Chapter 56: More Than Words

Splish. Splish. Splish.

Jim twitched as water droplets splished into his ear. Blearily, he flumped a pillow over his head.

. Splish.

"Morph..." Jim moaned into the mattress. He flinched as water splattered across the pillow. "Morph it's too early for this."

Morph (snuggled in Jim's sock) snoozed dreamily unaware as water continued to rain down.

. Splish.

"Morph..."

. Splish.

"Morph."

. Splish.

"Morph!"

Tolerance threshold breeched, Jim flipped over. Raising his pillow to wallop Morph into a billion pink squiggles, Jim jolted as a thin trail of water sailed through the window and splashed into his forehead.

Jim could almost hear Ariel giggling.

He lowered the pillow. Sliding from the bedsheets and slicking water from his hair, he crossed to the window.

"Well." Jim leaned over the edge. He smiled as Ariel waved from below. "There's a beautiful girl."

Cheerfully, Ariel rolled her eyes. As always, Pirate's Point was blustery and Ariel had donned her green and purple beanie along with Jim's jacket to keep warm. She also carried her beach bag, which was stuffed to the brim (probably with squirt guns), and her trident. Each article was oversized, but Ariel still looked like a supermodel fresh off the runway.

Jim sighed. She was so beautiful.

"That was an interesting wake up call." Jim indicated to Ariel's squirt-gun. "Little damp."

Ariel twirled the squirt-gun behind her back. One eye squinted, she fired.

Jim dodged. He clapped the water as it streamed by. Ariel aimed again, and they repeated the sequence, laughing like children.

When Ariel was out of ammunition, Jim wrung his shirt. "You are deadly with that."

Proudly, Ariel pretended to blow smoke from the plastic tip. Touching a finger below her chin, she curtsied.

"Very few redheads can kill with a squirt gun." Jim teased.

Ariel curtsied again. Thanks!

Jim glanced over Pirate's Point. He scoped the shoreline. It was early dawn, but he worried the Tritons would notice Ariel's absence.

Returning to Ariel, Jim motioned to the drainpipe.

"Coming up?"

Ariel scrunched her nose. Ugh. Drainpipe. Disinclinations clear, she nevertheless stooped behind her beach bag, and produced two take-out coffees. The cardboard sleeves read Tony's Caffè Espresso.

"Coffee." Jim salivated: he could almost smell the dark, roasted aroma. Living in a household of tea-drinkers, a cup of coffee was pure gold. "Okay how much you want for it?"

Ariel hopped. She motioned downwards, careful not to spill the coffee. Come here!

Jim grinned. "Be right down."

Throwing on a hoodie and petting Morph (Morph cooed), Jim proceeded down the hall.

All was peaceful. John was an early bird, Michael was drooling into his blankets, and Sarah was waiting for her alarm to go off. Discreetly Jim skimmed every room, but he paused at Wendy's. Quietly, he peered inside.

Wendy was asleep (halleluiah), but curled on her side without covers. Scanning the ceiling, Jim located the dreamcatcher swaying directly over her head. He grunted. The dreamcatcher had certainly worked – Wendy must've hit the pillow and zonked right out. She hadn't even prepared for bed.

Still, Jim could see Wendy's slumber had been restless; her curls were haywire, her bow was askew, one sock was off, the other was on it's way...

"Jesus." Jim entered the room. Stepping over Peter's shadow, he fished the bedding from under her. "It's called a blanket, Wen."

Wendy stirred as Jim prodded and tugged.

"...seven minutes..." she mumbled into the pillow. "...seven more."

Jim snuffed. Seven minutes. Five was too few. Eight was too much. Ten was excessive. So it had to be precisely seven. Geeze. Classic W.M.A.D.

"Tell you what." Jim tucked the covers under Wendy's chin. "I'll give you seven and a half. Go back to – "

She was asleep before he finished.

"Sleep." Fatherly, Jim lingered. He couldn't help marveling how small Wendy looked beneath the big quilts.

"You're killing me." Sighing, Jim departed as Peter's shadow glared him out the door. "You are absolutely killing me."

Downstairs, the kitchen smelled like marmalade and earl-grey. John was buried in the morning paper, scouring the finance section for minor deviations in stock prices.

"Morning John."

John's top hat acknowledged with a bob. "Morning. Tea?"

