Merlin

Everything was supposed to be perfect. I took it upon myself to use catering services at Pendragon to create a few delicious treats for my guests… my friends. My mother offered to cook, but I said no. It was a nightmare, in vivid color. At least, Freya agreed to a date with me.

Mithian

She's living my life. She's Morgana's best friend. She's Merlin's best friend. She's all of their friends. Arthur's friends. They want to do things with –her. I'm the outsider, but I'm going to marry Arthur, not her. Why can't they want to go to Tea with me? Arthur can't help himself. He has to speak with her. She ignores him, but she must enjoy his attention. Then, she's so damn nice. Everyone loves Gwen, she needs a show on the Telly. It's not personal. Why is she constantly in Arthur's life? She's supposed to be in love with Gwaine. She's allegedly moved on. Why is she here? She causing trouble for Arthur. I've worked so hard for this…I need to keep an eye on her. Gwaine will work with me on my wedding. I will give him anything to sign a contract with me. She will not steal Arthur from me.

I walked out of his bathroom. I climbed into bed with Arthur, his bed. I hate sleeping in his bed. Did he buy a new one after her?

Arthur

"Merlin, is Guinevere right?"

I stared into the skyline of London. So many people living their lives in London, happy and sad. I focus on one person; I am no longer the focus of her world. She loves another, or she thinks that she loves another."

"About?"

"We were never friends? At one point in my life, Guinevere was my everything. We weren't friends. It's an insulting thought to our former relationship. I was merely her boyfriend."

"No, you weren't friends. You were lovers. That's why you can't interact with her. You will always be in lover mode with her. She's placed you in her mind as friend. You can't deal with her rejection of you. Yet, your rejection of her…. started this mess. You can't have her back. She won't return. Stop lying to yourself, you want her back."

"I don't want her back. I just don't want her with him. I thought our relationship meant more to her."

"It should have meant more to you. You ended your relationship with Gwen. You aren't allowed to say anything. You can't feel anything about her. "

"Fall in love with your Freya. Watch her with another man after your relationship is over. You won't enjoy it."

"You wrote this movie, and you have no choice except to watch it. If I broke Freya's heart, I would have my tail between my legs. I couldn't look at her without shame. I would apologize. You bait her. You undermine her. You don't respect her. Next time, don't ruin my party."

"Get out, Merlin!"

"Yes, live on Denial Island by yourself! You're turning into Uther. You don't listen to me, Arthur. You blindly follow Agravaine's advice. You're marrying a woman… you don't love her. You're fond of her. You can't stop your marriage to Mithian. It's a contract."

"What?"

What does he mean? Didn't I read the contract? Of course, I read everything in our contracts. Wait, no, I didn't read one addendum.

"Didn't you read it?"

"You're misunderstood."

"I don't fabricate reality. Go ask you uncle! You've changed. It's dawning on you. You'll never be as a good as a man as you were. She made you a better person. You have morphed into a monster."

"Get out, Merlin!"

"Leaving…"

Gwen

Fatigue haunted his face; he dropped his overnight bag on shiny hardwood floors. His presence silenced a sea of noise in my head since Merlin's party. His large hands cupped my face; his thumbs stroked my jaw. I barely had time to inhale a deep breath before his mouth captured mine. Our tongues tangled as his arms wrapped tighter around my back. He broke our kiss; dropping a few tender kisses on my lips. Cupping his scraggly face, I gazed into his loving brown eyes; he's all that I need in life. I don't have to answer questions. I don't have to defend. I need to love and give love.

"Tell me about Merlin's clusterfuck."

"It wasn't that word, Gwaine."

"No, tell me about the clusterfuck to end clusterfucks."

"Where did you learn that word," I scolded.

"America," he teased. "I learned some other things there, I can show you later."

I arched an eyebrow; I missed him so much.

"In an about three days, I can show you the depths of my love and adoration, Gwen, not tonight. I'm sleepy."

