Disclaimer: Inception does not belong to me.

Ariadne sighed, and rolled over. Arthur's breath was warm on the back of her neck, and she could feel his hand caressing her tenderly. He wrapped his arm around her, and pulled her close.

"Don't leave," he whispered, nuzzling the back of her neck. "Stay."

She turned, facing him. "Arthur, I'm not going anywhere," she said, gently, tracing her finger from his lips to the bootom of his chin. "You know that. I'm here, and thats it."

He nodded. "You say that, but..."

She stiffened. His response was melancholic, doubtful. Swallowing, she tried to lighten the situation. "I do, and I mean it." She cuddled closely to him, feeling the leanness of his body against her soft curves. "I'm not going to go, Arthur." She swallowed. A note of weariness was creeping into her voice, almost like a mother having to reassure a very young child.

"Well," he said, turning to her. "Once you're carrying my child, you can't really go anywhere."

Ariadne swallowed. Was that a threat? Had coming into the dream unlocked something inside Arthur? Something deep, primal? She nestled closely, trying to think of a reply. It sounded as though he wanted to keep her there, keep her with him. But eventually, she thought, they would have to wake up. Wake up, and face reality.

A reality where he was a prisoner inside himself, and she was free.

She shut her eyes. She didn't want that reality, she was sure of it. Suddenly, she realised that Arthur was speaking again.

"I wonder what they'll be like?" his voice was soft, almost dreamy. "They'll be dark, I'm sure. Hopefully they'll have your eyes."

She nodded. "Well, I hope they have your courage," she said, trying to sound lighthearted. "Your intellect."

"Your creativity." Arthur traced his finger along her face.

She nodded. "Yes."

He ran his finger down her body, and rested it flat on her abdomen. She shivered slightly. "Dom was sometimes insensitive when Mal was pregnant," he whispered. "I won't be. You'll be beautiful. Even more so than you are now."

She blinked. He was holding her as though she were a precious object. "I'll be huge," she warned him.

"Doesn't matter." He was still keeping his palm flat against her stomach. "You'll still be beautiful, trust me."

Ariadne felt him wrap himself around her, kissing his way up her neck. She closed her eyes, feeling his shaft lengthen and harden.

"OK," Andy muttered. "I've shaved you. Now, I'm sorry, but I have to wash you." Swallowing, he began to lift the bedclothes, taking in the sight of Arthur's body.

He sighed, looking at the other man with compassion. When he'd first been admitted, the Point Man had been toned, and muscular. Now he was slowly withering away, his ribs becoming more visible, and his collarbones prominent.

"I need to get that physiotherapist down here," the nurse said, half to Arthur, and half to himself. "Get you exercised. Help your muscle tone."

Sighing deeply, he began to gently swab at Arthur with the sponge.

Cobb and Eames walked. "We don't have long," the Extractor reminded the Forger.

"I know," Eames said, almost irritably. He cast a searching look around the neighbourhood. "Very compact, isn't it? Very neat, precise even."

"This is Arthur's dream," Cobb reminded him. "Ariadne created it, and he's filling it with his subconscious." He nodded. The suburban lawns were beginning to become sprinkled with people. A child riding a bicycle. Two teenagers walking along together. And, Cobb noticed, they were all beginning to throw him and Eames suspicious, if not hostile, looks.

"The projections," Cobb muttered. "Come on, we need to move faster."

"I thought they'd be looking for the dreamer," Eames commented.

"No," Cobb said, a puzzled look on his face. "Its him they want to protect."

"Amalia."

"Angeline."

"Aurora."

Ariadne giggled, and moved closer. "You sure its going to be a girl?"

Arthur nodded, fervently. "Yes. I want a daughter. A little girl, who I can spoil, and protect." He pulled her close again. "And she'll have dark eyes, and a sweet nature, just like you."

Ariadne swallowed. "Yes, Arthur."

"And when she's in school, I'll take her there myself. And when she's in High School, I'll make sure that-"

"Arthur!" Ariadne interrupted, shock beginning to pierce the fantasy that he was constructing. "You're talking years!"

He turned to her, his eyes narrowing. "And you weren't?"

She swallowed. There was a note in his voice that was slightly unnerving. He was as composed as ever, but there was a forcefulness about his words. She looked at him, trying to hide the unease in her voice.

"Of course I was," she said, smiling. "You know I was!"

He nodded, and taking her hand, kissed the palm. "Together, its so much better," he whispered, huskily. Ariadne closed her eyes, feeling herself shiver as he moved his body over hers.

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