3.

~ "So what do you think of Corrine?" Ariadne asked that night.

Arthur took a deep breath as he stripped off his tie. His lovely wife was fresh from nursing Drew, and the couple was about to face time with Darcy on their own iPad before turning in for the night.

"She taught at Daniel's school. She had tons of experience in working with blind kids. Her schedule is perfect and she can start right away." Ariadne said going to brush her teeth.

"I remember her at Daniel's school." Arthur said. He was trying to sound aloof as he unhooked his cufflinks and carefully placed them in their assigned slot. He didn't look as his wife. Her skin was so radiantly perfect lately. Most likely the result of the hormone changes from having the baby.

"I think she's great. She totally gets Daniel, you know? Doesn't treat him like he's handicap. Did you see? She acted like he was a normal kid. Let him run around and everything. She talked to him in the ear and knelt down to do it. That's what I was really worried about. I don't want someone in here treating him like he can't do anything. It's counterproductive. I say she has the job." Ariadne said brightly as she finished brushing her teeth.

"I think we need to interview other people." Arthur said coming into the bathroom. His fingers undoing his dress shirt as he admired the view of his wife in blue, gingham pajamas.

"Why?" She asked as she spat toothpaste out. Even doing these habits, she was still lovely. Her hair was dark and shinny. Her lips naturally red. Her cheeks flushed.

"We just interviewed her today. We might find someone better." Arthur offered lamely. He leaned against the door frame and looked at her reflection.

"Arthur, we're never going to find a nanny on such short notice who is as experienced as Corrine and willing to take on our situation. We have a new born, a blind son and a daughter recovering from cancer. Not to mention two more kids coming to stay with us. We need her. We need her to start right away." Ariadne said.

Arthur sighed. His wife was right of course. Corrine was highly qualified.

He wanted to tell his wife how it was Corrine who he went out for coffee with several months ago. A strange date that ended with him abandoning the pretty teacher because Darcy called him about Seth.

Corrine had not taken the rejection very well, and avoided him ever since. Then Darcy's cancer happened and the Point Man, turned Family Man, had forgotten all about the pretty teacher who wanted to date him. Mrs. Mills started picking up the boys from school and Arthur never saw Corrine again, until today.

He wanted to tell Ariadne all these things, but the day had been so nice with her and the new baby. Ariadne looked at him affectionately again and he didn't want to ruin it.

"You're right." Arthur whispered.

"Of course I'm right." Ariadne said with a smile. She turned around and kissed him. The smell of her toothpaste hitting his nose. "I'm always right. I'm the wife." She giggled.

~ Their face time call with Darcy went well. The little girl telling them she wanted to come home, and that she missed them. Ariadne promising to visit. Arthur telling her to be a big girl.

~ "Arthur?" Ariadne whispered as the Point Man turned off the bedside lamp. It was the first time they had shared a bed together since Drew was born.

He turned to look at his wife expectantly.

Ariadne bit her lip and took a deep breath.

"I'm sorry I called Albert Castus." She said. "That was wrong. I shouldn't have done it. I guess... I guess I was still angry."

"I know you're still angry." Arthur whispered as his wife nestled closer to him. He loved the smell of her hair and the fell of her pajamas. "I would be to."

"We need to work this out." She whispered into his chest. "We need to try really hard to trust each other again."

Arthur nodded. He wanted to say something, but didn't.

"We can go to marriage counseling. Work this out. I don't want to lose you. I don't want a divorce." She said. Her small hands smoothing over his chest.

Arthur's large hands closed over hers. He felt the hard stone of the sapphire engagement ring. She had stopped wearing it when they separated. Now that Darcy was getting better, it meant something that she was wearing it again.

"I don't want a divorce either." Arthur whispered as he kissed her hair. "I'll do whatever it takes to keep you. To keep our family." He added.

~ Arthur woke to an empty bed the next morning. He had to be at the workshop with Cobb and Eames early and had almost overslept.

"Ariadne, have you seen that blue tie? The one you got me last year? Goes really well with the charcoal suit?" Arthur said coming out of the bedroom in nothing more then his sleep pants. He hated rushing and was already running late.

"No, I'm afraid I haven't seen your blue tie." came a voice that most defiantly wasn't Ariadne's.

Arthur paused and turned to his kitchen.

Corrine was sitting at the breakfast bar with the two boys. They were quietly eating and she was drinking coffee.

