Chapter 10

Thank you all for your support and ideas for the story. Here comes chapter 10. Hope you all enjoy.

Gwen sat before Arthur in a simple easy going family restaurant which she had recommended as it was her favorite. There was great food and music and besides, she felt comfortable in a familiar place.

She had found Arthur already waiting for her sitting at the back for the restaurant giving them some privacy. Gwen looked around. There weren't many people in for lunch. She looked at Arthur. He looked really handsome in a blue business suit, white shirt open at the top and no tie. He looked so relaxed and laid back.

"Hey, relax. We are here as friends just getting to know each other." said Arthur and Gwen blushed laughing nervously. Her nerves must have shown. How could she not be nervous? Here she was sitting with a man she had feelings for, who she had kissed, who she had cancelled a lunch date with her fiancé... She had barely worked this morning thinking about this lunch. Her eyes would stray every 5 minutes to the clock waiting for the 12' o clock lunch time.

"Of course." said Gwen smiling and Arthur smiled looking at Gwen. She was in a simple peach top and black skirt with heels and she looked amazing. Arthur was so sure she would look perfect in a sack.

"So how has been work?" "It's been ok. I have been nervous to be truthful."

"You don't have to be Guinevere. We are friends getting to know each other."

"We are not friends Arthur. We kissed."

"I know that but right now it's just Gwen and Arthur new friends getting to know each other so favorite color?" said Arthur with a smile. "Oh, playing 20 questions are we?" said Gwen with a laugh.

"Well we have to start somewhere." said Arthur.

"True. Purple."

"Hmm, it suits you. Mine is red. Your turn."

"Um, favorite…um…sport?"

"Football."

"Thought so. Mine is tennis." said Gwen. "You play tennis?" "Yeah. It is relaxing. Used to play with my dad when I was younger. We still do when I go and visit him."

Lunch went on in a blur with the waitress serving them. There was lots of laughter and teasing as they got to know each other. Gwen discovered Arthur loved steak with nuts a close second, preferred beer to wine, could play the piano and guitar, didn't like dogs, loved jazz music, loved Paris, he had bungee jumped as a craziest thing he had ever done and most surprisingly he could cook and enjoyed it.

"I can't believe you can actually cook!" "I can. I spent most of the time during holidays in the kitchen with the chef. I was fascinated and he taught me a lot. It was a great time. I could cook for you some time." said Arthur looking intently at Gwen and she smiled. "I like that." said Gwen then she looked on her watch.

"Um, I have to go back to work." said Gwen. She really didn't want to leave. She had been having such a good time with Arthur and in truth she had never enjoyed lunch as she had. There had been nothing of their attraction beside their eyes meeting here and there. It was purely having fun and they discovered they had a lot in common. They liked the same music, pets, both preferred staying in than going out… Talking to each other was effortless.

"Yeah I better get back too." said Arthur regretfully. He rose and helped her out of her seat. "So um, can we meet again some time?" asked Arthur cautiously hoping she would agree.

"Yeah." said Gwen and Arthur smiled. They both stood not knowing how to part before Arthur made a bold move and took her in his arms in a hug. Gwen stiffened at first then she melted hugging him back feeling the strong muscles and smelling his scent. He always smelled so good.

"Bye." said Gwen and she left. Arthur looked at her as she got into her car. He felt like he could jump up and down. The date was a success and there was a promise for more.

xxx

"You have to stop this Gwen." said Kara looking at Gwen as she hung up her cell from talking to Arthur. Her and Arthur's first friendship date had evolved to a second, a third till it was almost every afternoon they were both free and now there were after work calls.

"What? He is my friend." said Gwen. Kara glared at her and Gwen sighed. "I don't know what to do Kara." "Yes you do but you just don't want to do it. You love Arthur. Its so clear from the way you talk to him…look at you. You are smiling brightly and you are the happiest I have seen you."

