A/N I know it is late, but I promise I will try to update as early as I can. I just get caught up with homework and writer's block. I try to make these chapters as best I can, but I know they're not perfect. Anyway … thank you to my three reviewers from the last chapter! & all of you who are reading this ;)

PandaPuppet – Thanks!Glad you liked it! & That was pretty much the reaction I was going for ;)

Zeldaxluve64 - Glad you like the story so far & here is the next chapter!

Charlotte – It is kind of explained here, but the language she was speaking was the same as the language she was speaking when she was found on the island. Garry is from there and was just speaking it and she understood and replied in it based on memory, without realizing it.

Chapter 4: Not Alone

Emma's P.O.V

"What do you mean?" I asked shocked. Ash had just told me that while I was speaking with Mr. Garry Hennings, I apparently hadn't been speaking English.

"I mean you were speaking another language. I had no idea you were so fluently bilingual, let alone in a language I've never even heard of," Ash said giving me a sort of accusing look.

"Hey, it's a surprise to both of us. It felt so natural! I didn't even know I was speaking any different," I replied confused, trying to recall the previous conversation; nothing seemed unnatural and I couldn't recall any foreign words being said by me or Mr. Hennings.

"That's really weird," Ash said confused as we both headed back to the counter. I still had to change to get ready for work.

"Maybe it was my first language," I mused aloud, "My mom said that when I was adopted, I spoke a different language, maybe that was it. Although it doesn't make sense that I would be able to speak it so fluently after so many years of not using it."

"Yeah that wouldn't," he said kind of distractedly, "Is there something you aren't telling me?"

I was a bit caught off guard. I knew I should probably tell him the whole truth, but, "If I told you, you wouldn't believe it."

"You're a mermaid," Ash said smiling, "I highly doubt it can get any more unbelievable than that."

"You would be surprised then," I said awkwardly laughing, "I may be from some unknown Island kingdom and I was found on the beach of Mako when I was about three years old. I had amnesia but I was speaking an unknown language; possibly the one you just heard."

"Wow, that does seem unbelievable," Ash said looking down at the counter. I tried to read his face, to gauge his reaction to this piece of news, but before I could a group of girls walked in.

"Hi, are you open?" One of the girls asked.

"Uh yeah, what can I get you?" Ash said politely turning his attention to the customers, and so I just went to the back to get changed for work. It was a lot more awkward today than usual during my shift with Ash. Once the Juicenet opened, the only time we ever communicated was work related. I couldn't tell how he felt about what I said, I mean honestly it is nothing compared to what I haven't told him yet. What if he doesn't believe me? What if he thinks it's all too much? I don't want him to leave me.

Throughout the rest of my shift, I continually tried catching his eye, but his mind seemed to be somewhere else. What if he is trying to think of the best way to dump me? I really don't want to lose him, but if he can't accept the real me, which even I am trying hard to accept, then does it matter if he stays with me? But I love him. When he accepted that I was a mermaid, I truly thought we would be together forever. Before him, I thought relationships like this could only be found in fairy-tales. The connection I thought I had with Byron was nothing compared to that between Ash and me, I feel like we are one and the same. And to think, we started out practically enemies. Well, to be exact I hated him for knowing more than me on horses and then accidentally poisoned his horse, but fixed the situation by curing his horse, and now he knows how. I hated him even more when he took over the Juicenet and fired me for something I didn't do. Then he realized he was wrong, took me back, and randomly asked me out to. I couldn't help but smile at the memory, I was so shocked and confused when he asked me to the movies, but since then we have always been together. I almost laughed out loud when I remembered; Cleo and Rikki had guessed we would be a match all along. Yet it also brought tears to my eyes, because this could all be over.

Luckily I was able to keep from looking sad, I had always been good at holding in my feelings when necessary, sometimes it was the only way to get things done. Then it wasn't long before Jenny came in for her shift, and I signed out and slipped out of the Juicenet as fast as I could, hoping I wouldn't be noticed. But I think I was wrong because just as I splashed into the ocean I heard my name being called. I knew it was Ash, so I didn't worry, but I just swam to the moon pool, hoping to find some solitude.

