"Good morning!" Ariel shouted as she burst through Melody's door the next morning, "Happy Birthday, darling!"

"Mhhh," Melody groaned from bed as she rubbed her eyes, "Thanks, mom." Ariel sat next to Melody over the covers and draped her body over hers.

"I remember the day you were born," Ariel started with a whisper after placing a small kiss on Melody's cheek. Melody smiled and cuddled into her mother's warm body. Ariel wrapped her arm around her head over the pillow and pulled her in close to her chest.

"I know, Mom, the carriage broke down," Melody yawned.

"We were on our way back from town when there was a sudden thud! One of the wheels from the carriage had completely fallen off and it made me hurt my bottom… the impact made all of this water just pour out of me. It was a lot of water, too, because my belly was as big as this bed!" Melody giggled to herself, secretly loving how Ariel would exaggerate her belly size each year. "Your father knew I wasn't supposed to be on a horse in my condition at the time, so he just picked me up and carried me back to the castle."

"Thanks, mom," Melody smiled, hoping Ariel would end the story there- she knew the rest.

"So then the doctor was nowhere to be found! Oh, I was in so much pain."

"Mom, please?" Melody begged, wrapping an arm around her mother so she'd stop.

"You were the most beautiful thing I had ever laid eyes on," Ariel felt tears coming to her eyes and she kissed Melody's forehead and held her close.

"Please don't cry," Melody groaned, making Ariel smile.

"Wait," Ariel stopped and looked at the bed curiously, "Why is that side of the bed undone? Was someone sleeping with you in your bed last night?"

"Huh?" Melody sat up in bed, shocked.

"Melody!"

"Oh, that was probably Elizabeth, mom. We were up all night, talking," she lied.

"Well, get ready because we're going to Atlantica soon for a surprise."

"Really?!"

"Yes! I know how much you love the ocean, I know you haven't been in some time now, right?"

"Right. Is Dad coming too?"

"Yes, of course."

"Tris-" Melody started, but then remembered and caught herself, "I wish Tristan could come."

"I do, too, dear. Now, get ready. Your father is waiting for us downstairs," Ariel said as she made her way toward the door.

"Mom?"

"Yes?"

"Do you ever wear your hair down on land?"

"Oh, yes of course I do," Ariel smiled, trying to remember the last time she did.

"I only see it down when we're in the ocean."

"Do you prefer it down?"

"It's just so pretty."

"Melody- are you…? Nevermind. I'll see you downstairs," Ariel exited the room and closed the door behind her. Melody jumped out of bed, rushed to the door and locked it.

"Alright, you can come out now," she whispered frantically.

"You know, you're a terrible liar," Tristan said as he popped up from underneath the bed, "No wonder you're always in trouble."

"Ugh, get out," Melody muttered between her teeth and jumped back into bed.

"Luckily, I have better things to do other than worry about you."

"Did you hear what my mother said?"

"No, I was mostly nodding off. Right around the birthing story."

"You'll be back for the ball, right? I can't have you not be there, you're my only partner."

"Yes, yes, relax, princess," Tristan said smoothly, "I'll catch ya later."

"I didn't think this place would be so big," Tristan told his bandmates after arriving at the concert hall of the golden palace.

"If you would've made rehearsal earlier, you would've known," Scarlett jeered at him, frustrated by his absence. Suddenly, Celia swam up behind him and nudged her nose against his back.

"Celia!" Tristan turned around and hugged her, "I'm so happy to see you, girl!" He planted a big warm kiss on her cheek and Scarlett rolled her eyes.

"The instruments are set up, we're the last act. It's some princess's birthday or something," Bradley informed him.

"Rad! I'm sure we'll be great!" Tristan cheered enthusiastically for his band.

"Aquasonics? You're on in 2 minutes!" a small, nervous seahorse announced off-sage.

"No good-luck kiss?" Tristan looked at Scarlett and she scoffed at him. "That's fine. You play better angry anyway." Tristan swam up to his guitar at the center of the stage and strapped it on. "Everyone feel ready?"

"All good, man. Let's do this!" Franky shouted from the drums.

"Feeling so good!" Bradley hooted.

"Aquasonics! 30 seconds!" the little seahorse shouted, appearing out of nowhere and just as quickly disappearing. Tristan looked over at Scarlett and blew her a kiss. Scarlett rolled her eyes at him and let her blonde hair loose, letting it fall down past her shoulders. She had spent the morning dyeing a piece of it green.

"Looking good," he said to her, but she ignored him. Celia planted a big kiss on Tristan's face and quickly swam off stage.

"Aquasonics! Don't forget!" The seahorse appeared off the side again, "Happy Birthday, Princess Melody!" The band mates looked at each other, completely confused and surprised. All of the lights went out suddenly and Tristan could hear the curtains starting to rise.

