DISCLAIMER: WE DO NOT own any of the chars from TLM. They belong to Disney. I do however own Andrina's special name for Ariel.

Enjoy!

A/N: Well, this story is just on a roll! This next chapter is a little more intense. The next one will be coming soon. I promise.

"I Remember Music"

Chapter 3-Andrina's Prayer

Before Aquata knew it, the night had passed and it was morning. She was staying with Andrina because her sister was afraid to stay alone with Ariel. She didn't want to hurt her and she was sure she would if she was left alone with her.

This wasn't true of course, but Aquata humored her and volunteered to stay during Andrina's first watch. She just prayed that Ariel would wake up soon. She just wanted to know she was okay.

After Triton had left, Andrina stayed a few feet away from Ariel's bedside. She didn't know what to do and she felt really unsure of herself. For the first time, she was afraid to be with her best friend. She loved Ariel so much, she didn't want to hurt her.

Ariel wanted desperately to tell Andrina it was okay, but she knew she couldn't hear her. Despite this, she had to try.

"Andrina, it's okay." Ariel encouraged. "You wont' hurt me. You could never hurt me on purpose. I know that."

Andrina swam forward, suddenly feeling a little better. She didn't know where it had come from, but she felt somewhat reassured.

Aquata saw her sister's actions and gave her an encouraging smile.

"It's okay, sis." The eldest mer-princess encouraged, echoing Ariel's words. "You won't hurt Ariel. You're going to help her. In fact, you just might be the one who helps her wake up."

Andrina shook her head. She didn't think she could do that. Little did she know how true Aquata's words were.

"That's it." Aquata said as Andrina reached out to take Ariel's hand. "It's okay."

Andrina cautiously reached forward and took Ariel's free right hand with her left one. She squeezed it gently and let the silence speak for her. For the first time ever, she didn't know what to say to her best friend.

Sensing Andrina's uncertainty, Aquata tried to help her out.

"It's okay to talk to her." She coaxed. "It'll help her wake up."

"What do I say?" Andrina asked, her voice shaking a little.

"Just talk about anything." Aquata suggested. "Tell her what's on your mind. She'll hear you."

Andrina nodded. She glanced back down at Ariel before gathering the courage to speak.

As she was about to start, Andrina noticed the seaIV in Ariel's left arm and it just made her more nervous.

Aquata saw this and tried to reassure her little sister.

"That will come out once Ariel wakes up and can drink something. She'll be fine."

Andrina nodded.

"Don't focus on that." Aquata advised. "Focus on Ariel and how much you love her and want her to wake up."

"Okay." Andrina said. She glanced back down at their sister before attempting to speak again.

Taking a deep breath, Andrina started to talk. Her voice was strong at first, but Aquata knew it was just a matter of time before she broke down too.

"It was quiet without you there this afternoon. I know if you were with me we would have hung out and explored the attic or just talked until Sebastian called us for lunch. It's not the same without you at home, sis. We really miss you. ..I-I really miss you. Please, you have to come back to us. You have to come back to me. I can't lose you. You're my…You're my best friend. I-I love you! I love you. Please, wake up. Please!" With that, Andrina couldn't hold the tears back any longer. She broke down just as Aquata had a few hours before.

As she listened to her sister and best friend speaking, Ariel fought hard to hold her own tears back. She hated seeing any of her sisters in pain, but seeing Andrina cry hurt her most of all.

"You're not gonna lose me." Ariel promised, even though she knew Andrina couldn't hear her. "I promise, Andrina. You're not going to lose me. I love you too."

Athena smiled when she heard her youngest daughter's words. She knew her Ariel was a fighter and she would be just fine. She also knew she had a long way to go before she was fully recovered.

Aquata came over to where Andrina was sitting and gave her a much needed hug. She needed the physical comfort as well.

"You're not going to lose Ariel, Andrina. We won't lose her either." Aquata tried to assure her upset sister. "She's going to be just fine. You'll see."

"You don't know that!" Andrina shot back tearfully.

"Yes I do." Aquata told her. "I know that because Ariel's strong. She's never let anything stop her before. This time won't be any different."

Andrina just leaned into Aquata and let the tears fall. She let her older sister hold her and prayed she was right.

It took awhile, but Aquata was finally able to get Andrina to sleep. She knew Andrina was supposed to be watching over Ariel, but she wanted their sister to get some rest as well. She needed it if she was going to do her part to help their sister come back to them.

There wasn't a doubt in Aquata's mind that Andrina would be the one to help Ariel. She just had to convince Andrina of the same thing.

But as she gazed down at her sleeping little sister, something told Aquata it was going to be easier said than done…

Aquata was woken up a few hours later by her father's voice. She looked down to see Andrina was still fast asleep. She hated to move her, but she had no choice. It was time for Alana to sit with Ariel and the other two had to go home.

Rubbing her eyes, Aquata gazed up to meet her father's blue ones.

"Is it time to leave already?" She asked, stretching slightly.

Triton nodded.

"I'm afraid so. But you can come back later on." He glanced down at Andrina before his gaze traveled back to his eldest daughter. "So how did it go?"

Aquata frowned and shook her head sadly.

"Not that well. Andrina was really scared. She held Ariel's hand and talked to her a little, but then she broke down."

Triton nodded.

"Well maybe she'll be better the next time. You two will have two watches each. Hopefully Ariel will wake up soon." He held his arms out for Andrina. "I'll take her."

Aquata shook her head.

"It's okay, Father. She's not that heavy. I can manage."

"If you're sure." Triton said.

Aquata nodded.

"I'm sure." With that, she left.

Once they were gone, Triton gazed down at his daughter. HE had asked Sebastian to bring Alana down after lunch, so he had a little time alone with Ariel.

Sitting down in the coral rock that Andrina and Aquata had occupied a few hours before, he took his daughter's hand and started talking to her. He prayed it would help her come back to them. Arainia had said that talking to Ariel would help her wake up faster. The only question was, how long would it take?