Stains (Arthur/Ariadne)
It wasn’t that he wanted to go back to his old life. In fact, he wouldn’t change anything for the world. Giving up extraction was hard at first, but it proved to be the best decision he could have made, aside from marrying Ariadne. But now as he looked at the stains on his suits, he really wished he could do something about them.
Dry cleaning wasn’t cheap, not that it was a problem for him, but taking in four to five suits with stains on them was embarrassing. He felt as if he was drawing attention to himself because of them.
He silently crept out of the bathroom, not wanting to wake his sleeping wife. She wasn’t getting much sleep lately, of course neither was he. He just wanted to grant her the extra sleep she needed.
Kissing her forehead, he quietly left the room, grabbed his keys, wallet, and bag of suits, and shut the door, heading out to the grocery store and the dry cleaners. He looked up and smiled, glad to have nice, warm weather for his day out. As a breeze blew through his hair, he noticed a couple sitting at a bench, fondling their new baby.
He smiled softly and continued to walk to the dry cleaners, thinking about getting home as soon as possible. It seemed that everywhere he looked there were new couples with small swaddles in their arms. It only made Arthur become more anxious to return home.
He finally reached his destination and walked in, smiling and greeting the owner.
“Arthur! Back again? It’s only been a few days.” Mr. Benoit greeted, his eyebrows raised.
“Yeah, well Aiden threw up on three of my suits again.” Arthur replied sheepishly.
“Ah. Little Aiden. How is he doing?” Mr. Benoit asked, taking the suits from Arthur and carefully writing out a receipt for him.
“He’s growing like a weed. I can’t believe it’s only been three months since he was born.” Arthur grinned proudly.
“They sure do grow up fast. Enjoy it while you can. Pretty soon he’ll be old enough to talk back.” Mr. Benoit chuckled.
Arthur flinched. “I’d rather not think that far ahead.”
“Once he learns to talk he’ll talk back.”
“Well let’s hope he doesn’t learn from Eames.” Arthur scowled at the thought.
Mr. Benoit erupted in laughter. “Yeah, keep him away from Eames.”
“I better go. I have to pick up a few groceries and get back before Ariadne and Aiden wake up. I want to cook her something special. She hasn’t been able to have any down time lately.” Arthur said, taking his receipt.
“You get some rest too. I know what a new baby is like. Give Ariadne my best and kiss little Aiden for me.” Mr. Benoit said.
“Alright. I’ll be back to pick up my suits later this afternoon. Will that work for you?” Arthur asked, turning.
“Anything for you Arthur.” Mr. Benoit smiled.
“Thank you.” Arthur sighed and exited the small shop.
He quickly walked to the grocery store, glancing at his watch and cursing when he noticed the time. Ariadne would be getting up soon, and if Aiden was crying she would be up already. They were trying to get him to sleep through the night, but hadn’t been successful yet.
As he approached a small market he decided to just grab a few items from there and head back home rather than making the longer trip to the grocery store. It was a nice morning anyway and Arthur enjoyed getting some fresh air.
The young woman at the strawberry stand gasped when he walked up. She looked him over and stood up a little taller.
“Can I help you monsieur?” She asked flirtatiously.
Arthur raised his eyebrow at her and looked down at the strawberries. He reached for a pack of them with his left hand and saw her deflate when she spotted his wedding ring. He inwardly smirked and picked up the pack.
“I just want to take this home and make a nice meal for my wife. Do you have any special recipes I could take home?” He asked calmly.
“No. Sorry.” She rolled her eyes at him. Arthur had to bite his tongue, not wanting to lash out at the rude girl.
“Merci beaucoup mademoiselle.” He replied, handing her a few bills and leaving.
Arthur quickly made his way through the market, beginning to feel rushed. He paid for everything and practically ran back to the house, entering quietly. He frowned when he heard Ariadne’s soft voice.
“So much for making her a surprise breakfast.” He mumbled to himself.
“Ari?” He quietly called.
“In here.” She replied, her voice gentle.
Arthur dropped the paper bags on the counter and made his way to their room, where he could hear Ariadne gently talking to Aiden. He smiled lovingly and stood at the doorway, observing the scene in front of him. Ariadne was holding Aiden close to her, nursing him, and humming softly. Arthur leaned against the doorframe and crossed his arms.
Ariadne, catching this movement, looked up and grinned at him. “Hey. Where’d you go?”
“To drop off some dry cleaning and get a few groceries.” Arthur replied, untangling his arms and moving to the edge of the bed, taking a seat next to her and smoothing down Aiden’s crazy hair.
“Did he just wake up?” He asked after a few moments of silence. Ariadne nodded and smiled tiredly.
“Yeah. He was a little fussy.”
Arthur looked at his son fondly and turned his gaze back to his wife. “You hungry?”
“Starving.” She admitted.
“I’m going to make some breakfast.” Arthur said. He kissed Aiden’s head and lightly pecked Ariadne’s lips. “Take your time with him.” He called from the doorway.
Ariadne smiled and turned her attention back to her son. He looked so much like Arthur already and she wasn’t in a rush to see if he grew up to look just like him too. She wanted to savor these precious moments she had with her infant son, not ready to think about him growing up.
“You’re such a good baby.” She cooed, stroking his peach fuzz gently. “You take after your daddy too. So calm.”
Baby Aiden finished nursing and stared up at his mother with his dark brown eyes, the one thing that he inherited from her. Carefully she placed him on her shoulder and began patting his back, waiting for the inevitable burp.
Arthur walked into the kitchen and turned on the oven. He decided to make keish, it was both his and Ariadne’s favorite breakfast dish. He gathered his ingredients, quickly mixed them, and put them in the oven after it heated up. He headed to the living room and turned on his iPod, playing his playlist he created earlier that week.
As he turned around a maroon stain caught his eye. There it was again, a stain. He shook his head and stared at it as memories washed over him.
Ariadne was due any day now and Arthur was on full alert, ready to jump into the car and rush her to the hospital. These days he was packing in extra hours that way he would be able to take off and not worry about having to go into work when the baby arrived.
The beauty of being your own boss, and being in a team with people you knew well, was that you were able to take off whenever you wanted and everyone else would understand.
