"Oh God, Arthur, you've got to help me with this." I was whispering to the phone, as Cobb was still asleep.

"Okay, I can come today, Wednesday and Saturday. I don't know about next week, though."

"What about Eames?" I asked desperately.

"I have no idea where Eames is right now, Ariadne. But he's not here."

"Yusuf?" I was desperate now.

"Yusuf's gone too. But I think he'll be back soon."

"Oh God. Well okay, then. Thanks, and be here soon!" I hung up.

I set about making Cobb breakfast in bed, not out of any real courtesy to him, it would just be easier if Arthur was here when he got up.

If I had a substantial amount of time, my cooking could be bumped up from unsatisfactory to mediocre. Scrambled eggs, yes, those were easy. Toast, too.

I pushed the yellow mush around the pan, being extremely careful not to burn them, and being careful not to let my mind wander. When the eggs were finally solid I pushed them onto a plate, set the toast beside them as elegantly as possible and placed the whole thing onto a tray I'd found under the sink. His orange juice was accompanied with and extra strength Advil.

"Are you awake?" I asked him from the doorway.

"If I don't answer will you assume I'm asleep?"

"No. But I have food." I answered with a little smile.

He brightened immediately, and with a small grunt, pushed himself into a sitting position. "Do you have my drrruugsss?" He asked smirking.

"Don't get hooked now, Co- Dom." I corrected myself.

"There we go. And anyway, you're not the one with two shattered legs."

"True." I set the tray up on this little table that went across his lap, and gave him his pill.

He snatched it from me and popped it in his mouth, swallowed and with a smile, applied himself to his eggs. I watched him for a moment, not really thinking, just wondering how nice his hair looked when it was floppy. The door bell rang.

"Oh thank God, Arthur's here." I said, relived, and hurried off to answer it.

I awoke that afternoon (I was incredibly tired) to see a toddler staring at me.

"Hello." He said, smiling.

"Oh, hi. Are you James?" I asked, sitting up.

"Yes. And you're Ari-add-nee." He told me proudly.

"James, it's time for your lunch-" Cobb rolled into view. "You're awake." He stated, his face falling.

"I am." And waving slightly to James, left. To be honest, I was hurt by how obviously disappointed Cobb had been. But I knew, walking down the street that I'd handled the situation terribly. To cover up for my rudeness, I decided that I was going to fill his prescription for pain medicine- as Advil would do almost nothing. Thank God I still had the prescription in my pocket.

I caught the bus, and chose to stand instead of sitting beside a perverted old man.

On the ride home home? I thought, no, it's only Cobb's home.

"Hey hey! I've got your real meds." I announced, walking in.

"Oh thank God, I can't take the three of them." Arthur shout-whispered, cornering me.

"Well then what am I supposed to do?"

"I dunno, but you're better with kids… and Cobb's basically an overgrown child."

I snorted into my hand.

"Look, Philippa won't eat waffles, cereal, tomatoes, mushrooms and oranges." Arthur looked around himself skittishly. "James must pick out his own clothes, and he hates seeds in anything." He pulled on his shoes, and, clapping me on the shoulder said hurriedly "Best of luck, Ariadne." And half ran out the door.

"Well fuck me." I sighed, pulling off my coat.

The living room was lit up by the glow of the TV, and the two children were sitting (still and quiet) immersed in the cartoon. I tiptoed down the hallway and peered into Cobb's room. He was lying on his back, the side lamp casting him into profile. It was only seven o- clock.

"Hey." He said, startling me. "I already had a bath, don't worry."

I sighed internally. "I got your real meds."

He turned his head slightly to look at me. "Gimme!"

I smirked a little, and tossed him the bottle. "Take one now, it'll knock you out."

He pinched a pill between his finger and thumb, and so fast I could barely see it, swallowed it.

I smiled, and turned out into the hallway to get the kids. James was already asleep, and Philippa was barely holding on to wakefulness. I turned off the TV and scooped up both children, their small blonde heads resting on my shoulders.