Chapter 50

Five months later…

Rikki grimaced again as she felt her baby kick. They were constantly waking her up during the night. Rikki and Zane had been surprised to be told by Lewis after an ultrasound that Rikki was only carrying one baby – this was a first for them – but a very welcome first. Five was most definitely enough. How had the couple who wanted the least amount of children come to have the most? Rikki drifted off again as she felt Zane tighten his arms around her in his sleep.

OoOoO

Jessie pulled her car up in front of Alan's apartment. They had been dating for just over a year and Jessie had something to tell him. She was very nervous.

Alan kissed her gently after he opened the door. She was flattered by the way he always went to so much trouble to cook a lovely meal for her, well whenever they had proper dates.

Alan noticed Jessie fidgeting and looking rather uncomfortable.

"What's wrong Jess?" he asked concerned.

"Oh, nothing…" she trailed off, "It's just, I have something to tell you, something that I have never told many other people,"

"Okay, what is it?" he asked.

"Promise me you won't freak out or judge me,"

"Well, I can't judge you for something I don't know about, but I'm sure nothing you tell me will change my perspective on you. I love you," he said while caressing her hand.

She still looked unsure, so he leaned over the table and kissed her gently.

"I promise."

She seemed to have made up her mind. "I am a mermaid." She said. She grimaced expecting the worst.

"I know." Alan said.

"What?" Jessie looked stunned. She examined his expression. There was no surprise there. "How?" she began.

"I figured it out. I didn't want you to freak out so I let you tell me in your own time. Actually, I was wondering if you'd ever trust me enough," he gave her a half smile.

"But I was so careful…" she muttered.

"I admit that if I didn't know what to look for, well, I probably never would have guessed. You hide it very well." He paused and then muttered, "I bet Anna hasn't figured it out,"

"You won't tell anyone?" Jessie asked.

"Of course not,"

"Do you know how much that means to me?"

"I think I have some sort of idea," he muttered.

After clearing away the dinner, they sat together on the couch.

"How did you know what to look for? And how did you believe me with no demonstration?" Jessie asked her boyfriend.

"I actually know a whole community of mers." He laughed, "I know that there are supernatural or mythological beings in this world,"

"A whole community?"

"Yeah. You'd fit right in," Alan said, "And what's funny is that you are actually close friends with them all,"

"You're not saying that you are a merman?" she asked.

"Oh! No, no. Anna Charles? She's a mermaid. Her husband is a merman. Rikki Bennett, Cleo McCartney, Bella Benjamin, Emma Dove and all their kids are mers also. I know a couple of people you don't know are also. I can tell you now because you aren't about to betray your own kind,"

"Wow! How did I not realise? I must seem pretty dumb huh?"

"Not really. You don't look for what you don't expect. I bet they didn't figure it out either. Hey, whereabouts did you become a mermaid?"

"Um, I was born with it. My dad is human but he said my mother was a mer and that is why I am. I've already told you that my mum died in a car accident when I was two,"

"Oh. That would be why you've perfected hiding it in public. All the adult mers I know became mermaids in various moon pools around the world,"

"A moon pool? I don't think I've seen any of them. I've never met any other mers,"

"That's going to change. You know Mako Island?" Jessie nodded, "They live over there, swim over and meet me there tomorrow after work. Oh, even tell Anna at work and then swim over together."

"Okay then."

Alan and Jessie hung out for a little while longer before Jessie started to leave. Alan walked her to her car and kissed her goodbye.

OoOoO

Everyone was shocked when they discovered that Alan had been dating a mermaid right under their nose. Anna was near mortified. How had she not figured it out? She hid it very very well. Jessie loved seeing the moon pool. She said it felt magical. It seemed that although Jessie had been a mermaid her whole life, because she had no one to share it with, she hadn't developed her knowledge on mermaids and what she could do. Jessie had the ability to make and harden gelatine as well as the ability to mould water.

"Jessie, can you hear me?" Rikki mind spoke to her. This gave Jess a fright.

"Of course I can, you are talking to me" Jessie replied.

Rikki laughed out loud. Jessie had replied indignant without even realising that she wasn't moving her mouth. "Do you realise your method of conversing?"

It dawned on her and her mouth dropped open. "When can communicate without talking?"

"Yeah. It's called mind speak. Mers can only do it to other mers. It helps us to talk while swimming,"

"Oh! That is so cool!" In the days after that, Jessie learnt more about mermaids than she had her entire life.

OoOoO

A week later…

Rikki woke up feeling very dizzy and nauseous. She groaned as she opened her eyes. Her skin had a bluish tinge and she had a rash. She felt very hot.

"Not again," she muttered. She was heavily pregnant only being due in a few days. Rikki rolled out of bed with difficulty to go and see Lewis. She couldn't afford to be sick with a baby on-board. Lewis was shocked. It was the same sickness she had had many months earlier. Could something be wrong with the baby? As the day went on she seemed to get worse and worse and was soon bedridden.

At about four o'clock in the morning on the 14th of May, Rikki went into labour.

"Rikki! Don't leave us, keep pushing,"

Rikki didn't have the strength.

"Almost there!"

She blacked out.

A/N: Thanks again for your patience. I hope you have enjoyed this chapter – sorry to leave it on a cliff hanger :P Because of exams coming up, I'm sorry but I don't know when the next update will be but bear with me, I may get some time.

Thanks to XxRaindr0pxX, Waterlily2002, Obwan14, Lauren111, PeacePinkSeddie, Xmangal, Kat238, Quillcox, Blazing Legend, jeremygilbert12 and two guests. (P.S GUESTS! Please write a name so I can think you individually. :D) for reviewing. You truly are loyal :)

Anyway, I hope everyone has a great week and please review :D
Ka kite anō, e hoa ma!