Disclaimer: I do not own Inception and any of its characters. If I did then…well, I have too many ideas for that. I'm simply borrowing them because they are amazing and need further exploration (also, smut, we need smut). I do, however, own characters not mentioned in the movie, like Casey and Spencer. Technically, they're Arthur and Ariadne's, but I helped them have them (that sounds funny), so they're partly mine, haha! I own Christopher, Mr. & Mrs. Mann, their elder son, Valeria and Edward, and whoever else I missed. I don't own the song that inspired me to do this either, which I will reveal at the very end.
As you may all know by now, I am the queen of late (well, princess, I'm not ready to be a queen yet). Anyways, the plot of this went down a completely different path. It was like a train that's expected to go straight but at the last minute changes track. This is a super late graduation gift and now, also a welcome to uni gift, for my very good friend and soul baby sister: carameltootsieroll. Welcome to the college world, darling! I really hope you enjoy this *I don't even want to say how long* late gift. This is also sort of an epilogue to Twenty Steps. This in unbeta'd, unless you count self-beta. All mistakes are mine!
Daddy Insecurities
Things have been going great for Arthur and Ariadne. In their opinion, they weren't taking their relationship too fast or too slow. After a year and a half of being engaged they got married. A year later they had Casey Luca Brandon, followed by Spencer Phyllira Brandon after another four years. They moved into a modern Victorian home not too far from the city once they started family planning, but keeping the apartment that they shared for the future—and desperate times.
When Ariadne was pregnant with Casey, she had to stop dream sharing. When Arthur first held Casey in his arms, he knew he wanted to be with his family every step of the way. So they agreed to stop dream sharing until the kids were old enough. As much as they wanted to quit permanently, they missed it too much. For now, they're your regular but above average-looking family living in Paris.
So on this beautiful summer day, the whole family decided to go out of the house and bask in the ambiance of nature. They took a stroll around the city, had lunch near the Eiffel Tower and went shopping for some new clothes before settling down in a park. Arthur and Ariadne found a great spot under a tree and they laid on the grass as Spencer squealed while running—or waddling—to the playground with Casey holding her left hand and their dog, Coulson, on her other side.
"I don't like the way he's looking at her," Arthur tells Ariadne. His jaw is clenched and his fingers are intertwined with his wife's. "And I think he really wants to play with her."
"They're children, Arthur." Ariadne rolls her eyes and looks at the man beside him. "Stop staring at him at least." She turns back to the playground to watch her children building a sand castle. "Casey and Coulson are with her. They'll be her knights in shining armor."
And just as she says that he jerks forward a little. "Did you see that?"
Ariadne raises an eyebrow. "See what?'
"She looked at him." His eyes dart to the boy on the other side of the playground. "Spencer saw that boy."
"Arthur…"
"How'd she even know that he exists? He's been behind her all this time!"
"Maybe she just happened to look that way. She's two-years-old, Arthur. He looks just about her age or a little older. There's nothing wrong with that. Calm down!"
Frowning, he rubs the bridge of his nose then sighs and leans down to rest his forehead on her shoulder. "Am I overreacting?"
"Yes. It's very un-Arthur-like. Imagine if Eames was here." She chuckles a little. "But I won't be surprised if he suddenly does talk about it without even being here. He knows everything, it's actually kind of scary. And really, who wouldn't be weak when it comes to Spencer? Look at her!" She raises her free arm to gesture towards the little girl and boy a few feet away. "Look at them!"
Arthur looks over at his children. Both of them have more of Ariadne's facial features. They both have brown locks and chocolate brown eyes. Spencer also acquired Ariadne's natural waves while Casey's hair is a little more straight. They even have some freckles on their nose. Arthur's glad that they have Ariadne's smile, it lights up his world when he sees all three. However, the way their eyes crinkle when they smile, their adorable dimples, thin lips and height come from Arthur. Unfortunately, they both have his ears, too. Ariadne and the kids love it but he doesn't. Arthur's very conscious about his ears.
Casey, who had just turned six, is starting the first grade in two months. He's got both Ariadne's creative brain and Arthur's skills (or at least, starting to show signs of it). He loves building and sketching, and Ariadne's excited to teach him a few tricks once he's older. He also loves to dress up in Arthur's suits. During his most recent birthday, Uncle Saito gave him his own suits, a custom made Armani, a three-piece Tom Ford, and the latest Gucci. And yes, they can imagine how Saito can get his hands on smaller sizes. There was a note attached to the gifts, 'I see that he has Arthur's taste. When he is older, I shall send the rest.' And Saito always keeps his word.
