The next morning, when Arthur woke up, Ariadne was already in the shower. She came out of the bathroom a few minutes later, wearing his shirt still and her hair in wet strings around her face.

"How are you this morning?"

Arthur asked.

"I'm better."

"I'm gonna go get us some clothes from home, what would you like for me to bring?"

"I trust your judgement."

She said and she went back in the bathroom to change into a robe so he can have his shirt back. She tossed it out the bathroom and stared at herself in the mirror. Her arms were covered in scratches and purple bruises. The biggest bruise was on her stomach though, her whole belly still ached. Her knees were scraped from being dragged on the ground. She slid on a rather uncomfortable robe and walked out, casually sitting down on the couch, trying to forget about everything for a couple of seconds. She wound up falling asleep and a few moments later, Arthur arrived.

"Hey."

She said tiredly.

"Did I wake you up? I'm sorry. I brought food."

Arthur smiled softly.

"It's fine. And thanks."

"Here's your stuff. I threw a bunch of stuff in here."

She smiled gratefully and took the bag before heading to the bathroom and changing in sweatpants and a grey t-shirt. She looked around and almost laughed when she saw that Arthur put a clay mask in her bag along with a few books and her sketchbook. She grabbed the mask and walked outside.

"Are you trying to send a message with this or...?"

She asked Arthur, shoving the mask in front of her.

"No! No, I just thought that it might help you. You know, to relax."

He said quickly explaining.

"You are by far the most thoughtful man I know."

She told him, bringing her hand to her cheek and smiling softly. She took her sketchbook out and sat down next to Arthur on the couch.

"I also brought chocolate because it's supposed to help with... What are you doing?"

He asked as she started drawing him.

"I'm drawing you."

"Why?"

He asked turning away.

"Because, seeing your face calms me down. And drawing calms me down. Now look at me, I can't see your eyes."

Arthur turned back around and sat criss-cross, bringing Ariadne's legs in his lap.

"You should put socks on, the ground is freezing and you'll catch a cold."

"Okay."

She said, completely disregarding his concerns and instead continuing to draw his magnificent eyes. She loved drawing because it gave her a way to think about things while still keeping her hands busy. She was reflecting on her relationships at the moment. She thought about Eames and about how he was like a brother to her and how much she missed him. She thought about Cobb and how they had a special bond that she couldn't quite describe with words. With Arthur though, that she could explain. It just worked with them. They was no need to further explain, it was just the was it was.

"Ariadne?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you know why I kissed you? In the dream, I mean."

"Yeah, because it was meant to distract the projections."

"No. It was because I really wanted to kiss you. But we were in the middle of a job so I couldn't kiss you without a reason. I'm embarrassed because in 12 years, that's the only unprofessional thing I've done during a job. But I don't regret it Ariadne."

Ariadne didn't know what to say so she just continued drawing.

"Well, say something."

Arthur said desperately.

"I'm not good at saying something."

She said not even looking him in the eye.

"I basically just professed my love to you and you have nothing to say?"

"You didn't profess anything except the fact that you didn't regret a kiss which until today I thought meant nothing to you."

She argued.

"You are so stubborn."

He said exasperated.

"You're the one talking."

Arthur exhaled through his nose and crawled over to her, settling himself between her legs to try and get a reaction.

"You really have nothing to say?"

"Not that I can think of."

She said like she was unbothered by the compromising situation she was in but really, she was in complete and utter panic. Arthur smirked and leaned forward, pressing his lips to her urgently. Their eyes were closed. He felt her smile in the kiss and took this opportunity to slip his tongue in her mouth.

"Do you wanna go on a date?"

Arthur asked.

"I do."

Ariadne smiled up at him. Later that night, they were sitting in a dim lit restaurant, both dressed very elegantly.

"Where did you study physics?"

Ariadne asked him.

"At Harvard."

"Wow."

"Yeah."

"And then where did you go?"

"I went in the Army for a couple of years."

"What did you work in?"

"Shared dreaming. And not the fun kind. They trained us in the dreams. To the death. Had us practice shooting and stuff and then Cobb recruited me when I was 18."

"God, that's horrible."

"Yeah... What about you, where did you grow up?"

"Vancouver with my grandma. I miss it so much some times, it makes me want to go back to the great white north."

"We should take a trip there. Everyone says Canada is beautiful during the summer, unfortunately, I've only been there during winter."

"We should definitely do that!"

Arthur smiled at her enthusiasm, it made him happy.

"Why did he find us?"

She asked, suddenly serious.

"Who?"

"The guy who tried to take me."

"I don't know. Have you used anything in the last few days that would label you here? Like a cell phone, a credit card or stuff like that."

Ariadne brought her hands to her face and sighed.

"I used my credit card to buy my clothes. God I'm so stupid!"

"No you're not, you didn't know and I should have told you. Okay here's what we're gonna do, we're gonna destroy our phones and any other electronics we have that have connection. Then I'm gonna get you a credit card under a fake name, I'll also get you passports of multiple nationalities. We'll leave as soon as possible."

"To go where?"

"Maybe a cruise, there's no way for any communication on a cruise, that would be the safest I think."

Only Arthur would take a cruise only for professional reasons.

Ariadne though.

"I love cruises, where would we go?"

"How does Bermuda sound to you?

"Perfect."

Ariadne smiled.

"Good then, I'll check for departures later and we can leave as soon as we have your new papers."

Ariadne nodded and took Arthur's hand from across the table. They finished eating and went back to the hotel, when they arrived to their room though, it was completely trashed.

"Oh my god."

Ariadne gasped. A tear slipped out of her eye as she gradually realized that the days of living normally were over, she would now have to be in constant hiding.

"Oh my god."

She said again but whispering this time. She found her sketch book completely shredded, this devastated her because it was one of the four that her grandfather had left for her, her name was carved into the heavy leather of the cover. She dug her hand in her purse and clutched her totem.

"Ariadne, we have to leave, now."

Arthur said urgently. She nodded but didn't move, her eyes glued on the scene before her. Arthur grabbed her hand and pulled her to the door.

"We're going to the airport."

"Why?"

"To buy some tickets and send them on a dead end while we get your papers. It's gonna have to be even quicker than I thought."