Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

So, I told myself and everyone that I should stop writing because everything sucks and I have no idea what I'm doing and…you know, stuff. But I've been conversing with people online and I had dinner in Mary Grace and unexpectedly sat in the same table as where I had imagined Arthur and Ariadne sitting in, and also overheard from a table away from me "Even if no one reads what I write, my mind is awesome and I'm the only one who can fucking tell it properly because it's mine." I think that was my angel.

Sorry no review replies in this chapter, my head cannot process the good feeling. But thank you so much to those who have read, reviewed and followed! And to neverlandspirit for the encouragement. :] This is unbeta'd unless you count me.

The Neighbors

"Why are we bringing them wine?" I ask as I look at the Johnnie Walker I'm holding. "I'm pretty sure moving into a new—haunted—house isn't worth celebrating."

"What's wrong with giving them wine?" Uncle Dom asks as he helps Aunt Mal put in some fruits inside a basket. "They look like wine-men."

I raise an eyebrow. "Wine-men," I repeat, "really, Uncle? They look like weird men."

Aunt Mal giggles. "What have you got against them?"

"One of them is a Peeping Tom," I say.

"What's that?" Phillipa asks me.

I shake my head. "Nothing, don't mind it, Phil." As my parents pack the food, I keep thinking back to the man who was looking out his window. Honestly, he's very very attractive and if I allow my very inner self to have a say in this then I wouldn't mind seeing him looking out his window at me again but it's also a very creepy, we aren't friends. And he doesn't look like he's any fun.

James tugs on my shirt. "Ari, can you ask the man's name? The one who waved at us? I want to be his friend."

"Why don't you ask him himself?" I smile.

He giggles and buries his head in my leg. "I'm shy."

Laughing, I put the wine on the table and then carry him. "You're adorable, you know that." He giggles when I give him an Eskimo kiss. "We'll both ask him. He seems like a nice guy, I'm sure he won't den—say no to the friendship you're offering him."

He tilts his head and looks up then nods. "Hmm…okay!"

Phillipa is sitting on one the dining table chairs, swinging her legs and watching Uncle Dom and Aunt Mal pack the basket of fruits. "Phillipa, would you like to bring the cake?" Aunt Mal asks. "Or maybe you and James can carry the basket together."

She shakes her head. "I don't want to go.

Uncle Dom raises an eyebrow. "And why not?"

"I…I…" she stammers, "I'm tired. I'm just going to watch you from the window." She raises her head.

Aunt Mal chuckles. "Okay, if you say so, sweetheart. Just promise me to be a good girl, okay?"

"Why don't you go help Grandma with her sewing or Grandpa with his crossword puzzles?" Uncle Dom suggests.

Phillipa makes a face. "I never understand how Grandpa answers them, I'll go help Grandma." She jumps off the chair and dashes upstairs. "Grandma! I'll be your assistant again today!"

Aunt Mal smiles. "How cute, it's her first crush."

"It isn't cute," Uncle Dom mutters, "do you remember when Ariadne had her first crush?"

I roll my eyes. "I was much younger than Phillipa when I had my first crush. At least she isn't going to school and giving him her lunch and snacks."

James frowns. "Why would you want to give anyone the lunch and snacks Mommy made for you?"

I give him a kiss on his cheek. "I wasn't being very smart, James. You shouldn't do that, okay? Don't give anyone your lunch and snacks, okay?"

He nods. "Okay."

Uncle Dom shakes his head. "And her first crush is a much older man who lives right beside us. Is that bad?"

Aunt Mal chuckles. "You worry too much, Dom. I think Phillipa is smart enough to know what's right and wrong. Besides, our neighbors seem like they're the type to keep to themselves."

"This neighborhood is like that," I say, "but when something catches their ears, there's a riot."

"Gossip is gossip," Uncle Dom says, laughing. He and Aunt al look at the basket again. "Are we ready to take this to them?"

Aunt Mal nods. "I think so. Let me just cut the cake and we'll be on our way."

She disappears inside the kitchen and I put James down. "Just hold my hand while we go there, okay? I have to bring the wine."

"Can you carry me again when you're not carrying the wine anymore?" he asks. "I want to be as big as the friendly man."

