FRIDAY
Gwen wakes at about seven-thirty. Morgana is picking her up in just over an hour to get to the spa by nine. She looks over at Arthur. He is sprawled on his stomach, one arm thrown across her middle. His face is half-buried in the pillow and his mouth is open and drooling.
Sexy, Gwen sarcastically thinks and laughs to herself. Worming her way out from under his arm, she gets up and starts getting herself ready.
When she returns from the shower, Arthur hasn't moved. Gwen doesn't even bother trying to be quiet. She knows nothing will stir him in this state. She pulls on some yoga pants and a grey v-neck t-shirt, steals Arthur's navy blue hoodie, and goes out in search of some breakfast.
Morgana turns up shortly after eight-thirty, knocking softly. Gwen rises from her place on the sofa and lets her in.
"How is he?" Morgana asks immediately.
"Still sleeping. Last I saw he was on his face, drooling like an infant."
Morgana laughs. "Can I peek?" she asks with a twinkle in her eye.
"Sure," Gwen shrugs.
They walk back to the bedroom and peek into the door. "That is truly pathetic," Morgana laughs.
"Yes, I'm the luckiest girl in the world," Gwen says. Her voice is sarcastic, but her eyes reflect the truth in her words as she looks at him.
Suddenly he flips over, and the girls jump, startled, and step back out of sight again. Presently they hear snoring, and Gwen leans back in and sees Arthur now on his back, snoring loudly. She snorts a small laugh, and they walk back out.
"One second," she says and ducks into the bathroom where she grabs some Tylenol and fills a cup with water. She brings these back to the bedroom, sets them on the bedside table for him, and leans down to kiss his forehead.
"Have fun," he mutters, turning on his side.
Guinevere rejoins Morgana in the living room, where she picks up her tea and finishes it before taking it to the kitchen. She flips off the television and says, "Let's go."
xXx
Arthur stirs, opening one crusty, bleary eye. Nine thirty. Blast, I missed her. He sees the water and Tylenol sitting there, and he smiles. He sits up – whoa – and takes the pills, downing the entire glass of water.
Have to pee.
He pulls himself out of the bed and shuffles to the bathroom, bringing the cup with him to return it where it belongs.
He flops back into bed and hugs her pillow to him. I hate it when I miss her, he thinks, knowing he won't see her until the afternoon. His head throbs.
Going to kill Gwaine.
Just then his phone springs to life, the loud, somewhat crass sounds of Merlin's ringtone slicing into his head like a circular saw.
"Merlin! Don't call so loud!" he grumbles into the phone.
"Sorry mate, you picked the ringtone, not me," Merlin laughs. "How are we this morning?"
"The inside of my mouth feels like the outside of a sheep."
"What?"
"You know: woolly, thick, and a little oily."
Merlin laughs at this, thoroughly enjoying Arthur's misery. "Don't forget smelly," he adds.
"Yeah, probably that, too," Arthur admits, laughing now, too.
"Make sure you drink a lot today. Water, that is. It'll help," he recommends.
"I know, Merlin, you tell me this every time."
"Well, it's been a while since you've tied one on like this, so I was just making sure."
"Yeah," he admits, acknowledging the fact that he's not been much for the club scene since he met Gwen.
"You're not out of bed yet," Merlin says knowingly.
"I have been out of bed, but I came back."
"Doesn't count. Get up and start moving around. You'll feel better."
"I didn't get to see Gwen before she left. I hate that."
"You are pathetic."
"You're only saying that because you got to see Freya this morning."
"Perhaps."
"Perhaps nothing, mate. I can hear you grinning."
"Arthur, you are a besotted fool."
"So are you. I'm hanging up now."
"See you later."
Arthur sends Gwen a text. Missed you this morning.
He sighs, and gets up. Hot shower. He goes back to the bathroom and turns the taps on as hot as he can handle and stands under the spray, letting the water beat down on him, trying to pound and wash the excesses of the previous night away. Feels good.
After a shower and a thorough teeth-brushing to eliminate that sheepy feeling, he decides that he should eat something. Normally he'd help himself to eggs or cereal or even some oatmeal or porridge and a nice glass of cold milk. This morning dairy has no appeal, the thought of eggs makes his stomach flip unhappily, and oatmeal and porridge look too much like sick for him to even consider.
Toast and tea, he decides, laughing as he realizes that this is what Gwen usually has for breakfast.
His phone beeps. You did talk to me when I left. Text from Gwen.
A: I did?
G: You told me to have fun.
A: What aredoing now?
G: Waiting for my next treatment
A: Which is?
G: Something called a Cocooning Body Wrap
A: Huh?
G: Not sure. I guess I'll be a butterfly when done. :)
A: You already are one
G: TY. Gotta go. Love you.
Arthur lazes around the apartment, bored, watching the minutes tick slowly by. He plays some Wii. He catches up on the sports highlights. He washes the dishes.
