You can't go home again
Ariadne had returned to Paris. The relief of being back in the city was overpowering. It was daylight when she had arrived. The racing of the plane fighting against the rotation of the world. She left the airport and took a cab to her small neighborhood. The need for sleep was over powering. She had not slept at all on the plane. She was working to hard to hold back tears. Working so hard on not thinking about Arthur, she thought of nothing but him. Her anger at him. She gave it time to fester and become hard.
When she was finally home, she crashed on her bed and fell into a deep dreamless sleep.
~The days passed. She had not had a call from Arthur or Cobb. She didn't attempt to make contact with them. She half expected Arthur to call her. To apologize. To attempt to see her. She would look for him in the markets where she bought groceries. On her way to the college. She looked for him everywhere she went.
She was almost done with school. Graduation would be a month away. She had already been offered several jobs.
She expected to see Miles in school. Maybe ask how Cobb was. But the older gentleman was gone for the rest of the semester.
'Just as well.' She thought. Her heart turning to a cold stone. 'I don't care about Cobb. He used me to get to his family just like Arthur used me.'
She never wanted to see Cobb again either. Never wanted them to make contact with him. In a fit of useless anger she three her cell phone away. Didn't bother with a new one. Intent on forgetting about the worlds she had dreamed.
It was not a totally wasted endeavor however. Saito had dutifully wired her share of the money into her account a few days after she had returned to Paris. It was a generous sum. Enough to buy her own apartment in the city if she wanted to. Uncertain about her next move, she merely put it into savings.
More days passed and the events of the Fischer job seemed to fade away like a dream. Had any of it been real? She would lay awake at night. Wondering about it. Wishing she had someone to talk to.
It was in planing her final exams she noticed it. She was looking over her calender planning her schedule. How quickly time had flown by. She had been so overwhelmed by her anger at Arthur. Her School work. She had not noticed the days ticking by. Time had gone on without her notice.
"Oh God." She breathed as she realized just how much time had passed. Her mind searching for the memory. The memory of something she had forgotten.
~She was in the market when she spotted him. His independent stance and style. She froze. Not willing to take her eyes off. A childish worry that if she blinked, he might vanish. Her need to make contact with him outweighed her anger for a moment. To make certain it had not all been a dream.
"Eames?" She said coming up behind him. The Forger was leaning on a lamp post. Casually people watching and eating some kind of pastry. He turned to her and his face lit up.
"Hello, Darling." He said playfully. She didn't wait to hug him. Relief flooding over her as the Forger returned her embrace. "Good to see you to." He said with a chuckle. She pulled away and realized tears were on her face. Eames looked down at her concerned. He pulled a silky handkerchief out of his front pocket and gently dabbed her eyes.
"Missed me that much I see." He teased. She laughed. It felt so good to laugh.
"I'm... I'm just really glad to see you." She managed to say.
"I'm starving." He said after he carefully dried her face. "Let's get a bite to eat, right?" She nodded as the Forger offered her his arm and escorted her to a trendy little restaurant.
~It was the off season in Paris and tourists were non existent. The restaurant was empty except for the staff. Still, Ariadne chose a very secluded table at the back.
"You changed your number." Eames said after he placed an order. Wine for himself, water for her. She nodded.
"I know." She said meekly.
"Cobb has been trying to reach you." The Forger said indifferently. "Wanted to make sure your alright."
"I'm alright." She said in a dead tone. Pushing her hair back behind her ears. She felt her face flush.
"Is that why your here?" She asked him. "Cobb sent you to check on me?"
"Matter of fact, yes." Eames said. "Arthur wanted to come, by he's tied up at the moment." Ariadne felt her chest tighten up at hearing the Point Man's name.
"Tied up with what?" She asked bitterly.
"The kind of things that keep a man tied up." Eames said. A riddle worthy of the Mad Hatter himself. She huffed out a laugh.
"Tell me what happened, Love." he asked as the drinks arrived. Ariadne ordered a bowl of soup. Hoping it would stay down. As the waitress left them, she sighed.
She trusted Eames. He teased her just as much as the rest of the Team (except Arthur), but something about his eyes. A flicker of sharp wit and intelligence. She knew he would keep whatever she told him to himself. If she asked.
"Ummm... Arthur and I were together. After we left you and Yuseff at the restaurant in L.A. We went to his hotel." She started. Finding it easy to talk to him. Eames listened to her. Giving her his undivided attentions. She shrugged.
"A few hours later, he woke me up, told me to get dressed. Said I had to leave. He told me not to call him or Cobb. Said he was sorry. That he had to much to drink. He told me I had to leave L.A. He took me to the airport and I haven't heard from him since." She finished pitifully. She could feel tears surfacing again.
"Ariadne." Eames sighed heavily. The Forger took her hand. "That doesn't sound like Arthur. Not the Arthur I know." He said carefully. "Maybe something had happened." He offered. She shook her head. Blinking out tears. His handkerchief came out again.
