Chapter 6

"Hey Gwaine-right on time, thanks," Merlin said.

"No problem mate," Gwaine laughed. He cheerfully added, "Don't forget that drinks are on you tonight!"

Merlin groaned into the receiver. Although money wasn't a concern in his life, his wallet definitely felt considerably lighter after the condemning combination of Gwaine, alcohol, and the phrase "drinks on me". However, he had to be good on his word. After Gwen had accepted his offer to go to the restaurant, he discreetly texted Gwaine to call him in an hour. Furthermore, he had promised Gwaine the night's round all on him if he didn't ask any questions. Gwaine didn't need to be told twice to blindly accept an offer of free drinks.

"Fine, fine," Merlin said, "Same time and place?"

"Of course!" Gwaine said, and they hung up.

Merlin kept his cell phone up to his ear, and pretended to have a conversation with Gwaine. He was used to talking to himself after all the times Arthur decided to ignore his jests. Merlin kept throwing cursory glances at Arthur and Gwen. At first they were awkwardly conversing. He saw Gwen go scarlet, and Arthur unknowingly mimic his own attempt to comfort her. However unlike when he did it, Arthur's touch brought out a deeper shade of red to Gwen's cheeks and her mouth dropped into a perfect "O" shape. He saw Arthur quickly remove his hand after seeing her reaction, and could sense the tension between them even from his considerable distance away.

Merlin was glad that he decided to "opt out" of their luncheon so to speak. This gave him the perfect opportunity to spy on them. Also, Merlin figured that this was the best way to tease Arthur. If Arthur made a fool of himself, he couldn't even blame him since he wasn't at the table! And Merlin liked the sound of that. 'Of course,' Merlin thought, 'this also means that if Arthur makes a fool of himself, I'll be the one to pay. I'll have to be the one he takes his frustration out on. Or else I'll get the "opportunity" to hear his griping until he can rectify the situation.'

As Merlin was wrapped up in his thoughts-and fake phone conversation-he suddenly sensed a change in the air. As he looked again in the direction of the table he saw Arthur's mouth moving and Gwen smiling. The awkward atmosphere had completely disappeared. He briefly wondered what Arthur had done or said, but it quickly fled his mind as he noticed the way he and Gwen were interacting. If Merlin hadn't known differently, he would've assumed they were two good ol' chums who went way back. 'Did I really space out that long?' Merlin wondered as he made his way back carefully to the table.

"…so then, Morgana got it in her head that everyoneneeded her special 'beautifying' potion. My father and I didn't have the heart to tell her that the only reason it worked on her dying, ugly flowers was because we planted some new ones for her while she was out! In any interview you've ever heard from her she swears upon her life that it was this moment which inspired her to go into the cosmetics field. Perhaps that's why my father and I never bothered to tell her otherwise. " Arthur finished his anecdote as Merlin came up to the table, and Gwen's laughter tinkled across the restaurant.

"Hallo hallo," Merlin smiled as he sat down again. "Sorry that took so long. I hope I can promise it won't happen again," he offered Gwen.

Gwen smiled, "Oh don't worry about it Merlin. Arthur here was just telling me all about his sister, and I likewise was telling him about my brother."

"Oh?" Merlin's eyebrows rose. It took someone pretty special to make Arthur talk about his sister. He glanced over at Arthur who shot him a look which clearly said, 'Don't question or judge me right now Merlin.'

"Yes, and it was quite…erm…informative as well as entertaining," Gwen teased, "Do you have any siblings Merlin?"

"Nah, I'm afraid not. My dad set off before I was born and my mum never remarried. So it was just me and my mum for most of my life. My uncle, Gaius, has been in my life a lot after I left home. When I came over here I promised my mum that I would go to Gaius-he's lived in England for a while now-when I arrived since I didn't know anyone else. He set me up with all the right contacts, and quicker than a blink of the eye here I am today. Friends with one of the greatest dollopheads in the country, and one of the most sought after bachelors as well," Merlin concluded his rather sad story with a wink.

Arthur scoffed at his pronouncement as Gwen merely giggled again. She wondered at how Merlin had that natural ability to make something which would normally depress and beat someone down into something with a whole new positive light as well as make a joke out of it.

The three of them talked for quite some time afterward. They learned about each other's professions, past lives, and current situations in life. As the waiter finally came around with the offer of dessert, Gwen checked her watch and suddenly jumped out of her chair as if it had burned her.

"I'm so sorry, but the time just slipped me by!" Gwen declared, hastily gathering up her things, "I have to go meet my-erm-my boy-boyfriend. He's being interviewed today, and wants me there for moral support."

