Nathan extended out his hand for Sean to take and Sean took it with a smile. Mark chuckled swimming on ahead of them. At the pace they were going, Mark was able to keep up with them easily. Nathan didn't want to go too fast with Sean still trying to get the hang of his tail. Diving into the Trench kingdom, Nathan led them to his grotto. He hadn't been here since his dad had destroyed it. Swimming inside, Nathan hugged himself. Everything was in ashes. It pained him that everything he treasured was gone. Mark put a hand on his shoulder to comfort him, while Sean moved in to tread in the center. Turning in place to look at the shelves and the high ceiling, Sean told them excitedly. "Wow. This place is amazing!" Nathan moved a hand across the ash on a shelf, mumbling out. "You should have seen it before. Took me years to collect all the wonders of your world." Sean struggled a bit to face him but asked softly. "What happened?" Nathan couldn't answer. Allowing Mark to answer for him. "King Triton. Nathan's father. He destroyed it all."

Nathan gave Sean a small smile, telling him sweetly. "It's the reason I lost my voice. I wanted to see you and your world." Sean huffed a little, telling him with a light chuckle. "Ya, well... We have this saying on land. 'The grass is always greener on the other side.' But really... it just looks that way when you want to escape the fence that you're already in." Moving to a shelf, Sean moved his hand through the wet ash and told him softly. "When my dad was alive... He used to smash my seashell collection. He didn't want me near the ocean. He was afraid to lose me..." Mark shrugged, mumbling out to lighten the mood. "My mother just wanted me to work hard and settle down to make beautiful rainbow grandbabies." Nathan chuckled out to him. "I'm sure you will, Mark." Mark stared at Nathan, his smiling fading a bit as he said coolly. "No. I'm pretty sure that I won't. I'm too busy taking care of you." Nathan leaned back against a shelf, mumbling out sweetly. "Mark... I don't want you to protect him my whole life. You have to get out there and live your own."

Mark lifted his chin, answering in a deep loving voice. "It's like I haven't tried. I've dated other mermaids on the side. I've hung out with mermen. But I keep coming back to you. They don't see me like you do. I stay because I want to. I'd rather be with you than without you." Sean slowly sank to the floor, almost purring out as his ear fins fell back. "Aww, you love him?" Mark cleared his throat, looking away as he told him. "Ya... But he loves you more." Mark started to leave, when Sean asked curiously. "Don't go. You saved my life. I was hoping... we could all be friends?" Mark shrugged, replying honestly. "We can be. But... I'm sure you two want to be alone. You've got a lot to talk about." Nathan tensed, asking with concern. "Where are you going?" Mark gestured off, answering openly. "To calm my mother. And see if she wants any help with teaching Human studies again. With Sean having been a human... Who better to teach Merpeople about humans and their tools? I'm sure my mom would love to talk to him about it and share some of her merfolk knowledge with him. She'll love it."

Nathan swam quickly to his side, leaning against the grotto wall as he asked him hopefully. "Mark...? Wait." Mark stopped, smirking as he tapped Nathan's cheek. "Will you relax. I'm not going anywhere. I have to start packing my stuff up to move in here, you know. And explaining that to my mother... you know how she is. She's going to smack every scale off my tail for it. Cause I kind of told her that I loved you... and THAT is a conversation that she is not going to take lightly. All her dreams of pretty merbabies... POOF!" Sean chuckled to himself, prompting Mark to add swiftly. "You think I'm kidding? Wait until you meet her. She'll give you an earful about staying away from this pain in the ass." Nathan blushed, his ear fins falling back, before he took his hand and pulled Mark toward the center of the grotto. Reaching out for Sean's hand, he helped him up and told them softly. "That's not what I wanted to say... So... just let me get this out." Swallowing, Nathan took a deep breath before looking between them and saying. "It's no secret that I have been divided my whole life. Wanting to be... human and denying who I am."

