Forgotten Memories

Ch. 10

Ariel was back in Atlantica, and in her fathers throne room. They had been discussing what to do.

"What do we do daddy?"

"Don't worry Ariel." her father assured her. "We have everyone searching."

Ariel nodded. "I should go look more."

"No." said her father.

"But daddy-"

"Ariel, you've been searching all day, you need rest."

"But…Melody…"

"Sweetheart, I've sent the whole palace out to search for her." said her father. "You've done all you can to day. You must sleep."

As much as she hated to admit it, Ariel was indeed tired. She gave a soft sigh, and nodded.

It had taken her no time to find her old room. It was almost exactly the same. Even her old large clam shell bed was still there. She smiled slightly as she floated over to it and laid down. She did not immediately go to sleep, but sat there, staring up at the sealing. She didn't want to sleep, she wanted to look for Melody. But nothing said she had to do it until she passed out, right? She sat there, the warm blanket coating her softly, making her warmer…her eyes began to close…her breathing steadied…

Ariel just stood there, frozen in shock at the sight of him. After a moment, she seemed to have found her voice.

"P-Peter?!" she stammered.

"Yeah it's me."

He floated into the room. All Ariel could do was stare at him. It had been almost two years since they had seen each other before Ariels family left Never Land. Her and Peter had been good friends then and both had been upset since the move. She had almost forgotten him, but it was clear he hadn't forgotten her one bit.

As Peter continued to stare his gaze fell down to her legs and he gasped.

"Ariel!" he said again. "You…you have legs!"

Ariel giggled. "Yes I do." she said. "I'm human now Peter."

"But how?"

"Well," Ariel started. "That's kind of a long story."

"That's ok. You can tell when we get back."

"Back?" Ariel asked curiously. "What do you mean?"

"I mean I've come back for you."

Peter held his hand out to Ariel.

"I've come to take you back to Never Land. Me and the Lost Boys really miss you. Even Tinker Bell misses you. We want you back-I want you back."

Ariel sighed smiling slightly. "That's really sweet of you Peter, and that dose sound lovely."

"That's great! You have no idea-"

"But I can't."

Peters smile faded. "But…but why?"

"I'm not a child anymore Peter. I know you find that hard to believe but I'm a grownup, and a married one too."

"What?!" Peter exclaimed. "No…"

"Peter, I understand why you're upset, but it's the truth."

"But…but I though…we…"

"It wasn't what we thought Peter." said Ariel. "You and I…we were never meant to be…"

Peter opened his mouth, but as he did a small cry issued from somewhere in the room. Peter spun around, dagger in his hand. Ariel laughed at him.

"Don't worry Peter. It's just a baby."

Peter turned to face her. Baby? Did she say baby? Ariel walked over to the other side of the room where a pink and blue seashell crib sat against the wall. Peter, in his rush to see Ariel, had somehow missed it. He floated up behind her as she bent over and took something out of it. Peter tried to hover over her to see it, but couldn't see anything. Then as Ariel turned to face him, he saw she was now holding a small pink and white bundle in her arms. It was almost hard to see in the dim light from the low lit candles. Peter floated closer to her to look at the small bundle. As soon as Peter was close enough, he saw what it was.

It was a small very beautiful baby girl. As Peter looked closer he saw a pair of big bright ocean blue eyes staring back at him. The baby had seen Peter, and she smiled up at him, letting out a soft cry.

"What…is it?" he said curiously.

"This is my daughter Peter." Ariel said softly.

Peter stared at the baby. He should've known that this was Ariels daughter, because she looked exactly like her. Those eyes were Ariels eyes, that smile was Ariels smile. She looked exactly like Ariel from her cute little nose to her soft rounded cheeks. But there was definitely some difference. Her skin was fair like Ariels, but the tone seemed slightly darker, her lips were a bright rosy pink instead of red, her hair was jet black instead of red, and her eyebrows were a little thicker and better shaped. Peter had never seen hair that black before. It was so dark it made the night sky look gray.

