"Where exactly are you taking me?" Ariadne questioned in a persistent voice. The two had been tightly seated in Arthur's sleek, air conditioned black Mercedes for an agonizing 45 minutes as he manoeuvred the streets of their current hometown, swivelling through stop lights and cutting into deep turns. For all she knew he could have no destination in mind, merely using the vehicle as a means of wasting time.

"Patience, love." He comforted her, a hint of a smile in his voice. "We're nearly there."

She had no use but to accept his words, leveraging her seat back a few inches and allowing her body to unfold with the movement. The radio station, a tune set to classic Parisian favourites, hummed with calm, soothing rhythm of a sultry male voice as Ariadne's eyes closed gently. She was tired, exhausted even and she had done little to nothing with what was the beginning of her day. Unless miserably internally debating on her husband's motives could be counted as a suitable and acceptable job, than yes, she had every reason to be exhausted. Having had thrown in an excuse to Cobb and securing them a free day, she was seriously doubting Arthur's sanity and for a second wondered if he was possessed. The point man she knew was a perfectionist, a man securely built on structure and routine. He wouldn't randomly take a day off and venture a park with her, instead of focusing on a pending operation.

Desperate times call for desperate measures, she noted to herself. It was a smooth move on his behalf, bringing her back to the place where they had wed; vivid memories of the sunshine, flowers and love had been all that had consumed from the moment she had recognized the setting. Images from what had been the happiest day of her life filtered through her mind, circling her thoughts and refusing to diminish, not that she wanted them to. She turned her head to her side and stared at the male driving. No, she certainly didn't want to forget them, not when she so desperately needed to cling to the happier moments in their relationship.

She could easily acknowledge that Arthur was trying, that he was eager to showcase his emotions to her and earn her forgiveness. But it meant nothing. It was like a sketch merely drawn in with pencil, no detail, no color, and no emotion. He wasn't aware of what he did, nor did he comprehend just how deep this devastation rang. He wasn't taking into account the dreams he had ripped from her, or what exactly he was confirming for their future. If by any chance things did change for them, and God happened to bless them with children, would he bail on them the same way he had on her? Would he leave their dreams stranded on an island the way he had hers? What would it take to secure his attention?

Anger obviously.

She shook her head subconsciously. If that was what it took to maintain a spec of his attention and devotion, it wasn't worth it. Not when it took this much energy. A lump formed in her throat as she tried to imagine a life without Arthur. Her head turned back to look at him; it seemed almost impossible to exist without him. Even now when she was frustrated, upset and attempting to teach him a lesson, she still had him in her life. What would it be like to completely leave?

"Are you all right?" He broke her train of thought as he stole a glance at her before turning back to the packed road. "You look as if someone burned her scarf collection."

"I'm hungry," she whispered blatantly. It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the truth either.

"Hold that thought." He swirled the car into intersection, taking a right before pulling into a parking lot. A small but decent parking lot to be exact, as her husband drove the car into a spot up in the front and unbuckled his seat belt. "Let's get some food."

Slowly pulling her seat back into its designated position, she followed his suite and undid her seat belt and sat up. That was when it hit her; the familiarity, the awe, and the second dose of memories. In front of them was a small restaurant, green in paint and decorated with vines with detailed vegetables growing atop them. There was no missing the Italian heading, nor was there avoiding the whiff of garlic, pasta and spices coming from within the perimeter. She didn't need to go inside to remember the way the dishes had melted on her tongue, the way the darkly lit setting had illuminated her view that special night and how after her stomach had been fed and satisfied, her lips had been paid extra attention by something she had craved desperately.

"We had our first kiss here." Her voice came out as a hoarse whisper. Despite having had a taste of one another amidst the chaos that had been the Fisher Case, they considered this night and the oddly placed Italian restaurant as the home of their first real kiss. No subconscious creations to fake it for and no mere pecks. It had been passionate, deep and real.

