Sorry it has taken so long for me to update. I was going to update it about two weeks ago, but needed to tweak it first and well... Yeah. It got tweaked tonight.
So here is chapter 9. Enjoy! And remember, I don't own Inception.
Ariadne sat down beside the sobbing Ellie and hugged her.
Jack sat down on the other side and handed her a box of tissues.
"Th-thanks." She sobbed and blew her nose. "I-I'm sorry Jack. I know I need to pull myself together." She wiped the rest of the mascara off of her eyes.
"No worries Babe." He kissed the side of her head. "You can cry if you need to. It doesn't bother me. It helps me feel better actually."
"How. Does. It. Help?" She sniffled and blew her nose.
"I don't know." He rubbed her arm. "It hasn't sunk in for me yet." He shook his head. He still couldn't believe this was real. He felt like he was living a nightmare. None of this should be happening. His father shouldn't be lying in a hospital bed on the brink of death. His wife shouldn't be crying in the hall because he can't. He shouldn't be so angry at his father for letting this happen or Arthur for causing it to happen.
"I love you." Ellie whispered in his ear. He smiled. Her words were like salve on his aching heart.
He pulled her into his lap and kissed her. He tangled his fingers in her hair. "I love you too."
"Mr. Walters?" His father's doctor walked up to them.
"Yes?" Jack looked up at the petite doctor and feared the worst.
"Your father seems to be holding his own for now. I have done all that I can. It's up to him now. He has to decide if he is going to keep fighting, or let go. I wish there was more that I could do." Her voice was strong, but Jack could tell she was concerned.
"Thank you Doctor. I have to take care of some things. Will you call me if his condition changes?"
"Of course." She nodded and walked back to the nurse's station.
"I'll stay here and wait." Ellie offered.
"I want you to come with me and Ariadne. I don't want you here by yourself. Let's go." He stood up and held out his hand.
"Alright." She smiled and took his hand as he helped her up. She knew she needed to get away for a while and focus on something else. "Where are we going?"
"To see Arthur." Ariadne answered. She didn't like that Jack wanted to talk to Arthur. Her gut told her that Jack wanted to do more than just talk. She knew it wouldn't end well. She wished that Arthur had told her about this. She wondered how things would have been if she had talked to Arthur before she answered Ellie's call.
"Let me talk to him first alright?" Ariadne glanced at Jack who was sitting in the back seat of the car.
"Alright." He shrugged. He wanted to pound Arthur in to the ground, but he knew that Ariadne wouldn't let him and she would be furious with him if he did.
"I'll be back out. Ellie, make sure he stays in the car." Ariadne opened the car door and stepped out.
"Oh I will." Ellie grinned and crawled into the back seat with Jack.
Ariadne rolled her eyes. She walked up on the porch and saw Daphne playing with two children. She figured they must be Phillipa and James.
"Hey Ari!" Daphne grinned. "I didn't expect to see you so soon. How is everything?"
"Things are alright for now. I guess. Are these Dom's kids?" She changed the subject.
"Yeah. This is Phillipa and this is James." The children waved. "This is my friend Ariadne."
"Hi." They smiled.
"Is Arthur here?" She asked quietly.
"Yeah. He's inside with Nick and Dom. Do you want me to go get him?"
"I don't know. I guess I should go inside and at least say hello to Dom." She really didn't know what to do or what to say.
"Let's go then." She turned to the children. "You two behave. I'll be back out in a few minutes."
"Okay." Phillipa smiled.
The men looked up when the door opened and Ariadne walked in with Daphne following close behind.
"Ariadne! It's good to see you." Dom hugged her. He noticed the brunette had the same worried look on her face as the last time she showed up on his doorstep.
"You too." She forced a smile. It was good to see him, but she didn't feel like smiling or being happy.
"How is he?" Arthur was the first to ask what everyone was wondering.
"They've done everything they can. It's up to him whether he lives or not." She looked at Arthur. "Why didn't you tell me?" She asked sadly. She still loved him, but he had hurt her.
"It's my fault." Eames spoke before Arthur could. "I wouldn't let him. It was supposed to be one last job for these people and then we'd be even. I knew your families were close which is why I didn't ask you to help. I didn't know the extent of your friendship with the family until after I agreed and there was no backing out. I'm sorry it turned out the way it did. Don't be too harsh on Arthur Love it really wasn't his fault."
"It doesn't matter whose fault it is. I still got hurt. You could have said no to the job." She snipped.
"I didn't know what information they were looking for. I'm sorry."
"I-I don't know what to do!" She was trying to maintain composure but she really wanted to just break down and cry.
"Ari. I'm so sorry. Please forgive me?" Arthur held her hands in his.
"Arthur. Don't ask me that. Because I can't. Not right now anyway. Maybe eventually I can, but not right now." Tears filled her eyes. She wanted this to be okay. She wanted to forgive him, but she was still too angry and confused.
Her words felt like daggers piercing his heart. He would regret this for the rest of his life. He would never forgive himself if he lost her over this.
"Jack is outside. He wants to talk to you."
"He's here?" The point man was surprised.
