AN: I know it's been forever! To make up for it I'm posting the next chapter as well and that's when things really happen! Thanks as always for reading!

"Cenred has a man staying in Belgrave; I want you to go make sure he is settled in."

"You mean you want me to go spy on him," Arthur said, his arms folded as he stared across the room at his father. "I'll go and say hello but I'm not asking any prying questions. You'll have to get someone else to do that."

Before Uther could say anything else, Arthur backed out of the office. It had been two months since the awkward reunion – if one could even call it that – at the pub. Arthur and Gwen had spent most of the night avoiding eye contact before Merlin had announced he was tired and was going home early. Arthur had used that as his excuse to leave as well. Since then he hadn't even tried to not think of her. Usually it was harmless enough; he wondered what sort of job she had, if she had settled back into life in London, whether he might run into her on the street. But sometimes, other thoughts wormed their way into his mind, into his dreams. He would be taken back to that last night in Paris when they had danced together except that this time, she didn't run from him when he bent his head to kiss her. Instead, she responded, wrapping her arms more tightly around his neck and sighing as she kissed him back. And always, he woke from these dreams extremely unsettled.

Shaking the thoughts from his head, Arthur collected Merlin and the two of them walked over to the hotel when Cenred's diplomat was staying. They we so deep in conversation that Arthur didn't even realize he had walked right up to the front desk until the girl behind it waved her hand in front of his face.

"Arthur! What are you doing here?" Gwen asked. Arthur did a double take before answering her with a question himself.

"I should ask you that. Why are you here?"

"I work here."

"Well I can see that but I thought you would be in housekeeping."

Gwen smacked him on the shoulder across the counter but she smiled as she did. "I want to be a manager or possibly an owner one day, so I've been trying to do as many different jobs in different hotels to get an understanding of how it all works together." She suddenly looked embarrassed to have said so much but Arthur was impressed by her ambition and her approach. He found himself wanting to know more but unfortunately, the real reason for his appearance here was quickly recalled as Merlin interjected.

"That's really cool, Gwen," he said earnestly. "And I'm sure we will have to catch up and hear all about it but right now we've been sent over to check up on a Spaniard."

Gwen laughed. "Of course, I'll let him know you're here to see him." She called up to the man's room and then there was nothing else to do but wait.

"So," Arthur began awkwardly. He wasn't sure what he was going to say but he knew what topics he should avoid. "How are things with Lancelot?" Damnit.

Gwen blushed and looked away. Glancing at Merlin he saw pity in his friend's eyes. A moment later, Gwen had composed herself.

"Sorry, it's still a bit difficult to talk about. Lancelot and I broke up, you see."

Arthur was shocked. The couple had seemed happy only a few months ago. But while he was feeling sorry for Gwen, another part of his mind –the insidious part – was racing. Remembering.

Thankfully, the Spanish diplomat showed up and Arthur switched into work mode. Just before though, he leaned over and whispered to Gwen, hoping she could hear the truth in his words.

Gwen watched as Arthur Pendragon walked away from the desk. She was still reeling from the moment in which he had leaned in close, his eyes sorrowful as he said "I'm so sorry," so quietly she wasn't even sure that was what he had said. He would never know how much that sounded like he knew.

Gwen had loved Lancelot but after moving back to London, she found that their relationship just wasn't working anymore, what with him being in Paris. Although, if she was really honest with herself – something she tried to avoid when she thought of her breakup – she knew that the problems had started well before, back when a conference had been held and an arrogant consul had burst into her life.

She had been mortified at her behaviour over the course of that week but something about the memory always gave her a glowy feeling, as if everything had finally fallen into place. It had taken tremendous effort, but finally, three weeks ago, when Lancelot had visited last, she had ended their relationship. Lancelot had been upset of course, but he had known something was wrong. He had left saying that he wished her all the best but he hoped never to see her again. Sometimes Gwen wished she could walk away from herself too, but the pain had healed to an occasional ache now. And the man who had pulled her in so mysteriously was before her again, as if some cosmic force was drawing them together, but to what end?