Out of Time

AvalonReeseFanfics

A/N: Happy Valentine's Day everyone! I've got a couple of special surprises for you today!

For starters: Congrats to RKamelot for being my 150th review and getting their reward. They got to choose the next flashback chapter I'll be writing, which will be coming out after I close up the episode we're on.

Secondly, this story is now on Wattpad. So if you'd like to see a better version of the cover, not to mention see how I tweaked the story (only slightly) to make it smooth more continuously just go to Wattpad and search for: Out of Time by Avalon Reese.

Lastly, and most importantly, we have our Valentine's Day special. It's Addison and Arthur's first kiss and it's filled with super cute moments that I hope you guys love. Don't forget to show me the love with a few reviews, you guys know how much I love hearing from you! Have a great V-Day guys!

Thanks to: RKamelot for being my 150th Review. Shikkokaukushintei for being my 240th Favourite. Kyuubi Kuroba for being my 320th Follower.

Shoutouts: ForeverTeamEdward13, RKamelot, Guest(Nora), GiggleBoxGirlie, Cordapia, animexchick, hbm6092, SparkBomb'sFaith, Shikkokaukushintei, emperesstya, Kyuubi Kuroba, nightinshadow, haruhishibuya, misssmartt, Skelli W, Embellina and Choco-Latte64

Out of Order: Flashback #4 - Valentine's Day Special

The tournament was coming up and Arthur had been practicing nonstop. Meaning Addison was left in her cell bored out of her mind with nothing to do. She had started to forget the words to songs she had memorized for years. But she figured that was what was going to happen if she stayed in this place without her iPod to remind her of the songs she used to love.

But that didn't mean she couldn't hum them. Or maybe make up a few lyrics of her own. When she got bored of that she did her exercised. What she remembered of her minimal yoga classes and her even smaller knowledge of Tai Chi. It was when Addison was in downward dog that she heard Arthur's voice.

"For god's sake what are you doing?" he asked and Addison whirled around. Her butt had been in the air facing the cell doors this whole time, not expecting Arthur to come get her that day.

She was rightly embarrassed.

"Uh… it's called yoga. It's for stretching and what not. I was doing one of the moves," she answered, smartly deciding not to tell him the name of her current position.

Arthur had already unlocked the door to her cell and she had already crossed to him. The door opened and she smiled.

"I'm sorry I haven't been by to take you out," Arthur whispered. "But if you could refrain from suggestive positions while you're attempting to stretch or exercise I would greatly appreciate it"

When Addison said nothing but stared at him with wide eyes and a blush on her cheeks he knew that he had embarrassed her. So he quickly added: "Not everyone is as gentlemanly as me."

Addison quickly looked down and clenched her fingers together. It hadn't been that long since she had come here, only a couple of months. But she still couldn't get over how prominent the threat of rape was back in these days. Everything she did was considered suggestive, even if it was as much as saying hello first.

Still it made her nervous when he brought it up. She knew he didn't do it to be malicious, but because he was worried, but she found it made her more fearful than careful.

"Shall I escort you, or would you rather stay here?" Arthur asked in a quiet voice, no doubt worried that she had changed her mind about going anywhere with him after his comment.

She put her hand out and he offered her an arm to take. They walked in silence through the castle corridors until they made it out into the courtyard.

"How's the tournament?" she asked.

"Hasn't started yet, but the practices have been going well," he replied.

She smiled a small smile at him and shot him a coy look. It was subtle but she was flirting, if he noticed he said nothing nor did he flirt back. "I'd love to see the tournament… do you think I could?"

Arthur's eyes narrowed at her, not in a suspicious way but in a worried way, complete with worry wrinkles around his eyes. "I'm not sure, I'd love you to come but I'd have to ask my father for permission," he told her.

Addison nodded, it wasn't much like Uther to give her permission to do much let alone attend such a big and important event. Still she'd like to see Arthur in action. From everything she had read when she was younger and obsessed with Arthurian tales said he was the greatest warrior of them all, and the wisest king.

He was still young and not wise yet but would he be a great warrior?

"Maybe I could come to watch a few practices and if I'm good I could be allowed to come to the tournament?" she offered.

Arthur smiled at her. "I'll speak to my father about it," he assured her.

Addison smiled though it felt strained, struggling to find something to talk to him about. She and Arthur rarely spoke, though when they did it was mostly to scold or scare her into being more ladylike or to argue about what he was doing. It was rare that they had softer moments, it was rare that they got along, he often frustrated her, and she often frustrated or scared him. It made speaking to him hard. But boy was he great to look at.

"What sort of stuff are you doing at the tournament?" she asked, trying to tamp down her excitement about the event and her nervousness about keeping the conversation going in a positive manner.

"It's merely a joust, Addison, nothing spectacular about a joust," he said.

