The next day Gwen looked considerably more well rested, though not fully. At least it was Wednesday. She was planning a painting project for the weekend, and was itching to start.
However, Arthur was late for work. He slept in two extra hours, and woke up groggily at ten a.m. He was barely aware of the time until it seemed to glare at him from the kitchen clock. "You've got to be kidding..."
Gwen, not exactly knowing what was happening, ended up taking the bus to work. She didn't mind, she was used to it.
Now, Arthur knew he had extra work to catch up, and headed straight to his office, still barely awake. He shot a sheepish look at Gwen as he passed her desk, and mouthed. "Sorry."
Gwen smiled in return. It wasn't a big deal to her. People made mistakes. She worked steadily throughout the day, not letting herself be distracted.
He didn't take a lunch break, but took a bare moment to pop up his internet browser and send her an email. "Sorry I missed the carpool this morning, and can't take you to lunch, Gwen. Want to come over tonight? Love, Arthur."
Only, Arthur didn't realise, that he'd sent it to the entire business network, which would certainly arouse curiosity.
Gwen received the e-mail with a smile, not noticing the several other names. When she replied, it was sent only to him. It read, "No worries. I'll cook? Gwen xx"
"Ah, the intrigue continues. I've not had a girl cook for me in while." He returned, typing happily. "See you at eight, darling?"
Arthur enjoyed teasing her a bit, and perhaps, maybe just a little, he was flirting. That surprised even him.
Gwen had to cover her face to hide the blush there. When she had finally recovered she replied, "I'll be there dear." Four simple words. She would have said more but she heard someone behind her and sent it quickly, closing the browser and turning. A woman stood there with long, straight blonde hair, wearing a black blouse, tucked into a black pencil skirt.
"Just what, do you think you're getting yourself into?" Sarah said sharply.
"Um..." Gwen looked startled, sitting up a bit straighter, "What are you...talking about?"
"Oh? So you haven't heard?" She sat down in the empty chair near to Guinevere's desk, and crossed her long slim legs, an amused smirk on her face.
"Heard about...what?" Gwen asked, looking thoroughly confused at this point.
"Arthur's reputation with the ladies." Sarah didn't bother to cross her ground carefully.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Gwen responded.
"Look." The other woman said in a way that could either be jealousy or belittlement. "It's been obvious, he's taken quite a spin for you."
"Is it?" Gwen asked, turning away. Her hair fell across her face, hiding her smile from view.
"Oh, quite. Just be careful. He does have," she stood, her expression snooty. "Quite the reputation. It might be too much for a small town girl to handle. Arthur is a big boy, Gwen."
"I can fend for myself, but thank you for the concern." Gwen said with a sweet smile. She didn't like the condescending tone this woman was giving her.
The return smile was icy. "We'll see." Then she was gone, returned to her desk on the other side of the room.
"Oh wonderful." Gwen sighed. She went back to her work but now she distracted. She didn't believe what the woman, Sarah, Gwen thought her name was, had said, but still...it was worrying.
That evening when the bell rang, Arthur opened the door to Gwen, with a grin on his face. He didn't understand why she looked a bit worried, but shrugged it off, and said, "There's food in the kitchen. I ensured that the maid filled the pantry."
"Never fear." Gwen said with a smile. She had several spices in her arms, ones that people usually didn't own, "The chef is here."
He smiled, and sat down on a stool, after switching on the light to reveal a very modern, high tech kitchen. "Now...are you the sort of girl that wants me to get lost while you cook? Or am I permitted to watch and wait?"
"You can watch." Gwen said with a smile, "Just...don't distract me,"
"I shall be perfectly silent." Arthur vowed, viewing her with big curious eyes, and his grin that had been glued to his face all evening.
Gwen smiled, and started to make dinner. She started to cut up vegetables, and began to fry them. Oil in a pan, vegetables in after. Peppers and onions, various spices - it started to smell good before long.
The doorbell rang again, and Arthur's eyebrows knit in curiosity as he got up to answer it.
