Chapter 15
"You have everything, right?" Ruby asked on the other side of the phone.
"Yeah, I think so," Eleanore said, going over the checklist in her head quickly.
"Did you remember to bring ice?" Ruby asked.
"Yes. I brought a small cooler full of it, just to make sure we have enough," Eleanore answered, looking around the cave to make sure she actually did have everything. She had been working hard the last few days, making sure everything was ready to go for tonight.
"Okay, it sounds like Operation: Romantic Gesture is fully operational. Good luck tonight! Call me in the morning, I want to hear all about it. Like every stinking little detail!"
"You can't have all the details…" Eleanore laughed. "But you can have all the PG-13 ones."
"I can live with that. Seriously, good luck and remember to have fun. Tonight is mostly about Gina, but like 25% about you too. Have fun and I'll talk to you in the morning."
"Thanks, Ruby. Night," Eleanore said, hanging up the phone.
Three weeks ago, Ruby went with Eleanore to the gynecologist office and the three of them discussed Eleanore's birth control options and two weeks ago, they went back to have Eleanore's IUD implanted. The discrete device would ensure Eleanore would not get pregnant if Killian refused a condom again, and he wouldn't even know it was there. It was on the car ride home that Eleanore decided she wanted to do something extra special for Gina the next time she saw her. Something to thank her for being so amazing with the situation, something to show her how much she means to Eleanore. Thus, Operation: Romantic Gesture was born. The two had planned everything out meticulously to ensure the most romantic evening either woman has ever experienced, within the limitations of their little cave.
Eleanore stood in the cave, looking down at the small pile of stuff, panicking slightly as she tried to figure out where to begin. Looking behind her at the ocean, she saw the sky begin to turn orange and pink, indicating the beginning of sunset. She was running out of time and had so much to do before Gina arrived. She rushed around setting everything up, all the while keeping her eye on the sky and making sure she didn't get too overheated and started sweating. She didn't want the evening ruined because of stinky armpits. She put the finishing touches on the whole thing just as the sun disappeared completely, which meant Gina would be there any moment.
Eleanore stood nervously just outside the cave, shielding the area so Gina didn't catch a glimpse too early. She nervously tugged on her clothes, just another romantic touch for Gina's evening. She was wearing a flowing purple dress that came down just past her knees. Ruby had insisted she wear a dress for the occasion, even though Eleanore admitted that in the almost seven years she could remember, she never remembered wearing a dress. Ruby still insisted she put one on, telling her Gina would appreciate the gesture. She left her hair loose and curly, taking a few extra minutes to make sure it wasn't frizzy. She didn't think Gina would mind it if it smelled like the ocean though.
She scanned the water nervously, waiting for the first signs of Gina's arrival. Even in the darkness, she could see Gina's head peek out of the water as it broke the surface, the light from the full moon radiating off her wet hair, making it seem like she was glowing. Her heart skipped a beat as she watched Gina disappear and reappear closer to the shore a moment later. Damn, she really is a fast swimmer! she thought to herself as she watched Gina surface closer to the shore, pausing when the water would be about waist deep, knowing this was the moment her tail was transforming into her legs. She stood up suddenly, taking a wobbly first few steps before walking with more confidence, all the while her naked body rising farther above the water line. She waved at Eleanore from the shore, a little worried as to why Eleanore didn't meet her at the water like she usually does, considering the previous month there was a problem.
She jogged toward the cave where Eleanore stood waiting, a towel in one hand, the other hidden behind her back concealing something.
"Are you okay?" Gina asked immediately, accepting the towel from Eleanore.
Eleanore smiled. "Oh yes."
"You didn't meet me at the water, so I thought maybe something was wrong," Gina explained, drying herself off.
"I know, I'm sorry. But I have a good reason. I didn't want to ruin the surprise," she said, a playful smile spreading across her face.
"Surprise?" Gina said, her eyes widening when she saw Eleanore's clothes. "Oh my god, you look amazing." Gina reached out to brush her hand against the soft material of Eleanore's dress.
"You really like it?" Eleanore asked, suddenly feeling very shy.
"I do. You look amazing in it, darling," Gina said.
"I wanted to wear something special for you." Eleanore blushed.
"You look beautiful. Although you look beautiful in everything you wear," Gina said, causing Eleanore to blush deeply.
"This…this is for you…" Eleanore said, revealing the red rose she was hiding behind her back.
"It's…it's a rose…" Eleanore handed the delicate flower to Gina. "…because your mom…your Amil…because her name was Rose. I thought we could honor her memory tonight as well…" Eleanore said, feeling very nervous. Gina's eyes filled with tears as she looked between Eleanore's green eyes and the red flower in her hand.
"I…I don't know what to say…" Gina said, tears falling from her eyes as she inhaled the sweet scent of the rose.
"Are those happy tears?" Eleanore asked, scared that she had already screwed things up.
"Wonderful tears. The happiest of happy tears," Gina said.
"Oh thank god!" Eleanore said, releasing a sigh of relief.
"I love it, thank you," Gina said, wrapping her arms around Eleanore's neck, kissing her sweetly.
"Good, because this is only just the beginning." Eleanore smiled, gently wiping the tears from Gina's face. "Close your eyes…" Gina bit her bottom lip and closed her eyes. Eleanore gently pulled Gina's lip from between her teeth and stepped aside and guided Gina a few steps forward, wrapping her arms around her body once Gina was in the perfect spot. "Open your eyes," Eleanore whispered into Gina's ear. Gina opened her eyes slowly and gasped.
"Eleanore…" she whispered, her voice caught in her throat. Every inch of the small cave was covered with small candles, each containing a tiny flame, the light coming together to illuminate every corner of the cave. A small table sat in the middle of the pile of blankets creating a small dining area for them, two more candles sitting in the middle of it. The air smelled like lavender and vanilla, their usual campfire kept slightly smaller to ensure the smell of burning wood didn't overpower the delicate candles. "…you did all this…just for me?" Gina asked, more tears falling from her eyes.
