Ariel

Ariel sighed softly as she caressed her bump. "I'm gonna get cha, Melly!" Her husband of 2 years shouted from behind. Her daughter, Melody, squealed and toddled off as fast as her chubby legs would let her. She giggled. The baby moved around inside as she rubbed it soothingly.

Flippin' your fins, you don't get too far
Legs are required for jumping, dancing
Strolling along down the, what's that word again?
Street

Up where they walk, up where they run
Up where they stay all day in the sun
Wanderin' free, wish I could be
Part of that worldWhat would I give if I could live out of these waters?
What would I pay to spend a day warm on the sand?
Betcha on land, they understand
Bet they don't reprimand their daughtersWouldn't I love, love to explore that shore up above?
Out of the sea
Wish I could be
Part of that world

She sang softly, gazing out at the sunset. "I remember when you sang that to me," She turned with a smile, holding out her arms. Eric gently placed Melody on her lap, minding her large bump. "It's one of my favourite songs," She wrapped her arms around her daughter, rocking slightly. "Aren't all songs your favourite?" He asked teasingly. Ariel rolled her eyes. "Yes, but ultimate favourites..."

Melody began sucking her thumb, as she did when she was tired. "What's your other favourite one then?" He asked. Ariel smiled softly. "The one my mom used to sing when I was a baby,"

"Yeah? How does that go?" Eric asked. "I'll sing it for Melly tonight. After dinner and a bath though, because she's a sweaty girl, aren't you baby?" She grinned as she stood up, groaning softly. "Careful," Eric warned, grabbing her elbow. She grinned. "Worried I'll break?" She teased. "I'm being serious," She met his eyes. "Don't worry, my love! I'm pregnant, not dying," She kissed his cheek. "Besides, I've already done it once. I know what I'm doing,"

Eric

Eric smiled as Ariel sang Melody to sleep. "Oh the waves roll low, and the waves roll high and so it goes... under the bright blue... endless sky... waves try to measure... the days that we treasure... wave hello, and wave goodbye," She hobbled out not too long after, grinning. "She go down easy?" He asked, sipping his drink. Ariel nodded as she eased herself into a chair. He reached over and grabbed her hand, rubbing the back with his thumb. "Before the song even finished," She smiled.

She grabbed his hand and moved it to her lower belly with a wide grin. He grinned widely as well when his baby moved quickly under his hand. "She likes you," Ariel smiled. "And Melly. She always moves when Melly speaks to her,"

Eric looked up with a smirk. "She? We're having another girl are we?" He teased. Ariel flushed brightly. "Well... she moves the same way Melly did... and she's laying where Melly did... and intuition," She smiled. "Besides, my mother had eight daughters, so I wouldn't doubt it too much,"

"We're not having eight children, let me make that much clear," He said seriously. Ariel laughed. "Why? Don't you want another six babies running around?" She laughed. Eric shook his head. "Absolutely not. Two is enough... maybe four," Ariel's eyes widened. "Four? Are you having a laugh? Who's giving birth to these four children of yours, huh?" Eric laughed. "You were all set for eight a minute ago!" He laughed louder when Ariel burst into laughter.

He sighed softly as the soft sea breeze hit his face. "How is your mom? We haven't spoken to her in a while. Does she even know we're having another baby?" He watched Ariel slump forwards slightly, resting her hands on her knees. "No... none of them do... we really should go before baby's born. Otherwise, we'll be another six months," He hummed. "Well, how about I go to Grimsby right now, and tell him we're going away for two weeks? Yeah?" He asked, rubbing her thumb. She smiled. "I'd love that,"

Athena

"Your majesties, a mermaid is requesting an audience," The herald announced, bowing. Athena turned to her husband. "For what?" He asked. "I'm unsure. She is with her husband and they claim to have an issue to talk about," Athena frowned. "Have they been checked by the guards?" She asked. The herald nodded. "Yes. I wouldn't even have passed their request on without knowing they were safe," Athena faced her husband. "I don't see why not. They've been cleared, so..." She said. He nodded. "Send them in,"

The herald hesitated. "What is it?" She asked. "They've also requested the other princesses be in attendance. They deem it a whole family issue." Athena narrowed her eyes. "I don't suppose it'll be a bad idea for them to watch, will it, my love?" She asked under her breath. Triton nodded at the ceiling, thinking. "Fine. Summon the princesses, and then send this... demanding couple through,"

Athena waited while her daughters filed through, Arista tying her hair up, while Andrina finished brushing hers. "Morning girls, how are you all?" She asked. "We're well, mother," Attina smiled. "May I ask what you've summoned us here for?" She asked. Athena shrugged slightly. "I don't know, my dear. We have a couple requesting an audience with us all... do any of you have an idea as to who they may be?" She asked. The girls mumbled amongst themselves. "The Herald said it was a family issue, apparently," She continued.

