what the water gave me

Peter felt the corner of his mouth catch in a small frown, feeling the thrum of her sadness echo in her words. “Did you find it?” A less obvious and certainly less intrusive way of asking if she was— or would be— okay then prying into whatever made her voice strain with that edge.

Shrugging a fair, delicate shoulder, Sienna responded, her town almost blasé, “I suppose it brought me some peace.” Turning over her shoulder, she met his eyes and questioned, “Did you find what you were looking for here?”

Ariel looked at her, opening her mouth to say something but closing it right away. She wasn’t about to make Sienna talk to her about it, and even so it seemed pointless. Talking wouldn’t make Sienna feel better. “Sure.” she simply answered, feeling like there wasn’t much she could say. It felt too much like saying it didn’t matter. Ariel coughed awkwardly “I like that dress.” Now she understood, Sienna flustered even when she knew it was unfair.  She was surrounding by people who fought for what they wanted and fought against depression, instead the brunette seemed to constantly give into it. Yes, unfair. “Would you like me to leave?”

Sienna bit her lower lip and nodded, pulling at the dark blue strap of her dress. “Thank you, Ariel,” she replied sincerely, reaching out and touching the other woman’s shoulder gently. “That’s sweet of you. I’d like you to stay, if you don’t mind.”

   Tossing the pitch black locks over her shoulder, Lorelai stood proudly with her hands on her hips. No siren had come to harm her in her journey back to Barton, and she knew that she’d be able to breeze right back out when the time came. “I’m sorry for startling you Sienna—did you think I was a siren?” she joked with a hearty giggle. Hearing the solemn news, Lorelai’s demeanor shifted to concern as she approached Sienna. “You’ve been sad?” she asked “Well… would you mind telling me why?”

“Perhaps,” she admitted, a little giggle escaping her lips despite the melancholy expression that took over her delicate face. “I just . . . it’s only memories, Lorelai. Nothing to worry yourself with,” she sighed. Lorelai was so vivacious and cheerful, and she couldn’t compare to her. “I’m really happy to see you as well, Lorelai.”

Her smile dropped, in a second or two a bitter taste appeared in the back of her throat. She couldn’t blame Sienna…she couldn’t and she wouldn’t. “I’m sorry…” she muttered “But why? why are you so sad? I should have asked before…”

“I know you mean well,” she stated calmly, “but I really would rather not talk about it, and I’d love it if you could respect that. Thank you.” Biting her lip, her eyes followed the waves, marveling at how beautiful the ocean was.

“I…” Peter took a breath to answer but trailed off after the one word, trying to spin his wayward thoughts into something plausible. “Well, I think I just wanted to see if anything had changed. I’m just back in town again, after all. But I should’ve known nothing changes much here in Hollow.” He let his eyes drift over the horizon before inquiring, “And how about you??”

Sienna didn’t respond, only nodding and running a hand through her hair. “Me? I just came here for some peace. It’s so beautiful here, after all.” Her words were barely audible, but there was still an obvious trace of melancholy behind them.

Sometimes seeing Sienna smile pained her, it seemed lik she was only hurting herself more by doing so and Ariel knew that this smile was for her. Knowing that the brunette didn’t try that hard with her would often give her a little peace of mind. Ten years ago, Ariel would have loved that but she did not believe smiles to fix anything any more unless they’re genuine. She always smiled back anyway. “I have been alright, becoming a bit of a workaholic…but I can’t complain.” she said shrugging lightly “How have you been?”

“That’s good to hear,” Sienna replied distantly as she kicked off her shoes, digging her feet into the cool, damp sand. “Me? I haven’t been doing that well,” she admitted softly, her gaze fixed on the ocean. “But it’s okay.”

Barton Hollow had never been a large town. However, given the funny little traits of the various creatures who lived there, it was possible for one to go years without seeing someone else. And upon finding a woman standing on the edge of the ocean, Phoebe recognized a face she hadn’t seen in years. Unsure if she would remember her, Phoebe cautiously approached Sienna. “No, it’s okay.” She scrutinized her. “Sorry, it’s just that I can’t get over how different you look— in a good way, of course.”

Sienna raised an eyebrow but said nothing, her eyes meeting Phoebe’s for a moment before they returned to the ocean. “Do I look that different? I didn’t know that.” Her hands falling to her sides, she shrugged a thin shoulder. “You look different as well.”

“Oh. Hello, yourself.” The beach was just as nice as he remembered it, Peter supposed. He hadn’t ever been much of a beach person, but Jesse had been and Pete had often forced himself out onto the sand after the loss was fresh, trying to cope. “I wasn’t going through much trouble to be noticed, so don’t feel too bad.” 

Sienna wanted to smile, to seem inviting and sweet, but it was too much of an effort, so she just turned her gaze back to the ocean. “Good, then,” she said softly. “What brings you to the beach?” she asked, looking over her shoulder at Peter for a moment.

Ariel considered Sienna a friend. In the present less than before, but a friend nonetheless. She cared about her all the same. The problem was that after a while she started to find it hard to get actually close to her. And she couldn’t quite put her finger on the reason. She felt that Sienna looked sadder now, as if living exhausted her greatly. “Hi, Sienna.” she said, waving. “I know, I should have said something before.” Ariel smiled, it was the least she could do after intruding in what seemed an intimate moment. “I’m sorry I interrupted your peace.”

Sienna coaxed a small smile to her face for Ariel’s sake, shaking her head. “It’s not a problem, Ariel. Don’t worry about it.” Turning to face the dark-haired woman, she asked, “How have you been?”

  “Didn’t notice me?” Lorelai returned with a giggle “Sienna I just came out of the ocean! Were you really not paying attention?”

Lorelai’s presence brought a small but genuine smile to her face. The other mermaid had been nothing but a bright presence in her life, and, despite her melancholy state as of now, Lorelai did make her happy. “I did recognize you,” she answered with a small laugh. “You just startled me, that’s all.” Her gaze still on Lorelai, she bit back a sigh. “I’ve been sad, Lorelai,” she replied bluntly, “but that’s okay. How have you been? You look happy.”

Though older now and finally in possession of enough money to own and upkeep a vehicle, Hazel had decided that she would have much rather walked to meet up with the rest of her family again, rather than drive. It had been awhile since she had last been in Barton Hollow and she had missed the peace that walking alone could bring, though she had never truly appreciated it in her younger years. Her eyes cast down towards the water as she walked on by, she couldn’t help but stop and stare at the woman standing at the edge, a small flicker of recognition coming alight as the other woman finally turned toward her. “That’s because I eventually learned how to be quiet,” she stated, tilting her head slightly as she assessed her. “You look a lot sadder now than you used to, you know.”

“Oh. Hello there, Hazel.” Her shock and startled expression faded away, replaced with a empty stare. Turning her gaze back to the ocean, she shrugged in a way that seemed nonchalant, but was truly accepting of the fact that she was sad, was never really going to be anything but sad. “I know I do,” came her reply. “You look nice, though.”