A/N: Thanks to all who have been reading this story! I hope you all are enjoying it. I would still appreciate if you continued to read and review. Enjoy the chapter! :) Sorry once again for the wait on the update. I have been having trouble with writer's block if I am being honest.

Attention: I would also like to make it known that I started writing this before I even knew Ariel was going to be on the show, so this is how I imagined her story going. So most of what happened with her in the show probably won't happen in this story or if it does it will only be somewhat similar. I hope, however, that this doesn't turn anyone away from the story.

Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time or The Little Mermaid.

Chapter 11

~Enchanted Forest~

Eric sighs as he stops playing his flute and runs a hand through his hair as he looks toward the ocean.

"I know what I saw Max but no one believes me," he says as he sits down and looks at his dog.

Max tilts his head in curiosity.

"If only I could find the woman who saved me. I can't get the tune I heard her humming out of my head either. I am not even sure she realized she was humming," he says as he looks back to the ocean and sighs again. "She has to be real. There is no way I could imagine someone as beautiful as she was."

Max walks over and licks him.

Eric smiles and pets his head.

"You believe me boy, right?" he asks as he continues to pet him.

Max licks him again and Eric laughs.

"I'll take that as a yes."

Max barks as if to confirm it.

"You are such a good boy!" Eric says as he scratches behind Max's ears.

"Eric! Eric where are you?"

Eric groans as he hears his butler call for him.

"On the beach Grimsby!" Eric calls back.

"Eric what are you doing out here?" Grimsby asks as he walks over to Eric.

"I was playing and thinking," Eric answers as he stands up and shows him his flute.

"I hope you weren't thinking about that woman you hallucinated seeing again," Grimsby says with a knowing look.

"She is real Grim, I know it. I didn't make her up," Eric says becoming frustrated that no one will believe him.

"If you say so, Eric."

"Is there any particular reason you were looking for me?" Eric asks changing the topic.

"Yes, your parents are having a dinner tonight and you are expected to attend," Grimsby answers and notices how Eric lets out a frustrated sigh.

"What is the dinner for?" He asks although he really doesn't care. He hates formal gatherings.

"Nothing special, they just invited some of the noble people of the kingdom to dine with them," Grimsby explains.

"Well doesn't that sound fun," Eric says as he rolls his eyes, "Why must I attend? The dinners are always dreadfully boring."

"You must attend because your parents want you to and you are a prince," Grimsby explains.

"Ah yes because being a prince is so great. I bet you this is some ploy to find me a wife," Eric says as he begins to walk along the beach away from Grimsby with Max trailing behind.

"Eric, come back here!" Grimsby calls as he walks after him.

Eric sighs and stops walking.

"You know as well as I do that you need to find a wife if you intend to rule. I know you don't like your parents trying to set you up, but you don't know if that is the purpose of this dinner or not," Grimsby says once he catches up to him.

"A spontaneous dinner that I am just now finding out about, I can guarantee that is its purpose," Eric says annoyed.

"You are almost reaching your 25th birthday, by now most men your age would be married."

"Well, that is most men. When I marry I want it to be for love, not because I have to" Eric says longingly.

"I know you do," Grimsby says as he puts a comforting hand on Eric's shoulder. "But you never give any of the women your parents pick for you a chance."

"That is exactly why, they pick them for me. I am perfectly capable of finding someone on my own," Eric argues.

"You never look, so how can you find someone?" Grimsby counters.

"For one, I am in no rush to marry!" Eric says starting to get frustrated.

"You must though if you intend to rule. You will need an heir," Grimsby says gently seeing that Eric is beginning to get upset.

"And like I said, I want to marry for love and not just because I have to or to produce an heir," Eric says and then turns his attention to the ocean and sighs.

Max nuzzles against his leg in comfort.

Eric smiles and pats him on the head.

"I know," Grimsby says with a sad sigh. "But you know as well as I do that you must, whether you like it or not."

Eric doesn't say anything as he continues to pat Max's head and stare at the ocean.

"Come, let's get you back to the castle and ready for dinner," Grimsby says as he puts his hand on Eric's shoulder.

