Authur's notes: LOL, I'm back! I've managed to finish the next two chapters already, and will update them when I've edited it, and then I think there's three more chapters after that to wrap up this story. Again, I appreciate all comments as I read them, fix my story up accordingly, and then re-read them because it makes me happy, and then one more time to make sure I haven't hallucinated everything.

I check every single profile of everyone that leaves a comment (man, the profiles were awesome, lol), and yes, I think Ariadne deserve a slight family scuffle, so enjoy.

We can agree to disagree on that.

Ariadne snapped her eyes open.

It was just a dream.

She rose slowly from her four-poster bed, dragging her feet from the comfort of the blankets. She glanced at her bedside table. Her clock read 5:30, her bishop lying across on its side. She propped it up, only to knock it over again. Satisfied, she returned to bed, thinking about the dream that awoke her moments ago.

'Alex! Stop it!' said an eight-year old Ariadne, as she was chased by her ten-year old brother. They were running around in their backyard, their mother was hanging up the washing on a makeshift clothes line that their father had designed. Having caught up to his sister, Alex tackled her to the ground and tickled her til she couldn't breathe through all her laughing. 'Stop it!'

Alex was graduating from high school. He waved unabashedly from the stage, and Ariadne waved back, their parents crying with tears of joy. After losing his graduation cap in the frenzy of the celebrating graduates, Alex ran over to Ariadne, present in hand.

'What is this?'

'I hope you like it. Open it!'

'But Alex, I didn't get you anything, and it's your graduation too!'

'If you like this, it'll be a present enough.'

Ariadne opened it to reveal a baby blue silk scarf with intricate embroidery.

'Alexander, Ariadne! Look here, and say cheese!' said their parents together.

'Who was he? Alex saw you two walking together after school, and now you're an hour late from home? Explain yourself. Your mother is worried sick.'

'Father, he's just a friend. I've been home later than this and I never got in trouble then!'

'This, this is different. You're grounded.'

'That is totally unfair! We were only -'

'Go to your room Ariadne.'

Alex was there. He was holding a ruffled cotton scarf in his fist. 'Do you like him? Dylan, isn't it?'

'He's a good guy Alex. You'll -'

'Don't tell me that I'll like him if I'd meet him!' snapped Alex. 'All the guys want the same thing from you, and once they're bored with you, they will leave you broken hearted! The only thing you'll have then is family, and you were willing to throw all that away for a guy that was nice to you today?'

Alex stormed to the door. 'For completing your exit exam,' and the purple scarf fluttered to the floor as he slammed the door shut behind him.

Ariadne apologized to Dylan the next day, saying that they can't meet in the public library for her to help him with his homework anymore, using that they've completed their final exams as an excuse. Ariadne never even considered dating again.

It was almost six. She had dosed off for half an hour. Ariadne quickly showered and changed. Rifling through her drawer, she found her baby blue scarf. It had a frayed look on its outer edge due to its age, but she liked it. Looking at the only picture she owned in her whole apartment, she smiled. It was her with the same scarf she's wearing now, wrapped haphazardly around her neck and Alex on her side in his graduation gown.

For you, Alex.

She grabbed her totem off her bedside table and headed off to the warehouse. The first training session starts today.

Mitchell and Fay were sitting with Cobb, discussing tips on how to guard their subconscious for today's session. Cobb also tells them what he plans to successfully extract from them today, thus the information that Ariadne's parents must try to protect during the session.

Her parents had been staying at a hotel paid for by Saito, where Ariadne was a bit reluctant to share her private apartment with. She liked her space. Something that Arthur was arguing with Eames about today.

'Look, I didn't touch anything. Why would I? If I wanted something, I'll ask someone more willing. Emphasis on the word ask.'

'My drawer was out of place. If it wasn't you, who was it then?'

'Ask Ariadne. You spend the most time with her, don't you?' suggested Eames, as he smiled in Ariadne's direction.

'What's going on Arthur?' asked Ariadne.

'Don't worry. It was probably nothing,' said Arthur, and he left to set up the machine.

