(A/N: This one shot kind of just pop into my head one day and I've been trying to find the time to write it. I'm actually am pretty happy with it, but for some reason I did have some trouble writing it. I just couldn't get it right. Anyway, enough of that. Enjoy some pure Ariel and Eric fluff!)


Sunset of Love

It was the end of another perfect fall day. The sun was just starting to set over the ocean letting a reflection of it fall onto the ocean. It turned the sky a beautiful combination of orange and red, and created pink tinted clouds.

Ariel wrapped her cape around her tighter as the fall breeze blew around her and her husband. She shivered as the setting sun began to drop the temperature. Eric, seeing her shiver, wrapped his arms around her allowing Ariel to rest her head on his shoulder.

"We should go in soon. It's getting cold," said Ariel, growing restless.

"What?" asked Eric. "You were so excited to come out and watch the sunset earlier. It hasn't even gone down yet. I know you're still getting used to the changing temperatures, but you're not one to let something that bothers you stop you from doing what you want."

"Well, uh, I don't really like it," replied Ariel coming up with an excuse to hide what she thought was a lame fear.

"Why not?" he asked surprised. "It's beautiful. When I was a child I would always come down here with Max and watch it."

"I just don't like it."

"Ariel, what's bothering you," Eric pushed the hair out of her face and brought it up to look at him. He knew his wife very well and knew when something was wrong. "You can tell me anything."

"This is just not my favorite time of day," she simply responded.

"And why's that? Because the day's ending?" Eric asked trying to understand. He knew how Ariel loved to learn as much new stuff about humans as she could in one day and was disappointed when the day would come to an end.

"Well, yeah, I guess. It- it just reminds me of Ursula. How I only had till the sun set on the third day to get you to kiss me," she shivered at the memory of being in Ursula's lair and making the deal that could have ruined Atlantica, her father, and even Eric. When the sun sets on the third day. That voice would haunt her forever.

"Oh, so you don't like sunsets anymore because of her. Don't let her destroy something so beautiful," he said, finally understanding. Memories of finally finding out that Ariel was who had saved him hit him. It was a big relieve actually, knowing that the two women who he loved was really the same person. Then came the memories of holding her as the sun set, about to kiss her until she turned back into a mermaid and he lost her once again. He understood why she was so nervous.

"I know, but I can't shake the feeling off of me that somehow she's going to show up and take me from you again when the sun is setting," Ariel explained her biggest fear. Losing Eric was something she knew she could never live with. If they couldn't be together, life wouldn't be worth living.

"Oh, Ariel. Why didn't you tell me this sooner? I'll always be here for you. Ursula is dead, so you'll be stuck with me for the rest of your life," the prince said to try and calm his wife down. He had no plan of letting her go again. He had already lost her once and almost a second time. He had no intention of letting another sea witch's tentacles on her again.

"I said it was just a fear," Ariel blushed. She stuck her bare feet in the water which appeared red due to the sun. "It's stupid."

Did she just say something about her was stupid? Eric could not believe that. "No, it's not. It's your fear and nothing about you is stupid."

"Eric, you're not listening to me. I have a fear of the sunset. Who has that?" she asked.

"But you have a good reason to be afraid," he said. "You're basically scarred for life because of Ursula. You have every reason to be afraid sometimes."

Ariel sighed knowing that she had finally gotten Eric to understand. "So, can we go in now? It is getting chilly out here."

He put his arm around her tighter, not letting her go and allowed some of his cape to also wrap around her. "No. My mother used to always tell me that when ever I was scared of something I had to face my fears, so we're going to stay out here until the sun sets and I'm going to help you face your fear."

She sighed giving in. He was not going to let this down, was he? "Fine."

Ariel snuggled up to Eric as the sun slowly started to fall past the sea. The temperatures continued to fall, but they stayed warm with the heat from one another and more importantly, their love. The young couple knew that as long as they had each other, nothing could come between them. No fears nor sea witches would ever ruin what they had.

Finally, the sun set past the ocean and darkness fell. The only light that could be seen was from the moon and the few stars that were already out.

Eric lifted up Ariel's face to look back up at him. "So, how was that? Are you still scared?

"I'm still here with you, aren't I? I guess when I'm with you, it's not so bad. It was actually pretty, like you said." Ariel loved all of the pretty colors and was glad she finally got to enjoy it. As, a mermaid, she never got the chance to go up to the surface and watch a sunset. She always wanted to, but being with Eric made it all the more better.

A sigh of relief washed over Eric knowing that she wasn't scared anymore. That was the last thing he ever wanted for her. "Let's go in. It really is getting cold out and I'm tired."

So the prince helped the princess to her feet and together they walked hand in hand towards the staircase that would lead them inside the castle.

Ariel finally knew that if anything bothered her, she could go to Eric. They would be together forever and he would always be there for her as she would also be there for him.

"Thank you," she said as they reached the large castle doors.

"Anything for you, my little mermaid," Eric replied opening up the door for her and planting a kiss on top her head. "Anything for you."