AN: So, Lexi arrives around the time of Boyz Crazy, as you can tell she's in the 'found' room with the crazy carpet in Ep. 16. I'm leaving the kids' story alone, just throwing my girl in here. It will be a romance between Lexi and Ford.

Stan raises an eyebrow, and blinks at her. "Say what now?"

"A mermaid, Stan. I'm legally recognized as one."

"Woah, you're that white haired one my brother follows!" a teenager with red hair, working in the Shack, exclaims.

"Mermaid Calypso," Lexi supplies.

"What?" Stan dead pans.

"To be legally recognized as a mermaid, one must be able to hold their breath, and swim a full lap around an olympic sized pool," Lexi informs.

"Can't you do like, two laps?" the teen asks.

"When I was recognized, yes, I was at two. I'm now at four laps, or… twenty minutes. One breath." Lexi really can't help the satisfied smirk gracing her features, as the teen and older man gape in shock at her.

"D… do you have your mermaid stuff with you?" Stan asks, a bit hesitantly.

"In the trunk of my car. I don't go anywhere without my suit," she nods.

"Soos!" Stan calls, running off.

Lexi turns her full attention on the teen, "Well, I guess we'll be working together for a while. I'm Lexi," she offers her hand.

"Wendy," the teen accepts. "So… my brother is going to flip, when I tell him you're here for a bit."

"He knows it's just a costume, though. Right?"

"Course. I think he follows you more for the underwater videos. They are really cool," she compliments.

"Thank you," Lexi accepts. "So… is Soos a good handyman?"

"Probably the best," Wendy nods.

Lexi steps out of the shower, and is just wrapping a towel around her torso, when Stan barges in. She yelps in surprise, but he ignores it, as he grabs her wrist, and pulls her outside. He drags the sopping young woman to a very large tank, already filled with water, with a seat at the top, near a set of stairs to the top.

"I see my tank is done," she says in awe. "And, this couldn't have waited for me to be dressed?" she snaps.

"Nope! You'll be making your debut at the Shack today."

"You are way too excited," Lexi grumbles, padding through the grass, and touching the tank. "It's water tight…"

"And I went in," Soos informs, walking up.

"Steps sturdy? Seat sturdy?"

"I tested everything myself," Soos confirms.

"Well, alright then," Lexi nods. Turning, she pads lightly back to the house, ignoring the choking coming from Dipper as she walks past him.

In her room, she opens her mermaid case, and pulls out the water proof make-up. The inner half of her eyes lids, she powders a deep blue, with a slight shine, while the outer edge is pale blue, with more shine. She applies black liner with expert precision, with a slight spiral going to her temple, and a smaller, more straight one, going down to her cheekbone. She peels a couple jewel stickers from the sheet, and applies them along the top line of the liner, on both sides. She dusts a light sheen, with a blue tint over her cheekbones, before applying a deep blue lip stain, that has a dull sparkle to it.

Letting her towel drop, she hangs it up, letting it dry out, and pulls on white bikini bottoms, and a bikini top, molded to her chest, and appearing to be made from a large clam shell. It's a pearly blue in color, matching perfectly with her makeup. Setting down in front of the mirror, she brushes her hair out, and decides to do a loose Dutch braid. Grabbing a sheet filled with hair pins, adorned with pearls, she takes out a select few, and slides them into the braid.

A knock at her door stops her, and she calls, "Come in!"

"Wowza, you look great," Wendy compliments. "Stan sent me to see how much longer you'll be."

"I am done, actually. Just need to put on my tail. Should I do that now, or when I get to my tank?" she muses aloud.

"A couple of my friends are here. They're strong enough to carry you, if you put your tail on now," the teen offers.

"Alright, go get 'em," the woman orders, setting her reverse ombre blue tail on the floor, before sitting down herself.

By the time Wendy is back, with two of her friends, both boys, one a brunette, the other blonde, Lexi is almost fully in her tail.

"That's…"

"Kinda weird," the boys say.

"Life of a mermaid," Lexi shrugs, flopping onto her back, and pulling her tail fully on. "It's harder when everything is wet. So, are you my carriers?"

"This is Nate, and Lee," Wendy introduces. "Ready to go?"

At her nod, and slight flip of her heavy silicone fins, the pair of teens lift her into an arm throne, and carry her outside. They're following Wendy, as she makes sure no people are trying to sneak a peek, before Stan is ready to unveil Lexi.

The boys climb the stairs, and set her on the seat Soos had made for her. Lexi swings her bound legs into the water, and takes a deep breath. She can feel the chill of the water, through the heavy duty silicone.

Planting her palms down on the seat, she lifts herself, before plunging into the cold fish tank.

Stan leaves Lexi, or 'Angel', for the final stop of the tour, and as he leads the group of tourists to the tank, he nods to Wendy and her two friends, who'd agreed to help for the day. Knowing that Lexi is volunteering, and not expecting to be paid… extra cash in his pockets!

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is my newest, and greatest, attraction here at the Mystery Shack… Behold, a true mermaid!"

The teens drop the blanket from the front of the tank, showing Lexi, in her tailed glory, swimming languidly through the water. He notes she doesn't even use her arms, just wiggles herself, almost snake-like. As he looks, he can see the frills coming from her hips, almost wing like, as she 'notices' her audience. She swims to the side of the tank, smiling at her captivated audience.

As the tourists finally stop gaping, Stan grins, "Get a picture with our lovely mermaid for $200!" He barely stops himself from salivating, as all of them hold up enough cash for solo and group pictures with her.

From the corner of his eye, he watches the woman push backwards off the glass, and do some flips and spins, barely using her hands still.

When the group has left, Stan turns back to the woman, who surfaces. They share a devious smirk between themselves.

