Atlantis

Chapter 3

"Good Morning, Angelo!" Vik sang, and tossed his baby into the air.
The infant burst into laughter and hugged his loving father.
"It's a lovely day, isn't it, Ang?"
The baby cooed in response.
"Come then, let's go eat lunch."
And Vik marched over down by the shore.
He'd come there every day for all he could remember. He seemed to be...waiting for something, or perhaps someone, but he could never remember. He hoped one day he'd find that out.
He plopped down on the dock after removing he and his son's shoes. His feet dangled into the chilling waters.
He bit into his ham and cheese sandwich, and Angelo sat next to him, milk bottle in hand.
"Isn't this relaxing, Ang?"
Angelo leaned on Vik's side, sucking on his bottle.
Vik looked down at his son.
He loved him so much that sometimes he would get a bit choked up just looking at him.
Suddenly, they heard a splash, and a ripple in the waves.
"Hera!" Vik called, and within only a few seconds, the mermaid was in front of him. "This is Angelo, my son."
Hera swooned and waved at the baby,
Angelo waved back.
Vik stared into Hera's eyes once more. The gorgeous hazel color they were, it reminded him of something.
Hera sighed and suddenly looked upset.
"What's wrong?" Asked Vik, and Hera took a deep breath.
"Okay." She said, making Vik flinch. "I'm not allowed to do this. But I need to talk to you."
"I knew you could talk! I knew it!" Vik celebrated, and Angelo laughed at the sight of his dad so happy.
But Hera's serious face ruined the moment.
"This is about...your friend." She finally said. "I'm sure you remember this place quite vividly."
Vik nodded.
Another long silence passed.
"Does the name...Gina...sound familiar to you?"
Vik's eyes widened. And suddenly it all came flooding back.
Vik remembered his friend in silence, not noticing the tears clouding his eyes.
"That's who I've been waiting for..."
Hera sighed again. She hated to be the bearer of bad news.
"Well...I knew her." She said finally.
Vik's eyes were full of hope again.
"Really? Is she down there?! Take me to her, please!"
A lump appeared in Hera's throat.
"I can't!" Hera shouted.
"She...she's...dead. Those men in the ship. They killed her. That's how they made money."
Vik's shoulders slumped and Angelo looked at his dad, his eyes full of worry.
"But...it's not all bad." Hera said again.
Vik looked up at her. What could make this better?
"I...I'm her daughter."
Vik gasped and nearly choked on his food.
He set his sandwich down and took Angelo away from the dock as he inched closer to Hera.
"I...I knew those eyes looked familiar." Vik stated, and smiled through the tears dripping from his chin.
"I'm sorry." Hera said, suddenly feeling guilty.
"Don't be." Vik replied, drying his eyes. "You've done nothing wrong."
"I suppose you're right."
Vik chuckled. "Well, I know I'm right."
They laughed and found themselves staring into one another's eyes again.
"S-so...what's your home like?" Vik asked Hera.

And the two carried on a conversation. A very long conversation. Hera explained what Atlantis was like, how beautiful it was, but also how binding it was. Hera felt trapped.
Then Vik explained his home life, and how he got Angelo.
"...I thought I found my soulmate, but the next morning, she was nowhere to be found, and a few weeks later I found I note on my door that read: You're a joke! And I'm pregnant."

They shared stories like that one for a very long while, until Vik glanced at his wrist again.
"Oh, crap!" He exclaimed. "It's late. I should get Ang home."

Hera agreed when she noticed Angelo falling asleep on the sand.

"Why is it always that strange wrist-clock that ends our time together?" Hera asked, missing Vik already, even when he still stood in front of her.

Vik chuckled. "I don't know. That's how time works." Vik found himself stifling a yawn.

"I see you're sleepy now, too." Hera said, and rose up from the water. She sat on the wooden dock, next to Vik, her tail still swaying underneath the waves.

She wrapped her arms around him, and he returned the gesture.

"I'll see you, then. Tomorrow? Same time?" Vik said, and Hera agreed.

"It was nice meeting you, little guy!" Hera said to Angelo, and shook his tiny hand.

Vik laughed, and bit his lip, suddenly feeling a bit sad that he had to leave. He didn't really want to go back to his home where nobody cares about him. This same feeling he had when he was a child. He wanted to stay here with Hera forever.

But it was way past Angelo's bedtime.