Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Almost.

Hi! Yay! I got to update even with all my school work. This has a lot of Eames, I kinda like that. Again, this is unbeta'd for reasons you all know, so mistakes are inevitable. We've got 5 more chapters to go and...there was a time last week where I thought nobody would be interested anymore but it's cool, I still love doing this. Thank you to new followers [Kellouka2 and MegsiMoo]! I hope you all enjoy this chapter!

Kamarooka: Hehehehe, I've been wanting to find a way to bring that part and I found the opportunity! You're welcome! But really, should thank you for the idea! The ideas came into my head but if I find any that's similar I'll post the links (or draw them myself with my drawing skillz...). Thank you for liking the last chapter, I hope you enjoy this one!
JuseaPeterson: Thank you so much! That really made my week (which was long...and sleep deprived...). I don't want them to have the "perfect" relationship so I'm glad you liked it, I'm hoping to give them some more of a real couples feel (which might not be accurate since I've never been in a relationship...). I love it when these 4 are together, haha! I find it so Arthur to do that for someone he loves, hehe. Thank you, it'll be a bit hard to choose but I'm excited to do at least one of them, haha. I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Carameltootsieroll:Both our guilty pleasures, haha! Although I prefer that they don't tease ;] Same! But I guess I watch/read too many of this stuff already o_O I will never get over "explored" HAHA. Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy this chapter!
D.B: Did you enjoy it like I did? : I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Guest: Thank you, HM! You're awesome, too!

Step Fifteen: Guns — Berkshire, England

A month after Oslo (March)

"Home sweet home," Eames sighs as he drops his bag on the floor. "Belle, honey, what do you think of my humble abode?"

Valeria places her bag on the floor and scans the flat. It's high ceiling and bright lights make it look bigger than it's supposed to be. Right in front of the door is the small living room with three couches and an arm chair. Just a few steps away is a glass dining table is right in front of the television set with a shelf that separates it from the hallway. The kitchen is just a few steps away from the hallway with two rooms to the side. On the right of the hallway is a bedroom and a bathroom. "It's nice," she says. "I like it."

"I'm glad you do," Eames says. "Your approval is the only one I need. Well, yours and Ariadne's. But yours is the most important. I'm sure Arthur still finds this place atrocious."

"I never found it atrocious," Arthur tells him, "I simply said it was terrible due to your refusal to clean it. I'm surprised you actually left it clean the last time you were here."

"I now have reasons as to why this place is clean. The last time I was here I've already met my Valeria," he says, chuckling. "We'll be sleeping in my room. Ari, are you okay with sleeping in the guest room?"

"Perfectly fine," she replies, coming out of the kitchen. "I love your house, Eames." She shushes Arthur before he gets to speak. "Admit it, Arthur. It's lovely. The structure of this place is beautiful. The décor…Eames, did you buy the furniture itself?" When Eames replies that only some, she nods and continues to appreciate the room. "The glass table really brings out the place. It's a clever thing to do, really. I'm not very fond of the way the rooms are structured—"

"The room nearer to the kitchen is meant to be the master bedroom," Eames interrupts her. "I felt it too…not me to stay in that place, that's why I decided to just stay in the other bedroom."

"Pas vous?" Valeria questions. ("Not you?")

Eames grabs her hand and shakes his head. "I'll explain another time."

Arthur turns to Ariadne and gives her a small smile. Ariadne walks over to him, grabs her small bag and tells Eames and Valeria that they'll be going to their room. "Let's have a picnic somewhere. Isn't there a small grocery store near here? It's a lovely day outside."

"There's a secluded park near here. Let's leave in two hours?"

"He's changing."

"Who?" Ariadne looks up from her suite case and turns to the Point Man. She's glad she did, she likes seeing him unbuttoning his shirt. "Eames?"

He nods and walks over to her to help her with her clothes. All his suits are neatly hanged in the closet and his "regular clothes" are folded in the drawer. His shoes are neatly tucked by the door of the closet. "Aside from him, I'm sure I was the only one who knows where his real residency is. When he told me that he'll be bring the three of us here, I was…shocked. I didn't expect it." He picks up a scarf and sniffs it. "It smells like you."

Ariadne grabs the scarf from him and giggles. "Well, I think it's a good change. He's always been so secretive. Just as long as nobody else knows we're here, then it must be nice."

Arthur hangs up a dozen of Ariadne's scarves in the closet, right next to his neckties. "I always like the way this looks," he murmurs.

