AN: This was initially going to be a future chapter for my story 'Darkest Nights Turn Into Dawns' however I've placed that story on hiatus because I've just hit a complete block with it. This had been written prior to this and I decided to upload it as a standalone. If you haven't read 'Darkest Nights' the basically Arthur, not Lancelot sacrificed himself in 4x02 and it's everyone's reactions to his death. This is my first proper M-rated story and basically tells you what would have happened had I continued the story as this twist was one I had in my head for it all along. This might be crap but it's a first attempt to any feedback will be appreciated.

Gwen wandered around the castle in a daze. It was nearing the end of December, the end to a very hard year. The last two months in particular had taken a lot out of them. Arthur's death meant that so much had changed in such a short space of time, especially for Gwen. His will had named her as Arthur's heir meaning that she had to step up and take control over Camelot. This meant receiving offers of support from various kingdoms to maintain peace as well as facing the obvious opposition from nobles and royals alike. Not to mention Morgana was still out there somewhere being, well Morgana. All that had happened since Samhain's Eve and Arthur's sacrifice… it was enough to make Gwen's head spin. However that was nothing compared to this; she could handle everything else but this? This she wasn't so sure about.

Gwen suddenly became aware of where she was as she rounded a corner. She was just outside Arthur's chambers. She hadn't been in there since that night. The night just before Samhain's Eve. The night before everything changed. Gwen pushed open the door and walked into the darkened room. Through the low moonlight that shone through the window, Gwen could make out the shadows of the table, chairs, wardrobe and bed which had been left behind, however there were hardly any possessions in the room. There was nothing left that showed that Arthur had ever even existed in the first place. Gwen sat down on the bed and reached for one of the pillows and clutched it to her chest. Maybe it was her imagination but it still smelt a bit like him. Gwen pressed her face into the pillow and allowed the memories of that late October night to wash over her.

"Do you think my father will be well enough for the feast tomorrow?" Arthur asked Gwen as they sat on the floor in front of the fire, allowing the warmth of the flames to combat the October chill. It was actually an almost daily thing for them. When Gwen finished her day's work, she would drop by to Arthur's chambers if he wasn't away with Merlin and the knights. They would sit and talk and kiss and let the world fall away until it was just them in this room and nothing else existed.

"I don't honestly think so. You know how your father is but I'll look after him." Gwen replied from her position between Arthur's legs, her back pressed against his chest while his arms draped over her shoulders in a hug.

"I honestly don't think you know how much I appreciate you for looking after him. I know how you feel about him." Arthur stated morosely. Gwen craned her neck and smiled at Arthur.

"I've told you a hundred times that I don't mind. Besides it's what you do when you love someone and you know how much I love you." Gwen reassured as she leant forward and kissed Arthur.

"I love you so much Guinevere." Arthur replied as they broke apart before they kissed again. As they kissed, Gwen opened her mouth and allowed Arthur to slip his tongue into her mouth. It was all about the two of them, here and now and as they broke apart for air, Gwen looked at Arthur. She took in every last detail of his appearance and out of nowhere, an un-suppressible thought made itself clear. It had been the last thing on her mind but now as she looked at Arthur, she knew.

"Arthur, I'm ready." Gwen said and Arthur looked at her, taking a moment to realise what she was saying and his expression turned from confusion to a concerned expression.

"Are you sure?" Arthur asked, he didn't want to pressure Guinevere into anything. This was her choice to make and he didn't want her to do something that she might later regret. He hoped she never would have any regrets about the two of them.

"I'm sure," Gwen replied. Something about tonight just seemed so right and she couldn't work out why. Arthur got to his feet and locked the door before walking back to Gwen. He wanted this but he wanted to be sure that Guinevere did too. This would be the first time for both of them and he had to admit he was a bit nervous which was stupid. He was a battle-hardened warrior who would run into a battlefield without blinking but the idea of being with Guinevere, making love to her made him feel nervous. What if he did something wrong or he hurt her? Wasn't it supposed to hurt women the first time?

Gwen smiled slightly as she looked at Arthur and she undid her braid and let her hair fall freely down her back while simultaneously kicking off her shoes. She knew what he was concerned about and she was nervous too. This was her first time and she had heard from other maids that apparently it was painful the first time but the pain was usually worth it in the end. Besides if it did hurt, she knew it was because of their lovemaking and not because Arthur was trying to hurt her. Gwen walked over to Arthur and wrapped her arms around his neck and leant in close to him so that she could smell him. She could smell the metallic tang of his chainmail that still hung around him, the smell of the soap used by Merlin to clean his clothes and that musky smell that was all his own. Arthur could smell the lavender fragrance which followed Gwen everywhere and he placed his arms around her waist, pulling her closer to him.

"Are you genuinely sure about this?" Arthur asked Gwen. Once they took this next step, there was no going back for either of them.

"I'm sure, I love you Arthur and I want you to be the only man to make love to me." Gwen replied. Arthur leant forward and kissed her again. This kiss was different to the others. This kiss was the one that broke the floodgates. They were both adults, they had experienced lust in the past but had always managed to refrain from going too far. Tonight however, those feelings, urges and needs which they had managed to hold back were being let loose.