Spencer, on the other hand, spends way too much time, in her two years of living, with Eames. He unexpectedly shows up in their house and brings the little girl out without their permission. The first few times he did that both the Point Man and the Architect panicked, fortunately, they're rational thinkers (and Arthur has spent way too much time of his own life with the Forger). But the little girl loves Eames and is already starting to show signs of becoming a prankster.
"Add a little color to your life, darling," he would say. And Eames adores the little girl. Always calling her princess and buying her unnecessary gifts. Whenever Arthur or Ariadne would scold him about spoiling the girl, he'd reply, "And you don't? She's got us all wrapped around her tiny finger."
During dates with the Cobbs, Phillipa, now a high school graduate, and James, an incoming high school student, loves playing with them. Dom likes to think that it's a second shot of being a parent. Saito constantly showers them with expensive gifts (and even promising on granting them a scholarship to whichever university they'd choose). Yusuf also shows his love for the kids by sending them trinkets from his trips around the world for conferences.
"You're not going to lose her, Arthur," Ariadne assures, "especially not at this age. And even if she does end up having a silly crush—"
"She's too young for that," he interrupts, which earns him a glare from the brunette beside him.
"She will never choose them over you."
Arthur grumbles, "She chooses Eames over me all the time."
"You know she loves you both equally," she reminds him.
Arthur sighs and nods. When he looks up again, his eyes narrow. "What the fuck is he doing?"
"Arthur!"
"It's Eames! He's trying to take her away again!"
Ariadne looks at where the children are, and, sure enough, the English man is by the sandbox, holding the little girl by the waist, and talking to the six-year-old boy. Coulson is wagging his tail and sniffing the man with glee. "He's not going to take her away in front of Casey, and this is one of her favorite spots, he knows that."
Eames looks up and gives them a grin and a wave. Ariadne does the same while Arthur simply raises his hand in acknowledgement. He whispers to the little girl and then says something to the boy the Brandons can't decipher. The brunettes nod happily before turning to their parents and giving them a wave with smiles on their faces. Ariadne giggles and, again, waves at them with a huge smile on her face. The scene of his children warms Arthur's heart and immediately, he smiles, his eye crinkling and his dimples showing, and waves back at them.
"Maybe I won't kill Eames today."
"Your daughter would be heartbroken."
Arthur nods. As he watches his children play with one of their godfathers the boy he had been fussing about earlier is walking towards the sandbox. "Ariadne?"
"Don't stress, Arthur. He's simply looking for a playmate, and besides, Eames is there. Doesn't that relax you a little?"
"I suppose."
"He's pretty much their second father."
"He's just a suspicious boy."
"Arthur, he's probably only three."
"Exactly, at that age, girls and boys don't know that they can feel attraction!"
Ariadne rolls her eyes. "That boy probably thinks Spencer is a pretty little girl who seems to be having fun and who just might want to play. He just wants to be friends with Spencer! There's nothing wrong with that. Stop being such a jealous father and let your daughter have some fun."
"I'm not jealous," Arthur snorts.
After a few minutes, the two see Eames kiss Spencer's temple, stand and make his way towards them. "Darling," he starts, "I can hear the two of you bicker over nonsense all the way over there." He uses his thumb to point at the place he'd recently been in.
"Arthur's just jealous," Ariadne says.
"You should be, your children seem to like me more than you."
Arthur glares. "Aren't you due back to visit Valeria in Germany?"
"Val knows it's hard for me to leave our godchildren. Do you want to get rid of me that easily?"
"Always."
Eames chuckles. "What's got your panties in a bunch?"
"They're not."
"Arthur's just jealous that Spencer will start to replace him soon," Ariadne supplies.
"He already has been replaced, ever since I showed up in the hospital when she was born. Even your own dog likes me better than him."
Ariadne fails to suppress a soft laugh. "Not helping, Eames."
"The only time I've seen this bloke get jealous was with you, love. It's very amusing to see him all worked up over," Eames looks behind him, "a three-year old boy," he continues when he turns back. "You can probably take him down with a single move. He doesn't seem to have much experience with hand-to-hand combat."
"What's his name?" Arthur asks.
"Are you going to check his records with your phone, darling?"
"No, his family's. And not now, when we get back home. What's his name, Eames?"
Ariadne rolls her eyes and Eames just shrugs. "Christopher."
