Meet the Parent

Arthur treated Gwen to breakfast at their usual spot. He was left alone at their table when she excused herself to use the restroom. He saw another woman immediately go in after her, and he felt nervous. Gaius's call yesterday had increased his paranoia.

Gwen's phone vibrated and the screen lit with a text from Morgana. It was short enough that he could read the whole thing in the preview.

Shopping at 5?

Arthur turned the phone over and slid off the back. He took a small microchip out of his pocket and put it in. He replaced the back and put the phone back on Gwen's side of the table.

"Ahem!" A woman the next table over purposely cleared her throat and glared at him.

Arthur shrugged. "What can I say? I suffer from jealous boyfriend syndrome."

When Gwen returned, the woman ratted on him. "Your boyfriend was snooping through your phone."

"Guilty," he said, not denying it.

Gwen looked amused, the other woman didn't. "Find anything interesting?"

"Morgana wanted to know if five o'clock was a good time for shopping. Why are you hanging out with her?"

"Jealous that I'm hanging out with your friends now?" Gwen picked up her phone to respond to Morgana's text.

"She's my sister, not my friend" he muttered.

Gwen was about to respond but stopped. She turned to the woman still watching them. "You can mind your own business now." The woman huffed and moved her seat. "I think you're checking the wrong woman's phone." She leaned forward, crossing her arms on the table. "Don't you trust me?"

DCI Arthur Pendragon didn't like getting asked questions. That was his job. "More than I used to," he answered.

"Oh?" Gwen's interest peaked. "And what is it that doesn't make you completely?"

"What would you do if I cross you?" he asked in an attempt to gain control of the conversation.

She wasn't having it. "Do I frighten you, detective?"

They stared at each other for a long second. Arthur's phone interrupted them. His father was calling. "Hello father."

"So you do know how to politely answer a phone," Gwen said quietly with a judgmental look over her coffee cup.

Arthur turned away from her slightly. "Arthur, I wanted to ask you about the woman who gave you the list of traffickers."

"What about her?" From the corner of his eye, he could see that Gwen was looking away but kept an ear in his direction trying to eavesdrop. She noticed him looking, and with a smile she held a hand up to her ear. "Do you actually have time to investigate now?"

"I would like to meet her before pursuing," Uther said.

"Do you have a preferred time?"

"As soon as possible."

"Of course. I'll get back to you. Bye father." Arthur hung up after his Uther returned the goodbye. "He wants to meet with you," he told Gwen.

Gwen gasped dramatically with her hand to her chest. "Moi?"

"I passed the list onto him. He wants to look into it."

Her hand dropped, and the rare look of shock flashed across her face. "You really gave it to him?"

"I know we weren't on the best of terms, but it was a serious request." They've come a long way since then. "When's the soonest you want to meet him?"

"I suspect he's a man who likes to get things done promptly." Gwen propped both elbows on the table and rested her chin on her hands. "Tomorrow? I always wanted to meet a spy."

Arthur shook his head at her ridiculousness. "My father's not a spy. Why do you keep insisting that?"

Gwen folded her arms back on the table and sighed with exasperation. "Because there's got to be something interesting about you."

"I didn't want to follow in my father's footsteps into the Security Service," he said, and his answer earned him an eye roll from Gwen.

She sighed again. "Boring."

When Arthur got to the station, he found the prison transcripts waiting for him on his desk. Gaius had taken the liberty of highlighting the concerning segments.

Morgause: Helios is still missing?

Cenred: I'm sure he's dead. I bet she killed him. No one gets away from Helios.

Morgause: And no one gets away with murder when they're sloppy, and when their employers brag about it.

Cenred: She's working for the cops and had Alvarr set up. The bitch needs to be put down.

Morgause: And I supposed you want me to do something about it. You know I don't like getting my hands dirty.

On another page:

Cenred: Well?

Morgause: Don't rush me. I have my own business to attend to.

Cenred: Hurry up. She's probably given all our information to the cops.

Morgause: Relax, my love. Little Gwen will get what's coming to her.

Gwen had dresses strewn about her bed unable to pick one. What do you wear when you're meeting with the director of the MI5? They were originally supposed to meet in Uther's office, but Arthur called saying his father had to attend an impromptu meeting and suggested they'd meet later over dinner.

Dinner was at a five star restaurant no different than the ones Helios would take her to except for the company. "Keep it simple, stupid," she muttered to herself, contemplating her options. She held up a simple black wrap dress that fell below the knees, but then noticed the deep v-neck. She grabbed another one in blue, a little shorter, but with a much more modest neckline.

As the cab pulled up to the restaurant, she saw Arthur standing outside waiting for her. He looked more like a reflection of his upbringing. When she approached him she couldn't find any fault in his appearance. There wasn't a wrinkle on his suit or a hair out of place. He looked expensive.

"You clean up nice," she commented, but something about it bothered her that she couldn't put her finger on.

The corner of Arthur's mouth quirked up. "Thank you?" he said, unsure of her complement. He looked at his watch, and Gwen was entranced by the shine reflecting off the platinum Rolex. "Right on time, which means we're late."

The host led them to the table in a quiet corner where Uther was waiting for them. He stood and Gwen felt intimidated.

Arthur introduced them. "Father, meet Guinevere Leodegrance. Guinevere, this is Uther Pendragon, director of MI5."

Gwen stretched out her hand. "Thank you for taking interest."

Uther shook it with a firm grip. "I apologize for pushing the time back."

"It's completely understandable," Gwen said. "Ensuring the safety of the nation is more important, sir." The words fell quickly out of her mouth and she mentally kicked herself.

The slightest movement of his mouth suggested that Uther just smirked. "Please, sit. Let's enjoy the food before we talk serious business."

