Arthur turned off the engine and peered out of the window, he could only just see over the hedge into the front yard that homed children's bikes and a large paddling pool. As ashamed as he was to admit it, Arthur's heart was racing at a dangerous speed. It had been over a year since he last saw Ariadne or Cobb, although it felt like last week since they incepted Fisher's mind.

With a deep breath Arthur stepped out of the car. He walked slowly to the gate, making sure that she wasn't in the garden. What he did find was James and Phillipa; they had grown so much since he last saw them, they both looked so much like Mal. As he walked across the path to the door, James and Phillipa stared at him, they clearly didn't remember him even though he used to be like an uncle to them. The staring eyes that followed Arthur didn't help him calm down at all, by the time he reached the door he felt like he might start hyperventilating. He hated the fact he cared so much, he hated that his heart was racing; he hated that when the door opened all he wanted to see was Ariadne.

"Arthur!" Cobb threw his arms open for an embrace when he opened the door. Arthur smiled and hugged him back, although a year had been added to his age, Cobb had never looked better.

"It's nice to see you again, Dom." Arthur stepped inside and kept his eyes glued to Dom.

"You too, Arthur, it's been too long." He patted Arthurs arm and led him into the kitchen. Arthur did a cautionary glance around the kitchen to ensure that Ariadne wasn't there, when he found it empty his muscles relaxed and his shoulders dropped. "You're lucky you came today, Ariadne is leaving tonight." Arthur frowned, he knew that. That's why he came today, but he couldn't trace where this knowledge had come from.

"Why is she leaving early?"

"I don't know, I think she's going to her parents. It's really great news about her graduation. This reminds me, I need a private word with you later." Cobb's frowned and he seemed uptight about something.

"What's wrong?"

"I'll tell you when Ariadne leaves." He ended the conversation and the smile appeared back on his face. Arthur heard a bang, like a cup smashing, he looked up and saw Ariadne holding a half smashed cup.

Ariadne frowned at the mess she'd just made; only she could smash a cup on the door whilst walking through it. She heard Dom laugh and she gave him an apologetic look.

"Arthur!" She said happily with a large smile when she saw him leaning against the counter. His face held a small smile but he looked conserved, nope, he hasn't changed. She would have hugged him, but she remembered the phone call to well.

"Ariadne." Arthur nodded, his smile growing.

Ariadne was frowning at the floor; Arthur had never known her be clumsy before. He wanted to rush over and help her pick up the broken cup but instead he kept his place as a statue against the counter. He heard Cobb laugh, but his eyes stuck to Ariadne, the woman that never left his mind. She gave Cobb a guilty look before her eyes landed on Arthur. As soon as their eyes met Arthur's heart rate doubled and his chest ached. A small smile had crept over his lips despite his best efforts to keep it blank; he tried to fight against it.

"Arthur!" she called, a big smile spread over her face. "

Ariadne." He nodded; he couldn't stop the growing smile as her name rolled off his tongue.


Arthur was sat on a small bench, Ariadne was sat in front of him at a picnic table with James sat on her knee. He observed her, how she had changed. Her hair was longer and a shade darker than he remembered. She was still tiny, although you could now tell that she had passed through adolescence unlike last time he saw her. It made Arthur feel better; he didn't feel as if he was in love with a school girl. And as always, she was wearing her signature item, a scarf. James jumped off her knee and ran into the house; Ariadne turned and watched him, a large smile on her face. Arthur dropped his eyes before he was caught looking at her, he forced himself to look at his hands whilst he twiddled his thumbs. When he felt someone sit down next to him he looked up, Ariadne had sat next to him. Arthur looked at the short distance between them, a few inches at the most.

"How have you been, Arthur?" She asked, searching his eyes.

"I've been good, congratulations by the way." A genuine smile showed itself.

"Thank you," Ariadne blushed slightly. "I can't believe it's been a year since inception."

"I know me neither. It's flown by."

"After about six months I didn't think it was going to work."

"These things take time."

"You've not changed." Arthur turned to look at her, she was studying him closely.

"Would you expect me to?" Ariadne's face turned serious and she leaned closer to Arthur, he held his breath and forced himself not to touch her hand.

"Are you still doing jobs? Can I join your team?" she whispered desperately.

"No, I've stopped." Arthur leaned back and crossed his arms.

Ariadne pushed her hair back and sighed.

"I miss it, Arthur." She said quietly, like a confession. Arthur wanted to comfort her, to give her a hug and kiss her forehead or even just put a hand on her knee, but he held himself back. Only once had he ever lapsed and lost control of his body. "Do you remember when I came back to the workshop in Paris? And you showed me to Penrose steps?" Arthur nodded. "And we said that it was just-"

"Pure creation?" Arthur finished, smiling with understanding.

"When you stormed out Cobb said you'd be back, he said that reality wouldn't be enough for you anymore. I don't think he anticipated what would happen after the Fisher job."

"How do you do it? Cope with reality when you know there is so much more out there?"

"You've got to remember what's real. Things change, you just have to keep the memories."

"I want it back so much, it ended so quickly. I feel limited in reality, I know I can't bend structures or make impossible architecture."

