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 chapters and rated T just in case. In this one there's Arthur and Gwen slogging it out (in their usual odd way), a wee dram of bromance, a mini Star Trek debate and the famous crumble makes a guest appearance. Again, not necessarily in that order :)

AN: Italics denote POV and Real Time is in normal font so I hope it doesn't get too confusing. Thank you all for the alerts, favourites and reviews - they're much appreciated. All the comments are tres helpful and insightful, thank you folks! P.s. Special thanks go to Halo my muse and part time editor who does all this and gets no pay. Hope you enjoy the update :)

Chapter 24: The One With Words

Sometime later on the park bench…

"So that's the whole story. Guinevere…Believe me, I never meant for that to happen – all of it, but it did…and-", Arthur has just finished recanting all of the events of the previous evening, and attempts to begin his apology session when Gwen interrupts him.

"Okay, well…Thanks for telling me what happened Arthur, but it doesn't really change the fact that you messed up – big time, does it?" she says, playing with her hands once more.

He nods his head slowly, "I know that. And I'm so so sorry…I should have left the party early, called you, refused the drink with Vivian but I didn't and I know I can't expect you to just forgive me but... Guinevere? You haven't said anything for twenty minutes. Please say something. Shout. Yell. Anything". He looks at her as she continues to stare straight ahead.

"This is why I said what I did that night at the party…About too many things going against us and about not wanting all the drama that goes with being around you. You say one thing – all these 'lovely' things about friendship and being together and then you go do the complete opposite and…I don't know, it's like in some crazy way you're trying to screw this up on purpose because it's easier the-"

Arthur's POV

Damn Merlin and his self proclaimed ESP! He called me on this one too…Now she's doing it. Well they are friends too; maybe he spoke to her about it. No…Uh Arthur? Yes? Tell that to Gwen, she thinks you're flaky. Uh yeah okay.

Shaking his head firmly and exhaling his breath heavily, he cuts her off.

"No! Okay, so maybe it seems like that, and what happened last night is not exactly reassuring you that that's NOT what I want but….Guinevere, do you remember what I told you in the garden that night? That we could still try and see what…whether there was a chance? You wanted to as well…Okay, so I screwed up last night, on so many levels that I know you have every right to be upset about but…I am hoping that maybe…possibly, we can still…try?"

Gwen sighs angrily, suddenly reacting, and she gets up and stands away from him and glares down at him on the bench. Angry Guinevere is here. Delayed but most definitely present.

"Try? That was your attempt at 'trying 'last night Arthur? Maybe we should just forget about it while we're still talking to each other? You know, burn our bridges and all that. That night we said all that stuff was weeks ago, and do you know we've never even had time to spend even one hour together since then. What makes you think that anything will change when I get back?"

Arthur suddenly feels like kicking something. This is not going the way he had hoped it would. Willing himself to calm down (which doesn't really work), he also gets up, moving towards her.

"Guinevere! I'm sorry, I know I messed up but I did honestly mean everything I said to you. Have you really changed your mind that quickly?

She folds her arms and looks at him coldly. It is this stance that makes him furious for some reason.

"Have you always been this stubborn and…scared?" He regrets his words as soon as they're out of his mouth as she rears back as if she's been slapped, her face turning red.

"Scared? I'm scared'? 'Hello kettle, I'm pot'. You are almost 30 years old and you still can't even talk to your Father without chucking a spazz about it afterwards, and then whining to everyone in sight about it. You want to talk about someone who has confidence issues, use that pocket mirror Arthur! And then you 'deal' with it by drinking and kissing exgirlfriends.

You are doing a wonderful job – with your company, you have friends and colleagues who respect and value you. Your problem is you don't seem to realise you're not the only one here – and that it's not as easy as you keep saying it is to take the next step. It's not like I can just…You know what…I don't even know why I am bothering…This was clearly a mistake so-"

Arthur's POV

And right on cue; there she goes with her classic line. What will it take to make her see? Whatever you do, don't lose your cool too.

He cuts her off angrily, scuffing at the grass forcefully with his shoe.

Arthur's POV

Sigh…Too late. Yep, there you go.

"Yeah, run off. Leave. You're good at doing that. Keeping out everyone, especially me".

