I stood there, in his arms, for what felt like such a short period of time. But the night grew darker and the latern grew dimmer. He rubbed my back and rocked us gently the whole time as I cried and held him.

Once I could breath, I looked at him. He smiled at me softly, kissing my forehead like he had four years ago.

He placed his hand on my chest, over the shell of the necklace, and kissed me softly. It was my first real kiss, not counting the mouth to mouth he'd given me before and the rude one earlier.

It made me melt in his hands, heat burning through me. Though it was soft and sweet, it was perfect. My heart was racing in my chest when he pulled back, a blush creeping over my cheeks.

He sighed suddenly, making me open my eyes. "I should get you home." He whispered. I frowned slightly. "Then I have to go back."

My heart all but stopped in my chest as he said this. Was I going to lose him for four more years? Could I even survive losing him now, after learning everything I had?

"No." I shook my head. "I can't lose you now." I bit my lip as more tears threatened to escape. He looked at me, his face shocked. "I can't lose you again." At that, they did spill over, running freely down my face.

"Hey. No. Shhhh." He pulled me against him, burying my face in his bare chest. "It's okay. You're not losing me." He said, but I'm sure even he could hear the lie in his own voice. "Kankri, look at me." He held my face in his hands, rubbing small circles into my cheeks with his thumbs. "I'm a prince. If I just go missing, everyone will freak out. But, if I go back and tell them I'm leaving, then nothing can keep us apart."

"You're a prince?" I asked, my mind slowly connecting the pieces. "So you and Meenah are related?" He sighed heavily and nodded.

"In human terms, we're cousins. Merterms, we're brother and sister." He frowned. "But we have different birthers." He shook his head. "Sorry. Merterm. Parents are birthers."

I nodded. "So you'll go and be back?" I asked, looking at him. "You will be back, right?" I swallowed hard, fearing the worst.

He nodded and gave me a small peck on the lips. I smiled softly. "There's only a handful of things they can do to me. None of them serious. They can dethrone me, which I'm doing myself. They can banish me, which I don't plan on going back once I'm gone or kill me. Which I doubt they will because the queen doesn't like killing other merpeople." My face went cold.

"K-kill you?" I asked. He nodded and kissed me again.

"They won't kill me. I might be leaving them, but that doesn't mean I'm not their prince. If they even try..." He cracked his knuckles and laughed softly. "Well, they won't get too far with that plan."

"Cronus, please be careful. For me?" I asked, looking in his eyes. He took my face in his hands, and kissed me. It was...different than the first couple kisses.

It was heated and rough, making me press myself closer to him on instinct. When he pulled back, I was breathless, my face and body full of an odd enery. "I will. Now let me walk you home." He said softly, helping me gather up my books.

He carried my bag for me, holding my hand. I ignored the whispers from the neighbors who always sat on their porch drinking at night, unlocking the front door. I opened it and looked at Cronus, my face surely turning colors on me again.

"Do you want to come in? My father isn't home so we don't have to worry about him." I stared at my hands.

"Sure." He smiled and followed me in, shutting the door behind him. the house my father and I live in was large for two people, four bedrooms, each with a private bathroom, a finished basement and a deck that had an amazing view of the ocean next to my room. He sat my bag on the couch and looked at me.

"Its nice in here." He smiled. "Much better than where I live." I frowned at that, curious. "I might be a prince, but living under a queen is like living in poverty." He sighed. "That, and you can smell up here. Everything smells like salt and fish where I live."

I smiled at that. "Will you be able to adapt? Everything must be so different." I looked around, trying to see my home in the eyes of someone who didn't grow up in it.

"I can. I lived on land until I was five. My gills will close up after a week or so and I can open them again if I need to." He stood in front of me, kissing me again softly. "And I will never get enough of this." He smiled, kissing me again and again.

I felt like a puddle of raging teen hormones in his arms, my knees getting weaker and weaker with every kiss that landed against my lips. My breath was becoming harder to draw, turning quickly into gasps and pants.