A.N: Here's the next update... I left y'all on a killer cliff hanger last time... I'll probably be doing that more often... sorry about that... It took me three chapters to write the events of this "one day". So it's safe to say, it's a BIG day in this story. Lots of reveals... lots of things happened that y'all have been waiting patiently for... So enjoy this chapter and look out for the next one. It'll be up really, really soon... sooner than you think. As always, read and review! :)

OH! And before I forget... one of my reviewers asked me what an "overdose" was... I think this chapter can explain it... but just in case it's actually when you administer a dose larger than your body can sustain of something. It could be a drug over dose, medication overdose, alcohol overdose... it's deadly and people have famously died from it. The person who asked was a guest reviewer and I couldn't personally write to them to answer their questions, so I hope this helps. I hope you don't feel I'm calling you out... :)


Chapter 9

"His… his what?"

"His overdose." She repeated. "After his mum got sick… Merlin, he fell into a deep depression… he was involved with some bloke no one knew…. But he started doing drugs. Mostly, cocaine and heroin… I think it was his supplier… it went on for a long time before anyone realized. It wasn't until his uncle found him unconscious with a needle that we even knew he needed help. Everyone just thought he was upset about his mum's… diagnosis. When she died, she asked him to stay clean… and he has been since… but that was right after his overdose. She died at home in hospice care because she refused to go to a place her son couldn't visit. He couldn't go back. He still can't."

Arthur took a step back. "Merlin's an… an addict?"

"A recovering addict," she corrected protectively. "He doesn't tell people about it."

"But you know…"

Gwen flinched. "I lived it with him. When Hunith died, he and Gaius lived with me and my family. His father wasn't around by that time… Balinor died before Merlin was even born. I'm the one that watched him go through the horrors of getting clean. Well, me and Gaius… and my father. My father actually helped make sure Merlin got the best kind of help money could buy. He's my best friend. There's a reason why. We've been through a lot together."

Arthur nodded understanding.

"It's probably nothing." Gwen tried to smile at his concern for their friend. "I'll take him to Gaius… he was a doctor before retiring to teach… I'm sure he can fix Merlin right up… I really don't believe anything is broken."

He nodded, jumping when he felt her touch his arm lightly. He caught her soft smile before she turned to walk toward Merlin. He could hear them whisper to each other. She was probably telling him that she'd just confided his deepest darkest secret in someone else. Gwen was trying to help him up when Arthur jumped from his spot against the wall and walked toward them. He slipped one of Merlin's arms over his shoulder and held on to his waist.

"Arthur…" Merlin tried.

"We'll talk later, Merlin…" Arthur shook his head. "Let's just get you to Gaius.


Gwen had been right.

Nothing was broken, but somehow Merlin's ankle had been sprained and he needed to keep his weight off it for some time. Gaius had someone go purchase crutches for him and wrapped up Merlin's foot expertly.

Arthur was sitting in a chair when Merlin hopped toward him. Taking the seat next to him, Merlin tried to lift his foot up but it left him in an awkward position. Arthur reacted quickly and set up the chairs so Merlin could sit comfortably.

He smiled. "Thank you…"

"You're welcome…" Arthur said before sitting back down. "How does it feel? Does it hurt?"

Merlin couldn't be prescribed any pain medication. And he refused to take any over the counter pain killers either.

Shaking his head with a shrug, "as long as I keep off it, I'm alright."

Arthur nodded with a sigh.

"Arthur, I'm sorry I didn't tell you…"

"You have nothing to apologize for…" Arthur shook his head. "You barely know me… I shouldn't expect you to divulge such a huge detail about your life… your past…"

"Thank you…"

"But what does bother me, is how much you wanted to know about my past and yet were so unwilling to tell me about your own." Arthur frowned.

Merlin nodded understanding. "I shouldn't have pushed to find out so much about you and your family's falling out… whatever the reasons, they are your own. I'm sorry."

"I'm not angry, Merlin."

"Upset, then?"

Arthur sighed. "Disappointed… I thought we were friends…"

"We are friends!"

"But you don't trust me…" Arthur shrugged. "Not really…"

"Arthur…"

"It's alright…." Arthur continued. "I can't blame you… we really don't know each other…"

"I'll tell you everything…" Merlin said. "Prove to you that I do trust you."

