Now We Can Walk, Now We Can Run, Now We Can Stay All Day in the Sun

Ariel's PoV

One of the first things Ariel did after she turned human, was to go and sit on the beach shore.

Because Ariel thought that there were things she might miss about being a mermaid, to be sure, and that this might be close enough to her basking in the sun, while she sat on a rock, with her tail in the water, that she could get the best of both worlds this way.

And it truly was.

"Ariel, my love, what are you doing?" Eric asked her the moment he saw her (and she hadn't been gone long), as he went to sit beside her. And Ariel loved that he joined her so easily, and that her Prince always called her "love" now—reassuringly—since for so long, she hadn't known if she would ever be that to him, and she'd almost slipped right through his fingertips.

"Just trying to see if there's a way here, that I can love the land and sea in equal amounts. And I'm glad to say that I can!"

And that declaration of hers must have spurred something within Eric, for he pulled Ariel into his arms and kissed the top of her head as if it were the simplest thing in the world. "Then I'll be right here with you, doing that. After all, you know that I love the sea, too."

And Ariel grinned, as she settled into her betrothed's arms… because Eric was just so good. Really, she'd known that all along—and it was largely why she'd made the choices she had—and it was so nice to know that she'd been right about it all… And to understand that she would have such an understanding and empathetic partner for the rest of her days.

Eventually, the two of them just ended up enjoying sitting in the sun and water together, while Eric held Ariel and they basked in their honeymoon bliss.

And later, with his lips pressed against the crown of Ariel's head, he ended up picking up their earlier conversation so sweetly: "I'm thrilled you don't regret it, Ariel. I'm so thrilled… because if you did, I would have found a way to turn you back into a mermaid, and myself into a merman, and have let my kingdom stand without me. Because I lost you once, and I'm never doing that again."

If that wasn't the most moving thing Ariel had ever heard, she didn't know what was. And again… it proved just how right she was in her decision to love the land, and to trust a man that had gone back onto a burning ship for his dog, didn't it? Ariel almost chuckled at that last part. But, no. Now was the time for sentimentality. "Eric, do you really mean it?" Ariel asked, as happy tears sprung into her eyes, and dang, if she didn't find a connection to the water again that way, too.

But Ariel also had to make sure Eric didn't do anything reckless here, if he was really thinking she was putting on a good show and regretted becoming human. Recklessness seemed to be something they had in common, after all.

"Eric… I promise I'm fine. And you wanting to be so selfless towards me is so sweet… but please don't think you have to do that now, and throw away our happiness here. I couldn't bear to worry about you again, like I did when you were fighting Ursula for me."

And Eric blinked at Ariel then, clearly taken aback by her words for a second, before he laughed and placed many kisses to her face. And this time, Ariel did giggle.

"Don't worry, my love. I won't be sacrificing my perfect future with you, if I don't have to," Ariel's lovely prince Eric promised her.

"And I won't, either," Ariel assured him, leaning in to give a kiss on the lips.

Then they cuddled together, settling in for the night to camp here, and just had a little perfect piece of forever.

Author's Note: Written for my sister's birthday, as she loves the The Little Mermaid. And so do I, really:)