Disclaimer: Inception does not belong to me.

Adam blinked, and opened his eyes, trying to focus. He realised, with a sense of shock, that he was standing in the middle of a street. A busy one.

He took a deep breath, and a step forward. Looking down, he realised that his clothes were fitting him better than they had done in several weeks. In fact, as he turned and looked at himself in the shop window, he realised that he'd filled out slightly. His face had lost its hollow gauntness, and his eyes no longer seemed so sunken.

Then, his eyes widened. His hair. His hair had re-grown - thick, dark, and shining. He swallowed, and pushed it back, and adjusted his jeans. Smiling, he kept on walking.

It was a nice day, he noticed. The sun had emerged, and he could feel the warmth. He felt his iPhone buzz, and pulled it out of his pocket. A text.

Meet me in the park. Ari.

Unable to contain a smile, Adam headed for the city park.


Ariadne looked around, and smiled. It was a beautiful day, and she had to admit the world she'd built was perfect, down to the last detail. The fountain was flowing; its water jets erupting into arcs, and then settling down into creamy foam. She noticed how the trees shivered slightly with the breeze, and the flowers appeared to be bursting with colour.

"Ari?"

She blinked, and looked up. Her eyes widened in astonishment. In front of her stood a young man with thick dark hair, who looked fit, toned, and healthy.

"Adam?" She felt shocked. "Adam, is that-"

He nodded. "Yeah, its me." He smiled, and reached for her hand. "Well, this is how I am in this-" he paused, unwilling to admit that it wasn't real. "But-"

This is what you looked like before you were diagnosed. She looked at him, her fingers itching to run through the smooth, dark locks, and to pull him close. "You look-wonderful," she said, sincerely.

"Thank you." He shuffled his feet, awkwardly, his shyness beginning to show through. "Shall we walk?"

She nodded, and got to her feet. Linking her arm through his, they began to walk through the park. He sighed, happily, inhaling the scent of the flowers, enjoying the warmth of the sun.

"Its amazing," he commented. "Its so-"

"It is," she interjected quickly, not wanting him to begin having doubts. "Its perfect."

"So," he commented, turning and taking her hands, "what do you want to do?"

"Well, I was thinking...a movie? And then dinner?" She had decided to go for the reliable date staples, and to her relief, he nodded. "Haven't done either of those in a long time."

"Well, I'm not sure what's playing," she said, laughing, "but I'm sure we can find something. Or maybe just walk, enjoy the park, and then move on?"

He nodded. "Sounds good."


"How long have they been under?" Eames asked. Arthur looked up. "Three minutes. Thats forty minutes, in this time. I said I'd give them half an hour."

"Well, thats enough to have a lovely date," Eames retorted. "But what's going to happen when they wake up?"

Arthur bit his lip. "I'm not sure. But at least it will give him a chance to feel as though he's...normal." He saw Eames wince, and nodded. "I'm sorry. But I really don't know what else to say."

"But when they wake up-"

"We'll deal with it." Arthur checked his watch, and settled back in his seat.


"So, um, what would you like?" He was sitting opposite her, in a restaurant, studying the menu. To his astonishment, the usual feelings of nausea and fatigue had disappeared. He smiled at her.

"Well, I-" Ariadne looked at him. "Pizza?"

He nodded. "Sounds good."

A waitress appeared, and Adam looked at her. "What would you like?"

"Pepperoni," she decided, and he nodded. "Sounds good."


"I can't help but feel that this is wrong," Eames said, almost defensively. "As though we're helping him see a reality that for him doesn't exist, and-"

"It doesn't exist at the moment, but thats not to say it won't ever exist again," Arthur countered. He checked the PASIV. "It'll be fine. Trust me."

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Arthur looked up, startled. "Did he say he was expecting anyone?"

Eames shook his head. "No. Ignore it."

Arthur bit his lip. "The light's on."

"Big deal." The Forger shrugged. "He could have gone out."

The banging on the door began again. Arthur bit his lip, and looked at Eames. "Would you...?"

The Forger nodded. "Of course." Getting up, he walked to the door, and opened it a crack. To his shock, an attractive, older woman virtually pushed her way in. "Where's Adam?" she demanded.

"I, uh-" for once, Eames was left speechless. She marched through the hall, and into the living room. "Adam?"

The urgency of her voice caught Arthur's attention, and he looked up. He frowned slightly. "You are-"

"Where's Adam?" she demanded again, and he suddenly realise,d with a sinking feeling, that this must be his mother. "I, uh-"

She walked further in, and her jaw dropped when she saw Adam, and Ariadne lying on the floor.

"I have no idea- what are you doing to my son!" She reached over and grabbed the IV trailing out of his arm.

"No!" Arthur shouted, momentarily losing control. "Don't!"

Before he could stop her, she pulled it out.


"So," Ariadne said, smiling. "I think we should-"

Suddenly, she stopped, blinking in shock.

"Adam? Where are you?"

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