'Can you see that our point-man is a little bit aggravated this morning?' said Eames, leaning over to Ariadne, his face fully smirking now.

'That's probably because you caused it Eames. What did you do?'

'Why does everyone assume that I did something?' scoffed Eames. 'No, it wasn't me, but I wished it was. Should have seen his face when -' Eames glanced down at Ariadne. 'Maybe you should ask him instead?'

'Just tell me Eames.'

'Alright sweetheart, you wanted to know. It was your father.'

'What?'

'Alright, it's ready, we can go,' said Arthur, giving Eames a threatening look. Eames just shrugged and casually whispered, 'I'll try to kill him early, so that you'll have a chance to talk, why don't I?'

The first layout for the session was a simple suburban street, resembling the Blackwell's hometown. Eames will act as the dreamer while Cobb and Arthur try to extract as much random information as they can.

'So we'll go one by one first, let you get used to your surroundings before we train you together. Mitchell, perhaps you'd like to go first?' asked Cobb.

Ariadne's father went over to one of the lawn chairs that Arthur has set up, and reluctantly gave his arm over to Arthur. His wife came over and sat herself next to Ariadne at her desk. Arthur set up Eames and Cobb next, before going under himself as Yusuf set the timer for five minutes. 'Happy hunting,' he said.

The warehouse was silent for the next minute or two, and Ariadne knew her mother wouldn't bring up the topic, so she asked her instead. 'Mother, what happened this morning?'

'Well, Dom was explaining all the risks involved, so your father and I feel quite confident now. Imagine how we felt when your father's boss said that we would need Extraction training. Extraction! I thought it was just a myth the Government cooked up to scare us.'

'No, Mother, I mean what happened between Father and Arthur this morning.'

'Oh, that. Well, it was nothing, you're father was just worried about you, that's all,' said Fay, who stood up and started pacing around the four men who was in a deep sedated sleep.

'You do realise that Father tend to overreact in every situation he feel he can't control in his children's life?' stated Ariadne. She was going to get to the bottom of this.

'Don't say that about your Father. He cares about you, a lot. Like I do.'

'Then you'll tell me the truth. What did Father say to Arthur?'

During the conversation, Yusuf was trying not to look like he was eavesdropping, but he didn't like where the conversation was heading. He looked down at his watch. The team has less than a minute left, so Yusuf placed headphones over Eames' head and waited for the last ten seconds before playing the 'Non, je ne regrette rien' track.

'Yusuf, did Arthur look really bothered about what my Father might,' and Ariadne glanced at her mother before adding, 'or might not have said to Arthur this morning?'

'Uh, well, I kind of came in late so I did really see or, uh, hear anything,' said Yusuf, scratching his head absent mindedly. Seeing Ariadne's disheartened face though, he couldn't bear to lie to her. 'Your father said something about Arthur being too close to you within your working environment,' said Yusuf quietly.

Ariadne frowned up at her mother. 'Oh, really? Mother, can't you see that working in this profession require a lot of trust? I'm just -' and Ariadne had to stop to consider her relationship with Arthur. 'I just trust Arthur. A lot. Then there's Cobb, Eames, and Yusuf here, and I trust them with my life, just like you trust Mr. Saito that, by the way, I have a lot of respect for too. So tell Father to stop judging the relationships that I may or may not have with my team members!'

There was a sudden movement down at the lawn chairs.

'What the hell was that? Yusuf, why didn't you warn me with the musical countdown? Geez, can't trust anyone on this team,' spluttered Eames from his lawn chair.

'Yeah, what exactly was the stunt you were trying to pull, collapsing the walkway? I could've gotten killed in the first minute of the dream,' said Arthur, directing his anger at Eames.

'Well, that was kind of planned...' and Eames gave Ariadne a shrug as if to say he tried. Ariadne could only shake her head in silent laughter. So much for preaching about the trust in this team.

