Disclaimer: Inception does not belong to me.

Adam sighed, blinking as the gentle light began to dance across his face. He looked down, noticing the young woman cradled in his arms. He rested his head back on the pillow, allowing himself to inhale the scent of her skin, her hair.

He smiled. Last night, he thought, he'd felt more like a person - a man - in a long time. He gently traced his finger along her cheekbone, still not fully accepting he was awake.

"Has to be a dream," he muttered.

Swallowing, he gently began to disentangle himself from her, and headed for the bathroom. As he relieved himself, he swallowed, still unable to comprehend what had happened.

The intimacy had been wonderful, but so had been the talking. Afterwards, they'd stayed awake until the early hours, discussing their lives, their thoughts, their hopes. He'd found himself lost in her large dark eyes, unable to accept it was real.

Sighing, he finished, and turned to the sink to sluice. As he looked into the bathroom mirror, he blinked.

His cheeks were not as pallid as they had been, and his eyes - were they actually sparkling?

He blinked. He actually looked...normal. He rubbed his head, still self-conscious about the loss of his hair, but the brightness of his eyes was compensation.

He began to wander back to the bedroom. Ariadne, he saw with relief, was still curled up in the bed, her eyes closed. He began to climb back in, only to find her immediately reach for, and grab, his hand.

"Stay close," she whispered.

He nodded, and curling up closer, allowed his body to mould to hers. "I promised to make you pancakes," he muttered, his lips catching in her hair.

She nodded. "You can always make them later."

He held her tightly. "I agree."

"So," Kyle said, reflectively, looking at Adam. "You reckon its going to work?"

Adam nodded, reaching for his glass. "Yes."

"Why?" Kyle looked at him, his eyes narrowing. Adam didn't answer. He was lost in the next morning, when she woke up, and headed to the shower. He remembered looking at her, and before either of them knew it, they were back in bed. Together. He swallowed. Looking at Kyle, he felt almost ashamed. But she's not doing it out of pity, and she knew I had cancer from the beginning.

"She likes me," Adam replied, honestly. "That's all there is to it. She likes me." He looked at his friend. "And I like her. She's so...genuine."

"Despite the action man ex?" Kyle's lip curled in distaste.

"He's ok," Adam admitted. "Really."

"How do you know?" Kyle lifted his coffee cup and stared at his best friend.

"Because he told me to go for it."

Ariadne whistled as she entered the warehouse. She hugged her bag, thinking of the previous night, and morning.

He was wonderful, she decided. Sensitive, thoughtful, intelligent...and as she opened the door, she spotted Arthur.

Suddenly, her heart began to sink. Sensitive, thoughtful, intelligent, were also words that could be applied to the Point Man. The Architect began to feel guilty, almost as though she were returning to a doting husband after a night with a lover. She looked at him, then at the floor, beginning to feel nervous.

"Hey," Arthur said, smiling. She nodded. "Hi."

Trying not to look at him, she walked to the kitchenette. To her surprise, he followed her. "You ok?"

"I'm great," she replied. "I, um-"

Arthur didn't miss a beat. "Its fine," he said, nodding. "Trust me. He's a lucky guy." He walked back to his desk.

Feeling a swirl of emotions rise within her, she walked to her own.

"So you feel she could be 'the one'?"

Adam shifted, and felt a slight twinge of annoyance. Kathy always had to try and reduce everything to a level of inanity. He shook his head.

"No," he said, his voice firm. "I don't think that." He leaned back. "I don't think 'the one' exists." He looked at her. "Don't confuse me with that dopey guy in (500) Days of Summer".

Kathy leaned back, also. "Well, ok." She tried to keep her tone light. "But do you think that she might be giving you a reason to live, a reason to hang on?"

Adam nodded, his thoughts starting to clarify. "Yes," he said, softly. "She likes me, I like her. It really is that simple."

Kathy bit her lip. "Have you discussed intimacy?" she asked gently. He looked at her. "We've done more than discuss it." He didn't speak unkindly, but she flinched slightly, triggering a feeling of guilt. "It made me feel-"

She paused, waiting for his reaction.

"-like a person again."

"Adam," Kathy said, her expression slightly uneasy, "just make sure you don't rely on her for that."

He shook his head. "I won't."

Adam stretched out, letting Skeletor gently lick his hand. He smiled as he thought of Ariadne coming over later. Suddenly, his iPhone began to buzz. Pulling it out of his pocket, he pressed call. "Hello?"

"Adam?"

"Hi Mom." He swallowed, deciding to cut to the chase. "Listen, I have met someone." He paused. "No, she's lovely, really lovely. Yes, of course I want you to meet her." He smiled again. "OK, see you soon."

He leaned back, and closed his eyes. Introduce her to Mom. It'll be perfect.

reviews appreciated, thank you! I like to know who is following this!