An Unexpected Surprise [Modern AU]

[Arthur Pendragon]

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[Guinevère]

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[Arthur Pendragon]

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[Guinevère]

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[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur was still trying to steady his breathing as well as his heavy beating heart . . . so much so that he didn't even notice the flashlight or hear the footsteps approaching. Not until she said his name in a tone different than the one she used during such moments. He drew his head back and turned it to the side, seeing a bright light coming there way. Not close enough to full see them, but not that far either. He quickly stepped back so that she could pull up her pants, as he frantically did the same. The last thing he needed was to get arrested! His father was going to kill him! Arthur was already worried enough about how he was going to react to Guinevère being pregnant . . . this would be all the worse! Hastily, he zipped and buttoned his pants, looking around for any material left that would expose their intimate -- and illegal -- actions.

He only found her jacket which wasn't that bad! But never the less, he bent down to pick it up and hand it to her, just in time for the person to come into a distance close enough to speak to. Arthur looked at him, slightly squinting from the beam of the flashlight. "Officer. How can we he-- " But Arthur paused mid sentence when he saw who it was. And found his body relax as he breathed a sigh of relief. Even if they were caught right now . . . he knew he would have nothing to worry about. "Bloody hell Leon. You should know better than to sneak up on me like that," he said as he stepped toward him to extend his hand.

[Guinevère]

She looked around for her girl things, but could not find her under things! She was wearing her jeans with out them, but if who ever noticed them then they would get caught! "Officer. How can we he-- " Guinevère's heart was beating so quickly, and when Arthur's words cut off she wondered if she would faint!! "Bloody hell Leon. You should know better than to sneak up on me like that," Wait!? What?! He knew the officer?!

'Arthur, I thought I noticed your car here after park hours.' The officer--Leon, told him. 'Didn't take you for a nature boy but I thought I would come check.' Guinevère leaned more in behind Arthur, but she could see the light of the flash light tilting toward her. 'Who is with you?

[Arthur Pendragon]

To say that Arthur was massively relieved would be an understatement. Now he wouldn't have to worry about getting caught for their actions because . . . well, Leon wouldn't report it. They'd known each other since childhood and he was one of his best mates. "I'm not really, but I'm here with my friend." The word came out so casually, that he hardly even second guessed the term. Friend. She wasn't exactly his girlfriend, for that sounded way too committed. And he couldn't very well say that 'this is the mother of my child' because he hadn't told his friends yet. So, friend it was. Arthur turned to the side a bit to let Leon see her. "Leon, this is Guinevère. Guinevère, Leon." As Arthur stepped to the side he noticed her undergarments lying near his foot and quickly averted his eyes upwards.

As casually as he could so that he wouldn't draw attention to it. Instead, he even more casually stepped toward it so that his foot could somewhat hide it. "Guinevère, nice to meet you," Leon said with a bit of a nod as he extended his hand not holding the flashlight to shake Guinevère's. Arthur watched the two for a moment, still hoping Leon was too distracted with Arthur's company to notice the lingerie that was just lying here on the ground. For even though Leon was his friend, he was still hoping to leave this park with their true activities unknown to anyone . . . apart from himself and Guinevère.

[Guinevère]

"I'm here with my friend." His friend? That hurt, for she would have thought that right after they'd been together--moments after!--that he could have at least described her better then 'friend'. Still, she wasn't going to make an issue with it. Not while an officer was standing here and she had no idea were her under things were.

She reached out to take the officer's hand and spoke, "Nice to meet you as well." She said softly not able to meet his eyes for her was blushing so brightly and harshly that she could not think straight. 'Always good to meet a friend of Arthur's.' This was so embarrassing, and she feared she might cry! For a moment they all stood there, as if trying to decide what to say. Guinevère watched as Leon looked at Arthur for a moment but lowered her gaze when he looked at herself.

Finally the silence started to weigh on her and Guinevère could not bare it. "I should get to sleep, busy day tomorrow, as I have to get ready for the field trip to the zoo Monday." She told them, taking a few steps backwards. "I will leave you with your friend," Since that was all she was, he could stay with his other friend in the dark not un-romantic woods. "Good night." She dipped her head in a parting before turning and walking toward the park exit.

