Epilogue

"Happy birthday, Melody!"

Seven years had passed since Ariel and Melody remained humans, and while things were initially hard to adjust to, the three of them managed to live as a family.

Three years later, Jim proposed to Ariel with the ring he got when he was fifteen, and they were married in a modest wedding by the cove, and in doing so, Melody also asked if she could legally change her name to Hawkins too, which she did.

Now, it was Melody's twelfth birthday, and Jim and Ariel had a special party planned for her with all her friends.

As Melody went to change into her special party dress, complete with the necklace, and OFFICIAL earrings, Ariel went downstairs to make Melody special pancakes.

"Hey, Jim?" Ariel asked.

Jim looked up from the coffee pot.

"Yes?" He began.

Ariel looked down at her ring. "You said you were going to use this ring to propose to me the day we broke up, why did you still have it?"

Jim mixed some milk and sugar in the coffee cup and handed it to his wife. "I guess, deep down, a part of me clung to the belief that you would come back... even if I had to wait decades."

Ariel kissed his cheek. "And I did, and I've never regretted a single second with you." she replied, before kissing him on the lips.

"Okay, barf!"

Looking up, they smiled as Melody came down the stairs.

"You look beautiful, honey!" Jim exclaimed.

Morph popped out and fluttered around. "Beautiful! Beautiful!" He squeaked, before taking the form of Delbert's son.

"MORPH!" Melody snapped, embarrassed.

Ariel giggled as Jim looked utterly horrified.

"Our daughter has a crush?" He asked.

"It's ok, Jim." Ariel began. "Don't go over protective."

"But... But... my baby!" Jim stammered.

Melody rolled her eyes. "We're just friends." She replied, before heading to the living room.

After a crazy party, complete with icing stains, on the walls and floor, a vase being broken, and Jim almost strangling Delbert's son after he caught him kissing Melody's cheek, Melody headed out with the Dopplars, leaving Jim and Ariel to clean up.

"You know?" Jim began, scrubbing up spilled icing, "that nightmare of a party aside, I think we did a very good job at raising our daughter."

"Indeed," Ariel replied, as she swept up the broken glass, "and we'll get to do it again soon."

Jim froze and turned to face his wife.

"Pardon?" He asked in surprise.

Ariel smiled and rested her hand on her tummy. "I found out yesterday. I'm six weeks pregnant."

Jim jumped up, ran over and kissed her deeply. "Ariel... I can't believe it! I'm so happy!"

Ariel held her husband tightly. After many years of being trapped below the waves, she finally found her home.

"I love you." She whispered.

Jim hugged her back. He still couldn't get over how lucky he ended up.

"I love you too." He replied.