Disclaimer: I don't own Disney, or the animated characters from Disney Studio. Works such as these are for the sake of entertainment, not financial profit.

Unexpected Miracles—Part 1

This might not surprise you, but I hate math—no, more like I loathe math. Then again, what former high school doesn't hate math? You know, besides all the academic, accounting aspiring nerds and geeks we are all secretly envious of, I mean. It's like one of the many life rules of being a teenager. And so He decreed: All must hate math, and math must be something worthy of hatred. My dislike is basically why I was so happy that we only had to take one math class in college as a requirement, and then we're free.

Still, despite my loathing for math, I never thought there would come a day when I would hate the plus sign so. Damn. MUCH!

The object in my hand shook as my breathing got harsh. Then again, the trembling was probably due to my hands. I'm not sure. All I remember about that moment was the numb feeling in my body and the panic clawing my stomach.

"No way. It's impossible. There has to be a mistake. This thing must be defective!"

Angry and more than a little petrified, I practically screamed in the young clerk's face. He just shrugged, his eyes being the only thing that showed anything close to sympathy. His lack of an emotional reaction kind of hurt, considering we knew each other in high school, and saw each other occasionally in college. Then again, we were never really close—we were at least acquaintances—so I guess his reaction was justified.

"Sorry Ariel, but this is the sixthtime you've taken the test this week. I think it's time to stop denying the damning evidence." Peter Pan propped his elbow on the counter. "You've been knocked up, sweetie. The bun has just settled in the oven. Your eggo is preggo—I can go at this all day, but I think you're murderous towards me enough now as is."

And he was right. If I knew that I couldn't and wouldn't get away with it, I would have wrapped my slim fingers around his neck and keep him from making any more wisecracks. Instead, I just continued on with my mental breakdown. I cupped my damp forehead and leaned back on the counter for grounding because my legs suddenly felt boneless.

"How could this have happened?" I felt tears gather in my eyes.

Peter blinked. "Well, I'm not sure how you were taught as a kid, but this is basically what I've been taught: When a man and woman love each other very much—or are feeling extremely lonely one night—they go out and—"

My hands clenched as I glared at him. "Damn it, Pete I know!"

He held up his hands in defense. "Okay, okay. Ari calm down, seriously. You're kind of scaring away my other customers."

At that, I picked my head up and looked around the store. People were either staring, or running out the door to get away from the "crazy preggo redhead lady", as one of three identical little kids (some tiny humanoid dressed ducks in red, blue, and green) called me as they were pulled away by an older male, who was referred to as "Uncle Donald". I groaned softly, folded my arms on the counter, and then buried my head in my arms.

"I hate my life," I whimpered, near tears.

Peter sighed and patted my arm. "Ariel, come on it can't be that bad."

"That's easy for you to say!" I cried softly. "You don't have a…parasite inside of you!"

"One of the many reasons why I'm grateful for not being a woman. But come on Ari—a parasite?"

I peeked over my arms to look at him. "Well, maybe it's not as fatal, but I am going to be eating for two now. Besides, you shouldn't really be talking. You hate kids."

He hummed thoughtfully. "Good point."

I buried my head again. I didn't want to see the world right now. God, what would Jasmine and Belle think about me? They'd probably smack me for being so stupid. My sisters would freak. Sebastian would have a heart attack. Flounder would probably get confused, but he'd probably be supportive anyway, since he's my first true friend.

And Daddy—oh, I didn't want to think about what Daddy would think. I might as well just get "DISOWNED" tattooed on my forehead. I whimpered softly at the thought and closed my eyes tightly.

I heard the sound of high heels clack on the floor up beside me. "Okay Pan, what'd you do this time?" a familiar sultry voice said.

With another ashamed whimper I hid my face some more.

"Damn it Meg, why do you always have to assume I did something?" Peter asked playfully.

Meg chuckled. "Because you always do Pete."

He waved her comment off. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

I felt Meg put her hand on my arm and give me a gentle squeeze. "You okay hun?"

I shook my head, saying softly, "No."

"What's wrong Ariel?"

I couldn't answer. I was too embarrassed and ashamed of myself. Granted, Meg might not even care about it, since she's more—"experienced" than I am. She probably won't see me as anything different. Even so, I couldn't bring myself to tell her.

(Un)Fortunately, Peter decided to do it for me.

"She's up the duff," he whispered, briefly taking on a Scottish accent.

When I peeked out of my arms for a moment, I saw Meg blink a couple of times.

Then her cat-like eyes widened with realization as she let out a soft, drawn out, "Oh."

A lump rose in my throat and I felt tears fall before I could stop them. As I whimpered, I felt Meg wrap her arm around my shoulders and rub them in a motherly fashion. I leaned into my friend's one armed embrace, my body shaking. I knew I probably shouldn't have been felt like it (personally, I blame hormones), but I felt like I was going to fall apart. I needed a mother's comfort, and since my own died before I had a chance to remember her, Meg was the next best choice at the moment. Despite what you might think of her, Megara has a bit of a nurturing nature when the need for it comes. And god damn it, did I need it that day.

"Sweetie it'll be all right. I know you don't feel it now, but this is a good thing," she comforted. "You have a new life inside of you."

"I'm not ready to be a mom Meg." I sniffled. "I won't know how to take care of a baby."

"You won't have to. It will be like an instinct to you."

"Yeah, I'm sure it will come to you naturally," Peter added, smiling softly. "It came to Wendy when she had Jane."

I wiped my eyes, my lips shaking. "But she's old—like over thirty years old. I'm only twenty-two."

"So what? You shouldn't doubt yourself until you try." Then he smiled. "With that said, who's the baby daddy?"

My sadness dissipated enough for me to glare hard at him, while Meg let out an exasperated sigh and slapped him upside the head.

Peter grabbed the back of his head and glared at the woman. "What was that for?"

"Insensitive ass," Meg replied, rolling her eyes.

"Hey, I've gotta congratulate somebody, since Ariel currently looks like she'll fall apart if I say it to her." He looked at me. "So, you mind telling us who it is?"

Meg removed her arm to give me more room, propped it on the counter, and looked at me also, her eyes showing curiosity. I blushed heatedly with embarrassment and diverted my eyes to the floor. After a few beats, I mumble the truth, hoping they will catch it the first time around.

"What was that?" Peter arches an eyebrow.

I gritted my teeth and said it again, still softly.

"Sweetie, we can't hear you," Meg said gently.

I picked my eyes off the floor and glared at the both them.

"I don't know," I hissed out.

Their eyes both blinked and then widened simultaneously as they took my statement in.

"Oh," they both dragged out lowly in unison.

I put a hand over my eyes and took deep breaths. This day just kept getting better and better—and it was only the morning!

Are there no depths I will cease with Disney fan fiction?!

...No, probably not. Besides, this is more like an experiment if anything else, just to see what people's reactions are. I'm still working on Part 3 of "The Invasion", but it's going to be a little hard with finals coming up in a month. And then, I have to do my other stories as well, along with some Death Note one-shots (since the fan girls girls need their L fantasies).

But, just in case I might pick up interest in this later, here's the working summary for "Unexpected Miracles":

Ariel is twenty-two years old, and at the prime of her young life. She has friends, she goes to college, and her singing career is about in its first phase. However, everything changes after one night with a handsome stranger, whose name is a mystery...

So, praise, flame--I don't really care! I might not continue this anyway.

Happy Thanksgiving everybody!