"Of course I did," Eleanore said, tightening her around Gina's waist. "I just wanted to show you how much you mean to me."
"Thank you," Gina whispered, leaning into Eleanore. She pulled away from Gina, causing a small whimper in her absence.
"This is only the beginning." Eleanore rushed over to her bag and pulled out her phone. She tapped the screen a few times causing music to begin to play out of the speakers in the phone. "May I have this dance?" she asked, offering her hand to Gina.
"I…uhhh…I…I don't know how to dance…" Gina said, both fear and shame in her voice.
"It's okay. I can show you." Eleanore smiled, stepping closer to Gina. Eleanore gently grabbed Gina's right hand and draped it over her left shoulder before wrapping her own arm around Gina's back, her palm cradling Gina's low back softly. Their free hands linked, holding each other's tightly, Gina's shaking slightly. "Follow my lead." Eleanore smiled as she started swaying slightly. Gina moved along with her, stepping on Eleanore's feet a few times before they found their rhythm, just in time for the song to end.
"We missed the song," Gina said sadly.
"That's why I put it on repeat." Eleanore smiled as the song started over. " It's a little bit funny, this feeling inside, I'm not one of those who can easily hide. I don't have much money, but boy if I did, I'd buy a big house where we both could live…" Eleanore sang along with the song, causing Gina to smile.
The song continued as they swayed along to the beat, their bodies moving together as if they were one. "And you can tell everybody, this is your song…" the song continued as Eleanore pulled their clasped hands to their chest, holding Gina closer. "I hope you don't mind, that I put down in words…" their eyes locked as Eleanore reached to gently cup Gina's face. "How wonderful life is, while you're in the world," Eleanore sang, her voice overpowering the voice of Elton John playing from her phone.
"Eleanore…" Gina whispered, her voice betraying her.
"It's the truth," Eleanore whispered, wiping the tears that fell from Gina's eyes. Gina was left speechless as she pressed her forehead against Eleanore's, their bodies continuing to sway to the music.
"Yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen…" Eleanore sang, their eyes meeting once again.
The song continued to play, Eleanore singing along to the music, causing Gina to tear up each time.
"You really do look beautiful tonight," Gina whispered, holding Eleanore tightly against her naked body. "I'm a little underdressed."
"You're perfect…" Eleanore whispered, kissing Gina sweetly. In the few moments of silence before the song played a fourth time, Eleanore's stomach started growling.
"I think it might be time to eat." Gina chuckled.
"You heard that?" Eleanore asked, blushing slightly.
"I think the other Nenriel under the water heard that as well." Regina laughed. "Did you bring dinner?"
"Of course I did," Eleanore said, switching the song from Elton John to soft classical music, played on a single piano. Eleanore led Gina over to the blankets, carefully stepping around the table and candles to the other side. She opened the insulated bag and pulled out two containers of food, placing one in front of each of them, prying off the lids.
"You cooked again?" Gina asked when Eleanore revealed the homemade chicken parm and spaghetti.
"I told you, I wanted tonight to be special. Special food for my special lady." Eleanore handed Gina a fork and knife. "And the special evening wouldn't be complete without a little bubbly," Eleanore said, reaching into the small cooler and pulling out a small bottle of champagne. She struggled with the cork a little, finally managing to pry it out of the bottle without making a mess. The loud pop made Gina nearly jump out of her skin, causing them both to laugh a second later.
"What's this?" Gina asked as Eleanore poured the yellow liquid into two plastic champagne flutes.
"Champagne." Eleanore smiled, handing one of the glasses to Gina. "To…us," she said, holding her glass in the air. "…and to more incredible nights together." Eleanore clinked their glasses together and took a sip. Gina followed her, sipping the sweet bubbly drink, scrunching her face when the bubbles tickled her nose.
They ate together in comfortable silence, the piano music echoing off the walls of the cave.
"I didn't have time to make cookies for dessert. I burnt the first few cutlets so it took longer than anticipated," Eleanore explained, sounding ashamed of her cooking mishaps.
"That's okay." Gina smiled. "Everything was amazing," she said, reaching across the short table to squeeze Eleanore's hand. "And I mean everything. This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me."
"I'm glad you like it," Eleanore said, blushing slightly. "I have to admit, my friend Ruby helped me with some of it."
"Your friend has good taste." Gina laughed. Eleanore quickly cleaned up, leaving their glasses of champagne out, topping them off. "I…I have a surprise for you too," Gina said, once Eleanore settled back down next to her.
"You do?" Eleanore asked, surprised. Gina crawled over to the towel she had used to dry off earlier, retrieving a small leather pouch tucked away under it. She sat back down next to Eleanore and opened the pouch, dropping two seashells into her hand, one purple and one yellow.
"Those are beautiful," she said, instinctually touching the shell around her neck. "The purple one looks like my shell."
"Yes, it's quite similar," Gina said, looking at her with a glimmer of hope in her eyes. "These are special shells. They are enchanted to be a sort of communication shell. Once the enchantment is completed, the shell will always find its intended target and will carry a small message with it."
"Really?" Eleanore asked, excitement and awe in her voice.
"Yes. I want to enchant them so that we can always contact each other if we need to," Gina explained, pausing for a moment. "Last month, when you were going through that stressful time, my heart broke knowing I wasn't there when you needed me the most. This way, you'll always be able to contact me if you ever need me."
"I like that," Eleanore said, smiling from ear to ear. "How does it work?"
"Once we finish the enchantment, all you need to do is whisper a message over it and toss it in the water, and the shell will find me," Gina explained.
"And your shell will find me? What if I'm not at the beach? Should I just always check the beach for it or something?" Eleanore asked.