Ariadne smiles and tries to hide her reddening face. "Do you think the two are good for each other? I think Eames is good for Val, with the way he is now. I wouldn't have let him near her two years ago."

"Valeria is good for Eames," he replies as he walks back to her. "She's her own person. She's not like the other women Eames had dated or fucked. She can put him in his place, I can see it. She's got him wrapped around her finger."

Ariadne nods and places a few blouses in the drawer. "Val's a good girlfriend."

"How would you know?" Arthur asks, a smirk on his face.

She rolls her eyes and goes back to her suitcase for her bottoms. "I've seen her with Marí and some of her ex-boyfriend and girlfriends. But how would I know?" She shoots daggers at the still smirking Point Man. "You're my first boyfriend."

"I thought it was that other guy...what was his name...ah, James Louie Granger." She frowns and he wraps his arms around her. "I'm just kidding."

"You researched about him, didn't you?" Ariadne pats his shoulder. "What did you find?"

"Nothing," he answers. "Absolutely nothing. He isn't a competition. He's also now a corporate business man."

"Yeah, his family owns a company," she says, shrugging. "But it's not like Avalanche Corporation."

"Kiss-ass."

"Don't deny it, it's true!"

"This is such a lovely park," Valeria comments. "It's peaceful and quiet. Not much people, too. Parks should be like this more often."

"I'd have a park built for us, belle," Eames tells her. "Somewhere secluded. Somewhere just for us." He then looks at the two in front of them. "And those two, if they'd like."

"How considerate," Arthur murmurs.

Ariadne nudges him and feeds him a piece of her sandwich. She kisses his cheek and takes a bite. "We should do this more often."

"I agree," Eames says, nodding. "We should live here forever!"

Valeria frowns. "But my work is in Paris."

"I'm just kidding, my dear. But we should vacation here a lot."

She nods and leans her back on him. "We should, we should. It's wonderful."

Ariadne smiles and turns to Arthur. "They never really announced them being official, right? It just suddenly happened."

"Wasn't that what happened to us?" Arthur smiles.

"Not really. We didn't have any mutual agreement," she sees Arthur about to speak but she stops him, "at least, in my side." He looks satisfied with the continuation. "I'm just surprised they're moving quickly. Val told me that they're taking things slow."

"Trust me, that's already slow for Eames."

"I'm not complaining, just surprised. Val's moving on...I like that. Even when she and Mari weren't in good terms anymore, she wasn't really ready to let go."

"Attachment," he mumbles.

"That's why relationships are scary," she whispers, "you're not sure anymore if what you're feeling is still love for that person, or attachment. I think it's scarier if you don't know what the other is thinking of."

Arthur turns to her and she avoids his gaze. "Are you trying to tell me something?" he asks.

"Depends on how you interpret it," she answers.

"For my sake I hope you're not just attached to me. Are you?" She shakes her head. "Are you afraid I'll just be attached to you?" She nods her head. Arthur sighs. "Ari..."

"Oy, Arthur, catch!" Eames calls.

A baseball whizzes by and Arthur catches it effortlessly, not even giving it a second glance. It would have hit him by his temple. "Wow!" Ariadne exclaims the same time Valeria shouts "Bravo!" Eames merely smirks and says, "Show off." Arthur looks at the ball in his hand before looking up to find it's owner.

"I am so sorry." A slender girl comes up to them, her strawberry blonde locks tucked in a bun, a baseball cap on her head and a mitt in her hand. She holds out her bare hand and Arthur gives the ball. "My brother miscalculated and threw it too hard, and not even in my direction!" Her cheeks are flushed and her blue eyes are sparking.

A chubby little boy appears beside her. "That's not true! She told me to throw it over here!"

"Danny!" she scolds. Tucking a lock of fallen hair behind her ear, she gives them a smile. "Is this a family picnic?"

"I suppose you can call it that," Eames replies.

She smiles again. "I'm Tara. You don't seem like you're around here. We live along the neighborhood, i haven't seen you lot. Did you just move in?"

"We've been living here for quite some time, perhaps you just haven't seen us around," Arthur lies. "It's a big neighborhood. And Tara, Danny seems to be getting impatient."

"I want to play now, Tara!" he whines.

Tara sighs and instructs her brother to go ahead. "I'll catch up in a while." She turns back to the group and says, "If you...um...need anything, you can just...talk to us. That's my family over there," she gestures behind her, "I'm visiting them for the week."

