So this wraps things up. I hope it was what you were hoping for. I will have the epilogue up tonight, I have to say, I enjoyed writing the epilogue, and this story. I'm glad you all liked it and have stuck with me for so long! I'll probably take a little break and write a couple of oneshots before I start a new story. So if you have any ideas for me to write, leave them in reviews or message me! Thanks again, and the epilogue will be up tonight! :D
Not mine.
The team slept until the next morning, much to Arthur's dismay. However, once everyone was up and able to comprehend everything that was being said, Cobb and Arthur began to inform everyone what the plan was.
"As you know, we have to lay low. No jobs for the next few months. We can stay in contact, in fact I encourage it, just so we know that we're all ok." Cobb began.
"Try not to be too conspicuous. If you are, you may draw attention from people who have heard about extraction and everything that's gone on with Cobol. You want to be especially careful with Cobol employees. Some of them may not know the details, but they'll know enough to be able to figure out who you are. We should be fine, but that doesn't mean they won't try to come after us." Arthur added.
"Does everyone understand?" Cobb asked, looking at every person in the eye and waiting for a nod. "Ok, good. Arthur booked us flights."
"Miles and I are heading back to Los Angeles."
"Aren't you teaching though?" Ariadne asked.
"Yes I am. I'll be back soon. Don't you worry my dear." Miles grinned. Ariadne nodded and waited for the next announcement.
"Eames, you're going to be going to Sydney for a while." Arthur smirked.
"Sydney? Seriously? Why did you have to send me there?" Eames whined.
"Because it's where they'll least expect you to be." Arthur replied smugly.
"Fine." Eames growled and crossed his arms. "There better be some good casinos there." He mumbled.
"Yusuf, you will be staying in India for a while. Is that alright?" Cobb asked.
"Why do you ask him if it's alright where he gets to stay?" Eames asked.
"Shut up Eames." Arthur said.
"I'll shut up when I get to go where I want." Eames snapped.
"Hey, what's with you two? You were fine last night." Ariadne broke up the argument. They both fell silent and looked down.
"Just the stress I guess." Eames replied. Ariadne shook her head.
"Eames, Arthur just wants you to be safe." Ariadne gently said and Eames eyes softened at her concern.
"Yes, that stick-in-the-mud always did have everyone's best interests in mind." Eames said, watching Arthur.
Arthur nodded and looked at Ariadne. She eyed him carefully and scrunched her brow together.
"You guys argued about what was going to happen with me didn't you?" Ariadne asked.
Arthur stiffened and Eames frowned. "It wasn't about what is going to happen with you, it's about what happened with you. He blames himself for what happened." Eames replied.
Arthur elbowed Eames and sighed. "I told you not to say anything." Arthur replied.
"Well she deserves to know!" Eames protested.
"I know, but I was going to tell her when I was ready!" Arthur raised his voice and Ariadne stared at Arthur in shock.
"We should talk about this later." She mumbled, turning back to Cobb.
"Chloe and Colin, you're staying here right?" Cobb asked.
"Yes. We've been fine here, unless there's trouble we'll probably just stay here." Colin spoke up, wrapping his arm around Chloe's waist.
"Ok." Cobb smiled and turned to Ariadne. "You're going back to Paris."
Ariadne nodded. "It will be good to be home." She smiled.
"I know how you feel." Cobb grinned and sat down.
"Arthur, what are you doing?" Cobb asked curiously.
Ariadne looked at him carefully, half expecting, half doubting that he'll go to Paris with her.
"Well my home base has always been Paris…"Arthur trailed off, staring at Ariadne, almost asking if it was ok. Ariadne broke out into a smile and she hugged him.
"…I haven't been able to stay still for the past few months because of…well everything." Arthur looked at Cobb, who nodded. "And it would be nice to stay in Paris again."
"And because Ariadne's there." Eames piped up.
Arthur turned red and Ariadne grinned. "Are you sure this is what you want to do?" She asked him, turning serious.
"Of course." Arthur smirked, causing Ariadne to squeeze him tighter.
"Well now that that's settled, we should clean up and head out then." Eames clapped his hands together.
Yusuf quickly left the room and started gathering his things, he was the first one to finish and he sat waiting in the living room for everyone else, preparing himself for goodbyes.
The group met up in the living room, shyly looking at each other. After everything that happened, it was going to be hard and strange to say goodbye. Yusuf shuffled his feet uncomfortably and looked up. He turned to Ariadne first.
"Stay safe ok? And if you ever need anything, give me a call." Yusuf told her holding out his hand, but she ignored it and pulled him into a hug.
"Thanks Yusuf. Be safe too. Keep in touch." She smiled at him as she released him and he nodded, turning to Arthur.
"Goodbye Arthur. Just as I told Ariadne, stay safe, and if you are in need of any sedatives, feel free to find me." Arthur nodded and shook Yusuf's hand.
He continued saying his goodbyes to the rest of the team. Telling them that he will keep in touch and keep them updated about his sedatives. He quickly left the house and found a cab, heading to the airport.
Colin and Chloe were the next to leave, saying goodbye to Eames, Cobb, and Miles before turning to Arthur and Ariadne warily. Chloe broke the silence first.
"Be careful Arthur. Things can get testy and dangerous." She told him. "And take care of Ariadne here." She smiled.
Arthur smiled back, glancing at Ariadne. "I think she can take care of herself."
