An Unexpected Surprise [Modern AU]

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur smiled when she explained that it was shrimp pasta, with extra shrimp for him. "Probably a good thing, since I have been saving my appetite for tonight." He hadn't even thought about eating with how busy work had been, but now was glad that he hadn't. For the aroma of her food was making him all the more hungry and knew it would be well worth the wait. He was relieved to hear her explain that she was feeling better, not extremely dizzy and no severe headaches. "I'm glad to hear that," he said sincerely. Later he would ask if she needed any of the medicine, for her next words distracted him immediately, speaking of how her belly was growing. He also recalled that she had been worried about this; not showing. His smile grew at hearing this as his eyes fell to her stomach.

"I told you. Did I not say that one day you would wake up and not be sure where your feet were?" He said teasingly, though his excitement was evident in his tone. Where he had once been in denial in shock . . . everything was now sinking in, and he found himself looking forward to the idea of being a father. And her being the mother of his child. "We should take measurements," he suggested, so that they could keep track of how much she grew, and what the largest she would be is. Not wanting to ignore her question again he held out the box to her. "These are for you," he explained, knowing it could introduce the subject of the texts she had sent him, so that it would not seem like he had ignored him -- which he feared she might think he was as he did not reply to any of them.

[Guinevère]

Arthur told her that he was hungry, and she smiled hoping that he liked it. "I told you. Did I not say that one day you would wake up and not be sure where your feet were?" He had! Though having him tell her and seeing it were a little different. She had been worried and now she saw her baby pushing her belly into looking a bit more pregnant! It made her giddy and happy and just feelings joy!

"We should take measurements," He suggested and Guinevère looked at him with excitement! "Really!? Yes! I love that idea! How cute!" She could make a journal for her baby and write in it eery day about things! Then when their son or daughter was all grown up she could gift it to them. "These are for you," Arthur distracted her by showing her what he brought and she gasped, Cupcakes! In the shape of stars! The icing was blue like the bedroom she showed him with swirls and things on them! "Arthur!" She gasped, and reached for one. "I think you enjoy making me cry." She teased but did not cry at least. Her eyes watered but nothing spilled out.

After a moment of just looking at the pretty cupcake she reached for another one. "I am eating for two!" She reminded him and took her two cupcakes over to the couch to sit down. "Come eat before it gets cold, and rest. You must be tired!"

[Arthur Pendragon]

She seemed so excited by the idea, as he was. His smile widened at her enthusiasm. "Then we will take the first measurement tonight," he told her. If she felt herself growing now, then why not start as early as they could. It would be a fun documentation of the pregnancy in the weeks and months to come. He gave a small chuckle when she said that she thought he enjoyed making her cry. "I like making you smile," he admitted. Because there was just something about the way her whole face brightened when she smiled. It was so beautiful, and so radiant. And hoped that he could do a better of job of that, and not upset her as much, for he knew he needed to work on that. Her words of them fighting all the time were still strong in his mind, and he wanted to do all that he could to change her mind about that.

He gave another small laugh when she took two cupcakes, reminding him that she was eating for two. "You may need more than two then, if you plan to keep two well fed," he said teasingly as he went over to the couch with her. "It looks fantastic," he said, looking at the food, trying to think of the last home cooked meal he had. And knew that the answer was . . . at her place. Probably the night they had stakes and then breakfast the next morning. He picked up a plate, putting some food on it for her. "You didn't have to go through all this trouble, but thank you," he told her, truly appreciative of all this effort she had gone, especially considering she had just gotten into a serious accident yesterday . . . and was pregnant. How she managed to do all this, would never cease to amaze him.

[Guinevère]

"I like making you smile," He told her and Guinevère looked at him a moment before smiling and feeling her cheeks blush at his words. "You do that easy enough, Sir Knight." She teased him, as her subtle way of calling him a gallant knight like in the olden days rather then a doctor. A tease more at his personally and a complement in her own way. Though something about the idea of him as a knight . . . there was something there . . .

"You didn't have to go through all this trouble, but thank you," He distracted her by saying. This was trouble? She looked over the meal which was a simple heat and mix meal even from 'scratch'. The noodles boiled, the shrimp just heated up and melt the cheese. Yet something about how he seemed to like it made her wonder how often he ate meals cooked for him, and how often he just ordered meals to be readied for him.

While it good to know her child would never starve, she didn't like the idea of a stranger tossing a meal together for a extravagant fee at someone's whim. Learning to cook and cooking for your love ones was important and in her opinion made the food better. You learned little things like extra shrimp, or no pepper, by cooking for them. "I'm glad your pleased, but wait until you eat it before complementing the chef." She teased him.