Eric still doesn't say anything but follows Grimsby back to the palace with Max following behind.

As soon as they step inside of the castle Carlotta takes Eric to get ready for the dinner.

…

Once Eric is finished getting ready he makes his way to the dining room where his parents are waiting for him.

"Eric!" his mother says as she walks over to him.

"Mother," Eric says with a smile.

"Son," his father says with a smile.

"Father," Eric acknowledges with another smile.

"The guests will be arriving shortly," his father informs him.

"How many are coming?" Eric asks curiously although he doesn't really care. He already has decided that he is not going to cooperate with their little plan to find him a wife if that is indeed the reason for this dinner.

"12," his mother answers as she rests a hand on his shoulder.

"Wonderful," Eric says with a fake smile trying to hide his annoyance.

"Your majesties, the guests have arrived," a servant says as he enters the dining room.

"Bring them in," his father orders.

The servant bows and then exits the room, only to come back shortly after with the guests.

The first family to walk in is a trio of golden blondes with blue eyes. There is a mother, father, and daughter who Eric assumes is around 18.

"You're majesties," the father says as they bow.

"Nathaniel and Clarisse it is good to see you," Eric's father says with a smile. "And this must be your lovely daughter, Lily," he says as he kisses her hand.

"Your majesty," she says with a small smile.

"And this must be your son, Eric," Nathaniel says as he gestures to him.

"Hello," Eric says with a forced smile.

"Your majesty, I would like you to meet our daughter, Lily," Nathaniel says as he gestures to his daughter.

"Your majesty," she says with a small smile and blush.

"It is a pleasure to meet you," Eric says as he takes her hand and kisses the back of it.

"Please take a seat," Eric's father says gesturing to the table.

The next family to walk in is brunettes with hazel eyes. Their family consists of four people two of which Eric assumes are the parents and a boy and girl who he assumes are siblings.

"Your majesties," The father says and they proceed to bow like the last family.

"Frederick, Rebekah, wonderful to see you," Eric's father greets, "And these two children must be your twins, Stephen and Evangeline, my how they have grown!"

"Indeed they have," their father agrees, "As has your son."

"Yes, he has," his father agrees.

Eric smiles at the twins and then takes Evangeline's hand and kisses it like he had Lily's just to satisfy his parents.

"It is a pleasure to meet you," he says and he sees that she is blushing as well.

"You as well, your majesty," she says as she curtsies.

"Please take your seats. We are only waiting for one more family and then we will eat," Eric's father says and soon enough they are taking their seats.

After a few minutes of waiting, the door opens up and a family with black hair and green eyes file in. There are the mother and father and three girls who look to only be a couple years apart in age.

"William, Allison, nice to see you," Eric's father says with a smile once again. "And these must be your lovely daughters, Rachelle, Marie, and Victoria."

"Yes, they are," William confirms and then turns his attention to Eric. "Your majesty, I would like you to meet or daughters, Rachelle, Marie, and Victoria," he says gesturing to each.

Rachelle is the tallest and has freckles across her nose and Marie isn't much shorter but she doesn't have any freckles, and Victoria is the shortest out of the three with freckles as well and looks to be the youngest.

"It is a pleasure to meet you all," he says and then takes each of their hands and kisses them.

"Your majesty," they each say and then curtsy.

"Let us take our seats and begin eating," Eric's father says and they all make their way to the table.

Eric's father sits at the head with his mother to his left and Eric to his right.

"Help yourselves," Eric's father says as he gestures to the food that is lined up along the table.

Eric doesn't talk much only doing so when someone speaks to him.

"I hope you all are staying for the ball tomorrow," Eric's father says after everyone has finished eating. "I think it will be a great chance for my son to get to know your children."

Eric becomes angry as soon as he hears this.

Not only did they plan this dinner and not tell me, they also planned a ball that is happening tomorrow no less. He thinks agitatedly. And I knew they were trying to find me a bride. He might not have come out and said your daughters, but it was implied, he also knew I would probably get mad, which I am.

"I need to be excused," Eric says before standing up and rushing out of the dining room, leaving everyone to look on in confusion at his retreating form, except his father who looks on in slight anger.

