Real World

Catherine went home with Ariadne and Eames after two weeks in the hospital. Arthur stayed in England. He visited the baby everyday while she was in the hospital. Occasionally talking to Ariadne, never with Eames. When the Point Man and Architect did talk, it was simple and polite.

Arthur, never revealing the paternity test he had his lawyers take.

~Eames had taken the hint and gave Ariadne and Arthur privet time with their daughter. The Forger, always reminding himself that the baby did not belong to him. That the woman in his house, did not belong to him either.

"Doctor said she's doing well." Arthur said. His voice a whisper as he and Ariadne were changing the small baby together.

"Yes, she gained a pound already." Ariadne smiled.

"Your nursing her alright?" He asked tentatively. Politely. She smiled.

"Oh yes. She took to it really easy. I was worried for a while but she's a trooper." She told him scooping up the baby. Holding the newborn closely to her body.

"That's good." Arthur whispered grazing his hand over Catherine's head. He looked down at her little face.
"She looks like me." He said softly. Recognizing his own face in his daughter's for the first time. Ariadne sighed and looked sad.

"I know." She whispered.

Arthur followed his family back to Ariadne's little room. The new mother had been unwilling to let her baby sleep in the nursery alone. She and Eames had carefully and lovingly designed a lovely colorful nursery for the intruder. But it was seldom used these days.

Arthur had brought her a beautiful bassinet that would rest right beside her bed. Whenever Catherine would cry or need attention, Ariadne could be right there.

As their habit was these days, Arthur would stay the night. He had been unwilling to leave his daughter alone. Ariadne didn't object. The two of them had been getting along very well after the birth. Their attentions focused only on the baby. They never talked about plans for the future, only of things they would do today. Occasionally, what they would do tomorrow.

Arthur curled up next to Ariadne after she put the baby to bed. He had been spending every night since Catherine came home with Ariadne. Right next to her. When the baby cried, he got up with her. The couple was tackling the challenges of new parenthood together. Ariadne had allowed it. The Point Man had proven himself very loving and capable when it came to his daughter. She was glad he no longer spoke of her moving to New York. That he was here with her, content and happy.

She loved being in his arms at night. Arthur would wrap those strong hands around her. She felt safe and protected. Her baby sleeping peacefully only a foot away. She would fall into her own dreams easily. She would wake up to Catherine's soft fussing. Arthur would wake up with her. Stay up with the both of them while she nursed the baby. Then, the family would fall back asleep. Day and night made no difference to them. Their little world was each other.

Ariadne felt a great delight in see Arthur hold Catherine. She saw her baby in those strong hands. Knew that her daughter, their daughter, was safer in Arthur's arms then anywhere in the world.

~ "I want to talk about us moving to New York." Arthur said one night. Ariadne had just put Catherine down.

"No." She told him curtly. "I go back to my job in a month and I'm looking forward to it. Eames is going to look after her until she's old enough for me to take to daycare."

"I don't want Eames to take care of my child. I don't want her in daycare." Arthur said. Trying to maintain control of his emotions.

"Well, that is how it's going to be Arthur." Ariadne told him simply.

"Can't you get a transfer?" He asked "Something in New York?"

"That would be nice, but I would have to be at the company for five years to be eligible for that." Ariadne told him.

"You know, I can take care of you. You don't have to work. Just come back to the states with me. You can be a full time mother to her." Arthur said. His voice almost pleading.

"I want to work, Arthur." She said. Her voice sharp. "This is what I went to school for all those years. I want to have a career. I don't want to just be a mom."

"Ariadne... please. There has to be a way for us to work all this out." He said dejectedly.

"You just don't like the fact that I live with Eames." She told him.

"As a matter of fact, I don't." Arthur admitted. "I don't want Catherine growing up thinking he's her father. I'm her father and I have rights to." Ariadne looked at the Point Man. A hard angry look.

"Arthur, have I prevented you from seeing her? You can see her just as much as you want, but I'm not moving. I'm not leaving my job and I'm not leaving Eames." Arthur sighed.

It had all come down to the Forger. He knew it. She was in love with Eames. She wanted to stay with him.

"Fine." he said. His voice like ice. "If that's how you want it." The Point Man turned to leave.

"Your not staying the night?" Ariadne asked surprised. Her voice hurt

"No." He said curtly before closing the door behind him.

~ It was a difficult night. Catherine seemed to sense Arthur was not there. She was more fitful then normal. Her mother didn't sleep well at all. She missed Arthur's reassuring presence in the room. The way her would watch her nurse Catherine. The simple kiss he would apply to her temple as they curled back into bed together. His strong hard body next to hers. Comforting.

Maybe she had been to harsh. Maybe she should consider moving to New York. She had only been at her job for a few months now. She could leave it. Maybe find something better. She had no doubt at all Arthur would take care of both of them. Everything about the Point Man spoke of him being honorable. She knew he would provide for them and care for them. Love them. But then she would have to leave Eames.

~ "I noticed Arthur had left." the Forger said that morning. They were seated at the little kitchen table eating breakfast. Catherine was sleeping soundly in the bassinet her father gave her. Despite a beautiful crib Eames had brought home and assembled, Ariadne kept the baby in the simple portable bassinet.

"We had another talk about moving to New York." She told him sadly.

"You don't have to move if you don't want to, Darling. You don't have to do anything but take care of our intruder*." Eames told her nodding at the bassinet. His voice reassuring. "We can work something out. Arthur is just being suborn. I know him, it's his way."

"I know." She told him. "But it's hard. I want Catherine to have her father. He loves her so much... I just-"

Her sentence was cut off by the front door buzzing. Eames and Ariadne fell into a stunned silence. They never had visitors.

Catherine woke up. Making her baby noises. Her ever attentive mother quickly picked her up and rocked her gently. Ariadne followed Eames to the hallway and the front door. They opened the door to see Arthur and three police man.

"Arthur?" Eames questioned. "What the hell?" The Point Man held up a formidable looking piece of paper. His face like stone.

"I have a court order and a paternity test results. I'm here to pick up my daughter." he said.

*Intruder, I always felt it was something Eames would call the baby before and after she was born. I don't see him calling her 'it' while Ariadne was pregnant. I think it would be a funny little nickname he would give Catherine.