"Mom, can we go now?" Melody groaned as the last act exited the stage.

"Thank you, Atlantica Senior Choir Group!" a seahorse announcer said far down on the stage.

"Melody," Ariel giggled, "Sebastian went to great lengths to make this an extra special birthday concert for you."

"I know, I know," Melody whined in agreement. She looked over at her father and he seemed to be dozing off.

"Eric!" Ariel nudged him and he awoke immediately.

"I was thinking about something," he said hurriedly. Ariel and Melody both laughed at him, all three of them feeling the same way.

"Why don't you go down and sit in the other booth with your cousins?"

"Yeah, sure," Melody said sarcastically, which made Ariel laugh.

"For this next performance, I'd like to ask all of the young mermaids and mermen down to the front of the audience," Sebastian announced.

"Go down there, Melody," Eric encouraged her. Melody shook her head and giggled to herself. All of a sudden the lights went dark and all you could hear were murmurs from the crowd. The fast tapping on a drum began echoing through the hall and then it was followed by the sound of an electric guitar. The lights on stage flashed a vibrant green and red as more instruments began to join in. The crowd cheered wildly and Melody's face was shocked.

"I know this song!" she said loudly, in awe at the stage, "It's Tristan!" Melody swam out of her booth and down toward the crowd to be closer to the stage.

"What?!" Ariel asked, she could barely hear the sound of the loud rock music playing, "Did she say, Tristan?!" Ariel and Eric both squinted their eyes toward the stage.

"He's a merman?!" Eric shouted. Ariel felt her heart racing like it had never done before. She felt her head dizzy and light, overwhelmed by complete anxiety.

"Eric!" she looked at Eric worriedly, with a hand on her chest. She felt tears forming in her eyes as she looked at the red-haired, green-tailed, strong, talented, and caring merman. In that very moment, she knew.

"How is he a merman?" Eric asked, puzzled.

"Eric!" Ariel shouted alarmingly. She felt her chest heavy as she could barely catch her breath.

"He's actually pretty good!" Eric smiled to himself, feeling almost proud. When Eric turned to Ariel, she was gone. Eric looked around for her and couldn't see her anywhere near. He soon exited the concert hall and caught a glimpse of long red hair swimming off in to the distance.

"Ariel!" he called out to her, but Ariel could not stop.

"He was all alone," Ariel cried, sitting on the stone of her old secret grotto, "I never came back for him and he was all alone!" Eric could hardly keep up with her in the waters and had just swum inside.

"Who?"

"Tristan!" she yelled, looking down at a small scroll, "He's my son! Our son! We left him all alone, all of this time. All of these years!" Ariel began to cry uncontrollably in a way Eric had never seen before. It suddenly hit him, he remembered that day in the grotto- their last day in the grotto when Ariel had cried just like she was now. He swam up to her and hugged her tightly but Ariel couldn't seem to detach herself from what was in her hand.

"I'm so sorry, Ariel," he said to her, "What is that?"

"He wrote to us- look at all of these!" Eric looked around the cave and found multiple scrolls scattered around the floor.

"Dear mom and dad," Ariel sobbed as she read the one in her hand, "I'm fourteen now and two inches taller than last year. I just got back from the Arctic Sea where I met a narwhal named Thelonius. Do you know what a narwhal is? I didn't before meeting him. Did you know their tusks grow up to nine feet? I really wanted to see him stab something with it, but instead, he used it to find fish and other stuff like that. Kind of a waste, if you ask me. Also, they don't really like it when you touch it. Anyway, I know I'm writing this a little later than usual but I was pretty caught up. I hope you get this somehow, in some way. I bet you're both off exploring the South Seas somewhere or pirating ships or maybe you really are just dead-"

"He thought we were dead?!"

"I have a hurt in my heart that will never go away, Eric," Ariel cried, leaning against his chest as she continued to read.

"What else does the letter say?"

"Love always, Tristan," Ariel's voice cracked when saying his name. "Our son, Eric. Tristan is our son." Eric felt his eyes fill up with tears, but he quickly wiped them away. He wanted to be strong for Ariel. He wanted her to feel safe and secure and happy for what they had gained.

"He's a very special young man," Eric said.

"He looks just like you. He has your build and your shoulders and chest. He even laughs like you and dances like you!" Ariel said, almost cracking a smile.

"He has your bright eyes and red hair. He has your kindness and sweetness," Eric told her, wrapping his arms around her tightly.

"He's silly like you and good. Eric, he's so good."

"We're very fortunate to have found him now, Ariel. What if we never had?"

