He rested his forehead against mine, his fingers twining with mine as we both tried to regain control of ourselves. "I bet my father wouldn't mind you staying here." I said thoughtfully. "He will probably be ticked pink that I have connected with another living, breathing being." I laughed at myself more than my statement.

"That'd be nice." Cronus smiled softly. "But my old man lives not too far from here. I think a block over?" He shrugged. "He used to come see me and tell me I could come back whenever I needed, so he probably wouldn't care if I just dropped in. After all, he was the one who kept me clothed all these years. I think I should probably live with him."

"Oh." I said softly. "At least you would be close." I blinked a couple times. "How are you so well spoken if you were only on land for the first five years of your life?" I asked, looking up at him.

He laughed nervously. "Heeeeh." I raised an eyebrow at him. "You see, its kind of a merpeople think we can do." He blushed a light violet color. "We have our own sort of language under water, so it's harder to speak an actual language, but, if we're able to kiss a human, we learn everything that human has learned.

So, when I gave you mouth to mouth four years ago, I learned everything you knew at the time. And, earlier on the pier, I learned everything you know now." I felt my face grow hot.

"Oh." I breathed, looking away. "Is that why you kissed me earlier on the pier? So you could keep up with me?"

"No." He said softly, cupping my cheek. "I kissed you because you were starting to freak out over me." His thumb rubbed over my cheekbone and ear. "It was the only thing I could think of to calm you down. Sorry if you didn't like it."

I shook my head. "It's not that I didn't like it so much as I wasn't expecting it." I said hastily, not wanting him to get dejected. "It was shock, nothing else." He nodded, his eyes thoughtful.

His thumbs were smooth on my skin, and I felt much more calm than I had in the last four years of my life. He sighed. "I have to go back." He said softly.

"I know." I breathed, not wanting to let him go just yet. "I know." I took a step back, holding his hands in mine. "Just please, be careful. For me." I said, knowing he'd promised already. I just really didn't want him to go anywhere.

"I will." He nodded and kissed me again sweetly. "I will be back. I promise." He breathed against my lips. I nodded and raised up to my toes, catching his lips with mine again.

I walked him to the back door so he could avoid my nosy neighbors and he pecked me on the lips quickly, like a husband leaving for work would. I blushed as he walked toward the ocean, waving as he did.

God please let him be okay! I sighed and shut the door, locking up the house. Right as I started to make something for dinner, my phone rang. It was father. "Hello?" I answered, putting him on speaker.

"Hey there kiddo! How're you handling your school work? Finals are this and next week, right? Have you been studying and keeping on top of you homework?" His deep voice rang through the kitchen as he spoke, obviously excited to be talking to me.

"Everything is going well. The house is clean and I have been keeping up with my school work as usual and yes, they are." I said, answering all of his questions.

"Anything new? Meet any cuties?" I sighed and blushed.

"Really father?" I sighed heavily. "Actually..." I trailed off, not sure how to tell him about Cronus.

"Oh!" He squeaked. "I knew it I knew it I knew it!" He said in the same breath. "Who's the lucky guy?!" He said loudly.

"Father!" I snapped. "Do I really need to get into how triggering you are being? If it were not me, anyone else would have hung up on you after your second question, you know this, do you not? I swear we have this conversation all the time and I am nearly finished trying to not be so offensive and pushy with your conversations. And you know some people can't handle men asking such questions? It is related to the deep voices and grumbling in the tones you use and-" His laughed cut me off. "ARE YOU LAUGHING RIGHT NOW?" I almost screamed before I corrected myself.

"Sorry kiddo." He laughed. "Sometimes I feel like the kid. You act way too old for your age. Relax and tell me about him." I heard him sit down.

I sighed. "His name is Cronus. He used to live close to us, actually. His parents are separated and he went to live with his mother up until now. But he is back now and we..." I paused, blushing. "We connected right away."

"I'm so happy." Dad sighed. "I'm so happy my boy is finally growing up and found someone he likes." I blushed brighter. "Do I get to meet him when I get home?" I looked at the calender.

"Of course." I said, not to sure when Cronus would be getting back. "It might be some time after, though. I am sure his father would like to reconnect with him again."

"Right." I heard his smile. "Well." He yawned. "Are you eating well? Going to bed on time?"

I looked at the clock. "Bed on time? Isn't it nearly two in the morning there?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes. But I wanted to talk to you." I rolled my eyes. "Don't roll your eyes at me. I know you're getting older, but you'll always be my little Kanny who's scared of the ocean. And I'll always worry about you."

I sighed. "I know, I know. I'll be okay, I promise. And, when you get back, I'll have your favorite dinner made and ready." I heard his laugh.

"Yep. That's my Kanny. Well." He yawned again. "I should go to sleep. I have to be down on the construction sight at seven. Love you."

"Love you too. Wait, seven in the morning? You really need to stop-" The dial tone filled my ear. "Moron." I sighed and put my phone on the counter.

By the time the food was done, I was too sick with worry to eat. How long would it take Cronus to go and get back? Is he okay? What if he never came back?

That last thought jarred me, almost making me drop the container full of the food I hadn't eaten. I shook my head and took a deep breath. He promised he'd be safe and that he'd be back.