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Chapter Text

Chapter 1: Just Another Rebellious Teen and the Moon Pool

Liv Bennett had it all. Her father was recently announced as president of one of the largest companies in all of Gold Coast. They lived in a large home thanks to his job. Her mum was one of her best friends. She always knew exactly how to cheer her daughter up when she was down and was her biggest cheerleader at her dive competitions. Yes, life was great.

"That dive was wonderful, darling!" Liv heard as she surfaced the water after she had just completed a forward one and a half somersault dive off the pier near their home. Liv smiled at her mother and swam up to the latter to climb back to the top of the pier.

"I hope you don't plan to be out here all day." Her mother, Hannah, told her as she handed her daughter a towel. "We've got to get you ready to go back to school."

"I can't wait." Liv replied with sarcasm. What teen was excited about going back to school anyway? Especially those who were starting high school.

"We can take the boat out when we're done." Hannah promised her daughter. She knew a boat ride was her daughter's favorite way to end the day.

Liv cringed at the clothes her mum picked out for her while they were shopping. They were far too girly for the look she was going for. It would be her first day of high school, why not reinvent herself? She was leaning more towards black, tom-boy clothes. She had recently discovered Blink-182, Fallout Boy and My Chemical Romance on her Spotify. That was her aesthetic now. She was happy her mum seemed fine with her new style. She wasn't so sure her father would be happy with it.

Zane Bennett was a good dad. Liv knew he was busy with work and that often prevented him from joining her on trips like these. He was always there for her when she needed him though and he made sure to clear his schedule for her diving competitions. He cared about her, she never doubted that. They argued consistently though. Hannah always claimed it was because Liv and her father were so similar. She would admit they were both a bit stubborn in their ways and maybe they had a habit of biting off more than they could chew but other than that, Liv couldn't find the similarities. She confided as much to her mum when they were out on the boat.

"Olivia Bennett, you are so like you're father, I have trouble telling you apart sometimes." Hannah chuckled as she placed a picnic basket on a table.

"Great, just what every girl wants to hear." Liv said. "You're exactly like your father."

"Your father is a great man." Hannah said. "I'd take it as a compliment if I were you."

"Yeah, I suppose." Liv huffed as she took a bite of the sandwich her mum gave her. Just as she looked out to the horizon, she noticed the top of what she knew to be a very mysterious island. One she had been prohibited from exploring.

"Why doesn't Dad let me go to Mako Island?" Liv asked. "All the kids at school go for scares."

"I'm sure your father has a good reason." Hannah said.

"So you don't even know what his reasoning is?" Liv asked.

"I've tried to find out too but he won't tell me." Hannah replied. "Another way you are so like him."

Liv had to agree with that. She could keep a secret like no one else and she'd be hellbent if you pressed her about it. Still, she didn't know why her dad was so opposed to her going to the island. She had first asked two years ago when a friend and her family would be camping on the island. He was violently opposed to the idea. She questioned him until the two ended up in a screaming match and Liv resorted to pouting up to her room. Ever since then, he had rejected her every time she even thought about going. She didn't know why. Yes, there were sharks around the island but it's not as if she was planning on swimming. What was so wrong with the island itself? Nothing ever happened to anyone who went, why couldn't she go?

"There's only one way to find out why he won't let me go." Liv told her mother hoping she would let Liv go. If her mum was with her, she could protect her. It wouldn't be an issue then.

"No, Liv." Hannah said. "I don't think your father would want either of us going."

"Come on, Mum!" Liv whined. "Nothing ever happens there."

"No, Liv." Hannah repeated. "Your dad doesn't want us to. Besides, I don't feel very well."

"Nice try, Mum." Liv said as she followed her mum who was taking a seat at the bow of the boat. "Come on, where's your sense of adventure?"

"Liv…" was all Hannah made out before she lost conciseness on the boat.

Liv woke with a start as she heard her alarm beeping. She groggily shut it off as she laid back down and tried to catch her breath. That was the third night in a row she relived that nightmare. Scratch that, she was still living a nightmare. Liv drove the boat back to their home and ran inside to get her father. Her mum had regained consciousness by the time they ran back to the boat but Zane insisted on taking his wife to the hospital to make sure everything was fine. The doctors discovered Hannah had brain cancer. She didn't survive any longer than three months.

Liv sat up and was greeted by a framed picture of her and her mother. She felt her eyes water instantly and she rushed out of bed to keep the water works away. Liv had lost her mother and her best friend a week ago. Thankfully all the funeral pomp and circumstance was over, she couldn't stand people coming up to her and apologizing for her loss. She couldn't stand overhearing people wonder how she was going to grow up without a mum. Nothing they could say or do could bring her mum back.

Liv jumped out of her bathroom and put on her wet suit, her school clothes laid out on her bed. She always practiced her dives until her mother, now father, would come down to the pier and tell her it was time to get ready for school. There was an adjusting period for her dad. He had forgotten her the first two days and simply went to work, thinking she didn't need the reminder. The next few days he had come to get her far too early and left her twiddling her thumbs in the living room while she waited until it was time to go to school.

As she walked from her bedroom to the pier, Liv thought about how much both hers and her father's lives had changed. She was trying her best to be patient with him and help him in anyway she could. She may have lost her mother but Zane also lost his wife. It's not like he didn't care about Hannah either. Still, it was frustrating she had to deal with this at all. What had she done to deserve this? Liv didn't care what it was, she would undo it if it meant having her mum back.

"Liv!" She heard from the pier once she surfaced. "It's time to get ready for school."

Liv swam up to the pier where she quickly dried her face off. Zane was already by the back door of the home, a hundred yards away, by the time she got to the surface. She checked her phone and saw she only had a few minutes before her first class was meant to start. She sprinted up to the door, nearly beating Zane inside.

"What are you in such a rush for?" Zane asked with a smile. Liv didn't know why he was smiling.

"What do you mean?" Liv asked, frustrated. "My first class starts in less than five minutes, Dad!"

"Oh, god." Zane replied as he let her pass him. "I'm sorry I didn't know!"

"It's okay." Live huffed as she ran up the stairs. "It's not like I don't have class the same time everyday."

She skipped her shower, quickly throwing on her clothes and running back down the stairs.

"Bye, Dad!" Liv exclaimed as she quickly passed him by the stairwell.

"Wait!" Zane shouted. "What are you wearing?"

"Um… clothes?" Liv questioned.

"The top," Zane said gesturing to her crop top. "Where's the rest of it?"

"I really don't have time for this, Dad." Liv groaned. "Thanks to you I'm already late."

"Fine." Zane gave up. "But we're going through your closet when we get home."

Liv groaned again as she left through the front door. She was going to be late for the third time this week. She knew that meant detention. She hoped she could sneak in without getting caught by her teacher. Once she got to the classroom, she saw the door was open and her teacher was facing away from the class. She quietly snuck through to her seat without getting caught. She had done it.

"Liv Bennett." Her teacher, Ms. Campbell, said. "I thought you weren't here earlier."

"No, I've been here." Liv replied. "I must have just been too quiet."

"Why is your hair wet, Liv?" Ms. Campbell asked.

"Oh, um, a pipe burst by my locker." Liv said. "It's a mess out there."

"Liv, I know you were late." Ms. Campbell said. "And unfortunately you know the rules."

Ms. Campbell pulled a notepad out of her desk and began writing on it.

"Okay, I understand I was late and now I have detention." Liv said. "But diving team tryouts are after school today. Can I please do this detention tomorrow?"

Ms. Campbell gave Liv a sympathetic look. It was no secret that the girl had recently lost her mother. She had to show some compassion.

"All right," Ms. Campbell said. "I'll see you in detention tomorrow."

"Thank you, Ms. Campbell." Liv said as she took the detention slip.

The rest of her school day was rather uneventful. Math and Science were boring, English was a bit better. She won the game they played in P.E. yet again. Liv was itching to go to diving team try outs. She had captained her primary team and summer teams, she hoped she could get a spot on the high school team. She knew she was better than some of the older girls who were on the team now. She just hoped she wouldn't choke on her dive.

Liv had just changed into her wet suit and was signing her name up for tryouts when one of the older girls approached her.

"Liv Bennett, isn't it?" The girl asked. "I'm Emily Keller."

"Hi, yes that's me." Liv said. "I know you, weren't you co-captain last year?"

"Yes," Emily said with so much arrogance in her tone. "I should be captain this year as last year's captain graduated. It's a coveted position as I'm sure you're aware. You have to set a good example for the team. You can't be running around and I don't know… getting detention."

"Oh, yeah, that's fair." Liv said. "I've captained a few teams myself and I've always tried to be a role model for the other girls."

"I know you got detention today, Liv." Emily said. "My sister, Lilly Keller is in your class and she told me."

"Oh, yeah I messed up." Liv tried to blow it off. "I was just late though, no big deal."

"It is a big deal!" Emily exclaimed. "I've never gotten detention and neither has any girl on the team. I just don't know if you're cut out for this."

"What?" Liv asked. Emily might as well had punched her in the gut. She felt all the wind escaping her. "No, no I've never gotten detention before either! Not until today at least. See my mum-"

"Yes, I know all about your dead mum." Emily said. "Look, I just don't think you'll fit in here. Maybe it's best you find a new hobby."

The old Liv would have done everything to prove Emily wrong. The old Liv might have even thrown a punch. Now, she stood there like a coward. Her life was falling apart and it seemed like there was nothing she could do to stop it. She turned away from Emily as she felt her lip quiver, grabbed her entry form and threw it in the trash. She collected her things in the locker room and bolted home.

Zane was in his office working when he heard the front door slam shut. He glanced at the clock and saw it was 3:30. Didn't Liv have diving team try outs today? He stepped away from his desk to see what was going on.

"Liv?" Zane asked, confused as his daughter entered their home in a dry wet suit and tears streaming down her face. "What are you doing here? Aren't diving try outs today?"

"They were!" Liv exclaimed. "Until I got detention for being late this morning. They wouldn't let me try out because of it."

"What?" Zane asked. He got in trouble all the time when he was in school and was able to join as many sports teams as he wanted. "That doesn't sound right."

"Well, it's done." Liv said. "Try outs are probably almost over so it doesn't matter if I go back now. I'll just quit diving, the sport I trained all my life for. What does it matter now? Everything I've planned for is changing anyway."

"Liv, sweetheart-" Zane started.

"Don't!" Liv exclaimed, shrugging off the hand he had placed on her shoulder. "This is all your fault! If you could just come get me from the pier when you're supposed to, none of this would have happened! I hate you!"

Liv sprinted past Zane and locked herself in her room, where she let all of her tears fly. She heard him knocking on her door for a while but he eventually gave up and left. Liv couldn't ever remember feeling so angry. Her life was spinning out of control and it was as if she couldn't do anything to stop it. She glanced at the picture of her and her mum again. She grabbed the frame and threw it across the room, shattering the glass upon impact. Liv sighed as she carefully picked up the glass and looked at the picture. It only brought more tears. That was a great day. The whole family had gone out of the boat and they stayed out all night. Zane had taken the picture as Hannah stood in front of her daughter. Liv had outgrown her short mother when she was barely thirteen.

Looking at the picture, Liv thought of the perfect way to spend her evening. She was mad at the world for taking her mum away but she couldn't get revenge on the world. Her father was the main reason she wouldn't be on the diving team. She could get her revenge on him. The little island in the background of the picture with her mum was all she needed.

Liv knew there was a fire escape outside of her window and she knew where her dad kept the keys to the boat. They hadn't taken it out since her mum died but Liv would make a change to that. She quietly snuck out of her room to retrieve the key from a drawer in the kitchen and then snuck back into her room, locking the door behind her as she climbed down the fire escape.

By the time Liv arrived at the docks, the sun was starting to set. She knew she couldn't stay out at Mako when it was too late so she'd have to be quick. Maybe she could make this a regular occurrence. Maybe if nothing happened to her, her dad would let her go. She enjoyed the feeling of the salty wind in her face as she drove the boat out to sea as fast as she could. Mako was still a good while away from the main land, it was nearly dark by the time she arrived.

Liv placed a stake in the sand to hold the boat in place. It would do her no good if she lost the boat and she would be in major trouble if she did. She wasn't looking for that to happen. She caught sight of the full moon rising on the horizon. It sure was beautiful out here. Not only did she wonder why her dad wouldn't let her out here, she wondered why people thought this place was so scary in the first place.

It didn't take long for her to figure out the latter. The forest was thick and strange sounds were coming from every direction. Liv pushed forward though. There was a weird spot in the woods that looked like it was recovering from a fire. The grounds were so luscious, she wondered how a fire would erupt here.

Liv finally made it out of the forest and was greeted by a waterfall. This island was stunning. Maybe her dad didn't want to share the island's beauty with her. Liv wondered if the water at the bottom of the waterfall was deep enough for her to dive into. Diving off that waterfall would be such a beautiful experience.

She stepped onto a rock to take a look at the depth of the water. She lost her balance and ended up sliding down a tunnel. She figured out she was okay but the tunnel was too steep for her to be able to get out of. Just perfect.

"Help!" She cried out, not knowing what else to do. She hoped she wasn't attracting some predator of sorts. Better yet, she hoped she wasn't trapped in this cave with some animal. The fear paralyzed her but she needed to find a way out. She was the only one on the island after all. She knew the direction of the light was safe but she couldn't get to it. She would have to follow the darkness behind her and hope she wouldn't encounter a cougar or jaguar.

As she made her way through the tunnel, it started getting lighter and lighter. She was surprised to discover some sort of pool in the center of the cave. She looked up and realized she was inside the volcano. The water was splashing against the edge of the pool which she knew meant this led to the ocean. How deep or how long she would have to hold her breath, she wasn't sure but there was only one way to find out.

Liv dipped her feet into the water and found it was surprisingly warm. There was a small ledge and then it dropped off to a deeper part. She submerged herself completely before she realized this pool was indeed quite deep. She would need to come back up and gather a good bit of air before she dived under the water. When Liv came to the surface, something strange was happening. The pool was bubbling as if it were a jacuzzi and small droplets of water were rising up. Liv looked up and saw the full moon directly above her. This was all so strange but very, very beautiful. She was mesmerized until suddenly, the moon went back over the volcano opening and the water was still again.

Liv took a big breath as she dove into the water. If the opening had been a few feet deeper, she wouldn't have known if she would have been able to complete the dive. When she surfaced, she saw her boat not too far away. She swam as quickly as she could, suddenly remembering the perimeter of the island was surrounded by sharks. Liv made it to the boat, hopped in and drove it back out to sea.

She dropped the boat off at the docks, hoping no one would see her and rat her out. She ran back to her home and up the fire escape. Once she entered her room, she heard knocking at her door. She quickly closed the window behind her and answered it.

"Liv!" Zane was yelling for her.

"Yes, Dad?" Liv asked once she answered the door.

"Are you hungry?" Zane asked. "Dinner just arrived."

"Oh, right." Liv replied, trying to catch her breath. "That sounds great. Thanks, Dad."

"Why are you breathing so hard?" Zane asked her.

"I, um…" Liv trailed off. She couldn't admit she snuck out of the house. That would defeat the whole point. "I took a nap and… I had a dream about Mum."

That wasn't completely false. Had Zane come pounding on her door in the morning, she also would have been out of breath and it was due to the nightmare she had.

"I'm sorry, love." Zane told her. "I know it's been hard but you're doing great. And if you ever need anything, you know I'm here for you."

"I know." Liv said. "Thanks, Dad."

"And I'm sorry about the diving team." Zane continued. "I'll do better to come get you in the morning so you're not late for school. This single dad thing is-"

"I know, it's fine Dad." Liv cut him off. She always did when he brought up being a single dad. She supposed she didn't want to hear it. It all but confirmed he was really hurting too and her mum was truly gone. "What's for dinner?"

AN: Hi, it's me again. Is anyone else still obsessed with Zikki or is it just me? I think they are one of the most versatile couples and I feel like my mind goes in every direction when coming up for stories with them. I did realize I haven't really written about them post season 3 so this story is one of my attempts to do so. As always, thanks for reading and be sure to leave a comment or kudos if you like the story so far! 

Chapter Text

Chapter 2: The Mermaid Hunter's Suspicions

Liv woke up feeling well rested the next morning. Instead of dreaming about her mum, she dreamt about exploring the sea. Maybe that was something related to the mystery of Mako Island. Still, it was beautiful, cutting through the water like a blade on ice. All the multi-colored fish, graceful turtles and even the dangerous sharks were stunning. She wished she could swim amongst them like she did in her dream.

Liv even woke before her alarm went off. She figured it would be better to be early today since she had been late to her class yesterday. She thought for a moment if she would want to dive off the pier as she always did. She wouldn't be able to try out for the diving team until next year. She could take some time off and grieve her loss if she wanted. It was so routine at this point, she reckoned it wouldn't hurt. Liv changed into one of her wet suits and laid out her clothes she wanted to wear that day.

It was beautiful outside and Liv thought this would be the most perfect day. Yesterday was one of the worst in her life, there was no where to go but up. Once she arrived on the pier, she set her towel down and stepped on top of the railing to do her dive. She decided on a simple front dive. If she couldn't try out for a team until next year, she might as well work on the basics. She felt the wind in her face as she plummeted into the cool water below. This water was much cooler than the water in that strange pool in the volcano was. Liv surfaced and took in a breath, the once warm weather suddenly feeling cold. She started swimming to the latter when she felt the transformation happen.

At first, she felt as if she couldn't move. The sensation terrified her and she wondered if she would perish at the bottom of the sea. Then, she didn't feel as if she was made of of skin and bones but rather became water. Once that spit her out, she felt normal again. It seemed to happen in slow motion but Liv knew it must have only been a few seconds, if that. Thank goodness she felt normal again. The only problem was she wasn't normal. Her wet suit had been replaced with an orange, scaly bra and a matching tail.

She, Liv Bennett, was a mermaid. What the fuck?

Liv knew she couldn't stay in the water forever. There had to be a way to change back into a human. Maybe if she was dry her legs would return. Liv swam to the bottom level of the pier. She used to be able to lift herself out of the water with ease. Now, she had to muster all of her strength to get her new tail fin out of the water. Once she arrived, she realized another problem; her towel was up on the second level. She groaned as she realized she would have to drag herself up the stairs. She hoped no one would notice her. It was early, it was likely the neighbors and her dad were still asleep. Finally, she made it to the second level and she began drying herself off. This was going to take forever. She found she was getting dry quicker than she usually would. Eventually, she felt the paralyzing feeling and felt her body turn to water again. She looked down and saw her human legs. She huffed and then ran back to her house.

Liv was up the stairs before her father was awake. She closed and locked her bedroom door again as she began pacing her bedside.

"Okay, you're fine." She reassured herself. "You're still dreaming, that's all. That's the only logical explanation to all of this."

Liv then thought of the pool in the volcano. The water bubbled under the full moon and there was a weird, magical sensation happening. Maybe that was why she was a mermaid now. She shook her head. No, this was all some very strange dream. She would wake up any second.

Liv stepped into her bathroom to take a shower. She needed to clear her mind. She stepped under the warm water and not ten seconds later, did her tail appear again and she fell against the side of the small area.

Liv found a way to complete her shower even in her new mermaid form. She dried off and exited the bathroom to change into her school clothes.

"You're ready to go early." She heard once she entered the kitchen. Her dad was sitting at the breakfast nook eating toast and enjoying a cup of coffee.

"Yeah," Liv replied. "I had more time this morning without… you know."

"Liv, I'm so sorry about the diving team." Zane said. "They don't know what their missing out on-"

"It's fine, Dad." Liv cut him off. "It ended up working out anyway."

"What do you mean?" Zane asked.

That was when it hit Liv. Unless she could find a way out of this mermaid life, she couldn't be on a diving team again. Not unless she wanted to be whisked away by some scientists every time she touched water. Her career was over.

"Liv?" She heard her dad ask.

"Sorry," Liv said. "I mean I'm just not feeling well today is all."

"Are you trying to skip detention?" Zane asked with a knowing grin.

"No," Liv replied, instantly. "No, Dad, I really don't feel well."

"Well, maybe you should stay home today." Zane suggested.

"Yeah." Liv replied. "Now that you mention it, I think I will."

"All right." Zane said. "Grab a glass of water before you go back upstairs."

Liv walked to the refrigerator to grab the water pitcher. She was about to grab it when she noticed all the condensation on the cold glass. Would even a drop of water cause her to grow a tail or would she have to be fully submerged in water? It didn't matter, she couldn't be too careful.

"Dad?" Liv asked. "Would you mind getting the water for me?"

"What are you talking about?" Zane asked. "The pitcher is right in front of you."

"Yeah, but…" Liv started. She would pretend to pass out but seeing that was how her mother's illness started, it wouldn't be at all appropriate. "I just really liked the way you pour it."

"It's water, Liv." Zane chuckled. "What are you so worried about?"

"Nothing." Liv replied, shaking her head. "I don't need it. I just remembered I have water upstairs."

