A/N: thanks for the reviews, story alerts… I'm trying my best to keep this sweet and funny…
A piece of popcorn suspended midair when Percy spotted Arthur and Gwen standing next to a busy Smores' booth. White fluffy popcorn dropped to a dusty ground as he stood watching in amazement. Take her hand, Arthur.
Leon jumped when Percy nudged his shoulders. He blinked several times as he watched a sweet scene unfold before him. She wants Arthur to expose himself. Take a chance. Arthur doesn't hold hands with anyone. Do it, Mate.
Gawain muttered under his breath until Leon ran straight into his back. Gawain face twisted into a furious mask. He was smarting over a smart mouth blonde and her deceptive pricing. Leon pointed at Arthur. Good lord, Arthur. What are you doing? Take her damn hand. It's not hard. Boy met Girl. Boy likes Girl. Boy must pursue Girl to get her. Gawain winced as he waited for Arthur to make his move.
Merlin leaned against a pole watching an amusing spectacle. He didn't know what was worse. Leon and Percy arrived to spy on Gwen. Gawain paying 6 quid for a candy apple. Arthur acting like a schoolboy. No, I like Arthur acting like a schoolboy. It's sweet. I can't wait to blab to Morgana, if she's in a sunny mood to talk. Remember to buy food; I don't want to be the only edible thing in our home. Merlin stared at Arthur and Gwen.
"He's fallen like an anchor. Let's keep to ourselves. It will dawn at him at 3 AM. I can't wait for his call."
What in the hell is this? It was supposed to be drinks. He likes her. I know that look. I know that feeling. Every time, Sophia comes near. I at simple. Good, he's not taking her hand. He just like that other bloke from the States. Super wealthy guys use girls like Gwen for stuff.
Sophia dropped a few bags of marshmallows near Morded's grill. He breathed deeply; she smelled like Honeysuckles. His heart flipped flopped when she giggled.
"Look, aren't they sweet? He likes Gwen. Sometimes, you just have to say what's on your mind for a girl to take a chance."
Okay, Morrie, that's an opening, do you like me or what?
Sophia smiled at Morded a he stared at her in surprise.
What does she mean? Does he like me? No, I'm not her type I've seen her with her mates. She's likes pretty, nor sullen and moody.
"I guess… if you like that sort of thing.
Vivian pressed her favorite handmade straight from Christian pair of leather boots into a bunch of messy grass. She loved her cousin, Gwen. Her heart ached for Gwen. Gwen was a survivor; she could take a punch, and stand right back up. Gwen might have a gentle soul, but she was a force to be reckon with when crossed. Gwen wrote a manual on passive aggression. She didn't learn that from her mother's side of the family. Vivian scowled. Gwen's mother was her aunt by blood she was downright awful.
Well, my mother isn't much better; at least she kept me for money purposes. Gwen's mom handed her daughter over to Tom and never looked back except for summers. The Hag slept ever night like she was a good person. Hippie… free spirit, my backside. Michelle didn't like roughing it. She like doing in comfort. Not holidays, okay Thanksgiving. She mothered using a telephone and saw Gwen over the summer. Let's not forget that fab week in November. Gwen still manage to love her mother. Gwen didn't say a word when our cousin, Elena stole Lancelot away. She dealt with it. Now, I have to deliver her papers. Her mother finally had a use for Gwen after 19 years of neglect. Maybe, she loved her when they lived in London. I don't know. Blonde hair brushed across Vivian's face. That's Arthur Pendragon. Why is her hand out? Are they dating? What is going on? Is he smiling; he never smiles. Oh, dear, this will complicate matters. Perhaps, he can help Gwen, or he could help us.
Gwen couldn't believe that she offered Arthur her hand. It was forward. He might brush her off.
It won't hurt if he doesn't take my hand. Maybe, I'm being too forward. He's staring at my hand like it's covered in hemlock. I'm just being friend. Wait a minute, why do I want to hold hands with him. We just met. I had oatmeal for breakfast, not butterflies. What's going on here? Should I put my hand down or play it off? Just give a wave. I feel silly.
It was a small perfect brown hand with gleaming nails. Arthur noticed that her nails were free of enamel. Just a shiny and pink, gleaming like little pearls. She wriggled her fingers to grab his attention.
What do I say? Guinevere, I don't hold hands. My mother used to hold my hand. I just don' do it. She died; and I can't hold your hand. Stop wriggling your fingers. Fine, okay… I won't like it.
Something in her eyes nudged his soul a little bit. His cool fingers slipped along her hand. Swallowing, Arthur listened to her voice as she explained the carnival.
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Arthur looked around a heavily decorated park; it reminded him of a carnival in America. Uther spent one hot summer in Florida about 20 years ago. It was so much fun to Arthur. This place took him back, setting net to Mum on a Ferris wheel.
"Why is everything very American?"
Arthur didn't like it when Gwen tensed next to him. He felt a slight tremble travel along her body.
"My mother is American. I spent summers with her. I like little local carnival, State fairs. You can have lemonade; caramel corn hot digs covered in mustard and ketchup... fries... or... funnel cake... junk food, and more junk food. They have rides too! Kettle corn, deep fried everything. The smells and the laughter… it's so much fun," Gwen breathed.
