So I went back and added a little extra part at the end of chapter 9 which seemed to fit better there than in the beginning of this one. Also if I had added that here it would've made the chapter quite lengthy and I thought it would take away from the end in some way or another. Anyways, apologies for the wait on the update! But here is the conclusion and I hope you like it :)
"Arthur, come help me bring this box to the kitchen!" Ariadne called out. She brushed sweaty pieces of hair from her face and huffed as she sat on the bulking box marked KITCHEN STUFF. Ariadne was done trying to push the box down the hallway all by herself. Of course they could've had help from the movers but Arthur sent them on their way, saying that this should just be something special shared between the two of them. Although they had bought the house months ago, they had put off actually transitioning into the house until the wedding plans were complete.
She was just about to call out to Arthur again, unsure if he had heard her the first time, when she felt the box underneath her start gliding down the hallway. Ariadne laughed as Arthur came to a halt in the center of the kitchen, attempting to laugh but struggling due to his loss of breath.
"Is that supposed to impress me?" Ariadne teased as she eyed Arthur leaning forward with his hands on his knees. He was dressed casually in a paint stained t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants; Ariadne wore a plaid button down over an equally paint stained shirt with ripped jean shorts. They had attempted to paint the living room but obviously couldn't get through the task without having a little paint war of their own.
"Oh but I thought we were past feeling the need to impress each other?" Arthur said wickedly and winked.
Ariadne stood up from the box and walked over to Arthur as he stood up straight. She wrapped her arms around his neck and ran a hand through the back of his hair.
"Can you believe it? We're getting married in two weeks." she said with a grin.
"Yes. Yes I can."
"Feeling a little nervous about Eames' best man speech yet?"
Arthur frowned and his brow wrinkled. "I tend to try not to think about it."
"I'm sure it'll be wonderful. I don't think Eames would really do anything that embarrassing to you on your wedding day after all." she said.
"You can only hope for so much from him right?" he replied back with a chuckle.
They turned to face out the glass doors overlooking their backyard. The sun was beginning to set, casting the room in a warm orange glow. Ariadne leaned back against Arthur's chest, letting out a sigh. At first Arthur thought it was out of content but then Ariadne tilted her head to the side, allowing herself to look up at his face.
"What?"
"Do you think he'll come?" Ariadne didn't need to mention a name. Arthur automatically knew who she was referring to.
"Does it matter?" Arthur almost snapped and Ariadne immediately regretted bringing it up. She didn't want to ruin the wonderful day they just had together. She turned to stare back out the window, only her expression slightly tense. Arthur felt a twinge of guilt.
"I'm sorry." he mumbled softly.
"He's one of your best friends, Arthur." Ariadne said, disregarding the apology.
"And you think he'll just show up at the wedding, after nearly eight months of hearing nothing from him? I don't even know if that one job he ditched us for was successful." Arthur couldn't shake the spiteful tone in his voice and Ariadne cringed under his arms. She tried to keep her eyes focused on the setting sun, a ball of fiery reds and yellows engulfing the whole neighborhood in its warmth and beauty. But now there was a tension between the two of them that wasn't going away. Both of their thoughts drifted to their previous teammate and close friend; wondering and hoping that he was alright, but still stung by his former betrayal when he chose the job and their enemy over them.
Finally they broke apart. Arthur cleared his throat and then turned to the box marked KITCHEN STUFF. Ariadne watched him momentarily before kneeling down next to him and starting to help.
Three days. Three days. Arthur huffed out a heavy breath as he turned to run up a steep path in the sidewalk. It was early morning and he had slipped out of bed early to go for a run. The sky was gray and covered in clouds still, the air was damp, and the grass and plants were still covered in dew droplets. Three days until the wedding. Arthur wasn't usually one to get nervous but when it was something like this, he couldn't shake his cold feet.
He had no doubts that marrying Ariadne was going to be one of the best decisions of his life. He just wanted everything to be perfect. He knew how much Ariadne had been stressing, even though she did a pretty good job of covering it. He's just had an uneasy feeling growing inside of him as the wedding crept closer. He had blamed it on the nerves, making sure to hide it whenever Ariadne mentioned the wedding, but now that the wedding was three days away the unease was clearly evident.
Arthur inhaled slowly through his nose and out through his mouth. The sound of his feet against the pavement almost seemed amplified in his ears, matched with his heartbeat. Their house came into view up ahead on the right and Arthur recklessly crossed the road without bothering to check for oncoming vehicles.
As he neared the house, he noticed a black car parked in the driveway. There was a man standing idly out front, staring up the steps to the front door. Arthur's natural defenses kicked in and he broke out into a sprint. As Arthur pounded down the sidewalk the man headed up the steps and was just about to reach for the door when Arthur caught his attention.
