The next couple of weeks were the best that Ariel would know on the surface. Every night when possible Jordan would come and visit her. They would talk for long hours, sometimes even until the sun would rise. Their discussions included talks about the ocean, each others lives and many other things that they found relevant at that moment. It was the closest that Ariel had felt to home in a long time, and she savored every moment of it. Tonight was particularly perfect, there were no clouds in the sky and the stars shined bright enough that it seemed if you reached out you could touch them. And the wind was blowing every so slightly, just enough to make a man close his eyes and spread his arms in the serenity of it, the only problem was, Jordan. He was usually here by now, usually sitting in front of the tank and talking with Ariel, but he wasn't. Ariel figured that she would just have to be without him tonight... alone.

As Ariel finally decided to resign to her corner and rest she heard the latch from the door up above unhinge and the door swing open. She wondered why they were bothering her at this time of night. Slowly, she peaked her head up to the surface and looked through the door, she could see the bright stars above, and was waiting for one of the ugly heads that she all to often saw to peak inside and break her view, but it didn't happen. Instead, a new head appeared. Jordan now stood above her, and was smiling.

"Jordan! What are you doing here? You could get caught."

"Getting you out of here... here take my hand."

Jordan reached his hand down toward her and waited for her to take it, a smile still on his face, but Ariel seemed a bit nervous.

"But Jordan, what if they catch us?"

"They won't, and even if they do, I'm a better runner than you might think."

Ariel stood her ground and started to think, she could see many ways that this could go wrong, but when she looked back into her bare tank, she took his hand without a second thought.

She was pulled up on top of her tank. It was very dark, and she wouldn't have been able to see anything if it had not been for a candle that sat beside Jordan. Then he pulled something out of the back of his pants and showed it to her.

"You might want to put this on... it's a bra, it goes around your chest... I would bet it's a lot more comfortable than that seaweed you're wearing."

Ariel looked at the 'bra' and then back at Jordan... she had a very confused look on her face.

"Here let me show you."

Jordan demonstrated on himself, becoming embarrassed despite the fact that Ariel didn't find it remotely funny.

"Here, now put it on."

Jordan gave Ariel the bra and crossed his arms, waiting for her to put it on. She just stared back at him.

"Oh! Oh I'm sorry"

Jordan turned his head, blushing, not attempting to peek, just waiting for her to get finished.

"Ok, I'm ready"

Jordan turned back around and saw Ariel sitting with the bra on, and the seaweed laying on the ground beside her. She looked to the ground, and then back up at him, shoving the hair out of her face with her hand.

"Ok, let's go."

Jordan blew out the candle and picked Ariel up. She couldn't see anything, but she trusted Jordan enough to wrap her arms around his neck. He walked down a small flight of stairs that he had climbed to get to the top of the tank, and then entered into a small looking shack that was cluttered with different tools and knives. He headed out the door, now in the night air, concrete under his feet, and wind blowing through his hair. He started running, careful not to shake Ariel to uncontrollably in his grasp. Soon the texture under his feet turned from concrete to grass. Ariel relaxed against his body, and soon fell asleep with her head against his chest. She was so close to home.