Thanks to my reviewers! Sorry bout the wait til the update.
Chapter 10- The Idea
"Driving or walking?"
"I think fresh air would be nice," She announced as she came down the stairs.
They walked the glistening streets of Paris to their destination: 'Frais Mange' or Fresh Eats in English. It was a place that used only fresh produce and meats. Very healthy. Their food was far from greasy and fried; it was lightweight and natural so the pair thought it fit for Ariadne's return to digestion. Her city made her smile. She'd almost forgotten the effervescent feeling the twinkling lights used to put in her stomach. She ogled at all the window displays and Arthur relished the display of the smile he'd thought she'd lost. She fell out of step with him abruptly when she paused at a window.
"Aww, aren't you just the cutest thing? Yes, you are." She poked at the glass.
Arthur stepped behind her to find she was cooing to a window of puppies. One of them standing up and pawing at the glass, his tail wagging. When Ariadne would poke the glass he would try to nudge his nose, his panting mouth looking like an enthusiastic smile. Arthur smirked to himself; Ariadne affected all boys. "Hi, there!" She beamed at the little creature.
Filled with an unexplainable urge to reward her for that smile, Arthur spontaneously offered, "Ari, do you want a puppy?"
Ariadne kept her interaction with the puppy, "Mr. and Mrs. Dubois said 'No Pets.'"
"And yet, that wasn't the question."
"Honestly…I would love a puppy—"
Arthur turned the corner and opened the shop door, "Come on. Pick one out," ready to provide whatever she wanted, even if she only wanted it a smidge, for that smile.
This is when she finally turned her attentions from the dog in the window, "Arthur," It was solemn and rejecting and followed with a slight shake of the head.
He was confused to say the least but let the door close and walked back to her side, "Why not?"
Ariadne shrugged, "I can barely take care of myself right now…much less another creature." The upturn of her lips was forlorn, poking at the potential pet again.
Arthur's warm breath tickled her ears, "One day, I'll get you a puppy. And I won't take no for an answer." he whispered. He was rewarded with bright eyes trying to keep a giggle back. They continued on their way. "What breed would you want?"
"What breed would you want?"
"Whatever breed you want." He teased.
The Architect chewed her lip while she thought. The Point Man had trouble looking where he was going, hypnotized by just that. "Maybe a…Jack Russell Terrier? Or a beagle? Something small."
"And what shall we call this Jack Russell Terrier or Beagle or something small?"
"T-Rex. Or just Rex."
Her and her imagination. He still didn't have the whimsical view of things she did but some of her curiosity had rubbed off on him, "And the reasoning?"
Ariadne tossed her hair, preparing to go into a long, thought out spiel on the origin of her desire to name the dog, 'Rex.' "Remember when we watched Jurassic Park a couple months ago?"
Arthur allowed himself a chuckle. She glared at him and continued, "I said my favorite dinosaurs were T-Rex's. And what did Debbie Downer say?" She pointed at him. "You said: 'No one loves T-Rex's, Ari. They're the bad guys that eat everyone.' And I replied with my usual flair: 'They're misunderstood Arthur. They eat everyone because they're unloved.'"
"Ah. I remember." He nodded, amused.
"They're just so clumsy and they have those little arms that can't do anything. They must feel so unwanted…" Her eyes lit up and she grabbed his shoulder, "We should get a puppy from the Pound!"
Arthur furrowed his brows, "Aren't those dogs ridden with fleas? And their fur is scruffy and matted…You sure you don't want a properly bred dog from a store?" He sounded perfectly snooty.
"No. I want to save an abandoned puppy from the emotional state of the T-Rex's."
As always, anything Ariadne wanted, Ariadne got. "A dinosaur from the pound it is."
