Chapter 3
It had been a week since that awkward conversation at Guinevere's place. Seven long tense days since they'd decided to put their relationships, their love, and their lives to the ultimate test. The group decided to meet at Arthur's condo, which was luxurious but at the same time warm and inviting.
Arthur led Lancelot, Merlin, Gwen and Vivian up a flight of spiral stairs to the game room. It was an in house arcade, complete with a fully stocked bar. Among the many games were darts, pinball, table hockey, and a couple billiard tables. Gwen racked the billiard balls and everyone but Merlin picked out a pool stick. Merlin was sitting on a stool at the bar eating pizza.
Gwen smirked with amusement as she caught sight of the graveyard of crusts piling up on Merlin's plate. For a slender man that Merlin sure can put away some food.
Vivian called out, "Guys against girls."
The guys agreed and Lancelot made the break. Gwen's turn came around and she rubbed the tiny blue cube over the tip of her pool stick.
She aimed to take her shot, "3 ball in the corner pocket."
Gwen sunk it with ease. Vivian gave her a victory high-five. They continued to play pool while discussing the terms of their agreement. The conversation started off smoothly until the question of when it should happen arose. As usual Arthur was having trouble getting the time off from work, which turned into a full blow argument with Vivian, in regard to him working nonstop and never having time for her. Lance was at ease as he called his shot and nailed it. He knew that the sooner the swap happened the quicker that he could return to his normal life with Gwen. But Vivian and Arthur continued to bicker.
"Enough!" Gwen screamed after accidently sinking the eight ball due to the distraction of Vivian and Arthur. Why must they ruin every outing with their nonstop attacks on each other? Gwen had enough of the arguments. "I think that the swap should happen sometime next weekend. My brother, Elyan, will be out of the country and I don't want him to come to the apartment looking for me and see me with Arthur. Can we agree on this?"
Merlin shook his head as he reached for another slice of vegetarian pizza.
"Is this going to be the whole weekend or just one night?" Lance questioned as he re-racked the pool balls.
Vivian and Gwen stared at each other dumbfounded from across the table.
Arthur cleared his throat. "Why not make this into a weekend swap? This swap shouldn't be based on sex only, but on doing something different." There was a series of glassy sounding clacks as Arthur made the break, sinking two balls in the process. "We're stripes." He informed Lancelot and returned to the conversation at hand. "Vivian doesn't like to go jogging with me in the morning and I know that Guinevere doesn't mind. Lance you love the theater and Vivian does too. Why not just make this about enjoying someone else's company? If sex happens, then it happens. Agreed?"
Vivian smiled and kissed Arthur's cheek. Arthur always surprised her with his unexpected insight. They all said yes to next weekend, yes to enjoying another's company and yes to… Sex with a friends mate?
Merlin, now helping himself to a refreshing beer in a frosted mug, shook his head again. Doomed he thought. Doomed…
xXx
Friday afternoon
After work, Arthur returned to his condo to pack for the swap weekend. I cannot believe that this is actually going to happen. I walk across my bedroom floor to my nightstand to look for my pajama pants and see a box of condoms sitting in the back of my drawer next to my pajamas. Maybe, I should just call the group together and cancel. No, this may be fun, and it doesn't have to be about sex. With that final thought, I close the drawer, walk back to the bed with my pajama pants… and condoms. I zip my bag, and journey out into the cool breeze of the night.
xXx
Lancelot sat on Gwen's couch looking at the small black velvet box in his hand. Maybe I should tell her that this has gone too far. I love her. I shake my head. I know Gwen and she is only going to hang out with Arthur. No sex will happen this weekend between the two. I slip the ring back into my bag and stand up. I peek at Gwen cleaning the spare room for Arthur. A smile creeps onto my face. Yep, Arthur definitely will not be touching my Gwen. I walk to the front door grinning knowing that by the end of the weekend my relationship with Gwen will be better, stronger. Gwen only needs to see for herself that she has a good man compared to Arthur.
xXx
Vivian glanced around her apartment nervously. What is wrong with me? I have never been nervous with Lance before. It was something about the way he smiled at me last week. NO! Lance loves Gwen. He probably will be too scared to try anything with me. But what if he does try something… I smirk a little at the thought and pack my sexy negligee and heels to set the mood. It might just be a fun weekend. Gwen on the other hand will have to put up with boring Arthur. Sorry Gwen. Arthur use to be so much fun until he started working for his dad, Uther. Now, all we do is argue and he doesn't want to touch me. I cannot remember the last time we had sex. Yes, this might be a very fun weekend.
xXx
Merlin stared at the screen of his phone. I should call Gwen and tell her this is a terrible idea. No, I cannot get involved. I have to let them figure this out even if this is DOOMED! Maybe, I should call Morgana and see if she can help me stop them. No, can't do that either because I promised I wouldn't tell a soul. I guess that leaves me one choice, call Leon and Gwaine and go out for pizza and beer.
xXx
Gwen exhaled slowly, feeling surprisingly free, with Lance's absence. I didn't think that he was ever going to leave. Merlin might be right this isn't what I should be doing. I need to call Arthur and tell him not to come over. As I walk to the phone, the doorbell chimes. Oh no! It's too late. I walk to the door and open it wide to see Arthur with a huge grin on his face. What am I going to do now?
A/N :Thank you to Larasmith, Aan, Bandeapix, Riapane, and Embrasia for the reviews! Also, thank you to my incredible Beta!