Arthur made sure to tell Eames and Yusuf not to take any jobs for a while, and they happily agreed as long as they were able to meet the new baby.
Arthur had reluctantly left to meet with Eames and Yusuf one last time before taking an indefinite break (retire) from extraction. They didn’t really need the money, Arthur and Ariadne had enough money saved up to last them for the rest of their lives, but they both couldn’t stay away from the pure creation that it was. However, when Ariadne had found out that she was pregnant, Arthur had told her to take a break. After much disagreement and arguing, she finally relented, not wanting anything bad to happen to the baby.
He remembered how uneasy he had felt about leaving Ariadne home alone, especially when she could go into labor at any minute. Ariadne had to practically shove Arthur out of the house, assuring him that she would be fine and would call if she needed anything. Arthur relented and reminded her multiple times to call if she even felt a tiny bit of discomfort. Ariadne nodded and kissed him softly.
********
Ariadne had been sitting down watching a movie, her back bothering her. She shifted constantly, unable to find a comfortable position. She thought about calling Arthur, but she didn’t want to bother him, besides, it was just a little discomfort.
It wasn’t until half an hour later when she felt stronger pains that she gasped and stumbled, looking for her phone frantically. Another sharp pain shot through her lower abdomen and she reached out at the small coffee table they had in front of the couch, spilling her cranberry juice all over the floor. She was in too much pain to care and she was slowly starting to panic. She snatched her phone away from the spilled juice and hit her speed dial for Arthur.
“Ariadne?” His concerned voice filled her ears.
Ariadne gasped. “Arthur.”
“What’s going on?” Arthur asked, sounding much more alert. She heard shuffling and knew that he was on his way without her asking him to.
“I think I’m in labor.” She managed to say, clenching her fists. She whimpered and heard Arthur curse.
“I’ll be right there. Make sure you have everything you need and be ready.” Arthur said.
Ariadne nodded, not caring that Arthur couldn’t see her. “Are you there?” He asked.
“Yes.” She whispered, her breathing heavy.
“Stay on the line with me.” Arthur told her and she heard the start of an engine.
“Hurry.” She replied, clutching her stomach.
Everything became blurry after that, he just remembered swinging open to door and finding Ariadne on the couch gasping and breathing heavily.
“Arthur!” She shrieked, reaching for him. Arthur rushed to her, picked her and their overnight bag up, and quickly rushed out of the house, shutting and locking the door behind them.
They rushed to the hospital, Ariadne’s pains becoming sharper and her breathing coming in shorter breaths.
“We’re almost there. Just keep breathing.” Arthur told her calmly, trying to ease her nerves. She nodded quickly and focused on controlling her breathing.
“What are you thinking about so seriously?” Ariadne asked, walking out of the room with Aiden still gently on her shoulder.
“Just thinking about the stain.” Arthur pointed to it and Ariadne nodded, smiling.
“Sorry.” She said as he made his way to her, holding out his arms. She handed Aiden to him. “He still hasn’t burped. I think he tries to mind his manners.” She chuckled, shooting Arthur a pointed look.
Arthur laughed. “That’s my little man.” He said, patting his back gently. A soft burp escaped his small mouth and Arthur and Ariadne shared a chuckle.
“It would be a quiet one.” She laughed.
The oven beeped and Arthur looked towards the kitchen. Ariadne raised her eyebrows at him and he motioned for her to follow him.
“I’m making keish.” Arthur told her, handing Aiden back to her.
“Oh I love keish!” She exclaimed. Arthur smirked.
“I know.” He quickly got to work and placed the keish in the oven, setting the timer.
“You know, we have a lot of stains in the house.” Ariadne finally said, watching Arthur carefully.
Arthur frowned. “Well there’s the one next to the bed from you throwing up.” Arthur teased.
“Hey! In my defense I had morning sickness!” She defended, causing Aiden to squirm in her arms.
“I believe that was the morning you finally found out you were pregnant.” Arthur chuckled. Ariadne turned red.
“Yeah, well I didn’t think anything of it.” She whispered, turning her gaze to her son.
“We didn’t exactly discuss having a baby so soon.”
“Which is why I never thought anything of it.” Ariadne reasoned.
“I’m glad we didn’t discuss it.” Arthur smiled. Ariadne looked at him questioningly and he continued. “I liked our little surprise.” Arthur moved to kiss Aiden’s soft head.
Ariadne looked lovingly at her two boys. “Me too.”
Arthur leaned down and kissed her, mindful of the squirming baby in her arms.
“Hey buddy. A little uneasy there are we?” He asked. “How about mommy, you, and I go for a walk in a little bit?” He talked gently to him. Aiden just stared wide-eyed at his father, taking in his features. He reached out a hand and grabbed his nose, curious.
Ariadne broke out in soft laughter as she watched Aiden pat Arthur’s face and giggle. Arthur was smiling, his dimples starting to show.
“He’s got your curiosity.” Arthur told Ariadne, standing up straighter and putting his arm around her waist.
“But he’s definitely perceptive like you.” Ariadne raised her brow at him and Arthur shook his head, grinning.
“Guess he takes after both of us.” Arthur held out his arms and Ariadne handed him their son.
“Come on, daddy has some food in the oven and we’re going to take it out.”
Ariadne smiled and followed them into the kitchen, offering to take it out instead. Arthur shook his head and quickly pulled out the food, letting it cool down.
They moved to the living room and sat down on the couch. Arthur carefully placed Aiden on his lap and bounced him up and down, earning loud giggles from the baby. Arthur laughed and lifted Aiden over his head, blowing raspberries on his stomach. Aiden erupted in laughter and Arthur brought him down, quickly repeating the process.
After a few minutes and starting to lose his breath, Arthur brought Aiden close to his chest and hugged him close. Ariadne was staring at Arthur lovingly. She was about to say something to him when Aiden coughed and spit up on Arthur’s shoulder. Arthur sighed and handed Aiden to Ariadne. She quickly found a small towel and cleaned up Aiden’s face, turning to Arthur.
She chuckled and covered her mouth when she saw his expression. “Need help cleaning up?”
“No. I’ll get it.” Arthur mumbled, taking off his vest and unbuttoning his shirt. He stared down at the small stain and shook his head. He hated stains, but when Ariadne walked in with Aiden, he couldn’t help but think that he was beginning to love stains and what they represented.