Liv ignored her father's strange look as she dashed up the stairs. She walked into her bathroom, locking the door behind her to test out her method. If she didn't transform with just a simple touch of water, she could go back downstairs and get some water. She turned her tap on a put her hand under the running water for just a moment. Once she turned it off she flung her hand to remove some of the excess water and took a seat on the floor so she wouldn't collapse if she did transform. She thought she might be in the clear but then she felt the familiar feeling and her legs disappeared beneath her, replaced with her orange tail for the third time already.

Liv dried her hand off and transformed back to normal. She was thankful she didn't grab the pitcher or else she would have transformed in front of her dad. Could he know about this? She knew he loved her no matter what and he was good at keeping secrets. If there was one person in the world she could trust with this, it was him. She didn't think simply dumping water over herself and letting herself transform would be the best way to tell him. She'd have to think of another way to go about this.

Liv curled up in her bed after changing back into her pajamas. She began thinking of how she could tell her dad she was a mermaid. Maybe she was worrying all for not. Maybe this was just temporary. Maybe she needed to get back to Mako Island and she could change back to her human form. She made a note to try to make that happen tonight. She could sneak out again, it had been easy last night and her dad was none the wiser. She thought for a moment if she would want to stay this way. No, if she was a mermaid permanently, she would have to give up diving. That had been her only solstice during her mum's death. She needed to find a way around this. It seemed unlikely but maybe her dad could help.

Maybe this was why he didn't want her going out to Mako. Liv chuckled to herself. How would her dad know? She would be surprised if he had even been to Mako Island. He was always so occupied with work he never had time to be adventurous. Liv remembered when she and her mum went on vacation to the States without him because he needed to stay home. He was quite boring and work-obsessed. There was no way he would know any of this.

Speak of the devil, Liv heard a knock on her door. Zane entered carrying a glass of water and a few binders.

"Hey," Zane said to her. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm okay." Liv replied. "I should be able to go back to school tomorrow."

"Well, I brought you some water in the mean time." Zane said as he handed the glass to Liv. She gratefully took it before realizing it was covered in condensation, just like the pitcher had been before. Liv quickly set the glass on her bedside table and then did her best to dry her hand off under the sheets. Thankfully, no transformation happened. She didn't miss the odd look her dad gave her though.

"I also brought these for you." Zane said, gesturing to the binders in his arms. "They're photo albums. Your mum loved making these. I'm not sure what is in all of them but it felt right for you to have these."

"Thanks." Liv replied as she took them. "It will give me something to do today."

"Sounds good." Zane said. "I'll leave you to it then. I'll be in my office if you need me."

Liv sighed once her father exited the room. She put all but one of the photo albums on her desk. She opened it and figured this must be her baby photo album. She had seen most of these pictures before, they had nearly all been taken at her parents' loft she had no recollection of. She knew she was born in England when her parents were still attending Oxford. She was why they moved back to Gold Coast. Both parents struggled between their new lives and classes, they barely passed and they figured their best chance at providing a good life for her would be for Zane to get a job at what was then her grandfather's company. Liv was constantly told she looked like a good mix of her parents. They both had dark hair but she inherited her mum's bright blue eyes and her dad's crooked smile. She saw herself so much in her mum in these pictures. Liv didn't realize she had started crying until a tear hit an image of herself and her mum, holding hands in a park. Liv closed the binder and curled back up in her bed, hoping sleep would take her away again.

Zane was suspicious of his daughter's actions. Maybe he was worrying for nothing but she didn't seem like herself today. Liv had never been afraid or resistant to water. In fact, it was all he could do to get her out of the water. Now, she stated her not making the diving team was for a good reason, she didn't want to touch a pitcher of water and she wiped her hand off as soon as she touched condensation. These were habits Zane only could recall four other girls doing in his lifetime. They had good reasons though, they were mermaids and they needed to keep that a secret.

Maybe he was reading into this too much. It's not as if Liv had any of the tell tale signs of being a mermaid. Her life was changing a lot recently, maybe she wanted to explore another sport or no sports at all. Maybe she really did enjoy how he poured water for her. Maybe she didn't like the feeling of her hands being wet. How would she have made it to Mako anyway? Zane received his answer when he looked out of his office window and saw his boat. It looked the same as ever but that would get her to and back with no problem. This boat was much larger and more heavy duty than his old Zodiac had been, it would have been an easy trip. He had taught Liv how to drive the boat in case of emergencies. He was glad he did given the situation she had ended up in with her mother. Still, she knew she wasn't supposed to drive it on her own. Either Zane himself, her mum or another adult they approved of had to supervise her.

Zane needed answers as thoughts were swimming in his head. After a meeting with the board of directors, Zane grabbed his boat keys and ran down to the dock where they parked the boat. The odometer would tell him all he needed to know. He knew Mako was about fifty miles, to and back from the island. Not to mention the gas tank might reflect her recent trip if she forgot to refill it. Zane jumped into the boat and turned the engine over. Low and behold, the gas tank was near empty and the odometer had about fifty more miles on it than the last time he remembered checking on it. His suspicions grew more and more.

Zane raced up to his house needed to check one more thing to confirm his suspicions. He used to be well aware of the moon's cycle, knowing when a full moon would be coming. He hadn't checked that in ages though. Occasionally he would see the full moon in the sky and wonder how a certain curly haired blonde was fairing that night. If it wasn't a full moon, his worries would be somewhat pointless. Regardless, he had a good feeling Liv had gone to Mako Island last night.

He searched up the moon's cycle on his computer, hoping for anything but a full moon. He supposed she could have gone earlier in the week too. If anything, he hoped for a new moon last night. That would mean the full moon hadn't happened in the last few days and it was unlikely Liv had transformed. His worst fears were confirmed as he discovered last night had been full moon.

Fuck.

Zane raced out of his office and towards his daughter's room. He didn't know what he was going to do. Could he simply ask her if she was a mermaid? Should he throw a glass of water on her to prove her guilt? Should he try a stealthier approach and just ask her vague questions until he got an answer? Zane's problem seemed to solve itself as he heard a loud thud from inside Liv's room.

Liv woke up from her nap feeling the urge to use the bathroom. She did drink all of her water before she went to sleep, this was to be expected. She felt like the walking dead as she closed her bathroom door behind her. After she was done, she turned on her tap to start washing her hands, forgetting about recent developments. She was able to wash her hands with soap before she felt her legs give out and she collapsed on the ground yet again.

"Liv!" She heard her father's voice from right outside her bathroom door. He was in her room and she had forgotten to lock her bathroom door. She had never really needed to before but she made a note to do that from here on out.

Liv realized she might be too late as she saw the doorknob start to jiggle. "Don't come in!"

"Why not?" Zane asked. "I heard a thud, are you all right?"

"Yeah," Liv replied as she tried to reach her towel. "I'm fine, I'm just clumsy is all."

The doorknob jiggled again and Liv continued reaching for her towel. She turned her attention to the doorknob but it was too late. Zane opened the door before Liv could get to either of her targets. He was greeted with a sight he hadn't seen in a long time.

"Liv," Zane all but whispered. "What have you done?"

Liv ignored him as she continued reaching for her towel. Once she got it, she dried her hands off and felt herself transform back to normal. She pushed past her dad as if he wasn't there and took a seat on her bed.

"You went out to Mako Island last night, didn't you?" Zane asked.

"Yes." Liv replied, softly. "I don't know what you are worried about. It was beautiful and it's not like anything happened."

"Really?" Zane asked. "You call transforming into a fish every time you touch water nothing?"

"I'll just stay clear of the water then." Liv said as she tucked her legs under her blankets.

"Perfect plan, love." Zane replied. "You know that means you can't join a diving team again?"

"Maybe it's not permanent." Liv suggested. "Did you ever think of that, Dad? If you could just let me go back tonight-"

"'Go back?'" Zane asked with a scoff. "No way. I think you've done enough damage there. By the way, this is permanent. There's no turning back."

"How would you know?" Liv questioned.

"Why do you think I didn't want you going out to Mako, hm?" Zane asked.

"I've seen you swim, Dad." Liv said. "I know you're not a merman."

"No, but I knew… I knew someone who was." Zane said. "Four someones to be exact. Life wasn't easy for them so don't think this is going to be a cakewalk."

"Well, if I have to quit diving I'm already aware of how difficult this will be." Liv said as she felt tears stinging her eyes yet again. "Diving was my only distraction I could use to get my mind off of Mum. Now that I can't do that, I don't know what I'm going to do."

Liv felt herself break. She cried into her own hands until she felt her dad sit down next to her and offer her his chest to cry into instead. Liv had been through so much in the past few weeks, so much more than she deserved. Zane was still mad at her for defying his orders but he didn't need to to yell at her now.

"Why don't you get some rest?" Zane asked her once she pulled away. "I'll make you something for lunch."

"Thanks, Dad." Liv said. "I'm sorry I didn't listen to you."

"It's okay, sweetheart." Zane replied. "Just think about this next time you don't want to listen to me. I'll help you with this though, in anyway I can."

"Thank you, Dad." Liv said before he closed the door.

Zane leaned against the wall as he felt tears form in his own eyes. He was stressed. He had been stressed for the past few weeks and now his daughter was a mermaid. Part of himself felt like the fifteen year old boy who arrived to the moon pool for the first time, excited to finally see the mermaid he had been hunting only to be incredibly disappointed. He wished Liv had just listened to him but he should have known, she was exactly like him. If his father had told him not to go somewhere under any circumstances, you might as well have given Zane a golden invitation to the location. Still, it wasn't like he could let Liv on that island. He knew what could happen to her. Yes, he had helped the girls keep their secret many a time when they were younger but this felt more and more high stakes. This wasn't just a girl he had been acquaintances with his whole life or even a girl he thought he was going to marry someday, this was his daughter. He had just lost his wife, Liv was the last thing he had and losing her was simply not an option.

Zane knew some things about mermaids but not everything. He knew she would transform every time she touched water. He knew she would have to stay locked up in their home the night of a full moon. He knew she should have powers. He didn't know the best ways to prevent an exposure if she happened to touch water in public. He didn't know the best ways to prevent a full moon from being seen. He didn't know when or how her powers would harvest and how to go about controlling them. Zane pulled his phone out of his pocket. Thankfully, he knew four someones that did. Three of those girls had been deleted from his phone. He hadn't had a need to talk to them in the better part of fifteen years. There was one he still had a phone number for. One he couldn't bring himself to delete from his phone. It had been fifteen years, he didn't know if she had the same number or not. It seemed unlikely but it was worth a shot.

Zane heard the phone ring for a minute before it went to voicemail. He was greeted by a voice he hadn't heard in so long. Something about it still brought some level and joy, relief and regret. Once he heard the beep, he got started with his message.

"Rikki, it's Zane Bennett."

Chapter Text

Chapter 3: Rikki's Agreement

Rikki Chadwick awoke in her large, comfortable bedroom. She had a large bed but she always stayed curled up to one side, she grew up on smaller beds her whole life. She could barely believe she was as lucky as she was.

Rikki turned over to cuddle with her boyfriend, Joshua. She was surprised to find an empty spot on the bed. She huffed in disappointment as she remembered they were no longer an item.

"It's not that I don't like you, Rikki." Joshua had said to her in the bathroom of a gala. "I just feel like I don't know anything about you and Haley is just…"

"Fine." Rikki had replied. "You pick her over me, I get it. Why don't you just go home?"

"We can still be friends." He tried to reason.

"You sleep with one of my best friends and you still want to be friends?" Rikki asked. "Ha, no thank you."

"It's more than just sleeping together." Joshua said. "I love her… I think."

Rikki was doing everything to hold herself together. That's what her boyfriend was doing when she was out of town? He said he was hanging with his mates or working. Nope, he was just fucking her roommate.

"Get out." Rikki said in a low voice.

Joshua received the message loud and clear. Rikki exited the bathroom and watched him walk out of the front door. She still had a speech to make, she couldn't go home and cry her eyes out just yet. Once the evening was over, Rikki rushed up to her room, throwing all the pictures of the pair across the room. He had been her one serious boyfriend since she had been in high school. Her bosses were asking when they were going to get married and Rikki allowed herself to fall for the fantasy. Her world came crashing down that night and she felt like a lovestruck fool.

Rikki sighed as she laid on her back, staring at the ceiling, picturing that night over and over as she was wont to do. Rikki had the next few days off of work but she tried to be anywhere but her apartment. Haley was moving out, seemingly to Joshua's home. Rikki's other roommate, Claire and Claire's boyfriend Nathan, had been texting her updates so she knew when it was safe to return. Rikki was happy she at least had the pair on her side. She thought she could trust Haley and was even close to telling the two girls her secret identity. She was glad she decided not to.

Joshua had told Rikki he was tired of her secrets. He tried to get to know her better but she wouldn't let him. She supposed that's why this and several of her other relationships had failed. Then again, she had a secret that was almost unimaginable. A secret she had had to keep close to her since she was fifteen. She, Rikki Chadwick, was a mermaid. She had a few close calls but only a small handful of people found out about her identity when she was younger. With so many years of practice, she was able to keep the secret with much more ease than she once did.

Rikki turned over on her side to check the time on her phone. She had just gotten back into town from a dive in Sydney late last night so she hadn't checked it since the morning before. She would have the next few days off so she didn't expect any missed calls or texts. She shot up in bed as she saw she had a missed call from a name she hadn't seen in such a long time. A name that still sent shivers down her spine.

Rikki unlocked her phone to see he had left her a voicemail that was over a minute long. She initially wondered if he had misdialed but she didn't think he would leave her a minute long message if he had. She felt her hands shaking wondering what in the world he had called her about. Was there something they missed with the cafe they once co-owned? Did something happen to one of their high school friends? Was it possible he was calling to admit after all these years he still had feelings for her? Rikki finally calmed herself down and pushed the play button on her voicemail.

"Rikki, it's Zane Bennett." He said. So he clearly meant to call her. "I know this is weird, we haven't talked in so long but I didn't know who else to turn to. I… um… well I've had a daughter since we last talked, I'm not sure if you've heard somehow. Anyway, she's fifteen now, she's great but… something's happened. I'm sure you knew but there was a full moon a few nights ago and Liv, my daughter, I guess she was mad at me and she took my boat out to Mako. I've told her not to go out there because… well, you know. Anyway, Mako Island, full moon, I'm sure you know where this is heading. I don't even know if you're still in Gold Coast or if this is your number but I would really, really appreciate your help. I think Liv would too. Call me if you can make this work. I know it's a lot to ask."

Rikki paused the voicemail. Zane Bennett had a daughter. He had a daughter that was now a mermaid. Rikki was sure her seventeen year old self who just broke up with a selfish boy would have found this hysterical. Now, she had a million questions running through her mind. If he had a daughter, did that mean he was married? Would she simply be some third wheel wandering around his home, babysitting his daughter? How would his wife feel about his ex-girlfriend hanging around their home and their daughter?

Rikki stood from her bed and started the tap on her bath. Her heart was racing a million miles a minute. She tried to calm herself down as she soaked in the tub, her orange tail sticking out of one end. Her efforts were to no avail. Zane usually had this effect on her, she shouldn't be surprised. On the upside, it did take her mind off of Joshua. Then, her cheating ex entered her mind and Rikki sighed as she thought about the two men who had broken her heart. She had the worst luck when it came to love.

Rikki exited her bedroom once she had gotten dressed. As expected, Claire and Nathan we sitting side by side at the kitchen island, feeding each other fruit.

"Ugh, do I have to wake up to this every morning?" Rikki asked with a groan.

"Nice to see you, too, Rikki." Nathan replied.

"There's some coffee on for you if you want it." Claire said. The girl always tried to excuse any PDA between her and Nathan, especially since Rikki and Joshua had broken up.

"Thanks." Rikki replied as she went around the opposite side of the island to fetch it.

"So, how was your dive?" Nathan asked as he started putting his and Claire's dishes away.

"Oh, you know the usual." Rikki said as she poured her coffee. "Sydney's waters are starting to get murkier and murkier due to the pollution. But I found the statue in no time."

"What was the missing item this time?" Claire asked.

"A statue sculpted by an artist during the Resonance period." Rikki replied.

"Those are the most beautiful." Claire replied. "Nothing out of the ordinary happened though?"

"Nope." Rikki replied, simply. She was doing a terrible job lying, she could tell.

"Really?" Claire asked. "You don't sound too convincing."

"Yeah," Nathan chimed in. "I thought you were going to work on being more open after-"

Nathan stopped as he was elbowed in the gut by his girlfriend. Rikki rolled her eyes at the pair.

"We can talk about Joshua." Rikki said. "I'm not some thirteen year old that's going to taboo his name. We just shouldn't talk about him a good manner since he is a piece of shit."

"Fair." Claire replied with a shrug. "I still want to know what happened during your dive."

"Well, it wasn't the dive, that really was normal." Rikki settled on. "It was everything that happened after the dive."

"What do you mean?" Nathan asked.

"Well… I woke up this morning to a voicemail from my ex-boyfriend." Rikki finally admitted.

"Joshua called you?" Nathan asked.

"Not that ex-boyfriend." Rikki said. "You think I only have one ex?"

"Well…" Nathan started, looking to Claire for reassurance.

"I've only known you to seriously date one guy and that was Joshua." She said. "Unless…"

Claire let out a gasp. Rikki wasn't expecting this from her best friend. Rikki was thrown back to when she, Claire and Haley had too much wine one night and Rikki spent the whole evening talking about Zane. Claire and Haley were hanging on her every word. Claire even hoped they would get back together. Rikki said hell would have to freeze over for that to happen.

"It's not wine guy, is it?" Claire asked.

"Who's wine guy?" Nathan asked.

"My ex-boyfriend from high school, Zane." Rikki clarified.

"I love wine guy." Claire said in a dreamy voice. "Wait, what did he want?"

Rikki sighed again. She couldn't tell them what Zane truly wanted, she would have to reveal her mermaid identity and that didn't feel appropriate. Also saying he needed help raising his daughter when he was likely married would be odd. Not to mention, Rikki was far from a natural with children. Saying she was running off to play Maria Von Trapp would be incredibly uncharacteristic of her.

"I don't really know." Rikki replied. "His voicemail didn't make a lot of sense."

"Can I hear it?" Claire requested, going to grab Rikki's phone on the counter. Rikki snatched the phone just in time.

"Oops, I just deleted it." Rikki said as she placed her phone back on the counter. "It doesn't matter anyway, it's probably not important. I haven't talked to him in over fifteen years and-"

"No, this isn't her." Rikki heard Claire say. She turned around to see Claire with Rikki's phone to her ear. Oh no. "This is her roommate but she's right here if you need to talk to her."

"Claire, no!" Rikki whispered so Zane wouldn't hear her on the other end. "Why would you do that?"

"Come on, Rikki." Claire pleaded as she held her hand over the receiver. "You should get back out there or at least see what he wants. This will be good for you."

The two griped for a little longer before Rikki conceded. She used to win every battle due to her stubbornness. Now, Claire might prove to be a bit more stubborn than she was.

"Fine." Rikki replied, still in a whisper. "But I'm taking the conversation to my room."

"Good luck." Claire replied as she handed Rikki the phone. Rikki rolled her eyes as she walked off.

Rikki sighed as she closed her bedroom door and put the phone up to her face. She could feel her hand shaking. "Hi, Zane."

"Hey," Zane replied. "How um, how are you?"

"I can't complain, I suppose." Rikki said. "How about you?"

"Well it's been um… it's been a hell of a few weeks." Zane said. "Did you happen to get my voicemail? Or make out what I was trying to ask? I know it was jumbled-"

"No, I got it." Rikki replied. "Your daughter's a mermaid now?"

"Yes," Zane sighed. Rikki thought she heard a small crack in his voice. In the three years they were together, Rikki could only remember him crying a handful of times.

"Was she alone?" Rikki asked.

"I think so." Zane said. "You know I know a bit about the mermaid life but not near as much as you do. I know it's a lot to ask, and I certainly understand if you don't want to do this but I just thought I'd give it a shot."

Rikki sighed again. She had been lucky she transformed and adjusted to her mermaid life with Cleo and Emma. She wouldn't have known how to go about her life if she had been alone. Still, even with three girls, Rikki felt so alone at times. No one deserved to feel that way. Rikki thought of the girl who ran away from her boyfriend's home after a row with his dad during a business lunch. A girl who thought she was all alone in her secret. No one deserved to feel so isolated.

"Where do you live?" Rikki asked.

"You'll help?" Zane asked, optimism flowing out of his voice.

"Yeah, I'll help." Rikki said. "Look, I still don't know everything and-"

"That's fine." Zane said. "That's more than fine. It would just be nice for Liv to have another mermaid confidant."

"Yeah, me and her both." Rikki mumbled.

"What was that?" Zane asked.

"Nothing." Rikki replied. "When do you want me to come over?"

"Whenever you can." Zane replied. "Are you at work right now?"

"No," Rikki replied. "No, I don't have to go in for the next few days."

"Well, Liv gets out of school late tonight." Zane said. "Maybe tomorrow around 3?"

"Sure." Rikki said. "I can be there."

"Great." Zane replied. "I'll text you the address."

