LEGEND OF THE MER (43 page)

“I want eat!” Jedediah cried out.

“Well S
on, I guess we all know what you’re thankful for
,
” Cole
chuckl
ed.

“Yeah, he definitely takes after me
.
”
Lana
smil
ed and then said, “I guess that I’m most thankful for getting to share a holiday with my dad again, and the best part is, I also get to share it with mom and Jedediah.  I’m also thankful for
my husband Titus, our children,
and all of my big and crazy mixed up mer family
,
” she
giggl
ed.

Cole also laughed and shook his head in agreement, and then he began to carve the turkey.  He made sure that Jedediah got his first; he had been so patient with them.

Lana only stayed long enough to eat and then she went home to spend the rest of this time with Titus and the kids.  She wanted to share this part of the Thanksgiving holiday with them; it was nice to reflect on things that you’re thankful for.  She hoped that it might become a new tradition for them as well.

~~~

The day finally arrived for Sirene to give birth.  It was a little sooner than expected and Princess Cassandra was concerned.  She had taken on the rol
e
of mother and Prince Terrance had taken on the rol
e
of father to Sirene and Tristan; seeing that neither of them had parents.

Lana helped with Sirene, while Titus and Makoa tried to give their encouragement to Tristan.

Prince Terrance and King Titan also waited with him and even they tried to guard their thoughts on any complications that might be occurring.

It was several hours later when Lana came to the doorway and smiled and told Tristan to come inside.  Lana quickly went back in the home with him and Titus knew that she must not want to reveal what the child was.

It was several minutes before Tristan came out again.  When he did, he held two baby mer in his arms and he grinned widely and said, “I have a son and a daughter; this is my son Teneo, and this is my daughter Tenera.”

All of the mermen let out a cheer and went to see them.  King Titan was allowed to go first.
 
“What fine children indeed.  I see that they have the dark blue eyes of their father.  Their light brown hair they must get from the both of you
.
”
King Titan
smiled
.

“Arius has truly blessed us and made up for the loss of time,” Tristan chuckled.

“Yes, he truly has
.
”
S
miled Prince Terrance.

“I see that they have the dark blue tail of their uncle Makoa,” Makoa said jokingly to Tristan.

“They are fine children; congratulations to you both
.
”
Titus
smiled
.

Then Tristan took his son and daughter back to their anxious mother.  They were both so happy and so thankful that the ordeal was over and that both mother and the two baby mer were doing well.

Lana went to Titus and hugged him and let her thoughts tell of how much she loved being the mother of his children.

He said that he was so glad that she was.

Then they returned to the grotto where Tarra had been watching their Rose and Tarrock.  Lana and Titus told Tarra and Micah of the twins and they were so happy for Tristan and Sirene.

~~~

In early December, Ratu Daniel and King Titan did perform another union for Andrew and Fianna.  It was just as beautiful as Micah and Tarra’s wedding had been.

Titus also helped to find a secret grotto for the two of them.

Lana once more made sure that Andrew would have food, water and firewood.

Tarra was so excited that her lifelong friend was now her sister.

Micah knew how hard it would be for his brother to live the life he had chosen; but he too was thankful to have his companionship.

Cole and Rose enjoyed watching the beautiful ceremony.  Cole was
glad to see that the mer had
guardians in the South Pacific as well as the
Atlantic
.

After a time of celebration, Andrew rowed the florally decorated canoe with Fianna sitting inside.  He spoke words of love to her.  They were so happy to finally be married.  It had been hard for the both of them to be separated one from the other last summer; but their love did prove true.  They now looked forward to their future together and knew that it would be a blessed one.

~~~

When the week of Christmas had finally come, Lana was so excited.  It was the one holiday she had especially missed with her father.

This year all of the mer that wished, as well as her father and his family, were spending Christmas Eve at
Kaloki
Island
.

Micah had told of how special a tradition it was for the villagers.  They even had Santa Clause come and pass out treats to all of the children.  He told King Titan that it was a sacred event for his people and even he decided that he would attend with the mer in the lagoon.

“Lana, I do not believe that I have ever seen you so happy,” said Titus to her as he came in from patrol and saw her still awake.

“I can’t help it Titus, Christmas is such a special time.  I used to drive my dad crazy; I can never sleep when it gets this close.  It’s not even about the gifts; it’s just about the family coming together and taking time out to visit with one another.  I guess it’s like a big vacation day,” she laughed as she
realized
;
Titus probably doesn’t even get what that means
.

“I just know that it means that you are happy and that makes me happy
.
”
H
e smiled and kissed her.

Christmas Eve finally came and most of the mer gathered in the lagoon with their children.  Ratu Daniel, with a red and white Santa hat upon his head, greeted King Titan and also brought the King a hat to wear.

King Titan gladly accepted it and put it on.

Lana had to laugh
;
wow, King Titan really does look like Santa Clause!

Ratu Daniel took
his seat that had been brought
onto the beach.  All of the island children sat down on the ground, including Talei on Micah’s lap.

Ratu Daniel explained to the mer that Arius had a Son that chose to be born a human and live among them and teach them His sacred ways.  Then
Ratu Daniel told everyone the Christmas story.

Soon, the food was brought out; a large feast had been prepared for this special occasion.  As all gathered and talked, they heard the sound of jingle bells.

A large man dressed as Santa Clause came with a huge sack over his shoulder and shouted, “Ho, ho, ho, Merry Christmas!”

Lana
giggled
to see Titus thinking he was rather strange.  He began to pass out candy canes to all of the island children.

Then there came another Santa Clause
swimming
among the mer children in the lagoon and he began to pass out coconuts to all of them from a net bag that he carried.

Titus smiled widely and shook his head as he realized that it was Makoa in disguise.  The mer parents broke open the coconuts and all of their children enjoyed their treat as well.  The islanders began to sing Christmas Carols and even the mer began to sing along.

Lana went and hugged her father and Rose and told them that it was the best Christmas she ever had.  They agreed that it was for them also.  Jedediah loved his candy cane that Santa gave him.

~~~

Later that evening when Lana and Titus got their little ones and Tempest to sleep, Lana said, “Thank you Titus for allowing our children to have a Christmas.”

“You are welcome; I know how much it means to you
.
”
H
e held her and gently
ran his fingers through her
hair.

“It means more than I thought it would.  I guess I do like keeping some of my human traditions
.
”
S
he smiled.

“Believe me, after seeing Makoa pass out those coconuts to all the mer children, it has become a mer tradition as well
.
”
H
e had to laugh at the memory of it.

“He was wonderful wasn’t he?” she
giggle
d.

“Yes, I cannot believe that he kept that from me
.
”
Titus laughed once more.

“He has such a kind heart.”

“Yes he does; he will make a wonderful mate for our Rose
.
”
Titus smiled and winked at her.

“Titus, you know how I feel about that; she will make her own choice one day,” Lana said with raised brows.

“I know, hopefully she will choose as wisely as her mother did
.
”
H
e kissed the top of her head.

“Yes, even I have to agree with that,” said Lana and then she realized
:
hey wait a minute!   It wasn’t really my choice in the first place!

Titus gave her a wide grin and chuckled.

Lana
smiled back and shook her head at him
and then she grabbed one of his braids, pulling him closer and kissed him deeply
.

Lana was so
content.  She felt like she
finally found the balance and the purpose to her life.  She now loved who she’d become.  She was not only human, but also mer.  She was not only a daughter, but a granddaughter, a si
ster, an aunt, a wife, a mother
and a friend.