“They’re never going to go away or stop you know?” Ariadne finally spoke up.
Arthur nodded. “Which is why I have just come to accept it.” Arthur replied, taking off his shirt and slipping into another button up shirt.
“So when are we going to eat? I’m starving.” Ariadne asked, shifting Aiden’s weight to her left side.
“Right now.” Arthur smiled, grabbing her free hand. He led her to the kitchen and they sat down, Aiden in Arthur’s lap and Ariadne on the right of them. She eagerly bit into her food and moaned.
“This is good.” She said, her mouth full.
Arthur grinned and took a bite, avoiding Aiden’s reaching hands. He squealed and clapped his hands together, reaching for Arthur’s hand again.
“So why are we going for a walk?” Ariadne teased.
“I need to pick up my suits and drop off this other one.” Arthur said matter-of-factly.
“Oh ok.” Ariadne smirked.
“Hey, don’t tease me.” Arthur playfully warned. Aiden made a noise and Arthur and Ariadne stared at him in shock. “See, he agrees with me.” Arthur said.
Ariadne shook her head. “You keep telling yourself that.”
Aiden’s face scrunched up and he started pouting, soft sobs starting to escape him. Arthur quickly brought him up to his chest and rubbed his back comfortingly, hoping to keep him from crying.
Ariadne was standing up, ready to take him to get changed if needed, but Arthur quickly calmed him.
“I think he’s just upset that you don’t care about my suits as much as you should.” He winked at her and Ariadne rolled her eyes.
“He’s a baby and you’ve already managed to get him to like suits. And he’s the one who throws up on them.” She pointed out.
Arthur frowned and looked at Aiden. “If you’re going to be on my side you have to stop staining my suits. Got that buddy? Because we won’t be able to buy you any until you learn how to keep them clean.”
Aiden laughed and reached out for Arthur’s face. Arthur sighed and looked at Ariadne helplessly.
“I think you should give him some time.” She crossed her arms and grinned.
Arthur laughed. “I guess so.” He sat Aiden down on his lap again and bounced him gently, finishing his breakfast as Ariadne sat back down and finished hers, soft noises of contentment escaping her as she savored her food.
Arthur turned his attention to Ariadne, licking his lips as he watched his wife enjoy her food. They haven’t had a chance to spend alone time with each other since Aiden was born and it hadn’t gone past Arthur. He sighed and stood up, shifting Aiden’s weight onto his hip and taking his and Ariadne’s plate to the kitchen.
Ariadne noticed Arthur’s change in attitude and quickly stood up. She moved next to Arthur and gently grabbed his arm.
“What’s wrong?” She asked quietly, smiling as Aiden reached for her. She held out her arms and Arthur handed him to her.
“Nothing.” Arthur replied, forcing a smile on his face. It wasn’t that he didn’t love his son, he just wanted to spend a quiet night with his wife. He reached out and gently stroked her cheek, leaning in and kissing her chastely.
“Let’s go.” Arthur motioned towards the door. He pulled Aiden’s stroller out and Ariadne carefully placed him in it, not letting this conversation slide. She was going to bring it up again.
It was a warm day and the soft breeze was soothing. Aiden was making noises and laughing as they walked along the sidewalk, causing his parents to smile fondly and proudly as people stared at them. Ariadne slipped her hand into Arthur’s and he squeezed her hand before lacing their fingers.
They entered Mr. Benoit’s dry cleaning shop and he beamed when he saw Arthur and his family. Arthur pulled out the outfit that Aiden threw up on earlier and handed it to Mr. Benoit sheepishly, his face slightly flushed.
Mr. Benoit chuckled and walked around to look at the baby squirming in the stroller. Tickling the small baby, Mr. Benoit turned his attention to Ariadne.
“And how are you doing Madam?”
“Very well, thank you. This little guy is keeping me awake though.” Ariadne smiled fondly at Aiden.
“Ah yes, it will be that way for a while. But in no time you’ll have a baby who sleeps through the night.”
“Oh I can’t wait.” Ariadne smiled dreamily. Mr. Benoit chuckled and turned back to Arthur.
“I will have this ready for you tomorrow Arthur.” Mr. Benoit said, walking behind the counter and writing out a receipt for him. He walked to another room and came out with Arthur’s suits.
“Thank you.” Arthur said, slinging his clean suits over his shoulder and following Ariadne out.
As soon as they stepped outside Aiden started to wail, his cries getting louder. Ariadne sighed and picked him up out of his stroller.
“I think he’s hungry. He might need a change.” She said. Arthur nodded and they headed back to the house. Ariadne managed to calm Aiden’s crying somewhat and as they approached their house Arthur’s phone started to ring.
“Hello?”
“Arthur. How are you?” Cobb’s cheerful voice reached his ears.
“Dom. It’s good to hear from you. I’m great.” Arthur replied, smiling when he noticed Ariadne’s excited expression.
“Ariadne says hi too.” Arthur chuckled. “She’d tell you herself, but Aiden’s fussy right now.”
“He’s probably so big now.”
“He’s grown a lot since you last saw him.” Arthur nodded, putting away the stroller and setting his suits down on the sofa.
“I’d love to stop by and visit. I’m in town for the week. Are you guys free tonight?”
“I don’t think we have any plans. Are James and Philippa with you?”
“Yes. They’re eager to see you guys.”
“Great, bring them over.”
“I’ll see you guys tonight.” Cobb replied.
“Alright.” Arthur ended the call and called for Ariadne.
“In here!” She replied from their bedroom. Arthur found her sitting on the bed, nursing Aiden.
“He didn’t need a changing?”
“No. He’s hungry.” Ariadne chuckled at her son’s eager noises as he nursed.
“Dom and the kids are coming over tonight.” Arthur told her, sitting on the bed next to her. She scooted closer to him and leaned her head on his shoulder.
“That’s great! I miss them.”
“I’ll cook something up.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, I’ll help. We’ll put him down for a nap and it will give us time to get ready.”
“Ok.” Arthur kissed her head softly.
*********
Later that night Dom and the kids showed up. They squealed and jumped into “Uncle Arthur’s” arms and clung to him tightly. They quickly turned and hugged “Auntie Ari.”