"Christopher what?"
"Robin."
Arthur narrows his eyes. "Eames."
After roaring with laughter, Eames says, "I'm surprised you know who that is."
Ariadne laughs. "Having two children does that to him."
A small smile escapes the dark haired man's lips. "Give me his name, Eames."
"All right, all right. It's Christopher Mann, and that's with a double 'n'. He's a sweet child, really. I'd hate for you to find something in his record."
"I just want to make sure that when this boy tells his family or anyone about playing with a little girl named Spencer and her brother named Casey with a dog named Coulson, I have nothing to worry about," Arthur tells him. "It's always better to be safe than sorry."
Both Ariadne and Eames look at each other and sigh.
Arthur squeezes his wife's hand. "I just want this family to be safe."
Ariadne smiles. "I know."
The three adults watch the three children play. Arthur hates to admit it but Spencer is enjoying the company of the new boy. "Where's his family?" he wonders aloud.
"Over there," Eames points at an older couple on the other side. They seem to be having a heated argument. "Christopher doesn't like hearing them talk loudly. It makes him sad. Poor boy. His older brother is away in college so he's very much alone at home."
That breaks Arthur's heart and he's suddenly really happy that the children are getting along really well. He can't imagine either Casey or Spencer being alone while he and Ariadne fight. Hell, he can't even imagine him and Ariadne fighting when the children are within reach. Sure, they've had their share of arguments and cold shoulders when the kids are around, but they'd always make sure to keep their emotions in check until they're alone.
The boy, Christopher, also seems to be having fun playing with Coulson. The dog sniffs the little boy before licking his face. "Even Coulson likes him," Ariadne says with a little laugh. "It's really just you, Arthur."
About an hour later, Christopher's mother calls him. "Chris! It's time to go now, honey." Arthur sees the boy frown. Christopher stands and pets Coulson one more time before waving at the two children he had recently befriended. Once he's left, Spencer pouts and gives an exaggerated sigh. Casey pats her shoulder and tries to cheer her up, which seems to have worked.
"My princess is sad," Eames observes, "it's time to bring her to the ice cream parlour."
"You're really showing favoritism, aren't you?" Ariadne says with a small smile.
"I do not, love. I also spoiled Casey when he was younger. But I suppose I have a softer heart for little girls." He shrugs. "Hey, Arthur, would you rather teach Casey or Spencer?"
"Teach what?"
Eames groans. "Fighting, of course! We're going to teach those children to defend themselves! They are definitely not going to be bullies—"
"Unless they hang out with you too much," Arthur mutters.
"—so they will be bullied. We need to make sure that they're feared!"
Ariadne rolls her eyes. "Eames…"
"Love, we cannot allow those two precious children be looked down upon."
Arthur gives a little nod. "There's no need for us to personally teach them unless we think that they need more. Ari and I have been talking about it; we're planning on letting them take self-defense lessons. Casey would probably start soon and we'll wait until Spencer is his age."
Grinning, Eames says, "Perfect. I'll be there in the waiting area."
Ariadne smiles and Arthur can't hide the smirk on his face.
When Arthur notes that the sun would be setting soon, Ariadne suggests that they head home. After getting some ice cream from the store they arrive in their grayish-white house and Eames mentions to them that he has nothing better to do and there's nothing more he loves than spending time with the Brandon children. "You and Ariadne can have some grown-up time, yeah?"
"We don't do grown-up time when the kids are at home," Arthur mumbles. "Just don't kidnap our children and you can stay for an hour."
"You can stay for as long as you want, Eames," Ariadne says as she helps Casey with a new shirt. "We're having pasta for dinner."
"Eames does love pasta," the Forger tells them, licking his lips. He picks up Spencer just as she says, "Me!" Eames chuckles. "Everyone loves your mother's pasta, princess. You should try Uncle Eames brownies."
"Oh, dear God, no," Arthur groans.
"Don't you have some researching to do, darling?" Eames jokes.
"I just have to make sure that you're not going to make a run for it." Arthur shakes his head and heads for his study. "Come, Coulson." And the dog happily follows him inside.
"Your daddy is a strange man, princess."
Spencer grins. "Daddy!"
Less than an hour later, Arthur emerges from his study and walks back to the living room. On the way, he passes by his wife preparing the ingredients for dinner. He smiles and kisses her cheek before heading to his destination. He spots Casey on the floor with his building blocks and Spencer still on Eames's lap. Coulson sits obediently beside Casey.