She glares at him, "Hmm…sort of like you did last night with your Dad?"

She takes a deep breath, attempting to control her temper.

"It's not like this was the first time your father blindsided you with Vivian was it? Where he's tried to get you an audition for 'The Bachelor: Camelot's First Families Edition'?"

Arthur pauses, then shakes his head, "No…You know our history…and why she was back at PI…All that talk about tradition, first families and what not…Why are we even talking about that? It's a load of rubbish anyway Guinevere".

She looks up at him, willing herself not to cry.

"Is it? You wanted that kind of life at one point Arthur", she muses, quieter this time.

He shakes his head and momentarily closes his eyes before answering, trying not to sound exasperated, "Yes, when I was twenty three and didn't know enough about the world out there or what I wanted to do. Why is this even important now? It's like you don't even see a point of us or something".

Gwen moves to sit down again, all the fight gone out of her.

"Maybe your father was right when he told me that it would never work because…Um…Well, what I mean is, we should just accept that-" Arthur looks up when she says this, and immediately frowns, moving quickly to sit next to her and touches her arm so she is forced to look up at him.

"What did you say?"

She averts her eyes, and shakes her head.

"Nothing. Forget it. I was talking about-"

"Guinevere…?...You said my father spoke to you? When did he…? Guinevere…tell me…Please!" He looks right into her eyes and sighing, she leans back, playing with the hem of her top and watching the punts float by for a moment before she replies, "The night before El's party, when I was working Cathy's section he came by while I was cleaning your office to look for you and we…spoke".

Gwen looks down at her hands, mentally kicking herself for slipping up and telling Arthur about it. She looks up and can see he is still looking at her, waiting. The late afternoon sun brings out the light blue of his eyes, and for a brief second she feels that familiar flutter in her stomach when she's around him.

Gwen's POV

That is clearly ridiculous! Are you mooning about him in the middle of an argument? Er..no…Liar. Okay maybe, just a little. Well stop it. You just put your foot in it and have to fess up about the run in with Uther. Crap! Maybe…But you wanted honesty from him didn't you? Yes, but…Now it's your turn.

"And?"

"He asked me if I thought you and I have an appropriate relationship given we both work together, and I said no. Then he talked about your…legacy and future as head of PI and…look, it happened a while ago, I don't really remember what was said and it doesn't matter so-"

"Guinevere…What did he say?" he asks, his voice taking on a harder edge to it.

"Basically that everyone should know their place in life Arthur…and that you and I are not meant to be in the same area code…Arthur...?

He looks at the water, his blue eyes turning cold and ironically, scarily resembling his father at that moment.

"He said that? To you…About you and I…So…the night of the party? When you were acting strange and…You lied to me when I asked you if something was up...You didn't think that it might be important for me to know this?" he is angry now, but the worst thing is his quiet, bitter tone.

Gwen turns to him, not caring as the tears well up in her eyes, "Yes I lied…sort of. Arthur…He's your father! Good or bad relationship, he's the only one you have! Who am I to stand in the way of that? You will inherit the fourth largest company in the world one day. You have obligations and-"

He cuts her off, "You should have told me Guinevere. My father had no right to say that to you! To make you feel like I would never want...I cannot believe he would do that to you. Wait 'til I… You…You still don't trust me do you? Does how I feel about you mean anything to you?"

Gwen's POV

Guinevere Marie Leodegrance tell him. I will. When? When its right! Well that time is right now! What if I get hurt – for real next time? I don't…I can't…I can't listen to your excuses! And Gwen, you will never know unless you jump in, head first. Say something!

There is a long silence and somewhere another angel dies. Gwen turns her head away from him, to hide the tears from slipping down her cheeks and Arthur nods, staring straight ahead.

Arthur's POV

Well old boy, it was worth a shot. Its Guinevere, she will always be worth a shot – and more…

Suddenly, surprisingly, he feels her slip her hand into his. It fits perfectly and he grips her hand tighter, as his heart begins to beat erratically again. He looks at her, and then leans over and gently wipes the tears on her cheek with his thumb. As he touches her face, he feels the warmth of her face on his thumb and he inwardly shivers, before moving back, but doesn't release her hand.

Gwen looks down at their enjoined hands and then smiles timidly up at him.