"Not necessary. The shell will always find you, no matter where you are," Gina explained.
"Even if I'm not at the beach?"
"Even if you're not at the beach. It will always find you, no matter where you are." Gina smiled.
"That's so cool. How do we complete the enchantment?" Eleanore asked excitedly.
"Well…that's the tough part. We need to use a drop of blood from the intended."
"That's it?" Eleanore asked, surprised. Gina nodded.
"You're okay with blood like that?"
"I would give you all the blood in my body, if it means I get to be connected to you at all times," Eleanore said, grabbing Gina's hand.
"Do you have something we can use to prick our fingers?" Gina asked, looking around the candlelite cave.
"Ummm…oh, I think I do!" Eleanore exclaimed, jumping up and rushing to her bag and rummaging through its contents until she found what she was looking for.
"I have my swiss army knife, but I'm afraid the knife is too big and will cause a larger cut. I don't want to hurt you that much," Eleanore explained, settling in next to Gina, placing the items she collected between them. "But, lucky for you, I'm a fisher. Which means I always have at least five extra fish hooks on me at all times." She opened a clear plastic container and pulled out a small fish hook. Gina watched as Eleanore used the small tool to clip off the barbed end of the fish hook, leaving just a sharp point at the end. "Don't want the hook to accidentally get stuck in our fingers." Eleanore laughed as she quickly burned the tip of the hook, making sure to kill any bacteria that might be lingering on the metal. "You want to go first?" Eleanore asked, offering the sterilized fish hook to Gina.
"You have to do it for me," Gina said, holding out her hand for Eleanore. Eleanore gently kissed the tip of Gina's finger before pressing the sharp tip of the hook into Gina's skin, drawing a single drop of blood to the surface.
"Which one is your shell?" she asked, handing Gina the fish hook.
"The purple one represents me," Gina answered.
"Purple, just like your gorgeous tail." Eleanore smiled, picking up the purple shell and squeezing a single drop of Gina's blood into it. The moment the blood landed on the shell, it absorbed it instantly. The shell shimmered for a moment before returning to its original state, indicating that the enchantment was complete. "Did that hurt?" Eleanore asked, gently wrapping Gina's finger in a napkin to stop the bleeding.
"Not at all." Gina smiled, grabbing Eleanore's hand. "Ready?" Gina asked. Eleanore nodded. Gina kissed Eleanore's finger the same way Eleanore had before pricking Eleanore's finger. She grabbed the yellow shell, allowing a drop of Eleanore's blood to drip onto the middle, causing the yellow shell to shimmer the same as the purple, indicating the enchantment was complete as well.
"I understand the purple for you, but why yellow for me?" Eleanore asked as Gina wrapped her finger in another napkin.
"Do you not like yellow?" Gina asked, fear rising in her eyes.
"I like yellow." Eleanore smiled. "Oh, it's because I'm blonde. I get it."
"Uh…yeah. That's why I chose yellow," Gina said, her voice sounding uncertain.
"I love it." Eleanore smiled, kissing Gina quickly. "Is that all we need to do?"
"That's it," Gina said, handing Eleanore the purple shell.
"And this will always find you?" Eleanore asked, skeptically.
"It will always find me, no matter what."
"Well then, I better put this in a safe spot!" Eleanore laughed, crawling over to her bag to secure her shell in a small pocket tucked inside. Gina put the yellow shell back in the small pouch she had brought with her, setting it down next to Eleanore's bag.
They settled down next to each other, their lips finding each other as if drawn by magnets. Before they knew it, they were laying down, Eleanore laying on top as Gina's hands frantically searched for bare skin.
"Miss Swan, as much as I love how you look in this dress, I am going to have to insist you remove it. Immediately," Gina said, her voice heavy with arousal. Eleanore smiled as she climbed off Gina, standing in front of her.
"Can you help me with the zipper?" Eleanore asked, glancing at Gina over her shoulder as she fumbled with the zipper behind her back.
The sea of candles caused light to flicker and dance over Eleanore's pale skin as Gina slowly made her way toward her, unzipping the dress slowly. She softly kissed the skin on Eleanore's left shoulder as the fabric fell off Eleanore's body, pooling around her ankles, leaving her in just her bra and panties. Gina stared at her, in awe of her beauty, her eyes unblinking as she took in every inch of Eleanore's body.
Eleanore urged Gina back down as she reached behind her own back, unhooking her bra, slowly letting the delicate undergarment fall off her body in an attempt to seduce the woman sitting before her. She made sure to wear her nicest bra and panty set in her pursuit to make everything perfect for tonight. She let her bra fall off her arms and onto the floor as she stepped out of her dress, kicking it off to the side as she took another step toward Gina. Gina scrambled to her knees, kneeling in front of Eleanore, her face just above Eleanore's core. She wrapped her arms around the blonde's waist and pulled her closer, placing soft kisses above the waistband of Eleanore's panties. She slowly pulled down Eleanore's panties, pulling the soft material off her legs and adding them to the pile of discarded clothing.
"Have I ever told you how beautiful you are?" Gina asked, looking up at Eleanore with nothing but love and devotion in her eyes.
"Me? I'm nothing," Eleanore said, kneeling in front of Gina. "You are the true beauty."
"No!" Gina said, a slight bite of anger in her voice. "You're not nothing, Eleanore." Gina cupped both sides of Eleanore's face gently, wiping the silent tears off Eleanore's face. "I don't know what that stupid man has told you. And I don't want to know. Because you are not, and will never be nothing. Because you are everything to me."
"Gina…I…."
"You are my everything, Eleanore."
"You are my everything too," Eleanore managed to say, in between sobs.
"Good." Gina smiled, pulling Eleanore in for a sweet and loving kiss. "I don't ever want to hear those words come out of your mouth ever again, do you hear me?" Gina said.