Gwen continued her cooking, staring after him rather curiously.
Arthur didn't want to open to the door, but he figured he needed to. It was his dad. "Dad." He leaned on the frame, still a bit unwilling to let his father in.
"Arthur. Aren't you going to let me in?" The older gentlemen said.
"I have a...guest tonight..."
"Arthur." His father's tone was still polite, but growing more concerned. "Another girl? What is this...number 7? Since Gabby."
Arthur grimaced, worried Gwen would overhear.
"Dad. It's not that serious. We're just having dinner."
The older man didn't look convinced at his son's excuse, and Arthur finally let him into the living room.
"Stay here..."
Gwen heard voices and tried not listen in. All she heard was 'Number 7? Since Gabby'. She figured that was all she really needed to hear. She didn't move though. Just continued with what she was doing. She was going to give him a chance, but didn't know why - only figured he deserved that much from her.
"Gwen." Arthur came into the kitchen again. "My dad's here. I have a feeling he's not going to leave." He looked both disappointed and embarrassed that their evening had been interrupted.
"Oh." Gwen's mouth formed a small, perfect 'o'. "Well, I can go. It's no problem, really." She smiled, turning off the oven and wiping her hands, "It's fine."
"No. Stay!" He said quickly. "I'll make him leave. It's my house." Arthur felt he should explain, nervously running his hands through his hair. "Gwen. About...that. My father takes everything to extremes. " His voice was lowered, ensured that the conversation couldn't be heard from the living room. "You aren't number seven in year. I don't play with girls. It would take far longer than I have to...tell you but.." Now he was stuck. How was he supposed to explain easily that his friends kept setting him up on blind dates? It certainly wasn't simple to say that once that happened, his father thought he was in love and doing immoral things. "Uhm. It will have to wait. I promise I'll tell you."
Arthur told her to wait in the kitchen, and left to try to convince his father to come back in a few hours.
Gwen was left in a more confused state than she had started off in. Shrugging, she turned the oven back on. They may as well have food if this was going to be a long story. She blocked out the voices that floated back from the living room and hummed to herself.
Arthur returned ten minutes later, with word his father had left for the night and they could have their evening together.
"Sorry, about that."
"It's fine," Gwen said. She didn't want to mention it but..."You know Sarah? At work?" She asked, almost casually.
He made a 'Ueh' sound in the back of throat. "I know her. I hired her."
"She was acting odd." Gwen said, "I don't know, it was like she thought you were some sort of bad guy."
He was caught a little off guard at that. They'd actually grown up knowing one another. "Oh was she?" Arthur raised a curious brow. "And what did she say?"
"Just that you've gone through a lot of girls." Gwen said casually, "And that a small town girl like me should watch herself."
A slow nod was his only response, as if he was lost in thought.
"I told her I can handle myself, though." Gwen added.
"You can." Arthur shrugged. "Really? Do you trust her, or do you trust me? She's just...a hooker. She's been after me for years."
Gwen laughed, "I could tell." She said, "I'm sure I'll be fine."
"Back on good terms then?" His blue eyes sparkled the way they had they first day they'd met.
"Didn't think we were off them." Gwen said with a grin, "Dinner's almost ready."
"Thanks." Arthur said quietly. "It smells yummy!"
Gwen smiled, turning the stove off. "Plates would be...?"
He stood, and reached into the cupboard above her head. "I honestly don't know if I've ever used these..."
"What do you eat?" Gwen asked, honestly confused.
"Well, I eat out mostly, or I eat frozen food." Arthur shrugged. "Not exactly healthy, but I can't cook!"
"That definitely can't be healthy." She smiled, starting to put food on the plates.
He reddened, and sat down. "Well, are you telling me to learn? Or to employee a chef?" Then made a face. "Or to get married...now?"
"Definitely learn." Gwen said, giggling, "I'll teach you sometime."
"...Thanks." Arthur blinked.
"Not a problem." Gwen responded, blushing herself. She handed him a plate, grinning, "And food."
