Ariel:

Eric and I waited in a small bedroom-I guessed it was Katie's, but there were two beds- while the crowd dispersed. Eric was trying to explain to me, "So, uh, this is Violet. Her mother was a nanny of mine in the castle. She always bought Violet to work with her and we were good friends." I nodded distractedly as I heard Violet yell, "They've left through the back door! Please leave us alone!" Eric sighed said worriedly, "Ariel…I feel like you don't believe me."

I smiled sweetly and whispered, "I believe you." It wasn't true. I'm not sure why I was lying about how I felt. I guess I was just confused…I wasn't lying. Eric never kept things from me…so why had he never mentioned this girl whose family knew him so well?

An awful silence descended upon us. Eric whispered throatily, "Ariel, my dear, would you like me to call Grim to come and pick you up? I have a lot of…catching up to do with Violet." I swallowed hard and thought about it. I didn't want to leave him here with some random girl I didn't know. I suppose what it came down to was: did I trust Eric? I finally whispered, "It's ok, I'll call him. You stay here and talk to Violet…"

We were acting all awkward around each other. This wasn't how we were. We were usually honest about everything. I sighed and lifted my long, pink skirt I was wearing which ended at my heels as I walked down the stairs. I landed on the ground floor and I said to Charles quickly, "So um, Eric says he wants to stay here and talk to Violet a bit. Do you mind if I phone someone to come and collect me please? I don't want to intrude."

Katie looked forlorn and she said, "Why don't you want to stay, princess Ariel?" I smiled meekly and replied, "I have a daughter at home who needs me, Katie. Like you need your mom." She sighed and shook her head, "Will you come for a visit soon?" I nodded in agreement and then I replied, "I will when I can." It was a feeble promise but I felt as though it was one I had to make.

Then there was another voice that made its way through the back door. It was an elder girl's voice. She giggled and said, "No Anthony! That is such a bad joke!" I frowned…Violet had another child? The girl came in, with a boy at her side and they were laughing. They were both about thirteen and I gasped as I noticed the resemblance between this girl and…and Eric. She had the same blue eyes and the same black, thick hair. She looked like…like Melody.

I turned back to Charles and he smiled nervously, "Of course, princess Ariel. It's right around here." He showed me where the phone was standing in their bedroom around the corner. I smiled gratefully and thanked him, before closing the door and dialing the palace's number. Carlotta was the first to pick up and she asked, "Hello, Carlotta speaking?" I panicked and whispered, "Carlotta…can you get Grim on the phone for me please? It's Ariel." Carlotta said happily, "Sure Ariel, my dear, just a minute."

My heart was still pounding heavily in my chest. The resemblance of Melody and this teenager was too coincidental. I waited anxiously for Grim to pick up the phone. When he finally did, I blurted, "Hi Grim, its Ariel." He was about to respond when I charged on, not waiting for a reply. I said in a rush, "Listen, I'm at a house in the village. Charlotte's house. There was a crowd gushing over Eric so we were waiting for it to disperse and it has now. But…he wants to stay and talk to Violet and I…I just want to go home. Do you mind coming to pick me up…please?" Grim replied without hesitation, "I'll be there in a minute, Ariel." I thanked Grim before hanging up.

That's when I heard Violet's voice behind me, "Alright, the crowd has disappeared. They're gone." I came out of the room and nodded, "Thanks for that. Grim is coming to pick me up shortly." Violet nodded and looked awkward so I whispered, "Eric is waiting for you up there." Violet smiled awkwardly and said, "Make yourself at home. Anthony, could you please go and collect some firewood with Lily." before she made her way up the stairs. The girls name was Lily. She looked like Eric. My mind was freaking out!

I sat down as I felt like the world was starting to spin. Anthony paused when he saw me and asked incredulously, "Aren't you the princess?" I nodded bleakly and he laughed, "Lily! The princess is in your house! You didn't tell me you knew her." Lily put down the bag she was carrying full of more groceries and whispered, "I don't know her."

Lily turned to her grandfather and asked curiously, "What's going on?" Charles shrugged his shoulders and Charlotte said quickly, "Lily, don't you have orders to go and get some firewood?" Lily looked at me suspiciously before replying, "Alright, we'll go and get some." Her grandmother thanked her and I watched wide-eyed as the girl who could be Melody's twin sister walked out of this house.

I sighed in relief and a few moments later of pure awkward silence when there was a knock on the door. I rushed to it and opened it up, practically squeezing the air when I saw Grim and hugged him tightly! He gasped and said, "Ariel, I uh…can't breathe." I smiled and said quickly, "I'm sorry, Grim. I need to get going." I turned back to the grandparents, "Thank you for your hospitality," I said graciously. They nodded and Grim frowned, "Where's Eric? He's usually not to far away from you."

I blushed horribly and whispered, "He's…he's upstairs. I think we should get going." I felt a tug on my skirt and Katie looked up at me with big, brown eyes, "Will you come back, princess Ariel?" I smiled slightly and then Grim went inside and greeted Charlotte and Charles. He obviously knew them from when Charlotte worked in the castle. I knelt down and smiled at Katie briefly, "I don't know, Katie. There are some things that I need to speak to my husband about. If he agrees though…maybe." I hated disappointing people, but this was one promise I didn't want to keep. She might be a sweet girl and I had nothing against her…but this situation was getting too much to bear.

Then there was a noise outside and the back door swung open again, this time with Lily carrying firewood and Anthony carrying the bulk of it. Grim's lips tightened into an even thinner line than usual and I could see he was drawing the same conclusions that my mind had come to. The only difference between Melody and this girl was that her hair was curlier and her face was sharper. Other than that…

Grim then abruptly ended his conversation with the grandparents, I hugged Katie goodbye and we hurried out of the house. When we were in the carriage, Grim remained as silent as the grave. I whispered tightly, "She looked like…" I didn't even get to finish my sentence as Grim choked, "Melody…" I nodded and he sighed and shook his head, "I'm sorry Ariel. I know you want answers from me…but I honestly have none. I know as much as you do."

I sighed and watched the ocean on the path back to the castle. My brain was in overdrive and I whispered, "I wish I had my father with me right now. If she is…Eric's child…I just…" I swallowed hard. Grim sighed quietly and whispered, "Ariel, we don't know that. We're just assuming that she is. We should be careful not to assume such things." I nodded and replied, "You're right Grim. I just want him to come home and tell me it isn't." Grim nodded and muttered, "Same here, Ariel, same here." At least I knew I wasn't the only one feeling this way.

A/N: Thanks to my two wonderful reviewers! Here's another one for you! Hope you enjoy it.