Ariel was worried, her period was late and it was never late. Plus her breast felt weird and she was getting tired lately. She and Eric hadn't used protection. She decided to buy a pregnancy test. She bought it at a drugstore as far away from home as possible for fear of someone seeing her. When she was home again she read the instructions carefully. She peed on the little stick and waited. She couldn't be pregnant, you couldn't get pregnant from one time right? But what if she was? Her father would be furious. She glanced at the clock, two more minutes. She just needed to distract herself singing was always a good option and Sebastian always stressed her about the importance of practice. Finally it was time to check the test. Ariel wanted to be assured but at the same time she was afraid to look because what if she was pregnant. It would ruin her life, everybody at school would look down upon her. She could forget about college. Think positive, thing are never as bad as they seem, her mother used to say. Ariel tried to think positive. She entered the bathroom and checked the stick. Two bars. No she couldn't get pregnant. She checked the manual two bars meant pregnancy. Ariel had a panic attack she had to get out of the house. She threw the pregnancy test in her trashcan she couldn't take the chance of her sisters finding out. She took the bus to Eric's place.

Eric opened the door. ''Hey,'' he said smiling. Then he noticed Ariel's distressed face. ''What's the matter little mermaid?'' he asked worried. Upon hearing the familiar nickname Ariel burst into tears. ''Come inside,'' Eric said and he led her to the couch. ''Now tell me what's wrong.''

''My period was late and it's always on time and my breast feel weird and I'm so tired, so I bought a pregnancy test in a drugstore at the other side of town so that no-one familiar could see me buying it, then I went home to take the test while I was waiting I was beginning to worry even more, then the test gave two bars which means I'm pregnant, I threw the test away immediately because when my dad finds out he's gonna be furious and my life at school would be over when they find out,'' Ariel said real fast barely pausing to breathe.

''Whoa,'' Eric said, ''rewind, you're pregnant?''

''Yes,'' Ariel said crying.

''So we're gonna be parents?'' Eric said shocked.

''Yes,'' Ariel said barely understandable through her crying.

''Hey, it's gonna be okay, it's not the end of the world. I'm sure that Carlotta and Grimsby are gonna help us. As well as your father and sisters as soon as they come over the shock.''

''You don't understand. I'm his youngest daughter, his little girl, of all my sisters I look the most like our mother.''

''Yeah he will probably be sad at first because we're still so young but after time he will learn to accept it and look forward to being a granddad. Ariel we will work this out together. We will live together, marry and raise our child. Unless you really don't want this then you can have an abortion, it's your decision.''

''I don't know, how can I kill this new life growing inside me, how can I kill our child. I think that I'm just scared, scared of what people will think of us, scared of what my father will say. But most of all I'm scared that I can't raise a child, that I won't be a perfect mother.''

''Ariel, there are no perfect mothers, everyone makes mistakes especially with raising children. But the most important thing is that you try to be the best mother you can be, to love your child and always put your child's best interest and safety first even sometimes at your own cost.''

''I will try Eric, together with you. But I'm not ready yet to tell anyone I just need some time to sort this through.''

''Of course, I understand. You tell everyone when you're ready and then we'll all sit around the table to decide the best course of action.''

A couple of days later Ariel was in her room when Attina entered her room. ''Ariel we need to talk.''

''Okay, what is it?''

''I cleaned your trashcan today and I found a pregnancy test. Ariel are you pregnant?''

''Yes.''

''Why didn't you tell me?''

''I wasn't ready yet to tell anyone and I was afraid that you would be mad.''

''Ariel you made a stupid mistake but it's not a bigger mistake than your other sisters made when they were your age. You're just the only one to bear the consequences.''

''I'm sorry.''

''What are you gonna do? Are you gonna keep the baby?''

''I think so.''

''And what does Eric has to say about it? He is the father right?''

''Yes, he says that it's my decision if I want to keep the baby or not but he's gonna support me either way.''

''Well he sure sounds like a keeper, when are you gonna tell daddy?''

''I don't know yet.''

''Ariel you have to tell him, either you tell him or I will.''

''But, I want to wait a while longer, I'm not ready yet.''

''Ariel you made a mess that's too big to clean up yourself. You need to tell daddy. Let's go downstairs now. He loves you he will understand.''

They went downstairs. ''Hello girls, what a serious faces.''

''Daddy Ariel needs to tell you something.''

''Alright Ariel what is it?''

''I'm pregnant,'' mumbled Ariel.

''What? You had sex with that boy?'' Triton yelled. ''And worse you didn't use protection, how many times have I told you girls…''

''Daddy I didn't mean to,'' Ariel interrupted her father.

''You didn't mean to. Think Ariel, think, use your head that's why you got it.''

''I knew you wouldn't understand. You never understand me, I wish mom was still here,'' and Ariel ran back into her room.''

Triton sunk down on the couch defeated. ''What have I done now, my own daughter hates me.''

''Daddy did you really think that none of us made the same mistake? Ariel is just the only one whose hands got burned.''

''Maybe I was too harsh on her.''

About half an hour later Triton entered Ariel's room and saw that she was crying on her bed. He sat next to her on her bed. ''Ariel we need to talk. I'm sorry I got mad, I was just scared, you're still so young. I realize that you're probably even more scared than I am. Maybe it would have been better if your mother was still here, at least she would have known how to handle this. Does Eric know?''

''Yes.''

''The most important thing now is what do you want?''

''I want to keep this baby and marry Eric and live happily ever after together.''

''And does Eric want this to?''

''Yes.''

''You two are real young to make this kind of decisions. Maybe we should talk it over with his parents.''

I wont be updating as regularly as I used to because I´m busy with school and making my costume for the elf fantasy fair. It´s also because my writing doesn´t go as fast as I would like to.