Arthur found Elyan slumped in one of the seats in the waiting room.

"Where's Gwen? How's your Dad?" Arthur skidded to a stop in front of Elyan, his heart pounding in his ears.

"Hey, Arthur. She's inside with Dad. One visitor only." Dark rings were smudged around his eyes and he was unshaven. Elyan caught Arthur staring and smiled wryly. "It's been a long night."

Arthur sighed, then took a seat next to Elyan. "Are you alright? Is Gwen?"

"You know, we knew this was coming – we've prepared for it, talked about it and now it's here –" Elyan trailed off then slumped even lower into his seat. "Gwen is holding up. She'll be glad you're here."

Merlin arrived some time later, bearing coffee and snacks. Just behind him, a large man walked in, worry clear in his eyes. It was the first time Arthur met Percy. Through the hours, as the traffic in the hospital rose and ebbed, Arthur, Merlin and Percy sat in the waiting room, half watching the soap that played on the small television in the corner, as Gwen and Elyan took turns in their father's ward.

When Gwen walked out of the room, tear streaks on her pale face, her red rimmed eyes blank. Arthur stood, walked towards her and held her tightly.

From the corner of the room, Arthur kept his eyes on Gwen, who dressed in a somber suit, smiled and nodded as she entertained her father's various friends and family. A small table of food and drinks stood in the middle of the room, flanked by a gaudy flower arrangement his father had sent. The funeral itself had been a simple, well-attended affair. Just an hour or so more, the funeral reception would end and Gwen would finally be able to get some rest. He rubbed the back of his neck. He was exhausted. He couldn't imagine how Gwen felt.

"Excuse me?"

Arthur dragged his gaze from Gwen to the stranger who stood next to him. "Can I help you?"

"I'm Lance. Is Gwen around?"

At that name, a chill ran down his spine. It took Arthur a while to pull himself together and attempt a friendly smile. "She's over there, by the bookcase."

"Thanks."

A tight band started to squeeze his heart as Arthur watched Lance approach Gwen. The shock on her face gave way to a smile and she let him hug her. For only the second time that day, Arthur tore his eyes from Gwen. The wine in his glass was warm but he gulped it down. He needed fresh air. Setting the glass down, he walked through the kitchen into the small back garden. He sucked in a lungful of air then let it out slowly. Lance must have heard of Gwen's father's death and returned from wherever he'd been. Had Gwen told him? It was clear that he and Gwen's father had been close so Gwen telling him would be the right thing to do. It didn't mean Gwen was still hung up on him. It didn't.

He lingered outside for a while more but when he noticed the crowd thinning, Arthur went back into the house, just in time to see Gwen lift herself up on her toes and brush her lips against Lance's cheek. His heart sank and irrational jealousy flared up in him. But this was not the time or place for his feelings.

"Lance," said Merlin who appeared suddenly next to him. "Another drink?"

"We're just friends," said Arthur as he took the glass from Merlin. "Gwen can be with whoever she wants."

"Right."

Arthur sighed. "Do you think he's back for the long term?"

"Do you mean, is Lance back to win back Gwen?"

"Maybe."

Merlin shook his head. "Talk to her. You two need to put an end to this only friends thing."

"Merlin, her father just passed away."

"I haven't forgot. I'm just starting to think that all this is just an excuse because the two of you are scared." Merlin slapped his shoulder. "Talk to her. Don't be your Dad."

Arthur shoved Merlin lightly. "Shut up."

By evening, most of the crowd had left. Except Lance was still around, still hovering over Gwen. Logically, Arthur knew that there was no reason for Gwen to entertain him but that other part of his brain that was fixated on the idea that Lance was about to sweep Gwen away from him hated that Gwen spent so much time chatting with Lance. Arthur walked up to Gwen.

"Arthur! This is Lance. Lance, this is my friend Arthur."

Arthur's heart sank even lower but he put on his best professional face. He'd to make nice with lots of people he didn't like for work. This would be no different. "We've met. I've heard a lot about you, Lance."

"All good I hope," said Lance. "I rushed back here as soon as I got the news." His arm slipped around Gwen's shoulders and it took Arthur some effort to keep his arms at his side.

"Are you planning to stay long?" asked Arthur.

Lance looked down at Gwen. "As long as Gwen needs me."

Arthur wanted to say that Gwen had him, she didn't need Lance. Actually, he wanted to punch Lance. Instead he nodded. "I'm glad."

"I'm glad too," said Gwen, smiling back at Lance. "It's nice to have you back."

"I'm going to call the caterers," said Arthur, unwilling to subject himself to more of this. He caught Gwen's frown but walked away.

Finally, the house was empty except for him, Merlin, Percy, Elyan and Gwen. They slumped on the sofa, wine glasses cradled in their hands.

Elyan raised his glass. "A toast to our father. He was a good man."

They raised their glasses, murmuring in agreement. For a while, Gwen and Elyan shared memories of their father into the wee hours of the morning.

"We have to go now," said Elyan, standing. He squeezed Gwen's shoulder. "You'll be alright?"

She nodded and smiled tiredly. "Drive carefully. You didn't drink too much, did you?"

"I did but Percy hasn't."

The large man stood as well and smiled. "Hey, you want a lift into the city, Merlin?"

"I can drive you back," said Arthur.

Merlin looked at him, then shook his head. "Nah, you stay with Gwen. I'll ride with them."

There was a flurry of hugs and kisses at the front door, then it was just him and Gwen.

"Are you going to stay the night?" she asked as she closed the door, exhaustion and emotion slurring her words together.

"Come, let's get you to your bedroom." When she didn't protest, Arthur pulled her close to him, supporting her with his body as he led her to her bedroom. By the time Gwen dragged her feet into her bedroom, Arthur knew she was half asleep. Picking her up only elicited a slight moan before she snuggled into him. Unable to resist, Arthur kissed her forehead. As gently as possible, he placed her on her bed.

