:Myth:

How had he allowed this to happen? He glared at his family from under the shadow, trying to figure out how it had come to this. Out on the boat he could see Dad and Pop-pop. They were hunched over their fishing poles. Mommy was laying on a blanket sleeping. George and his girlfriend had snuck off to neck. Missy and her three giggling friends were talking to a group of guys near the dock. Meemaw was sitting further up the small beach, at a small table with her friend Viola. Probably playing canasta.

Sheldon hunched over under his large umbrella and opened his book. He read a few more pages and then sighed. He was hungry. Maybe he should walk over to the car and get one of the sandwiches Mommy had packed in the cooler. He stood and started to turn but a glimmer caught his eye. He stopped and edged a bit closer to the water. Another flashing glimmer and he set his book down on the blanket. He moved closer, his curiosity perking up.

At eighteen, Sheldon knew quite a bit about the world. He was a genius, after all. He had also traveled a bit. He already had one Ph.D., and was working on his second. So, he was sure what he was seeing wasn't probable. He frowned as he saw movement and a third spike of reflective light.

The small beach they were at was a favorite of his mom's because of it's seclusion. It was sheltered and ringed by thick woods. It had two docks, the new one where Missy and her friends were, and an old one, half collapsed at the other end. It was toward this one that he moved. He edged his way around the dock, careful of the rotting timber. He bent down to peer underneath and found himself looking into the strangest eyes he had ever seen.

The pupil had a ring of gold that cut through the center, dividing it into two dark emerald rings. It was almost as if she had two pupils. Thick golden lashes framed the eyes. Her hair was a soft white-gold. Her skin was the color of pearls, and seemed to glow lightly.

He swallowed the excess saliva in his mouth. Good lord! Was he really drooling, he wondered anxiously. "H-hello."

She shrunk back a couple of inches, and pain washed over her features. Her eyes were wide with worry, and it made his pulse thump alarmingly hard to know it was him making her scared. However, he could see she was in pain. So which was more important? Alleviating her fear or her pain?

"Would you like me to help you?" he asked. "I won't hurt you, I promise. I just want to help."

She was silent for so long he began to suspect she couldn't speak. Slowly she eased forward again. Her shoulders shook from strain, and her skin paled even more. "Why?"

Sheldon smiled tentatively. "It's social convention to help someone in need."

Her eyes widened a bit in surprise. "Oh." She glanced down and bit her lip. "My tail is hooked on a metal spike under the water."

It was Sheldon's turn to looked surprised. "Tail?"

She nodded and looked up at him. Her eyes filled with tears and pain settled over every inch of her he could see. "It hurts," she whispered softly.

That sound, the agony in her voice, pushed him into the water. He took a deep breath and dunked under. He immediately saw the problem. He rose back up and face her. "I'm going to have to touch you. I will get you free, okay?"

She slowly nodded, trembling as he inched closer. He moved behind her and wrapped an arm around her waist. He could feel scales beneath his hand. They were smoother than fish scales, and very pliant under the press of his fingers. His other arm slipped down to her tail and he grasped the rusty hooked nail. It was a large one, and he had to work it out of her tail inch by inch.

She gasped a few times, but held as still as possible. He finally worked it free and threw it up onto the sand under the still standing part of the dock. She leaned heavily on his arm for a second before pulling away.

He expected her to take off, but she only floated a couple of feet away from him. "Thank you," she said timidly.

He couldn't resist moving a bit closer to her. "I'm Sheldon. What's your name?"

She smiled slightly. "Penelope of the Queen's Cavern Clan"

Sheldon tilted his head to the left. "I find it difficult to process the fact that I am actually speaking to a mermaid. I always thought you do not exist, that mermaids were a myth."

She blushed. "It is strange for me also to be speaking to human. I was taught that you are all violent and deadly."

Sheldon grimaced. "Unfortunately, that is quite true of many."

Penelope floated closer, warily. "Are you dangerous and deadly?"

Sheldon shook his head quickly. "No. I abhor violence.'