His phone rings, and Lisa from the jeweler's tells him that Gwen's ring is ready. Hooray, something to do, he thinks, and tells her he'll be there soon.
xXx
The ring has turned out beautifully. Knowing how much she loved the ring, he wanted her to be able to continue to wear it after they were married, which is something his mother did not do. She changed to a simple band after they got married, and only wore the diamond ring on special occasions. Arthur never understood that. So he had a wedding band designed to go with the ring, attached to it, combining the old with the new.
As he drives back home, his curiosity starts to take over. Luncheon. I wonder where they are lunching. Some swank tea room? A five-star restaurant? A charming café?
Once home, he stashes her ring inside a sock in a drawer, and dials Gwaine.
"What?" he answers.
"Nice to hear your voice, too, mate."
"Hey, Arthur. What's going on?"
"Wondering something."
"Yes?"
"Do you know where Morgana has lunch arranged for the hens?"
"Um, yeah, think so."
Arthur hears him rummaging around in some papers.
"Ah. Franco's."
"They're going for pizza?"
"Looks as though. You're surprised?"
"Well, yeah. I figured they'd be going to a little teahouse or something of that nature."
"Nope. They're going to a noisy pizza restaurant."
Arthur is quiet a minute. Do I dare?
"Arthur?" Gwaine prompts.
"Fancy a bite of pizza for lunch, mate?" Arthur asks.
"Come pick me up. I'm at Morgana's," Gwaine answers without a moment's hesitation.
"What time was the reservation?" Arthur asks once Gwaine has joined him.
"Twelve thirty. So they should be there already."
"Good. I, um, don't really want to be caught spying."
"Yeah, we wouldn't want the Crumpet to kick your ass the day before your wedding."
Arthur laughs, and parks. "There's Morgana's car," he says, pointing.
Gwaine looks at him, eyebrow raised. "How do you know Morgana's car?"
"I saw it once. I never forget a car," Arthur says, then looks square at Gwaine. "Wait. Are you… jealous?"
"Certainly not," he says unconvincingly. "I was just curious as to how you knew what her car looked like."
"You're really hung up on her, aren't you?"
He sighs. "Maybe. But don't tell; I'd never hear the end of it!"
"Oh, heavens, we can't have people thinking that you've been tamed, now, can we?" Arthur rolls his eyes.
"Piss off," he says. "Let's go eat. I'm hungry."
They surreptitiously survey the restaurant for signs of the girls. "They must be in the party room in back," Gwaine decides, and they request a table near the back, but not too near. He shamelessly flirts with the young hostess and they are seated right where they want.
They order their pizza, and try to figure out how to find out what's going on in the room. Occasionally they hear noises, but they can't hear anything. Gwaine gets up and casually saunters past the door. There is a window in it, and he peeks as he passes.
"They're having fun, that much I can see."
"Obviously. I feel like an old busybody," Arthur admits.
"That's because you are, mate," Gwaine laughs.
Just then a man dressed in a firefighter's uniform enters the restaurant, and both Arthur and Gwaine look, trying to see who it is. They also look around for signs of smoke or other problems.
"I don't recognize him," Arthur says.
Gwaine peers intently. "That's because he's not a fireman. He's a stripper," he grins.
"What?"
"Looks like Morgana has a little surprise lined up for our Crumpet," he laughs.
As the faux fireman passes, Gwaine calls out, "Hey, Trevor."
He stops, startled. "Gwaine! How the hell are you?"
"The ladies say I'm the best, and I'm inclined to believe them."
He laughs, then says, "Hey, I'd love to stay and chat, but I'm late."
"Have fun, mate."
Trevor disappears, and Arthur looks at Gwaine as if he has suddenly grown antlers.
"What?"
"You know him?"
"Sure, we were at school together. Dumb as a box of rocks, but a good dancer."
Arthur laughs at this. "I gotta see this," he says, standing and creeping over to the doors.
"Excuse me, ladies, but I've had a report of some excessive… hotness centered in this area?"
Morgana points at Gwen, declaring, "I believe the source is right here!"
"Morgana!" Gwen laughs, shocked. I don't know why I'm surprised, really.
Trevor the fireman/stripper pulls a portable iPod dock out of a pocket and sets it on the table. He switches it on and begins, removing his helmet and placing it on Gwen's head before beginning a circuit of the table, peeling layers as he goes.
Morgana thrusts a wad of pound notes into Gwen's hand, laughing devilishly. "So you're prepared when he gets back around to you."
Gwen shoves her friend playfully, laughing as Trevor sits in Thea's lap. She feeds him a bite of pizza.
He gets to Morgana, and she snaps his suspenders against his bare chest, so he pulls them down off of his shoulders, waving his finger in mock reproach. She blows him a kiss, and he moves on to Gwen, pulling her chair back from the table so he can stand in front of her.
