An update! Ha! Sorry, it has been quite a while. But life happened so I have been very busy and kind of unmotivated. But I finally got around to it. And sorry upfront. This chapter is not the best. Again, it is filler. So, again, sorry upfront if it is not the most interesting of chapters.

Anyways, I hope you all enjoy it, and just like before, I own nothing.

Chapter 3: Adjusting

6 Months Later:

Arthur lay in his bed just staring up at the ceiling. It had been six months since he had been cursed by Mal. Six long miserable months.

He hasn't left his house in those six months. He just sits in bed, does his work, and just waits. Arthur was just tired of it all. So tired, that after the first month, he did try to end it all and kill himself. But that didn't work. He cut his wrist but it just healed back up. It was the scariest thing he had ever seen.

It seemed that he was set to live out the curse and then die when the year was over. He pulled himself up and grabbed his laptop from its spot on the floor. He decided that he might as well get some work done since he was alone at the moment.

Ariadne was at work, as was Dom, and the children were at school, so Arthur was completely alone. When they got home, Arthur wouldn't be able to do anything because the children would be all over the place and would be a major distraction. They always were. And it would be a while before Yusuf came over.

You see, Arthur had it set up so that Yusuf would come over once a day and give him some pain medicine for his scars. It wasn't much, but it did help.

Yusuf used to come at lunch but now he waited till later. He didn't really give a reason. Arthur didn't really care. As long as Yusuf came over sometime, Arthur was happy.

Arthur opened up his email and saw that he had one from Saito, detailing what he wanted done this week as usual, a couple from other departments detailing what was going on there, and one from the infamous Mr. Eames.

Arthur opened Eames' email first so he could get that monstrosity out of the way.

Arthur hated Eames. He hadn't even met the man, but he had no desire to ever meet him anytime in the near future. Eames was cocky and arrogant, and just ridiculous. Arthur had heard a lot about him and he did not like the things he heard.

And then there was the whole forging spectacle. Someone accused Eames of forging his degree. Eames somehow proved that it was real but Arthur still questioned it. Eames didn't deserve to work for Saito. Arthur voiced this opinion to Saito plenty of times, but Saito said that Eames' brilliance is needed. Arthur didn't consider it brilliance, he called it luck.

But Arthur was still allowed to cut his budget. That was enough. Sure Eames had great ideas every once in a while, but Arthur bet those were due by dumb luck.

Arthur clicked open Eames' email and read.

Mr. Callahan,

Attached is the outline for the new project for the new ad campaign that I am in charge of. Saito approved already. I just need your approval

budget wise. Thanks for your consideration.

-B. Eames

Arthur let out a small sigh and opened up the attachment. After examining it for a few minutes, he couldn't help but see that it was perfect. It was amazing and it was going to get a lot more people interesting in Saito Industries.

Ever since the death of Maurice Fischer, more people have been sympathizing with their company. So they needed all the advertising and publicity as they could. So this plan was brilliant.

But Arthur couldn't let Eames know that his plan was perfect. So he quickly typed out an email that said he would look over the project and see what he could do.

Arthur shut his laptop and slowly made his way to the bathroom. He glanced over and saw that his cracked mirror. Not long after the curse, Arthur went on a rampage and destroyed every mirror in sight. He didn't need them. He didn't want to be reminded of his monstrous appearance.

Mirrors only brought him reminders of what a monster he had become. He let out a small grunt as he turned on the water for the shower. Showers always felt amazing now. They were always amazing before but now, now it was like a thousand times better. The water hitting his ears was just felt amazing. And it was more soothing on all his scars. It was like another sort of medicine.

Arthur stepped out of the shower, shaking his hair dry. He wrapped a towel around his waist and walked back into his room only to find Ariadne sitting on his bed waiting for him.

"What are you doing here?" He asked as he walked over to his closet and pulled out some fresh clothes for him to change into. She was supposed to be at work.

"Lunch break." Arthur paused. It was lunch time already? "I was wondering if you wanted to go with me. There is this new café that opened and it is fantastic. Robert and I go there all the time." Arthur sighed.

"Thanks for the offer, but no."

"What? Why? It is beautiful outside. Come and enjoy the weather." Arthur rolled his eyes before walking back into the bathroom to change. He walked back out to find Ariadne in the same spot as before, just staring at him.

"I haven't been outside in six months. Today is no different."

"Arthur, can't you see? That is the perfect reason as to why you should go out."

"No." He said, looking at her full on.

"Well why not? You have waited long enough."

"Why? Because I do not want to be some circus act Ariadne! People will stare and glare and see me as a monster. I would rather have them remember me as I was before, not like this."