"Sounds good." Rikki said. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"See you then." Zane said before they hung up.

Rikki felt her legs give out as she fell on her bed. She was going to see Zane Bennett tomorrow. She was going to see Zane Bennett for the first time in fifteen years. She wondered how he looked. She hadn't even asked about his wife. Were the butterflies in her stomach all for nothing? Maybe Zane was just hiring her as a mermaid nanny while he and his wife displayed their love in front of Rikki. Rikki wasn't sure if she could handle that. Even after all of these years, she still had some feelings for him.

Rikki finally stood and exited her room. She was greeted by Claire standing suspiciously close to her door and Nathan sitting on the couch behind her.

"How did it go?" Claire asked.

"You are way too excited about this." Rikki replied.

Chapter Text

Chapter 4: Racing Hearts and Denial

Rikki felt her heart pounding as her phone guided her to Zane's house. Over the past few hours she thought about texting him with some excuse as to why she couldn't come. Everything from something came up at work to her roommate didn't feel well. Something held her back. Maybe it was her feeling that she shouldn't leave a fellow mermaid to figure this new life out on her own or maybe there was some deep desire to see Zane. Either way, it was too late. She couldn't turn back now.

As Rikki drove down his street, she admired the nice homes and smiled at the familiarity. Of course Zane would live in a nice house, she wondered what he did for a living. Maybe his wife was the one who made the money, she thought. Again, a seventeen year old Rikki would find that hysterical. Now, she was too busy focusing on keeping her heart rate down that she didn't care who was the breadwinner.

Rikki took one last sigh as she put her car in park and unbuckled her seat belt. She was here, she would see Zane again in the next few minutes. A part of her wanted to sit in the car and collect herself but she knew she would only talk herself out of going inside. She would have to exit the vehicle now, frazzled or not.

Rikki walked up to the door and rang the doorbell. It felt like an out of body experience, she didn't feel as uncomfortable as she thought she would. Then again, Zane did have that effect on her back in the day. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all. Rikki slowly felt her heart start to relax but it started racing again as a girl with dark brown hair, blue eyes and a crooked smile answered the door. She looked just like Zane, aside from her eyes. Rikki felt a connection to this girl. One she hadn't felt in such a long time. Is this what Miss Chatham felt when she first met the girls?

"Yes?" The girl in front of Rikki asked. Rikki shook her head, realizing she must have been lost in thought.

"Um… hi." Rikki managed. "I'm Rikki."

The girl looked at Rikki as if she started speaking a different language. Clearly Zane didn't tell his daughter about their visitor.

"I'm here to see your dad, Zane." Rikki said. It was beyond weird referring to Zane as a dad.

"Oh," Liv said. "Come in then, I'll go get him."

"Thanks." Rikki replied as she entered the foyer of the home. Harrison's had been much more grand but the one in Zane's home was still very nice. Rikki watched the girl she knew to be named Liv walk down a hallway and then heard the sound of her walking up a flight of stairs.

Rikki walked in, past the entryway and into the main room. It was decorated very sophisticated but not overly lavish. A simple grey sectional sat in the middle of the room with a patterned, blue-grey rug underneath and a black coffee table. The windows were floor-to-ceiling and provided a view to the large backyard that led to the ocean. It really was a beautiful home.

Not a moment later did Rikki hear thundering from the stairs again. Whoever was coming down the stairs was moving much quicker than Liv had before. She made her way back to the entryway as not to appear rude. She had just reached the beginning of it when she came face to face yet again with Zane Bennett.

He had been handsome when she knew him before but he aged like fine wine. He looked stronger than he had as a teen. His hair was cut much more professionally than the raggedy hair he once wore. The lines in his face were more pronounced but she would be damned to find someone their age that didn't look the same. He wore a pair of dress slacks, a blue button down and was carrying a bottle of water. Rikki guessed he just came home from work or was working upstairs. She took a sharp inhale as she saw him and her heart took off like a racehorse yet again. If she didn't know any better, she would think Zane was having a similar reaction to seeing her. He was likely married, that would be inappropriate.

"Rikki." He said after a comfortable moment.

"Zane." She said back, hoping he would start the conversation. She didn't know what to say.

"Hi," he said as he walked closer to her. He looked like he was trying to decide on if he should hug her or shake her hand. Rikki supposed she should play this safe. She stuck her hand out so he would know what to do.

"Thank you so much for coming." He said after their handshake was over.

"Of course." Rikki replied. "I didn't really have anything better to do."

Zane gave her his signature smile and it made her smile back. They still had their palpable chemistry. She was fucked.

"Well, I suppose I'll head back up to my room then." Liv said from the bottom of the stairs. Rikki had barely registered she was still there.

"Actually, Liv," Zane started as he walked away from Rikki and over to his daughter. "I wanted you to meet Rikki. She's an old friend of mine."

"Oh, well… hi." Liv said. Rikki could tell the girl was trying to be polite but didn't care at all who Rikki was. Her attitude was already reminded Rikki so much of Zane.

"Hi, Liv." Rikki replied back as she approached the girl and shook her hand. "Your dad's told me so much about you."

Liv nodded after the handshake and then looked to Zane. "Dad, what is this?"

"Well, Rikki's an old friend." Zane repeated.

"You said that." Liv snapped back. "What is she doing here?"

"Well, um…" Zane started as he stared at Rikki. He walked from behind his daughter to stand in front of Rikki. He looked between the blonde woman and the water bottle in his hand. He gave Rikki a sympathetic look before he unscrewed the water bottle lid and threw water on her. Rikki gasped as she felt the liquid touch her skin. She looked to Liv who looked confused at the interaction. Luckily Rikki knew how to handle this. She watched both Zane and Liv's faces become even more confused as the water disappeared.

"Thanks for that," Rikki replied to Zane once she was dry. "I'm not sixteen anymore, I can't just flop on the ground and not hurt myself."

Rikki moved past Zane so she was staring at Liv who still looked confused and even a little bit scared.

"Your father called me here because he said you recently became a mermaid." Rikki told the girl. "I became a mermaid when I was fifteen too. I'm here to help you."

"I-if you're a mermaid, why didn't you grow a tail when you got wet?" Liv asked.

"Most of us mermaids have powers." Rikki said. "I can heat water and I learned how to make it evaporate upon contact."

"So you can control when you transform now?" Zane asked.

"For the most part." Rikki shrugged. "If I was hit by a tidal wave the size of me, that would be difficult but a splash of water is no big deal."

Zane shook his head in reply as Rikki turned back to Liv. This visit wasn't about Zane, Rikki had to keep that in mind. His wife could come through the front door or down the stairs anytime. The last thing she needed to see was a strange woman drooling over her husband.

"Point being, I can help you." Rikki said. "There's a lot more to this mermaid stuff that you think."

Liv looked between Rikki and Zane. Her life had taken such a twist. At this time a few months ago, she was getting ready to go back to school shopping with her mum while her dad worked upstairs. Now, she was standing in her foyer with her father and a strange woman discussing mermaids. It was all almost comical. There was nothing she could do but laugh.

"No way," Liv said in between laughs. Zane had furrowed his eyebrows and Rikki looked to Zane as if she were confused. For once, Zane only had eyes for his daughter.

"Liv-," he started.

"No, look, it's fine!" Liv said. "I'm not a mermaid. Well, I'm not going to be one for much longer. There's got to be a way out of this-"

"There is." Rikki chimed in.

"Oh, perfect." Liv replied, cutting her laughter off. "What is it, then? How do I do it?"

"Go to the moon pool the night when the planets align." Rikki said.

"Okay, so when is that?" Liv asked. "A few days? Weeks?"

"Try 35 years." Rikki replied.

Liv looked as if Rikki had slapped her in the face. She smiled tightly again and let out a small laugh. This woman didn't know a damn thing about being a mermaid. Liv wasn't fully convinced Rikki was a mermaid. She hadn't transformed upon contact with water, maybe she just had strange, magical powers. Anything was believable now.

"You don't know anything, do you?" Liv challenged the older woman.

"Liv!" Zane scolded her. Rikki didn't look like she minded the insult much.

"I appreciate what you're trying to do, Dad," Liv said. "But I don't need any help, I'll figure this out on my own."

With that, Liv bounded up the stairs. Zane sighed from behind Rikki as he moved to the start of the stairs to go after Liv.

"I'm sorry, Rikki." Zane said. "Teenagers, they-"

"It's fine." Rikki replied. "It's not the first time a Bennett has spoken to me like that."

Zane blushed in response. Hannah had always said Liv was just like him. Sure, he saw some similarities but she was a bit like her mum as well. Maybe Rikki was seeing what Hannah saw.

"Anyway," Rikki continued. "I should probably get going-"

"No, wait!" Zane cried as he stepped off the first step up the stairs and back onto the landing. "If you don't mind, just…let me talk to her. You and I both know she needs your help."

"Fine." Rikki sighed after a moment. "I'll be in the main room."

"Thank you, Rikki." Zane replied before he hiked up the stairs.

Rikki took a seat on the sectional as she entered the room. She took in her surroundings. The walls were fairly blank. Most of the homes she had been in with people who had children had pictures littered across the walls. This home was fairly empty, aside from a few pictures of Liv and Zane. She stood from the sectional as she studied the pictures, seeing Liv throughout her young life. Zane looked just as Rikki had remembered him in Liv's youngest pictures. That was the most odd sensation, seeing the boy she remembered opening a cafe with holding a baby.

Rikki had just passed the entertainment center when she noticed a stack of photos tucked away on a shelf. Rikki pulled the first one out and inhaled sharply. Zane was standing outside a building, one that looked like a government building of sorts. He was kissing a woman in a simple, white dress that came down to her knees. If it wasn't obvious the woman was pregnant already, Zane had a hand placed on her stomach. This had to be his wife. Rikki had been right. She pulled out the next picture, one that must have been taken recently. It was Liv and the same woman on a boat with a volcano in the background Rikki would recognize anywhere.

Rikki was puzzled more than anything. Zane had a wife, Rikki guessed the woman in the dress was also Liv's mother. Rikki thought for a moment maybe this woman had left Zane with Liv when they were young. Looking at the second photo, that had disproved her theory. Had the woman just left? Were they separated or divorced? Why would Zane hide the pictures otherwise?

Rikki heard two set of feet coming down the stairs. She shoved the photos back on the shelf and resumed her seat on the sectional. When the father-daughter pair entered, Liv looked incredibly annoying and Zane looked exhausted, as if he somehow missed out on several hours of sleep in his discussion with Liv upstairs.

"All right." Liv sighed to Rikki. "I'll let you help me."

"Okay." Rikki said as she stood from the couch and walked to the back door. "Shall we get started?"

Chapter Text

Chapter 5: Young Love & War

A few things became abundantly clear to Liv over the next few weeks. Rikki was indeed a mermaid, a skillful one at that. They had been walking to the pier to dive into the ocean one cloudy day. Liv hadn't felt the rain drop on her and she felt herself transform and flop on the grass. Rikki helped her up and continued to use her powers to keep herself dry until they got to the pier. Liv splashed into the water very uncharacteristically while Rikki was able to dive in. Liv was annoyed as she knew Rikki was going to make her swim despite the rain.

Rikki was different from anyone Liv had ever met. Liv didn't understand how Rikki and Zane were friends when they were younger. She knew her dad's friends and they were nothing like Rikki. Rikki also handled Liv's attitude and tantrums better than nearly anyone else she had met. Still, Rikki never talked about herself. She was so reserved it scared Liv. Anytime Liv asked Rikki about her life, Rikki would change the subject and bring up something about their mermaid lives Liv should know.

The pair had been out in the ocean for ages now. Liv was exhausted and just wanted to go home. They had been practicing every day for hours. Liv was currently working on speeding through the water. Rikki had demonstrated her ability to do so the day they first met. Liv was becoming frustrated, knowing she was a slow learner to this mermaid stuff.

"Why don't you try swimming as fast as you can?" Rikki suggested. "It might kick in."

"I've already tried that." Liv huffed. "I'm exhausted, Rikki."

"You've said that every time we've been out this week." Rikki replied.

"Maybe we should take a break then." Liv suggested.

"We don't have time." Rikki replied. "These are life-saving skills I'm teaching you. What if a shark comes after you? Or a person captures you?"

"Have you ever been captured?" Liv asked the older woman.

Rikki put on a stoic face. Liv knew she got what she wanted. Rikki wasn't going to answer her.

"Never mind." Rikki said. "Let's just go back."

Liv smiled as she ducked under the incoming wave and followed Rikki home. She rolled her eyes as she noticed Rikki was checking behind her to make sure Liv was with her. Liv wasn't a baby, she could handle herself in the water. Her dad and Rikki had told her it was too dangerous for her to swim on her own. Not that Liv wanted to, she still wasn't in love with this mermaid life. Still, she wanted the option. What was the worst that could happen?

The pair finally arrived at the shore near Liv's home. They beached and then Rikki began drying the pair off. This was the most convenient part of having Rikki around. It would take Liv ages drying off getting out of the bath and such. The teen didn't wait for Rikki as she ran up to the back door, knowing she should leave for school soon. She had already bathed but knew her early swim with Rikki had made her smell like sea water. Liv groaned as she knew she didn't have enough time to take another bath and would have to settle going to school like this.

"How was your swim?" Zane asked from her bedroom door, just as Liv threw her backpack over her shoulder.

"It was… whatever." Liv said as she pushed past her father.

"Oh, come on, love." Zane said, following her as she walked down the stairs. "I'm sure you'll get a hold of all of this stuff in no time."

"That's what you said weeks ago." Liv sighed. "I'm going to school."

With that, Liv closed the front door and was off. Zane sighed and leaned against the closed door. Liv was handling her mermaid life better. Her stage of denial seemed to come to a close. Still, Zane could tell she hated it. On one hand, she had gone out to Mako Island on her own. Liv was old enough to make her own decisions and handle the consequences. No one forced her on that boat and she knew the island was dangerous. On the other, Zane wondered if his choice to banish her from Mako was the right one. Maybe he should have been more open to it, allowing her to attend in his company. Maybe he should have told her and Hannah the secrets of the island. Liv was obsessed with mermaids and the water when she was younger though, that might not have been the best idea. He did remember a little girl, no older than five, begging him to play The Little Mermaid over and over. Zane smiled to himself as the girl in pigtails was instantly captivated by the television. Times were so much simpler back then.

"She's getting better." Zane heard from the main room. He opened his eyes to see Rikki standing in the door frame.

"She still hates it." Zane said as he shook his head and pushed off the door.

"It took Cleo weeks to just get in the water." Rikki said. "It's hard at first but she'll cope."

"I hope so." Zane replied. "Thank you again for all you're doing. It means the world to me. And to Liv, even though she doesn't show it much."

"She reminds me of you when you were a teen." Rikki said. "I could handle it then, it's pretty easy now."

"You are good with her." Zane said with a bit of a laugh. "She's… Liv's just…"

"She's a teenager." Rikki said once she realized Zane was having trouble finishing his sentence. "Her whole world is crumbling around her and now she's a fish. It's a lot to deal with."

"Yeah, I reckon you're right." Zane said. 'Her whole world is crumbling around her.' If Rikki only knew how true that was. He hadn't told her about Hannah yet and Zane doubted Liv had told Rikki either. Liv wasn't just a teen who might be going through her first fights with her friends or experiencing the highs and lows of romantic love, she was a girl who had been through hell the past half year. Zane had been there with her so he hoped that helped. Still, he wished he could take all of her pain and suffering on his own.

"I've got to head to work." Rikki said. "I'll catch you later."

"Yeah," Zane said. "I should probably do the same. See you around."

Rikki gave him a small nod before she exited the home. Zane let out a deep breath he hasn't realized he was holding and walked up to his office. He was copping with his wife's death more and more each day but some days were harder than others. He had a feeling today wasn't going to be an easy day. Zane walked past Liv's room on his way to his office, deciding to stop there to grab something. The albums he had given her were placed on her desk. He grabbed the few on top, leaving one behind he didn't recognize. He took the few into his office, took a seat on the ground and began to flip through the images. He hadn't realized he was crying until he saw a tear hit an image of Hannah and Liv at a fair, Liv holding a bushel of cotton candy that was the size of her. Zane threw the album aside, dropped his head in between his knees and began to cry.

"Liv!" She heard as soon as she closed her locker. Liv looked down the corridor to see her best friend, Leah, coming towards her. Leah had been on nearly every dive team with Liv and the two had bonded over their love of the sport quickly. They talked about other things too but diving was the foundation of their friendship. Now that Liv had effectively quit diving, she wasn't sure where their relationship stood.

"Hey, Leah," Liv said once the girl approached her. Liv noticed Leah was wearing a bright pink tank top and a floral skirt. It was the exact opposite to Liv's Nirvana shirt and black jeans. "What's up?"

"Not much." Leah replied as the two walked to their next class. "Just school and diving. The usual."

"Right, the usual." Liv said, hanging her head.

"You know, if it makes you feel any better, no one on the team likes Emily." Leah told her best friend. "She just manipulates girls into quitting or challenging another for their spot."

"Yeah, I heard she didn't make captain either." Liv said. "Serves the bitch right."

"You know I could always talk to coach and our captain to see if you could try out again." Leah said. "I'm sure once they see how you dive, they'll want you on the team."

"No, that's okay." Liv stated with a sad smile.

"Come on, Liv," Leah exclaimed. "You're better than half of the team! You could be captain by next year if you were on the team this year!"

"No, I'm fine." Liv replied, hoping Leah would drop the subject.

"It's really not that big of a deal." Leah continued. "I think coach really likes me and-"

"Leah, I don't want to be on the diving team, okay?" Liv exclaimed. "Just drop it."

Leah was a bit shell shocked by Liv's response. Liv continued walking, leaving Leah behind for a moment. It didn't take long for Liv to hear footsteps running from behind her.

"Liv," Leah had started in a much calmer voice. "Is this about your Mum? You know she'd want you to keep diving-"

"Oh, my God!" Liv exclaimed, stopping in her tracks and facing Leah fully. "Why does everyone keep bringing that up? Maybe this has nothing to do with my mum. Maybe I'm just tired of diving. Maybe I want to explore other sports or hobbies. First my dad and his new… friend and now you, Leah? I'll say this once, butt out of my life!"

If Leah looked shell shocked before, Liv wouldn't know how to describe this new look on her face. A moment later, she noticed Leah's bottom lip start to quiver. Liv had barely noticed her outburst had caused nearly everyone in the hall to turn to the two girls. Yes, Liv was frustrated and yes, Leah was pushing a bit too much but Leah didn't deserve to be embarrassed like this.

"Leah…" Liv started.

"No, it's okay." Leah said as she choked back tears. "I… just… I'll leave you alone if you want. If you need to talk to anyone, just let me know."

Leah pushed past Liv, being sure to bump her shoulder with Liv's. Liv sighed as she watched her best friend walk away with her head down and the crowd in the hallway take their attention off of them and return to their normal conversations. Although Liv's life was crumbling, she had one good thing going for her and that was Leah. Now, she may have just wrecked that too.

It was Liv's turn to feel her bottom lip quiver. She knew she wouldn't be able to keep the waterworks at bay for long. She dashed down the hallway, trying to make it to the girl's bathroom as quickly as possible. She didn't even care if she drew attention to herself, she had just bursted out in anger at her friend. That was way more embarrassing than running off crying. The whole school knew about her mum, maybe some of her peers would just think she was crying about her.

Liv was in a dead sprint down the halls. She was hardly paying attention to where she was going, just hoping people would move out of her way. She turned the last corner before the bathroom when she ran into someone with so much force, they both went flying and fell on their backs.

"Oh, my gosh." Liv exclaimed as she stood to help the person she ran into. "Are you okay? I'm so sorry."

"I'm fine." The boy said as the pair gathered their books that had fallen on the ground when they crashed. "Are you…"

The boy faded out as he and Liv made eye contact. He was cute, very cute. He had brunette hair tied back in a bun, tanned skin and bright blue eyes. He looked like he worked out or played a sport. He completely caught Liv off guard and she did her best to remember who this boy was. She thought she would remember seeing someone as handsome as him.

"Hell of a first day." He finally muttered. Liv didn't know if they were staring at each other for a second or a full minute. He was new, that explains why she didn't remember him.

"Is it your first day?" She asked.

"Yeah," he answered. "I'm Drew."

"Liv." She replied, shaking his outstretched hand.

"Nice to run into you, literally." He said. Liv replied with a chuckle and got lost in his dreamy, blue eyes yet again.

"Well, I've got to go to class." Drew said. "I'll catch you later."

"Yeah," Liv mumbled as he moved past her. "I'll see you later."

Liv watched him walk around the corridor. She instantly knew she would have to find out more about Drew. What were his hobbies? What was he into? Did he like blondes or brunettes? She might be able to convince her dad to let her dye her hair if he only liked blondes. What the hell was she thinking? Since when did Liv fall this hard for guys? Not to mention, Rikki and Zane would probably blow her off and tell her she didn't have time for boys now that she was a mermaid.

