Chapter 16: Negotiating

Finally 4 days have past and Ocean went to a council meeting while I hung out in my room to wait for the verdict. Makani and my kids are out and about with their friends as of the moment.

After about 2 hours Ocean finally came back home. He gestured me to follow him to his office. I gave Makani a call to let him know. Then I went to Oceans office and we talked how the council meeting went.

"Well it took awhile but I convinced them. I had to convince them by showing them my true self I didn't tell them about you or anyone else so don't worry. I had to convince them that we exsist. They said they would be willing to meet with you and to set a date to meet with you." "Ok good at least you got them that far. Umm lets see I want to visit Makani's family its been awhile so how about next week on Thursday." "Let me give them a call right now. See if it works for them." He picked up his phone and dialled the number. "Hello. Its Ocean she said Thursday if that works for all of you?" "Yeah it works for us what time?" "What time?" "Oh sorry Noon work?" "Noon?" "Yeah that should work 12:00 it is on Thursday." Then they hung up and I had a relieved sigh. "Haa." "Don't be relived yet. We still have to get them to accept us." "Yeah I know but you getting them to get us this far is a miracle." "Haha I guess it is." "Ok maybe we should have an assembly then." "Yeah good idea." When I walked out Makani and the kids had just shown up. "Oh good timing there is an assembly going on soon. Lets head inside everyone."

So we all went in, Ocean and I were on stage this time. "Hello Ladies and Gentleman. We have had a lot of assemblies in the last few months for important information that will affect us. Now is the most important one. I will have Naia explain the situation." "Thank you Ocean. Hello everyone. I am sure your tired of so many assemblies. But hopefully it won't last much longer. As you know I am the Goddess. I am here on business. Ocean just had a coucil meeting to decide to meet with me. The sea peoples boss. If we can negotiate we will be able to send you all back home for those who want to and sea people would be allowed to come up whenever they wanted. That is what I am hoping for. We have set a date for Thursday at 12:00 so be expected to have an assembly after dinner that day as well. I am sorry everyone that you had to wait this long. For 16 years once I found out what the situation was I wanted to free you all. The Goddess told me in her lifetime she couldn't. I could. So hopefully this will be the time I can free you all. That is all thank you." Then I ran to my room crying everyone was shocked I ran out. "Ok Everyone you are all free to leave." Then everyone started leaving Makani told the kids to go to their rooms right now. He would get them after calming Naia down. They all nodded and listened to him.

Makani knocked on the door. (Knock Knock) "Its me Naia. Your hubby." I chuckled. "Come in hubby." Once he sat down next to me I hugged him suddenly and I felt him flinch because of the surprise. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to surprise you." "Its ok. Is it about what you were saying up there?" "Yeah. I'm so nervous, scared. What if I say the wrong thing? What if I make them mad and things don't turn out the way I planned?" He tightened his embrace. "Hey you know who you should talk too?" "Who?" "My parents. They are both sea humans. Then talk to Tides grandpa he is human. See what their take on the situation is. Me and the kids will stay here you have a nice chat with them ok?" "Yeah thanks. I think I will leave now." "Ok good idea." So I left to go see my in laws.

I knocked on the door. (Knock Knock) Then Makani's older brother answered the door. "Hello Konane. Long time no see." "Oh hello Naia. Please come in." "Mom! Dad! Naia is here!" They both came out and welcomed me. Grace the youngest who was attached to me came running and gave me a hug. Grace and her twin faith are 27 now. "We haven't seen you in months how is everything?" "Grace calm down. Can't you see she is not in a good mood?" "Oh sorry Naia." "I'm ok. I just need to talk to your mom and dad for a bit or maybe all of you since you two are sea human like me and Konane is human makes it easier." "Ok sure. Lets go to the family room. "

