Okay, I'm so sorry I haven't updated since October. You have no idea how severe my writer's block has been. So here's Chapter Eight.

…

Jacqui saw everything in slow motion:

Elise's body as Arthur's bullet entered her chest, Eames run over to her, and the limp form of Charlie fall out of his arms. Jacqui shut her eyes, unable to see her goddaughter like this.

Eames was in distress, trying to keep Jacqui conscious and yelling for someone to call an ambulance.

"Wh-what happened?" Jacqui breathed.

"The ambulance is on its way," Arthur said from a different part of the room. Eames nodded.

"Ssh, Jacqui, it's okay. You've lost quite a bit of blood." He kept his hands pressed over the wound in her abdomen. "Everything's going to be alright, love." Eames smiled down at her as best as he could; he couldn't stand the thought of losing some one else he loved.

"Hold on, Jacqui," Arthur encouraged.

"It's just a damn—ow!—stab wound. I've had worse—" She sucked in a sharp breath of air.

The sounds of sirens were the last things Jacqui heard before she blacked out.

Apparently, the wound was deeper and worse than she thought—it sliced through parts of her intestines—and she would need to stay in the hospital for several nights so the doctors could keep an eye or two on her.

In the ER waiting room, Eames paced the floor nervously, while Cobb and Ariadne slept and Arthur read his book.

"Eames, she's going to be just fine," encouraged the point man.

"And how d'you know that? I've been kidnapped, my daughter is dead, so how to you suppose my best friend won't die too?" snapped the forger.

Arthur looked a little hurt.

"I-I'm sorry, darling. I just…" Eames trailed off, sitting down next to Ariadne.

"If you want to go home, I can stay here to watch over Jacqui. You should get back to Liv," Arthur suggested.

"Yes, I'd like that. Thank you Arthur," Eames said, looking a little relieved. He smiled weakly at Arthur as he walked out the door.

Early in the morning, Arthur saw Jacqui stirring a little bit in her bed. He rubbed his eyes and sat up straighter.

"Arthur," he heard her whisper shortly after.

Arthur rushed over to her side, taking her hand in his.

"Did it work? Are Eames and Liv okay?" she whispered.

"Yes, they're both fine. How are you feeling?" he asked.

"I'm alright. Stab wounds are pretty bad, but not as painful as a bullet through the chest like in the Raine Job. What about the extraction? It seemed a little iffy…"

"It did, but Saito and Cobb are still going to lay low for a while." There was a pause.

"After this is all over, I'm going to go back to bartending, and you should go back to 'dreaming a little bigger'," Jacqui said, winking. She smiled in the dark.

Arthur gave her a puzzled look. "How…?"

"I know everything, Arthur."

"Good to have you back, Jacqui. At least for a little bit," Arthur said, kissing her hand. "D'you want me to call Eames to let him know you're okay?"

Jacqui shook her head, her dark hair falling over her shoulders. "Eames has enough on his plate, he needs his rest. And as for you, Arthur, I think you should go home too. I'll be fine for the rest of the night. Or, morning I guess," she said, glancing at the clock which read 2 am.

"Are you sure?" Arthur asked.

"Yes, now, go home." She started to push him away gently. "I'll see you later, Arthur."

In the weeks after that whole ordeal, Eames returned—slowly but surely—to his normal, fun, happy-go-lucky self.

He brought Liv to the workshop on a regular basis and she played with James and Philippa.

Arthur noticed the mood change in his friend right away. It made him happy to see Eames happy again after such a hard time in his life.

He walked into the workshop one day to find the team (plus James, Philippa, and Liv) seated around his desk at a tea party. Liv and Philippa were standing around the table pouring everyone their 'tea', while Ariadne handed out scones to them.

Eames' face lit right up when he saw Arthur. "Darling! Why don't you join us at our little tea party!" he exclaimed.

The point man rolled his eyes, when in actuality, he was very happy.

"Mr. Eames, I—"

"Uncle Arthur! You came!" Liv's high pitched squeal rang through the workshop as she ran over to hug Arthur's legs.

"Hi, Liv," Arthur said, ruffling her hair. He joined the party, sitting right in the middle of Eames and Ariadne.

"How are you doing?" asked the point man.

"Good, and you?" Eames answered.

"No, how are you doing?" he restates, emphasizing every word.

"Oh. I'm…dealing….Scone?"

Arthur takes one gladly, dropping the subject entirely.

Soon, Liv and Philippa were done serving, and sat down in their father's laps.

"Daddy," Liv started, looking up at her father.

"Yes love?"

"Where's Charlie and Mommy?"

Everyone grew quiet. Even James stopped laughing with Ariadne.

"They're with my mommy," Philippa piped up, giving her a smile. "Doing something fun. You'll see them again some day, don't worry."

"Okay! C'mon Phil, let's go play on the roof!" Liv exclaimed. The two girls ran off and Eames noticed Cobb, smiling slightly.

"Something wrong, Cobb?" Arthur asked, noticing him too.

"That's what I told her, when Mal dies. I didn't think she still remembered that."

"Kids can remember a lot," Arthur commented, while Eames remained quiet.

That night, when Eames was carrying a sleeping Liv home, Arthur fell into step next to him.

"Hello darling," Eames whispered, not meeting Arthur's gaze.

"Good evening, Mr. Eames. I had a lovely time a the tea party today," said the point man.

The forger smiled. "I'm glad you did."

They walked in silence for a few moments, enjoying the sunset warming their backs.

"Eames," Arthur started. "After all of what's happened, you seem to be holding up just fine."

Eames looked at Arthur and he found him hard to read.

"If you need anyone to talk to, I'm here," Arthur said.

"Thank you, Arthur," Eames whispered.

Right then, Liv started to stir. She opened her eyes and straightened up in her father's arms.

"Daddy," she mumbled. "What were you and Uncle Arthur talking about? Were you talking about Mommy?"

"'Course we were, sweetheart. We just miss them so much, Liv. But you and me are going to have so much fun together! Don't worry," Eames answered.

Arthur smiled, he loved how Eames could turn a bad situation into something lighter.

"See you tomorrow Eames. Bye Liv!" Arthur exclaimed, ruffling her hair, as he loved to do.

"Bye Uncle Arthur !" Liv said, and in return ruffled his hair. Arthur turned to the left and got into his car. He waved at them one more time before driving away.

A/N: Well, that was a crappy ending. I couldn't think of any other way to do it, though…I dedicate this chapter to the wonderful Emily Hardy, she's stuck with me all through this story, even though we're overseas. :)