"I understand," Eleanore said, smiling from ear to ear.
"Good. Now will you get down here and make love to me before I grow a second tail?" Gina chuckled, pulling Eleanore down with her as she laid back down on the soft pile of blankets on the ground.
Their kisses grew more and more heated as they held each other as close as possibly. Eleanore slowly encouraged Gina's left leg up over her own hip, giving Eleanore access to her soaking wet core. Eleanore's fingers softly made contact with Gina's clit, rubbing slow circles around the tiny nub, causing Gina's hips to roll into her fingers.
"You always know…just how to touch me…" Gina whispered.
"So do you," Eleanore answered, her voice barely above a whisper. "And sometimes you don't even have to touch me, to drive me insane." Gina's hand made its way between their bodies, finding Eleanore's throbbing clit, matching the movements of her partner.
"Eleanore…" Gina breathed as things began to heat up even more. "Can we…together…?" she asked, pressing her forehead into Eleanore's.
"Please…" Eleanore responded as she slowly pushed two fingers deep inside Gina. Gina's movements stopped for a moment as her body adjusted to the new pleasure. Eleanore started moving her fingers deep inside her as Gina's fingers found their way inside Eleanore. They moved slowly, taking their time, their bodies moving in tandem with one another. They knew exactly where to touch each other, what spots would drive each other crazy. They climaxed together for the first time, their shared orgasm crashing over their bodies like the waves in the ocean right outside.
"Eleanore…don't stop…" Gina cried.
"Never," Eleanore whispered as she felt the warm tingle of Gina's essence on her wrist. Three shared orgasms later, they were spent, their bodies twitching slightly as they held onto each other for dear life.
"Hey, Gina?" Eleanore asked after a few minutes of silence. Most of the candles had since burned out and the fire was almost out of wood, leaving nothing but a pile of amber-colored twinkling embers.
"Hmm…" Gina hummed. They were both drifting off to sleep in post-orgasm bliss.
"Do you believe in reincarnation? Or like past lives?" Eleanore asked.
"I don't know. I've never really thought about it," Gina answered. "Why?"
"Because…I don't know how…or why…" Eleanore started to say. "…but I feel like I've known you my entire life. I think maybe we knew each other…in another life…" Eleanore said. "That sounded so stupid, I'm sorry." Eleanore shifted to hide her face slightly, embarrassment in her voice.
"No, it's not stupid." Gina turned toward Eleanore. "I feel the exact same way," Gina whispered, kissing Eleanore sweetly. A few moments later, they were sound asleep, tucked away in each other's arms.
It felt like only a few minutes later that Gina was shaking her awake, indicating she would be leaving soon.
"It can't be morning already. That's not fair," Eleanore grumbled as she opened one eye, her gaze falling over Gina's shoulder to see the bright sky.
"I wish it wasn't true," Gina said, sadly. They stood up together and made their way toward the water.
Eleanore followed Gina into the water until they reached the point where Gina would begin to shift back. Eleanore watched in awe as Gina's legs began to transform back into the amazing purple tail.
"I'll never get tired of watching that," Eleanore said, swimming toward Gina.
"And I will never get tired of you watching me." Gina smiled. "I'll see you soon," she whispered, her lips only a hair's breadth away from Eleanore's.
"Not soon enough," Eleanore said before pressing her lips against Gina's. Their kiss started out innocently but quickly turned deep and passionate. Gina held onto Eleanore tightly, making sure to keep her lover above water.
"I have to go, my love," Gina whispered, a deep sadness in her voice.
"I know…I'm not ready to let you leave just yet."
"I'm not ready to leave either," Gina said, pressing her forehead against Eleanore's. "But I have to. It's too dangerous for me to be here during the day. I'll see you soon," Gina repeated.
"Goodbye, my love," Eleanore said, holding back tears.
"Goodbye," Gina said, kissing Eleanore one last time before diving under the water. A second later, Eleanore took a deep breath and dove down after her, swimming with all her might toward Gina.
Sensing Eleanore's presence, Gina turned around and swam toward her. "Ni mel tye," Gina mouthed under the water, causing Eleanore to smile. She still didn't know what the phrase meant, but she knew it had to mean something good if Gina kept saying it. "Go back to the surface when you've gone too far, okay?" Gina mouthed once again. Eleanore nodded quickly.
Gina smiled and leaned in to fill Eleanore's lungs with air, allowing her to stay underwater a little longer. Eleanore followed Gina farther down for a few more minutes until the pressure of the water began to make her head throb. She tried to push past it, only to have the pressure knock the breath she was holding out of her chest. Gina felt the resistance from Eleanore and turned around, quickly giving her another breath. "Go back," she mouthed, pointing to the surface. Eleanore nodded sadly. She knew she had to go back. Gina gave her a sad smile before filling her lungs one last time, giving Eleanore a strong push toward the surface, giving her a little extra momentum to make it to the top before she ran out of air. She watched as Eleanore swam up as fast as she could, allowing the water to carry her up as well. She waited until she could no longer see Eleanore's feet before turning around and swimming back home.
The days seemed to drag on while Eleanore waited for the next full moon. She found herself taking the long way home everyday, knowing it was only a matter of time before Killian arrived home. She was really starting to hate the sight of that man. One day in particular, Eleanore found herself walking down main street with no particular destination in mind, enjoying the feeling of the warm sunshine on her skin on the beautiful summer day. Suddenly, a small flash of light caught her attention. Turning her head to investigate where the light was coming from, she discovered a bracelet tucked away behind the glass of Gold's pawn shop, the light from the sun glistening off the jewel on the top. She was mesmerized by it and stood staring at the piece for a few minutes when a light tapping on the glass pulled her from her trance. Mr. Gold, the pawnshop owner, stood behind the glass, waving for her to come inside.
