WHEN ARTHUR MET GUINEVERE

Summary: This is the story of how Arthur and Guinevere first met told as a modern fiction so there's a fair bit of AU and OOC. Multi- chaptered and rated M just in case.

AN: Italics denote POV and Real Time is in normal font so I hope it doesn't get too confusing. Huge thanks to my lovely reviewers: Lara-keep those ideas coming, they help me to keep things real and I hope you see the answers to some of the questions you brought up here in chapter six, 'thegoldenmuse' I hear ya on the delay - its just that little thing called "work" that gets in the way of me updating sooner :), kohimoana (you rule), julygurl (your comments are great).

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin or the characters but if I did...

Chapter Six: The One With The Song

Five minutes after leaving his office…

Arthur's POV

It's not that I am surprised she is part of the cleaning crew here – ok maybe I am, only a little bit, but more so that it really is a small world. I'm just trying now to recall whether Merlin left that bit of vital information out the numerous times he blabbed on and on about her…Oops, no, he would have told me many times, but of course, I ignore 80% of what he says on a regular basis so it's plausible that I didn't remember re: care all that much. Why am I still thinking about her? Alicia's long gone now Arthur. Marianne? Nah…maybe something like Maya, or Angel? Those are quite pretty names I think…

It's no doubt she works hard and does a good job here, I mean, not everyone in the world likes their job – or is terribly good at it. Is it too conceited of me to say that she is good at being a cleaner? Yes it is Arthur. Great, now I'm reprimanding myself. I need to sleep. Or at least eat something that doesn't start with ' c' and end in ' e' or contains copious amounts of caffeine.

Thing is, since we had that disastrous day with the worst blind date in the history of mankind, and then meeting her at the chemist's the day after, and after my feedback (ok, my venting) to Merlin, apart from the stupid comment he made about "the third time being a charm", he has never once brought up the incident – in fact, when I finally met Morgana – who is quite lovely actually (although I do worry about her sanity a fair bit what with her declaring her love for Merlin), they did not once mention her at all the whole time we went out for drinks and dinner the other night. Makes me wonder – in that tiny recess of my sub-conscious that actually cares what she thinks (very minute of course) about what she might have said to them about me…That maybe she said she can't and doesn't ever want to be in the same breathing space as me…Arthur, get over it. Go home. Man U and Gunners highlights with a cold beer; think of that instead. Wait, where's that music coming from?

Arthur is walking towards the automatic doors on the ground floor when he notices that the light in the security office staff room is on, and if his ears aren't playing tricks on him, he can hear music playing somewhere.

"I dreamed about you again last night
You never have the same face twice
but I always know it's you and
you're always looking better than you really do
than you really do"…

Gwen rubs her eyes, relieved she's almost finished the chapter she has to read for the evening, humming along quietly to the lyrics of her favourite Everything but the Girl track emitting from Kelvin's ancient radio on the sink.

Gwen's POV

"…You never have the same face twice…" Tracey Thorn sings. Hmmphf! Yes, I am snorting mentally now – I think I need sleep. Why does that line remind me of Mr. Arrogant/Boso of PI? Right, that is obviously a sign you need sleep Gwen. He obviously does not listen to Merlin talk about you. Yeah right, like I listen to Merlin all the time? More so than him evidently! Well, this is yet another reason why it wouldn't have worked anyway, he is the Deputy Company Director of PI – another penny drops; that's right! He's the prodigal son of Uther the Dragon! I know, what a clichéd 'secret' nickname that all the employees call the CEO behind his back – which he probably knows about anyway. Geez, what the heck were M&M thinking setting us up? Different worlds…Could also explain the arrogance. Poor guy…All that pressure. Stop obsessing Gwen, it's done. M&M are over it, you should be too. Another twenty minutes, and a fresh cuppa then I'm off. Someone's coming…Must be Kelvin back from his rounds; maybe he'd like some tea too?

Arthur can see Kelvin near the entrance talking to the outdoor perimeter guards on his radio facing in his direction, so it's obviously not an intruder but curiosity gets the better of him. Waving at Kelvin, he walks over to the room - just to be sure and finds Bag Lady sitting in the kitchen at the table with a couple of open text books and her two (ever present) bags. A battered radio softly plays late night easy listening songs in the background while she reads.

Gwen looks up in surprise when she notices Mr. Arrogant hovering in the doorway. She is worried now that he will fire her on the spot for misusing company property or some other such misdemeanor. Instead, he walks in slowly and, after slightly wavering, decides to lean against the sink, with folded arms, and looks down at her, frowning as if he is trying to think of what to say next.

Gwen's POV

Oh crap! Busted! I wasn't really doing anything bad. Just doing some study. Its quieter here than my building and warmer. Plus my uni is quite far from work so it would be a bit of a mission to get there and then go home. Crap. Think Gwen. No! Don't say anything. Let him ask you what you're doing here first. What is he doing? Why is he just standing there looking down at me? He looks quite uncomfortable. His eyes are really quite nice when they're not all arrogant like. I have never noticed that he almost has a Robert Redford type of jaw line...Woah! You did not just check out Mr. Arrogant. Get a grip! Two words: Your Boss. Be polite. Stay calm. Find your centre. Look at the cupboard above his left shoulder. Well I would if I could bloody see it, he's blocking them – he's too tall! Gwen! Focus!

Arthur's POV

Whatever you say Arthur do not make her mad. Honestly, I am over the whole thing and somehow, after also just discovering that she works here, and that she's a good worker – the bite has gone out of me…Terrible imagery I am sure, but what I mean is, I want to just tell her I'm sorry and that I am not really that much of a dick. Maybe. I dunno. What does 'that much of a dick' mean? Ah crap! I am also a bit embarrassed with myself because I almost wish Merlin was here – he's much better at this emotional stuff than I ever could be. No, maybe it's just as well he's not here – he'd be grinning maniacally and saying "what did I say about third time lucky eh?" as if he is Aesop or something. No; it's now or never.

"This is not a bad place to study is it?" he asks finally, in a not unfriendly tone.

"I'm sorry Sir, it's just that I have finished my shift already – well technically I don't finish 'til 10, but I was just sitting here doing some study. Most of the staff have already long gone and its quieter here then my flat so –", Gwen realises she's rambling. A tendency she adopts when nervous. She bites her lip, staring up at him, and waits for the reprimand.

Arthur studies the woman in front of him, silently pondering how to answer her without possibly screwing up.

Arthur's POV

Good start. Now what? She looks like she's going to run out of the room any minute now. At least her bags are empty and too far for her to whack you over the head with. Be nice. Don't be a prat – again.

Music in this chapter – "The Heart becomes a Child – Everything but the Girl. (This song has wonderful reflective lyrics and I was actually listening to it while editing this chapter and thought it might be appropriate as an addition, given the Arwen relationaship dynamics right now in my story:) )

AN: Thanks for taking the time to read. Reviews are always welcome people so please do let me know what you think. Next up: Chapter Seven