"More than I can…understand but… Arthur Pendragon, you mean more to me than I can tell you…I, I'm not so good sharing and letting…people in and I'm sorry…For not being able to do that with you, and for…not telling you about your father and I talking. I know I'm not being completely honest with you either if I can't do that. Yes, I know I should have told you about your dad but I couldn't. I…care too much about you, and your future to be that selfish knowing that you're just going to be upset with him and then you'll fight again and-"

"Guinevere…I told you once – yet another time I was drunk and depressed about my father…Oh shit, yeah now I see why you called me on that. I am getting to be an embarrassment to dysfunctional father son relationships the world over", he pauses as he smiles faintly and Gwen bursts out laughing, recalling the time she almost fell over him in front of her building, thinking he was a drunk.

They both laugh for a bit, as she wipes her eyes, and then he squeezes her hand again, forcing her to look up at him again. It helps break the tension a bit, and both of them are relieved.

"My issues with my father are mine to bear, not yours and I don't want you to have to worry about solving it, or that you're in the way. It was wrong of him to talk to you about us like that, and I know you didn't tell me because you don't want to make things worse but Guinevere, he was wrong to do it and I am so sorry if he hurt you. I'm sorry that I hurt you. That I chose to drink away my frustrations with him and that I didn't meet up with you. I wanted to…To be with you last night and I behaved like an idiot.

You know, If anything, you make him, work, life, and everything in between just a little bit easier to bear and…as I explained, I am so sorry. I just need to know…that there is still a chance for us to see this through? To start over?"

His eyes brim with something that looks like a cross between hope and…something else, which Gwen doesn't want to define at this moment, because then she would have to look in one of Arthur's pocket mirrors herself.

"Arthur…I am leaving in two days time. For three months and-"

He nods his head impatiently, still looking at her, "Yes, we all know that. So what? You don't think I can be patient?" Gwen smiles a proper smile this time, and he grins back.

"Let me finish. You did screw up and for half a day, I felt like assisting Morgana and Elena with their plan to throw you off a bridge. It hurt…I will tell you that much, seeing you with her, knowing that you could stand me up and do that, but…I realise that I am not exactly blameless here either – and there are things that I needed to figure out about...myself. You're a good person Arthur – not faultless, none of us are, but I've seen the way you care for people you don't even know, for people who work for you, for those closest to you, and how you are trying your best to do the right thing for your company, and…how secretly sensitive you can be…For all your…pratness", she pauses as she looks at him,, and then continues, "really corny jokes a la Phil Dunphy, and the fact that you are (almost) incapable of receiving honest feedback from people closest to you, for some reason, I am not ready to part with all of that…and I don't want to. So I guess what I'm saying is, I get it…And…I get you". She stops speaking, and blushes, before looking back at him.

"Thank you Guinevere…For everything", he replies, suddenly feeling tongue tied, and then nudges her lightheartedly as his smile turns mischievous which causes Gwen to smile, and playfully roll her eyes at him.

Gwen's POV

Typical Arthur…He can't help being a joker…even in the most serious situations. Any moment now he's either going to tell a 'bag on Merlin' anecdote or possibly start quoting Mulder or Marcus Burnett. Sigh…I need to stop looking at his mouth…Gwen! What? Are you thinking of kis-?...No! This is not a Reese Witherspoon flick where we're on some beach in the rain! We just had a fight, split up – well not really split up 'cos we are not really going out properly yet but…you know what I mean? I just…'Arthur and Gwen sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g'…Stop it! That is juvenile…Only 'cos its true…No it isn't. One does not kiss after such an event. Um…Yeah, if we lived in the 1600's.'Arthur and Gwen sitting in the tree' – I told you to stop that please, 'h-o-p-e-l-e-s-s'.

"And just so you know, I could've quite possibly helped you guys finish off the job; Merlin had offered to spend the whole day with me, so that would also have been a catalyst to stop the hurting", he jokes, and she laughs again.

Still smiling at Gwen, he moves closer, until she leans into him, not letting go of her hand and they sit shoulder to shoulder on the bench and watch the ducks for a bit. They don't speak to each other, they've said enough. They just enjoy the closeness of each other.

