Final chapter...R/R.
It wasn't like they were making a concerted effort to get along, they were both nice to him from the moment he bumped into her brother outside. At first it was a little difficult to really picture her as a part of these two people's lives.
They were such a contrast to the image that he'd come to accept of her. But as he watched her from across the table, he saw parts of her that he doubted she allowed anyone to see, not even her "besties" Merlin and Leon.
He liked her family and liked seeing her with them. He didn't care how many times she would send him that faux smile tonight. It was the one she always used, with everyone, but after seeing the more authentic version whenever she would look at her father or sometimes with her older sibling, he could tell the difference and it was all he wanted to see.
"So, are you two dating?"
Gwen almost choked on her wine, but she wasted no time at all refuting the assertion. "Elyan, don't be ridiculous. Arthur is my boss and we have very strict rules about interoffice fraternizing. Isn't that right, boss?"
Arthur stuck a mouthful of the delicious chicken past his lips and just smiled as he chewed.
Fortunately, her father changed the subject to what his daughter was like at work. Arthur told him that she was the most valuable part of his team and that he couldn't get much done without her. He seemed sincere, but how could he not have been? It was mostly true.
Maybe this wasn't going to be such a horrible night after all, she thought. Arthur was behaving himself and they actually seem to be having an easy time at conversing. Which hasn't always been the case, especially with Elyan who had adopted an over protective nature from her father. He'd still have to pay for interrupting the whole affair, but maybe…
"Gwen loved to dance. Didn't you sweetie?"
She snapped out of her reverie at her father's question.
"I use to pick her up from ballet; she never wanted to leave that studio."
When in the hell did they stop talking about her professional world and moved on to this, she wondered. "Dad, I don't think Arthur wants to hear about that."
He ignored her, thoroughly enjoying the practical stranger's company. "I remember one time, she had a school play and she had to be the tomato."
"No it was the orange," Elyan corrected. He was all smiles.
"Yes, that's right the orange. I think I only thought it was a tomato because I'd never seen her get so angry. She was completely red."
They laughed. Gwen pouted as the men continued talking about her childhood as if she were an accessory in the room. Arthur had never seen her like this before. Normally, she pulled all the levers in her relationship with others, but here in the presence of her two favorite people in the world, she was out-manned, at their mercy and acquiescent.
She spent much of what was left of the evening insisting on being a good hostess. She left them to take care of cleaning duties; anything to be anywhere but near them while her father and brother continued to regale their guest with what she considered to be embarrassing tales of her youth.
Arthur, Tom and Elyan were still chatting it up when she finally emerged some time later from the kitchen, still choosing to leave the chef's knife in its place.
"Well, we should be going. It is getting late." Tom declared.
"So soon," she asked. Their night had been usurped and although the men were satisfied she was not. They started their farewells and headed towards the door.
"Ah Gwen,"
"What is it Arthur?" She could no longer hide her contempt for the interloper.
"I just need to make a stop in the little boy's room before I hit the road."
"Oh no problem, it's right back there." Her father's chumminess was really beginning to piss her off. "Arthur. It was good to meet you."
"Same here." They shook hands.
"I expect you to take good care of my little girl," he added.
"I will do my best sir." She rolled her eyes thinking she had traveled back in time to the Dark Ages where women needed a father or husband to ensure their security. Hello, that's what the expensive financial planner and my metallic pink taser are for.
Arthur and Elyan went on about getting together next month for something of the sort. By now Gwen was too exhausted to care.
"Good night you two and drive safe."
She walked over to the bathroom door and rapped three slow, sorry knocks against the wood.
"Yes," he replied almost singing it.
"You can stop pretending now. They're gone."
"I'm not quite finished."
"Haven't you tortured me enough for one evening?"
He opened the door to face her. "You've tortured me since the day I met you. It's only fair that I get to enjoy this for as long as possible."
"Oh stop being such a girl." He watched her turned away from him and sat kicking her heels up onto the table.
"You know Gwen."
"Do not call me that," she warned him with a pointed finger.
He sat as close to her as she would allow him. "You are especially pretty when you pout."
"I cannot believe he told you all those awful stories." Her head fell backwards onto his outstretched arm.
"I wouldn't mind seeing you in that tutu."
"Stop it."
His fingers nestled their way into her hair. "Oh come on, it was nice to see you as yourself, not trying to be perfect and in control all the time."
She dropped her head to the side to look at him and then shifted her body to face his.
"I'm sorry for the way I spoke to you last night and what for I said. I was upset and I was rude. Can you please forgive me?"
She exhaled sharply. "You are forgiven, but it wasn't all your fault."
"Whatever the case, you were right. It's none of my business. I just, I don't want you to hate me."
"I don't hate you Arthur."
His expression questioned her answer.
"Well maybe I did a little for the briefest of moments." She leaned forward and kissed him. It was not a deep exchange, but she stayed close to him.
"What was that for?"
"It's a peace offering. I'm sorry for being such a mean girl the past year. Now, can we just forget all of this ever happened and just go back to the way things were before the other night?"
"You mean go back to when you pretend to hate me and I pretend to hate you?"
"No, let's just be civil with each other."
"Just civil then? Not even friends?"
"No. I don't know. You're my boss, Arthur. I can't be your friend."
"Good because that's not what I'm asking."
"We can't be that either. It would never work."
"How do you know that?"
"We'd argue all the time."
"Not necessarily."
"And then what would everyone think of us at the office."
"No one there has to know."
"And your father..."
"My father loves you."
"Yes, but it's because I'm good at what I do, not because I'm doing bad things with his son." She climbed over his thighs to straddle him.
"Well you're very good at that too. It's just something we won't discuss at the quarterly board meetings."
"There's no use talking about this with you like an adult is there?"
"That ship sailed a long time ago. I want to spend the night; the entire night."
"No."
"Yes."
"How about I let you stay past midnight."
"Not good enough Guinevere."
She pressed her lips to his, kissing him more intently than before. "Fine, you may stay."
"I thought you said you could defeat me in any argument."
"Who says you won? Did you like the tapas?"
"I adore your tapas."
A/N: All done. I really want to thank everyone who encouraged me to add new chapters to fic. I enjoyed writing these two, especially the dialogue. I hope you liked it too.