"Good afternoon, Miss Swan. I couldn't help notice you staring at my pieces, would you like to take a closer look at anything?" Mr. Gold asked as soon as Eleanore entered the shop.
"Ummm…yeah, actually. Can I see that black bracelet?" Eleanore asked, pointing to the piece in question.
"Ah yes. The leather cuff," Mr. Gold said, grabbing the piece from the window. "This is no ordinary bracelet, Miss Swan. This leather cuff was said to have belonged to a Pirate Queen hundreds of years ago. She was said to have sailed every ocean and sea on the planet more than once." Mr. Gold said as he handed the piece to Eleanore. Her eyes went wide when she saw the silver ornament in the center of the cuff—a silver seashell embedded with purple, yellow, and teal stones. From afar, the colors blended together to make the most beautiful swirl pattern, but close up, they stood independently in a seemingly random pattern. She didn't understand how or why, but it almost looked like it was glowing. It was beautiful. "That shell design was said to be her symbol, the same symbol that was presented on her flag that flew proudly on the main mast of her ship."
"It's beautiful," Eleanore said, placing the cuff on her left wrist, testing its fit.
"That it is. There is more," Mr. Gold said, reaching for the cuff. He turned it over to reveal a secret hidden pocket located underneath the seashell. "Rumor had it, our Pirate Queen used this to hide her wedding ring, keeping her wife's memory close after she passed away suddenly." Eleanore knew at that moment that she had to have this cuff.
"How much is it?" she asked, ready to sell her right kidney if she had to in order to pay for this cuff.
"Normally, a piece such as that is priced at one hundred dollars. It is vintage, after all." Eleanore frowned. There was no way she had that kind of money to spend. She held the cuff out to Mr. Gold, letting him know that she couldn't afford it. "Now hold on one second," Mr. Gold said, pushing Eleanore's hand back. "I said normally . It just so happens that this very morning, I began to run a special. Fifty percent off items that call out for someone from the sidewalk." Mr. Gold chuckled slightly.
"Wait, really? I can do fifty!" Eleanore exclaimed, reaching into her back pocket, pulling out her wallet.
"I'll ring you up," Mr. Gold said, hobbling over to the register to complete Eleanore's purchase. "I would offer you a bag, but I have a feeling you'll be wearing this out of the store." He laughed as Eleanore handed him fifty dollars exactly. She thanked the shop owner and made her way outside, clasping the cuff to her arm. It felt perfect around her wrist.
She walked home with a newfound pep in her step, checking each room in their small house to make sure Killian wasn't there. Once she was certain she was alone, she sat on the couch, unzipping the small hidden pocket inside her bag, pulling out her most prized possession the moment—the purple shell that was enchanted to find Gina. She held the small shell in her hand for a moment, looking at it for the first time since she received it, marveling on how the color matched Gina's tail completely, as if it had at one time been a part of her. She gave the shell a small kiss before placing it in the secret hidden pocket in her new cuff, tucking it away safely against her wrist. She felt better knowing the shell was in a safe place and close to her at all times. A text from John at the docks informing her that Killian was leaving and heading for his post-work drink at the bar pulled her from her thoughts of Gina. She still had two more weeks to wait before she could see her again. Two very long weeks. She sighed and stood up, making her way to the kitchen to cook dinner for her and Killian.
"He can kiss my ass," she said out loud, pulling out a large pot and filling it with water. "I'm making pasta tonight. He can just deal."
The next morning, Eleanore woke up with Killian's heavy arm around her waist, and all she could think about was the feeling of Gina's arms around her when she slept. The way her arm wrapped around her body and held her tight. The way she could feel Gina's breath on her skin as she laid next to her impossibly close. She missed Gina so much it made her heart hurt.
She got up, eager to get away from Killian for the day. She got dressed and ready for the day, relieved when she realized she had time to stop at Granny's for a cup of coffee before making her way to the docks to start the day. She flopped on the floor next to the door to put on her sneakers when she felt something stabbing her foot inside her right shoe. She grumbled at the inconvenience and started to shake her shoe, trying to dislodge the foreign object. After a few shakes, a small yellow shell fell out of her shoe, landing on the floor in front of her. She knew in an instant where that shell had come from. "Gina," she whispered, looking around to make sure Killian wasn't listening. Once she was certain he was still sleeping, she picked up the shell. As soon as the shell was in her hand, Gina's voice rang inside her head.
"I miss you. Meet me at the abandoned floating dock a few yards past our cave tonight. I'll be there at sunset." Eleanore's smile was so wide her face hurt. "I'm going to see Gina tonight," she whispered to herself, tucking Gina's shell into the secret pocket next to her shell. She jammed her foot back into her sneaker, rushing out the door toward the diner.
"Someone's in a good mood." Ruby smirked when Eleanore walked in the door.
"Why yes, I am," Eleanore said.
"Care to share what's making you so excited? It can't just be because you get to go out on the water today," Ruby said, handing Eleanore a cup full of coffee, made exactly how she likes it.
"I get to see Gina tonight." Eleanore smiled, taking a small sip of the hot coffee, not even flinching at the scalding temperature.
"Wait, I thought she can only come once a month? It hasn't been a month, right?" Ruby asked, seeming almost panicked.
"Nope. It's only been two weeks. I guess she found a way to sneak away." Eleanore smiled.
"Good for you! Are we having dinner tonight then?" Ruby asked, winking.
"Do you mind?"
"Not at all. I'll cover your ass anytime, as long as I get to see that happy smile on your face." Ruby smiled.
"Thanks, Ruby."
"Anytime. Now get your ass to work before all the good fish swim away." Ruby laughed.
The day dragged on. Every task felt like it took twice as long as she counted the hours until she got to see Gina again. Eventually, she finished work for the day, and even managed to ignore Killian's sarcastic words when she left the docks. She purposely waited until she got home to text Killian to let him know she wasn't going to be home, and that she was going to be having dinner with Ruby.
