"So this is what paradise looks like."
Ariadne stood next to her husband as they gripped the rail of the mahogany balcony and looked out into the evening view in front of them. The Mediterranean sea rolled out beneath them, swaying lightly to the music of the wind as tiny waves surfaced. The Persian breeze was cool and welcoming, setting the perfect atmosphere as the architect leaned gently against Arthur's arm. Situated next to the ocean were shacks resorted for dining and dancing, something that hadn't bothered to slip into her mind when she had planned the trip. Beyond all of that though, were acres and acres of private property, much to her delight, for their personal use.
Of course they weren't the only couple residing at the luxurious resort, but in Ariadne's mind they might as well have been. For the next two weeks, she was going to turn her husband's world inside out. She would do something she hated doing, something she had been taught against doing since she was a child. Become selfish. She needed this child; needed to feel the joys of motherhood. She needed to know she and Arthur were capable of creating a human, solely out of their love. Her sanity was on hold and only when she was sure the seed had been planted deep within her, would she regain it.
"You did an incredible job planning all this." Arthur turned around and let his back rest against the rail as he faced her. "Amazing what you can put together in less than a week." She grinned at his words, letting her eyes rake over the dimming beauty that was their safe haven for the next fourteen days.
"Money is truly powerful." She eyes grazed over the ocean, imaging the salty water splashing against her skin. "Speaking of which…" his eyebrow perched up, "...promise me you won't take any calls or make any offers for work these next two weeks."
A small smile played on his lips as he stepped closer to her. With his thumb, Arthur pushed a strand of hair away from her face and caressed her cheek. She became breatheless in an instant.
"You want me all to yourself?" He whispered against her face, smirking. She could only nod. "I promise." Pressing a kiss to her head, he pulled away before grasping her hand and leading her back into their bedroom.
Two large suitcases lay on the floor next to the King sized bed, untouched and unopened. Inside of hers, deep under the layers of clothing, were the handcuffs so forcefully given to her by Eames. She wasn't sure when she had confirmed with herself that she would actually use them but she vaguely remembered packing them almost hastily. Her husband didn't seem like the type of man who would appreciate being at the mercy of another person. No, definitely not the precise and in control man that she married. But if it was going to guarantee that they have a good time and she receive what she wanted in the end, it was worth a try.
"Do you want to use the shower first?" Arthur's voice pulled her out of her thoughts as she looked up at him and their gazes locked. She wasn't sure what he saw in her eyes. Was the turmoil and internal dilemma stirring in her mind evident? Could he tell what she was so secretly planning?
"Uhm. No, you can go ahead."
Nodding like he understood, he watched for another second or two before opening his luggage to retrieve clothes. Sitting in the center of the bed, Ariadne crossed her legs and simply watched him. He still had his travel clothes on. A caramel dress shirt and creamy vest complimenting his loose dark tie and equally shaded pants; and as he swept through layers of clothing to find something suitable for the cool night, she caught sight of fabrics and material similar to those that he was wearing. She grinned. Even when he was on vacation, he had to keep up smooth, clean exterior and dress the part of the professional point man she had grown to love. She wondered if he would pass on this trait to a little boy if they had one. He would probably influence them enough for them to want to look just like their father. Her grin widened at the thought. A mental image of Arthur on his knees helping his son perfect the art of putting on a tie hit her mind. Her heart involuntarily swelled. She wanted so badly to see that happen, to have him on board with this mission of starting a family. But before any of that could begin, she had to be honest with him and relieve this internal bickering she was doing.
Closing the luggage, he laid down his set of clothes, a white t-shirt and a pair of equally white pants before he reached for his towel.
"Wait!" He froze. "I need to talk to you about something." Blinking, he slowly backed away from the towel and moved to sit next to her on the bed instead.
"Is everything okay?" His intense stare caused her to squirm on the insides. She wished there was something to distract him; to divide his attention instead of solemnly focusing on her.
"Of course everything is fine. Why wouldn't it be?"
"You've been awfully quiet since we landed. The Ariadne I know would have been jumping with joy at the prospect of finally being on vacation."
"I've got a lot on my mind," she told him truthfully, hoping to ease the worried lines upon his face.
"Are you gonna tell me about them?" Hearing the tenseness in his voice caused her to swallow hard as she fidgeted with her fingers. Doubt and fear began to fill her. What if he laughed off the idea? What if her request caused tension between them and ruined their relationship? Her oxygen intake suddenly decreased as the thought of being without Arthur hit her.
If she was smart, she'd shut her mouth. She'd take what she had and be grateful that she had been blessed with him alone. She would simply ruin a wonderful marriage with her thoughts of the future and irrational desires. Excuse. Think of an excuse, she thought to herself. Opening her mouth, she breathed in deeply, attempting to regain her long lost calm.
"Ariadne!" Arthur's panicked voice told her he must have noticed her difficulty with breathing. "Look at me." Sliding his fingers under her chin, he nudged her face up to meet his eyes. Only then, once she had caught sight of his troubled expression was she able to remember why she wanted this so badly. Why she was hyperventilating in a luxurious suit in a resort in Cannes. Why vivid images of her future with this man bombarded her mind. She loved him. She wanted a life with him; one that included a family. One that, in the back of her mind, she was sure he would want just as much.
"Sweetheart, you have to tell me what's going on." Oh, his sweet agony. Forcing in a deep breath, she gave him a slow, weak smile.
"I want a baby."
-x-
"Alright, let me sum this all up." Arthur turned to face her, his hands buried in the pockets of his pants as he stood in front of the bed. His back was resting against the large, gold embroidered dresser as his body reflected in the mirror behind him. "You want a child, correct?"
She nodded.
"You want us to dedicate this vacation to conceiving a child?"