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur wasn't sure why there was such an awkward air between them. Perhaps it was because of what he and Guinevère had just done? Or . . . was it another reason? Either way a lapse of silence went by, until Guinevère broke it, saying that she had to leave. Her departure was just as abrupt as her sudden words of parting and he looked at her, slightly confused by her sudden desire to leave. Had he said something wrong? Was she just embarrassed about everything? He knew that he couldn't let her walk through the park by herself and Leon seemed to be of this mind as well for he looked at Arthur as Arthur turned back to look at him. "I best go too," he told Leon.

"I'll see you later mate," he added. Then, in one quick motion he bent down and quickly picked up the clothing she had left behind, before hurrying after her. Hopefully, it was fast enough so that Leon wouldn't see anything, and to further conceal it, Arthur hastily stuffed it in his pocket. Just for the time being. It was better than wandering around with a woman's under garments in his hand. When he caught up to her, he walked alongside her, matching her pace. "Are you alright?" He asked, assuming that she just must feel embarrassed over having nearly been caught. Or was there something he was missing? Either way, now was his time to ask it as Leon was no longer near them, not even following him. Probably giving them a bit of space.

[Guinevère]

Guinevère walked, and was very proud that she was not running. Not even walking quickly, as she moved not quite slowly away from the tree and the men. She was so embarrassed and humiliated and she just wanted to get home and hide her face. At least she would never have to see Leon again, right? Maybe never was too harsh but she hoped that she at least was spared of that meeting for a long time.

She heard Arthur moving to catch up with her, and she curled her arms around her center. He asked her if she was alright, and Guinevère knew that she wasn't alright, but she didn't want another fight with him. "I am fine, i just want to go home." She told him, picking up her pace some. Guinevère wondered how he saw her, the loose woman who was easy? She didn't think he thought badly of her, but how could he think well of someone who scrubs so easily. You couldn't.

Which was why he only saw her--the woman who carried his child--as a friend.

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur may not know her too well, but he knew her well enough to know that she wasn't alright. She had just abruptly walked away from him and Leon, and was walking still. In fact, she seemed to have picked up her pace. In attempt to keep up with her, and try to maintain eye contact, he turned so that he was walked backward, but in the same direction as her, only a few steps ahead so that he could actually look at her while talking. "Look, I'm sorry. I didn't know he was going to show up like that." He was obviously still assuming that she was just embarrassed and uncomfortable . . . though it didn't quite explain why she was being so short with him now. "He doesn't know what happened," Arthur added to reassure her.

He didn't find out, and nor was he going to tell him. He was not one to speak intimate details of when he was with a woman. "And he won't find out. I cleared the evidence," he added in a lighter tone, slightly teasing so that she could relax and bit and not seem like she was in such a hurry to leave. When before . . . she had been rather eager to stay. Maybe it was her pregnancy hormones that was also making her overreact a bit. Whatever it was, he hoped that it would soon pass. For it seemed that every time in the aftermath of when they made love, something happened and tensions arose once again.

[Guinevère]

Guinevère didn't stop when he walked backwards but nor did she look at him. He seemed to think her hurt from from getting caught. Arthur even teased that he cleared the evidence. Did that mean that he had found her underthings? She really hoped so. The knowledge that someone could find her underthings on the mud was horrifying!! She had feared she would see them on eBay or somewhere.

"Good, thank you." She told him, walking on and then toward the street by veering to the right of were she was walking. "Do you work tomorrow?" She asked just as part of her parting. She was leading up to the good bye for the night because she wasn't going to invite him in. Not tonight. She could not be a friend with benefits. She had to have more to sleep with a man. More from them both.

[Arthur Pendragon]

Alright. Something else was bothering it. It wasn't nearly getting caught by Leon. Had he done something? Was she angry at him for pushing her against a tree? He tried to think back as to what he could have possibly said to elicit such a reaction from her. Her question wasn't one of suggestion or even . . . genuine interest. It just sounded like a passing comment. Something to ease the silence of these few moments, as she seemed eager to be rid of his company. When they got onto the street, he noticed that his car -- and Leon's -- were the only ones parked in the lot. Where was hers? Had she walked here? It wasn't that far from her house, but nor could he let her walk home alone. So instead, he stopped right in front of her to block her path, and hopefully force her to look at him for she'd been averting his gaze this whole time.

"Alright, what is it Guinevère?" He asked, unsure of what he did now. The evening had seemed to go so well. Where had he screwed up? This time, they could not blame a ferret. It didn't even seem that Leon's presence was what was upsetting her. "Will you at least tell me what I've done?" He added, willing to take the blame if it only enabled her to explain how everything had gone from romantic, to passionate, to . . . well this. Had she not been the one to unbutton his pants first, he would have feared that he'd pressured her to . . . well, to do what they did against the tree. But if that wasn't it, then what?

