Author's notes: I'm back... temporarily anyway. I just can't be kept away, thanks to all my reviewers and voters, without your contribution, I would be doing my work instead of updating this so :P

Shout out to tuesdaysonthephonetome (how unique!), I had that line for Eames when I started the story, I just had to add it in, its just so... Eames, LOL; and jennedy, I took your suggestion, so thank you!

Check your totem.

Ariadne returned to her apartment, and started to pack. This would be her last night here. Her parents have already left for the airport with Saito.

'Perhaps you'd like to buy your own apartment down there. You don't have to stay with us if you don't want...'

'It's okay Mother.'

'You're making the right decision here.'

'Yeah, I think so Father.'

And the Blackwells left for Sacramento.

Tomorrow, the whole team will take advantage of the Professor's offer and book out rooms within the lavish hotel for the three day long architectural conference. It was Eames idea. Ariadne smiled at the thought of the conversation with her team member.

'Going home huh?'

'Yes, Eames. It's a house where you kind of live permanently in.'

'Working with us has sharpened your mind and your tongue. But seriously Ariadne, don't rush into a decision that you'd regret. Why won't you even consider the New York job?'

'I've been away from home long enough. I'm doing the correct thing, you said so yourself!'

'Making the correct decisions for the wrong reasons doesn't make it right. I know I can't change your mind right now, so I'll give you more time to mull it over okay? Maybe someone else can convince you that what you need right now aren't your parents...'

'What are you talking about? What are you up to Eames?'

'Nothing. Yet.'

Ariadne had already called her closest friend to come over, and in exchange for living in her apartment; she'll take care of it too. If it wasn't for Kate, Ariadne would never have caught up with her studies after returning from the Fischer job. They shared similar architectural styles and tastes, so the apartment will be in good hands, as Ariadne just couldn't bear to sell it.

The last thing that was packed was the only picture she owned. Ariadne just stared at her and Alex from that graduation ceremony, falling asleep with tears falling down her cheeks.

There was only one word to describe the hotel lobby the next day. Chaotic.

'Is there another function being held here tonight, apart from the architecture conference?' asked Arthur to a uniformed bellhop.

'Yeah, we're all booked out this week. There's the conference, two board meetings, a honeymooning couple and uh, the one that's actually causing all this grief is the wedding reception. You'll have to excuse me,' and the bellhop rushed off to pave a path for the catering team that had just arrived.

'You managed to place a room for each of us through this schedule Eames? I'm impressed.'

'Oh, I'm sure we all will be very pleased with our arrangements.'

Both Ariadne and Arthur were giving Eames a look, and Arthur was about to question that statement when Professor Miles and Cobb entered.

'Glad you all made it! I have to prepare for this afternoon so I'll leave you to it. Ariadne, don't forget some pen and paper; you might want to take some notes! The presenter before me is actually from the firm in New York so keep your eyes out. Gentlemen,' said Professor Miles to the three men, and he left the bustling lobby for the lifts.

'Are we able to get any rooms? It looks hectic.'

'I was able to book a room for everyone under your own names, mind you some rooms are more classy than others,' said Eames.

'Don't worry Cobb, I'm not sure how he did it either, and I'm not going to ask,' said Arthur, as he followed Cobb and Eames to the front desk, narrowly avoiding a trolley stacked high with luggage. Ariadne was about to follow but saw Yusuf attempting to navigate his way to the team.

'I'm not late I hope? Geez, there are limousines taking up the entire taxi bay.'

'We're just about to collect our room keys. Eames booked a room under your name. Yusuf being your first name right?'

'Yes, Yusuf Nnamdi. The circumstance as to how Mr. Eames and I met each other is quite funny. But perhaps another time,' smiled Yusuf. They were behind Arthur in line now.

'So do you know Eames first name?'

'What? Oh, of course, though I guess Eames is a catchier name for business.'

Ariadne chortled whole-heartedly. 'Please, do share.'

'Richard.'

'Oh?'

'Richard Jr., actually. Named after his father,' added Arthur, before he was hailed over to the concierge. 'A room under Chase, Arthur Chase?

The concierge lady made some noise with her keyboard, before lighting up a smile that would have been scary if the lobby wasn't so well lit and full of people. 'Congratulations! I hope you and Mrs. Chase will be enjoying the complimentary upgrade to our Prestige Suite.'