"I'm a short girl," I chuckle, "I don't think I'm as tall as him so you won't be as tall as him either." He frowns. I sigh. "But yes, I will carry you." He smiles again.

Aunt Mal returns and we all head to the neighboring house. It's only a few strides and we get there in no time. James declares that he wants to ring the bell so we remind him that he's only allowed to ring it once before allowing him to do so.

Footsteps can be heard and one loudly exclaims, "Our first visitors!" When the door swings open, the "friendly man", as James calls him, is the one who greets us. "Oh, hello there," he says with a grin. I can't deny how good looking he is, he's very handsome. His English accents also adds to his aura. "Do what do I owe this pleasure?"

"Hi!" James says.

"Hello, little handsome man. I recognize you from this morning." The man bends down to accommodate James's height. "I'm Eames, and you are?"

"I'm James!" he replies. "You have a funny name."

He shrugs and winks. "I'm a funny man." He stands up once again and greets us. "What a charming family. I'm Adam Eames, but please, I find my first name atrocious. It doesn't suit me at all." He eyes me and grins. "Lovely lady, you don't know how happy I am to have you as my first visitor."

I blush a little. "Uh...hi."

Uncle Dom clears his throat. "Mr. Eames—"

"No, no, no," he cuts, "just Eames will do, please."

"Eames," Uncle Dom corrects himself, "we're your next door neighbors and we'd just like to give you a welcome greeting." He holds up the basket.

"Wonderful!" Eames grins. "Please, come in, come in." He gestures for us to come and opens the door wider. "Living room is that way," he points to the first room on the right, "and is that cake and wine I see?"

Aunt Mal smiles. "Yes."

Eames smiles back. "But we've got a little one with us," he pats James's head, "looks like we'll just be having cake."

"Oh no, please, it's yours, we've got plenty more at home."

"If you insist. But please, have a seat, let me just go and prepare some tea and would you like apple juice, little guy?"

James nods. "Yes, please."

Eames smiles and takes our gifts. "Make yourselves at home. I'll be right back." While he leaves, he shouts, "Arthur! Get your a—butt down here, you little wa—man! We've got guests and you have to make a good impression!"

"I'm coming!" someone, probably Arthur, the housemate/peeper of my room, shouts from upstairs.

"Have fun," Eames snickers as he disappears.

I turn to look at James beside me and he's just admiring the room around us. Thank God he doesn't know anything dirty yet. "I think Phillipa's just scared of coming here because this place is haunted. That makes me much braver than her!"

Aunt Mal pats his head. "I think she decided not to come for her own reasons, sweetheart. I don't think it's because this place is haunted."

Another set of footsteps are heard from upstairs and as they descend, I feel my heart beat a little faster. I've only seen him probably two to three times but now that I'm about to see him up close and personal...it makes me nervous. When he reaches the floor, I take a quick look at him. Tall, dark, and dangerously handsome. One quick glance at us and he looks the other way. "Eames?" he calls.

"In the kitchen, Darling. Entertain our guests for now, will you? I'm still looking for our tray." The other man doesn't walk towards us, he heads to the back, where Eames had disappeared. "Don't you ever listen to me?"

Minutes later, Eames is carrying a silver tray filled with cups and tea strings and a glass of apple juice for James. His housemate follows him from behind. "I'm sorry to keep you waiting, Arthur was being rude...again."

Arthur glares at him. "I'm sorry, I'm not very good with people."

"You're not very good in many things that involves society except knowing about them through research," Eames retorts. He shrugs and sits on the recliner while Arthur sits on the couch in front of us. "This is my rude housemate, Arthur Brandon."

"Hello," Aunt Mal greets as James waves. He only gives a nod of acknowledgement. Our eyes meet and I look away. He should be the one ashamed, he's the one who was caught.

"Arthur these are our lovely next door neighbors, I hope you'll be good to them," Eames says with a smirk. He then turns to us. "I'm sorry, I never got any of your names except for James's."

"I'm Dominic Cobb, my wife, Mallorie," he squeezes her hand and looks at her, "our son James," he pats the boy on my lap, "and our daughter, Ariadne," he squeezes my shoulder.

"We live with my father and mother. Our other daughter, Phillipa, is too shy to come over." Aunt Mal chuckles.

