DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN INCEPTION.

I'm back! This is an elaboration on one of the previous chapters as requested by I-Bag-Production, who has also been incredibly supportive in the writing of this story. Here is a virtual hug _0_ That kind of looks like a person hugging, with the head and the arms sticking out...ANYWAY moving on.

We're moving up the timeline now, guys. Hope you're ready for these kids to do some growing up. Geez, I'm not. I love Samantha and Thomas!

"Dad?"

"Yes?"

"When you were my age, what did you want to be?"

Arthur frowned and sunk further into the couch. An eight year old Thomas sat beside him, wondering eyes staring back up.

"Well," Arthur said, letting his arm fall around the younger boy. "I wanted to be lots of things. Policeman, doctors...I believe I even wanted to be an astronaut at one point."

Thomas entwined his fingers around each other in a silent tangle. "Yeah, but did you ever know that you were born to do something?"

"Why the sudden interest?" Arthur countered.

Thomas shrugged. "Because I'm trying to think of who to be when I grow up."

The former Point Man smiled to himself. "Who to be? Thomas, you don't have to be anyone else but yourself."

"But what if I wanted to be someone important?" Thomas replied, climbing up onto his father's lap. "Or someone talented, or someone special?"

"Hey-" Arthur poked his son's shoulder. "-You are special. You are the most special person I know."

Thomas raised an eyebrow. "Even more than Sam?"

Crafty eight year olds.

Arthur backtracked under pressure, not wanting to give anything that would allow Thomas to tease his older sister with. "Well, Sam's special in a different way. What I'm saying is that you don't need to be anymore special than you already are."

In response, the younger boy rolled his eyes. "I'm not that special."

Arthur matched his look with his own, narrowing his eyes. "Oh yeah? Let me tell you a story."

"Oh great..."

"No, this is a good one. I promise."

Arthur stood in the kitchen, hovering over a hot stove. Samantha was at Cobb's house for the night, having a sleepover with Phillipa. Well, hopefully it was Phillipa, and not...James. Arthur shuddered as he opened a packet of pasta and poured it into the boiling water.

Ariadne was expecting to go into labour within the next month. She was calm, too calm. Arthur couldn't stand it, and found himself tapping at the floor, or drumming his fingers on any near surface he could find, running through the plans again and again in his head. They were about to have a new arrival. A new baby, a new child. And as much as he loved Samantha, Arthur was scared shitless. They'd become cocky this time, too self-assured in their ability to handle the birth process.

"Arthur?"

Arthur turned and saw Ariadne hobbling into the kitchen, her large baby bump throwing off her balance completely. He was at her side then, holding her arm and gently guiding her to the kitchen table, before pulling a chair out for her and helping her finally take a seat.

"Feeling okay?" he asked. "No pains? No forceful kicks? No-"

"Quit it!" Ariadne smiled, lightly hitting his arm. Taking the chance to grab her hand, he brought it up to his lips and lightly kissed her knuckles.

"Sorry," he mumbled, tangling his fingers through hers. "I'm just nervous."

"How come I'm the one that's going to give birth, and you're nervous?" she asked, rolling her eyes.

"Sorry."

"And stop saying sorry."

"...Sorry."

"Arthur!" Ariadne sighed, pulling his hand down and bringing it to her stomach. "Feel that?"

Sure enough, Arthur's hand spread against her pregnant belly, feeling small tremors and flutters of the life inside of her. He blinked and bent down, pressing his head gently against her bump. Feeling the kicks always took his breath away.

"Talk," Ariadne insisted. "I love it when you talk to him."

Arthur looked up and gave her an inquisitive look. "Him? How do you know it's a boy?"

She shrugged in response. "I don't. I just have a feeling. Now talk."

Feeling a little bashful, Arthur ducked his head down and let it rest gently on her stomach, trying to igore the awkward feeling of talking to a bump.

