Disclaimer: Guess what?

N/A: I really like that one :) Hope you will, too!

X

From Arthur to Administrator

Object : Remodelling status report

Please find enclosed our report regarding the remodelling status of the Chapel Site.

The well is reopened, and the cloister reconstruction is under way. Landscapers will come in at the beginning of next week. Dr. LeFay from Avalon is actually working on the Chapel, in relation to the stone that was stolen.

We trust that you'll find the progress to your satisfaction. Do not hesitate to contact us should any question arise.

Regards,

A. Pendragon

Arthur sent his email with a satisfied sigh. He loved his job. Giving their majesty back to those forgotten buildings was a passion. Where one was seeing dreadful ruins, he contemplated memories and possibilities. His father had founded the company for profit. He had taken over for love. Adding figures and battling schedules was bearable when he stepped out to take the picture of the reborn jewel. It broke his heart every time to move on. Then he found a new site to mend, and he smiled again.

He got up to refill his coffee mug, and nearly collided with Morgana who just entered the quarters. They hadn't been that closed since the disastrous scene at the chapel, two days ago. He was still wondering how he manager to obey. But he had dropped his hands, and stepped back without that kiss he was craving for.

Balancing her holding on one hip, Morgana retreated quickly from the door and put her stuff on her desk. He wished he could read her. Surely he was not the only one shaken... He had caught her looking at him when she thought he was not paying attention, or blushing, and she was avoiding him as much as possible, keeping a safe distance between them. That distance was far from sufficient from his point of view. Just being is the same room was enough to distract him. He caught her staring because he was looking, too. And when their hands brushed…
"Where's Merlin?"

Who cares about Merlin?
"Running some errands. Where's Gwen?"

Neither the abrupt question, nor Gwen' mention, had the freshening effect he hoped for. She kept on installing her laptop.
"I asked her to look into the University database for earlier drawings of the area so she stayed home yesterday evening after bringing the seal we retrieved to the lab."
"Oh."

He needed her to keep talking… Her matter-of-fact tone was the only thing keeping him sane right now, before his brain disconnected completely, and he did something embarrassing again. Fortunately, she was on a chit-chat mood.
"Are you going back this week-end?"
"Well, Merlin wants to. I don't really mind. Here or there, that's more or less the same thing."

That's not home.

"What happened to Camelot?"

She remembered. Of course she did. She was Morgana. Did she remember the untidy alley and the wild Aubepine bush, the stone house he had dreamed to restore? They had walked that alley, holding hands; they had whispered below the Aubepine; they had sat on the steps of the house and kissed for the first time there. When she allowed him to kiss her. Before he did the biggest mistake of his life and lost her. The estate was not his. He never bought it. She was not his either; not anymore.

The regret and hurt which flashed in his blue eyes stung her heart. Being in the same room all day long, sharing meals, without touching him was hard enough, now she had to see him hurt too. Her and her big mouth. She only managed to pain him now; she used to know how to cheer him up, when he needed a laugh; or comfort him when he needed to be hold. When she had his heart. Before she fell and dropped it. She had been right to renounce kissing him, despite the torture of pushing him away when she craved for him. Kissing him would only have worsened things. She forced casual into her voice.
"Two pennies for your thoughts?"
"I'm not that cheap…"

He was frowning, falsely shocked.

"You like being difficult, don't you?"
"Definitely."

At least he was smiling again. Morgana opened a file:
"Oh crap."
"What?"
"Gwen sent me something, but it's illegible."
"Let me see."

Arthur bent over her and used the mouse to play with the options of her viewer software. He could not stand to be so far away anymore. He needed to feel her near him, only for a few seconds. Then he will go back to his lonely hell again.

He was so closed his cologne assaulted her. Everything faded but his scent, subtitle mix of amber and musk. He smelt like a hot summer day outside, of earth and woods. Heat surrounded her; his hand over hers was so warm, a little callused, so masculine.

She felt cold when he released her to type some instructions on the keyboard.

