November 7, 2000

Mariana breaks the surface of the water with a gentle grace unlike any other. Looking up to make sure no one else is around, she consciously strokes the bundle of blonde hair curled up in the blankets in her arms. Seeing no one, she proceeds to make her way a few feet from shore. Stopping at five feet, she glances down at the sleeping child in her arms. Just a few hours old, and she's already fallen in love with her. That's why she must let her go. It's much too dangerous.

Still stroking her daughter's cheek, she opens her mouth and starts singing. Mariana's voice is a lovely sound. Her song is one of sorrow and pain; one of letting go of her precious child, all to protect her. Her daughter rolls around in the pink and blue blanket, sighing quietly in her sleep. Mariana had swore to herself before she surfaced that she wouldn't cry, but, that was before. And now, with it all happening, she couldn't hold them back. So instead of fighting the mountain of tears, she lets them fall.

The silently glide down her rosy cheeks and onto her daughter's face. The newborn child, though young, lifts up a hand and wipes away the water sitting on her face. Then she opens her eyes. Mariana smiles a half-hearted smile as she tries to memorize her daughter's features. Her sparkling, sky blue eyes and the small bundle of hair on her head. Mariana bends down and gently places a soft kiss on her forehead. The child smiles and grabs at her mother's face, but Mariana gently grasps her hands, stops singing, and puts her hands back down at at the mini body.

Mariana notices that her daughter face twists into a frown when she does this. Oh, how I'm going to miss her. Mariana thinks sadly. The snap of a twig on the beach suddenly alerts Mariana to someone's presence. Snapping her head up, Mariana sees a man no more than twenty-five. He has copper hair that glows in the sun and eyes like milk chocolate. "Uh, miss? Can I help you?" He asks uncertainly. Mariana opens her mouth to respond, but stops. Her plan was to leave the child on the beach where someone would certainly find her, but if someone was willing to take her, and protect her, that was even better.

"Actually, you can." She says sweetly. The man flinches slightly when he hears her voice. "I won't hurt you, but, if I don't get her out of here, she'll be killed." She jerks her head towards her daughter. The man's eyes travel down to the child, awake, and blue eyes taking in the scenery. "I can take her..." He says, almost hesitantly. Mariana smiles again and with one hand she creates a small waterspout to propel her up to the man. His eyes widen in shock. "Don't worry," She assures him again. "I won't hurt you. But my sisters might if they find out you have the child. Keep her away from the water, please. My siren sisters aren't as... tolerant of humans as I am."

The man's still frozen in shock, staring at the pretty woman in front of him, but when Mariana places the child in his arms, he makes sure to have a secure grip on her. "Thank you so much." Mariana praises. The man simply nods. All of a sudden, a song as sweet as honey rips through the ocean and air. Mariana's expression changes to one of shock and fear in the flicker of a second. "I have to go. They've noticed she's gone. Bye, sir, and thank you so much." "Wait," the man says, unfreezing. "What's her name?" He gestures to the now sleeping child. Getting rid of the water spout, Mariana lowers herself back into the water.

"Topaz. Her name is Topaz." Then with a flick of water (and quite possibly a tail) she's gone.

Notes