Author's Note: I rage quit this chapter so many times, it's not even funny. And sorry for any dumb errors. But here it is! I present the chapter you've all been waiting for :D (I think)

Chapter 7: New Blood

Morgana learned quickly to ditch their credit cards so Arthur couldn't use all his power to get the bank of the Authority to track them. Luckily, they could compel people into giving them their money, flirt with men with fat wallets and make them to empty their bank accounts, stay in the best hotels for free.

Now they were in Amsterdam for Morgause, who owned numerous brothels and clubs around the world, and she was looking to set up a new shop, or in this case, take over one. Gwen wished Morgause would pick a new, wholesome business that didn't involve her help in acquiring.

Morgause made Mordred stay outside the club. They worked their way through the crowd, squeezing through bouncing club goers losing themselves in the trance music and strobe lights. They climbed a staircase and ventured down a secluded hallway until they reached a door at the end. Morgause opened it, not bothering to knock. They entered the office, and the man behind the desk looked up.

Helios glared. "I told you, you're not having my girls. Or my money for that matter."

"I think I will," Morgause said and placed the contract in front of him.

Helios' eyes flickered to Morgana, and then they lingered on Gwen.

"We'll make you a deal," Morgana said, bringing Helios' attention back to her. "Give Morgause the girls and I give you Gwen."

Helios looked at Gwen hungrily. "How about I have some alone time with Gwen, and then we'll talk?"

"Ten minutes," Morgause said. "I doubt you'd need any longer than that."

Before Morgana left, she whispered in Gwen's ear. "Do whatever you need to do to get him to sign it."

Once the door closed, Gwen removed her jacket and sashayed up to Helios. She leaned over supporting one hand on the desk while the other snaked around the back of his chair. "Let's get down to business, shall we?"

Helios' hands made their way to his belt. Before he could loosen it, Gwen pierced his chest with a pen. He tried to back away, but he was trapped against the chair. He could feel the tip of the ballpoint against his heart.

Gwen wiggled the pen back and forth, around and around, as if scribbling on his heart. She leaned against him like a friend would. "So, which do you prefer," she said in a low voice. "Losing a little business, or losing your life?"

Helios wanted fling Gwen off, but he was too afraid to movie. "I'll s-s-s-ign! I'll sign! Just let me go, goddammit!"

Gwen twisted the pen. "Let me go…?"

"Let me go. Please! Please let me go! For the love of—!" Helios lurched forward when Gwen suddenly pulled the pen out.

She handed him the bloody writing utensil, offering it to him as if it came from her own pocket and wasn't just embedded in his chest cavity. "Need a pen?"

Helios took it with a shaky hand. After five pages of initialing and signing in blood and ink, he was done. He dropped the pen and collapsed back against the chair. "There," he swallowed. "Take it and go."

"Just one more thing," Gwen said as she flipped through the document to make sure he didn't miss anything. Before Helios knew it, Gwen embedded the pen all the way through his heart. He fell forward, dead, face first onto the desk.

Gwen came out and was greeted by the pounding techno beats pulsating thought the floor and walls. Morgana and Morgause were leaning against the wall, and as Gwen passed them, she passed the contract to Morgause a little harsher than necessary.

Morgana peeked into the office. "Hmm, easy clean up."

Outside, Mordred perked up when he saw Gwen. She looped her arm through his. "Come on, Mordred. I'm in the mood for waffles. My treat."

Gwen leaned over the edge of the balcony to look down and see an obnoxious red sports car parked on the street. She had brought Arthur out there to talk because it felt stuffy inside, but now as she looked down, she contemplated jumping off if Arthur rejected her. The fall wouldn't kill her, but maybe if a mangled bit of metal pierced her heart, it'd put her out of her misery. And as a bonus, the equally obnoxious owner of the car would be without his precious Sheila, as they heard him call it when they passed him earlier.

An icy breeze snapped her out of it. "I'm afraid you won't like me very much after what I'm about to tell you," Gwen said quietly.

Arthur turned her to face him. "Guinevere, no matter what you tell me, it won't change the way I feel about you."

"Even though I've ripped the heart out of that dancer, drained a suburban housewife away dry and leaving four children motherless, ripped the throat out of a Spanish priest?" Gwen babbled, just scratching the surface.

