A/N: Hey Everyone!

Sorry it's taken so long for me to post a new fic (it was the holidays, I was too busy eating). Not to mention, I was a little uninspired. But I'm back, ready to attack, with Chapter 4 of this lovely fic!

I wanna say, Hi, to my readers! To my lovely third reviewer! And to all of you awesome folks who have favorited me/this story - I see each of you and you make my heart warm! I'm sending electronic singing telegrams your way!

FYI: This chapter's laced with crack. Don't worry, it's just their pre-inception jitters. ALSO: one of the characters says the word 'fag,' absolutely no insult is meant by this. The character is English: Fags = cigarettes! Also, this might confuse a few people who are not familiar with Jamaican or English pudding, but the pudding mentioned in this story more resembles a fruitcake than the goopy sweetness sold by the Jell-O brand.

Enjoy!

-RaifandRosefan


Chapter 4: The Terrace

30 minutes later, Arthur has won over Ariadne and Eames using undeniable logic and a rarely seen emotional plea. That's the most emotion I've ever seen from him, Eames reflects, he even started to yell. It was astonishing, really.

Ariadne fiddles with the tear in her shirtsleeve where the bullet has torn through it. The stress of the day is beginning to wear on the architect.

Eames turns lazily in his chair, "Zelda, would it be alright if I lit a fag?"

Smiling, Zelda removes the cigarette from her lips, "How polite of you to ask, Eames. By all means! Have a go! You all may smoke, if you like," she casually offers the pack of cigarettes on the table to Arthur and Ariadne. Arthur lifts his hand politely in refusal, "No thank you."

Ariadne considers the offer. She looks to her bandaged arm and thinks again. "I'd love to, but I probably shouldn't."

Zelda looks at Ariadne's crimson sleeve and smiles sympathetically, "That's probably best."

Ariadne looks to her left, past Eames, through two large French doors to a beautiful terrace, overflowing with green plants and swathed in long vines. "Zelda, may I go outside?"

"Of course, dear," Zelda gets up from her seat and opens the door to the terrace for Ariadne.

"Thank you," the architects utters, as she steps onto the terrace. Zelda returns to the table and the two men sitting around it. The silver-haired woman deftly places the empty teacups onto a silver tray.

Arthur watches Zelda as she takes the tray into the kitchen. Eames' cigarette rests casually between his index and middle finger. The forger takes a puff of his black cigarette before speaking.

"If this inception is going to happen... we're going to need help. We'll have to call in favours."

Arthur looks from Eames to the dark silhouette of the woman standing on the terrace looking over the banister. Arthur considers Eames' statement then adds, "Cobb's gonna have to come out of retirement for this one. And it won't be easy convincing Yusuf -"

"Don't worry about Yusuf," Eames smiles mischievously, "I've got it sorted."

Arthur turns to face the forger, a warning expression on his face, "Eames, I'd prefer if you don't blackmail our chemist."

"Oh, I wasn't thinking that," Eames refutes cunningly, "He just... owes me, is all."

"Eames, whatever you're planning... it better not jeopardize the mission."

"Thanks for the advice, mum" Eames quips, "But I'm not a daft as you think."

In the kitchen, Zelda yells to her guests in the living room.

"If you need an extra hand, I wouldn't mind helping. I could join your team - temporarily of course. Perhaps I could call in a few favours from some old friends?"

Arthur smooths his shirt before yelling to the kitchen, "Zelda, we couldn't think of imposing on you anymore than we already have."

"Nonsense, I want to help! Besides, I've grown fond of her, your architect. She's a tough one! I wish there were more girls like her in the business when I started. God knows extraction could've used more estrogen in those days."

Cigarette-in-mouth, holding her silver tray, Zelda reappears. She has cut four large slices of pudding for herself and her guests. Zelda walks toward the table, she rests her cigarette on the edge of the ashtray, "I figured everyone could use a bit of cheering up," Zelda lowers her tray, "So I've sliced up some of my world famous pudding," she gives both men their plates, "- but please, do not get any on my seating, I just had them cleaned."