Liv snapped back to reality, realizing she had to get to class too. She groaned as she realized Leah was in her next science class. Liv prayed they didn't have to partner up for a project again. That would be so awkward.

As luck would have it, it was simply a note taking day. Liv sat further from her friend than usual. She was happily surprised to see Drew was now in their class. She sat somewhat close to him but not close enough to where she made it obvious. The bell finally ran and Liv ran out of the classroom, ready for her next class to come, all the way until her final class so she could go home where she knew she wouldn't run into Leah.

The day dragged on but finally came to a close. Liv sprinted out of the school, deciding to leave her backpack in her locker. She didn't have homework and she didn't want to go home yet. Her father would be there and surely ask how her day was. She wasn't ready to talk about it yet. Rikki was going to be there too, they had a lesson after school. Liv wasn't in the mood. She was more than a mermaid and she was tired of it taking over her life. Did they really have to train everyday? This wasn't the Olympics.

Liv finally reached the beach and began walking along the shore alone. She felt tears sting her eyes every now and again. She thought back to her life a year ago. She had a loving mother and father. She was captain of her club diving team. She had the best best friend anyone could ask for. Hell, she had the best life anyone could ask for. She figured things weren't always going to be easy, something was bound to go wrong eventually. She didn't expect everything to spiral out of control so quickly. This wasn't the life she wanted, this wasn't the life she deserved.

Liv looked out to the ocean after she nearly came into contact with a large wave. She had jumped out of its way just in time. She might have been crazy but she felt as if the ocean was calling her, luring her into it's depths. If she had more to care about, she might ignore it. Now, she felt as if she had nothing to lose. Liv looked around the beach to make sure no one was in sight before she took off running towards the water. Once the waves came up to her knees, she felt the transformation start to happen and dove into the waves. Liv enjoyed the feeling of the water engulfing her completely and the feeling of it running through her scales. Something else began to call for her. Liv shook her tail up and down as quickly as she could, heading for the moon pool on Mako Island.

Chapter Text

Chapter 6: Liv's Life Threatening Encounter

Rikki left her research materials on her coffee table as she heard her washing machine go off. She was meant to leave for Perth in the morning for her next dive. Although it wouldn't take long to complete, she always liked having her clothes cleaned and all of her other necessities in order so she wouldn't have to worry about anything when she came back. She had just returned to her couch when her phone buzzed. She picked it up and remembered she had a lesson with Liv today. She sighed, completely forgetting about the lesson and wondering if she had time today.

Rikki had been wondering if giving lessons was the right idea. This seemed to be more for Zane's benefit than anything. She and the girls had figured things out for themselves. What they didn't was provided to them by Ms. Chatham. Zane knew a decent amount about mermaids, he could take care of Liv just fine. Rikki didn't need to be in the picture. Zane was the one who had scheduled these lessons and Rikki wondered if they were going out too much. She and the others went out nearly everyday but that didn't mean Liv was going to do the same.

Rikki thought back to her friendship with Cleo, Emma and Bella. She hadn't talked to the three girls in so long. The most recent encounter was when she happened to run into Cleo and Lewis in the States a few years back. The conversation didn't last too long, Rikki wanted to talk about anything but their mermaid lives but that's all the two really had in common now. Maybe Liv just needed a friend, a confidant who knew how to live the mermaid life. Maybe Rikki should talk to Zane and try to lessen the frequency of their lessons. He had agreed earlier in the day, she was a teenage girl with other things going on besides being a mermaid. Maybe now was a good time to start.

Rikki picked her phone back up and called Zane's number. It didn't take long for him to pick up.

"Rikki, hey," he said once he picked up. "What's up?"

"Hey," Rikki said in reply. "Listen, I know I was supposed to come over for a lesson but I was thinking-"

"No, it's fine." Zane replied. Maybe he was one step ahead of her. "Liv hasn't come home yet. I think she might have gotten detention again."

"Oh." Rikki replied. "Okay. Well I guess I'll see you guys in a few days."

"A few days?" Zane asked.

"Yeah." Rikki said. "I have a dive in Perth, remember? I'm leaving tomorrow."

"Oh, right." Zane replied. "Great timing, Liv."

"Go easy on her." Rikki said. "She's going through enough as it is."

"Yeah, you're right," he said. "It's just… I don't want her to get hurt."

"She'll be fine." Rikki replied. "Just don't let her into the ocean whilst I'm gone."

"I'll do my best." Zane said. "We'll see you in a few days."

"See you then." Rikki said before she hung up the phone.

Rikki furrowed her eyebrows as she stared at her phone. Something about what Zane said in regards to Liv's whereabouts wasn't sitting right with her. Liv receiving detention wouldn't be the most shocking news. She was very similar to her father and Rikki knew Zane had a knack for getting in trouble. Still, there was something that was telling Rikki Liv wasn't in detention. Rikki placed her research back on the table, finding it hard to concentrate now. She was about to grab a glass of water when she looked out of her window to see the ocean in front of her.

Liv wouldn't, would she?

The young girl was never a big fan of their lessons. She was in complete denial until a few weeks ago. Rikki wouldn't deny, Liv wasn't adjusting too well. Liv was rebellious. She was Zane's daughter. Zane was constantly told not to go places and to be careful when he did things as a young teen. Rikki knew he couldn't be bothered to care and she and her friends often had to fish him out of the dangerous situations he landed in. Rikki sighed, having a strange feeling she was going to have to help another Bennett out of trouble, yet again.

Liv continued swimming out to Mako. It was a long swim so she was starting to get tired. She wondered if she would be able to swim back. She was sure her dad would come and get her if needed but he certainly wouldn't be happy about it. Liv wasn't regretting her decision at all. The water felt amazing and she enjoyed seeing so many sea creatures gracefully floating through the water. She wondered if she should just give her life on land up and start a new one here. There were other mermaids, there had to be mermen as well. She could simply live in the sea for the rest of her life.

Liv had just finished exploring a reef of coral as she turned to go into the moon pool. As she turned, she was met with the image of a Mako Shark, stating ferociously at her tail. Liv looked ahead and saw the coast was clear, swimming away from the shark as quickly as she could. Rikki had warned her about the dangers of sharks and Liv supposed swimming to the most shark invested waters along the coast might not have been her best idea. She remembered learning in school that sharks typically wouldn't attack humans but she also reckoned she wasn't a human at the moment, or at least not completely. This shark would probably love to chomp on her tail.

Liv turned around after she had been swimming for a few minutes to see if the shark was still following her. Not only was the original shark following her, a few of his friends had decided to come after her as well. Liv continued swimming away, trying to get to the moon pool. There were never any animals in the moon pool, maybe that would be a safe spot, a barrier they couldn't pass.

Liv continued swimming toward the open water, sharks in tow. When she felt comfortable, she made a sharp turn hoping she could gear them toward the moon pool. This would all be easier if she could fly through the water like Rikki was trying to teach her. Liv did want to learn in her lessons with Rikki but sometimes she truly was exhausted. Sometimes she didn't give her all. Now, she found herself in a life or death situation that might have been saved if she had taken Rikki seriously.

Liv was close to the moon pool. She was almost to the rocks and the entrance to the moon pool was only a few meters away. She was about to make a turn again when a shark cut off her path. They had cornered her to this wall. There was only one opening just in front of her but she would have to make it through that opening quickly. Liv closed her eyes as she began to concentrate. As hard as her life had been for the past few months, she wasn't ready to die. There was still so much she wanted to do and see. She wanted to graduate high school and live in the adult world. She wanted to visit another country with her friends and family. She wanted to fall in love with a boy. That wasn't going to happen if she was eaten now.

She finally felt a power run through her body she had never felt before. She opened her eyes and pushed off from the wall, somehow knowing she would about able to fly through the water. Liv saw bubbles form in front of her, knowing she had made it away from the sharks. She flew through the water for the first time. It was an odd sensation. What made it more odd was the hot, almost burning, stretch of water she ended up swimming through. That alone stopped her in her tracks. She needed to inspect what had just happened. As Liv turned around, she noticed the sharks were fleeing and the bubbles were diminishing around her. At first she thought she had created those bubbles but then realized they belonged to someone else. A familiar blonde mermaid came into her view and Liv didn't know if she should have been more scared of the sharks or of Rikki.

Rikki wore a glare on her face. If looks could kill, Liv would be surely be dead. She knew why Rikki was upset too. Liv knew she wasn't supposed to be out in the water by herself. She had thought Rikki and her dad were crazy. Maybe they weren't as crazy as she once thought. Rikki motioned for Liv to follow her and the younger girl did as she was told. She didn't want to be trapped by a school of sharks again. Liv followed Rikki into the moon pool, it was her final destination anyway.

"What the hell were you thinking, Liv?" Rikki asked once they surfaced in the moon pool, each moving to one said of the circular body of water. "You could have been killed had I not shown up."

"Did you not see me finally jet through the water?" Liv shot back. "I would have been fine."

"As happy as I am for you, it was still irresponsible." Rikki said.

"Did you ever go out on your own?" Liv asked Rikki hoping the older mermaid would shake her head and tell the pair to go home.

"Yes," Rikki answered to Liv's surprise. "Occasionally I would swim out here on my own. Mostly when I was upset."

"Ha, that's makes two of us." Liv sighed.

"Is everything okay, Liv?" Rikki asked.

"What do you care?" Liv retorted.

"I've grown to care about you a lot, actually." Rikki said. "This bond isn't one I can share with just anyone. I would never want a fellow mermaid to suffer. Speaking of which, I was wondering if you would like to make our lessons… less frequent."

"See, you don't care about me." Liv said, shaking her head.

"I do care about you, Liv." Rikki said.

"Then why are you pushing me away?" Liv asked.

"I'm not, I-" Rikki started before sighing. "When I was about your age, I wandered in here for the first time with two other friends. We were as close as we could be until… well, I realized being a mermaid was about the only thing we had in common. They treated me like I was one-dimensional, not taking much of an interest in my life outside of being a mermaid. They didn't even know where I lived until we had been friends for a year and that was only because your dad pushed me to tell them. Anyway, I think I've realized I've been doing the same to you, treating you as just a mermaid. So why don't you try me; what bothered you so much you felt the need to come out here?"

Liv was surprised at how open Rikki was being with her. Although she was fending being upset about her lessons becoming less frequent, she couldn't help but agree with Rikki. She was more than a mermaid and she recently felt as if that was all she could be between Rikki and her father. Liv felt as if a small weight had been lifted from her shoulders, one that had been there since her mum passed away.

"I used to be on a diving team." Liv said. "Obviously I can't do that anymore and I had a fight about it with my best friend today. I couldn't tell her why I quit though and I blew up on her in front of the whole school. I've felt guilty ever since."

Rikki nodded knowingly. She had lost countless friendships and relationships due to her secret. "It's not the worst thing in the world to let people know."

"Really?" Liv asked. "You think I could tell her?"

"That's up to you." Rikki replied. "We had a few people who knew back in the day. Most of them just stumbled upon it but they kept it secret and helped us out of situations we couldn't get out on our own. Like your father."

That was true. Zane must have known Rikki's secret for a while. How else would he have known to reach out to her when Liv transformed? Liv began wondering if Leah was someone she could trust with the secret. Then again, if Liv felt she could trust anyone aside from her dad, it was Leah.

"What situations did you end up in?" Liv asked.

"Where do I begin?" Rikki said with a chuckle. "There was one time some guy we knew got his hands on ambergris. The scent is mesmerizing to us mermaids. We were about to reveal ourselves to him when Zane and another friend stopped us from doing so."

"Yeah, I could see how that would end poorly." Liv chuckled.

"Yeah, it was a close one." Rikki asked. "So you were a diver, huh?"

"Yeah," Liv replied, solemnly.

"What else do you like?" Rikki asked. "Aside from all this mermaid stuff, what makes you, you?"

"Well…," Liv started, thinking about the other things she liked. "I love old-school pop punk. Blink-182, My Chemical Romance, Good Charlotte."

"It kills me that you call that 'old-school pop punk'." Rikki said. "That's the music I grew up listening to. Good Charlotte is one of the best bands I've heard live."

"You heard them live?!" Liv exclaimed.

"Yeah," Rikki laughed. "They were in Brisbane about five years ago. I'd love to take you with me the next time I go to a show. My friends tolerate it but they don't really love pop punk."

"That would be awesome!" Liv exclaimed. "Thanks, Rikki."

"Of course." Rikki replied. "What else do you like?"

Rikki found that night Liv wasn't only similar to Zane but very similar to Rikki herself as well. As Liv talked and revealed her love for chocolate ice cream, iced coffee and the Vampire Diaries, Rikki couldn't help but feel as if she was having a conversation with her fifteen year old self. Liv was smart, caring and sensitive under that rough exterior she put on. Rikki knew why she felt the need to wear that exterior but she wondered why Liv felt the need to do so. That was a conversation for another day.

"We should probably head home." Rikki said as she looked up and saw the orange sky in the volcano opening. "You're dad's probably worried sick."

"Oh, shit." Liv exclaimed. "I never told him where I was going! Let me just dry off to text him and-"

"I wouldn't worry about it." Rikki said. "There's no cell service here. I'll help if he is upset."

"Okay." Liv replied. "Thanks, Rikki."

"Don't mention it." Rikki said as the two dove under the water.

Liv focused on jetting off again. She hoped she could do it now, even when she wasn't in a life or death situation. As they exited the cave, Liv focused on the feeling she had before. Rikki looked as if she was waiting for Liv to figure out how she was going to fly off. Liv let the feeling fill her up again and then felt herself shot through the water. She was nervous at first but then she felt more secure as she saw another stream beside her. She could barely see Rikki through the bubbles.

Rikki smiled as Liv took off in the water. Rikki began to flap her tail too, taking off after Liv in no time. She relished in the feeling of flying through the water with another mermaid again. It had been nearly sixteen years after all.

Zane paced his main room floor as he tried calling Liv yet again. He didn't know how many times he tried to reach her, it must have been at least twenty calls and who knows how many texts at this point. It was nearing 8:30, if she had gotten detention she should have been out hours ago. Rikki also wasn't picking up, he hadn't reached out to her nearly as much. The fact Rikki wasn't answering was the only thing that kept him from calling the police. There was a chance the two had gone out for their lesson after all.

"Damn it, Liv!" He muttered as he received her voicemail yet again. He threw his phone onto his couch and ran his hands through his hair. He was about to pick it up and try again when he saw two silhouettes in his backyard, heading for his home.

"Liv!" He exclaimed as he realized she and Rikki were the two figures he saw in the sunset. He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her as if he hadn't seen her in days.

"Where have you been?" Zane asked. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Dad." Liv said with an eye roll.

"Don't roll your eyes at me." Zane said. "It's late and you didn't text me or answer my calls. Neither of you."

Rikki felt Zane's eyes land on her. It had been a while since she had seen him upset. She forgot how much it had upset her.

"I was out on the beach when I ran into Liv." Rikki said. "She asked if we could work on flying through the water and I forgot to let you know. I'm sorry."

Zane sighed as he looked between Liv and Rikki. "That was incredibly irresponsible of you, Rikki. Maybe all of this mermaid training was a bad idea-"

"Dad, no." Liv exclaimed. Zane lifted his eyes in surprise. Since when did Liv like going out with Rikki?

"I did want to work on flying through the water and guess what? I did it!" Liv exclaimed. "I could have texted you too, don't blame this on Rikki. The lessons have been helping and I… I appreciate both of you for helping me."

"You flew through the water?" Zane asked.

"I did." Liv said, turning around. "Right, Rikki?"

"Yep," Rikki replied. "She's a total pro now."

Zane smiled in response. "Well… that's great. But you have to let me know if you're going out from now on."

"Okay!" Liv exclaimed.

"Of course." Rikki said.

"Dinner's been ready for a while now." Zane told Liv. "Why don't you head inside and grab some?"

"All right." Liv said as she walked to the back door.

"So, what happened?" Zane asked Rikki. "This morning she loathed you and now she's acting like you're her best friend."

"I don't know." Rikki replied. "I guess… well, we went to the moon pool and talked about anything that wasn't mermaid. I think that helped."

Zane nodded his head, not saying anything. Why hadn't he thought of that? He felt so much pressure to make sure Liv was prepared to be a mermaid, pressure he made up completely on his own. Just because Rikki and the others had an insane kid unknowingly hunting them didn't mean Liv was going to have that.

"She is a girl too, you know." Rikki continued.

"Yeah, I know." Zane replied with a smile. "Thanks for taking care of her."

"No problem." Rikki said. "And I think when I get back, we should pull back on the frequency of lessons. She doesn't need to be a mermaid all the time."

"That's fair." Zane said. "I'll talk to Liv about it. If you want, you're more than welcome to join us for dinner."

"That's okay." Rikki said. "I've still got some packing to do before I leave."

"All right." Zane replied. "Have a good trip."

"Thanks." Rikki replied. "I'll catch you both later."

Rikki walked back to her apartment when a smile on her face. Something about making Zane happy always made her happy. She loved her job and she loved traveling but for the first time in a long time, she found herself desperately wanting to stay in Gold Coast. Maybe she was crazy but she felt she had a role in the Bennett family.

Rikki's smile faded once she arrived at her apartment. How could she have a place in the family when there already was a mother? She still didn't know Zane's marital status. She had been over to the house quite often but his wife might work a job with odd hours. Maybe they were divorced and Liv still had a good relationship with her mum. Rikki had no right to confuse the girl. She sighed as she unlocked the door to Claire and Nathan cuddling on the couch and watching television.

"Where have you been?" Claire asked. "Don't you have a big trip tomorrow?"

"Oh, you know… just here and there." Rikki replied. "And, yes I do. I should finish packing and go to sleep."

Rikki excused herself to her room where she packed her clothes for a few days. Suddenly she couldn't wait to get out of Gold Coast. She was about to go to her bathroom to collect her things when she heard Claire say her name.

"That's where you think she's been?" Nathan asked.

"I'm telling you, nothing else makes sense!" Claire exclaimed. "She's gotten back together with wine guy!"

"If only it were that simple." Rikki muttered to herself.

Chapter Text

Chapter 7: Flames That Don't Die Out

Rikki arrived back from Perth late a few nights later. She tossed her bag to the side and flopped down on her bed, knowing sleep would take her away soon. The trip had gone well but she found herself longing to get back to Liv and Zane. Rikki was surprised at that, she didn't think she would become so attached to the pair. She had told Zane she was arriving late and he asked if she still wanted to do a lesson the day she got back. Considering she would have the whole day to recover, she didn't think it would hurt for her to give the lesson that afternoon. Rikki curled up in her bed, brainstorming what she would work on with Liv later that day as she felt sleep take her away.

Rikki didn't bother setting an alarm, she usually woke up pretty early even without one. Given how late she got back, she thought she would sleep until the late morning or early afternoon. She felt the sun shining in through her sheer curtains and felt well rested. She stretched in her bed and reached for her phone to see what time it was. It read nearly 2:00 back to her.

Rikki shot up out of bed. There was a 2 hour time difference between Perth and Gold Coast, Perth being 2 hours behind. Had she changed her phone back to Gold Coast time? If she hadn't, it was almost 4:00 and she was almost an hour late to her lesson with Liv. Rikki didn't bother showering, changing quickly into a clean set of clothes and running out the door. She also didn't bother to check any other clocks on her way out. She was positive she was late.

Rikki did her best to weave through traffic quickly but safely. Her car also read 2:00 back to her but her car was connected to her phone. Whatever time her phone said would be the same on her dashboard. After what felt like hours, she finally made it out of the Gold Coast traffic and was driving in Zane's neighborhood. She parked her car in the driveway and ran up to the door, knocking and ringing the doorbell multiple times.

"Rikki?" Zane said once he opened the door. "What are you doing-"

"Sorry, I'm late." Rikki said as she pushed past him.

"Late?" Zane asked. "What are you talking about?"

Rikki finally looked at another clock beside her phone. All of the ones in Zane's home read 2:00. She had switched her phone back, or it switched itself.

"Sorry." She said with a chuckle. "There's a two hour difference in Perth. I wasn't sure if I set up phone back so I was worried I was late."

"Oh." Zane said. "Well, I'm glad you made it."

"Yeah," Rikki replied. She couldn't figure out if Zane was happy to see her or not. Maybe it would be safe for her to go. "I guess I'll be back at 3-"

"No!" Zane cried, a bit louder than he intended to. Rikki looked at him, surprised. "I-I mean, you're already here. You're welcome to stay."

"Okay." Rikki nodded. Zane swallowed a lump in his throat. He couldn't remember being so nervous around a woman since he first met his wife.

"I'm just finishing some work upstairs." Zane said. "You can come with me, if you want."

"All right." Rikki nodded with a charming smile. Zane smiled back and lead her up the stairs to his office. It was modest in comparison to what his dad had. Hannah had previously used the extra room for writing. She said the view from the room was the best in the house and Zane couldn't argue. When she passed and he decided to work from home, he converted this room into his office by simply adding a desk, chair and laptop. The shelves were still filled with her books, written works and photo albums.

Zane took a seat at his desk chair as Rikki followed him into the room.