"What is up with that woman? Why does she always need to spend time with you?" Killian texted back. Eleanore rolled her eyes and responded.
"It's because we're friends. Get over it," Eleanore responded.
"Tell her she needs to get laid so she can bother someone else for once."
"Don't be a jerk. She's my friend."
"Whatever, Swan. Just don't stay out all night like you usually do." Eleanore rolled her eyes again. Hopefully, he would be asleep by the time she got home.
She paced around the living room for a little while, looking out the window every few minutes to check for the first sign of sunset. Unable to wait any longer, she rushed out of the house toward the beach. If she had to wait for sunset, she would rather wait at the beach than pacing in the living room.
She ran to the beach, not stopping until she saw the old floating dock that Gina had chosen to be their meeting spot. She carefully walked out onto the platform as it swayed in the water, sitting at the edge with her bare feet dangling above the water, lightly grazing the water beneath them. She watched as the sun began to set, lighting up the sky in beautiful shades of orange and pink. She was so close to seeing Gina that her heart was pounding with anticipation. She continued to watch as the sun set behind the horizon, blanketing the world in darkness. Just as the last rays of light disappeared, she felt something tickle her feet, startling her and causing her to nearly jump out of her skin.
"Gina!" she exclaimed when she looked down at the water.
"Hey," Gina said, her head breaking the surface of the water. "You made it."
She smiled. "Of course I did. Nothing can keep me from my Nenriel."
"Come with me. There's something I want to show you," Gina said.
"Okay. Let me find someplace to put my stuff," Eleanore said, pulling her shirt off, revealing her bathing suit underneath.
"Take that thing off too." Gina smirked, winking up at Eleanore. "It's only fair, after all."
"Of course. For the sake of fairness." Eleanore chuckled. She rushed back to their cave and quickly undressed, stuffing her clothes and sneakers into her bag to make sure everything stayed together before running back to the floating dock where Gina was waiting for her.
As soon as her feet hit the wooden planks of the dock she sped up, jumping off the edge over Gina's head, splashing into the water behind her. Gina laughed hysterically as she quickly swam over to Eleanore, wrapping her arms around the blonde immediately.
"I missed you," Gina whispered, pulling Eleanore's lips to hers.
"I missed you too," Eleanore said, in between kisses.
"Come with me, I want to show you something," Gina said after a few minutes of kissing.
"I would follow you anywhere," Eleanore said, grabbing Gina's hand, allowing her to lead her through the dark water. They swam together, hand-in-hand, for a few minutes until they approached a small rock wall that jutted out of the water. Gina led them over to the wall, stopping next to it.
"A rock wall?" Eleanore asked, very confused.
"Not the wall, but what is hidden inside the wall." Gina smiled, squeezing Eleanore's hand. "Take a deep breath and follow me." Eleanore filled her lungs with as much air as she could and allowed herself to sink under the water.
Gina placed Eleanore's hand against the stone as they sank down into the water. Suddenly, Eleanore felt a small hole appear in the stone. She could see Gina smile under the water as she pulled Eleanore through the hole in the rock wall. They swam down a small tunnel, which opened into a small pool that was approximately seven feet deep, just deep enough for them to swim upright without touching the bottom. Eleanore's eyes grew wide with wonder when they resurfaced, finding themselves in a small grotto.
"What is this place?" Eleanore asked as her eyes continued to roam.
"This is ou…my secret place. I …found it about ten years ago. It was where… I …planned to one day…be with my Melda…"
"This was your place…with her?" Eleanore asked, sensing the sadness in Gina's voice.
"Yes…" Gina answered.
"Then why did you bring me here?" Eleanore asked. "Not that I'm complaining! It's just…it seems like a special place for you two…and now that she's gone I would have thought…" Eleanore started to say.
"I wanted to share this with you. Because you're special to me, Eleanore. Very special to me."
"This means a lot to me," Eleanore said, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to fall. "You mean a lot to me too," she added, her voice soft and shy.
Gina smiled as she grabbed Eleanore's hand and swam toward the edge of the grotto, where an upside down "L" shaped ledge sat against the back wall. At its widest, the ledge was big enough for two people to lay side by side comfortably without falling into the water.
Gina swiftly pulled herself up onto the widest part of the ledge, gracefully shifting to sit on the rock. Eleanore followed, not so gracefully, shifting into the seated position next to Gina. They shimmied back so they were resting against the wall of the grotto, sitting side by side again, their hands clasped and their fingers laced together.
"I love how your hand feels in mine." Eleanore glanced down at their clasped hands, her thumb running small circles over the top of Gina's hand. "It's almost like they were made to fit together, she said, her face suddenly turning bright red. "Shit, I'm sorry. That was really cheesy."
"No, it's not cheesy. It's true." Gina kissed the top of Eleanore's hand. "I feel the same. In fact, I feel like that about our bodies as well. It's like we were made to fit together, in every way," Gina said, her face turning red this time. "Now, who's being cheesy?"
"We can be cheesy together." Eleanore smirked, kissing Gina sweetly. Gina rested her head on Eleanore's shoulder once their kiss ended, sighing contently, enjoying the feeling of just having Eleanore so close.
"Can…can I touch it?" Eleanore asked, interrupting their quiet moment.
"Touch what?" Gina asked, her eyebrow raising in slight confusion as she lifted her head off Eleanore's shoulder.
"Your…tail…" Eleanore asked shyly.
"Of course you can." Gina laughed, flipping her tail so her fins tickled Eleanore's feet. "You don't have to ask to touch me." Gina smiled.
"I know…I just…wasn't sure when it comes to your tail…" Eleanore said, stumbling over her words.
"Eleanore," Gina said, cupping Eleanore's face. "You can touch me whenever, wherever you want." She smiled, causing Eleanore's face to brighten up. Eleanore reached down slowly and softly placed her hand in Gina's lap, stroking the scales slightly.