"Oh how nice of you," Valeria says, smiling.

Tara smiles. "I got to go." She starts to back away slowly.

"Have fun," Ariadne waves. When Tara is feets away, she sighs. "I'm not quite sure what she's getting at."

"Est-il pas évident," Valeria frowns, "elle essayait de capter l'attention de nos garçons." ("Isn't it obvious" "she was trying to capture the attention of our boys.")

"Was she?" Eames asks, thoughtfully. "I didn't notice. I was too busy noticing you get all clingy, Belle. I like it when you're jealous." She shoves him playfully.

Ariadne looks at Arthur. "That was a good catch, though. You only looked at it once and you didn't even flinch. It was really cool."

Arthur grins, his dimples showing. "Really? I was trying to impress you."

"Yes, Darling," Eames drawls as both Ariadne and Valeria stifle giggles, "we were all impressed by your catching skills. Reflex does a lot for you. But we'd like to see how well you do with throwing."

"If you have a ball, I'm not backing out."

Eames laughs. "You should know, Darling. We both have two." Ariadne and Valeria both unleash their fits of laughter while Arthur reddens and curses Eames under his breath.

The four decided to pass by the time in the park. There's a bike rental shop and both girls became excited when they saw a bike built for two people. "Je l'ai toujours voulu essayer ça!" Valeria exclaimed. ("I've always wanted to try that!") Ariadne jumped for joy when she saw it. Eames immediately talked to the boy manning the store. "These two beautiful ladies would like to try this out. We'll rent two. Darling, you'd like to be the back rider, wouldn't you?"

In the end, Arthur did ride behind Eames. But it only took three rounds around the park before Arthur demanded to stay in front. "I can't see a thing!"

"Are you calling me fat?"

After another three rounds, Eames stopped pedaling, saying it wasn't fun being at the back. They resorted to watching the girls ride around the park, both taking turns to ride in front and in the back. Ariadne noticed that they shamelessly snapped pictures of the girls, keeping it in their phones.

At one point, Eames stopped their speeding bike without effort, wanting to have a go with the blonde. Ariadne lifted herself off the back seat and climbed in front of the other bike. Arthur climbed behind her.

"Where are your helmets?" she asked, referring to him and Eames.

"He said we didn't need it."

"Are you sure?"

He shrugged. "We've been dodging bullets for a few years now, Eames longer than me, I think we're good."

"Maybe you two just want to show off," she teased. "I won't be surprised, you did it awhile ago."

"And it worked!" he reminded her.

It's past two in the morning when they hear the shouting.

Arthur, still unable to sleep, has a book in front of him, his bedside lamp glowing faintly. He's leaning against the headboard, one hand holding it up, the other constantly turning the page, but mostly lying on Ariadne's head, gently stroking her hair. She's curled up next to him, her arms on his legs, her head on his lap.

He merely looks up at the door and turns back to his book. "Go back to sleep, Ari."

"It's their first fight," she says, not moving from her position.

"We all have our first fights."

"I hated our first fight. The heated argument."

"The angry sex. The make-up sex."

She slaps his shoulder but doesn't hide the smile on her face. "It took me a while to apologize to you. I don't even remember what it was about. And don't," she presses her hand to his chest, "remind me."

"I've forgotten about it already."

"Never trust a Point Man when he says he forgets."

"Architects, too." There's another shout from Eames. "He doesn't hurt them physically, if you're worried."

"I just want to know what they're fighting about. I know it isn't our business..."

"They'll tell us when they're ready. Will it make you feel better if we cuddled?"

She giggles. "I know you're too absorbed with that book. It's fine. Finish it."

Arthur kisses the top of her head and resumes reading and stroking her hair.

The next day, Arthur and Ariadne find Eames snoring on the couch. "He must be really pissed off," Arthur comments. "He snores when he's pissed, not stressed."

"Interesting fact," Ariadne says and heads to the kitchen. She walks around it and remembers she doesn't know where everything is. "Arthur, do you still remember where Eames puts his stuff?"

Arthur appears and the two begin to set the table. About half an hour later, they hear Eames's particular drawl. "You two didn't mess up my guest sheets last night, did you?"

"Contrary to your popular belief, Mr. Eames, not every couple fucks around at night."

Eames smirks. "With you two, I find that hard to believe. So I suppose there's a reason why my little Ariadne is just in one of your t-shirt, Darling."

