The world had forgotten how to dream. Every breath it took was awake, it seemed lively on its lack of sleep. But as the world knew dreamers are pivotal. Dreamers kept the world turning.

He woke up again at midnight, sweat drilling down his face as he was brought back to a better reality. There was silence as the hot summer night pressed on him like the covers, suffocating his existence. He glanced at the nightstand, hoping this time he would restrain himself. He wasn't going to do it but then he swiped his phone off the stand, dialing a number that was typed so often on the keypad.

"Hello?" a groggy voice came from the receiving end.

A half an hour later Cobb was sitting at the coffee shop, nursing a cup he had just gotten. He was hunched over, almost as if he was hiding his face. He couldn't help but feel like he was betraying something- someone doing this. It was a weakness to him, but it kept him from sleeping as she could creep back into his mind.

"You're here earlier than I thought." She said, sitting down across from him. She had perpetual insomnia, but he suspected she forced it on herself to take care of him. "You dreamt of her again?"

His eyes slit, even after all this time he didn't like to share that part of his life. "Of course Ariadne." He said, watching her. She didn't bother to change, her hair still in a bun and pajama pants hung loosely on her hips. He must have looked a mess right now, especially with the lack of sleep.

She sighed, taking a sip of her own coffee. "I can't help if you get snippy with me." She somewhat teased.

He sighed, adding a groan as well. "Phillipa keeps calling me nocturnal."

"Well you are." She said, smiling playfully around the rim of her mug.

"She misses you."

"I'll come over one day, make them dinner. Because god know you can't cook."

It's been months since the plane ride and everyone was living happily on their own little sum of cash. Ariadne stayed in touch, mainly because she was the only one who knew how deeply Cobb was hurting. Especially since Mal was attack his sleep. Neither had taken another job for extraction, Ariadne didn't want to get mixed up in it again as did Cobb. But here they were, discussing dreams.

Talks at the coffee shop were often, almost nightly. For Cobb it was practically therapy. But for Ariadne she felt it was a way to relax and clear her mind by focusing on someone else's problems. And it was another way to see Cobb. Because she almost never did.

They chatted for a while, almost until dawn. They were happy just to talk about anything, a sort of therapy for each other.

They stood outside of the shop, ready to part ways. "Goodnight." She smiled, putting the weight on her heels.

He coughed a moment, about to say something. But instead he nodded and walked away leaving Ariadne alone. She sighed, pausing for a moment.

She felt- alone.