Rating: R for language and adult themes (sex)

Disclaimers: I do not own Inception or How I Met Your Mother.


Chapter 3: Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder

The next day Ariadne arrives at the workshop by nine, hoping Arthur will be there already and in a better mood. But he's not there; Cobb tells her he left to meet with one of his contacts and will most likely be out for the rest of the morning. She tries not to be too disheartened as she offers Cobb the to-go cup of coffee she had picked up for Arthur at his favorite café.

Disappointed that she missed him, she decides to immerse herself in her work while waiting for him to return. She's uninterrupted for the most part, except whenever the door to the workshop opened. Both times however, revealed only Eames and Yusuf.

It isn't until Cobb asks her if she wants to get lunch that she notices the time. Arthur still hasn't returned, nor has he contacted her or anyone else on the team. She knows better than to try to reach him while he's out meeting with one of his contacts but when she voices her concern, Cobb assures her not to worry.

But it isn't like Arthur not to tell her where he is or how long he'll be away. Nor is it like him to not spend the night with her. Ever since they started dating several months ago, they rarely spent the night apart. Luckily for her, Arthur is very thorough in all aspects of his life, and the bedroom was no exception. Just thinking about how thorough he can be makes Ariadne shift in her seat.

"Ariadne, are you coming?"

Nearly. And it was just like Eames to call her out on it too.

"Ariadne? Are you coming to lunch with us or not?"

Oh, Eames was asking her about food, not—

"Uh, no. I think I'll stay here and wait for Arthur."

"Do you want us to bring you back anything?" Yusuf asks.

"No, thank you. I'm not hungry."

She puts on a smile when as she watches them leave, noticing Cobb giving her a concerned look. When they're out of sight she lets out a sigh as she tries to refocus on her designs and not on how creative the point man can be with his tongue.

She continues to pretend to be interested in her mazes until Arthur finally calls at half past four.

"Arthur! Are you okay? Where are you?" Her questions come out more frantic than she means them to be.

"Hey, you sound like you're expecting the worst. I'm fine. I'm with my contact."

"Still? When will you be back?"

"Uh, I'm not sure actually. Probably late. My contact says he can get me access to some of the mark's records, but we have to wait for the right time."

"Oh. Well, I…I guess that means you'll be missing out on that fantastic feast I was planning on making you tonight." She keeps her voice light, teasing. To be honest, her offer of cooking isn't much of an enticement; her cooking skills were basic at best, but she had to say something to distract herself from the increasing weight of disappointment.

She can hear the smile in Arthur's voice even as he says, "I'm sorry I'll be missing out on the feast. How about a raincheck?"

"Sorry, but this is a one-time deal. But maybe you'll finish early and you can still make it in time for dessert."

She's pretty sure Arthur understands she isn't referring to crème brulee, which is why she's disconcerted to hear the hesitation in his voice. "I'm sorry Ariadne, but I don't think this will be quick and easy. But I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

She stifles the urge to throw back the fact that he said the same thing to her yesterday, after he told her he had a headache. It surprises her how his prolonged absence has affected her. "Yeah, okay, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Okay, tell the others. I'll see you soon."

"Wait! Arthur?"

"Yeah?"

She wants to ask him if he's upset with her, even though she knows she doesn't have any reason to think that. It's perfectly reasonable that he'd be away all day because of work and not because he's avoiding her or anything. "Be careful."

His voice is gentle when he says, "I will. I'll see you soon."

Ariadne frowns at her silent phone for several seconds, hoping that Arthur will call back saying that he changed his mind and is coming back. But the phone remains silent and when she looks up after a clearing of the throat, she sees three sets of male eyes staring straight at her.

"Is everything alright?" Cobb asks.

With an upbeat attitude that she's not feeling, she responds, "Yeah. Everything is fine. Arthur's contact is arranging for him to get access to some records tonight. He'll check back in tomorrow." Without the information Arthur is currently gathering, there is no point in continuing their work. Everyone starts packing up to leave.

A sudden urge to be not alone tonight overwhelms her. "Shall we all head to the bar early today?"

"Sorry Ariadne. I've got that date with Laila." Yusuf shrugs on his coat and heads for the door. "I've got to get ready."

Ariadne sincerely wishes him a good time before turning to Cobb and Eames. "So it looks likes it's just the three of us then."

"Actually, you'll have to count me out, too. I've also got a date."

"You have a date?" Cobb questions Eames.

"Yes, I have a date. Are you forgetting that I am something of a ladies man?"

"And I'm the king of the world."

Eames raises a questioning brow.

"Self-proclamation doesn't make things true." Cobb smirks, making Ariadne laugh.

Eames shakes his head good-naturedly. "Don't wait up. I have a feeling The Naked Man is going to rise triumphant tonight." He gives them a wink before sauntering out the door.

"How is he not obligated to wear a warning sign everywhere he goes," Ariadne wonders out loud. Then, turning to Cobb with a smile, says, "So what do you say, Cobb? You and me. I'll buy the first round."

"I'm afraid I'm going to have to pass, too. Marie has a knitting circle she's meeting up with tonight. I promised her I'd be home early to take care of the kids. Hey, why don't you come over for dinner and hang out with us tonight?"

"Oh, no, that's alright. I'm just going to—

"Go home and continue moping over Arthur?"

"I haven't been moping!" she pouts, rather petulantly.

"Come on." Cobb grabs their coats before taking her hand and leading her out the door. Ariadne doesn't make much of a case for herself when she lets him direct her to his car without protest. "James and Philippa will be thrilled to see you. They're constant questions and demands that you bake them cookies will get your mind off missing Arthur."

Her frown at his astuteness is replaced by a laugh at the truth behind Cobb's words and the image of the two little balls of energy that she knows his kids to be.

"Well, I probably could use a dozen or more homemade cookies inside of me," she concedes.

"Just to be straight, when I say bake cookies, I mean just bake cookies, and not that other thing that's on your sex list."

Despite giving him a playful punch, Ariadne gives in to Cobb's infectious laughter.