"I mean... it could be Stevie's family?" Adella asked. "We're trying to sort out who lives where, and maybe they're here," She offered. Athena nodded slowly. "Maybe..." She said. "No, they know they are considered friends, so they wouldn't ask for an audience," Triton said. Before she could answer, the herald came in again. "Yes, send them in. All are present,"

"Save for Ariel, obviously," Aquata mumbled. Andrina snorted. Athena glared. "Are you sure about that?" A new voice asked.

Attina

"Ariel!" She gasped. She swam over, bringing her up in a large embrace. "Hey, Attina!" Ariel giggled. "Did you bring Melody?" Alana asked by her side. Ariel grinned. "Come on through honey," She shouted. Attina grinned as Melody came through, with Eric holding her hand. "Hey, Melly!" She gasped, grabbing her niece's hands, and spinning her around in a circle. Her year-old niece squealed loudly. "I didn't realise how red her tail was!" Alana said. "It's redder than Arista's!" Ariel laughed. "She's sure not got mine or Erics,"

Attina blinked. "Oh, hi, Eric! I forgot you were there," She laughed. Eric laughed. "It's fine," She faced her baby sister, smiling widely. "How's life upstairs?" She asked. Attina frowned at Ariel's smirk. "What? What's the smirk for?" She asked, narrowing her eyes. Ariel's smirk widened. "Have you noticed anything different about me?" She asked. Attina quickly looked her up and down. "Um... no. I mean, your hairs a bit longer, but I've not seen you since before you had Melody. Certainly not as a mermaid,"

Ariel bit her lip. Attina passed Melody over to Aquata, whose grabby hands were getting on her last nerve. "What is it? You know I'm not great at guessing," She snapped. Ariel laughed. "Try looking down," Attina rolled her eyes but looked down at Ariel's pregnant body.

She blinked.

PREGNANT body

Attina squealed. "Oh! You're pregnant again!?" She asked, grabbing her hands. Ariel laughed. "Yeah, I'm due in three months," She smiled. "Oh, why didn't you tell us?! When did you find out!" She asked. "Only a few months ago. We tried to wait until Melody was old enough to swim with her tail, and by that point, I was too sick to travel, much less swim." Attina frowned. "Why were you sick? Was everything ok?" She asked. Ariel patted her hand. "Yeah, when humans get pregnant, they sometimes get something called morning sickness. It's ok though, it's where the body is making itself healthy enough to produce a baby," Attina shuddered. "Glad I don't have to worry about that," She said.

Ariel

Ariel groaned softly as she swam up to her mother. Her baby had not stopped moving since she transformed. "Hi mommy," She said, hugging her. "What's wrong, my love? You haven't called me mommy in years," Ariel inhaled the comforting scent of her mother's hair. She pulled away, gesturing to the six-month baby bump. "Oh, I'm so happy for you both!" Her mom smiled, pulling her in for another hug. "I've missed this... I've missed you," She mumbled. "Oh, sweetheart. You're always welcome when you want to come back, you know that," Her mom mumbled back. She inhaled and swam to her side, watching fondly as her six older sisters played with Melody.

She smiled at Eric when he swam up to them both. "Hi," She said, kissing him. "I'll never know how you move so perfectly with no legs," He joked. Ariel rolled her eyes playfully, "Well I was a mermaid for fifteen years, sweetie. You've been a merman for two weeks in your whole life," He poked her shoulder, sticking his tongue out. Ariel smiled at her parent's laughter. "Despite being married with a one-year-old, you're still children inside," Her mother joked, rubbing her shoulder. Ariel sighed.

"Um... your majesties... I have something to ask you both," Eric clumsily swam to face her parents. Ariel frowned slightly. "Um... of course, son. Speak your mind," Her father said, nodding with a frown. "Ariel missed you all deeply when she had Melody. It broke my heart knowing I couldn't do anything to help but hold her hand. I'm inviting you all to stay at the castle for a few weeks. While Ariel has the baby, and for the first few weeks of their life." Ariel gasped, putting her hands to her mouth. "I appreciate the offer, young man... but I must stay to watch over Atlantica. Athena and her sisters may go if they wish." Ariel grinned at her father. "Well, Triton honey, you could visit once the baby is born. Just for the day. I'm sure Sebastian can watch over Atlantica for that long,"

Unspecified 3rd person POV.