"Ah, that little girl with you this morning, yes I remember her." Eames smiles. "She is as beautiful as her mother. But," he turns to me, "I believe you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in my life."

I raise an eyebrow. "I have a feeling you say that a lot."

He laughs. "Perceptive. But I'm being extremely honest, Ariadne. Did I say that right?" I nod. "You are truly beautiful. It's no wonder Arthur was—"

"You have to excuse my...friend," Arthur cuts with an icy glare at the other man, "he can be a very annoying bas—person."

"I can already tell," I hear Uncle Dom mutter and I stifle a laugh. "So tell us," he starts, "what made you two decide to move to Stonerose?"

"We both work for Avalanche Corp., I was in the home base while Eames worked in Wall Street. Then he was transferred to the home base and we became partners of some sort," Arthur replies, "but we were both transferred to the one across town. He's the one who's bad luck."

"Darling, you know your father wanted you to transfer to have some more experience," Eames says and then turns to us, "he's Marvin Brandon's son, you see."

Aunt Mal gasps. "Oh, I see!"

"It's not a big deal," Arthur shrugs, "I'm not the heir, my brother is. I refused a long time ago."

"You're not the air, Mr. Arthur," James says and that earns him giggles from all of us, even Arthur had given him a small smile. "What's so funny?"

I shake my head and give him a squeeze. "Why'd you decide to move here in Cozy Pebble? Why not nearer the office?"

"We both don't like being near people," Arthur replies.

"And we're glad we chose this house," Eames adds, "the view is magnificent." He winks at me.

Arthur clears his throat. "Has your family lived here for a while?"

"I'm originally from Paris," Aunt Mal answers, "my parents and I moved here before I was a teenager so I grew up here. The house we're living in now was one of the first few houses that were built in Cozy Pebble. Dom and I bought it when we first got married."

"It's a lovely house, Mrs. Cobb," Arthur says.

"It's home now. Perhaps you two should drop by and have dinner with us. In fact, are you two busy tonight?"

Arthur is about to answer but is stopped by Eames. "No, Mrs. Cobb, we are not. Why do you ask?"

"It's Ariadne's birthday today," she starts.

"Oh!" Eames grins. "So that's why there's cake! Happy birthday!"

I smile at him. "Thank you."

"How old are you now?" He frowns. "Oh, wait, gentlemen aren't supposed to ask that, you're a lady. Are you at least legal?"

I chuckle at that. "I'm twenty."

"Damn, one more year," he says, shaking his head. "I'm sorry for interrupting, Mrs. Cobb. You were saying?"

"We're having dinner out tonight," Aunt Mal continues, unaffected by the disturbance, "would you like to accompany us?"

"No, thank you," Arthur says just as Eames says, "Yes, please!" Arthur glares at him. Eames raises an eyebrow. "We're quite...busy, at the moment," the more serious one says.

"With what?" Eames asks. "Unpacking? Darling, you know I won't start until tomorrow afternoon. Let's have some fun on our first night out."

"Oh yes, Mr. Arthur, please come," James says, "Fridays has the best food!"

"Yes, please, Mr. Arthur," Eames repeats. "You're not going to break poor James's heart will you? And it's the lovely lady's birthday, don't ruin it, please?"

Arthur purses his lips before agreeing. "Fine."

"Great," Eames smiles, "get that stick-in-the-mud attitude out."

"What's a stick of the mund attude?" James asks.

Eames rubs his jaw. "It's a grown-up expression, Mr. James. Promise me that you won't copy it, okay?"

The blonde boy nods. "Okay."

"The Fridays were going to is the one in Rock Palace, the mall? Do you know your way around the town already?" Uncle Dom asks.

"We've had our fair share of driving around town," Eames replies.

"Yeah, we've passed by it a couple of times already," Arthur adds.

"I made reservations for seven-thirty under Cobb."

"Got it," Eames nods, "is that a double b?"

"C-O-B-B," James supplies.

"Thank you, Mr. James. It seems we'll be having dinner with you tonight. I'll be able to meet your adorable sister and grandparents, isn't that great?"

"I think Phillipa has a crush on you, Mr. Eames," James says, scrunching his nose, "and crushes are icky."

Eames laughs. "Oh, Mr. James, you have a lot to learn."