She nodded again.
"You want to be pregnant by the time we return back to Paris?"
She bit her inner cheek to hold back another weak smile as she nodded again.
He gave a deep laugh, running a hand over his hair as he shook his head. He hadn't given her a flat out 'no' but her worries refused to simmer down as she watched him. Emotions danced through his eyes as he finally looked up at her. Amusement. Interest. Confusion. Surprise.
"Tell me what you're thinking." She spoke gently, almost afraid to disrupt the private moment he was having. Her curiosity was in power at that moment though, over powering every other feeling except for the fear in her heart.
"I'm trying to wrap my mind around all this." He answered, folding his hands over his chest. "I can't say I haven't thought about us starting a family, but I always assumed it would be further down the future." His words made sense. They were a young, working couple. She had recently graduated university and should have been ecstatic to freely live her life. But with all the happiness that came with care freely constructing architecture, in the dream world and out, she knew what her heart truly desired.
"What brought this all on?" Her husband asked curiously.
She merely shrugged. "I'm not sure. I remember having an admiration for kids when I was younger." She paused, as memories of her childhood flooded her. "I guess that's natural when you come from a large family. In all honesty though, it was that lunch I had a week ago that triggered something inside me…"
Arthur watched her intently, waiting for her to continue.
"I guess seeing my friends pregnant and glowing with pride and happiness made me realize how much I was missing out. I just…I think motherhood is something every woman should experience for herself and I desperately want it."
Her husband simply nodded, his arms still crossed casually over his chest. There was a new emotion shadowing his eyes, something that made her stomach swirl with butterflies. She wanted to reach out and touch him; to try and understand how he was processing all that she had just told him.
"I think you'd make a wonderful mother." He spoke so low she almost missed it. "You'd have to quit your job though; both of them."
She could barely comprehend what he was saying; she didn't care. All that she noted was that he was thinking ahead, just as she was. He hadn't said no.
"Yes. I'll quit. Definitely. Building and pregnancy don't exactly mix well together." She had meant to come off simple and relaxed, but the excitement in her voice was impossible to hide.
"Hmmm…" He grinned down at her. "We'll have to re-decorate one of the guest rooms. The baby will need a nursery."
At this point, Ariadne was floating. Keeping her smile off her lips had become impossible and before she knew it she was standing and jumping into his arms. Bless her husband's reflexes. Catching her midair, he held her against his chest as the two eloped in a tight and emotional hug.
"We're going to have a baby." Arthur whispered against her hair as her arms wrapped comfortably around his neck. "We're going to be parents."
She let out something between a sob and a laugh, clinging to Arthur tightly as deep waves of emotions drowned her. The conclusion that this was going to happen, that they were going to have a child that bore from the two of them, was almost too much for her to handle. She fought against the urge to reach into her bag for her totem, to clarify with herself that this surely was reality. The vivid thoughts and hopes she had been harbouring in her heart and mind suddenly seemed a whole lot more real.
She was going to be someone's mother. Arthur was going to become someone's father. There would be an offspring of them that would look up and call out 'mom and dad.' Another sob escaped her. Her arms tightened around him even more before she began pressing hasty kisses to his cheek and jaw. Leaning back, she gripped his gaze and her soul smiled with relief and bliss as she caught sight of the warmth in his eyes. He wanted this, needed this, just as much. All doubts escaped her then and there. Ariadne knew the full circle that was their life was going to become even bigger, and she for welcomed it.
"Look at us." Arthur grinned as he backed her down onto the bed. He fell gently on top of her, placing his weight on his elbows as he hovered over her. "Celebrating before you're even pregnant."
"Well, that's what these next two weeks are for," she replied cheekily. There was no way this smile would ever leave her face.
"You're giving me only fourteen days to impregnate you?"
"Not enough for you?"
"Barely, but I'm sure we can get the deed done."
They both grinned. Delighted yet anxious beyond what she capable of comprehending, Ariadne pulled her husband down fully on top of her and met his lips with her own. She couldn't think of anything other than how happy she was and how much she wanted him. The gentleness that had momentarily been there quickly evaporated and her lips parted to welcome his eager tongue. Sending one hand into his hair with frenzy, Ariadne pulled him closer, if possible, atop her body. He obliged and deepened the kiss in response, causing to moan into his hot mouth.
The emotional conversation they had just endured took a toll on her, sending her hormones higher than usual as desire began to bubble in the pit of her stomach. Hungry and eager, she relished her husband's wandering hands as he moved up her leg and under her shirt to rub the exposed skin. His touch sent electric sizzles through her body, causing her blood to boil and heartbeat to speed up. Feeling lightheaded from the strong sensation of want, she sighed with relief when her mouth was finally freed. Arthur propped himself back on his elbow as he showered her jaw with light kisses. Just as she had caught her breath and was ready to pull him back down, he rolled off of her and pulled his shirt off.
Transfixed, she watched with craving eyes as his muscles flexed and contracted with every movement he made. His belt and pants joined his shirt on the bed, (no doubt folded neatly and placed atop each other.) Wearing only a pair of boxers, he grasped his forgotten towel and offered her his free hand to help her up. She accepted without hesitation.
"I'm going to hop in the shower. Do you want to order us dinner or do you prefer we go out?"
"I'll order us dinner." There was no way she was allowing him to leave their suite.
Nodding once, he pressed one last kiss to her forehead before heading towards the bathroom. She had no problem drinking in his sight from behind as he sauntered away from her. His body extended with every step, giving her a delicious angle as the partially naked skin glisten under the bright bedroom light.
"Ariadne?" He halted his movement at the door to the large bathroom. "This is the last time I'll be taking a shower alone." Her eyes widened slightly. "That's a promise."