Thank you to peterpeetypan for giving me the insult of 'dickbag' accidentally :D

I stormed over and snatched the keys out of his hand. Without looking at him, I angrily tried to fit the key in the hole, but my hand was shaking so much in anger that I couldn't do it. So much for my dramatic exit.

"Ariadne. What have I done?" Arthur stopped my hand that was still rifling with the keys. The skin immediately went warm with his touch. I threw his hand off.

"I'll tell you what you've done! Why didn't you get me out of the horrible situation on the dancefloor? I know you knew I was asking you to phone me, so why didn't you? You're the one who said I could back out at any moment, and when I needed you most you fell through on your word!" Breathing hard, I tried to blink away the tears in my eyes borne from the realisation that Arthur didn't really care about me. He just wanted the job done.

Arthur looked stunned. "I thought it was what you wanted. You were getting all close with him and I knew you wouldn't have done if you didn't want to, so I thought you were enjoying yourself." His voice turned bitter.

"So basically you're saying that I was behaving like a whore and you wanted to punish me for that."

"Oh right, I'm the bad guy now? Even when I followed you when you left the party because I was worried about you not being able to get into your home!"

"How did you get my keys? Did you steal them so that I could conveniently go home with Ford? Sleep with him so we could get the job done?"

"NO!" He shouted. "You dropped them after you yelled at Ford."

Oh great, he knew about that too. "You were watching me?"

"Yes. I tried to tell Cobb you weren't deliberately getting intimate with Ford, no matter what it looked like, and was going to take you home because I knew you'd be upset after he chewed you out. Ford tried to pick up the keys and go after you, but I stopped him and told him I was a friend of yours and you were just upset at your bad love life. So no harm done to the job."

I realised I had a lot to thank him for, but right now my heart was too hurt and angry to consider gratitude. "Oh right of course, because that's what's important. Didn't it occur to you he'll be suspicious about the person he just happened to be talking to earlier knowing me? What if he thinks we're together? Great job Arthur, you've probably made him want to stay away at all costs!" I was being totally out of line and couldn't believe I was blaming Arthur for my mistakes.

Anger rekindled in his eyes at my accusations. "Oh I'm sorry to have ruined your chance with rich lover boy. I didn't know that was your type."

"You're such a dickbag!" I threw the word out before actually realising my mistake. There was a silence before Arthur burst out laughing.

"Did you just mix up douchebag and dickhead?"

I couldn't even insult him right. I didn't see the point of answering him and embarrassing myself more, so I simply turned back to the door and finally managed to put my key in. As I opened it, I turned back to Arthur.

"Goodnight. Thanks for the keys." I said stiffly, and made to sweep inside and finally do my dramatic exit.

A hand caught my arm before I could, and suddenly I was pushed inside as Arthur slammed the door. He pushed me against the wall and pinned my struggling hands against it. Lips met mine and kissed them fiercely, burning them with the intensity. I gasped and kissed back, pulling my hands out of his and twisting them in his hair as I melted against him. I didn't care if this was a dream. This was worth the insanity afterwards.

I sat up in bed, careful not to disturb Arthur. I'd realised for a few hours now that this definitely wasn't a dream. Even I couldn't imagine something that good.

Sunlight poured in the windows, matching my mood. Slipping on Arthur's shirt, I skipped happily downstairs and saw that it was just after dawn. I was a very early morning person, but wasn't sure if Arthur was. Guess I'd finally be able to find out!

I hummed as I prepared my coffee. Did he like tea or coffee in the morning? Did he eat breakfast? What if last night was just a one off? My stomach churned with worry. I'd let my feelings show last night and now I felt vulnerable. Oh crap, why was love so complicated?

"Ari."

I jumped, spilling coffee everywhere. Arthur stood in the doorway, in his trousers. With no top on.

I averted my eyes and mopped the coffee up. "Hi. Can I get you anything?" I refused to turn round as blush burned my cheeks. I heard him move up behind me and froze as he kissed my neck. Hands slipped round my waist as I lolled against him and turned to kiss him properly. This pretty much told me that last night was not one off.

The kiss deepened until the doorbell rang annoyingly. We both broke apart and smiled simultaneously.

"To be continued..." I said mischiveously. The nervousness I usually felt around him had gone, replaced by confidence simmering inside me. I loved the change he had brought out in me. He laughed as I left the room, not even considering that it could be anyone I know answering the door. I thought it would be just the postman, or the milkman. No one important.

Shit.

It was Eames. And Cobb. Double shit. Looking at me standing there in Arthur's shirt. I immediately knew that I couldn't let them inside and confirm that it was Arthur's shirt. It could just be any old white shirt. I hastily stopped my mind babble and tried to smile awkwardly as if it was just because I was semi-naked on the doorstep.

"Eames, Cobb. Can you just wait here a second and let me get some clothes on? I laughed hysterically, feeling my confidence slip away. It was Eames that answered first, of course.

"Sure. So sorry to disturb you." I didn't like the way he said that, and Cobb's next question hardly suprised me as to why they were here.

"Do you know where Arthur is? Only Eames said you might know..." Cobb didn't quite meet my eyes, and I knew it wasn't in anger, but in shame as shouting at me. I immediately felt my frost for him melt.

"Arthur? No. We aren't really speaking right now, so I can't help you with that." I spoke more to Eames, and we had a few seconds of defiant staring each other down.

"What a shame. We'll just leave you in peace then." Eames smiled innocently at me and they both bid farewell and headed back down the street. I breathed a sigh of relief and felt Arthur come up behind me again.

"That," I said heavily, "was way too close."

"Ashamed to be seen with me?"

I laughed. "If Eames found out we would never hear the end of it!" I shuddered, considering the future of never-ending teasing ahead.

Arthur smiled. "I agree with you there." His eyes turned more serious and he wrapped me in his arms. "To be continued...?"

I caught up in his mood instantly. We kissed passionately again and I blocked out the whole world, momentarily forgetting that we were standing in the doorway right onto the street where anyone could see us. I ran my hands over his bare chest and he tangled his hands in my hair. This was paradise. And the best thing? It was very much real.

"Ahem."

We broke apart in suprise. Dreading to see who it was, I turned and my fears were confirmed.

"Forgot to mention. We're meeting at usual place at about noon. I hope you're not busy later." Eames smirked in delight and strolled away. Me and Arthur looked at each other.

Shit.