She felt as if she rambled on at the end-and she was doing so well too!-but she caught Arthur's look as she stumbled over the phrase "my boyfriend". She felt the need to explain why she had to leave him as his face darkened over. Although, it was immediately replaced with the cold reality of the situation-she had a boyfriend, an amazing boyfriend, and she didn't have to explain herself to Arthur. Furthermore, she saw him with that blonde woman, so he really didn't have any right to have that look upon his features. That was what logical Gwen felt. But emotional, compassionate, kind, and caring Gwen felt differently. In the past few hours she had been with Arthur-and Merlin-she felt as if they had formed a friendship, and she hated to upset any of her friends.

"Here's my number," Gwen hastily scribbled on a piece of paper and tore it out. She handed it to Merlin, along with money for her lunch. However, Merlin waved away her money.

"Gwen, you don't need that! You're amongst friends. Honestly, I would be offended if you don't let me pay," Merlin grinned.

Gwen attempted again to pay, but in vain as Merlin again waved it off. Finally, sighing in defeat, Gwen pocketed her money and quickly left the building. She swung her bag over her shoulder and threw one last apologetic glance back their way before disappearing into the still long waiting line.

She felt bad about how her luncheon had ended. 'And it started out so good too,' she thought wistfully, 'Well, maybe a little awkward, but good.'

She walked quickly to the tube station, and made her way quickly to the studio Lance was being interviewed at. She was so intent on getting there she didn't notice the person bending over their shoelaces, and tripped over them.

"Oh my goodness-I am sosorry!" Gwen exclaimed, wide-eyed and put her hand over her mouth.

The man looked up and smiled-his straight pearly whites practically glistened in the sunlight. He had long brown hair, a beautiful tan, and-from what Gwen had felt-a good body.

"No worries, love," the man said as he checked her out, "I'm Gwaine, and you?"

"Guinevere Leodegrance," Gwen said, a bit distracted, "I'm terribly sorry, but I am running a bit late."

"No problem," Gwaine laughed, "Maybe you and I could get a drink sometime?"

"Mmmm," was the noise Gwen decided to respond with in a very non-committal tone.

"Here's my card," Gwaine reached into his jacket and pulled out his business card, "Call me later and I'm sure a round of drinks will more than make up for you thinking I was a bit of the pavement."

Gwen merely took the card, smiled, nodded, and ran off again. She wondered at how clumsy she had been these past few days, and all of these handsome men handing her their cards. 'First Arthur, now this Gwaine fellow,' she thought. As she approached the doors leading into the studio she finally took a few seconds to look down at what the card said as she straightened out her skirt and hair.

Gwaine Macken

Model: Abercrombie and Fitch, Ralph Lauren, GQ

+1-234-555-0918

Gwen was still musing upon her bad-or good depending on how you looked at it-fortune at running into handsome strangers when she knocked on the glass door leading into the filming studio. She could see Lance behind it, talking with the camera men and laughing. He was sitting on a chair in front of the cameras, but it didn't look like they were on. In another part of the room, the interviewer was reviewing their questions that he had prepared to ask Lance.

As Gwen knocked, her boyfriend looked up and smiled. He quickly made his way to the door, and courteously opened it for her.

"Thanks," Gwen said at Lance gave her a quick peck on the cheek. He took up her hand and held it in his, squeezing it as he did so.

"No problem. Thanks for being here with me," Lance said, "The cameramen said that you can stand-or sit-behind the cameras right there." He pointed to a place that would be directly in front of his sight.

"That sounds great, thanks," Gwen replied as he escorted her over to the area he gestured at. He quickly pulled out a chair and Gwen sat down in it, dropping her bag on the floor. She had discreetly dropped Gwaine's card in it as well.

Lance moved back over to where he had been sitting, and the interviewer called out over his shoulder, "Five minutes until we air chaps!"

Everyone nodded, and resumed preparing for the shoot. Gwen bounced her foot up and down as she waited for the production to get started. She hoped that it wouldn't take very long when she heard her phone go off.

"Excuse me mam, but that will have to be silenced when we film," a cameraman told her.

"I'm sorry, I'll do that right now," Gwen replied as she picked up her phone.

She noticed that she had a text message on it, and quickly opened it. It read,

Hey theres an art gala sat night. My projects r the main display. I would love 4 u 2 come. If u can.

-Merlin

She smiled. 'Count on Merlin to always make someone feel included and welcome, even after a disastrous end to our lunch,' she thought.

I can't wait. C u there.

...

It did not escape Arthur's notice that Gwen didn't hand him her number-nor did it escape Merlin's.

"Excuse me sir, but will you not be having dessert then, today?" the waiter politely asked.

Both Merlin and Arthur had forgotten her presence.