"But, Eric? Who raised him? Who named him? Was he loved? Was he hungry? Was he scared? Did they care for him? Did they harm him? I just don't know! I will never forgive myself for this and what I've put him through!" she began to cry again.

"It's not your fault!"

"Yes it is! I should've came back, I should've kept checking for the egg. I should have known it would've been too small to see. I abandoned him!"

"NO! Ariel, stop it!" Eric grabbed her face and stared right into her eyes, "This wasn't your fault. We didn't know- you can't blame yourself for this. This is just something that happened. Life happens this way sometimes for a reason."

"But Eric-!"

"LISTEN! What if we had known about Tristan, we may had never had Melody. Life would have been completely different. Tristan is good because of the life he's had, what if he had been with us and been more like one of Adam's children or a completely different person than who he is now? You cannot blame yourself and you have to let go of the past."

"You're right," she sniffled.

"Tristan needs us, now more than ever. We have to be strong for him. We have to show him he's loved and cared for."

"Our poor baby!" she cried into his arms again and all Eric could do was hold her until it passed.

"Let's get back to the concert. Our son is performing," Eric smiled at her, caressing her face.

"What about all of the letters?"

"We'll have someone come and collect them and have them arranged by date for us on land. We have to prepare for the ball."

"Eric, I can't leave them."

"Alright, let's take them all back to the castle and hurry back before the show is over."

"Happy Birthday, Princess Melody," Tristan said seductively into the microphone with a charming smile and all of the young mermaids in the audience went wild. Franky looked over at her and gave her a wink, admiring her beautiful eyes. Melody blushed and bit her bottom lip. Triton furrowed his eyebrows and Athena shook her head at him. "We're the Aquasonics! Thank you, Atlantica!" Tristan yelled into the microphone with his hands up and the crowd clapped and cheered while the youngsters howled and hooted.

Tristan took his guitar off from around his body before Melody swam up to him and wrapped her arms around him tightly, pressing her face to his chest.

"Thank you!" she squeezed him.

"Aww, hey! Happy Birthday, Mel!" he hugged her back, the entire crowd looking at them- including Triton from the balcony and Ariel and Eric from the side of the stage.

"What is your name? Can we get your autograph?" some young mermaids asked Tristan. Melody released him, letting him tend to his new fans. The other members of the band had young merpeople surrounding them and Scarlett had a whole fleet of mermen drooling over her.

"Ready to go?" Eric asked from behind Melody.

"Mom! Dad! Thank you!" she threw both arms around them and Eric kissed her head.

"It was all your grandfather. Let's go thank him and get back to the castle," Ariel told her. Ariel felt like she could cry. It took everything inside of her not to rush up to Tristan and hold him tightly and give him a million kisses and never let him go. The longer she looked at him now, the more he looked like Eric. The longer Eric looked at Tristan, the more he was reminded of Ariel.

"Princess, huh?" Franky said, tapping Melody on her shoulder right before they were about to swim off stage.

"Franky!" Melody smiled and opened her arms to give him a hug as well. Franky quickly placed his arm around her waist and pulled her in for deep, fiery kiss. The kiss took Melody by surprise and after a few moments she let herself completely submit to him. Eric almost went up to the pair to yank Melody away, but Ariel stopped him with a hand across his chest and smiled. Melody opened her eyes for a split second and caught the image of a trident glowing gold up from the balcony and she knew immediately to pull away.

"Happy Birthday!" Franky told her with a big, warm grin.

"Thanks," she looked at him bashfully and smiled, "That was nice."

"You bet!" he said casually and turned to some fans who were waiting for his attention. Tristan turned around from his adoring fans to notice Ariel and Eric were not too far from him and both looking at him. It was the first time Tristan had seen them as merpeople and he pointed at their fins and made a face as if to be completely stunned in a jokingly way. Ariel laughed as she fought the urge to cry.

"We'll see you back at the castle!" Eric waved, noticing that Tristan's attention was being pulled elsewhere. Tristan waved with a big smile and got back to his signings.

"You knew he was a merman this entire time?!" Ariel grilled Melody once they reached the shore.

"Well, for the last few days. I found out the day we all went riding. He can talk to animals, too! Isn't that neat? I thought it was just us."

"Melody, do you know how old Tristan is?" Eric asked.

"No."

"Did he ever speak about parents?" Ariel continued.

"Uhm- not that I remember. Why? Why do you keep asking about Tristan? Are you trying to kick him out or something?!"

"No, not at all," Ariel told her, walking along the beach.

"If I could ask for anything for my birthday, it would be for you to allow Tristan to stay with us- forever," Melody said adamantly. Ariel giggled to herself at Melody's sternness.

"We'll have to see about that," Eric said and put his arm around her shoulders as they walked back to the castle.

They walked past the commotion and the preparation for the ball and up to the top floor of the castle.