The kiss deepened and they allowed their hands to fully wander and explore each other's bodies. Gwen's hands raked over hard muscular arms, a firm torso and a taut back whilst Arthur's hands swept down the curves of Gwen's breast and chest before sliding around her waist moving down towards her backside. As his hands went down, Gwen's hands went up to ghost along the nape of his neck and pull him closer to her. It was only when the need for air got too much that they broke apart breathing heavily.

Arthur moved to pull off his shirt but Gwen stopped him. Instead she removed his shirt and let it fall to the floor. Arthur responded by unlacing Gwen's corset and allowing her blue dress to slide to the floor leaving her in her underdress. Arthur looked at Gwen standing in her slip, it was the one with the short sleeves which cut dangerously low at her breast and allowed for some expanse of the imagination whilst still remaining modest. There was something about how she looked standing in her underdress with her hair loose and her lips swollen from their kisses which turned his blood into fire and feel a fire unlike any he'd felt in his loins.

Gwen had tended to Arthur several times and his chest was a familiar yet welcome sight. Maybe it was because she wasn't seeing it due to a life threatening wound or maybe it was the state of handsome dishevelment of Arthur, shirtless and his lips swollen which made her feel a heat in her lower stomach. Judging by what she could see, he was feeling the same way.

Encouraged by this reaction, Gwen pushed down Arthur's trousers, allowing them to pool at his ankles and shifted her hand slightly. Arthur took it and guided it to his swollen manhood. It was strange to the touch and slowly she began to move her hand over it, taking in the strange texture. It was hard and swollen yet also soft. Arthur let out a moan and she whipped her hand away quickly.

"No, that was good." Arthur commented as he pushed the sleeves of Gwen's underdress and the fabric fell to the floor leaving her standing naked in front of him. Arthur stared. He knew she was beautiful but seeing her stood in front of him almost finished him there and then. His eyes racked over the various curves of her breasts to the smooth slanting of her waist and hips. Arthur managed to get some control over himself and he took Gwen's hand and led her to the bed rather than have her there and then on the floor.

"If you want me to stop at any point, just say so." Arthur said as Gwen nestled herself into the soft mattress and he moved so that he was kneeling on the bed and leaning over her.

"And you," Gwen replied as she leant up and kissed Arthur, snaking her arms around his neck to pull him closer. Arthur moved his hands to explore Gwen's body. They ghosted around her neck and across her collarbone and shoulder blades before descending down towards her breasts. He slowly ran his hands over each one individually before he broke the kiss.

"What are," Gwen began but was interrupted by the feeling of Arthur kissing and running his tongue over each breast individually, teasing the nipples. It felt so weird but at the same time served to increase the feelings in her nether regions. Gwen smiled to herself as she got braver. Two could play this game. Gwen leant forward and attached her own mouth to Arthur's neck and began nibbling and kissing the flesh until a large red mark appeared just at the point where his neck connected with his collarbone. Arthur looked at Gwen wide eyed and she smiled back.

"You're full of surprises tonight." Arthur commented as they kissed again and allowed their hands to wander a bit more. They didn't need to speak or tell another what to do, not tonight anyway. Tonight wasn't about lust or sex, tonight was all about exploration and discovery; crossing that final border into the ultimate unknown area of their relationship. Tonight was about putting their words and emotions and experiences into physical movements and actions. Amongst what they discovered was that Arthur's midriff was quite ticklish and that Gwen had a burn scar on her lower back. Before long however, certain primal urges were beginning to make themselves known and without speaking, they both moved closer together so that they could guide the other's hands as to not cause discomfort or pain.

Gwen could feel the hardness of Arthur's manhood under her hands knew it wouldn't be long. Likewise, Arthur moved his hands between Gwen's legs which she stretched to allow him to position his body properly. As Arthur traced his fingers along the damp area surrounding the entrance to the most intimate part of her body the pair of them shivered in anticipation. In his youth, Arthur had frequently heard the other knights and squires boasting about how many fingers they got 'inside' and he gently slid one finger into Gwen followed slowly by another.

"Oh my god," Gwen gasped, she'd heard from older women about how some men would insert their fingers first. Apparently it helped to stimulate better reactions as well as make it less painful for the first time. Arthur added two more of his fingers and left them there for a few moments to allow Gwen's body to adjust to the intrusion.

Arthur looked up at Gwen and the sight of her looking so dishevelled, her lips were swollen, her breasts were heaving, her eyes were shining with lust and also love and her hair was a ruffled mess. The idea of Gwen looking so dishevelled and the knowledge that he most likely looked no tidier and the knowledge that it was their own doing which served to impact Arthur all the more. This was it. Arthur looked at Gwen.

"Ready?" Arthur whispered.

"Ready," Gwen replied.

Arthur slowly moved forward and pushed himself into Gwen's body. The sensation of their bodies joining, connecting as one in such a way almost finished him there and then as he moved forward a bit more.