“How are you two doing?” Cobb asked after the excitement wore off and the children were staying occupied by Aiden. The three adults watched as James and Philippa played with Aiden. Philippa was instructing James on how to play with Aiden, getting upset when he would try something rough with him.
“James! He’s a baby! Be careful!” She exclaimed, her brows furrowing in anger. Cobb chuckled and turned to look at Arthur and Ariadne.
“We’re doing fine.” Ariadne replied. Cobb could see the faint circles under her eyes and Arthur didn’t look much better.
“He keeping you busy?” Cobb asked.
Ariadne and Arthur nodded. “Yeah, he takes up most of our time.”
Cobb nodded in understanding as Aiden’s piercing cry caused the two children to jump away in fear. James turned around and called for Ariadne. Ariadne rushed to pick up Aiden, James and Philippa following her to the couch. They sat on either side of her and stared down at the crying baby. As Ariadne began to calm him, the two children stared wide-eyed.
“Whoa, you have magic powers.” James said, looking up at Ariadne. Ariadne laughed.
“Sometimes he just wants to be held by his mommy.” Ariadne replied.
“Oh.” James quietly said, scooting closer to Ariadne and reaching out for Aiden.
Dom turned back to Arthur. “So how have you and Ariadne been?”
“We’ve been fine.” Arthur replied.
“No, I mean how have you been romantically?” Cobb asked again, shooting Arthur a pointed look.
Arthur looked down. “Oh.” He paused and gathered his thoughts. “We haven’t had time for ourselves. We don’t really get to go out to dinner or anything. And it’s…been a while.” Arthur trailed off.
Dom nodded. “How about I take Aiden off of your hands for the night and you go get to spend time together. I remember how hard it was when James and Philippa were first born. It was always nice to have a little break and be with each other.”
“I don’t know…Ariadne might not like it. We haven’t let him out of our sight.” Arthur replied, feeling a bit protective himself.
“You’ll have to learn how to get over that. Come on, I can tell that you want to be with Ariadne. Not just spending time together, but physically too.”
Arthur sighed. Cobb was right. He needed this and so did she. “Alright, let’s talk to Ariadne about it.”
“Hey Ari.”
Ariadne looked at Arthur, standing up. She walked towards him and looked at him expectantly. “Dom has an offer for us.”
“Oh? What kind of offer?” She asked suspiciously.
“How about I take Aiden off of your hands for a few hours. James and Philippa can play with him and I’ll be sure to keep a good eye on him.”
Ariadne bit her lip, not sure if she was ready for this, her eyes were on her son wriggling in her arms. She glanced at Arthur who was looking down, leaving it up to her. She remembered how Arthur was acting strange earlier and nodded.
“Ok.” She said. From the corner of her eye she saw Arthur’s head snap up in shock.
“Really?” He asked. Ariadne nodded.
“We need a break.”
“Great.” Cobb grinned and winked at Arthur when Ariadne wasn’t looking.
“I’ll go pack his bag.” Ariadne shuffled away.
“There you go. That wasn’t so hard.” Cobb patted Arthur’s shoulder.
“Thanks Dom.” Arthur rubbed the back of his neck.
*****
It was strange for Arthur and Ariadne to not have Aiden with them. They knew he would be back later on, but it was hard to let him go. Ariadne sighed and collapsed on the couch, glad to have some down time.
She watched Arthur carefully as he moved to the kitchen. She stood up and followed him, leaning on the counter and watching as he did the dishes. His muscles rippled through his shirt with his movements and Ariadne grinned.
“You know, the whole point of letting Aiden go with Dom was to let us have some down time.” Ariadne said, causing Arthur to jump slightly. He turned off the water and turned around, drying his hands.
She looked at him curiously. “What’s wrong?” She stepped towards him and placed her hand on his cheek. “You’ve been acting strange since after breakfast.”
Arthur leaned into her touch and closed his eyes, savoring this intimate moment. He opened his eyes and kissed her, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her close. She let out a startled gasp, but quickly wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down and against her.
Arthur stumbled but quickly regained his balance, kissing her more passionately. Ariadne pulled away, breathing heavily. She slowly opened her eyes and stared at Arthur.
“So this is what we’ve been missing out on.” She breathlessly said.
“I miss this.” Arthur admitted finally, his voice raspy.
“I want you.” She whispered, as she stood on her toes and kissed him again. Arthur tugged on her hair gently when he tangled his fingers in them and she let out a gasp.
“Bedroom. Now.” She said between kisses.
They stumbled into the bedroom, not bothering to look at the things that they knocked over in the process. As the approached the bed, Arthur tripped and Ariadne reached out behind her to land on the bed, kicking the small table close by and knocking over one of Aiden’s bottles, milk slowly spilled out of it onto the carpet, but neither of them noticed.
Half an hour later they lay under the covers, wrapped in each other’s arms. Ariadne shifted so that her head was resting on Arthur’s shoulder and her hand was rubbing Arthur’s chest. Arthur’s hand was stroking Ariadne’s hair and the other was caressing the skin on her back.
“We need to do this more often.” Ariadne whispered.
“Mhmmm.” Arthur mumbled, his eyes closed. “We don’t have a babysitter. And I don’t want to leave Aiden with just anyone.”
“We could ask Miles to babysit. He’s offered before.”
“I don’t want to bother him with it.”
“He won’t mind. I know it. I actually think he’s been trying to take Aiden off our hands for a while. He’s probably with Dom now.” She chuckled softly.
“We’ll talk to him about it.” Arthur replied, kissing Ariadne. Ariadne ran her fingers through his hair and smiled into the kiss.
Ariadne pouted when Arthur pulled away. He leaned over to check the time and noticed the spilled bottle of milk on the floor. He sighed and shook his head. Ariadne pushed herself up and leaned over him to see what he was looking at. She giggled and wrapped her arms around Arthur’s chest.
“Another stain.” She laughed.
“But this one I like.” Arthur smirked, turning around to face her. He gently pushed her down and kissed her, trapping her between his arms and body.