"It's soft. Softer than I thought it would be…" Eleanore whispered.
"Thanks. I moisturize," Gina said, not skipping a beat.
"Wait, really?" Eleanore asked, her head snapping up.
"No, silly. That was a joke." Gina chuckled. "I guess I just have soft scales…and skin too, I guess."
"What's this?" Eleanore asked, her hand passing softly over the faint swirl of yellow that wrapped around Gina's tail. It was faint but definitely there, and the pattern, as much as Eleanore could see, was stunningly beautiful.
"That…" Gina's body language changed suddenly. "That is what is left from my unfinished bonding…" Her voice sounded so sad it broke Eleanore's heart.
"I don't understand," Eleanore said, looking up at Gina.
"When two Nenriel bond, they take on a part of each other. As a result, they become represented on each other's tails." Gina paused to allow Eleanore to process. When she didn't question anything, Gina continued. "Each bonded couple share a unique pattern with each other's distinctive tail color. Since we had already started our bonding ritual, our pattern had begun to form before she was taken away," Gina said, a single tear falling from her eye.
"Her tail was yellow?" Eleanore asked, wiping the tear from Gina's face.
"Yes…" she whispered, her voice beginning to betray her.
"I like yellow." Eleanore smiled, tracing her hand lightly over the yellow pattern. "Yellow looks good on you," she added, causing a wide smile to form across Gina's face.
"Thanks," Gina said, another stray tear escaping her eye only to be whisked away immediately by Eleanore's thumb.
"Speaking of yellow…" Eleanore said, causing their moment to end. She unclasped the cuff around her left wrist and pried open the hidden pocket, pulling out the yellow shell that Gina had sent to her earlier in the day, handing it to Gina. "I should give this back to you."
"Thank you," Gina said, taking the shell. "Where did you find it?"
"It was in my shoe this morning when I was getting ready for work." Eleanore laughed.
"Can't miss it there." Gina laughed, putting the shell into the small pouch around her wrist. "That's new," she said, pointing to Eleanore's cuff.
"Yeah. I saw it in the window of the local pawnshop and I was drawn to it immediately," Eleanore said, handing Gina her cuff. "The colors reminded me of us. Yellow and purple." Gina ran her thumb over the silver shell embossed with yellow and purple and teal stones.
"The teal is gorgeous too," Gina said.
"Yeah, I know. Wonder what the teal represents." She laughed. "Plus, there's a secret hidden pocket. Just the perfect size to hide a small seashell, or two," she added, showing Gina the purple shell tucked away inside. "According to Mr. Gold, this used to belong to some Pirate Queen who used it to hide her wedding ring after her wife died. It's sad. And yet, we both know exactly how she felt."
"That we do, indeed," Gina said sadly again, handing the cuff back to Eleanore. "It's beautiful."
"Thanks," Eleanore said, a slight sadness in her voice. She didn't know if it was a result of remembering the mystery woman who saved her life and then left, or the fact that Gina was sad. Either way, she desperately needed to raise the mood. "Where do you live?" she asked as she secured the cuff back on her wrist.
"In the water," Gina said, a little confused.
"No, I know that. But like… where in the water do you live? Do you have a Mermaid…Nenriel house or something? Or do you just swim around wherever you want?" Eleanore asked, causing Gina to chuckle slightly.
"I have a house. Well, it's more like a community housing type of place," Gina started to explain, the mood instantly lifted between them.
"Tell me more," Eleanore said, eager to know everything.
"Well, our colony lives deep below the surface, about an hour from the surface to be exact. It's protected by a magical dome, left over from the first Nenriels. Most Nenriel live within the palace walls; however, there is a group of about thirty or so who decided to live beyond the walls in smaller homes," Gina explained.
"Palace? Like as in Royalty palace?" Eleanore asked.
"Yes. Nenriel society is a Queendom, and it is run by our Queen," Gina explained.
"And do you live within the palace walls?" Eleanore asked.
"Yes, I do. My Tatya and sister live there as well."
"Do you have a HUGE bedchamber with a big fancy bed and servants and stuff?" Eleanore asked.
"Oh gosh no! There are no servants in our society. We do have a tiered chamber system. The closer to the ocean floor your chambers are, the higher your rankings in society. The Queen's chamber is at the very bottom," Gina explained.
"And where is yours?"
"Directly above the Queen's," Gina said shyly.
"Holy crap, Gina! You're like one step below the Queen! That's crazy! Wait, are you like a Princess or a Duchess or something?" Eleanore asked, shocked.
"No, no I'm nothing like that. How I came to that position is a different story, for a different day," Gina said. Eleanore could sense her hesitation and tried to change the subject.
"So, tell me about your chambers then. Is it huge and bright and filled with beautiful and shiny things? How big is your bed? I bet it's bigger than my living room." Eleanore winked.
"Nenriel don't sleep in beds. We settle on the floor at night."
"No beds? That can't be comfortable."
"We live in the water. The water supports us the way we need."
"Instant comfort, all the time. I love it." Eleanore smiled. "Then your chambers are filled with beautiful things then. Beautiful things for a beautiful woman."
"Actually, we are not a materialistic race. My chambers only has one thing in it right now, and it's the rose you gave me a few weeks ago."
"That's it?" Eleanore asked.
"Yeah. We don't need material possessions. Perhaps I may acquire a comb at some point, but other than that, I may never have any other possessions. Well maybe a few more roses would be nice," she said, winking at Eleanore.
"Duly noted." Eleanore chuckled.
"There's something else I want to show you." Gina pushed herself with her arms to lay down on the stone. Once she was settled, she tapped the area next to her, indicating she wanted Eleanore to lay next to her. Eleanore rushed over, laying next to Gina, her hand instantly finding Gina's lap, gently caressing the soft scales. "Look up," Gina whispered. Eleanore turned her head to look at the ceiling, only to be met with a sky full of twinkling stars.