"Do you have any idea how hard it was for me to find Italian cuisine in Paris?" Arthur noted with a chuckle, staring up at the building in front of them with the same intense gaze she was using. "I came across it one day when I was driving back into the city after a meeting with a client. It was so far out of where we were stationed that I was sure you would hate me with the drive far before we even arrived here." He admitted as he rubbed the back of his neck. "It was worth it, though. I always had a good feeling about this place."

He faced her, the hopeful expression on his face undeniable. If he was expecting a reply, or even comprehendible words, he was in no such luck. She was speechless. Utterly and completely wiped out as far as any language went.

Instead, she bit the inside of her cheeks as she fumbled to control her emotions. Damn him for targeting her where it mattered the most; all these sweet memories, those precious moments they shared were flooding at her harder than a tsunami. Forcing her head under what were bittersweet sensations as her stomach fluttered with remembrance of what it felt at those given seconds. The nerves, the excitement, the hope and the happiness from then spared her no mercy as it drowned her. But she couldn't forget how it felt now; the defeat she was venturing on, the agony and surprising loneliness.

"Let's go inside." Arthur, having had given up on getting anything verbal out of her, stepped out of the car and walked over to pull her door open. Locking his vehicle with the remote on his keys, he led her into the mildly filled restaurant and exchange words with the host before leading her towards the back. The table, there was no mistake, was the exact from that night years ago. She couldn't holdback her chuckle. That point man and his details; it was do it all or do nothing.

"Someone's remembers." He grinned, as they were both seated.

"It's kind of hard not to. This spot had the best view." To their side, a wide glass showcased a blossoming garden and slippery fountain although it had been dark and lit with lights the night Arthur had first brought her here. "I'm surprised you were still able to find this place."

He grinned smugly. "I'll admit I was a bit lost for a few minutes there before getting back on track.

She couldn't resist her triumphed smile. "I knew it! I was thinking there was no way in hell you knew what you were doing. I was sure we were just wasting time in the car."

"What better way to waste it than with you." The tenderness in his voice clogged her throat and she was suddenly thankful when a waitress came by to place their orders. Settling on a dish of marinated vegetable pasta, garlic bread, a Silican tomato salad and a slice of Dolce cake, Ariadne hunched over her growling stomach and fought back the wave of exhaustion.

"Tired?"

"More than anything," she whispered. "Which is a bit odd considering I slept well last night." The second the words left her lips, she wished she could take it back. Satisfied and beaming with her confession, Arthur leaned back into his seat.

"Just goes to prove we have our best rests in each others arms."

"Don't get conceited."

"I'm not," he countered. "I'm just stating a point." He drew out a deep breath. "Why are you so quick to fight me, love?"

She gave him no answer and instead pursed her lips. Her eyes roamed around the room, settling over the heads of the customers chatting away and enjoying their meals. Carefree expressions and easy smiles planted on every face; but theirs.

"I just….it doesn't matter."

"Yes, it does!" His voice nearly rose in aggression. "Dammit, I hate what I've done to us, sweetheart. It's as if I've supplied the brick and pavement for this wall between us to be built. I want it down, I want my wife back."

"Yeah, well. We don't always get what we want. Or is it just me? Because you seem to get be getting all that you want lately Arthur." She groaned with frustration.

His hands reached out slowly, snaking over the cloth on the table and grasping her hands in a tight clutch. His warmth radiated far past her skin and ventured deep into her veins as the shock of their embrace sizzled through her. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I was selfish, I was wrong and more than anything, I was stupid. I may have had excuses and reasons for my so called behaviour, but none of it will get you back into my arms and to me, nothing is ever worth that. I was an idiot, Ariadne. Despite all I said, you were right. I put my job, our job, is front of what was important. Time together and your dreams. You have every right t be upset with me, and even more so, never to forgive me. But I want you to know I love you; I regret what I did and if you want -" he gulped down his words and took a deep breath. "-I'll back out of project. I'll take a month off, and you and I will go back to Cannes. We'll accomplish what we set out for and more. I just want you back."

"Wait, what?"

He nearly groaned, his eyes deep with hurt. "You weren't listening?"

A small smile played on the curve of her lips. "Oh I was listening, I just need you to repeat the little part about you being wrong, selfish and I think you said something about being stupid as well?"