Arthur's POV

At this point in time, I don't care what we do. I'm just happy to be here. Nursing a hangover and sitting on a park bench as the sun sets, with Guinevere who incidentally, doesn't want to throw me off a bridge or give up on me just yet. What I'd really like to do is kiss her…but I don't want her to feed me to the ducks…and Merlin gave me last minute 'coaching' (whatever that means). Something about 'less is more' or some crap like that. Yeah I think I'm just gonna stop talking and just enjoy being with her. That is the best idea you've had all day. Oh shut up.

It's almost dusk now, as Gwen looks down at her watch, "El's working and Morgs and Merlin will be at the house soon…If you're not doing anything now, would you like to come over? ….Have some dinner…I feel like making crumble and –"

"Making them leave early so you can eat the whole thing yourself whilst watching The Simpsons Season 20?" Arthur finishes for her, giving her a 'partner in crime' type grin. She giggles, nodding slightly.

"Will Morgana still try and put ketamine in my soup?" he says only half jokingly because he knows Morgana must think he is slime right now.

Gwen smiles, slightly shaking her head, "I won't let her…I promise."

He grins, and nods, "I would love to. Thanks".

He stands up, and not letting go of her hand, pulls her up with him, and (rather) reluctantly lets go as she turns around again to pick up her water bottle.

She starts walking slowly away from him back towards the exit, smiling as she calls over her shoulder back at him, "Great. It's a date then".

Arthur can hardly believe his luck and actually does a little jig behind her back, thankful that she can't see and then jogs over to catch up with her.

"Can I do anything to help?" Arthur stands to one side of the kitchen feeling hopeless as Gwen stirs the chicken and then moves back to chop the vegetables.

"Sure…You can set the table please", she answers glancing over at him briefly. He nods and starts pulling open drawers to find the utensils, happy to be useful.

The door opens and shuts, and looking up he sees Merlin and behind him, Morgana. Merlin freezes momentarily when he seems Arthur, then grins broadly and moves to greet Gwen.

"Hello Gwen…Arthur", Morgana's tone is frosty when she utters his name. Gwen stops chopping and comes up to Morgana, smiling and gently taking her by the hand; pulls her to the bedroom.

Merlin joins Arthur at the table with a bottle of wine and three glasses (he knows that the last thing Arthur wants or needs right now is more alcohol) and shrugs indifferently.

"She and Gwen are like sisters. Don't worry. It won't last forever and now I know, from past experiences, to check her bag before she leaves home to make sure she isn't toting around any suspicious looking clear liquid in vials...Only joking! Honest!" he adds quickly when he sees Arthur's apprehensive look.

Merlin sits down with a hopeful look on his face.

"So? Are you two good?"

Arthur grins, he can't help it. He hasn't felt this happy in a long time. He sits down at the table with Merlin to explain, and they both end up talking to each other at the same time.

"Yep, in a non conventional way, we are – after we did a bit of shouting –"

"I told you not to do that".

"…And blamed each other for doing what we've both done in the past-"

.."That too".

"…Then there were tears-"

"What part of 'under no circumstances should you make her cry – again' did you not get? This is why you are com-"

"…Apparently Father spoke to her – the night before Elyan's party and told her that she and I couldn't be together because of our 'differences' and-"

"…-pletely hopeless in the-What the fu-?" Merlin stops talking and stares at Arthur in astonishment.

"…Yeah he did, but I don't want to get into that right now, although I will be speaking to him about it at some point. In the end Merlin she still wants…in. I still want that too and we're going to try and work things out. She'll still go to India – I would never stop her doing what she wants to do but yeah…We're good for now".

"Uther the….Okay, well apart from that bombshell, I am really glad to hear it. This is the last thing I will say on the matter: Do not stuff it up again – if you can, although, you being…you, there is a highly likely chance that-"

"Merlin?"

"Yes Arthur?"

"Shut up".

"Got it".

"Oh and Merlin?"

"Merlin?"

"Merlin?"

"Hmm? Yes?

"Why aren't you answering?"

"You told me to shut up so-"

"Don't be a smart arse, I meant…Never mind. I just wanted to say, thank you".

"You're welcome".

In the bedroom …

"Gwen…So? Did you give him hell?" Morgana wants details.