"You're still here," Arthur deadpans.
"Your wife said I can stay as long as I want. And I'll be staying until dessert. Or at least until this little princess's bedtime."
"Tuck! Tuck!" Spencer claps.
"Tuck me in, too, Uncle Eames!" Casey joins.
Eames grins. "Of course, of course. I will gladly tuck you two in. Perhaps you'd even want a story of one of my adventures?"
Casey nods enthusiastically. "Yes! I love your stories, Uncle Eames!"
"Love Unca Ease!" Spencer squeals.
"Aww," Eames tickles her stomach, "Uncle Eames loves you, too, princess."
Arthur smiles at the scene. As much as he despises Eames—okay, he really doesn't, at all, he loves the man as much as he loves his brother, Edward Brandon—he loves that Eames loves Casey and Spencer enough for them to be his own children. He hears Casey play with his toys and he's a little jealous of the attention that Eames is getting from Spencer. "Casey," he calls.
Casey looks up and grins. Arthur has his legs open and arms outstretched. The little boy walks to his father and Arthur carries him to his lap. He stretches towards the dog who was sitting beside him. "Come, Coulson," he says.
Coulson wags his tail and trots over them. Casey pats his head and then turns to his father. "Daddy, I think Coulson is lonely."
"He can't be lonely, he has you." Arthur smiles, already knowing where the conversation is heading.
"I think he needs a friend." Casey smiles.
Arthur shrugs. "He has a brother and a sister."
"Daddy, you're being silly!" Casey giggles. "I think we should get another dog."
"Another dog?" Arthur feigns surprise. "Now where did you get that idea?"
Casey shrugs exaggeratedly. "Can we, Daddy?
Arthur smiles. "Your mother and I would have to talk about it first, okay?" Although he's very sure of what the answer will be. "But we may not get one exactly like Coulson, he's one of a kind!" Coulson wags his tail and sniffs Arthur's knee. "Yes you are, Coulson," he murmurs, fondly remembering the time he first entered his and Ariadne's lives.
"That's okay," Casey nods, "I just think he needs a friend."
Arthur kisses his temple. "We'll see, big guy. We'll see."
After dinner and dessert, the family, plus Eames, is sitting around the living room watching an old, classical film that stars Audrey Hepburn. While the adults are engrossed in the film, Casey and Spencer play with the dog on the floor.
"It su—it's sad that she's only known for her acting skills and beauty," Ariadne sighs, "she's an amazing person. So much more than what people say about her."
"Well, that's Hollywood," Eames says with a shrug. "And as an actor I can definitely say that some people are only judged by our faces. Some people, as beautiful or as handsome as they are, cannot act to save their lives! And yet, people still praise them. It's more of a popularity contest. While some people, more average looking ones, who can act wonderfully, cannot shine due to being overshadowed."
"It's hard to tell who you are in that argument," Arthur sneers.
"Oh, darling, you wound me so deeply. I'm neither and you know that."
Ariadne giggles softly before placing her head on Arthur's shoulder. "Why don't we go to bed early? Like, right after this movie ends."
"If that's your way of shooing me out, love, it's not working," Eames says with a wicked grin.
Arthur groans. "You're not planning on spending the night, are you?"
"Well, now that you've revealed to me your master plan, someone's got to keep the children together, right?"
Ariadne smiles. "Well, someone's got to wash and tuck the children to sleep."
Arthur shifts. "Really?" But the grin on his face cannot be stopped.
Eames laughs, causing the children to look at him with smiles on their faces. "What's so funny, Uncle Eames?"
"Oh, just a grown-up joke, Little Man. We'll tell you when you're older."
"Okay," Casey nods. Casey's memory is better than most, he'd remember this moment, and Eames knows it. "Are you tired, Spencer?"
Arthur and Ariadne smiles and squeeze in together. But just as they're getting cozy, Spencer appears, waddling with a grin that showed off her few baby teeth. "Daddy!" Arthur smiles brightly and doesn't think twice about carrying her and putting her in between him and Ariadne. "Mommy!" she squeals.
Ariadne plays with her daughter's hair before kissing the top of her head. "Not tired yet, sweetie?"
"Na!" She grins. "Pay!"
"It's almost your bedtime, you can't play anymore. Once this movie's done, Uncle Eames will be washing you and Casey and then tuck you to sleep."
"No sip!" she protests.
"Yes sleep," Arthur tells her. "If you sleep earlier, there's more time for you to play tomorrow."
