Drew walked in to find Lilia collapsed on their bed, sobbing. Except that instead of legs, Lilia now had a orange fish tail sticking out from under her dress.
"You're a mermaid!" exclaimed Drew.
"Yes" she said, choking back tears.
Drew stood there in shock for a moment then slowly walked over to the bed. Lilia curled up, continuing to sob. Drew sat down next to her and put a comforting hand on Lilia's shoulder.
"How?"
"What?"
"How is it that you're a mermaid now and five minutes ago you were human?"
"I was born a mermaid. I came ashore for the first time about 2 years ago. I take a serum; it makes me human for 24 hours. I've been taking it every day since I moved in with you; I haven't been a mermaid at all during that time."
"You hid it pretty well" admitted Drew.
"Thanks, but now you know I'm not really human. You will let me go, right? Not turn me over to scientists to study me in a lab?"
Drew gentled pulled Lilia up into a seated posistion next to him and wrapped his arms around her.
"Lilia, I asked you to marry me because I love you. I love you for who you are, not for whether you have legs or a fish tail."
Lilia had finally stopped crying and leaned her head on Drew's shoulder, enjoying his tender embrace.