A/N: Hey guys! presenting Chapter 3 :) and don't worry 'cause Chapter 4 will be up soon. Hope you like it and please review.
After 5 and a half months…
Ever since the break up and chaos that Arthur caused, everything seemed to go back to normal, except now, Gwen wasn't with them. Arthur never found the courage to follow her in New York because he thought that if he did, he would just be pushing her and that would make her even more upset with him.
After all this time, Arthur never found it in himself to move on. Every time he hung out with the gang, he only ended up looking for Gwen and will suddenly realize that she wasn't there.
However, it wasn't the same because there have been some changes such as Agravaine dying of a massive heart attack. Now, his remains were cremated and being kept in an ossuary. As for the others, knowing that it's been this long, they began to have love lives.
Just after a month, Gwaine admitted to Morgana about his kept feelings for her and hers for him, all because of jealousy and now, they actually enjoy being together. Leon and Mithian met at a formal dinner and then everything started from there. Percival and Elena met at a football game when they bumped into each other, now, they're getting to know each other. Arthur couldn't believe that even Merlin, had too, found a love interest. Merlin reunited with his childhood sweetheart, Freya when they caught a glimpse of each other while buying tickets at the movies.
All of them became happier. They had another reason to look forward to another day. All except one, and that happens to be none other than Arthur.
Ever since he broke up with Gwen, he hasn't been the same lately. H e hasn't been teasing Merlin, he's become quiet and spaced out, and he spent all his free time on work, even on weekends. He never found it in himself to go out with other women. Even if he tried to, he would call the woman by Gwen's name and just end up ruining the evening. He also didn't hang out with the guys. He just couldn't do it.
They were all starting to get worried so they all plan to cheer him up since they all work in the same building, except Morgana. She works for another agency that Uther started, which is a sister company from the main advertising agency where all the men work in. In this case, Arthur was now CEO, Merlin was his assistant, Leon was CFO, Percival and Gwaine were in a team of people who are in charge of advertisement layouts and designs. Now, Uther manages both agencies, so it makes him in charge of everything.
By this time, it's now lunch time so that means, everyone's time is free. The guys decide to visit Arthur in his office, where he usually is nowadays.
"So… would you care to tell me again why we're doing this? This cheering him up thing never works anyway. We should be having lunch, that's why this time is called 'lunch' time. Or maybe we should spend time with the ladies." Gwaine said annoyingly, looking at his watch. Strangely enough, they were all near to each other from work. Morgana and Mithian worked at the sister company agency, which happens to have a bridge on the way to main agency's building. Freya and Elena were both nurses in a hospital a few blocks away from the building.
Merlin sighed and looked over to Gwaine "For the last time, Gwaine, we're going to visit Arthur in his office and invite him for lunch… even if it never works. We have to try." he said as they made their way into Arthur's office and Merlin started knocking.
Without looking up, knowing it's them, Arthur sighed deeply "Come in." he said reluctantly.
They all come in and Gwaine was first to greet him.
"Hey princess! How's it going?" Gwaine asked with a smirk and wink.
Arthur sighed "Nice to see you too, Gwaine. Now, what is it this time? Isn't it lunch time already?" he asked, eyes never leaving the screen of his laptop, still typing his fingers away on the keyboard.
"Well, yes it is. So we thought that maybe you'd like to come with us?" Merlin asked with a grin, hoping that this time, he wouldn't turn down the offer.
"Thank you, Merlin but I have to finish these reports and if I go with you, I'll only end up being the third wheel because you all have partners and I don't so, I think it's best I'd be here, doing something productive." he said casually, still not looking at them, as if he was the only one in the room.
The guys stare at each other, Gwaine giving Merlin a look which meant 'I told you'. Merlin then gestured them to calm down , thinking of a good excuse. Percival then turned to Arthur.
"… Actually, the ladies will be having lunch of their own so, it's just us guys. So what do you say?" Percival asked, looking at him hopefully.
"That's very kind of you, Perce, but I have work to do. It's fine, you can go without me." he declined again, still not looking up.