"I know, after a while you will sink back into reality and it will be enough for you." Arthurs hand rested on her knee despite all his fighting to keep in on his own person, she seemed oblivious to it so he left it for a minute.

"I can't even talk to anyone about it; I daren't talk to Cobb about it because I know he'll tell me not to go back, I haven't talked to Eames. This is the first I've talked to you."

"Ariadne, if you ever need to talk to anyone about this, you can just call me."

"Thank you Arthur, I've really missed you." Ariadne threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. Arthur froze for a second before loosely holding her too. Ariadne was glad that Arthur didn't hate her; she thought that after the awkward phone call he did, he'd never been that cold to her before.

The hug lasted a long time. Arthur wasn't sure if she was crying or just happy to be able to talk to someone. Finally her arms slacked and she pulled away. She looked tired, Arthurs hand was about to push some hair away from her face but he dropped his hand just in time; it took ever strength he had.

"Why are you leaving early?"

"I'm going to see my parents while I'm here, then I'm going back to Paris."

"Why don't you just stay over here? You've graduated now."

"I have to get back to Paris... I have to get back to Sam." Arthur froze, a wave of jealousy spread over him.

"And Sam is?" He kept his voice light to hide the envy seeping through.

"Sam is my boyfriend."

Arthur had excused himself and gone to the bathroom. Ariadne had a boyfriend. This thought kept replaying itself through his mind. He knew that he had no right to be jealous; she didn't know that he was completely head over heels in love with her. And tonight, she was going to slip through his fingers straight into his. He took a few deep breaths and left the bathroom telling himself to act casual. He found Ariadne in the kitchen making some sandwiches. "Want some?" she asked, pointing to the bread she was buttering.

"Sure." Arthur lent on the counter near where she was.

"What do you want on it?"

"Tuna and pickle please." Ariadne pulled a face and laughed.

"That's disgusting." She laughed.

"You're disgusting." Arthur poked her arm.

"Oh, I'm so offended." Ariadne giggled sarcastically.

"Should be, what are you having?" Ariadne was quiet for a while with a small smile on her lips.

"Cheese and jam." Arthur burst out laughing and Ariadne rolled her eyes.

"You want to talk about disgusting."

"Shut up, idiot." Ariadne muttered.

"Oh, you're bringing out the big guns now."

Tuna and pickle had always been Arthurs favourite, since he was about four. But cheese and Jam? He laughed at the thought. Ariadne glared at him across the table, about to take another mouthful.

"What now?" she asked annoyed.

"Nothing." Arthur laughed again as she rolled her eyes.

"You two are like a couple of kids." Cobb commented.

"Repeat... Arthur is like a child." Ariadne looked her watch out of habit. "I think that I best go now."

"What? It's only two?" Cobb said checking his watch. Arthur's heart started beating faster and his eyes stayed glued to Ariadne just in case this was the last time he'd get to see her.

"I told my mom I'd be there for five, it takes three hours." Cobb stood with Ariadne as she walked to the door. Arthur followed shortly after.

"Thank you so much for letting me stay over, Dom." She hugged him in a tight embrace.

"You're welcome here anytime." Cobb said seriously before stepping aside for Arthur. Ariadne hugged him too.

"Thank you." She whispered into his ear.

"Call me, anytime." He whispered back, squeezing her tightly. She kissed his cheek and let go. Arthur wanted nothing more than to hold on to her and never let go. He wanted to be with her, to protect her, love her. Ariadne opened the door and stepped outside. "Bye guys." She said quietly, and then she turned and walked away. Arthur watched her walking away, probably forever. His chest ached, he felt like a kid that had just been offered candy then had it snatched away.

Cobb shut the door and turned to Arthur, the serious expression implanted back on his face. "Arthur, I think we have a problem."

"What is it?"

"Fisher was supposed to be the last job right? But Browning has found out what's happened-"

"What! How the hell has he worked that out?" Arthur shouted a little too loudly.

"I don't know, he won't tell me." Cobb pinched the bridge of his nose.

"But he is blackmailing me, he wants us to a job or he is going to tell Fisher and then he is going tokill us, each and every one of us. I need to reassemble a team and do this one job, then it's done."

"What does he want us to do?"

"Browning is broke; he's lost all his money. He has a gambling problem, but his half brother is dying, he is very rich because he inherited about 3million dollars when his father died about three years. So browning wants us to plant an idea in his head."

"He wants to make his half brother leave him all the money." Arthur concluded, frowning.

"Exactly," Cobb walked into the sitting room and sat down. "I wouldn't pull you into this unless it was completely necessary, I just can't risk not doing it, for James Phillipa and even Ariadne."

"Why didn't you tell Ariadne about this?" Arthur asked leaning on the door frame.

"I'm not pulling her into this, this is dangerous Arthur." He warned.

"It's a lot more dangerous without her Dom." Cobb sighed and bit his nail.

"We can find someone else; there is no reason why we should drag her into this."

"She is already in this anyway. Besides, we both know that she is the best architect." Cobb considered this for a moment and breathed out sharply.

"You're right; I'll call her before she leaves her parents... Oh and Arthur? I think you're going to need your totem."