An Unexpected Surprise [Modern AU]

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur chuckled at her speaking hypothetically if he liked licking frosting from the jar. Truth be told, he'd never tried that before. "I've been deprived of the opportunity to do so. Maybe I'll have to give it a go when you're baking," he said in a joking tone that made it sound more like a threat than anything else. He'd grown up in a household with cooks who prepared everything, giving him no cause or reason to go into the kitchen. It was why it had been such a change to have a home cooked meal, and why her food -- and of course her company -- had been a rarity, but a wonderful one. "Can I come watch you play sometime?" Really? She wanted to watch? He obviously didn't think of that as a bad thing . . . quite the opposite in fact. He was rather flattered that she wanted to come watch him.

'If you're sure you want to," he said, not wanting it to sound like he didn't want her there. "I'd love for you to come, but hate if you got bored." Since they took their sports rather seriously, and sometimes the guy's girlfriends wandered off due to boredom. "Next weekend we'll be playing the fire department," he explained. Thanks to Leon having challenged them to a game, as their work was related. "If you're free, I can come get you to watch?" And suddenly, he found himself looking forward to the game, more than usual. And if he thought that that was the best suggestion he could have heard . . . "Do you want to come on vacation with me this year?" The question was enough to cause him to turn his head to look at her, knowing his gaze couldn't remain for as long as he wanted it to.

Eventually, he looked back in front of him, keeping his eyes on the road, though his mind was now somewhere else. It was now consumed with her offer. "I'd like that. A lot actually." It was strange, how he didn't even have to think twice about it. If another woman offered, he'd fear the possibility of the heavy commitment she might take it to be. But with Guinevère, he was already committed to her. For she was carrying his child and . . . he was slowly learning that there was more reason than that which kept him drawn to her. "I think that sounds perfect," he added smiling, already looking forward to it . . . and no longer feeling that intense fear or pressure of being a father. It was numbed by her company, just as it always was.

[Guinevère]

"I've been deprived of the opportunity to do so. Maybe I'll have to give it a go when you're baking," She sometimes forgot that he had not grown up in her sort of 'normal'. He had everything done for him, and she really didn't want that for her child. This child could have the convenience of the money and not have to worry about it--but the strength of being able to make it without such if they had too.

She hoped.

"Next weekend we'll be playing the fire department," She chuckled and thought of doctor suits playing with firemen jackets. "I'd like that." She told him, knowing they were not be in uniform but in casual clothing. "If you're free, I can come get you to watch?" He kept offering to come get her, and she found she rather liked it, knowing they'd be arriving and leaving together.

"I'd like that. A lot actually." Her offer of the holiday escape. "I think that sounds perfect," She found herself smiling, and loving the idea. "Then we should pick a place to go, to make it special. Some place we can both enjoy for a get away." In case he did not wish to go up north with her. Guinevère looked out her window an noticed they were at her flat, and then looked back at him while he parked.

[Arthur Pendragon]

"Sounds good. Probably not somewhere too far." Since traveling with a baby would be difficult, not to mention the fact that he wasn't sure how much time off he could get. If his father wasn't furious enough with him -- and would be all the more once he found out that they weren't actually engaged . . . he would be infuriated when Arthur told him that he was taking a week off. He couldn't remember the last time he had such an extensive vacation, for non-work related purposes. In short, the answer was never. And he was rather looking forward to making his first official vacation with Guinevère . . . and their baby. Before he had the chance to start thinking about spots that would be fitting, he noticed that they were at her flat.

Probably for the best too, as there was much else he needed to discuss with her . . . such as their engagement. Which apparently, already happened. He parked the car and got out, grabbing her purse for her so that it would be one less thing for her to carry. He then made his way over to the passenger's seat and opened the door for her, offering his hand to help her out.

[Guinevère]

Guinevère noticed that he took her purse and then hurried around to her door. She waited there, knowing what he was doing and not wanting to make it harder for him to do it. When Arthur opened her door, he held his hand out for her, and Guinevère smiled and took it offer. "I though only princes did things like that now days." She complemented him, blushing at his extra effort toward her. He was so charming sometimes that she felt pleased but blushed because she wasn't used to people doing such things for her.