"That's what happened." She said softly. Shameful of her crying. Eames dabbed at her eyes. Gently as if she were a child.
"Arthur, is not a one night stand kind of guy, Darling." Eames said. "Trust me I know. I am a one night stand kind of guy." He laughed. She had to smile at that. Then frown.
"Eames, I'm pregnant." She whispered. Afraid to say it out loud. He didn't even blink at this news. Just nodded.
"Are you sure?" He asked. "Have you been to the doctor?" He seemed concerned. She nodded.
"Have you decided what to do?" he asked gently. Not judging.
"I'm not sure yet." She admitted.
"Well, if you decide to keep it. You have to be the one to tell Arthur. He has to know. Allow him the chance to be a father. I think he would make a good one." He said wisely.
The Forger looked away for a moment.
"But, if you decide not to have... the baby... never tell him. Never tell him you were pregnant. It would haunt him. It would make him hate you and himself." He spoke with conviction. So much so that she looked up. Eames had a far away look in his eyes. He blinked back to reality. His smile faulty.
"Trust me Darling, I've been there." He whispered.
~The friends talked late into the afternoon. Eames keeping the conversation lively while never revealing what was happening with the Team and COBAL. To tell her anything about the ruthless company would put her in danger.
He had been watching the Architect for several days now. Mainly watching for others watching her. He didn't see the inept hired lackeys that were COBAL's trade make. Men who stuck out in any situation. They were always easy to spot. They dressed cheap, had poor tracking skills, and were incompetent at keeping a low profile. Cobb and his children had easily evaded them and escaped to Italy.
The Extractor had given the Forger a ring when Ariadne's number had been disconnected. Arthur wanted to come to Paris and check on her but had gotten side tracked in New York by more of COBAL's people. The Point Man had been worried about her. So much so that Eames had to turn off his mobile to stop the harassing calls.
Eames walked Ariadne home. After treating her to a lemon flavored ice.
"Will settle your stomach." He assured her with a laugh. She smiled weakly at him as she slowly ate it.
"How long are you away from graduation, Darling?" He asked.
"A few days." She said happily. "Already have a job offer in London. Might take it."
"Oh wonderful." He said. "You'll love London. I just bought a place in Knotting Hill."
"Trendy." She smiled.
"Yes it is." He laughed. "You should come and stay with me."
The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them. It seemed such a natural thing to say. The thing was, he didn't regret saying it. He tried to back peddle.
"Well, I mean, when you come down for your interview. No sense in staying in a hotel. I can show you the sights. Plus, England had the best healthcare around." he offered a hand to her abdomen.
"France is better." She said with a teasing smile. He chuckled and nodded.
"Yes, France is better." He said looking down at his hands.
"I think I may take you up on that offer Mr. Eames." She said. They talked of London and his new home there. How there was plenty of rooms and no wild parties. The Forger walked her to her building and gave her a warm hug as she retrieved her keys.
"I was going to have a bite at the cafe over there tomorrow." He said pointing to a small place a block away.
"Might see you there?" He asked. She smiled and nodded.
"Might see you there about noon?" He asked again. A devilish smile creeping on his face. She laughed.
"Maybe." She said.
~That night Arthur received a phone call from the Forger.
"Eames." He said into the phone instead of a hello.
"Just wanted to let you know our girl is alright." Eames said. "Just talked with her. She seemed fine. Looking forward to graduation."
"Were there any signs of COBAL? Why is her phone disconnected?" Arthur asked in his angry tone.
"Don't know." Eames lied easily. "Maybe she switched carriers." Arthur sighed.
"Tell her to call me." He said gruffly. The Point Man had spent the past few days on the run from COBAL. He had not slept well at all and it showed on his worn face.
"I already did." The Forger said. "She seems pretty angry with you. Did you do anything to upset her?" Eames asked as if he had no idea what was happening.
"Goodbye, Mr. Eames." Arthur said hanging up the phone.
The Point Man relaxed in the hotel room in Dubai. He had evaded COBAL in New York, Tokyo and almost everywhere except Paris. He could not expose Ariadne to COBAL. He avoided the city of lovers like the plague.
He had tried to call her several times. Her phone had been disconnected. He knew she was angry at him. Knew he did not handle their departing well. Did not say the right things.
I always let my stories BECOME what ever they want to become. This story, wants to become something other then just a mindless sex romp.
Trust me there will be more erotica. Some A&A fans might be mad, but oh well. I have to have some kind of story other then sex.
If you like my erotica, pls read "A Week at This Level". Also my "Dream series". Good times. I promise to add more to my series soon. I know I left everyone hanging.
I cant have them just fucking the whole time. Right?...Right? Come on guys, I'm asking you a question!
BTW...U-Tube has the trailer for the new movie "Warrior". I was like "Hello Mr. Eames! Arthur who?" LOL!