She was dressed in a small white dress with little pink frills at the ends of the sleeves and pink outlines on the bottoms which came up in levels. She also had a large white bow in her dark hair with a small pink seashell in the middle. The little girl beamed up at him and giggled. Her giggle was so soft and gentle, like a sweet little melody. (lol you see what I did there J ) Peter unconsciously placed his hand close to her and as soon as he did her little hand rapped around his finger. Peter couldn't help but smile.

Ariel smiled at him. "I think she likes you."

Peter smiled at her. "Dose she have a father?"

"Yes. His name is Eric."

Peter looked down at the baby and pulled his finger away from her grasp. As soon as he did the she started to cry a little and she reached her arms out to him.

"What did I do?" Peter asked flabbergasted.

He was starting to feel panicky. He didn't know if he hurt her or scared her something. Ariel couldn't help but laugh at him.

"You really are adorable."

"But…" Peter started.

"You haven't done anything, she just didn't want you to go. Didn't I just say she liked you?"

Peter sighed with relief. It was clear he was very worried.

"Would you like to hold her?" Ariel asked.

Peter blinked at her. Hold her? She wanted him to hold her? He didn't know how to hold a baby! What if he dropped her? Ariel seemed to know what he was thinking and laughed. Peter smiled slightly. It had been so long since he had heard her wonderful laugh.

"Come here. I'll show you."

Ariel carefully placed the baby in Peters arms. She showed him how to hold her and keep her head up and all that. Peter made sure he had her safely cradled in his arms. She smiled at him as she tugged slightly on his shirt. Peter smiled down at her as he floated over and sat in a nearby chair. She was indeed very pretty, and would grow up to be very beautiful someday. Her mother was living proof.

Ariel smiled at them both.

"What's her name?" Peter asked, not taking his eyes off the baby.

"Her name is Melody."

'Melody'. That was very wonderful name for a girl. Peter gazed down at Melody. Her eyes had begun to droop as she continued to stare up at him. After another second, she began to doze off, her head snuggling in Peters chest. His smiled widened.

"She's beautiful."

"She is, isn't she?"

Peter looked back up at Ariel and was surprised to find her sad and staring out the window and, it appeared, into the sea.

"Ariel, are you ok?"

"What?-oh!" she turned to face him. "Yes, I'm fine."

"No you're not." Peter said. "I know you're not. Now what's wrong?"

Ariel sighed. "I can't exactly tell you Peter. But I can say that Melody…might be in danger."

"What do you mean?"

She sighed again. "Something happened today Peter, something bad and…well, there's someone who might kill her if we let her have the chance."

"Why would they wanna kill Melody." Peter asked. "I mean, she's just a baby!"

"You don't understand, they're trying to hurt me by hurting the people I love. I have to keep her safe by any means necessary." Ariel sighed. "Even if it means giving half of my…our life away."

"I can still come visit you and her, right?"

"l…" Ariel hesitated. "I…don't think so…"

"But-"

"I'm sorry Peter, but your just a kid, you don't understand. I love Melody, and I'll do anything to keep her safe. Even if it means giving up the things I care about."

Peter looked at her. So Ariel did still cared about him, even if it wasn't the way he wanted. This had made him rise a little in his seat. Peter sighed.

"Can you at least tell me why?" he asked.

"No." said Ariel. "I think it'll be safer for Melody, andfor you if you don't know. I'm sorry," she said again, and there was definite sadness in her voice. "but after tonight…you can never come back."

Peter sighed again and he looked down at Melody, who was sound asleep, snuggled in his chest.

"I…I guess I can understand that…"

Ariels eyes snapped open and she sat up, breathing heavily. She looked around and saw she was still alone. She couldn't have been asleep long. The light was dim outside her window, but still there.

Ariel sighed as she laid back down. After a while, she had fallen asleep, still thinking about the memory of that night.