Finally, chapter 16... Sorry.
P.S. I don't own Inception or the characters...
Arthur had seen Ariadne a month later (Well, twenty-eight and a half days if anyone counted), but he hadn't seen her in two months. They talked on the phone several times a week, but it just wasn't the same. He hated not seeing her.
He decided to walk up the three flights of stairs to her apartment instead of taking the elevator. He knocked on her apartment door and then he heard giggling.
A few seconds later Bri opened the door. "Oh hey Arthur." She grinned and hung up her phone.
"Hey Bri. You're hair is blue." He stammered.
"Yeah it is." She shrugged nervously. "Um, you're here to see Ari right?" She seemed hesitant.
"Yeah, is she here?" He asked.
"No. She's pissed at me. More so than usual. I don't know where she is." She shrugged.
"Have you tried calling her?" He suggested.
"She won't answer. She never does." She muttered. "Will you call her for me? I'm going home for Christmas and I don't want to leave without knowing she's okay." She pouted, knowing she was acting like a child.
"I'll call her." He pulled out his phone, pressing her number.
Ariadne answered the phone after one ring. "What is it Arthur?" She sounded annoyed.
"I'm at your apartment and I didn't know where you were 'cause Bri said you weren't here." He said.
"Turn around." She hung up and tapped his shoulder.
"Oh." He felt stupid.
A smile spread across her face. "I've missed you!" She threw her arms around him.
"I've missed you too." He whispered into her hair.
She wiped her eyes and glanced over his shoulder at Bri. "I thought you'd be gone by now."
"I, I was hoping you'd come back. I was worried about you." Bri stammered.
"I'm fine. Thanks. Merry Christmas Bri." She walked into her room slamming the door behind her.
"Merry Christmas Arthur. Good luck." Bri forced a smile and grabbed her bag.
"Merry Christmas." Arthur said as he watched her leave. He didn't know what was wrong with Ariadne. He waited a few minutes and then knocked on her door.
"Nick!" Daphne giggled when he tickled her sides. "Stop." She pretended to fuss at him.
"I'll think about it." He smirked before kissing her.
"I love you." She kissed him back. "Have you talked to Arthur?"
"I have not. Have you talked to him or Ariadne?" He asked, forgetting to tell her he loved her. He never did that.
She stepped away from him to check her phone hoping one of them had called. "I talked to Arthur a few days ago; he was going to surprise Ari. I haven't talked to Ari in almost a month." Her voice cracked. "I don't know what's wrong. She's been really stressed with school, but I don't know why she won't talk to me." She started crying.
"Come here." He pulled her close again. "First of all I love you too." He kissed her. "Secondly, Arthur is flying to see Ariadne and he would have called me if there was something wrong. You know how he is." He couldn't help but add a jab in there.
She laughed. "I know. We both worry too much, and over analyze everything."
"That you do Love." He placed his hands on her stomach and felt the baby kick. "And I hope you are less of a worrywart than your Mummy and Uncle Arthur." He spoke to the baby.
"Ariadne?" Arthur knocked on her door. "Are you alright?"
She opened the door. "I'm sorry Arthur. I haven't slept in two days trying to finish my projects. I know Bri was worried, but I just couldn't deal with her. And I missed you so much." She covered her face and cried.
"I'm sorry." He wrapped his arms around her. "I should have taken a break to see you. I'm sorry." He repeated and kissed her. "I love you."
"I love you too." She smiled. "Thank you for being here now!" She sniffled.
"Anything for you." He kissed her forehead.
"What would I do without you?" She asked herself.
"I don't know." He smirked and leaned against the door frame.
"I don't either." She sat down on her bed. "Arthur. I haven't been sleeping through the night. I haven't been for a while now." She rubbed her face with her hands. "I can deal with that part of it. It's happened before. But, the part that really freaks me out is I can't remember if I dream. Sometimes I think I'm dreaming when I'm awake. I find myself checking my totem more than Dom." She looked at him with tears in her eyes. "Arthur. What's wrong with me?" She whispered.
He sighed, loosening his tie. He didn't think she would stop dreaming so soon. He sat down beside her. "Eventually you will stop dreaming. I stopped years ago. It happens." He shrugged. "It doesn't mean there is anything wrong with you. I promise." He wrapped his arm around her. "I should have told you before that it could happen."
"You might have. I don't remember." She yawned.
"I was going to ask if you wanted to get a late dinner, but do you just want to go to bed?" He asked.
"Let's go to dinner. I haven't eaten much the past couple of days." She smiled.
"I was hoping you'd want to eat. I'm starved." He kissed her.
"Hello?" Arthur mumbled as he answered his phone.
"Arthur! Where are you? And why have you and Ariadne not been taking my calls?" Daphne fussed.
"Daph? Wha, what are you talking about?" He whispered not wanting to wake Ariadne.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about." She hated repeating herself.
"Daphne. It's six in the morning. Can we talk about this later? Please?" He was trying not to get angry.
"Arthur." Ariadne cuddled up to him. "Is that Daphne?" She reached for the phone.
"Uh huh." He yawned and handed her the phone.
"Hey Daph. I'm sorry I haven't talked to you. I've had a lot going on, but I shouldn't make excuses. I promise we'll catch up when I get back to Sacramento." Ariadne apologized.
"When will that be? Aunt Grace wants to know." Daphne smirked.
"Oh gosh. Aunt Grace." Ariadne groaned. She hadn't talked to her in a month. At least.
"Yes Ariadne. Good to know you haven't forgotten about her." She snipped.
"I haven't forgotten about her, or you. I promise." She hoped Daphne believed her.
"What?" Daphne asked Eames. "No Nick. I'm not asking Ariadne that." She rolled her eyes. "Fine. Nick wants to know if you and Arthur are expecting a little bundle of joy."
"Oh my gosh. Nick! Really?" Ariadne's cheeks turned red.
"So is that a yes or a no?" Eames took the phone from Daphne.
"No Nick. I am not pregnant." She had to laugh.
"Oh brother." Arthur groaned, taking the phone from Ariadne. "Really? Are we really having this conversation at six in the morning?"
"Actually Arthur darling it's only about nine in the evening." Eames chuckled.
"Eames. Shut it. I don't want to talk right now. I just want to sleep." Arthur snipped.
"Chill out Arthur." Daphne chuckled. "We'll let you get back to sleep."
"Thanks Sis. I'll call you later. Love you." He yawned.
"You had better call me. Love you too. Sleep well."
Again, my apologies for the wait. Let me know what you thought. Thanks!