"It's very good." He had a bite. "Thanks."
Gwen smiled, "Cooking is fun." She said with a shrug, "Gives me something to do."
"So's soccer." He grinned cheekily. "I still plan to give you a proper lesson."
"Oh wonderful." Gwen said with mock horror, "The joy."
"You'll have fun! I promise." He softened. "Unless you'd rather do something sweeter; sports aren't very girly."
"I don't care about being girly." Gwen said, brushing off the comment, "I like watching soccer. Just...the playing of it..."
"Well," Arthur finished his delicious food, and began picking up the dishes, although he didn't have much of a clue what to do with them. "How about we...get popcorn and a movie?"
"Are you asking me out on a date?" Gwen asked teasingly.
Arthur looked away uncomfortably, turning redder by the second. "...No..no. We're just friends."
"I was joking," Gwen said sweetly "Calm down."
"Of course." He cleared his throat. "But, I can...if you'd like me to." Arthur didn't know why the idea made him uncomfortable. Probably because he enjoyed her company more than any girl since what had happened.
Gwen bumped her hip against his gently, "Hey, don't worry about it." She said, "Whatever happens happens. We're not pushing it."
"Thanks." Arthur said quietly. "I'll just say it." However, he couldn't, even as he looked at her, as she smiled sweetly, a dish rag in her hands.
"Now you're embarrassing yourself." Gwen said with a laugh, "Stop it, before you make me blush."
"I can't say it!" Arthur groaned. "It hurts too much to say."
"Well then I'll ask you." Gwen said, smiling. She took his large hands in her own small, still slightly damp hands. "Arthur, will you accompany me to the movies on a date?" She was clearly suppressing a smile as she said it.
He slowly smiled, then softly wrapped his arms around her shoulders. "It would be my pleasure."
"Wonderful." Gwen said, "That wasn't so hard."
"No." Arthur grasped her hand, pulling her into the living room, and flopping down onto the couch, while picking up a remote. "Now, what is your favorite?"
Gwen laughed, tumbling down next to him, "Anything that doesn't involve gooey gross stuff."
"Hip hip hurray." Arthur handed the remote to her.
"No chick flicks." Gwen said with a decisive nod, taking the remote.
"I watched those for a whole three years." Arthur suddenly realised. "Time for a change!"
Gwen laughed, flipping through channels. "Ooh!" There were explosions, and there were guns, and there was fire. "I think yes to action movies."
"Right on." He smirked, teasing her. "But you have to cuddle me if I get scared."
"Oh of course." Gwen said, laughing, "I'll fight away the monsters."
"Good." He made himself comfortable. Gwen smiled, tucking her feet up under her and leaning gently against him.
"Psst. I don't understand what's going on. I think we started in the middle." Arthur whispered a few minutes later, cocking a brow.
Gwen's body shook against his in silent laughter. "I'm assuming that he." She pointed to one of the men, "Is the bad guy." She paused, "Or maybe him."
"Thanks. I'm lost." He returned with a shake of the head.
"Yeah, my explanation started off quite well." She replied.
A few hours later the movie finished and another started - something soft and slow, and it took Gwen all of twenty minutes to fall asleep. She was still exhausted from the sleepless nights that had haunted her for days.
An exhausted Arthur wrapped his arm around her shoulders, and slowly fell asleep as well. It was a few hours later when he woke up in the same position. "Gwen?"
Gwen stirred, letting out a small sigh as she moved closer to him, still partially asleep. He was so warm.
"Guinevere..." Arthur encouraged her to wake up, still half asleep himself. He looked at the clock. 3 AM. "Maybe you should go home?" Realising she probably wouldn't wake up, he softly picked her up, and carried her to the guest room, arranging her on the bed. "Sleep well.
Gwen barely stirred. She simply turned over, curling into a small ball, like a child. Her hair fell across her face, and she continued to sleep.
Arthur smiled, and shut the door behind him, heading to his own room down the hall.
