Author's notes: OMG, finally I finished this chapter. It was so difficult to write, what with making sure the characters were actually in character, and that it flowed from the last chapter and will lead to the next one. Who knew writing can be so exhilarating and depressing all at once. Thanks for all those who reviewed, I highly enjoy reading them, LOL, it means a lot. So with no more adieu, enjoy my longest chapter yet.

When I grow up, I want to be a tree.

There was stunned silence.

'What do you mean my parents hired you?' said Ariadne, approaching the man. 'I haven't spoken to them in years...'

'Almost five years, correct?'

Ariadne turned to that voice. It was Saito. 'You knew? About him,' Ariadne pointed at the investigator, 'and about my parents and you -' she paused, realising something. 'You were about to tell me just then, didn't you?'

'Well, they did warn me that you might get all emotional when you found out, but this is ridiculous. Can I go, please?' asked the investigator.

'Shut up!' said Ariadne, Arthur, Eames and Saito.

'Your parents are my employees, your first clients so to speak. That is if you're still willing to take up on my offer.'

'This is very unorthodox. I will not allow my team to attempt Extraction of any kind to those close to them, including, and especially family,' said Cobb, his voice hardening into a threat. He gave Ariadne a look, and they understood each other. Mal.

'No, not Extraction per se. I want you to train my clients against Extraction.'

'Train them? Are they likely to have extractors coming after them?' asked Arthur.

'And my parents are linked in this how?'

'Perhaps I could answer both questions if I bought them in here?' said Saito, and he waved for one of his men who quickly ran off outside, followed closely by Zang.

'They're here?' said Ariadne. The adrenaline that had subsided from the car chase that evening suddenly returned to full force. I can't believe I have a fight or flight response to my own parents.

Ariadne exhaled through her mouth to prevent hyperventilating. The Professor was right. Cobb does attract the risky jobs.

Everyone looked at her with concern. 'You're going to be alright?' asked Arthur.

Ariadne didn't have time to reply when Saito's men returned with two people. A tall man with sandy-coloured hair was holding a shorter, stouter woman by her shoulders, her long dark hair whipping around her face from the wind outside. When the doors closed and the wind weakened, it revealed a very nervous looking woman, held together only be her husband.

'Oh, Ariadne, my Ariadne!' she cried, when she saw her daughter.

Ariadne stared down at the camera that she took off Eames. 'You'll have to give me a moment. I, uh, I need some air,' she said to no one in particular, turned and left through a side door of the warehouse. There was a short staircase that lead outside, and she sat on the middle step.

The night air was crisp, and it helped Ariadne clear her head. She let the camera fall limply from her hands, the neck strap dangling in her fingers. So you decided on the flight reflex huh?

She held her head on her knees to shut out her thoughts and focused on her ventilation. She was suddenly aware of a scent that reminded her of mint, mixed with a hint of cologne that the wind was blowing around. I know that smell.

'Is it okay that I join you?' asked Arthur. He sat down a step below her anyway.

Ariadne slowly lifted her head to face him. 'Is everything okay inside?'

'Don't you worry about inside.'

Ariadne gave a weak smile. That's what she liked about Arthur so much. He'd never pry, or demand to know anything unless you're willing. If you are, then he'll patiently wait for you.

'I'm sorry about just then, running out like that. It's been a while.'

Arthur just nodded understandably.

Ariadne gave a shuddering breath. 'I ran away when I was 18, to study here, in Paris. I always feel guilty when I think about how I left them, but I can't say that I regret the decision,' explained Ariadne, and she thought about Mal, and how guilt can define a person. 'Can I trust you with this?'

'You can trust me with anything.'

Ariadne smiled, and started her story. 'My father's this great engineer and I grew up admiring his work. Only I wasn't great shakes at building, so I'd help him draw up blueprints for his designs. Then I started to draw for myself, and architecture just came naturally after that.

'Mother was doing the whole housewife thing, busy with me and Alex, and so from outside we must look like some picture perfect family. Father would train Alex how to fix the car and I was left to my own devices because there were only so many times you can clean the house, not that Mother agreed.'

Ariadne smiled to herself at the memory.

'Who's Alex?'

'He's my brother. He – he's dead,' said Ariadne, her face suddenly contorted in shame. 'He was in a car accident a couple of days after I left for Paris.'

Arthur could see her attempts to hold back tears.

'You loved him.'

'Yes, so much! He'd call me his little sis, and he had this part-time job where he'd save up so that we could travel the world together one day. He believed we'll grow old together and always having each other's back.

'So when they finally identified Alex's body in that wreckage, I travelled back to Sacramento for his funeral. My family was completely distraught, my Mother was not herself, she'd drink, you see, and Father just seemed so lost. He was closest to Alex,' Ariadne blinked and allowed for a few tears to escape. She'd never told anyone this, but now she was telling Arthur, who looked if possible, composed and concerned at the same time.

