Hey guys! :D I'm sooooo sorry I haven't updated this story in like 5 or 6 days! I've had so many problems like I had the perfect song & both WALIXELA (thanks again!) and i were hunting for the lyrics, but we couldn't find them anywhere (still can't find them, that's the song lyrics are so short for this chap!). Then my chap didn't save so I had to re-write it. I've had 3 major assignments & 4 tests after 2 weeks back at school, and now I have rele's down.

Anyway, thank you to my readers and lovely reviewers! I hope you don't think I've given up on this story, 'cause by no stretch of the imagination have I! I hate unfinished stories, so I'm determined for mine not be placed in the 'unfinished & forgotten' catergory. I'm going away for a few days on Tuesday. I think we'll have internet, but if I don't upload you know why! Even if I don't have internet, then I'll be working on my stories ready to update! :D

I know the Denman/Harrison engagment might seem really... weird, but this chap explains why from Harrisons POV & what's going through his head when Denman found out again.

Also, I bought a laptop yesterday and it's up and running so I should be able to write more now I've gotten rid of my awful desktop! :D

On my profile I've started a new poll, so please check it out & vote!

If you want Chap 16, then I'll need a minimum of 65 reviews!

I'm doing a competition again at the end! :) Let me know if you don't like them...

Enjoy the chapter & remember if you have any ideas for this or any of my stories just review or PM. I'm more than happy hearing what you have to say or any fresh ideas!

Chapter 15 – My Chance (By the White Rhinos)

Harrison's POV

When we reached Mako Island, Zane jumped out of the boat before we had even stopped. I weighted the boat and rushed, trying to catch up to him. It took about 5 minutes to catch up though, because he was almost running up to the cave, the cave I hadn't seen in almost 3 years.

We entered the dark coloured cave, I heard two female voices, both of which I recognized. One was a younger, grumpy voice, and the other was calmer, older & more mature sounding.

Zane rushed ahead up the steps, and I followed, leading us both to the 'Moon Pool', as he had been calling it.

When I reached the top of the stairs, there was a glow of light likely from the pool of water, which illuminated the room. Zane & I walked into the cave at the same time and said "Rikki!" from the shock of seeing Dr. Denman crouched by the water, with her hand dipped into it, and Rikki standing there looking scared and helpless.

I think we shocked Dr Denman because as soon as Zane & I shouted, her hand flung out of the water; along with millions of drops of water that were headed towards Rikki.

Zane had already been walking towards Rikki, but his pace fastened in panic.

I watched as Zane's face paled, and I watched as Rikki attempted to cover herself from the water with her bare arms.

I just stood there feeling pretty helpless and feeling some of the panic & worry that Zane was noticeably feeling too. Was this my paternal instincts making their first appearance in 18 years since Zane was born?

I think I was in shock too because it's a lot to take in such a short amount of time that firstly your sons girlfriend is a mythical sea creature & secondly because the last 5 seconds felt like 5 milliseconds.

After a second, Rikki took her arm away from covering her head. Her blue eyes were wide and filled with fear. I could only see the back of Zane but I heard him say "Go! Now!" as his arms flung gesturing towards the pool of water.

Rikki dived into the water, but only her head and torso was in before we watched as mid-air her legs & feet disappeared, being replaced with a golden, scaly tail.

We were too late.

I expected Rikki to swim off and leave us with the mess for now, but she surfaced again seconds after her transformation.

She moved to the side of the pool and raised her arm out of the water towards Zane, before saying "Zane, can you help me out?"

He crouched down to the pool & after a minute or so, he pulled Rikki out onto the sandy ground. She curled her fingers into a ball and steam started radiating off her tail. Seconds later, the tail had vanished & her legs were exactly as they were before she dove into the water.

Rikki was the first to speak after no-one said or did anything. "So what are you going to do with me?"

My mind was processing & trying to find a solution for the mess, which I still felt partly responsible for. Suddenly I had an idea. It meant self-sacrifice and I still needed Dr Denman to agree to it too.

I watched Denman as she said 'Well!" still looking totally shocked and disbelieving. Here was my chance. I would have to swallow my pride and risk a hell of a lot of money, but I had to do it for Zane & Rikki.

"Doctor Denman, can I please have a word with you" I asked, watching as she considered it for a moment before she said "Keep an eye on them" to her two assistants, and walked into the other part of the cave with me.

"What do you want?" she asked crossing her arms, seeming to be suffering less shock than she was a few minutes ago.

"That's what I was going to ask you" I said.

"I don't understand" she said, but I would bet on the fact that she was bluffing. People like her knew their business, and even more so, they knew how to get what they want.

"How much money do you want?"

"I don't think you understand Harrison. Not only is Rikki worth millions of dollars, but the fame would be enormous too. Besides what's in it for you"

"It's not for me, it's for Zane. I have never been a good dad to him, and here is my chance, so name a price & an account"

"3 mil"

"And you promise not to tell anyone else about Rikki or Mako"

"Yep"

"What account?"

"That's too dodgy Harrison. How am I going to explain a 3 million dollar cash injection?"

