ERIK: what?! Where?

ARIEL: I-I don't know!

ERIK: *groans* lets go find her.

VALENTINA: *jumps out from behind him* BOO!

ERIK: Valentina! *says firmly* I think rules are in order here... *says to self*

VALENTINA: *giggles* I scared you! *smiles*

ERIK: you had us very worried, young lady.

VALENTINA: But... But...

ERIK: *smiles slightly* I don't want you to get hurt here. This place can be dangerous if one isn't careful. You don't know your way around, yet.

VALENTINA: Oh...

ARIEL: That's why we have rules

ERIK: *picks Valentina up* Speaking of rules, we should probably go over them.

VALENTINA: Okay, is there a lot? *asks, worried*

ERIK: no, not that many. Ariel, do you want to start?

ARIEL: *nods* Don't lie to mommy and daddy, ever

ERIK: tell mommy and daddy where you are going before you go.

ARIEL: Don't go anywhere with strangers unless mommy or daddy says it's okay

ERIK: be respectful to mommy and daddy.

ARIEL: No going up to the surface

ERIK: unless one of us is with you.

ARIEL: And above all... Know that we love you more than anything. *smiles*

ERIK: *kisses Valentina's forehead* any questions?

VALENTINA: Just one

ERIK: what is it?

VALENTINA: What do you do for fun?

ERIK: *looks at Ariel* what do we do for fun?

ARIEL: Hmm... Let me think

ERIK: *begins thinking as well*

ARIEL: Oh! I know!

ARIEL: We have a wonderful toy maker here in the kingdom and I'm a good friend of his

ERIK: *nods* and, you can play games with the other merfolk children.

VALENTINA: But... I don't like to play with other kids...

ERIK: why not?

VALENTINA: They always make fun of me...

ERIK: why would they make fun of you? There's nothing wrong with you.

VALENTINA: Yes there is

ERIK: what is it?

VALENTINA: *pulls her hair up and reveals a scarring similar to Erik's on her back

ERIK: *nods sadly* is that why you're father abused you?

VALENTINA: Y-Yeah... The doctors said it'll never go away... *tears up*

ERIK: *hugs her* I understand... I heard the same thing... Or, at least, assumed it.

VALENTINA: *cries into his chest*

ERIK: *holds her* It makes no difference to us, Valentina. You're still our daughter.

VALENTINA: But I'm ugly...

ERIK: you. Are. Not. Ugly. *says firmly* you're beautiful.

VALENTINA: Well... If you say it daddy then it must be true

ERIK: *smiles* it is true. *touches her scars gently* you don't have to hide them from us.

VALENTINA: *whimpers* But others will laugh at me

ERIK: they better not laugh at my daughter. Not for something she can't help.

VALENTINA: What if they do?

ERIK: I guess we'll cross that bridge when we come it to. Besides, they're not that noticeable.

VALENTINA: My hair kinda covers them

ERIK: even with that, they're not quite as obvious as this... *waves a hand towards his mask*

VALENTINA: But I like the mask

ERIK: I've had it for a very long time.

VALENTINA: Can I try it on?

ERIK: *covers the mask* I...I would have to remove it.

VALENTINA: Daddy can I please see? *asks gently*

ERIK: *sighs and looks around* *sees no one else and removes it slowly*

VALENTINA: *eyes widen at it and she shrieks, swimming to Ariel*

ERIK: *snatches the mask back and with an extremely hurt look on his eyes, swims away as fast as he can*

ARIEL: Erik! Erik wait! COME BACK!

ERIK: *ignores her and keeps swimming*

ARIEL: *swims after him as fast as she can*

ERIK: *hides*

VALENTINA: Daddy!! I'm so sorry! It just surprised me! Please come out!!

ERIK: *keeps hiding*

VALENTINA: *cries* No... I made daddy go away

ERIK: *muffles his tears*

VALENTINA: *hears him and swims towards him* D-Daddy... I'm sorry...

ERIK: *moves further away*

VALENTINA: *sobs and curls up into a ball* I love you daddy! It just startled me! Please don't hate me!

ERIK: *says softly* I could never hate you. I just hate myself.

VALENTINA: D-Daddy..? *hears him* Please come out...

ERIK: it's for your own good if I don't.

VALENTINA: But I love you... I want my daddy

ERIK: *is quiet* *slips the mask on*

VALENTINA: Please... I don't care about your face... Remember the rules? You love me no matter what and I'll love you no matter what

ERIK: *swims a little closer to her*

VALENTINA: *smiles slightly and sniffles* its okay, daddy... You can come out

ERIK: *comes a little closer*

VALENTINA: *lets him go easily* *opens her arms to him*

ERIK: *hugs her* I love you, Valentina... I'm so sorry I scared you...

VALENTINA: You didn't scare me daddy... It just surprised me that your face is so bad when inside your heart is so big and good. *hugs him warmly*

ERIK: I'll keep my mask on around you, I promise. *holds her close*

VALENTINA: You don't have to do that, daddy... I'll always love you

ERIK: I believe it would be better if I did. *says sadly*

VALENTINA: It's your choice...

ERIK: it stays on.

VALENTINA: *kisses his mask* Okay, daddy.

ERIK: let's go home now. We need to get you a bed.

VALENTINA: Aww... But I just got here

ERIK: you don't have to go to bed just yet. We just need to get you one.

VALENTINA: Yay! *wraps her arms around his neck*

ERIK: *holds her close as he carries her back to the palace*

VALENTINA: Daddy?

ERIK: yes?

VALENTINA: How'd you meet mommy?

ERIK: that is a bit complicated...

ARIEL: Valentina!! There you are!! Erik!! *goes to them and hugs then tightly*

ERIK: *hugs her back*

ARIEL: I'm gathering the whole kingdom here for a party tonight

ERIK: another party? Well, its time they were introduced to Valentina.

ARIEL: Our little princess. *grins*

VALENTINA: *giggles* You don't have to

ERIK: well, I've come to realize your mother loves parties.

ARIEL: I'm a social person and I cannot help but throw one

ERIK: I shall do my best to bear with the sudden trusting into society.

ARIEL: Erik I trust the people, unless you have a wiser idea?

ERIK: no, I suppose I don't.

ARIEL: Exactly. *smirks*

ERIK: *sighs and rolls eyes*

ARIEL: Maybe for your sake we could just announce it in the square?

ERIK: I'll manage, my love.

ARIEL: No, it's fine... We will do that instead

ERIK: no, we'll throw the party you wanted.

ARIEL: Nope just a simple square announcement like you want

ERIK: one of us needs to stop being so unselfish. We'll never agree if we don't.

ARIEL: Let's ask Valentina

ERIK: *looks at Valentina* what do you think?

VALENTINA: I don't want anything too fancy. Let's just make an announcement... Whatever that means...

ERIK: it means that everyone will gather in the square and we'll introduce you to them.

VALENTINA: Oh! That sounds fun! *smiles*

ERIK: shall we do that tonight, Ariel?

ARIEL: We shall after we get Valentina ready.

VALENTINA: Ready..?

ERIK: ready? *echoes Valentina*

ARIEL: Of course! I'll give her a makeover! *grins*

ERIK: women...

ARIEL: You married me! *shoves him playfully* Forced me into it too!

ERIK: how could I have forgotten? *pulls her against him* I will leave you two alone for whatever you two want to do.

op\"6Os