a/n: This plot came about due to a conversation with flippinfins on tumblr. To be clear, I am a Clewis shipper, but I became really interested in this idea when discussing it. What if Nate got a redemption arc? How would it have happened?

Chapter 1: The Prophecy

Two months of full moons on her own, and Cleo still wasn't used to it. Spring semester started in July, and with the stress of starting university a semester later than her peers, her friends had all gone their separate ways. Closing her eyes, the water of the moon pool bubbled around her as the moon arched over the dormant volcano. Month three of her isolation was starting, and there was nothing she could do about it. She allowed the cool water to lull her to a restless sleep where memories of her friends leaving plagued her.

"Lewis… you just got back from America." Cleo felt the tears threatening to escape. Her heart was beating hard. Her boyfriend, her first love, he was leaving… again. One month together was all she would get?

"You told me to go study in America. You told me that I needed to live my own life and pursue my dreams." Lewis' hand ran through his hair as he breathed deeply. "My scholarship was for four years, not a semester."

Her voice shook along, her blood running cold. "I thought you were here for the summer." She admitted, eyes shutting tightly to prevent more tears from traveling down her cheeks. "That we could–" She stopped herself from speaking more. That they could build a stronger foundation for their relationship before he was gone again, fourteen hours behind.

"Cleo," Lewis started, grabbing her hands and bringing them to his lips. "I love you. Being on the other side of the globe doesn't change things. America's school system runs based on their seasons, not ours. It's winter there. I'll be back in May. I promise."

April came slowly, despite Emma, Bella, and Rikki taking a gap semester with her. All four girls had been too busy their senior year to apply for university, let alone prepare for schooling. At the end of the month, an email came through, and Cleo's heart sank.

To: cleowater

From: sciencenerd53

Subject: Summer Plans?

Cleo,

Things in Florida are going great! It's getting hot and humid up here, or hotter and more humid than it already was. Summer is coming soon, meaning classes are breaking for three months. I know you're preparing to start classes in July.

Speaking of classes, my professor offered me a summer internship. Three months on a research trip throughout the Gulf of Mexico. Professor Navarro is studying fish populations during hurricane season. She's asked me to join her for class credit, and if all goes well, I could get to join her on her sabbatical next semester through the rest of the study.

I know I promised I would come home in May, but I cannot pass up an opportunity like this. Tell me what you think?

I love you,

Lewis

How could she deny him the internship of a lifetime, despite the fact that it meant she would only hear from her boyfriend in short emails in the short times he could get internet access for three months? How could she tell him she wasn't happy when he emailed her back in August that he was extending the internship through the end of his fall semester, meaning it would be December before she'd see him again. A year.

Rain began to fall through the opening of the volcano and dripped onto Cleo's face. She opened her eyes and watched lightning strike across the clouds above her. Despite the storm covering the full moon from view, she could still feel its pull keeping her in the water. Alone, it was the only place she knew she would be safe, able to keep her behavior in check. Sure, maybe it was not the best place to sleep, but the magic of the pool kept her from becoming moonstruck.

Without the view of the moon, Cleo didn't know what time it was. The clouds were pitch black, other than the flashes occasionally adding light to the world around her. Her eyes closed once more, imagining it was Rikki creating the lightning across the sky.

Zane was finishing packing up the yacht as Rikki and Cleo sat on the end of the dock. The last two people who knew her secret were leaving on a trip around the globe. The brunette girl laid down on the dock, staring up at the cloudless blue sky.

"Cleo, don't give me that." Rikki grumbled and stood, making her way to the boat. "I've told you a million times, Zane and I are just friends. He offered to come with me on my trip so I wouldn't be alone. He has a freaking yacht for heavens' sake."

"That's not what I'm upset about." While she didn't believe Rikki in the slightest that nothing would happen with Zane, Cleo wouldn't fault her friend for that.

"Then what's that look for?"

"Forget about it." Cleo sat back up before climbing to her feet. "Promise you'll call me every time you're on land?" She asked Rikki, grasping her friend's hand to anchor her.

"I promise. Besides, Bella and Emma are one phone call away when you get yourself into trouble." Rikki pulled her hand away to untie the ropes keeping the boat attached to the dock. Cleo gave the blonde woman a smile, at least attempting to be happy for Rikki going on her world tour.

"Yeah, but they're hours behind." Cleo whispered when the engines turned on. Ireland and California were much too far to keep in touch most of the time. Rikki knew that.

Alone, for the first time, Cleo dove into the water of the harbor and swam to Mako.

Thunder clapping loudly brought Cleo out of her restless slumber once more. She sighed, swam to the edge of the pool, and rested her arms on the cool rock. The moon must have begun to set, as the magic attracting her to the pool had begun to fade. It was useless to leave the pool though, with the rain. She'd get three steps from the water before growing a tail once more. She made a note to email her professors for notes that evening due to feeling too "sick" to come to class. Again.

As the cave lightened around her, Cleo watched the clouds float away from Mako Island. Even with the storms gone, she didn't want to get caught up in any rain on the mainland. She rested her chin on her arms, wishing that someone would be there with her. The volcano had started to heal from the incident with the meteor, but the rocks were still darker than before. There was still a feeling of weakened magic that surrounded the place. It wasn't the same, whether alone or with other mermaids, but alone was much worse. Hours passed with Cleo staring at the walls, wondering how long it would take before the island fully healed from the magical tower that had been created to save the Earth.

Once she was sure the danger of the rain had passed, Cleo pushed away from the edge of the pool, gasping as she hit something hard behind her. She froze, moving only enough to keep herself upright in the water. Arms wrapped around her and a respirator dropped over her shoulder.

"Don't freak out, beautiful." Cleo recognized the voice instantly, trying to fight her way out of the arms that held her. Her tail was strong enough to whip the man far enough away to move, but he still guarded the water exit to the cave. She backed away, her hands finding the pool's edge once more, and suddenly she wished she had Rikki's power to dry herself and run out the dry entrance before he could stop her.

"Cleo?" The diver removed his face mask leaving the mermaid to stare into the eyes of Nate. She wanted to leave, to escape before he could say anything else, but he had already recognized her. There was no way she would keep her secret safe anymore.

"Are you…" Nate paused and let his mask fall into the water, to the bottom of the moon pool. "Are you a mermaid?"

Cleo nodded, unable to speak. She looked up at the sky, tears streamed down her face. She was screwed.