12.

~ Arthur had to smoke in secret these days. Ariadne had made him quit years ago, but he occasionally had to have a cigarette to calm his nerves. He never told her, and if she knew he still smoked, she never said a word about it.

He had woken up in the middle of the night with an intense need to check all the locks and windows.

His son was sleeping safely curled next to his mother's body. Their cheeks were both pink and warm from sleep and didn't stir when he silently left them. His anxiety getting the better of him as he had to make sure the apartment was safe.

Darcy and the other children were still with Cobb and Sarah. They hadn't been told yet that their brother was home. His parents wanting their son all to themselves for now.

It was too cold to be out on the balcony smoking, but he didn't care. He needed to relax a little. Convince himself that no one could get into the apartment. Tomorrow he would have a newer security system installed. Maybe even a panic room.

His wife had insisted their son sleep with them the first night back. The over protective mother in her coming back in full force and wasn't to be reasoned with or questioned. Arthur had agreed this time. Remembering when Daniel was still a toddler and so fragile.

His stitched up face and arms reminded him of how helpless the child truly was.

Arthur sensed it was more of a comfort for her than Daniel to have him in their bed. The little boy on so much pain medication he was asleep on the car ride home. The point man having to carry his warm, heavy body to their bed as Ariadne rushed to get his night clothes and the two of them undressed the child as though he were still a baby.

His mother watched him sleeping for a long time and the parents exchanged whispered talk of how wonderful his hair was. How he was so brave and how much they loved him. Their fights before seemed so stupid now. The silly bickering between two prideful people who won't admit any fault.

Movement caught Arthur's eye and he saw a small figure emerge from the bedroom. Daniel had wandered out and was headed to the kitchen. Most likely hungry or wanting something to drink.

Arthur watched his son successfully maneuver to the fridge and find where Ariadne kept fruit and cheese. He watched as Daniel poured himself some water to drink and even get some crackers from the pantry.

He was proud of him. Let the other children become prima ballerinas, politicians or astronauts. He would always be proudest of Daniel.

The father watched his so called helpless son eat his self made dinner and even clean up from his view out the balcony. At last he came back inside, as loudly as he could so as not to alarm the poor boy.

"Mommy will be mad." Daniel warned.

"About what?" Arthur laughed and sat next to his son.

"Smoking."

"Ah, now what makes you think I was smoking?"

"I can smell it."

"I see." Arthur told him and tried not to smile. "Well, we can't tell mommy then."

A brief smile flighted over Daniel's face and for a moment, he was the same child he always was.

"I'm sorry I tried to go to the bathroom by myself." the little boy said at last. "I thought I could find it. I thought you would be proud of me if I went on my own."

"Daniel." Arthur said sternly and he saw the child tense up. "I'm already proud of you."

The boy shook his head.

"Your mother and I are amazed at everything you do. You're at the top of your class at school. You're reading well above your age group and you can do a lot of stuff on your own." Arthur continued. "When I was your age, I wasn't reading yet, or making my own bed or meals. I'm very proud of you."

"You wish I could see." Daniel said in a soft voice that was almost like a whisper.

Arthur felt offended.

"Daniel." he said as gently as he could. His tone still coming out too harsh. "All I wish is for you to have a good life. You amaze me everyday. Most people, myself included, could never handle not being able to see. Your mother and I wouldn't have you any other way."

"You and mommy are always fighting about me." the child said.

Arthur felt ashamed of himself. He didn't want his son to know he was fighting with Ariadne.

"You're mother and I have disagreements about how to raise you." Arthur explained. "But it's only because we love you so much."

"Will I still be able to go to school?" Daniel asked.

"Of course. You have to go to school." Arthur laughed.

"Only, it's expensive."

"Who told you that?"

"The other kids."

"Daniel, it's not your job to worry about money. That's my job and your mother's job." Arthur told him. "Your job is to go to school, practice piano and help your brother. You know he's not a smart as you."

Daniel smiled. It was no secret that he was the bright one in the family.

"And never wander away from us again." Arthur told him sternly. "You gave us a terrible scare."

"I'm sorry." Daniel whispered.

"What do you remember?" Arthur asked.

"There was a teenage girl. She had on lots of jewelry and a man brought me fast food to eat." Daniel said. "The apartment smelled like cat litter and they had a cat. It was high up, I went down three or four flight of stairs when I crawled out of the fire escape."

"You climbed out the window and onto the fire escape?" Arthur asked. He could scarcely believe this child had so brazenly gotten away from his captors.

"I was going to go to the the street. I heard cars and then the dogs found me." Daniel added.

