Doctor Grimm pulled up the chair from Ariel's little desk, sitting by the edge of her bed. He swept a loose strand of dark hair from his face as his eyes assessed her. "How are you feeling today, Ariel?"

She didn't answer. Not because she was being petty and throwing a tantrum. She didn't answer because like the drive home with Michael two days ago, she still didn't know.

She had woken in her bed, after the Doctor injected her with some medicine to knock her out after her 'moment' in the foyer. She'd been out to it for over eighteen hours. When she had woken, Emily was sitting on her own bed, reading a magazine.

"Hey," Ariel had whispered.

Emily had looked over briefly before turning back to her magazine. Ariel hadn't missed the guarded look in her eyes. She was still upset about what had happened. "Emily, I'm –"

"I'll go and get the Doc," she interrupted flatly. She rose from her bed quickly, rushing from the room. "He'll want to know you're awake."

After that, apart from the Doc, Zeke and Mrs. Grimm, she didn't see anybody.

Emily hadn't even come back into the room to sleep the night before. According to the Doc, she herself hadn't sustained any serious injuries. She would be battered and bruised for a few days, but other than that she would recover, and her heart was healthy and sound. Although it was good news, she didn't feel happy.

Lucas had lost his temper and it was her fault. She'd made him angry and the Doc had said if she caused problems for the other patients recoveries then she would be gone.

Now the Doc had settled in, his familiar notepad positioned on his lap and she observed him pulling out a black pen, ready to jot down all her faults and finalise her eviction letter.

When she didn't answer his question, his eyes became more thoughtful. "Ariel?"

She sighed. "I'm fine."

He motioned to her heart, which was sitting in its chest beside her on the bed. "How is your heart today? Everything has returned to normal?"

Normal. The word tasted sour in her mouth. Nothing was normal here. "It's fine."

They lapsed into silence once more. She fiddled with a loose strand of threat on her blanket. Her back was aching and she just wanted to lie down and pretend she was back at home.

"Ariel," he began. Her eyes closed. She knew what was coming. "I'd like to talk to you about what happened the other day."

She tugged harder on the thread, her eyes remaining downcast. "What would you like to know?"

"I'd like you to tell me what happened."

"Lucas and Emily have probably already told you what happened – "

"They have, but I want to hear it from you."

"Fine." The thread came free and she started wrapping it around her finger. "I was going up to my room because I was tired and wanted to lie down. Lucas got in my way and I tried to step by him but he aggravated me and I snapped. I said some things I probably should have said differently and... stuff happened."

"He pushed you?"

"Yeah."

She heard his pen moving across the paper. "They told me you said some harsh things about Peyton." She could hear the underlying hardness in his tone. "Why would you say those things, Ariel?"

She bit down on her tongue. She had decided yesterday that she would never mention Peyton again. She had learned her lesson. If Lucas had reacted like that, then she couldn't imagine the Doc would believe her. Peyton had known them for years – she was a favourite.

"Please answer, Ariel."

"It doesn't matter why I said it," she answered finally. "I said it, it can't be erased. So let's move on to the next question."

She knew that wasn't what he wanted to hear, but that was all she was willing to say on the matter.

He wrote some more notes. "I believe you were warned Ariel about how you spoke to people at Sherwood –"

"I know, but it's not like Lucas was helping the situation. I said I tried to step by him –"

"I understand that, but I am disappointed you allowed your emotions to get the better of you like that. I had been seeing some progress in your interactions with the others, I had thought you were passed this."

The thread around her finger was wrapped so tight, she watched her fingertip whiten as the circulation was cut off. "How long do I have to pack my bags?"

He actually appeared startled. "I'm sorry?"

She looked up at him. "You're kicking me out, right? I broke the rules, so I have to go."

"Ariel," he said gently. "I am not kicking you out."

Her eyes widened. "You're not?"

"Of course not. I have rules, and I did tell you, you would be forced to leave if they were broken, but that time isn't yet. From what you told me and what Lucas and Emily have said, it was not just you. Lucas had this own part to play in this."

"But I still broke the rules..."

"When my rules are broken, I am not going to immediately kick you to the curb," he said softly. "First, I would like to figure out what it is that has gone wrong and how I have failed you." Guilt washed over her. "Now is the time we both start figuring out where we went wrong, and how we can repair the damage and move forward."

"So... I can stay?"

"Of course," he smiled.

"But I should be kicked out," she blurted out. His smile faded and the words burst out of her mouth before she could stop them. "When you told me I had to start getting along with everyone, I just pretended to. I was just letting you see what you wanted so you wouldn't push my case to the end of the pile. I've only written in the journal twice. I think it's a stupid idea. I think Zeke is a creep and I hate pretending to be nice!"

Her chest heaved and she felt her eyes beginning to sting. The Doc looked at her for a moment. Rather than disappointment or anger, he simply appeared concerned.

"Michael told me what happened at the shop in Bibury. He said you were buying a lot of cakes and sweets. Were they all for yourself?"

The question threw her. "No, I was buying them for Emily and Autumn. I didn't know which ones they liked so I was just going to get a mixture."

"A person who is pretending wouldn't go out of their way to buy sweets for other people. Don't you agree?"

"I..." she trailed off. He had a point.

"Autumn has told me how you have been trying to mind yourself around the others. She has noticed that your anger has been fading."

"Autumn doesn't know me," she replied.

"She may not, but she is a good judge of character. She believes that who you are right now, is not who you have always been and that the real you is starting to break through the walls you've built in your mind. Would you agree?"

"No," Ariel's response was automatic. It unnerved her that Autumn and the Doc had been discussing her so extensively. "This is who I have always been."

