"What does a mermaid eat?" asked Eric over a picnic lunch he was sharing with his beautiful mermaid. They were drifting along on a boat in their favorite lagoon.

"We don't eat fish, that's for sure. You can't very well eat a creature you can talk to. We eat different kinds of plants that grow along the ocean floor. I like human food better." She held something up for Eric to see. "What's this called again?"

Eric laughed. "That's a strawberry."

"Strawberry?" asked Ariel. "Isn't straw what the horse sleeps on?"

"Yes."

Ariel eyes widened. "Does this fruit come from the same place as straw?"

"No," Eric said, smiling patiently. "It just has the same name."

"That's very confusing. Humans are sure complicated." Arial took a bite out of the peculiar fruit "But, oh, this is so much better than a seaweed salad."

Later, Eric strolled along the balcony outside of Ariel's room. She was in there getting fitted for her wedding dress. He couldn't see into the room, but he could hear the two women through the open window.

"My goodness, that's lovely, my dear! I've never seen a waist as small as yours. Must be a sea person thing."

"Do you think Eric will like it?"

"Like it? Oh, he's going to go simply mad over you!"

"Mad? I don't want to make him mad."

"No, I just mean he'll be so amazed that… oh, never mind. Hold this while I pin it, dear."

"I guess I'm the luckiest girl in the whole ocean. And the land."

"Oh you're right about that, dear. Eric is a wonderful match. He's never been too good around girls, but I reckon that's just because he didn't find the right one until he met you."

"What do you mean, he was never good around them?"

"Oh, he's always been mighty shy."

"I didn't notice. I think he's charming. He makes me smile and he doesn't care that I ask so many questions."

"Will you put your arm just so? That's right, I have to get this sleeve fixed up nice."

"Ouch!"

"Oh my, I'm sorry. Are you alright?"

"Yes, just fine."

"Well, Eric mentioned that the girl of his dreams sang him a song. Did you really sing to him? Or was the poor boy hallucinating?"

"Ha! No, I really sang to him."

"I'd love to hear the song!"

"I don't know when, I don't know how, but I know something's starting right now! Watch and you'll see, someday I'll be part of your world!"

"No wonder that sea witch wanted to steal your voice! You're going to make me cry because of its beauty! I'll undo the buttons in the back. That's it, now just step out carefully. Mind the hem. I'll get to work on this right away."

"Carlotta?"

"Yes?"

"Is alright… I mean… could you maybe add some puffs to the sleeves? These thin ones are lovely but I've always wanted big sleeves. I never got to wear dresses in Atlantica but I always dreamed my wedding dress would have big sleeves."

"Of course! Won't be any trouble at all! I'll see you at dinner. Do you need help lacing up that dress?"

"Yes, thank you."

"Why don't you go and find Prince Eric? He'll be missing you."

Eric head snapped up. He suddenly felt embarrassed for eavesdropping. Sheepishly, he made his way inside so that he could meet Ariel on the stairs. She emerged seconds later wearing a green dress. Her hair was tied up in a bun. She smiled at him and leapt into his arms. "Hi!"

"Hello, there."

"When are you going to teach me more about dancing?"

"I can teach you right now, if you'd like. Let's go to the ballroom."

"Then you spin away from me and stick your hand out."

"Like this?" Ariel flung her hand into the air.

"No," Eric said, taking the outstretched hand in his. He gently began to move her fingers into the correct position. "More like this."

Ariel looked down and let out a sad sigh. "I'm not very graceful. I'll never get it."

"Hey," Eric said. He placed his fingers under her chin and gently lifted her head until their eyes met. What do I say to her? Eric wondered. What if she doesn't believe me? There were several quiet moments. It was no more than a few seconds but to the couple standing in the middle of the ballroom floor, it stretched a lot longer than that. Finally, Eric gave up trying to think of something to say. He wrapped her in his arms and pressed his lips to hers tenderly.

When they broke apart, Eric saw that Ariel's cheeks had turned a bright shade of pink. "That won't make me more graceful, Eric," she said softly.

"You don't need to be more graceful," he replied. "You're doing just fine. To me, you're perfect."

"I'm not perfect, though! No one is. That's impossible."

"But you're perfect for me. You're my perfect match." Eric grabbed her hand and interlocked their fingers. "See? A perfect fit." He rearranged their hands so that they were in a dancing position and began to move her slowly across the floor. "If you were any taller, I wouldn't be able to do this," he said, lifting her up into the air and spinning her around. "So, you're the perfect height."

"Does height really have something to do with it?" she asked when her feet were touching the floor again.

"Probably," he said. "Ariel, don't look now, but you're dancing."

It was true. They were waltzing across the floor in perfect synchronization. Eric gently led her into a spin. She extended her hand exactly as he had showed her. He pulled her back and lifted her again. He let her down close to him and held her. "See?" he said. "You're perfect."