Author's Note: Thank you to all of those who have reviewed so far. You make me smile :) In response to a reviewer who let me know the general vicinity of Australia where the girls live, thank you very much! I will be sure to use that info in future stories of mine. However, because I've already researched and completed so much of this one already, I probably won't be changing anything around.

I hope you all enjoy this chapter! Let me know what you think!


All while visiting with their mother and grandparents, Cleo saw a drastic change in Kim's demeanor. For the first time in what seemed like ages, Kim was truly happy. When they'd decided to have dinner on the grill for the night, Kim was the first to offer help, and even enlisted Cleo's help when she needed it. Together, the two sisters had cleared the patio, set up the table and chairs, and even prepared a few side dishes. And once dinner was served, Cleo and Kim couldn't remember laughing so hard with one another. It was probably one of the best dinners she had ever had.

And Cleo was happy. Yes, she and Kim got into arguments that could sometimes turn explosive, but they really did love one another deep down. If there was anything Cleo could do to keep the smile she was seeing now on her little sister's face, she wouldn't hesitate to do it.

"Cleo, can you help me with this?"

Cleo snapped out of her thoughts and put down the dishes she was about to take back into the house to walk over to Kim. Grabbing the other side of the plastic table cloth, she helped her neatly fold it.

"Thanks. Oh, and great job with the mashed potatoes. I loved them." Cleo looked at her and smiled, but then her face became serious.

"Kim?" Kim looked up at her. "Can we talk?" Cleo sat down on a blanket on the grass, patting the spot next to her.

"Sure." She sat, smoothing down her skirt. "What is it?"

"Are you happy at home, Kim?" Though it seemed like a yes or no question, Kim immediately saw the meaning in it. There were quite a few meanings in the question, really. Was she happy at home? Was she happy when it was just Cleo and her father? Was she happy with Sam? Would she be happy elsewhere?

"No." She answered honestly, lowering her head to stare at the blades of grass around her feet. "I'm trying, though."

"What's making you unhappy? Is it Sam, or because dad is working later hours? Is it me?" Cleo asked the last question hesitantly, hoping it had nothing to do with her.

Kim looked up at her. "It's all those things, really. I feel like we haven't been a proper family in ages. First mum moves away, and we barely hear from her because of her stupid new job, then dad works late all of the time…And then there's Sam, who's moved all of her freaky things into the house and had left no more room for anything that used to be there."

A tear made its way down Kim's cheek. "And now you're leaving to go to university. Who will I be left with?"

"Kim…" Cleo tried moving closer to the blond, but she just backed away in response.

"Things have been so nice tonight, haven't they?" Kim wiped her eyes as she spoke. "For the first time in a while, we've gotten to have dinner that wasn't just heat and serve, and didn't have any weird foreign name. Mum was there to actually help us cook, and grandmum was there to make her special vanilla slice."

"Kim…" Cleo looked at her.

"And things didn't go so fast, you know? We all took our time with everything, and we ate slowly, and we talked slowly too."

When Cleo moved closer to Kim this time, the younger girl didn't resist. Cleo hugged her tightly and let her go so she could look her.

"Has this been bothering you all this time? Have you been hurting this much?" When Kim nodded, Cleo frowned. "Why didn't you tell me, Kimmie? Did you not think I would listen to you?"

"It's not that. It's just you always seemed so okay with everything going on. When dad met Sam, you had no problem with it. When Sam and dad decided to get married so suddenly, you helped plan the wedding! And when she started moving in all of her things and changing the house around, it's like anything that mum and dad purchased together all went into the garage. There was nothing left of her, and you were okay with that too. If you were going to be alright with everything that happened, I didn't want to talk to you."

"Kim…you couldn't be any farther from the truth." Cleo sighed.

"What are you talking about?" Kim's face looked a mix between confusion and disbelief.

"I wasn't alright with any of it. Do you think it was easy for me to see dad go from an engagement to a marriage in a few short days? Or to walk into the house and see all of Sam's things and no remnants of mum's things anywhere? I was affected too, Kim. It hurt. When I walk into the house now, sometimes I don't even know where I am. We used to walk in and see the family photo of all four of us on the side table, and mum's knitting on the couch next to dad's magazines. Anytime either of us had a bad day, we—especially you—used to sit on the chair and curl under the red blanket that mum made for us and instantly fall asleep."

Cleo paused to look at Kim's face. Seeing her expression soften, she continued.

"But even feeling that way, what was I supposed to do, Kim? I could never walk up to dad and tell him he couldn't have happiness because it made me uncomfortable. And Sam? She's such a nice person, and she really does love dad."

"I know that, Cleo." Kim's face hardened again, but Cleo was happy to see that even Kim knew the truth of Don and Sam's love.

"I know what you mean when you said that everything has been moving fast, and you're right."

