A.N: YES! I am updating again... Because I feel that I owe it to all of you wonderful folk... I wanted to get this update up when I hit the 100th review, but this week has been insane... So, I'm posting it today. More than 100 reviews... I still can't believe it! Thank you, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! No, truly... thank you... it's because of you all that I am still writing and because of you that I am still inspired to work on this story. There's... ya know... A Reveal in this chapter... I hope you like how its handled. This is kind of a two-parter. Lots more reveals coming... maybe even in the next chapter.. or the one after that... who knows... That was me trying to be ominous... I suck at it. Sorry. Anyway... So it does break off. I am working on the next chapter so it should be up soon. Maybe a few more days. Anyways, enjoy... and as always... please read and review! ;-)


Chapter 8

Arthur opened his eyes to the alarm's insistent ringing inside his apartment. He turned his head toward it and groaned when he realized it was time to wake up. School was out for the semester but he still had things to do before the musical that night. Gaius had asked for his help to move the set pieces from the theater room to the auditorium. He sat up rubbing his eyes. The old man had actually asked, not demanded. Arthur's volunteer work was over as far as the school was concerned but he'd promised Gwen and Merlin that he'd be there that night to support them. And nothing could really keep him from the show anyway. Not after… he smiled fondly remembering the day before when he finally asked Gwen out. He looked down at his phone on the floor next to his mattress. They'd stayed up talking for a long time last night. It's why he was so tired this morning. She was probably going to sleep in and rest before the big show.

She'd been going on and on about her nervous she was. How she didn't want to actually be in the musical this semester. And then she asked him if he would be there. Arthur hadn't considered not being there, but when she'd asked him so softly over the phone he decided that nothing would keep him away.

Getting out of bed, he stretched his muscles hearing them crack under his ministrations. He got ready for the day, feeling a little more lethargic than usual, but as fast as he could not wanting to upset Gaius who was being much nicer to him these days. He grabbed a slice of bread and put it in the toaster with a smile. Merlin had dropped off the loaf pretending to have mistakenly left it behind. When Arthur called him out on it, he'd mentioned already buying a new loaf and how that one would just go to waste. He'd left it with a brand new toaster conveniently enough. His phone ringing distracted him for the moment. Walking over he answered it quickly with the toast in his mouth. "'Ello?"

"Are you eating while you answer the phone? Oh that is disgusting…."

"Good morning to you too, Merlin." Arthur said once he swallowed. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Where are you?" Merlin asked exasperated. "My uncle is asking…"

"I'm almost out the door… why… it's only-" Arthur looked at the clock and his eyes widened noticing the time. "Shit! I'm late! How the hell did that happen?"

"Probably has something to do with talking to Gwen all night last night… you got to bed late…"

Arthur rolled his eyes. "And how would you know that?"

"I didn't. You just confirmed it for me." Merlin laughed. "Gwen looks like death this morning herself. Oh… she's glaring at me now…"

"Gwen's there?"

"Duh… why wouldn't she be?" Merlin frowned.

"I thought she'd be sleeping in… I wouldn't have kept her up so late… I mean… I…" he groaned.

"Arthur, trust me… Gwen's a big girl. Even if you are making her act like a school girl half her age…" Merlin shook his head with a smile. "She knew she had to be up early this morning. She wanted to talk to you…"

"Tell Gaius I'm on my way…" Arthur said grabbing his jacket. "I should be there soon enough."

"I'll relay the message. See you soon!"

Arthur slipped his phone into the pocket of his jeans before stepping outside of the flat. He locked the door and turned toward the street only to find it blocked by two familiar faces. He frowned and rolled his eyes. "What are you two doing here?"

Tristan smiled while Percival glared.

"Mr. Pendragon", Tristan greeted. "It's been a long time…."

"Yes, it has Chief Inspector." Arthur tried to walk past them but Detective Percival blocked his path.

"Where are you off to in such a hurry?" Tristan asked.