"Yes, and let's just say…We sorted our crap out – again. Both of us".

Morgana looks thoughtful, "And…I take it, you are back on? Well, 'on' in your terms…It's a little like that really bad reality show 'Dating in the Dark' isn't it? You know the one where everyone meets in the dark and they 'date' but they don't 'cos they don't really see or know each other, so they don't really define what it is they're doing. How can they? Obviously the lights are off all the time and then –"

"Morgs, it's not quite as extreme as that, and please tell me you haven't been watching trashy reality TV again. We talked; he apologized – quite a few times. I did too…and…I kind of let it slip about his father and I talking and-"

"Finally! I am so glad you did Gwen. I told you to tell him ages ago…Was he mad when you told him?"

"Yes…And a bit hurt that I had kept it from him because I thought I was protecting him…In the end he basically asked me if I wanted to be with him, because he did and-"

"Wow…Who would've thunk it? Arthur Pendragon actually has a heart…Did you say yes?"

"Well, if you keep interrupting me I can't say anything. Yes, I did…In our usual weird, not true to form way I did…I care about him Morgs. It doesn't matter that I am going to India and all the other stuff with his dad and that. We talked about figuring it out so-"

Morgana squeals in excitement as Gwen shushes her, smiling the whole time. Then Morgana's face becomes all serious again, as she raises a perfectly manicured brow.

"Fine, I will be…nice to him. Although, if he ever breaks your heart, I will drag him to the nearest bridge – with or without your approval".

Gwen smiles, and reaches out to hug her, before they link arms and walk back out to the kitchen.

"So which is it? Simpsons Season 20 or Bad Boys I?" Arthur's voice sounds muffled as he digs around in the box near the screen. Gwen finishes dishing out the (second) apple crumble she made and brings it to the coffee table, sitting on the sofa. Merlin and Morgana had left twenty minutes ago, wanting to beat the rain.

"I did want to watch The Simpsons earlier, but now…I will let you choose". He grins appreciatively at her then pulls out a movie, gleefully holding it up so she can read the title.

"STAR TREK…? You like Star Trek?"

"Yeah I do…Used to watch the TV show when I was younger with Merlin and Hunith. You know she was my nanny since my mother died. My father was always away, working. I spent a lot of time with Merlin's family. His mum pretty much raised me and Merlin is…well yeah, we might as well be brothers from different mothers, although anyone can see that he is clearly the younger, annoying one".

Gwen sighs and rolls her eyes at his Merlin comment as Arthur returns from putting the movie in to join her on the couch. She offers him a plate and he accepts with a smile, settling back to watch the 2009 Star Trek movie. He takes a bite of the seriously sinful crumble that Gwen makes and feeling her still watching him; gives her a sideways glance.

"What is it?"

Gwen's embarrassed she's been caught staring at him and blushes, reaching for her plate too.

"Nothing, I just…I like finding out new things about you all the time. Star Trek huh?..." She smiles as she eats her crumble.

He shrugs and settles back, closer to her, until they are leaning against each other, "Yep, I'm kind of a closet Trekkie... I still watch the re runs now if I can, and saw this movie twice when it came out…And I also kind of had this teenage crush on Nyota Uhura – which come to think of it is not really a teenage crush more like a 'man' crush now. I like her in this movie version too. The fitted red Starfleet uniform, those boots…"

"Okay, okay, too much information now!" She laughs, as they both relax and eat their crumble, watching the movie.

After a while, Arthur glances at Gwen who's finished eating and leaning against one arm rest sitting cross legged and watching.

"Hey Guinevere?" he ventures.

"Mhmm?"

"You know, you um…you kind of remind me of Uhura…"

She looks at him skeptically and cracks up, shaking her head.

"Oh really? In what way?" her tone is teasing and she sounds highly amused by his remark.

He tries to shrug casually, coloring a bit at his 'thinking out loud' moment, and settles for wit instead.

"Well…You're strong, independent, intelligent, stubborn as heck, good at calling people on their bullshit, and you also look good in red so –"

He doesn't finish his sentence because they both burst into laughter and she swats his arm.

"Riiight…You're so full of it. So you must be Captain Kirk then?" she retorts, still laughing.

"Uh, I think you mean Spock Guinevere. Uhura is with Spock", he corrects.