"I've never seen a real joust. I mean, in my day we put on those fake ones, but no one was to ever get hurt and the lances were made special to break easy," she told him.

"That defeats the purpose of a joust," Arthur replied with a scowl.

"Jousting is only for entertainment where I come from and we're not about killing things or people for entertainment anymore," she reminded him.

Arthur shrugged and Addison's smile faded. "Is there a great danger of you getting hurt?" she asked.

Arthur shot her a look of surprise. "Of course not, I'm very good."

Addison smiled again. "Then I hope I get to see you in action," she said.

The rest of their walk went by in companionable silence before she was returned to the dungeon to be bored for the rest of the day.

Addison sat at the table looking down at a meal she wasn't allowed to actually eat. Uther was pacing about behind her lecturing her on when to use cutlery and when to not. She thought it was all the time but apparently she was wrong.

Uther had started giving her lessons in etiquette only a month ago when she complained for the umpteenth time that the only reason she was coming off as rude was because she didn't know. He felt it best to educate her but there was so much he was throwing at her that she couldn't keep track.

"Now if you are going to be going to the joust, what would you do if someone asks where you're from?" Uther asked her completely out of the blue.

Addison straightened at this as it was the first question he had asked her that hadn't been about the placement of her plate, cutlery, or hands at a feast. "Am I allowed to go to the joust?" she asked.

"That remains to be seen," he replied in a clipped tone.

Addison's shoulders sagged but still answered the question. "I would say that my family hails from Nemeth and that they are tailors there," she replied. The answer had been rehearsed over and over but whenever anyone asked she still replied with Camden.

"And if a knight asks for a favour?" he questioned.

"If I'm not going to the joust why would a knight ask for a favour?" Addison shot back with a groan.

Uther cuffed the back of her head, not hard enough to hurt her but enough for her get the gist that he was not in a teasing mood. "Then I would give him a ribbon or hanky," she answered. "But only if I plan on courting him, or if Arthur or you told me it was alright to do so."

"And Arthur told you which Knights you can give tokens of favour to?" Uther asked.

"We haven't talked about that," she answered softly.

"He will have to educate you before the joust then," he said.

"He will?" Addison echoed turning in her chair to smile up at him. "Really? You're going to let me go?"

"Arthur seems intent on having you there, so I will indulge him so long as you don't distract him," he conceded.

Addison was already out of her chair and launching herself at him. "Oh thank you, thank you so much," she cried as she hugged him.

Uther squirmed out of her grasp and glared at her. She bit her lip. "Sorry, I forgot," she whispered before he could reprimand her. But the smile that had formed on her lips could barely be contained.

Uther sighed at her as if she frustrated him beyond belief. "Clearly you won't be listening to the rest of this lesson, you're dismissed," he snapped waving her away.

Addison didn't even care that she had disappointed him, she skipped away happily, glad to have gotten this small reprieve. When she got out of the great hall the guard that was supposed to accompany her was busy flirting with one of the serving girls. Addison didn't even think twice, she slipped away unnoticed.

There was only one person she wanted to share her good news with and she wanted to tell him right at that moment.

Arthur was in a bad mood that day. He had been harping his father about letting Addison come to his joust, so much so that when Arthur asked about it that morning, his father had actually threatened Addison. Threatened to send her away as Arthur seemed a little too interested in her.

The sudden fear that stabbed into him in that moment had been heart wrenching. He immediately backed off and then grew angry with himself for putting her in danger. He should have known that bugging his father incessantly about her attendance would raise some red flags about his relationship with her. Even if it was entirely platonic.

It was like Uther just understood that Arthur was trying for more. But how could he not? The girl was his match in every way. Tenacious, smart as a whip, and quick to run to the defence of others. His jaw was still smarting from the blow she delivered the day he startled her and she thought him to be an attacker. God forbid anyone attack, his Addison, not only would they get a sound thrashing from her, but if he had any say it he'd be finishing the job up for her.

Arthur was contemplating different plans he could put into place to ensure that Addison was broken out of her cell for his joust. One that made sure she got back to the dungeon before Uther found out. He was so distracted he barely registered that the lance was put into his hands.

He shook his head clear of any thoughts of Addison or her brilliant blue eyes and dazzling smile. He focused, instead, on his opponent. He had been unhorsing all his practice opponents all morning, taking out his anger on them. It wouldn't be hard to do it again.

This would be the last practice run and then he'd go to Addison, even though he had just seen her the day before. He'd tell her his plans, convince her they were safe, and then if she looked at him those blue eyes all bright and star struck, he may just kiss her. Though the likelihood of that was slim as the memory of his father's threat still lurked and was encroaching on the fringes of his fantasies.

He spurred his horse go on the mark relishing in the rush of movement. Usually he never took his eyes off his opponent but he spotted something to the side.

