~The next morning after Dean and the Father have left~

ARIEL: *wakes up and looks around* Hello? Dean? Sam?

SAM: *walks out of the house and towards the tank* Good morning, Ariel. *smirks*

ARIEL: Good morning, Sam. *tries to stretch but can't because of the lid*

SAM: *sits down beside the tank* How did you sleep?

ARIEL: I slept well. *smiles and swims to the other side where he is* How'd you sleep?

SAM: *grins* I slept well. My brother and father are out fishing. They left me because they thought I was sick.

ARIEL: Oh... That's unfortunate. You look fine to me.

SAM: I am. I just wanted to spend some time with you...

ARIEL: And why is that? *lies at the bottom of the tank and gazes at him with her smile*

SAM: well, you're a very beautiful girl and I want to get to know you better.

ARIEL: *grins* Okay, but just so you know, I have a husband.

SAM: he probably doesn't even know you're gone... If he does, he can't come after you because merfolk can't stay on dry land for long.

ARIEL: *grin fades* What are you saying?

SAM: *grins falsely at her* nothing, nothing at all.

ARIEL: *sighs and smiles* Alright... What do you want to know. *flaps her beautiful green tail*

SAM: Want to know about what? *lays down on his stomach and faces her*

ARIEL: Me. *grins as he looks at her like that*

SAM: how old are you? *eyes sparkle handsomely*

ARIEL: 17. *smiles*

SAM: you look grown up for seventeen... *flatters her*

ARIEL: *blushes* Thank you.

SAM: You also have a very pretty blush...

ARIEL: *blushes some more* T-Thank you...

SAM: You're welcome.

ARIEL: You flatter me, Sam

SAM: I only tell what I see. *says very sweetly*

ARIEL: *giggles*

SAM: *grins*

ARIEL: *hears someone approaching* Someone's coming...

SAM: *looks over his shoulder* Right on time... *stands up smirking*

ARIEL: W-What do you mean?

KING: Why have you brought us here? *to Sam*

SAM: I have something for your majesty. *drops a low bow* I pulled this in on my nets yesterday. Thought it might interest you...

KING: *eyes widen* Great Scott... Is that a mermaid?

ARIEL: *curls up and feels used*

SAM: *nods* *grins* yes, a real mermaid. She's quite beautiful. Only 17. Still many more years left in her.

KING: *thinks* Raoul, my boy, what do you think? *looks her over*

ARIEL: *cowers from them, trying to hide her face*

RAOUL: *steps forward* She quite beautiful. What do you plan to do with her? *studies her*

KING: Perhaps for science or maybe display. Would you like her as a trophy?

ARIEL: *looks at Raoul, revealing her face*

RAOUL: *gasps and steps back* Father, you have to turn her loose! *looks at him frantically*

KING: Why? What's wrong?

ARIEL: *looks at Raoul in surprise*

RAOUL: she is the girl who saved my life! Or, looks just like her. *steps forward* Sing, sing please. *smiled gently*

ARIEL: *smiles and sings the same song she sang when she saved him*

RAOUL: *is completely stunned* I should have known I was saved by a mermaid. Father, you must turn her loose. Back to the ocean.

ARIEL: Raoul... Wait... There's something I have to tell you.

*guards pick up the tank*

RAOUL: *halts them* What is it? *steps closer towards her*

ARIEL: I love you... *smiles* When I was human I couldn't speak. I wanted to tell you that so badly... But I guess I'm too late now. *sniffles*

RAOUL: *eyes turn damp* I suppose you are. I'm married. But, it never would have worked to well. The Sea is your home and mine is the land.

ARIEL: *tears drip* Goodbye, sweet prince...

*guards dump her out onto the shore*

RAOUL: *walks over to her* Tell me one last thing before you leave. *glances back at Sam with fury in his eyes* Was any member of his family involved in this that you know of?

ARIEL: No, but please... Give Sam mercy, for me. *leaps back into the sea*

RAOUL: *sighs* fine. A little. *turns back to Sam*

ARIEL: *swims down below*

NADIR: MASTER!!!!

ERIK: *appears looking frantic* Have you found her!?!?

NADIR: She's returned!!!

ERIK: *gasps with relief* Where is she??

NADIR: Coming to the palace

ERIK: *darts by Nadir and swims to greet her* ARIEL! Where have you been?! *pulls her into a hug*

ARIEL: *hugs him tightly and sobs into his shoulder*

ERIK: *soothes her gently and holds her very close to him* What happened?!

ARIEL: I-I got caught in a n-net

ERIK: Who's net? *growls slightly and looks into her eyes*

ARIEL: A small family fishing boat. They caught me by mistake.

ERIK: *growls slightly* What happened while you were with them?

ARIEL: They put me in a tank and took care of me... Until their son tried to sell me to The King.

ERIK: *eyes blaze angrily* I'll deal with them... *leads her back to her room*

ARIEL: Erik... I think you've brought me to the wrong room

ERIK: What do you mean?

ARIEL: This isn't OUR room is it? *smiles at him*

ERIK: No, it isn't. I thought you were devoutly against OUR room and so decided to put you here to keep off an argument. After all, I'm about to go ruin a fisherman and I don't want to waste any time.

ARIEL: No! Don't hurt their family! They're poor, Erik!

ERIK: They hurt you! One of them tried to sell you!

ARIEL: Only one! The others actually were against it and treated me like a queen!

ERIK: *sighs* So, I'll deal with the one and what would you like me to do with the others?