"Ariel, sweetie? Are you awake?" Athena asked. Her daughter groaned. "Mm... yeah. Is the baby ok?" She asked, sitting up, alert. Athena placed a hand on her shoulder. "Relax. Eric has him," Ariel's eyes brightened. "Him? It's a boy?" Athena smiled softly. "Yeah. And I have your daughter," Ariel's eyes widened as she sat up. "Wait, I'm confused." Athena lowered the baby girl she was holding down into her daughter's awaiting arms. "I had twins?" She asked softly. Athena nodded. "Yeah... Eric hasn't named them yet. He wanted to wait for you. You passed out after she was born."

Athena sighed. "You... she got into a little trouble on the way out. You fainted, which was a good thing. The doctors managed to get her out safely and she passed all her tests. You've got two healthy babies, my love," She explained.

She turned to the door, smiling. "Hey, is she awake?" Eric asked, gently bouncing the baby boy. "Yeah. And I've explained what happened as well." She stood up, allowing the new father to sit down. He lowered himself into the chair. "Excuse me," Athena said softly, stepping out of the room.

Eric sighed as he gazed upon his wife. "You're amazing, you know that?" She looked at him, tiredly. "Why's that? I only had the children we made together," He nodded. "Exactly that," He kissed her hand. "You've given birth to not one, not two, but three healthy babies. And I'm so proud of you,"

She smiled softly. "Has Melly met them yet?" She asked. Eric shook his head. "Not yet. Nobody except us and your mom. I wanted to wait until they had names," She nodded, smiling wider. "I already know what they're going to be called. In fact, I've had their names in my head since I first found out," Eric nodded. "Yeah? What's our son called?"

"Reginald... after your father." Ariel smiled. "I know how close you were to him, and I thought it'd be a nice tribute," Eric wrinkled his nose. "Yeah, but Reginald is an old name... how about Daniel? Keep Reginald as the middle name? Like Melly's is Rose," Ariel giggled. "Ok. Daniel Reginald."

"And how about little miss there?" He asked, stroking the newborn baby girl's hand. "I... I was hoping we could call her Alisa. After my sister?" She asked, biting her lip. Eric grabbed her hand and smiled softly. "It's perfect. Melody Rose, Daniel Reginald, and Alisa Lily," He said.

Ariel grinned. "I love it,"

Bonus bc I love this book too much.

20 YEARS LATER.

Attina ended up married to another merman, Jonah, and they had 2 children. 2 girls. Attina acended the throne when she was 40, when her parents decided that after 40 years of ruling to retire to the red sea.

Alana married Don and had 3 children (2 girls and a boy) with him, moving to the black sea.

Adella didn't marry Stevie until their children were 10, of which they had four. 3 boys and one daughter. They moved to the mederteranian.

Aquata took up dance lessons as a professional and toured around the seven seas, couching and teaching young merfolk to dance. She met her husband, Jay, and had two sons. They decided to move to the coral sea.

Arista was the second one to have her children, and she ended up with eight, like their mother. She had five girls and 3 boys with her husband, Mich. They stayed in Atlantica while Arista toured with the royal band for 10 years before they relocated to the white sea.

Andrina only had one daughter with her husband, Sam, but he died in the protective services to Atlantica. After he died, Andrina left the services to raise their daughter and she didn't return, unable to face the guilt of leaving her daughter an orphan. They moved to the carribbean sea, where Sam was from.

Ariel and Eric ended up having another baby when Melody was 12. It was a large shock to the whole kingdom, but welcomed nonetheless. Being only 28/30 respeably wasn't an unreasonable age to have children. Melody ended up marrying the merboy, Alex, and he joined her on land, where they had 2 children, a daughter and son.

Their other children, Daniel, Alisa and Harmionie married their own loves and had a combined of 10 children.

Ariel and Eric acended the Danish throne when they were 21, and continued reining until the ripe age of 60, where they chose to tour the world and visit their underwater families. Melody took over when she was 44.

~FIN~

Note: there's a theory that Triton had seven daughters to represent the seven seas.

Attina - the Bering Sea. The largest sea, and Attina is the oldest.
Alana - the Black Sea. Her hair.
Adella - the Mederterainian Sea. Romantic on both parts.
Aquata - the Coral Sea. Shyness.
Arista - the White Sea. Her hair.
Andrina - the Carribbean Sea. Both carefree.
Ariel - the Red Sea. Her hair.

Link to the image: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/2a/74/00/2a74006c33bcbf956ef413e3a56ecd79.jpg