"Sorry there's no where else to sit." Zane said. "I recently changed this room over to an office."

Rikki nodded as she was drawn to the shelves. Zane watched her gently touch the spines of Hannah's journals before shaking her head slightly and turning back to Zane.

"What do you do, anyway?" Rikki asked.

"Surprisingly enough, I'm the president of my Dad's company." Zane said. He saw Rikki's eyes go wide.

"Oh," She said. "I'm sorry, I guess I didn't expect you to go into the family business."

"That's fair." Zane chuckled. "It wasn't exactly what I had in mind when I left for Oxford."

Rikki shut out a painful memory that arose of her crying in his arms on the floor of their shared office at the cafe and of contractors taking down the sign while she could only watch and he was halfway across the world.

"What changed?" Rikki asked as she leaned against a wall.

"Liv did." Zane said. "My wife, Hannah, and I had her just after our first year there. We ended up graduating but just barely. Any dream I had before Liv came second to her as soon as I held her. I just wanted to provide the best life I could for her. Hannah and I didn't get any great job offers after college and we figured our best option would be to come back here so I could work for my dad."

Rikki nodded along. It was the first time Zane had mentioned his wife or Liv mentioned her mother. She noticed Zane didn't refer to her as his ex-wife. They were still married then? Rikki had been over to the house at multiple times and multiple days but had yet to meet Hannah.

"Where is your wife, by the way?" Rikki voiced her thoughts. "I haven't meet her in the time I've been coming here."

Zane's demeanor changed quickly. He seemed sad. He typed a reply to a message he just got on his computer and Rikki sat in the corner, quietly and awkwardly.

"She died a few months ago." Zane said with a sigh. "Brain cancer."

"Oh," Rikki replied. She didn't know why she hadn't thought of that. She felt stupid now. Why would anyone want to talk about their dead wife? Their recently dead wife. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"

"No, it's okay." Zane said. "I reckon it was bound to come up eventually. I'm glad I was the one who told you and not Liv. She took it really hard, you know. She really shut off and I was worried I wouldn't get her back. And then she became a mermaid and I…"

"Zane, it's fine." Rikki said. She felt like an idiot for saying anything. "You don't have to-"

"Then you showed up." Zane said. Rikki was taken aback. Why would he bring her up? "You show up and talk to her and you just… get her. I haven't seen her this happy in a while. I suppose I owe you one."

Rikki smiled to herself before looking back at him. "Between everything I did for you when we were teens to now, Zane, you owe me for eternity."

Zane smiled at her. Another message came through his computer and Zane groaned.

"What is it?" Rikki asked. She knew how bad days at work were. She would leave if needed.

"Nothing, it's just… the company puts on a gala of sorts every year. My dad has always spoken at it but since this is my first year as president, he wants me to take over. I can give the speech but I'm no good at writing. If only I had-"

"I can help." Rikki cut him off.

"You can?" Zane asked.

"Yeah," Rikki rolled her eyes and stepped away from the shelves. She scanned a section Zane knew to be his wife's rare non-fiction section. Rikki pulled a book out and plopped it in his lap. Zane looked down at the book. He remembered seeing the title, Hannah probably left it on the dinning table with the bag covering the bottom. It was something about the journeys of a treasure hunter and noted it was a best-seller. He scanned down the book to see valuable items such as statues, jewelry and paintings in the sand. He continued further down to the bottom of the book. Where he knew the author's name to be was written 'Rikki Chadwick'.

"You have a book?" Zane asked, placing the book on his desk.

"Yeah," Rikki chuckled. "I can't say I wrote all of it but certainly a decent portion. I make speeches all the time too. Quite frankly, I'm the best help you could have."

"Great, well… thanks." Zane said. "Let me just tell my dad Rikki Chadwick is going to help me write a speech. I'm sure he'll stop stressing out after that."

Rikki laughed at him again. "How is your dad? And your friends?"

"My dad is doing well." Zane said. "He's enjoying retirement, although he stays on my ass at all hours about work. He retired in Sydney so it's nice having him at an arm's length. As for my friends, Nate and the guys. Well, I didn't really connect with them again when I got back. I had Hannah and Liv to worry about and I wasn't sure they would understand my new responsibilities."

Rikki nodded. She supposed Nate wouldn't be able to understand not going on a dirt bike ride because his wife needed help with a baby. Nor did Rikki think Nate would enjoy hanging out with a baby. She knew she would have hated it.

"What about you?" Zane asked. "How is your dad and your friends?"

"Dad's good." Rikki said. "I was able to save up enough to help get him out of the trailer park and into a home. He still works odd jobs but he's happy. As for my friends, I don't really talk to anyone either. I figured I'd lose contact with Emma and Lewis when they left and I haven't talked to Cleo or Bella since… that full moon."

Zane put his head down, remembering the look from the horrified girl he thought he might have a chance to get back. He was surprised when she fled from his room.

"I recall you having one more friend." Zane said with a cheeky smile. "What about my best mate, Will?"

It was Rikki's turn to take a sharp inhale. Zane looked at her with concerned eyes. Did something happen with them? Something worse than what Rikki went through with him? Worse than what she went through with her friends?

"You didn't hear?" Rikki asked, softly. "Will died four years ago."

Zane's face dropped. "Rikki, I'm sorry I didn't mean to-"

"No, it's okay." Rikki said. "You lost your wife and I lost a friend. We've just been through shit, right?"

"Yeah, I suppose so." Zane nodded. "But we don't have to talk about this depressing stuff. We should be in a good mood when Liv comes back."

"Right, yeah." Rikki nodded. "She's an amazing girl, you know?"

"Yeah," Zane replied. "She's just like me though."

"In case you didn't realize, I liked you when you were a teen." Rikki said.

"Not all the time." Zane teased. "I only ever received hate or love from you."

Rikki laughed. "Yeah I suppose so. I did like you and I like Liv. Being around you guys has been great really… especially since…"

"Rikki?" Zane asked after a moment.

"Hm?" She asked looking back up to him. "Oh, well I was just going to say, I just broke up with my boyfriend of… I don't know may how years. He was the first relationship I had outside of you and he cheated on me with one of my roommates. It sucked, I blamed myself for a lot of it. He cheated because I wouldn't open up to him. Anyway, being with Liv has given me a new purpose. A new drive that I just love."

Zane smiled at her, standing from his chair. "We're beyond grateful you're here. Also I should add any bloke who cheats on you is an idiot. I should know, I'm the founding club member."

They shared a laugh before Rikki looked into his chocolate, brown eyes. Eyes she could still get lost in. She shook it off, still not knowing where he stood in regards to his feelings for her. It wasn't a major concern of hers at the moment anyway.

"I'm just glad to be here." Rikki said.

Zane took a few paces so he was closer to Rikki. He smiled at her before running a hand down her arm. When he reached her hand, he grabbed it and pulled her into him, holding her in a hug. Hannah was a bit shorter than Rikki, he could kiss the top of her head when she leaned into him. Rikki still fit perfectly under his chin though. Zane's back faced the door so he wasn't to know what stood behind him and what that teenage girl thought of her recently widowed father sharing an intimate hug with her mermaid mentor.

Liv yelped as she closed her locker door. She was still debating on telling Leah about her new mermaid identity and their friendship had been strained since their incident in the hallway. Liv was keeping to herself these days so she wasn't expecting anyone standing behind her locker door, much less the cute, new boy.

"Hey," he said, smoothly. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."

"No, it's fine." Liv said as she readjusted her hold on her books. "What's happening?"

"Not too much." He said. "You have Ms. Campbell for first period, right?"

"Yeah." Liv replied, nodding her head.

"Well, I was erm….," Drew started. He suddenly looked nervous. "I was wondering if I could walk you there? I have her first period too."

"Yeah, sure." Liv replied. He didn't have to tell her what his first period was, she knew. "That sounds great."

"Cool." He said as the pair began walking down the hall. Drew had started the interaction so Liv expected him to start a conversation with her too. Suddenly, the boy was so much confidence seemed nervous.

"So…," he started. "What's your deal? Do you play into the 'I'm too cool for everyone so I'll just be by myself' lifestyle?"

"What?" Liv asked with a laugh. That didn't sound like her at all.

"I just couldn't help but notice you're by yourself all the time." Drew shrugged. "And you wear a lot of old pop punk t-shirts and black. I just figured that was your style."

"Oh, no." Liv said. "No, that's usually not me. My life has just been flipped upside down lately."

"Really?" Drew asked. "Do you mind if I ask what happened?"

Oh, you know, just usual teenage struggles and now I'm a fish, Liv thought. "My…. mum passed away a few months ago. That was tough. And now it's just me and my dad so…"

"Are you sure it's just you and your dad?" Liv heard from a locker they had just passed. The locker door shut and revealed Lily Keller, potentially an even bigger bitch than her older sister. Liv, Lily and Leah had been the best of friends when they were younger, the three 'L's as they called themselves. Then, Lily started falling behind in diving compared to Liv and Leah. She became jealous and broke off their friendships. Liv was reminded of a time when she was closer to Lily than Leah. Then again, they had lived next door to each other all of their lives. A part of Liv knew nothing good would come from an interaction with Lily but a part of her wanted to know what she meant.

"What are you talking about, Lily?" Liv asked, stopping with Drew by the other girl's locker.

"You must be the new guy!" Lily said, turning her attention to Drew. "I'm Lily, Liv's neighbor."

"Drew." He said in reply. Liv could tell he was a tad uncomfortable with the current situation.

"Lily, what are you talking about?" Liv repeated when she saw Lily making eyes at Drew. Although Liv could guess Drew wasn't interested, something about it made her want to smack Lily across the face.

"Nothing." Lily replied, shrugging her shoulders and turning her attention to Liv. "I've just been seeing a different car in your driveway quite a bit is all."

"Oh, that's Rikki." Liv replied. Where was Lily trying to go with this? "She's um… an old friend of my dad's."

"Looks more than friendly according to my mum." Lily said as the three starting walking down the hallway. "She said she saw a blonde girl hugging your dad the other day. Mum thinks they're dating."

"What?!" Liv exclaimed. It was as if Lily was trying to convince her two plus two equaled five. Rikki and Zane dating didn't make any sense. Besides, Liv's mum had just passed away, her dad wouldn't move on that quick… would he?

"Mum thinks it's gross that your dad would move on so quick." Lily said.

"Maybe you and your mum shouldn't make assumptions then." Drew butted in.

Lily was somewhere between a laugh and loosing her breath. Liv looked at Drew as if he was her hero. She didn't mind standing up for herself or her friends. Leah had no spine so Liv found herself defending her friend constantly. Things had changed since her mum died though.

"I've got to run to the pool before class." Lily said. "I'll see you guys later."

Liv and Drew watched as Lily walked the other direction. Liv had a feeling Lily didn't really have to go to the pool, she was just so off-put by what Drew had said, she needed an excuse to leave. Liv and Lily used to have play dates with their mums all the time, Lily was as close to her mum as Liv was hers. Any poor talk about her mum was damn near inexcusable.

"That's why I don't talk to anyone." Liv told Drew. "But thanks for that."

"Don't mention it." Drew said. "What she was implying was fucked up. I doubt your dad is hanging out with a woman behind your back."

"Well, I know Rikki." Liv said. "She's… a family friend and I know we've been having her over a lot but everything between her and Dad has always been platonic."

Or had it? Liv remembered the air of silence when Rikki first turned up at their house. She remembered how heavy the atmosphere had been. She ignored it at the time but was there a possibility they had more than friendly feelings for each other? Now, they were giving each other intimate hugs for the neighbors to see. Who knows what they were doing behind closed doors? No, that was impossible, Rikki was there for Liv, not Zane. There was nothing going on. There couldn't be anything going on.

"Hey, I wouldn't even think about it." Drew told Liv, grabbing her shoulder and forcing her to look at him. "Lily's just trying to get in your head, that's all. Don't give her the satisfaction."

Liv couldn't help but smile. Not only was Drew cute, he was strong, caring and sweet. Why a guy like him was wanting to give her the time of day was beyond her.

"You're right." Liv said on an exhale. "Thanks."

"Don't mention it." Drew said, releasing his hand from her shoulder. "Let's go to class then, shall we?"

Liv took a seat next to Drew during first period and found it easy not to focus on the possibility of Rikki and Zane being more than friends. That didn't mean she was focused on class. She kept an arm over her notebook so Drew couldn't see what she was writing as she drew hearts with their names inside. She felt so silly doing this but she was truly happy. At the least, she hoped she could have Drew as a friend.

Second period came and Drew went to different class from Liv. Lilly Keller did not. Liv knew Lily was whispering about her with her friends. Liv cornered herself in the back of her class as she willed the image of Rikki and Zane kissing out of her head. Liv briefly caught eyes with Leah at the front of the class. Leah gave her an apologetic look and Liv sighed as she continued doodling mindlessly in her notebook.

As the day continued, Rikki and Zane's relationship in Liv's head continued to get more serious. Soon, she saw Rikki moving in with them, her dad proposing, Rikki standing in front of him in a white dress and the pair telling Liv she was getting a sibling. Liv tried to reassure herself. Drew was right, her dad wouldn't start dating another woman without telling her at the least. Still, Liv wondered if he would consider her feelings at all. Zane was still young, it was fair if he did want to start dating eventually. Her mum hadn't been gone for six months yet, parts of Liv were still processing her death. She wasn't ready for a stepmother yet.

The final bell finally rang and Liv bursted out of her final class period. She didn't notice she hadn't closed her backpack all the way and that a few of her notebooks had fallen out until she heard someone calling her name.

"Liv!" He said, running after her. Drew was about the only person she would give the time of day to at the moment. She smiled as he ran to her.

"You dropped this." He said, handing her the notebook she had left open to the page she had been drawing hearts and their names on in first period. Liv blushed as she quickly took the notebook.

"Thanks." Liv replied as she held it to her chest so he wouldn't see it.

"How are you?" He asked.

"I'm fine." Liv said with a smile she hoped was reassuring. "You're right, Lily's just trying to get into my head. It doesn't make any sense."

"Yeah, well I heard Lily's going to miss diving practice." Drew told her. "Someone put green dye in one of her hair products last period."

Liv could barely hold back a smile. She let out a small laugh. "Wow. I wonder who did that."

"Beats me." Drew replied. "Do you do art, by the way? You're drawings are really good."

"You saw them?" Liv asked.

"Yeah," Drew replied with a laugh. "I especially liked what you did at the bottom right of the page. Anyway, if you're not in art, I really think you should be."

Liv smiled at him. He had that effect on her, it seemed. She couldn't remember ever feeling this way about anyone. It excited her but scared her at the same time. She never thought about doing art. She had a few of her drawings displayed at functions when she was in primary school but she never thought to pursue it any further. She was always so enthralled with diving she didn't have time for much else. Now, art seemed like a good hobby to take up.

"I've got to go." Drew told her. "I'll catch you tomorrow."

"See you." Liv replied as Drew dashed down the stairs at the front of their school. Suddenly, Liv remembered what he said. I especially liked what you did at the bottom right of the page. She frowned trying to remember any distinct features she had drawn at the bottom right of the page. She pulled her notebook away from her chest to see what he was taking about. She had doodled in pencil so she could erase any mistakes but at the bottom right was text written in blue ink and handwriting that didn't belong to her.

'Text me sometime if you want. (02) 9515 5163'

Liv felt herself blush again, knowing only one person could have written that. She made a note to text him once she got home. She had just taken a step down the stairs when she heard her name again. She was surprised to turn around and see Leah.

"Leah," Liv started. "Shouldn't you be at diving practice?"

"We have a few minutes before it starts." Leah shrugged. "I just wanted to say I'm sorry about Lily Keller."

"Yeah, well…" Liv started. "What are either of us going to do? Neither of us have had much of a spine recently."

"Right, yeah." Leah responded with a down look. "I guess I'll catch you later."

Liv nodded as Leah dashed back up the stairs. She caught sight of a small green bottle in Leah's backpack. One they had used to dye cells in science class so they could see them better under the telescope. Liv's eyes widened as she realized it had been Leah who added green dye to one of Lily's hair products. Liv smiled again, feeling she had found her first mermaid confidant.

It had been an odd day but a good day for Liv. Yes, there were people who were out to get her but there were also people who cared about her and supported her. Drew, Leah, Rikki, her father. She had lost so much that could never be replaced in the past few months but she had also gained so much more. Life was so fragile, she should stop taking it for granted.

As Liv walked up to her home, she saw Rikki's car was already there. This was normal, she reassured herself. Rikki was usually waiting for her when she got home from school and they would complete a lesson. Lily was wrong, there was nothing going on between them.

Liv unlocked the front door and placed her backpack on a bench in the foyer, taking out her notebook to take up to her room. Rikki was usually in the main room but Liv didn't see her there today. She furrowed her eyebrows wondering if Rikki was perhaps outside already. Liv dashed up the stairs, stopping by her bedroom to drop her notebook off. She figured she would ask her dad if Rikki was waiting outside for her. Liv walked to his office and felt her breath catch as she took in the sight in front of her.

They were hugging. Rikki and Zane were hugging. It wasn't a casual hug either, they were wrapped up in each other. She supposed this wasn't kissing. She supposed she shouldn't be worried about this. That was something primary school kids did to confirm a relationship. Still, she couldn't find a way to get over what Lily said to her early that day. Maybe they were dating. Maybe Rikki was keeping it from her student. Maybe Zane was keeping it from his own daughter.

Liv watched them pull away from each other. Zane's back faced Liv so she could only see Rikki's face. The atmosphere became heavy again as she saw the way Rikki looked at her father. It was the way her mother used to look at him. Liv couldn't help letting out a harsh breath. It was as if she had been punched in the gut.

"Liv!" Rikki exclaimed as she took notice of the girl, quickly backing away from Zane. The grown man turned around to face his daughter. They didn't look like they had been caught doing anything, only as if they had been talking casually and Liv had walked into the room.

"Hi, sweetheart." Zane said with a large smile. "How was your day?"

"It um… it was good." Liv replied.

"Good." Zane replied, looking back to Rikki. "Well I reckon I should let you guys get to it."

"Actually I was thinking, maybe you could come with us on your boat." Rikki said. "A bit of a casual lessons today and dinner at Mako Island? If you're not busy that is."

"Yeah, sure." Zane said. "That sounds great! I'll go get some stuff in the kitchen then."

Zane ran past Liv as if she wasn't there. Either Liv hadn't worn her face of disappointment clear enough or Rikki and Zane were still lost in their love trance. Lily was right. Something was going on and now they were ready to involve Liv in it.

Rikki gave Liv a small smile and turned to the bookshelves in front of her. Liv furrowed her eyebrows and entered her dad's office.

"Are these your mum's works?" Rikki asked, reaching out to touch a spine.

"No!" Liv exclaimed. She didn't know why she reacted now. Nothing would happen if Rikki touched her mum's books. Still, it felt as if she let Rikki touch them, she would replace her mum. As if Zane would forget completely about Hannah and only know Rikki. Liv liked Rikki, maybe if she and Zane decided to date in a few years or once Liv moved out she would be okay with it but this was all too soon.

"Are you all right, Liv?" Rikki asked, finally taking in Liv's disgruntled face.

"H-How could you?" Liv said as she felt tears start to well in her eyes.

Before Rikki could say anything else, Liv sprinted from the office to her room, slamming the door so loud, she was sure the neighbors would hear. She tossed her notebook off the bed, shoved her head in the pillow and began to weep.

Chapter Text

Chapter 8: His Whole World

Rikki was confused to say the least. What had happened? Why was Liv so upset? It took Rikki a moment to move as she finally followed Liv out of the office. She slammed her door in a teenage fashion. Rikki could remember doing that a handful of times as well, specifically when she was upset with her father. What Liv was upset about was unknown to Rikki.

"Liv?" Rikki asked after she knocked on the door. She could hear the young girl crying on the other side. Rikki could rarely remember being so upset about someone else being upset. She wanted nothing more than to at least understand what had made Liv so distraught.

"Go away!" Liv shouted from the other end. Her voice wavered and Rikki could tell she was really, really crying. As soon as the words came out of Liv's mouth, Zane had bounded up the stairs. He likely heard Liv's door slam. He locked eyes with Rikki as the two adults both wore looks of confusion and pain.

"What happened?" Zane asked Rikki.

"I don't know." Rikki replied. "She seemed fine and then she ran off."

"I can handle this." Zane told her. "Why don't you go wait in the main room?"

"But Zane-," Rikki started.

"Rikki, please." Zane cut her off. "She's my daughter."

Rikki saw a level of care and sincerity in his eyes she hadn't seen in a long time. She wondered if she had ever seen it to this magnitude. Zane wasn't afraid to show her he cared back in the day but it was clear Zane didn't care about anything above Liv.

Rikki gave him a nod. "Okay."

She excused herself to the stairwell. She wasn't going to sit in the main room and hope this all blew over. She wanted to be able to hear whatever Zane could fish out of Liv. Rikki stopped at the landing, pacing the small area as she heard Zane knock on the door asking for Liv with seemingly no response. Rikki wondered if Zane would came down the stairs and give Liv some alone time until she finally heard the door open.