He recognized that worn blue dress anywhere. He turned to where Addison was standing watching him with a giant smile on her face. His most trusted knights hovering around her, watching over her in his stead. For a brief moment happiness sang through him as he pictures unhorsing his opponent in her honor.

Arthur was surprised when the blow hit his chest and knocked him off his horse. He was surprised as he began to fall, with spots of darkness against his vision as his body struggled to breathe. He was surprised to hear a cry of distress in a voice he recognized even if he hadn't ever heard it that loud before.

He hit the ground and the world disappeared in a burst of white and in that moment his word went silent.

The second the lance made contact with Arthur's chest, Addison started screaming.

She had come down to the ring to watch him secretly, to tell him later that she would be allowed to come to his joust in a few days. His knights, who all knew her were happy at her appearance. They teased her about slipping her guard before forming a protective ring around her so she could watch and seem somewhat hidden from Uther's eyes and the prying gaze of his spies. She was excited as she watched Arthur's horse charge forward, he had boasted that he had never been unhorsed before. But something went wrong and his opponent's lance hit him square in the chest. Then he was falling from his horse, a lance splintering all around him like burst of fireworks.

Addison was sprinting towards him before he even hit the dirt. She was running before the knights she had been standing with could stop her. She slid to a stop beside him, going to her knees while she was still moving, ignoring the sound of her skirt tearing and the pain stinging under her skin. She was repeating his name, but Arthur wasn't answering.

She pulled his helmet off of his head and saw that his eyes were open and heard the first of his ragged breaths. He was breathing, but struggling to do so. There was a large crowd around them, the knights all rushing forward to see if he was alright.

"Everyone move back, he needs room to breathe!" she ordered and shockingly they all listened. Each knight took two steps away and that left Addison to bend over Arthur to investigate him more.

She felt at his neck and felt no splinters that could have stuck into him as he fell. She took his pulse and found it to be erratic. His gloved hand came up and grabbed her wrist and she pulled her hand from his neck.

"It's alright, Arthur, it's just me. It's Addison," she whispered to him, trying to remember her first aid training from when she was 15 and wanting to make more as a babysitter. "Try to take deep breaths. In through your nose, out through your mouth."

His blue eyes were wide and frantic, but he listened to her. His breathing becoming more stabilized with each slow inhale and exhale she coached him through. His hand never let go of her wrist and her free hand, which had originally planned to just brush the hair out of his eyes, was now softly stroking his hair in what she hoped was a soothing manner. His hair was so soft.

"Does anything else hurt?" she asked him once he started to stir, trying to get up. But he didn't answer her with words.

Arthur lurched up, his free hand grabbing the back of her head dragging her down to him. His lips hit hers and she froze, she wasn't certain what to do. Was this a by-product of hitting his head? Was he turning into one of those guys who preyed on unsuspecting medieval women?

He let her go and his head dropped back to the dirt. Her fingers stroked his hair as she murmured for him to rest. His hand let go of her wrist so he could hold her hand and she wanted nothing more than to stay that way until he was better, but a shout rolled over the practice area and then Uther and Gaius were bearing down on them.

Addison let go of Arthur and forced herself up and away before she could cause any more trouble, the knights sweeping her behind their ranks.

She watched over stocky shoulders as Uther and Gaius fawned over Arthur helping him up and asking over and over again whether or not he was fine or harmed in any way. Gaius convinced him to come to his infirmary to be checked out before he returned to practice.

Arthur was hesitant to leave, and Uther guessed why.

He whirled around on Addison, who had not been smart enough to run away when she had the chance. The look alone was enough to get the knights in front of her to part so he could see her. "What are you doing out of your cell?" he snarled.

Addison tried to stay as still as she could, though her feet wanted to run and her hands wanted to fidget. "I got separated from my guard…"

"Your guard was at the doors to the Great Hall waiting for you," Uther snapped. "Don't you lie to me again."

"I wanted to see Arthur. I wanted to tell him that you…."

But Addison didn't get to finish. Uther had backhanded her so hard she stumbled back. Arthur immediately protested rushing forward as his father geared up to hit her again. He was between them before the blow could land, blocking it with his injured arm causing him to cry out but still force his father back.

Once the grimace of pain left his features anger was drawn all over his face and though Addison should have known better she found herself pressing against his back, using the metal of his armor to cool her burning cheek.

"Do not ever touch her again," Arthur warned in a low tone. "All matters of her punishment will be mine to deal with, as she is my ward."

Uther got into his son's face, a mask of rage over his features as well. "You dare to try me over this, boy?"

"Addison did nothing wrong. I have instructed her to find me if she becomes separated from her guard. She did as she was asked. I was blinded by the sun and unhorsed, she was merely tending to me," Arthur explained.

When his father opened his mouth to say something else that was nasty Arthur continued. "She is my ward. My responsibility. My duty to punish, not yours."