[Guinevère]

Guinevère saw him walk before her, and she had to stop walking quickly in order to keep from walking into him. Her flat wasnt far from here, and she just wanted to get there but Arthur had stopped her progress. Forcing her eyes to his, she watched as he rather bluntly asked what he did. She didnt want to keep fighting with him, and she feared this conversation would only lead there. Like all of their conversations lead them too.

Leon would have to come here to get his car and seeing them fight wasnt another impression she wanted on her. "I know this is new and too much has been left unsaid between us, but moments after your mate catches us--" and Guinevère was not fooled, the officer would know what had happened. Unless he was blind, they had been caught and he was just too nice to tell hims friend to put his hands behind his back. "--I am only at the staus of friend?" He had just casually called her a friend, and left it at that, not even explaining a bit of who she was since she was going to be apart of his life forever.

Or well, eighteen years.

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur waited until she was finally looking at him and then began to explain. Alright, so maybe Leon did have a hunch as to what Arthur was doing. After all, he knew him well enough. He just hadn't wanted Guinevère to worry about what he may think of her . . . or that their activities in the park would be reported or retold. But that wasn't what the issue was. He waited, until she finally revealed what was upsetting her. "I am only at the status of friend?" Ohhhhhh. That. Right. Arthur probably should have picked up on that . . . but he hadn't. Because, well, he wasn't quite sure how to describe the nature of their relationship. He couldn't tell anyone that she was pregnant until he told his father first. Besides, he had just found out a couple of days ago and wasn't even sure it had fully registered in his mind. Quite honestly, Arthur didn't know what to say.

He paused in a pensive silence, his mind trying to come up with an explanation . . . for this was a conversation they had not yet had. Would it have been clearer if they decided to move in together? He wasn't sure he was ready for the commitment of calling her an official girlfriend but . . . is that what she wanted? Is that what she was looking for? Is that what she expected from him? It just brought back that previous question to mind: why him. Why did she choose to sleep with him, when this was not who she was. Why had she chosen to be this woman with Arthur? It was not so much as a regret for him, or even a complaint . . . more so as a thought that . . . she deserved better than what he was giving her. Or prepared to give her. "What do you want from me Guinevère?" He asked, trying to figure out what she wanted from this entire thing. They would be bound together because of the child, but . . . what else?

[Guinevère]

Guinevère watched him and waited, looking up at his taller form with eyes fill of anticipation and expectations. Arthur was silent for a long moment before he finally spoke, and with out answering her own question. "What do you want from me Guinevère?" That was he he had to say? Was to ask what she wanted from him, rather then explaining why he felt he could not just call her something more personal then a friend? She worked with friends, you went to the coffee house with friends. While she knew they were not planning marriage, she had foolishly though that there was something there, when they were not fighting.

Her eyes blinked, and lowered at the slight disappointment in his words. After a moment of gathering her thoughts, she inhaled deeply while looking back up at him. "I think that is something we both have to answer before we should continue anything on the personal--physical side of things." She explained, "Because for a few moments tonight, and the other night even . . . . " She knew she had to take the blame, because her exceptions of what was between them had been higher then what he thought was between them.

"I think I just forgot why we were both here." For the baby, not for each other. "Until we know for sure, and things are not so uncertain, I think . . . . " Her courage was failing, "I just think that perhaps it's best if we meet at a restaurant or shop or somewhere with people around." Not because she didn't trust him, "Because I don't trust myself to not kiss you, and I need more then being a friend with someone before I can give myself to them."

[Arthur Pendragon]

He listened to her explain that they needed to both figure out an answer before continuing on with their intimate and physical activities. He could understand that, hell he respected that. But it still didn't exactly answer his question. Nor the greater one that he had been trying to determine before. He had asked it a few times previously in teasing, but this time . . . it was more important than ever for him to know. It wasn't that he minded meeting her in a public place . . . but it felt strange. Going from not having seen each other for four months, to finding out she was pregnant, to realizing he was her first, to possibly moving in together and now . . . to meeting only in public places. He didn't know what page, or even what chapter they were on. And his head was spinning in all the ways they had gone back and forth.