~Storybrooke~

Clara wakes with a start as her alarm on her watch starts going off. She quickly silences it so not to wake up Kevin or Mason.

She sits up and pushes the blanket off of her. She stretches and winces as she realizes she has a few kinks because of the way she slept, and the couch wasn't that comfy either.

She stands up and yawns and then proceeds to fold the blanket up neatly and sets it on the couch.

She grabs her bags and begins making her way to the door when a voice stops her.

"Leaving already?"

Clara turns around to see Kevin standing by the couch with his arms crossed.

"I told you I had somewhere to be this morning. I wasn't lying," Clara replies.

"I never said you were," he counters, "I just didn't think that you had to leave this early or that you weren't going to say goodbye," he says as he walks over to her.

"I know that it's rude or me, but I thought it would have been even more rude to wake you," she defends, "But since you are awake, I would like to thank you again for letting me stay," she says with a smile, "Goodbye!" she says and then turns back to the door.

"Wait!" Kevin says causing her to stop and turn back around. "If you can't find anywhere else to stay, you are welcome back here as we said earlier. Actually, I would prefer if you would come back here instead of me finding you on a bench or something again."

"While I appreciate the offer, really I do, I don't want to be a burden and I can take care of myself. You don't have to worry about me," she says firmly.

"You're right, but please, just come back if you find no other place, and Mason already assured you that you aren't a burden," he says just as firmly as her.

"I know but with your….situation," Clara says trying not to be rude. "I believe that I would be."

"My situation? Well, for your information, Mason and I do just fine in our 'situation', but you're right, maybe it would be too much to take care of a spoiled princess like you!" he says harshly and obviously offended despite her efforts to not offend him.

"I-I am sorry, I wasn't trying to be rude," Clara says apologetically, "And I am not a spoiled princess, I just honestly feel like I would be a burden," she says defensively.

Kevin lets out a sigh and pinches the bridge of his nose. "I am sorry too. I just get defensive and I told you before I didn't want your pity."

"I know," Clara says as she glances at her watch. "Look, I really need to get going. Thank you again for everything," she says with a smile and opens the door.

"You're welcome," Kevin says with a smile as well.

"Goodbye."

'Bye," he says and watches as she steps out and closes the door behind her.

Clara carefully makes her way down the run-down stairs and finally makes it outside. Before she resumes walking, she studies the building one more time, and then begins making her way to Mr. Gold's shop.

Poor Kevin and Mason. She thinks as she walks. What terrible conditions to live in. I wish I could help, but I can barely take care of myself now that I am on my own. She thinks sadly.

As she continues to walk, she notices that the sky is starting to get lighter and sees that there are very few clouds. It is going to be a nice day. She thinks with a smile.

After a little while of walking, she sees her family's shop coming into view across the street, letting her know she isn't too far away from Mr. Gold's shop.

After several more minutes of walking, she arrives at his shop. She glances at her watch to see that she is right on time. She opens the door to hear the familiar ring of bells and steps inside.

"Ah, Miss Shore, right on time," she hears Mr. Gold say as he steps out of the back room and makes his way toward her.

She watches him as he makes his way to her and notices him look at her bags curiously.

"Did your father kick you out?" he questions, although he doubts it.

"Uh, no. I kind of left in the middle of the night," she replies as she looks to the ground.

"So you ran away from home?" he questions with a smirk.

"I guess so, but I am old enough to be on my own, so in a way it is more like I just left," she answers, not having thought of it that way.

"That is true," Mr. Gold agrees, "Now go and set your bags behind the counter and then I will tell you what you need to do."

"Alright," Clara says as she walks to the counter and places her bags behind it. She then makes her way back to where he is standing.

"Now I want all of these shelves and items cleaned by closing, but I don't want you opening any of the items or messing around with them. Just wipe them off and move on," he says to her, "The cleaning supplies are in the closet over there," he says motioning to the left side of the shop. "If you need me, yell, I will be in the back room," he says before leaving.

Clara makes her way over to the closet and decides to get the stuff out to clean the floor.