"No thanks. Ariel's outside with coffee."

"Mhmmm." John disappeared into the paper. "Carry on."

Ariel was waiting, albeit impatiently on the front step. Sharing a good morning kiss, they strolled to the edge of Pirate's Point, coffees in hand.

"How do you feel?" Jim asked, holding a hand against the wind. "Any different?"

Ariel plucked his hoodie. Silly. she mouthed. It doesn't happen overnight!

"I thought that was the idea."

Oh. Yeah! Ariel sat, hanging her legs off Pirate's Point. Good catch!

Jim sighed. Ariel astounded him. Per Ariel's 'wish,' they had embarked on a secret...experiment. Jim was nervous wreck, but Ariel was happily evolving. Incredible. Her ability to adapt was incredible.

Deciding to change the terrifying subject, Jim joined Ariel at the edge. Immediately she started to cuddle.

"What you say to your Dad?" Jim asked, alluding to Admiral Triton's hunt for Ariel the previous night. "Anything convincing?"

Ariel balanced her trident over the beach bag. Nothing really. Just told Daddy I was out. Besides – Arista was in hot water. I lucked out.

"What Arista do?"

Ariel shrugged. What Arista always does. Trouble. She's like grounded for life.

Jim scoffed, recalling Arista's gossip regarding Peter and Wendy. "Serves her right."

Ariel nodded. She sipped her cappuccino. Agreed.

Dawn expanded into the stars. The sky was brilliantly striped with neon blues, pinks, and purples.

Gosh that's pretty! Appreciatively, Ariel waved her trident across the radiant sunrise. Nice job Peter!

Jim glared over his coffee lid. "Don't know who he's trying to impress. She's asleep."

Wendy? Ariel tapped her temple. Any nightmares?

"Actually no." Jim admitted. "Peter delivered on this one. The dreamcatcher worked."

Good! Ariel clapped. Now YOU can get some sleep!

"Ha. Yeah. But Wen needs it more – she was out like a log." Jim rotated the cardboard sleeve around his cup. "She knew it was me."

Duh. Ariel elbowed. A rock would have known it was you.

Lightly, Jim elbowed back. Returning silently to their coffees, Jim contemplated and Ariel waited for him to divulge. Jim was thinking so hard she could feel his brainwaves vibrating.

"I dunno Ariel." Exasperated, Jim scuffed his rattail. "Wen's driving me insane with this Peter thing."

She's driving YOU insane?! Soundlessly, Ariel laughed. To Jim's confusion, she explained. Jim – you are acting like my Daddy! Leave – Wendy – alone!

"I'm acting like —?" Jim spilled his coffee. Yelping – partially from indignation and partially because the coffee was scalding hot – he vehemently denied. "I am not! How could you say that?"

I didn't! Ariel pointed smugly to her throat. No voice.

"You know what I mean. Ariel, you don't get it. Wendy – "

Is your friend! Ariel mouthed, ensuring her articulations were crispy clear. Not your daughter!

"But Pan is after her." Jim set his coffee. "Ariel, I know Wendy. She's smart as a whip, but god for some reason she's built this fantasy around Pan. Ever since high school she's let Peter walk all over her. He treats her like – "

Interrupting him, Ariel counted on her fingers.

Like she's beautiful, attractive, desirable

"It's a game he plays." Jim pressed. "Peter told me himself."

Yeah. Ariel waved her hands. Like six years ago.

"Ariel, you know Peter's reputation – "

People change! Ariel insisted. You did!

"Ariel." Jim propped on a knee. "Just listen. I've thought this through and in every scenario, Wendy gets hurt. They're not like us, Ariel. They don't have what we have. But even if they did, what if Peter leaves her? What if Peter forces her in bed? What if he lies, cheats, plays with her -"

Ariel soundlessly groaned. Jimmmmmmmm!

"If any of that happens, if Wendy gets hurt," Helplessly Jim gestured at the fading stars. "Then I won't be there for her. Ariel, we are leaving tomorrow night. And if Wendy goes back to the Underworld heartbroken because Peter just wanted to have a little fun, I won't be there."

Ariel smacked the ground. How do you know it's not love?

Jim contorted. "What?"

How do you know Wendy and Peter aren't in love?

Jim turned to ice.

