An Unexpected Surprise [Modern AU]

[Arthur Pendragon]

She seemed a bit quieter now and he wondered if it was because he was not giving detailed answers to her questions. He wasn't quite used to being asked such things. Even when his mates talked about women, he didn't exactly give very specific details about it. And it was all the more awkward trying to explain it to the woman he had gotten pregnant . . . and still held a relationship of some sort with. He wasn't going to push it though. He'd rather let the subject go, and assumed that if she still had strong concerns about it . . . well, he would figure out a way to address it. Instead, he felt nervous awaiting her response to his question and . . . what she asked confused him for a second.

But only for a second, because he realized that she hadn't taken his words as literally as he had meant them. Damn. Now he was going to have to actually go into more detail about it -- not that he wasn't planning to. Hell, he didn't even have details made up! He'd only told his father that they were getting married and that they hadn't set a date yet! "Engaged . . . " He paused, knowing that he would have to be blunt. "To be married," he finished, looking at her and once again, trying to read whatever expression his words placed on her face.

[Guinevère]

"Engaged . . . " Yes, engaged to to what?
To attend another dinner, or was it more of an official manner with the hosp--"To be married," Guinevère's lost some of the confusion as her eyes went a bit wider. He'd told his father they would wed? Did he plan for them to wed, or was this a lie they were beginning? She was already afraid of his father, but if the mean older man found out that they were lyeing then there would be hell to pay!

She had the feeling she would be paying it too! OR had he really meant for them to wed? If so how did he not ask her? They could not even agree on whom's house to live in as he seemed to HAD to have his servants and luxury. Now he was wedding them? While it did her heart good to know that her child would have unquestioned access to anything he needed--especially medically--she found her head spinning rather quickly, trying to take in his words. "I think I hit my head harder then I thought." She said softly still in a bit of a daze. "I thought you said something really . . . . . . Can you explain that?"

[Arthur Pendragon]

He knew he couldn't just say a comment like he did and expect to move on. He knew that the conversation was not focused on it and he would have to choose his words carefully. He had hardly left her with a choice to play along with this farce . . . and if he didn't think it would help make dinner easier, then he would feel more guilty for it. "My father was just making assumptions, first assuming that . . . you weren't actually carrying my child -- " Something that she already knew in terms of his father's disbelief and distrust in others. "And then when I assured him you were, he assumed we were getting married." And Arthur had just gone along with it. It wasn't as if he had concocting the lie; he was just encouraging it.

And even as these thoughts entered his mind, he knew it was a horrible justification. "It'll make dinner tomorrow a lot easier and after that . . . I'll figure out something to tell him." The truth. When he was convinced that Guinevère was lying about this . . . if he would ever be convinced until the baby was born. "I'm just trying to take one step at a time, but don't worry. Everything will work out." Somehow. He didn't know how or when but he knew it would. It had to. Because they couldn't actually get married.

[Guinevère]

He had engaged them, because this father did not believe she carried his child. Guinevère was not sure what to think. Earlier today she had thought--Zoo!, and not she was thinking Engaged!? and it call seemed to happen to quickly. They seemed to have trouble spending time together. While they seemed to get alone when they kissed, they seemed to be completely different people outside of it.

"we fight all the time," She said softly, as if thinking it was hard to see them as married, even now they had trouble making it through dinner. "I . . . . " He was trying to make it easier for his father, and she wanted that for him but she was also a once in a lifetime marriage girl. Once she said I Do, there would never be another. "He believed you?" She wondered, since his father had never even met her.

[Arthur Pendragon]

"We fight all the time." . . . True, but he didn't know that. Besides, this wasn't an actual marriage. There was no wedding that would happen. It was just a temporary lie that Arthur had to figure out how to backtrack out of. Eventually he would have to tell his father the truth, since there was no way he and Guinevère was actually getting married. Yet she seemed to be thinking of all the things that a marriage required, and he wondered how to tell her not to worry about these things because it wasn't real. At the same time, her words brought to mind something else; that they did argue quite a bit. That there were always little things that they would dispute over, until they found each other once again and through intimacy, managed to move past whatever had caused a rift between them. It seemed to be more effective than talking through problems, as that had never been a part of Arthur's nature.

He wanted to make things better between them, especially if they were going to be parents and raise a child together. They had to have a mutual understanding of each other, otherwise . . . their child would suffer from their constant disagreements. Arthur was pulled from his thoughts at her other question. "I'm not quite sure," he admitted truthfully. "He seemed to accept my answer," Since it was based on assumption. "But I'm not sure if he actually believed I would go through with it." And he knew his father would not approve of Guinevère . . . but he didn't even want to touch on that yet. He would have to talk to his father first. "Maybe we should postpone dinner with my father Guinevère. I know this is a lot to take in." And she was still recovering from her injury. He was throwing too much at her all at once, and it wasn't fair to her.