'I'm sorry, I wasn't expecting a suite, and -'

'Well, with most of the rooms from level six and below being taken up by international guests for the conference, it is our pleasure to upgrade you - and this must be the lucky Mrs Chase,' said the overly hyper concierge to Ariadne, who was still waiting next in line with Yusuf.

'Uh, I'm sorry?' Ariadne was confused as to how the lady had just addressed her.

'Oh, it's alright honey,' said Arthur, sliding his hand smoothly over Ariadne's hips and pulling her close. 'She's just upgrading us to the 'Prestige Suite', can you believe it?' and taking the key card from the concierge, Arthur led Ariadne over to the lifts.

'Did she just call me Mrs. Chase?'

'I am going to kill him!' said Arthur, dropping his facade as they approached the corridor with the lifts. One was held open by an extremely amused Eames.

'They charged almost three times as much as our single rooms on level three,' said Eames, indicating a curious looking Cobb in the elevator and Yusuf, as he ran to catch the same ride. 'So you better make full use of it.'

'Shut up Richard Jr.,' quipped Arthur and Ariadne.

The lift dropped the three men off on level three, Eames still laughing at Arthur's and Ariadne's predicament. The seventh floor hallway was huge, consisting of probably only four limited suites. The room itself could have comfortably accommodated the whole team.

'Well, at least he has tastes,' said Ariadne.

During the afternoon seminar, only Ariadne came out enlightened. Arthur managed to keep a straight face the whole time; Eames was distracted with a blonde lady two seat away; while Cobb and Yusuf had the intention of going to the bathroom, but then never came back.

'I found that very... fruitful,' said Eames, as they filed out of the room.

'What could you possibly have found 'fruitful' about architecture in modern society, other than that poor girl's phone number?' said Ariadne, still annoyed from the booking stunt that Eames pulled.

'Well, at least I had the decency to stay for the whole ordeal.'

'Oh, we came back; it's just that someone took our seats. It was a very... illuminating presentation,' said Yusuf.

Professor Miles managed to break off from a crowd of people who wanted to ask him more specific questions about his presentation. 'Drinks, anyone?'

'Uh, I think I'll retire for the night. Tomorrow's another full day of presentations I want to attend,' said Ariadne, secretly wanting to incorporate one of the presenter's ideas into a sketch.

'You do know why we're here, yes?' asked Eames. 'Not for work... though if Arthur was to 'retire' for the night as well then you're off the hook,' said Eames, suppressing a smile that Arthur couldn't do anything, at least not in front of the Professor.

'You go on ahead,' Ariadne turned to Arthur, her face blushed a deep pink. 'I thought I'll just mull over the notes quickly and sleep.'

'I'll go with you. Wonderful presentation Miles. See you all tomorrow.'

'Let's go Eames,' said Cobb, before he could crack another innuendo.

They went into the lifts together and Ariadne pressed for level seven. Arthur was leaning on the side, looking at Ariadne while she was just trying to ignore the blush that was soon becoming a permanent fixture around Eames, and it didn't help when she'd just comprehended their dilemma.

'There's only one -'

'I'm taking the floor,' said Arthur, amused that it took her this long to figure it out.

'I am going to kill Eames.'

'Let him have his fun while it lasts'

The elevator music stopped as the door opened, but Ariadne realised they were only on level two. 'What -'

A flurry of hems and women wearing corsets rushed in.

'We are so sorry! We forgot the bouquet for the bride in her suite! We're just fetching it,' said one of the bridesmaids.

'And it takes six people to go fetch this bouquet?' inquiring Arthur, as he leaned further back onto the wall to make room for the six dresses.

'It's the bouquet! She'll be throwing it soon, and I'm going to have the honours to catch it.'

'No you're not, I'm -'

Arthur prevented from what could have been an ugly fight. There was barely enough room to breathe as is.

'Ladies. Let's just go and get the bouquet before we all suffocate in this lift.'

'Oh, you're going to level 7 too? You must be the newlyweds!'

'Uh, well-', fumbled Ariadne. She couldn't find the right words to explain the situation while distracted by the fact that one of the bridesmaid's elaborate hairpieces threatened to take her eye out.

'Yes. We're planning to have it here, I guess depending on how your wedding goes of course.'