"Okay, well what else can you come up with?"

"Let's get married. No pre-nup"

I took a deep breath, thinking about the mess I was about to get myself into, and then I thought about Zane, and how frightened he looked about Rikki.

"Okay"

"Let's break it to the others" Dr Denman said, and we walked out to the main part of cave.

Rikki was sitting on the ground & Zane was leaning against the wall when we came back in.

"So?" Rikki said begrudgingly.

Doctor Denman said "We have come to an agreement; we just need you to agree" and Rikki grunted, before Denman continued.

"In exchange for your freedom, Harrison & I will marry."

Both the teenagers mouths dropped open, before they said at the same time "What?"

Rikki spoke again "No. No way. This is has to do with me & Denman. I don't want to owe you."

Zane quietly encourage Rikki to accept the offer but she just shook her head back.

"Rikki, can I talk to you?" I asked her, hoping that I would be able to change her mind.

She nodded and we talked to the same part of the cave where minutes earlier I was making offers to Doctor Denman.

"Why are you doing this? What's in it for you?"

"I'm doing it for Zane & you. I saw him & I felt the panic that he was feeling when you got wet. You mean so much to him Rikki"

"Really?"

"Yes, now shut up, go back in there & accept the offer"

"I feel like I owe you something though"

"Absolutely not. I have so much money, but no amount of money will buy Zane. And don't you realize Rikki that if you let Denman reveal your secret, then your life might as well be over"

"Okay, I'll accept the offer. Thank you so much Mr Bennett!"

"It's Harrison"

"Okay, well thanks so much Harrison"

"You're very welcome Rikki" I said and smiled as we walked back into the moon pool.

As we entered the cave again, Zane who was leant against the cave wall, darted up alertly when we re-entered the cave.

"I agree" Rikki said, making Zane's face light up as he smiled, and walked over to her enveloping her in a hug.

"Okay then. Tomorrow I'll call you with arrangements" Doctor Denman said to me as he and her assistants were about to leave the cave.

I nodded, and with that they left.

"Thank you so much Dad" Zane said beaming at me.

"Anytime Zane" I said, smiling back.

For once I was my son's hero, not the villain.

After Rikki & Zane thanked me a few hundred each, we were getting ready to leave, when Zane's phone went off.

Most other phones wouldn't have service at Mako, but Zane insisted I buy him an overly expensive one that even probably has service in the middle of the ocean. It makes a lot more sense now as to why he was so insistent on that one!

"Who is it?" Rikki asked him.

"Will" Zane said with a puzzled expression.

Who was Will?

"And…" Rikki said, trying to get more than one word out of her boyfriend.

"He just asked if I'd seen Bella today"

Who's Bella too? I thought feeling a bit puzzled. I know there was another guy that helped Zane on that day at Mako, but I'm sure his name started with an L. Was it Luke or something? There was another 2 mermaids, but the name Bella didn't ring a bell.

"What? Why? He probably texted me too, but I've left my phone on the beach."

Zane typed something and put his phone in his pocket.

"Whatya say?" Rikki said, continuing to nag him for information.

"Just that I haven't since at the café this morning & neither have you, because we've been at Mako all day"

"Okay" Rikki said, sounding a bit more satisfied than before.

Seconds later, his phone beeped again and he read the text out.

"No-one has seen her since this morning. I called Cleo & Lewis and they haven't seen her, you said you're at Mako so she isn't there, I checked the café, I checked the beach, I checked her house & I called her sister a few minutes ago. I'm getting worried." Zane said reading the screen.

"What? I wonder where she is."

"Don't know, but if no-one's seen her by morning then we should probably call the police or something."

"Anyway, I should get going" I said interrupting.

"Oh, right sorry Dad! I forgot you were here for a second." Zane said and I just smiled.

"Alright I should go" Zane added, kissing Rikki, before we left.

This is my chance
This is my chance
My chance to feel alive

I hope that explains some of the reasoning behind the Denman/Harrison engagement! :)

So where's Bella gone? It's like she's completely disappeared. Is she okay? Any guesses or predictions? Let me know 'cause I love hearing what you think and what you guess!

Who is going to be returning? How will they have an unexpected connection with Denman? Any guesses who?

Competition time! :) I did a competition in the last chapter of Taken Away (thanks to those that answered!) and I'm going one for this chap too! :) But I've changed the rules slightly! Firstly, instead of writing your answer in your review, you have to inbox me the answer, but you still have to review & let me know what you thought of the chapter AND you have to write what you think is going to happen, either with the where's Bella thing or who's going to be returning/connection with Denman. If you don't, then your answer won't be counted.

The question is; 'What is the name of the telemovie that Indiana Evans (Bella) & Cariba Heine (Rikki) starred in together? It was on TV last year. (Clue: Check out Wikipedia...) Extra points if you can tell me what the characters names were that they played or how they were connected in the telemovie (ie, friends, rivals, sisters etc)

I'll PM you the prizes :)

Have a good day, please vote on my poll, review & enter the competition :D
CheddarFetta :D