Hi everyone! I'm so sorry that I haven't updated for a while, honestly in the midst of writing another fic, I had kind of forgotten to update this one. The updates will be a little slower, but I will put an end to this story. It will be cute and fluffy as all my stories are 'cause I can't deal with any more sad stuff right now.
Thank you so much for your wonderful comments, they warmed my heart and motivated me to update, don't worry, I'm not asking for more comments for another update or anything, that's not my sort of thing.
For the person who asked, yes, this is my first fic, so I'm very happy that people love it! Without further ado, on with the chapter...
"Arthur?"
"Yes?"
"I want a baby."
"What?"
He asked baffled that she would put it so bluntly.
"You heard me, I want kids."
"Like right now?"
"Well, we kind of have to wait a few months for the baby to arrive..."
He gave her a look and she laughed.
"Ari, we're still in the system, we should wait a while, it's too dangerous, it would make you and the potential baby vulnerable."
"But I want a kid now, I'm already 26-"
Arthur gave her another look.
"Okay, but you're 33 and that's a good age to have children, it leaves us enough time to enjoy retirement afterwards and stuff."
Ariadne countered.
"Tell you what, we stop doing jobs, we settle down in one place and in a month, if everything goes over well, we'll start trying."
She considered this for a while.
"Okay."
She complied finally. That month was spent shopping for the perfect house, they decided to head back to where she grew up: Vancouver. Deciding that it was the quietest and safest place to rase a child. They bought a nice house in a secluded area, overlooking mountain tops. They kept Arthur's house in Italy, though.
"This is home."
Ariadne smiled. She breathed the fresh air as she stared at their beautiful house.
"Yeah."
Arthur smiled. They were happy, happy and safe.
"Is she moving?"
Arthur asked as he slid his hand over her swelling belly. She was 6 months into her pregnancy and Arthur was becoming overwhelmingly protective. They didn't know the gender of the baby yet but Arthur said she while Ariadne said he.
"A little, only when you're close."
She said. He loved that because she felt so strongly for him, the baby knew when he was near and moved around more.
"We never talked about names."
"How about, I choose a boy's name since I think it's a boy and you pick a girl's."
"Works for me. I pick... Aiden."
Arthur said, in truth, he had thought about it a lot.
"That's beautiful. I pick... Ryder."
"Great, so we have two names, if it's a girl, Aiden and if it's a boy, Ryder."
Arthur sums up. Ariadne nods and puts her own hand on her stomach.
"Auntie Ari! Did you swallow a watermelon or something?"
Phillipa asked as she opened the door for Arthur and Ariadne who would be staying at the Cobb residence until the baby arrived. Arthur thought it wise since Ariadne was put on bedrest, there, someone could always be with her.
"Certainly feels like it."
She laughed.
"Auntie Ari!"
James called as he ran into the living room.
"Arthur will you lift James up so I can kiss my godson?"
She asked her husband. He laughed and complied.
"Of course."
Arthur lifted the five year old and Ariadne put her arms around him and planted a kiss on his forehead. Arthur set him back down.
"Your belly is so big!"
James called.
"I know, right?"
Ariadne laughed.
"Ari is gonna stay in the guest bedroom and when I'm not here, you guys have to check on her all the time okay?"
Arthur told James.
"Okay."
The little boy nodded solemnly and took a bag from Arthur before marching to the room that would be theirs for a couple of months. Arthur put the rest of his bags down and helped Ariadne to the bedroom. She gripped at his hand while her other hand sat on her back, in the curve of her hip.
"This baby better be real cute Arthur."
She said, already tired of standing.
"You know she will be, and she'll get it all from you."
"Gee Arthur, I wouldn't know what to do if you weren't there, showering me with compliments."
Ariadne said, clearly hormonal. Arthur just chuckled, completely unfazed by her behaviour.
"I'm sorry, thank you."
She smiled, taking back her outburst.
"It's understandable that you act this way, don't worry about it."
He said.
"Look, auntie, I pulled the covers back for you!"
James said proud of his accomplishment.
"Thank you, baby."
Ariadne told him. Arthur helped her lay down on the bed and pulled the covers back over her legs.
"I could play, for the baby."
James suggested.
"I think he'd love that."
