I almost lost her. He thought, seeing her sleeping form on the couch under a green blanket. It rose up and down, assuring him she was still amongst the living. He sat on the edge of a table nearest to the couch, brushing away an invisible hair strand from her face. Closed eyelids curtained away her brilliant aqua eyes and pink lips were in a smile, a red creeping across her cheeks. She's probably dreaming about her Prince Charming. Her true love or something girly like that… he laughed a little, palm cupping a rosy cheek. He sighed, wishing he wasn't such a coward and told her how he really felt. How he wished to press his lips against her.

His eyes softened at the thought, until he knew he was acting crazy at such a time, and shook his head to rattle the thoughts inside it. But, he couldn't stop staring at her. Fiery hair framed her soft face. Big glacier eyes standing out against the bright mane, making her a sight for sore eyes. And that slender figure…

"Get a freaking grip, Hawkins! She almost died and you're here fantasizing about bedding her. You really are something…" he said aloud, cascading his dirty mind. As if it ever listened!

He got up and paced around the living room, as to not feel so helpless. His thoughts won the battle, filling his cranium with every pondering question he begged to have answered. How he longed to hold her in his arms. How he wanted her to be the first and last face he saw everyday for the rest of his life.

…but they could never be together. No matter how much he wanted her to be his

(oh, but she already was)

they could never be. He traveled too much, worked with dangerous fellows, and it was all just too risky. And then there was the whole he was too shy to tell her how he felt obstacle.

She was his whole world, and he almost lost her. Solar surfer failing epically, she gave in so freely to Death's steely embrace, and he saw her… dying. He stamped on the button, just in time to catch her rag-doll unconscious body. And as if it was a movie, cue in the raging thunderstorm with electricity traveling around the sky. Not risky enough, eh?

At first he thought she was dead, but he found a faint pulse and shielded her as much as he could with his baggy jacket, taking her home for monitoring. And although he was soaking wet…

Wet. Well, I'll be darned. Figuring it was no good to be sick, he shed his dripping clothes and stood clad in only boxers. (Fan girls eat your heart out) Morph laughed, morphing into a pair of boxers and rubbing up Jim's scarred cheek. Jim chuckled, petting the small creature. He sat on the table again, thoughts storming around in his noggin. And not being able to handle the lack of movement in the room, he got up and paced, and then sat back down. He looked at the once-mermaid and sighed, getting up and collecting her in his arms and off the couch. He carried her into the bedroom, laying her on the bed and sitting on the foot of it, head buried in his hands. Had it not been there, he would've noticed Miss Sleeping Beauty waking up, lids fluttering open.

So many colors… where am I?... oh. I must be… am I dead? She thought, head spinning. As her vision adjusted and clarified, she was greeted with a ceiling and a man's bare back. Ideas raced, thinking a stranger had taken advantage of her and how dare James Pleiades Hawkins leave her alone! But then again, what was she to him, right? Oh, of everything in Montressor how dare him…

But, amidst her boiling thoughts, she realized she had her clothes still on, so nothing could've happened. At least, that's what it usually meant, so she was sticking with that theory. Wait a minute. I know that ponytail… and that earring… James Pleiades Hawkins?

So he didn't leave her. Or rape her. But, then…

"Jim?" she asked, testing her voice out. It was hoarse and cracked. His head snapped up from the make-shift cradle his hands made, he turned around, widened ceruleans staring at her. They were mixed with confusion, hurt, relief and something she couldn't quite put her finger on. Whatever the case, it was there nonetheless.

"Ariel!" he exclaimed, and was about to wrap her in a hug, but caught himself. She was weak, in a fragile state… and he was in only boxers. A blush overcame his boyish face, causing Ariel to giggle. A hand came up to her lips, in an attempt to stifle the laughter that was overcoming her, but it burst out anyways. Seeing her so happy, her smiling, caused his blush to deepen and pertain and a goofy grin to plaster his face. He turned towards her, bounding to be by her side, and wrapped her in a huge hug not caring if he was practically naked.

This brought her near hysterics, as she must be dreaming. Jim, naked, hugging her? Oh she must be dead! This can not be real life. I love being deceased, past my expiration date! I love it, love it, love it! she thought, her sides hurting from laughing.

I have to get her to shut up somehow, or she's going to pass out from oxygen deprivation. He thought, and as his mind raced for thoughts, he quickly covered her lips with his, enveloping her in

-a kiss! Oh my god he is kissing me. Oh… what do I do? Do I kiss him back?! She thought, bewildered.

She's going to slap me, I just know it. Don't do me any favors, Ariel, please. He begged.

Instead, her baby blues closed as her arms intertwined around his neck, as if they were always meant to be there. His hands brought her body closer to his bare chest, his eyes closing as male hormones shot through the roof. Female hormones weren't doing much better. Her hands flitted across his form, leaving warm imprints wherever she touched. His body yearned for her, but this could be enough for now.

Oxygen-deprived lungs begged for the magical moment to end, although both teens didn't want to part. The lungs won this battle, though, and they left each other panting and wanting so much more. Eyes opened and foreheads clinked together, and they stared into each other's endless eyes until they had regained what little sanity they had.

So careful as to not break this aura around them, Ariel whispered what she said next. "That was amazing." She tucked fire behind one creamy ear. And seeing how beautiful and innocent she looked there, Jim suddenly felt horrible. He shrunk back a bit, "I'm sorry I took advantage of yo-"

"Shut up, James! You have no idea how long I've wanted to do that."

And this shut him up indeed! Red dusted his face as he stammered, "How long?"

"Well, for forever now!"

"We have so much darn in common!"

Ariel gripped at the covers on her lap, fingers curling under and uncurling the fabric that was the blanket. She lowered her eyes to it, refusing to meet his. "I always thought I was invisible to you." She said, barely audible. Jim's eyes widened, unable to comprehend what she had just said. Then a sly smile crossed his face as he closed the gap between them. "Oh, really? I'll show you how invisible you are to me, by tunder!" He replied, pinning his girl between his body and the mattress.