"Corrine?" Arthur asked. He suddenly realized he was half dressed. She gave him a smug smile. "Corrine, what are you doing here?"

"I'm your new nanny. Your wife rang me up this morning and asked me to start right away." She told him.

Arthur turned a panic look around the large living area.

"Ariadne's with the baby." Corrine said as if reading his thoughts.
"Listen, Corrine, I don't think this is going to work out. You and me..." Arthur whispered as he prayed his wife wouldn't come into the room unexpectedly.

"You and me... what?" Corrine said flashing that bright smile of hers. Her voice mocking the Point Man.

"We... I mean we went out." Arthur said furrowing his brow.

"Several months ago, when you were separated from your wife, we got coffee and talked about Daniel. Then you got a phone call and left. Not exactly a date, Arthur." She corrected. Her pretty eyes mocking him.

"It's not appropriate for you to work for me." Arthur whispered.

"Arthur, please don't flatter yourself. I have a boyfriend now. I think you're safe." Corrine said and took the boys dirty dishes to the sink.

"Besides," She said breezily. "I told Ariadne all about how we went out for coffee."

"You did?" Arthur asked. "When?"

"This morning. I believe honesty is the best policy." Corrine said

"Oh." Arthur mused.

"I realize this is your home, but in the future, please don't come out of your room half dressed when I'm here. It makes my uncomfortable." Corrine added as she took the boys hands to get them ready for school.

~ Arthur's mind was still working hard as he and Ariadne walked to the counseling office.

"So." Arthur breathed as spring was rolling into the city. Paris was blooming like a well cared for flower. A warm, light rain had woken the city up from it's winter sleep. "Corrine told you how we went out for coffee?" Arthur asked.

"Oh, yes." Ariadne smiled as she held Drew close to her. The baby nestled to Ariadne's chest as they walked. "She told me you had been upset over the separation and that you two talked it over and then you got a call from Darcy." Ariadne said.

"Oh." Arthur said with a nod. "It wasn't a date."

"I know." Ariadne said simply. "That's what she told me."

"What did she tell you, exactly?"

"That you were a mess without me and that she was really glad we're working things out. That you love me very much." Ariadne said. His lovely wife turning to him and smiling.

"Oh." Arthur said in surprise. "Well, I do. I do love you very much." He said.

Ariadne smiled back at him and shifted the baby so she could take his hand as they walked.

~ The counselor was an older woman. She had a kind face, but everything about her was highly professional. She wasn't the hippie, lets all hug and cry, therapist that Arthur was expecting and he liked her right away.

"Now, tell me the most immediate problems we're facing." Dr. Lewis said adjusting her glasses and reading over her notes.

Ariadne looked at Drew sleeping in the carrier.
Arthur shifted uncomfortably.

"Well, I didn't want to have another baby. My husband did. He sort of... tricked me into getting me pregnant. Now, I fell a lot of anger to him. I also feel guilty that I didn't want my daughter. I love her so much." Ariadne teared up slightly and Arthur took her hand. "I feel horrible that I didn't want her, I feel like I'm a bad mother."

"I see." The doctor said.

"You never told me you felt that way." Arthur whispered. How could Ariadne feel like she wasn't a wonderful mother? She loved their children. Anyone could see that.

"Why do you think Ariadne didn't tell you she was feeling these things, Arthur?" The doctor asked.

The Point Man turned to the therapist.

"I made a mistake. I regret it and I've apologized for it." He said. He didn't know what else to say.

Ariadne let out a sigh and shook her head.

"I see." The doctor said and scribbled in her note book.

~ "Arthur, you didn't even try in there." Ariadne told him as they walked out of the doctor's office.

"I tried. I don't know what you want me to say. I've already apologized. What else do I need to say?" Arthur demanded as he held the door open for his wife.

"I can't tell you what to say!" She almost shouted. "When you're in therapy, you say what you're feeling so you can work on our problems. You were like a robot in there!"

"Ariadne. Where are you going?" He asked as she hailed a cab.

"To the office." She told him as a neat, little euro cab buzzed to the curb.

"What? The office. You quit." Arthur said in shock.

"I still have friends there. They want to see the baby." She told him.

"Ariadne!" Arthur shouted as she secured Drew.
"I'll be home before dinner. Corrine will pick the boys up." She told him.