"Hey!" Arthur's voice was low and sharp. As the man turned around Arthur halted to a stop, standing in the middle of their front yard.
"Um, hello Arthur." the man said. His familiar blonde hair was neatly combed back and the blue eyes that were cold as ice when Arthur had last seen them were filled with a certain regret, a longing for forgiveness.
"Cobb," Arthur's breaths were still heavy as his heartbeat began to slow. "What are you doing here?"
"I-I, uh, needed to talk to you." he replied.
"Okay. Let's talk." Arthur said holding out his arms, making no move to go inside. He feels like if they did, he'd just end up yelling and he didn't want to disturb Ariadne.
"It's a really nice house, Arthur. I'm glad for you two." Cobb said and this time he truly sounded sincere, not like last time in the warehouse.
"Cut the crap, Dom. You didn't wait eight months to show up out of nowhere to small talk." Arthur snapped.
Cobb stared at the porch and then walked down the first step. "That job failed horribly. I haven't been able to find work ever since. No one seems to trust my judgment anymore but I realized that I've given them every right not to."
He paused and Arthur's expression softened, waiting for him to continue. "But I didn't just come here to say that you were right, which you absolutely were though."
Another pause.
"And while I've been out of work… It's helped me realize that I should be home with my family, just like you said. I needed to stop flying all throughout the corners of the world just for the thrill of the dream. Now that Mal isn't a problem, dreaming was good again, almost like before. But I realized the relationship with my kids still wasn't. And um, thank you. For helping me realize."
Arthur stood there stunned, his feet sinking into the dewy ground. He had never heard Cobb sound this sincere before, or at least not for a long time. Cobb was waiting for a response but no words came out of Arthur's mouth, which was hung halfway open.
Cobb cleared his throat. The only sounds were that of the early morning. The rare sound of a car passing by, a bird chirping, the leaves rustling. Arthur finally realized that a sufficient amount of time had passed for it to have become awkward and snapped to attention.
"Wow. Dom, I'm really glad. That's good. And what about Scarlett?"
"Haven't seen her since. She could be anywhere. But this time it's alright with me."
The corner of Arthur's mouth turned up into a smirk. "You flew all the way out here to tell us all this?"
"I figured you wouldn't answer my calls. And… The wedding's in a few days isn't it?" Arthur nodded and Cobb continued. "If it's not a problem, I'd really like to be there for you two."
Arthur grinned and gave Cobb his response by walking forward and grabbing him in a hug. "None at all."
Ariadne and Arthur stood in the center of a gorgeous flower orchard surrounded by their closest family and friends. The pastor was just beginning the ceremony. His words seemed to mesh together as Ariadne took in the beauty of her surroundings.
"Is there anyone that would like to object?" They were words that Ariadne always thought were more of a rhetorical question rather than a literal one. The last place Ariadne would expect an answer would be at her own wedding.
Someone in the crowd cleared their throat and stood up, waving her hand in the air.
"Yeah. I've got something to say." The woman's hair flowed in long dark brown locks, cascading across her shoulders. Her eyes were a piercing green. Ariadne and Arthur looked at the person in scrutiny until they finally realized who it was.
Scarlett. She had hit an all-time low. How could she show up here? Ariadne felt her whole body go rigid along with Arthur's. How could she have not given up by now? Would she never leave them alone?
Ariadne steeled herself to personally march through the crowd and dispose of her before Scarlett had the chance to say anything when Eames came to the rescue, gently making his way from his respective best man position and through the crowd to take ahold of Scarlett's elbow.
"Darling, I told you not to drink too much. That comes after. Look what you've caused, c'mon now."
Scarlett opened her mouth to speak, almost as if she was ready to blurt out any words she could hurt them with, but Eames must've said something only she could hear because a look of intimidation flickered across her face as she shut her mouth. He grabbed her roughly by the arm, hoping no one would notice and began making their way out through a pathway in the hedges.
"Sincerest apologies, Arthur. I'll be sure to make it up to you in my speech later." Eames threw a charismatic wink causing hushed laughter to ripple throughout the crowd. Arthur's face went red but he breathed a sigh of relief, all his doubts about Eames being his best man dissipating. He had never been more grateful for Eames than in this moment. Ariadne watched Eames in admiration and then watched Arthur watch Eames in admiration before the pastor finally called everybody's attention again. She wondered what Eames had said to Scarlett.
The pastor carried on with the typical marital ceremony. Ariadne struggled hard to focus on his words but the reality of it all was absorbing Ariadne, overcoming her with emotions ranging from elation to disbelief that they were finally here. The one part that did catch Ariadne's attention was the part that would make it definite. The rings were held out to them and they tenderly picked up the one they would put on the other's finger. Arthur who had kept pretty strong throughout the ceremony so far finally felt the tears pricking his eyes as he watched Ariadne grin at the wedding band.
