4.
~ Arthur knew Ariadne hadn't left. He knew in his bones she wouldn't. She liked her new home too much and she wasn't totally offended by the idea of being with him.
Nor he her.
He liked how pretty and comfortable she looked in the apartment. How she wore that old sweat shirt and had no bra on under it. He liked how... human she looked.
Her home was comfortable to; he liked being there. There was no outrageous theme and she had, so far, kept everything very tidy. She was enjoying everything the Demeter provided and she might not want to leave.
'Maybe she'll stay after the child is born.' he thought as he rode the elevator up to her floor.
~ The hall that housed her apartment was mostly empty for a reason. It would not do for an outsider to know her neighbors too well. Tom, who headed up the gourmet grocery and who stocked the kitchen said she had already been exploring and found them. Arthur had kept her away by sending up groceries to her apartment.
He would have to think of ways to keep her occupied. A spa day perhaps or maybe he could take her out. They had already locked off the family parts to the apartments. Her access to the other floors was limited, but she was still an outsider and already knew too much.
~ Ariadne had been cooking all afternoon. She wasn't used to making nice meals and found a cooking show that made it look easy. The grocer didn't provide red meat, which she found odd, and instead, sent up a well butchered goose.
She wasn't used to preparing anything so elaborate as this. It was a project of seasoning and basing the large bird.
She managed to pull of the roasted potatoes and other vegetables. The artisan bread just needed to be warmed.
She was quick to change as it was almost seven and she knew, even without knowing him very well, Arthur was always on time.
~ Right at seven, the bell rang. She imagined he had waited outside her door till it was the correct time.
She pretended to be indifferent to the hours she had spent cooking and picking out something to wear. She pretended she didn't care about the work she put into her hair, make up and other odds and ends to looking good tonight.
"I see you've decided to stay." Arthur said as she opened the door.
She saw his eyes rake down her body and appreciate the nice, simple dress she had on.
"I have." she told him.
"You look nice." he said as he came into the apartment.
"Oh, thanks." she said casually. "I've been cooking. I thought we could have dinner."
"Sounds lovely." he said with a warm smile.
She tried not to blush as she went to the kitchen and he followed.
"Is there anything I can help you with?" he asked as she checked over her goose in the oven. Her bird looked beautiful, crispy and golden in his pan. A wonderful wave of hunger passed over her as she saw him sizzling.
"Oh no," she said with graceful ease. "Everything is ready."
"Smells good in here." he added. "Can I set the table?"
"Sure." she said and nodded to the cabinet.
Arthur took down her newly purchased plates and flatware. The tasteful blue willow flowers looked flattering on the mahogany dinning table.
"I wanted a beef roast, but Tom said he doesn't carry red meat." she called out as she pulled the goose from the oven and readied the potatoes for the table.
"No, he wouldn't." Arthur called back as he came in from the dinning room. "Red meat isn't good for you. He only supplies fish, and poultry."
"No pork?" she asked.
"No."
Ariadne had to let that go. She loved bacon on her pizza. Another thing to give up for a year.
"You guys are health nuts here, huh?" she asked as she handed him the bowl with the side dishes to put on the table.
He laughed.
"We try."
"No sugar, no caffeine, no alcohol, no read meat or pork."
"I'm a vegetarian." he told her and they both stared at the beautiful goose that was ready to eat.
"Oh, Arthur I had no idea." she stammered and felt stupid for not asking.
"It's alright." he said. "I really appreciate the gesture, it looks wonderful."
"I should have asked!" she almost cried.
"You can eat it." he offered with a little smile.
"No, it's not fair to you." she told him as she stomach grumbled at the smell of the goose.
"Ariadne." he said sternly. "I want you to eat your dinner."
~ She had never eaten goose before and it was worth all the work. The meat was better than chicken, better than anything she had before. She could eat it every day, and with all the left overs, she might have to.
"So, have you thought about our arrangement?" he asked as he ate the steamed vegetables and potatoes.
"Yes." she said and avoided looking at him.
"And?" he prompted.
She let out a sigh.
"I'm going to do it." she said.
"You know all that this will entail, right?" he asked.
"You mean having sex with you? Having a child with you and then giving it up?" she asked. "Yes."
"You understand that after the baby is born, you will have no claims to it?" he added.
"I understand." she said sharply.
Arthur sat back in his chair and looked at her.
"Can I asked you why you chose me?" she asked as she finished eating.
Her companion looked surprised.
"You said you chose me. Why?" she asked.
"You're very smart." he said.
"There are smarter women." she said.
"You are also very... um... beautiful and have attributes I would like to see in my offspring." he said in a clinical way.
"So, you will be involved in the child's life?" she asked.
"Of course."
"Why won't I?" she asked. "I mean, why cut the mother out?"
"You said you didn't want to raise a child." he said.
"I don't." she said eagerly. "But, it's strange we would have a baby together and I would leave. Normally, it's the man who leaves."
"This is a unique situation." he said and drank some water.
"How so?" she asked.
"You're an outsider. You don't know our ways."
"What ways?"
Arthur shook his head.
"It's personal." he said.
~ She asked no more questions. Arthur helped her pack up the many left overs and put them in her fridge.