Arthur shook his head. "Merlin, you shouldn't want to tell me something to prove a point… you should tell me because you feel that you can confide in me… just like I should also tell you because I know that I can confide in you…"

Merlin felt himself smile. "So…"

"Let's talk." Arthur grinned. "After the show… me and you… we'll talk… we'll let it all out there… I trust you, Merlin… God help me, but I do."

"And Gwen?"

Arthur frowned. "It's not that I don't trust her…"

"It's that you don't think she can accept it… Accept you if she knows the truth." Merlin understood. "You really aren't giving her nearly enough credit." He leaned in closer. "She cares about you… hell, she might even love your arrogant arse. I honestly don't understand why anyone would but she does… And you owe it to her to at least try to give her a chance to understand. Gwen's not fragile. She's made of stronger material than even you and I are."

Arthur wrapped an arm around his neck and pulled him closer rubbing his knuckles against his head. He let go with a laugh when Merlin tried pushing him off. "Let's just get through tonight first."

"I'm already on these damn crutches. What more could go possibly wrong?"


Later that evening, Gaius had asked Arthur to be in charge of the curtain call. Arthur smiled fondly remembering the last time he stood there.

"What are you smiling about, buster?"

He turned toward the soft and sultry voice. His eyes widened and his smile grew. Gwen was standing in front of him already in costume. She looked amazing in the shimmering black and silver dress she was wearing.

"You look… wow… smashing…"

She tried not to laugh out loud and shook her head. "Gaius has you doing the curtain calls…"

"That he does…" he nodded with a shrug. "I'm alright with it though…. It's the best seat in the entire room… I'll have the perfect view to see a dame I keep thinking about…"

"Oh?" she smiled continuing his flirtatious game that she herself had started. "Someone I know?"

"The lady in question is someone I believe you're very close to…"

She was about to wrap her arms around his shoulders when Gaius came around the corner. "For God sakes Gwen! You'll wrinkle the dress… you'll have time to snog the hell out of Arthur after the show! Now get back into wardrobe so they can finish with your hair and makeup! The curtains go up in minutes!"

Arthur could feel himself blushing. And if he looked at Gwen, he knew she would be too. He narrowed his eyes trying hard to not say something rude to the older man. They were finally getting along. He wouldn't want to ruin the progress they'd made.

"Yes, Professor Gaius…" she caught his eye and winked. "Find me after the show."

He nodded and watched her walk away. He could have sworn he saw Gaius give him a smug smirk but shrugged it off before turning back toward the curtain. He felt his mobile vibrate in his pocket and pulled it out expecting Merlin to be texting him with another whine about how the crutches he'd been given were a bloody pain. He frowned when he read the text message from Gwaine instead.

"I thought you were kidding earlier."

He turned toward Tristan and Percival. Arthur rolled his eyes and pocketed his phone. "Twice in one day, Chief Inspector?"

"I wanted to come see the show…" Tristan grinned. "I hear it's the event of the season in this school."

"It is…" Arthur nodded. "They have a very talented cast."

"Specifically their lead… a Miss…" Tristan was reading off the pamphlet he'd been given at the front doors. "Guinevere Leodagrance… do you know her?"

Arthur's nostrils flared. "I know her."

"Well?" Tristan asked.

"Well enough." Arthur crossed his arms. "You shouldn't be backstage."

"You're right." Tristan said with a smile. "We'll go find our seats. We'll see you after the show."

Gwen walked by in that moment and Tristan almost knocked her down when they bumped into each other. She looked up with a smile and presented her hand. "Sorry about that… my fault."

"No, no my dear…" Tristan said shaking her hand. "It's entirely my fault."

She glanced between the two detectives and Arthur. "Are you friends of Arthur's?"

Tristan eyed her knowingly. "Yes… we are…"

Gwen grinned. "Arthur doesn't introduce me to many of his friends… I only know of one and he's a mutual friend. It's nice to meet you, Mr…"

"Tristan." He said looking over his shoulder at Arthur with a smug smile. "You can call me Tristan. This big bear next to me is Percival, but he goes by Percy."

"Well, it's nice to meet you both." She smiled. "I better go take my place though… I'll see you after the show…"

Arthur glared at the two detectives as they walked away. Gwen walked up to him with a smile.

"They seemed nice." She was saying.

"Gwen, I want you to stay away from them…"

"What? But they're your friends… I thought…"

"They're not my friends…" Arthur frowned.