"I'm going to go have someone get our baths started," Eric said, before disappearing down the hall, leaving Ariel and Melody behind.

"So, did you enjoy the concert?"

"Yes! Wasn't his band amazing?!"

"That percussionist you were kissing-"

"You mean the drummer? Franky?"

"Yes, he's very handsome," Ariel winked at her, "Was that your first kiss?"

"Oh, uhm- with him, yes."

"Have you been kissing other boys or mermen?!" Ariel had a big grin on her face as she tried to hide her fear.

"Well, they've been sort of kissing me," Melody said bashfully, "But can we talk about it some other time? I don't even know who I like or if I'm even ready for boys or men or mermen."

"Alright," Ariel laughed, "I'll see you in a couple of hours at the ball."

"Thanks, mom," Melody hugged her.

"You should have a surprise waiting for you in your room. It's from your Uncle Adam and your Aunt Belle."

"Really?!" Melody began running down the hall toward her bedroom, "Thank you!"

She opened the door of her room to find that her room was completely different than how she had left it that morning. The walls were ivory and gold with a gold trim and her bed was regal, much bigger than her old bed and also had a gold trim. She also had a brand new desk and the small nook near her window was enclosed with drapes adorning from the ceiling and tied off at each end in a majestic way. Her cloud covered ceiling was now cream colored with gold molding accents. It felt like the room of a real queen and not just a little princess. There was also a new door where her old vanity used to be. She realized that they must've been working on whatever was on the other side for several days.

She held her breath and couldn't contain her excitement as she opened the door slowly. The room was an entire place for her wardrobe and bathing. A row of armoires lined one wall and a set of large mirrors were installed toward the end with a stepping pedestal for trying on dresses. Melody beamed from ear to ear when she noticed that the room had her own, private step-in porcelain bath that was big enough to fit 4 people, one on each corner.

She gasped when she saw her new vanity adorned with beautifully carved white roses and a much larger mirror and comfortable stool than she had before. She ran to one of the armoires and opened the door to find a row of all new dresses that were perfectly her size. The dresses were more modern and lower in the neckline with lace around the trims of the sleeves and chest. Not the high-neckline, little girl dresses she was used to wearing.

The second armoire had shelves that pulled forward, to her surprise, corsets in different styles and many colors. There was a row of garters, stockings, panties and pantalettes as well. The third armoire had a row of all new casual dresses and nightgowns for sleeping as well as several silk robes. When she opened up her last armoire, she found at least a dozen new pairs of shoes, at least one for every new fancy dress. She also saw a tall pair of riding boots, just like the ones Elizabeth wore, and a few new hats.

She hadn't noticed it before, but near the vanity to her right, was a glass menagerie that seemed to sparkle brightly. As she got near she saw a row of three new tiaras, a row of four necklaces, a row of bracelets and a half dozen pairs of earrings.

"Wow!" Melody said to herself, feeling like a true woman. She sat down at her vanity and opened the drawers to find all new makeup and a new golden hair brush.

"Do you like it?" Elizabeth suddenly appeared at the door frame to her new wardrobe/bathroom.

"I knew you had something to do with this! It's wonderful!" Melody beamed. Elizabeth walked over to her and stood behind her as she looked in the mirror.

"You're going to be so beautiful tonight!"

"Thanks, Lizzy!"

"Did you see your dress?"

"My dress? No- I forgot all about it." Elizabeth looked over to the door that led back to Melody's room and closed it. Hanging from the back of the door was a beautiful soft pink ball gown that had a layer of fabric that sparkled around the dress and the tight bodice was embellished with fine, dazzling crystals. Melody gasped loudly.

"I knew you liked pink. I changed your room enough, you can at least have some pink."

"Oh, Lizzy!" Melody threw her arms around Elizabeth but Elizabeth didn't hug her back.

"Alright, alright," she groaned, not being one for much affection.

"Oh! Excuse me," Helena said by the door, with an upholstered wooden board folded beneath her arm. "I came to prepare you for the ball."

"I was just leaving," Elizabeth said uncomfortably before making her way toward the door. Helena smirked at Elizabeth as she passed by and Melody noticed Elizabeth brushed her fingers against Helena's when she did. Helena turned her head to look at Elizabeth in the hallway, almost as if Elizabeth were telling her something.

"Sorry," Helena apologized, "We'll start with a massage and then a bath."

"A massage? I've never had one."

"Princess-"

"Helena, you don't have to call me that," Melody reassured her.

"Mel, then," Helena said, "Take your dress off and get on your stomach."

"Oh, are you sure? I'm not wearing anything underneath."

"Yes," she laughed, "You're supposed to be nude." Melody removed her dress slowly and tossed it on an arm chair not too far away from her new bath.