Arthur enveloped her when she began to shake. "I've killed when Morgana ordered me to for territory, for money, to teach a lesson." Gwen's voice was muffled as she buried her face in Arthur's chest. "I watched Trickler kill children. I stood by and watched as those teenagers were slaughtered. I did nothing!" The tears falling from her eyes weren't tears of sadness, but of anger. Her breath hitched when she felt Arthur's arms tighten around her. She laid her hands flat on his chest and felt his heart beat. She was surprised at how calm it was. She listened to the steady beat, felt the peaceful rhythm.

She blanked on the rest of her confessions. Her fingers flexed on his chest. "You're not angry."

"Nothing you say will push me away. I'm here, Guinevere. I always will be," Arthur assured. "I'll never leave you, I promise you that. I love you."

Gwen pushed away from his chest to look up at him. His hand came up to brush the dried tear from her cheek. "I know what it's like to still feel that dedication to your maker. Even though mine is my father, when he released me I felt like a bird being pushed out the nest again. Morgana…felt the same. She should've known better than to keep you tethered for so long. But you cut the leash, Guinevere. She doesn't have a hold on you anymore. Believe it."

"I can't," Gwen shook her head and looked away.

Arthur tilted her chin so she'd look at him again. "You can" He leaned his forehead against hers. "It'll take time, but you can."

They never made it back to their respective bedrooms, falling asleep on the couch instead after Gwen opened up more about the past eighty years. Arthur woke up first easily. He slept lightly in case Gwen needed him, but she slept soundly all night, so he contemplated trying to fall back asleep to maintain the balance of Gwen being the early riser. He heard her sniff. She was awake.

"Morning," Gwen mumbled.

"How'd you sleep?"

Just like when they slept at Hunith's, Gwen felt better sleeping next to him—on top of him, in this case. It was right. It always will be. "Good."

Arthur tucked a curl behind her ear. "But something's still bothering you."

"It's not really a bother, just a thought," she said.

"A bothersome thought?"

Gwen sat up reluctantly, and Arthur followed. "It's about Mithian…"

Oh. He knew where this was going.

"I don't think I should ask because I think I already know."

"Guinevere—"

"I'm not mad. How could I be? It's been eighty years." Gwen laughed at herself. "I was expecting her to be blonde."

"Why?" Did he have a type before Gwen? Arthur honestly couldn't remember.

Gwen smiled. "Well, if there'd be a type of girl I'd expect you to rebound on, it would be like those bimbos you had as your donors before I came along."

The corner of Arthur's mouth twitched upward. So he did. "Well that explains you marking your territory at the mall then."

"Marking my territory?"

"Guinevere, you were a step away from pissing on me."

They erupted in laughter.

Arthur stopped first and looked solemn. "It was a moment of weakness. I'm sorry."

Gwen gave him a sympathetic look. "Honestly, Arthur, it's okay." She patted his hand and smirked. "Did you accidently call out my name when you…"

Arthur tried to put on his best poker face. He had, but she didn't have to know that.

The playfulness fell from Gwen's face. "You didn't bite her, did you?"

"No! Of course not!"

"Because it does happen when…"

"Guinevere, I didn't."

Gwen relaxed. "Good."

Arthur let out a breath.

"Well," she said. "There is one more thing."

"What is it?" Arthur asked anxiously.

"Why haven't you kissed me yet?"

It took Arthur less than a second to register what Gwen had just said, and his arms were around her waist, pulling her to him. Her arms were immediately around his neck. Arthur leaned in close, their noses touching, anticipation building. Deep inside, Arthur was afraid to follow through. It was like a spell was about to be broken. The big kiss at the end of a romance movie. He kicked himself at the silly thought. When did he become such a girl? He closed the gap.

Their lips locked together, and suddenly it was Christmas Eve in 1933, it was the 1800s and they were kissing in the rain at Avalon, it was their first kiss in Camelot. Nothing's changed. Her lips felt the same, perfect against his. By the time they broke apart, they were breathless.

"Hi," Gwen said smiling.

Arthur deeply chuckled. "Hi."

Gwen gravitated towards Arthur again. "We should be heading out soon, or everyone will get to Avalon before us."

"Yes," Arthur said against her lips. "Soon."

After they had arrived at Avalon, Gwen walked out to the lake. She stood at the shoreline. The lake was still frozen. Without the fog, it was a vast blanket of ice. Gwen brought her finger to her lips while she thought about how Arthur brought her blindly out into the middle of the ice, declaring he'd follow her anywhere. She was sure that another thousand years from now, his grand gestures would never end.

Another thousand years together. And another. And another. Her lips curved up and she bit her bottom lip with excitement. She turned back around to head back, but a shadow in the corner of her eye stopped her. She thought she saw a vision of the Disir, but it was a solitary figure; a pale blonde woman with familiar features in a lacey cream dress that flashed before her eyes before disappearing in an instant. The crisp winter wind blew carrying a whisper.