Eames happily bites into his pudding. Arthur receives his plate, satisfaction burning behind his eyes, "Zelda, we'd be honored to welcome you - and your world famous pudding - to our team."

"I concur," Eames adds before shoving yet another forkful into his mouth. Arthur takes out his phone and begins to dial a number...

Zelda looks at Ariadne who still stands on the terrace, looking out over the dark park and sleeping buildings in Zelda's quiet corner of Paris. Zelda picks up her plate and Ariadne's before walking out to the terrace.


Ariadne looks back at the French doors upon hearing them open. Zelda steps out, closing the door behind her.

"Hi," Ariadne breathes.

"Hello," Zelda muses as she walks over to the table set up with two chairs in the corner of the terrace. There, she sets down their plates of pudding and takes a seat. Ariadne walks over to the table, grabbing the other seat. She watches Zelda take a bite of the dark object on her plate, her eyes brighten as she recognizes is the yumminess before her.

"Pudding!" The architect exclaims, "Eames told me about your pudding-" Ariadne takes a large forkful of the pudding, the delicious pudding, "He told me it was good, but... holy fuck! This is good!"

Zelda laughs mirthfully at the architect's enthusiasm.

"Thank you, my dear! It's taken many years to perfect this pudding. It's a Frasier family recipe."

Mouth full of the delicious pudding, Ariadne offers up an idea, "Y'know? You should sell this pudding! You'd make millions with this recipe! I swear! Most of that money would probably come from me!"

"Well there's an idea..." The wise dreamer muses, "I could open up a shop here in Paris - a little English pudding place..."

"And you could call it just that!" Ariadne enthuses, "The Pudding Place... kinda has a ring to it, no?"

"Yes, I'd say it does," Zelda sets down her not-yet-finished plate of pudding. Seriousness has returned to the older woman's face. Ariadne stops eating, mid fork-full. The architect swallows what pudding remains in her mouth and looks up at the older woman before continuing to examine the contents of her own plate. "Is something wrong, Zelda? Did I say something? If I did, I apologize."

"Dear, you said nothing to upset me."

Ariadne exhales, relieved, "Okay, good. So, what's bothering you?" Ariadne waits for a response. It comes after a pause.

"Call it female intuition," Zelda starts, "but I have a feeling you're more disturbed by today's events than you let on."

Ariadne thinks before speaking. "Um, well... I guess I am a little upset... I mean, people did try to kill me twice today. And I got a bullet through my arm." Ariadne's smiles a mirthless and uncomfortable smile, "That's not something you just get over, y'know? Not to mention-I... killed someone." Ariadne pushes the rest of her pudding around her plate, the fork scraping against porcelain. "No matter how many times you do that in a dream, it never feels okay in real life. The guy doesn't just wake up, y'know?" Ariadne looks at Zelda. The woman's head rests on one of her hands as she looks pensively at the architect.

"I do know. I know well..." Zelda exhales and walks over to the banister, "But there's more you're not telling me..."

"I don't know what you mean," Ariadne walks over to the old dreamer.

"There's a pain in you, I see it." Ariadne shifts her stance slightly, "I mean, you hide it bloody well, and you certainly have the boys fooled...," Zelda leans toward Ariadne, "But, you don't fool me. Not even for a second. You messed up. You're in over your head, and it's all your fault. It always is, isn't it?"

"Look," Ariadne snaps, "I am grateful for your help, Zelda, but don't think that allows you to speak to me however you'd like. I know I messed up. I made a mistake. And if I recall correctly, you've made a few mistakes yourself. So, don't you dare stand there and judge me!" Ariadne walks across the terrace, stopping to pick up her plate, "Thank you for the pudding," Ariadne enters the apartment.