She walked into her building, and down the hall toward her door, before looking back at him, "You have my keys in there." She reminded him, not about to ask for it back since he had worked so hard to get it from her. She paused at the mail boxes when passing them, and paused again. "And my mail key." She waited while Arthur handed it to her before she unlocked the mail box and then took out her mail, then walking toward her door.

[Arthur Pendragon]

"I thought only princes did things like that now days." Arthur smiled at this, well aware that he was the furthest thing from a prince. "Well maybe chivalry isn't as dead as we think it is," he said jokingly as he helped her out of the car. She didn't seem to be too disorientated, which was an excellent sign. She then stopped at the door to tell him that he had the keys. Oh. Right. That would be helpful to get out. He looked down at her purse, seeing that the keys were right on top inside . . . otherwise he would have handed it back to her, not wanting to rummage through it. "Here," he said as he passed her the set of keys she needed for both her mailbox and the door to her place.

Once they were inside, Arthur put the bag on the . . . non existent table, and just put it on the coffee table instead. He really needed to replace that table he had broken. "If you want to get changed or anything, I can order the food for us." He wanted her to get comfortable and rest as much as he could. That was what he was here for after all; to make sure she wasn't going to push herself too much. Besides, had he not been here she would have returned to work on Thursday rather than just take the full week off.

[Guinevère]

Guinevère walked in and sat her mail on the counter for her to look at later, before pausing to look for Lucifer. He bounded down the steps as Arthur spoke, and Guinevère bent to lift the small pet into her arms. "Yes, my shirt was ruined with dirt," and a bit of blood and a view rips, "I will just be a moment. You can make coffee or anything you want." She told him as she carried Lucifer up with her.

Guinevère walked up there and sat her beloved pet down while she went to the closet for clothes and then to the bathroom. Looking at Lucifer she noticed he was looking down toward the steps and she whispered a stern "Don't you dare!" Toward him, then went to change and wash her face better. Once she was clean, smelling better, and dressed in a soft pink day dress, Guinevère left to head down to Arthur. That was when she noticed that Lucifer wasn't there waiting on her! Looking toward the steps she was almost afraid to go down there! Hurrying down the steps she looked to see where both her boys where.

[Arthur Pendragon]

As she hurried upstairs to get freshened up, Arthur pulled out his phone to look up the number of the restaurant that they would be ordering from, hearing her tell him that he could make coffee. Which actually wasn't a bad idea. He would take care of that after he ordered the food so they would not have to wait as long for it to arrive. Just when he found the number and dialed, he heard her come down the stairs, clad in a day time dress. "Those don't look like your PJs," Arthur teased playfully. Not that it didn't mean he thought she looked anything less than beautiful. While he waited for the phone to ring, he decided to best to make sure he knew their order, as he had no idea what was on the menu.

"What else would you like, besides mushroom spaghetti?" In terms of drinks, salad, bread, other appetizers. . . he wasn't sure how great of an appetite she had, but wanted to make sure there was plenty. After all, as she was getting later in her pregnancy, her appetite surely must have grown substantially. The events of today however may have also hindered it. As Arthur asked and continued to wait for someone to answer the phone, he casually looked around . . . looking for the devil. Or to be more specific, Lucifer -- though there really wasn't much difference. It was bad enough that he had yelled when the creature climbed up his pants, and then yelled again when he attacked him in the shower . . . the last thing he needed was to make it a third time. Especially while he was on the phone.

[Guinevère]

Arthur asked her if she wanted anything else and Guinevère paused for a moment then spoke, "Just some bread sticks." She told him, then looked around for her missing pet. Where was he?! Her dress turned with her, making it flutter around her caves like she likes. It was the reason she ad bought the silly dress, though now she was glad she had. Though that wasn't what she was thinking about in this moment.

It was her pet! Casually Guinevère walked toward the couch, her back to Arthur while she looked around, before she started to wonder if Lucifer wasn't upstairs after all? Relaxing, Guinevère smiled to her self, and then turned to look at Arthur. And her heart panicked again. There, above Arthur's head on the cabinets was Lucifer, and he looked as if he was going to jump down on him. "Oh! above you! Lucifer!" She called, hurrying forward, right as he jumped down toward Arthur, missing his head, and scrambling to grab onto Arthur's shirt to stay up!