Arthur grinned as they walked along. "So, I guess I need to have a garden party. I spent the summers with my mother in her garden. The battle of the bugs. We had to protect her flowers. Morgana complained every summer."
Gwen giggled. "Did you have a funny hat and bug spray?"
"How did you know?'
Their laughter filled the air; Gwen shivered as a cool breeze surrounded them.
"I should have brought a heavier coat, or a coat."
"Would you like my jacket?"
"I couldn't," Gwen mumbled.
"Nonsense."
Arthur slipped his leather jacket from his arms. He held it before Gwen, and shook it. "Come on now."
Gwen's arms glided into his warm jacket. It was warm and lovely. It smelled like Arthur. It made Gwen feel safe. She closed her eyes for a moment."
"Your hands are freezing, Guinevere."
She moved to snatch her hands away. "I'm sorry-"
"Don't apologize. Mum taught me about friction."
Arthur placed Gwen's hands between his large palms. He marveled that they could fit inside so easily. H rubbed briskly until heat formed, and warmed her hands. Gwen sucked her bottom lip into her mouth as she gazed into Arthur's eyes. Arthur massaged her palms.
"Such a nice girl, who looks after you? You take care of everyone?"
"Nobody, my dad died."
"My mum died when I was ten."
"Thanks for the heat."
"Anytime."
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Gwen tossed a manila folder on her coffee table like it burnt her hand. She knew this day would come. Her mother finally needed hr for something. Her mother's family were in the midst of a huge battle over the company. She need Gwen's vote to talk over the company from her older sister, Maggie. Gwen actually liked her Aunt Maggie. She ws tough but fair. Jane, Vivian's mother was a nutcase. Of course, her mother was slower, hippie with a core of steel, Michelle.
"What is this for, Vivo?"
Vivian hadn't signed her papers, yet. She wouldn't follow her mother blindly into anything.
"They want to extend the trust. That's why they need your vote to out maneuver Aunt Maggie."
Gwen sighed. "Oh."
"I didn't sign mine yet. I thought maybe we could discuss it together. We owe them nothing. I need you Gwen to be on my side. You are my only true family. We need to vote together. We can support our moms, or screw the. Don't care."
"They are our mothers."
"Not much mothering to either of us."
Absentmindedly, Gwen's eyes darted around her love family owned flat in Notting Hill. Grandfathers will insisted that she live here with her dad as a child. It was part of the agreement. Randolph smith kept an iron grip on his children and grandchildren. Gwen might have been another unwanted female, but she was his blood. He carefully selected her caregiver when Tom was away. He used his ties to keep Tom away four months out of the year. Randolph was lied when Gwen turned eight, and Tom took as job with a different company. Tom was finally home and able to break free from Randolph's control.
Gwen twisted her lips. "Perhaps, your friend, Arthur could look over them."
"Arthur? He's barrister? How do you know about Arthur," Gwen questioned slowly.
Viv wanted to shake the fairy dust away from her cousin. "No, he's heir to a vast corporation. He could explain this to you."
'Oh."
Viv withed Gwen blinking widely. "He's not Lance."
"He's nice." Dreamy handsome funny tender great eyes...
She missed Gwen. He cousin just didn't get it. She needs a push, just a little one.
"Don't you have to return his jacket?"
"I do."
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Arthur sat watching an old movie with Gawain. His large hand twirled a candy apple as he stared endlessly into space.
"Arthur, if you aren't interested-"
"Do you want to see 29?"
"Of course."
"Don't go near her."
That was the opening that Gawain had hoped for.
"Ask her out."
"She's nice."
"You can do nice and smart. I bet she knows her silverware. She won't need a PowerPoint for a fancy restaurant."
Arthur shuddered at the bad memory. "I don't know."
"She'll say yes…ask 75,000.'
"Stop calling her that."
"Ask her out."
"I'll think it over."
"What about your coat?"
"Oh, I never got it back. She was cold. Somebody needs to take care of her."
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Vivian glared at Gwen when she bounced around their cozy living room talking on her mobile. She flipped a page in her magazine.
"Vivian, we have enough money to rebuild the park. Actually, we have lots of money to save."
"The carnival raised the money," Vivian asked skeptically."
Gwen shook her dark head. "No, we had two private anonymous donations 75,000.00 and 10,000.00 pounds. It's amazing."
Vivian grinned. It's Arthur… little one. I wonder where the other donation came from. Did he pay 75, 000 or 10,000? Vivian looked at his jacket hanging on a chair. He gave her 75,000.
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Arthur didn't know what to say when Jane stepped into his office. She said magical words," Gwen was here to return his jacket."
"Give me five minutes."
Jane shrugged. "Okay."
Arthur waited until she closed the door. he popped a mint into his mouth. He ran his fingers into his silk blonde hair. He smoothed his shirt; fixed his tie, and arranged ta stack of papers on his desk, he wished for a mirror. Gwen sought him out.
"Wow, she wants to see me."