Gwaine led me to couch, I didn't need an invitation to sink into his arms. The thought of an invitation gave me a stomach ache.

"Begin Love, save the Arthur part for last. I need a few days of sleep before I go kill him."

"No, we don't behave that way."

"You don't, but I do. Please tell me a good night story," Gwaine encouraged.

"Nothing lovely about this tale," I warned

"Love, once upon a time, there lived a lad named Merlin. He wanted to impress a fair lass named Freya. So, he invited her to a party with all of his friends. He placed currents, exs, and other individuals as collateral damage in his home. Merlin lived in a sprawling red brick mansion built 400 years ago with his mother and Uncle. However, they went out to give Merlin a few hours to play with his friends," Gwaine teased

"You're telling it wrong."

"Correct me."

"I arrived with Elyan at 2 PM… you know to help oversee things. Merlin actually arranged for food services at Arthur's company to cater the event. I merely had to say where to place flowers, food, and drinks. He had a DJ and waiters. I had on a pair of white shorts, a blue off the shoulder top, and taupe thongs. I was not dressed for a formal party. Nobody was dress for a formal party except Mithian. She had on pearls. So, it was a causal party with formal elements. Quite strange actually, I should have known to wear a dress…."

"Gwen, you are rambling off topic. Back to the clusterfuck."

"Well, the doorbell rang. Merlin rushed to answer it… he reveals a very heavily pregnant Morgana with Edwin. I never noticed that he is rather handsome, not my type. Handsome. His arm is around her back protectively."

"You gave up on Blonds. Dark hair is the way to go…"

"I won't tell you, if you keeping adding things."

"Sorry, please continue."

He actually attempted to give me sad eyes. I resisted a nagging urge to kiss him.

"I went over to speak with them. Morgana made snappy comments about her weight. He assured her that she was still beautiful. Their son was due in three weeks. He couldn't stop staring at her. She was happy, giggling, and smiling. I've never seen her so happy. He wasn't creepy. He's witty, smart, and charming. He has beautiful manners. He takes care of her. Then, the doorbell rang! Merlin rushed over to open it. In walks Morgause, Merlin turned pasty like a bad paint job. She walks in with those brown eyes and eyebrows. She offered Morgana and Edwin a haughty look. She walked right past them to stand near Percy. She didn't say a word. Morgana's expression grew sad. Edwin didn't care about Morgause. He offered Morgana reassurance. She was calm. Morgause had several drinks. Slowly, tension filled the room."

I paused to take a breath. It had so much to tell him.

"Then, Freya arrived with her friends. Merlin turned into a spineless mound of goo. She flirted shameless with him. She laughed at his silly jokes. Then, the doorbell rang…Elena and Lancelot walked in. She didn't look well like she ate something spoiled. Her skin was pale, almost clammy. Lancelot looked concern. She kept shooting him daggers with her eyes. More tension grew and grew in the room. I went to the Loo. I came back Merlin grabbed my hands. He was actually sweating. His blue eyes darted around. His lips trembled. I thought for a moment that Freya kissed him. Then, I heard a deep voice. Merlin goes I am terribly sorry, Gwen. I don't know how he found out. Please forgive me. Do you now that he's sent me flowers every day since the party? Anyway, I assured him that I was a confident adult."

It was Gwaine's turn to arch an eyebrow at me. "Keep going."

"I avoided Arthur like a plague. I wasn't in the mood to deal with him. Drinks were flowing, tension was rising, and the DJ played a UB40 song called Impossible Love. It had a reggae type beat."

"I don't know it," Gwaine admitted curiously.

"When we were together, those were the happiest time in all of my life. Now were separated … I don't know what I will do. Cause I can't love another."

"That's a lovely song. Perfect for Merlin's party."

"Yes, it didn't help"

"Why?"

"Someone suggested Truth or Dare. It turned into…"

"A clusterfuck."

I turned in Gwaine's arm until I rested on his chest; my hands raised my body slightly to look down in his eyes. I read amusement in his eyes.