"How'd we do, Mr. Mystery?" Lexi asks.

"We bled 'em dry!" he cheers, doing a little happy jig. "Dang, I wish you'd been around sooner."

"That's the way the cookie crumbles, my friend."

"Well, I think we just found someone just as money hungry as him," Nate says quietly to Lee.

"Scary similar," Lee agrees.

"Woohoo!" Stan cheers, looking at the piles of cash in his safe. Lexi, in a tank top, shorts, and high heels, is sitting on his desk. "I have you to thank for all this cash! Dang Lexi, I think I'm in love!"

"We both know you aren't," Lexi states, quite calm.

"What makes you say that?" he asks, shutting the safe, and turning to her.

"You're not the type to go goo-goo over someone that's only 25. No matter how similar we are, we both know it."

He grins warmly at her, "You saw through all the flirting, eh?"

"I love working in the bar, honey. Very informative. I can spot a harmless flirt, from a serious flirt a mile away. Your flirting has been harmless."

Stan smiles more, "You caught me. Sorry if the flirting has been a bit much…"

"I appreciate it, actually. Keeps the idiots in this town from pulling any moves on me."

Stan nods, "Well, I'm happy to help."

BEEP.

"What was that?" Lexi asks, looking towards the store front.

"Just the vending machine making noises again," Stan shrugs, not really caring.

"... Okay," Lexi accepts. Still a bit curious, but she lets it go. "Hey, I was thinking of treating you and the kids to breakfast tomorrow morning."

"That sounds great!" Stan cheers.

Lexi and the Pines are in Greasy's diner, just finishing up a full pancake breakfast, when her cell phone rings. Fishing it out of her purse, she answers, "Good morning Earl! How are you?"

"Hey, Lexi. How's your trip going?"

"It's going really good actually. My car broke down in Oregon, so I'm staying with a really awesome family while my Stella gets fixed. I'm going to step outside," she says to Stan and the kids, sliding out of the booth. "Earl, you don't usually call me, unless something is up with work."

"It's a family thing, this time. Lexi… your father and step-brother have been released. Your step-mother is set to be released early next week. On good behavior."

Lexi takes a steadying breath, and turns her back on the door, as the Pines walk out of the diner. She doesn't see as Stan stops, and listens, "Do they know anything about me? Earl, I… I can't see them."

"I know, honey. Remember, I hired someone to make that girl disappear. The only way you'll come across them, is by fluke. I'll die protecting your identity."

"Thank's," Lexi murmurs, wiping the tears before they roll down her cheeks. "I know I can trust you, Earl."

"I never want to see that child who came into my bar again. You've grown past her. Grown up. Made something of yourself. I take great pride in who you are," Earl boosts her courage, and his own ego. Everything he said is the truth, though. "Would you like me to get some guys, and pack your condo? Sell it for you?"

"Pack up my condo," Lexi nods, barely restraining her tears. "I'll think on selling it, though."

"Alright, honey. You let me know, if you need anything. I mean it, honey."

They end the call shortly after, and Lexi wipes her face free of tears, but squeaks as she turns, as Stan is behind her, a serious expression on his face.

"We'll talk about this later," Stan states, having very serious mixed feelings about what he'd overheard.

Taking a breath to steady herself, Lexi is about to follow him, when her phone rings again. She flips it open, and puts it to her ear, "Hello?"

"Hi, this is Steve, I'm the mechanic. Finally got 'round to checking out your car."

"Good morning, Steve. How bad is my car?" Lexi asks, following Stan to the car. She's sliding into the front seat while Steve tells her the horrid news. "Is there any way you can order in parts? … No? Damn, alright. Can I swing by, and say bye, before the wrecker takes her away? Thank you, be there soon." She turns her attention to Stan, who is already driving, "Well, my car is going to the wrecker. Is there a place in town I can buy a new one?"

"Yeah, there is," Stan nods. "The mechanic's is just down the road. I'd suggest having a man with you, when you talk to Bud about a new car, though. He's more of a con-man then I am," he chuckles.

"Thanks for the heads up," she sighs. "Thank you. I'll look into a new car in a day or two. Poor Stella," she grumbles. Her day just keeps getting better.

Later that evening, Lexi is laying on her belly in her room, reading a novel, with one head-phone in her ear, listening to music. There's a knock on the door, and she calls for whoever it is to enter, while putting the marker between the pages, before shutting the book.

"We need to talk," Stan states, shutting the door behind him.

Rising slowly to her feet, Lexi nods, "I kinda figured. What do you want to know?"

"Who are you hiding from?"

"No beating around the bush," she snorts, flopping down onto the sofa. "I'm in hiding from the bastard who sired me, his wife, and her son."

"Why?"

"Privileged information."

Stan thinks for a moment, before asking, "Are they dangerous? Would they hurt you, and who you're staying with?"

"... I don't know. It's been twelve years, since I last saw them."

"Everyone has family issues. You gotta give me more, if I'm to let you stay with me and the kids," he warns.

Getting to her feet, Lexi paces, considering. Then, "I can tell you some of it. Don't ask for more then that." Stan nods, accepting her conditions, so she takes a breath, "I was hurt, very badly. Kept locked in the house, and they… hurt me whenever they wanted to. Someone, who is dead now, rescued me. I got the bastard who sired me, his wife, and her son, all put behind bars. They're all being released, for being good." Turning, she meets his eyes, "Is that enough for you?"

Stan nods, "Yeah. I'm guessing 'Lexi Amero' isn't your real name?"

"... No. That girl is dead," Lexi informs stiffly.

He nods again, "I'll keep your secret, Lexi. We all have them, even me." He turns, and walks out, but before he shuts the door, he looks over his shoulder, "You're welcome to stay, for as long as you need. Good night, Lexi Amero."