Hello my friends,

Hope you'll like this ! I want to thank you all for the love and support, I read everything and it means the world to me, this is what keeps me writing 3

Love you all !

Chapter 11:

Gwen woke up to the feelings on strong arms around her and she smiled, nuzzled herself closer against the warmth on her back and felt Arthur stirred, kissing the back of her neck and she smiled, took his hand from where it was on her stomach and leant her head on it, kissing it lightly.

"Morning." he rasped and she smiled again,

She loved these kind of moments.

"Morning." He tightened his hold on hers and she sighed contently.

"How was your night?"

"Nick and I had a great time." he hummed against her skin. "You?"

"It was alright." She laughed and elbowed him in the ribs. "Truth, please."

Arthur rolled his eyes and groaned,

"Merlin and I had a great time, as usual. Happy?"

She giggled and his heart missed a beat.

Then she turned around in his arms,

"Why is it so hard for you to say it, you know he's your best friend."

Arthur made a face and she giggled again, making him laugh.

"He's more than that." he finally admitted. "That idiot's family."

Guinevere smiled and cupped his cheek.

"I love you so much."

She saw he was taken aback, but a bright smile soon found way on his lips.

"I love you too. You know that."

"Doesn't hurt to hear it once in a while."

Arthur smiled and leant in, kissing her.

And Gwen thought… It was the time.

She could tell him right now.

But then-

"Mummy! Daddy!" someone knocked on their door. "I am hungry!"

Both adults laughed.

"Coming, my boy." only said Arthur and then in one last peck on the lips he was gone, and with him her chance to tell him about Lancelot and his threat.

Merlin woke up from where he had surely crashed last night, after way too many drinks with Arthur.

He got up only to get a bottle of water with an aspirin and then went straight back to bed.

And then he froze.

Because if he remembered correctly…

Merlin took his phone, praying that alcohol was making his memory blurry.

But then…

"Oh bloody hell."

He had been texting Morgana all night.

(And why the hell did Arthur not stop him? Where was this dollop head when he needed him?!)

He had texted awfully oblivious messages…

ME: You know you are so very beautiful. I have never met a woman as beautiful as you in my ENTIRE life.

Oh no.

There was worst.

ME: You're smart.

ME: And funny.

ME: You're everything I want in a woman.

ME: Are you even real?

ME: I'll have to check with Arthur. Surely he would know if you're real or not…

ME: You don't seem real, though.

ME: Well, you seem real when I kiss you.

ME: I should kiss you, then.

ME: I certainly want to right now.

ME: Yet again I want to all the time.

He buried his face in his hands and groaned.

"SHIT."

MP: You're sweet but you're drunk, Merlin. ;)

ME: I'm only drunk on you.

Oh bloody hell, was he that bad at flirting?

MP: Haha, again, sweet. But I do think you and my brother can go home now, no more booze for you.

ME: I am not drunk!

MP: Exactly what a drunk person would say.

ME: Morgana!

MP: Only joking. We'll talk about all of it when you're sober, if that is really what you want.

ME: What I really want is to kiss you.

For real now, where was Arthur to stop him for making a fool out of himself this way?

MP: I guess we'll see about that, too.:) Goodnight, Merlin. Xx

ME: Goodnight, my lady. Xx

He was so embarassed he couldn't talk to her.

Not now.

Not ever.

He buried his face in his pillow, groaning.

A part of himself reminded him that he had sent nothing to Freya, that he just noticed she wasn't even home but he shut that part up for now.

One thing at a time.

Nick was playing in his room, leaving Gwen and Arthur together.

It was Sunday, they had nowhere else to be.

Nowhere else to flee…

Gwen took a deep breath and turned towards her husband, who was on the couch.

"We need to talk, Arthur."

And then she realized she should have maybe come up with another line because Arthur tensed so visibly in front of her.

He didn't want to hear about her new colleague.

He just wanted things to be the way they were since the morning.

"Guinevere..."

"It's important."

And then he sighed and put down his book, taking a deep breath.

"I know."

She sat by his sides on the couch and now he was fidgeting, which was killing her.

She hated to see him like that so…

"But first..." she breathed and then cupped his cheeks and kissed him with all the love she could muster.

Arthur seemed surprised at first but kissed her back with as much passion and when they broke apart, they were breathless.

She could see the softness back in his eyes and smiled, proud of herself.

"I love you." he said and she smiled,

"I love you, too."

They both took a deep breath and then…

"I am ready to talk." she said and he nodded,

"And I am ready to hear it."

Merlin was still home, desperately waiting for his hangover to pass.

And when had his life become so complicated?

And then he heard the door opened and he froze.

Freya was home.

And that could only mean one thing…

That talk he was trying to avoid at all cost?

Well, There was no escaping it now.

She came in and looked so exhausted he felt horrible.

For so many reasons.

"Freya."

"Hello, Merlin."

She sighed again and walked to him, sitting by his sides and he had never felt so useless in his life.

He hated it.

"I'm gonna stay at my parents' for some time."

"Freya-"

"I think it's best. For everyone."

He looked down.

"I am so sorry."

"Don't be." she tried a smile,

"Your choice isn't done yet, is it?"

"No."

"Then there is still hope."

Their eyes met and he was hit by how much she actually meant to him.

"Yes, there is."

She smiled and took a deep breath, readying herself for what she was about to say.

"Merlin, in order for this to work, you need time to think on your own."

"I know."

"That means not seeing me, nor … her."

He sighed again.

"I've already come to that conclusion, too."

She smiled, then took something and he saw a tear rolling down her cheek as she laid the ring in front of him.