They laughed with each other until someone ran into them, pushed their legs and kept running. Giggling all the way. This someone was a little brunette boy with a bowl cut, not looking where he was going. A woman of taller stature and blonde tresses pushed passed Arthur and Ariadne with an apology, "Je suis tellement desole," and ran after the munchkin, "Raoul! De revenir ici!" The couple watched as the mother caught her young and began tickling him. Laughter of the little boy pierced the air and they were joined by a bulky man. The three happy family members continued on their way, the parents each with one of the boy's hands, swinging him between paces. Carefully, Arthur tore his eyes away from the scene to check on Ariadne. The Architect's own bubbly and excited demeanor from the minute before had disappeared without a trace. She stared down the three figures with despondency looming on her features. Arthur swallowed. He didn't know how to approach her, didn't know what the right thing to say would be. So he stood and waited for her to make the call. He watched her right hand snake up her arm and her index and thumb slowly putting pressure on the skin between them. She was trying to be subtle; she bit her lip to keep the whimper of the pain back while she stared at the figures still walking in the distance.
Arthur put his head in the crook of her neck and covered her hand with his. Upon contact, she stopped and let her fingers fall flat against her shoulder as if her hand was just resting there. When the shadows of the happy family had vanished, she took her chance looking up at Arthur. Realizing he was already looking at her made her feel vulnerable. She darted her eyes away from him, the moment feeling too awkward for her. He'd caught her hurting herself.
"Come on…" He offered quietly. His fingers brushed hers intent on holding her hand in comfort but she flinched away. Clutching the strap of her bag for dear life, she walked onward like she was alone.
xxxxxx
When they'd arrived at the restaurant, the wait wasn't even a minute. The hostess grabbed two menus and a wine menu and politely asked them to follow. Arthur glanced at Ariadne to see if she would acknowledge him again and she did. She mumbled something about him going ahead and needing the bathroom.
Her phone was fished out of her bag once she stepped in the powder room. Soon, Eames' voice graced her ears. "Hello, dearest. Did you do as I said?"
She choked out, "Yes. We're out to eat together. But—"
"But what?"
"We were having a good time. And then this cute family of three bumped into us and they were young and happy and tickling their little boy and it ruined things. I hate myself again…and I'm shutting him out again and I want to pinch myself so bad and I don't know how to stop."
"Ok…" He huffed on the other end, "Shutting him out isn't punishing whatever force took that baby, it's just hurting Arthur. Fischer wanted to tear us all apart…don't do his dirty work for him. Don't let him win, Ariadne. Every time you hurt yourself, you're hurting Arthur and your future family. Just because that beautiful trio of people won't be you in a few months anymore, doesn't mean that won't be you in a year or so, yes?"
"Yes."
"Wonderful. Now go love on that Point Man." He clicked off and the weight on her shoulders lifted again. She found the table he'd been seated at and kissed him on the cheek from behind before seating herself across from him. The girl could tell what he wanted to ask, "I'm fine."
He was doting as always. They'd shared a small entrée because easing her stomach back into digesting would prove a daunting, careful task. They reveled in the other's presence like old times. He could tell that every now and again she would struggle with her thoughts but cover over them. Put on a smile and work through it with a change of small talk. She wasn't all better but she wasn't all gone. She was trying and that's all he could ask for. All and all, the dinner proved to be a success and both left satisfied. As soon as they began their journey back home, Ariadne laced her hand with his as they walked. This brought indelible joy to the man beside her.
Xxxxxx
Home sweet home. Arthur followed her upstairs to retrieve his bed clothes and nothing more. Needless to mention, he was surprised when upon reaching their bedroom, she turned and caressed his face. "I miss you."
Bringing his hand over hers he told her he felt the same. She tiptoed to kiss him and a spark set off. He wrapped his arms around her and intensified the kiss. Making it more arduous and passionate. Making her regret building walls between them, making her remember how easily he could break them down. The Architect seemed to fuse into him, making up for lost time. Both of them coming undone, succumbing to the fierce love for each other that had been repressed since the incident. Wanting to be closer to her, he pushed her two steps back to press her against the door.
Xxx
Boom. Thud. "Arthur!" They pinned Ariadne against the wall, lifted her shirt and held an evil looking needle to her stomach. Arthur asked wearily, "What is that?" Fischer replied, "A needle…one frequently used in abortion clinics…
Xxx
Panic overcame her and cooled her to the moment. She shoved Arthur off of her, "Get away from me!" The short flashback had immediately faded back into the real world and Ariadne slapped her hand over her mouth, realizing what she'd done.
His eyes were full of hurt and bewilderment. "I'm so sorry, Arthur."