Nathan squeezed Sean's hand, telling him sweetly. "Watching you on land. It made me realize that... I haven't even tried embracing the life I was given. You worked hard to be the leader you are. I didn't. I was so busy fighting my father and... you, Mark." Squeezing Mark's hand, Nathan exhaled out. "I pushed you away, Mark... I've hurt you and ignored your advice. I wasn't happy with who I was... and I didn't want to drag you with me. I wanted you to leave me to make leaving this life easier." Looking down, Nathan forced himself to tell them calmly. "I no longer want to do that. I wanna be better... but I can't do that without both of you in my life. So..." Looking up at Mark, he told him with a shaky voice. "Mark... Your mother is really going to kill me... but... do you still want to be my paramour?" Sean blinked, asking perplexed. "A what now?" Mark kept his eyes on Nathan but answered breathlessly. "A Paramour. It's what Merfolk call their partners." Sean's ear fins perked up as he mumbled out. "Partners? As in more than one? You... We do that?"

Mark inhaled slowly, ignoring Sean to tell Nathan softly. "You can't pick two males as your paramours. YOUR parents will kill you." Nathan lifted his chin, telling Mark with a smirk. "Something tells me that if Poseidon is back on the throne... me producing heirs is... irrelevant. By the time Poseidon retires again... My older sisters will be mated and have sons higher on the chain of secession than myself." Mark scoffed, mumbling out. "You're crazy." Nathan smirked, shrugging out. "I can't help if you like crazy." Mark looked to Sean, stating out nervously. "And what able HIM? Nathan, he hasn't been a merman for more than a few hours and you drop THIS NOW?!" Nathan rolled his eyes, mumbling out. "I was going to wait... but... I just want a fresh start." All eyes turned to Sean, who swallowed nervously. Mark looked back to Nathan about to say something, until Sean very softly slipped in. "That is normal down here?" Mark nodded, informing him gently. "Yes. We aren't like humans when it comes to our social structures. We can love more than one person at a time."

Nathan bit his lip, then told Sean guiltily. "I truly love you, Sean. But Mark means just as much to me. I couldn't have survived without him. He's been there for me through... Everything. I understand if you need time to process this... but he is my family." Sean looked between them, then chuckled out. "I could do worse." Mark snorted and Nathan blushed. Reaching out for Mark's hand to complete the circle, Sean shrugged out a bit nervously. "I'll give it a try. I mean... if I don't like it... I can always stop, right?" Nathan nodded, telling him confidently. "Ya. You don't have to be Mark's paramour. You can always choose for yourself. And if we don't work out... it's not binding. We can leave whenever we want." Sean gave them a smile, telling them with a smile. "Alright. I'll try anything once." Nathan blushed, then leaned in to kiss Mark. Mark accepted the kiss, his soft lips molding to his as he kept the kiss tender and affectionate. When Mark parted from the kiss, he turned to Sean with a nervous look.

Letting out a nervous groan, Sean leaned in, muttering out. "Fuck it." Releasing Nathan's hand, Sean practically slammed into Mark. Sean had only intended to lean in quickly, but the power of his tail propelled him into it. Grabbing his waist to keep Sean from tackling him, Mark leaned back away from his lips to keep him from busting his teeth. Before Sean could apologize, Mark cupped his cheek and eased in to kiss him. Sean sank a bit as he relaxed in Mark's arms. His ear fins twitching so innocently that it made Nathan smirk watching them. When Mark pulled from the kiss, Sean looked immediately to Nathan and chuckled out. "Ah, he taught you to kiss. I can tell." Nathan blushed a bright red, but they shared a laugh. Nathan sat down on the sand, telling Sean with a smile. "Ya, I actually requested his help after we... had our moment in the bedroom." Sean raised an eyebrow, then mumbled out. "Ya... about that. I noticed that I don't have..." Sean gestured to the front of his tail and bot Nathan and Mark laughed.

Sean sat down, mumbling out embarrassed. "What is so funny? I'm serious... I don't know." Mark calmed down faster, telling him casually. "We're not making fun of you. Nathan had a... It was shock to have what you had." Sean chuckled softly, before Nathan moved closer and whispered into his ear. "It works the same... but ours is... protected. Here. I'll show you." Keeping his lips by his ear, Nathan took his hand and guided his hand down the front of Sean's stomach to his tail. Sean leaned into Nathan's chest as his breathing picked up. Nathan moved his own fingers along the hidden seam, then moved Sean's fingers over it. While he felt it out with him, Nathan whispered into his ear. "Feel that? It's in there. And below it... there is a smaller seam..." Nathan's fingers moved to the other small seam and Sean jerked with a soft whine. Sean's cheeks were a bright red and his ear fins were folded back. He looked so timid and shy. Nathan's own fin ears perked up a little. Was this how he had looked when Mark had done it to him?