Luckily it was empty, though I knew that wouldn't last for long. So I just took a few deep breaths and got my act together. Then I laid down my head on my hands on the side of the moonpool, looking up at through the crater of the volcano and all around me, seeing the sunlight sparkle on the volcano walls. This place truly is amazing. I can't help but wonder how it was created, but that's a mystery that I'm fine not knowing the answer to.

"So this is where you have been hiding," Rikki said jokingly, I was slightly shocked, I hadn't heard her come in, and Cleo followed her.

"I called your mobile tons of times and you didn't answer," Cleo explained.

"We even went to the Juicenet," Rikki said, and I tried my best to keep my face neutral, even as she floated closer to me and I could recognize the concerned look on her face, "Ash said you might be here."

"Did he say anything else?" I asked them.

"No, that's your job," Rikki said leaning on the edge of the pool near me. I turned my face to the sand and started drawing scribbles in it. In that moment I debated whether I should tell them my new secret or not. We are best friends, after all, practically sisters, but what if they act the same way as Ash?

"You know you can tell us anything," Cleo said floating on my other side, putting a reassuring hand on my shoulder. She was right, I was being silly, there was no way they would turn on me. We have been through too much together.

I turned to them, back against the edge of the pool and started with the simplest thing I had learned, "Well, uh, I just found out that I was adopted."

"And your parents waited until now to tell you?" Rikki said incredulously.

"Rikki!" Cleo said angrily at her rude response. But I have to admit, I agree with Rikki.

"No, it's fine, I totally agree," I said twiddling my fingers, "Lisa and Neil lied to me, they aren't my parents."

"What's the problem though? You grew up in a loving family, and that's all that matters in the end," Rikki assured me, which was much unlike her.

"If you really want to, you could probably find your birth parents. Your adoptive parents will probably know something that you can go from," Cleo said, "Rikki and I will help."

"They don't know anything about my biological parents," I replied.

"Was it like a closed adoption?" Rikki asked.

I bit my lip, how should I put it? "It was more like a … we found her on Mako adoption."

"What? Really?!" Cleo said shocked.

"Are you serious?" Rikki replied. They both swam directly in front of me.

"Yeah," I said kind of smiling at their shock, "According to Lisa they found me when they came to Mako to have a romantic picnic lunch. I was like three years old, speaking a different language, and according to the doctors I had amnesia. After they sent out a worldwide search for my parents and nobody answered, Lisa and Neil adopted me and named me Emma."

"How did that even happen?" Cleo asked surprised and confused by what I just told her, "How did you end up on an island at three years old?"

"Well I don't know Cleo," I said smiling slightly at the silly question, "I mean, I was only three years old and had amnesia."

"You're kidding right? That doesn't sound very believable," Rikki said staring at me incredulously.

"I was a bit skeptical at first and it does sound crazy, but I think it's true," I replied honestly, "I had a flashback once since then, and earlier today, according to Ash, I was speaking a different language.

"Don't flashbacks need to be triggered by something, and why would you just start randomly speaking a different language and not notice," Rikki asked.

"Well both were triggered by this guy," I said trying to figure out how I should finish telling my story, "Look, there is more to the story that I need to explain. First, can you tell me if you see anything?"

I turned around and pulled my hair away to show them the back of my neck.

"Oh my gosh how did you do that? It's so sparkly," Cleo said in awe, "Can I touch it?"

"Sure," I replied, I didn't see anything wrong with it. After she did so, I turned around.

"It's a birthmark," I told them, "I felt a tingling on my neck this morning and I guess this just appeared."

"I've never seen one like it," Rikki replied looking at me disbelievingly.

"I know, but that is because it isn't a normal birthmark," I replied.

"Okay, you've got a lot to explain," Rikki stated, "Spill it."