"And now you're headed to university." Kim scoffed, getting to the root of the entire conversation.

"Kimmie, listen to me." Cleo moved so she was kneeling in front of her. When Kim looked up, she had a frown plastered on her face.

"Kim, do you know what just happened?" Kim looked at her oddly, shaking her head.

Cleo smiled. "We just had a serious conversation without arguing or being angry with one another."

"Yeah, so?" Kim still looked at Cleo with her eyebrow raised, but Cleo saw right through her and took her hands.

"I'm your big sister, Kim. I will always be here for you, and I'll always be on your side. University isn't going to change that."

"How would you know that?"

"Because I won't let it." Cleo smiled. "Now that you've told me how you feel, we can work together to ensure that you don't feel that way anymore. When I'm away, you can call me anytime you want."

"I can?"

"Yes. And if things seem really overwhelming, and you feel like you can't be home, you can come stay with me."

"Stay with you? And those freaks you call best friends? I think I'll pass." Kim smirked, but her sparkling eyes showed Cleo she was only joking.

"You can also come here and stay with grandmum and grandpa." This time when Cleo moved to hug Kim again, the younger girl responded. "You'll always have somewhere to go and someone to talk to, Kimmie. And I know with time you'll get used to the house being the way it is. We both will."

"Thanks, Cleo." They pulled away and stood, picking up the blanket as they headed inside. "And you know, I'll get used to the house a little faster once I've turned your room into my own personal closet space." Cleo stopped walking and Kim began laughing as she heard the brunette growl her name under her breath.

/-/-/-/

(Emma's house)

"Thanks so much for helping me out, Cleo." Emma said as she stood from where she had been sitting on her luggage in order to close it properly. Cleo let out an exaggerated sigh of exhaustion as she too stood, causing Emma to laugh. It was only one bag, but it was stuffed with so many belongings that it took both girls to shut it.

Picking up the bag, Emma and Cleo made their way downstairs to put it next to the front door. Emma, true to her nature, had every single thing she planned to bring to university coordinated and packed. She'd even made a schedule, chronicling every detail from the minute her father arrived home that night to the first night the girls arrive in their dorm room. Cleo just shook her head with a smile.

"Well, I'd better go. I promised I would help Lewis pack and then I should get home and help Sam with dinner."

"Aw, your dad working late again?" Emma asked, her smile dropping at seeing the confirmation on her friend's face before she even said it.

"Yeah." Cleo face fell. "It's just frustrating. I wish there was something I can do. His job is so important to him, but with the 'fish freeze'—" Cleo made air quotes. "—as dad calls it, things just aren't what they used to be."

"What about Sam? She has a proper job."

"Dad doesn't want her help. He thinks it's his responsibility to look after us financially."

Emma put her hand on Cleo's shoulder. "I'm sure Sam will get him to change his mind. She seems like a very level-headed person. Don't worry about it."

"I'll try not to. Thanks, Em."

"Anytime." She walked Cleo to the door and opened it. "Oh, and don't forget; we should meet Rikki later and talk about anything else we may need for the room."

"I remember. See you at 4:30?"

"Sounds good."

"What's happening at 4:30?" Emma and Cleo turned to see Byron heading up the stairs to the door. He stopped next to Cleo and nodded his head in greeting.

"Hey Byron. Nothing much; we're just meeting Rikki later to talk about our room at Melbourne." Cleo replied. "I'm going now. See you later."

Emma and Byron waved at her before both walked into the house. Walking to the couch, they sat down.

"So, how've you been, gorgeous? Did you miss me?" Byron asked sweetly, flashing her one of his typical smiles. Byron had been away at a week long summer swim conditioning camp.

Emma smiled and moved closer to him. "Of course I missed you. How was the camp? Have you improved your time?"

Byron laughed at how Emma's entire demeanor changed when she talked about swimming.

"Yeah. I'm faster by at least 2 seconds. Coach said if I keep up I could have a chance at making the team at Melbourne as a freshman.

"Ah, that's great news!" Emma beamed at him, truly admiring the man he'd become. A smirk appeared on her face as a thought came to her.

"Care to show me what you've learned?" She stood.

"I can't right now. Open swim isn't until later today." He leaned back on the couch, motioning for her to sit back down.

"Who said anything about the pool? My dad has a motor boat on the peer. We can take it out far out enough away from people." She lowered her hand for him to grab and pulled him up from the couch. It took him a second for realization to kick in.

"Really? I get to see you swim, too?" He asked, genuine excitement present on his face. The one thing he'd missed since Emma became a mermaid was watching her swim. It was what first attracted him to her.

She laughed. "You'll be able to see me…if you can keep up. I wasn't the star of the swim team for nothing." She kissed him and winked, walking towards the front door.

"Ah, sweet. This is going to be exciting!" Byron ran after her, making sure to shut the front door behind him.