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Raphael

Raphael let Vanessa drag him towards the ocean and when his feet touched the water, scales formed on his arms. He watched her smiled proudly, putting her hands on his biceps, ''Two weeks, Raphael. Are you scared.''

When he opened his mouth to answer, but Vanessa's will power to not change when getting wet gave off and she fell to the water. He laughed as he moved down next to her and she brought her blue tail up behind her.

''I'm fine, stop asking me.'' he said and she blushed. He brought his arms out and wrapped them around her, pulling her back against his chest.

''I know you say it, but it's only been four days. Has it sunk in yet?" she asked.

''I think getting a shower and falling to the floor, almost hanging my head on the floor sunk it in.'' he said sarcastically. ''And puking the moment I came home. You're right, the feeling is horrible.''

She turned in his arms, ''Raphael. . .be honest with me. Don't sugar coat it, do you hate me for doing this?"

''You said you weren't trying.'' he said.

''I know, but I still did it. Your family. . .and what they do.'' she said. ''Isn't it hard?"

''It sucks, I've been going to bed with a stomach ache but I'm fine.'' he said. He smiled, ''I'm closer to the sea now, more then I could ever dream.''

She gave him a small smile, ''Yeah, looking it at that way. You love the sea.''

''And I love your eyes.'' he said, pulling a strain of her wet hair from her face. ''They remind me of the sea. To bad I can only see them because you snuck out.''

She frowned, ''Being grounded sucks. My dad forcing me into seeing a therapist. I feel like a prisoner in my own home.''

''You could tell him why you had left.'' he suggested.

''We can't tell anyone, Raphael.'' she reminded him for the hundredth time.

''I know, but I don't get to see you anymore.'' he said. ''You could . .ya know, make him forget. Sing a little hum and tell him to forget everything the last few days.''

''I'm not doing that to my dad.'' she said. ''If I want anything close to a normal life, I can't use my powers. I suggest the same with you.'' she said, splashing him with water. ''Wanna go swimming?"

He smiled and nodded, remember the day he found out. After they grabbed something to eat, Vanessa showed him how to swim under water like how she did. He couldn't believe how world under the sea was without any scuba diving gear. It felt so much more better, cleaner, personal. It was beautiful and amazing. He barley even went up for air.

Vanessa pulled up his white T-shirt and threw it aside, ''Have you been working out?" she asked, her face turning red as she stared at him stomach.

''No.'' he said, looking down at his stomach. He was always fit, but he was getting more tone each day and stronger. He also noticed how he was starting a six pack. Not very visible, but if you touch you can feel. Which Vanessa was, touching his stomach, and his back stiffen, holding his breath as he grabbed her hand to stop that, ''Must be a merman thing.''

She blushed hard, but pulled back into the sea. He got slid into the water, joining next to her. Her blonde hair floated around her like a halo and he couldn't believe how much more beautiful she looked.

She pointed straight and swam. He swam next to her and she smiled at him, taking his hand. He brought it towards his mouth and kissed the back of it

She touched his golden scales and it seemed so intimate, so wonderful. He felt so close to her when they were both like this.

She swam over to a rock and picked up a starfish, bring it up to his chest, and it stuck there then saluted him. He laughed under the water, making bubbles. He took the starfish off and gently laid it back down on the rock.

Vanessa swan forward, the end of her tail brushing his arm, sending goosebumps down his arm. He can't believe his girlfriend a mermaid. . .

A mermaid!

How many guys can say that?

Well, how many girls can say they have a merman boyfriend?

***

Raphael forced his stomach to be ready when he walked threw the doors of his home. Everywhere he can smell fish in here and it pained him. He had to wash his clothes three times to get the smell out.

He walked into the kitchen where his mom was doing the dishes. He wrapped an arm around her, kissing her cheek, ''Hey mom.''

''Where have you been?" she asked. ''Since you quit working at the shop, you haven't left the house.''

''I was with Vanessa.'' he said and she smiled.

''She's a good girl, better than Ava.'' she said. ''Kinda weird, but still nice.''

Raphael saw her reach her arm up to touch him, but he quickly stepped away. She gave him a confused look and he cleared his throat, ''You were probably touching wet food. Gross mom.'' he said, kissing her cheek quickly and left the room.

As he walked through the living room to go upstairs, there was a knock at the door. He paused, turned, and walked over to the door. He opened the door and saw a girl he never seen before. He opened the screen, ''Hello?"

''You do don't recognize me?" she asked and he looked over her again. She had a honey skin tone, dark green eyes, long brown straight hair, and looked around his age.

He didn't recognize her though.

''Sorry, I don't.'' he said, walking onto the porch.

''I'm Nani, I was one of the girls who helped Vanessa with her transformation.'' she said and his eyes widen. He stepped back, remembering how some of those girls had strong punches. ''Don't worry, I wasn't one of the girls who attacked you on the boat. I'm just here to do a check up.''

''Check up?" he questioned.

''Queen Severina doesn't very much have faith in Vanessa, so she's going to be sending a few of us out here to see how it is going.'' she said and hr noticed how her eyes looked at him and she bit her bottom lip. He felt awkward with her checking him out. ''You're. . .cute.''

