Discaimer: I don't own anything.

Yay! An update a week before I said I would be updating! Thank you to new followers [BlackjackMonster, RubyRox21, Sail Across the Sun] and favoriters [BlackjackMonster, Sail Across the Sun], readers and reviewers! Hope you all like this one!

Neverlandspirit: I'm so happy you liked Arthur there, he is so cute! I hope you enjoy this chapter, I had fun with it. =]
JuseaPeterson: Hihi :3 I'm glad you thought so! I thought it was too fluffy but since you love it, I'm content. This chapter isn't as fluffy but I hope you still enjoy it. I was a bit scared of the reaction I'd be getting concerning Arthur's shorts but I think it's appropriate (?) for the situation, hehe. I'm glad you liked that part, it was a good scene for me. Thank you for the luck! I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Thank you to S.A.B. for the beta! Other mistakes are mine.

Step Five: Colors — Selfoss, Iceland

1 week after Charlottetown (August)

Arthur's been in a bad mood since they took off for Selfoss. Ariadne hasn't even talked to him since he told her that they had to cut the vacation in Charlottetown short. When Arthur took the call in the bathroom Ariadne tried to listen but all she could hear was Arthur yelling "no" and "I don't want to". But he must've been convinced because when he came out, he looked at her with sorry eyes and said, "We have a job."

She takes a deep breath and places her hand on top of his. "It's okay. It was fun while it lasted."

"We still had a week before I would bring you back to Paris. I was really trying to avoid jobs; I didn't want you going back to school right after an extraction. And it's too soon for there to be another job for us." His fists clench. "I wish I didn't answer that call from Norman."

"Is he the extractor?" she asks.

"No, he's the chemist," he answers. "He got the job from Cindy. She's the extractor."

"Oh, a female extractor!" She grins. "How is she?"

"Career oriented."

"Sounds like someone I once knew," she murmurs. Arthur turns to her and smiles. "I'm really happy you brought me to Charlottetown, Arthur."

"It proved to you that I'm not always focused on work. I like to have fun, too," he says.

She smiles. "Don't be so mad, okay? When we meet them you have to be your usual stoic self and not your pissed off self."

"I'm not stoic." Offense is evident in his voice.

She rolls her eyes. "Job Arthur is stoic, don't deny it."

"Not always."

"No," she shakes her head, "but the first meeting on a job is."

"I wasn't with you."

Ariadne smiles again, a faint blush creeping to her cheeks. "You did give me a smirk. Okay, I'll let that slip."

The first thing they hear when they step inside the cabin is, "Darling, love, good to see you again after…how long has it been now? Half a year?"

"I'm surprised you know your math, Mr. Eames," Arthur says sarcastically.

Ariadne nudges him and walks forward to give the Forger a hug. "It's great to see you, Eames. And it's only been two months."

"Has it, love? Hm, I could've sworn it's more." He returns the hug with enthusiasm. "How's your break been going?"

"Well, the first two months were pretty boring." She shrugs, then a huge grin forms on her face. "Then Arthur took me to Charlottetown."

"Right, you came from a job."

"No." Arthur appears beside her. "I brought her there to have fun."

"Fun." Eames repeats. "Arthur. Fun."

Arthur rolls his eyes and turns to Ariadne. "I'll go look for Norman and Cindy."

"Arthur and fun are not supposed to be put together, love. And I'll have to see it before I believe it."

She tilts her head before grinning. "I have proof!" Digging inside her brown bag, she finds her camera and holds it up. "It's somewhere in here." Navigating the pictures she took, she finds the one she's looking for. The picture she took was of Arthur when he was trying to catch up to her during the roller-skating race she initiated in the park. He was grinning from ear to ear, showing off his cute dimples. "See?"

"What have you done, Ariadne?" Eames asks, shocked and disbelieving. "I didn't even know Arthur could smile! And is that a t-shirt I see?" She rolls her eyes and gets the camera back. "What happened?"

"What do you mean?"

"No one has ever made Arthur smile like this. Or wear t-shirts in public."

"We went on a holiday," she explains, "he brought me to Charlottetown."

"A holiday? Arthur never takes holidays!"

"I'm sure he does, just never with you."

"A holiday," he repeats, " a fucking holiday. With you." Eames stares at her. "Are you sure it was just a holiday?"

"What else would it be?"

He smirks. "A date, perhaps?"

Ariadne blushes. "It wasn't. It was just a two friends on a holiday."

"Love, perhaps you're right about Arthur going on a holiday once in a while but do you really think he's the type of person to be bringing a companion around?"

Before Ariadne can retort, a cough comes from behind them. She turns around and sees Arthur with two others. A tall, blonde lady in her thirties, and an older, slightly graying haired man in his late forties or early fifties.

"Cindy, Norman, this is our architect, Ariadne."

The lady walks forward and holds up her hand. "It's nice to meet you. I'll take Arthur's word that you're the best architect he's worked with."