Spencer pouts. "Unca Ease towo?"
"If you wake up early enough then I might still be here," Eames tells her. The tone that Eames used makes Spencer squeal in delight. "Sleep?"
"Sip!"
Arthur peaks over to see Casey resting his head on Coulson's curled body. "How are you doing, big guy?"
"Coulson's tired and I'm tired."
"I suppose that means you had a great day today?" Ariadne asks.
Casey looks at them. "I did! What about you, Spencer?" His little sister raises her arms and squeals. "I think she also had a great day," he replies, making the three adults laugh.
Later that night, with Spencer and Casey soundly asleep in their respective rooms, Eames in the guest bedroom, and Coulson back in his doghouse, Arthur and Ariadne lay quietly on their bed. Ariadne's resting her head on Arthur's chest while he has his arms wrapped around her.
"You know, you really shouldn't be jealous of a little boy, Arthur," Ariadne says.
He chuckles. "I know."
"And you shouldn't be jealous of Eames, either."
He sighs. "Eames is a challenge. He's amazing with everyone, it's hard not to like him."
Ariadne smiles. No matter how many times Arthur has admitted to caring about Eames, she still catches herself thinking about the two being best friends. "You're not just Spencer's father, but her dad. Eames is...well, he's Eames. We already knew that our children would love him."
"Eames is a great dad without having to be a father."
"He's scared. Valeria told him about the pregnancy scare, he was so relieved. She was hurt but she understood. He isn't ready yet. Maybe he loves the two because he also wants to start a family, he's just not sure how."
Arthur sighs and holds her tighter. "He's weird."
Ariadne laughs and snuggles closer. That's when they hear a bark and a scream. Arthur quickly puts on a pair of boxer shorts and Ariadne scrambles to find her robe. The Point Man is out their room quicker than the Architect.
"Coulson!?"
Ariadne gently pushes Arthur to the side to see what's happening. Coulson is running around with Casey right beside him. Eames is at the end of the hall with Spencer on his shoulders.
"Eames!"
The fun stops and they turn around to look at Arthur. "Darling, you're in front of minors. And they're your children."
"My children shouldn't be out here in the first place."
"Casey couldn't sleep. He knocked on my door about an hour or two after I tucked him into bed. He said he wanted to be in one of my adventures. We couldn't have fun without Spencer and Coulson. So," he shrugs. "Oh, love, you look...hm, I can't really say it in front of the children." Eames winks.
Ariadne wraps the robe she's wearing tighter around her and hides behind Arthur, a faint blush appearing in her cheeks. "It's way past the kids' bedtime."
"Pay!" Spencer squeals, clapping her hands.
"No, no," Ariadne shakes her head, stepping away from Arthur and moving towards Eames, "Spencer, it's time to sleep."
"No sip!" Spencer argues, but her arms are outstretched. "Mommy pay!"
"It's late now, honey," Ariadne tells her. Eames brings the little girl down from his shoulders and gives her to Ariadne. "You have to go to sleep." With Spencer at her hip, she looks over at Arthur who's trying to get Casey to bed. "Arthur, I can take care of the kids and you're in charge of Coulson and Eames."
Arthur groans. Coulson stops wagging his tail and sits. "Oh, no, not you, Coulson." Eames laughs out loud. "Eames, you're banned from this house at night."
"Stop being jealous of me, darling," Eames teases.
A little longer than I expected. Also, the ending's abrupt but I really can't think of a good way to end it. :( Anyways...Casey and Spencer are modeled after Colin Ford and Bailee Madison with some alterations, so yup. I couldn't not put Eames, that would be a crime. Also, some not-so-subtle OT3 in there, sorry about that. I'm sorry about Arthur's actions, but this is how I see his character with his children, especially his daughter.
Carameltootsieroll, I know you know the song I based this on. I mean, I know the song lyrics don't match the scenarios in the right order or is even greatly seen, but...yeah, hehe.
Also, if anyone is interested: I wrote a THG/Inception one-shot, it's the last chapter of my story 'Good to You'. The one-shot is called Always Worth a Shot, supposedly a birthday gift for a friend but she hasn't gone online in a long time so she hasn't seen it yet. I'm also really proud of it so if you've got time, please take a look?
Please leave a review to tell me what you thought about it! Any kind of feedback is always welcome!
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It's the Jealous remix by Nick Jonas featuring Tinashe. And yeah, Tinashe's part is also still Arthur. I know you love Nick Jonas, so...hi. :D