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur gave a short nod when she spoke of wanting bread sticks as well. That seemed like a fairly complete order. Now if the people would just answer their phone. Hopefully it would not be too busy so they could get it sooner. As soon as they answered however, and Arthur opened his mouth to speak, he heard Guinevère call out "Oh! above you! Lucifer!" Arthur raised his head and managed to move it just in time to dodge Lucifer's attack. But the critter was not done, for he started scrambling up Arthur's shirt, causing Arthur to stumble back and hit the fridge. "Son of a bitch!" He cried out, hearing another voice saying a very hesitant "Um . . . hello?" Oh! Right! The food! "Hi, right. Sorry . . . I'd like--" But Lucifer was not done.

He moved to wrap himself around Arthur's neck for a moment, his body elongated from one of Arthur's shoulders to the other. "Get away from me!" He exclaimed again."Uh, Sir?" Great! This was just great! Arthur tried to grab onto the ferret but it conveniently began to move down Arthur's back, positioning itself out of reach from Arthur's grasp. "Bloody hell! Just, hang on a moment," Arthur said with clear frustration as he tossed his phone on the counter. "Can you get this thing off of me?" He asked Guinevère, trying to squirm about to get him off. What the hell was up with this ferret?! Why did it have to constantly torment him every time he came over!

[Guinevère]

One moment everything was going well.

And the next he was yelling and cursing.

Guinevère got there as Arthur twisted around and had to dance around him for a moment to get a hold of her pet and pull him from Arthur. Lucifer's heart was beating so hard that she could feel it on her hands that held him. This time Lucifer could have gotten hurt! "Poor baby," she cooed before looking up at Arthur. "Are you alright?" She looked worried at his reaction, and Guinevère wondered if this ruined the day.

She hated his cursing but would not comment on it since this was technically her fault. Would he get mad and leave again? She hoped not. He and Lucifer needed to learn to get along! With that thought she took a few steps closer, picked up Arthur's phone and then took a deep breath. "Sorry about that, I am ready to order." And then she handed Lucifer to Arthur and backed away while she told the man on the phone what she and Arthur wanted to eat.

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur didn't know how she could hold that menace. Either way it was off of him, and that's what mattered. He glared at Lucifer, the mental image of his dogs eating him granting some comfort in this moment. Though they were not images he dare explain to her. "I'm fine," he grumbled, clearly agitated. After she was recovered, and the next day they spent time together . . . they would do so at his place. For he was sick and tired of dealing with this creature from hell. And to make things worse, she handed him to Arthur! Arthur held him well away from his body, treating him as if he had the plague. As she ordered the food, Arthur dropped Lucifer to the ground, taking a few steps back to make sure he didn't crawl up his pant leg against. He could scurry off somewhere else. At least she was ordering the food and he could focus his attention on what the ferret was plotting.

Arthur maintained a safe distance from him, but he was a fast moving creature, so he knew better than to underestimate Lucifer. He wanted to ask her to put him in his cage, but wondered if that would offend her. She seemed to have an odd fondness of him . . . and he was doing all that he could to just be in the same vicinity as Lucifer. Maybe if the critter noticed that Arthur stayed, despite his efforts to terrorize him . . . then he would give up. Then it would show that Lucifer couldn't win. HA! . . . And the moment the plot formulated in his mind, was around the same moment Arthur realized how pathetic it was that he was plotting against a ferret.

[Guinevère]

Guinevère was talking to the man on the phone, and had just finished the order then Arthur dropped Lucifer on the floor. Guinevère looked at at him for a moment, before going over to pick him up. "Yes thank you." She hung up the phone and held him to her chest, petting to clam him. "Holding him, would get him use to you, and help him like you." She told him, before turning to walk to the couch.

"Lucifer will get use to you, but it takes more then a few visit." Sitting down on the couch, she looked at Arthur, who looked displeased. While she could not blame him, he was the more intelligent being here. He was the one who could be the bigger person here, and reach out. Ferrets didn't have that sort of thinking. "I know he can be tiresome--He uses to jump at me all the time when I first took him in--but he gets better. Someone got him from a pet store and could not handle him, so they gave him to another family, and they gave him him to my classroom and my students even didn't like him."

She was all he had, "Just let him get to know you."