"I'm really loving this new room," Melody said, resting on her stomach quickly before Helena could turn around from gathering some creams. She took a towel and covered her bottom with it.

"Wow, you have beautiful skin," Helena said in awe, running her hand gently over the back of Melody's leg.

"Oooh!" Melody jumped up, feeling a tickling sensation.

"Oh! Sorry," Helena said, "Didn't mean to do that. I'll touch more firmly."

"It's ok," Melody responded, resting her hands down by her side and her face on the firm, high bed. Helena collected all of Melody's thick long, black hair and hung it up over her head so that it was out of the way.

"Your back is beautiful," she said, as she began kneading her fingers into Melody's back.

"Thank you."

"I had so much fun last night. Princess Elizabeth is pretty wild."

"Yes!" Melody giggled, "She's a lot of fun. She's not so bad once you get to know her. She just comes off a little harsh- or rather, can be a little harsh."

"And Hugh! Ugh, he's such a dream," Helena sighed softly to herself. "It seems like him and Elizabeth have some history."

"Yes, Hugh and Elizabeth. We've all known each other since childhood- our family and theirs. Hugh is a year or two older than Elizabeth and John. Then there's Emmett who was born about two years after that and year later I was born- all approximately."

"They were already involved before last night?"

"Yes, they were- several times over many years. But, it was all just fun."

"It seemed like you were having a good time with Emmett last night. Did it finally happen? Did you finally have your kiss?"

"Mhh hmm," Melody said bashfully, her cheeks turning red. She wasn't sure if she would tell Helena about kissing Tristan or not.

"Emmett is so handsome. He reminds me of my younger brother back home," Helena said, beginning to rub up Melody's legs from her ankles to the backs of her knees. "So, how was it?"

"It was nice," was all Melody could say. She wanted to say that it was amazing, that it was everything she thought it would be and more. She wanted to say how perfect the temperature and lighting and scenery was and how she felt like she was melting into his arms.

"I saw the two of you bundled up, but I didn't see the kissing. I had my hands full," Helena joked, squeezing the backs of Melody's thighs firmly and moving her hands up her legs. Melody jumped up slightly when she felt Helena's hands press firmly against the crease of her cheeks underneath the towel.

"Tristan sort of kissed me too," Melody said quietly.

"He did? Took him long enough," Helena said.

"Why do you say that?"

"Well, he's kissed and has bedded almost every woman here and you're devastatingly beautiful."

"I'm not," Melody said modestly.

"Yes, you are!" Helena began to move her hands to Melody's inner thigh, touching the softness of the skin right below her entrance. "Two men in one night! How was the kiss with Tristan?"

"It was- exciting," Melody giggled.

"Ugh, Tristan's kisses make your heart want to just burst. He's very dominant with his tongue," Helena gushed, recollecting her thoughts. Melody just giggled. She wondered if Helena knew that her hands were brushing up against the thin hairs between her legs every so often. She hoped Helena didn't notice and would just continue touching her. "And when he kisses you in other places you just want to attach him to you permanently."

"What do you mean? Where?"

"Right here," Helena said, squeezing Melody's plump lips together, making her gasp loudly. "Sorry!" Helena laughed, "Did he get to kiss you there?"

"No, actually, we stopped. It was weird- just kissing him in general. He's too much of a friend. I think he feels the same way."

"Ah, I understand. There are some people I feel that way about. No matter how much I've tried to like them more than a friend, I just can't bring myself to. Maybe you're both more like brother and sister? You are both awfully close to one another."

"Does it seem that way? I do feel close to him. I think I bug him most of the time. He treats me like a little girl."

"You're a beautiful young woman," Helena told her. Helena spread some lotion across her hands and removed Melody's towel, uncovering her buttocks. She firmly rubbed the lotion onto both of her cheeks, kneading in softly and slowly. Melody began getting a bit aroused, especially remembering the previous night and how intense things were. "Your mother told me to make this a special day for you. She wanted you to experience things you would as a woman."

"My mother? What do you mean?"

"She knows you're older now, so she wants you to become exposed to certain things."

"What kinds of things?"

"She doesn't want to keep any secrets from you."

"Secrets? What secrets?"

"Relax, Mel. I'll show you," Helena said calmly in a soothing voice. Helena's one hand trailed down Melody's bottom and completely covered her mound. She used her other hand to rub up and down Melody's back and around her neck. Melody tensed up at her feel of Helena's touch between her legs, but then slowly drifted her eyes closed when feeling the smooth strokes on her back. "How is that?" Helena asked.