'Oh, my god, it is beautiful. The function room, admittedly a bit small, but the services are top notch. Oh, and don't forget the food-'

'It is sooo delicious,' said a curvaceous bridesmaid, then pointed out to the stick thin girl next to Arthur, 'you should have tried that crumble, it would have-'

The lift finally opened and the bridesmaids all rushed to the suite on their right.

'Wait, why don't you guys join us for the ceremony?' asked a bridesmaids holding the lift doors open. 'There's still plenty of cake left and we'll be throwing the bouquet soon, so come! I'm sure Jack and Nancy wouldn't mind. They are the loveliest couple. Very much like you two here.'

Ariadne, who had subconsciously leaned in close to Arthur after their separation in the lift, moved apart while Arthur stood a little straighter.

'There's no need to be embarrassed, we're all going to get married right, some sooner than others!'

All three were distracted by loud voices down the hallway.

'Let me hold it.'

'No! I helped designed it, I'll -'

'Just give it to -'

The bridesmaid that was speaking to Arthur and Ariadne suddenly raised her voice. 'As the maid-of-honour, I'll hold it.' Taking the bouquet and shaking her head, she said to the both of them, 'I'll tell Nancy and Jack that you'll be joining us, why don't I? But you better take the next lift down,' indicating that world war three has indeed started in the lift.

The elevator door dinged shut, so loudly that Ariadne was sure the whole level could have heard it.

'So do you want to -'

'Let's go to the reception.'

Arthur looked at her bewilderedly. 'Really?'

'I want to try that crumble.'

Before she knew it, Ariadne was standing in a crowd of enthusiastic bridesmaids, trying to catch the bouquet. Her dark jeans and simple jacket stood out in the cluster of lacy pink hems, her pink scarf the only piece of her outfit managing to blend in.

Coming down to the reception was a completely impulsive act on her part. The moment the bouquet of flowers were bought into the lifts, being held by the maid-of-honour, Ariadne saw that there was something, a flower that had a particular mint-like leaves on them.

Mint. It even smells like him.

Standing here, the bouquet about to be thrown by the bride, Ariadne made a split decision.

If I manage to catch it, I'll take it as a sign. I'll go to New York. If not...

The bride was now positioning herself in front of the bridesmaids.

No more maybes, no regrets. If not, I'll go to L.A. At least family will be happy.

'Are you ready? I'm going to throw it!' said the bride to her squealing family and friends.

What makes family happy makes you happy, right? Right?

'Ready?' asked the bride.

Right. Ready.

She threw the bouquet of flowers over her head.

Ariadne saw it coming in her direction, and reached for it. The flowers were deflected from one hand to another before reaching her. She grabbed it. 'I GOT IT!' screamed a bridesmaid, and everyone instead converged on her, leaving Ariadne empty handed.

Arthur, who was watching the whole charade from a table away, approached her when the floor cleared slightly. 'You looked extremely focused, like your life depended on it. Is there someone in your life I should meet before you run off to get married?'

'Not funny Arthur.'

'Come on. What's in your hand?'

Ariadne didn't realise that her right hand was balled into a fist. She opened up her palm to reveal a couple of slightly crumpled leaves.

'What are they, mint leaves?' asked Arthur. A slow song started up and couples descended onto the now dance floor. 'At least give me one dance then,' and without awaiting a response, Arthur swept the leaves out of Ariadne's palm to replace it with his steady hand instead.

Making her choice, Ariadne decides to come clean with Arthur, 'I want to take that job upstate.'

'What, New York?'

'Yes.'

'What about your parents?'

'They'll understand.'

'You sound sure.'

Sure enough.

'What made you change your mind?'

'Mint.'

'That makes no sense at all Ariadne,' but Arthur smiled.

'Eames was right. It's not the choices, but the reason behind the choices that matters, and I want to go to New York.'

'Am I going to like the reason as to why you want to go to New York?'

'If you had to ask, then no.'

'It's not something stupid, like me or something right?'

'Would you consent to that?'

'Ariadne, I -'

'No Arthur. I've decided. If things don't work out for us, for me, then I'll move back home. I'm not expecting any commitments from you. I just want to - I mean, after what happened with Alex, I've realised something, that I wanted to be with -' Ariadne didn't get to finish her sentence, as Arthur had took advantage of her distracted focus to give her a kiss.