"Arthur," she murmured, her eyes shut.

Lowering himself to the edge of her bed, he brushed her hair from her face. "Go to sleep."

She said something else then turned her face into her pillow. Arthur sat there, stroking her hair until her breathing evened out and her body relaxed. Tucking her duvet over her, Arthur went back into the living room, stretched out on the sofa and fell into a sleep disturbed by dreams of Gwen smiling sweetly at him, then telling him she was about to leave to build wells with Lance.

"Arthur?"

"Hmm?" He looked up from his work, his face breaking into a grin when Gwen popped her head around his door, then held up a paper bag. "Gwen! How have you been?"

"Good. I brought you lunch." Her smile was uncertain as she walked over to him and dropped the slightly oily bag onto his freshly polished desk. That simple action brought back memories of their time as a pretend couple. Ironically, Arthur found himself wishing that they could go back to that time, when things seemed so much more straight-forward, when emotions hadn't gotten involved and he knew, thanks to a legal contract, exactly where he stood with Gwen.

"Thank you. Here to have lunch with Merlin?"

Instead of agreeing and leaving, she pulled out the chair across from him and sat in it, crossing her legs daintily. Gwen had lovely legs. He should tell her one day. "Actually I came to see you."

Well.

Arthur put down his pen. "Me?"

Gwen's eyes slid away from his and her fingers played with the edges of his folder. "I – uh – wanted to see how you were."

"Yeah? How about you?" He stood, walking around his table, to lean next to where she sat. "Everything going well?"

Gwen smiled wryly. "I still cry sometimes but it's better. We're going to sell the house – Elyan needs the money and I work in the city anyway."

Elena had already told Arthur this after Gwen called her looking for a lawyer. But Arthur nodded. Elena had also told him that Gwen had gone to see her accompanied by a handsome, dark-haired man.

He wasn't going to ask about Lance.

"How are you? You've been very busy." Her fingers stopped playing with his folder and her hand touched his thigh gently. Arthur bit back the desire that suddenly coursed through him.

"Yeah. I have." He wanted so much to tell her about his mother and her diary. He wanted to tell her about the latest contract he'd snagged. "That's what happens when you don't come to work for a week."

Her palm flattened on his thigh. "Thank you so much for being there, for everything."

"That's what friends are for," Arthur said flippantly.

"What's that?" Startled by the change of subject, Arthur followed her gaze to where his mother's diary lay at a corner of his desk.

"Ah," he said again. "That's my mother's."

Curiosity entered her expression. "Oh? Is it a diary? Have you read it?"

Arthur thought about the evenings he'd spent plowing through the diary. It had been like spending time with the mother he'd never met – her excitement over the child, her increasingly fear and anxiety. He nodded, unable to look at Gwen.

Her hand touched his cheek.

"You know she died giving birth to me?"

"You told me."

"She didn't really want to have me. She was so frightened."

"Then why –"

"My dad really wanted a child. And she just never told him because she didn't want to let him down. Or she was afraid – I can't really tell."

Gwen's thumb rubbed against his knee. "I'm sorry."

Telling Gwen all that made Arthur remember what he'd told himself earlier in the week. "Gwen."

"Arthur," she said, her eyes wide as they gazed up at him.

"I don't want to be friends."

She bit her lip at his words. "No?"

"I should have asked you why you broke up with me in the first place but I was afraid I would hear something I didn't want to hear. Like my dad." Reaching down, he took the hand that was at his knee, tugging her up so they stood face to face. "Why did you dump me then?"

When she remained quiet, Arthur worried that Gwen didn't want to tell him. He dropped her hand, only to have her cup his face.

"I was scared I wasn't good enough for you," she said in a quiet voice. "And I thought you not bringing me to the Whitetown dinner was proof."

He frowned at her. "I hired you to be my fake girlfriend! Why would you not be good enough for me?"

Something flashed in her eyes. "I don't know. I never said it made sense!"

Arthur laughed, slipping one arm around her waist and pulling her so she was flush against him.

Instead of relaxing into him like she did so many times before, she jabbed his shoulder.

"Ow!"

"And instead of saying you wanted not to break up, you come by and say we should be friends!"

"I was scared too," confessed Arthur. "Scared I couldn't live up to Lance."

It was Gwen's turn to smile. "I don't want a replacement for Lance."

"No?"

"No. I want you."

"Good," whispered Arthur. "Because I want you too."

She stood on tip-toes and kissed him.

Epilogue

"You invited Elyan for dinner?"

Gwen nodded. "You know one of my dad's last wishes was for us to be a family again so I thought I'd make the effort."

"Ok. Do you need something catered?" Arthur shifted so he could gather Gwen closer to him. They were lying in bed, like they usually did every Sunday morning, just catching up with each other and enjoying a brief moment away from the stress of real life.

"I'll cook. Do you want to invite your friends?"

"If it isn't too much trouble. Might as well make a party of it."

"Exactly what I was thinking." Then she smiled, pushing herself up so she was sitting. "Do you know what date it is tomorrow?"

He knew exactly what date it was but he shook his head. Gwen let out a disappointed sigh, then slumped back onto the pillows. Laughing at her exaggerated despair, he leaned over her, brushing a kiss on her forehead.

"Did you really think I wouldn't remember? It's the day we signed that silly contract."

She pouted and turned from him. In response, he pressed wet kisses against her neck, slowing moving down her arm. He heard her sigh and he smiled, his hand sliding around her waist, then moving lower until he reached his goal. She moved and pressed against him, undulating against his hand.

"I love you," he said as he kissed her shoulder.

"I love you too."

AN: Ah, it's finally, truly over. I'm sorry it was so sad. :(