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur smiled when she said that he did that easy enough. He was glad to hear it; glad that it was easier to make her smile rather than bring tears to her eyes -- and he wasn't thinking about the happy kind. Once he finished putting food for her he passed her the plate before he started putting some for himself. "I don't have to try some to already know it will be delicious." Because she was a rather excellent cook. He'd had her food before and it had been incredible. Once his plate was set, he took a bite of it and . . . it was as he predicted. He just gave a few nods while he chewed, before swallowing and already putting some more on his fork.

"I don't think I've had shrimp pasta as good as this before." While it was not a dish he was unfamiliar with, this was truly the best one he had. Because she had met it. And because he was eating it with her. Instead of adding further compliment, he just took another bite of it, hoping that the fact that he kept eating was compliment enough rather than find the right words to say, which he wasn't sure he could do at the moment.

[Guinevère]

Guinevère smiled when he took a bite and told her how good it was. She hoped that he liked it, and was pleased to see him eating it. Knowing you'd made something that someone liked was a complement of sorts, and made her feel good inside. She took her own bite, and just smiled while eating it. For some reason she felt rather happy today. Content with life and just . . . good.

Sitting here and eating with him felt almost domestic. Family like. They had not even fought since before yesterday, and it felt nice. They had also not spoken of the touchy subjects but they still were getting along. "You said you had a few hours before your next shift this morning. When do you go in?"

[Arthur Pendragon]

"You said you had a few hours before your next shift this morning. When do you go in?" Arthur practically devoured his food so when she asked him, he had just been taking the last bite. Which gave him a chance to glance at his watch to check the time before looking back at her to answer her question. "My next shift starts at midnight," he explained while already putting a couple more scoops of food on his plate. He would probably leave a bit earlier so that he didn't disturb her for she needed her rest and he didn't want to keep her up. Just because he had an obscure schedule, didn't mean she should be forced to follow it too.

"Did you need to take any of the medicine today?" He asked, having temporarily forgotten to ask if she needed the pills he had left for her. He hoped not for it meant she really wasn't too unwell, but if she did then hopefully they helped. If she did need them, he made a mental note to take some with them tomorrow.

[Guinevère]

"My next shift starts at midnight," Midnight? Guinevère knew he had gotten off at seven and was surprised to learn he only had about five hours before his next shift. She hoped that like in the TV shows Doctors could lie down for short breaks and sleep. It worried her that he would have so little. "If you rather sleep tomorrow and not go off, we can do something else . . . " She offered not wanting him over taxed or tired.

While she knew not that he planned, she wanted him to enjoy it and not be tired. He had asked her about the medicine he lef her and wanting to know if she needed to take any of it. Guinevère shook her head no so he would know she did not need to, but also would not let him get side tracked off of him.

She also made a mental note to send him to work with coffee and food packed up so he would have something good and filling to eat that he could heat quickly rather then having to find a cold sandwich.

[Arthur Pendragon]

He thought it rather considerate that she was offering to postpone their little outing tomorrow, and it wasn't because she was not feeling well, nor as it because she didn't want to spend time with him. It was because she wanted him to be rested. "I'd rather spend the day with you, and do what I have planned," he told her without an ounce of doubt or any second thoughts about it. "Unless of course you are trying to subtly hint that you would rather not go?" He asked teasingly, knowing that was not the case but also didn't want her to feel bad about him being tired. He was at least relieved to hear -- or see -- that she didn't need the medicine.

Finishing his second portion, he set the plate down on the table and leaned back in the couch, completely full from that meal. "That was delicious," he repeated, now able to properly pay her a compliment that she would hopefully accept. "As I knew it would be," he said confidently, not that he had any doubt that it would be good.

[Guinevère]

Guinevère watched as Arthur seemed to inhale his supper, and she smiled as she eat her smaller plate a little slower, but they still managed to finish at almost the same time. She had snacked while cooking so wasn't too hungry. "I would love to get out of the house, and spend the day with you. I am only worried you are pushing you're self too hard after working so long. If you are sure then know I will be ready at ten."

She would make sure to have some sort of brunch ready for then too in case he was hungry. She wouldn't ask him if he wanted it because she knew he would tell her not to worry about him, or not to 'go through the trouble' but she wanted to make sure he was at least well fed. "You should get some sleep." She told him, knowing the dishes could wait until later. "Come on." Reaching for his hand, she tugged so he would go up and sleep. She would even lie down with him, for a while but then she would come get his food to take with him ready.