Gwen shakes her head, still teasing, "Maybe in canon, but you are definitely Captain Kirk. Think about it; he's kind of superior acting, sometimes he can be brash, he's dedicated to his job, crew, and the cause, and he can be a bit of a joker. Then when he meets her; they clash, they fight – can't stand each other at first. After a while they get along, work as a team, and their chemistry is pretty good…well in this movie it was".

Arthur pretends to consider this and then playfully nudges her with his arm.

"Kind of like ours? Do you think we have good chemistry? You know, chem was like my worst subject ever at high school so maybe that's a bad analogy…"

They both laugh again and Gwen's stomach begins to hurt and she reaches out to swat him again to make him stop.

As she does this, he catches her hand with his own and they both fall silent. Looking into each other's eyes, he pulls her closer towards him, and she responds.

The noise of the front door opening and shutting startles them and they jump apart. Elyan walks into the room and half blinks when he notices Arthur sitting with his sister, suspiciously close as if they were just…

Grinning cheekily at Gwen who is thankful that Arthur has his back to him and can't see her brother's expression, he greets them.

"Hey Arthur…Gwen. Quiet night…Hate all this out of season rain we're getting though. Is that Gwen's special crumble? Yum…Can I have some please Gwennie? Oh Arthur, good thing you're here though, there's been some sort of issue with the Brighton office, and the CEO sent a memo out calling for an emergency meeting tomorrow. Did you not get a text memo?"

Arthur is grateful for the distraction, sort of anyway. He and Gwen had almost, finally…Sighing inwardly he looks up at Elyan who is removing his soaked jacket. Switching off the movie, Gwen gets up and moves to the kitchen with their plates.

"Hi Elyan. No, I must've, but I turned my phone off earlier today, and Merlin didn't mention anything... Do you know what happened?"

Elyan shrugs, "Not much detail in the email I got, except that it involves their Managing Director and some damage control mechanisms. All the bosses are meeting at 8 tomorrow at headquarters in the CEO's conference room".

Gwen has been busying herself clearing up and she notices Arthur now hovering near the counter. She looks up at him and he smiles apologetically.

"I'm sorry Guinevere but I need to go and follow up on this before the meeting at 8 tomorrow so.."

She smiles and nods, "Its fine Arthur. You don't need to apologise for your job".

He nods his head firmly, looking her straight in the eyes, "No, I don't. But I do need to apologise to you, when I have to cut our time together short – I get that now. So…I don't know what's happened or how long it's going to take, and I know you're off first thing on Monday but…I will call you tomorrow – as in I seriously will this time – no alcohol in sight".

She laughs with him and nods again, and then impulsively, leans over and kisses him on the cheek.

"I know you will. Now, go home and get some rest…and good luck for tomorrow."

Arthur was not expecting a kiss from Gwen and is still recovering from the wonderful shock of feeling of her soft and warm lips on his cheek.

Elyan walks back into the lounge and parks himself on the chair, pretending to reread an old copy of House & Garden, trying not to look like he's spying on his sister and Arthur (too much).

Arthur focuses on the counter top and uses the last bit of control he has to not grab her and give her a proper kiss. He can't really do that anyway, since Elyan is now back in the lounge from his room and instead, he settles for a slight nod and a smile as he finally finds his voice.

"Right. Thanks for dinner and…I'll call you tomorrow. 'Night Elyan". He picks up his jacket and sees himself out.

"Yeah bye Arthur, see you at 8", Elyan calls out.

When the door closes, Elyan clears his throat so noisily that Gwen looks over at him, where he's sitting in the chair grinning like the Cheshire Cat fake reading a magazine.

"So I take it you two are ok then?" he says, the picture of innocence as Gwen shakes her head and walks over to him, holding a plate of crumble for him in one hand.

She nods and blushes, before throwing a cushion at his head, grinning as he chuckles at her.

AN: That was a lot harder than writing humour...so yeah, like it or love it, I tried :) Also, some of you may be huge Spock/Uhura fans but please don't maim me - this is just something I remember from a ST message board after the movie came out :) Anyhoo, thanks for sticking around and reading. Please drop us a review and let me know what you thought of this one if you get the chance. Up next Chapter 25 :)