A/N: Before starting this story, it is HIGHLY recommended that you go read H2O: Just Add Mermen first. While it may not be necessary to understand the first part of the story, it will be for a good chunk of it. Now, without further ado, enjoy!
The moving truck had beaten the small family to the worn but cozy house. Close to where his parents had grown up, Beck figured this was the best place they could have picked to help out his grandpa. After his grandma had passed away when he was five, his grandpa had been by himself on the Gold Coast. They'd gone to visit him every few years, but they lead very busy lives in Queensland. A month ago, when his mum received the news that his grandpa had been in a horrible accident, she had insisted they move to the Gold Coast until he was better.
Living so close to the water's edge was going to be an interesting change. Their apartment in the city had been close to the center of the arts district where the city had seemed so alive. Here it was quiet. Had it always been this quiet when they'd come to visit? He didn't remember, but Beck knew it was just temporary. His mum had promised it would just be for a year – that was how long the doctors thought it would take for his grandpa to become independent again. They were just grateful he was alive and would make a full recovery.
That didn't mean he wouldn't miss his friends. He'd been part of the swimming club at his school and his dad assured him that the local high school had a very good swimming club. In fact, both of his parents had met at that very high school, getting married soon after graduation. They kept telling him to think of this as way to get to know his history a little bit better, and his grandpa.
Shaking himself from his thoughts, Beck helped his mum grab boxes from the truck while movers brought in the furniture. His dad directed them from his wheelchair within the house, indicating where certain things should go. It was just a one-story rambler, so luckily nothing had to go upstairs. Soon enough everything was stacked within various rooms and takeout was ordered for dinner. Tomorrow he'd be starting at his new school and his parents would be visiting his grandpa and the hospital to discuss care plans with the doctors. And, Beck had to admit, they had pretty good Thai food on the coast.
"Are you excited for tomorrow?" asked his dad.
"Not really," muttered Beck. He looked up from his curry at the slight frown on his dad's face. "Yeah, sure."
His mum didn't say anything, typing with one hand on her laptop while she precariously brought a forkful of curry to her mouth without looking.
"Dear, I thought the studio gave you the week off?"
His mum finally looked up and sheepishly grinned at her husband. "Sorry, babe. I left Jenny in charge and was just reading what she had to say. Looks like the new album is going ahead as scheduled."
"That's great," said Will.
The dinner conversation continued but Beck didn't pay attention. His parents discussed work and he scrolled through his social media. His mum was a record producer in Queensland, running a small Indie label. Their latest band was being well received, which meant more work for everyone. But it was good work, so his mum was happy, if not stressed. His dad had been a swim coach at the local university and was taking a sabbatical year so he could help his wife as much as needed.
Everything Beck knew about swimming he'd first learned from his parents. Both were experts in swimming and had taught him all the tricks and techniques. Despite his dad being in a wheelchair, he was strong and fast in the water. It was almost as if his bone disease had given him an advantage for the way he could move when swimming. His mum was just as fast and graceful but had never swum or dived competitively like his dad had. Now starting at a new school Beck would also have to join a new swim club. He was confident he'd make it; he just didn't like having to learn to get along with all new members.
Dinner ended slowly and Beck excused himself. They had eaten on the kitchen floor, a tarp haphazardly laid out like a picnic blanket. A trash bag for box stuffing lay nearby and he threw his empty food carton in with the rest of the rubbish. Dragging his feet, he made his way down the hallway to the last room on the right. It was a large enough room, definitely bigger than what he'd grown up with in Queensland, but already tightly cluttered with various boxes. His mattress was laid out on the ground, and his bed frame sat leaning against the wall. That was a project for the moving company tomorrow. The two-day drive to the coast had been exhausting, not to mention hauling all those boxes, and he was ready to call it a night.
Plugging in his phone, he found his duffle bag and pulled out a wrinkled pair of basketball shorts for pajama bottoms. Being the middle of February, the summer heat was still sweltering. A nice, cooling breeze was coming off the canal that ran behind their new house and Beck opened his window to it. Luckily, there was a screen – no bugs out there would be attacking him tonight. Rummaging through a few boxes he found a light blanket and plopped down onto his mattress. His phone cord barely reached the outlet as he checked his text messages. There were a few from some of his mates, but they were all headed to bed as well. Most would be getting up early for swim practice, and he didn't want to be the exception. Putting his phone down, he snuggled under his blanket and easily fell asleep.
Bella stood in the doorway, peering in on her son as he slept on his mattress. His face was scrunched, and he'd kicked his blanket halfway off, a leg now poking out. He was restless about tomorrow, even if he hadn't said as much. She didn't blame him. Her first days on the Gold Coast had been a whirlwind and she'd been just as nervous. Though she suspected he had no idea how nervous she and Will were to be back, even if just for a year. There was a reason they had moved so far away and to the city. There were so many secrets that they'd left behind, now well over a decade ago. Secrets they hoped Beck wouldn't uncover. Jeremy, who had long since made Mako his home, had told them the pod would do their best to steer clear of their son.
They had stayed on the Gold Coast for another two years after Beck had been born, a mere five years after the incident that had changed their lives forever. They had waited to see if Beck would show any affinity for the ocean or any merman characteristics. But they never came, and it was what Will had feared. The magic was gone from them. He and Bella were human through and through and their son would be as well. Not wanting to subject their son to the hardships of their youth, they had made the choice to distance themselves from Mako and the pod. They stopped attending the moon ceremonies, and eventually their lives moved forward just as any ordinary person's did.
When her mom and died, Bella had gone to visit the pod, grateful for the strength of the ocean they offered her and Will. She'd reconnected with her friends for a time but had again moved on. Now her dad needed her. The car crash had been bad, and the doctors were amazed he had pulled through. Major therapy and rehab were needed, and she and Will would be there to help wherever they could. Will had been just as hesitant to come back. A few people in town still might remember him as the boy who was kidnapped and tortured by his own sister, something their own son knew nothing about. They figured he now looked different enough with his darker hair and beard that no one would guess who he was if they saw him.
Taking a deep, calming breath, Bella shut her son's bedroom door and crossed the hall to her own room. Will was already asleep, a book splayed across his chest. She'd been up late organizing things for their meeting at the hospital in the morning and making sure Beck's school paperwork was in order. She watched her husband for a moment, then climbed under the covers, pressing up against his side. Will cracked an eye open and smiled gently down at her.
"Night babe," he whispered.
"Night love," she whispered back.
Reaching over to where he'd plugged the lamp in on the floor, Will clicked it off and set his book aside. Just like Beck, their bed had yet to be set up. The moving company was returning in the morning to set up the rest of the furniture, but he didn't mind. It was a little bit like camping, something they hadn't done in a very long time. Will let his worries fade as he pulled Bella a little closer. This next year was going to be interesting. Things always were when you were this close to Mako.
A/N: That's right, I'm back! It has been five years since the adventures of H2O:JAM ended, and I can't believe it. I also can't believe how many people still read, favorite, and review that story. After receiving a couple reviews this past week, I was reminded that I had planned a sequel. In fact, shortly after I had finished writing H2O:JAM, I had sat down and plotted out what the sequel would look like. Sadly, it never cam to fruition and those notes are long gone. But that's okay, I had never felt truly satisfied with those original ideas. So, this is hopefully going to be the sequel that the story deserves. I must warn you in advance, I am just as busy as I have ever been (yay grad school!), so the chapters will be short and spread out. I am hoping by keeping them shorter that it will encourage me to write more and make it easier for you all to read.
As always, thank you for swimming by and I'll catch you all on the flipside!