Morning curled around before he knew it, and he was awakening to someone making breakfast. Confused, he awoke and got out of bed, finding his way to the kitchen.
Gwen had woken up an hour or so ago, confused at first. But after figuring out where she was, she couldn't help but smile. She tied her hair off her face, smoothed her rumpled clothes, and decided to make pancakes, which was what she was doing when Arthur came in. "Morning!"
"Morning..." He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes, and then laughed. "You fell asleep here. I-" Arthur yawned. "Couldn't wake you...up."
"I sort of remember being half awake." Gwen admitted, "But I made you pancakes. As a thank you."
"I should have taken you home." Arthur confessed. "Sorry. But I was mostly asleep myself."
"It's fine." Gwen said, grinning into her cup of juice, not quite willing to let him see how happy she was. "I don't think I've had such a good sleep in...ages."
"I'm glad you're here. But, you'll have to go home after breakfast...to change, for work." He explained.
"I know." Gwen said. Quickly, she transferred the pancakes from the pan to the plate. "Which is why I already ate." She ran towards the door then paused. She padded back, holding her shoes, her bare feet making quiet noises on the hardwood floor. "Thank you." She said again, quietly, and kissed him on the cheek. Then she ran back to the door and slipped out before he could respond.
Arthur chuckled, and ate his breakfast quickly before showering and changing for work. As he went down to the lobby to wait for her, an hour later, he realised he was happier than he'd been in a very long time.
Gwen had never showered faster in her life. She brushed out her hair, drying it quickly, and changing her clothes - jeans (nice ones at least) and a fitted black blouse, and then she down in the lobby, smiling at Arthur.
It was raining softly outside, but he tossed his hooded jacket over her shoulders anyway. "There you are. Ready?"
"I am indeed." Gwen said with a sweet smile. She started to walk towards the car and glanced over her shoulder, "Coming darling?" It was teasing how she said it, but real in her heart.
"Of course." Arthur opened the door, and slid in. "Now, don't forget your seatbelt, now"
Gwen slid in after him. "Yes sir," She said with a mock salute, pulling her seatbelt across her shoulder.
He grinned, and ruffled her hair. "You have no idea how much you cheer me up."
"Good." Gwen said with a satisfied smile, "I live to make people happy."
"What a sweetheart." was the reply, and soon enough they'd reached the building. Arthur grabbed her hand, and pulled her into the elevator.
Gwen smiled, liking how he was acting. It was sweet and adorable. It made her feel...normal. She smiled as the elevator doors closed. "Fancy coming over tonight?" She asked, "I have something I want to show you."
"I'd love to." Arthur nodded, and shoved his hands into his pockets.
"Good." Gwen said with a smile, "Although you will have to provide food."
"As long as I don't have to cook it, we're good." He laughed, and the elevator opened to the sleek set of offices, reminding him to be a bit more professional. "See you in a bit."
"You'd better think of something." Gwen said quietly before he was out of ear shot, although not loud enough for anyone else to here.
"I will, love." Arthur returned, bending down to kiss her cheek. "See you tonight." With that, he was off to work, and found himself being much more industrious and certainly a bit cheerier.
Gwen smiled, hiding her blush. She went to her desk and sat down, focusing on her work. She didn't even notice Sarah walk past her. Sarah was wearing a short black skirt, high heels and a white blouse with a black jacket. She walked to Arthur's office and knocked before entering. "Arthur darling." She said with a smile, "I have those reports you wanted."
"Ah, thank you...Sarah." He cleared his throat, blinking at her attire which was certainly different than what she wore yesterday. "Very kind of you."
"Not a problem." Sarah said. She walked over to his desk, putting down the papers she had been carrying and pushing them towards him. "So...the new girl...Gwen? What do you think of her?" She asked the question casually, but stared at him judgingly.
"Oh, she's great." Arthur nodded quickly, then looked back at everything scattered over his desk. "If you'll excuse me, I have some things to do."
