Chapter 17, sorry that i've neglected this story, but my full attention is going to be on this, and on Madam, which I am aiming to finish in August! Enjoy!

Summer of Love (Pt 4)

Fishy Love

"I'm never ever having sex!" Heidi wailed, from where she hid in the coat closet, "Ugh! It sounds so horrible!"

Stephanie turned to Ranger, motioning for him to say something. What was he supposed to say in this situation? You'll be singing a different tune when you first get it? he never had this problem before with sex, he lost his virginity at age 13, and it all seemed to click from there. However, this was his child, his daughter, and he sure as hell didn't want her out there having sex, period. Hell, he didn't want her dating at all, period.

"Once you're a little bit older," Ranger said through the door of the closet, "You'll understand it all, don't worry about sex, you're a bit too young to be thinking about it, look how about this, we won't talk about the S-word, and we'll just enjoy our summer, okay?"

"Okay…" Heidi said, coming out the closet, holding Mew to her chest, "I never want to think about that stuff again!"

"Good," Stephanie said, hugging Heidi to her, "Now, what are we going to do today?"

"I don't know about you two," Carlos said patting Heidi on the head, "But, I have to go to Rangeman Miami, and handle some IT stuff, you two can join me, or you can stay here and enjoy your day."

Heidi looked over to Stephanie and said, "I don't know about you, but I want to spend the day at the beach! I wanna build a sand castle."

"The princess has spoken," Stephanie said with a smile, looking over to Ranger, "We're staying in today to catch some sun and to build sand castles."

"Sounds like a plan, I'll be sure to join you both, when I can shake the It guys off of me," Ranger said with a smile, kissing Stephanie on her lips, before kissing Heidi on her head, "Behave for Stephanie, okay, Quedria?"

"Always, Daddy!" Heidi said, hugging her father, "Have fun today, if not, we'll have twice as fun, just for you."

"It's nice to know you're thinking about me," Ranger said, before he left the beach house.

Stephanie turned to Heidi and said, "Well, let's go and get dressed for the beach, I'm sure Mew would prefer to stay in the house, instead of going to the beach."

"I'm sure he'll like having the bed to himself," Heidi said, placing Mew on the floor, watching the kitten bound up the stairs, "Okay! Beach time!"

(~~~~~~~~~~~~~)

Heidi smiled over to Stephanie, showing off the large sand castle she built close by to the lounging woman, "Mommy, come and look at the castle I built! It's huge, too bad we can't live in it, right?"

Stephanie got up from the sand lounge chair, and walked over to the huge sand castle that Heidi had built. The girl spent hours working on it, going into great details with columns, arches and towers. She didn't have much tools to work with, just the plastic buckets and shovels they got at the store yesterday. All in all, Stephanie couldn't find fault with the results, it looked damn good.

"Hey that's great work you did there, Heidi," Stephanie said watching Heidi dig out a trench around the castle, "Oh yeah, a moat, right?"

"Yep," Heidi said smoothing the cool damp sand, "I have to get a lot of water for the moat too, most of the time, the sand soaks it up like a sponge…"

"Yep, I remember going to beach, when I was younger, and I use to build castles with my father, we always tried to make a moat but…" Stephanie faltered, watching white leaves fall around them, going right through the earth.

"You're going to have to get use to the leaves," Heidi said softly, as she built up the sides of the moat, "They're harmless you know…"

"Why do they fall?" Stephanie asked Heidi, sinking into the sand beside the girl, who was busy with the moat.

"I don't know, how many stars are out in space? Why aren't there more planets like earth?" Heidi asked, looking up to Stephanie, her eyes soft, "There's some things I don't think we'll ever know, Mommy, maybe, just maybe, the leaves fall, because they can…let's leave it like that, yeah?"

"Yeah," Stephanie said, leaning back in the sand, watching the white leaves fall around them..

"Come help me with the front of the castle, Mommy," Heidi said with a smile, "I want to make a garden for the sand castle!"

"Geez, a garden?" Stephanie asked, getting up to help Heidi find seashells and seaweed, "We have to make sure that Ranger sees this, okay?"

Stephanie sat up quickly, as an acoustic guitar began to play. They were the only house in this beach area, so it couldn't be the neighbors. Well then who was it? Stephanie turned and looked down the beach and watched as a person walked up the beach, strumming his fingers on the strings of a guitar. Stephanie turned to Heidi, but she could only let out a yelp, as Heidi got up and went running towards the person.

"Heidi!" Stephanie said getting up and running after the girl, "Heidi! Wait, you don't know that person!"

