I entered the cafeteria and was struck with Deja' vu. Less than 24 hours ago in this very spot I found out that the most sought after guy in school was in love with me! I felt so surreal and pinched myself to be sure I wasn't dreaming. Looking around I quickly spotted Morgana and Mithian at our table, Merlin hadn't arrived yet. I wondered if he was with Arthur and if Arthur would join us at our table or if he expected me to sit at his table…

My thoughts were interrupted by Morgana waving her hand in front of my face.

"Earth to Gwen! What is with you today?"

"Huh? Oh um… nothing. I'm fine."

Morgana raised one precisely manicured, ebony brow, "Uh huh. Come on dear." She took my arm and escorted me back to our table and I took my usual spot next to her and across from Mithian who looked at me expectantly.

"Hey Mith." I greeted her casually.

"Hey hun! Morgana told me you met your prince charming yesterday but she didn't tell me who it turned out to be! I'm dying to hear all about it! It must have been so romantic!"

"Yeah it was pretty romantic actually." I blushed and Mithian squealed.

"Ooohh, I want to hear all the juicy details!"

Just then Merlin plopped down next to her and someone pulled Morgana's char away and took her spot.

"Hello love." Arthur's arm wrapped around my shoulders as he leaned in to kiss my cheek.

"What the hell? You prat! What do you think you're doing?" Morgana cried in outrage.

Arthur sighed exasperatedly, "Saying hello to my girlfriend, what does it look like? Really Morgana, you're not that thick are you?"

I didn't have to look at her to know that Morgana's nostrils were flaring and her face was turning red with anger. Morgana was scary when she was mad!

"Arthur Pendragon if this is your idea of some sick joke it is so not funny! How dare you take advantage of Gwen like that?!"

"Morgana…" I started but she ignored me and turned her wrath towards Merlin.

"Merlin if you have anything to do with this you can forget about spring formal!"

"Huh? What's that now?"

"Oh don't you play dumb with me-"

"Morgana!" I said louder this time. I had to come clean before she tore Merlin to shreds. "It isn't a joke or prank. Arthur and I are together; he was my mystery date last night."

"What? Gwen, why would you defend my brother? Merlin I understand but Arthur?"

"Well, cuz he's my boyfriend. We're together."

Morgana's expression changed from righteous anger, to indignation to hurt.

"You and Arthur? My brother? Gwen, I-I didn't even know you liked him, why didn't you tell me you had a crush on him, I would have tried to talk you out of it but you could have said something at least."

"I wouldn't exactly say I was crushing and I had no idea that Arthur felt the way he did. I honestly never imagined that this could or would happen."

"C'mon Morgs! even an idiot like me could tell he was head over heels! You live under the same roof and seriously didn't know?"

"Merlin! You are not an idiot; you shouldn't say that about yourself! A paranoid conspiracy theorist - yes, butwaitaminute!..." Morgana paused and looked hard at Merlin...I thought she was going to start screaming at him but instead she spoke quite calmly and quietly, even worse. I felt bad for Merlin.

"You knew. Yesterday when she was debating whether or not to go you knew. '...could be a ruse…' I can't believe you would keep that from me. You were behind the whole thing weren't you?"

She actually sounded more hurt than angry...there must be something more going on that the rest of us were unaware of.

"Morgs I-"

"Don't call me that you traitor!"

"Morgana! I was only helping Arthur out; you know how pathetic he is when it comes to anything havin' to do with feelings"

"I thought we were friends… I thought we were on the same page concerning Gwen? After what happened with Lance.."

I felt Arthur stiffen beside me and wondered why this had to keep coming up between us.

" What makes you think Arthur is any better for her?"

"I'm right here you know."

"Look i'm sorry I didn't tell you but Arthur swore me to secrecy! I was just helpin' out a friend."

"What about our friendship? Or your friendship with Gwen? Is your friendship with Arthur more important?"

"Morgana don't you think you're over reacting just a bit?" Mithian tried reasoning with her but got only a dark scowl in return.

"Morgana, can I say something…"

"I'm not really upset with you Gwen, not anymore. Merlin on the other hand-."

"Morgana!" Arthur interrupted "Don't be mad at Merlin, be mad at me. I practically had to beg him to help me. I would have asked you but you would have laughed and told me 'when hell freezes ove'r!"

Morgana scoffed, "That is true. You don't deserve someone as special as Gwen."

If I didn't know better i'd think she was jealous or something. This is ridiculous.

"Don't I get a say in who I date? Really Morgana you are being worse than Elyan!"

"I just don't want to see you get hurt again! You were distraught when Lance left!"

