AN: Hello again! It's me! I'm so glad all of you liked that last chapter. This one might be a bit mushy, and – ah I don't want to spoil it, but the teensiest bit ...mature. I finally have a solid idea of where the story is going and this chapter is going to be shorter then I'd like but I assure you the ones coming up are more action-packed and not so much of the romantic side of things. Er, does that count as a spoiler? As a side note, to the very few of you who have sent me fan art (I have fans! SQUEEEE!) THANK YOU SO MUCH. It is so, so, so beautiful. Anyways, ladies and gentlemen, I give you – chapter five! Enjoy! Love you all xx Scarlet

"Look..." she murmurs in his ear, one hand clutching his, the other pointing out at the sea that stretches on for miles. It's tough to see the water because it's dark, but the tiny twinkling stars dotted across the night sky provide just enough light.

"God, you have got to be the most incredible architect in the world..." he replies, his eyes wide in awe. He turns to face her, "...and the most beautiful."

She chuckles lightly, "you want some crackers with that cheese?" He mocks offense, letting go of her hand and touching his chest with it.

"Well fine then, I take it back!" he jokes, "you're just a no-name, and you're kind of ugly too."

She grabs his hand and gives him a kiss on the cheek.

"Good, cause I'm not too fond of you either."

She tugs him towards the edge of the water. Closing her eyes, she thinks quickly and feels a cold rush whoosh by. When she opens them, the entire ocean has turned to ice and there are skates on her feet.

"Oh my god," Arthur breathes, laughing slightly, "let's go, come with me!"

And they're skating. They're gliding across the ice, she can feel the wind against her bare arms and she can feel him beside her. They're spinning and twirling and dancing and kissing. They're in love.

Now that they had finally accepted their feelings for one another, Ariadne and Arthur had committed to a relationship... kind of. Under Ariadne's advice, they had decided to keep it a secret from Cobb and the rest of the team. During the workday they worked and researched and did everything they were supposed to, it was tough for Ariadne to act professional around him when all she could think about was the next time she would be kissing him, but it was necessary.

During the nights, however, they would dream. Together. Waiting until after midnight, they would stow away in the dark for hours on end. Sometimes, they would just sit under the chandelier in Ariadne's engine room, kissing and drinking red wine. But most nights, Ariadne would let her mind take her and Arthur someplace extraordinary, someplace weird and wonderful.

It was the night before they were supposed to board Fischer's plane. They were spending it at Ariadne's. It was after midnight, they were sitting at her kitchen table. They had decided not to dream tonight, but instead to spend it as a normal couple might. He had taken her out for dinner, the fanciest place in town. The portions were tiny but the food was delicious, and they had laughed when she dropped a piece of snow crab meat and left a large butter-y stain on her dark red dress. It was silent in her house, they didn't have much to say. Each of them were lost in their own thoughts about what might, or might not happen the following day.

Ariadne was nervous, she wanted to live up to her reputation and she was hoping with all of her heart that her projects were good enough. She didn't know what to expect, but she didn't exactly want to know.

Arthur knew what to expect, but he couldn't stop a nagging fear that the inception wouldn't go as planned. They were prepared, of course they were, but in the dream there were all sorts of things you can't expect.

"Have I ever told you about my Father?" he said, inhaling and exhaling slowly. She shook her head, "He...was an alcoholic. A hard, hard alcoholic." She didn't say anything, just waited for him to explain, "...I've never told anybody this because I've always been so ashamed."

"Don't be."

"I can't not be, Ariadne, it's impossible. It was so hard for me to watch my Father spiral downwards like that. He let everything he had worked for in his entire life slip from his grasp, all because of the alcohol..." he trailed off, his eyes stinging with tears. She moved from her seat and came to sit on his lap, hugging him tightly.

"My parents..." she began, not meeting his gaze, "...they divorced when I was fourteen. She tried to escape, she tried to run away but he found her...he found us..." she took a shaky breath, "...that's why I've been so scared of these feelings, I've seen how it can go wrong..."

He kissed her then, simple and quick. It escalated quickly, and before either of them could fully comprehend what was happening they were moving to the bedroom. He was carrying her, his strong arms were wrapped around her tightly, his lips on her neck. She dipped her head backwards, letting a long sigh escape her lips.

Her heartbeat was accelerating quickly. She was in the here, in the now, but she was also in the future. They were holding each other and wanting and knowing and hoping all at once, they were underneath every part of the moment, rendering it timeless. No audience, no tension, no pressure to succeed. There are only bodies and thoughts and murmurs and looks. They wrapped together seamlessly, every inch of her body fitting to his without fault. It's the adrenaline rush to end all adrenaline rushes, because this was what mattered.

When her heart was racing, this was what it was racing towards...