Ariadne watched as he slowly relaxed, noting her teasing words. "I'd admit all that and more again if you want. I'd do it for you."

Emotions crashed at her chest, pushing her heart up against her rib cage. She wanted to fling herself into his arms, to simply wrap herself around him and melt. The sincerity in his words was as authentic as the love she felt for him, undeniable and un-fabricated. Before she could muster out a reply, anything to soothe the stress lines on his forehead, a couple walked behind Arthur, struggling to get to their seat beside them. He quickly noted their presence, pushing his chair in and giving them room to walk. Arthur's eyes were instantly back on her the minute the two people were out of his way, but hers remained with them, more specifically the female.

She was brunette, Ariadne quickly noted, just like herself and slightly tall. Her skin was bright, almost overshadowing her smile but it was her eyes that captivated her the most. The happiness, the excitement, it was all there. Ariadne only knew of two things that could have a woman glowing in such manner. A recent marriage or a pregnancy. It took a quick glance down her figure to see that it was the latter.

Round and high, her baby bump was in plain view, complimented by a form fitting sundress. Her spouse had one hand securely planted on it, the other wrapped around her as he helped her into a chair. It was as if Ariadne were invading a private moment as she watched the two exchanged a deep, loving gaze. As if she were committing a crime by somewhat sharing the moment with them.

She instantly turned away, unable to swallow with the lump in her throat and struggling to see with the tears quickly building in her eyes. Her hormones were out of control, especially after witnessing what she so desperately wanted. Seeing the fate that she hoped to be bestowed upon her on another female was more than she could handle. Making a move to stand up, she was shocked to see Arthur in front of her, deeply concerned and outstretched with his arms.

She instantly fell into his embrace, her head magnetite to his chest as the embarrassing and overwhelming tears cascaded down her cheeks. She was aware she was quickly drenching his crisp, clean shirt but he seemed to pay no mind; she took the same road. "I'm sorry," she whimpered, once she gained control of her free falling waterfall. "We're in the middle of a restaurant, this was un-called for." She didn't want to pull her head away in hopes of catching the eyes of the people feasting in the building.

"Don't say that." Arthur growled against her hair. "I did this; I should be the one apologizing."

She frowned. "What are you ta-"

"If I were a good enough husband, you wouldn't have had to look at that woman in envy. If I had focused on making you happy, instead of chasing the trill of our occupation, we'd be in a much different situation right now." His thumbs came down on her face gently and removed the evidence of her outburst. "I'm so sorry Ariadne. I realized just how much I've failed you."

It took her a nerve racking moment to respond. "I love you."

It was all he needed to hear, Ariadne noted, as he brought his arm tighter around her and crushed her to his body. Their silhouettes became one, colliding into one another as their embrace deepened. His lips fell on her hair, her cheek, even her eyes, but never her lips. She could only guess it was because of the audience watching them.

Speaking of…."Can we go home?"
"Of course." Tenderness filled his expression. Turning around only to signal their waitress, he asked for their meal to be packed away to go, before his fingers found hers and he led her to the front desk. Bill settled and their bags in hand, the two slipped out of the restaurant, unaware of the murmurs erupting the second the door closed behind them. Instead, Arthur unlocked the door and made sure she settled in before walking over to the other side. The moment he landed within the privacy of the vehicle, he lowered his head and kissed her. Kissed her world right. Kissed his way home. Kissed her with all the passion of a man who understood where his heart lay and with whom. When they finally did pull apart, it was to identical smiles and promises.

"I love you." He swept her into his arms, proving difficult considering their location; allowing love to wash away the bitterness of his past mistakes and provide a pathway towards their future. "Now, let's go start on our family."

Author's Note: Don't fret my lovelies, the story is not over...yet. I've still got a few surprises to sprinkle you with. But let's hear your thoughts. What are you opinions, are they okay? Will they be okay? Does Arthur deserve to be forgiven? And the big one; would they make good parents? As always, I can't wait to hear your thoughts and assumptions. You guys have some seriously diverse train of thoughts. It excites me! Review, review, review! :)

Reviews are love. There can never be too much.