Ariel awoke to the sounds of the children screaming. Their shrill voices echoing off the trunks of the trees and filling her ears. Usually she was able to drown out the sound and sleep soundly but tonight, along with Hooks arrival, old wounds were ripped open and emotions rose back to the surface. She rubbed her eyes and made to sat up but was stopped by something wound tightly around her waist. The silver hook glinted in the dying embers of the fire, winking cheekily up at her. She groaned and fell back to the ground with a soft thud.

He just had to get close didn't he? He just could resist torturing her, even after what he had put her through. She looked all around her and noticed his coat tucked neatly around her under his arm. She took a deep breath and the familiar scent of salty sea spray, spiced rum, and lemon soap filled her nostrils. She bit back the contented sigh that formed in her throat and tried to riggle out from under his grip.

"You know..." his voice rumbled sleepily "if you wanted to leave you could just ask nicely, love."

She froze and slowly rolled on her side to face his light sea foam green eyes twinkling with mirth. Her breath hitched and her break came out in short ragged puffs. Even after all this time he was still able to take her breath away.

"I'm not used to asking nicely." she said coldly "Now let me go Killian."

He grinned lazily at her and only tightened his grip around her waist "Now why would I do that my pretty little mermaid?"

"I don't know, why would you." she spat so harshly that he flinched.

"That's not fair...and you know why." he said pursing his lips together "I had no choice."

"No choice?" Ariel hissed pushing his chest releasing his grip just long enough for her to wriggle out "You had plenty of choice Killian. But you let me go just the same."

Killian sat up and looked at her in awe. WOmen! He just didn't understand them at all. "How was I to know that you wanted me to chase you."

She whirled around and looked at him a wild, angry, glint in her eyes. "Chase me? How did I want you to chase me? Why would I want you to chase me when you let me go?"

She sat on the banks of NEverland Isle watching as the Jolly Roger dissappeared along the horizon. Tears welled up in her eyes and dropped down onto the blue fabric of her skirts. Her heart broke into several pieces as she watched the ship sink intot hte depths of the water, off to another world no doubt. She had really hoped he would change his mind and come back for her once more. She stifled a sob and looked away.

"Now this is quite a problem deary." a voice said from her other side.

If she had the strength she would roll her eyes. She had the worst day of her life so far and now coming to tie it all together was her employer. She didn't really wish to deal with him at present. But she turned to him anyway willing the tears to stop and her face to dry before turning towards him, doing her best to look unamused and unfased.

"Well what happend?" Rumple asked his teeth flashing in the setting sun and his hands tilted in a his usual questioning way.

Ariel looked at him pointedly and held out her hand fpr the potion that would give her back her voice. He sighed and pulled out a small bag that was tied around his waist. He took his time as he rifled through bits of scrap paper, a couple of trinkets he had dealed off of some poor fellow or another, and several potion bottles. Finally he pulled from it an round clear bottle filled with clear water tinted a slight yellow green. Ariel raised an eyebrow seeing as how this was not her usual bottle. It was usually the dark purple bottle that she couldn't make out the contents of it.

"The old one smashed deary." Rumple said dismissivly waving a hand "Had to improvise. GO on take a swig."

She only nodded and put the bottle to her lips, hissing as it snaked her way down her throat. "I am afraid that I have failed to uphold my end of the bargin." she said handing him the empty bottle which he promptly pocketed.

"What do you mean by that deary?" he asked looking at her with the upmost curiosity.

"I am afraid our pirate friend did not fall for any of my charms and has decided that he wants a new toy to play with." she said the bitterness in her voice almost undetectable. If he had not been listning for such a hint he would have missed it all together. "He has marooned me on this island and wishes to see my face no more."

She looked down at her feet and pushed her toes deeper into the sand. She swallowed hard and blinked a couple of times before looking at Rumplestiltskin. He looked back his black eyes darting around her face as if analyzing ever feature.

"I..I have failed you." she said trying to break the tension that surrounded them. "Therefore I will give up my legs, which you have given me, up willingly and allow myself to be transformed back into a mermaid. I will also be willing to let you use me whenever you are in need of service."

She tried not to squirm under his intense gaze. His features were screwed up with confusion and his eyes flicked back and forth between her eyes and her lips. "That won't be necessary deary." he said finally after fifteen agonizing minutes of study. "You have not failed with little effort on your part and our deal was only that you try. You have tried and therefore held up your end of the bargin."

Ariel raised an eye brow and held her breath hardly daring to believe it. "So you are going to let me keep my legs even though I failed to make the pirate fall in love with me? But why?"

"YOu tried deary. That's all I could really ask of you." he said shrugging and looking out towards the ocean. His mind drifted off to a girl with long brown curly. Her rosy cheeks and dazzling smile filling him with a sudden warmth. Her laugh ringing in his ears like a tinkling belle ( ah!). "After all we can't help who we fall in love with. I just thought with you being a mermaid you would have better luck."

"So you are not holding it against me?" she asked looking down at her hands

He shook his head "You are free my dear. Free to live out your life as a human. Whereever you wish." He stood and held out his hand to her which she took and stood as well. "I will take you away from here. To anywhere you wish. Just name it."

Ariel thought for a moment and shook her head looking at the isle. "I thank you my friend but I will not being going anywhere but here."

He looked as if he would argue but she put a delicate finger to his lips "I am quite happy with the life I have here on this Isle. And who knows I might even help a lost boy or two find happiness again." She smiled at him and released his hands bowing to him slightly. "I will bid thee fairwell my friend and blessed travels whereever you go. For this is where I leave you. Goodbye Rumplestiltskin." she said before turning and disappearing through the dark forest.

Rumplestiltskin watched her go, a small frown placed on his lips. He put a hand in his pocket and pulled from it the bottle Ariel had drank from in order to regain her voice. He held it up to the light and look puzzled. He wondered who it was. FOr the spell he had put her under could only be broken in three ways. If the recipient falls in love, someone falls in love with the recipient, or if the recipient drinks the antidote. He was puzzled because the spell he had put on her hand been broken after she drank this potion...but the potion wasn't the potion at all...inside the glass bottle remained small amounts of salt water.