| Epilogue |
| Three years. I can't believe I've been a merman for three years. And I had a beautiful wife and a spacious home. Although we were never allowed to return to Ocetal, we made the beach where my transformation occurred our new home. "Daddy! Look at me!" a small voice called. I turned around to see my daughter swimming from her mother's secure arms to mine. "That's wonderful, Illiani," I praised, kissing her chubby cheek repeatedly. She giggled loudly, her infectious laughter echoing across the sky. Seraphina swam to my side and I wrapped my arm around her waist, my daughter cuddled in my other arm. I had a beautiful family and was truly happy with the decision of my human death. But I still wondered how things were with everyone I'd left behind. I hadn't seen Kevin since he left me with my mermaid. But every so often I would change into human for and wander into town. I'd scour the library, reading old newspapers and magazines. Trying to find anything I could about my boys, their families, and Brynne. That and it was fun to startle the people who still remembered Nick Carter by suddenly showing up. Returning from the dead. Through my searching I found out that Kevin and Kristin now had a child. A little boy about the same age as Illiani. And Brian was the proud papa to a couple of little Littrells. AJ was still in search of Mrs. Right, but had tamed his wild ways. Not that they were ever too bad to being with. And Howie had chosen the single life permanetly after his marriage was annulled after only three short months. But nothing was ever mentioned about Brynne. Or very little. She had acquired my millions after my death, but unselfishly donated large sums to various charities. The bulk of the donation went to perserving the oceans. The charity I had started and that, to the best of my knowledge, she continued to advocate for. Nothing was ever mentioned about her remarrying or having children. But I assumed she was happy. I turned my attention toward shore when I heard a familiar whistle. A whistle I hadn't heard in three long years. Depositing Illiani in Seraphina's arms, I swam toward shore to greet my old friend. I rose from the water on two legs, changing into human form to go ashore and hug Kevin. "Long time, no see," I said cheerfully, enveloping him in a monstrous hug. Kevin clapped my back enthusiastically and laughed. "It's been too long," he agreed. "I have a surprise for you. I hope you don't mind," he stated. "And what would that be?" Just as the words left my lips, a horde of familiar people stepped out from around the palm trees. "The guys?" I gasped. Kevin nodded. "They knew something was fishy about your death, no pun intended, and finally they'd had enough and practically beat the truth out of me," Kevin chuckled, pointing to the stiches in his left brow. "Oh, yeah? And what did they say to the truth?" I questioned with a smile. "What do you think?" he laughed. "I told them that I would prove it to them, so here we are!" I couldn't get another word out. Brian tackled me in a ferocious hug, knocking the wind out of me and toppling us both backwards onto the white sand. He stood up and helped me to my feet. "Well, it seems like some things never change," Brian laughed as he gestured toward my nakedness. I blushed madly. "Here. Take this," Kevin said, handing me the T-shirt off his back to wrap around my nudity. "Kev, he doesn't look dead nor does he look like a merman!" AJ shouted as he approached. Everyone gathered around me and demanded to know the story behind my fake death. They all stared at me as I spoke to them in the blabbering Ocetal language that was now my own. With Kevin's help, I related the entire tale. My first meeting Seraphina. My marriage to Brynne and then meeting Seraphina again. And when it came time to choose between the two women I loved, the ocean won. Brian slapped me upside the head. "So, you can tell Kevin this, but you can't tell your best friend!" he cried sarcastically. Leighanne put an arm around her husband's waist, chastizing him gently while two little toe-head children clung to her floral skirt. Ava and Madison. Both with bright blue eyes and platinum blond hair. Striking images of their mother. "So where is Seraphina?" Leighanne asked, tousling the short hair atop Ava's head. "Out to sea. I think Kevin scared her," I answered. "Probably. Kevin scares me too," AJ quipped jokingly which resulted in a mock-glare from under Kevin's thick brows. "You should go get her. I think there's some people here who would like to see her again," Kevin said with a gentle smile, focusing his attention back on me. I tossed the T-shirt that hid my equipment from everyone's view at Kevin and ran back into the surf. "Nice ass, Nickolas!" Leighanne shouted, followed by an ear-piercing whistle from Kristin. I heard a chorus of gasps as I plunged into the water, my legs returning to the grayish-green tail. Moments later Seraphina and I stepped back onto the sand in human form, but the little bundle I carried in my arms remained in the form of a merperson. Illiani hadn't developed the skills required to turn into human form as of yet. But she was more than happy with the pale blue tail that adorned her lower