He wasn’t lying. This would be a stain he’d look back at and remember for the rest of his life. It would be the reminder of the night that they started to take time for themselves and not be afraid to leave Aiden with someone if they needed it. He would look back on all of the stains with fond memories, and the spilled milk stain would trigger the rest of them.
Dry cleaning wasn’t cheap, not that it was a problem for him, but taking in four to five suits with stains on them was embarrassing. He felt as if he was drawing attention to himself because of them.
He silently crept out of the bathroom, not wanting to wake his sleeping wife. She wasn’t getting much sleep lately, of course neither was he. He just wanted to grant her the extra sleep she needed.
Kissing her forehead, he quietly left the room, grabbed his keys, wallet, and bag of suits, and shut the door, heading out to the grocery store and the dry cleaners. He looked up and smiled, glad to have nice, warm weather for his day out. As a breeze blew through his hair, he noticed a couple sitting at a bench, fondling their new baby.
He smiled softly and continued to walk to the dry cleaners, thinking about getting home as soon as possible. It seemed that everywhere he looked there were new couples with small swaddles in their arms. It only made Arthur become more anxious to return home.
He finally reached his destination and walked in, smiling and greeting the owner.
“Arthur! Back again? It’s only been a few days.” Mr. Benoit greeted, his eyebrows raised.
“Yeah, well Aiden threw up on three of my suits again.” Arthur replied sheepishly.
“Ah. Little Aiden. How is he doing?” Mr. Benoit asked, taking the suits from Arthur and carefully writing out a receipt for him.
“He’s growing like a weed. I can’t believe it’s only been three months since he was born.” Arthur grinned proudly.
“They sure do grow up fast. Enjoy it while you can. Pretty soon he’ll be old enough to talk back.” Mr. Benoit chuckled.
Arthur flinched. “I’d rather not think that far ahead.”
“Once he learns to talk he’ll talk back.”
“Well let’s hope he doesn’t learn from Eames.” Arthur scowled at the thought.
Mr. Benoit erupted in laughter. “Yeah, keep him away from Eames.”
“I better go. I have to pick up a few groceries and get back before Ariadne and Aiden wake up. I want to cook her something special. She hasn’t been able to have any down time lately.” Arthur said, taking his receipt.
“You get some rest too. I know what a new baby is like. Give Ariadne my best and kiss little Aiden for me.” Mr. Benoit said.
“Alright. I’ll be back to pick up my suits later this afternoon. Will that work for you?” Arthur asked, turning.
“Anything for you Arthur.” Mr. Benoit smiled.
“Thank you.” Arthur sighed and exited the small shop.
He quickly walked to the grocery store, glancing at his watch and cursing when he noticed the time. Ariadne would be getting up soon, and if Aiden was crying she would be up already. They were trying to get him to sleep through the night, but hadn’t been successful yet.
As he approached a small market he decided to just grab a few items from there and head back home rather than making the longer trip to the grocery store. It was a nice morning anyway and Arthur enjoyed getting some fresh air.
The young woman at the strawberry stand gasped when he walked up. She looked him over and stood up a little taller.
“Can I help you monsieur?” She asked flirtatiously.
Arthur raised his eyebrow at her and looked down at the strawberries. He reached for a pack of them with his left hand and saw her deflate when she spotted his wedding ring. He inwardly smirked and picked up the pack.
“I just want to take this home and make a nice meal for my wife. Do you have any special recipes I could take home?” He asked calmly.
“No. Sorry.” She rolled her eyes at him. Arthur had to bite his tongue, not wanting to lash out at the rude girl.
“Merci beaucoup mademoiselle.” He replied, handing her a few bills and leaving.
Arthur quickly made his way through the market, beginning to feel rushed. He paid for everything and practically ran back to the house, entering quietly. He frowned when he heard Ariadne’s soft voice.
“So much for making her a surprise breakfast.” He mumbled to himself.
“Ari?” He quietly called.
“In here.” She replied, her voice gentle.
Arthur dropped the paper bags on the counter and made his way to their room, where he could hear Ariadne gently talking to Aiden. He smiled lovingly and stood at the doorway, observing the scene in front of him. Ariadne was holding Aiden close to her, nursing him, and humming softly. Arthur leaned against the doorframe and crossed his arms.
Ariadne, catching this movement, looked up and grinned at him. “Hey. Where’d you go?”
“To drop off some dry cleaning and get a few groceries.” Arthur replied, untangling his arms and moving to the edge of the bed, taking a seat next to her and smoothing down Aiden’s crazy hair.
“Did he just wake up?” He asked after a few moments of silence. Ariadne nodded and smiled tiredly.
“Yeah. He was a little fussy.”
Arthur looked at his son fondly and turned his gaze back to his wife. “You hungry?”
“Starving.” She admitted.
“I’m going to make some breakfast.” Arthur said. He kissed Aiden’s head and lightly pecked Ariadne’s lips. “Take your time with him.” He called from the doorway.
Ariadne smiled and turned her attention back to her son. He looked so much like Arthur already and she wasn’t in a rush to see if he grew up to look just like him too. She wanted to savor these precious moments she had with her infant son, not ready to think about him growing up.
“You’re such a good baby.” She cooed, stroking his peach fuzz gently. “You take after your daddy too. So calm.”
Baby Aiden finished nursing and stared up at his mother with his dark brown eyes, the one thing that he inherited from her. Carefully she placed him on her shoulder and began patting his back, waiting for the inevitable burp.
Arthur walked into the kitchen and turned on the oven. He decided to make keish, it was both his and Ariadne’s favorite breakfast dish. He gathered his ingredients, quickly mixed them, and put them in the oven after it heated up. He headed to the living room and turned on his iPod, playing his playlist he created earlier that week.
As he turned around a maroon stain caught his eye. There it was again, a stain. He shook his head and stared at it as memories washed over him.
Ariadne was due any day now and Arthur was on full alert, ready to jump into the car and rush her to the hospital. These days he was packing in extra hours that way he would be able to take off and not worry about having to go into work when the baby arrived.
The beauty of being your own boss, and being in a team with people you knew well, was that you were able to take off whenever you wanted and everyone else would understand.
Arthur made sure to tell Eames and Yusuf not to take any jobs for a while, and they happily agreed as long as they were able to meet the new baby.