"I'm not used to cooking and didn't know how much to make for two people." she said lamely as they washed the dishes.
"It was very nice. Thank you." he said and he rolled up his sleeves and helped her dry.
She stole a glimpse at his forearms and held her breath.
'Is it wrong to be attracted to him?' she thought irrationally. 'Well, have to have...'
She shook her head. They were a long way from that aspect of the agreement.
"Do you think you'll be able to do it?" he asked as he neatly put the dishes away.
"Have sex with you? Sure." she said.
"No, not just that, but give the baby up." he said.
"Oh." she said and blushed hotly.
"Sure. I told you, I don't want to be a mother. The couple who are going to raise it, are they nice?" she asked.
"Very." he told her. "I've known them since I was young. They wanted children of their own but were not allowed."
"Not allowed?" she asked.
Arthur nodded.
"They have certain traits we do not want passed down to the next generation." he explained. "We're very selective in out group when it comes to breeding."
"Breeding." she whispered. "That's what this is really about, isn't it? Why you had me tested so much, why you were so selective, it's all about the breeding stock."
Arthur looked at her. That maddening way he had of looking her in the eyes and nowhere else.
"It's not too late to change your mind." he said.
"Do you not want this?" she asked.
"No, I've wanted this for years now." he said quickly. "It's why I came back, to have children. I didn't want a child with any of the women here, however."
"So you chose me, because I could go away?" she asked.
"It may not lead to that." he said.
"What do you mean?"
"I can't talk to you about that just now." he said and his hands with to his pocket as he looked awkward in her her cheery kitchen.
She stood in front of him, very aware of what they were in each others company to do.
"So, what happens now?" she asked.
~ "I love your sketches." Arthur said as they lounged in her living room like a pair of over pampered cats.
Arthur had the radio on and the soft rhythm of sixties music made Ariadne feel more at ease. Freer and stronger somehow.
"Thanks." she said as she sat cross legged on the floor. "I've been working on them for a few years now, I wanted to be an illustrator when I was little. Do all the nice drawing in kids books."
"Why don't you?" he asked as he looked over her detailed drawings of animals.
"Can't earn a living like that." she said sadly. "Have to be realistic."
"So you draw for fun?" he asked. "You're very good at it."
The song ended and Hendrix started to sing "All along the watchtower".
"I know a way we can get to know each other better." Ariadne volunteered.
"How?" Arthur asked hopefully. They had gone through her sketch books, and talked a little. They were running out of things to say.
"We can play deserted island." she said.
"We're not going to discuss who we'd eat first and why, are we?" he asked.
"No." Ariadne said unphased by the horrible idea. "No, it's if you were on a deserted island with only three movies, three TV shows three books and three other castaways who would have a good skill to help you survive. Now, what would they be? Keep in mind it's not your favorite movies and books, but the only three you'll have for the rest of your life."
"Is there any hope of rescue?" he asked.
"No. So these have to count." she said.
"Humm." he said and leaned back on her couch. "What would you choose?"
"I asked you first." she said.
Arthur looked grumpy.
"I suppose it wouldn't matter about the movies or TV shows." he said. "The island wouldn't have electricity. So, for books, I would choose some sort of survival guide, and guide to edible plants. For other people... I suppose military people who would help me survive and get us rescued."
"Arthur! You're not playing the game right." she scolded. "Assume it's the island from LOST and you have electricity and the comforts of home in your little Darma house."
"You didn't say it was the island from LOST, you specified deserted island." he said.
She let out a groan and buried her face in her hands.
"Well, what would you pick?" he asked.
"Movies? That's easy: Pride & Prejudice, the one with Mathew McFadden in it. Colin Firth can suck it." she said proudly. "Wizard of Oz and Casablanca."
"Why do girls love Mr. Darcy so much?" Arthur grumbled.
"Because he's awesome, don't interrupt." Ariadne scolded and he gave her a teasing grin.
"TV shows, I'm going with the Simpsons, Buffy and Downton Abby." she went on.
"Books?" he asked.
"That's harder, I'll have to get back to you on that." she said.
She smiled at the sound of a deep chuckle.
"People?" he asked.
"Let's see, My friend Samantha from school, and maybe a couple of hunky guys to build us shelter and find food for us." she said as an after thought.
"Very good." Arthur laughed.
"Now you." she insisted.
"I'm not good at this." he floundered.
"Come on."
"Well, I like documentaries." he offered hopefully.
"Movies?" she asked.
"I liked Gladiator... the Matrix... and Ocean's Eleven even though it never would have worked in real life, I liked it." he told her.
"Books?"
"I don't really read a lot of fiction. I like technical books. How to build things." he said.
"So you're a thinker." she laughed. "That's very cool. What is it you do?"
He was silent for a long time.
"I do a lot of things. It's best not to talk about." he said.
She felt her face fall in surprise as he put his jacket back on and prepared to leave.
"I should be going. Would you like to see each other tomorrow?" he asked.
"Alright." she said sadly as she stood.
She didn't want him to go. A strange part of her wanted him to stay the night.
"I'll bring the food next time." he offered as she walked him to the door.
"Okay." she whispered as she showed him out.
"Good night, Ariadne." he said and kissed her politely on the forehead.
Her heart raced as he gave her a comforting look of goodbye and left.