"You want to know?" She stared with wide eyes at me and nodded.

Ariel POV

I sat still between his legs and looked him in the eye. He intertwined his fingers with mine. He watched our hands, forming into one, then looked up at me and squinted with a hint of wonder behind his subtle gaze.

"You have no idea what it is?" I shook my head again and looked down at his chest and let out a sigh.

"It's complicated," I replied in a tone, I wish had been quieter then it came out.

"How's it complicated," He lifted my chin with his hand. "You can tell me anything."

"I know," I said smirking at him. "I would just get into a lot of trouble if I were to explain."

"I won't tell anyone," he held up his free pinky finger. I laughed and took it in mine. I stared at him, watching for a change in his eyes. They were simply clear blue with that sliver of wonder buried deep.

"I guess I can tell you," I make a weird face and turn so my back was to him. I leaned into him and his arms tightened around me, just above my waist. He kissed my temple and rested his head against mine.

"Please tell me," he mumbled. "Or I won't get any sleep tonight." Tonight, I thought. How am I going to be able to leave him.

I took a deep breath and begin to tell my story. He never interrupted me, even when I felt his breath push past my ear, as if he was going to say something. I made it all the way to the part of where I fell asleep on the beach, before he said a thing.

"So you mean to tell me," he took a deeper breath then I had. "You're really a mermaid." I nodded. "And at sunset you have to go back home, you mean the ocean."

"Yup," I turn to look at him. He had a look of horror on his face, so I prepared to leave but was stopped when his hand grabbed around my wrist. I glanced back at him fighting the stinging tears.

"Hey, what's wrong," he stood up beside me and took me in his arms.

"You're horrified. I could see it in your face," I exclaimed the tears slipping by disobediently.

"My face never shows what I really think," he ran his hand up and down my back, trying to cease the sniffles and sobs. "It's a shocker maybe, but I don't find it horrifying."

I peeled my face away from his shirt and looked up at his now relaxed face. "Really?" He nodded, making me smile brightly and hugged him.

Eric POV

I don't know why she was so worked up. Although, I do know now why she was so dead set on getting back home on time. I knew though in my heart I wouldn't be able to let her. Maybe she could fit in the bath tube? I shook that theory straight from my head. God, how I hated the thought of losing her.

We managed to walk back to the palace, my arm slung over her shoulders. She had repicked another bouquet to give my mother. "From what you tell me these will do the trick." Her slim fingers brushed over the vibrant petals.

"I doubt it," I sighed. "Mother is a very, stubborn person. What she says go, type of a person."

"Her and my father would get along perfectly," Ariel laughed her angelic laugh.

"What's it like," I ask subconsciously.

"What's what like?"

"Being part fish all the time?"

"Oh, it's amazing," she smiled brighter. "Just swimming everywhere, exploring sunken ships, and running into sharks."

"Seriously? How is swimming with a shark amazing?"

She paused a moment to think. "Know what, it's not amazing at all." We both laugh and enter the hall where everyone is bustling around. I snatch Grimsby by the arm and pull him to the side.

"Oh, hello young Eric, and Ariel. You've returned to us," he said short of breath.

"Only for a few more hours," I caught her glance at me then frown.

"Grimsby, what's going on?"

"Oh, well, you see-" Before he could finish my mother came over with a young blonde women at her side.

"Eric, darling. There you are. I've been looking everywhere for you." She completely ignored Ariel's presence and stepped aside so the blonde was more visible. "This is Elisa. She's come to stay with us." The blonde curtsied and smiled up at me.

I glanced at Ariel from the corner of my eye and could see she was uncomfortable. I reach for Ariel's hand and watched Elisa's smile vanish clean off her face. "What time is dinner?"

"Six, you know that," My mother complained.

"See you both at six then," I called over my shoulder as I led Ariel up the staircase. We slowed as we came to the concealed part of the hallway. I fell against the wall, and Ariel spin into me gracefully.

"Who is Elisa," she asked.

"I figured you would ask that," I sighed and slipped down the wall with Ariel in my arms. "She's some pampered princess I'm supposed to marry."

"Oh," she said it so sadly. I almost wanted to cry and go shout at mother about how unfair this stupid arrangement was. I held Ariel tighter and kissed her forehead.

"It'll be fine," I reassured her.

"I guess. I mean it all works out at least," she curled up closer to me.

"What's that supposed to mean," I stood up with Ariel bridal style in my arms.

"Well, I'll be heading back home, and you will have a wonderful new bride waiting," she replied.

"And that's worked out?" We came to her room and we went in. I set her on the bed and laid down beside her.

"Well, no, but I'll be best," she tried.

"How would it be best?"

She grabbed a pillow and threw it at me. I laughed, causing her to laugh. She threw herself at me and we locked lips.