{{Sorry folks, but for better or worse I've never been camping in my life, so that aspect of our tale is all yours.—tmw.}}
Eric Anderson came home from work as happy as a clam at high tide. After going into the fridge for a soda, he looked out the kitchen window and saw his entire family gathered around the fresh water swimming pool. Anxious to join them, he quickly took off all his clothes, grabbed a clean towel from the laundry room, and went into the backyard, quickly switching from "normal" to Phase 2: Webbed hands and feet, along with leg scales from the waist down.
"Hey! Daddy's home!" shouted his son, happy to see him, as Eric released his full mer-tail while diving into the water.
While his son would not be able to display any of the mer physical features until reaching puberty, Eric Anderson Junior was already becoming quite a swimmer, and was at his father's side before Eric surfaced.
"Daddy! Guess what? I beat mommy swimming today!" declared his son, while hugging his father.
"Oh? Don't you think you had an unfair advantage? After all, mommy' still carrying your baby sister," said Eric, looking over at his lovely wife. Julie was sitting on the pool steps, rubbing her bulging tummy, since she still had a couple of weeks to go before her projected due date.
"Maybe," reluctantly agreed Junior.
"Okay. I need to talk to mommy for a bit. When I'm done, then we'll have a race," promised Eric.
"Yeah!" said his son, swimming off.
Eric swam over and sat next to his wife. Except for her pearl necklace, she was nude like the rest of them, but had not assumed any phase of her were-mermaid form. With the heart shaped locket engraved with their wedding date, along with the ten pearls on the string thus far, it was a physical testament to their wonderful life together.
"You alright Mrs. Anderson?" asked Eric, putting his arm around her.
"Wonderful now that you're here Mister Anderson," said Julie, returning the gesture before kissing him.
"I know your moods dearest. What's wrong?" he asked.
"Heard from the lab this morning. That new anti-pollution enzyme we've been working on isn't living up to projections," she complained.
"Well, I suggested this before. Maybe you've got too broad a focus. Concentrate on something specific and target that. You can always destroy the rest of the crap later."
"I know honey," she said, leaning her head on his shoulder. "But the oceans are so filthy as it is."
"Sadly, they didn't get that way overnight, and unfortunately they ain't going to be fixed that way either. Besides, I'm sure Mrs. Tachibana understands."
"Which reminds me. I'm not supposed to know this, but they're giving me a baby shower next Friday. Can you make it?"
"Sure. It's just a short walk from my division to yours. Just remind me closer to the party," advised Eric.
"My little absent minded professor," Julie kidded him, while taking Eric's hand in hers.
"You want to hear some good news? The Explorer satellite is sending back signals that it might have found a water planet."
"Really? Where?"
"Deep space, over 500 million light years from here."
"So, not exactly just around the corner, huh?" kidded Julie.
"Afraid not," confirmed Eric. "But if it's inhabited, hopefully the locals are treating their world better than we have ours."
Melissa Stovall awoke around 6 that morning to heed nature's call.
Then, curious about what they might be up to, she went to check on Julie and Eric.
They weren't in her daughter's bedroom, and a quick check of the alarm system before going downstairs confirmed they were still somewhere in the house.
She found them asleep together on the living room sofa, curled up in each others arms like they had been doing that for years.
Except for the fact that both had kicked off their shoes, while Eric removed his jacket and clip on tie, they were both still fully dressed.
Melissa Stovall smiled, over joyed that her daughter's love life and romantic happiness had been secured a lot sooner than hers was.
Blowing them a kiss, she silently made her way back upstairs and went back to bed.