Go to him.

She nodded unconsciously, not fully grasping what she heard or saw, twiddling the ring hanging from her neck.

Back in the kitchen, she bustled about putting together platters and swatting Arthur away from snacking on them, but she never stopping him from stealing kisses.

"You know, I could take care of this while you get ready," Arthur said, never looking away while his hand crept toward the platter of pigs in a blanket.

Gwen smiled against his lips and pressed herself closer to him. Her hand reached out to stop his, and she brought it to her waist. "Nice try, buster." She was in the middle of distracting him when the doorbell rang. Her hands slipped down from his shoulders to his chest, and she playfully pushed him back. "Get that, will you?"

Arthur took both her hands in his, bringing them to his lips. "As you wish, my lady."

His gentle gestures made her heart pound. She wondered what it would be like to be a vampire of myth, to not have a heartbeat, to not feel love pump through your veins.

She could hear Merlin, Hunith, and Gaius. Arthur was apparently admiring the festive platter in Hunith's hands. They came into the kitchen, exchanging pleasantries.

"Hunith, could you help me get ready?" Gwen asked.

"Of course," Hunith said. "Gaius, make sure these two don't eat all the food."

Gaius chuckled. "Will do, but I can't make promises for myself."

In the ensuite bathroom of the master bedroom, Gwen handed Hunith a pair of scissors and asked her to channel her inner Vidal Sassoon. By the time they were done with her hair, Gwen felt another weight literally lifted off her shoulders. Hunith pinned the diamond clip on the side of the finger wave bob, completing the look.

"From the twenties to the 40s, I kept my hair short," Gwen said. "I missed this." She was referring to the hair style and the diamond clip her fingers brushed over. Another thing she'd forgotten because of Morgana. It was a gift from Arthur. One of the many unnecessary gifts he showered her with, but it was how he would do it that made it meaningful. The house was a grand, purposeful gesture. Little things like jewelry would be random. Although, maybe the clips wasn't as random as she thought it was.

She sat at the same vanity struggling with loose curls. Arthur came up behind her, and held a small box in front of her. "This may be of help."

She looked at him questionably in the mirror before taking the box. He leaned down and kissed her cheek, then moved away to the wardrobe. She opened the box to see the diamond encrusted barrette nestled on top of blue velvet. "How convenient," she said, smiling at his back through the mirror as she put it on. "It's beautiful. Thank you."

"You're beautiful," Arthur said before actually turning around to see her.

She didn't think much of it that day. But Arthur always paid attention to even her tiniest of needs.

"Well aren't you the classic beauty," Hunith commented.

Gwen blushed at the complement, naturally insecure. "Maybe this should've been fancy dress in the era you were born in. Though, I'd rather not wear a bodice and have Arthur clunk around in his god awful chainmail."

Hunith held a finger to her chin. "I'm afraid I'm too old to be in short mod dresses and go-go boots."

Gwen turned in the chair, hands perched on top of the back. She looked up at Hunith with excitement. "It's not too late!"

"Oh no," Hunith laughed. "I'm fine the way I am. I can't remember the last time I had the chance to dress so nice."

"You could…all the time, if you wanted to…"

"Gwen?"

"I mean, you don't need an excuse to dress up."

"Or if I was a vampire, I could dress up and go to New Year's parties forever."

"…Or that," Gwen looked ashamed. She turned back around fiddled with a perfume bottle.

"I don't think the immortal life is for me," Hunith patted her shoulder. "Maybe if I was younger," she muttered. "I don't know how Gauis does it—being old all the time."

"Hunith!"

While Hunith made hilarious jokes about too-many-greats-to-count uncle being old forever, Gwen sifted through her dresses in the closet. Despite the long years, they still looked new, richly colored, the sequins never dulled and beads still sewn on. She went dress by dress down the rack until she got to the end where she found it.

Hunith came down the stairs first, and gave them a secretive smile when she reached the bottom. Then she looked up and they followed her gaze.

Gwen came down the stairs looking like a Hollywood screen goddess. The skirts fluttered around her like a ruby mist.

Arthur gaped. "Guinevere, you look…you look…"

"I think the word he's looking for is nice," Merlin chipped in.

"You cut your hair," Arthur said dumbly.

"I was going for a specific look," Gwen said. "I never got a chance to wear this dress. Our last New Year's didn't happen."