Behind him, Mark told him in a deep voice. "Nate... Ease off. Let him breathe." Nathan glanced over his shoulder, sticking out his tongue at him before stating coolly. "You didn't ease off me." Mark nodded, retorting back promptly. "No. Because you stopped me. And you knew what I was doing. What your body would do. HE doesn't." Nathan sat up a bit more, asking Mark in a soft sweet tone. "You're right. Show him." Mark chewed on his thumbnail, before twisting around to crawl over the sand toward him. Nathan put a hand on Mark's shoulder, laying back as Mark moved over him. Mark kissed Nathan passionately, giving Nathan goosebumps. Mark's tail curled around him just a little, gripping him enough that he could move his seam over his. The more they kissed, the more Nathan felt a bulge beneath Mark's seam press against his. Encouraging his cock to harden under the seam. Breaking the kiss, Mark moved to kiss Nathan's neck and told Sean softly. "When you get hard enough... It will move past the seam. Just be careful. It's the most sensitive part of your body."

Nathan gasped, arching his back as Mark's finger moved his seam to expose his cock. Burying his blushing face against Mark's neck, he panted heavily against his skin. His hands grabbing Mark's biceps as he clung to him. Even his tail tightened around Mark's. Mark's fingers very gently moved along his smooth shaft, encouraging it to grow larger. While Sean asked Mark curiously. "How did you learn this? Is there like a... school?" Mark chuckled, his voice deep and buttery when he answered. "Our mothers usually teach us about sex early on. Those without mothers usually learn it from our Elders." Mark's lips moved to a spot under Nathan's ear fin, purring out teasingly. "IF they attend the lessons. Unlike this one. Who spent more time treasure hunting." Nathan tried to muffle a moan against Mark's shoulder, then bit his shoulder gently. Mark grazed his teeth over Nathan's bare shoulder, then whispered to him sweetly. "How far do you want me to go?" Nathan whined against Mark's skin, before lifting his head enough to whisper out. "Keep going..."

Mark coaxed Nathan to look at him, giving him another long kiss. When he pulled away, Nathan reached out for Sean. Nervously, Sean scooted closer. Cupping his face, Nathan pulled him down into his kiss. Nathan's heart was racing, but he refused to break the kiss with Sean. He needed him as a distraction. Mark turned over him, his rainbow tail draping across Nathan's torso and over Sean's tail. Sean broke the kiss to breathe and to get a look at what Mark was doing. Laying over Nathan, Mark braced himself over Nathan's tail. Nathan's hands reached up to grab Sean's biceps, arching his back a little as he braced himself. Mark then coaxed his own cock out and slipped it under the smaller seam and into Nathan's ass. A sharp moan left Nathan, his fingers digging into Sean's arms. It didn't hurt, but the sensation was something he wasn't used too. Mark stroked Nathan's tail to relax it. Sean leaned back down to kiss Nathan as Mark guided Nathan's cock into his own ass.

Nathan moaned into his kiss with Sean as pleasure made his body tremble. Their movements were slow, but powerful. Sean's hands slid down Nathan's chest, messaging him as he kissed him to help him relax. Just as his orgasm hit, Nathan broke the kiss with Sean and sat up a little to grab Mark's tail. Pushing his hips down to cum inside him with a deep throaty growl. Once he was spent, he fell back and chuckled weakly out to Sean. "Fuck... You've got to try it..." Sean blushed, looking at his tail before saying meekly. "Maybe later. What's the Merfolk phrase for baby steps? Or taking things slow?" Mark rolled off Nathan, chuckling out through heavy panting. "Taking things slow works." They shared a small laugh. While they rested, Nathan told him how he lost his voice and the things he knew learned about Ursel. Then they helped Mark talk to his mother and convinced her to let Mark move into the grotto. She had been against it, but the idea of Mark being a 'good role model' for Sean had won her over. Nathan wanted to talk to his mother, but his sisters and his dad were bombarding her with questions.

