Author Note: So, this was never intended to be more than a one shot, but muses have a way of coming and going without warning. I decided after posting chapter one that this fic could still be the fic I started to write; a Arthur/Ariadne slow burn.

Thank you to those who took the time to review. Emma, I appreciate the comments you made about the idea of 'repose'. They were inspiring words and I am grateful for them.

On to Chapter 2. I hope you all enjoy it as much the first. And, though it can be scary, don't hesitate to leave a review if you like what you've read. ;-)

Arthur's Repose

Chapter 2

Arthur's eyes had gotten heavy and were near closing when she shot forward. Her motion was sudden and powerful. He was so caught off guard that he jerked forward as well, falling from the chair. Her momentum tipped her from the couch on top of him.

"Shit!" Ariadne exclaimed, currently face to face with her host. "Ouch!"

Arthur blinked. Though their current state of entanglement may have appeared comedic to some, it was not. "You ok?"

"Fine," she replied, curtly, wriggling against him as her motor skills reemerged. Her motions sparked sensations within him which he wasn't sure he wanted to catch fire. As if the situation wasn't already awkward enough.

"Take your time," he said, reassuringly. "Just relax."

"This never gets easier, does it?" she breathed, ignoring his advice. She propped herself up and moved to his right resting against the couch. She was stiff. The limited range of motion her body allowed irritated her.

"I'm afraid not," he replied, standing. He straightened his tie and tugged the bottom of his vest. "Water?"

"Yeah," she said trying a smile and failing. "That would be terrific."

He retrieved a bottle of water from the refrigerator, cracked the cap, and offered it her. She took it from him, greedily, and drained the small contained in large gulps. She would pay for that later, but he wasn't about to say anything now.

"Is there another one?" she asked, breathlessly, handing him the empty.

"Sure," he said, a small smile appearing on his lips. He placed the bottle on a nearby end table and retrieved another.

"Why did you ask me to come here?" she said without preamble.

He shrugged as he rounded the couch and proffered the water. "Take it easy with this one. I'd prefer not to hear your screams of pain when the cramps hit."

She grimaced. "Nice dodge."

"No dodge," he replied evenly, sitting next to her on the floor. "I asked you to come with me because I knew you had nowhere to go. And, even though I'm sure you can take care of yourself, I thought you might want some familiar company."

"What about you?" she asked.

"What about me?" he replied, unphased.

"I'm sure your motives weren't wholly altruistic."

He dug both hands into pockets of his pants and looked away from her. "Wow."

"Come on, Arthur," she pressed.

He turned back to her, noticing that she had moved from the floor to a sitting position on the couch. He swallowed and felt heat rise in his neck. He shook it off. "I think the more important question is: why did you come?"

She looked at him sharply. "I didn't realize I was at the dentist. This is like pulling teeth. Just tell me."

He knew if would only antagonize her, but he couldn't help but say: "You're cranky."

Her shoulders slumped and her eyes fell in supposed defeat. "No, Arthur, I'm tired; which is ironic considering all the sleep we got on the plane. Throw the lovely partying gift of temporary paralysis, a dash male denial, and you might begin to see why I'm not footloose and fancy free."

Her voice bounce around the large hotel room and brief wave of guilt passed though him. He returned to the chair from which he watched over her.

"Fair enough, Ariandne," he said, his hands resting on their respective legs. "I invited you here because I didn't feel like being alone. Satisfied?"