We got to the family room, then I started telling them the situation what I talked about at the assembly and how I ran out and Makani encouraged me to talk to them. "I see." Said Makani's Stepdad. "Well as a sea human I would love to negotiate to have our people come together, but I would love it if we can return even more." "Yes I agree honey. I think us as sea humans would want any way of being able to go back home." Said Makani's mom. "Konane what is your thoughts. You are human. What do you take on this? I am just nervous and scared. I will say the wrong thing or make the other humans mad." "I understand what you all are saying. Heck I need to get myself a girlfriend. If the sea humans are as pretty as you I would love to meet them. I would also love to meet the men see what they are like. I really liked your boys they are pretty cool." "Yeah thanks." "Well you said you are in your 40's right? Well I think I might have someone in the ocean who you might like. I will tell you though she has a unique personality. How old are you exactly?" "I just turned 40 years old." "Ok well she just turned 38 so 2 years younger. If everything turns out ok. I will bring her with me and have her meet somewhere." "Yeah that would be great thanks." "Oh and don't worry our people aren't like normal humans. He can live for 100 years and still have kids. Sometimes we look younger than we really are. You will see in time. I will introduce you to some of the guys I hang out with down there." "Ok cool." "Oh I have a question Konane. I was thinking of maybe taking you and Tides gramps to the meeting when I go as my human representatives would that be ok?" "Yeah of course when is it?" "Thursday at noon." "Ok yeah sure." "Oh and if you want to meet some sea human men and women come to Oceans place they are filled with them." "I will some other time thanks." "Ok thank you for hearing me out all of you. I'm happy to have a family that understands. Me." Then we visited awhile and I headed back.

Thursday finally came and it was time to meet up for the meeting. I brought 1 other sea human with me Faith because she is good at negotiations I've noticed. She is also neutral about the whole situation. I wore one of my business outfits that was handmade since my skin was sensitive as a sea human. We went in and sat down then waited for one more person who came 5 minutes later. "Sorry I am late lets start."

Then Ocean started talking. "I'm called this meeting so we can Negotiate with the sea humans. We want to be able to join our people together. First I want to have introductions." "Yes sir." I said. "My name is Naia this is my husband Makani as all of you know. I am the Goddess of a certain part of the ocean. I have come here just as Boss Ocean has said I want to join our people together I have a lot of friends here. I am sorry for not telling you I was a sea human all this time I am sure you know why I did." Then Faith introduced her self Konane and grandpa did too as my human representative. "Ok lets get this Meeting started." Said Ocean.

One of the male humans said, "If they can have a reason to join together with us I have no beef with them." "Well we have been saying we need more people in our town. More houses built as well. There is just so much land that is empty still." Said a woman. I saw two people thinking for a little bit. Then Faith spoke up. "Excuse me if I may speak boss?" "Yes go ahead Faith. I have a couple of questions sir. Even if all of these people here agree, would there be people in this town that would be against it?" "Well I'm sure there will be but if I make it law here since I am the boss and created this town. Since it was official by the president I have a say so on what goes on in the village. I just want to see what the council says." "I see and another thing. What about the sailors? What would be there take on this situation? If a lot of us come up I gurantee you some of our people can help the sailors if they need something under the water that they need to find and help them a lot. Some of them dream of becoming a sailor according to Naia." "Naia is this true?" "Yes sir. There are men in their 20's and 30's even teenagers who are willing to do so. How young are you willing to take us? There is another thing. A lot of us are older than we look. I say I am 35 right? In reality that is how I am in human time in sea human time I am 400 years old. We will go by the age you thing we look though. If there is anything we can do to help let us know? I just ask that if one of our people betrays that trust that our people will take care of their punishment." Then Konane spoke "Excuse me Ocean. If I may speak?" "Go ahead Konane." "Thank you sir." "I think it is a really good deal. We can make more money. The faster we find things the sooner we can get the money right? There is also houses and other buildings that need to be built right? I mean how old is this place now?" "I built this place in my teens so about almost 24 years since this place has been built." "Yes so the sea humans can help out a lot we can hire them to help with whatever we need if they want to live here." Then the woman thinking finally spoke up. "I agree. But we shouldn't give the option of not wanting to help if they live up here. If they refuse to help in any way they will have to stay in the ocean is that fair?" "Yes I agree." Said grandpa. I also agreed and so did the others. "Well we always were saying we need some more youngsters around here." Said the grandpa. "Oh grandpa." I hit my had and nodded side to side. "So are we all in agreement to the plan?" Then finally the man thinking finally spoke up. "If I do agree, what are we going to do to the others that don't agree to this situation? If one of the sea humans and the humans get into a fight? Who's side should we take?" "Well I would say we treat them like we would any human. Have them talk it out. If they have any questions or concerns come talk to me I will see what I can do." "OK Fine. So do we all agree then to the terms of our agreement?" "Yes sir." "Ok then I will type up an agreement and give copies to everyone here. You are dismissed." Once we got out I was so excited I hugged Makani. "We did it Makani!" "I knew we could." Then he hugged me back. We already had the assembly ready for after dinner time. "Lets go tell the kids. Better yet lets go see your parents and bring the kids over and tell them the news we will even invite tide over." "Yeah that would be nice." "Ok cool lets go get the kids." "Woah hold your horses Naia. Isn't Ocean supposed to give you a copy of the agreement?" "Oh yeah we should wait for that first." "I will go get the kids ready to go over to mom and dads place ok?" "Yeah." "I'll head home. I won't tell mom and dad till you get there." "Me either." Said Faith." "Thank you Faith for coming and helping out. Your suggestion was the best. I'm glad to have a little sister like you." "Aww thanks big sis." She ruffled my hair since she was an inch taller than me. "Hey just because you're an inch taller doesn't mean you can do that." "Haha ok weirdo see you later." So faith and Konane walked home and Ocean appeared with the agreement in a special sleep so it wont get ruined In the ocean. "Ok here you go. Thank you so much ocean. I Owe you a lot. I'm going to have mom come up and meet you dad and my brother as well." "Yeah that would really be cool to finally see her after so long." "Don't worry we will be back by dinner time." "Ok have fun." "Oh we will."