"Ariel. That is why I'm scared." Inadvertently, Jim touched his chest. "I know Wendy loves him. She loves him more than she's loved anything in her entire life. More than John, more than Michael, more than her mom, more than me. Ariel, Wendy loves Peter. I can see it, clear as day. But..."

Jim's voice was queasy, revolted. "Peter doesn't love her."

Ariel frowned. How do you know?

"Because I asked. And Wen told me..." Painfully, Jim finished. "Peter's never said I love you."

Ariel's red hair wove like thread across her deep blue eyes. Then, tearfully, she pointed to her throat.

Neither have I, Jim.

It was unclear who the comment hurt more. Ariel hadn't made a sound, but for the sting her words created, it was as if she screamed.

"...Ariel." Jim stared. "Ariel I – haven't I – don't you know, I know?"

Ariel's tears flicked into the sea.

I bet you'd like to hear it. Once.

Jim's heart broke.

"Babe..." Gently, Jim eased Ariel against him. When she resisted, he pulled, holding her inside powerful arms. "Ariel. Baby."

Of the guardians, Ariel had sacrificed the most. True, they had all lost each other, and in Wendy's case, her family. But, Ariel had sacrificed the most cherished piece of herself: her voice.

Ariel's voice had been her identity. Melodious, bubbly, vital, and strong, her voice sparkled from the humdrum of everyday sound. The first time Jim heard Ariel speak, he saw colors. Her voice was that vibrant.

Ariel had used her voice as a vehicle for connecting to the world, for fostering relationships, for expression...and for song. Jim had never heard Ariel sing. But Wendy had, in school concerts and chorus recitals – and apparently Ariel could SING. Wendy's accounts had been almost reverent; Ariel sings like an angel Wendy had said.

Jim sighed. Ariel's lost voice was like an angel losing its wings. It was sinful. Utterly sinful.

But following her initial shock, Ariel had evolved. Refusing to be unheard she mastered the art of non-verbal expression. And outwardly Ariel appeared happy, at peace with her silence.

But she was not. Ariel missed her voice. She wanted to speak. She wanted to sing. She wanted to tell Jim, just once, I love you.

Jim stroked Ariel's hair. Over her shoulder, he saw her beach bag – a paper pad and purple marker peeking over the brim.

Jim considered the writing utensils. Then, he adjusted. Cradling Ariel between his legs and against his chest, he opened the pad and started to write. When the message was complete, he tore the paper and handed Ariel the strip.

So I heard a song on the radio last night. Reminded me of you. Wanna hear?

Ariel read his small, blocky script. Rubbing her tears, she frowned perplexedly as Jim continued to write. Wanna hear? Was he going to sing? Yikes.

Jim ripped a second note. And as Ariel read the song title and lyrics, Jim pointed to each word and whistled the tune.

More Than Words

Sayin' I love you

Is not the words I want to hear from you

It's not that I want you

Not to say it, but if you only knew

While he whistled, Jim scribbled. Fluidly drawing a third paper scrap, he continued to point and whistle.

How easy it would be to show me how you feel

More than words is all you have to do to make it real

Then you wouldn't have to say that you love me

Cause I'd already know

Jim folded his arms around Ariel, propping the pad against their knees. Unable to remember the chorus, he continued with the verse, whistling as he wrote.

Now that I've tried to talk to you and make you understand

All you have to do is close your eyes

And just reach out your hands and touch me

Hold me close don't ever let me go

Jim paused. Squeezing Ariel he underlined the next lyric, praying she would believe.

More than words is all I ever needed you to show

Ariel smiled. As she turned into Jim, he dropped the paper and pen. Embracing Ariel on the windy cliff, he whispered the final lines.

"Then you wouldn't have to say that you love me. Cause I already know."

Ariel kissed Jim's cheek. I love you she mouthed into his ear.

Jim smiled. He'd memorized the way I love you felt.

"I already know."


...

Big4girl poem:

If I didn't have you, my life would be grey. If I didn't have you I'd be the same way I was everyday. If there wasn't change, I'd never had rearranged my life. I love you, I know it's true and I don't have to hear it, I just have to know it. I know it's true, Ariel I love you too.

...


sultal's note: I recommend this YouTube version of this song. The kid can sing. "" More Than Words - Extreme (Official Cover by John Jorge) ""