'So I took Alex's money that he saved for us, gave it all to charity, and moved back to Paris. My parents and I didn't really converse during or after the funeral. We just... lost touch.'

The silence was only broken by the howling wind. A storm was coming, and Arthur just waited.

'I was finishing school, and was applying everywhere for college. Neither of my parents were really enthusiastic about me studying away from home, including Alex. He said that families didn't leave each other,' Ariadne reminisced, 'because he was following Father into the engineering business.

'So when I either missed out on application dates, didn't get in or just never heard a reply from the colleges I applied for, I thought the only option was community college where I'd probably end up working in the same company as Father and Alex.'

'But you didn't.'

'No. My arts teacher, bless her, Mrs. Lefèvre, was a frequent flyer to France to visit her family, and she recommended the same university that she went to, to get her Arts degree. She wanted me to apply there, even though she knew my parents don't want me studying abroad. So she gave me a ton of homework that week, only for her to send those art pieces together with an application she filled out, to Paris. She was stubborn like that, just like how she wanted to keep her surname after marrying an American guy and then moved to Sacramento to teach.'

'And you got in.'

'With a scholarship.'

'Hrmm.'

'What?'

Arthur looked at her. 'Maybe it was meant to be.'

'Alex was never supposed to be in an accident.'

'No, but he did want you to be happy. Are you happy? I mean, of what you have achieved so far?'

Ariadne looked down at Arthur, contemplating his question. Arthur instinctively moved up a step to sit next to her and allowed her to lean against his shoulder. Ariadne closed her eyes and allowed Arthur to hold her tight, removing the camera that was still dangling in her hands. She didn't realize the wind chill til Arthur's warmth radiated everywhere, and she could sense the freshly ironed vest, the slight dry-cleaning musk and... mint?

'You shouldn't burden yourself with guilt. You did what you had to do, and you turned out fine,' said Arthur, giving Ariadne a supportive squeeze.

'I had architecture to fall back on, and the Professor. I can't imagine what Mother and Father had to go through; they lost both their children within days. I tried calling them after I've settled down, but they'd moved by then.'

'But they could have called you, it's a two-way street.'

Ariadne sighed, 'either way, they're here now. Maybe they'll forgive me.'

'You're not at fault. The fact that they got someone to look for you means they still love you.'

'You think?'

'Yeah, and we'll be in there with you.'

Ariadne chuckled at Arthur's comment. 'What?' asked Arthur.

Thinking back at the conversation they had when arriving at the warehouse, Ariadne said, 'I am part of the team you know. Cobb said so.'

Arthur looked down at her. 'Picked that up did you? Yeah, our Ariadne huh? Doesn't mean it's safe to be with us though. But I thought you didn't want to be part of the team?' humoured Arthur.

Ariadne removed her head from the comfort of Arthur's shoulder to look up at him. 'No, I don't want to be part of a team that leaves their teammates behind. It doesn't mean I don't want to be part of your team.'

Arthur stared at Ariadne for awhile before standing up. 'I see. Well, in that case, the team awaits. You ready?' asked Arthur, holding out his hand.

'Yes,' replied Ariadne and she allowed Arthur to pull her up to meet her parents.

Cobb was deep in conversation with Saito and Ariadne's parents. The investigator had been released from his bonds with Saito's men and Eames blocking all the exits. The latter team member was actually smirking at him, causing the investigator great discomfort.

'Would you stop doing that Eames? You'll give him a heart attack,' said Arthur, walking over to Eames and placing the camera down on top of the other equipment pieces.

Yusuf walked over to Ariadne and gave her an encouraging smile while Arthur and Eames started disputing over the reasons why the investigator was tied to Eames desk out of all the available spaces in the warehouse.

'Your parents seem nice.'

Ariadne looked at Yusuf, whose hair was still to shaggy for her liking. 'They are. It's just taken me five years to appreciate all that they've done.' Thanks Arthur.

'Just let us talk to her, please?'

Cobb and Saito glanced at each other before Cobb said, 'she's your daughter,' and the Blackwells rushed towards Ariadne to give her a hug.

Arthur broke off his argument with Eames mid-sentence to come over and stand next to Ariadne.

'It's been too long. We are so sorry,' said Ariadne's mother. Her husband smiled awkwardly by her side. 'We missed you Ariadne.'

Ariadne shook her head. 'I've missed you too. Let me introduce Arthur, he's Cobb's right hand man. Arthur, this is Fay and Mitchell,' said Ariadne, indicating her mother and father respectively.

Arthur shook hands with both, but he held onto Mitchell's hand for longer than necessary as Ariadne's father gave him a probing look.