"Oh my god…" Eleanore whispered, the sight leaving her speechless.
"There's no light from the mainland all the way out here. Without all the light pollution, you can see all the stars," Gina whispered.
"I didn't know there were so many stars out there," Eleanore said, her eyes fixed on the tiny lights in the sky. Their hands found each other once again, clasping their fingers together like a puzzle piece as they laid together, gazing at the stars. They laid together for over an hour, in comfortable silence, holding each other and staring up at the twinkling stars.
"I can't stay all night," Eleanore said, breaking the silence. "I…I should probably get going actually. I think it's getting late," she added, a deep sadness in her voice.
"Oh…okay…" Gina said, clearly disappointed.
"I'm sorry…" Eleanore said.
"It's okay. Don't be. I know it was last minute."
"Yeah…and Killian…he gets really—" Eleanore said before Gina interrupted her.
"Hey, it's okay. I understand." Eleanore knew that Gina did understand, but the hint of sadness in her voice broke Eleanore's heart. "I'll swim with you back to the shore," Gina said, sitting up and preparing to swim back.
Gina grabbed Eleanore's hand as soon as they were back in the water, leading the way out of the cove and back toward the floating dock they had begun their journey a few hours ago.
"I'll see you in a few weeks," Eleanore said sadly, once they reached the dock.
"Yes, two weeks," Gina said. Eleanore could tell she was barely holding back the tears.
"Now it's my turn to leave," Eleanore said, unable to hold back her own tears as one fell down her cheek.
"I suppose so," Gina said, wiping away Eleanore's tear. Her voice was devoid of any humor.
"Bye…" Eleanore said, kissing Gina sweetly. As soon as her lips left Gina's, she turned around to climb back onto the old wooden dock, immediately running toward the cave where she left her things. She knew if she turned around she would still see Gina floating in the water and would immediately run back to her.
She broke down as soon as she returned to their cave, crying into her towel until her throat began to feel raw. Even though she only had to wait another two weeks to see Gina, it still felt like a lifetime. She managed to pull herself together enough to get dressed, and started walking back home, where she hoped Killian would already be sleeping.
As soon as she could see the small house in the distance, she knew she was wrong. The lights were on in the house, a clear sign that Killian was awake. He never leaves the lights on for her. She walked quietly into the house, hoping that maybe he was asleep on the couch and she could slip in without waking him. Once again, she was wrong.
"Where the FUCK have you been Swan?" Killian screamed as soon as she closed and locked the door.
"I told you, I was with Ruby," she said, kicking off her shoes.
"Bullshit! I went to the diner, and Ruby was there closing, counting the money in the register," he screamed.
"Okay. I was with Ruby. But when she needed to leave to close the diner I left and…" Eleanore said, only to be interrupted by Killian.
"You went to that FUCKING beach again, didn't you?"
"Yes!" she screamed. As soon as she raised her voice, she instantly regretted it. "I left Ruby's and went to the beach for a swim." The damage was already done, she might as well tell the truth.
"You stupid bitch!" Killian screamed, rushing over to her and slapping her, hard, in the face.
Eleanore looked up at him, shocked at what just occurred. There was nothing but anger in his eyes as he looked down at her. "How many fucking times have I told you I don't want you going to that fucking beach? How many fucking times, Swan?" Killian screamed, raising his hand into the air like he was going to hit her again. Eleanore flinched. "I don't want you at that beach anymore, is that clear, Swan?" She just looked at him, standing stiff in fear, neither nodding nor shaking her head. "I'm sick of looking at your stupid face right now. You're sleeping on the couch tonight. You're lucky I'm feeling generous and letting you stay here tonight. I have half a mind to make you sleep outside." He shoved her out of the way as he stormed into the bedroom, slamming the door hard behind him.
Eleanore walked slowly toward the couch, the tears she was holding back came flooding down her face. She sat down sobbing, flinching when her hand touched the tender flesh of her cheek where Killian had slapped her.
"Gina would never place her hands on me in anger…" she whispered out loud, not caring if Killian heard her.
Once she stopped crying, she managed to make it to the shower, quickly cleaning the salt water off her skin and hair before returning to the couch that would act as her bed for the evening. Her mind wandered to thoughts of Gina, trying to picture what Gina was doing, picturing her laying on the sand floor as the water cradled her body. She eventually fell asleep to the visions of Gina.
"Do you want to have kids?" she asked, her arms wrapped around the mysterious woman.
"We kind of have to…" the woman answered, stiffening in her arms.
"That's not what I asked," she said, smiling. "I asked if you wanted them. Not if you need to have them," she added.
"I guess I never really thought about it. I just assumed we would…because we had to."
"I would never force you to do something you didn't want to do," she said, running her fingers through her fianće's hair.
"Thanks…." the woman said. "You know, it would be nice to have a little one milling around this place. Someone with your eyes and my hair. Someone that was equal parts me and you."
"That would be nice, wouldn't it," she said, smiling.
"I think…I think I would like to have kids with you. Not because we have to, but because we want to."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"Then let's do it. When the time is right, of course. But under two conditions."
"What are they?" her fianće asked, hesitation in her voice.
"The first is, if you change your mind, we don't have them, no questions asked. And second. They need to take after you more than me. Because the world needs more of your stunning beauty." She smiled.
"Shut up, you're stunning," her fianće laughed, smacking her lightly on the shoulder.
Eleanore startled herself awake, her hand finding her flat stomach instantly. "We were going to have kids…" she whispered as the tears she didn't know were there spilled out onto her pillow.
A/N: Elvish words:
Nenriel: Water Maiden
Amil: Mother
Tatya: Second (as in second or non-biological mother)
Melda: Partner. Literally translates to "Beloved"
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