She edged closer until their chests were almost touching. Sheldon blushed to realize she wore no top. He hadn't noticed earlier, due to his concern. She lifted her arms and wrapped them around his neck loosely. His arms automatically wound around her waistline.

Sheldon dipped his head and pressed his lips to her upturned ones. Warmth spread through both of them. Time seemed to simultaneously slow down and speed up. He felt like he had been kissing and holding her for days, yet in no time at all, his Meemaw was calling his name so they could leave.

She slipped away from him and sank down until only her head was above water. He watched her sadly. "If I come back, will you be here?"

She watched his eyes carefully. "Would you want to see me again?"

Sheldon nodded immediately. "Yes, Penelope. I would. I have never wanted anything as badly as I want to see you again."

She smiled warmly. "Then you shall."

Xxx

Sheldon went back almost every day for a month, but he never saw her. His sister complained that he had a better tan than her from all his time spend on that beach, just sitting and watching. Two days before he was due to return to school he was sitting in the kitchen having breakfast. He had decided the night before that he would not go back. He could not bear another day of disappointment. He would focus on his studies. That would be his drive, his life. He would solve the mysteries of the universe.

Vaguely he heard a knock on the door. Missy's friends were supposed to pick her up for a trip to the mall. They were going school shopping. Meemaw looked up from her newspaper as Mommy passed by the kitchen door on her way to the front door. He finished his oatmeal and took his dishes to the sink.

"Shelly?" His mom's voice was stunned, and a bit faint. He turned to see what she needed and froze. He dropped the spoon he was holding. His mom stood inside the room, his Meemaw beside her, but it was the woman standing in the doorway that caught his attention.

"Hello, Sheldon," Penelope said softly.

He smiled softly. Three long strides and he swept her up into his arms. Her arms wrapped around him and he kissed her. He didn't even notice his family watching them. His mom cleared her throat pointedly so he finally released her lips. He turned a faint pink and she smiled.

"I missed you," he said gently.

Penelope blushed. "I'm sorry it took so long. I missed you, too."

They told his family they met at the beach. Penelope said she was an orphan, and had been visiting a friend to explain why she didn't live there. Mary and Meemaw liked her immediately. They had never seen Sheldon so open and comfortable with someone. George tried to hit on her, and Missy invited her to the mall. Penelope refused to move from Sheldon's side.

Finally he drew her outside and down the path through the woods. Once he was sure they were out of sight from the house he stopped and kissed her again. They were both a bit breathless when he stopped.

"How can you be here?" he asked.

Penelope sat on a downed tree trunk with weak limbs. "Sorry, I'm still getting used to these legs." She looked up at him hopefully. "I went to my clan. I told my Queen about you. She wasn't happy at first, but finally she agreed to let me come here. It's a spell. She gave me legs in exchange for my immortality."

Sheldon was stunned. He sat down beside her and laced his fingers with hers. "You gave up your immortality for legs?"

She shook her head. "I gave it up for you."

It only took a moment for him to pull her into his arms and begin kissing her again.

Xxx

Mary heard whimpering and rushed back to the bedroom. She glanced at the exhausted couple on the bed briefly before reaching into the bassinet and picking up her 6 day old granddaughter.

She moved back into the living room of the apartment and grabbed a bottle already made up. She warmed it in a pan of water and rocked the baby gently. Sabrina opened her eyes and whimpered hungrily. Mary marveled at the light blue eyes with the band of gold. The last 4 years had been one surprise after another. Sheldon and Penelope had lived together at the university until he finished his doctorate. She hadn't approved of that, but it was hard to argue with them when they were so much in love. Their wedding had been lovely, if a bit weird with all that Doctor Who stuff Sheldon wanted. Who marries a man in a twelve foot striped scarf? Then the move to California had happened. Sheldon had been offered a wonderful job in England, but turned it down to be near (but not too near) his family. And now, a baby.

The milk was ready so she moved to the rocking chair Penelope had refurbished. She had quite a talent for decorating. Mary cradled Sabrina close and began feeding her. Mary smiled and hummed Soft Kitty. She couldn't have dreamed of a better life for her boy.