He doubted that he was going to get a word in with her until everyone calmed down. However, they all still had one thing left to do that required EVERYONE. All the merfolk of the kingdom escorted Sean back to his castle. He had to make things official and refused to just abandon his people. As they breeched the surface by the castle beach, Nathan couldn't help smiling. The castle balcony and beach were covered in wedding decorations and almost the whole town was present. The Nobles gawked at Poseidon but kept their distance. While the peasants bowed whenever he looked in their direction. Farther up the beach, Nathan saw James teaching Jetsam how to handle a sword. The two of them were laughing and getting a little rough, but they were having fun. It wasn't until James swiped Jetsam's foot and caused his son to splash into the water, that Nathan saw Vanessa yell out over the balcony. "JAMES! I told you NOT to get his suit wet, damn it!" James winced, yelling back. "Sorry, Angelfish! Got carried away."

Vanessa pointed at him and then at the castle, snapping out. "Get inside and change before-!" Jetsam swiped his father's foot, causing him to trip into the water with a loud splash. The guests chuckled, but Vanessa groaned out to the people near her. "Son of a..." Nathan's ears perked up when he saw Flotsam move closer to calm his mother. He was dressed in sea green attire with a prince's crown of yellow coral and blue sash with golden trimming. Vanessa pointed to James and his brother, growling out. "They are going to ruin your wedding with their swashbuckling behavior! I told them-!" Flotsam shushed her, chuckling out. "It's fine, Mom. Relax. Their having fun." Vanessa patted Flotsam's cheek, then kissed him before purring out. "At least you took after me." Flotsam chuckled, looking to Poseidon who smiled as his only response. When Flotsam saw them, he waved, and Nathan waved back. He'd never seen Flotsam or Jetsam smile so much. As the humans took notice of the merfolk, they gasped and pointed at them. The merfolk shrank back, until Poseidon calmed them.

When the wedding started, Verlaine made her way out of the castle and down to the beach to stand beside Flotsam. They joined hands and Poseidon announced to everyone. "On this day. We aren't just celebrating the love between these two souls. We are also celebrating the union between land and sea. My grandson, Flotsam. A Prince of the seven seas. Bestowed with my blessing and that of your previous Prince Sean." Sean bowed to Poseidon from his spot on the beach for all to see what he'd become. Smiling, Poseidon told everyone. "He shall help you understand our ways. As Prince Sean shall help us understand yours. It is my wish that this ends any conflict between our kind. Let the past die with the sunset and let a new time rise with the dawn. Together, the kingdoms shall prosper. You have my word as a god." Poseidon then turned and used his trident to create a large rainbow over the ocean that arched beautiful behind the bride and groom. The people broke out into cheers and the merfolk followed, when Flotsam kissed Princess Verlaine.

Sean splashed back into the water to wrap an arm around both Mark and Nathan. Their laughter hidden among the cheers. James wrapped his arms around Vanessa, who cried into her hands at seeing Flotsam kiss Verlaine. Briefly, Nathan saw Smee whispering to a group of giggling Mermaids before his attention was drawn to Jetsam. Removing his earring, Jetsam let out a loud cheer and jumped into the water to splash Flotsam and Verlaine. Vanessa looked like she was going to lose it, but everyone laughed and started to run into the water to meet the merfolk or splash their friends. Poseidon hopped out of the way as Flotsam rushed past him to tackle Jetsam. Vanessa started to yell something, but James turned her head to kiss her with the brightest smile on his face. James almost didn't look like the same pirate that he'd seen. Sean got into a splash fight with Mark and some locals, while Nathan looked to Poseidon. Before vanishing, Poseidon gave him a little bow and stated in a cool voice that he could hear clearly. "I'll be listening."

Nathan grinned, then yelled as his dad splashed him. Nothing would ever be the same. It would be better now that they were no longer divided. Each free to find their own happily ever after. The End.