"How is that any different?" Ariadne replied and Arthur turned around so fast he almost gave himself whiplash.

"What did you say?" He hissed out.

"How is your old self any different than your new self?" She asked.

"Look at me Ariadne." Arthur hissed, stepping closer to her. "Do you not see the difference?"

"I see my friend. Sure your appearance changed, but not your personality. Your personality is what people remember, Arthur, not your looks. You were an ass then and you are an ass now. In all reality, you have not changed at all."

"Is that what you really think of me?"

"You are a good man, Arthur, but only when you want to be. If you were really as horrible as you make yourself out to be, I wouldn't be friends with you. Dom wouldn't be friends with you. You need to be stronger than this."

"Well, I'm sorry but I'm not. Go to lunch with Robert and leave me be."

"I have the rest of my life to go to lunch with Robert. I only have 6 more months with you." Arthur turned and looked at her. "Doesn't that mean anything to you?" Arthur just looked at her.

"Not today, Ariadne. I'm sorry." She let out a small sigh.

"Fine. But I will be back later tonight. Enjoy your day." Arthur nodded and escorted her out.

Arthur was walking through his greenhouse when he heard Dom come home. And the only reason he knew that it was Dom was because he heard the distinct sounds of two children running throughout the house.

Arthur leaned over and plucked a bright red rose from its bush and walked out of the greenhouse.

"Hello Arthur." He looked up and saw Dom walking towards him, smile plastered on his face.

"Dom. How was your day?" Arthur replied in a non-interested tone.

"Pleasant. How was yours?" Dom asked, stopping right in front of him.

"Uneventful as usual."

"I wouldn't say that. You picked a rose for Ariadne so you must have messed something up." Arthur gave him a small glare before walking into the kitchen to put the rose in a vase. "So what happened?"

"Nothing of great importance. She wanted me to go out and I refused."

"Ah. You know, you should go out. Enjoy the weather. Get some fresh air."

"No."

"Arthur…."

"You have no room to talk Dom. After Mal died you were almost fired from your job because you never went to work. You never left the house. And when you did, you did shitty work. At least I still do great work."

"Yes. But I got over it." That was lie that everyone knew. Dom would never get over it because he somehow felt responsible for it. "You are losing time Arthur. Don't you want to experience the world before it is taken from you?"

"Why?" Arthur replied, turning towards him. "There is nothing out there that I want to see."

"What about that man?"

"What man?" Arthur eyed him a bit. He did not like where this was going.

"You know what man. The man whom you want to be with but are too shy to go and ask for his name and possibly even be happy for once."

"How do you of all people know about him?"

"Robert sees you stare at him all the time. He told Ariadne about it who told me." Arthur made a note to kill Robert the next time he saw him. He would make sure it was slow and painful.

"Well, since I don't know him, why would I go and talk with him?" Arthur said as he walked away, trying to get away from this conversation.

"The fact that you have only six months left to live means you should take a chance. Find the man and talk to him." Arthur laughed.

"Oh yeah, I can just imagine how that would go. Hello, my name is Arthur. I am cursed to look like a monster and have six months to live. Want to fuck?"

"He could be interested…"

"No one would want to fuck me, not now. If they did then they might have some bestiality issues that need to be looked at."

"Arthur…"

"Just don't, alright. Just don't. Not today." Arthur let out a small sigh. "Look, just send Yusuf up when he comes, please?" Dom just nodded as Arthur headed back to his room.

Arthur was sitting in his master chair, looking at the wall where he had projected Eames' latest project. He had to fully evaluate it in order to determine the budget that he was going to set for it.

He heard the footsteps before the door opened. One positive thing about the curse was that it improved his hearing quite a bit. And he knew it was Yusuf by the smell. Another side effect, his smelling abilities had increased as well. He looked over and saw Yusuf walk in with his usual silver briefcase in hand like he did every day.

"Yusuf." Arthur said, standing up.

"Arthur, how are you doing today?" Yusuf asked with a smile as he walked over to the bed. Arthur started unbuttoning his shirt but stopped at Yusuf's words.

"Really? Still attempting small talk after six months?" Yusuf just shrugged.

"Just trying to be friendly." Arthur nodded and walked over to the bed and lay down. Yusuf quickly set up his supplies in silence while Arthur just stared at the ceiling.

"Fine." Arthur said after a while.

"What?"

"I'm doing fine today, to answer your question." Arthur said quietly. Yusuf smiled.

"Glad to hear it." Arthur really did like Yusuf. He was nice and friendly. And he didn't really ask too many questions, especially about the curse in general. He was briefed when he first started but he pretty much just accepted everything. No questions asked.

