The smell of brine was intoxicating. Sophie never made a big fuss about it, but she deeply enjoyed being close to the ocean. The waves lapping at the shore and the taste of salt on her lips had always held a sense of ‘home’ for her. It was what spurred her to open a marine park out of all possible businesses she could have chosen, and why she had always dreamed of a beach home like the one they’d had. It stemmed from a desire to be near the water. The thrill that Katie enjoyed the water just as much in her youth. Though she supposed she was slightly guilty of encouraging Katie to learn to dive once she knew how much she enjoyed swimming. They had made more than a few wonderful memories when it had been just the two of them.

Now, while sitting on the edge of the pool built into the floor of their new home, she decided it would be nice to get some new dive gear. It would be nice to get back in the water and even nicer to join Katie and Riley beneath it for a while.

She leaned sideways against Lewis and rested her head on his shoulder. She was rewarded with his good arm wrapping around the backs of her shoulders. Sophie exhaled deeply and closed her eyes. “This is nice,” she murmured.

Lewis hummed and began to trail his fingers up and down on the skin of her upper arm. “It’s been a crazy day.”

“I’m just glad for a moment to relax,” Sophie admitted. She peered out over the water to keep a lazy gaze on the Mer in the pool. Riley, Luna, and Katie had spent the last half hour or so facing off in as many styles of races and competitions that they could think of. While Nero had joined them once or twice, he and Karina mostly seemed to be staying out of the way.

It was good to see them unwinding too. When they’d first gotten here, Luna and Katie hadn’t spoken much about the conversations held today, but Luna had seemed to deflate so quickly when she realized Katie didn’t have an answer for her. None of this had been easy and it broke Sophie’s heart to see them all so worn down and sad. At least for now, those struggles seemed mostly forgotten.

Though the three girls were blurry beneath the water, that did nothing to distort the dazzle of light off their scales as they chased one another around. A year ago, Sophie would have laughed at the thought of mermaids, but meeting the Mer had completely changed her outlook on life. They were people, but they were also breathtaking creatures with an array of colour and diversity that managed to hold the spotlight every time.

She was so enraptured by their underwater antics that she didn’t notice Karina until the young woman was boosting herself out of the water beside them. Once she had gotten settled, Sophie smiled and lifted a hand in greeting. “Hello, Karina.”

Karina’s cheeks developed a soft, rosy red as she ducked her head and a hesitant smile touched her lips. “Hello,” she replied in a hushed tone.

“How are you?” Lewis pressed. “It’s been a crazy few days. We haven’t seen much of you or Nero most of the time we’ve been here.”

“That is my fault,” Karina admitted. She shrugged her shoulders. “I am grateful for everything you all have done for us, but overcoming my anxieties has been a challenge and I was not anticipating my instincts would be quite this…overwhelming.” She rubbed her arm and then tucked it up under the fins wrapped around her chest.

The motion drew Sophie’s attention and when she looked, she could see tiny gray fins poking limply out from Karina’s cocoon. “It’s okay,” Sophie assured her. “You’re a new mother, there’s bound to be an adjustment period.”

“Thank you for understanding,” Karina murmured before a short, burbling whistle drew her attention down to her concealed infant. A wide smile spread across her face and she began to hum softly.

“How is the baby doing?” Lewis prompted.

Karina did not so much as spare him a glance as she dipped a hand beneath her fins and continued smiling down at her baby. “He is well,” she reported. Then she made a few hushed clucking sounds at her son.

Her call was instantly met with a few more squeaks that melted Sophie’s heart to listen to. “He’s certainly chatty,” she commented idly.

Karina nodded. “He has been for the last turn now,” she agreed absently. Her smile had managed to grow even wider.

“You look happy,” Sophie observed. She leaned back against Lewis, who hugged her around the waist and squeezed her. There seemed to be joy hanging in the air like a dense, pleasant cloud. It was helping wash away more of the prolonged stress she’d been under.

At her comment, Karina's cheeks went from rosy to crimson and she chewed her lip. She offered no verbal response, but a deep purr rose from her throat and Sophie grinned.

She wasn’t sure if he was attracted by Karina’s loud purring or if he just missed her, but Nero was beside them in a heartbeat. He heaved himself out of the water and drew Karina into his arms. He rumbled something at her and she chirped in response. Her purring grew louder and she pulled her tail up out of the water so that she could better curl against the crook of his body.

Watching them made Sophie feel light. The couple were so wholesome and – despite everything that had happened – neither of them had ever seemed to falter around each other.