[Guinevère]

He was throwing allot at her, but he was trying to adjust to the twice as much she had hit him with recently. Baby. He spoke of postponing the dinner and she knew that was taking the cowards way out, but nor did she want to be there with a bruise on her face and looking like orphan Anne. "Perhaps for just a few days?" She suggested, "Just to let rest after today."

She didn't feel as if she needed much rest, but she wanted time to let her headache--which was coming back after their conversation--go down and heal before she met his father, again. She wanted to ask him if they could just look at the photo of their baby now, and not think of his frightening father. Though, thinking of his father reminded her that today had been Arthur's day off. He had been enjoying his day until she called him away from it. "Thank you for coming today." She said again, for it meant allot to her.

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur gave a small nod when she suggested they put it off for a few days. That was probably for the best. It was a bit too much, and was all overwhelming. Especially for her. "I'll let him know," he assured her so that she would not have to worry about this for now. And in the meantime . . . he planned on finding a way to help them spend more time together. To get to know each other, beyond the physical intimacy that they had found -- and that had given them a child. He smiled when she thanked him for coming. "You don't have to thank me for that Guinevère," he told her, not feeling that she owed him the slightest bit of gratitude. "I just wish I had been able to come sooner." Thankfully someone had called him for he wasn't sure how long it would have taken otherwise.

That was when something suddenly occurred to him. Something that he had seemed to have forgotten among everything else: first food, and then the subject of his father and their mock engagement. Reaching over, he picked up the brown envelope that held the image of their child. "Ready to look?' He asked, for he knew he was. It would make all this seem more . . . real. Not that it wasn't already, but Arthur wasn't sure the full magnitude of the situation had sunk in. The fact that his father now knew certainly helped make it more real, for he knew his father would never stop discussing it with him, and Arthur had a nice long series of lectures in his near future.

[Guinevère]

Guinevère felt her heart skip slightly as she smiled, "Yes!" she didn't even think on or reply to what he said about his father, and while she did not comment to him about how she did not need to thank him, she still felt like she should. Guinevère shifted and moved so she was as close to him as she could be and they could see it at the same time and in the same moment.

"Alright, I am ready!" She said, feeling excited and thrilled to be finally seeing her child--their child. Together! She had not expected him to want to be so active into her own life, though she had hoped he would be in the baby's life. waiting for him to open it, and show it to them felt like Christmas morning only better! Much better! For unlike a present of a scarf or hat, this was their baby. A son or daughter that they had together.

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur smiled at her excitement, and it was contagious. For as surreal as all this was, it had been easier for him to be calm and relaxed about the whole thing . . . after seeing how she was dealing with it. She didn't seem afraid or overly stressed about being pregnant, and that had done wonders for how Arthur had dealt with the news. He too shifted a bit closer to her so that they would both be able to see him or her together. He slowly opened the envelope, and opened the flap . . . before turning it a bit so that the opening of the flap was facing her. "Would you do the honor?" he asked still with a smile on his lips. As they were both sharing this moment, they should both partake in it. Him by opening the envelope, her by taking the image out.

He braced himself, unsure of how it would feel for him to see a sonogram of his child. He had seen dozens of couples looking at sonograms of their baby, and he always congratulated them, never able to relate to the feeling . . . until now. He was going to be a father. He was going to be responsible for helping to raise a child. He didn't know if he was ready, if he would ever be ready . . . but she seemed to be. And that was where he was drawing all his strength and confidence come when it came to this. It was all from her and he knew that it always would be.

[Guinevère]

"Would you do the honor?" Arthur asked, drawing out the moment slightly. Guinevère shot him a look that was supposed to be disapproval but she was nearly one hundred perfect sure it came out as an excited smile instead. Reaching up she slipped her fingers into it, to grasp the photos and pull it out . . . . Facing the other way.

with a slight laugh, she pulled it closer and then flipped it over, turning ti so they could see their baby right side up. It took her a few moments to tell what she was seeing but she could make out the profile of a baby's head and the rest seemed a bit like shaped for her. Maybe that was foot, and she thought she saw a hand. In truth she could not look away from the profile of the head. Her baby! She might be just letting her mind run wild, but she thought she could make out a face with eyes and things. "Our baby." she said softly, and in awe of this moment.

