10.

~ Arthur took Becky, at her request, to the family planning clinic to have the pregnancy terminated. They had the standardized three days to think it over, but Becky was sure she didn't want to have a child with him anymore.

It gave Arthur a very odd feeling, sitting in the waiting room as his wife end the pregnancy. He wondered if they were doing the right thing, would a child together be so bad? But the idea of being bonded together forever, by a child who they would only hurt, was not what they wanted anymore.

She was wheeled out of the doctor's office looking pale, and all she wanted to do was sleep.

The days that followed were better.

They had realized things were over, and they could survive it. They could be civil to one another and know that life went on.

Arthur paid the rent on the apartment for three months as she prepared to leave for California.

He moved to Philadelphia a few weeks after the horrible night of Ariadne's going away party and never saw his wife or lover again.

~ He got the divorce papers a few months later, by mail. and signed them happily. He was living in a tiny apartment in Philadelphia and working for a communication company. A rouge upstart that was run by a man Arthur aspired to be like. The CEO was only a few years older than Arthur and they were like brothers as he showed him the ins and outs of their work.

Arthur felt himself start to remember what it was like to be a younger man. A man with ambition and hopefulness. There were not enough hours in the day as his job had him busy and kept his mind learning new things.

Before Arthur knew what had happened, five years had flown by and he only thought about Ariadne a few times a week and Becky none at all.

He got an email from his ex-wife, detailing her life in California. She had re-married to a pro suffer turned plastic surgeon and was working in a law office. They had a new baby girl together named Blue of all things.

Arthur had to smile at the picture she had sent. Becky looked like a hippie with her long blond hair, her rich tan and her still crooked smile. The fat baby in her lap looked hungry as she stuck her tongue out at the camera.

Arthur was glad Becky was so happy. He wanted that for her with all his heart.

One day, his mentor Luke told him he had to go out of town.

"You're needed in our Chicago office." Luke told him

"Why?" Arthur grumbled as he tried to ignore a voice mail from a girl in the office who wanted to go out with him.

"Problems with this asshole who runs the thing." Luke said.

"Wait. Chicago?" Arthur asked.

"Windy city." Luke said with a scowl. "I can always send someone else."

"NO!" Arthur shouted and stood. "No, I'll go."

~ It was easy enough to find Ariadne. She still worked for the design team in Chicago. She had an online social media page which didn't reveal much to people who weren't her friends. She looked happy and healthy as always and Arthur quickly concluded his business with the company and went to her building.

'I'm just going to say hello. An in and out sort of thing.' he told himself as he walked to the lobby and front desk.

"I'm here to see Ariadne." he told the receptionist.

"I'm sorry, she's very busy this morning." The lady behind the desk told him.

"Tell her it's Arthur, from New York." he said.

A delicious tremble of fear went off in him as he wondered what Ariadne would do. How would she react, to seeing him again?

The lady behind the front desk called a number and spoke quietly to the other end.

"Sir? She'll be down in a moment." the woman said.

"I'll be here." Arthur told her with an easy smile.

He watched the stairs for his old flame to appear and was not disappointed when she made her entrance in a lovely white dress and black shoes that made her looked effortlessly chic.

"Beautiful as always." he said and stood to greet her.

"Good to see you again." she said as he kissed her cheek.

"I was hoping to take you out to lunch." he offered as she looked embarrassed.

"I... um." her cheeks went pink and she didn't look at him.

"Are you still mad about what happened at the party? I'm so sorry about it. Becky and I... the divorce is final now. She terminated the pregnancy." he told her.

Ariadne looked at him with a start.

"Did you make her do that?" she asked. "I know you didn't want to be a father."

"It was her idea actually. She and I both knew it was over on the drive home. We both decided to separate and get a fresh start." he said.

"So, no baby." she concluded logically.

"No." he told her.

"Are you happy about that?" she asked and averted her lovely eyes.

"Honestly? Sometimes I think we made the wrong choice. But most of the time, I know it was the best thing we could have done. She's remarried to some golden boy in California. They have a little girl and they live like hippie peace freaks. Named their daughter after a color." he told her with a laugh.

Ariadne gave him a smile.

"So, she's good." she said. "I'm glad."

"Yes, she's with someone who makes her happy. I never could, and she deserves to finally be happy." he said.

"Arthur." she said after taking a deep breath.

"Look, I didn't come here to pick up where we left off." Arthur interrupted. "I just wanted to see you. Get some closure."

"Is that all you wanted?" she asked worriedly.

"Are you seeing anyone?" he asked with a shrug.

"No." she said too quickly. "My life is different now."

"Mine is to. I've quit the company."

"That's wonderful." Ariadne said. A light coming back into her eyes as she approved of his new freedom.

"Yes, I feel like a new man." he told her.

"You look great." she admitted.

"So do you. Let me take you out to dinner." he offered.

"I've got plans tonight." she said

"Thought you said you weren't seeing anyone." Arthur questioned.

"Arthur, I never thought you would show up here. You made your intentions about the subject well known to me." she said and backed away.

"What subject?" he asked and moved forward.

Ariadne looked helpless.

"It's just... it was easier with you not knowing. I didn't want to burden you." she said.

"What are you talking about?" Arthur asked.

His skin prickled wildly like the hackles of a dog.

Deep in his heart of hearts, he knew.

~ In the day care center, they watched a little boy play by himself with building blocks. The other children were running around like wild heathens, but the child with a dark mop of hair was quite and still.

"How old is he?" Arthur asked as he watched his boy.

"Four." Ariadne told him. "He's smart to, he already knows how to read."

"Really?" Arthur breathed as he watched his son build a tower with careful precision.

"He want's to be an architect." Ariadne said with a proud smile.

"He's got talent." Arthur agreed.

They stood behind a two way mirror and watched their son like he was entrainment.

"Why didn't you tell me about him?" he asked.

His voice wasn't angry or upset.

"I was already in Chicago. You were out of my life." she said sadly.

"But I needed to know. It's my child." Arthur insisted.

"For all I knew, you were still with your wife. You were expecting a baby with her." Ariadne said.

She cast her large eyes on him.

"And you told me before, you didn't want to be a father." she added.

"I didn't want to have a child with Becky." Arthur corrected.

They exchanged hard looks and then went back to watching their son.

"Does he know about me?" he asked.

"Not really." Ariadne said.

Arthur nodded.

"What's his name?" he asked.

He was surprised at how calm he was.

"Daniel." Ariadne told him.

'Daniel.' he thought. The name ringing painfully loud in his ears.

'Daniel. Daniel. Daniel.' he thought over and over again as he saw another boy with dark hair. Dark hair that curled and eyes that were blind since birth.

"I already have a son named Daniel." he whispered.

Ariadne looked at him as the glass keeping them from their son shimmered and exploded.