Leon sighed and it was his turn to do the convincing "Come on, Arthur you have to relax sometime. We should go out and have fun. What about tonight at the club? It'll be just like the old times." he asked hopefully, smiling at the others, who seem to agree on his suggestion.
"Yeah, Leon's right. Get drunk and have a good time. Forget about the real world for once in your life." Gwaine chided with a smirk and wiggled his eyebrows.
In response, Arthur sighed in annoyance "That really sounds fun Gwaine but, I really don't think I should. It's still a working day until Friday so, I suggest that-' his words were cut when Merlin turned to his laptop and closed it.
"Merlin! What the hell do you think you're doing? That was a very important proposal! Now, how am I suppose to retrieve it?" Arthur complained annoyingly but then he fell quiet when Merlin ranted at him, not removing his hand on the closed laptop.
"Arthur would you just take your eyes off the laptop and look at us?!" Merlin ranted in annoyance.
Arthur finally calmed down and looked at him with wide eyes and raised eyebrows. He leaned on his chair and slowly spoke up.
"Fine. What is it you want to talk to me about?" Arthur asked plainly in distress, knowing that they will just try to cheer him up again.
"I don't know… how about the fact that you've been very distant lately. And let's not forget about how you've been working non-stop for the last five months… what's wrong with you? You're not the same, arrogant prat we all knew." Merlin pointed out annoyingly, with a hint of worry and sadness.
"People change all the time, Merlin." Arthur said plainly.
"But you wouldn't change for anyone or anything at all, we all knew that. What's happened now?" Merlin asked back to Arthur, who stared back at him, starting to feel the same depression he's felt for a long time, knowing that Merlin was right to say that he wouldn't change for anything or anyone. Most of the time now, he thought that he was becoming a better person. It turns out he was becoming worse. And it was all his fault.
Because he was already being cornered, Arthur thought that there was absolutely no point in hiding his problem.
"I broke up with Guinevere… that's what happened. There, are you happy now?... I hurt Guinevere and it's been five months. Five months since I've been without her. And it hurts so much because I never had the courage to go to her . To tell her that everything I said to her before was a lie." he then looked up to them and sighed "I broke up with her and it was all my fault." he said softly and looked into the distance before he continues.
"I've made a terrible mistake… you say that I have to forget the past to move on… but how can I do it when all I ever think about is her? tell me that. What's the point in loving someone who's not even sure of coming back?" he said, staring in space, not knowing what to say next.
After a while, Merlin answered his question "Gwen will be back, I'm sure. You'll just have to wait." he said reassuringly, knowing he meant it metaphorically and literally.
They all knew that Gwen be coming back for the charity gala that Uther was hosting on a Saturday night. He thought that it was the best time to schedule it that day for it was the day after Gwen came back in London and at the same time, as a celebration of the charity gala he hosted every year. Everybody knew that Gwen was coming back but then again, there's still somebody who doesn't even have a clue, and they knew why they couldn't tell him… Arthur.
Ever since Gwen left, she still made it a priority to stay in communication with all who she cared about back in London. She made it a promise that if she ever thought about coming back, she would tell them all. But there was one who she couldn't bring herself to talk to, one who she couldn't face because of anger, hatred, disappointment, and especially, hurt. And it was clearly Arthur.
During five months of being away from him, she realized that little by little, her negative emotions began to fade away, but hurt was still inside her. It was the only feeling she couldn't let go of. If she ever thought about the good days with him, it easily reminded her that those days were over. She thought that she can never get hurt like this.
Just like Arthur, Gwen spent most of her time working. Now, after five months of hard work, she finally got what she wanted. She finally became a well-known fashion designer in New York. All her fame started when she was taken as an intern in a fashion agency. She was caught sketching a design in her notebook. Oddly enough, she was caught by the head of the agency, who was intrigued and amazed by her sketch. The head asked if she can make a portfolio of her designs. After Gwen submitted the designs, the head was very much astounded and she was recommended to a new celebrity in Hollywood for a movie premiere and then everything flourished. She started her own line of clothing about 2 months ago and she's now known as one of the best fashion designers in New York City.