"Good," she said softly, feeling her clitoris twitching with excitement as it did the night before. Helena sighed quietly as she inhaled and exhaled deeply, almost as if she were the one being pleasured. "One of the best memories I have is the first time I was with another woman. It was my oldest brother's now wife. They had been together for a long time and I had known her all throughout my childhood. She had beautiful wavy, brown hair and a soft feminine voice."

"She was older than you?"

"Four years older. I was around your age. I felt so in love with her. I shared a room with my younger brother so we had to be quiet. My brother was away and she didn't like sleeping alone, so she'd come into my bed at night some nights. I would always cuddle with her under the covers and one night I kissed her," Helena told the story, feeling Melody becoming wet under her grasp.

"Really? What did she do?"

"She kissed me back. She'd touch me, my breasts- she'd kiss and lick them," Helena said and pressed one finger between Melody's slit.

"Ohhh," Melody moaned, her hips beginning to move from side to side.

"She'd slide her hands between my legs- just like this, and touch me. I'd touch her, too. She taught me how she liked it. I knew when to go really fast or when to just stroke her lightly." Helena soaked all of her fingers in Melody's wetness and she could hear her throat moaning and begging for more. "Turn over, Mel." Melody hesitated for a moment. She didn't want to stop but she was also nervous for what would happen once she turned over. She turned over slowly and used her arm to cover her breasts. "Relax, don't be shy," Helena placed Melody's arm down by her side, exposing her light tan nipples against her beige breasts.

"Sorry," Melody apologized.

"Wow, your body is breathtaking," Helena told her. Melody's breasts were full and firm and her hips had a curve to them although she was slender. Helena took a bottle of massage oil in her hands and dripped the oil over each breast and down her chest to her torso and a few inches below her navel, letting it drip down in between her legs. She stood at the end over Melody's head and placed her hands on her shoulders, pushing down with some force. "You're so tense, take deep long breaths."

"What else did the two of you do?" Melody asked, curiously and extremely aroused. Helena smiled to herself and spread her hands upward over Melody's breasts. She took a big handful of them in each of her hands and ran her hands back up toward her neck, stroking her nipples on the way. Melody gasped again, feeling the electricity run through her body with each movement.

"We made love, the way two women do," Helena said with a smirk. She stepped over the the side again and took Melody's hand. "Would you like me to take my clothes off?" Helena asked. Melody looked at her and shrugged her shoulders. "Does the thought of me naked excite you?"

"Not really, but you can if you want to. I wouldn't mind," Melody said, trying to make Helena feel as comfortable as possible.

"I'll stay dressed for now," Helena smiled, "Feel this." Helena guided Melody's hand across Melody's chest and down to her stomach. Melody giggled a little, unsure of what Helena was doing. Helena pushed her own finger against Melody's a little more firmly as she ran her hand down below her navel, feeling the soft hairs that traced the way down between her legs. "Do you ever touch yourself?" Melody shook her head. "Spread your legs." Melody obeyed silently.

"Mhh," Melody muffled a moan.

"We haven't even started," Helena chuckled. She pushed down on Melody's finger as it hovered her slit, finding the small moist nub in between. Melody gasped sharply and exhaled with a smile. Helena looked at her and smiled, "Just relax, let your body tell you what you like. Can you feel that?"

"Mhh hmm," Melody said squeamishly, her legs began to feel restless. Helena pushed her finger against Melody's, pressing down in a soft vertical motion.

"You'll feel it swelling and as it does, the feeling will intensify. When this happens you have to let it build to a climax and then it will release."

"Ohhh," Melody moaned.

"See if you can do it on your own now," Helena said and removed her hand from between Melody's legs and began to rub and pinch both of her nipples, which cause Melody to muffle a small scream. "Use one hand to rub your breasts," Helena told her and Melody listened as Helena moved away. She rubbed her throbbing clit with one hand and pinched and rubbed her right nipple with the other, feeling pleasure she had never felt before but had often thought about. "That's it, just like that. Relax your body and feel complete pleasure."

Helena was becoming aroused and wasn't sure what to do with herself. She didn't want to cross the line. Ariel asked me to show Melody how her body worked- not to seduce the innocent girl, she thought to herself. She walked over to Melody again and leaned her face right near her ear.

"Imagine what it will be like to have the man of your dreams caressing and touching you, kissing your hot breasts and making passionate love to you," Helena whispered and placed soft kisses on Melody's neck. Melody moaned more loudly and frequently, biting her lips as she rubbed. "Princess?"

"Huh?" Melody made out, opening her eyes slightly.

"Could I watch as you pleasure yourself?"

"You already are," Melody responded, confused by her question and also a bit distracted.