"Okay fine, but warning, it is going to get even more crazy," I said taking a deep breath. Then I told them everything that happened to me and that I learned up to speaking a different language. I didn't see a reason to hold anything back. Maybe they could help me make sense of it all.

The following awkward silence seemed to last a lifetime.

"Well?" I finally asked getting impatient.

"That sounds like a bit of a stretch Em," Cleo said speaking honestly.

"Are you sure you weren't hit on the head, or maybe this was all a dream," Rikki said, annoying me.

"Yes I'm sure it all happened, and yes, I know it all seems too weird and crazy, even for us, but what if it is true?!" I exclaimed to both of them, "I just don't know what to believe anymore …"

"Don't worry we'll help you figure things out," Cleo said, again putting a reassuring arm around my shoulders, "That's what friends are for right?"

"Right," I replied.

"You never did tell us why you came here," Rikki inquired.

"Yeah Em, what's wrong?" Cleo asked.

"Well I told Ash the story, well the part about Mako at least, and now I think he is going to break up with me," I admitted truthfully.

"Why would he break up with you?" Cleo asked.

"I don't know, he just wouldn't talk to me all the while we were working," I told her, "Maybe he thinks I'm too weird and just wants a normal girlfriend."

"He wanted to be with you when you were a mermaid, I highly doubt he wants a 'normal' girlfriend," Rikki stated, which was definitely true.

"Yeah he probably just wanted time to think things through," Cleo said.

"I guess," I said hopefully.

"How about we go for a swim? That always helps clear our heads," Cleo said.

"That sounds good," I said smiling, and we all headed out of the opening in the moon pool and swam into the depths of the ocean only a mermaid could reach.

I swear we could have spent the rest of our lives in the water, but sadly all good things have to end. We swam until we were pretty much exhausted. Eventually Cleo gave the signal that we should head to the beach; Lewis' private fishing spot that we use so no one could see us. Once we got there we each pulled ourselves onto the hot sand, and Rikki dried us off completely.

"I'm starving," Rikki exaggerated, "Why don't we go to the Juicenet?"

I was a bit hesitant; going there would mean seeing him.

"Come on Em, it will give you a chance to settle things with Ash," Cleo encouraged.

"Fine," I said sighing, but following them without resistance to the Juicenet.

"Em! I'm so glad you're here! I thought you were mad at me or something," Ash said when we walked as he came up to me giving me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. I didn't respond, first because I was really shocked at the way he was acting, and then because I was a little mad. Cleo and Rikki gave me knowing glances and went to order our juices.

"You are, then why were you ignoring me this morning?" I asked.

"I wasn't ignoring you," he said bewildered when he realized I actually was mad, "I would never do that. I was just thinking. At first I was trying to figure out how you could have gotten on an island from a different country when you were only three years old. I mean, somebody must have brought you there right? You couldn't just swim there, that's ridiculous. Then I remembered that something happened at Mako years ago, around the time you said you were found, but I couldn't put my finger on it. After your shift it came to me, but when I found you already diving into the water. I figured you just wanted to go for a swim to think things through I mean, you just learned that you are adopted so you probably have lots to think about. I decided it would be best to give you some space. So I looked it up and now I have something to tell you that might help you get closer to finding your parents!"

By the end of his little speech he was ecstatic and I couldn't help but smile. He wasn't abandoning me, he was helping me.

"Oh, that's so sweet! You really are the best boyfriend ever!" I said only now returning his hug and kiss, but this time on the lips.

"You doubted me?" He said jokingly, but then in all seriousness continued, "I better get back to work, we are packed today. And before you ask, no we don't need any extra help; go relax with your friends. Then if you want you can stick around until closing and we can talk."

He knew me so well. I gave him another small kiss and headed to the usual booth where Cleo and Rikki were waiting with our juices. We got to talking about life and the sea, the usual; I didn't really pay attention much, I couldn't wait for my talk with Ash.

A/N Yeah, so now three more people know Emma's story, and Ash may know something that can help her :) Hope you enjoyed and Please Review! I want to know what you think! ;)