3.

~ Cobb's home was a comfortable town house in a part of the city developed for the growing middle class of America.

"We have a lot less poor people these days." Cobb explained as Ariadne commented on the number of automobiles and people who were dressed well.

"I see they've finished some of the buildings they were working on." she added. Remembering the skeletons of frame work when she had been to New York last.

"They're talking of building very tall buildings now. A company even want's to demolish the Waldorf Astoria and build on the sight." Cobb said.
"Cobb, that's crazy!" Ariadne laughed.

"City's improving." he told her. "You'd hardly recognize it anymore."

~ Ariadne gasped when she saw Mal. The former slim ladies maid was heavy and rounded with child.
"Mal!" Ariadne exclaimed as her hands went to the large belly.
"Any day now." Mal said with a tired smile.
"We're actually a few days late." Cobb said. "Doctor says there is no reason to worry."
"Congratulations." Ariadne said with a smile as she wondered if she was ever that big with Olivia.

"You must be very upset and confused about why we didn't tell you." Mal said looking guilty.
"I knew you were expecting." Ariadne said brightly as Olivia and Harold clung to her.

Both of them shy at being around strangers.
Mal's brow furrowed.

"No, not about the baby." she said.
"What do you mean?" Ariadne asked; not understanding.
"You didn't tell her?" Mal accused Cobb. "Dom, you have to tell her."
"Tell me what?" Ariadne asked.

"Ariadne, there is a situation I haven't been able to talk to you about until now. It's about Arthur." Cobb said.
"We can talk about his factories after I put the children to bed." Ariadne said. Thinking, as always, that Cobb only knew or wanted to talk about business.

"That will be fine." Cobb said quickly.

"Dom!" Mal hissed at him.

The couple exchanged glares and Mal said angrily.
"Tell her."

~ The Cobb's had provided Ariadne, Maura and the children with comfortable rooms in their home until they found a house in the city.
"It is good to be back in America." Ariadne said as Maura went to work unpacking and Ariadne put Olivia and Harold down for their naps.
"I received two telegrams from Mr. Eames already." Cobb said. "He's worried sick. You really need to write to him."

"What did you tell him?" Ariadne asked bitterly.
"That I didn't know where you were." Cobb said dutifully.

"Good." she said as she and Cobb stood in the upstairs hall.

"Why did you leave Blue Rivers finally?" Cobb asked. "I've been trying to convince you to come to New York for over a year now."

"I know. Cobb, Eames and I were having an affair." Ariadne whispered.

Cobb took a deep breath and had the decency to look embarrassed.

"It just happened." Ariadne sighed. "He came back wounded and it was like we were best friends again. I had missed that. Then, it was like he had to have me... it was like I couldn't resist him. Fredrick was dieing, I was lonely."

"I knew he had feelings for you." Cobb whispered.
"He wants us to get married... and I..." Ariadne shook her head. "He's not the right man for me. I think he would only break my heart and disappoint me. His mother and Lady Percy both warned me that he would be unfaithful and I believe them. I think he would get bored with me, with family life, and abandon me like he's always done." she sighed.
"So you left him before he could leave you." Cobb concluded.
"It will be easier this way." Ariadne told him.
"You need to tell him. He thinks you and the children have been kidnapped by gypsies." Cobb told her and she laughed.
"I'll telegraph him in a few days. Once I get my thoughts together and know what I'm going to say. I left Arthur's car at the hotel. He should be able to get it back at the very least." she told him.
"He won't be able to come to America to get you. With the war on, it's very hard to get transit papers. You're an American and even then it took a lot to get you back, say thank you." Cobb prompted.
"Thank you, Cobb." Ariadne said with a laugh as she took out her ladies handkerchief and dabbed her eyes.

"Don't worry about Eames. You're right, you need a better husband than him. He's not exactly Arthur. He couldn't provide for you like Arthur did." Cobb added.
"It's not just that, I can provide for myself now. He's my best friend, but he's too idealistic. He has this fantasy life for us and isn't concerned about reality." she told him.

"He still thinks the two of you are in love. He doesn't know you don't love him."

"I never said I didn't love him, Cobb." she bit back. "I do love him. If it was just me, I would be with him. But I'm a mother and I can't have him vanishing from my children's lives when things get too hard."

Cobb opened his mouth to say something when they both heard the front door slam shut.
"Dom?" came Mal's worried voice. "Can you come downstairs?"

Cobb looked at Ariadne. His blue eyes wide.
"Cobb, what is it?" she asked. She sensed right away that something was very wrong. Cobb looked frightened.
"I promised him I wouldn't say a word to you." he whispered.

"Promised who?" Ariadne asked. A confused look on her face.
"I'm sorry." he said.

"What are you talking about?"

"There's no easy way to say this. No easy way to do this, Ariadne." Cobb said.
"Cobb?" came a deep voice from the first floor.

Ariadne felt her heart skip a beat. That voice. That low, controlling, forceful voice. A voice that was almost boyish when happy yet cold and hard when angry.

She realized she was breathing hard as she walked numbly to the stairs.
"Ariadne." Cobb whispered.

She ignored him and slowly went downstairs.

The man in the downstairs foyer had his back turned to the stairs. His suit was impeccable although not especially fashionable. It was a simple, well made garment that showed the owner to have money, but didn't waste time or effort on being trendy.

She knew him. Knew that slicked back hair, those large hands, that slender body of his. She didn't even need him to turn around to know who it was.

'How can this be?' she wondered as she watched him from the stairs.

She took another step down and the wood gave off a loud creak; giving her away.

Arthur turned at the noise and their eyes locked.

For an instant, she wanted to rush into his arms again. He was alive and real. She wasn't imagining it. It had been almost two years since the Empress took him, and he looked every day of those two years had passed. His face was harder and his eyes weren't as bright as they were before.

Arthur looked stunned to see her. His eyes growing wide from the start and his lips parting.

"Ariadne." he whispered as she came down the last of the steps and walked towards him.

"When..." he swallowed. He backed away from her as she approached him. "When did you come back?"

She never ceased her stride, never slowed.

He was real, she could smell his aftershave and see the fine lines that had appeared on his once youthful face.

He looked like he was searching for an explanation. What could he say?

She never gave him the chance. She stood in front of him. All her senses telling her he was real, and she slapped him as hard as she could.