16.

16 years ago...

~ Ariadne was running in the rose garden. Arthur had her dressed in a charming pink sun dress. Her eyes were bright and happy among the roses Grace and Eames had planted 50 years before.

"She's such a happy child." The lovely dark haired woman said sitting in front of Mal and Dom.

"Yes, she is." Mal said politely as Arthur watched the little girl play from his spot in front of the window.

Dom and Mal had finally convinced him to let the child go. They had searched for her family but it was if she feel from the sky. In the year and a half since he found her, she had grown healthy and happy. She seemed to belong here.

But Dom was right. Drews' suicide almost 100 years before, had taught the men what happened to outsiders who came too close to this cursed place.

"We can arrange a support of forty thousand a year until she's 21." Dom said casually.

Money meant nothing to them. Once the rich were rich, they tended to stay rich. The Blunt family had always been very well off and Arthur was very adapted to playing the stock market.

"Very generous. Thank you." The adoptive father said.

"May we ask why your not keeping your daughter, sir?" The dark haired woman asked to Arthur. "You obviously have the means."

For convenience sake, it was easier to tell the adoptive parents that Arthur was Ariadne's father. Mal was too old to pretend to be anyone's mother and Ariadne had a natural trust and affection to the somber young man who had found her.

"Her mother passed away. She needs a mother and father." Arthur lied with difficulty as Ariadne ran around the rose garden. The pink hair ribbons he had so carefully tied in her hair that morning coming out.

The child had lived in the castle with him for over a year now. He had taught her her alphabet, how to ride a horse and was literally the reason he woke up in the mornings. She had brought him happiness he had been so afraid of having.

Now, what would he do? What would he do tomorrow without her here?

~ "Ariadne?" Arthur called to the child as they grown ups went out into the garden. The child still didn't talk very much and was shy around strangers. She ran to Arthur and he plucked her up in his arms with ease.

He sat with the child in his lap and didn't notice the photograph Mal snapped. The old woman wiping away tears.

"Ariadne, you going to stay with these people." Arthur said to her gently. "Their very nice and will take good care of you."

"But then I come back with you." Ariadne said in that chirping, bird like voice.

"No, sweetheart." Arthur said sadly. "Your going to stay with them."

"I belong with you." Ariadne said as if stating a fact. "I'll come back."

"Ariadne." The adoptive mother said kindly. "I really want you to stay with us. We have lots of kids in our neighborhood for you to play with."

The little girl looked away from the kind woman and turned her head into Arthur's shirt.

"We have a room ready for you and you'll go to a school. Would you like that?" She asked.

"No." Ariadne said. "I belong here."

It took a great deal of persuading and codling on the woman's part, but Ariadne warmed up to the couple. Long enough for the child to stand still for a picture of the new family.

Arthur was trying hard not to look at them. The couple was nice enough and he was sure Ariadne would be happy with them. But his own selfish heart didn't want to let her go.

Finally, it was growing late and the couple wanted to leave with their new daughter.

"No!" Ariadne said petulantly. "I belong here!" She had tried to run to Arthur when the mother held her fast.

"You come home with us." She said sweetly. Her face pleading. Wanting this little girl to love her.

"No! I belong with you!" Ariadne cried at Arthur as he walked away. Not able to stand it anymore.

"Honey, your going to be happy with us!" The woman pleaded as the adoptive father lifted the little girl up against her screams.
"No!" Ariadne cried as Arthur shut the heavy doors to his study. He could still hear the child's cries as the family loaded her in the car and drove away.

"I belong here!" She screamed. Her cherub like face red with tears.