"The uni… I'm late." Arthur frowned. "And you're making me later than I have to be."

"Isn't your volunteer work over and done with?" Tristan frowned.

"I'm still helping them…" Arthur shrugged.

Tristan crossed his arms in front of him. "Something's changed with you…"

"I don't know what you-"

"No, no… it has… I see a stark difference in you…" Tristan let his arms drop. "Well, in your attitude mostly."

Arthur swallowed thickly. "I don't know… I guess."

"You guess?" Tristan laughed with a shake of his head before stepping aside and nodding to Percival for him to do the same.

Arthur finally cut through the two of them and started walking away.

"I'll see you tonight, Pendragon!" Tristan called out to him. "I look forward to seeing the show!"

Arthur looked over his shoulder with a scowl before picking up his speed to try to salvage the time that had already been wasted.


"You said you'd be here in a few…" Merlin frowned when he walked in. "Did something tickle your fancy on the way here?"

"I got stopped by the police." Arthur frowned.

"What the hell did you do? Pick a fight with a stand owner?" Merlin's eyes widened.

"They were waiting for me outside my flat…" Arthur shrugged.

"They?"

"The Chief Inspector and Detective who arrested me a few weeks ago… the reasons I was stuck doing this the last month and a half."

"Oh. Why? What did they want? Isn't your probation over?"Merlin asked.

Arthur shrugged again. "They were trying to intimidate me."

"Maybe you should tell my uncle… that's harassment, Arthur."

"No!" Arthur shook his head. "Do not tell anyone they were there this morning."

"But Arthur…"

"No, Merlin! I don't want to risk Gwen finding out. Not today."

"You need to tell Gwen already…"

"Tell me what?"

Arthur flinched when she snuck up on both of them and turned around with a smile. "Tell you that you still look beautiful… despite the lack of sleep."

Merlin glared at the back of his head and Gwen blushed before bursting out laughing.

"You're a terrible liar." She shook her head. "But I understand… it's between the two of you… I do not want to impose…"

"It's nothing, Guinevere." Arthur shook his head. "Nothing that you should worry over… I'm sorry I'm late."

"It's alright…" she smiled taking his hand in hers. "Gaius has barely noticed."

Merlin scoffed. "Only because we've kept distracting him."

"I'm here now." Arthur glared at his best friend. "What do you need me to do?"

Gwen grinned and led him toward one of the groups huddled in front of the small stage of the theater room. Merlin felt himself smile softly as he watched them walk away.

"It's about time he showed up", Lance grunted next to him.

"Arthur had some trouble getting out of bed this morning." Merlin smiled knowingly before turning to walk away. "Much like Gwen it would seem, right?"

Lance was scowling at his retreating figure when Vivian walked up to him. "Is it just me or are Gwen and Arthur closer now than they were before?"

He snapped his head toward her. "You were supposed to have slept with him already… what's taking so damn long?"

"I've tried. I spoke to him yesterday." Vivian shrugged. "He didn't seem at all interested… maybe he truly does like Gwen… have you ever considered that possibility?"

"No…" Lance shook his head. "He doesn't truly love her… not really… he's using her… I don't know why but I need you to help me prove that… once Gwen sees that he doesn't really care about her… she'll…"

"She'll what?" Vivian snapped. "Fall back into your arms?" she snorted. "I think that ship sailed long ago, my friend."

Lance glared at her and turned to walk away. Vivian shuddered at the look he'd given her. She knew that Lance loved Gwen. She knew it long before she'd fallen for him herself. But was Lance really capable of damaging Gwen's relationship with Arthur? She turned toward the happy pair in the room. Gwen was placing more and more prop sets into Arthur's waiting arms. The fool was grinning despite the weight of the sets weighing him down. They both looked so foolish. They weren't fooling anyone. If Lance was right, and Arthur did have a dark past, maybe exposing that was all it took to break them up. She wouldn't even have to sleep with him. She shrugged. It could be fun though. She couldn't deny Arthur was good looking, even if he was odd and not at all socially appropriate. She felt someone was watching her and turned to see Merlin's steely gaze on her. She grinned in an overly friendly way before turning from him and getting back to work. That nancy was always watching her. She narrowed her eyes as she walked toward another set piece that needed to be moved. If he didn't stop, well no one could really fault her for scratching out those damn blue eyes of his.