Liv just wished the knocking on her door would stop. It would eventually, she had been in this situation before. Her dad would give her alone time if she needed it. She desperately wanted him to leave her be but she didn't know if she could talk to him without losing her cool right now. It was best for everyone she stay in her room.

Liv finally flipped over from her facedown position on her bed and tucked her legs under her chin. Tears still fell freely from her eyes but she wasn't sobbing anymore. Her dad was still banging on her door, requesting she open it and talk to him. She still wasn't ready. What if he confirmed her fears? What if he admitted he and Rikki were dating? What if he admitted to replacing her mum? She needed to work up more courage to do that. Her mum always helped her the most when she felt weak. Liv spotted one of the photo albums her dad gave her on her desk. It was one she couldn't remember ever seeing. She reckoned Zane had taken the others. Maybe he was showing Rikki so she knew the role she was expected to take.

Liv stood and flipped the album open. There was a reason she had never seen this one, the images were those of her dad. He looked like he was about her age now in the photos. He hadn't met Hannah yet. This photo album would do her no good but she decided to flip through it anyway. Maybe there was something in here that would help her feel better.

Several of the photos were of Zane doing typical teenager things. Some were of her grandfather and Zane. Those photos always looked so stiff and forced. She knew Zane didn't have the best relationship with his father but it wasn't bad by any means either. She continued flipping the pages to see him by a pool, surfing and riding dirt bikes. She came across an image of him with who she assumed were his friends. Rikki was in the image too. Liv felt her blood boil. She took a deep breath knowing this image didn't confirm anything new. She knew they were friends when they were younger. There were two other guys and two other girls Liv didn't recognize in the picture. She shook it off and she continued flipping through the pages.

Liv came across a page that took her breath away and all but confirmed her suspicions. The image featured only Rikki and Zane. They were standing outside a building with Rikki's name on it with their arms around each other's waist and shoulders. She continued to dig deeper. She posed like that for pictures with many of her friends, it didn't mean they were dating. The next page confirmed all she needed. She felt tears start to run down her face again and an anger take over her. She didn't care if she opened the door to her father and all hell broke loose. She didn't care if she would have to run away from home. Nothing mattered.

Liv ripped the photo out of the album, stood from her bed and approached the door her father was still on the other side of. She flung it open and was met with a look of surprise from him.

"Liv-" he started.

"Don't." Liv cut him off. "I… I just… I don't understand how you could do this."

"Do what?" Zane asked. "Liv, could you please just tell me-"

"I thought you loved Mum!" Liv exclaimed. "Or at least respected her. Now look at what you've done!"

"What are you talking about?" Zane asked. If he was confused when he opened the door, he was even more so now. "Of course I loved your mum-"

"Then would you care to explain this?" Liv said shoving the photo to his chest.

Zane took the photo off of his chest to look at it. It was one he hadn't seen in a long time. He remembered when it was taken too. He remembered being so happy. He remembered thinking he was going to marry the girl in the photo, the one his lips were on as they stood outside of their brand new restaurant. The photos were taken for an ad in the paper. He and Rikki were at the height of their relationship and got cared away. The photos of them kissing weren't used in the ad but he did request to take them for himself.

"Liv," Zane started, following her into her room. "This was a long time ago."

"How do you explain the hug I walked in on today?" Liv asked. "Or the hugs you have been sharing for the neighbors to see? Can you blame me for thinking the obvious?"

Zane sighed. Liv thought he and Rikki were dating. No wonder she was so upset. Hannah had just passed and while Zane couldn't deny some of his feelings he had for Rikki were still there, it was too soon for him to start dating.

"Liv," Zane sighed, taking a seat on the opposite end of her bed. "I loved your mum very, very much. I still miss her everyday."

"Then why are you dating Rikki?" Liv asked.

"I'm not doing anything with Rikki." Zane told her. "Maybe we weren't completely honest about the nature of our friendship before but I didn't tell you because I didn't think it was important. Rikki is first and foremost here to help you, not to do anything with me."

"I see the way she looks at you though," Liv said with her saddest eyes yet. "It's the same way Mum looked at you. And you look at her like you used to look at Mum. I know I'm young but I wasn't born yesterday. I knew from the moment you guys saw each other again there was more than just friendship going on. I guess I just hoped I was wrong. And then I go to school and hear about how you might be dating from Lily Keller and I come home to you guys hugging… what was I supposed to think? What was I supposed to do?"

Zane quickly moved across the bed and grabbed Liv fiercely to him. She let out another bout of tears and sobs. Zane remembered how complicated he thought his relationship with Rikki was when they were teens. That was nothing compared to now.

"I don't know if I'm ever going to find someone like your mum again." Zane said. "But if I do, you'll be the first one I tell. And if you don't like her… well, I don't care how crazy I am about her, I'll dump her in a heartbeat. I'm not going to date Rikki or anyone without your consent. It doesn't matter if she and I still have feelings for each other, if you don't like it, I won't date her."

"Really?" Liv asked, removing her head from his chest.

"Of course." Zane replied. "You're my whole world, Liv. You have been for the last fifteen years. Ever since I first saw you with your bright red skin and misshapen head."

"Dad." Liv sighed and Zane let out a laugh.

"I mean it though," Zane said. "I would never do anything to upset you."

"I guess I always knew that." Liv said. "Things have just been so complicated lately."

"You're telling me." Zane replied. Liv moved out of his arms and she stood from her bed. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Liv replied. Zane gave her a nod and went to leave the room.

"Good." Zane said. "Did you want to have a lesson with Rikki today or…?"

"I think it's best we put it off." Liv said.

"All right." Zane replied. "I'll let her know."

"Dad?" Liv asked before he could fully exit the room.

"Yeah?" Zane asked back.

"Thank you," she said. "For everything. I know the past few months have been really hard but I think you've been doing a great job."

Zane soon found his daughter hugging his waist. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders, finding her somewhere between Hannah and Rikki's height. Talk about an absolute perfect fit.

"I love you, Dad." She mumbled against him. Zane couldn't wipe the smile from his face or the tears that suddenly appeared in his eyes.

"I love you too, sweetheart." Zane replied, laying a kiss on top of her head.

Once the hug was over, the father-daughter pair gave each other one last look before Zane quietly closed the door behind her.

Zane padded down the stairs to tell Rikki they wouldn't be having a lesson today when he ran into her on the landing.

"I should have figured you would be here." Zane said. "How much did you hear?"

Rikki looked lost in a trance. It took her a few seconds to reply to him. Zane wondered if Rikki had been impacted by the conversation too.

"Oh, sorry," Rikki said in reply. "I um… I'll get out of your hair since there's no lesson."

Zane shook his head. He couldn't please anyone. Did Rikki have feelings for him? His eighteen year old self would be so happy. His eighteen year old self was also selfish. He wouldn't care who his relationship impacted. Now, he knew he couldn't loose or damage his relationship with his daughter. He meant it, she was his everything.

"Rikki!" Zane called after her, meeting her at the front door.

"It's fine." Rikki replied immediately. "Can I just go home?"

Zane saw the tears swimming in her eyes. He made the right choice, he knew he did. Damn, seeing Rikki like this sure as hell made it feel like he was making the wrong choice.

"I… I just...," Zane started. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be." Rikki said with a shake of her head. "These things used to be so simple, right?"

"Yeah," Zane replied. "Yeah, they did."

"Well… I reckon I'll see you tomorrow." Rikki said.

"Yeah," Zane replied again. "I'll see you then."

Rikki felt the urge to give him a hug or even a peck on the cheek. Liv wasn't there, she would never know. Still, Rikki knew if she allowed herself to do that, it would only be a matter of time until the started kissing. Establishing barriers now would be easier than doing it later.

"And, Zane?" Rikki started before she opened the door. He simply looked up at her. "You're a really great father."

Zane's smile grew. Rikki was happy to see it. "Thanks."

Rikki nodded as she closed the door behind her and hopped into her car. Her apartment would likely be empty, Claire and Nathan were usually at work during this time. Still, she felt the waves and the moon pool calling her name. Rikki begged her tears to wait until she pulled into the beach parking lot. It wouldn't do her any good if she burst into tears while she was driving. She finally arrived at the empty beach. The sun was starting to set so most of the beachgoers were heading home if not already there. She barely made it out of her car when she felt her legs give out. She spent a moment crying in the sand. Life with Zane Bennett was always oh, so complicated.

Rikki finally gathered her composure and took off in the ocean. She enjoyed the feeling of the water on her face and tried to focus on that while she continued her trip to Mako Island. It wouldn't be the first night she spent crying in the moon pool and it sure as hell wasn't the first night she would be crying because of Zane. The moon was probably tired of her antics.

Chapter Text

Chapter 9: Be Careful Who You Trust

Mermaid lessons resumed the next day for Rikki and Liv. Although Liv had a decent handle on speeding through water, she still had to work on her control, making sharp turns and ensuring she didn't run into any marine animals. Rikki was pleased with her progress though, she was getting the hang of the mermaid life.

"I promise, you're doing great." Rikki told a disgruntled Liv as they entered the moon pool. "Although you running into that manatee was pretty funny."

"I hope he's all right." Liv sighed.

"He looked fine to me." Rikki said. "A bit annoyed but who can blame him?"

Liv chuckled and rolled her eyes in response. She was grateful to have Rikki around. The older mermaid was very knowledgeable but was also very down to earth and cool. Rikki filled a gap in Liv's life that was much needed. She never thought she would be so thankful as to become a mermaid.

That didn't mean her new lifestyle didn't come with its cons. Liv had yet to officially unenroll from her P.E. class. It had always been her favorite class but it was starting to present too many water threats. They would be swimming all next week so she would have to switch classes soon. She reckoned she would take Drew's advice and start taking art classes. Although her friendship with the long haired boy was blossoming, the same couldn't be said for her life-long friend. Liv had debated telling Leah her secret but had gone back and forth so many times. The thought alone was too daunting. What if Leah didn't accept her? What if she wanted to expose her? Liv didn't know what she would do then.

"What's on your mind?" Rikki asked as they relaxed on opposite ends of the moon pool.

"Nothing, really." Liv said. "It's silly."

"Try me." Rikki requested.

Liv gave half an eye roll. She reckoned if one person would understand her dilemma, it was Rikki. "I've been debating telling my best friend I'm a mermaid."

"What's holding you back?" Rikki asked.

"I think I'm just… scared." Liv sighed. "Our friendship hasn't been the strongest since I've transformed. We met when we were on a diving team as kids, it's been the core of our friendship ever since. Now, that obviously can't continue."

Rikki nodded. She knew all too well about having friends with only one common interest. In retrospect, she was still surprised at how much they protected and helped each other.

"It does help to have friends know." Rikki said. "Especially when this is all just starting for you. I've also learned if you're thinking about telling them your secret, fate has a funny way of interrupting your plans.

"Besides," Rikki continued after a moment. "You can always dive again, you can only do it one time."

Liv's eyes suddenly lit up. She knew exactly how she was going to tell Leah she was a mermaid.

"Liv!" She heard her name as she clutched her new schedule to her books. Liv turned around to see Leah running towards her. Liv was walking in an opposite direction than normal, it made sense why Leah was running after her.

"Hey, Leah." Liv replied once the girl caught up to her.

"Where are you going?" Leah asked. "Science is the other way."

"Oh, right." Liv said, shuffling her books. "I actually just got my schedule changed so I don't have science during second period anymore."

"What?" Leah asked. "Why did you change your schedule?"

Liv tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "There was just a class I needed to get out of and the rest of my schedule got shuffled around."

"What class did you get out of?" Leah asked.

"Um, I just wanted to try art this year is all." Liv said partially dodging the question.

"You signed up for art?" She heard a male voice from behind her. Liv turned around to see Drew standing there. He had been the one to encourage her to further her talents initially and over their late nights texting. "That's great, Liv!"

"Since when do you like art?" Leah asked her friend.

"I don't know." Liv replied. "Drew saw a drawing I did in class and said I should pursue it so I figured I would."

"You figured you'd drop a class just because some guy said you should?" Leah asked.

"First off, he's not just 'some guy'." Liv defended, feeling herself turn redder than a tomato. She was thankful Drew was still behind her. "Second, I've been wanting to get out of this class for the past few weeks anyway, art seemed like a good replacement."

"What class was it, Liv?" Leah repeated her question from a moment ago.

"Er…," Liv started. She was finally going to have to bite the bullet. "I dropped P.E.."

Leah's eyes turned as wide as saucers. "P.E.?! Liv, that's been your favorite- our favorite class since… I don't know when! It's… I don't know what's happening to you but it feels like I'm loosing my best friend!"

"Leah, wait-" Liv exclaimed. It was too late. Leah was already sprinting down the halls to escape her friend. Who knew if Leah still thought of Liv as a friend? Liv sighed. This mermaid stuff was getting out of hand. Thankfully, a resolution was on its way.

"That was a bit dramatic." Liv heard from behind her. She jumped slightly, forgetting Drew was still behind her.

"That's Leah." Liv shrugged. "You get used to it."

Drew simply nodded in reply. "Hey, when do you have art?"

"Um, fourth period." Liv said after referencing her new schedule.

"Oh, perfect!" Drew said. "I think my sister, Kate is in that class as well. She's great. Well, as far as sisters go anyway."

"Great." Liv said. "I'll be sure to look out for her."

Drew nodded as an awkward silence hung in the air. "Well, I should get ready for class."

"Yeah, I should talk to Leah." Liv replied.

"Good luck." Drew said before he disappeared into the crowd.

Liv took a moment to gather herself. She wasn't used to being this struck by boys. She had rarely dated before and the feelings she had for those guys couldn't compare to what she felt for Drew. Liv guessed Leah would still be at her locker so she sprinted after her friend. It would be a bit awkward to have this conversation in a classroom full of people.

"Leah!" Liv shouted as she thankfully found her friend by her locker. Leah didn't seem to hear Liv and continued adding books to her book bag.

"What do you want, Liv?" Leah finally said as she closed her locker door.

"I know I've been acting weird." Liv said. "Believe me, I know things are changing super quickly but I promise I have a good reason."

"What is it then?" Leah asked.

"I can't tell you." Liv replied.

"Whatever," Leah said with an eye roll. She turned away from Liv to walk to her next class.

"Wait!" Liv exclaimed, grabbing Leah's shoulder and jumping back in front of her. "Wait, I can't tell you. I don't think you'll believe me."

"Fine." Leah replied.

"But I can show you!" Liv exclaimed again. Leah lifted her eyebrows in response. Liv sighed before continuing again. "I was going to see if you would like to dive with me after school."

"You're… you're serious?" Leah asked. "Liv, I haven't seen you dive in almost a month."

"I know, I miss it." Liv said. It was the furthest thing from a lie. "I just thought you might be able to help me get back on track."

"What about everything else?" Leah asked. "How weird you've been acting lately, how are you going to explain that?"

"I'll tell you after our dive." Liv said. "If you don't figure it out by then."

"You promise?" Leah asked.

"I promise." Liv replied.

Leah's face turned from stoic to thrilled in a blink of an eye. She let out a squeal before grabbing Liv in a death grip of a hug.

"Oh, Livy this is so exciting!" Leah exclaimed. "I-I finally feel like I'm getting you back! I can't wait for this afternoon."

"Yeah, me neither." Liv replied quietly, finally feeling the impact of everything come crashing down on her. By the end of the day, Leah would know Liv was a mermaid. What she would do with that information, Liv had no idea.

"Don't worry," Leah said. "I know your dives probably won't be perfect but I guarantee you could still make the team if you wanted! I see much worse every practice."

"Right, yeah." Liv said. "Well, we should probably get to class, right?"

"Oh, right!" Leah said. "I'll see you after school!"

"Catch you then." Liv said, still feeling her heart beat out of her chest.

The next two class periods weren't too different from Liv's previous schedule. It was a little odd taking math in the morning rather than the afternoon but she doubted it would take her much if any time to get used to it. Art came later in the morning. This was the first class she would have that was different from her regular schedule. Liv walked past the English classrooms she knew Leah and Drew were in, into a hallway that was brightly decorated. The walls were covered in what she assumed were works of the art students, ranging from paintings to ceramic vases sat on shelves. Liv spotted the room number at the beginning of the hall, right across from the girl's bathroom.

"Can I help you?" A friendly teacher in a loud outfit asked Liv once she entered the classroom.

"Oh, yes, I'm Olivia Bennett." Liv said, only using her full name so the teacher could find her on the attendance sheet. "I just transferred into this class."

"Great, we're happy to have you!" The teacher said, brightly, checking a name off the sheet. "You can go sit right there, Olivia."

"Oh, I go by Liv." Liv told the teacher as she took a seat next to a pretty girl with hair as dark as Liv's own.

"Liv?" The girl said once Liv sat down. Liv gave her a nod. "Liv Bennett? So you're the girl my brother won't shut up about."

"Sorry?" Liv asked. She couldn't recall seeing this girl before.

"I'm Kate." She said. "My brother is Drew. I hope you know him and he's not being a creep-"

"Oh, right." Liv said, trying to hide her blush. Drew talked about her at home? "Yeah, I know Drew. He mentioned you."

"Only good things, I hope." Kate said. "Here, you can sit by me. We're getting starting on water color painting today so you picked the perfect day to transfer."

Water color painting? Liv hoped that wouldn't be detrimental to her mermaid identity. She left P.E. because of the water dangers, would she have to leave art as well? The more Liv thought about it, the more she realized every class had some sort of water threat. Art had water color painting, P.E. had swimming and diving, science could have water in their labs. Even a class like history or English could present a threat if a student beside her spilled a water bottle. Even if she did want to be homeschooled where threats were next to none, what was she supposed to do once schooling was over? This mermaid life couldn't dictate her.

Ms. Myles, the art teacher, began her lecture on water color paintings. They viewed famous paintings such as 'Great Yarmouth Harbour, Norfolk' and 'Left Wing of a Blue Roller'. Liv was surprised at how one medium could produce such different results. Sure, P.E. had been fun but art was proving to be a new contender at Liv's favorite class.

"All right, that's enough examples for today." Ms. Myles said as she turned the projector off. "Today, I'd like for you to start working on your first water color project. It can be whatever you would like, that we can display in our halls. That project is due next week. Then, we'll do a further dive into water color paintings and create your final projects for this unit. I'll be walking around if you need me but feel free to get started."

Liv nodded as she stared at the canvas ahead of her, wondering what she could paint. The options were virtually endless. The bright blue from the last painting still stuck out but she didn't want to copy the last piece. Maybe something abstract? She then remembered a school of Regal Blue Tang on her last swim with Rikki and wondered if she could paint those.

"We can sketch our design first, right?" Liv asked Kate.

"Of course." Kate said, as she grabbed a pencil herself. "It makes it easier actually."

Just then, Kate lifted her leg from the floor to the first level of the stool she was sat on. Her knee bummed the cup of water that was placed between her and Liv. Liv felt as if her life had entered slow motion. The water flew from the cup, landing directly on Liv's jeans and soaking into her leg. She stood instantly. She knew all eyes were on her but she couldn't be bothered to care. She needed to find a paper towel or a dryer of sorts. Someone could have put one right in between her eyes as she wouldn't have been able to find it. She had wasted too much time already.

"Liv, are you all right?" Ms. Myles asked. That seemed to snap Liv out of whatever trance she was stuck in. Without answering, Liv dashed out of the room, heading for the bathrooms. She heard Ms. Myles calling for her, asking her to stay, but Liv had to make this quick. Who's to say the bathroom was even going to be empty? What was she supposed to do?

Liv made it into the bathroom, trying to get to a stall before the transformation happened. She still wasn't sure what she was going to do. Even in the large stalls, she wouldn't be able to hide her tail. The dryer was right in front of her but the vision was soon blocked by someone coming out of the stalls. Someone Liv could thankfully trust.

"Leah!" Liv exclaimed. Leah looked startled at her friend's outburst. "Are we alone?"

"Yeah, it's just me." Leah replied. "What's going-"

Leah wasn't able to finish her sentence. Liv felt her legs give out and her heartbeat slow ever so slightly. At least it was just Leah in the bathroom. At least Leah could lock the door while Liv dried off. Liv fell against the bathroom wall, feeling cool air on her back and stomach. She didn't need to look at her lower half to know she was now in her mermaid form.

Liv looked up to see what reaction Leah was having. Her jaw dropped and she looked like she was debating pointing a finger at Liv's tail or not. It was a similar reaction to Zane finding out Liv was a mermaid but perhaps worse. Liv was far from the first mermaid Zane had seen.

"Leah, listen carefully." Liv said as Leah still looked on with shock. "I will explain everything to you but I need you to lock the bathroom door. I can't let the whole school see me like this."

Just as the last words left Liv's mouth, the bathroom door opened. Liv felt her heart drop as she knew someone aside from Leah was going to learn her secret today too.