Just then, Morgana notices some motion out of the corner of her eye. She looks up at the door, and sees Arthur's face disappear from the window. Smirking, she holds her gaze there until his face returns.
She watches as his blonde head slowly emerges in the window again, and she raises her eyebrows at him.
Busted.
She winks, though, and he raises a finger to his lips, and she nods slightly.
"Morgana saw me," he turns and whispers to Gwaine.
"Oh no!"
"No, it's okay. She won't tell. Come look; it's hilarious."
Gwaine squishes in next to Arthur, and they both watch. Morgana spots them and rolls her eyes, in an I should have known sort of way.
Trevor has yanked his trousers off by now, and he is in the middle of giving Gwen her own lap dance. She is laughing so hard that she is crying now, and tucks some pounds into his g-string. He grins and turns around, waving his rear at her, which she spanks.
Arthur chokes back a laugh and has to turn away, coughing. He takes a drink of water, and he returns just in time to see Morgana take one of the pounds from Gwen, fold it lengthwise, and tuck it into Gwen's cleavage. Trevor leans down and removes it with his teeth.
Gwaine glances at Arthur, a little concerned, but he is pleasantly surprised to see that Arthur is quietly laughing almost as hard as Gwen is. He pats his friend on the shoulder and chuckles.
"Excuse me, gentlemen, but that is a private party," a voice behind them interrupts. It is the manager, and he does not look amused.
They wheel around like little boys caught peeking into the girls' locker room. "Um. Yes, we know. That's my fiancée in there getting a lap dance," Arthur explains.
"So you're spying on your fiancée's hen party?" He raises an eyebrow at Arthur.
"Yes. Yes, I am."
"Well, you've got balls, I'll give you that," he says and walks away, shaking his head.
Gwaine laughs at Arthur, who simply says, "Sometimes honesty is the best policy," before turning back to peek inside.
Trevor finishes his performance, and the ladies all cheer for him. He bows, saying, "Thank you, ladies, you've been most kind."
He retrieves the cash that has been tucked into his g-string and collects his things from the group. Autumn has his coat, Freya, his boots. His trousers landed somewhere between Thea and Morgana. From his coat he pulls a plastic toy firefighter's badge and pins it on Gwen.
"Almost forgot this," he grins, and she laughs again, handing him his hat.
"What's your name, darling?" she asks him.
"Trevor."
"Well, Trevor, thank you. You've made this quite an unforgettable lunch." Gwen stands and gives him a kiss on the cheek.
"Thanks, Trev," Morgana calls, blowing him a kiss.
He waves and heads out the door. Arthur and Gwaine hurriedly take their seats and resume eating.
"Trevor," Gwaine calls again as he passes by their table. He stops and turns, slightly sweaty now but smiling.
"Good group?" he asks, feigning innocence.
"Yeah, they were a lot of fun. It's always good when they're all cute, you know?"
"I suppose that does make it easier. Oh, Trev, this is my friend Arthur," Gwaine finally introduces them.
"Nice to meet you," Arthur says, and they shake hands.
"You, too. You work with Gwaine?"
"Yes," he chuckles, eyes tracking the fake fireman's uniform.
"I know," Trevor laughs, looking down at his costume. "It was requested. Apparently the bride is marrying a fireman."
"Oh really?" Arthur asks, raising his eyebrows.
"Yeah. Tomorrow I get to be a construction worker."
"Wow, all you need is the cowboy and policeman and you've got like half of the Village People."
Arthur and Gwaine laugh at this, but Trevor looks blank. "Who?"
"Never mind, mate. Nice seeing you again," Gwaine says.
"Yeah, nice meeting you, Arthur," Trevor says and makes his exit.
"Told you he was dumb," Gwaine says.
"Good thing he can dance. Once he loses his looks, though, he's toast."
xXx
Morgana brings Gwen back to the flat to find Arthur and Gwaine playing video games.
"Gwaine? What are you doing here?" Morgana asks, an impish look in her eye.
"Well, it's no fun blowing up zombies by yourself," Gwaine answers nonchalantly.
"I see," she says, deciding to let them off the hook. For now.
Gwen leans down and kisses Arthur, who pauses the game so he can pull her into his lap to kiss her hello properly.
"I missed you," he says into her neck.
"I missed you, too."
"Did I really talk to you this morning?"
"Well, perhaps you'd remember if you weren't so blasted hung over this morning," she says, pointedly looking at Gwaine.
"Come on, Gwaine, Gwen still has to pack for tonight. See you later at the house," she says, pulling Gwaine off the couch.
He hands the controllers to Gwen, saying, "Take over for me, Crumpet."
Gwen laughs, scooting over to sit beside Arthur, "What are we playing?"
"House of the Dead," Arthur tells her, and resumes the game.