"Ouch!" Gwen winced. It turned out that this did hurt. She had actually felt it; she had felt that barrier in her body break.

Arthur immediately froze. "Are you alright?" He berated himself for asking a stupid question and Gwen took a few deep breaths before nodding. The pain wasn't as sharp now. There was a feeling of pain in that general area but nothing serious.

"It's fine, we can keep going." Gwen said and as she pulled him down to kiss him again, Arthur began moving his hips, pulling in and out of her; sometimes slowly and other times quicker. Each one prompted more and more groans of pleasure from both of them as Gwen responded with each thrust with a movement of her hips; either rising to welcome him or teasing by pushing away. It was like a dance of sorts, the movements of their bodies, the rhythms formed between their actions was all like some sort of unique, passionate dance accompanied by the more vocal aspect of their performance.

They could feel the pleasure and the impact of their exploration culminating into that final natural urge, the climax of their lovemaking was getting closer and closer. Hearts were pounding, breathing was becoming more rapid, hands were running over all that could be reached, legs were tangled together to the extent it was impossible to tell where one person ended and the other began. All the while their mouths were joined in a performance just as intense as the lower regions of their bodies.

Gwen could feel the muscles clenching as her climax. She felt like she was flying, like everything else had fallen away to insignificance; she didn't want this to end but it was all coming to an end. Gwen moaned into Arthur's mouth as she reached her climax. Her body shook as she reached that point of release and she could feel Arthur doing the same.

It was the sensation of feeling Gwen's body, every last tremor of pleasure that was coursing through her body, he could feel in him. He could feel the pressure building up in him; Arthur knew he wouldn't last much longer. He needed this release, he needed… Arthur felt Gwen's muscles clench around him and as she moaned into his mouth as she reached her release, Arthur felt his body comply into doing the same and his body shook as he reached his own release.

As they came down from the highs created by their lovemaking, Arthur rolled off Gwen and lay on the mattress beside her. For a few moments they were silent, allowing themselves to get their breaths back and simply looking at one another; still in slight shock that they had actually done it.

"That was…" Arthur trailed off and Gwen smiled as she propped herself on her elbow.

"Perfect." Gwen replied and it had been. They hadn't needed words during their lovemaking but instead allowed their bodies to speak for them. Arthur however looked at her and Gwen frowned slightly as she saw tears in his eyes. "What is it?"

Arthur stared at the bloodstain on the scarlet sheet, only visible by the way the still damp stain sheened under the flickering candles. "I hurt you. I caused you pain and I enjoyed it. I must be a monster."

"Arthur listen to me, every woman bleeds the first time, it's natural." Gwen explained gently as she hugged him and rested her head on his chest. "You could never be a monster. Not to me."

"Do you have any idea how much I love you?" Arthur asked as he kissed Gwen again.

"If it's half as much as I love you, then it's enough." Gwen replied through a yawn. The extent of their physical actions was now making itself known and they both found themselves batting sleep rather than lust or primal urges.

"I couldn't begin to describe how much I love you. There is nothing I would never do if it made you happy." Arthur whispered as Gwen shut her eyes, exhausted from their lovemaking and lulled to sleep by the gentle rhythm of Arthur's heartbeat. That was all the description of their love that she needed.

"That's nice," Gwen murmured sleepily and Arthur smiled as he felt his own eyes beginning to droop and he laid back onto his pillows, pulling the quilt up over them. His tired state coupled with his emotional high allowed for a moment of delirium-induced honesty from Arthur as he lost his battle with sleep.

"I want you to marry me." Arthur muttered as he too succumbed to sleep.

'I want you to marry me.'

Gwen had almost been asleep when she'd heard Arthur say that. As she remained seated on Arthur's bed, the very bed wherein they had consummated their love. Gwen couldn't help but imagine what that would have been like. Obviously whenever Uther died she would become queen but what would it have been like to become queen because she was Arthur's wife and not his heir? What would married life be like for them? Would they have many children? So many questions but there was one she knew the answer to. She knew that answer, not because of instinct but because they were Arthur and Guinevere; the norms of any relationship did not apply to them. She was obviously surprised by the news but at the same time, she wasn't in a way.

Gwen had known even before she had seen Gaius what was wrong with her. However it was easier to find excuses and live in denial. She hadn't been sleeping well since Arthur died; her emotions had been affected by stress and her appetite had changed because she wasn't used to such rich, fine foods and as a result her clothing just needed to be altered slightly because they were slightly tight and sometimes the quality of the food made her feel ill. Her monthly flow… well, stress and trauma were known to affect women's cycles. Each excuse however was in vain; Gwen had known all along what was wrong with her but it was only when Gaius confirmed it earlier that she really began to believe it.

Gwen set the pillow aside and sat in the darkened room with her hands over her midriff.

Two months.

Two months since Morgana opened the Veil and released the Dorrocha.

Two months since Arthur died.

Two months since she and Arthur had slept together.

Two months since she had become pregnant with Arthur's child.