"Liv, are you all right?" The familiar voice said. "Ms. Myles asked me to-"

Liv was met with Kate this time. It was the older girl's turn to look shocked although Leah still didn't look any more put together. Liv had to act fast unless she wanted the whole school to know her secret. Who knew how much longer it was going to be kept that way? Liv could trust Leah but she had only just met Kate. What would she do with this information?

"Kate, please lock the door." Liv begged.

"Um, right." Kate said, snapping out of her shock induced comma before Leah did.

"Thank you." Liv replied. "Would you two mind helping me get to the hand dryer? I need to dry off."

"Yeah, sure." Kate replied, grabbing Liv's hand. Leah as stood closest to Liv's fin. She looked between the fin, Kate and Liv as if she was asking one of them what to do.

"You can touch my fin." Liv said. "I won't hurt you."

Leah shook her head before grabbing Liv's fin and placing her under the dryer. Liv punched the button to turn it on and lifted her leg as close to the dryer as possible.

"Liv!" Leah finally exclaimed. "What the hell!?"

"Shh Leah." Liv requested. "You're going to cause a scene."

"Cause a scene?" Leah repeated. "Oh, I'm so sorry. This happens all the time, doesn't it? One day you have a normal best friend and the next she's a fish!"

"Only half fish, technically." Kate interjected.

"Thank you." Liv said to Kate before turning her attention back to Leah. "Leah, I've wanted to tell you. I was going to tell you today actually, not quite like this but later, during our dive."

"Wait," Leah said. "Is this why you quit diving?"

"Well, yeah." Liv admitted, as if Leah had asked her the most obvious question in the world. "This happens every time I get a drop of water on me. Everyone would know if I continued diving."

"What's so bad about everyone knowing?" Leah asked. "Do you know how many girls our age would love to be a mermaid?"

"Do you know how many adults there are who would love to know this as well?" Liv asked. "Do you know how many would put my life in danger and not even care?"

"I reckon you have a point." Leah said.

"So you haven't always been like this?" Kate asked.

"No," Liv replied as she turned the hand dryer on again. "It happened a few months ago. I got in a fight with my dad and went out to Mako Island on my own. I fell down an opening in the volcano and found this pool of water at the center. It was the only way out so I got in as soon as the moon passed over. That was when the transformation happened."

"I guess that explains why you quit diving," Leah said. "But why are you always so busy? You never have time to just hang out anymore."

"I've been training." Liv said. "My dad's friend, Rikki, has been helping me adjust to this new life. She's a mermaid too."

"A town full of mermaids." Kate said. "How cool."

"I wish it was as cool as you'd think." Liv replied. "Listen, no one can know about this, not even your brother, all right?"

"All right." The two girls said simultaneously.

"Great." Liv replied. She felt the transformation back to human begin to happen. Once her legs were back, she stood from the floor. "Thank you guys. Ready to go back to class?"

Both girls nodded and the three exited the bathroom. Liv sighed as she felt yet another weight lifted off of her shoulders.

Zane was working from his at home office when he heard the front door open and close. It was nearly 3:30 so he knew it had to be Liv. He hoped she would come to the office and take his mind away from work. His daily responsibilities and his stupid speech where taking up his day.

"Dad?" He heard from downstairs. He sighed in relief knowing he could take a well deserved break.

"Up here, sweetheart." He said back. He was about to leave and meet Liv on the stairs, maybe see if she would like to do something this evening until his computer starting ringing. Someone was trying to request a video call with him. This only happened if it was something important. He sighed still wishing to take a break and spend time with his daughter. He hung his head even further when he saw who was calling him.

"Hi, Dad." Zane said as he answered the call. Harrison Bennett sat on the other end from his much more regal looking office in a full suit and tie. For a retired man, he sure looked like he put in a full day's work.

"Hello, son." Harrison replied. "I wanted to give you a quick call about the ga-"

"Hey, Dad." Liv said once she entered the room, quickly noticing Harrison on the video call. "Oh, hi, Grandpa."

"Hello, Liv." Harrison said, giving his granddaughter a huge smile. One Zane couldn't remember his father wearing until Liv had been born. "How has my favorite granddaughter been?"

"Life has been crazy." Liv replied. "But I'm managing."

"I think your grandpa called me about something to do with work." Zane told Liv. He wanted to spend time with her but he knew Liv and Harrison would end up talking for hours if he let this go and he would never truly be able to clock out.

"Oh, sorry to interrupt." Liv said. "I'll just be in my room-"

"No, Liv not to worry." Harrison said. "I'll be quick, you can have your father back in just a moment."

Liv nodded, excusing herself to her mother's bookshelves. Zane turned his attention back to Harrison. "What is it, Dad?"

"I needed to mention something about the gala." Harrison said.

"I know, I've been working on the speech." Zane replied. That was a bit of a lie but he was hoping Rikki didn't just talk a big game.

"No, it's not the speech." Harrison said. "It's a bit of a sensitive topic so I've been waiting to bring it up."

"Okay, what is it?" Zane asked.

"You do know it is tradition to bring a plus one to these events?" Harrison said. "A date of sorts."

"Yeah, but I figured the line 'my wife just died of brain cancer' would be enough of a reason to attend alone." Zane replied.

"I mean no disrespect to Hannah," Harrison started. "You know I loved the girl. But this is a gala of salesmen and saleswomen. It's supposed to be happy and lively. Besides, I figured you wouldn't want to talk about it so bringing a date wouldn't raise any questions."

"I'm not bringing a date, Dad." Zane said. "Besides, who would I even take?"

"You've been to these events, Zane." Harrison said. "It's strictly business, nothing romantic has even come close to happening at these events. Why not take Liv?"

"Liv, do you want to spend your Saturday night at a gala with me?" Zane asked.

"Hell no." Liv replied, just loud enough for Harrison to hear. Zane motioned to Liv, raising his eyebrows at his father as if to say 'I told you so'.

"But you could always take Rikki." Liv continued. Zane shut his eyes, knowing his daughter had just opened a messy can of worms.

"Take who, now?" Harrison asked. "Did you say 'Rikki', Liv?"

"Liv, why don't you go downstairs?" Zane asked, after muting his audio to Harrison. "I'll come down in a moment."

"Did I do something wrong?" Liv asked.

"No, I'll explain later." Zane said, Harrison was begging to be taken off mute on the other line. "Your grandpa and Rikki didn't exactly see eye to eye but it's fine. I'll be down in a few minutes."

Liv nodded as she took her exit. Once Zane heard her footsteps going downstairs, he took Harrison off of mute.

"Zane, who was Liv talking about?" Harrison asked.

"I think you know who." Zane replied.

Harrison took a sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Why are you hanging around that girl again?"

"She's a woman now." Zane said. He wasn't sure why he felt the need to clarify that but it felt necessary. "And she's changed a lot since the last time I saw her. She's got a successful career of her own. She's smart, funny, pretty… and she's been helping a lot since Hannah's passed."

"So what?" Harrison asked. "You hire your high school girlfriend to be a babysitter?"

"It's more complicated than that." Zane said.

"Then explain it to me." Harrison said. "I'm a retired, old man. I have all the time in the world."

"Well, I don't." Zane said. "I'll have a date to the gala, okay? If that's all, I'll be going."

Zane ended the call much to his dad's distain. He pulled his chair back and leaned his forehead onto his desk, taking a deep sigh. Tomorrow was sure to be a fun day at work. He forgot how much of a headache it was having Rikki and his father co-exist in his life. After another sigh, Zane stood from his desk to head downstairs and spend the evening with Liv. As he turned, he saw her standing in the doorway in front of him, looking guilty.

"I'm sorry, Dad." Liv said.

"You really don't need to be, sweetheart." Zane replied as he took her in a hug. "Like I said, your grandpa and Rikki just didn't get along back in the day."

"What happened?" Liv asked.

"It's a long story." Zane replied.

"I have time." Liv answered.

Zane smiled and shook his head. "You are very much a Bennett, you know?"

"I'm not sure if that's a compliment or an insult." Liv stated as the pair dropped their arms.

"I'm not sure either." Zane chuckled. "But I do have a question for you."

"Shoot." Liv replied as they faced each other in the hallway.

"Why did you suggest Rikki as a date?" Zane asked. "I thought you weren't comfortable at the idea of the two of us being together."

Liv shrugged in response. "Grandpa said it was the least romantic event possible. I figured there was no harm if you took her as a friend."

Zane nodded in response. "I know it wouldn't be your grandpa's first choice but he won't be there and I'm sure he'd be happy I simply bring a date. I'll think about it."

"Can we order a pizza?" Liv asked after an air of silence hung. "I'm starving."

"Sure." Zane replied, watching his daughter bound down the stairs. 'Least romantic event possible' huh? 'Nothing close to romantic has ever come close to happening'?

"Please, Holly," a young Harrison said on the phone outside of Zane's room as the fifteen year old boy straightened his tie. This was the last thing he wanted to do with his Saturday. Zane wished he had an out like Holly did.

"You know Candy won't talk to me and I really need a date." Harrison continued. "It's the least romantic event possible, nothing romantic has ever come close to happening!"

The call ended moments later and Zane threw on his uncomfortable jacket.

"Are you ready for the seminar, son?" Harrison asked.

"As ready as I'll ever be to spend an entire day off of school stuffed in a hotel." Zane sighed.

Oh, how wrong those pesky Bennetts could be about him and Rikki Chadwick.

Chapter Text

Chapter 10: The Double Sleepover

For the first time in months, Liv finally wore a smile on her face as she walked to her locker. Her friendship with Leah was back and stronger than ever now that Leah knew her mermaid secret. A friendship with Kate had blossomed with her also knowing Liv's new identity and their shared passion in art. Liv did feel bad Drew was the odd man out. It's not like their relationship had taken a dive, if anything it was getting stronger and stronger. They had stayed up texting until just past midnight the night before. Yes, life was great.

"Excuse me, can you help me find my friend?" Liv heard from the other side of her locker. His voice made her smile even more. "You look just like her but she doesn't smile as much."

"Do you not like it?" Liv asked Drew as she closed her locker door.

"No, I love it." Drew said before she saw his eyes go wide, an embarrassing smile plastered in his face as well. "I-I mean it's nice to see you smile."

"It's nice to smile." Liv said as the two started walking down the hall.

"Not that I'm bothered but what changed?" Drew asked.

"Oh, just… everything." Liv giggled. "I finally talked to Leah about… stuff and she and I are on the same page. I've really been enjoying art and your sister has been a great help."

"Yeah, she mentioned you were doing well." Drew said. "Not that I'm surprised."

"And I reckon I'm really happy to have you in my life too." Liv said. "You've been a constant through all of this shit and I really appreciate it."

"Oh, of course." Drew replied. "I'd like to think you would be there for me if I needed help too."

"Absolutely." Liv replied. She and Drew reached their classroom door but neither seemed to want to go inside. The air suddenly felt heavy. This happened occasionally with Drew. Did he feel it too? Was this because Liv still wondered if they were more than friends? She never felt this way about any of her other guy friends, there was definitely something different about this guy.

"Listen," Drew started before looking at the floor and running his tongue over his lips. "I was wondering if maybe you'd like to go-"

"Liv!" They heard from down the hall. Liv let out a breath she didn't know she was holding as she looked down the corridor to see who was requesting her attention. Kate was heading toward the pair.

"Hi, Kate." Liv said, adjusting her book bag. "What's up?"

"Nothing much." Kate started.

"Oh, good because Liv and I were kind of in the middle of something here." Drew said to his sister.

"Relax, Man Bun." Kate scoffed. "I only wanted to ask your girlfriend a quick question."

Liv didn't miss Drew blush at the implication that Liv was his girlfriend. She struggled to hide the flush herself.

"What's up, Kate?" Liv asked, turning her attention to the older girl.

"I was planning on having a big sleepover with some girls from school this weekend." Kate said. "I was wondering if you would like to come."

"Yeah, sure," Liv replied. "That sounds great."

"Perfect." Kate said. "I'll text you the address. See you in art."

Kate walked past the pair and Liv turned her attention back to Drew.

"Older sisters are so annoying." Drew groaned. "You're lucky you're an only child."

"Maybe." Liv chuckled. "So, what were you saying?"

"I was just going to ask if maybe you would like to go out sometime-"

"Liv, Drew," they were interrupted yet again, this time by a teacher making rounds in the halls. "Isn't it time you were off to class?"

"Yes, Mr. Woodard." Drew replied, looking scornfully at Liv.

"Don't worry about it." Liv said as she circled around him to enter her class. "You can ask me later, right?"

"Yeah, of course." Drew replied. "I'll catch you later."

Zane was in his office while Rikki and Liv continued their mermaid lessons. He desperately wanted an escape today to leave work. Nearly everything he was working on was in preparation for the gala. Zane was never good at only working on one thing, especially if that thing didn't fancy his interest in the first place. There was a lot that needed to be done but he was so desperate for the event to be over. He would have to talk to Rikki about the speech before she left too. He didn't think it would take too long but it was still something that would make him feel better if they took care of it.

He had his head in his hands when he heard his back door open and close. Finally, an excuse to get away from work. Zane went down the stairs and saw Liv going to the refrigerator to get some water and Rikki take a seat at one of the barstools.

"How was the lesson?" Zane asked the pair.

"Nearly over." Rikki replied. "We'll try triggering her powers with this pitcher of water."

"Right." Liv said. "So what exactly am I doing?"

"We'll try a few things." Rikki said. "First, try moving your hand like this and imagine the water coming out of the pitcher."

Zane saw Rikki twist her hand as if she was opening a doorknob. It was similar to Cleo's way of using her mermaid powers. Liv's eyes were shut tight as she followed Rikki's instruction. Alas, no water came out of the pitcher.

"Okay, let's try something else." Rikki said. "Hold your hand like this and imagine the water turning to ice."

Rikki held her hand flat as Emma would do. Liv closed her eyes again, mirrored her hand like Rikki and tried her best to freeze the water. Again, nothing happened.

"All right, one more try." Rikki said. "Squeeze your hand and try to make the water boil."

"Like you?" Liv asked.

"Yeah, like me." Rikki said with a smile. "Give it a go."

Liv smiled back before she closed her eyes again. It was insane how much Liv had grown to admire Rikki. Zane knew his daughter would be incredibly pleased to inherit Rikki's powers.

Liv only had her eyes closed for a moment when she heard the sound of water bubbling. When she opened them, the pitcher was steaming and filled with boiling water.

"Ha! I did it!" Liv exclaimed.

"Liv," Zane interrupted. "I'm sorry to rain on your parade but I don't think that was you."

Zane motioned to Rikki's hand that was closed tightly. She released her squeeze and took her eyes off the pitcher. As she did so, the water stopped boiling, proving it was Rikki who boiled the water.

"Sorry," Rikki said. "I just know how hard you've been working for this, I'm anxious too."

"It's okay." Liv said. "Hopefully it will come in sometime. Anyway, I should get ready for the sleepover."

"What sleepover?" Zane asked before Liv could bound away.

"Kate's sleepover?" Liv said. "The one I told you about yesterday. You said I could go."

"Oh, right." Zane replied. "When I was half-paying attention and at work. I would say 'yes' but when you ask me for things at those times, there's some sort of catch."

"There's no catch." Liv shrugged. "My friend Kate is just having a few girls over for a sleepover, that's all."

"Will Leah be there?" Zane asked.

"Yes, Dad." Liv groaned.

"Any water threats?" He asked.

"I don't know, I've never been to Kate's house before." Liv groaned.

"I'm not sure then, Liv." Zane replied.

"Dad!" Liv exclaimed. "It's not that big of a deal! Kate's a great, new friend and I trust Leah with my life! I don't understand why I can't go."

"How about this," Rikki interjected. "Why don't I take you to the sleepover? I need to head home and I can check Kate's for any water dangers. If I think it's too much, I'll bring her back here. Does that work?"

Liv folded her arms across her chest and let out a huff. "If I have to."

"I suppose that would work." Zane said.

"Great," Rikki said. "Why don't you grab your stuff, Liv, and I'll meet you outside?"

"Thank you!" Liv exclaimed as she dashed upstairs to get her bags.

"Thank you, Rikki." Zane replied. "I reckon you are the best one to check for water dangers."

"I don't think it's water she's worried about but I'll be sure to grill her on the way there." Rikki said.

"Well, thanks nonetheless." Zane said. "I was also going to ask about the speech. I'm not sure when you would be available this week to work on it."

"I won't be available this week." Rikki said. "I told you, I need to study for a dive the next two days and then I'll be in New Zealand until this weekend."

"Well… fuck." Zane sighed, leaning his hands on his kitchen island. "I should have asked earlier, the gala is this weekend."

"Hm," Was all Rikki said for a moment. There was a solution to this. "We could also work on it tonight."

"Tonight?" Zane asked.

"Yeah," Rikki replied. "Liv's not going to be here so no distractions. I can come back after I drop her off."

"Okay," Zane said. "Tonight works for me!"

"Great!" Rikki said. "I'll go wait for Liv in the foyer and I'll see you back here soon."

"All right." Zane replied. "Thank you for everything, Rikki."

"Sure." She responded, doing her best to hide her blush. Spending the night with Zane wouldn't be a bad idea, would it?

"I'm all set." Liv said as she reappeared with a duffle bag.

"All right, we'll see you later then." Rikki said to Zane.

"Right." Zane said, approaching Liv and giving her a hug. "Have a good night, sweetheart. I'll pick you up at 10 tomorrow morning."

"Okay." She said. "Thanks, Dad."

With that, Rikki and Liv made their exit. Liv tossed her bag in the back of Rikki's car before joining her in the front seat.

"I love my Dad but he's too much sometimes." Liv sighed. "Were your parents like this? Watching your every move?"

"No," Rikki replied, putting the car in drive once she backed out of the driveway. "Quite the opposite actually."

"Well, you're lucky then." Liv said, crossing her arm over her chest.

"I don't know about that." Rikki said. "Sometimes I wish I had a parent that gave me that advice. I had to learn a lot of things the hard way."

"Really?" Liv asked. "Like what?"

"Like not to steal spark plugs from someone just because you don't like them." Rikki said.

"What?" Liv asked. "Who's spark plug did you steal?"

"No one important." Rikki said with a shake of her head. "What are you hiding about this sleepover?"

"What makes you think I'm hiding anything?" Liv asked.

"I've kept a mermaid secret longer than you've been alive." Rikki said. "I think I know a thing or two about hiding something."

Liv sighed in response. Rikki kept a smirk to herself. Teenagers were so easy.

"It's nothing bad." Liv said. "It's just… Kate is a new friend."

"Doesn't she know your secret?" Rikki asked.

"Not intentionally but yeah, she knows." Liv said.

"Does she want to do anything with that information?" Rikki asked.

"No, it's nothing to do with Kate." Liv replied.

"What is it then?"

"It's her brother!" Liv exclaimed. "I… his name is Drew and we've been talking for a while now."

"Oh," Rikki said. "Talking as in…"

"Yeah, I think so." Liv said.

"How does your dad feel about you dating?" Rikki asked.

"I don't know, we never really talked about it." Liv responded.

"I would think he would be okay with it." Rikki shrugged.

"What would make you think that?" Liv asked.

"Well… we started dating when we were about your age." Rikki said. "And he had a few girlfriends before me."

"Oh," Liv replied, looking anywhere but Rikki. The idea of her father being with anyone but her mother was still uncomfortable. She really loved having Rikki in her life but she wasn't ready for a new mum yet or maybe she never would be. Timing had to have known Liv needed to get out of this conversation as they finally arrived at Kate's home.

"Here we are." Rikki said. "Have a good night, Liv."

"Thanks," Liv replied. "You too."

Rikki nodded at the teenager and watched her walk into the nice home. Never in a million years did she think she would drop a teenager off at a sleepover. She thought if she did, she would have to be paid or rewarded ridiculously. Now, she found she didn't mind a bit. There was just something so irresistible when it came to those damn Bennetts.

Speaking of, Rikki needed to return to Zane's home and start working on the speech. She still wondered if that was a good idea. She still wondered if it would be better to have Liv there. There was no one who would walk in at the perfect time, no one in just the next room to keep them apart. She felt so strongly about both Zane and Liv and she couldn't get what she wanted from both of them without hurting the other.

Rikki found herself pulling back into Zane's driveway before she knew it. The night would be fine, they would just be doing work stuff. If she was nervous, she could even suggest eating while they worked so there wouldn't be any distractions.

She let herself in through the front door and found the first floor to be empty. Zane was already in his office, set to work on the speech.

"Hey," Rikki said as she entered the space.

"Hey," Zane replied, taking his eyes off of his computer. "Did everything seem okay with Liv?"

"Yeah," Rikki said. "She's just a little nervous."

"'Nervous'?" Zane repeated. "Why?"

"Well…." Rikki started, biting her lip. "I guess she likes this girl's brother."

"What?!" Zane exclaimed and was on his feet in a heartbeat. He began pacing the room and Rikki waited for his to pounce, ready to block him if needed.

"She… what?" Zane asked. "She's just a baby, she's-"

"She's fifteen." Rikki said. "The same age we were when we started dating."

"We were different, Rikki." Zane started as he continued pacing.

"How so?" Rikki asked.

