Chapter 4

Ash's P.O.V

"Hello?" Emma answered.

"Hey Em," I said, "I have something to show you, can you come over?"

"Can Rikki come too? She's with me,"

"Yeah,"

"We'll be there in half an hour or so,"

"Sweet," I smiled to myself, I wondered what their reaction would be, "See you then,"

Emma's P.O.V

"What was that all about?" Rikki asked. She was lying on my bed reading a mechanics magazine. I couldn't understand how she could read those for hours but it explained why she was such a whizz with boats and cars.

"Ash has something to show me," I replied. Rikki sat up.

"He didn't tell you what?"

"No," I frowned in thought, "He sounded excited,"

"Should we start walking now?" Rikki asked me.

"Yeah, I said half an hour ay?" she nodded.

I wondered what was so exciting.

Ash's P.O.V

Half an hour later, there was a knock on the door. With a smile I opened it.

"Hey Ash," she greeted me with a kiss. Rikki followed feeling awkward.

"So what are you going to show us?" she asked as the three of us walked upstairs to my bedroom.

I moved to pick up the box. "You'd never guess what I've found out about my grandmother,"

OoOoO

"So let me get this straight – your grandma is Julia. The Julia who was friends with Miss Chatham and Gracie – the mermaids," Emma asked processing this surprising information. "I would have put it together if I had known her married name" she pondered. "I can't believe I never thought about it," she seemed frustrated with herself. Rikki seemed reasonably nonchalant about the whole thing.

"It's a small world," I laughed. "Do you think she was a mermaid while I knew her? Do you think I have any mermaid blood," I asked excitedly.

"Ah, I don't think so Ash," Emma thought. "She lost her powers fifty years ago,"

"Oh?"

"You know when you were over and the water went crazy, and it was a full moon? Well that night was a special planetary alignment or something, ask Lewis," Rikki spoke up, "Anyway, it only comes once every fifty years, and in the moon pool that night, a mermaid will lose their powers forever. Miss Chatham said that the three of them gave up there powers on a similar night fifty years earlier."

For some reason, I felt slightly disappointed; I guess I felt that if I had had some mer-blood, I could have related to Emma and girls more. But then again, being a human definitely had its perks – I didn't have to worry about water touching me. I don't think I really want to be a merman.

The girls were examining the pictures.

"They look so carefree," Rikki said, "I don't think I ever want to give my powers up, I love it too much,"

"Ash, you're going to have to make sure that no one see these pictures," Emma said, looking very serious. I knew the consequences.

"I'll make sure of it," I said firmly. I hid those pictures in a very secure location. I was still amazed that I had had an ex-mermaid in my own family. I wondered how many mermaids were actually in the world – if all you had to do was be swimming in the wrong place on a full moon.

OoOoO

It was amazing: this feeling. I was swimming hand in hand with my beautiful mermaid girlfriend. It was funny when I put it like that: my girlfriend is a mermaid. She was so elegant and powerful while swimming pulling me along effortlessly. It was so cool gliding quickly through the water. We had a system worked out. When I needed air, I would squeeze her hand and I would go to the surface – this was more frequently than I would have liked. My new aim was to be able to hold my breath longer. I swam back down to where she was waiting. I kissed her gently. I decided I liked the sensation especially underwater.

Normal P.O.V

In the weeks that followed, Ash was becoming a bit of an expert on mermaids – well not really. The girls and Lewis told him all the basics and Emma was willing to answer all of Ash's many questions about mermaids and magic. Their relationship was also going from strength to strength. They had been together for four months when the summer holidays hit. Emma, Rikki, Cleo, Lewis and Zane had survived their school exams. Zane was not sure what he was doing next but he had finished his final year, he decided on a gap year until he made up his mind. Ash had applied and had been accepted into Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane to study a Bachelor of Business. Emma, Rikki, Cleo and Lewis would be returning for their final year. At least, Emma thought she would be.

OoOoO

Emma came into the living room after having a great day with the girls swimming round the reefs.

"Sit down, Emma," Her mother said, gesturing to the spare seat. Elliot was already there, looking just as worried as his sister.

"Your father and I had been doing a lot of thinking recently and we have decided to home school you next year,"

Emma's eyes widened.

"What? How could you do this to me? My final year of school?"

Her father held up a hand and she quietened.

"We thought this would be your reaction but we have a method in our madness."

Emma looked at her parents questioning. Elliot just silently waited for the punch line.

"We have decided we have enough funds to travel the world for the year," their mother said excitedly. Emma and Elliot just stared. Many thoughts were racing through Emma's mind. A year? As a mermaid? Away from her friends? Away from Ash?

"Wh-when do we leave?" she stuttered.

"Next month; the fifth of January," her dad said. Saying that Emma was shocked was an understatement.

A/N: Hey everyone. Sorry it's been so long since the last update. Life was really hectic, but now (Thank God) it's the summer holidays. Unfortunately, I've been travelling NZ and Australia over the past three, now there is only three left :-( Anyway, thanks so much to those who are continuing to read this story, favouriting and following. I really do appreciate it.

Thanks especially to the people who reviewed : Eggs and Ham, k8sastar, Quillcox, h2ojustaddwaterfan, Colette Amelia, Cupcake46813, ashray4, xmangal and YugiohObsessed

Thanks again, and I apologise if the next update takes a very long time…