Heya guys! So this is my first ever fanfic (go easy on me please) and I'm pretty nervous!

The whole thing is purely for pleasure, I thought it would be cool to explore Cobb/ Ariadne's relationship develop from the whole teacher/student thing, clearly they had an emotional connection in the movie...

Chapter 3 already! I'm enjoying this!

As always any feedback/advice is greatly appreciated.

Disclaimer: I do not own these characters or the incredible thing that is Inception! That would be the product of the very talented Christoper Nolan's genius...

The room swam into focus. Blackness was replaced by soft rays of morning light that broke through the sheer curtains, illuminating the room. She was lying on her back, her head was swimming. What had happened? Her surroundings were vaguely familiar, a hotel room more luxurious she'd ever stayed in before. Well at least until after the Inception job.

Wait

Inception

Cobb

MAL!

Shit! Her eyes darted around the room as she quickly sat up, grabbing her totem from her pocket. She backed to the corner of her hotel bed, at least she hadn't face-planted the floor, and pushed it over on the bedside table. It fell over in its regular pattern. Panic broke into confusion.

Reality

She heard footsteps outside the main door and the handle began to turn. Ariadne grabbed the lamp off the bedside table ready to throw it at the first sign of danger and looked towards the door in sheer concentration. It opened slowly. The tall man who walked through put his phone in his pocket then, hearing her movement, looked up with startled eyes.

Clear, penetrating, gorgeous blue eyes. Eyes that she had dreamed of: eyes that she knew as well as her own.

'C...Cobb?'

Why did he look so worried? Why was he even THERE? She scrutinised him to find him warily glancing between here bewildered expression and a point just above her left hand shoulder. She followed his gaze and realised that she was still wielding the hotel lamp. Fuck. No wonder he looked like he was in fight or flight mode... she lowered her impromptu weapon and he visibly relaxed. She sat down, her legs unwilling to hold her up, and looked into his eyes, not wanting to be the one to break the connection.

'Ariadne?' He moved towards her cautiously not breaking their gaze. 'Ariadne, are you ok? Arthur called me to say that you hadn't been sleeping well and that you'd left the hotel and he couldn't get hold of you! I was so worried' He sat down next to her and looked into her eyes pleadingly.

'Please Ariadne; just tell me how I can help...'

: To which Ariadne responded by bursting into tears and throwing her arms around him.

Cobb's POV

Cobb didn't even think. He picked her up in his arms and crossed the room where he sat in the same chair she had collapsed into earlier that very same night and held her until her sobs had subsided. Mentally he wanted to kill Arthur! How could he have left Ariadne by herself after such a huge job? If he had known he would have taken her home with him, she was the reason he would be able to tuck his children into bed that night and in ways he trusted her more than anyone he knew. He looked down at her tiny exhausted frame and stroked her hair wondering how on earth it was still so soft and smooth after an evidently stressful couple of days.

As soon as Arthur had called him he had dropped everything, left a note for Miles to say he would be home later that day and rushed to the hotel room Arthur had given him. His dread had only increased when he'd stolen in to find it empty. Resolving to wait at least until sunrise in case she came back he had stood poised in the corner, out of sight lest any 'unwanted visitors' came back first. This girl meant so much to him; he couldn't bear to lose another... wait a minute, another what? He was fourteen years older than her and had two young children for crying out loud! Anyway, Ariadne would never think of him that way... A snuffle from Ariadne brought him back to earth. He looked down at her and smiled.

He hadn't meant to scare her when she arrived back, she was so brave and he just couldn't understand why the hell she had been so scared, she must have realised it would be one of the team! As soon as he saw her fainting he had moved like lightening and caught her, laid her on the bed and when he was sure she was ok he had left the room for a short time to let a distraught Arthur know she was ok.

He hadn't expected to find her brandishing a heavy electrical at him when he'd walked back in though. That was an interesting development.

'Snryygh Om' Ariadne pulled him to his senses. Wait, what did she just say?

'What was that Ariadne'? She shuffled position and turned to look up at him with glassy, bright eyes.

'I said sorry Dom. I didn't mean to do... this' She looked away, blushing. Cute. He smiled down at her.

'Heeeey, no it's ok. I'm sorry I scared you. I was just so worried when I heard you were missing! Arthur is in Santa Monica taking care of some loose ends so he couldn't get to you fast enough so of course I jumped straight in my car and came to find you!' For some reason she looked a distinctly downhearted when he said this. Did she not want him there? Feeling ridiculously rejected by this the idea of Ariadne's indifference he gave a cough.

'Look I should probably call Eames. I'm sure Arthur has told him about your vanishing act by now and I expect he's waiting for an update'. Ariadne nodded, still not meeting his eyes then moved off his lap and went to sit on the end of the bed. Cobb felt even more dismayed. Maybe he should have just waited for Arthur to get here as soon as he confirmed she was ok. He pushed the unhappy thought to the side and picked up his phone, leaving the room to make a call to Eames, unable to look at the pretty architect on his way out.