"I told him he couldn't talk to you unless I was around."
"I doubt he really wants to talk Love." Eames said. Surely she wasn't that naïve.
"Yes Nick I know. Why do you think I told him I had to be around?" Ariadne rolled her eyes. Eames could be really slow sometimes.
"Just checking." He shrugged seemingly uninterested.
"Maybe I should tell Jack you were involved too. Hm?"
"I'd rather you not Love."
"I'll go talk to him." Arthur walked outside.
Jack saw him walk out of the house and he stepped out of the car. "You know if Ari weren't so crazy about you I'd probably kill you for what you did." Jack crossed his arms glaring at Arthur in disgust.
"Well, she's not exactly my biggest fan right now." Arthur knew he had to watch what he said.
"No. She isn't. My dad is a second father to her. We don't know if he will live or not. And if he does he has a long road ahead of him."
"I was asked to help find some information. I didn't know what the information was. I'm sorry. I had no idea."
"And if you had known?"
"There was no backing out. Whoever hired me didn't trust me enough to let me live if I did."
"You don't even know who hired you?" Jack asked in disbelief. Why would anyone take a job if they didn't know who the employer was?
"Acquaintances of a friend. I suspect someone in your father's company hired them. Do you know who the whistleblower was?"
"No I don't. Do you?" Jack found himself calming down. Maybe it was because Arthur had remained calm.
"I have a name." Arthur pulled out a piece of paper with a name scribbled on it. "I don't know if it means anything to you or not, but I hope it helps." He handed him the paper.
Jack's eyes grew wide. "He's the vice president of the company. He's one of Dad's best friends. Thank you Arthur."He was sincere. Arthur was a class act even when he had threatened to pound him. He held out his hand.
"You're welcome." Arthur shook his hand. "I hope your dad pulls through."
"Thank you. Tell Ari I will call her later."
Arthur nodded and walked back to the house.
"Surprisingly you're still in one piece." Eames glanced at him.
"And surprisingly my sister loves you." Arthur glared.
"Oi! You think you're so funny." Eames shot back.
"Shut it you two!" Ariadne wasn't in the mood.
"Where is my sister?" He asked her.
"In the kitchen with Dom. She's trying to convince him to let her use the PASIV again."
"What do you mean I can't?" Daphne fussed at Dom as they walked out of the kitchen.
"Just that. You can't. How many different ways do I need to spell this out for you?" He was ready to roll his eyes. She was just as stubborn as Arthur.
"As many times as it takes until you change your mind." Daphne crossed her arms and furrowed her brows. She knew she was acting like a child, but she didn't care. She wanted back in and he wouldn't let her. It wasn't fair.
Dom sighed. "I know you want to Daphne, but you can't. I won't let you. Arthur doesn't want you to. Nick doesn't want you to. You are not coming in contact with the PASIV ever again. And that is final." He felt like he was scolding Phillipa or James and not his former colleague.
Daphne shook her head and walked outside. Ariadne followed her out.
"Daphne. You knew he would say no." Ariadne said as gently as she could.
"I guess maybe I thought I could convince him otherwise. I don't know." She threw up her hands. "This isn't fair!"
"I know the feeling. It's not fair, and you can't do anything to stop it. It's horrible. I know." Ariadne felt the tears coming. She was glad she grabbed extra tissues earlier and shoved them in her pockets. She pulled one out for her and one for Daphne.
"Thanks." Daphne smiled and hugged her. "I should have known that he would agree with Arthur and Nick."
"They just don't want to lose you again. It sounded like it was horrible. Think of what they must be going through. You all saw Mal lose herself. And then they watched you get lost and have to find yourself again. Arthur blames himself for it happening in the first place. They don't want to lose you again."
"And I don't want to be lost again." Daphne muttered. "Maybe if I'm patient and I wait maybe one day they'll let me. But I'm sure it won't be anytime soon." She shook her head. "I know they mean well, but it's so frustrating." She realized she had spent all of this time griping and hadn't even bothered to ask Ariadne how she was doing. "How are you Ari? How are you really?"
"I don't know. I still find myself checking my totem, wishing I was dreaming but knowing I'm not before I even pull it out. I got to talk to him. He was coherent enough for that, but then he fell asleep and for a moment I thought he was gone." She stifled a sob. "He's got a shot, but I don't know if he can make it or not. I don't know what I'll do if I lose him." She wiped her eyes. "I have a flight in a few hours to Sacramento to see my aunt. I know if I see her I will feel better." Ariadne smiled. She felt better just thinking about seeing her only living family member.
Ariadne had been right. Going to Sacramento had been what she needed. When her aunt opened the door her face lit up like a Christmas tree.
"Oh my stars! Ariadne! I've missed you sweetheart!" She hugged her. They hadn't seen each other since Ariadne moved to Paris three years before.
"It's so good to see you Aunt Grace." Ariadne fought back tears. "I've missed you so much!" She hugged her aunt tighter. Seeing her aunt brought back so many memories. Memories of her Dad and Mom and of their funerals. Especially her mom's – just two months before her graduation. She thought the Universe cruel to deal her two harsh blows by the time she was twenty-two. Now it was dealing her another by trying to take Pop away from her. She remembered what her brave mother had told her the day she was diagnosed with cancer – "Life isn't fair my darling Ari. It's all about how you play the hand you are dealt." She smiled to herself.
