Bethany's last day on this earth, in this form, had already begun. The sun was only just beginning to rise and Bethany walked slowly, trying to memorize it and its colors. Of course it was beautiful, and she had always thought she had appreciated it. Never enough, though, she knew that now. She let her fingers run over the leaves of nearby bushes and she smelled the morning dew. She took in the views of flowers and birds, and let herself take a moment to soak in how her house – her charming, well-kept house – looked when you were just about to enter.

"Bethany!" Sarah leapt up and ran to her sister, wrapping her arms around her.

"You were out all night!" her mother scolded, walking over but softening when she actually saw her daughter. "We were so worried."

"I'm so sorry I'm late – I didn't mean to worry anyone." Bethany said. "I just got caught up."

"What could possibly keep you out all night?" her father asked.

Bethany paused. She couldn't possibly tell them. Despite any odd relationships with her family, she knew she couldn't do that to them. It wouldn't be fair. "You know how I got the job to try and advance myself within the castle?"

"Yes?"

"Well, Prince Eric has increased his trust in me over the time that I've been working for him. We're not quite best friends or anything, but he knows he can depend on me."

"That's wonderful, sweetheart! My daughter, a confident of the prince!"

Bethany smiled. "And it's afforded me…a unique opportunity."

"What is it?" Sarah asked, slipping her arm through her sister's.

"I'm going to go…undercover." Bethany said simply, hoping they would buy at least that much.

It would appear that they did.

"Oh?" her mother asked, very interested.

"I'll be helping to improve relations with a few countries, I can't name them for the sake of confidentiality, you see."

"Glauerhaven?"

"Maybeee." Bethany teased. "But I will have to go away for a while."

"For how long?" her mother asked, suddenly very sad.

"I'm not sure. I'll be gone as long as the Prince needs me to be. This is my duty, and it is a real honor."

"Of course, of course." Her mother came in and hugged Bethany, more nicely than she had in a while. "I'm proud of you, honey."

"Thank you, mom." Bethany smiled. "I'll represent the family well."

"You always have."

Bethany smiled at this, but it didn't go up to her eyes. She always had, and yet…here she was, leaving. Over an unfixable mistake.

"What is it?" her father asked, noticing her stillness.

"I don't have to leave until tonight. We still have today to spend together – to say our goodbyes."

"I think that sounds lovely."

…

Ariel awoke with a start, as if she had been bound by panic and was only now being released.

"Whaisit?" Eric slurred, propping himself up.

Ariel looked around the room hurriedly, but found no offenders and gradually calmed down. "I don't know. I must've had a bad dream."

"Come here." Eric reached out his arms and Ariel settled back. "No one's here but us."

Ariel smiled a bit. "Good."

"Lay with me here, just a bit more."

Ariel hummed her agreement and buried her face into her neck, exhaling.

"You know we don't have to get out of bed at all today."

Ariel laughed a little at this. "You have no princely duties to attend to?"

"Only you." Eric said.

"Well I'm a little hungry." Ariel said, a little teasingly.

Eric rolled over on top of her, smiling as she laugh-cried out.

"Eric, you're crushing me!"

"Well, now you can't go anywhere." He said, very careful to shift most of his weight to his hands and no onto her. He didn't want to actually crush his wife.

Ariel laughed freely, with a lightness and sincerity that neither of them had heard in some time. "You win." She smiled. "I guess I'll stay here a bit."

Eric smiled and dipped his face lower to press his forehead against hers, to touch their noses, to kiss her lips.

…

"I do love you." Eric said, reassuring her although she did not ask.

Ariel pretended she had never doubted. "I know." She tangled her fingers through his and he squeezed her hand.

"I can't promise things will never be rough again."

"I suppose I can't either."

"No matter what, I'll stick it out with you." Eric said, propping himself up on his side to face her.

Ariel tugged the sheets up towards her neck. "I'll stick through anything with you Eric. I think we both always hoped that, but we know it now."

"If one good thing had to come of all that, I suppose I'm glad it's this."

Ariel rolled her head into the space between his neck and shoulder. She liked how perfectly it fit.

"Things are good, but they will get better."

…

The sun was just starting to set, and Carlotta poured herself another glass of tea.

…

"I have to go, really!" Bethany laughed with a lightness that did not become her situation.

She and her family had spent the day in town, poking in and out of shops and treating themselves to anything they wanted – on Bethany's wages. Living at home, she had stashed up quite a bit. Pastries, new ribbons, shiny trinkets, as well as practical things loaded up the arms of her family as they began their walk back home.

"Oh, let us come back with you!" her sister pled, putting down the many boxes and bags she held.