Lewis had reminded her what it felt like to be stupid in love, but Karina and Nero seemed less like individuals and more like two pieces of the same puzzle when she watched them together.

The two continued to converse in their native tongue for a few moments. Though Sophie was curious, she simply sat back and waited out their moment. There was no need to be nosy when it was obviously a private conversation. If they’d wanted to be overheard, they would have spoken English. Or perhaps they were just instinctively more comfortable with their own language. Either way, it was just nice to see them in a more relaxed environment.

After a minute or two, their conversation tapered and Karina resumed purring softly. Nero reached around her, beneath her fins and carefully pulled their son free from her grasp. Her fins rustled once and then pulled tighter around her chest and fell still.

Her curiosity got the better of her and Sophie leaned forward to observe the infant Mer as Nero nestled him in the crook of his arm.

The baby’s tail was stubby and rounded very suddenly at the tip, where soft gray fins twitched. The tail was covered in inky black scales that looked paper-thin, and he had sharp red and yellow racing stripes down his sides that contrasted brightly against the dark of his tail. His skin was pale and ginger hair peppered his skull like peach fuzz, while his gaze mirrored his mother’s and gazed up at his father with rapture.

“Oh, he’s precious,” Sophie remarked.

Karina and Nero exchanged a look and while they did not speak, it felt like a silent discussion was taking place. Finally, Nero glanced back up and offered her a smile. “Would you like to hold him?” he offered.

“Yes,” Sophie blurted before she caught herself. She felt heat tingle in her cheeks and she cleared her throat awkwardly. “Are you okay with that?” she checked while directing her attention to Karina. Karina was obviously still struggling with being around humans. Holding her baby would probably make the new mother quite uncomfortable.

But to her surprise, Karina remained relaxed against her mate and inclined her head towards Sophie. “I trust you,” she stated. “Both of you. I want…I want my son to know the people who helped save his life.”

Sophie didn’t believe she had much to do with saving any of them; she had felt entirely helpless the last few months. But she was touched by the statement, and she didn’t refuse as Nero leaned forward and held the infant out.

Sophie held her breath as she accepted the baby into her arms. His skin was smooth as silk and his tail surprisingly warm as it rested over her arm. She pulled him close so he wouldn’t feel unbalanced, and she couldn’t control the gaping smile that split her face as she rubbed her thumb over one of his chubby little cheeks. “Does he have a name?”

“Kierin,” Nero answered.

Sophie beamed down at the baby and her heart fluttered in her chest as the child held her gaze. “Hello, Kierin. You’re just the cutest little button, aren’t you? Yes,” she cooed as she waggled a finger in his face. Instantly, Kierin’s attention shifted to it and he reached his tiny hands up towards her. He clearly had the same coordinative abilities as most human infants, because he missed, but his mouth opened and he blew a bubble. It popped and then his tongue poked out between his lips.

Holding him felt like a dream. She loved Katie and Riley dearly, but Sophie had a special spot in her heart for babies. She’d always wanted one, and while she would always be grateful having gotten to raise Katie, holding a baby returned that longing and filled a void she would never openly admit that she carried.

“He looks very healthy,” Lewis observed. “You two are going to be wonderful parents.”

“Thank you,” Karina purred.

“May I?” Lewis inquired as his arm came up around Sophie.

She pulled Kierin closer and shook her head. “Not on your life,” she growled playfully. “Wait your turn.” She turned back to Kierin and smiled. “Yes. Lewis needs to wait his turn, doesn’t he? Yes, he does.”

Her comments earned her a kiss on the cheek. “You do know that you will have to give the baby back, right?” Lewis teased.

“I know,” Sophie agreed with a huff and a grin. “But you are definitely sweet enough to steal,” she crooned down at the baby. He stared back at her and flicked his little fins before reaching up towards her face. His little fingers fisted around a coil of her hair and he jerked it around. It stung a little, but Sophie made no move to pull it away from him.

She was surprised at just how much focus and control that Kierin had for an infant that wasn’t even a month old yet, but she supposed Mer children developed at a different pace.

She was equally impressed at how calm he was being. Kierin was above the water – which was probably a little unnatural for a baby Mer - and had been jostled and passed off to a stranger. A baby this young should be fussier, but he just stared up at her with wide eyes and burbled softly. He was so delicate in her embrace, but his peacefulness made the moment all the more tranquil.