"Um...hello again," he mumbled. "...So...how 'bout that airplane food? Ow!" Arthur rubbed a sore spot on the back of his head where Ariadne had smacked.

"Be serious!" Ariadne demanded.

"Ok." Arthur adjusted his seating and began rubbing his hand in gentle circles over the unborn child. "Well, I guess that we're going to see you soon. I hope we're all ready for it. Listen..." He smiled to himself. "Take it easy on your Mom, okay? I know that child birth can't be easy."

"Damn right."

"But regardless," Arthur continued. "It'll all be worth it." Pausing, he felt another kick from under his head. "I can't wait to be your Daddy. Samantha can't wait to see you, and Mommy- well, Mommy is going to love you so much. Just like me. Even though you're still a tiny little person, I love you already."

Affectionately, Ariadne placed her hand on the nape of Arthur's head and began running her hands through his hair. It was normally stiff from abnormal amounts of hair gel, but the stress and tension of the day had his hands constantly running though his hair, scruffing it up. Ariadne found herself thankful for the ocasional soft hair.

Arthur, still deep in conversation, continued. "Now listen, and take this seriously. Don't take advice from Uncle Eames. That's my job. Besides, the man can't tell his ABC's from his 123's." He sighed heavily. "I suppose that's it. We'll see you soon, but don't take too long, because your Mommy and I want to be able to hold you as soon as possible." At that point, he kissed her stomach gently and raised from the ground, before giving Ariadne a challenging look. "Was that alright?"

Ariadne grinned. "That was perfect. "

"Thanks."

"Now go finish dinner."

Smiling, Arthur kissed her head before retreating back into the kitchen. As he stood over the counter, he couldn't wipe the smile from his face. He turned the stove off and began further continuation of making dinner, well unaware of the fact that what seemed like perfect bliss would soon turn into rapid chaos.

Arthur never minded talking to the unborn baby. They'd started that when Ariadne was pregnant with Samantha. Cobb had suggested it, saying that he and Mal used to talk to their children all the time when Mal was pregnant. Of course, being a heavily pregnant nervous wreck, Ariadne insisted that they try it. Arthur never knew what to say first, but he soon grew into it. He thought it was rather touching the way that their child would learn the sound of their voices. Now, with a second baby along the way, they'd got into the habit of speaking to it almost every day. Even Samantha began talking to her unborn sibling.

Then, just as sudden as a kick, the realisation hit him. Soon, they would have a new baby in the house. Another reminder that everyday, Arthur grew furthur and furthur away from the lonely life he used to lead.

Arthur barely had time to register before the next few sounds hit his ears.

The sound of the chair scraping backwards and toppling onto the floor.

The sound of smashing glass.

Ariadne's scream.

There wasn't even a pause as Arthur turned and ran back into the dining room, fearing the absolute worst. As he appeared, he saw Ariadne bent over the table, her arm wrapped as tight as it could around her belly, her face contorted in pain.

"Arthur..." she hissed through gritted teeth. "...It...hurts..."

He was by her side, grabbing her shoulders between his hands, trying to swallow down the fear that was slowly rising in his throat. "What hurts?"

She gripped the side of his arm tightly, her nails digging into the fabric of his shirt. "...Something's wrong! The baby- help-" Gasping loudly, she doubled over and wrapped her hands around the table, her knuckles turning white.

Arthur knew what he had to do. "I'll be right back, get to the car," he instructed, trying to keep his voice level.

"Don't...don't leave me!" she cried.

"Ari, listen to me-" He caught her eyes in a worried gaze. "I need you to get to the car while I get the keys. I'm seconds behind you, alright?"

"Arthur! Tom! Dinner!" Ariadne's voice called from the kitchen.

Arthur jumped up from the couch. "Come on, bud."

Thomas remained in his seat, completely motionless, eyes wide. Arthur looked at him, amused.

"Told you it was a good story."

Review please! Part 2 up ASAP.