And it seemed like he hadn't really spread the word about Arthur, not that it was really a secret. Arthur knew that the whole town knew. The press always had insiders and they always found out sooner or later.

"So, any changes since yesterday" Yusuf asked as he prepared the needle. Arthur just looked at him. "Right. It gets worse every day." Arthur let out a small sigh as he closed his eyes. He hated needles and there was no way he was going to watch Yusuf insert a needle in him. He did the first day and about passed out.

Arthur felt the needle go in and within seconds, it was over.

"All done." Arthur opened his eyes and smiled. The medicine worked almost instantly. It wasn't much, but it helped take his mind off the pain. So it was worth it.

"Thanks." Arthur said as he sat up and pulled his shirt back on. Yusuf just nodded and packed up his things.

"Is that Eames'?" Arthur looked and saw that Yusuf was looking at the projection on the wall.

"Yes. Do you know him?" Arthur slowly approached Yusuf. He had known Yusuf for six months now and it never occurred to Arthur that he could know Eames. It was entirely possible, they all did work together.

"Yeah, he is one of my friends. Well, if you consider what we have friendship." Arthur tensed up. "Eames isn't one for friends."

"Oh." Yusuf laughed.

"Don't worry. I know of your hate for him. And believe me, the feeling is mutual on his end as well." Arthur took a few steps forward.

"Eames hates me?"

"Yes. Quite a bit actually. He vents about you all the time."

"But he hasn't even met me." Yusuf laughed again.

"True. But you hate him as well and you have never met him."

"That's because I am positive that he forged his degree so he shouldn't even be working here!" Arthur hissed out. Yusuf backed up a bit.

"But you can't say that he isn't good at what he does." Arthur just glared at him. He would never admit that. Not while he was alive. "Fine. I'm leaving since Eames is a sore subject. But you should give him a chance. He really likes his job and is quite good at it."

"Just because he likes his job and may be quite good at his job, as you put it, doesn't give me any reason to like him." Arthur growled out before storming off to the bathroom, leaving Yusuf to let himself out.

That night, Arthur, Dom, Ariadne, and Dom's children, Phillipa and James, all sat in the dining room eating supper. Phillipa and James were now used to Arthur's appearance. They weren't told details of the curse, like that Arthur was going to die and that it was their mother that cursed him. But they knew he was cursed and they acted no different. It was one reassuring thing in his life.

"So," Ariadne said with a smile. "Robert and I were discussing the wedding today."

"When do you not discuss the wedding?" Dom replied. Arthur hid a smile. It was true. The wedding was all Ariadne talked about now.

"Anyways, Robert and I want to have the wedding soon."

"How soon?" Arthur asked.

"Well," Ariadne said, slowly glancing at Phillipa and James, then back to Arthur and Dom. "We want Arthur to be able to be there."

"Oh." Dom said quietly. Arthur just nodded. The children seemed to be in their own world and weren't even listening.

"I'm okay with that."

"You are?" Ariadne asked.

"Of course. Why wouldn't I be? It is your wedding. You can have it here if you so desire."

"Really? You're sure about that?"

"Why would I have a problem with it?" Ariadne just looked at him.

"Alright. I will let Robert know. We can give you money…" Arthur laughed before standing up.

"I don't need your money. What use would I have of it?"

"Okay, don't be so moody."

"I am not moody. I am tired." He set his plate in the sink before turning back to them. "Excuse me." He walked out of the room and made his way upstairs.

He hated the fact that everyone pitied him now. He didn't need it.

Ariadne and Robert had no plans on getting married this soon. She just wanted to do it before Arthur died. Arthur didn't care if he saw the wedding or not. He didn't need all of them switching things up just for him. It was pointless and frustrating.

He didn't ask to suffer. Why did this stupid curse have to be like this? Why didn't Mal just kill him and get it over with?

Arthur locked himself in his room and fell down upon his bed. He rolled over and reached into his night stand drawer and pulled out the only mirror that he had that was still intact.

He just lay there staring at his reflection for a few minutes before setting it aside. He did this every so often as a reminder, a reminder to himself that this was not just some dream, to keep track of his reality. It was something that Dom had suggested for him after his suicide attempt.

It wasn't much, but it was something. Arthur had to have something or else he would go crazy.

He wanted these next six months to just end, but then he didn't want to die. He didn't want to be cursed. He wanted to be happy. He wanted to be with someone. And he wanted to be normal.

But he would never get his happy ending. He would just have to learn to accept that and just wait for death to finally take him.

Alright, well that chapter is done. Next chapter will have Arthur and Eames finally interacting with each other in person!

Hope you all enjoyed it! And reviews are nice! =)