We finished our drinks and talked some more before Uncle Dom announced that we'd have to leave. "Don't forget, seven-thirty at Fridays at Rock Palace."

"I would never forget," Eames says. "We'll see you later!"

As we head back to our home, Aunt Mal says, "They're quite charming, aren't they? Eames is such a cheery man, I'm very comfortable with him, and he's so good with James," she smiles at the young boy, "and Arthur, oh, mister tall, dark, and handsome. Don't you think so, Ari?"

I blush and nod. "Um...yeah."

"Eames is much more handsome, his accent just adds to it," Aunt Mal continues, "but Arthur...and his suit!"

Ariadne nods without thinking. "Yeah, he really is."

"Eew, Ariadne," James scrunches his nose again, "you have a crush on Mr. Arthur."

"I don't, James," I tell him, "I just find him attractive. It doesn't mean anything. But please don't spread it around. It isn't true but I don't want you to say that in front of people, okay?"

He shrugs. "Okay."

We enter the house and I head straight to my room to freshen up. I hear Aunt Mal call Phillipa and our grandparents, probably to remind them to get ready already while Uncle Dom and James are heading towards the bathroom.

I catch sight of the red cloak on my bed. I pick it up and finger the cloth. As I inspect it, and not just look at it like I've been doing since this morning, I see gold trimming on the edges and beautiful flower patterns embroidered on it using cloth that is a darker shade of red, and instead of a ribbon in the middle, it's a gold butterfly that could be separated from the middle with a light pink jewel split into half and could be connected in a puzzle-like form. In front, it only stops until probably around my waist but as it goes to the back it becomes longer.

"Beautiful," I whisper. "Absolutely beautiful."

"Beautiful," Cassandra whispers. "Absolutely beautiful."

"Do you like it?" the seamstress asks.

"It's perfect, thank you very much," the redhead woman says. She takes out her wallet from her bag and gives her the payment. "Thank you so much." As she heads out the door, she bumps into another woman. "Oh, sorry," she says and looks at the woman in front of her. Her eyes widen a little. "Angelika."

"Cassandra," the woman acknowledges. "Didn't I tell you I'd see you again after you fulfill this task?" She gestures at the cloak. "I'm here to help you, remember that."

"Can we talk while we we head to my home?"

"So you found someone you can finally trust to be with her?" Angelika asks as they start to walk.

"She's an old friend of mine. I trust her with my life." She smiles. "She's doing really well."

Angelika smiles. "Your husband is acting like nothing's happened."

"Does he know where I am?"

"No. Only I do. Don't worry."

Cassandra smiles. "Thank you."

After a few moments of silence, Angelika asks, "May I stay in your home for awhile?"

"Why?" Cassandra narrows her eyes, suspicious. "What do you need?"

"Don't take this the wrong way, please. But in order to help you...you see, this cloak is very vital and...I am not nearly as good as the elders so it will take some time for me to finish. In order for you and your daughter to be safe, I'll need to do the process in your home."

'Safe...that word has always been used around my daughter.' She sighs. "Okay. There's an extra room for you in the apartment. But...will you at least tell me why my daughter is being hunted? I can't sleep knowing that she'll be taken from me by your people."

Angelika nods hesitantly and then looks at the red cloak in her companion's hands. "It's really beautiful. Better than any of the ones I've seen."

"I designed it myself. I just hope that it's not going to be used for...purposes that will get it thrown away or destroyed?"

"I think this is a sign of you trusting me more than you think you do," Angelika states with a small smile.

"One day her mother said to her: 'Come, Little Red Riding Hood, here is a piece of cake and a bottle of wine; take them to your grandmother, she is ill and weak, and they will do her good. […]" –Little Red Riding Hood (Brothers Grimm, 1697)

Since this is set in the US, I decided not to have them call their family members in French. Was looking at JGL/Ellen Page stuff some time ago…can there please be a new movie with the two of them? Or like a fake poster? Banner? Or anything at all? I need them back in my life :'(

Also, I'm changing the sequence of the quotes from the story. Instead of putting two a chapter, I'm just gonna put one because I realized that the next lines fits the next chapter more (and I might lose quotes, haha). I'm sorry this is a bit slow but I promise that by the next chapter things will speed up a bit.