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur held his breath as she began to pull it out . . . smiling when he saw it was turned the other way. It only helped build the moment, so when she turned it around, Arthur just found himself staring at it. This was their child. He had seen so many sonograms -- being a doctor -- but this was so very different. It was not just an image captured. It was an image of their baby; of what was growing inside her womb. And Arthur was unsure how to describe the emotions he was feeling right now. "Our baby." Yes. Their baby. It was odd, to have a child with someone he hardly knew, yet someone he already cared so much about. This was not how he had expected his life to be; this was not how he had things planned. But that didn't mean that this was a bad thing. For things seldom turned out as one planned. So why not embrace such an unexpected turn of events, for only joy could be brought from it.

Not over thinking his actions, Arthur casually moved his arm around Guinevère, so that it was draped behind her. He then leaned toward her, his cheek resting on the top of her head. He didn't know where they stood, what their relationship was like and how they would raise a child together. He only knew that they would. That they would find that common ground. That they had already shared so much and would not share the greatest gift that this world had to offer: a child. A baby to call their own. A part of him and a part of her, combined together to create something beautiful. It was these thoughts that made him keep his arm around her and his cheek rested on her head. And what made him so speechless at seeing a picture of their baby.

[Guinevère]

Guinevère did not notice his lack of words in this moment, when normally it would leave her wondering what was happening in his head. Instead she only saw her baby before her. When she felt him shiften and his head to rest on her's with his arm around her, she felt comforted by him being near. They would find a way for this to work.

Without looking away from their child, she reached behind her with one hand and took a hold of his that was behind her, bringing it around so their linked hands rested on her belly. His palm pressed her where their child was, and her hand holding his close. Family. This was their family now, no matter what. in a way, it was for better and worse. there was no backing out of this now. "Amaren or Anna." She repeated the names they once spoken of, when trying to pick names.

[Arthur Pendragon]

He kept his eyes on their baby, though felt so many different things. Especially when she moved his hand to rest on her belly. He could not wait for her to grow more; to feel it move. For until it was brought into this world, that would be the closest Arthur could get to their baby. With mother's, it was different. During the duration of their pregnancy, they built an extremely strong bond with the baby. But until he could hold him or her, all he could do was place his hand on Guinevère's belly and imagine what it would be like to actually hold the child in his arms. He turned his head a bit, lightly kissing the side of her head in a lingering embrace. "Amaren or Anna," he repeated, before placing his cheek back on the top of her head.

It felt real now. It felt so very real. He thought it would feel so when he told his father, but he was wrong. He felt it when he saw the sonogram, and even more so when his hand was on Guinevère's belly, and sitting with her now. It was real, it was all going to happen. And Arthur was fully committed to it. He may not be ready, but that didn't mean he didn't want to be. Just like that, Guinevère was his priority. She was important than anyone else . . . and he knew that in order to make this work, he needed to start changing his lifestyle. So many thoughts rushed through his mind, yet he still felt a strong sense of calm . . . all thanks to her and what they were currently looking at.

[Guinevère]

He repeated the named they picked, and Guinevère could only smile. She wanted this moment to last forever but she knew if it did that they she'd miss the joy of seeing her baby for real. Settling more against Arthur, she pressed his hand closer, and just stared at the photo of their baby. The first photo of their baby they both had ever seen. It seemed to reminder of everything she would need to do: New place, clothes, dippers, everything!

Only it was not pressure she felt, but joy. Guinevère wanted to find a place that allowed her to paint he walls for she wanted a themed baby room. Nothing crazy, but maybe paint the walls blue with clouds around it, or something else to match a theme she liked at the time. It would depend on what things she could find at a low cost for the room.

Her fingers reached up and trailed over the lines that made the baby's head before they dropped back down to cover his hand. The she sat the photo beside her and turned to hug Arthur tightly, finding this moment she just needed a large hug.

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur's eyes followed her hand as she trailed it along the photo of their unborn baby. He was in awe about the whole thing, about how something so tiny would soon be large enough to hold in their arms. He found himself in this moment more excited than nervous. And he knew it had to do with the fact that he was sitting here, enjoying this moment with her. When she set the photo down to turned to hug him, Arthur wrapped his arms around her, holding her close as he turned his head a bit to bury it against her neck. He was so glad and relieved that she was alright. He never would have forgiven himself had he been out with another, and something worse had happened to her. Not that an accident wasn't bad enough. It was.

But he could count their blessings, and seek comfort in the fact that both she and the baby were well and healthy. He wasn't sure how long he just held her like this, basking in that relief and gratefulness. "You should get some sleep," he finally said in a low voice, still holding her close to him. Surely she was tired. With all she had been through today, and how he had probably just made things worse with his admittance of the lie he'd told his father. She needed to get some rest, and . . . he did not plan to leave her alone tonight.