"If that's what you want, to meet in public places, I understand." Because he didn't want to put her in a position where she would later doubt herself. Where she would be hurt by something he said so casually because . . . well, he was not used to being so serious with a woman, especially after the first time sleeping with them. Granted, he could not ignore the different feelings he had around her. Unfamiliar ones, and emotions that only felt good. But . . . nor could he properly offer to be with her and no other. He didn't want to make such a promise unless he knew he could keep it. He may be many things; an arrogant ass, a suppressor of emotions . . . but he was not a liar. When he made a promise, he intended to keep it. After all, his father had taught him that all a man has is his word and without it, he is nothing.

"Guinevère," he began to say, looking at her, and trying to phrase his next question delicately. "Why did you give yourself to me that first night?" While it had been an incredible night, he was hurting her by . . . well, by not giving her better. "You deserve far better than this, and, I just don't understand." He was asking her to help him understand. Surely she knew what kind of man he was before she invited him in. She said she was saving herself . . . and he had taken something so important to her. And now, he felt like he was disrespecting her by not giving the affection, dedication and devotion that she deserved. He just wanted to know why . . . what did she expect from him? What did she want him to do? Other than not meet in private.

[Guinevère]

"If that's what you want, to meet in public places, I understand." Guinevère wasn't sure it was what she wanted, but she thought it was what she might need to keep from letter herself get hurt again. "This weekend has been the most . . . incredible few days when we were getting along, but then when we were not . . . . " Then it was awkward and hurtful at times. Either she was hurting him, or he was hurting her or they both were hurting themselves and no one even meant too! "I think until we know each other better, and things are not so new it will keep our heads clear."

"Guinevère," She looked at him, looking up into the eyes that even now in the darkness he could see were blue. "Why did you give yourself to me that first night?" That was a questions he had asked before, and she had been unable to answer. Mostly because she feared that telling him, and Arthur feeling uncomfortable or would stay away from her. "You deserve far better than this, and, I just don't understand." He thought she deserved better?

Looking up into his eyes she was trying to sort out her thoughts, but then the light from Leon's flashlight hit his face. She knew their conversation was over, He walked toward his car, clearly planning to leave to give them space but, she knew she should go. "I will send you a text to let you know I got home alright." She told him, then walked around him and out of the park.

She didn't see Leon walk up to Arthur, and didn't hear him ask 'She's pretty, but I though you said the nurse's name was Mithian?'

[Arthur Pendragon]

The fact that she was still not answering his question was driving him insane! Why couldn't she just tell him? Why couldn't she just come out and say it? Not knowing was making him frustrated and leaving him curious. How was he going to try to figure out what she expected from him, if she wouldn't even tell him what had motivated her that night to . . . well, to lay with a man for the first time. She wasn't drunk enough to blame it all on the champagne. So what the hell was it? He watched her walk away as Leon approached, knowing she would reject an offer to drive her home, as well as an escort. It was just down the street, and he would drive by to make sure she got there safe. Plus, she said she would text him. But really, that was the least of his worries right now. He was going to be a father and the mother of his child and him couldn't even get along as they should. Thinks were fine when they weren't talking. Yet the second they hit subjects that were too personal . . . a nerve was struck and someone would grow angry.

"She's pretty, but I though you said the nurse's name was Mithian?" Arthur forced himself to focus on what Leon had said and turned to look at him, breaking his gaze from watching Guinevère walk away. "Yeah, that's not her. Haven't gotten around to asking Mithian out." And Arthur wasn't entirely sure he would. He did know what he needed tonight though. "If your shift is over you should come out. I'm meeting up with the other lads." After exchanging locations and vague times, Arthur bid Leon farewell. Tonight, he just needed a night out with the boys. Away from female drama and guilt and every other emotion that alcohol could temporarily wash away. He just needed to unwind, and what better way to do it than go out and not think of anything logical or intense. So with that incentive in mind, he got into his car, drove past her house and went to continue on his night.

[Guinevère]

Guinevère walked home, and greeted Lucifer. At least he could be free to wonder tonight, rather then locked in his cage. Then she sent Arthur the text, and used her laptop to download the song that Arthur and her had danced too, and put it on her Ipod so she could play it while she was in bed. Even while it was her who asked him not to come, she realized she missed him already. Tonight had been the most romantic night of her life until the end, and she knew she would dream on it.

The next morning she woke up, with her head phones tangled around her. After a shower, she dressed and went out to pick up some apartment guides so she could began looking for her new flat. She needed something close to Arthur's work, her work and in a good area with out going into the high dollar.

She spend her morning in the coffee shop, drinking hit cider, and flipping though the guides to decide on where she would go look.