Disclaimer: Inception does not belong to me. Apologies for long time in updating - I'm currently in the process of moving house and getting ready to go on Holiday. Thank you for your patience. :)

Arthur started folding up shirts, and loaded them into the suitcase. He sighed, and stood up. Ariadne looked at him.

"What is it?"

"Nothing." He began to zip up the bag, and she suddenly spoke. "Wait! Your razor!"

"Oh, thank you!" He smiled as she handed it to him. "You know my apartment pretty well." He carefully stowed it into his bag.

She looked at him. "You know the inside of my head pretty well, too."

He blushed slightly. "Perhaps." He looked at her, directly. "But I don't think I know my parents." He bit his lip.

Ariadne fell silent. Two days previously, she had sat, watching, as Arthur had punched numbers into his cell phone. He'd held it to his ear, gingerly, as though it might explode at any moment.

The pause that filled the room was palpable. Eventually, he spoke. "Mom? Arthur."

"I know its been a long time...Mom, I'm sorry, but the way things were...that's not an excuse, but you're well? Dad's well?"

His face relaxed, and a slight smile touched the corners of his mouth. "That's good to know. He's ok?"

Ariadne held her breath. After a few seconds, he spoke again. "No, I'm good...I was wondering, if I could come and see you? You want me to?"

She bit her lip.

"OK, on Thursday would be great. Is it ok if I bring someone with me? Yes, my girlfriend."

She raised her eyebrows.

"Thanks, Mom. See you and Dad soon."

He clicked off, and sighed. She walked over, and looped an arm around him. He nuzzled his face into her arm. "Thank you," he muttered, huskily. He took her hand. "Thank you for doing this."

She swallowed. "Arthur, if it helps you-"

"I hope it will."

"You're going to visit your parents?"

"Yes."

"Arthur...its been so long..."

"I know." Arthur looked at Cobb. "But, I have to see them."

"At least they're both still alive." Cobb spoke carefully, not wanting to upset the younger man. Arthur nodded, and collapsed, wearily, into a seat. "They are, but Dad..."

"What about him?"

"He's not well." Arthur rubbed his face. "He's had to have heart bypass surgery."

"Oh, Arthur-"

"No, he'll be ok, but I guess it means treading carefully." He sighed. "And here I was, thinking we could have a straightforward man to man conversation."

Cobb looked at him. "You still can, Arthur. You're taking Ariadne. Let him see what you've achieved, what you are."

"As long as he doesn't still think of me as his pitiful weakling of a son, who was too skinny to achieve anything, and nearly got it beaten out of him once." Arthur blinked, and Cobb could have sworn he saw tears in the other man's eyes. "But-"

"Good luck," Cobb said, carefully. Arthur nodded.

"It will be allright," Ariadne said, a touch impatiently. She and Arthur were in a cab, heading towards his parents' house. He looked at her. "It will be." On a sudden impulse, he leaned over, and kissed her.

As they arrived, and got out, she noticed the front door opening. An attractive older woman was stepping outside - dark haired, she had large expressive eyes, like her son's. Ariadne walked forward, Arthur wrapping an arm around her waist.

As they approached, his mother swooped down, hugging him. Arthur didn't try to resist. Wrapping his arms round her, he let her shoulder muffle the sounds of his tears.

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