Let's see, do I sweep or should I Swiffer or maybe I should mop. She contemplates as she looks at the supplies that she has taken out. I think I will Swiffer and then mop. She decides as she gets the Swiffer ready to use.

Once she gets it ready, she begins to Swiffer the floor. She is careful as not to hit anything as she maneuvers it under shelves and along the floor, watching as it collects the dust.

Does he not clean? She wonders as she watches the amount of dust grow.

After about an hour and a half she has the floor Swiffered and mopped. She then opens the door so that the floor dries faster.

Once she does that she carefully makes her way back to the closet, trying not to slip on the water, and puts away the cleaning supplies for the floor. She then gets the cleaning supplies out for the items and the shelves.

She decides to start on the back wall. Hmm…what do I do with all of the items? I need to clean the shelves, but I don't want the items to break. If I set them on the floor I would more than likely trip over them. I guess I am going to have to pick them up one by one, clean the shelf under it, and then clean the item. There is no way I am going to finish all of this today. She thinks as she picks up the first item.

All of these items are so random and strange. I have never seen anything like some of them. She thinks as she continues to clean.

After about 2 and a half hours she finishes with the back wall.

"Looks like you are making progress, dearie," Mr. Gold says as he walks out of the back room.

Clara hadn't even realized until now that he had been in the back room all this time, not once coming out and standing behind the counter like a normal shop owner. Unless he did and I didn't hear him or he didn't make himself known. I wonder what he was doing in there. She thinks as she begins to start on another wall.

"Finish up the shelves and items on that wall, and then you can take a break for lunch. You get half an hour, then I want you back. I want the rest of the shelves and items done and then you can do the counters and the items in the glass cases tomorrow," he says before disappearing into the back room once again.

Well at least I get a break for lunch but this wall is going to take forever! I don't have that much money on me but I am going to have to find some place to eat. I know! I will go to Granny's, the food there isn't that badly priced. Hmm… I'm not making any money working here, I am just making it for my family's shop and apartment. I am going to need money and that means I am going to have to look into getting another job besides this, but I doubt Gold would let me do that. I could talk to Ruby about maybe working on the weekends at night and maybe at night on the weekdays. Clara ponders as she continues to clean the shelf and items.

Once she is done with the wall he told her to finish she walks behind the counter and grabs her purse.

"I'm heading to lunch!" she calls as she walks to the door.

"Half an hour!" he calls from the back room.

Clara opens the door to the shop and begins making her way to Granny's.

You know it is kind of nice being on my own, but I don't know how I am going to function or where I am going to live. I mean if I don't find some place maybe I could go back to Kevin and Mason, just for tonight, but I don't want to burden them, but what other choice am I going to have? She thinks as she continues to walk to the diner. She glances at her family's shop but she hurries past it as fast as she can and keeps the tears from welling up in her eyes.

I will not cry anymore over this! She scolds herself as she makes it to Granny's.

She opens the door, walks in, and then takes a seat at the bar. She looks around and sees Ruby approaching her.

"Did you sneak out again?" she questions as she leans against the bar.

"No, I….I ran away. Well, technically, I didn't run away because I am old enough to be on my own, but you get the point," Clara explains hurriedly.

"Well good for you! It wasn't fair he kept you locked up there anyway," she says with a satisfied smile. "So how does freedom feel?"

Clara just shrugs. She doesn't even know the reason that I ran, but I don't need to burden her with my problems as well. "It's different."

Ruby smiles again before pulling out a notepad and pen. "So what can I get you? I assume you did come here for lunch, right?"

"Yeah, just a grilled cheese and tomato soup please."

"Coming right up!" Ruby says before walking away.

Clara looks down at her hands and taps her foot on the barstool as she waits for Ruby to come back. When she comes back I definitely should ask her about a job…but I know I should talk to Mr. Gold about it first.

After several minutes Ruby comes back with Clara's food and sets it on the bar.

"Thanks, Ruby," Clara says with a small smile.

"No problem," she replies with a smile as well. "Enjoy your freedom and make sure you come see me more often!" she says before walking back to the kitchen.

"Will do," Clara says even though she knows she can't hear her.