ARIEL: Please give them some of our treasure... They need it more than we do

ERIK: *smiles slightly* True, it isn't much good except to look at down here. I'll take them enough to keep them well fed for years. Now, I'm leaving you here and you have free run of the castle. Please, try to stay out of trouble. *swims away*

ARIEL: *grins and swims around the castle giddily* I'm so happy!!

ERIK: *swims to the ship and gathers up some of the treasure and swims to the surface to find the fisherman*

DEAN: *sighs* Only ten fish...

ERIK: *sees them and swims around the net to the side of the boat*

DEAN: *sees him* A merman!? Oh goodness... If this is about Ariel we didn't hurt her

ERIK: *smiles up at him as he rises up on a wave* I know that. She is back safe with me under the sea. But, she tells me you and your father cared for her?

DEAN: Yes... We d-did... Your majesty. *bows respectively in his presence*

ERIK: Good. Here. *tosses two large bags full of gold and jewels* This is your reward. Sunken treasure is not much good under the sea so I thought I would bring some to you. Ariel told me you were poor.

DEAN: *gasps* We are... You're her husband? The king?

ERIK: *nods* yes, I am. Recently ascended to the thrown but I am the king.

DEAN: Wow... Thank you... We are so very grateful for your generosity, your majesty

ERIK: you're welcome. And, just so you know, you're brother tried to sell my wife to the king and his son. I will return tomorrow and if something hasn't been done about it I will deal with your brother properly. *glares*

DEAN: *gulps* O-Of course. He will be dealt with

ERIK: Good. Merfolk justice is rather strict. *lowers himself back into the sea*

ARIEL: *swims around the kingdom singing which drags merfolk's attention and they crowd around her*

ERIK: *returns to the city and sees her singing in the middle of the crowd*

ARIEL: *smiles at them and says* You all should return to the kingdom... I promise you that every need will be taken care of be me personally and of course the king

ERIK: *hides behind a pillar and listens to her* That's my queen...

ARIEL: I will make life as full of happiness as I can while you live in Atlantica... So, will you all return?

*the merfolk talk among themselves then nod slowly* as long as the Warlock doesn't hurt us. *one of them says*

ARIEL: No... The Warlock won't hurt you as long as you abide the laws you are completely safe, and you may see me walking among you from time to time. I believe that I'm just as merfolk as you all, and you can always come to me if you have any issues. *smiles reassuringly*

*the merfolk agree among themselves to return*

ERIK: *glides from behind the pillar* I see you have convinced my subjects to return.

ARIEL: I think that life will be more pleasant here then scrounging for food.

ERIK: Yes, I think it will too. *smiles at her and gently takes her hand with his*

ARIEL: to honor your return, precious subjects, there will be a celebration tonight. I'll be performing, there will be food, dancing, and lots of fun. *smiles*

ERIK: *looks at her with a thoughtful smile on his face* You're really taking to this queen thing aren't you? *whispers in her ear*

ARIEL: Yep. I think I've got the hang of this*whispers back as the people rejoice*

ERIK: *grins* I knew you would. *whispers back to her*

ARIEL: *grins* now please get settled! I hope to see you all tonight!

ERIK: *smiles faintly at his people before leading his queen back towards the castle*

ARIEL: I can't believe I just did that!! *squeals happily*

ERIK: *laughs and grins happily* You did marvelously, my sea angel!

ARIEL: I did it! I'm becoming a queen! A true queen! *hugs him tightly*

ERIK: *hugs her back* And a wonderful queen too!

ARIEL: I'm so happy I could kiss you right now! *beams*

ERIK: Why don't you? *whispers in her ear*

ARIEL: *looks at him and pecks his cheek*

ERIK: *grins brightly* May I? *holds her jaw gently and leans close to her cheek*

ARIEL: *blushes* You may

ERIK: *leans forward and gives a loving kiss on her cheek* I love you and am very proud of you. *whispers against her cheek*

ARIEL: Erik... We are more than friends. *smiles and kisses his cheek again* We are lovers

ERIK: *a tear or two slip free of his eyes* *crushes her against him* Thank you! *whispers into her hair* Does this mean that...that you...you love me? *asks nervously*

ARIEL: Do I love you...? *smiles at him* could you... Umm... Not hold me so tight... It's hurting a bit...

ERIK: *loosens his hold, still waiting for her reply* *eyes shining with all the love he holds for her*

ARIEL: I do. *grins and kisses him passionately*

ERIK: *kisses her back passionately* *holds her close to him without crushing her*

ARIEL: *pulls away suddenly*

ERIK: Ariel...?

ERIK: you pulled away rather suddenly. *strokes her cheek lightly*

ARIEL: Sorry... The mask just kind of cut my cheek a bit and I panicked

ERIK: its perfectly understandable. *face saddens then brightens slightly as he gives her lips another soft kiss*

ARIEL: I love you... *cups his face, mask and all*

ERIK: I love you more. *steals another soft kiss, making sure the mask doesn't touch her cheek*

ARIEL:*smiles and pulls away playfully* I'll see you tonight. *swims off*

ERIK: *shouts after her* Tease! *swims to the throne room with an almost giddy expression*

NADIR: You're looking cheerful today, massster. *smiles*

ERIK: How could I not? My queen has just admitted she loves me! ME!!

NADIR: Wonderful newsss!

ERIK: Its the best news! And, I got all my subjects back thanks to her sweet talking. Looks like I'm going to be a real king now...

STRANGE VOICE: Yes... That's fantastic

ERIK: *turns towards the voice*

URSULA: *reveals herself* Well isn't this just a touching moment

ERIK: Ursula...how delightful of you to drop by...

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Author's Note:

Dear Readers,

I know I said that Erik took over Ursula's position but we decided to bring her back in. You know, stir everything up a little!!!!

sarahlet2999