"You aren't being very nice. You find Merlin's party to be humorous. It was not."

"It is," he disagreed. "Tell me more."

I sighed in defeat," Most of the guests were drunk and overfed, the food was amazing. Merlin started with a Truth to me, "Gwen, are you in love?" I replied," I am head over heels in love with Gwaine. I've never been happier-"

"Best response of the night," Gwaine interrupted.

"Stop it, but it is true. I chose to Dare Freya and Merlin to go into a hall closet for 3 minutes. Off, they went. I don't know what happened in the closet. As they had their time away, Arthur shot me a dagger with his eyes. I smiled in reply. Merlin and Freya returned… he had her lipstick on his lips. Freya asked Percy if he thought her friend Sophia was pretty. He said yes, and she blushed. Then, it started; Percy asked Leon if he was in love with anyone at the party. He replied yes… said he was in love with Morgause. He missed and wanted his fiancée back. I forgot Morgause was supposed to marry Leon. Morgause spun with her blonde hair floating around. She actually hissed at him. Leon gave Morgause a Truth, and he asked her if she really loved Morgana. I did mention about a state of drunkenness for most attendees. Morgause said No, it was just lust. Morgana whimpered in shock. She yelled Morgause used her. Then, Morgause turned to me, she offered me Truth, I did point out that I am supposed to choose Truth or Dare. We played the game wrong. I didn't want a truth from Morgause. She ignored me. She asked who my first kiss was. I said you. You were ten, and I kissed you on the lips. I didn't know what I was doing. I was five. Arthur yelled," Bullshit!" Mithian paled and offered him a shocked look. I ignored him. I dared Mithian to go outside with me for three minutes. She accepted. Outside, we went. I grinned, and said," I would like to be friends. We have mutual friends. I wanted us to feel comfortable in each other presence. She goes, "What is it about you? Everyone seems to adore you."

I said I don't know. She protested my aura is like ghost with these people. It's hard to live up to my memory. I told her to be herself. I wished her well. When, we went back inside. She asked Arthur a Truth. Is he in love with her? Arthur said he loved her dearly. Then, that bastard turned his eyes upon me. He dared me to speak with him outside. A pin could have dropped ….silence, too much silence. I am not bowing to him. He expected me to go outside not to cause waves. We had nothing to say. I offered to resolve our differences, but he refused. I said no. Then, the shouting started.

I took another dep breath when the doorbell rang; I crawled away from Gwaine to go open our door. Once again, Merlin and Freya stood before me. He had another arrangement of flowers.

"Can we come in," Merlin asked sheepishly.

"Of course."

Merlin handed me a cool glass vase. I kissed Merlin on his angular cheek. "Freya, why don't we make Tea?"

Merlin

Gwen mentioned Gwaine returned from his trip to Indian. He offered me a wry look. He didn't raise from his spot; he did offered me a hand. I exhaled a deep breath when we shook hands. He looked exhausted. I sank into a waiting armchair.

"So, Merlin, how did Pendragon behave when Gwen told him no?"

I sucked air deep into my lungs. I had to tell him; obviously, Gwen told him part of the story.

"Several of us were inebriated including Arthur and Mithian. He erupted. He started screaming about why she invited his fiancée outside. Gwen replied she wanted to get along with Mithian. We have mutual friends. I am not a child like you, Arthur. Arthur retorted that he was not a child. Gwen said, yes, he was a petulant child. Then, it spun out of control. Morgause told Morgana that she was a whore, and would spread her legs for anyone. Edwin stepped in front of Morgana, and replied that half of London knew blonde wasn't her natural color. Elena sat eating fruit, giggling. Lancelot was mortified. Elyan moved to grip Gwen's shoulders. He told Arthur to back off. Arthur was like I merely wanted to know what happened outside with my fiancée. Elyan said menacingly you know now.