"Is that enough?" Gwen was asking with a laugh. "Here… let me take some."

Arthur shook his head adjusting the load in his arms. "I'm alright. I can carry this. Just tell me where it needs to go."

"Um, here… I'll show you…"

She turned and led him out of the room toward the Auditorium's backstage door down the hall. She opened it for him and let him walk inside.

"Where do you want these?" he asked from the middle of the backstage area.

"Oh anywhere is fine…"

He placed it gently on the floor and turned toward her with his hands on his hips. "What else needs to be moved?"

She closed the door behind her biting the corner of her lip before walking up to him and placing her hands on his shoulders. His own hands immediately grabbed at her waist. She slipped her arms further up his shoulders until they hung loosely around his neck.

"Guinevere…" he whispered.

She touched his mouth with one finger. "Shh…"

He nodded listening more intently. There were people in the auditorium. Only a thick velvety curtain separated them.

"I just wanted to…" she whispered.

He nodded understanding. "I know."

She hugged him tightly taking in the feeling of him. She liked the hardness of his chest against the softness of her own. She enjoyed how his hands splayed on the small of her back before pulling her closer to him. They hadn't even kissed yet but somehow just holding each other in that room was no longer enough for the moment. She looked up at his face with a soft smile. She traced the contours of his face slowly. Arthur closed his eyes feeling her touch as it heated his skin.

"Guin…"

The sound of something falling and someone cursing broke him off though. He pulled away from her the same moment she did. They both turned toward the noise.

"That sounds bad…" she frowned.

He nodded before walking toward the front of the stage and his eyes widened when he realized what had fallen and on who. He jumped off the stage immediately. "What happened?"

"I'm sorry… It's my fault." One of their classmates was apologizing.

"None sense, it was an accident…" Merlin was saying from the floor.

Arthur rushed to help him up and placed him in a nearby chair.

"Good thing all I have to do tonight is play piano…" Merlin laughed. "Don't need my foot for that."

Arthur narrowed his eyes at his friend.

Merlin shrugged. "What? It's true."

Gwen lifted his foot from the floor and looked at it. "I don't think anything's broken… but you should see a doctor anyway."

"Something fell on my toe." Merlin shook his head. "Honestly…. I'm fine."

He tried to stand and cried out in pain when he put his foot on the floor causing him to fall back in his chair. "Maybe I just need a moment."

"That's it…" Arthur shook his head reaching for him. "We're taking you to the hospital…"

"No…" Merlin was shaking his head.

"Come on, Merlin. Don't be an idiot…" Arthur grunted trying to lift the skinny man in front of him. "Gwen, can your driver take us?"

"No… please…" Merlin pleaded.

"Arthur…" Gwen called out softly causing him to turn to her. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"

"What?" Arthur asked. "There's no time… we have to go now… and you both have to be back in time for tonight."

"Arthur!" Gwen called out interrupting Merlin's pleads. "Stop… Please."

Arthur turned to see the seriousness of her features. He nodded and followed her toward a distant corner. Crossing his arms, he nodded for her to begin. "What is it? Why are you stopping me from taking him to a hospital? You know he needs one."

"Merlin can't go to the hospital…" Gwen said simply.

"Why not?" Arthur asked feeling exasperated.

"Because…" she started. "He hates hospitals."

"Well, it's not like it's a theme park, Guinevere. Nobody likes hospitals."

She shook her head. "No, you don't understand… He hasn't been inside of one since…"

"Since when?" Arthur prodded further angrily.

"Since his overdose a few years ago…"