The pastor turned to Ariadne and spoke, "Ariadne, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband; in good times and in bad; in sickness and in health; for as long as you both shall live?"
Ariadne couldn't keep the silly grin spreading across her face as she stated, "I do."
It was Arthur's turn. She heard him inhale as the pastor continued. Her heart was pounding in her chest; she was sure Arthur could hear it.
"Arthur, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife; in good times and in bad; in sickness and in health; for as long as you both shall live?"
Arthur exhaled and looked Ariadne in the eyes as he put all the passion he could muster into the two simple words, "I do."
"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." the pastor said traditionally and Ariadne and Arthur wasted no time. Applause erupted. After sharing their memorable kiss and a few tears they pulled apart, hand in hand, starting to make their way down the aisle, ready to start a new chapter in their lives.
The reception was held in a large white tent in the midst of the adjoining garden. A stage and dance floor had been set up and twinkly white lights were set up all around the perimeter. It was everything and more that Ariadne had dreamed of. As the guests piled in from the numerous entrances of the tent Ariadne and Arthur's eyes scanned the crowd eagerly for Eames, to thank him and out of curiosity of what he said. Finally a pair of hands clamped down on both of their shoulders and the Englishman's voice sounded behind them.
They both noticed the grim look on his face immediately and Arthur felt his stomach drop.
"Eames, what happened?"
"She pulled a gun on me. I had no choice." Eames said flatly.
Ariadne paled visibly and Arthur's words caught in his throat. Cobb wandered over to them next wanting to be cued in also.
"She's dead?" Ariadne managed to squeak out.
Eames' eyes suddenly went wide. "Oh, sorry. Probably should've started with that. No she's not dead. But either one of us very well could've been if it was loaded. She just wanted to threaten you apparently, one last desperate measure. I told her if she ever showed up again within ten feet of any of us; I wouldn't hesitate to shoot her in the head."
"And you think you finally got through to her?" Arthur asked.
"Only time will tell." Eames shrugged and then flashed a grin.
The four of them maneuvered over to the head table and took their places. Waiters bustled around with trays of champagne and eventually Eames tapped his fork against the glass ready to begin the first toast.
Arthur grabbed Ariadne's hand tightly under the table and she smiled reassuringly back at him.
Eames swallowed, bowing his head politely, and began. "Well I'll start with the lady first. So where to begin with Arthur."
A ripple of laughter spread amongst the guests and Arthur felt his face redden but couldn't help suppress the smile on his face. He glanced over at Ariadne and she was staring up at Eames in admiration.
"Oh, he knows I'm kidding. He's very used to it by now. Anyways, Ariadne is one of the most clever, intelligent young women I've ever met and I've had the absolute best pleasure of getting to know her these past couple years. There has never been nor will there ever be a better match for Arthur than the young lady that sits before me."
Ariadne felt a few tears drip down her cheeks and Arthur reached over to gently brush them away with his thumb. She wrapped her hands tightly in Arthur's and they turned their attention back to Eames who was just beginning on Arthur.
"Now… Arthur. We go way back, how long I don't even remember. I'm absolutely honored that you chose me to be your best man. Truthfully if I were you I probably wouldn't have." Another ripple of laughter. "But I've never met anyone who has put up with me any better than you and for that well thank you. You deserve the best in this world and I believe Ariadne is that for you.
"For a long time I didn't ever think you considered us as friends, merely acquaintances. But in all the years I've known you I think it's fair to say that you aren't just a friend; you are my best friend. I wish you and Ariadne the absolute best and I know you two will be very happy. Congratulations again and good luck. Now let's eat, eh?"
Eames raised his glass to the two of them and before he was about to tip some of the bubbly liquid into his mouth, Arthur stood up and grabbed him in a hug. There was a soft applause which quickly dissolved into the buzz of talking and swing music from the live band filled the air. Eames patted Arthur on the back and as they pulled apart he noticed Arthur's misty eyes.
"My god, Arthur. I didn't know you had it in you."
"Shut up, Eames." Arthur snapped immediately.
"And right back to normal." Eames said with a chuckle. Ariadne stood up next and kissed Eames on the cheek while also enveloping him in a hug. "Well done." she whispered in his ear as he drew her in.
"Party time?" Eames asked with his eyes full of delight. "Or now that you're married are you too mature for that?"
Ariadne shook her head vigorously and began to lead the way towards the buffet. She seemed to forget everything about Scarlett's earlier interruption, not letting it dampen the perfect evening. She has Arthur and just a few of her closest friends, with nothing more she could ask for.
Thanks for reading! Reviews are always appreciated :)