A/N sorry for such a short chapter! also sorry it took so long to upload, I've been busy with band stuff, but twas dramatic right? please review!

Disclaimer I OWN NOTHING!

"Goddammit!"

"Arthur, calm down. It's okay, you enjoyed yourself for a little bit right? Plus your there were no projections anywhere on the island, so that solves the question about whether or not they'd attack us if we tried to make this thing work. We just rode an accidental kick," Ariadne tried to soothe his shot nerves as she calmly cleared away the equipment.

"Exactly! It was perfect, how are you ever going to create an environment so serene again? It was going fine until you had to tackle me! What's wrong with you?" The pitch of his voice rose to almost a falsetto as he angrily blamed her.

All thoughts of her beauty were long gone. Arthur was fuming. She ruined everything, he ranted in his thoughts. He had finally, finally let loose and exited the confusing labyrinth of his memories that he'd been lost in for months. Then Ariadne had gone and pushed him into the damn ocean and woke him up. He was back in the maze, and he would do anything to escape again.

Now his perspective was seriously pissing her off. That ungrateful dolt! She was practically screaming at him in her head.

"Oh right, I see how it is! So it's my fault you aren't strong enough not to fall over when someone barely even pushes you? How silly of me to think that since I created your ideal vacation for your stupid self-prescribed 'therapy', you might actually thank me. God forbid that I spend weeks learning all about what you, your likes and dislikes, your little ticks that make you you, just to help you get over yourself and your goddamn 'scaring' experiences. I actually thought we at least respected each other enough that you wouldn't blow up on me when one tiny thing went wrong. Guess I overestimated your manners. I even thought that you might…" her voice trailed off as she realized how much she almost revealed about the feelings that had been growing during the time they had spent toghether.

Arthur softened. He took a few breaths to calm himself. He slowly realized she was right, although he resented how she questioned his strength… he was strong enough right? She'd just surprised him that was all. But what did she almost confess?

"Oh, Ariadne… I'm so sorry. You're quite right; you have been there for me more than anyone recently. I'm so dim for being short with you, you deserve much more than that from me. Could you possibly forgive my inexcusable lapse of deference?"

A deafening silence formed between them, causing an uncomfortable tension to pervade the room.

"Please? I'll find a considerably less efficient architect to help me with my… issues… just tell me that I didn't completely destroy our friendship," he practically begged as he softly placed one of his hands upon one of her own.

Ariadne's eyes explored Arthur's pathetic facial expression. Somehow, no one could say no to that face, no matter how angry she had been. She reluctantly informed him that she did in fact forgive him, but that he didn't need to hire someone else; she was in too deep to back out now.

The conversation was over now, but the couple continued to communicate with their eyes. Both were pondering Ariadne's earlier unfinished statement. Suddenly, Arthur's eye contact was making her feel hot, and she could feel her cheeks flushing. She looked away, wondering how many of their feelings were mutual. Their hands were still touching and she wasn't quite sure what to do until he started slowly stroking her hand with the side of his thumb. The soothing gesture felt good, however it muddled her already scattered thoughts. She moved to leave him and go back to her own place, but he stepped in front of her and pulled her into a fierce, if not slightly needy embrace. Startled, Ariadne wasn't sure where that had come from, but nevertheless she enjoyed it and hugged back. They stayed like for a long while until she glanced at the clock and it dawned on her that she needed to get back to her own apartment. She slowly broke contact, and looked up into Arthur's dark eyes.

"I have to go…"

Then she practically sprinted out of the flat and drove home, feeling more conflicted than ever.