Of course she never failed to tell these wonderful news to the people she loves back in London. Every now and then, she would always talk to Morgana and ask how things are in London. She knew of all their love lives and they knew of her wonderful career, but with all of their conversations, she never dared to ask about Arthur. In the end, they were very happy for her and were all told that she would come back for a branch release of her clothing line and that she would make it to Uther's charity gala.
Right now, in her penthouse in New York, she sits on her bed, looking around, resting for a while from packing clothes and other things she would bring back home. Just before she stands to resume packing, her phone rings and she didn't even bother to look who it's from because she knew it was Morgana. She sat on the bed again and swiped her finger on her phone and spoke up.
"Hey Morgana." she said with a smile.
"Hey! Oh wait I'll put you on speaker… there, okay. Hi!" Morgana shouted excitingly.
"Hi." Gwen said giggling.
"Hey there, Miss New York!" Gwaine spoke loudly.
"Hey Gwaine." she answers.
"Hi Gwen! Can't wait to see you." She hears Leon shout from a distance.
"Yeah can't wait to see you all. Who are you in there?" she asks.
"It's me, Morgana, Gwaine, Perce, and Leon." she hears Merlin say.
"Oh! Hey Merlin um… where are the other girls?" she asked him, hoping to talk to them.
"They all had overtime shifts. Morgana decided to go home early since you're going to be here tomorrow, so she's planning something for you." Merlin say casually.
"I see. Morgana, you know you really don't have to." she reasoned, thinking that her arrival was no big deal but apparently for them, it is.
"But I want to so, shut it!." Morgana said, slightly annoyed that after all this time, Gwen still thinks about others than herself.
"Alright, I'm just saying." she says, giggling.
"It's just going to be a little gathering and all of us are going to be here. And it may as well be your pre-party before the gala on Saturday. It's going to be fun, trust me." Morgana says casually.
Gwen was a little alarmed when Morgana said that all of them were going to be attending this little gathering. She thought that Arthur might be there. She got nervous and scared at the moment, thinking what she would feel if she saw him again and she then fell silent.
"Gwen? Are you still there?" Morgana asked.
"I'm here." she answered back, smile faded away and staring into space.
"Good, I thought the call got disconnected." Morgana said giggling.
"Um… Morgana?" she called, knowing that what she's about to ask may raise suspicions.
"Yes?" Morgana answered, wondering why something changed in Gwen's tone of speaking.
"… Is Arthur going to be there?... I mean, it's not that I'm looking for him, I'm just wondering if he knows that I'm coming back." she said, feeling tensed at the moment. Wondering why she asked such a question.
Morgana and the guys were shocked to hear her asking about him for the first time.
"Uhh… no, you didn't want him to know you're coming back remember?" Morgana asked, looking at the others, who are now seated in the living room, listening to their conversation, wondering why she asked about Arthur all of a sudden, realizing that maybe she still cares about him.
"Oh… right. Um… I didn't." she said softly, feeling confused and a little disappointed that Arthur wasn't going to be there welcoming her after all. Thinking that maybe he's finally moved on. She shook herself out of the thought and continued
"But… why isn't he there with you? I mean, he made amends already right?" she asks, wondering and worrying at the same time.
"Well… he's at work." Merlin says, sighing deeply.
"Work? He… he's still working?" she asks, getting a little more worried, knowing that Arthur doesn't work or stay in his office for more than 10 hours. At least, that's what she knew about him 5 months ago.
"Yes, working. It's about everything he does now most of the time. He practically lives there already." Gwaine said plainly.
"I see… well, um… I'd better get back to packing. Don't want to be late tomorrow." she says casually.
"Okay. We'll be at the airport on time to pick you up. We love you, Gwen!" Morgana says, thinking why Gwen's mood changed.
Gwen giggled slightly "I love you guys, too. Can't wait to see you tomorrow."
"Yeah, bye!" they all say in unison.
"Bye." Gwen hangs up the phone and sighed deeply.
With what she heard from Gwaine, she can't help worrying about Arthur. If he stays in his office often, then it means that it may be bad for his health because he doesn't eat much and he doesn't get any sleep. Even after five months of trying to move on and healing herself, she can't deny the fact she still loves Arthur… so much.