Clara takes a bite of her sandwich and then glances at her watch.

Crap I need to hurry up! She thinks as she takes another bite and tries to eat as fast as she can without getting sick.

Once she is done she leaves the money on the counter, knowing that Ruby would get it, before hurrying out of the diner and back to Mr. Gold's shop.

When she reaches his shop, she hurries in and sees Mr. Gold standing behind the counter.

"Right on time. Finish up what I told you and then you can leave," he says before making his way back into the back room.

Clara looks around at what she has left to do and sighs. "Let's do this." She whispers before getting the cleaning stuff and resuming her previous task of cleaning the shelves on the walls and the items on them.

…

Clara lets out a big exhale once she is done. She looks at her watch and sees that it is 6:00.

She hears footsteps come out of the back room and looks to see Mr. Gold walking toward her.

"You can leave. I'm going to close up. I want you here at the same time tomorrow," he says dismissing her.

"Alright," Clara says before walking behind the counter and grabbing her bags. "See you tomorrow, Mr. Gold."

"Goodbye dearie," he says as she walks out the door.

Clara sighs as she begins walking down the street debating on whether or not she wants to go back to Kevin's or find another place to stay.

It would probably be safer if I went back to Kevin's he did say he didn't want to find me curled up on a bench. I guess I will head back to his and Mason's place. She thinks as she begins making her way back to their place.

"Clara!" she hears someone call behind her breaking her out of her thoughts.

She turns around to see Henry running towards her and notices Emma slowly following behind.

"Hey, Henry," she says with a smile as he reaches her and gives her a quick hug.

"Why do you have those bags with you?" he questions curiously.

"I left home," she replies.

"Oh, why?" he asks.

"My dad and I got into a fight," she explains not wanting to say anything else about it.

"Oh, where are you staying at?" he asks as Emma reaches them.

"Somewhere….." she starts to say but is cut off by Henry turning to talk to Emma.

"Mom, could she stay with you and Mary Margaret?" he asks.

Emma looks to Clara and has pang of sadness for her. She had heard her say that she and her dad got into a fight and Emma knows that with how he kept them locked up it would take a little time getting used to being on her own. She also knows that she should go back to her father but maybe before she does Mary Margaret and herself would be able to help her.

"Henry, I couldn't do that," Clara says as she fidgets nervously.

"It's alright, Clara. Mary Margaret won't mind," Emma says and watches as Henry gets a smile on his face.

"I really couldn't…."

"It's fine," Henry answers for Emma who just gives him a look and then smile.

"It really is though," Emma reassures her.

"I….." Clara thinks for moment. I don't want to be a burden to them but I don't think that I would be as much of a burden to them as I would be to Kevin and Mason. If I get a job at Granny's too I would be able to help them out….I could help Kevin and Mason out but I just don't feel comfortable there. What would it hurt? I could maybe only do it for a little bit or even a night. Maybe if I make money I will be able to get my own place…. she is broken out of her thoughts as she hears someone saying her name.

"Clara?"

She looks to see that it was Henry who was trying to get her attention.

"Sorry, I was thinking. If you don't mind, I would appreciate that," Clara says with a grateful smile.

Emma smiles as well. "It won't be a problem. First, I am going to run Henry home and then we will head back to Mary Margaret's apartment," Emma says as they begin making their way to her yellow bug.

"This is great! Now you will all be living together so it will be easier to visit you. I could occasionally stop by at Mr. Gold's shop too," Henry says with excitement as he climbs into the backseat of the bug.

Emma starts the car and begins to drive and in no time they reach his house.

"Bye guys!" he says as he hops out of the car and runs into the house.

"Mary Margaret honestly won't mind. Don't be nervous," Emma says as she watches Clara tap her foot and wring her hands as she begins driving to Mary Margaret's.

"I met her before, she did seem nice. I just don't want to intrude," Clara says honestly.

"You won't be," Emma says as she arrives at the apartment.

A/N: I am not sure how pleased I am with this chapter but I wanted to get you guys a chapter out since the wait has been so long and before we left for vacation. I thank you all again for sticking with this story!