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur smiled when she said that she would love to get out of the house and spend the day with him . . . but that she was worried he was pushing himself too hard. He, wasn't quite used to that. He wasn't used to someone concerned about him in that sense; worrying that he worked too hard. His father was the exact opposite, pushing him to work more and more. He most likely wouldn't be pleased to find out Arthur had booked the day off tomorrow, but nor did he let that prevent him from spending time with Guinevère. Quite honestly, her worry for him touched him, and while he didn't want her to be worried, he did appreciate it."Do not worry about that," he reassured.

"Just be ready for ten. For I will be at your door at that time." He was actually rather looking forward to it, more because she had sounded so excited about going to the zoo last time. She then took his hand and urged him to go to sleep. Just as he hadn't realized how hungry he was until he smelled her food, he hadn't realized how tired he was until she said the word. "Hang on. I'll help you clean up first." That was twice he would clean up the dishes! when he had never done it before in his life. He just didn't want to strain herself considering her condition. So with that, he rose to his feet, picked up their plates and carried them over to the kitchen.

[Guinevère]

Guinevère grabbed the plates from him and took them to the sink before turning and turning to to him and giving him a playful push to the steps. "You have just a hand full of hours before you have to be up and ready to work again." She reminded him, "I will do the dishes, though I was so surprised to see that you had done them so well today. Thank you ever so much for that--however, your not working when you need sleep."

She would do this time time. "Come to bed. I will lie down with you and help you rest." she offered, knowing she would take no other answer other the his agreement. "You will need it for tomorrow." For whatever he had planned, that did not involve sleeping at home but going out for something. Dragging him toward the steps she tried to get him moving.

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur had not expected her to take the plate from him, so looked slightly surprised for a moment before she started urging him toward the stairs, telling him that he needed to be ready for work. He wanted to help clean up, but it seemed she would not let him, as she also expressed her gratitude for him having the dishes from before. "Come to bed. I will lie down with you and help you rest." It was these words that made him more inclined to comply with her 'request'. Or demand . . . he wasn't sure which one it was more of. Either way, he held back any argument and just watched her as she was pulling him toward the stairs. He remained silent for only another moment, before he decided to make sure that she too lay down and got some rest.

So with that determination in mind, he scooped her up in his arms, and began to carry her up the stairs. "Well if I'm not doing any work, then neither are you," he told her with a bit of a cheeky smile. Once they were upstairs he gently lay her on the middle of the bed before he slid on the side, lying down next to her. He was ready to put his arm out or hold her in his arms should she try to go back downstairs. "Now you can help me rest by doing the same," he told her, knowing that would be what helped him rest the most.

[Guinevère]

Guinevère gasped and let out a soft squeak, as Arthur lifted her in his arms with no warning prior to his actions. "Well if I'm not doing any work, then neither are you," Laughing Guinevère held on, and prayed she was not too heavy for him. "Now you can help me rest by doing the same," Once she was on the bed, Guinevère smiled up at him, even more so when he climbed in with her and seemed to be ready to pin her down.

"I cannot sleep in this, if you will give me but a moment to change . . . " Guinevère teased, before moving up to get her things and step into the bathroom to change. Shortly afterwards she came in and crawled in behind him, moving so she could rest against his back, while wrapping one hand around him and her face to leave a light kiss on his cheek. "No we are ready for bed."

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur gave her a jokingly skeptical look as she said that she needed a moment to change, but he did not stop her when she went to the washroom to do so. In the meantime, he took off his own shirt, and set it to the side so that he would be more comfortable. Besides, it wasn't as if she hadn't ever seen him before. Hearing her come up, she moved behind him and wrapped an arm around him while lightly kissing his cheek. Arthur smiled as he turned his head toward her, and in the end, just turned his entire body to his other side so that he could face her. "Good," he stated as he wrapped his own arms around her and pulled her close to him. It was strange how comfortable he was feeling lying next to her, sleeping next to her. It was . . . so unfamiliar to him.

For he never literally just slept next to a woman, and found it so natural. Yet the past two days had consisted of this . . . and he didn't even feel the severe loss of any intimacy between them in the late hours. Because he was perfectly content to just sleep next to her, keeping her close to her. Which, was not a common feeling for Arthur at all. "Have I been making Lucifer jealous?" Arthur asked jokingly, since he had been spending most nights here and occupying her time quite a lot. Arthur hoped he was agitating the ferret . . . though also hoped that the creature would not claim revenge.

[Guinevère]

Guinevère thought for a moment about her fearless pet and Arthur before she answered. "I am unsure. He does not attack you anymore, however I am finding more and more things that he is stealing and hiding. Meaning he was acting out, but not in an harmful way since she knew his hiding places. "I spent most the day on the couch, and he was with him. We enjoyed our day." Meaning she was making sure that everyone got attention.

