As Roarke tells Ariel, "She has... appetites."

Needless to say, Abby cuts a swath thru the male population of the island, and, satisfied for the moment, indulges in "girl talk" with Ariel, telling Ariel things she'd be happier not knowing. One comment that lodges in Ariel's brain is Abby's smirking remark about Harry - "The man is thorough!"

As in all stories of this type, there is no real plot or resolution thereof. But this interlude wonders what happens *after* Abby leaves Fantasy Island?

“Ariel? You look distracted.”

Ariel

“Sorry, Roarke.”

“What’s on your mind?”

“Harry,” she grimaced.

Roarke raised a brow, “Harry?”

“Something Abby said. I can’t get it out of my mind.”

Roarke chuckled, “And I thought that, being female, you wouldn’t be affected by her.”

Ariel just stared morosely into the distance.

“The ‘thorough’ comment?”

She colored slightly, “I forgot you were there.”

“Yes, you both seemed oblivious to me, I was grateful at the time.”

“Everytime I see him, I hear her say that, it’s driving me crazy.”

“There is an easy solution to your problem.”

“Oh, I couldn’t! We have to work together!”

Roarke looked thoughtful. “I could make it so he wouldn’t remember.”

Ariel jumped up from the table. “I can’t believe we’re even having this discussion.”

“If you don’t find out, it will always bother you, Ariel,” he chuckled.

She walked away without answering.

“Okay Roarke, do it. Wipe his memory, I have to know!”

Roarke held back a laugh, “Happy to oblige, Ariel; it’s so seldom I get to do anything for you....”

“Just...don’t ever remind me of this okay? I wish you could wipe it from your memory too, I can’t believe I’m doing this. I must be crazy.”

“Do you know how late it is?”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever. I’m on my way, just ... don’t pay too much attention. This is so-ooo humiliating.”

Roarke laughed self-consciously, “Turnabout is fair play, Ariel.”

She blushed outright.

------------------------------------------[*author's note: at one point, Abby comes to Roarke in Ariel's presence, she clears her throat to remind them she's there, and he says, befogged, "If you're not going to leave, please don't interupt." She chooses to not interupt*] ---------------------------------------------------

Harry was asleep, Cal was halfway to dreamland himself when a frantic pounding on the door brought him fully awake. “What? What?!” he jumped and ran to the door, wearing just his boxers and undershirt. “Ariel? Jeez, do you know what time it is? Let me get dressed, will ya?”

“Get out,” she said, “I need to talk to Harry. Alone.”

“But-”

She turned and gestured and Cal flew through the open door, which then slammed shut, waking Harry.

“Ariel!” Cal called. The door opened, his bathrobe came flying out and the door slammed shut again. Cal couldn’t open it no matter what. He went to check the window, wondering what Harry could have possibly done to get Ariel so riled up. A steel plate slammed down on the window.

“Harry.”

“Ariel, what’s wrong?” Harry asked, alarmed to see her like this.

“You,” she said.

“What did I do?”

“It’s that damned Abby. I have to know, Harry.”

His jaw dropped, “K-know what?”

She advanced on him, and he backed up, into the edge of the bed and sat down heavily. “If it’s true.”

“I don’t know what she said, Ariel, but I’m sure there’s been a mistake.”

She climbed onto his lap. “Ariel, please! I can’t!”

She stopped, “Why not? Aren’t you attracted to me? I can be any woman you want, Harry...”

“You’re beautiful as you are, but... we have to work together; this, you’ll regret it, I know it! You’re not yourself!”

“You’re right, about us working together. But that’s okay, Roarke’s promised to make us forget.”

“Roarke! He knows you’re here?!”

She decided that telling him that Roarke was watching was probably a bad idea. “Sex without consequences, Harry, once in a lifetime offer...”

Harry

But she could see the hesitation in his face. She bowed her head, resting her forehead on his shoulder, and said softly, “My god, Harry, I’m throwing myself at you. If you reject me...”

“We won’t remember this?” he spoke into her hair.

“No,” she said, not quite truthfully.

“Okay.”

She wiped her triumphant smile away before raising her head for a kiss...

Roarke and Ariel stood over a sleeping Harry. “He won’t remember?”

“Not a thing. Feel better? Was it worth it?”

“If you ever bring this up...”

“I won’t say anything about what I saw if you won’t say anything about what you saw.”

“I can’t believe that bothers you.”

“Ariel, when we choose to abandon all traces of civilization, I think we prefer to keep it private, especially among those whose respect we cherish.”

She gave him a sharp look, but merely filed his words away for future reference. They walked back to the hotel together, past Cal sleeping on the lawn. “What about him?”

Roarke chuckled, “Cal needs more mystery in his life.”

At the dock, Harry supports Ariel after she catches a heel between the boards.
Ariel: Thank you, Harry. By the way, did I ever tell you how much I appreciate your thoroughness and meticulous attention to detail?
Harry: (warily) No...
Harry wonders if the whole island has gone mad today, for even Roarke seems inclined to smile at him.]

Don't get chocolate fingerprints on the forms...