"Yes I do!" Heidi squealed, running to the person a skip in her step, "Odysseus!"

Well, maybe Heidi did know the person, Stephanie mused, watching the person stop playing, and walking more quickly up to Heidi. Stephanie had to do a double take; Odysseus was fucking hot! Holy shit, they sure as hell don't make them like that anymore. Where did Heidi have a chance to meet this fellow?

"Odysseus, come meet my Mommy!" Heidi said, pulling Odysseus over to Stephanie, "Mommy, this is Odysseus, Odysseus, this is my Mommy."

"Oh…" Stephanie said feeling a bit flustered, "Hello, Odysseus, I've never heard about you, from my daughter."

"Oh…" Odysseus said picking up Stephanie's hand and kissing it, making her giggle, "I apologize, but I met her at the bookstore yesterday-"

"And he saved my life!" Heidi said with a squeal, wrapping her arms around Odysseus's arm, "He saved me in the rip currents."

Stephanie turned to Odysseus, who smiled and nodded his head, shrugging his shoulders, "Oh, you did, well, come along then, anyone who saves my child, is welcomed into our home."

"Wait!" Heidi said, pausing the two, "We have to finish the castle, right? So, Odysseus, you're in charge of getting the water for the moat, and Mommy and I will make the front garden, we should make a fountain as well, and a three car garage!"

"Three car garage?" Odysseus asked, looking at Stephanie, who shrugged her shoulders, "Well, we better make it a three door garage for boats, we should stick with the beach theme, right?"

"Oh yes," Heidi said, as he trio went back to the sand castle, "Afterwards, we should find something to eat, I'm quite hungry."

"Oh, well, not only can I play the guitar, but I am also a great cook, I'll cook you and your mother something wonderful," Odysseus said, making Heidi and Stephanie sigh, "I'll have to go out and get the ingredients, but it won't take me too long to get the flounder."

(~~~~~~~~~~~~~~)

"Odysseus, I can't handle another bite," Stephanie sighed, pushing the plate away from her, "That was wonderful, holy shit, you weren't lying when you said you could cook."

Heidi smiled at Odysseus and said, "Too bad Daddy isn't here, he's missing out on our fun time, I don't know about you, but I go for some reading on the beach, I'll be back, I gotta go get my book!"

Heidi got up from patio table, and ran inside the house. Stephanie got up and with the help of Odysseus, cleaned up the table and put their dirty dishes in the kitchen. Stephanie paused, turned to Odysseus and asked, "So, what were you doing out and about, walking on this lonely strip of beach."

"Well," Odysseus said with a nervous smile, "I just wanted to see Heidi, and check on her is all, Well, I'm sure she didn't tell you, but, uh…she was out on the beach with me last night, and we were playing some songs and-"

"You two were what?" Ranger asked from his spot in front of the garage door, "You had my daughter on the beach last night, so that's where she snuck off too."

"Oh, she snuck off," Odysseus said, "Oh, I would have bought her back here, if that was the case, honest."

Ranger walked over to Odysseus and gave him a once over. He didn't seem to be like that type to advantage of a naïve teenager. Plus, the way Stephanie loomed over him, maybe he wasn't a bad kid, but still.

"I hope you escorted her home, after you had her up at all hours of the night," Ranger stated, looking at Odysseus, who nodded his head and stuck his hand out.

"My name is Odysseus, sir, pleasure to meet you," Odysseus said smiling, "Heidi and Stephanie told me you were away at work, glad to see you back."

"He's a wonderful cook," Stephanie said, looping her arm with Odysseus, "And he's such a gentleman too, he plays the guitar."

"Daddy!" Heidi said running up to Ranger and hugging him, holding the book 'Yeats,' close to her, "Daddy! I see you've met Odysseus, he's the one that saved me from drowning!"

Ranger's eyebrow rose, and he turned to Odysseus who smiled and nodded his head, "Oh did you, son?"

"Yes, I couldn't let a maiden die," Odysseus said with a smile, and a flush, "Uh…I'm glad she's alright."

Ranger grabbed Odysseus's hand and asked, "So, what are you doing for the rest of the day? I'm grilling steaks tonight, would you like to stay?"

"I would enjoy that, sir," Odysseus said, before Heidi smiled and dragged him out of the house, "Woah! Hang on Heidi, the beach will still be there, waiting for us!"

Stephanie turned to Ranger and said, with a coy smile, "We don't have steaks….."