"Better?"

Morgana reported difficulty her attention to the screen. The picture was negative now, and far more decipherable. She missed his touch.

She turned to smile to his retreating form. She was just lovely when she was smiling.
"Thank you."
"Anytime. But it's going to cost you."

She pouted, suspicious.
"How so?"
"Have diner with me tonight."

Surprised held her breath. She was just adorable when she was surprised.

"Are your asking me out?"
"If I say yes, you'll say no. So no, I am not asking you out. Just diner; between friends. No fuss."

He could tell her head was spinning. She was just irresistible when she was thinking.

Friendly diner would be nice; they used to have fun together, teasing and laughing, verbal jousting. Diner would be dangerous. They could not be friends; there were too many sparks between them.

Arthur walked back to his own desk.
"Let me know what you decide, okay? I'll make a reservation."

Morgana was uncertain, nibbling at her lower lip.
"No fuss? Just diner?"
"Just diner. You keep your hands of me, and I'll behave."

She smirked and made a face at him. Arthur gave an angelic smile in responds.
"So, what do you say?"
"I'll think about it."

At least she hadn't say no… He nodded, and went on with his own work.

The drawing was a sketch from the XIII had said Gwen. She zoomed on the sanctuary. The altar and the statue were there. It was nearly impossible to say if their shape and place were exactly the same. With the scaled copy of the plan, she would be able to verify that. Morgana brought the full building on view again. The drawing was damaged; she spotted little scratches near the front door. The entrance looked bizarrely shaped because of it. She zoomed again to have a better look. The scratches were almost regular and circular in shape, like some kind of… steps. The chapel had no steps. It had a large entry, but no steps… Frowning, she gazed at her own drawings, then at the enlarged plan on her screen. No way…

The ripping of paper had Arthur lift his head. She was trying to plaster a piece of paper from her notepad to her computer screen.
"Morgana, what are you doing?"

She yelled in triumph and jumped on her feet.
"I'm a genius!"
"What does the modest act stand for?"
"Steps, Arthur."
"The chapel has no steps."
"They are buried."
"And that makes you a genius?"

She had grabbed her notepad, tape, and pen and stuffed it all in her backpack.
"Wait, where are you going?"

All he could make of her answer was 'check' or 'chicken' or something like that as she rushed out.

Merlin found them both at the Chapel. Morgana was battling with a long perch while Arthur was setting up the laser recorder.
"Hey, what's up?"
"We are taking levels."

Arthur gestured to indicate her that the recorder was calibrated.
"I can see that. Why?"
"Miss Genius here thinks the ground level around the Chapel was lower centuries ago, so maybe the entrance for the crypt is buried."
"Shouldn't the entrance be inside the building?"
"Don't ask me. She is the archaeologist."

Merlin shrugged his shoulders and looked around. The afternoon was ending already, and their crew was leaving for the long week-end.
"So, are we going home? Or you want to work this week-end?"
"No, going home is a good idea."
"Great! I'll call Gwen and we'll go out."
"Not tonight, Merlin, Arthur is buying me diner."
"I am? Yes, I am…"

Merlin grinned happily.
"Really? Then I'll just call Gwen and tell her the two of you have a date."

Arthur flushed and Morgana cheeked reddened.
"It's not a date!"
"Just diner…"
"Whatever you said..."

Merlin set out whistling, his grin still glued to his face. Morgana pocked at Arthur chest.
"This is all your fault!"
"Hey, I didn't do anything! You stepped in claiming about us going…"

She pouted.
"It's your fault anyway."

Arthur tried to hide his own smile behind a mask of annoyance and failed. He was grinning like an idiot, and he knew it. He just could not help it. He sighed.
"Don't I know it. So what do you want?"
"Something simple. A pub? You'll have your red meat, and I could have salad or pasta."
"Pub it is…"

She resumed her measurements, her last word coming above her shoulder.
"Oh, and Arthur… This is not a date."

N/A : So, what do you think?