"Goodnight, sweetheart."
Ariadne told James as she tucked him in.
"Good night, Ari."
He said in a tired voice. She got up and went to the door.
"Ari?"
"Yes Phillipa?"
"Are you gonna leave us like maman?"
"Never, I swear."
"Okay."
The little girl said.
"I'll see you guys tomorrow."
She smiled.
"Cobb, your kids are the sweetest."
"Thanks. I'm sorry Phillipa asked you that, it's just that she's never had a woman in her life that didn't leave so she's scared to loose you. They love you, I can see it."
Ariadne smiled.
"So now that they're asleep, let's talk."
Cobb said.
"About what?"
Arthur asked.
"About you guys. Sit down, please."
He motioned to his couch and let the couple sit down before situating himself in the chair facing them.
"So, what's going on exactly? You guys are together now?"
"We stayed together after the job because I didn't think I should leave her all alone."
"You guys know how dangerous this could be right?"
"Yes, but it's worth it."
Arthur said.
"And what do you think?"
Cobb asked, looking at Ariadne.
"Definitely worth it."
She smiled at Arthur.
"I mean, I'm not gonna pretend that I didn't think you guys would get together at some point, that was obvious-"
"How was it obvious?"
Arthur asked.
"You would always make excuses to work together, you would always sit together at lunch and don't go thinking we didn't see you kiss in the second level, that was really unprofessional, Arthur."
"Hey, you were the one who told me to teach her, we had to work together."
Arthur defended his lost cause.
"Yeah, and if anything, you should be thanking me for bringing this wonderful lady in our group."
Cobb said, motioning at Ariadne.
"Anyway... We're being careful, we know what we're in for."
Ariadne said.
"Oh, I know he does, the question is, do you? He's had some pretty messed up stuff happen to him, that changes someone, Ari."
"I told her everything Cobb."
"He did, and I stayed."
Ariadne said, still standing by her decision.
"Well then I'm happy for you. Let's have dinner."
They sat at the dinner table and ate the food Cobb had prepared.
"So earlier this week, Pippa was at school, she's in kindergarten now, and I was here with James and he asked me if we could draw together and then he starts drawing houses. I thought, he would get along with Ariadne and look where we are now..."
Cobb said.
"And how's she doing in school?"
Arthur asked.
"Really good, she's first in everything, but Mal already taught her how to read, she thought it was important so it's only natural that she's already good at naming colours and writing letters too. I think I'll teach James too, soon enough."
"That's so great Cobb."
Ariadne beamed.
"I'm so happy with my kids and since I've retired, I'm spending every possible moment with them, Phillipa hates it, she wants me to back off a little but I think deep down she's starting to understand."
"Well, you certainly look happy."
Arthur assured him.
"I'll go set up the guest room for you and then I'm gonna go to bed but feel free to stay up, just make sure to lock all the doors when you do go to sleep."
Cobb said while Ariadne and Arthur thanked him. He got up and took his plate next to the sink before leaving the room completely.
"We should go walk around, it's so peaceful with the waves."
Ariadne told Arthur.
"That would be nice."
They exited the house, both still barefoot and walked on the grass on the edge of the hill, hand in hand, something that Arthur never thought he would like.
"What do we do when this is over?"
Ariadne asked.
"When what is over?"
"The down time for the job. What happens when I go back to Paris and you go back to dream share?"
"Well, I thought you wanted to do dream share too..."
"I do, but I want to finish my degree first... I only have the rest of the year left."
"Oh, right."
Arthur looked down, feeling stupid that he didn't think of her education.
"I still wanna dream share after though."
"So we're gonna be apart for the rest of the year?"
It was Ariadne's turn to look down, although she did it to avoid Arthur's eyes. She could only read hurt in them and at that moment, she felt like she should be working harder for their relationship. But she couldn't, she had to go to school.
"No."
Arthur said.
"I'm not gonna let that happen."
"What can we do about it?"
Ariadne said, truly not seeing an escape.
"I'm gonna go to Paris, with you. I'll rent a place, we can see each other more often."
"Okay."
Ariadne smiled.
"I'd love that."
She said. They went back into the house a couple of minutes later and went to bed, only to be woken up a seven sharp by two small kids throwing their door open. Arthur's eyes ripped open and he released the arm he had subconsciously tightened around Ariadne.
"Dad says we can do an activity with you today!"
Phillipa told them excitedly.
"That's great! Just let us get dressed and we'll be right out."
Arthur said. The kids went back through the door, closing it behind them and Ariadne and Arthur got dressed, Arthur back to his usual suit and Ariadne in a nice jean sundress with a white lace scarf.
"So what do you wanna do?"
Ariadne asked the children.
"I wanna go to the zoo!"
Phillipa called.
"Yes, zoo!"
James agreed.
"Great, zoo it is. Let's have breakfast, what do you say?"
Both kids nodded and instructed Arthur what kind of cereal they wanted.
"Good morning everyone."
Cobb said as he entered the room, already dressed and ready for the day.
"If it's alright with you, I'm gonna go right now, I'm meeting Miles and I have a couple of errands to run today."
"That's fine, Cobb."
Ariadne assured and he left. After breakfast, Phillipa asked Ariadne to help her pick an outfit, which she gladly accepted, she then proceeded to also help James put on something acceptable. Soon enough, they were on their way. When they arrived, Arthur went to the ticket booth to get them entries for the day, Phillipa's hand tightly holding his while Ariadne had James balanced on her hip. It was true that Phillipa loved having a new female role model in her life that was usually dominated by men, but she still held her close bond with her godfather.
"Right that way, sir. Have a great day with your family."
The receptionist offered him a warm smile which he gladly returned. He didn't bother correcting her mistake, thinking this probably wouldn't be the last time that people would assume that they were a family, just by carrying James, she looked at least half a decade older, she could easily pass as his mother, save for his blond hair. Arthur decided then that the sight of Ariadne holding a toddler in her arms was a sight he could get used to very quickly and it was easy for him to imagine she was holding their toddler instead. It made his heart warm with hope. They spent the day at the zoo, eating at the bistro there and decided to head back home at six.
"I can take him if you want."
Arthur told Ariadne for the third time as she carried a sleeping James.
"I told you, I'm perfectly fine, please just let me enjoy this."
She said. He helped Phillipa in the car as Ariadne put James in his car seat and they drove home. They used the spare key Cobb gave them to enter the house and Ariadne woke up James with a heavy heart because she knew he wouldn't sleep that night if she didn't.