Ariadne said.
"It's a boy?"
"I think it is, but Arthur is sure it's gonna be a girl. What would you like him to be?"
"I don't care, I just want someone younger than me for a change."
James said. Ariadne laughed and James got his violin from his room. He played a series of lullabies and Ariadne fell asleep. She woke up barely five minutes later though, when the baby started moving.
"What is it?"
James asked worriedly, he got up from his chair, putting the violin down and walked over to her.
"He moved, he usually only does that with Arthur. Here, feel it."
Ariadne explained, taking his small hands and putting them on her belly. The little boy smiled and felt around as the baby seemed to snuggle against his hand.
"He must really like your music."
Ariadne told him, proud of her young godson.
It was a month and a half later when Ariadne felt the amniotic liquid rolling down her leg.
"Oh god, James get uncle Arthur for me, quick."
She said to the little boy who was sitting beside her. James looked startled at her tone but moved to the next room as fast as possible.
"Ari? What's wrong?"
Arthur asked worriedly as he stepped in.
"The baby's coming."
Arthur nodded promptly and go their bags.
"I'll be right back."
He said as he went outside to pack the car.
"Cobb, we're going to the hospital, the baby's coming."
He called as he passed through the kitchen. The older man nods and grabs both his kids, directing them to get their coats and go to the car. Three hours later, Ariadne's in the delivery room with Arthur holding her hand.
"Hold on, Ariadne, this isn't right."
The doctor said just as she started pushing.
"What's wrong?"
Arthur asked, his emotions perfectly hidden.
"Nothing major, but we're gonna have to take her to surgery for a c-section."
"Is the baby gonna be okay?"
"The baby's gonna be just fine, Arthur."
He nodded and continued to hold her hand as nurses rushed her down the hall to the surgery room. As soon as Arthur heard the cries, he let out a breath he didn't know he was holding and barely five minutes later, the baby was in his arms, she instantly stopped crying, already feeling safe in her father's arms.
"Congratulations, it's a girl. She's perfectly healthy Arthur, and your wife should wake up in just over an hour."
And hour later, Ariadne was still asleep because of the drugs but Arthur was holding a beautiful baby Aiden in his arms, he hadn't let go of her in the hour that she had been alive. Cobb had gone to the lunch room with the kids to give him a little alone time with his baby girl. A moment later, Ariadne's eyes ripped open. She felt her flat stomach and looked around franticly, panicking.
"Arthur?"
She called.
"I'm right here, Ari."
He said and in a moment, he was next to her, handing her the baby that had a tiny white hat on her head.
"It's a girl, told you so."
He chuckled as she took the tiny baby in her arms.
"She's beautiful."
Ariadne gasped.
"She's perfect."
Arthur confirmed.
"Aiden, right?"
"Yeah. Aiden."
Arthur assured her. Their private moment was interrupted when the doctor walked in.
"How's everyone doing?"
She asked.
"We're great."
Ariadne beamed.
"If dad would like to take the baby back, I'm gonna need to do a few checks on mommy."
The doctor explained. Ariadne nodded and Arthur took the baby back, cradling carefully.
"The stitches are perfect, if you use the antibiotics we'll give you, the scar should be almost invisible in a couple of months. We're gonna have to keep you here for the rest of the week though, we'd like to monitor you and the baby."
Ariadne nodded and the doctor left, but as soon as the door closed, Cobb walked in with the kids.
"Hey."
Cobb called.
"Hi, come in, come in."
Ariadne told them.
"You wanna hold her?"
"Her?"
He asked.
"Yeah, Aiden."
Arthur told him. Cobb took the baby in his arms.
"She's beautiful."
He said. The couple nodded, not taking their eyes off of the baby.
"Do you want to hold her, Philippa?"
Arthur asked. The young girl nodded eagerly. Arthur told her to sit on the chair and he put the baby in her arms. She stared down at Aiden in adoration.
"James, you wanna hold her?"
Ariadne suggested and the little boy nodded eagerly.
"Ari, I'm not sure-"
"He can do it, Arthur."
Ariadne told him. James sat down on the chair and Arthur put the baby in his arms. Arthur held her head as her big eyes found James' bright one.
"She's so small."
He laughed.