"I'll have to call the detectives in the morning. Tell them to look for a building with a fire escape near where that lady found you." Arthur said gently. "Did you climb any fences? How many steps did you take before the dogs found you?"

"I don't remember." Daniel sighed.

"It's okay, son." he said.

He felt that nagging question pester him once more.

"Daniel?"

His good son looked up at him. His eye white and unseeing.

"Did those people... touch you? In a bad way? Like where you go to the bathroom?" Arthur asked and felt his nerves flare up.

His son didn't seem to understand and he saw his own expression coming over his son's face. A look of confusion.

"What do mean?" the child asked.

"I mean... if someone touched you in a..." Arthur took a deep breath.

"You mean molested?" Daniel asked helpfully.

Arthur looked at his son in surprise.

"Where did you learn that word?" he asked.

"School."

"Alright. Did anyone molest you?"

"No. They didn't touch me. Just took my shoes and made fun of me for being blind." Daniel said.

"Were the voices ones you recognized? Did they sound familiar?" Arthur asked.

"No. They we're stupid." Daniel said.

"Yes, they were." Arthur laughed.

"Can I sleep in my own bed?" the boy asked.

"Sure." Arthur laughed. "But I can't promise your mother won't drag you back to sleep with her."

Daniel smiled again and his father circled round the table to pick him up. It was one of the rare moments he got to hold his son. The boys were growing up and he didn't want to coddle them. But just now, Daniel fitted neatly in his arms and the child didn't protest. He just clutched to his father's neck and was carried to his own room.

Arthur normally counted on Ariadne to put the boys to bed and he rarely got the chance to tuck them in.

"Are you sure you'll be okay by yourself tonight?" he whispered as he folded the blankets to his son's chin.

"Yeah. Mommy snores." Daniel said.

"Yeah she does, but don't tell her that." he advised.

"I don't know how you can sleep with all that snoring."

"You get used to it." Arthur said. "When you're married you'll see."

"I'm not getting married." Daniel informed him.

"Oh?"

"No. If I get married, she'll just start acting like a mommy and I already have one."

"Very smart of you." Arthur agreed. "What if you want kids someday?"

"I won't."

"You might."

Daniel shook his head and yawned.

"Good night, son." Arthur sighed and kissed the boy on the forehead.

"Papa?"

"Yes?" Arthur said.

"I'm sorry I cried before. I know men don't cry." Daniel confessed.

"Oh." Arthur said.

"It's just, I was so glad you and mommy were there and you wen't mad at me... I couldn't help it." Daniel explained.

"You know, when we didn't know where you were, I cried. You can ask your grandpa." Arthur said. "It's okay for men to cry sometimes. Like when someone you love is missing or you're glad to be with the people you love most again."

"You cried?" Daniel asked.

"Of course." his father insisted. "Now, go to sleep. When your brother and sisters get home in the morning, we'll have a nice family breakfast."

"Dominic will tease me about what happened." Daniel said as Arthur stood and was halfway out the door.

"Your brother will tease you no matter what." the point man said.

~ Daniel hadn't been lying. Ariadne did snore loudly. Arthur had to smile at her small body taking up so mush room on the bed. Her arms and legs sprawled wide as she no doubt searched for her baby even in her sleep.

"Ariadne?" Arthur whispered as he crawled into bed with her.

She stirred slightly and opened her eyes.

"Wake up." he insisted.

"Where?" she moaned and her arms searched for their son. "Where's Daniel?"

"I put him back in his bed." Arthur said and rolled easily on top of her. His blood starting to run hot in his body as being close to his wife excited him.

"Why?" she asked as he became enchanted by her large eyes and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.

"He wanted to sleep in his own bed." he told her and hoped she would sense what he wanted from her.

"Arthur, I'm going to worry." she whispered as he felt her legs rise up around his hips.

"He's fine. I think he's already asleep." Arthur said. "I wanted to tell you, I'm sorry for everything. All the anger and blaming we've been doing. All the fighting. I'm frustrated I can't do inceptions anymore. I'm not happy just running the company. I took it out on you and... I'm very sorry."

He saw her eyes soften at the apology.

"I'm sorry to." she whispered back as he started kissing her ear. A favorite of his in the arsenal of weapons he used to arouse her.

"I don't want to fight anymore." he whispered in her ear and he could hear her breathing pick up.

"I don't want to either." she said weakly as he felt her hips buck up against him.

"Think he'll remember more about who took him?" she asked as his nose nuzzled her ear.

"Maybe. We might never know who did this." he admitted and kissed her.

He felt her body bloom to life under him as her skin became hot.

"I want to make love." he said in a husky voice as he started to slip her night shirt off; exposing her soft body to him.

She smiled up at her. Her angelic eyes alight with mischief.