Ever the Point Man, he cleared his throat and straightened his suit, "It's fine. Goodnight, Ariadne." He picked his pajamas off of the chair in the corner and went downstairs.
xxxxxx
No more than fifteen minutes later when he was tucking the corners of the sheet into the cracks of the couch did he hear her come back down the stairs, changed into her own pajamas. Ariadne came to stand in front of Arthur, her knees touching his. "You don't have to sleep on the couch anymore. It's your room too."
Arthur looked up at her, "You need your space."
The Architect took the initiative to grab his hands and weave her fingers in them. She swung them sweetly, "I'm fine."
"You keep saying that but one second you're like this and the next you avoid me like the plague. I'll stay."
"I don't want to sleep without you anymore." She brought his hands to her face.
He didn't want to spend another night away from her either but, "If you feel the same way tomorrow night, I'll move back upstairs."
She agreed and went back to their bedroom.
xxxxxx
When Arthur woke again it was midnight and he'd had a nightmare. One where he was back in the warehouse and his hands were steadily holding a gun to Cobb's head. He squinted his eyes and pulled the trigger. The gun melted away into blood that seeped through his fingers. Arthur turned his head to check on Ariadne and she'd disappeared. He looked down to Cobb's body and it was morphed into Ariadne's. Her eyes were glazed over, blood oozed out of a hole in her head. In his dream, he fell to his knees by her body and cradled her. Yelled her name over and over, her lifeless body unresponsive. Then Fischer roughly snatched a handful of her hair and started dragging her away from Arthur.
He awoke mid gasp, clawing at the air for her. His breaths heavy, he checked his die and decided to check on her. Arthur swung his legs over the edge of the couch and found Ariadne lying in front of him. His dream was too fresh in his mind. He searched his hands for blood, none there, so he looked back down at the woman on the floor. After further inspection he saw she was curled up to keep herself warm, she'd brought her pillow down and laid out a blanket beside the couch.
When Ariadne woke again, she was tucked into her own bed with the comfort of Arthur's body wrapped around her. Content, she drifted off again easier.
xxxxxx
Ariadne was breathing deeply, rhythmically, normally. She lay on her back, head turned away from Arthur, one leg bent under her, one sprawled out somewhere, one hand under her head, one just under her chest. Arthur lay on his side, watching her. He hadn't slept since he brought her upstairs. Slowly, bravely, he lifted her shirt, terrified of what it looked like. (Eames had described it as brutal.) When he saw her bruises, his breath hitched and he started to tear. Gently, barely, lightly, he ran his fingers along her darkened, purpling skin. How could she do this? How could he let her? He'd thrown away everything sharp…what could he do to keep her from this? Declaw her like a cat? He felt helpless.
He must've tickled her because she twitched. Or maybe he pressed too hard on her sensitized, abused skin. She rustled and awakened. "Arthur what are you doing?" Ariadne looked down to the area of skin he was brushing and sighed, turning away.
"Baby, why are you doing this?" He grazed over her stomach again with the back of hand so she'd look at him and see the water building in his dark orbs.
"I—I don't know…"
Arthur sighed, rubbed his face with his palm and then scooted down on the bed so he could kiss her bruises. Ariadne winced, "Arthur, please stop." He met her eyes and she explained, "You haven't kissed my stomach since I was-since-" Her voice began breaking.
"Ari…" He crawled back up to be eye level with her. "You listen to me, I don't—I couldn't love you any less."
"When I was pregnant, you told me I'd never been more beautiful to you…"
Arthur combed his hands through her hair, "Of course I did…you get more beautiful to me every day no matter what's in your belly, whether it's a baby or Taco Bell." That made Ariadne laugh and Arthur just loved seeing her smile again so much, he couldn't help but cover her lips with his. When he pulled away, he bore into her eyes with his, "Promise me you'll stop doing this to yourself."
"Arthur—"
"Promise me, Ari."
"I—"
"Promise me." He all but begged. His eyes were dark and pleading, watering.
It broke her resolve and just like he wanted from her, she wanted nothing more to see him smile again. To see him happy, to take his troubles away. So she put her hand on his cheek and said, "I promise that—I'll try."
He swallowed the bittersweet answer and cuddled up to spoon her, "That's all I ask."