Arthur had reluctantly left to meet with Eames and Yusuf one last time before taking an indefinite break (retire) from extraction. They didn’t really need the money, Arthur and Ariadne had enough money saved up to last them for the rest of their lives, but they both couldn’t stay away from the pure creation that it was. However, when Ariadne had found out that she was pregnant, Arthur had told her to take a break. After much disagreement and arguing, she finally relented, not wanting anything bad to happen to the baby.
He remembered how uneasy he had felt about leaving Ariadne home alone, especially when she could go into labor at any minute. Ariadne had to practically shove Arthur out of the house, assuring him that she would be fine and would call if she needed anything. Arthur relented and reminded her multiple times to call if she even felt a tiny bit of discomfort. Ariadne nodded and kissed him softly.
********
Ariadne had been sitting down watching a movie, her back bothering her. She shifted constantly, unable to find a comfortable position. She thought about calling Arthur, but she didn’t want to bother him, besides, it was just a little discomfort.
It wasn’t until half an hour later when she felt stronger pains that she gasped and stumbled, looking for her phone frantically. Another sharp pain shot through her lower abdomen and she reached out at the small coffee table they had in front of the couch, spilling her cranberry juice all over the floor. She was in too much pain to care and she was slowly starting to panic. She snatched her phone away from the spilled juice and hit her speed dial for Arthur.
“Ariadne?” His concerned voice filled her ears.
Ariadne gasped. “Arthur.”
“What’s going on?” Arthur asked, sounding much more alert. She heard shuffling and knew that he was on his way without her asking him to.
“I think I’m in labor.” She managed to say, clenching her fists. She whimpered and heard Arthur curse.
“I’ll be right there. Make sure you have everything you need and be ready.” Arthur said.
Ariadne nodded, not caring that Arthur couldn’t see her. “Are you there?” He asked.
“Yes.” She whispered, her breathing heavy.
“Stay on the line with me.” Arthur told her and she heard the start of an engine.
“Hurry.” She replied, clutching her stomach.
Everything became blurry after that, he just remembered swinging open to door and finding Ariadne on the couch gasping and breathing heavily.
“Arthur!” She shrieked, reaching for him. Arthur rushed to her, picked her and their overnight bag up, and quickly rushed out of the house, shutting and locking the door behind them.
They rushed to the hospital, Ariadne’s pains becoming sharper and her breathing coming in shorter breaths.
“We’re almost there. Just keep breathing.” Arthur told her calmly, trying to ease her nerves. She nodded quickly and focused on controlling her breathing.
“What are you thinking about so seriously?” Ariadne asked, walking out of the room with Aiden still gently on her shoulder.
“Just thinking about the stain.” Arthur pointed to it and Ariadne nodded, smiling.
“Sorry.” She said as he made his way to her, holding out his arms. She handed Aiden to him. “He still hasn’t burped. I think he tries to mind his manners.” She chuckled, shooting Arthur a pointed look.
Arthur laughed. “That’s my little man.” He said, patting his back gently. A soft burp escaped his small mouth and Arthur and Ariadne shared a chuckle.
“It would be a quiet one.” She laughed.
The oven beeped and Arthur looked towards the kitchen. Ariadne raised her eyebrows at him and he motioned for her to follow him.
“I’m making keish.” Arthur told her, handing Aiden back to her.
“Oh I love keish!” She exclaimed. Arthur smirked.
“I know.” He quickly got to work and placed the keish in the oven, setting the timer.
“You know, we have a lot of stains in the house.” Ariadne finally said, watching Arthur carefully.
Arthur frowned. “Well there’s the one next to the bed from you throwing up.” Arthur teased.
“Hey! In my defense I had morning sickness!” She defended, causing Aiden to squirm in her arms.
“I believe that was the morning you finally found out you were pregnant.” Arthur chuckled. Ariadne turned red.
“Yeah, well I didn’t think anything of it.” She whispered, turning her gaze to her son.
“We didn’t exactly discuss having a baby so soon.”
“Which is why I never thought anything of it.” Ariadne reasoned.
“I’m glad we didn’t discuss it.” Arthur smiled. Ariadne looked at him questioningly and he continued. “I liked our little surprise.” Arthur moved to kiss Aiden’s soft head.
Ariadne looked lovingly at her two boys. “Me too.”
Arthur leaned down and kissed her, mindful of the squirming baby in her arms.
“Hey buddy. A little uneasy there are we?” He asked. “How about mommy, you, and I go for a walk in a little bit?” He talked gently to him. Aiden just stared wide-eyed at his father, taking in his features. He reached out a hand and grabbed his nose, curious.
Ariadne broke out in soft laughter as she watched Aiden pat Arthur’s face and giggle. Arthur was smiling, his dimples starting to show.
“He’s got your curiosity.” Arthur told Ariadne, standing up straighter and putting his arm around her waist.
“But he’s definitely perceptive like you.” Ariadne raised her brow at him and Arthur shook his head, grinning.
“Guess he takes after both of us.” Arthur held out his arms and Ariadne handed him their son.
“Come on, daddy has some food in the oven and we’re going to take it out.”
Ariadne smiled and followed them into the kitchen, offering to take it out instead. Arthur shook his head and quickly pulled out the food, letting it cool down.
They moved to the living room and sat down on the couch. Arthur carefully placed Aiden on his lap and bounced him up and down, earning loud giggles from the baby. Arthur laughed and lifted Aiden over his head, blowing raspberries on his stomach. Aiden erupted in laughter and Arthur brought him down, quickly repeating the process.
After a few minutes and starting to lose his breath, Arthur brought Aiden close to his chest and hugged him close. Ariadne was staring at Arthur lovingly. She was about to say something to him when Aiden coughed and spit up on Arthur’s shoulder. Arthur sighed and handed Aiden to Ariadne. She quickly found a small towel and cleaned up Aiden’s face, turning to Arthur.
She chuckled and covered her mouth when she saw his expression. “Need help cleaning up?”
“No. I’ll get it.” Arthur mumbled, taking off his vest and unbuttoning his shirt. He stared down at the small stain and shook his head. He hated stains, but when Ariadne walked in with Aiden, he couldn’t help but think that he was beginning to love stains and what they represented.
“They’re never going to go away or stop you know?” Ariadne finally spoke up.