"I concur," Eames states.

Ariadne shakes the extractor's hand. "It's nice to meet you, too." She then turns to Norman and shakes his hand.

"Why don't we all gather around and I'll explain the job," Cindy suggests.

The job is simple. Too simple. And Ariadne can see just how pissed off Arthur is and she wonders how he was convinced to take the job. Even Eames looks disappointed. The job: see if Cindy's best friend's husband is cheating on her. Ariadne uses her own deduction skills and thinks that the husband is planning a surprise party.

"I see," Arthur says as he stands up. "I'll get to work right away. Cindy, maybe tomorrow you can bring Ariadne and Eames to places they frequent to. That way, Eames can also study your best friend."

"Right, of course." Cindy stands up and Norman does, too. Ariadne notices that he's pretty much like her puppy. "Let me get in contact with Gina to clear her schedule tomorrow. Norman, you can talk to Arthur about the chemicals."

Eames and Ariadne look at each other and then back at Arthur. When Cindy and Norman are out of ear shot, Eames starts to talk, "Darling, are you reconsidering?"

Arthur sighs and shakes his head. "We're already here. Have you booked a hotel yet, Eames?"

"As a matter of fact, no. I arrived just an hour before you two. Would you be so kind to book me in one, too? Preferably on the same floor as you and Ariadne. And don't put me in the corner again like what you did in Austria."

Arthur doesn't reply so Eames turns back to the architect. "And how do you feel about this?"

"I think he's planning a surprise party," she answers.

"I think so, too, but both Cindy and what's-her-name are convinced that he's cheating."

She shrugs. "Maybe he is cheating."

"Ariadne, you're talking to someone who has mastered reading people since his college years. Psychology does that to you sometimes, love."

"Maybe you should tell Cindy," she suggests.

"This is a personal problem, I'm not surprised she wants the best since we're talking about her best friend, and I don't think they'll rest until they're sure." He stands. "Care for some afternoon snacks?"

"Can you believe that Iceland doesn't have ice all over them? And Greenland isn't even green?" Eames shakes his head disapprovingly, sipping from his cup of tea. "Countries deceive us too much, don't you think?"

Ariadne giggles. "Iceland is lovely as it is."

"Our employer slash extractor isn't. Why are women so assuming?"

This time the Architect glares at him.

He shrugs. "Moving on. Where are you two staying?"

"I'm not yet sure."

Eames nods. "Tell me, love, how was Charlottetown?"

Ariadne breaks into a grin. "It was great! Arthur and I went to this restaurant with amazing dessert. He took me to this park and we talked about our hobbies." She sighs in content. "The following days we went sightseeing. We went to Bonshaw, the amusement park, and went go-karting! I didn't win, though, so I had to buy dinner. And then—"

"Wait, wait, wait!" Eames raises his hands to stop her. "You weren't there for a job?"

"Um…no, didn't he tell you?" Ariadne cocks her head. "I showed you that picture, didn't I?"

"That wasn't a joke? That picture wasn't photoshopped? He told me that you were going for a simple extraction job, that's why a Forger wasn't needed!"

Ariadne begins to blush. "Oh! I assumed he would since he told you about it this morning and you guys are best friends and—"

"Now where did you get that impression?"

"Aren't you?"

"That damn Point Man lying to me. About the friendship, I'd like to think that it isn't one-sided and that Arthur is in denial. Isn't it obvious that he'd ask me to be his Best Man and not Cobb when the two of you get married?"

"When we get married?"

"Which reminds me, have you thought of your color theme? I'd like to help you out if you don't mind," Eames continues to talk as if it's a regular conversation.

"Well, lavender is a nice color for a wedding. Lavender and white."

"Is that your favorite color then?"

"Um…no," Ariadne shakes her head, "Eames—"

"Hm, what is darling Arthur's favorite color, love? I supposed it's something bland, like, white or dark white if he's feeling spontaneous."

"There's no such thing as dark white—"

"Wouldn't you know his favorite color, love?"

Ariadne notices Eames looking at her carefully. She chews on her bottom lip and eats a slice of her butter bread before realizing that she doesn't know the answer to the simple question. "No, I don't."

"Shame, I was so sure you'd know." He shrugs. "Well, he'll be calling us soon enough. Did you leave anything in the cabin?"

"No." She shakes her head. Her phone suddenly rings, alerting her of a new text message, and she checks it. "Arthur said to meet him in Hótel Grímsborgir. He said you'd know where it is."

Eames nods. "Of course I do. And I'm not surprised that's what he picked. It's one of the best."

When she and Eames reach the lobby of the hotel, Ariadne wants to stop becoming amazed with the chosen building. But it's hard when the the field outside is so green and fresh and the air inside is so cool and the design looks like a resort.

"Chose the farthest away from the cabin, I see," Eames says, chuckling. "Trying to run away?"