"I got some from the butcher in Miami, they're in a cooler, in the Cayenne," Ranger said with a smile, leading Stephanie into the garage, "Odysseus, what a funny name, but he's a nice fellow, right?"

"Oh yes, and when you're done getting the steaks out, you have to see the castle we built, Heidi spent hours on it, and would quite disappointed If you didn't look at it!"

"Well, I don't want to make my child sad then, right?" Ranger asked, walking over to Stephanie and leading her outside, where the two teenagers were playing in the sand.

"That's a nice looking sand castle you got there," Ranger said, walking over to Heidi and Odysseus, "A moat, and….is that a garage for your….boat?"

(~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~)

"Hum….hum…hum…" The Queen of the nightwalkers sighed, watching the four play on the beach, "I really, really want to snap that merman's neck in two, for killing my second best servant…"

"My Queen, you mustn't attack them now, soon, the blood moon will be upon us, and then...we'll attack them, and take Gaia for our own uses!" A nightwalker said making the Queen shudder with excitement, "We'll be unstoppable…and they're so far away from anyone, no one will hear their screams…"

"We will feast on their blood, and watch the life fade from their eyes…" The Queen giggled, watching as the child played in the ocean with the merman, "And Gaia, and the tree of life will be ours to take over the world! A night utopia…imagine it! and the humans, nothing but livestock for us!"

(~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~)

"Heidi tells me that you two are getting married," Odysseus said, as he ate dinner, "Congratulations, the Key West is a great place to get married, the sand here is so pristine, and the water is so blue, I'll have you know that the waters here, are the cleanest and brightest in all of the Keys, which is why I love coming here from time to time."

Stephanie smiled, sipping her wine, watching Heidi get lost with what Odysseus told them. Had she ever have that look in her eyes? The look of pure adornment and love? Stephanie was not going to lie, she was truly glad that she could be apart of Heidi's life, during her teenage years. Her teenage years might have sucked, but she and Ranger would make sure that nothing horrible happened to her. Heidi would have the best, and by the looks of things, Odysseus would not be one of the good things in her teenage years.

"Look," Stephanie said to Ranger, watching Heidi and Odysseus converse, "Look at the way they look at each other, they look so…"

"Summer love?" Ranger asked with a soft smile, "I'm glad Heidi will experience it, and I'm glad that Heidi will experience it with a gentleman."

"Daddy," Heidi said with a smile, looking over to Stephanie and Ranger, "Would you mind if Odysseus and I spent the day together tomorrow? "

Ranger smiled and said, "Well…let me think about it…." making Heidi say, "Please, please, please…." Giving Ranger a face, "Alright, have fun tomorrow, you two, where are you two going?"

"The boardwalk in town," Odysseus said, a big smile on his face, "They have a boardwalk carnival there, and I know Heidi and I will enjoy it."

"I know I will," Heidi said with a giggle, her face flushed, "I uh..well, I guess we're done here, I'll clean up the table!"

Heidi smiled and got up to clear the table. Odysseus smiled and said, "I'll help too."

Stephanie and Ranger got up and walked over to the gazebo area, and sat down on the sofa, watching Heidi and Odysseus chatter.

"I like him," Ranger said earning a smile from Stephanie, "I like him a lot, I wish I had been half the man Odysseus is, back when I was his age."

"What were you like, as a child?" Stephanie asked, looking up at Ranger, watching him grimace, "What's wrong?"

"I was a little hellion, as a child," Ranger said softly, looking down at Stephanie, "I ran the streets, Babe, I joined a gang and everything. I use to stole cars, rob houses, the works. I bet that kid over hasn't even been suspended from school. If it wasn't for the fact that a judge told me to join the military, or go to Juvie, I don't know where I'd be now."

"Oh," Stephanie said lifting herself up to look at Ranger, "Well, I'm glad you're not god knows where now."

"So am I, Babe," Ranger said before he kissed her and looked over to the two teenagers, "If I got a chance to do it all over again, I think I wouldn't take the chance."

"Why not?" Stephanie asked, looking at Ranger who smiled and looked down at Stephanie.

"Because, I doubt I'd see you, Heidi, or anyone else who has impacted my life." Ranger said, hugging Stephanie to him, "Babe, Have I told you that I love you today?"

"Nope, tell me," Stephanie said softly, leaning back up to kiss Ranger.

"I love you, Babe."

(~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~)

"Enjoy yourselves," Stephanie said to Heidi and Odysseus, as the two walked out the front door of the beach house, "Odysseus, look out for her, don't let anything happen to her!"