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur watched her head to the couch, clutching the ferret in her arms as she explained how holding him, and 'getting to know him' would help. He didn't want to get to know him . . . but he also knew that this would be how it was every time he came over. The ferret would attack him, Arthur would yell, and depending on the mood after, he would either leave or they would linger in awkward silence. He slowly walked closer to her, sitting on the other end of the couch, though it was not so big as to distance them much. What a devil he was! Always attacking people and going up their pants. Arthur remained quiet for a few moments, hoping he would regret this. He was really doing it more for her, than for any other reason. And to help them whenever they spent time at her house. So with that thought in mind, the only one that would motivate his next actions, he held out his arms, and took Lucifer into them.

He wasn't sure how to deal with a ferret, though copied the way she had held him in her arms. Assuming that was the right way . . . was there actually a right way to hold a ferret? He was about to find out. He looked down at Lucifer, stroking his head to attempt to keep him calm . . . though Arthur was edge. Ready to leap out of his seat should Lucifer change his mind about being calm. Or this could be his grand scheme all along. "Is it safe to have him around a baby?" Not just any baby . . . their baby. Because apparently Lucifer could get into hard to reach places, sneak through doors and get out of his cage. And if he just kept attacking people, Arthur wondered how safe it would be for their baby; who would be another stranger to him.

[Guinevère]

Guinevère watched Arthur walk over closer to her, and sit on the couch. She stayed quite as Arthur took Lucifer from her and held him. "Is it safe to have him around a baby?" Guinevère had done some reading about that, and while she knew Lucifer wasn't a typical ferret, she also knew how he was, and how he liked to act. Moving over toward Arthur, she took her pet from him, and then sat down in Arthur's lap, bring Lucifer to sit on her.

Then reaching for Arthur's hand, she showed him how to pet him. "Animals know babies. They have that instinct." She was praying that Lucifer had it enough to know to be gentle. "I don't plan to leave him near the baby alone, and when I find my next flat I want to get a bigger cage so he can have lots of room to crawl and play without feeling caged up." She he could spend time there and free when she was around. "He doesn't bite, he just . . . . is protective."

"He does it less when female friends come over. It's mostly to adult males. I think maybe he had a bad experience of sort sort."

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur broke his gaze from the ferret when he noticed her move to take him from his arms . . . and then proceed to sit on his lap. He gave a slight smile at this, as he casually draped one arm around her waist while the other was being directed on how to pet Lucifer. He wasn't sure her trusted the ferret around a child, with or without their instincts. It was clear that Lucifer was unpredictable . . . and he didn't like the thought of him just randomly jumping on their baby. It was the same reason Arthur was not going to let Cabal or Bohrs near the baby unless he himself was there. For while they were obedient to their master, they also could be overly playful. However, when she spoke about getting a bigger cage for the ferret, that gave him some relief, to know that he would be locked up . . . and that she would make sure he wasn't alone with the baby.

"Protective or not, he's unpredictable," Arthur said, not finding it an insult for it was the truth. "He's never calmed down, in all the time you've had him?" The ferret still remained on edge, overly protective? Interesting. Arthur never thought he'd have issues with a ferret, nor did he want them to continue to build up to the point it hindered his spending time with Guinevère, and ultimately . . . their baby. "So he's like this with your brother too?" Arthur asked, finding that was a better other male to question than someone like her ex.

[Guinevère]

"Protective or not, he's unpredictable," Perhaps, but when he was around people he liked, he could be calm and loving. It was strangers and strange men in particular that set him off. When it was just her and him then they had more moments like this then like how Arthur saw him. "He's never calmed down, in all the time you've had him?" Oh the first few days she had him where enough for her to change his name to Lucifer.

"No, he was worse. He has mellowed out a lot, and I can still see him calming even these days. Some days are better then others, but the more he knows me, the more we get along. . . . He used to hide my keys every night. I was late for work for a week. Now he just hides my bracelets, but i have learned where he hides things."

"So he's like this with your brother too?" Elyan. That was hard to explain. "Elyan came and stayed for a week once and they were buddies by the end of the week but never at first. Elyan just has a very relaxed manner, and it it works well with Lucifer."