Or rather, it was tranquil up until Luna burst from the water by her feet with furrowed brows and a soft scowl on her lips. Sophie’s heart jumped into her throat at the sudden appearance and she jerked back. Kierin squeaked in protest and his fins slapped against her upper arm. “Luna, you scared me,” she choked as she fought to settle her racing pulse. “Is everything alright?”

“Give Kierin back to Karina,” Luna urged in a tone so shockingly solemn that Sophie didn’t think twice.

“Okay,” she agreed.

Karina had a slight frown on her face as well, but she leaned forward and accepted her son back without a word.

Once the exchange was complete, Sophie glanced back at Luna with another frown. “Why?” she inquired.

As soon as she finished speaking, a weight landed on her back and Sophie yelped. Hot breath blasted over her ear. “Because you are still sitting here,” Riley commented with eerie mischief heavy in her voice. She gave Sophie a shove and she slipped off the edge into the water.

The water was a pleasant temperature, but Sophie was so surprised that for a moment, she forgot she even knew how to swim. And then Katie was hauling her back up to the surface by her arm. “Are you alright?” Katie checked, though there was a smile on her face. Beside her, Luna was cackling so wildly she fell backwards in the water with a splash.

Sophie gave herself a shake and began to tread water. “A little warning would have been nice,” she muttered as she scowled back at Riley. The girl had taken over Sophie’s spot and leaned down with a grin. She poked her tongue out between her fangs. “We made sure you were not holding Kierin still,” she countered.

“When did you even get out of the water?” Sophie hadn’t noticed.

“When you were distracted,” Riley teased.

“I did good, did I not?” Luna giggled.

“Excellent acting skills,” Katie agreed. She clapped Luna on the back and grinned. “Mom, we have not been swimming since before everything happened. I can totally beat you in a race now,” she announced.

The wave Riley made when she dove back into the water nearly splashed over Sophie’s head, but she couldn’t bring herself to be angry at any of them. Lewis – whose muffled laughter sounded behind her – might get an earful later for laughing at her though.

“And you have never been swimming with me either,” Riley pouted. “But you do not have to worry about losing a race to Katie. She is slower than a jellyfish being carried by a warm current.”

Katie made an indignant noise in the back of her throat and she swatted out at Riley.

Riley ducked her head and then stuck her tongue out. "See? Slow."

“I will show you slow,” Katie retorted with a huff.

“But you have lost every race,” Luna commented quietly.

“That is beside the point,” Katie grumbled. “I am just biding my time.”

“Girls,” Sophie jumped in before they got sidetracked into a mock argument. “I’m happy to get in the water with you all, but next time, maybe at least let me take my shirt off first?” she requested. She was suddenly glad she’d had the foresight to wear a swimsuit beneath her clothes this morning. She peeled the sopping wet fabric over her head and slopped it onto the deck. Her shorts were waterlogged, but she decided not to bother with them.

“If we had asked you, you would have found a reason to say ‘no’,” Katie stated.

Sophie shook her head. “Katie, that’s not true,” she protested softly. They didn’t think she wanted to avoid spending time with them, did they?

But Katie didn’t seem annoyed as she tilted her head and pursed her lips. “I do not think you do not want to,” she murmured. “But you have not wanted to be caught off-guard lately. We just want you to relax.”

“I agree,” Lewis added. When Sophie glanced back at him, she saw he’d leaned forward and was holding out a pair of goggles. She supposed those would be useful given the pool was saltwater, but seeing them made her frown.

They were all correct, but she still felt a little like they were ganging up on her.

“You knew?” she accused quietly.

Lewis shrugged and shook his head, but an impish grin brightened up his features. “Nah, but I assumed none of them were going to wait much longer. I had a feeling it was best to keep these handy today.”

Riley cleared her throat loudly and nudged Lewis with the tip of her tail. She had left the water once more, though Sophie was not certain if it was with the intent to push Lewis in too, or if she was just getting closer. “We are not going to wait much longer on you either,” she retorted.

Lewis lifted his cast up into view. “I’m not avoiding the water,” he assured her. “I’m just not allowed to get this wet.”

She sighed dramatically and rolled her eyes. “Alright, fine. But as soon as it comes off,” she threatened while waving a finger at him.

Lewis’s laugh was boisterous and his belly shook with each intake of breath. It made Sophie smile as she surveyed the newfound peace and joy her family was discovering.