"Okay, I won't," Odysseus said, helping Heidi in his jeep, "Come along madam, the carnival awaits."

Heidi waved goodbye to Stephanie and Ranger, before Odysseus pulled out the driveway and was going down the road. Stephanie sighed and turned to Ranger, "We have the house to ourselves, what should we do?"

"I was thinking maybe we something on….the couch, the counter, the bathtub….." Ranger said, kissing Stephanie, and leading her back into the house.

"Ranger, you lecher…."

(~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~)

"I've never been to a carnival before," Heidi said to Odysseus, as they drove into town, "Can you tell me what they're like?"

"Well," Odysseus said thoughtfully, rubbing his chin, "Well…there's rides, lots of fatty foods, and stand where you play games for prizes. I think you're going to enjoy it, and at night, there's going to be a fireworks show."

"Oh, I hope we have a great time!" Heidi said clapping her hands, looking over to Odysseus who smiled as they drove into the town.

"I know we will," Odysseus said as he parked in the public parking area that was close to boardwalk, "Come on, we have all day to have fun!"

They spent most of the day enjoying the boardwalk and riding the rides that they had to offer. By the time 2 PM came around, the two were sitting at the end of the main pier, eating junk food.

"Thank you for winning this big turtle for me," Heidi said cuddling the large blue and green stuffed turtle, "I love him."

"No problem, when you pointed it out among all the teddy bears, I knew you wanted it," Odysseus said tossing the empty paper container in the trash close by to where they sat, "Ball tossing is such an easy game to play."

Heidi's face flushed and she said, "Um…thank you for taking me out, Odysseus, spending time with you, it's wonderful…"

"You're quite welcome," Odysseus said leaning close to Heidi, causing the girl to shudder, "Heidi, have I ever told you, that your eyes are so pretty?"

"No…" Heidi sighed, leaning closer to Odysseus, "Odysseus, why do you make my heart flutter?"

"Is it a good flutter?" Odysseus asked, placing a hand on Heidi's hand, "I hope it is…"

"Mhmm," Heidi said, leaning her head up, getting closer to Odysseus's face, "It sure is…"

As they leaned closer to kiss, there was a loud crash, making Heidi and Odysseus pull apart, and look to the noise. Heidi yelped as a group of men all dressed in black made their way to the end of the pier, close to them. Odysseus pulled Heidi up saying, "Heidi, come over here…" pulling Heidi to the end of the pier, their backs hitting the metal railing. Heidi grabbed Odysseus's arm saying, "Odysseus….."

"Hello Gaia," the leader of the men in black said, once they were in front of the two teenagers, "The Queen has told us to wait to grab you, but….we've decided that you are better suited with the Queen, right now. So, if you may, come with us…."

"No!" Heidi said, gripping Odysseus's arm tighter, "Leave me alone, I won't go with you, your queen hurt my daddy!"

"You don't have a choice, sweetheart…" The man said, walking closer to the two, "Come on, Gaia, time to accept your destiny…."

"Darn nightwalkers…" Odysseus said, making Heidi turn to look at him, "Pardon me, but….we shall not be going with you, we'll be taking the other exit."

"Other exit?" Heidi asked, before Heidi let out a cry, as Odysseus grabbed her and pushed them both back, making them fall over the railing of the pier, and into the violent churning waters below.

Heidi gasped as the waves forced Heidi under the water. Odysseus had let go of her, and now she was fighting to get to the surface, before she drowned. Heidi began to paddle up, but a strong hand around her waist stopped her. Heidi turned, seeing Odysseus behind her. Heidi motioned to Odysseus that she needed to get to the surface, but Odysseus smiled and kissed Heidi gently on the lips, stunning the girl. For a moment, Heidi could do nothing but stare at Odysseus, who cupped her chin gently, but then, she remembered that she needed to go to the surface. Heidi grabbed at her neck and made a motion that she was choking, but she paused, feeling ridges on her neck. Heidi gently felt them and yelped, startled, gills, she had gills!

"I have gills!" Heidi said, turning to Odysseus, who nodded her head, "How?!"

"Because…." Odysseus said with a smile, "look behind me, silly."

Heidi, with pretty damn good eyesight, looked behind Odysseus, and saw that, instead of legs, Odysseus had one dark blue tail fin. Heidi looked up at Odysseus and said, "You're a mermaid?!"

"More like a merman…." Odysseus said, before he leaned forward and kissed Heidi deeply, "You know, when a merman kisses you, you can breath underwater."

"Oh..."

TBC…

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