4.

~ As soon as the sun was out, Ariadne put Dominic in his new pram and took him on a long walk around the neighborhood park. She was feeling instantly better from the four mile walk and glad she had skipped breakfast to make herself feel lighter. If she did this everyday, she would be back to her old size in no time.

Her joy was soon tempered by her husband's anger when she arrived home.

"Where were you?" he demanded harshly.

"Out for a walk with the baby." Ariadne said simply. Arthur looked angry and annoyed as Darcy hopped excitedly in her pajamas.
"Why is she not dressed?" Ariadne asked as Arthur scooped up the baby.

The Architect instantly tensed up at seeing her sleeping child pulled out of the nest of blankets she had built around him. Dominic made his baby sounds and fell asleep again in Arthur's arms.

"What are you doing?" She asked going to her husband and baby. Her heart racing at seeing her son in the arms of another. Even if the arms were someone she loved and trusted more then anyone.
"I'm just holding him. Ariadne, I woke up and you were gone. I didn't know where you were. Darcy still isn't dressed for school. I missed the meeting with the Team. I have an appointment with my broker later this morning. I was going to take Dominic with me. Give you a break. Do a little father son bonding." He said authoritatively.

"Absolutely not!" Ariadne barked. Her hands snaking into Arthur's arms prying Dominic back. "He's too little to be out with anyone but me. I still have to nurse him every two hours."

"That's what we got the breast pump for." Arthur said. Feeling left out of the bonding proses that feeding the baby brought.

"I said no, Arthur." Ariadne said. When the Point Man wouldn't release the baby right away, Ariadne glared cold daggers at him.

"Let him go, Arthur." She hissed. Snake like.

~ 'Who was this woman?' Arthur wandered as he let his son go to her arms. She was acting very strange and no at all like his beloved wife. His plan was not going so well.

"Darcy, go get dressed. You have school." Ariadne said as she cradled the baby close to her body again.

"No!" Screamed Darcy.

"Darcy." Arthur said in his firm tone the little girl always obeyed. "Listen to mama, go get dressed, now."

"No!" Darcy screamed again running into the kitchen and grabbing a box of her cereal. Toppling it all over the floor.

"Damn it." Arthur fumed as he pried the little girl out of the kitchen and carried her kicking and screaming back to her room.
He could hear the baby start to cry as Darcy screamed and started a full out temper tantrum. Darcy pretending to cry, Dominic crying for real. Ariadne soothing him as Arthur made Darcy dress in her school uniform.
"NO!" Screamed Darcy as Arthur tried to pull her stocking on.

"Ariadne!" Arthur shouted. "I need you!"

In all the chaos, Ariadne was in the nursery with the baby. Leaving Arthur to fend for himself.

~ Somehow, they made it out the door. Darcy arriving to school with a hastily packed lunch. Something Ariadne always did, for her, and which Arthur took for granted. The Point Man, completely missing not only his morning meeting with the Team, but meetings with his broker as well.

~ It was his job at the end of Darcy's school day to pick her up again. He had to listen to her elderly teacher tell him how Darcy had hit another child and had been acting out all day. The Point Man explaining about the new baby and how things at home were difficult right now.
"I see." The teacher said. "May I recommend a nanny. Just for a short while. My older sister works very well with children Darcy's age and she is available."

Arthur looked at the aged school teacher. Doubtful someone even older then her could care for a crazed house hold like the one he had that morning.

"I don't think that will be necessary." He said

The teacher shrugged.

"Suit yourself." She said. "But if Darcy's behavior continues, she will not be welcomed back."

"I understand." Arthur said gravely.

"Also, please make sure Darcy is bathed before she comes back to school again." The teacher added discreetly.

Arthur felt his face burn with shame as he took Darcy's hand and they drove home.

~ Mercifully, the house was clean and Ariadne had dinner waiting on them when they arrived.

"Darcy, didn't get a bath last night." Arthur whispered as he washed up in the kitchen. Ariadne looked at their daughter, her disaster of wild blond curls.

"Oh, I forgot." Ariadne said looking horrified. "I'm sorry Arthur, I was so busy with the baby." She told him with a quick glance at Dominic sleeping in his pram.

"Did you... did you go out for another walk?" He asked. Realizing that she had taken the baby out again. She looked tired and was sweating.

"Yeah, I think it helps him sleep." She told him. "Look, I'm sorry about the bath and this morning. I should have told you I was going out." She said giving Darcy a plate of spaghetti with richly steamed tomatoes. Arthur sat at the head of the table and noticed there were only two plates.

"Your not eating?" He asked.

"I ate already." She said taking the baby out of his pram. "I'll bath him, put him down, and give Darcy her bath after she eats."

"No!" Darcy screamed. "No bath!"

~ Ariadne already felt much thinner. She hadn't eaten anything at all that day except an apple and she could feel all the disgusting fat around her body melt away. She had walked another few miles in the park after Arthur had left. Soon she would be out of her maternity clothes and back to her pre-baby weight.

~ She gave Dominic his bath and forced a screaming Darcy into the tub next. Washing the little girl's main of curls till it shone. Darcy was much calmer now as Ariadne put her to bed. Hugging the Architect close to her and not letting go.

"Darcy, go to sleep." Arthur said softly kissing her goodnight. The little girl seemed soothed by the bath and her mama and papa's attentions. She went to sleep without further indecent.

~ "Are you coming to bed?" Arthur asked. Ariadne huffed.

"No, it's alright. I'll stay with him again." She said. "How was your meeting?" She asked barely turning to her husband.

"Well, by the time I got Darcy to school, it was over. But I managed to meet up with Cobb and Eames."

"That's good." Ariadne said leaning over Dominic's crib. "I'm sorry about this morning."

"Ariadne? Maybe we should hire a nanny. Just for a few weeks. Till everything settles down." Arthur said standing beside her.

Her head snapped up.

"What?" She asked in amazement.

"It's just that with Darcy and the baby, this morning was crazy." He tried to explain.

"You think just because we had a bad morning that I can't do this? That I'm a bad mother?" She asked. Her eyes welling up.

"No, your a wonderful mother, just I think it might make thing easier." Arthur offered.

"No. I'm not letting anyone else take care of my baby." She said coldly. "Good night." She offered lamely.

Arthur, understood himself to be rudely dismissed. He let out a frustrated grumble and left. Yet again returning to his empty bed. His plan was not going well at all.