Gwaine wiped his face with a fatigued hand," How did Morgana go into labor? "I thought for a moment," Oh, she released this high pitched shriek. She looked like she was going to jump Morgause. Then, her dress had a wet spot. Morgause teased that she peed her pants. Very childish. Morgana paled, and she exclaimed that her water broke. Everyone stopped screaming. She called for Edwin and Gwen. She mumbled that she wasn't ready for a baby. They rushed to her side. Elena started crying and yelling … she hated Lancelot. She didn't want to piss on herself in six months. Her mouth is quite vulgar. Gwen looked over her shoulder; she asked if Elena was pregnant. Elena wailed yes. Seven hours later, James Gorlois Muirden was born. He actually has little puffs of blond hair."

Gwaine twisted his lips," When did they have a screaming match?"

"That occurred outside of the hospital, I had planned to take Gwen home. Arthur said he was closer. He didn't have designed on her. Gwen replied that she's staying with Elyan. Everything was okay… then, it clicked in her mind; that Arthur knew your address. Gwen asked how he knew. Arthur as cocky as bull, he replied he knew everything about her. Gwen piped off that he knew nothing. He said I was your first kiss. Gwen said she snuck a kiss on you as a little girl. Arthur argued her kiss with you don't count. Gwen roared you are her last kiss every night. Arthur asked when she became sex starved. Gwen went very calm. Her arms folded in front of her chest. She said coldly that she's young. She's in love with her best friend. She enjoys a healthy sex life with her partner. Arthur needed to mind his own affairs. He said he didn't care about her. Gwen said good. She was glad… they are both happy. Then, Arthur disagreed … you aren't her best friend. Gwen told him that they were never friends, just lovers. You made her a better person. You help her achieve her dreams without your steady support. She got sappy. Then-"

"What did she say?"

"It's sappy."

"Tell me..."

"You are the best man beside her brother and father that she's ever know. She couldn't imagine life without you. Arthur need to take his nose out of her affairs. Arthur said your relationship wouldn't last when the lust wears off. Gwen's tiny hand formed fist. She shook it in Arthur's face. I thought he was scared for a moment. She screamed…. at least, she has lust with you…she imagined sex with Mithian was dry like an overcooked turkey. She told him that he left her. He made promises, and he broke everyone. He treated her like a dirty whore. You helped clean up his mess. Arthur should thank you. Then, Arthur started about her flaunting your relationship. Gwen screamed you keep promises and listen to her. They weren't suited. It was time to let go, and move on. Then, she grabbed my arm. We left with Arthur standing near his car."

"So, when's your next party?"

Gwaine

I watched Gwen cradling James in her arms. Occasionally, I heard a few soft coos; and a tiny hand appeared. He flexed his fingers like a starfish. Gwen beamed as she spoke tenderly to James, a bright light in her eyes. Morgana and Edwin stood watching protectively. I want a moment like this with Gwen. I want everything with her. I want Gwen to hold my child. Why am I waiting?

xXx

Gwen sat on our bed rubbing lotion on her legs. She hummed a lullaby; her curls bounced slightly.

"Gwen, what are your plans for tomorrow?"

She looked at me strangely, "We have plans for lunch."

I nodded lightly," Next month?"

Gwen arched an eyebrow," Work and spending time with you?"

"What about ten years from now?"

Gwen smiled," Placing our children in bed with you? I picture my future with you."

I walked closer to our bed; dropping down on one knee, I opened my hand to reveal Granny's ring. It was a Halo ruby surrounded by diamonds set in rose gold. "I asked Eylan for his permission to marry you. Granny gave me one of our family's rings. I thought I should wait until next year. I can't… I love you… I will make all of dream come true. What do you say?"

Gwen shook her head," I say yes. I love you too."

I slide Granny's ring on her finger. It looked beautiful on her hand. Somehow, we fell to the floor; I sank hands into her curls, kissing her passionately.

Gwen rose on her elbows, "I guess your secret birthday present surprise …can't top this?'

"It does," I disagreed.