DISCLAIMER: WE DO NOT own any of the chars from TLM. They belong to Disney. I do however own Andrina's special name for Ariel.

Enjoy!

A/N: Here we go! This chapter has a pretty good cliff hanger, if I do say so myself. I won't be updating until I get back from a friend's house, but I hope this chapter does the job until I come back!

"I Remember Music"

Chapter 4-A Long Road Ahead

It had been a solid week since the accident and Ariel's admission into the hospital.

She was still comatose and her father, sisters, Sebastian, and Flounder worried for her greatly.

Each of the girls, as well as King Triton would watch over her for periods of time each day…

Meanwhile, Ariel sighed as she tried to get some rest. Her mother had explained that she would need it for the days ahead.

Even though Ariel trusted her mother, she still wasn't sure what was going on. She understood her body needed rest in order to heal, but she hated seeing her family torn apart because of her.

When she voiced her thoughts aloud to her mother a few nights after she had been in the hospital, Athena tried to put her daughter's mind at ease.

"Ariel, I want you to listen to me." She instructed.

Ariel did so without a second thought.

"The accident was not your fault. And what happened afterwards wasn't your fault either. You saved Sebastian's life."

"I know but…" Ariel's voice trailed off as she saw the earnest look in her mother's emerald eyes.

"It wasn't your fault, sweetheart." Athena insisted. "Please, try to stop blaming yourself."

Ariel heaved a sigh while resting her head in her mother's lap.

"I'll try." She told her. "But I won't be easy."

"That's my girl. And I know it won't be easy, but you'll pull through."

Ariel fell asleep shortly due to pure exhaustion.

Even though she was still a little confused about everything that was going on, she felt safe and that helped her sleep easier.

A few days later, Sebastian had asked if he could sit with Ariel before Alana took her turn.

The crab hadn't been to see his good friend yet and he knew he owed her that much.

After all, if it hadn't been for Ariel, he would have been crab cakes for sure.

Sitting next to Ariel on the bed, Sebastian wasn't sure what to say at first.

Now he knew how the girls felt when they had taken their first watches.

After a few minutes of silence that seemed to last forever, Sebastian spoke. He didn't know if Ariel could really hear him, but he had to get this off his mind. Besides, Ariel had always listened to him before. And he had a feeling it would be no exception this time either.

"Ariel, I…I don't know what to say." The crab began. "You saved my life and I'm grateful you did what you did. But I also feel guilty because now you're here instead of at home. You're hurt because Marina was after me and you risked everything to save me. Dat means more dan you'll ever know, girl. I hope you come back to us soon. De palace isn't de same without you."

Sebastian didn't know what else to say after that, so he kept a silent vigil by Ariel's bedside until Triton came back with Alana right behind him.

Once the King was satisfied that Alana would be okay, he and Sebastian left.

Alone for the first time since Andrina had taken her first watch, Alana tried to keep the tears at bay. She was worried about her sister and she wanted nothing more than for her to be okay.

"Ariel, I know you can hear me, so I'm just going to talk and get some things off my mind. I hope that's all right." With that, the young mer-princess began to speak.

"Pearl invited me to a party yesterday, but I didn't feel like going. I guess I didn't feel like going because you weren't there to tag along. It made me remember the time we went to Eelectric City and got caught in that big storm. I protected you then, but I'm sorry I couldn't protect you now. I'm really sorry."

Alana took a deep breath in an effort to keep the tears back.

For the next hour or so, Alana chattered to Ariel about every day things as well as some things she knew only Ariel would truly listen to.

Before Alana knew it, her shift was almost over. She was proud of her elder sister who was, although still very shaken over her youngest sister's condition, was now comfortable with Ariel alone and could stand watch by herself.

Even though a year apart in age, Alana and Ariel weren't terribly close. But that did not mean that any of the elder girls didn't love their youngest sister.

"I went to a party the other night sis…Met a boy, his name's Jeremy. He's so cute."

Ariel was once again unresponsive.