Ariadne smiled at him as he continued. "For the most part." He added and she playfully elbowed him.
"Just be safe ok?" Chloe told both of them and they nodded. "Keep in touch?" She asked Arthur, uncertain. Arthur nodded and hesitated before hugging her.
"Thank you." He whispered into her ear and she nodded, pulling back.
"It's the least I could do." She told him before turning to Ariadne.
Ariadne pulled her into a hug and held her there. "Thank you for coming. If it weren't for you guys, I would have…"
"Hey, I owed you anyways." Chloe said as she pulled away. "Take care of Arthur here. Make sure he eats and sleeps."
Ariadne chuckled. "I will." She said, smiling at Arthur.
"Take care, love." Colin told her and patted her head playfully. She glared at him and he laughed heartily before engulfing her in a hug. Colin then turned to Arthur and ruffled his hair, earning a growl from the Point Man.
"You are Eames' brother." He muttered and the others laughed.
"Take care Artie." Colin cheekily said, shaking Arthur's hand.
"Don't call me that."
Colin laughed. "Hey, someone's gotta tease you at least once before we leave."
"Yeah, then Eames can't since you already did." Arthur replied.
"Not a chance." Eames shook his head happily.
Arthur sighed and grumbled as Colin turned to Chloe. "Ready?"
Chloe nodded. "Bye everyone. Take care." She waved as they left.
"I'll leave with them." Eames said, quickly hugging Ariadne and shaking Arthur's hand. He moved to Cobb and Miles and shook their hands too. "I'll be in touch." He called over his shoulder as he slammed the door. The rest of them stood in the room in silence.
"Well I guess it leaves us then." Miles broke the silence and smiled at Ariadne.
"You will be careful…both of you…right?" Cobb asked, staring at his Point Man and Architect. They nodded in unison. "Keep in touch. I mean it. And Arthur, come visit, James and Philippa miss you. You can bring Ariadne along, I'm sure Philippa would like that." Cobb added.
"I'm sure they'd love to meet her." Miles cut in.
"Yes, they will." Cobb smiled.
"We'll visit." Arthur replied, and shook hands with Miles.
"Take care Ariadne." Cobb quietly told her as he pulled her in for a hug. She nodded and pulled back.
"I would love to visit, and see your real home." She replied.
"Well our door is always open. Arthur knows."
"Yes. And it has saved me from a lot." Arthur grinned. "Thank you Cobb. For helping. It means a lot."
"Well you did help me get back to my children, and I wouldn't leave one of the best Architects to fall into the hands of Cobol." Cobb told him solemnly.
Ariadne was out of earshot and didn't hear what they were talking about. Even so she was too busy talking to Miles to care.
"Do take care of yourself. I know you hate being reminded and being checked up on, but we only care." Miles told her.
She let her head fall slightly. Miles raised his eyebrows at her and lowered his gaze to meet hers.
"What's that matter dear?"
"I know you all care, but what if one day Arthur decides he doesn't want to be with me or that he thought he loved me, but he really didn't? My independence is the thing keeping me together, if I allow myself to just trust someone so fully, I won't have that anymore." She whispered.
"I don't think you have to worry about that." Miles gently told her. "It's part of growing with someone. Putting your trust completely in the other person. And I'm sure he has the same struggles as you."
"I doubt it. Arthur's perfect." Ariadne whispered.
"But he's human, he has his faults too. As I recall, Arthur has been in some pretty nasty scrapes. Dom had to really knock some sense into that boy a few times, though neither of them really talk about it."
Ariadne looked up at Miles, surprised. He chuckled and shook his head. "And that would be for Arthur to tell you. When he's ready. You both just need to take time and slowly ease into a relationship, especially if you're thinking about being really serious with this man."
"I am." Ariadne smiled softly.
"Then just take your time and trust each other. Remember, you can't push too hard for anything. Both of you will open up to each other when you're ready." Miles hugged her tightly and she thanked him quietly.
"I'll see you soon." She said as she pulled away.
"Right, you better catch up on your work. I don't want my best and brightest student to fall behind." Miles playfully said and Ariadne grinned.
"I'll catch up." She said confidently, sharing a laugh with her professor.
"Are we ready?" Cobb asked.
Ariadne nodded and grabbed her bags, following the three men out. They got into the separate cars and waved before heading to different airports. The car was silent for a while. Arthur cleared his throat and spoke up.
"What were you and Miles talking about?" He asked curiously. Ariadne stiffened.
"Oh, uh, nothing really." She lied.
"Oh."
Ariadne sighed. "Look, Arthur I'll tell you when I'm ready. I just…I need to think things over."
"Are you having second thoughts?"
"No! Of course not, but Arthur, serious relationships are new to me." Ariadne replied. "I need to figure out how I personally have to make this work."
Arthur nodded in understanding. Cobb had told him something along those lines and Arthur new he was right.
"So do I." Arthur admitted, reaching for her hand and lacing their fingers together.
The rest of the ride was silent, neither of them wanting to break this special moment. It was a new journey for both of them and they new that they both had things to work on, but they were prepared to take on whatever came their way. The good and bad. It was no longer you or me to them, it was now us.
What did you think? Let me know! And again, if you have suggestions or ideas for my next story, leave them in a review or message! Thanks for reading and be on the lookout for the epilogue tonight!
