1 YEAR LATER

"I want to go back."

Ariel didn't really elaborate, but Eric knew exactly what she meant, and he didn't like it. She had rushed into his room in the early hours of the morning, flopping down onto his bed and rolling into his sheets.

"Come with me."

Eric rolled over to his side and looked at her. "Ah, good morning! Darling, how are you?"

"Good morning Eric I am fine How are you Glad to hear it Lovely day we're having." Ariel said quickly, a bit of twang in her voice. "I want to go back."

Eric bit his lip and sighed, brushing her bangs out of her eyes. "Get dressed. Let's go."

His heart and stomach seemed to flip in tandem, and he wondered if Ariel's were doing the same. Of course they weren't. Would it kill, erm, would it really be so hard for that girl to maintain any sense of self-preservation?

"Eric, you look pale as a sail, are you okay?"

"Little nervous, yeah." He chuckled.

"You've been teaching me how to swim for months now, I'll be fine. Plus, you'll be there."

"I will."

Eric's heart dropped as Ariel pounced into the water, paddling out to the fateful rock. Could she at least slow down? But Eric was right behind her, always no more than an arm's length away.

"No, but here's how it works." Ariel explained in between deep breaths; the water was getting deeper. "This used to be a very nice rock, this is where I perched after I saved you, were I stayed to make sure you were okay. After I smacked my head on it, it became a very bad rock, and it had all the memories attached to it. If we go back, and nothing bad happens, it can be a good rock again, and all will be well.

"We can do that." Eric nodded, standing on his tip toes to keep his head above water.

Ariel rested her hands in natural grooves of the rock and hoisted herself up, plopping down on the top of the rock and looking out at the beach, sighing. Eric shimmied up to join her.

"How are you feeling?" Eric asked.

"A little anxious." Ariel stated, not making eye contact with him. "But it's going away."

Eric threaded his fingers through hers and they looked at the beach together.

"You know," Ariel sighed. "I'm not happy all of this happened, but it has made me happier to be here, and be with you Eric. I'm very lucky, in some strange way. I'll tell you a different time, but when I was the Sea Witch, there was a young girl I helped, and she was not nearly as fortunate as we are. We're very lucky. I love you a lot, you know that, right?"

"I've never doubted. I love you too, Ariel." Eric shifted a little, looking at how perfectly the sun glinted off her wet skin, and feeling how perfectly he molded into her side. "Ariel, I didn't plan on doing this now, but I wanted to ask you something."

"Oh?"

"Would you marry me? I promise I-"

Ariel kissed him quickly. "You've keep all the promises you speak, I trust you to keep the ones you think. I will marry you, of course."

"Well, all right!" Eric exclaimed pulling her in as tightly as he could. She laughed and wrapped herself around him, kissing his cheek, his ear, his neck. She loved him!

…

The people left the reception in pairs, in small groups, in little friendships of four or five; groups that had expanded just enough to include Ariel. They bid the bride and groom goodbye, who would stop dancing long enough to hug, shake hands, and kiss cheeks.

Eventually, by the wee hours of the morning, the boat had emptied out. The sun was inversely peeking out over the horizon, and the boat would set sail on their lavish around-the-world honeymoon in a few moments.

Ariel looked over the balcony, down at the sea that was lapping at the shore. She started when Eric moved behind her, and grabbed him forearm with both her hands. "Follow me!"

Eric laughed, stumbling a little as he tried to match her pace. "I don't really have a choice!"

They rand down, off the boat, and with a joyful screech, Ariel launched herself into the water, dress billowing up to the surface. She sprung up after, taking a gasping breath, and laughed as she pushed her hair back and her dress down. There were a lot of layers, and it was getting heavy, but the water was shallow and she was strong.

Eric hopped in just seconds after she did, paddling over to her and towing her about the water. Ariel rolled onto her back in order to float, and laughed at how funny Eric looked. She stuck her foot up in the air, satin slipper still on it and covering her toes. She kicked it off and wiggled them, beaming.

"Hey, watch out!" she smiled. "You're gonna run into that rock."

Eric checked over his shoulder and smirked a little. "Eh, wouldn't hurt me."

"You're probably right." Ariel smiled. "It's a very good rock."

"Highnesses!" a well-dressed man called from the deck. "The boat is departing soon!"

"What, is it gonna leave without us?" Eric laughed, waving an acknowledgement to the man.

"Probably." Ariel nodded. "Who do you think you are Eric, the prince?"

He smiled at her, and the two waded onto the shore, collapsing into the sand.

"How do I always get washed up on this beach" Eric mumbled.

"Third time's the charm!" Ariel piped.

Eric pulled her up to her feet. "That's true. Never expected to land here with you. Wanna head back up?"

"Let's get going!" Ariel tugged at his arm again. "We've got a big adventure waiting for us!"

Eric slid an arm around her waist and the two lovers dripped and plodded back up to their boat, the sun finally fully up in the air."

"Ariel, we have a whole lifetime of those waiting for us."

That's all, folks! Drop a review if you liked it, feel free to review/send a message if you have any other ideas, thoughts, or fic requests! I always love hearing from y'all