Uther leant in close to him, and though the others couldn't hear, Addison could. "We will discuss this after you're done with Gaius. Have one of your men escort her back to the cells or I will do it."

Arthur continued to glare at him until he backed off, and only then did he turn around. Addison stiffened and stared at his torso, not daring to look into his eyes. He called over Ewan, one of his favourite knights, and handed her to him.

She missed the warmth of Arthur's hand on her upper arm but she said nothing, allowing Ewan to guide her back to the cells. She took comfort in his murmured words of concern. Maybe not all men were as terrifying as Arthur proclaimed them to be.

Except for Uther. He was terrifying as old hell.

Arthur had been too afraid to visit Addison after the row he and his father had had behind closed doors. Uther had accused him of loving Addison, of favouring her, a woman below him. As if he did. He only wanted to kiss her. To hold her. To tumble into bed with her. To wake up in the morning to her face and her songs. To bear his children and stand by his side as his queen. So clearly he was lusting after her at best. Not that he admitted any of that to his father.

That kiss they had shared when he was breathless and dazed still replayed in his mind at every waking and dreaming moment. Awakening to see her above him, her cool hands resting on his neck, fluttering over his face, the light behind her highlighting her profile. At that moment he thought she was an angel come to take him to heaven. He had kissed her because he hadn't thought to stop himself.

All he had known was that he needed to taste her just once in case he was dying and would never get a chance to do it again. But now that he had he wanted to repeat the action, over and over and over. He would never getting tired of kissing her.

He had sent Ewan, who had a worrying interest in Addison, to take care of her while he was laid up. He reported that, other than being in need of a new dress, she only had a few scraps on her shin form her spectacular slide through the dirt to get to him. Arthur had made sure that she had been taken care of, to ensure that no infection came to her.

After, of course, Gaius had taken care of him. He had a crack in his shoulder that there wasn't much Gaius could do for. Technically he shouldn't be using it, but he was jousting that day and there was nothing Gaius could do to stop him.

He had slipped away from his father and his knights to see her. If Ewan had done his part right Addison would have been free from her cell by now. She was being watched by Ewan's younger brother, who would then hand her back to the guards later, once she had watched Arthur joust.

It didn't take him long to find her. He could spot her in a crowd from ten paces, his eyes always found her no matter where she was. He pulled her aside into a shadowed room off the main corridor. He tried not to think about how the one room he picked ended up being an unused bedroom.

She smiled up to him, her hand travelling to the armour plate above his injured shoulder. "Is it a good idea to be jousting with this sort of injury?" she asked.

"I have my honor to think about," he told her. He had gripped her hand when he grabbed her and he had yet to let go. He was trying to keep his heart from fluttering at the contact.

Addison rolled her eyes. "You princes and your honor," she whispered. She looked down to where their hands were joined and then back up to him. "I'm really sorry that I distracted you."

Arthur's gloved hand came to rest above the cheek that had taken Uther's blow. Though reddened, it hadn't actually bruised, which was a godsend. Usually when Uther struck her the mark lasted weeks. "It wasn't your fault," he assured.

Silence fell between them and he found that his thumb was stroking the inside of her wrist as their hands stayed joined together. Finally, Addison broke the silence and asked him:

"Would it help if you had some luck?"

A favour? She was asking if he wanted a favour from her? He didn't want some stupid hanky or ribbon from her, if anything he wanted his lips on hers again but he wasn't going to say that to her, he was just going to accept whatever it was she was going to hand him and pin it to his armor for luck. But when his eyes locked with hers and suddenly he was breathless. He had a feeling that he may just get what he wanted.

He didn't hear himself say yes, he was too lost in her eyes to hear himself speaking. And when she raised herself up onto her tippy toes, her hands coming to rest on his shoulders, her eyes closing softly, the world around him came to a standstill.

The second her lips hit his again that electricity he felt before crackled through him. His heart rate tripled, his hands came to her waist crushing her to his chest.

All too soon the kiss ended. Addison lowered herself back to flat feet and stepped away from him. A blush had stolen across her cheeks and she lowered her eyes bashfully and the world around him came back to him in one crashing moment. Still Arthur couldn't stop himself from grinning.

He cleared his throat lightly to try and remind himself to be more gentlemanly about this whole situation.

"Uhm, thank you," he whispered after a moment. "Your favor is definitely appreciated."

Addison smiled at him and nodded, even adding a small curtsey to the gesture. Arthur couldn't wipe the grin from his face. He slipped out of the room before anyone came to look for him and made his way to the arena with a bubble growing in his chest.

That bubble filled him with an excited energy and had him grinning like an idiot for the rest of the day.

Arthur went on to win that tournament. It was as if he were untouchable. The good luck kiss became Arthur and Addison's Tradition. And Arthur was never unhorsed again.