Chapter 17

Rikki's POV

I started to laugh as my dad screamed at my boyfriend.

Once I got my laughing under control, I went into the room where my dad was still yelling.

"What's going on here?" I asked them with a smile on my face.

"Do you really want to spend the rest of your life with this moron?" he asked me.

"Yes and I guess you asked Zane." I started to laugh again.

"What are you laughing at?" the both asked me.

"Dad, your face is beat red and Zane; your face looks completely terrified." I laughed even harder.

They stared at me with disbelief. What can I say? They look really funny.

"So, what do you say Mr. Chadwick? Can I marry your daughter?" Zane asked my dad.

He thought for a moment, which seemed like hours.

"Dad, please. I love him and after what happened, I can't live without him."

"Wait, what happened?" he asked us.

Oh god. I let it slip.

"Nothing."

"I don't believe you Rikki. Now, tell me what happened."

I looked at Zane and he nodded his head.

"Zane, get me a glass of water," I told him.

He got up and filled up a glas.

"Dad, don't freak out, okay? I had to keep this from you so you wouldn't get hurt."

Zane handed me the glass of water.

"Just remember that I'm still the same girl I was before we moved here. With just a few adjustments."

"What adjustments?" he asked me.

I poured the water on my hand and looked at him.

My tail appeared and he just stared at me.

"I'm a mermaid and Zane got kidnapped because of it. I did too, but we escaped. I was turned into one when I was stranded on Mako Island with Cleo and Emma. Whenever we touch water, or any liquid, I grow a tail in ten seconds. Please, don't hate me. I'm still your little girl."

He just looked at Zane and then at me. And fell to the ground.

"That went better than I expected," I said to Zane.

"He never answered my question," Zane said with a frown.

I started to dry myself off. When my legs grew back Zane helped me put my dad on the couch. I asked Zane to get a wash cloth with cold water on it. He had to dab it on his head, so I can avoid growing a tail again.

"I should probably call the girls and tell them that I told my dad about us," I said to Zane.

"Well, you didn't tell them that they were mermaids."

"I think he figured it out, or will figure it out."

My dad started to wake up and I went to his side.

"You okay dad?" I asked him.

"I had the weirdest dream. You were a mermaid."

"Wasn't a dream," I told him.

"How is that even possible?" he asked me.

"It's a really long story. Basically me and the girls, not Bella, we were in the pool when the full moon was over the pool. Water floated around us and the next time we touched water, we grew tails. Have ever since."

"What happened that you can't live without him?"

I told him everything about the group who was trying to hurt me and the girls. I told him about how Emma is missing and probably dead. Also, how we were kidnapped and put in a cell. I told him about how I got out and saved Zane, but I left out the part about Mom, that is for another, less hectic, day.

"How long have you lived with this?"

"I told you, when we got stranded on Mako."

"Yeah, when you stole my zodiac," Zane said.

"Hey, you were a jerk then and a pig," I said to him.

"Anyway, Mr. Chadwick, you never answered my question," Zane said to my dad.

He looked at me and at Zane. Zane put his arm around me and said, "I love your daughter and I will make sure that she stays safe. But, she often runs into trouble and you can't stop her, but I would try to stop her. Anyway, she is the most amazing girl I have ever met and I can't live without her. I can provide for her and make sure she is happy."

"Okay," my dad said. "But, if she comes to me upset, I will gladly hurt you."

"Thanks for the blessing Dad," I said.

"Hey, I would do that in a heartbeat for you, honey."

"Thanks Mr. Chadwick," Zane said.

"Treat her right Zane," he said to him as we walked out of the trailer.

"Love you dad."

"Love you Rikki."

We walked down to Zane's house. His dad opened the door and hugged Zane. I never thought I would see him hug Zane like that. He was acting like a father.

We walked inside and Zane said, "Rikki, I forgot to give you something."

"What?" I asked him.

He pulled the box out of his pocket and opened it. Zane took out the ring and slid it onto my finger, where it belonged.

"Wait, you said yes?" Bella screamed.

"Yes, I did and wow this ring is beautiful. Is that a ruby in it?" I asked Zane.

"Yeah, the stone in your locket was red, so I thought that the ring should have red in it. To symbolize you power and who you are and the you that I love."

"That is so sweet," Cleo said.

"Shh Cleo!" Bella said as she continued to watch us. "Continue your little romance scene."

"You guys are so annoying sometimes. Bella, when is Will coming to town?" I asked her.

"He had to stay with his family a little longer. I also told him to stay there till we figured this out. I don't want him getting hurt," she told me.

"Where's Lewis?" I asked Cleo.

"In his apartment and working on his homework."

"At least your guys are safe. My guy has a concussion," I said and hugged Zane.

"What the hell happened to you?" Cleo asked me. "You used to hate caring about others!"

"I know! I have no idea what happened to me. Now I'm all caring and want to help people and ugh!"

They all laughed at me and Mr. Bennett left the room to answer his phone. Bella and Cleo started talking about how they pictured my wedding with Zane. Isn't that supposed to be our decision?

"So, Rikki, what would you think about a small house near the water?" Zane asked me.

"I think that would be nice if I could afford it," I told him.

"Well, I can, so we now have a new home."

"Wait what? When did you buy us a house?" I asked him.

"I was thinking about us moving in together for a while. I saw the house for sale when I was walking on the beach and bought it on chance."

"Can we go see it?" I asked him.

"Where are you guys going?" Bella asked us as we got up.

"To see our new house," Zane told them.

"You got a house already? How long ago did you say yes Rikki?"

"He bought the house a while ago, hoping that we would move in together and her got his wish," I told them.

"Can we see?" Cleo asked us.

"Maybe another time. I want to see the house first."

"Okay. When you get back we have to talk about what happened when you were held in cells."

"Yeah, and about Emma," I said.

We were all silent and I said goodbye to them, so did Zane. We walked to the beach and went up a path that led to our house.

"You will always be near the ocean, so you can always jump in if I screw up," Zane said.

"Your right, I could!" I laughed.

When the house came into view I gasped. It was a two level house that had the cottage look to it. There was a garden surrounding the home. There was a deck with a porch swing on it and inside was unbelievable. I couldn't believe how much I loved it. The decoration was perfect for me.

"Zane, this house is amazing!"

"I was hoping that you would like it."

"I do love it. Where is our bedroom?" I asked him.

He grabbed my hand and we walked up the stairs. He opened the second door on the right and led me into a beautiful room.

"No matter what, we will always be together," Zane said as he kissed me.

We kept kissing and headed to the bed. You know where this went from there.

;D