Arthur let out the breath he didn't know he was holding. He notice Gwen was still standing stiff and put a comforting hand on her back. It seemed to have shocked the tension out of her. He pulled the chair out for her and tilted his head to it.

"Oh, right, yes." She regained her wits herself and sat. "Thank you," she said to Arthur as he went to take his own seat.

Conversation over dinner was shallow. Arthur evaded his father's questions about Mithian and responded smartly when he took not-so-subtle jabs at his job.

Soon the conversation turned to Gwen's studio, which she happily talked about. "I really have your son and the other officers to thank. Nothing would've been done without their help."

Uther looked intrigued. "Why didn't you call a contractor?"

"Officer Percival Grail was one, didn't you say?" Gwen asked Arthur to get him on the the conversation.

Arthur nodded. "And remember, father, the force helped rebuild Ealdor Village." Uther made a sound of acknowledgement. Arthur then turned back to Gwen. "We didn't go into detail, but that's where Merlin's from. It was an arson case that Merlin solved while assisting the local police. But we don't talk about it much because he lost a childhood friend."

"How bittersweet," Gwen said and felt for Merlin.

"Speaking of bittersweet," Uther began, turning the attention back on Gwen. "Someone in your predicament would be safer in witness protection."

That ruffled Gwen's feathers. "I'm working to get my life and my identity back. I can't do that under a new name and living in fear."

"By opening a business under your name, you're putting a target on your back and putting others in danger," Uther said sternly.

Gwen looked him hard in the eye. "Well you better stop them, then."

By the end of dinner, Gwen had told Uther everything she knew about the traffic ring. His notepad was practically filled. "You've given me more than enough information," he said as they waited in the valet line.

"Good luck," Gwen smiled.

Uther's car was brought up and they said their goodbyes. Arthur offered to give Gwen a ride home which she accepted this time.

Alone, they waited for the valet to bring Arthur's car around. Arthur stuck his hands in his pockets and rocked on his feet. "Taking down terrorist and such is grand and all, but I'd rather catch killers, and help people get justice and find closure."

Gwen looked up at him. "Stop the bad guys in our own backyards."

"Yeah," Arthur nodded.

"What about joining Scotland Yard?"

Arthur looked down at her and grinned. "Careful. You're starting to sound like my father."

Gwen's hand darted for his head and Arthur jumped out of her reach. "Relax; I'm not going to hurt you." She went for him again and mussed up his hair.

"Whatareyou—" Arthur batted her hand away.

His interception made it much worse and Gwen laughed. He didn't let her finish, so his hair looked like a bird's nest. "Hold on," she reached out to him again and brought it back to its usual light tousle. "There. That's been bothering me all night." She had figured it out halfway through dinner when he had turned his head to the side and got a closer look at the pretentious side sweep of his fringe.

The valet drove up with the car, left the driver's side door open for Arthur, and Arthur opened the passenger door for Gwen before the valet could.

They held a casual conversation until they got to Gwen's, and the mood was suddenly tense. Gwen didn't make a move to get out. "If you're waiting for me to open the door for you then I'm sorry. I filled my gentleman quota for the day," Arthur joked.

Gwen made no acknowledgement of his lame attempt to lighten the mood. "Do you think you're father can really find all of them?" she asked quietly, staring at the dashboard.

"He won't rest until he does."

She finally looked at him with a bit of hope. "You may not want to follow in his footsteps, but you've picked up some of his traits."

"Yeah, well…" Arthur looked away from her. He was his father's son. Across the street and a few cars down he saw a dark figure sitting in a car. It was too dark to tell if the person was looking back at him. Arthur got out of the car.

"Where are you going?" Gwen said and watched him round the vehicle to go on her side. He opened the door for her. "Oh," she said as she realized his intention. "Are you going to walk me to the door while you're at it?"

"I think you can manage," Arthur said, closing the door behind her. He stuck his hands in his pockets and leaned against the car. "If my father finds anything, I'll let you know immediately."

She smiled. "Goodnight, Arthur."

He nodded. "Guinevere."

Gwen gave him a playfully stern look. "You're not on duty, detective."

Arthur bowed his head trying to hide his smile. He looked back up unable to fight it. "Goodnight, Guinevere."

Arthur waited until he saw the light come on in the upstairs windows. When he went back to the driver's side, the headlights of the other car shined on him, blinding him for a moment. It pulled out of its spot and sped by.

Instead of tailing the car, he drove a couple feet in the opposite direction, parked, and got out and into passenger side of the unmarked car that was a few spots behind the mystery vehicle.

"Aw, no kiss on the first date?" Gwaine teased from the driver's seat.

"Shut up, Gwaine. Did you get the plate number?"

"Yeah, but…" Gwaine swiveled the laptop to him. The car was registered to an elderly woman who definitely wasn't the current occupant.

Arthur clenched his jaw when he didn't see the information he was hoping to see. "It's not reported stolen."

Gwaine riddled off some theories. "Could've just been a guy borrowing his gran's car. Or maybe he knocked the lady unconscious and jacked it. Ooor it's his gran's, and he knocked her unconscious—killed her if we're going the morbid route, and took off with the car… All so he can spy on Gwen." Arthur gave him a look. "Don't give me that look. I've been stuck in here for the last five hours. I could've entertained myself another way, but I didn't have any Kleenex."

"Thus sparing the eyes of any innocent passing by." Arthur leaned his head back against the headrest. "Who's next on watch?"

"Percy."

"Right. Give him a call."

As Arthur moved to get out of the car Gwaine said, "What? No goodnight kiss for me either?" He puckered his lips and Arthur flipped him off with a laugh.

A/N: If you follow me and my stories then "Holy update spree, Batman!" *falls over*

Thanks always for reading and reviewing!