'So, let's get down to business, shall we?' said Saito.

'About time,' commented Eames.

Saito asked the investigator to be escorted out. The look of relief on his face was evident, and he gave Eames a wide berth when he exited. 'Don't worry, he won't be talking to anyone about this,' said Saito.

Ariadne looked alarmed. 'No, he will not be harmed,' and Saito smiled at Ariadne's relief.

Their objectives were simple. Saito has highly ranked employees within his company that are potential targets for Extractions, especially in the Research and Design departments. Cobb will teach the tricks in mind defence; Eames will imitate characters that Arthur deems could be the weakest link in the subconscious, while Ariadne will design the layout of the dreamscape to suit the occasion and Yusuf will formulate the right sedative for each session.

'How many sessions do we need?' asked Ariadne.

'Depending on how fast the subject picks up on it but at least an hours' worth. So 120 hours of dream time over a course of a week?' calculated Cobb.

'120 hours? That's five whole days!' said Mitchell.

'It won't feel that long in the dream though,' added Arthur. Mitchell gave him a look of dislike, as if he wasn't entirely convinced.

'Father, don't worry. It's completely safe. Cobb's the best in the business,' said Ariadne, and she ended the discussion at that.

Cobb turned to Mitchell and asked, 'what kind of work do you do, Mr. Blackwell?'

'I focus on solar energy, harvesting it and incorporating that into my designs. Mr. Saito here, is opening up a small department in my hometown of California, and wanted me to lead it. I believe it'll be a very profitable investment, now that everyone is environmentally-conscious.'

'And I always protect my investments. He now only needs your help before he moves to Sacramento to start work,' said Saito. He turned to Ariadne. 'I'm sorry if this was so sudden for you. Mr. Blackwell here started in my company almost five years ago, being based in Los Angeles,' explained Saito.

'After a few vital designs that he had made, I decided that he'd be most qualified to head a solar-focused research department, to which his only request was that he'd work from his hometown. My background check discovered the investigator that was hired to follow you.'

Ariadne turned to her Father. 'But why?'

'Because that's what reminded us of you. That's when we hired an investigator to search Paris schools for you so that... so that you could come home, to your mum and me. We missed you so.'

'I'm sorry Father, about Alex -' started Ariadne, but her mother cut in.

'No honey, we are. We should have supported you and made Alex understand that. He didn't. There was nothing you could have done,' said her mother, and she hugged Ariadne again.

'Why don't you let us take you out for dinner, hrmm? Your mother and I never had the chance to celebrate your graduation,' smiled Mitchell. He glanced up at Arthur, who was still standing next to Ariadne, as if daring for him to ask if he could come too.

'Well, I should probably start work, you know, for tomorrow's training session.'

'All work and no play will make Ariadne a very dull girl. I'm sure the layouts can wait. The first dream doesn't need to be all that complicated that I'm sure even Arthur can manage,' said Eames, smirking in Arthur's direction.

'It'll be a late start tomorrow anyway. You go on ahead and catch-up with your parents,' said Arthur, smiling encouragingly and gestured towards Eames. 'Eames here will help me set up, which is boring and will probably take all night so...'

'Hey!'

'I second that,' said Cobb, who was putting on his jacket and was also ready to leave with Saito. Saito gave Ariadne a nod of appreciation and they left the warehouse, tailed with Saito's men.

'Yeah, okay. Pizza? I know of a good place.'

Mitchell Blackwell placed his arms lovingly around his daughter, while his wife did the same on Ariadne's other side, and they left the warehouse together.

He was watching the Blackwell family at the pizzeria, exchanging laughs and hugs with each other. He missed his family, but most of all, he missed Ariadne. 'I'll find a way, little sis, so we can travel the world and grow old together. I promise,' said Alex Black, and he drove off to find a way to get his sister back.

Post Scripts: Whew. 3000 words. I hope it's worth it, lol.

So I decided against a family feud. Ariadne has enough on her plate then to argue with her parents too. Just to let you know that I might or might not update again within this week (got stuff due next week) but I have already half-written the ending. It shoudn't take as long as this chapter, as this was the pivital part of the plot. Now for some action!

Oh, and I saw Inception for the 4th time last weekend. Still amazes me, the plot, the visual effects (or there lack off) and the 'rotating corridor'. I also managed to pick up that Eames is in fact a last name, where as the team is about to enter Eames' dream, Arthur says, after 'I shall lead them on a merry chase'; 'Have a good dream, Mr. Eames'. So that ends that discussion, though I'm still at loss for Eames first name, though I agree that it should be the lamest name ever, like Samuel Jr. (no offence to all the Samuel Jr.s out there that reads this).

The music that gets me through writer's block is the Inception and (500) Days of Summer soundtracks. Damn their talent.