"Freya..."

"I don't want it unless you really want to give it to me." her voice broke but she cleared her throat and cupped his cheek, studying him for what felt like the last time. "Until then, Merlin Emrys." she pecked his lips and his heart broke as she walked away.

Merlin was so lost but she was right and he knew it,

This was the right thing to do.

He could always count on her to make him make the right choice.

So he took his phone and texted Morgana.

ME: I have to talk to you, will be at your place in a few minutes.

MP: Okay.

"What are you hiding from me, Guinevere?" he asked softly and she took a deep breath, trying to find some courage.

"I didn't mean to hide things from you, you know." she shrugged and he squeezed her hand, "It's just hard to talk to you, sometimes."

Arthur tried to hide how much that actually hurt.

"Why?"

She sighed.

"Because sometimes you don't listen anymore and just act without thinking of the consequences. You let your anger overcome your reason, which make it difficult for me to tell you stuff that I know will make you angry."

This time she saw she had hurt him and instantly regretted her words.

"Arthur, that's not-"

"I didn't know you felt this way, Guinevere." he said, taking his hand back. "Sorry for being such a bad husband."

"That's not what I meant and you know it."

"Oh so this is one of the case when I let my anger overcome your real meaning?"

She froze.

"Arthur, please."

He sighed deeply, keeping his frustration in check.

And then...

"So you can't trust me, but you can trust that new man who is working with you."

Her eyes widened.

"What?"

"I saw you in class with him." and now he looked upset, she could see the fear careful hidden in the blue of his eyes, but she couldn't blame him.

"Arthur that's not-"

"You were both so close." he chuckled darkly. "A lot closer that what you've been letting me be lately."

She froze.

"Don't say that."

He frowned and receded a bit, and she recognized his face: he was angry.

"Can you tell me I am wrong?"

"Arthur..." then, "Nothing is going on with Gwaine, you have to know that."

His silence was worth more than anything.

And then she was angry.

"Do you still not trust me? Is it what this is all about again?"

He scoffed.

"Please don't try to make this about me."

She crossed her arms and glared at him.

"Oh, so what is this about dear husband?"

A silence during which he only studied her and then said something that took her breath away for a second.

"Guinevere, I know sometimes I can be hard to live with and I do apologize for that. I'm trying to change." her anger fell right away and she felt awful, wanted to reassure him of how much she loved him but he kept talking. "But please, try to understand me on this one. What you would say if I started confiding only in Mithian but refused to let you close to me?"

She froze.

He was right.

If Arthur had done that, she would have burn the place to the ground...

(Probably with Mithian in it.)

So yeah,

She could understand jealousy.

They were facing each other and both so shy suddenly.

"I am sorry about the texts." he said finally and she smiled softly.

"It's alright Merlin. No harm's done." she winked and he smiled back, getting lost in her emerald eyes.

"Look, Morgana..." he took a deep breath and she tilted her head. "I've been thinking about this situation of ours."

"And?" she put a strand of hair behind her ear.

(He wanted to do that, too.)

"And I think I need time to think about what I want. What I really want."

"I agree." she sighed, "And I guess you're about to tell me you need to do that on your own?"

He chuckled.

"Sometimes I forget how well you know me."

She smiled.

"We've been in each others lives for so long." she smiled wistfully and he too got lost in memories. And then she said, "I'll wait for you, you know."

"I was counting on it."

She smiled brightly and he left but then changed his mind, turned around and cupped her cheeks, kissing her. "See you soon."

She nodded, dazed by the kiss.

And as he walked away , Merlin wondered how the hell he would make a choice when it felt like he both loved them so much it hurt.

"You're right." she admitted.

Arthur's eyes widened.

"About?"

"I would have gone crazy if you had pushed me away for Mithian."

"Gwen-"

"No, that one is my fault. I apologize."

He sighed and took her hand again, laying a reverent kiss inside of her wrist.

"I love you. I don't want you to feel guilty, I just want you to confide in me. I want to be there for you, no matter what happens."

She smiled but her heart broke.

"Okay." she breathed, "But Arthur, you're not going to like what I have to say."

He shrugged.

"Together I believe we can overcome anything."

She smiled weakly.

And then started talking.

Freya was crying, driving home when suddenly she had a change of heart.

She needed to talk to Morgana.

She was not angry towards hers...

She just needed to see her.

So she turned around and drove towards the hotel Merlin's ex was staying.

Gwen had told Arthur everything.

The stalking at work.

The phone messages with an unknown number.

The threats Lancelot made to her and to Arthur's life.

And now she was awaiting her husband's reaction with fear.

Because she knew this face…

Arthur was angry.

She took his hand in hers and he jumped, blue eyes icy.

"I'm going to kill him." he hissed and she shivered.

"Arthur, you promised-"

"Guinevere! He thratened you! And me to hurt you! You really expect me to do nothing?"

"You said you wouldn't ! Arthur, please!" He got up and she got up too.

"He can't get away with it."

"He won't." she promised, "I'll go to the police station with you if you want to. But please, please" she begged him, "Don't go to him. I don't know what he could do."

Arthur looked at her and looked at her, breathing ragged.

She saw him took a deep shaking breath that he let out.

And then he tensely nodded.

"Okay. For you."

She smiled weakly and walked to him, cupping his cheeks and forcing him to look at her.

"Everything will work out, Arthur."

His anger faded away into tenderness as he studied her,

"My Guinevere. There isn't a thing I would no do for you. You know that, right?"

She nodded and he leant in, kissing away her fears.

"Everything will be alright." he repeated what she had just told him.

And it would.

Because he had a plan.