"No, no." Bethany said quickly. "I have to go alone – that's important."

"Then I guess we'll have to say our goodbyes here." Her father said sadly.

"Are you sure you can't write."

"Quite sure, sadly." Bethany said. "I have very few details, so we should take this goodbye seriously."

Bethany's sisters came forth and hugged her collectively.

"We love you so much."

"It's so cool that you get to do this. It seems so exciting, but promise me you'll keep safe."

"I know you're smart and that you'll be fine, but look after yourself, okay? We love you so, so much."

"I love you guys too." She sunk her head down and closed her eyes, savoring the moment and doing everything she could to stay in it.

"I love you too, Bethany. My little honeybee." Bethany's father cupped her face and looked down at her.

"I love you too, dad." Bethany said, sniffling and looking up.

"There, there." He said jovially, wiping the tears from her eyes with his thumbs. "It's not goodbye forever."

Of course, she didn't tell him that he was wrong.

She nodded as he stepped aside and her mother came forward.

"Oh Bethany!" her mother crushed her to her. "I do love you, and I hope you know that. You can…defy convention more that I like sometimes, but I hope you know that no matter what I've said, I've said with pride in you and love for you."

Bethany nodded and looked up at her. "Yes mom, I know."

"I love you. I'm proud of you." Her mom repeated, tipping her daughter's chin up to look her in the eyes.

"I love you, too."

…

Most of the day had passed, and Ariel saw that it was high time for her to get out of bed. She wrapped a robe around herself.

"Come back!" Eric moaned, flopping to his back.

Ariel laughed and turned back around. "I'll just get a few things from the kitchen and bring them back, promise.

"UGhhhhh" Eric moaned dramatically.

Ariel wrapped an arm around her waist and laughed – and then noticed a shining object. Years of treasure hunting had made her quite adapt at spotting even the slightest sparkle or shine. She furrowed her brow and approached slowly, as if the object could be dangerous.

"What is it?" Eric asked, leaning over the side of the bed.

Ariel stopped down and picked it up, showing it to Eric.

"Why is there a knife here?" he asked, his voice almost angry. He held out his hand for it and Ariel let it fall into his palm. Eric held it up to the dying light and examined it.

"Does it belong to you?" Ariel asked.

"No…" Eric said, completely confused. "Any chance it's yours?"

"None." Ariel said. "Any knife I've ever had is in a cavern underwater, and I think I'd remember that looked like that, anyway."

Eric nodded. "I figured as much."

"How did it get here?"

"I have no clue. I'm just glad you didn't step on it or anything. I would've hated for you to be cut."

…

Goodbyes said, money spent, fear mounting, Bethany stood at the edge of the water. The sun was just peaking over the edge of the horizon and, against what she would've thought, she was begging for it to go down. She had done all she could, she knew what was coming. Just let it happen.

Each second of sunlight was a year, each minute a lifetime. She closed her eyes and waded in knee-deep, laughing to herself at the idea that a jellyfish or shark could come and kill her right here. Wouldn't that just be hilarious. Dying on her deathbed. Or cursebed. Whatever she may call it, she knew she was either dead or good as.

Bethany let herself peak quickly to see if the sun had sunk any lower. It filled the sky with different oranges and pinks than she had seen this morning and she was grateful for it. Opening her eyes, she memorized this new picture; a final gift.

Like a gasp, she was gone. Dissolved may be the right word for it. Anyone who had not been watching would not have seen it happen. Anyone who was watching wouldn't have believed she was real – no one could disappear so quickly.

She felt herself come to a new life in the sea witch's lair, floating absently.

"Things are not as they used to be." The witch said, cupping Bethany's chin. The witch gestured around her lair. "As you see, I have no one."

Bethany looked around. The lair was indeed empty.

"I am but one being." The witch continued. "And when I die, as we all must, you will continue on after me. Until then, you will belong to me."

Bethany furrowed her brow. She didn't know for sure if she wanted to agree to this arrangement. But she knew she didn't have a choice.

…

Properly dressed and both out of bed, Ariel and Eric walked to the edge of a bluff near the castle, staring at the night anew, as stars began to emerge.

The wind picked up Ariel's hair, and she leaned into Eric's chest. He wrapped his arms around her and they let this moment be. There was no talk of the past, but there was especially no talk of the future. There was here and now, and there was Ariel and Eric.

And they let it be.

Review, please! This marks the end of the fanfic that kicked my butt – it was hard to go on sometimes, but I wanted to finish it for all of you, but especially TheBritCrit, who continually reviewed and showed interest in the story. Thank you, all of you!