[Guinevère]

"You should get some sleep," Arthur told her and Guinevère knew that he was right. Today was long and she was tired. "Will you stay?" She asked, even after he had told her he would earlier. She wasn't meaning in her house--she was meaning in her arms. She did not wish to let him go.

Arthur made her feel warm and safe and in these moment they were not fighting, and they were just happy. Guinevère wanted them to last forever and wished they could find that common ground. While she knew they should not be 'together' tonight, surely he could just hold her if he did not mind. Even her pet could join them since he seemed to be willing to play nice. Since they both seemed willing to play nice--for her sake.

[Arthur Pendragon]

"Will you stay?" He planned to. But something in her tone told him that she didn't mean him sleeping on the couch -- which is what he had planned to do. "I will," he answered, pulling his head back so that he could look at her. "Do you want to get changed into something more comfortable? I'll meet you upstairs." He hoped that there was no suggestion in his tone, for he was not planning on encouraging anything tonight. She needed her rest, and he wasn't so selfish to put his own desires above what she needed. Besides, he was planning something for them so that they could spend more time together and get to know each other . . . apart from how well they knew one another physically.

Besides, she had seemed so excited about going today and everything had ended horribly for her. He wanted to make it up to her. Her words of how they fought all the time rung in his ear and he didn't want that. But the only way to fix that was to get to know each other better, rather than just argue and resolve things by spending a few hours in bed. Usually he didn't mind this at all . . . but he couldn't treat Guinevère as just any other woman. She was the mother of his child and they needed to build a solid relationship.

[Guinevère]

"Do you want to get changed into something more comfortable? I'll meet you upstairs." Guinevère smiled at him and kissed his cheek, "Then come up there in ten, and bring Lucifer with you if he fails to follow me." Because it was time for them to bond, and get along as she would not abandon her pet after so long. Kissing his forehead she stood up and walked up the steps so she could change.

She had taken the photo with her, but she wasn't planning on taking ti from him. She sat it propped up on the bed side table, so they both could see it while in bed. Then she changed into a night dress, so she could be comfortable, before going to the mirror to comb and braid back her hair so it would not be a mess tomorrow when she was sure her head would be more tender. By the time Arthur came up, she was ready to crawl in with him. "Thank you again for today. It really means allot that you came." She told him, knowing he would again tell her it wasn't a big deal but to her it was! "I really hope I didn't ruin your plans for today. What were you doing? I can help make it up to you."

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur smiled as he watched her go upstairs. Thankfully, Lucifer followed her up so that Arthur wouldn't have to carry him. While he was trying to be civil toward the ferret, they weren't exactly 'friends' yet. While she was getting ready upstairs, Arthur did something that he had never done before: cleaned up. He picked up the dishes and washed them, before putting the leftovers in the fridge. This way, she wouldn't have to do it tomorrow and hopefully just spend the entire time in bed, relaxing and catching u on her rest. When everything seemed to be in order, he headed upstairs to see her already ready for bed and ready to tuck under the covers. He pulled back the blanket so that she could get inside before moving to the other side of the bed. She was thanking him again and once more, he wanted to tell her that she didn't have to.

"Don't ever feel bad about ruining my day," he assured her, finding it a bit funny that she was the one who had gotten in an accident, wound up in the hospital, and got yelled at by his father . . . and she was worried about ruining his day. "Apart from the accident and my father, I actually have quite a nice evening," he teased, knowing that all that was left after those two incidents, was dinner with her. Waiting for her to get under the blanket, he then did the same, moving closer to her. "You have nothing to make up for," he added, conveniently ignoring her other question of what he did today. For it was a subject that would probably come up eventually, just not tonight. "Quite the contrary actually," he told her, wanting to make things up to her. "What are your plans for Wednesday?" The day after tomorrow, where she would hopefully feel better enough to spend the day with him at where he planned to take them.

[Guinevère]

She climbed in to bed as Arthur told her he enjoyed his evening. She smiled softly hoping that was true and Arthur wasn't trying to just be nice. She wanted to believe that he liked spending time with her--and wanted to believe it so badly. She was a bit surprised at how much she wanted him to want to spend time with her. He had called her his friend when talking to Officer Leon. She wanted to be more then that with him, one day.

"What are your plans for Wednesday?" Guinevère looked into his eyes as she relied. "You told me I wasn't allow to go to work, so I am rather expectantly free this week." She teased, reaching out to brush his hair back. She fought a yawn, feeling the day catching up to her. Rather quickly too, as her blinks became longer and more drawn out. She did not wish to sleep and miss this moment with him, and was fighting it, but after the whole day she felt rather tired and in need of sleep.