Cobb sat up and went over to Mitchell to further discuss the pros and cons of his attempt to prevent extraction, then turned on Eames. 'Well, that could have gone a lot worse. Eames, I can't extract if my point-man is limping around with a broken leg. It attracts the subconscious like crazy.'

'Yeah, sorry about that,' said Eames, though his face was not at all remorseful.

'Fay, your turn. Your husband went great. Let's see if you could do better,' said Cobb.

Ariadne hinted at her mother about their conversation, nodding towards Mitchell. Fay sighed and walked over to her husband and they immediately engaged in conversation. Cobb meanwhile, was discussing with Eames on how he could improve on the dreamscape to better train Fay who, in Cobb's opinion, would not be able to handle sudden altitude changes. 'Thought it'll be fun to mess with the guy a little,' said Eames, looking up at Mitchell, and then winking at Ariadne.

'What was that wink for?

Arthur had joined Ariadne at her desk. 'Oh, you know, just how nice it is to get family involved with business.' Ariadne glanced up at Arthur's passive face. 'I know my dad had a little chat with you this morning. Do you mind sharing with your fellow teammate?'

'It wasn't anything important. Don't read into it too much.'

Ariadne raised her eyebrows in disbelieve. 'Right. I'm sure Father wouldn't mind telling me, which is if we don't argue over it first. God, he's such a narcissist sometimes.'

'Look, Ariadne, it isn't a big deal. You just got back with him. Give him some time to adjust, hrmm?'

'Why do you have to be so damn considerate of everybody?' said Ariadne, trying to suppress her smile.

'Because if I wasn't, I would have killed Eames the first time I saw him.'

'Oh, darling, let's see you try,' said Eames, sneaking up on their conversation. 'Can we go? Cobb's ready.'

After reminding Yusuf not to forget the musical cue this time round, Eames went under first, followed by Fay, Cobb and then Arthur, who gave her a wink and then fell asleep, dreaming.

Ariadne couldn't help but laugh, this time out loud.

'He really makes you happy then, huh?'

Mitchell had pulled a lawn chair over to sit by the leg of Ariadne's desk.

'Yeah, Father, they all do.'

'Are you coming with us, back to Sacramento, when this is done?'

The question had taken Ariadne by surprise, because she hasn't even considered what could happen, now that her parents are back in her life.

'I haven't considered my options yet,' said Ariadne truthfully.

'It's not because of your loyalty to the team is it? Or is it one person in particular?'

Yusuf chose this moment to vacate his seat under the pretence of looking for a certain sedative for the next session. Neither Ariadne nor Mitchell noticed.

'What is that supposed to mean?' quipped Ariadne.

'Don't think that I can't see it. You've been frolicking around him, and even flirting when you think no one's looking!' said Mitchell, as if he was explaining the nature of babies to a ten year-old girl.

Ariadne was shaking her head, laughing to cover up her anger. 'We are not having this conversation, not now, not ever. You would never understand the dynamics of how this team functions. Arthur and everyone else here is like family. I see him like a big brother.'

Do you really?

'Yes, and I told Arthur the same thing. That he was just a replacement to your Alex,' said Mitchell bluntly.

Ariadne's head stared to bang with the sudden rush of blood that had nothing to do with the passing mention of Alex. 'Is that what you said to him? How could you?'

'What, he didn't tell you?'

'No! He gave you the benefit of the doubt! Oh, I can't believe this. Arthur was defending your actions by saying that we only just got back and I should give you some time to adjust. Then you go and sabotage my relationship with the people that actually care about me.'

'Why in the world do you think that I do not care about you? Your mother and I were beside ourselves after you left us. That was a very selfish thing to do!'

Eames once again woke up with a jerk. Yusuf has yet to return from searching for his sedative in his makeshift lab at the end of the warehouse. The rest of the team woke up to survey the hostile atmosphere and fell silent as Ariadne and her father continue to argue furiously.

'Selfish? You're calling me selfish? I'm sorry Father, but I think you've lost the right to pass on that judgement to me.'

'Ariadne!'