"We were us." He started. "We were young and in love…"

Zane slowly faded out and he laid eyes on Rikki and she struggled to look anywhere but him. Her eyes darted from the molding on the floor to the skylight and back in seconds.

"Sorry." He said. "Did you met the guy?"

"No," Rikki said. She cursed herself for not remembering to check the water dangers too. The conversation in the car became awkward and she wanted to be anywhere but Liv's presence.

"What if he's not good to her?" Zane exclaimed.

"Then you'll protect her like you always have." Rikki told him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "And if you feel he's so terrible he needs to be scalded, just let me know."

Zane let out a laugh and absentmindedly brought her other hand to his other shoulder. It seemed as if Rikki wanted that. Her arm was as light as a feather, it practically levitated onto his shoulder. Their laughter stopped when they realized how close they were to each other. Neither moved, they were simply frozen in place.

"Thank you." Zane said. "For everything."

Rikki took the opportunity to lower her arms from around him. She didn't take her eyes off of him though.

"Of course." Rikki waved him off. She felt hot in only a way he could make her feel. She didn't trust herself so she decided to use her scapegoat. "Why don't we grab something to eat?"

"Yeah, that sounds good." Zane replied.

The two made their way down to the kitchen with Zane heading towards the refrigerator to heat up some leftovers and Rikki taking a seat on one of the barstools. She might have offered to help had it been anyone else but there was already so much chemistry between them, she didn't want to risk putting herself in a dangerous situation.

"Shit." Zane mumbled just loud enough for Rikki to hear, closing the refrigerator door.

"Is everything okay?" Rikki asked.

"It's no big deal." Zane shook his head, pulling his phone out of his pocket. "I thought we had leftovers from last night but I think Liv got into them. She's been eating a lot more since she became a mermaid."

"Of course she has." Rikki replied. "We swim at least 50 kilometers everyday, we have to eat."

"Yeah, I reckon so." Zane said with a bit of a laugh. "We still don't have any food. I'm sorry, I can order something."

"We could go back to my place, too." Rikki suggested. She wanted to take back her words as soon as she mentioned it.

"Your place?" Zane repeated, taking his eyes off of his phone.

"Yeah," Rikki continued. She had already put herself out there, she might as well continue with her explanation. It was one of the hardest lessons she had to learn as an adult. She swallowed a lump in her throat as she did so. "I have food at my place, I could whip up something easy and then we could work on your speech."

"Okay." Zane agreed after a moment. "That works for me."

"Are you sure?" Rikki asked.

"Yeah," Zane said in a more convincing tone. "Yeah, that sounds great."

An evening with Rikki did sound great. It would be perfect if Liv wasn't in the picture. Not that Zane would wish that for a second. He'd rather put up with this awkward dance of want and desire he was having with Rikki for the rest of his life than for Liv to not exist in his life. He could be careful around Rikki, he could do this. He was just going to a friend's for dinner, working on his speech and going home. That's all this evening would ever be.

"This is it." Rikki said as she unlocked her apartment door and led Zane into her living room and kitchen area. "Not as much as your home but I figured I could make spaghetti?"

"Sure, that sounds great." Zane said.

"Great." Rikki replied. "Well, make yourself at home. I'll get started on food."

Zane nodded as he looked around her apartment. He was always too curious to simply take the nearest seat and keep to himself. Whenever he was in someone's home for the first time, he'd take a small peak around, usually never mentioning anything he saw in his brief glance into their lives. He couldn't help but look around Rikki's home. He was drawn to some binders she had in her entertainment center.

"You can look at the red one if you want." Rikki said. "It's pictures from high school."

Zane nodded as he pulled the large, red binder from its place on her shelf before taking it to her couch. He opened the book up flipping through pictures he had seen a million times but not for so long. He recognized Cleo, Emma and a young Rikki from the early photos. Eventually Lewis made his way into the photographs and was in as many as the other girls. Zane smirked at a few images and couldn't understand how it took Cleo and Lewis so long to admit their feelings for each other. Their chemistry was undeniable, even in photographs.

"My wife used to make photo albums too." Zane said aloud, without thinking.

"Really?" Rikki responded, placing a pot on her stove.

"Yeah," Zane said. "I never knew you liked doing this too."

"It took a while." Rikki shrugged. "It was hard to even look at pictures after… everything ended. But, like Ms. Chatham used to say, life goes on."

"It does." Zane nodded, flipping to the next page.

"I think I made that one about five years ago." Rikki said. "It was when I first moved here with my roommates."

"So you have new friends?" Zane asked.

"Yeah I do." Rikki said. "They aren't quite like the girls. You've talked to Claire, she's the one who called you from my phone when you first reached out about Liv. She's at her boyfriend, Nathan's house. She's always at Nathan's house. Not that I mind, I enjoy the alone time."

"Do you, though?" Zane asked. "I remember you not handling that as well as you thought."

"Yes, well… therapy and counseling can help with all of that." Rikki replied.

"That is true." Zane said. He'd spent a good amount of time seeing a therapist after Hannah's death. "When did you start going?"

Rikki suddenly became small. Zane wanted to take back his words, he didn't mean to bring up anything that would hurt her feelings.

"After you left." Rikki replied. She cleared her throat before he could say anything. "It wasn't just you, don't flatter yourself. It was everything that was happening at the time. A month or so after the water tentacle went away, all I had was Will."

Zane nodded. He knew Will was all she had when he left but she didn't want anything to do with him. What was he supposed to do, wait around for her to maybe come around to him or start anew?

"Did you and Will ever… you know?" Zane asked.

"No," Rikki replied as she took a seat next to Zane. "I… one night we tried. We made out and everything but when we backed away it was like I was with my brother. I think he felt the same and that was that. We never talked about it again."

Zane internally cursed his seventeen year old self for thinking anything more could be going on with the pair. He also reckoned he should drop the subject. Talking about Will would probably always be awkward on some level between them.

"You know, Hannah would never let people write on her photo albums." Zane said.

"Really?" Rikki asked. "I think that's part of what makes them. Most of the scribbles you see are from my friends now. Interesting perspectives. Besides, if they write something I don't like, I can always get the photo re-printed."

"True." Zane said. "I remember one time Liv drew on a photo of her and Hannah. She was young, maybe six years old. Anyway, Hannah was pissed. Liv didn't draw on them again."

Zane flipped the page and saw an image of his sixteen year old self. He remembered the day distinctly. It was the first time Rikki had brought not just him but Cleo, Emma and Lewis to her house. Her dad made some of the best barbecue he'd ever had. There were scribbles on the photo. He didn't quite understand what was written by his image.

"'Wine guy'?" Zane questioned. Rikki's face flushed in response. She hopped up from her seat to check on the pasta. "Is that supposed to be me?"

"Uh, yeah." Rikki replied with her back faced to him.

"Why that name?" Zane asked. "Do I look like I drink a ton of wine?"

Rikki burst into a fit of giggles at that. Zane furrowed his eyebrows but smiled at her nonetheless. He loved seeing her laugh.

"No, no." Rikki managed out in between breaths. "No, I… my friends and I got to talking about you one night and we may have gone through a lot of wine in the process."

"You drink wine and talk about me with your friends?" Zane asked.

"Not you specifically." Rikki said as she began to plate their dishes. "We we're just talking about guys. Just girl talk, you know. Claire talked about Nathan. I think they just got together around that time and Haley…"

Rikki cut herself off. Haley talked about all the terrible guys she dated that night and the three laughed before they experienced the worst hangover of their lives.

"Who's Haley?" Zane asked.

"Oh… she was an old roommate." Rikki said. "It didn't work out. Dinner's ready."

Timing was finally on Rikki's side. She served her own dinner but left a plate out for Zane to serve himself. She wouldn't bring it to him, she knew that would only lead no where good. Time betrayed her when it went by too quickly, their food was gone and they needed to work on his speech. Rikki's apartment didn't have an office like Zane's house did. Her laptop and desk were housed in her bedroom.

"I can bring it out here." Rikki said of her laptop as she dropped her plate off in the sink.

"It's fine." Zane shrugged as he did the same with his dinnerware, oblivious to what might happen if the pair were left alone in her bedroom. Rikki closed her eyes briefly and followed him to her room.

Rikki took a seat on her bed and Zane sat down on her desk chair and passed Rikki her laptop. She took it and opened a new document for him to start writing his speech before handing it back to him.

"The second I start writing is when it doesn't sound like you." She stated when he gave her an odd like. "Take it."

Zane nodded in response placing the laptop back on her desk. Rikki talked him through the speech, occasionally standing up and pacing the small area between him and the opposite side of the room. It was getting quite late and Rikki had barely slept the night before. She always lost a bit of sleep when she would see Liv and Zane but last night had been especially bad. She was having trouble keeping her eyes open. She hit complete exhaustion by the time they finished the speech and she took a seat on her edge of her bed. She finally took in his image, typing on the keyboard and the light of her screen illuminating his silhouette in the now dark room. She blinked her eyes sleepily at him.

"I feel like I'm seventeen all over again." Rikki said.

Zane turned around to face her with his eyebrows furrowed. Had he done something he didn't realize he had done? He was a bit tired and had zoned out a few times. Maybe he did or implied something that would make her think they were together again. The jumping of conclusions ruined their relationship before, he needed to be sure.

"What do you mean?" Zane asked.

"Remember?" Rikki asked. "We always did homework at your place."

"Oh, right." Zane said as he remembered sitting beside Rikki in his bed as they each worked on their homework. Occasionally she'd spend the night. Occasionally, they would do more than just sleep. Zane shook his head at the implication. "You shouldn't think like that."

"I know." Rikki said. "I can't help it sometimes. Although, if you wanted it to be accurate, you'd have to come sit in the bed."

Rikki shuffled herself, probably ungracefully, to the top of her bed. She patted the other pillow as her invitation to him.

"I need to go to sleep." She mumbled just loud enough for him to hear into her pillow. Zane smiled as she collapsed on the bed. He stood to say good night but couldn't suppress a yawn himself. He was exhausted too.

"Thanks for everything, Rikki." He said, gently placing a hand on her bed. His heart skipped a beat when she grabbed it.

"Don't go." She mumbled again. "Stay."

"I don't think that's a good idea." Zane said through a yawn.

"See, you're tired too!" Rikki exclaimed.

"Yeah, I'm pretty exhausted." He confirmed.

"Then, stay." Rikki replied. "We'll just be sleeping."

There was nothing wrong with sleeping, right? Liv was probably sleeping in the space as a bunch of other girls. Zane could sleep in the same space with Rikki.

"Yeah, okay." He agreed as he kicked off his shoes and laid down beside her. He fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

Liv was not asleep when Rikki and Zane fell asleep. If anything the party was just getting started. The night was going perfectly, aside from Drew's absence, but Liv had to know that meant something bad was just around the corner. It quite literally was. Liv had turned a corner in Kate's house to grab a snack when another girl turned a corner and her drink splashed between the two of them. Liv ran up the stairs, catching Leah's eye as she did so. Leah moved to the entryway of the stairs and Liv heard her best friend already coming up with excuses as to why the others couldn't go upstairs.

Liv was doing her best to keep count and found she hit ten seconds once she got to the top of the stairs. She entered through the first door and hoped it was empty. She flopped on the floor before she could inspect the room but didn't hear any gasps so she reckoned she was alone. She inspected the room and saw there was a towel hanging from the bed frame. What luck, she thought. She grabbed the towel and rubbed it aggressively on her arm. Luckily the spill had been small so she could return to the party in no time. It took less than a minute before Liv transformed back into her human self. She stood from the floor and placed the towel back on the bed frame. She was about to spin around and leave until she realized she was not alone. Someone was in the bathroom attached to the room. She held her breath until she came face to face with a completely naked Drew.

Liv screamed and spun around, covering her mouth so no one would hear her. She heard fumbling behind her too and guessed Drew was just as shocked as her.

"Jesus, Liv." He exclaimed. She heard the rustling of fabric too. "What the hell's wrong with you?"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry." She was saying before he finished his sentence. "I- I was just… I don't know what I was doing. I didn't see anything."

"It's okay." Drew said, suddenly calm. Liv furrowed her eyebrows. "You can turn around now."

"What?" Liv asked. "Why?"

"Have you heard of these things called, clothes?" He asked. "I put some on."

Liv let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. He was covered now, wearing a pair of gym shorts and a t-shirt. She was still mortified.

"I'm so sorry, Drew." Liv started. "I didn't know this was your room."

"So what we're you doing?" Drew asked her.

"I… I got lost." She settled on. "I was looking for Kate's room and thought this was it."

"What did you need in Kate's room?" He asked.

"Just something from my bag." Liv lied again. "It's nothing important."

"I can walk you there if you want." Drew said. "I know Kate doesn't want me to leave my room but-"

"No, it's fine!" Liv exclaimed. "Like I said it's not important."

"Hm." Drew nodded. "Well, since you're here, did you want to hang out for a bit?"

Liv hesitated. She liked Drew but she didn't know if she was comfortable being alone with him in a room yet, especially not a bed. It didn't look like there was anywhere else to sit and standing in opposite corners of his room would be just as awkward.

"Or we can step out to the balcony." Drew suggested. He must have noticed the nervous look on her face. "There's more oxygen out there."

"Yeah," Liv replied, feeling relieved. "Yeah, I'd like that."

"After you." Drew said as he opened the sliding door for her. It was a surprisingly large balcony, nearly the size of a garage. Liv noticed other doors lead out to the balcony too.

"I think this is everyone's favorite part of the house." Drew said as he lead her out to the edge. Their backyard overlooked the beautiful beach. "I'm not sure why Kate didn't bring you guys out here."

Liv nodded as they reached the edge of the balcony. He gave her a his contagious smile and she couldn't help but smile back.

"You know at school a few days ago, I was going to see if you'd like to grab… food sometime." Drew said.

"'Food'?" Liv repeated. "Like a date?"

Drew shrugged in response. "I suppose it could be. Or just friends getting sushi or something."

"What do you want it to be?" Liv asked. Her heart was racing a million miles a minute.

"Well I… I wouldn't be opposed to taking you on a date." Drew said.

"I wouldn't be opposed to that, either." Liv responded before he could continue. He smiled back at her.

"Great." He said. "Maybe the weekend after the next? Kate has an art exhibit out of town this weekend."

"Yeah," Liv said. "Yeah, I'd love that."

Before Liv knew what was happening, one of Drew's hands was on her waist, the other on her face. She held her breath and felt him coming closer to her. She closed her eyes and his lips softly brushed hers. It was chaste but it was amazing. She wanted more but this wasn't the time. It was only a matter of time until someone would barge in on them.

"Then it's a date." Drew whispered.

Liv did her best to hide an oncoming blush but failed miserably. "We should go inside before someone realizes I'm missing."

"Yeah," Drew agreed. "Yeah, you're right."

Drew led her inside, holding the sliding door open for her again. Liv gave him a smile as she exited his room and made her way down the stairs.

"Hey, are you all right?" Leah asked her when she came back downstairs. "You were up there for a while."

"Yeah, I'm great." Liv said with the biggest smile she may have ever worn. "Absolutely perfect."

Rikki woke as the sunshine flew into her room between her blinds. She had slept well, one of her best sleeps in a long time. She tried to recall the events of last night. She was over at Zane's and then they came back to her place, wrote his speech and then she went to sleep. Did he ever go home? She couldn't remember saying goodbye to him. The answers to her question was met when she heard a loud snore behind her.

Rikki flew out of her bed, somehow managing to keep Zane asleep. She made a mistake. All the did was sleep, right? She was still fully clothed and so was he so she doubted anything else happened. Still, she couldn't imagine facing Liv if the young girl ever found out. She couldn't spend time alone with Zane again.

Her eyes flashed to her clock and panic took over when she recognized the time. Zane said he would pick up Liv at 10 and it was just past 9:45. It was likely too late to extend Liv's stay. Kate's parents were excepted her out of their house and it was a far walk for Liv to make by herself.

"Zane." Rikki whispered at first, gently poking his shoulder. He groaned in response and went back to sleep.

"Zane!" Rikki tried again after one of her signature eye rolls, this time choosing to throw her pillow at him.

"Hm, Liv." He mumbled. Rikki felt her heart crack. Would he be upset or disappointed it was her?

Zane opened his eyes and saw his high school girlfriend staring back at him, not his daughter. He jumped out of the bed as Rikki did the moments ago.

"Rikki?" He asked. "What the-"

"There's no time for that." Rikki shook her head. "Do you see the time?"

Zane looked at the clock and felt his eyes widen. Kate's home was about ten minutes from Rikki's, at least he thought it was.

"Shit, right." Zane said, shuffling to the end of the bed to find his shoes. "I'll get out of your hair."

"We took my car back to my place, remember?" Rikki asked. "I'll go with you."

"Okay, then." Zane said once he slipped his shoes on. Rikki was ready to go too. She opened her bedroom door and walked out of the room before they came face to face with another couple in the kitchen.

"Look what the cat dragged in." The girl said. Zane guessed this was Claire, Rikki's roommate.

"It's not what it looks like." Rikki said as she grabbed Zane's wrist and dragged him across her living room and to the front door.

"Right." Claire said in a tone that didn't sound convinced at all.

"Seriously, Claire." Rikki warned as she fumbled for her keys. "Drop it."

"Have a good day, you two." She yelled after them.

"Sorry about them." Rikki said as she locked her door. "Claire's a little…imaginative."

"It's all right." Zane said. "They seemed nice."

"Yeah, they're all right, I reckon." Rikki said once they entered the elevator.

The time it took to get to Rikki's car felt like hours. It was the longest elevator ride of their lives. They did make it to the car and sped off to Kate's house, arriving just a few minutes after 10:00. Liv approached the car with a confused look on her face.

"What are both of you doing here?" Liv asked.

"We wanted to see you is all." Zane said. "How was the sleepover?"

"It was good." Liv said. She hid her blush knowing she couldn't tell her dad about the highlight of her night. "Why did you take Rikki's car?"

"I thought I'd take you guys back home before I went back to my place." Rikki said.

"Why would you do that?" Liv questioned. "It doesn't make any sense."

"Sure, it does." Rikki said. "This way we don't have to go between two cars."

Liv still wasn't convinced. Something happened last night the pair wouldn't tell her about. There seemed to be a lot of things going on she didn't know anything about. She was tired of it. She needed to know more. How was she meant to find that information? She could spy on them but they didn't hang out without her, except for maybe last night. They pulled into her driveway when she realized there was a place she could spy on them. There were so many bushes outside of the venue, it was easy to hide. She just had to get them both to go there.

"Hey, Dad?" Liv questioned once they both exited from the passenger side of the car. "Have you asked Rikki to the gala yet?"

"You know I wasn't going to take her." Zane said. "I'll figure something out."

"Like what?" Liv asked. "Are you going to take your secretary? She's like a million years old. Face it, Rikki's your only choice."

Zane looked around the car and saw Rikki was finally hopping out of the driver's seat. Maybe she expected them to leave or maybe she was sending a text. Whatever it was, she was now heading towards them.

"Are you sure you're okay with it?" Zane asked.

"I'm sure." Liv replied.

"What's going on?" Rikki asked once she turned the corner.

"Nothing." Liv said. "I was just going to unpack my stuff."

Liv disappeared inside of the home before Rikki turned back to face Zane.

"I guess I'll head back." Rikki said as she moved back to her driver's side.

"Wait." Zane started. She looked up to him as if she was wondering what he could possibly want. She was already planning on keeping the events of last night to herself.

"What is it?" Rikki asked.

"You said you'll be back in town for the gala, right?" Zane asked.

"This next weekend?" Rikki questioned. Zane gave her a nod. "Yeah, I'll be here. Why, what's up?"

"Well… I need a date." Zane said. "It's formal and incredibly boring, nothing will happen. I'm sure of it."

"You're sure?" Rikki asked. "What about Liv?"

"She's fine with it." Zane said. "She's actually been egging it in recently. And we'll be surrounded by hundreds of people, we won't be alone."

Rikki thought on it for a moment. A platonic night out with Zane certainly didn't sound like the worst time.

"Yeah, all right." Rikki said. "I'll go."

"Great." Zane said. "Well, I suppose I'll see you next weekend then. Have a good trip."

"Right." Rikki said. "I'll see you then."

Rikki sat in her car for a moment wondering if this was a good idea. Once Zane closed his front door, she put her car in reverse and backed out of the driveway. It would be fine. They would be in a crowd of hundreds, they would be okay but the feeling in the pit of her stomach told her otherwise.

AN: Hey guys! I'm so sorry for the delay on this chapter. Judging by the length of it, I'm sure you can figure out why. I don't plan on the next few chapters being this long. Thank you guys for sticking around for this story, I really  appreciate all the love it continues to get! I'm doing my best to make sure this story has an ending because it is one I am enjoying so much. I also wanted to let you guys know I only have 2-3 chapters left on Playlist #1 and I have another Zikki story that I should start publishing soon. This one will be rated M and will be much more aggressive and hopefully much funnier than my usual stories so hopefully you'll enjoy that one too.

Thanks again for the love!