Her voice sounded weak, and she knew the Doc didn't believe her answer. He wrote a few more notes down. "Ariel, I know you don't believe that, and I'd very much like to know why you do."

Her fingers curled into the blanket. "I don't know. I just do. I have always been like this."

"If I were to talk to your friends from high school, would they agree?"

"Probably," she muttered. They'd have nothing kind to say in her defense, she knew that for sure.

"Hmm," he closed his notebook. "In our next session I'd like to talk to you about your friends and time in school."

"How is that relevant?"

"Who knows? It may be relevant, or it may not be. Either way, I think it's something you need to explore."

She didn't say anything for a few minutes. Everything that had happened kept flashing through her mind, and Kestral's words digging deep into her soul. "Am I a bad person?" she asked suddenly.

"Of course not," the Doc leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees. "Why do you think that?"

"Because that's what everyone else thinks. Or so I've been told."

"Ariel, look at me." She raised her eyes to his. "You are not a bad person. Would you like to know what I think you are?" She didn't say anything and he continued. "Truthfully, I believe you are tired."

Her nose scrunched in confusion. "Tired?"

"Yes. I believe you have been pretending for so long to be someone you aren't, that you've lost who you really are and I think you're getting tired of pretending."

Tears stung her eyes and she looked away. Those words rung deep inside her, shaking her very foundations. He touched her shoulder gently and stood up. "There are two more things I need you to do for me, Ariel."

"What?"

"In a moment, I am going to ask Lucas to come in here, and I would like you both to apologise to one another."

Her head whipped up in shock. "Are you kidding? He won't want to do that."

"I have spoken with him and he has agreed to it." There was hardness in his voice, and Ariel guessed he had had to force Lucas into doing it. "The other thing," he continued, "I'd like to ask you for your forgiveness."

"What now?" She sat up, confused. "Why do you have to apologise?"

"Because, I showed your heart to everyone. I like everyone to reveal their curse in their own time, but because of the situation I was forced to do it for you. I was not proud of it, and I know it must have hurt you. For that I must apologise."

Ariel would be lying if she hadn't been thinking about that moment constantly since she had woken up. She found she didn't care so much that they had found out. She had thought it would bother her, but it was drowned out by something else. The one thing that kept playing through her mind was – did they put the pieces together like Kestral had? Did they think she was heartless as well?

"It's okay," she said quietly. "I know you had to do it. I don't blame you."

He nodded. "Good. Thank you, Ariel. I'll give you a moment before I send Lucas in."

He started to leave and she called out. "Wait! You aren't staying?"

He paused at the door. "I think this is something you both need to do on your own, without any outside influences. Everything will be fine, Ariel."

Walking out, he closed the door behind him and she quickly repositioned herself, pressing her back against and crossing her legs. Grabbing her chest, she placed it on her lap. Breathing deeply, she tried to formulate something that would work as an apology. She didn't want to see him, but the Doc's words about failing them were filling her with guilt. She had to start learning to take the high road.

The door opened and her back pressed deeper into the wall, the bruises protesting painfully. Closing the door, Lucas took one step forward and stopped. He refused to meet her gaze, staring out the window. His large frame seemed to fill the room and she thought it was strange he was just standing there.

"Do you want a seat?" she offered awkwardly.

"No, I won't be here long." His tone was filled with ice and she flinched. She could still remember the horror in it when he had thought she was dead. Obviously he wasn't too thrilled she had survived.

"I'm sorry," he said shortly. "I shouldn't have tried to goad a response out of you. That was on me. Pushing you –" his hands curled into fists "– I never meant to do that. If you hadn't bad-mouthed Peyton, I wouldn't have lost control like that. That's on you. I think from here on out, we should avoid each other and just pretend like the other doesn't exist so this doesn't happen again."

"Okay," she said quietly. "I did try to step aside –" she stopped herself. Defending herself was not going to make the situation better. "I'm sorry too. I didn't mean to tell you about Peyton like that. I had had a bad day and my mouth has a mind of its own. If you want to ignore each other, then I can do that."

As she had mentioned Peyton, he finally turned and looked at her. "You didn't mean to tell me like 'that'? So you were still going to bad mouth her?"

Ariel met his stare. "I wouldn't say bad mouth. I just wanted to tell you the truth. I wasn't lying when I said those things. I apologise for the way I told you, but I won't apologise for wronging her. I stand by what I said."

A strange growling erupted from his throat and it took Ariel a moment to realize it was a sound or derision. "You are unbelievable. You must truly hate me to be this desperate to alienate people from me."

"What, no!" She leaned forward. "That's not why I –"

"I don't want to hear it," he growled. "You call me the monster? The only monster we all see is you. You don't care about anyone but yourself. You lash out at everyone without a second thought. You hurt Emily's feelings, call me a dog and Kestral told me how you were mean to her when you went to Bibury together."

"I did not –"

"No," Lucas snapped. "You don't get to say anything. You've already said enough to prove why that witch cursed you. It makes complete sense now."

Ariel flinched. His words were like punches; each one dealt a cruel blow, leaving her breathless and numb. She had been right. They did all think she was truly heartless.

Something wet slid down her cheek and she saw Lucas's eyes sharpen. She quickly lowered her head.

"I think you need to go now," her voice cracked as another tear fell.

"Shit," he muttered. "Look –"

"It's fine." She tried to speak clearly but her throat was clogging up as the tears continued their descent. She was done. She suddenly felt so exhausted; she didn't have the energy to argue anymore. She just wanted to be alone. "I understand and I accept your apology. So please, just go."

She kept her eyes on her lap. After a moment, she heard his feet scrape against the floor. Then the door opened and closed. Once it had clicked shut, she curled into a ball, burying her head into her knees and sobbed quietly.

Ariel is starting to crack a little bit. What do you think?