Hey Guys!

I thought it was time to show you what Ariel is really thinking: Hence this chapter. I hope you enjoy it!

Thanks for the support and reviews! It really helped me right this chapter.

Happy Reading,

J


Ariel lied down in her bed. Her mind felt like a tornado, wrecking havoc in her brain. People applauded her for being so strong, but Ariel knew otherwise. She wasn't strong at all. It was all a mask to hide all that she was feeling.

Thoughts came into her mind all the time. Memories of Melody, especially hurt her. Those were the ones she tried to block out the most.

Didn't parents have an obligation to protect their children? Had Ariel truly done all she could? What if she had gone to the beach like Eric asked her too? If they had stopped fighting sooner, would it have saved them?

It was hard to know. It was hard to ignore her feelings. And Ariel made the decision not to. Ariel tried that approach and all it did was make it worse.

Ariel rubbed the shell that had Melody's name on it. She never talked about her. Many would assume that it meant Ariel didn't love her daughter, but that wasn't true at all.

Just thinking of her made her heart ache. Every time she thought of Melody, she relived that night. The night when war started and her life blew up in flames.

Was Melody afraid? Did she cry out for help? Was she burned? Did she try to escape the flames? Did she call for her daddy? Did anyone hear her? Did she call for me?

Ariel shuddered. She wasn't a good mother. Not a good one at all. Especially now.

A knock on her door broke Ariel's thoughts.

"Ariel… There's a young merman here to see you." Triton's favorite guard bellowed. Sam was Ariel's favorite. He had always been there for them. He was her connection to Athena. When ever Ariel had a question about what Athena would do, Sam was always there with an answer.

She followed him as Sam led her to the throne room. She prayed with all of her heart that it wouldn't be Ben. She didn't want to see him, didn't want to talk to him, didn't even want to think about him after what had happened two weeks ago.

To her surprise. There really was a young merman there waiting for her.

His tail was a bright red, the same as Melodies, His hair was black and straight. It was pulled back in a short pony tail.

Ariel gasped as Sam introduced her.

"Travis? Is that really you?" The young Merman turned around, his eyes were sad, and he was holding something in his hand.

"Your Majesty, I'm sorry to bother you like this…" he took a deep breath. He had waited all this time. Every time Melody came to Atlantica he waited for her.

They spent the time well going on adventures, talking about life, planning days together. He never had the courage to tell her how much he loved her.

How every time he saw her his heart skipped a beat. His spine shivered, and his eyes filled with tears. Just at the thought of how much she meant to him.

Now he was floating in front of her mother, trying to build the courage to say what was on his heart.

Ariel reached out to hug him.

"Your Majesty, I just wanted you to have this. I was going to ask Melody… to marry me… but she's gone now, and I want you to have it."

Ariel watched in amazement as he unfolded his hands. In the center lay a ring. The band was made out of pearls and in the center was a shiny, red, heart- shaped stone.

Travis couldn't resist as tears filled his eyes. He was stuck in his emotions. Sad because he lost the love of his life, angry because of how she had died, even angrier that he couldn't die too.

Ariel held on to him, as tight as she could. Tears slid down her face, as she finally allowed the pain to come out of hiding.

"Thank you Travis… but are you sure you want me to have it?"

Travis nodded his head overwhelmed by the pain, as he placed it in Ariel's hand, he bolted away. Not even noticing the King.

"Ariel, what was that about?" Triton asked confused as he sat on his throne.

Ariel wiped her eyes.

"That was Melodies boyfriend, Daddy."

Triton took Ariel into his arms as she started crying. He didn't have any words to offer, no advice what so ever. All he could do was tell her about loosing a spouse. He still had all his daughters.

"He… was going to ask her to marry him…"

Ariel showed Triton the ring. She had slipped it on to her finger.

"Oh Ariel…"

"I'm such a bad mother Daddy…"

"Oh Ariel.. I wish I could offer you some advice. All I know is that loosing someone you love is… difficult. Don't let anyone tell you how fast to grieve, or when to move on. Don't make the same mistakes I've made. I never gave my self a chance to be happy or to accept the fact that I couldn't have the life I had before. It was always move on, move on,, with your life. Ariel you have the chance I never had: you are not bound to royal responsibilities. That means that you don't have to rush anything. And always remember that I'm here for you."

Ariel nestled herself into her father's long white beard. The only place that she felt safe now.

There she knew there was no judgment. Suddenly her heart felt heavy. Maybe what she didn't want to admit was that she still had feelings. Feelings that no one could understand. Feelings that she herself could understand.

She thought about Melody. Why didn't she try harder, try sooner to make a relationship with her? There she was living on land and while her daughter was beneath the waves making a completely different life. One she knew so little about.

Mom I belong in the sea.

No you don't Melody!

Mom you don't know me.

Can we at least try?

Ariel remembered hugging her daughter. Promising to be there. To try harder. But she didn't at least not then.

Mom I love you!

Then she dipped beneath the waves.

"I love you Melody…" Ariel sobbed. The guilt was killing her.

Triton sighed as he watched Ariel cry into his beard.

"Daddy, can I do me a favor?" Ariel said as she calmed down a little.

"Yes, my darling?"

"If Ben comes by… can you tell him to go away? I… I'm not ready… I don't want what he wants… I'm not on his level…Please?"

Triton looked into his daughter's eyes. There was a look of pleading. He wanted to pry into this some more. So curious what she meant. Not on his level. What in the hell did that mean? But he didn't ask. He just waited until she was asleep to carry her back to her room.

"Your Majesty! What is going on? Atlantica seems so quiet mom!"

King Triton returned to the throne room to find Sebastian waiting for him.

"A lot Sebastian. A lot. How was the cruise?"

"I enjoyed the Tuna Coladas sire!"

"Well maybe you should go rest, I know it was a long journey. I can explain everything tomorrow."

"If you say Sire!"

Sebastian swam happily home, completely oblivious to everything.

King Triton settled into his bed. Turning on his side he saw the picture.

"Oh Athena! Please watch over her… I don't know what to do."