She reached out and draped an arm across Katie’s shoulders. The ends of Katie’s hair had grown out just past her shoulders now, and Sophie found herself fiddling with the brown-blonde locks absently. “I’m glad this is growing back,” she murmured. Though she knew that the mental image of her daughter before would never be whole again – and she was alright with that – she was still glad to see that some things could now return to normal. It had never sat right with her just how much Lemuria had ripped away from Katie that every small thing gained back felt like a triumph now.

Katie shrugged. “Actually…I umm…I was thinking about cutting it again,” she stammered.

“Really?” Sophie checked in surprise as she raised a brow and met Katie’s gaze. She immediately regretted her slightly incredulous tone when Katie winced. The teen’s cheeks coloured and she ducked her head.

“Bad idea?”

Sophie shook her head and pulled Katie closer. “No, of course not. I’m just surprised is all. We tried the whole short hair thing when you were younger…you hated it.”

“I know,” Katie agreed. “I remember. It is just that…it is easier to manage now. Lemuria made it really, really long at first and it was awful trying to manage and keep out of my face. I am the one who begged Dr. Auldon to cut it. I did not necessarily mean as short as he did, but it has grown on me. I prefer it that way; low-maintenance and out of my face.”

“Alright, then we’ll get it cut. Booking a salon appointment might be a little tricky now, so I’ll just have to get proficient with a pair of scissors.”

“I can do it,” Riley offered. She raised an arm and flexed her spines with a grin.

Katie frantically shook her head. “That is alright, I enjoy having my neck attached to my shoulders.”

Riley stuck her tongue out.

“I could do it for you,” Karina offered next. Her tone was more soft-spoken and her cheeks were rosy red as she spoke. She shifted and handed Kierin over to Nero, who grinned as he cradled his son against his chest. “You just want it shorter, yes?”

Katie’s head bobbed up and down. “Please,” she agreed.

“I would not trust her, Katie,” Nero warned. “Within a cycle of meeting her, Karina convinced me to allow her to do mine, and while I love her, she will never do so again.”

Karina scoffed and shoved his arm. “It was not that bad,” she protested. “Besides, I have learned since then. It will be fine.”

“That depends on who taught you,” Riley teased. “Because if you learned from someone not skilled themselves, then you really have not learned.”

Karina pursed her lips and shrugged. There was almost an apology sparkling in her coconut gaze. “I learned from Iliene,” she replied with a cluck of her tongue.

Instantly, Riley deflated and her smile broke to a frown of dismay. “Oh…” She turned to Katie and sighed. “Yes, Karina could probably do it well,” she muttered.

Before Sophie could say something, Lewis leaned forward and planted his hand in the center of Riley’s back. Her sorrow morphed to shock and she squeaked as she was shoved forward. Laughter broke out as Sophie and Katie both ducked away from the splash as she fell awkwardly into the water.

When Riley came back up, her ice-blue eyes were wide and she sputtered and spat water before twisting to glare at Lewis. A soft growl rumbled in her throat, so Sophie lurched forward through the water and pulled Riley into a headlock. “Enough,” she warned. “You orchestrated this and dragged me into the water, now there will be no more moping or pouting.”

“Yes,” Katie agreed. She ducked around Riley’s thrashing tail as the blonde squirmed in Sophie’s grasp, and began tickling Riley’s ribs. It only took seconds before Luna joined in and Riley began to howl in protest while her gliders flapped chaotically.

“Come swim with us,” Luna urged.

Riley huffed. “You are all bullies,” she accused, but a grin was leeching its way across her lips as she crossed her arms and tried to maintain a pout.

She pulled free of Sophie’s grasp and ducked under the water. It was a strange sensation to have Riley swim under her, especially when the girl’s fins brushed her bare toes as she continued treading water.

When Riley resurfaced, she flung herself against Sophie’s back and latched on. Her tail curled around Sophie’s torso, but she’d long since gotten over the uneasy sensation of being trapped in the coils of a predator, so she merely reached back and poked Riley in the ribs. The Mer’s weight was enough that it was pulling Sophie down in the water, so she had to crane her head not to inhale liquid.

Riley glanced down with a cheeky grin on her face and her tongue poking out between her teeth. “Carry me?” she mocked.

“I think you swim pretty well on your own,” Sophie reminded. She reached back and began pinching at Riley’s sides until the Mer shuddered and shoved away from her with an explosive splash. The resulting wave broke over Sophie’s head and she sputtered and sighed. She loved them all, but she was sensing a long afternoon with the level of energy the Mer all seemed to have. She wasn’t entirely certain she would be able to keep up, but when Katie and Riley both began to laugh, she couldn’t stop their infectious smiles from leaking onto her face too.