"But they said-"

"Guinevere", he stretched out her name rendering her speechless. He'd never said her name so desperately before. "Please, promise me."

She nodded. "Okay… I'll stay away from them."

"Thank you." He smiled cupping her cheek fondly making her smile softly.

"Good thing I didn't invite him to drinks at the pub later with the rest of cast." She said with a shrug.

"Drinks?"

"Yeah, that's why I was sneaking over here before Gaius caught me." She laughed. "Vivian's idea… she says it's to celebrate the end of the last treacherous few months we've had… well, for you it's been weeks I guess… but still… do you want to go… If not I can tell her that we won't make it and we can always do something with Merlin instead…. Or just… the two of us?"

He grinned caressing her face. "The two of us… I like that."

"So? Do I tell her no then?"

"No…" he shook his head cupping her face in his hands. "I don't want to take you away from your friends. We'll go…."

"Are you sure?"

He shrugged. "Yeah, who knows… it could be fun."

She smiled. "I was hoping you'd say that."

"Oh really?" he nodded with a knowing grin.

"Yeah actually…" she nodded with a soft smile before looking up into his eyes. "I like seeing you hang out with them… you fit in, Arthur."

He stopped smiling. "Gwen…"

"I know you feel like you don't… but you do…. You fit… Right here… Next to me…" she rolled her eyes. "And Merlin for some weird reason."

He laughed. "That's one hell of a threesome."

She smacked his chest and narrowed her eyes. "I don't share."

"Oh… I like this possessive side to you, Guinevere." He wrapped his arms around her.

"I am not possessive, Pendragon." She glared.

He almost leaned in and kissed her. And had there not been stage hands and actors who were actually their classmates walking around he would have. But he didn't want their first kiss to be like that. He wanted it to be right whenever it would be. He kissed her forehead instead and let her go.

"You better go before Gaius catches you with me again." He laughed.

She shrugged and turned to leave. He watched her get into position amongst her classmates. She took a deep breath and glanced at him. He gave her a reassuring smile and he could see the nervousness on her face fade away.

"Arthur!" Gaius hissed at him. "Raise the bloody curtains!"


He lowered the curtains one final time that night with a smile. The show had gone perfectly. Even Merlin hopping toward the piano had been received well by the audience. Arthur watched everyone congratulate each other excitedly.

"Thank you, my boy…"

He turned toward Gaius and nodded his appreciation. "Thank you for letting me…"

"I may have been wrong about you, Arthur Pendragon…." Gaius admitted. "Don't hurt her… them…"

"I don't plan to, sir."

Gaius patted his shoulder lightly. "Good."

The older man turned and walked away just as Gwen jumped into Arthur's arms. "We did it! It's over!"

He lowered her to the ground. "I'm so proud of you, Guinevere… you were amazing!"

She looked down at her bloodied dress. "How was my death scene? I was worried… Was it stupid?"

"I had to keep reminding myself it wasn't real." He answered.

She hit his shoulder. "Shut up."

He laughed pulling her closer. "So…?"

"Hey Arthur! Gwen!"

They both looked up to see one of their classmates, Jay, with his arm around another classmate, Elaine.

"You two going to the pub?" he asked them.

Gwen and Arthur nodded.

"We'll see you there then… come on, Elaine… let these two have some time alone."

Arthur gave Jay a vulgar hand gesture as he walked away laughing.

"Let me go change and we'll go, okay?"

He nodded. "I'll wait for you out there with Merlin."

She smiled and leaned up to kiss his jaw, near his mouth. "Okay."

He watched her as she walked away and shook his head before walking toward the piano where Merlin was still seated getting praise for his music. He sat next to his friend on the bench as an older couple left. "Gwen's changing… then we'll be going to the pub with everyone… are you coming?"

"I don't think so… I don't really fancy hopping all the way there."

"We'll get a taxi." Arthur shrugged.

Merlin agreed. "Okay… sounds good. I'll pay since you'll be getting one because of me…"

"Alright you two… I'm ready…"

Merlin and Arthur looked up to find Gwen wearing a short red dress to her knees.

"Gwen, you look beautiful as always…" Merlin greeted. "Right Arthur?"

He grinned. "Right…"

He stood wrapping an arm around her waist and turned toward Merlin. "Come on along Tiny Tim… your carriage awaits..."

Merlin glared as he stood and hopped behind them.