"But Lancelot…" "He will understand Gwen. What he wont understand is if you let this go too long. The hell you went to his house and he cooked for you! His house! You are lying to Lancelot. How is that fair to him?"

"I am not lying to Lancelot. I tell him I am out with a friend. Arthur is a friend." "Yeah? So explain to me why you find it hard to be with Lance if Arthur is your friend? How is it you now spend more time with Arthur than Lance? I can't let you go on like this. You are stringing Lance along and that is not right."

Gwen lowered her head sighing. "I have been with Lance for a long time Kara. I love him. How can I just tell him I have fallen in love with Arthur? How can I throw away 2 years of a relationship for 2 months of friendship dates?"

"I see the problem now. Lancelot is comfortable and you want to settle for him. Yes Gwen. that is settling. You don't feel for him the way you feel for Arthur. You love Lancelot but you are in love with Arthur and it's about time you do something about it."

"You are right. Its time I make a decision." said Gwen determined.

xxx

"Gwen wants to meet to talk." Said Arthur. "Isn't that what you have been doing for the last 2 months?"

"No this is serious. She wants to tell me something." "You think its about you and her?"

"I don't know Merlin. When we are together, its like no one else exists you know. there is no kissing or anything like that but I could live my whole life like that. we just click."

"You have fallen for her."

"Yes. What I felt before doesn't measure what I feel now, now that we have got to know each other. I want her with me Merlin. I need her."

"Which is why you are worried. You think she will choose to stay with Lance."

"I wouldn't be able to take that. I just…where I am now…it will crush me. She set the date for the wedding."

"Yeah like 6 months from now. Looks to me like she is stalling."

"Still it could mean she wants to be with him."

"Go meet her. From what I have seen and heard from you, she feels the same way for you."

"She may want to stay with Lance out of obligation. They have been together for 2 years and I understand that she is conflicted. Its not easy to let that go."

"She might but then you will have to convince her otherwise. It's so clear to anyone that you love each other. Remember the tension when we met for a night out? Even Lance had to have picked something up. Your chemistry was sizzling especially when you danced." said Merlin.

It was true. That night they had met Lance, Gwen, Morgana, Mithian, Leon, Gwaine, Laura (Gwaine's new girlfriend) and Percival with his date Cleo just for a night out. He hadn't been able to keep his eyes off of Gwen and even though they tried to avoid each other it was clear to someone who knew them that something was up even more so when they danced together.

"How can I forget. Lance looked like he wanted to hit me with a wine bottle." said Arthur not saying how the 2 of them had met outside the bar and had words. He remembered the conversation clearly.

"Arthur."

"Lance."

"I am just going to be bland here. Do you have feelings for Gwen?"

Arthur's heart had skipped a beat and he had taken a sip of his wine to cover his nervousness. "Of course not."

"I understand well Arthur. Gwen is really attractive but we love each other and we are engaged."

"I know that."

Lancelot nodded. "I love her Arthur. I love her a lot."

Arthur was filled with dread. Lance loved Gwen and here he was trying to get her from him. "Lance…"

"I am just saying…." He didn't finish because Gwen in had appeared in her little black dress looking stunning.

"Is everything alright?"

"Of course. Just having a chat." said Lance taking her in his arms. "We were just about to head back in."

Arthur had looked on as Lance led Gwen in. Gwen looked back and their eyes held till she disappeared inside.

Arthur had told no one of that talk and it had weighed him on what he was doing. One hand, he loved Gwen and wanted to be with her. On the other, he was committing the ultimate betrayal. Taking your best mate's girl. He tried to imagine Merlin taking his girlfriend. That would crush him but he couldn't help it. Such was life. You have to sacrifice to get the best and Gwen was worth all the sacrifices.

There it is. Gwen wants to talk to Arthur…could this mean she will choose Arthur and leave Lance? If so how will Lance take it? Could she be letting Arthur down?

Review and tell me what you think.