"I thought you might say that, de geso," Marina nodded, planting more affectionate kisses along his cheek and shoulders, "But you came back for me, not letting me remain in the depths of despair when you could have simply walked away from me... I could never forget you or hate you, no matter how long you make me wait or try to shake me off. I might not know what I even am, or what purpose I serve on this strange world, but when I am with you in your arms I feel like I have found my home. Life apart from you is but a journey, a journey to strengthen and test my love for you. I will raise our children in love and care, the love you have taught me to have for others. You will be proud of them, so watch out Sam, because you will fall in love with me all over again, de geso!"
Her entire body was trembling, and it was clear that she was attempting to hold strong for them. She had to be firm in his resolve, for she knew that if she did not remain strong she would give in to the temptation to hold onto him forever. Even the little ones seemed to realize this, and began to quietly whisper to each other. Marina was willing to fight and die for Sam and thier children, but now the battle would stand between her will and her own desires.
"When... When I am strong enough to stand by your side again, and when our children are old enough to fend for themselves, I will find you again. Not even an army of Leviathans will be able to defeat me then. I will fight for you even in the face of gods and the Succubus herself! No force on this planet will be beyond my power to subdue... for I am the invader from the sea, after all... I'm Ika Musume, de geso!"
Marina reached out with her tentacles and wrapped them all around Sam, holding him an embrace similar to the one in which they had mated for the first time. This time, however, sex was clearly not her intention, but merely to show her resolve to be by his side once again. Her hands slid along his toned muscles and broad back, remembering the love and passion they had shown each other before, which felt like just a short while ago. They had both changed so much since then, and yet she knew the truth of his words. She gradually relaxed around him and released him, standing before him calmly as she let him go.
"Thank you, Sam, my lover," she smiled as she began to gather up their children one-by-one and giving them a chance to plant one last kiss on their father's cheek, "We will meet again, I know we will. When you need me, I will be there. Look to the sea, for I will always be watching for you there."
With that she gave him one last kiss before wrapping a tentacle around him and thrusting him to toward the surface while she darted off toward the underwater city with her children in tow. It was a bitter-sweet parting for both of them, that much was certain, but in this case Marina had hope once again, hope that she would see him at least one more time...
------
The oh-so-familiar shore that awaited him on the surface would be a welcome sight, indeed. Teeming with late night lights, the dim horizon was bathed in a deep, brilliant black broken only occasionally by sharp points of light. The serene calm of the coast and the gentle breeze which swept along the coast could only be described as picturesque, as many of the environments on this planet were. It was a good distance between there and Dryad's forest, but it was probably the best bet he had to find Gnome and reform a contract with her. He needed her strength in the very least to impress Undie, and he had much to resolve with her even beyond the concerns of his quest to confront the Succubus.
He had no way of knowing this, but Gnome happened to be huddled in the hallow of a tree in her friend Dryad's grove at the moment, her right hand brushing across the surface of her swelled stomach. The tree-woman remained out of sight, as in her heart she knew that her friend wished to be alone. She would have no comfort for her soul, her silent determination leaking through the stolid expression on her face. Sam's child would be born over the next few months of winter and would require her utmost care. She knew this much to be true. A part of her wished to hold onto his memory, while another part wished to resent him. She felt betrayed, denied even the freedom to die with her beloved contractor whom she would have willingly stayed with to the bitter end. Such was the terms of the contract that he formed with her, to be together even in death itself...
Yet, she would have to wait before she could once again see Sam's face once again, for there was something else in store for him in the near future, something he had not quite considered might happen.