A/N: Sorry everyone. I was convinced I had already posted this chapter. Oops! Well here it is and the next chapter in a work in progress as I'm a little unsure as to where to go but oh well I'll think of something

Chapter 10- Forgive

It hadn't taken much to convince Eric that Ariel would be on the beach. "Of course she's there." He had answered before running from his room. Gaston had followed him out onto the beach, but slowed down the closer he got. What would he say to her? He had called her a tramp and a liar. That wasn't something you just forgot about. Would she forgive him? He had made his way to where she was. Ariel was just as beautiful as the day he had found her. She sat on a rock just near the shore. Eric was making his way towards her after dumping his shoes on the sand. They didn't kiss when they met; instead they just hugged and held hands. It was then that Ariel noticed Gaston.

"Gaston, um hi?" She said as Eric climbed up behind her and put his arms around her waist. She looked up at Eric and smiled. She really does love him, Gaston thought.

"Ariel I um, I'm sorry." Gaston tripped over the words.

"Its okay I heard you on the ship. I know that you feel you should apologise but I think I need to too. I've only just regained most of my memory, the only parts I can't remember is my family. However I do remember falling in love with Eric and my determination to see him and for him to recuse me from my life under the sea. I also remember giving over a small fortune to the sea witch just so I could have legs. What I'm trying to say is that I think I may have leaded you on a little but I didn't mean anything by it. Will you forgive me?" She asked.

Gaston was shocked at her apology, why did she have to apologise? " Of course I forgive you." He replied with a smile.

"Ariel I owe you an apology too. I am sorry for not believing you at first, but since you had rescued me nearly every girl in the village had tried to convince me that they had saved me. Now I realise it was you all a long."Eric said to Ariel.

Gaston looked away, feeling a slight bubble of jealousy rising in him. He has been right that day on the beach, who knew what these two would start doing. Although what he was thinking of would be hard with a tail. The sudden appearance of a yellow and blue fish caught everyone's eye, especially Ariel who started talking to it.

"What are you saying?" Gaston asked as Ariel let out a frustrated sigh.

"He says my father is coming. This isn't going to be good. He might try and take me away from you." Ariel said to Eric with a worried expression on her face.

"I've already lost you once; I'm not losing you again." Eric replied linking their hands.

"Gaston, stay please." Ariel cried out after he had started to turn away and start to walk towards the castle

"Why?" He asked, knowing he wasn't going to get the answer he wanted.

"You were my first human friend, please stay. I'm gonna need all the help I can get." She paused as the fish said something. She then laughed "Thank you Flounder ".

There was silence only the sound of the waves making noise. This was until there was a roar from the ocean and a whirlpool suddenly appeared near Ariel. She cried out as it started to suck her into it. "Eric." She cried panicking. Eric had never let go of her hands but the force and the might of the whirlpool was becoming too strong. "You've got to get out of here." She said as one of her hands slipped from his.

Suddenly a much larger hand grabbed her lose hand. "We're not leaving you." Gaston said as both he and Eric reached out to grab her elbows and pull her up. She sat on the rock for a few seconds before Gaston picked her up and carried her up to the beach.

Once she was safely there she thanked them both."Thank you. How did you know to take me on to the sand?"

"I noticed it wasn't getting Eric and I, only those in the water. That's why your fish friend isn't here." Gaston replied rubbing sand off his pants.

"Flounder? Oh no, Daddy really isn't going to be happy now," Ariel said putting her head in her hands.

"Your father did that?" Gaston asked. Now he was slightly glad that Ariel hadn't fallen in love with him.

"Yes, he's king Triton." Ariel said as if it was obvious.

"But if he's the king, you'd have to be ..." Gaston trailed, too afraid to say the words.

"A princess. Yeah Princess Ariel, apparently." Ariel shrugged.

"And no Princess or daughter of mine is marrying a barbarian such as yourself." A deep voice from the water said. They all jumped to see who was talking. When Ariel saw that it was her father she looked at Eric and held his hand.

"Ariel get away from him. He'll kill without a second glance. This is the same species that killed your mother." Triton yelled.

"Daddy I love him." She interrupted.

"Have you lost your senses completely? He's a human you're a mermaid." Triton said lifting his triton.

"I don't care." Ariel and Eric said at the same time.

"I was not talking to you, human." Her father said as it 'human' was a dirty word. "Ariel Think of Batal. He is set on marrying you. What would he say if I told him you ran off to be with a human? Triton said. Yelling hadn't worked do instead he attempted to give her a guilty mind.

"I'd say that's fine." A male voice said from behind Triton.