Arthur nodded. “Which is why I have just come to accept it.” Arthur replied, taking off his shirt and slipping into another button up shirt.
“So when are we going to eat? I’m starving.” Ariadne asked, shifting Aiden’s weight to her left side.
“Right now.” Arthur smiled, grabbing her free hand. He led her to the kitchen and they sat down, Aiden in Arthur’s lap and Ariadne on the right of them. She eagerly bit into her food and moaned.
“This is good.” She said, her mouth full.
Arthur grinned and took a bite, avoiding Aiden’s reaching hands. He squealed and clapped his hands together, reaching for Arthur’s hand again.
“So why are we going for a walk?” Ariadne teased.
“I need to pick up my suits and drop off this other one.” Arthur said matter-of-factly.
“Oh ok.” Ariadne smirked.
“Hey, don’t tease me.” Arthur playfully warned. Aiden made a noise and Arthur and Ariadne stared at him in shock. “See, he agrees with me.” Arthur said.
Ariadne shook her head. “You keep telling yourself that.”
Aiden’s face scrunched up and he started pouting, soft sobs starting to escape him. Arthur quickly brought him up to his chest and rubbed his back comfortingly, hoping to keep him from crying.
Ariadne was standing up, ready to take him to get changed if needed, but Arthur quickly calmed him.
“I think he’s just upset that you don’t care about my suits as much as you should.” He winked at her and Ariadne rolled her eyes.
“He’s a baby and you’ve already managed to get him to like suits. And he’s the one who throws up on them.” She pointed out.
Arthur frowned and looked at Aiden. “If you’re going to be on my side you have to stop staining my suits. Got that buddy? Because we won’t be able to buy you any until you learn how to keep them clean.”
Aiden laughed and reached out for Arthur’s face. Arthur sighed and looked at Ariadne helplessly.
“I think you should give him some time.” She crossed her arms and grinned.
Arthur laughed. “I guess so.” He sat Aiden down on his lap again and bounced him gently, finishing his breakfast as Ariadne sat back down and finished hers, soft noises of contentment escaping her as she savored her food.
Arthur turned his attention to Ariadne, licking his lips as he watched his wife enjoy her food. They haven’t had a chance to spend alone time with each other since Aiden was born and it hadn’t gone past Arthur. He sighed and stood up, shifting Aiden’s weight onto his hip and taking his and Ariadne’s plate to the kitchen.
Ariadne noticed Arthur’s change in attitude and quickly stood up. She moved next to Arthur and gently grabbed his arm.
“What’s wrong?” She asked quietly, smiling as Aiden reached for her. She held out her arms and Arthur handed him to her.
“Nothing.” Arthur replied, forcing a smile on his face. It wasn’t that he didn’t love his son, he just wanted to spend a quiet night with his wife. He reached out and gently stroked her cheek, leaning in and kissing her chastely.
“Let’s go.” Arthur motioned towards the door. He pulled Aiden’s stroller out and Ariadne carefully placed him in it, not letting this conversation slide. She was going to bring it up again.
It was a warm day and the soft breeze was soothing. Aiden was making noises and laughing as they walked along the sidewalk, causing his parents to smile fondly and proudly as people stared at them. Ariadne slipped her hand into Arthur’s and he squeezed her hand before lacing their fingers.
They entered Mr. Benoit’s dry cleaning shop and he beamed when he saw Arthur and his family. Arthur pulled out the outfit that Aiden threw up on earlier and handed it to Mr. Benoit sheepishly, his face slightly flushed.
Mr. Benoit chuckled and walked around to look at the baby squirming in the stroller. Tickling the small baby, Mr. Benoit turned his attention to Ariadne.
“And how are you doing Madam?”
“Very well, thank you. This little guy is keeping me awake though.” Ariadne smiled fondly at Aiden.
“Ah yes, it will be that way for a while. But in no time you’ll have a baby who sleeps through the night.”
“Oh I can’t wait.” Ariadne smiled dreamily. Mr. Benoit chuckled and turned back to Arthur.
“I will have this ready for you tomorrow Arthur.” Mr. Benoit said, walking behind the counter and writing out a receipt for him. He walked to another room and came out with Arthur’s suits.
“Thank you.” Arthur said, slinging his clean suits over his shoulder and following Ariadne out.
As soon as they stepped outside Aiden started to wail, his cries getting louder. Ariadne sighed and picked him up out of his stroller.
“I think he’s hungry. He might need a change.” She said. Arthur nodded and they headed back to the house. Ariadne managed to calm Aiden’s crying somewhat and as they approached their house Arthur’s phone started to ring.
“Hello?”
“Arthur. How are you?” Cobb’s cheerful voice reached his ears.
“Dom. It’s good to hear from you. I’m great.” Arthur replied, smiling when he noticed Ariadne’s excited expression.
“Ariadne says hi too.” Arthur chuckled. “She’d tell you herself, but Aiden’s fussy right now.”
“He’s probably so big now.”
“He’s grown a lot since you last saw him.” Arthur nodded, putting away the stroller and setting his suits down on the sofa.
“I’d love to stop by and visit. I’m in town for the week. Are you guys free tonight?”
“I don’t think we have any plans. Are James and Philippa with you?”
“Yes. They’re eager to see you guys.”
“Great, bring them over.”
“I’ll see you guys tonight.” Cobb replied.
“Alright.” Arthur ended the call and called for Ariadne.
“In here!” She replied from their bedroom. Arthur found her sitting on the bed, nursing Aiden.
“He didn’t need a changing?”
“No. He’s hungry.” Ariadne chuckled at her son’s eager noises as he nursed.
“Dom and the kids are coming over tonight.” Arthur told her, sitting on the bed next to her. She scooted closer to him and leaned her head on his shoulder.
“That’s great! I miss them.”
“I’ll cook something up.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, I’ll help. We’ll put him down for a nap and it will give us time to get ready.”
“Ok.” Arthur kissed her head softly.
*********
Later that night Dom and the kids showed up. They squealed and jumped into “Uncle Arthur’s” arms and clung to him tightly. They quickly turned and hugged “Auntie Ari.”