The grey-haired woman looks to the ominous moon shining over the city. She exhales sadly, "Well done, Zelda. Well done."


Ariadne enters the apartment and crosses to the kitchen.

"Enjoyed the fresh air, mate?" Eames asks expectantly, a content look on his face.

"It wasn't bad," Ariadne answers from the kitchen, before returning to the seat she had vacated.

"Eames you were right," the architect admits as she settles into her seat.

"Aren't I always? What about?"

"Zelda's pudding is fucking ridiculous!" Ariadne gushes to the forger.

"See, now - I told you, didn't I?" Eames smiles a teasingly cheeky smile.

Ariadne smiles playfully at the forger.

Zelda enters the living room, plate and teacup in hand. The two women exchange an odd glance as Zelda crosses to the kitchen. Eames and Arthur watch the women in this brief and silent exchange.

"Something wrong, Ari?" Arthur ventures.

"No, not at all," the architect answers naturally. "So, back to inception. Guys, we're gonna need Cobb and Yusuf for this."

"I just called to confirm, you and I are headed stateside tomorrow. We're paying Cobb a visit."

"I thought you were on the 'No Fly' list..."

"Low friends in high places, Ari," Eames shoots her a cryptic look. Ariadne nods in remembered understanding.

"What time do we leave?" Ariadne turns to the point man.

"Plane departs at 9am. We'll leave here around 6 am." Ariadne looks at her watch. It's 2:03 in the morning. Crap.

Ariadne thinks for a moment, "What about Yusuf? How are we gonna get him on board? There's no payout for this mission."

"I'm handling it."

"Eames, I don't think you should blackmail our chemist."

"Ariadne, the man owes me."

"Fine, Eames. Just, don't do anything stupid."

Eames scoffs humorously, "I wouldn't dream of it."

"Well then, I'm gonna get some sleep," Ariadne says standing, "See you in a few hours."

Ariadne walks around the coffee table and down a hallway, entering the guestroom of the crumbling apartment where Zelda has set up a bed and with a blanket for her.

Zelda enters the living room. Arthur and Eames watch the woman take a seat in her chair.

"What was that look between you and Ari, a moment ago?" Eames asks.

Zelda looks at her guests, "Oh, It seems I overstepped my boundaries a bit, went too far. I'm certain I embarrassed myself. It doesn't matter anyway. She cussed me out, as she should, and I think we're on our way to being friends, now."

"I remember our first argument," Eames reflects, "You had insulted my mother. You called her a whore, if I remember correctly."

"Loose woman, Eames. I said she was a loose woman."

"I remember your use of the word 'whore,'" Eames insists.

Whore? Arthur sits up in his seat. "You called Eames' mother a whore?"

"A loose woman, yes."

"Why?" Arthur smiles.

"Because she was! If only you'd known her as a teen. I had to beg your mother not to go home with random strangers she'd met at parties nearly every night of every weekend! Your mother knew no bounds, Eames."

"Your account of her sounds nothing like the woman who raised me."

"Of course not! She'd settled down when she met your father. The relationship changed her for the better, I think. Now, let's not wallow in the past. You two need to get some rest. I expect you to call me when you lot are back in Paris. Hmm?"

"Of course, Zeze," Eames drones sleepily.

Zelda walks over to her linen closet where she pulls out two sheets and pillows. She tosses one of each to Eames and Arthur. "Goodnight gentlemen," Zelda enters her room, closing the door behind her. Within seconds, the point man and the forger are asleep in the living room. Arthur has sprawled out on the couch. Eames sleeps in his comfortable chair with his feet on the coffee table.

The apartment is silent. Paris is silent.


A/N: I know, I know, I know! You want action! And I want to give you action sequences like no other! Blame the characters, they hijacked the story (HEY *Kanye shrug*). There's good news: we're about to reunite the team (YAY!). I tried to make this chapter interesting and humorous (maybe cracky). Hope it worked! More to come!