Loving Her Part Two- Up Close

Chapter One

She's there. Sitting on a park bench near the Notre Dame. He is leaning casually against the huge cathedral. Hidden in plain sight. He is looking at her. Her eyes are wide with curiosity, like always, as she stares up at the beautiful piece of architecture he knows to be one of her favorites. She'd come here before, and this isn't the first time he's followed her here.

But it is the first time he's followed her here with the intention of talking to her.

The night before, he lay in his bed for hours staring at the ceiling. He knew he had to talk to her, no matter what. He had decided in the dark confines on his room that his days of practically stalking her were over. He was tired of not talking to her, tired of watching her go through her life without him. As far as he was concerned, she needed him. He could see a difference in her. There wasn't nearly as much light in her eyes or happiness behind her smile. She was different. Sadder.

Arthur wanted to be the one to make her happy.

He wanted to be the one to make her smile, to make her laugh. He wanted to spend all day, every day with her. He wanted to do everything with her by his side. She didn't just need him. He needed her too.

He watched as a little girl, no older than the age of 4, ran into a large swarm of pigeons in the middle of the plaza, sending them scattering everywhere. The birds flew everywhere while the little curl with curly brunette pigtails and a chocolate colored ballerina tutu laughed in glee, her mother chasing after her. This caught Ariadne's attention. Her gaze traveled from the magnificent glass windows and gargoyles to the sight before her. A small smile graced her lips as she peered at the little girl. Arthur suddenly pictured Ariadne holding a little girl on her hip, smiling down at her with love and adoration. A little girl with Ariadne's brunette hair and his own dark eyes. He shook the thought from his head soon after it entered.

He looked at her, surprised when her eyes suddenly snapped up in his direction. Almost as if she had heard his thoughts. Her eyes scanned the area near where he was. He was desperately hoping that she would see him so that he would have at least some excuse to talk to her. Her ever-curious brown orbs widened slightly when she caught his gaze. Her mouth opened a little in surprise and Arthur found himself pushing off the walls of the Notre Dame and slowly making his way past the dozens of pigeons and the little girl that was still giggling like mad. He had his hands in his pockets as he came up to her, never breaking eye contact. She stared up at him in awe, as if it was all a dream.

"Ariadne." He said her name and it tasted sweet on his lips. She didn't say anything. He watched with a small smirk on his face, slightly amused, as she fumbled around in her pocket and took out her bronze bishop. She set it on the bench beside her and flicked it over. Before it had even completely fallen she was up off the bench and had flung herself into his arms.

He stumbled back a bit as she caught him off guard. "Arthur," she muttered into his shirt, hugging him close. Arthur found himself wrapping his arms around her petite frame, not the least bit hesitant. He wasn't sure how long they stayed like that. Maybe seconds, maybe minutes, all he knew was that he had missed her too much for his own good.

Taking his hand and pulling him down on the bench with her, Ariadne began to speak, rapidly firing questions at him. "What are you doing here? How long have you been in town? Why didn't you come sooner? How is everybody else? How are you? Is there another job? Is it another inception? Did you miss me?" That last one caught him off guard.

He smiled at her widely, laughing lightly. "Which one of those do you want me to answer first?" She just smiled back. "Alright, in order then. I came to see you. I've been here quite a while. I actually came sooner than I was supposed to. Everybody is good. Cobb is with the kids, absolutely loving it. Eames is back in Mombasa, probably gambling away all his money from the inception. And, last I heard, Yusuf is in New York visiting some family. I'm well, thank you. No there isn't another job, so naturally it's not another inception. And you have no idea how much I've missed you." He couldn't help but smile wider as a she blushed slightly, looking into her lap.

"I've missed you too." She smiled back up at him and neither of them said anything for a minute, just savoring each other's company. "So, when you said you've been here a while and that you came sooner than you were supposed to what did you mean?"

"Well, I've actually been here for almost two months," he stated tentatively. He was dreading telling her that he had been following her around, but felt that it'd be easier to just get it off his chest. The sooner the better. "I've sort of been trailing you."

"What?" She was upset. "Why didn't you come talk to me sooner?" Apparently not for the reasons he expected though.

He stared at her incredulously. "Ariadne, didn't you hear me? I've practically been stalking you for two months! Doesn't that bother you?" She was by far one of the strangest girls he had ever met.

"The only thing that bothers me is that you didn't come see me! I told you, I missed you, Arthur." He became all too aware that her hand was still in his.

When he didn't say anything, she went on. "So, why have you been stalking me?" She was smirking slightly, teasing.

His mind was going crazy, urging him to tell her the truth. She deserved that form him at the very least.

"Ari," since when did he call her that? "I can't get you out of my mind. You're all I ever think about. For days after the Fischer job the only thing playing through my head was you, the way you kissed me in the dream. I don't know what this is or why I can't stop it but all I know is that I need you."

She just looked at him. Her eyes were wide and she was speechless. She opened her mouth to say something, anything, but before words could come out he was already on his feet.

"You know what, I'm sorry. I don't know what I was thinking. This is crazy. I'm sorry I've been following you around. I promise to leave you alone now." Before she could comprehend what was happening he was halfway across the plaza, going back the way he had come.

He was mentally beating himself up. What were you thinking? Did you see the way she was looking at you? It's obvious she doesn't feel the same way. You're such an idiot, Arthur. He couldn't get her surprised and slightly confused look out of his mind.

"Arthur!" He turned around only to have the full force of Ariadne throw into him once again. He automatically put his arms around her, trying to keep them from falling to the ground. He was almost instantly attacked by her lips. She kissed both of his cheeks before finally finding his mouth in a series of hot, passionate kisses. Surprised, Arthur tensed before kissing her back with just as much passion. After a minute, she pulled back slightly. "I had a feeling you'd been stalking me, Arthur," she mumbled against his lips.

He smiled and kissed her some more.

So, here's the funny thing about this chapter. It was insane to write! First, I lost my mojo. I wasn't sure what I was going to do as far as them coming face-to-face for the first time. Then, when I got my mojo back, my computer decided to be all spazzy and freak out on me. I was halfway through when I got the message "Microsoft word has stopped responding." When it finally decided to respond, my computer randomly overheated and shut down so I had to retype half of what I already did! So anyway, it is now 2:17 am and I have to get up in 3 hours and 13 minutes for school. But, I promised myself I would get this chapter up before the end of the weekend. And, although it is technically Monday, I still worked super hard on this so whatever. It's not like there are very many people up right now reading anyway, so… I'm sorry this chapter took so incredibly long and I hope it was worth it, and I made it a little extra long just to be sure. Also, I better get some damn good review for this! Pretty please :)

Alright, I'm going to bed.

Night everyone!

Love, always,

(A very, very, very tired) May