Reaching up Guinevère brushed Arthur's hair back from his face. "You should rest. You have to go back to saving the world soon." Being his job as a doctor in the ER were he saved people everyday. After a moment of silence she dropped her hand and just stared into his eyes, while softly humming an old lullaby she knew. Arthur could think it weird that she thought to do this but she knew how sometimes if there was something besides your own thoughts to hear when you were tired that you could drift to sleep easier.

[Arthur Pendragon]

Thank goodness for that! That Lucifer didn't run up his pants while he was sitting, or leap on him in the shower. Now he just had to worry about his keys, apparently. Arthur would have to make sure he always kept his keys and wallet in his pocket, just in case. "Good. I'm glad to hear he was good company today," Arthur told her. He still didn't like the fact that she was alone here. He knew she was independent and could take care of herself . . . but as he had told her before, she deserved someone to take care of her once in a while. He gave a soft smile when she brushed his hair back, finding it such a comforting and soothing gesture. He gave a slight chuckle when she spoke of how he 'saved the world'. "Far from it," he told her. While he could be arrogant in many aspects, his job was not one of them. While he was glad and happy for the patients he could help save, the ones he lost were not easy losses to deal with.

For he always wondered if he could have done something different to save them. The most difficult thing in all this world, was having to go to a family and tell them that their loved one was dead. These thoughts ceased when Guinevère began to hum a soft tune. Something else that was so soothing that it pushed out all the dark and saddening thoughts from Arthur's mind. And he found himself relaxing, slowly unwinding from the day in a way he never had before. He did not talk about his work, for he left it all at the hospital and knew he had suppress the emotional repercussions of it in order to function. But right now, he felt genuinely relaxed; finding no strain in his attempt to rest . . . and he knew it was thanks to her. He shifted a bit closer to her, kissing her forehead before resting his head back on the pillow. His blinks became longer and more drawn out, as he was trying to stay awake . . . but found it more and more difficult, until he did not open his eyes for a long while and his breathing steadied, indicating that he was fast asleep.

[Guinevère]

Guinevère watched him fall asleep, and even stayed there with him for a while just brushing his hair back slowly and watching him sleep. Kissing his forehead as he had kissed her's she left him there and went below to clean up and then make him a breakfast and travel meal for work. once everything was set, she put a post it not on the back of the door, so he would see it on his way out, telling him that there was coffee in the pot and after he hit the button it would only take a few minuintes.

While his coffee heated, the not said to press start on the microwave and when it was done running he would have a hot muffin and coffee for breakfast. It also said that his lunch was in the fridge, and to end the note she drew a happy smile and said 'See you at ten'. Then she went up to bed, and crawled in next too him, before she joined him in sleep for the night.

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur had one of the best naps of his life before he felt the vibration of his phone alarm. He almost didn't hear it but being a light sleeper he opened his eyes and had to suppress a groan of annoyance for he had rather been enjoying his short nap. He looked at Guinevère sleeping peacefully which caused a small smile to form on his lips. As carefully as he could, he moved from the bed, making sure not to wake her. He then grabbed his over night bag and quickly freshened up. Practically tiptoeing to the door, he saw that there was a note there and read it over. Once and then again because . . . he was taken aback as to how considerate it was. He didn't know how their relationship could be defined, but he did know that no one took care of him as she did . . . unless they were getting paid for it.

He put the coffee machine on and looked in the microwave before following the instructions. He then poked his head in the fridge to see that she had packed him something for later. Collecting all that he needed, he made sure to pour his coffee in the travel mug she had given him and was already taking a bite of the muffin. Feeling the need to express his gratitude, or at least a semblance of it for there was no way he could thank her enough, it grabbed a pen and wrote on the same note. I don't think I've ever met someone as considerate as you. Thanks for breakfast and lunch. See you at ten! He knew it wasn't much, but it was the best he could do right now. It also made him all the more excited for tomorrow as he had the whole afternoon planned. Looking around one final time, he quietly left, gently closing the door behind him and driving off to work.

[Guinevère]

Guinevère had not found the note--yet. When she awoken hours after Arthur had left she went to shower first, then began to dress, picking out clothing that was comfortable but pretty. Then she dried her hair, making the curls that came natural to her seem more defined rather then strong waves.

After that she found her pet under the covers and playfully pushed him around the bed to awaken him. When she did go down and find his note, her face lite up brightly and she just stared at it a while. Leaving it on the back of the door, Guinevère finished getting ready and would walk by her note and look at every now and then. At twenty til ten she was ready and sat down on the couch to rest until he came to pick her up.

What had he planned for them?