"We even went out on a date already…however it just wasn't the same…I guess what I'm trying to say is that my heart wasn't in it. It wasn't in it because I didn't have you to actually listen to my ramblings afterwards. The others either don't care or are too busy. I mean even though you laugh it off sometimes too, you still listen…" Alana was close to tears but she held them in. "Please wake up Ariel…Please?" A lone tear fell upon Alana's face, as she quickly wiped it away.

Hearing a quiet knock, Alana looked up to see Andrina's head poke through.

"Your shift's up. Go grab a bite to eat."

"Thanks" Alana said as she bypassed her sister out the doorway.

Andrina quietly swam up to Ariel's side. Taking Ariel's hand in hers, she just stared down at the red-head.

"You know we're all worried about you…even Atina and Adella…I think Father, Aquata, and myself most of all though."

Taking a deep breath and sighing, Andrina continued.

"This is really hard on all of us, we miss and need you Ariel. For as close as we are, I never realized how dull and quiet the palace actually is without you laughing or brightening it up. I think Father is most concerned and troubled by your condition. He'll never outwardly admit it to the six of us, but I think I've gotten him to come close. He needs you Ariel…I think…I think you remind him most of our mother. Mom…" Andrina's voice trailed off in remembrance.

She looked above, somehow knowing her mother was watching over everyone.

"Mom, please make sure Ariel is okay…Please? We need her, we really do need her. I don't know what will happen to Father or us if we lose her. We can't lose her…please Mother. We can't." Andrina's tears fell, with she not bothering to wipe them away as her sister had.

Meanwhile, Ariel had just woken up from another short catnap, when her mother said she needed to talk to her.

"You're going to wake up soon." She told her daughter. "Your body has gotten the rest it needs and it'll soon be time for you to go back to where you belong."

Ariel nodded, even though a part of her wanted to stay with her mother forever.

"Are you sure I'm ready?" She asked.

Athena nodded. She grinned while ruffling Ariel's hair.

"I know you're ready. You can do this, Ariel. I believe in you. Even more than that, your father and sisters do too. They love you so much. They need you."

"I know." Ariel said. "But I'm going to miss you."

"I know you will." Athena assured her as she took her youngest into her arms. "I'm going to miss you too. But I'm never too faraway. Just look in your heart and I'll be there. And remember, I left you with a gift. A gift that can never be taken away from you. A gift that when used correctly can shine light into the darkest of places."

Ariel nodded.

"Music, right?" She asked.

"Yes." Athena replied. "Whenever you sing or listen to music, I'll be there."

"I love you." Ariel said as she let her mother hold her for the last time.

"I love you too, sweetheart. I love you too. That's something that will never change." With that, the two spent a little more time together before Ariel started her long journey of recovery…

It had been another few hours, with King Triton poking his head in and giving Andrina a small break. He too looked for Athena to watch over their youngest in what could probably be considered a frightening time for her.

Andrina sat by the window, Ariel's hand once again in hers. She thought she heard a soft moan, even a slight shift in Ariel's hand.

Still remaining in the position that she was in, Andrina's eyes solely concentrated on Ariel's face. It began to twitch and Andrina's face grew to a hopeful grin.

Finally the tightening pressure on Andrina's hand from Ariel's gave Andrina the confidence that Ariel was indeed going to be just fine.

Soon Ariel's eyes began to flutter open. Blinking, and finally focusing, Ariel stared into Andrina's brown eyes.

"Ariel…" Andrina breathed in relief, not yet wanting to call their father in just yet. Calling in her other sisters, Sebastian, and Flounder would just be too overwhelming.

Ariel cocked her head to the side. Andrina was not sure if Ariel's eyebrows furrowed in confusion, or were just trying to grasp her surroundings after a week of darkness.

After a minute of staring, Ariel broke the silence.

"Who are you?" Ariel asked, clear confusion evident in her voice.

Ariel stared at her sister in confusion. She wasn't sure where she was or who was sitting next to her. A part of her felt safe with this person, but another part didn't know why.

"What did you say?" Andrina asked. She wasn't sure she had heard Ariel correctly.

"Who are you?" Ariel repeated. Her voice was full of confusion and fear. "Where am I?"