"Can we please stop mentioning Lance?! He's gone it's in the past Gwen is moving on, why can't you Morgana?" Arthur pleaded with his sister.

Merlin grimaced, "This isn't really about Gwen is it? Morgana you're making this about Alvarr. He did the same thing to you two years ago and you relived it over again when it happened to Gwen."

"Don't be ridiculous Merlin, I got over him ages ago. I'm only looking out for my friend."

Everyone rolled their eyes at that one. Morgana's ex-boyfriend was an upperclassman who dropped out sometime in his senior year. He promised to take Morgana, a sophomore at the time, to the homecoming dance. He didn't come to pick her up so she went to the dance only to him there with her (former) best friend, Eira. She swore off boys and love after that and has cautioned her friends to do the same.

"Guinevere…" Arthur took my hand and locked his blue eyes to mine. "I'm not perfect, but I think you can make be better. I am not Lance and I'm definitely not Alvarr. I know we have something here, I don't know how long this will last but I think it's worth exploring and trying for a little while at least. Shall we give this a chance?"

I don't know if I will ever get used to this side of him! I kinda hope not. I nodded and Arthur placed a gentle kiss on my cheek then smiled a sort of sleepy half grin...in his eyes I saw love.

Mithian awed and Merlin shot Morgana his best puppy dog pout.

"Look at them Morgs, clearly she wants this and they both look happy. She'll be good for him, you know it."

I gave Morgana a hopeful grin and she sighed relenting...hopefully.

"If you're sure Gwen then you have my blessing to date my brother. As for you Arthur Pendragon… if you break her heart… I swear on my mother's grave I will break every bone in your body and you will never play sports again!"

"Gwen will nurse me back to health won't you love?"

I blushed, "I'm sure she won't break every bone…"

"Oh I will. I could still beat him in a fight...if he was worth breaking a nail over." Morgana replied with her signature smirk and I knew we were okay.

"Um… Morgana?" Merlin queried hesitantly, "Will you still go to spring formal with me?"

She sighed, "I don't know Merlin I'm still rather upset with you."

"Please? If not for me then for my mum? She's dying to see me 'all gussied up' as she says -" Merlin's face turned sour, he hated dressing up. "You love to wear fancy dresses and be the center of attention, my mum will go absolutely mad with pictures you'll feel like a movie star or something. Pretty Please?"

"Go on Morgana, give the poor guy a break., and think of how silly he's going to look in a tux? Would you really deprive the rest of us a good laugh?"

Merlin scowled at Arthur in response, "At least I'm not a cabbage head like you."

Here we go.

"Is that the best you could come up with?" Arthur countered.

"Would you prefer dolop head?"

"What? That's not even a word!"

"Sure it is, it's an adjective…"

"Really…?"

"Yeah, it describes you!"

Arthur lunged across the table at Merlin. "Whyyoulittenerd!"

Merlin leaned back out of Arthur's reach so Arthur jumped up and moved to the other side of the table but then Merlin did the same and tried to hid behind Morgana.

"Hiding behind a girl, really Merlin? Are you that much of a wimp?"

"Yes, and Morgana's not a girl, well she is but she's a tough girl."

Morgana laughed, "You are more of a girl than me sometimes Merlin." She stepped aside. "But we all must face our demons sometime... and you brought this on yourself."

"Although Morgana has a point, you ought to take mercy on poor merlin, it's not his fault he's helpless."

"Gwen! You too?"

I shrugged and Mithian rolled her eyes. "Why do I hang out with you people?"

"Because we're so entertaining!" Merlin replied with a flourish.

Just then the first bell rang for dismissal and we all looked down at the table realizing we hadn't eaten any of our lunch. Naturally Arthur blamed Merlin for this

"How is it my fault?"

"I don't know it just is."

I had an idea, "Merlin, is your mum cooking tonight?"

"She cooks every night why?"

Morgana knew where I was headed, "Dinner at Hunith's? Gwen you're a genius!"

"I'll text mum and let her know to expect company."

The late bell rang and we all rushed to gather our things and headed off to class.

A/N: Happy New Year! Hope everyone had a great holiday season. I know I promised this would be up soon after the last but once again life got in the way of fanfiction. UGH! Hate when that happens! I moved to another state, and my fiancé and I went from a 700 sq. ft. apartment to an 11 x 14 bedroom. I had school to finish, which I did and graduated and now have my degree, finally! Then came thanksgiving, Christmas and new year's, some job interviews and lots of family time in between. Finding time to write has been kinda tough. Hope this chapter makes up for it. Please review and let me know what you think, reviews are like chocolate to me, can't get enough!