“How are you two doing?” Cobb asked after the excitement wore off and the children were staying occupied by Aiden. The three adults watched as James and Philippa played with Aiden. Philippa was instructing James on how to play with Aiden, getting upset when he would try something rough with him.
“James! He’s a baby! Be careful!” She exclaimed, her brows furrowing in anger. Cobb chuckled and turned to look at Arthur and Ariadne.
“We’re doing fine.” Ariadne replied. Cobb could see the faint circles under her eyes and Arthur didn’t look much better.
“He keeping you busy?” Cobb asked.
Ariadne and Arthur nodded. “Yeah, he takes up most of our time.”
Cobb nodded in understanding as Aiden’s piercing cry caused the two children to jump away in fear. James turned around and called for Ariadne. Ariadne rushed to pick up Aiden, James and Philippa following her to the couch. They sat on either side of her and stared down at the crying baby. As Ariadne began to calm him, the two children stared wide-eyed.
“Whoa, you have magic powers.” James said, looking up at Ariadne. Ariadne laughed.
“Sometimes he just wants to be held by his mommy.” Ariadne replied.
“Oh.” James quietly said, scooting closer to Ariadne and reaching out for Aiden.
Dom turned back to Arthur. “So how have you and Ariadne been?”
“We’ve been fine.” Arthur replied.
“No, I mean how have you been romantically?” Cobb asked again, shooting Arthur a pointed look.
Arthur looked down. “Oh.” He paused and gathered his thoughts. “We haven’t had time for ourselves. We don’t really get to go out to dinner or anything. And it’s…been a while.” Arthur trailed off.
Dom nodded. “How about I take Aiden off of your hands for the night and you go get to spend time together. I remember how hard it was when James and Philippa were first born. It was always nice to have a little break and be with each other.”
“I don’t know…Ariadne might not like it. We haven’t let him out of our sight.” Arthur replied, feeling a bit protective himself.
“You’ll have to learn how to get over that. Come on, I can tell that you want to be with Ariadne. Not just spending time together, but physically too.”
Arthur sighed. Cobb was right. He needed this and so did she. “Alright, let’s talk to Ariadne about it.”
“Hey Ari.”
Ariadne looked at Arthur, standing up. She walked towards him and looked at him expectantly. “Dom has an offer for us.”
“Oh? What kind of offer?” She asked suspiciously.
“How about I take Aiden off of your hands for a few hours. James and Philippa can play with him and I’ll be sure to keep a good eye on him.”
Ariadne bit her lip, not sure if she was ready for this, her eyes were on her son wriggling in her arms. She glanced at Arthur who was looking down, leaving it up to her. She remembered how Arthur was acting strange earlier and nodded.
“Ok.” She said. From the corner of her eye she saw Arthur’s head snap up in shock.
“Really?” He asked. Ariadne nodded.
“We need a break.”
“Great.” Cobb grinned and winked at Arthur when Ariadne wasn’t looking.
“I’ll go pack his bag.” Ariadne shuffled away.
“There you go. That wasn’t so hard.” Cobb patted Arthur’s shoulder.
“Thanks Dom.” Arthur rubbed the back of his neck.
*****
It was strange for Arthur and Ariadne to not have Aiden with them. They knew he would be back later on, but it was hard to let him go. Ariadne sighed and collapsed on the couch, glad to have some down time.
She watched Arthur carefully as he moved to the kitchen. She stood up and followed him, leaning on the counter and watching as he did the dishes. His muscles rippled through his shirt with his movements and Ariadne grinned.
“You know, the whole point of letting Aiden go with Dom was to let us have some down time.” Ariadne said, causing Arthur to jump slightly. He turned off the water and turned around, drying his hands.
She looked at him curiously. “What’s wrong?” She stepped towards him and placed her hand on his cheek. “You’ve been acting strange since after breakfast.”
Arthur leaned into her touch and closed his eyes, savoring this intimate moment. He opened his eyes and kissed her, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her close. She let out a startled gasp, but quickly wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down and against her.
Arthur stumbled but quickly regained his balance, kissing her more passionately. Ariadne pulled away, breathing heavily. She slowly opened her eyes and stared at Arthur.
“So this is what we’ve been missing out on.” She breathlessly said.
“I miss this.” Arthur admitted finally, his voice raspy.
“I want you.” She whispered, as she stood on her toes and kissed him again. Arthur tugged on her hair gently when he tangled his fingers in them and she let out a gasp.
“Bedroom. Now.” She said between kisses.
They stumbled into the bedroom, not bothering to look at the things that they knocked over in the process. As the approached the bed, Arthur tripped and Ariadne reached out behind her to land on the bed, kicking the small table close by and knocking over one of Aiden’s bottles, milk slowly spilled out of it onto the carpet, but neither of them noticed.
Half an hour later they lay under the covers, wrapped in each other’s arms. Ariadne shifted so that her head was resting on Arthur’s shoulder and her hand was rubbing Arthur’s chest. Arthur’s hand was stroking Ariadne’s hair and the other was caressing the skin on her back.
“We need to do this more often.” Ariadne whispered.
“Mhmmm.” Arthur mumbled, his eyes closed. “We don’t have a babysitter. And I don’t want to leave Aiden with just anyone.”
“We could ask Miles to babysit. He’s offered before.”
“I don’t want to bother him with it.”
“He won’t mind. I know it. I actually think he’s been trying to take Aiden off our hands for a while. He’s probably with Dom now.” She chuckled softly.
“We’ll talk to him about it.” Arthur replied, kissing Ariadne. Ariadne ran her fingers through his hair and smiled into the kiss.
Ariadne pouted when Arthur pulled away. He leaned over to check the time and noticed the spilled bottle of milk on the floor. He sighed and shook his head. Ariadne pushed herself up and leaned over him to see what he was looking at. She giggled and wrapped her arms around Arthur’s chest.
“Another stain.” She laughed.
“But this one I like.” Arthur smirked, turning around to face her. He gently pushed her down and kissed her, trapping her between his arms and body.
He wasn’t lying. This would be a stain he’d look back at and remember for the rest of his life. It would be the reminder of the night that they started to take time for themselves and not be afraid to leave Aiden with someone if they needed it. He would look back on all of the stains with fond memories, and the spilled milk stain would trigger the rest of them.