"No, closer, I mean," Helena walked around and stood at the foot of the massage bed. She grabbed Melody by the ankles and slid her legs up, making them bend at the knees and causing her lips to open more. Melody stopped rubbing for a moment as Helena leaned over the massage bed and wrapped her arms around each one of Melody's thighs from below. Melody wondered what Helena thought about her private area. She also wondered why Helena would want to be that close. "I'm sorry, you can continue."

Melody brought her hand down between her legs again and began to rub slowly, feeling a bit nervous having Helena's face so close.

"Close your eyes," Helena told her. Melody closed her eyes and continued. Helena stared intently at Melody's womanhood. Having her arms laced under Melody's thighs made Helena feel every twitch and every shudder. Helena rested the side of her face against Melody's open inner thigh, her face merely inches from Melody's center.

"Mmhh," Melody moaned as she felt Helena's heavy breath against her wet fingers.

"I'd love to taste you," Helena breathed, taking in the warm scent of Melody's sex. The memories of Tristan's lips buried between Helena's legs came flooding back and Melody craved to know what that felt like. She began to move her fingers out of the way, revealing herself completely to Helena. Helena pulled down on Melody's wrist with one hand and shoved two of her sticky, wet fingers in her mouth. She lapped up her fingers with her tongue and sucked on them tightly, wiping them clean of Melody's sweet fluid. She took the fingers out of her mouth and licked the other two, moaning deeply as she went.

"Helena?" Melody wondered why Helena would lick her soiled fingers.

"I need more," Helena panted and placed Melody's hand over her vagina again, pushing her fingers deep within the folds. Melody moved her fingers all around her lips, covering them in her wetness again. "Let me taste you, princess," Helena huffed. Melody shoved her gooey fingers back into Helena's mouth and Helena took them in hungrily.

Melody's fingers continued to go back and forth from her pretty pink flower to Helena's pretty pink lips. She wondered when she'd start running out of moisture, but it only seemed to come more heavily. Helena grew more and more impatient as she waited to have Melody's fingers in her mouth again. Helena couldn't detach herself as she continued to lick her fingers even as she touched herself for more. Melody felt like her clitoris would burst having Helena so near. She wished Helena would lick her even if it was just once.

Wetness began to seep through Melody's fingers and Helena discovered this almost immediately and lapped her tongue between Melody's fingers as she rubbed herself. Melody opened her eyes and sat up a bit, watching Helena's face between her legs with only her hand separating Helena's mouth from her opening. She began to slowly spread her fingers, allowing for Helena's tongue to lick between her fingers and lightly touch her hot flesh.

"Ooohh!" Melody moaned loudly, feeling the pressure between her legs rising. Helena wondered if Melody would feel her tongue licking her warm body. Part of her wanted to stop so that she wouldn't spoil her, but an even bigger part of her couldn't stop. Melody's palm rubbed her clitoris while her fingers pressed her wet lips open. Helena then slid the tip of her tongue inside Melody's entrance making Melody lose all control as she started to grind her hips toward Helena's face. Helena could feel Melody's body trembling.

"Don't stop," Helena said between breaths and Melody couldn't. She moved her hand out of the way and quickly grabbed onto the back of Helena's head with her wet hand and shoved her clitoris into Helena's mouth. Helena sucked on it fiercely as Melody closed her thighs around her head. She began humping her face roughly.

"Oh my g-! Oohh, oohhh!," Melody screamed as her body trembled and convulsed on the high bed with Helena's face between her legs. She tangled her fingers in Helena's hair, pulling her near even harder and letting out one final shriek before collapsing her sweaty body against the bed breathlessly.

Helena smiled from below, watching Melody have short, quick spasms throughout her body as she got in a few last licks. Helena gave Melody one last kiss on her lips before climbing off the high bed.

"I'm so sorry about that!" Melody apologized with red cheeks on her back.

"I should be the one apologizing. I shouldn't have done that to you, princess."

"But it felt so good!" Melody was still on her back and panting.

"Was that your first orgasm?"

"Is that what that was? I can't wait to have more."

"You can give yourself ones whenever you'd like," Helena explained, as she began to clean up the oil bottles.

"I thought my body was going to explode," Melody said as she watched Helena walk over to her. Helena hovered her head over hers and Melody noticed that her face, chin and lips were still wet with Melody's juices.

"Would you like to taste yourself?" Helena asked, bringing Melody's hand back up to her face. Melody boldly raised her head and licked up from Helena's chin and over her lips, tasting herself along the way. Helena grinned and kissed the now not-so-innocent blue-eyed princess, circling her tongue delicately and allowing her to taste her own juices. "Happy Birthday, princess."

"Thank you," Melody smiled with tired eyes although she felt a second wind of energy coming over her.

"Now, let's give you a bath and have you get ready for your ball."

