12

~ She felt safer somehow, in her room. She knew Cobb and Arthur were downstairs, talking about her and their new... situation. That she was now just something that had to be dealt with.

She also knew Cobb wouldn't want another child. He already had his perfect, beautiful children. The ones he had with Mal. He would not want to start a new family with her. He was on board with her going on the shot in the first place.

By contrast, Arthur had been talking about having babies non stop lately. Maybe if she was certain the baby was his, she would want to keep it. Arthur loved her. She knew that. But he would never be willing to raise a child that wasn't his.

Then there was Eames. The Forger, long gone now. He had texted her a few times after he left. She didn't even bother to read them. Deleting them immediately. Wanting to cut all ties with him. It was easier that way. She still missed him. Missed the way her pulse ran wild in her body as his skin made contact with hers. Missed the sheer thrill of being with him.

Eames could not be tied down with a baby. He could barely be tied down with one third of a relationship with her.

What if it was his? How could she tell him? She couldn't. That much she did know. She knew that she could not try to trap him. He had his own life now. He had a new woman and he didn't want to be with her anymore.

~ There was a soft tapping at her door. The Architect had been so lost in her own thoughts she didn't realize how much time had passed.

"Ariadne? It's Dom, can I come in?" Cobb's gentle voice came through the door.

"It's unlocked." She said softly.

The Extractor let himself in.

"I know this is a silly question, but how do you feel?" He asked.

She huffed a laugh.
"I mean, have you been having any nausea or anything like that?" He asked concerned.

"Not yet." She told him numbly. "I'm sorry for what I said earlier. About it not being yours... because..." She sighed. "I had no right bringing up what happens on our night in front of Arthur."

"Yeah, we agreed that wouldn't happen." Cobb said with a laugh as he sat on the edge of her bed. The Architect was curled deeply in her covers.

"So what do you want?" She asked. "I already told you, I'm not keeping it. You won't have to worry."

"Ariadne, if you decide not to keep the baby, I'll stand by you. It's your right to choose." Cobb said gravely. "But I want you to really think about this." He added. "I mean, really think about this."

"Cobb, I can't have a baby." She told him simply. She looked at the handsome Extractor like he had just lost his mind.
"Why not?" Cobb asked.
"Because I have no idea who the father is." She said. "How can I have a baby without a father?"

"Baby will have a father." Cobb said. "Arthur and I, were not going anywhere." The Extractor sighed. "I love you. Arthur loves you. No matter the paternity, we want you to have it."

"And what if Eames is the father?" She asked. The Elephant in the room. "Will Arthur be alright with that?" She asked. "Or will you all just keep pretending it doesn't matter?" She finished bitterly.

Cobb sighed.
"Please, think about this." he said. "Please, just think about having it."

He leaned down to kiss her and she allowed it. A soft warm touch to her lips and face. The Extractor was so easy to love. All those amiable traits, inherent within him, made her not think about anything or anyone else as she surrendered to him.

~ Things were so easy with Cobb. He was so reassuring and courteous. She gave into his kissing her first. Sweet things meant to comfort her that innocently lead to something more.

Her blood quickened as his body weight moved over hers and he was soon in her bed. Her legs cradling him easily as he was thrusting into her. His lips hardly leaving hers except for breath and their eyes always deeply lost in each one another. His flesh seemed welded to hers as he was telling her that he wanted her to keep her baby. That he wanted to be a father again. His lips seizing her tender nipples and hot breath enticing her skin as she could not get enough of his touch.

He came then, never leaving her and his lips burning into her lips. She was breathing hard as he told her over and over he loved her, he wanted her to stay. For them to be a family.

It felt like, for the first time ever, the two of them had made love.