Giggling at Arthur's suggestive words, Gwen pushed her door open and stumbled in, Arthur practically plastered at her back.
"Guess Uther didn't make an ass of himself tonight," said Merlin from the sofa. Excalibur, as if embarrassed to be seen cuddling with Merlin, stretched and without even acknowledging Gwen, strode into the kitchen.
"Thanks for keeping Excalibur company. She's been moody after the operation."
After hanging up their coats, Arthur returned to her side and wrapped an arm around her waist. "Dad was actually fairly decent today. He remembered Gwen's name and he didn't mention Vivian even once."
"Well then," Merlin stood. "I'll get going."
"Thanks again!" Gwen slipped out of Arthur's hold to give Merlin a hug. "I'm sure Excalibur is grateful too."
Merlin snorted. "Right, that's why she bit me. Enjoy yourselves."
Gwen glanced at Arthur who raised his eyebrows. She nodded. "Come on," said Arthur. "I'll send you home."
"You sure?" Merlin's glance darted from Arthur to Gwen and then to Arthur again. "Because -"
"Shut up, Merlin. I'll see you outside in ten."
With a cheery goodbye, Merlin left, closing the door behind him, leaving Gwen and Arthur alone. Finally. Immediately, Arthur's arms went round her waist and he pulled her so her back was against his chest and she could feel the steady rhythm of his heart. Gwen dropped her head back and sighed with pleasure. For a while, they stood like this, swaying slightly.
"Do you want me to come back after sending Merlin home?"
She did but she also knew Arthur had an early morning meeting. Twisting around so she faced him, she buried her face in his chest, inhaling his mix of cologne and him. Then she looked up. "It's fine. I'll be seeing you tomorrow anyway." She walked her fingers down his chest, to his stomach, smiling when he sucked it in. "But I will miss you."
He nodded. "I told you that you should just move in with me. Then this wouldn't be an issue."
"Arthur, we've been dating for less than a month."
"And I've been in love with you for years," he replied. "Your lease is up in a month. Your landlord is a pain, and I'm being kind here. This apartment is on its last legs. And most importantly, I want you in my bed every night and I want to wake up with you every morning."
Gwen tried to bite down on her smile. "You make a very good argument."
"There's a reason the Business Bureau wants to make me businessman of the year." His lips brushed against her ear and she shivered. Stepping out of his loose hold, Gwen gave him a shove.
"Go. Merlin is waiting for you."
"Only after I get a proper goodnight kiss."
Laughing, Gwen pushed herself up on tiptoes and pressed her lips to his. He dragged her closer, until their bodies were pressed together tightly, nibbling her bottom lip till she groaned and sank into him. Eventually, the lack of air forced them to stop and with a quick kiss to her forehead, Arthur whispered goodbye then left.
He called, of course, later that night, as Gwen lay snuggled under her duvet.
"You know," his warm voice poured through the phone like liquid chocolate, "if you lived with me, we'd be spooning under our duvet now, your pert little bottom snug against my groin, my arms around your waist -"
Gwen laughed. "Good night Arthur." She made a smooching sound, then hung up.
A week later, when her landlord asked if she was planning to renew her lease, because she should know that the economy meant the rent would go up, Gwen shook her head.
"Isn't the blindfold a little over the top?"
"We're in a helicopter and you think the blindfold is over the top?" Arthur's amused voice came from somewhere to the left of her.
"Where are we going?" She let a little whine enter her voice, hoping it would encourage Arthur to tell her but all she received in response was laughter. It was time to try another technique. Shifting, she moved her leg to the left until she hit something hard. It felt like someone's leg. Slowly, she dragged her foot up Arthur's leg. Almost immediately, his hand wrapped around her ankle and placed her leg back.
"Naughty. It won't be much longer. You're worse than a child."
Gwen wanted to roll her eyes at him but realised it would be pointless. "This better be worth it," she pouted.
Arthur's familiar warm lips pressed against hers briefly. "It will be worth it. So tell me, are you really planning to extend your bookshop?"
Sneaky bastard. Arthur knew talking about her bookshop was her second favourite thing beside spending time with him. "I hope to. It's not so much a bookshop nowadays but more like a little hangout place for the community. I like it but there isn't enough space for people to lounge around. I want to have a small cozy cafe. I plan to extend the reading groups to storytelling sessions for younger children and I need space for the parents. Oh, I've so many things I want to do."
"And money?"
"I could borrow. I went to the bank yesterday and -" She heard Arthur's sigh and knew what was coming.
"You do realise you're dating me right? Heir of one of the richest families in the city?"
"I'm not borrowing money from you."
His hand took hers. "I'll give you the money."
"Arthur."
"Oh fine. Draw up a business plan, I'll pass it to Leon and we'll see if we think it's a worthwhile investment."
Despite her annoyance at Arthur's insistence on giving her money, Gwen laughed. "Leon wouldn't turn me down even if all I did was give him a crayon drawing of the bookshop."