"Dear mom, I had a dream last night that you were singing to me. I wonder if singing is something you like to do. I don't know what you look like, but I wonder if I look more like you or my dad…"

"There are many of these, we won't be able to read them all tonight, Ariel. Let's focus on the ball," Eric told her before she started crying again.

"I need to see him. Right now! Is he back yet?" Ariel got up from her chair and wandered around the bedroom in a panic.

"I don't know. Don't tell him yet. We can tell him tomorrow."

"I know, I know. I won't tell him. I just have to see him, Eric. I have to see my son."

Ariel headed down the hall to Tristan's room and she could hear music and chattering coming from downstairs as the guests arrived. She knocked on his door gently before going in. She found Tristan in front of the mirror, struggling with his band. He turned when seeing her reflection in his mirror.

"Hey," he smiled at her as he continued to struggle.

"Let me help you with that," Ariel said, walking over to him and adjusting the shirt near his waist. She neatly tucked his shirt into his pants and carefully pulled the band down over it. Tristan opened his arms slightly so that they wouldn't be in the way.

"Thanks, Ariel," he said as he watched her. Ariel stopped and looked up at him slowly once she was done, her eyes meeting his. He looked so familiar she felt like she had known him his entire life. She wondered what he looked like as a baby and growing up as a child. She wondered what he was most afraid of and who dried his tears when he cried. She wanted to reach out her arm and touch his face, pull him near and rock him in her arms, never letting him go.

"Ariel, are you ok?" he whispered, noticing that she seemed to stare at him.

"I am so glad you've found us," she said to him warmly, "And that you're doing this for Melody."

"You've all been great to me. I'm here for selfish reasons, if I'm completely honest. I appreciate how welcoming you've all been. I've never slept in a bedroom this nice or shot an arrow or have had meals that good or gone horseback riding or to fancy balls, it's just- all so amazing. Thank you."

"Oh!" Ariel cried and threw her arms around him. Tristan was a bit taken back, but eventually hugged her back.

"What's wrong, Ariel?"

"Let me just hold you," she whispered with her face pressed against his chest. Tristan smoothed the back of her head with his hand and Ariel inhaled and exhaled deeply. They both stood there for a few moments in complete silence. "Alright," she pulled away slowly, wiping tears from her eyes, "Let's get your hair slicked back. You'll look so handsome."

"Sure," Tristan said and sat on a chair near his desk. Ariel took a comb and ran it through his thick, silky red hair. "You know, Ariel, I wish I had a mother like you." Ariel paused for a moment and smiled to herself before continuing to fix his hair.

"I can't believe you said that to him. Ariel, what if he would've found out?" Eric scolded her later in the evening as they sat up with the royal court.

"Sshh!" Ariel shushed him as everyone rose for Princess Melody's entrance. The crowd gasped at how beautiful she looked at the top of the suddenly appeared from the other side of the stairs and took Melody's arm in his. They both looked down at the crowd and smiled as Melody's name was announced below. Ariel felt a tear escape her eye as she watched both of her children coming down the stairs so elegantly. She could tell that Tristan would say something from time to time that would make Melody muffle a giggle and it made her laugh. The crowded murmured and whispered, wondering who the handsome, mysterious, redheaded man was and whether or not he was promised to the princess.

The two stood at the center of the hall and began to waltz once the music started. Melody looked radiant in her sparkling pink gown and her long hair was pinned up halfway with long loose curls hanging down her back. Belle turned to Eric and smiled and Eric beamed proudly. He stood, as he was next in line to dance with his daughter.

Ariel watched the exchange of her daughter between her son and her beloved prince, the father of her children and felt an overwhelming joy.

"You look beautiful," Eric told his daughter as he gracefully lead her across the dance floor.

"Thanks," Melody looked down and blushed.

"Your mother and I are very proud of you and the young woman you've become," he told her while they danced, "You're our only daughter, try not to grow up so quickly."

"I'll try, dad," she laughed.

"There are a lot of young princes here tonight and they're all here for you."

"I'm sure some are here for Elizabeth."

"Let's hope so," he smiled eagerly, which made Melody laugh.

"Did you think about what I said? About Tristan?"

"Tristan can stay for as long as he'd like."

"Really? Thank you!" Melody stopped and threw her arms around her father affectionately, which made the crowd smile at the display.

Ariel gazed into the crowd, smiling and waving at familiar faces. Tristan noticed she was quite different than the rest of the stern-faced royal family, which made him like her even more. Suddenly, Ariel froze when turning her gaze to a familiar face. An elegant woman had dark hair done up in a do and sported a beautiful red gown. She was arm in arm with a man who looked twice her age and was two times as large- width wise. The woman looked at her and the two locked eyes. A small grin spread across the woman's face and Ariel's mouth dropped open.

"Greta?" she whispered to herself.