As the chef's daughter, you'd often be helping out in the kitchen, and right now you were slicing sea cucumbers when something banged violently against the shell window. Then again. Then a third time. Your fins quivered.

You didn't have time to react as the prince made a dramatic entrance through the doorway, his hair streaming with golden seaweed, a huge basket hanging from his flipper and a baby dolphin following him, squealing happily.

"TADAAAH!" He announced proudly.

"I know you're working." He grinned like an idiot, set the basket down on the coral plane. "But I thought you might... like... need some company. Me for example?"

He opened the basket with undisguised pride. Inside were heart-shaped seashells and a ring-shaped (but much too large) braided seaweed.

"It took me hours to find a hundred heart-shaped shells. Just for you."

The little dolphin slithered between your fish tails and squeaked toward you.

Eben cleared his throat. "His name is Bubble. He loves you already. And I thought if you liked him too, well... maybe you could have him. With me. Like... a pack."

A pause, an awkward silence.

"Me + Bubble = happiness?" He added hopefully.

Yes, he has it bad for you but what can you do? He's not giving up anytime soon so better get used to him. And Bubble.