body. Seraphina greeted everyone with a hug after wrapping Kristin's sarong around her naked frame. I retied the T-shirt to my waist and the introductions began. Leighanne and Kristin were very taken with Illiani, fussing and cooing over her. They couldn't believe how beautiful she was. Big blue eyes and light auburn hair. Grey, Kristin and Kevin's son, gazed down at her from his father's arms. Grey was devilishly handsome for a two year old. Dark hair and brown eyes. One trait inheirited by each parent. They giggled at each other and slapped each other's hands playfully. Cute, adorable flirtation. Just then, a blond-haired toddler ran and hugged Kristin's legs. "Nicky, honey, where did you run off to?" she questioned softly, scooping the boy into her motherly arms. He stared over at me, his head leaning against Kristin's shoulder. Bright, wide, sapphire eyes gazing at me intently. "Who's this little guy?" I probed, staring into Kevin's face. "I thought you only had the one." "Nick, this is your son. Nicky," Kristin answered. "My son?" I asked in shock. "Brynne was pregnant at the time of your death. No one knew. Not even her," Kevin explained, looking past me to watch AJ terrorize Brian and Leighanne's children, the proud parents looking on with amused faces. "She named him after you," he added, returning his gaze back to my face. Illiani squirmed in my arms, wanting to return to the ocean to play, so Seraphina lifted her from my embrace and took her to the sea. Grey followed close behind, not wanting to be separated from Illiani for a moment. Soon, everyone was splashing in the waves and only Kevin, Kristin, and Nicky stood on the bleached sand. "Where's Brynne?" I questioned hesitantly. Kristin's eyes cast themselves in a downward glance. "What?" I asked, my heart pounding in my chest. Kevin put an arm around my shoulders. This couldn't be good. "Nick, Brynne died a couple months ago," he said quietly. "What?" I asked in disbelief. "She drown," Krisin stated meekly, shifting Nicky to her other hip. "She was observing the aquatic life by the reef and was pulled into some undertow," Kevin added. I sank to my knees. "This is all my fault. If I hadn't been stupid and just told her I loved someone else, the none of this would have happened. She wouldn't have died. I'd know my son. But it my fault and I can't take it back," I sobbed. Both Kevin and Kristin joined me on the warm sand. Kristin smoothed back my hair. "Nick, none of this is your fault. God works in mysterious ways," she whispered. "How else do you explain your love for a mermaid?" Kevin questioned with a mild chuckle. I smiled weakly. "And what about Nicky? Where does he go?" I probed, staring at the blue-eyed boy whose gaze continued to drink me in. "Well, Brynne made Kristin and I godparents so he's been staying with us," Kevin began, "but he is your son and if you want him to live in the sea with you, we'll understand," he finished. "No," I said, stroking the blond locks on my son's head. "He'd be happier with you. Besides you're great parents. Just look at Grey." We all turned our attention to the ocean where the others played and I spotted Femali swimming to greet them. AJ met her half-way and said something charming in her for she turned a mad shade of pink and turned her face away from his eyes. "Bone! Knock it off!" Kristin yelled. "One Backstreet Boy in the ocean is enough!" AJ threw his hands up in innocence and I couldn't help but laugh. That was the Bone I'd missed so much. A short while later everyone prepared to leave. Hugs went around and they all promised to return soon. And return as often as they could. Nicky stood near Kristin and I squatted to say goodbye to him. "Later, Nicky. You mind Kevin and Kristin now," I said, gently tweeking the boy's button nose. To my surprise, he wrapped his chubby toddler arms around my neck. "Bye, Daddy," he whispered softly. Tears trickled down my cheeks. I wasn't just a friend of Kevin's. I was his father and he knew it. I stroked his hair softly. "I love you, son," I said in hushed tones before he returned to the safety of Kristin's arms. I watched from the ocean, my Seraphina on one arm and my daughter on the other, as the vessel that had brought them ashore now took them back. I could hear Grey's shrill whines floating across the sky. And Illiani struggled in my arms. I couldn't help by think about Brynne. Her early death. Her actual death. But it was comforting to know that even after I died, she continued to look after me even if she wasn't aware of it. "Nick," Seraphina whispered, breaking the silence. "How would you feel about another child?" she questioned. I gazed down at her and she patted the soft curve of her stomach, the tiniest fraction of roundness starting to develop. She placed my hand on the curve and then continued. "How would you feel about naming her Brynne?" She smiled brightly. She knew what I was thinking. Brynne. I liked that. With Illiani between us, one small hand of her in each of ours, we dove under the ocean's surface. Returning to the sea. |
| The End Also, I'm toying with the idea of a third book called On Land. What do you think? Email your comments or opinons on any of the mermaid books here!! Stories Index |