrected canoe to see Maui chasing after Vahi'a, smiles curled wide on both of their faces. A demigod once trapped on an island and a fish woman once trapped in the sea. They weren't so alone anymore. It made her smile.

Vahi'a stopped at the canoe with Maui only a few steps behind her feeling his arm heavy on her shoulder as they caught their breath. She looked over at Maui who held her eye and nodded as he reached for his hook. In understanding she turned to Moana realizing this was where they parted ways. "I said I'd see you safe."

"And you have," Moana told her, knowing Vahi'a would leave Maui to see her home. She stepped closer to the fish woman reaching for her hands. "You, gave everything to save me." Her voice broke over the last word, tears swelling in her eyes. "So I'm saying thank you. I made it. And it's beautiful."

Moana was letting her go. Vahi'a wiped the tears from Moana's cheek and pulled her to her chest holding her. "I'll come back," she told her, feeling her small arms wrapped tight around her waist. "When you call me."

Moana nodded, her head tucked beneath Vahi'a's chin. "I know." She pulled away looking up at Vahi'a's wet eyes. "This isn't goodbye," she swore, swallowing the lump in her throat.

Shaking her head Vahi'a released her and stepped to the edge of the water and bent plucking a flower from the tide. The flower Moana had given her at the start of her journey. She tucked it behind Moana's ear before bending to kiss her cheek.

Maui looked down at Mini Maui who stood over his left breast dancing with his little drawing of Vahi'a. He remembered just a few days ago when he'd scoffed at the idea. How long ago that seemed. Looking up he met Vahi'a's eye as she turned from Moana. "Ready?" he asked. She nodded. Shifting the hook in his hand he leapt into the sky. "Cheeeehoooo!" He spun catching the ocean with his wings sending sprays of water arching through the air around him.

Vahi'a rolled her eyes. "Show off," she muttered stepping into the ocean. Small gentle waves rolled over her legs as she moved deeper. She dove and as the water rolled over her skirt scales grew in its place wrapping her legs together as her feet stretched into a fin.

She swam a little ways, looking up to see Maui gliding over her, before she came to the surface and turned back to Te Fiti. She was leaving with a full heart, and a new companion to keep her warm.
And then she looked to the girl standing on the shore. The girl who'd given her the strength to be brave. Vahi'a loved her.

Goodbye Moana of Motunui. Travel well.

Thank you all for reading, I do hope you enjoyed it. I gotta say I will miss these two bickering. Thank you all again, your reading this means so much. I don't know if it'd have finished the story with you.