"Yes, yes, sorry no dessert for me. Just the check," Merlin directed in their direction. Then, he pocketed Gwen's number carefully, and inhaled deeply before turning towards Arthur. He opened his mouth, but before he could Arthur held up his hand.

"Just-don't Merlin. I get it. I'll probably never see her again," Arthur said in a flat, monotone voice.

"Arthur, hear me out-" Merlin attempted to say before being cut off again by the dark look Arthur gave him.

"Fine then," Merlin grumbled, "Don't listen to what I have to say. If you do that forget about me paying. It's your tab now."

Merlin rose and threw down his napkin on the table before grabbing his jacket and stalking out of the restaurant.

Arthur inwardly groaned. 'How had today gotten so bad?' he thought, 'First finding out that Gwen is romantically linked with Lance, then the debate could've gone better, then Vivian, then finding out that Merlin invited Gwen to lunch, then a confirmation fromGwen that she's dating Lance, and now this!'

He put his head on the table as the bill arrived. As he resignedly paid for the food, he heard his phone go off. As he handed the bill back to the waiter and pulled on his jacket he answered his phone, not bothering to look at the caller id. Although he wished he had when he heard a loud nasally voice in his ear screech, "Arthur!"

Arthur was plotting ways to murder himself. It just hadto be Vivian. They had only been apart for a few hours!

"I just can't stop thinking about that kiss, and I was wondering…you know…what our 'status' is now," she concluded.

Arthur was dumbfounded. 'Only a little kiss and a few hours later she thinks that we need to talkaboutourrelationshipstatus?' he thought. He couldn't believe this. All he wanted was to be with Gwen. Especially after lunch. Despite the awkward beginning and the abrupt ending, he had learned a great deal about her. And that she really was one amazing woman. He hoped to woo her-if he could-away from Lance, but this annoying blonde wouldn't leave him alone. However, Arthur wasn't a monster. He was still a gentleman, and wondered how to let her down slowly.

"Listen…Vivian," Arthur began, "I don't really know if we need to 'talk' about our 'status' or anything like that…after all, it was just one kiss, right?"

"Just one kiss?" Vivian asked. Arthur could hear the hurt emanating from her voice. He wanted to slap himself. It wasn't Vivian's fault that he had foolishly kissed her back.

"Well, yeah," Arthur shrugged.

"Oh. Okay," Vivian sounded defeated. Arthur didn't want it to end this way.

"Oh don't be upset. I mean, a kiss between co-workers is nothing life-altering. In fact, I would say that it would be hardly newsworthy!"

Suddenly he heard tears over the phone. How on earth he managed to say exactly the wrong things at exactly the wrong time would continuously baffle him.

"Look look, don't cry!" Arthur pleaded as he walked down the street. He was taking the day off early and going home. After the debate, he and his team had agreed that there was nothing major to be done, so he could get some well-deserved time off. In hindsight, Arthur was very glad of this decision. It meant that he wouldn't have to walk towards the building which probably held this crying intern as he spoke.

"If you like, there's an art gala this Saturday that I'm attending. It's for Merlin, and I need a date. Would you like to come with me?" Arthur asked. He immediately regretted the words which left his mouth. 'Nice going Arthur Pendragon,' he scolded himself.

However his words had the effect they were meant to induce. For now, at the other end of the line instead of crying there was laughter.

"Oh Arthur," Vivian gushed, her mood completely turned around, "I would loveto go as your date. What do I need to wear? Is it a formal event? Or casual? Do I need anything special? When will you plan on picking me up?"

As Vivian bombarded Arthur with questions it was all Arthur could do from dry heaving. Now, thanks to his big mouth and compulsion to "be a gentleman" he was stuck with Vivian all Saturday evening. And now he wasn't even sure that she heard the part about the kiss meaning nothing.

"Yes it's a formal event," Arthur sighed in the phone, "I'll pick you up around six and we can head straight over to the gala. See you then."

It was a straightforward, and rather short, end to their phone call. He cut her off before she was even done shrieking her joy to the heavens about being his date. The gala started at six-thirty, and she lived precisely thirty minutes away from the building the gala was held at. He wondered at how he knew where each of his employees lived-due to their background checks-and for once was glad he did because there was no way that he would spend more time than necessary with her. He didn't offer dinner before the event, since he felt that his big mouth already ruined his Saturday for him.

As Arthur made his way home, he received a text from Merlin. It read,

Hey. When r u coming home? I have some news about the gala!

As Arthur wondered what it could be, Merlin pondered over his choice to bring Gwen and Arthur to the same public event. 'Maybe this is be a bad idea,' he thought, a little too late.

To be continued