'What, Mother? It's true! He -'

'How dare you speak like that to me, young lady! I am your father -'

'Fathers are supposed to be supportive of their children!' vented Ariadne, the anger and hurt she had held against her parents burst forth. She slid off her desk and continued arguing, 'but you, you went on and ruined my chances at studying abroad, and you call me selfish!' said Ariadne angrily.

'Is that true, Mitchell?' asked Fay.

'Yes, it is! Alex told me he saw you throw away my acceptance letters. I always thought it was because I got rejected and you wanted to save me from that but still – you had no right!'

'You still ran off though didn't you?' retorted Mitchell, his face a shade of burgundy.

'And what, you didn't think that I felt guilty about what I've done? I've tried calling home,' and Ariadne was close to tears at this point. Her voice shaking, she continued, 'the new owners said you've moved interstate and didn't leave a forwarding address or a contact number. I couldn't leave Paris to go look for you because I had to maintain my grades or risk losing financial aid. Then I'd have never finished my degree, and you think that I had it easy?'

'Okay, stop it now, both of you.'

It was Cobb. 'Fay, why don't you talk to your husband? I'll be with Ariadne.'

Fay led her husband out the same side door that Ariadne used the first time she saw her parents in this warehouse. Ariadne continued glaring at her father's back as he left.

'Are you going to be okay?'

'I'm going to be fine Cobb.'

'You know, stress like that can really cause premature wrinkles, so it's good to blow off steam once in a while. I'd never seen anything like it, oh, well perhaps that time between Layla and Roxanne, fighting over me and I -' Eames voiced trailed off as Arthur and Cobb glared at him.

Ariadne chortled. 'And you did the only thing a gentleman would do. Run, perhaps?'

'She's back!' declared Eames, who gave her a bear hug and whispered, 'I was rooting for you to win by the way.'

'Oh, thank you Eames.'

'We'll go all in. Make sure she's ready,' said Cobb to Arthur, then he left with Eames to find out what's taking so long for Yusuf to find that sedative.

'What does Cobb mean, going all in? I have to get ready for what?'

'He wants you to be the dreamer for the last session of the day, where we'll all get involved. Well, except Yusuf. Without anyone awake, he might actually get the music in this time.'

'Cobb thinks I can build, even in my state of mind? Won't the dreamscape be unstable?'

'Well, he thinks you can cope. Plus, I'm sure they have it coming,' said Arthur suggestively. 'Choose a layout that is least familiar to all of us. It's time to train your parents for real.'

Ariadne was looking down at the busy street below her carefully designed high-rise. She had chosen a Paris themed backdrop, thrown in with both modern and olden-day styled architecture in an extremely convoluted L.A.-like maze. Cobb would be proud of her.

She saw Eames first, crossing the busy street and catching up with Arthur. He looked up, and Ariadne waved in response. It was too far to tell, but Ariadne was sure both Eames and Arthur smiled in return. She was told by Cobb that as the dreamer, she would be best to view the 'training session' from afar as to avoid attention of her parents' subconscious. That way, the team can try to extract her parents of information with little interference.

'Ariadne!'

She recognized that voice. She turned away from the apartment window to look behind her. The room was empty.

'Come on, wake up!'

It's a voice she hasn't heard in years, but it couldn't be. She went to the apartment door and opened it to reveal an empty hallway. Then, as if the hallway was trying to dislodge her, she felt the corridor lean over, and her feet momentarily left the ground.

Ariadne took a huge gasp of air as the lawn chair collapsed beneath her, her arms failing to grab on for support when she fell and hit the ground, painfully. She was back in the warehouse.

'Ariadne!'

Standing there, at the foot of her collapsed chair, was Alex.

Post Scripts: Talk about the most tactless and clueless father ever. More angst in the next chapter (those who like that, great, those who don't, sorry, its unavoidable, but I promise it's vital to my storyline).

Once again, any particular scenarios you want me to incorporate into the story needs to be said now, or forever hold your peace (funny, that's my title for the last chapter, hint, hint), and I shall update when I'm in a giddy mood, i.e. when I see Inception for the 5th time...