It wasn't like their first kiss. It wasn't chaste, no one was staring, and Arthur made no excuses for what he had just committed. In fact, they both needn't say anything. Leaning her head on his shoulder, breathing as if she only just started living, Ariadne knew that Arthur had always hoped she'd choose to follow him. And he's right. I'll follow him to wherever life takes us, and I'd never have any regrets.

Arthur's and Ariadne's phone in their jacket and purse respectively, was ringing at their table. It was Cobb.

Miles had a shout, but then retired for the evening, leaving Cobb, Eames and Yusuf at the bar.

'So, what was the purpose of booking Arthur and Ariadne a room together Eames?' asked Cobb.

'Please, don't tell me you can't see it? I'm just giving them the opportunity. God, I hope Arthur has the guts to make a move, or he's going to lose her in L.A.'

'Why do you care, Eames?' asked Yusuf, who had stopped drinking after his second scotch.

'Because unless he finds some upstanding young lady, you really don't see yourself working with such a stick in the mud forever, do you?' explained Eames, deciding to stop the drinks for the night too, opting for peanuts instead.

'Hrmm, and here I thought you were worried about Arthur,' smirked a slightly intoxicated Cobb. He also went for the peanuts.

'Sure had me fooled,' added Yusuf.

'You guys are setting me up.'

Yusuf laughed, and Cobb said, 'you had it coming my friend. Messing with your team mates love lives; if it doesn't work out, Arthur will have your head.'

'Not unless Ariadne gets to him first,' said Yusuf, and both men laughed. Eames actually had to consider that possible outcome.

Cobb answered his phone after its third ring, caller ID recognizing it as Saito. 'I thought we're getting some time off?' Cobb answered.

'He just can't get enough of the dream team,' said Eames.

'Yeah, we're still at the hotel,' said Cobb, sobering up as Saito's voice sounded urgent.

Yusuf only just got the joke and laughed.

'What do you mean he escaped?' asked a serious Cobb.

Eames and Yusuf suddenly focused on Cobb, leaning in closer to focus on the one-sided conversation, but Cobb didn't say anything for a long time until he hung-up, stating 'I'll get them. You just get here.'

'What is it?' said a concerned Eames.

'Alex. He was getting transferred to a secure facility in an ambulance but he escaped somehow.'

'Jesus. We got to get Ariadne out of here until we can locate him.'

'When was this?' asked Yusuf. 'Does he know that we're here?'

Cobb was dialling for Arthur while Eames tried to reach Ariadne.

'Saito said the ambulance overturned this afternoon. He only just found out. At least he insisted that the Blackwells leave for L.A. without him. He's on the way here now. Arthur's not picking up.'

'Nor is Ariadne.'

Cobb quickly tipped the bartender and the trio headed straight for the lifts. 'Eames, you know what room they're in?'

'It's one of the four suites on level seven. It should be quiet up there now, the wedding reception booked all three of the suites, and the function room on level two, where they should still be so...'

'Any of you packing right now?' asked Cobb.

'You guys weren't actually considering bringing a gun to the Professor's presentation did you?' said a surprised Yusuf.

'I packed one in my luggage. We'll make a detour to level two then,' stated Eames.

The three men however, never made it to the lifts to reach level two. As Cobb was about to turn to the corridor with the lifts, the slightly reflective brass doors revealed an approaching group of six men in suits, and Cobb's gut instinct pulled Eames and Yusuf into the adjacent stairwell instead.

'What -'

'Who -'

'Shh,' was all Cobb said to the other two, as he sneaked a look through the small gap in the door. The leader of the group indicated with military hand gestures, two men should come up the stairwell, the other three following him up the lifts. They all pulled out their guns and proceeded to follow their leader's orders.

'Shit.'

'What is it?' said Eames and Yusuf simultaneously.

'I recognized them. They're Cobol Engineering's head security.'

The fire door opened.

Post Scripts: Oh, guess who's back, again! Anywho, it might be another week or two for the next chapter, where I shall post the results of my poll, so you guys just hang in there! Oh, and I have a possible sqeuel/new story, depending on my workload and the reception of this story when it concludes :P

How was the scene of our two lovebirds' kiss? I had NO idea how to write such a sentence to make it justice. And because I love them so, I'm going to throw them another curveball (yes, it involves Alex, MUHAHAHAHA)

I'll go now. Please drop a review :D