''Thanks.'' he said awkwardly.

She smiled and nodded, ''Welcome. You know there isn't any merman out there? Queen Severina thinks they're a distraction for us and a whole lot of other reasons.''

''Oh.'' he said, not really sure what to say.

''I saw you early swimming with Vanessa.'' she said and he raised an eyebrow, finding it weird she was there and he hasn't seen her. Creepy. ''Anna wanted to come instead, but she's a tough one. She probably pick a fight. You have a good color, gold is for the strongest.''

''Really?" he asked.

''Yes. Gold is meant to go for the strongest mermaids. The gift thinks you are strong enough to deserve it, meaning you'll get much stronger. . .which it's clearly doing.'' she said, running her hand down his arm. ''Pink is for the prettiest.'' she said tilting her head to the side.

''I have a girlfriend.'' he said, stepping back. ''Vanessa.''

''Of course.'' she said. ''Well, you seem like you are doing fine for today. Another will come by in a few days.'' She turned and walked off his porch,

Gold help me, he thought, knowing this could not be good.

***

Vanessa

Vanessa was bored as she stared at her tail that was hanging off the tub. It was long, about the same size as her. It was a beautiful shade of blue with tint of gold. Her tail around her waist faded under her belly button then started two inches above her belly button to cover her chest. No seashell bra.

Her arms were still covered in scales, starting blue at the top of her hand and turning gold as it went up her arm like an ombre look.

She's bored out of her mind!

She rather be swimming in her beautiful ocean!

With Raphael.

But no, she's grounded. For a month.

Anita had found her when she was walking back from her swim and said her dad wanted her to come find her. She got in Anita car and she got a yelling from her dad about leaving.

She was starting to reconsidered making her dad forget everything for the past six days. She could do it, she has the power to! She shouldn't let it waste.

She sighed heavily and shook her head, No, Vanessa, that's wrong. Shouldn't use your power to make your dad do things.

She put her hands on the tub ledge and lifted herself out. She grabbed her towel and imagined her legs back. She sat on the bathroom floor naked.

She got up and wrapped herself in a towel.

One more week of school! she thought excitedly.

She walked into her room and changed into some pajamas. She was brushing her hair that was getting so long. It was reaching close to the top of her butt. She never noticed how long it gotten and so full. All the other mermaids did have amazing hair.

There was a knock at the door and her father called her name. Her eyebrows came together as she walked over to the her door and left her room. As she was going down the steps, she saw Adalyn at her door.

She looked look liked she had been crying.

Vanessa walked over to her but looked at her dad, ''Can I talk to my friend on the porch?"

''Sure.'' he said but she thinks he only agreed quickly because Adalyn had been crying.

Vanessa walked down at the end of her porch with Adalyn and touched her arm, ''Adalyn, what's wrong?"

''She took it. She took it away.'' she said, tears rushing down her face.

Vanessa was confused, ''Huh? Queen Severina? What did she take away?"

''My tail, she took my tail.'' she said, choking on a sob. ''She said I betrayed her so she took my tail. I had to spend most of the day swimming back on legs. Do you know how dangerous that is Vanessa? I'm slow on legs.''

''Why does she think you betrayed you?" Vanessa asked.

''Because I told you how to find her.'' she said. ''She thinks I'm choosing your side over hers.''

''That's not fair though.'' Vanessa said, angry. ''So. . .your human again.''

''I don't want to be.'' she said. ''I can't do anything now, I don't even exist in this period. I need you to give me them back.'' she said, roughly grabbing Vanessa arm, making her wince in pain. ''If you give me the gift, Queen Severina can't take it away again.''

''I don't know how.'' Vanessa said. ''Raphael. . .he was an accident. I don't know how to summon it or whatever.''

''Vanessa, please!" she begged. ''I don't know how to survive being a human again. You need to give me it, I have no home.''

Vanessa felt bad. It was all her fault Adalyn tail was taken from her and if Vanessa knew how to summon it, she would do it. Raphael, he was an accident. It was love that save him, by Adalyn? She doesn't know how to give her tail back. She just can't snap her finger and give her one.

''Adalyn. . .I'm sorry.'' Vanessa said.

'Vanessa.'' she whispered, more tears going down her face. ''I don't know what to do.''

Vanessa bit her bottom lip and she knew she had to do something. This was wrong and she had to figure something out. She took a deep breath, ''Adalyn, I'll try and help you. For now, you're going to have to be a human for awhile.''

''I need to stay with you then.'' she said and Vanessa eyes widen.

''What?" she asked. ''Adalyn, my father won't let you just stay. He doesn't know you, he won't a stranger stay in his home.''

''Make him.'' she said.

''Make him?" she questioned. ''No, I can't--''

''I'm like this because of you!" she said and Vanessa bit her bottom lip. ''I have no where to go! No family, they're all dead. Your my family, you have to help me.''

Vanessa made a face and groaned. She brought her hand up to her hair, ranking her fingers threw it. She promised herself she wouldn't make her dad do anything. She guesses she'll have to make this one exception. ''Okay, okay, you can stay.''