[Arthur Pendragon]

The ferret hid her keys? Suddenly Arthur felt paranoid about his keys, but not enough to move from his current position of having Guinevère sitting on his lap. It was actually a rather comfortable position indeed, one that he didn't mind in the slightest. Perhaps better without the ferret, but still. "And where does he hide things? Just in case I need to know for future reference," he said, only half kidding. Who knew that this devilish creature was up to. He was capable of anything! After all, what kind of creature attacked someone in the shower?! Arthur didn't feel all the better hearing that the ferret got along with Elyan. Though it was her brother, and was probably here a whole lot more than he was. Didn't Arthur have a relaxed manner though?! What he had done to provoke Lucifer? . . . Then again, maybe the intimacies between them made the ferret unwelcoming.

"Define, relaxed manner," Arthur asked, actually genuinely curious so that perhaps he could exercise that. So that Lucifer wouldn't be so on edge whenever Arthur was near. He had to get used to him at some point, and the sooner, the better. The sooner, the less awkward tension would arise immediately disastrous incident. He didn't want it to be like this every time he came over. And since animals based their actions on instinct, Arthur would have to be the more forgiving one and adapt himself to cause Lucifer to be less hostile toward him.

[Guinevère]

"And where does he hide things?" Arthur asked and Guinevère--whom was feeling comfortable and wonderful--felt herself drifting off slowly in this moment. "It really depends on what he is hiding. There is a few places. I will show you some later, but I will help you find your keys before you leave." If they were even hid from him. Lucifer tended to take things when he thought you were not looking, and right now both pairs of eyes were on him, so he was being nice.

Guinevère used her finger nails to give him a good scratch and Lucifer pushed into her hand, clearly wanting more. "Define, relaxed manner," Elyan's manner. "Elyan is the best brother in the world," When he was here, though even when he was far off visiting people and doing things he still was her favorite brother--though he was her only brother so there was no competition for the title. "When Lucifer attacks him, he just stands there. Elyan . . . . He's really smart--people wise. He reads people well, and just knows things about them by reading into their words. He's really good at whatever he tries to do. Everything. But he just has wondering feet. He likes to see the world, and do things." She liked to stay at home, and keep house.

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur hoped Lucifer hadn't taken his keys. The last thing he needed was to be scrambling about, looking for them with Lucifer watching him with a smirk. He could have sworn he'd seen the ferret smirk before! "That would be much appreciated," he said only half kidding. For should Lucifer actually take his keys, he would be relying on Guinevère to find them. And hope that the creature had not found a new hiding spot. Arthur gave a small smile when she spoke of her brother, having a clear admiration for the man. It must be nice; to have such a sibling that she loved so dearly and who loved her in return. That had been him and Morgana once . . . but no more. Not after she'd changed so drastically and now seemed to always want to pick a fight every opportunity she got. "I know you said that he doesn't really make plans, but do you know if he is returning anytime in the near future?" Arthur asked.

Really, the main reason he wanted to know was because he didn't want Guinevère to live here on her own. Since plans of them moving in together didn't exactly work out -- and he wasn't going to broach that subject again right now, for they were doing so well and didn't need cause to start an argument -- at least if her brother was here, she wouldn't have to be alone. For as wonderful company as Lucifer may be, and as helpful as the ferret believed himself to be, he was not actually taking care of Guinevère. And Arthur hated to think of the thought of her alone, should something happen or should she need something. "Has he made any mention, or anything?" Arthur was assuming that she still hadn't told him the news, and if she did . . . would that be reason enough for Elyan to rush home? To help take care of her?

[Guinevère]

Arthur asked about Elyan and Guinevère took a moment to think of the answer before replying. In truth she didn't have to think about it, but after the excitement--of both good and bad--of the day, and now just sitting here talking, with Arthur holding her and everything just peaceful . . . .

She was drifting to sleep. One of the only things that keep her awake was the growling in her belly. She was hungry. "I don't know. I hope he does, but I always hope he will. Elyan is . . . . I can't describe him! I know if he knew I was injured today that he would be here by morning and being the protective older brother. Any time that I've been sick enough to be down for more then a day or two, or had my heart broken, or been injured he's shown up and taken care of me. At the same time whenever he's gotten in a bit of trouble, I've gone to him to help him get out of trouble." And Elyan seemed to get into his fair share.