"Are you alright Ariadne? You've barely eaten." Her aunt looked at the full plate in front of her.
"I'm just worried about Pop." Ariadne frowned at her coffee as if that would help her feel better. It didn't.
"I know you are. He's a strong man. He'll pull through." She smiled even though she was worried.
"I hope so. I don't know what to do about Arthur." She stared at her plate willing herself to eat something.
"So that's what's really bothering you. Why?"
"I mean, it's his fault this happened in the first place. How could he do that to me?"
"What are you talking about?" The older woman gave Ariadne a puzzled look. She had told her about Arthur, but not about his involvement.
Ariadne realized she hadn't told her aunt that Arthur was involved. She had to tread lightly. Aunt Grace knew nothing of extraction and the Architect wanted to make sure it stayed that way. "He helped the whistleblowers find all of the information they needed. I don't know how exactly, but he did. Through all of his research he found out that I knew the family very well. He still went through with it. I'm so mad at him." She started crying.
"Sweetheart." Grace stood up from her chair and walked around the table to hug her. "You know what you have to do right?" She sat down in the chair next to her.
Ariadne nodded wiping her eyes with her napkin.
"Forgive him. It was something he was hired to do, and by the time he found out about you it was probably too late to back out."
"Yeah, but…" Ariadne began.
"You love him right? I'm sure he feels horrible for hurting you. Any decent man would. So forgive him and move on. Otherwise you'll become a bitter old woman."
"You aren't a bitter old woman Aunt Grace." Ariadne chuckled. She knew her aunt was right.
"I never said I was. I've seen it happen to friends of mine and I don't want it to happen to you. I can tell you love him. I promise you won't feel so torn if you make up with him. Now eat your breakfast." She grinned.
Ariadne giggled. She knew Aunt Grace was right. "Thanks Aunt Grace. That's what I needed to hear." A feeling of relief washed over her. She picked up her fork and started eating her eggs.
"I thought so." Grace winked at her.
"Did you talk to Arthur?" Grace asked.
"I left him a message and told him I wanted to talk to him."
"He'll call you back." Grace grinned.
"I know. Thanks." She sat down beside her aunt on the sofa. "I'm glad I got to see you while I was in the States."
"I am too. I've missed having you around."
"I'll be better about staying in touch, and I only have a semester left. Then I don't know what I'll do. Maybe I'll take a job closer to home."
"I would love it if you did, but I'll be proud of you no matter what you do. I know that your parents would be so proud of you too."
Ariadne nodded and smiled. She felt a lump growing in her throat and her eyes filling with tears. She wanted to say something, but she wasn't able to. Her voice was gone and the lump in her throat was growing bigger. The doorbell interrupted her thoughts. She swallowed hard to get rid of the lump. "I'll get it." She mumbled. She stood and walked to the door. She wiped her eyes before opening the door. "Arthur?" She asked when she opened the door.
He pulled her into his arms and into a mind-numbing kiss. After a few moments they both pulled away, breathless. He leaned his forehead against hers; gasping for air. "Please don't be mad at me." He finally whispered.
She giggled. "Arthur, it's hard to be mad at you after a kiss like that." She wrapped her arms around him, and kissed him softly. "I don't know if you listened to my message or not, but I forgive you. I don't want to be mad at you anymore." She kissed him again.
"Ariadne. I'm so sorry I hurt you. If I could take it back I would." He cupped her face in his hands.
"I'm sorry I've been angry. I know I hurt you too." She whispered.
"All is forgiven." He grinned.
"So what made you decide to fly up here?"
"I had to see you. I was ready to beg and plead for you to forgive me if I had to. In the same breath I would have understood if you didn't want to. Even though that thought made my heart ache."
"I was ready to forgive you. I just needed time. You know you don't have to stand in the doorway." She giggled. She was still worried about Pop, but she felt like a weight had been lifted off of her by forgiving Arthur.
"Oh, uh. Sorry." Arthur mumbled as he stepped inside.
"I want you to meet my aunt." She pulled him into the living room.
"Arthur this is my aunt Grace. Aunt Grace, this is my Arthur." She grinned. She didn't mean to say 'my Arthur', but it sounded good. Arthur squeezed her hand.
"It's nice to meet you Arthur." She ignored Arthur's outstretched hand and hugged him.
"Nice to meet you too." He felt out of place.
"Make yourself at home Arthur. Can I get you anything?"
"No thank you. I'm fine." He sat down on the sofa with Ariadne curled up beside him. He wrapped his arm around her and she leaned her head against his shoulder. She took his free hand in hers and intertwined their fingers. He smiled contentedly and pressed a kiss into her hair. Her hair smelled like wildflowers. He thought he was in heaven.
Again, I'm sorry it took so long. Thanks for hanging in there. I hope you are still enjoying the story. Now, I have no idea how to continue this so y'all have to give me some ideas. Please. :)