"You don't know that."
Her smile widened. "I know that he likes me very much," she said coyly.
Arthur growled and then, she was being kissed deeply. "Scratch that plan. Marry me and you'll be rich enough to expand your bookshop."
"Honestly Arthur. I expected a better proposal," Gwen teased as she shoved him away. Before Arthur could answer, the helicopter lurched and Gwen realised that they were landing. "Oh! Are we there?"
"Looks like it," said Arthur, his fingers sliding against hers as he took her hand. "Just a few more minutes and you can take off the blindfold."
"I can't believe you bundle me into a helicopter, then blindfold me so I can't enjoy the view."
"Yeah, I didn't think this through. But, there's always the flight back. Now, come here and I'll take off your blindfold." She moved closer to Arthur and he captured her lips gently, his tongue sweeping across until her lips parted and allowed him access. As he ravished her mouth, his fingers untied the blindfold. When it fell from her eyes, he pulled away.
Gwen blinked, trying to adjust to the light.
"Arthur." She looked around, blinking again to make sure she wasn't mistaken. It was the resort where they'd first made love.
"I thought it was fitting we returned here for our first anniversary."
Gwen couldn't stop her smile. "You sap," she breathed and Arthur laughed.
The book club was going swimmingly when one of the girls suddenly gasped.
"Gwen! Your hand!"
Startled, Gwen lifted her hands. Was there something crawling on them? Then all hell broke loose as books fell to the floor and she was surrounded by a dozen giggling and gasping girls.
"You're engaged!"
"When is the wedding?"
"Did he pick out the ring?"
"How did he propose?"
Gwen waved her hands. "Girls! Calm down."
Daphne sighed, clasping her hands in front of her. "You're going to be Gwen Pendragon!" All the girls sighed in unison.
"Oh god," muttered Gwen to herself.
She had wanted to make it special but after discarding her latest idea involving a real life stork (mainly because she was worried it would dirty Arthur's gorgeous house) she slumped into the sofa, defeated. With the work being done on expanding her bookshop, Gwen was far too exhausted to think up more ideas. She would just wait up for Arthur, then tell him.
When Arthur found her curled up on his sofa asleep, he wasn't surprised at all.
Gwen felt his arms around her and she struggled to open her eyes. "Arthur." Reaching up, she laid her hand on his cheek, smiling when he turned his head to kiss her palm.
"Gwen. Long day?"
"Mmm," she nodded before snuggling into his chest. "I have news."
"Good news or bad news?"
"I hope it's good. I hope you think it's good." Gwen started to panic. This wasn't something they had properly discussed before and while some hours ago, she'd been certain it was good news, she suddenly wasn't sure.
Arthur's eyes widened. "Do you think it's good news?" They'd reached their bedroom and Arthur gently placed her on the bed, then sat down next to her.
Gwen nodded.
"Then, I'm sure I'll think it's good news too. So what is it?"
"We're going to be parents."
Arthur blinked. Then he blinked again. "Of a baby?"
"Of course, of a baby!" Gwen watched Arthur's face closely, willing him to smile or give a sign that he was pleased with the news. Her heart sank lower every second that passed without him doing anything.
He let out a breath. "We, uh, we always used protection."
Tears sprang into Gwen's eyes. Arthur wasn't happy. "There was that night," Gwen said softly, turning her head away so Arthur wouldn't see her cry. Calm down, she told herself. They could discuss this like adults.
Then she felt his arms slip around her shoulders and his lips in her hair. "I guess we might want to think about pushing the wedding forward. I'll get Merlin to make the arrangements -"
She turned back, desperate to know. "Arthur, are you happy?"
He looked back at her, his eyes solemn. "I think so. I'm shocked to be honest, and I've never really thought about being a father but," his smile was sudden and bright, "but the more I think about it, the more I like it. Are you happy?"
Gwen nodded. "I am."
His finger trailed down her cheek. "Then I'm happy too. I love you Guinevere."
"I love you too, Arthur," she whispered as he tumbled her into bed.
Arthur Pendragon and wife welcome their first child.
Arthur Pendragon, CEO of Pendragon Industries, welcomed his first child, Igraine Thomas Pendragon, early this morning. Guinevere Pendragon gave birth to a healthy girl at 1:29am. Both mother and child will be released from hospital tomorrow.
Igraine Thomas Pendragon, named after Arthur's late mother, is Uther Pendragon's first grandchild. He was spotted in the hospital ward with a bouquet of flowers and a large balloon. This more tender side of Uther Pendragon may emerge more often as friends say he is utterly smitten by the little baby.
The End?
AN: Thank you for reading till the end. :) I hope the epilogue was satisfactory.
For those asking, right now, I have the Merlin Reverse BB which I'm working on, then I'm really hoping to finish up Secrets and Kings and Queens. I do have other mostly completed fic not posted here, so I might do that in between. In the meantime, thanks for reading and all your wonderful comments.