Finally we left to Tides house to get him. He came out and we headed to Makani's house. I knocked on the door. (Knock Knock) Konane opened it again. "Oh Tides here too. Even better come on in. Mom and Dad are in the family room. All I told them was we have news that's all." "Ok thanks." So all of us went to the family room and I couldn't keep the smile off my face and they had a feeling my plan worked. "Well I am guessing you know by my face that everything worked out." I had tears coming out of my eyes. "Here is the agreement if you would like to see it. Then pass it around so the others can see ok?" "Oh I have news too." Said Grace. "OK lets wait till we all read the agreement." Said dad.

The agreement said:

The is an agreement for sea people and sea humans to come together and her are the conditions. When they first come up they are to report to Ocean or the next once in charge they will explain what is to be done. They will be treated like any other regular human. In they fight no side will be taken they are to be treated equally. The sea humans will help out with whatever they can or they can stay in the ocean. If they need to be punished for any crime their own people will take care of it. As for health situations we will require a few sea human docs and nurses for their peoples health as well. If there are any other concerns or questions take it up with Ocean.

They all agreed it was fair. Then Finally Grace got to give her news. "OK it's a shocker everyone so be prepared. I wish my boyfriend was here to announce it but he is on the ship that sailed out. I am pregnant." "What?!" Everyone said at the same time. "I said I'm pregnant. I am already 1 month I found out." "Congratulations Grace!" I said Konane looked a little worried. So did the parents. They congratulated her anyway. Then Konane finally spoke up. "What would happen if he found out what you were. A sea human. What does he think of them?" "I asked him that when we started dating. He would love to really meet the and be friends with them. I asked him if I were one if he would still love me." "What did he say?" said Konane. "He said no matter what I was weather sea human or fish he would still love me. I chuckled at that he's funny." "Well we would love to meet him then." Said mom. "On his next day off I will. I will be so happy my baby will be able to explore what we never could at a young age. Now we finally can thanks to Naia." "Yeah about that. I told Ocean to wait until I go home first and tell them so they are not surprised. Then I will come back in a day or two and guide them to where we are." "Ok that would be fine. Except this baby is going to be half human how do I give birth to it?" "Oh I can tell you about that. I had to do it with your brothers not knowing what would happen. I gave birth to both of them in the ocean of course deep enough to where I can still sit and the baby's fully body was under water.