Arthur glares at him. "Don't make me regret getting a deluxe apartment instead of a single superior room for you."

"You got a fucking deluxe apartment!?"

Arthur simply nods and hands them their own key cars. "I figured we wouldn't have to lay low for this job. You don't mind staying awhile, do you, Ari?"

She shakes her head and smiles. "No, not at all."

'And I thought nothing could beat The Great George,' she thinks as she steps inside the apartment. "Fuck, Arthur, how much does this cost?"

He simply smirks and walks off to the check the rooms. "Eames, you can't choose a room until Ari claims one."

"But I already claim this one!" Eames yells from the farthest room.

"I don't mind, really," Ariadne says, "any room will do." She walks to the room beside Eames and smiles. "I like this one."

Arthur nods and settles with the room next to her.

Her room is cream and complete with bedroom and bathroom necessities. The curtains have red roses printed on them and there's a little space behind the cabinet where she can see an arm chair beside the window. When she walks out, the room is pretty much a bungalow. A big living room with couches, television and a coffee table, a backdoor which leads to a hot tub, and a kitchenette.

"You were paid a good amount during the Trent job and I'm sure you haven't finished off Saito's money—handsome price, finance shouldn't be much of a problem for you," Arthur tells her.

She looks at him for a little while. "You don't worry about money."

"Not really," he shakes his head, "Eames is paying for his part."

"I am!?" Eames shouts.

Arthur ignores him. "I'll be paying for yours."

"No, Arthur—"

"You've only gone to two jobs and you still have a year of grad studies with school supplies plus your apartment still needs some furniture, aren't you eyeing that DVD player and stereo with a hard drive port?"

Ariadne stays silent.

"It's fine, Ari. I quite like spending for you." He grins. Her time with him in Charlottetown has made her immune to the once in a while curve of his lips and adorable dimples. Okay, maybe there's still a flutter in her stomach. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to order room service. Is there anything you'd like?"

"Skinny dipping?"

"Yes, love, skinny dipping. You go into the tub without a swimsuit on."

"But—"

"Don't harass her, Eames."

"I'm not harassing, Darling. I'm simply suggesting we go for a late night bonding time, and since none of us brought any swimming gear, why don't we go in our birthday suits?"

"You assumed we wouldn't bring any."

"And I'm supposed to believe that Arthur Brandon would have a pair of swimming trunks with him?"

"I made him buy in Charlottetown."

"You made him buy swimming trunks, too? What else have you done to him?"

"Yeah. I wanted to go for a swim since it's summer but we both didn't have any swimsuits so we went to an outlet and bought two each."

"I'm sure you brought some, Eames. You're always prepared for these kinds of things."

"Right you are, Arthur. Now, last one inside the tub is a rotten egg!"

And with that, Eames runs to his room, no doubt changing, leaving Arthur and Ariadne in the dining area.

"I should've told you that I lied to Eames about Charlottetown and that this afternoon I was passing it as a joke. But then you showed him a picture of me and now you tell him about us buying swimming gear."

"I've never been in a hot tub with men. Now you heard Eames, I'm not a rotten egg!"

Ariadne's tankini isn't all that revealing. It's a light blue halter top with matching shorts. Arthur's shorts is a simple, plain red. Eames had on a black one with red stripes.

"Really, love, you hide that body of yours too often."

Ariadne blushes. "I'm surprised you do, too."

Eames grins wickedly. "Arthur doesn't like it when I walk around baring my body."

Arthur frowns. "It's not appropriate."

"Depends on who's looking, Darling," Eames says with a wink and a sip of his wine. "I bet you wouldn't mind if our little Ari here walks around in that outfit."

Ariadne turns to Arthur and sees him blushing. "Eames!"

Wanting to change the subject, Ariadne thinks to the moment when Eames asked her about Arthur's favorite color. "I'm sure you have a favorite color, don't you, Arthur?"

Eames snickers and Arthur turns to glare at him. He faces Ariadne again and he softens. "Red."

"Why am I not surprised," Eames mutters.

Ariadne nods. "Your red ties suit you."

"And you look good when you wear your roller-skates and roller-blades," he says.

"They were on sale!"

Arthur smirks. "Well, light blue suits you, too."

She smiles and tries not to hear her loud and quick heartbeat and Eames wondering why no one wants to know his favorite color and thanks herself for not having a favorite color that's so flashy.

I remember being so excited for this one but I actually had a bit of a hard time writing it because I realized that I was excited to write in Arthur's POV but since we're not getting there yet...well...haha. I hope you all still enjoyed this chapter, though! Sorry if the ending is too abrupt. The job and Arthur's reason to join will be discussed again in the next chapter. No mentions of the others here but they'll probably make an appearance soon (I'm thinking chapter 7). Sorry the descriptions aren't much.

I'd love to know your thoughts about this chapter and if anyone can guess why Arthur's favorite color is red.

Step Six: Skills/Talents — Rio de Janeiro, Brazil