Chapter 2

"And why are you refusing?" Sarah asked.

It was the next day, close to nine, but Jim had refused to honour the request. "I'm not in the mood to drag up old memories."

"JAMES!" His mother snapped. "Obviously this girl has something important to tell you. At least hear her out."

Jim shook his head. "I can't... it'll hurt too much."

"And why do you say that?"

Jim looked up, angrily. "Do you remember when I was fifteen and I came back the first time from the academy."

Sarah nodded.

"That time where I turned into a zombie? It was her fault."

Sarah was taken aback. "But Jim. She says she owes you an explanation... you should hear her out."

Jim exhaled. "I'm twenty and still under your thumb."

"And don't you forget it."

Jim looked down. "Once this is over, I can get back on with my life."

"Mommy?"

Ariel turned. Her daughter, Melody, was tugging at the hem of her skirt.

"What's up, honey?" she affectionately asked.

Ever since Melody was born, it had been just the two of them. Sure her father helped out when he could, but it was mainly just the two of them.

"Where are you going?" Melody asked.

Ariel picked up her daughter.

"Do you remember that man in the inn?" She asked.

Melody nodded, and for the hundredth time that day, Ariel felt her heart burst with love for her daughter.

"That man was scary." Melody added.

"Well," Ariel continued, "he and Mommy were friends for a while. But your mommy did a bad thing, and now he's mad at her. Mommy needs to make things right before they're too broken."

Melody looked at her mother in surprise, like the thought of her mother doing something bad was unheard of.

"So, tonight, I've hired a sitter to play with you while I'm out. Do you promise to be a good girl?" She asked.

Melody nodded.

"You're such a good girl." Ariel continued, kissing Melody's cheek.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

"Coming..." Ariel called out, opening the door.

The sitter was at the door.

"Thank you for coming." Ariel smiled, relieved.

"Think nothing of it. This the kid? She's so adorable!"

Melody looked up at him. "Mommy? He's so... shiny."

The sitter laughed. "Sweet kid. I am B.E.N. Let's go have some fun."

Ariel kissed her daughter's cheek one more time before running out the door.

"Bye Mommy!" Melody called out.

"Bye, sweetie, have fun; I love you!"

Ariel reached the square first, with fifteen minutes to spare.

She couldn't believe, of all people, she ran into Jim Hawkins! The one person she screwed over big time. But seeing him again, after all those years, so many feelings had resurfaced that she tried to smother.

His eyes, that once looked at her with such love... now indifference, and she was surprised he still kept the rattail and the earring, and she could have sworn she noticed he was starting to get facial hair.

She nervously brushed her bangs out of her eyes as she looked around for him. Finally, her heart skipped a beat when she saw him. Nervously, she waved him over.

"You came..." She began.

"You owe me an explanation, then I never want to see you again. Understood?"

Ariel nodded.

"Can we find somewhere to sit first?" She asked.

"I guess."

They headed down to a park bench. Ariel glanced over at Jim, who was still glaring.

"You have thirty minutes to explain." He growled.

"Ok... first... I'm sorry I abandoned you like that..."

"Abandoned? No no, it's not that simple. You broke my heart! I loved you! I thought you felt the same way! But NO!" Jim was on a roll now, five years of built up anger was spilling out full speed. "Now I see you, you're with some random guy's kid, is he a good match for you, Ari?" He sarcastically interrogated, "Could he give you everything I couldn't?"

"You mean Melody?" Ariel asked.

"Whatever her name is. Is the father a good match?" Jim angrily repeated.

"Melody is not some random guy's kid!" Ariel snapped back.

"No? Cause I'm pretty sure both a guy and a girl are needed for a kid, unless mermaids can reproduce asexually..."

"She's yours!" Ariel yelled back.

"Which, I highly doubt-" Jim stopped mid sentence and stared at her, open mouthed. "Wait... Say that again... She's what?"

"My daughter, Melody?" Ariel continued. "She's your daughter too. You're her father."