Ariadne laughs. Arthur's t-shirts are eight inches too long for her, and they usually end up just by her mid-thigh. "I like to sleep in them sometimes. It doesn't always have to be something naughty, Eames."

Eames gives her a good morning kiss on her cheek. "I find my five-o'clock shadow to be appealing when I have a lady friend with me. Arthur's suck."

She shakes her head and smiles at the Point Man. "I find his quite sexy." In her peripheral vision, she sees Valeria approach them. "Good morning," she greets.

"Good morning, Ari. Good morning, Arthur. Adam, may I talk to you in private?"

Eames nods. "Of course."

While the Forger and his girlfriend talk in his room, Ariadne and Arthur begin to put food on the table.

"I love this," she suddenly says.

"The domestic life?" She hears a hint of nervousness in his voice.

"I'm not going to deny that," she says honestly. "But what I mean is this trip we're having. We're like four teenagers on a camping trip. Cabin in the Woods esque. Just...without the horror and dying. And we aren't in the woods. Or in a cabin."

"I could make reservations for us. I know some private places."

"No killings or mysterious disappearances? Monsters. Ghosts, maybe?" she jokes.

He smiles. "I'll never put you in danger."

"It would be fun. I'd like that. Just make sure that it's not haunted. Or is the shelter of some serial killer in a mask. Freddy Krueger."

"Ari—"

"No! Not him! Jason Vorhees!"

Arthur nods and resumes to fry the eggs. Ariadne places the powdered orange juice on the table and waits for everything else to be done.

"Do you have an idea about what they're fighting about?" Ariadne asks.

Arthur pauses and looks at her then back to the eggs. "I do, but I'm not very sure."

"Tell me, please."

He sighs. "I think it has something to do with his family. He must've slipped and said something and now Valeria's not taking it too well."

"Why not?"

"It isn't in my position to tell you, Ari. I'm sorry. I only knew because of my research, otherwise, he wouldn't have told me willingly."

"You're his best friend," she smiles, "he would've told you at some point."

"Eames can be really secretive if he wants to," he answers, a chuckle escaping his lips, "I doubt he'd tell me until our last breath."

Ariadne walks towards him and wraps her arms around his waist. "Well, you should know that you're also the best at keeping secrets. He's bound to want to take it out of his chest. I can tell you my deepest darkest secrets and know that it won't be circulated online even during years to come."

"I know your naughtiest secrets," he says, smirking. "And I keep track. We haven't done half of them yet!"

"Don't be impatient," she jokes.

"I'm very ready to try them out, you know."

"You've told me almost every night, so yes, I'm quite sure I know you're ready to try them out."

Arthur whips his head around. "Eames isn't here to listen to us, is he?"

Ariadne presses her face to his back. "No. And we shouldn't care. He's just jealous our sex life is still exciting after a year."

Arthur turns off the stove and faces her. "We should go back to bed."

She stands on her toes and is about to kiss him but pulls away just an inch away from his lips. "Can't, I'm hungry." Turning away, she smirks when she hears him groan. "Should we wait for them or can we eat ahead? I am starving for your eggs."

Valeria's head is leaning on Ariadne's shoulder as they watch television. Eames and Arthur are out. They didn't exactly say where they were going but Arthur actually jumped at the opportunity.

"Were you two able to talk things through?" Ariadne asks.

"Yeah," Valeria murmurs, "it was my fault, anyways. I shouldn't have brought it up."

"Was it about his family?"

"Mm," she hums. "Sorry I can't tell you, Ari."

Although Ariadne is a little disappointed, she simply nods. "It's alright. I understand. Maybe Eames will tell me when he's ready, yeah?"

"I think he will," Valeria says. "You're one of his closest friends. He told me that the moment he saw you, you two would be best friends. Might have even made a move if Arthur didn't." She laughs. "But he said he would've done it only, et si seulement, Arthur doesn't make a move and if his big brother feelings for you go away." ("...and if only…")

"It's nice to know that I have one brother who approves of Arthur and another who doesn't," Ariadne shakes her head, "it's kind of assuring."

"Theo is the only one who doesn't approve of Arthur, everyone else does. I wish I could have a big brother like him." Valeria is an only child. "Or a sibling."

"Vous avez, mon ami et sa sœur d'autres parents," Ariadne says, earning a squeal of delight from the blonde beside her. "I'm your older younger sister." Ariadne is two months younger than the blonde. "And you're my younger older sister." ("You have me, my friend and sister from other parents.")

