Chapter 42

Ariel held onto her backpack straps as she stared at the sidewalk on her way home from school, sighing. When will things finally start to feel normal again? When will I stop missing him every waking minute?

A car pulled up beside her, and the window rolled down. "Hey there, little lady, hop in," Conner called out to her.

"You're off early again?"

"Why does that sound like a complaint?"

"It's more me wondering if you're slacking at work; you're never off this early, this often."

"I'm not; I'm being more efficient. And I've had some help at work, so I can leave early. I might owe them down the line, but it's fine. It's worth it."

"Worth it to what? Drive me home from school? The bullying has stopped for now, so you don't have to worry there." Ariel sat down, swinging the door shut.

"Currently, not what I'm worried about."

"Well, you constantly checking up on me isn't helping, either."

"I was more thinking my presence might help. Someone to hang out with, to talk to, or play video games with—"

"So, you're here to distract me?"

"Yes, and be there if you need me."

"I've never said you weren't."

"I know I'm not always around; it can't be helped most of the time." He glanced at her necklaces, and couldn't help but miss Jade himself. "But I want to try harder to be around more when I can. You're important to me, so I should act like it."

I never thought I wasn't. Ariel leaned back and watched the rows of houses they passed by on the way home.

Conner pulled into their driveway. "You know, I might be able to swing it so I'm early enough a few days a week to pick you up straight from school."

"I'm used to walking, and I don't want you fired for making others do your work too often."

They headed inside, kicked their shoes off, and Ariel dropped her backpack by the couch in the living room.

Thud. Thud.

"Did you hear that?" Ariel asked him.

Thud. "Arg..."

"Yes." Conner reached for an aluminum baseball bat he kept hidden in the coat closet. "Stay behind me." Conner ushered her back as he approached the door to the backyard. "Stay in here, ready to call the cops when I say to."

"O-okay." Ariel gripped her cell phone, wishing she had a weapon to help Conner if need be.

He reached for the handle. "Don't step outside until I give you the okay."

Ariel stayed silent, so he continued, pulling the backyard door open and peeking out.

"Holy crap." Conner dropped his baseball bat on the ground with a clang.

"What? What is it?" Ariel pushed him forward to look, and he stepped down a step. That hair. That armour. "No way..." she whispered.

"Ugh." He groaned and rolled over onto his back in the grass.

"Jade!" Ariel pushed past her brother, plunged to her knees beside him, and dropped her phone in the grass. "Is it really you?" Her eyes teared up.

"Ariel," he whispered her name and reached up to wipe away her tears with his finger. "I guess it worked, though the landing needs to be fixed. Without my armour, that landing would've done some damage."

"Oh, so that's why you came back in your armour." Conner nodded and picked his baseball bat up before grabbing Jade's bags. "I'll take these in for you."

"Thank you." Jade's armour clanged as he sat up and turned to her.

"Why? How?" Ariel took a few deep breaths to calm herself. "What's going on? Did you ever make it home?" She sniffled, and he wiped away more of her tears. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay. I'm overwhelmed as well, to finally see you again." He kissed the back of her hand. "I have missed you more than words can say." Unable to hold himself back any longer, Jade pulled her into an embrace.

"I missed you, too." She hugged him back.

"Ahem," Conner cleared his throat from the doorway. "Touching reunion and all, but would you two mind taking it inside? We don't know if the neighbours are watching." He tapped his ears, reminding Jade that he hadn't hidden his ears.

"Yes, let's." Jade stood with her and kept his arm around her waist as they headed inside.

"As much as I want answers, I'd rather you change into your Earth attire." Conner motioned to Jade's armour. "Especially the boots; we don't wear them inside."

"Neither do we, generally. My apologizes." Jade removed his boots and held onto them.

"No worries. The study room is still set up as your bedroom." Conner waved him away.

Jade's eyes widened. "You didn't return it to being a study room?"

"Not yet, no." Ariel didn't want to. She hadn't even returned to her old bedroom, either. "It's yours to use, however long you're here."

Jade bowed to them. "Thank you. I'll be right back."

Ariel's eyes stayed glued to him as he ascended the stairs. "I'm not dreaming, am I? Did I fall asleep on the way home? Is this my subconscious taunting me? Ow!" Ariel yelped when Conner pinched her arm.

"Nope, it's not a dream. You can't feel pain in a dream."

She swatted his hand away. "You pinch too hard."

"I think I'm going to make some tea."

"Okay." Ariel fidgeted, playing with her fingers and biting her lip as she stared up the stairs with bated breath.

When Jade emerged from the hallway with his usual top shirt button undone, he smiled at her. "That's better. Oh, should I change my ears?"

Ariel shook her head. "You don't have to while at home. If you're worried about people gazing in, we can close the curtains on the first floor."

"You don't mind?"

"No, why would I? They're a part of you, and I like them." And they're quite cute, but I doubt he'd like to hear that. "The only reason to hide them is because outsiders are too nosey, and they'd draw a lot of attention."

Jade smiled as he cupped her cheeks. "I love how accepting you are." He gave her a quick peck on the lips and headed into the kitchen, where Conner was serving hot tea.

Red crept up onto her cheeks. Geez! He just got back, and he's acting like this? What would he have done if Conner wasn't right there? Head out of the gutter, Ariel. She shook it off and joined them.

"So, I guess you should start." Conner motioned to Jade.

After a long retelling of what happened during their time apart, and more than one cup of tea, they sat in silence, pondering.

"I don't think you should go back and forth if your landing is going to be that hard," Conner said. "And don't even think about taking Ariel there until you're certain the teleport system won't harm her, and I'm there, too." Conner pointed at Ariel. "No going to another world without my knowledge."

"Yes, sir," Ariel said. That'd be too mean to do.

"I wouldn't do that to you," Jade said. "Especially not after the hospitality you've shown me yet again."

"Well, I mean..." Conner motioned to Ariel. "It's not like I'd turn you away. You helped her, and you two... are in love. You came back across from another world to be with her. What kind of brother would I be to get in the way of a love like that? I mean, there are still rules in this house, but I'm not going to stop you two from dating. Geez, how did all of this happen? If you're going to stay, I think I'll work on getting you an official government ID. I've got a few calls to make." Conner pulled out his phone and headed up to his room, leaving them alone in the kitchen.

"I can't believe Orsted sent you back," Ariel said, as she picked at the edge of her teacup. "I honestly thought I'd never see you again."

"I never expected it either." He rested his hand on hers. "I was certain he'd rather trap me in a dungeon than let me leave his side. Apparently, he values my happiness more than anything, and he believes love is worth pursuing, no matter what." He turned her chair towards him as he held onto her hand and stared into her eyes.

"Oh."

"I have no disillusions about how hard it might be to fit into this world, and I understand many would not accept my real ears or origins, but will you accept me?" He leaned in closer, their breaths mingling. "I don't know how one would ask in this world, but will you be mine?"

Ariel's heart skipped a beat, and she gasped. Finding herself unable to find her words, she nodded.

"Mea puella. Mea amata."

I need to learn his language.

He smiled and kissed her gently on the lips as his hand wrapped around the back of her head.

"Hey!" Conner came back downstairs.

Ariel jolted, but Jade kept his hold on her.

"I leave, come back, and you two are making out? I should've expected this." He sighed.