Ariadne's POV

Ariadne sat unmoving for a minute, vaguely aware that Cobb was on the phone just outside the room. So that was why he had come: because Arthur couldn't...

But it had seemed like a dream! The way he had held her, looked at her. There had been something more than duty in those eyes! For good measure she tested her Totem again. Yep: definitely real. She looked towards the chair they had recently vacated, catching her reflection in the mirror as she did.

!

If she had looked like death earlier then she now looked like someone who had died of plague and rotted in a sewer for a few hundred years! Well no WONDER Dom chose to leave the room. Not giving it a thought she grabbed some fresh clothes, her wash bag and towel then made for the shower faster than you could say Inception!

After her speed shower Ariadne threw her skinny jeans and silk shirt on, made a quick prayer to the goddess of makeup and l began work in the mirror. Not normally one for much makeup she had decided whilst showering that she should really compensate for her thing-from-the-swamp imitation earlier. After a quick approving analysis and a blast with the hairdryer (why would her hair never go straight?) She felt ready to face the man she had just mentally broken down in front of.

It's time to face the music as they say.

Ariadne took a breath and opened the door to find Cobb sitting on the end of the bed facing away from her. As he heard the movement behind him he jumped as though he had been intensely preoccupied and turned to face her. His mouth fell open and his eyes widened like a startled owl.

Maybe the makeup was a bad idea...

She felt herself blush and lowered her head. Cobb managed to regain some composure and stood up smiling uncertainly.

'Feeling better Ariadne'?

She nodded, still not meeting his eyes. Definitely a bad idea.

She took a breath and looked up at Cobb determinedly, there was a look in his eyes she had never seen before and couldn't quite place. Cobb smiled at her.

'I need to go check in on Phillipa and James before school today but I think maybe me and you need to go somewhere to talk and I get the impression you aren't comfortable in this room'. He opened the door for her, gesturing. 'Shall we'?

She smiled uncertainly, grabbed her bag and led him out through the door and away from the hotel room.

Cobb's POV

Ariadne seemed was quiet in the passenger seat as Dom drove her to his house. How very uncharacteristic of her he thought. Also he was practically certain that she wouldn't meet his eyes. He was sure he wasn't imagining it...

Above all he wanted to know why she had been so scared when she found him in her room the other night. It wasn't like her to faint at danger and surely she would have assumed it was a member of their team? The horror in her eyes had been evident. He remembered back to Arthur's phone call that night.

Dom! I can't get hold of Ariadne. She left her hotel room half an hour ago and I can't establish contact with her! I'm in Santa Monica, please go check she's ok!

Of course he had already BEEN on his way as soon as Arthur had mentioned Ariadne! But there had been something else...

She texted me just before she left to say that she was having weird dreams, ones strange enough to make her leave her hotel despite our security warnings! Dom I'm worried...

Cobb knew there was something terribly wrong then. As far as he knew their inception had gone undetected, remarkably smoothly so far. Saito had cleared things up with Cobol, using a large sum of money he suspected, so he and Arthur were off the hook there. Also he hadn't been shot at for at least 36 hours now. Always a good sign...

But he could tell that something was wrong with Ariadne and he was going to find out what it was and fix it. He couldn't bear to see her in this pain; even if she was more to him then he was to her...

'Ariadne I'll send the kids off to school with Miles. Vivienne (that's Mal's mother) is away this week so we can have the place to ourselves to straighten out whatever it is that's bothering you'. There! he was sure he'd seen it! A momentary flash of terror in her eyes as soon as he'd mentioned Mal's name. He couldn't understand WHY! Mal hadn't bothered him since the inception! Ariadne had killed the projection of Mal herself! Cobb was finally obtaining... not closure exactly, but he had come to accept that their time was over. He had made peace and it was Ariadne who had helped him achieve it!

He shook his head in bewilderment, causing Ariadne to look at him oddly. He kicked himself inwardly and smiled at her in what he hoped was a reassuring way.

Finally he reached his house, reversing into the driveway. He didn't think he would ever get over the feeling of joy he felt at just being able to roll into his own home. He would never have been able to do that without Ariadne either...

'The kids will be getting ready for school right now, you up for meeting them?' He saw her light up at the prospect which made him happier then he was sure it should have. Getting out the car he opened her door and they walked in unison to the front steps. Cobb opened the door and stepped through. Almost instantly a boy shaped cannon ball threw himself at Cobb like a blonde sonic the hedgehog!

'Daddy where WERE YOU?' The small boy turned, noticing Ariadne for the first time, then hid behind his dad's legs and asked shyly 'Daddy who is thiiiiiiiis?'

'James sweetie I was just picking up my friend Ariadne here, she was a little bit lost and I didn't want her to get into trouble'. Ariadne smiled at his juvenile description of the traumatic night then crouched down.

'Heya James. Your Daddy has told me a lot about you, you look a lot like him!'

James bubbled with pride and flashed Ariadne a big cheeky grin, still too shy to give her an actual response. Cobb couldn't help grinning like an idiot observing this exchange. Ariadne was going to be a sure fire hit with his kids.

'JAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMES GRANDPA SAYS IT'S TIME TO GO TO SCHO...DADDY!' Phillipa ran down the corridor and hugged Cobb round the waist.

'Daddy you SAID you wouldn't disappear again' Phillipa told him with a pout, her pretty blonde hair falling across her face. Cobb was overcome with guilt at this statement of betrayal; he brushed her hair out of her eyes and gave Phillipa a long hug.

'Sorry baby, I had to go and pick up my friend, this is Ariadne.' Phillipa looked up at Ariadne, giving her an uncertain smile which Ariadne returned whole heartedly. Before they could talk however Miles strolled down the hall ready to usher his beloved grandchildren out the door. He paused momentarily with a confused look on his face as he saw Ariadne before flashing her a genuine smile.

'Ariadne how fantastic to see you! I observe that you have met my grandchildren. I have some issues to discuss with you so I hope you will stay to talk later but I must get the monsters off to school and I have some business to attend to at UCLA'

'Of course'! Ariadne stood up from where she had been crouched with the children. Miles peeled them off of Cobb's legs and herded them out, as he left the house he threw Cobb and Ariadne an odd look before shutting the door. The quiet that followed was almost eerie as they heard the last child giggles and the car pulling away leaving them in a comfortable stillness. Cobb smiled and rubbed his neck awkwardly.

'Sorry I didn't expect them to be quite so... enthusiastic'. He gestured towards the living room and Ariadne smiled, following his trajectory.

'They just got their Daddy back Dom, of course they are enthusiastic!' He grinned to himself as they both got comfortable on the sofa. The sun was spilling through the window behind; lighting the room with a warming golden glow making the mocha highlights in Ariadne's hair stand out in what Cobb considered to be an incredibly alluring manner. Her eyes were flitting around the room in a curious manner, she noticed Cobb scrutinising her gaze and flushed apologetically.

'Sorry, it's just strange being back here, the real version is far more pleasant then the Limbo version though...'

Cobb groaned inwardly, of course she would find it weird! She had seen Mal stab him at that very table!

'Sorry, I didn't think about ho...'

'No really! It's actually comforting to understand why you needed to get back here'. She pulled her knees up under her chest and settled down into the sofa. Then unexpectedly her face crumpled.

'Thank you for coming to find me. I didn't mean to scare you; it was irresponsible of me. I feel horrible for dragging you away from your kids and...'

'Shhhh Ariadne no! The fault is all mine, I was so focused on getting here that I neglected the other important people in my life! I would never want to see any harm come to you'.

His memory of the look on her face when she realised there was someone else in her room flashed across his mind and he shuddered. Ariadne looked at him with a confused expression.

'Now tell me' he said with determination. 'What exactly happened last night? From the beginning'.

Ariadne's POV

Cobb was looking at Ariadne as though he could see into her soul. From the beginning! How in the HELL was she supposed to tell him about being vividly and brutally, assaulted by Mal in a dream! A dream that felt so real that she thought it was her in reality when he had come to check up on her!

Her heart sank as she realised there was no way to avoid the truth. She realised this must have registered on her face with Cobb's next words.

'Ariadne... please' His pupils bore into hers.

Ariadne's eyes brimmed. She realised he had to let him know, regardless of the consequences. Even if it meant he would resent and reject her forever. Biting back the pain she felt at the thought of losing him she looked deep into Cobb's concern-filled eyes.

'I dreamt about Limbo'. She heard Cobb's sharp gasp then shut her eyes and cut off his response.

'I was alone until I saw somebody. I ran towards them looking for help'. Willing herself to find the strength to continue she took a deep breath then blurted out her next words.

'The person turned to me, mocked me and chased me'. She felt a tear slide down her cheek. 'They then stabbed me with a shard of flint. It was the most violent and painful kick I've ever felt...' her words stammered at the end. Unable to bear it any longer she opened her water filled eyes and gasped. Cobb had moved closer. His eyes were full of a feeling she couldn't name: he looked as though he was unsure whether to touch her or not.

Oh God please don't! If he does I don't think I could bear the pain when he rejects me.

Ariadne wiped away her tears furiously and looked deep into Dominic Cobb's eyes. Before she could continue he spoke in a low, incensed voice.

'Ariadne; who was it who stabbed you in Limbo'?

Ariadne searched his features; he looked as though he already knew her answer. She braced herself and spoke.

'It was Mal'

Dominic moved even closer so they were physically touching and lifted his hand to her cheek; ignoring the surprise that must have shown on her face. His voice became even more intense so that she could hardly concentrate.

'Why did she do it'?

Ariadne was frozen, unable to speak.

'Ariadne. Why?'

Ariadne shut her eyes and whispered sincerely:

'Because I Love You'

And before Ariadne had a chance to explain or defend herself Dominic Cobb had fiercely brought his own lips down on hers in a searing, passionate kiss.

Bejasus that was a long one!

More exciting? I hope so, I'm trying to do the characters justice as much as I can. Hopefully the next chapter will get ever more juicy.

Feedback is always appreciated but equally never expected