"Bien," Valeria smiles, "but not all the time. I get to play the role of big sister, too. Voilà pourquoi je suis né en premier." ("That's why I was born first.")

Ariadne stage sighs. "Fine. Fine."

Valeria giggles and cuddles closer to her. There's a silence between them for a few minutes before she says, "I'm happy to have Adam. He makes me happy."

"I know he does."

"I just worry about him."

The door suddenly opens and in comes Eames with a huge grin on his face and Arthur with a smile on his. "Are you two ready to go out tonight?" Eames asks happily.

Valeria grins. "Sure. Where are we going?"

"Have you ever dreamed of becoming a Bond girl? I'm sure Ariadne has."

"Are you angry at me, Love?"

Ariadne raises an eyebrow. The two are left behind as Valeria and Arthur get their food. Eames volunteered himself and Ariadne to stay and guard their belongings. "Why would I be mad at you? You didn't do anything wrong."

"I made Valeria cry last night."

"It's natural to do so when you fight," Ariadne shrugs, "Arthur made me cry when we first fought. He still does sometimes, when it isn't trivial."

Eames sighs. "My brother is a crime lord, my sister...only God knows where she is, my parents...my parents are nice people, they don't deserve kids like us. I'm a mix of both of them. I'm technically missing and our job is illegal. I'm the worst."

"You're not sure of what your sister is doing."

"Probably whoring herself."

Ariadne frowns. "And your brother."

"Damn him. He's making money out of something illegal, just like us."

"Do you keep tabs on your parents?"

"I do. And I can see how much of a burden we were to them."

"That can't be true."

"Oh but is is. They're living a much better life now. Us kids were always in trouble, always up to no good. They always kept up with us. But we never appreciated them." He scoffs. "I was never a good person, Ari. That's why I don't deserve Valeria."

"Don't say that! Just because you weren't a good child does not mean you aren't a good man! Your job does not define you. Your avoidance of your parents does not define you. Okay? I'm not going to tell you how to live your life, Eames. I just want you to know that you're a good man. This is what it's all about, right? You thinking you aren't a good person?"

Eames doesn't reply.

"I don't care what you've done in the past."

"They were quite petty compared to my brother's."

"What you're doing now...for us, for me and Arthur...for Val, that's being a good man."

"Maybe I'm just trying to redeem myself."

"Maybe. But it's good."

Valeria waves at them, packages in both arms. Eames smiles and stands. "Thank you, Love," he murmurs.

The movie that was shown was the very first Bond movie. They all had fun laughing at the scenes instead of being intrigued. It wasn't bad but now that they have the technology and stunts to compare it to—not to mention the whole accent thing—they did find it funny.

"I want to carry a gun with me all the time now, I'll be an awesome Bond girl," Valeria exclaims placing her hands on her hips.

"Belle, there's no need for you to be a Bond girl with you being the one and only Eames girl," the Forger says, wrapping his arm around her waist. "James Bond can never satisfy you like I can."

Valeria smirks. "I'm sure he can't."

Ariadne turns to Arthur. "When did you start carrying a gun with you at all times?"

"Since my first encounter with angry employers," Arthur replies, shrugging. "It was scary. Dom told me to have a gun with me at all times, until everything is okay. Ended up having it the whole time."

"Can I have a gun?"

Arthur shakes his head. "No you may not."

"But why?" She frowns. "I need to learn how to defend myself. Like you left me and Valeria in the flat awhile ago, with a gun, we'd be safe."

"No one knows where Eames lives, that's why it's safe. And you don't know how to use it properly."

"That's because you won't teach me. I'm a fast learner."

"I know that."

"I can learn how to defend myself. I have the right to defend myself." A stranger bumps into her and they both apologize. As they continue to walk, Arthur stares the man down. "He does look a little creepy, huh?"

"Maybe I should teach you…" he murmurs.

"All because a creepy man bumps into me?"

"He's a suspicious character."

Ariadne shakes her head but smirks. "Then I'm ready."

"We'll start in dreams."

I hope you all enjoyed this! Please let me know your thoughts! If I don't get to update next week, I am so sorry. I will try to. I've also got my other stories outlined already, it's just a matter of who wins the poll. To those who have voted, thank you!

Step Sixteen: Phobia — Mombasa, Kenya