Ariel wants to be part of your world (onlythreedays) wrote in wariscoming, @ 2012-09-23 19:02:00 |
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Entry tags: | ariel |
WHO: Ariel and Ghost!Athena
WHAT: Saying good night, unwittingly, for the last time.
WHEN: Sunday night, post-dated to around 9pm
WHERE: Jimmy's old apartment
WARNINGS: Mermaid angst
STATUS: Narrative/Complete
Ariel had spent most of the past week holed up in Jimmy's — nay, her — apartment above the mostly-finished but still non-functional bowling alley, zipping through her homework as fast as she could manage and teaching her mother bits and pieces along the way. She'd started going back to school at her mother's encouragement and, with her mother by her side through classes, lunch with Prim, and cheerleading practice, she'd finally felt strong enough to pull herself out of the depression Jimmy's disappearance left in its wake. She had stayed away from the boards, hadn't ventured out after practice, or really done much of anything else other than spending and savoring every moment the Seal was willing to give her with her mother. She had invited Dawn to move in with her after Jimmy, Oliver, Cordelia, and Buffy had been taken away from them and Dawn had stayed one night before she'd gone back to the complex and just hadn't gotten around to moving in officially. Ariel was all right with that, this week at least. She genuinely wanted Dawn's company, but at the same time, right now it was better living alone and being able to spend every waking minute with her mother instead without having to worry that she was offending Dawn with her distance.
The first couple of days had been a blur of hugs and tears, smiles and stories; the older of the two offering support and consolation when Ariel cried a little more while telling her about Jimmy. Ariel told her mother all about being a human and helped her learn to walk on the legs the Seal had given her for the short-haul. At night, Ariel snuggled into Jimmy's bed, hugging a pillow wrapped with one of his shirts still — she hadn't been able to remove it just yet...not when it still faintly held his scent — and her mother would tuck her in like she was a little girl, sitting on the edge of the bed until Ariel drifted off to sleep.
After that, it began to feel comfortable having her mother there, like she was a new roommate and that she was going to be there forever. Ariel took comfort in the idea, even if she knew it was stupid; that the Seal always took the people she loved away from her and her mother would be no different. Still, she was able to push away that thought and concentrate on the time she did have with the other woman.
The weekend rolled around again and by the time Sunday night had approached, Ariel was starting to feel the unease of wondering how much longer she'd have. Friday had brought on panic, as it was the one week mark and Ariel knew as well as anyone in Lawrence that when the Seal brought in some sort of wrench in the spokes of every day life that it usually lasted a week. Maybe two. But when Friday came and went, she relaxed just slightly through Saturday. Two weeks, then. Though, by Sunday, there was a sick feeling in her stomach again. That meant that she only had seven more days and five of them were reserved for school. She didn't have to worry about work; she'd been terminated when she'd failed to call in or show up the week that she'd hidden away with Jimmy's absence and with Oliver gone, her original backup plan to work at Queen Industries had been dashed. Dawn said that she could work at Magic Box, but Ariel knew that her friend would let her wait to start until her mother was gone so that she could spend that much more time with her. Dawn would understand. Though, even without work, her time with her mother in the upcoming week was limited and she knew it.
"Maybe I shouldn't go," she said, climbing obediently into bed, allowing herself as night fell to regress to her childhood as she had every night so far since her mother's arrival. "I'll say that I'm sick again; they can't suspend me for being sick," she justified.
Athena had shaken her head and smiled gently. "All you wanted was to go to school. You worked so hard for it; don't throw it away on my account, my love. I'll be with you," she said. And then the smile melted away. "I don't know how much time we have together," she admitted, "but, as you've mentioned, the likelihood is that, by the time you've finished school on Friday, we'll only have a few hours left...I may not even be able to stay as long as that."
The disappointment was etched on Ariel's face as she listened and her mother went on.
"When I go, be strong. Move on. Keep up with your education, spend time with your friends, and smile because it's so beautiful when you do. Remember that people come and go in this world... If you're meant to be with him, he'll come back to you. And you and I...will see each other again someday, Ariel. Until then, I'll be watching you and loving you and missing you as I have been, you just won't be able to see me or hear me anymore. You're strong...take comfort in those around you, but move on and keep on living. Promise me," she said softly, caressing the side of Ariel's face gently with one hand and gently brushing some of her hair away in the process, leaning forward and kissing her daughter on the forehead.
Closing her eyes and smiling against the tears that were rolling down her cheeks at the thought of having to push past the pain and keep on moving as she had already so many times in Lawrence, Ariel nodded. "I promise," she whispered.
At that, her mother smiled and Ariel only just caught the tail end of it when she opened her eyes again. "Rest," Athena said softly. "I'll see you in the morning." With a kiss to Ariel's cheek, Athena pulled the blankets up around her daughter and brushed her hair back from her face again as the teenager laid back, wrapping her arms around the pillow. "I love you."
"I love you, too," Ariel whispered back before she closed her eyes and, with the comforting sensation of her mother stroking her hair, drifted off to sleep.