Aqua's pov

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My fingers brushed over the golden seat that rested next to my father, anyone could obviously see it was feminine and made for a woman but I didn't mind. It actually looked pretty with its golden hand carved flower designs on the edge of the seat.

I sucked in a breath as I lightly pressed my back into the throne, closing my eyes tightly

It was a feeling I couldn't describe. My mother was supposed to be the person sitting here, but yet here I am taking up space.

Maybe I'm just getting in my own head, it's just a chair right? Well why do I feel so guilty for taking her space? I'm her legacy, I should feel proud to have this moment. It wasn't a big deal or whatever, I'm just sitting in a chair to have a conversation with with my father but it still felt like a big deal in my heart.

Maybe because deep down I know I'll never be enough.

I know I'll never be what they want me to be, and it hurts. I can't deny that it actually hurts to know that that'll never see me as women enough, or well rounded enough to rule over them, or I'm not perfect in their eyes.

But I am me and there's no way I'm changing for anyone because it doesn't fit their description of what they want and expect out of me.

"We had good moments didn't we?" he asked

"We did"

"No I meant... We, as in you and I?" he corrected

"Oh... Well there was that time when we Um... Travelled to-"

"Europe! Yes Europe I remember that" he chuckled

"Mom told us not to go far from the reef but we didn't care" I smiled

"So we said why not and went even further until we reached to Europe" he chuckled

"Hey! That's your fault. You're the parent"

"You weren't complaining when you were out shopping for starfish necklaces did ya?" he smirked

"SHHHH we don't speak of that" I squealed

"It was fun. Surely a day I'll never forget" he said

"Of course you won't forget it, because that day you challenged a ten year old mermaid to a dance battle"

"HE WAS TAUNTING ME" My father laughed

"He's ten! His job is to annoy everyone!"

"True though, you were exactly like that" he smirked, my eyes went wide as I dramatically gasped

"exCUSE Me!?"

"Oh come on, I'm just messing with you. But you really were a trouble maker"

"I find that hard to believe" I crossed my arms over my chest

"You remember General Aaron?" he asked

"..yes" I mumbled knowing it was Adam's father

"One day when you were playing in your room, I sent him to bring you to dinner because I sent the maids away and your mother and I were a bit busy in the kitch-"

"Bleeeehhhh alright I don't need to hear that" I scrunched my face up in disgust knowing where the story was heading if he continued to talk. The man simply chuckled and adjusted his story

"Well, you refused to leave your toys alone" He said

"Hmm.. Sounds like me... I really do like my toys" I smirked

"General asked you many times to accompany him to the family dinner but nope. Aqua didn't want to leave those little barbies alone" my father chuckled

"Yeah they were also busy in the kitchen" I wiggled my brows, causing my father to tilt his head back in laughter, knowing exactly where the story was heading with my toys

"Well, he held your hand to bring you to the dining hall and you shoved a fork into his palm" my father said, my eyes went wide

"I did?"

"Yes. You did" he chuckled

"I... Well he had it coming. No one interrupts my barbies when their making babies" I smirked

"That... I... Sure let's go with that" he laughed

"That story doesn't prove anything, I'm an innocent little bean"

-Who likes being called daddy but that's not the point

"Sure. Innocent, I'm pretty sure you've experienced many things up on land that has made you question everything" He smiled

"Oh my God. The land is fucking crazy, I cannot FATHOM the chaos and stories I could tell you about" I gasped

"Well, I'm all ears" he chuckled before shifting his body towards me to pay more attention

I couldn't help but furrow my brows in confusion at him, was this actually happening or was I dreaming this all? Sheesh what did I drink to have this happen to me? My father? Actually caring about what I have to say? What's on my mind? Us having a decent conversation?

Surely I'm going insane right?

"Really?" I asked

"Yes Ofcourse, I'd love to hear any of your stories. Maybe even some of that girl you talked about?" he gave a slight smile and wiggled his eyebrows, I couldn't help but laugh at him

"Well, I ate ice cream for the first time" I smiled

"What is the cream ice?" he asked, I almost laughed at him

"Ice cream, it's really sweet and creamy. Basically liquid" I assured

"Why such fancy names? Just eat ice" he said

"Only crazy bitches eat ice-"

"Am I a crazy bitch?" he asked

"Yes. Yes you are" I laughed, the man's jaw dropped as he clutched his heart dramatically

"That hurt" he pouted

"Life hurts father, life hurts" I chuckled

"So what else did you do?"

"There's so many things I've done. It's been two years of learning, adapting and changes. I can't fit them all into today" I chuckled

"Oh... Well.. Maybe we could try talking about everything soon?" he asked

"What do you mean by soon?" I questioned

"I... Well.. As time goes by, maybe we could talk more everyday?"

"Oh-" I mumbled

"It's okay if you don't want to, no pressure or anything. You're a woman now, you can do what you want" he said

I furrowed my brows as I locked eyes with the man. Was this my father sitting in front of me? Was I hearing correctly?

The man that forced me to get marry to someone because he wanted me out the kingdom? The man that told me I couldn't go into town because it wasn't a Princess's duty to mingle with commoners? The man that said that women needed to stay home and let the men roam the streets because they were tougher? Was this really the same man that's surrenly telling me I'm a woman and I was free to do whatever the heck I wanted

"Pardon me?" I questioned

My father sucked in a deep breath and shutted his eyes, tilting his head back onto the throne and allowing his long grey hair to flow with the water

"I've been a terrible father" he said

"Yeah you have" I scoffed, clearly not giving a fuck if he got offended

"I'm sorry-"

"Oh really? You're sorry?" I scoffed again

"I am.."

"Do you have any idea the amount of PAIN. The fucking HELL that I've been through because of you!?" I hissed

"I want to try Aqua, I want to try and be better. I need to be better, I can't lose you too"

"You should have realized this a few years ago. Father." I said sternly

"I know, I know okay! I was hurting too Aquamarine!"

"And so was I except I was fucking 14 years old! Do you know how hard it was to lose both parents at that age!?" I hissed

This seemed to stunned him because his lips parted to speak but nothing came out while his eyes pierced into mine widely

"Yeah, that right. You weren't there, mom died and it felt like you died with her" I hissed

"I'm... I'm so sorry"

"It doesn't feel like you are! Three little words aren't going to make this all better father. There's deep cuts. There's wounds you've made that won't heal that easily, matter of fact some won't heal at all. So don't come here and say you're sorry and expect me to fall into your arms like that 14 year old girl you knew. I'm a woman, I'm a grown woman and not a child. I'm not here for games, I'm not here for lies and foolishness"

"You last knew me as a child, but now I'm far from what you'd expect. You think you could have sat here and talk about childhood memories and expect me to melt and start remembering the good times we had? Sure we had good times, we had laughs but there was always the bad days. The days when the clouds were pitch black instead of grey. We were never perfect and we will never be. This family was and will always be toxic and chaotic. So if you really want to say you're sorry, you'll have to come better than that" I hissed

"She's right you know" a voice said.

All organs in my body shutted down the instant I heard the familiar voice. The voice I haven't heard in years. The voice I'd never hear again for the rest of my life.

The voice of my mother