"Of course." Sarah said, turning. It was only once she was looking away from Arthur did she let her smile drop and an almost jealous look flashed across her face. She could see what was going on.
"Something wrong?" He didn't look up this time, trying to keep busy.
"No." Sarah said, "Nothing at all." And then she left his office.
Arthur relaxed when she left, but couldn't wait until that night, when he'd finally get a chance to be with Gwen - just the two of them.
The day seemed to pass a lot slower than Gwen would have liked. And she could have sworn Sarah kept shooting her looks across the room.
Arthur ended up having to work late, and shot Gwen a message, still he wanted to make sure he was doing everything to the best of his ability.
Gwen went outside to wait for Arthur and ended up getting an ice cream from one of the convenience stores nearby. She ate it while she waited for Arthur, looking very much like a child.
"Don't you look cute." Arthur tugged the braid she'd thrown her hair into, when he found her on the nearest outside bench.
"Well thank you." Gwen said with a smile that was smeared in ice-cream, "Can we go now?"
"Of course. Sorry I'm late." Arthur laughed. "But...just let me..." He grabbed a napkin she was holding and wiped off her face. "Clean you up."
"Thanks...and don't worry about it." Gwen said, grinning, "Let's go. Because I would like to show you something that took me a very long time."
"Right!" Arthur tossed back. "Can't wait."
"Wonderful." Gwen said as Lance pulled up in the car. She slid into the car, finishing her ice cream, and trying to stay neat. "Come on!" She was practically bouncing with excitement.
"I'm coming." Now he really couldn't wait.
Gwen grinned as he got in and the car started to move.
"So." Arthur said as Gwen led him up to the apartment. "Do I get even one clue? Just a tiny teeny hint?...Maybe?"
"Nope!" Gwen said with a grin. She took his hand and pulled him to the door, before reaching into her pocket and pulling out a makeshift blindfold. "You have to put this on."
"Alright." He smiled, and covered his eyes.
Gwen waved her hand in front of his face before grinning and opening the door to her flat, pulling him in gently. "Wait here." She said, before running into her room and coming out with a large canvas. "Alright, blindfold off." On the canvas was a sunset, painted in reds, yellows, blues, all blended together over a seaside background. And in the middle were two people, a man and a woman, just their dark forms. The girl's head rested on the boy's shoulder, her curly hair wildly arranged. It was clearly the two of them. Gwen bit her lip and waited for a response.
"...Wow..." Was all he could say, and for some reason, could not stop looking at all the beautiful colors she'd used to interpret the feelings.
"You like it?" Gwen asked nervously.
"I love it." Arthur nodded, and wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
Gwen smiled, setting the canvas down. "I'm glad you like it." She said, half hugging him.
"I like it. But I love you." He didn't know where, but the young man finally found the courage to pull her close, and kiss her.
That was probably the last thing Gwen had expected to happen. But she didn't protest, because she trusted him completely
Arthur didn't pull back for a few minutes, but when he did, a feeling of complete satisfaction for his life had settled in his chest.
"Well..." Gwen said, a deep red blush covering her face, "That was..."
"Sorry.." Arthur cleared his throat, and removed his arms from her neck. "I should have asked."
"No, that would have ruined the chick flick moment," Gwen said with a teasing smile. "Here, let me try again." She rose onto her toes and kissed him again gently.
Before Arthur knew it, he was lost in her, completely.
Gwen smiled, her arms snaking around his neck gently as she clung to him as though he was a lifeline.
He never wanted the moment to end, and couldn't part himself from her. Arthur put his fingers into her beautiful hair, a slight smile tinting his lips. "Don't ever leave me." He murmured softly.
"Deal." Was Gwen's reply, because she was lost in him completely. His eyes, his smile, his voice. She belonged to him.
Arthur lifted her into his arms, smiling. His blue eyes grinned down at her. "I'll always be yours."
"Always." Gwen echoed with a soft smile. He made her feel perfect, and beautiful, and special. She didn't ever want to lose that.