"You're beautiful," Arthur smiled and Gwen blushed.

The rest of the guest soon arrived. Uther and Lady Annis were first, and were quickly followed by Lord Rodor and Mithian, Lord Godywn and his daughter Elena, and Lord Olaf and his daughter Vivian. Leon, Elyan, Percival, Lance, and Gwaine came together, and the Deiras, adding more humans to the mix.

Various conversations floated around the room. Godwyn was in a deep conversation with William Deira about landscaping, impressed by what he and his family's done on Avalon's property. They also spoke of horses. Godwyn talked about Elena's superb riding and William said he couldn't ride a horse even in his dreams. Uther and Olaf rolled their eyes. When Godywn spoke of Elena and horses, it was hard to get him to stop.

Rodor and Gaius were speaking in medical terms she didn't understand. Hunith and Mrs. Deira were politely asking Annis about what it was like to be a queen, and how Annis loved cooking in her downtime. Sure it was sad when the kingdoms fell and the time of the vampires was over, but Annis was happy that she was able to develop a hobby.

The knights, Gwen had named Leon, Elyan, Percival, Lance, and Gwaine in her head (because Leon, her brother, and Percival were knights of Camelot and Lance and Gwaine sellswords in their day), Merlin and William's son, were listening to Gwaine tell a wild story about seducing a noblewoman under her husband's nose and the inappropriate position they were found in.

Arthur had been conversing with Mithian, Elena, and Vivian. It was weird seeing them together. Uther had once tried to set up Arthur with Elena. And Vivian had a severe crush on him in the 1700s. And as much as Gwen tried to reassure herself that she was not bothered by Arthur's past with Mithian, she felt a pang of jealousy when Mithian laughed and laid a hand on his arm.

All chatter ceased when Elyan stopped the record player and went to the piano, sitting down on the bench with gusto. He cracked his knuckles before positioning his fingers over the keys. He was a very skilled player, so everyone waited with bated breath. Elyan began playing 'Chopsticks' like an enthusiastic child, and the room roared with laughter.

He stopped suddenly. "In all seriousness, how about some help from our lovely hostess?"

Too many eyes were on Gwen for her liking. "No, Elyan."

"Come on," her brother insisted. "Pretty please?"

She gave in because of the comically pathetic look on his face. Leaning against the piano she said, "Start playing before I change my mind."

Elyan began 'Frosty the Snowman,'and Gwen began to laugh, unable to get out the first line of the song. Elyan started to sing along, his face serious but his eyes full of delight. Gwen composed herself and the siblings sang the Christmas song enthusiastically. They did several classic Christmas songs before things slowed down. "How about some originals?" Elyan suggested, and started up the long lost tune of 'When I Dream of You.'

Arthur and Gwen locked eyes, and Gwen sang to him, only him. She felt like she was on autopilot, and by the time she knew it she was near the end of the song.

There's never been a love like ours

Across the sun, the moon, the stars

We reach for heaven

She felt her eyes water, and powered through the end of the song. As the applause broke out she ducked her head as if shy, getting a chance to wipe her eye. Then she smiled brightly at all of them. "Thank you. I think that's enough of that for the evening, but do keep playing, Elyan. Maybe an encore of that wonderful rendition of 'Chopsticks.'"

Gwen left the piano side and was approached by Uther. He was holding two glasses of champagne. He handed her one.

"Thank you, my lord," she said. The old formality would never die. Sometimes she thought that addressing him in such a way was the only way she could please him.

"I would like to apologize for the other day, and for never being fair to you since you came into our lives," Uther said remorsefully.

"My lord?" Gwen didn't know where this was coming from.

"Ygraine would have loved you." He took a sip of his champagne. Over the glass his eyes darted to Ygraine's ring on Gwen's finger, the silver mingling with the pale gold of the champagne. "I'm sorry for not being a father to you. You were a Pendragon—are a Pendragon. And a true queen."

At the mention of Queen Ygraine, Gwen had twisted the ring with her thumb. "I don't know what to say…"

"Just promise me one thing?"

"Anything, sire."

"Take care of Arthur." Uther laid a hand on Gwen's shoulder for a second, then walked away to join with Rodor and Gaius.

Gwen watched and then turned to Arthur who came up next to her. She felt his fingers brush her exposed back before his arm settled around her waist, and she leaned into him. Unknown to them, they were being watched by several of the guest. Gwaine smirked at the sight of them, Mithian and Lance looked away feeling voyeuristic, and Hunith thought they would make a beautiful photograph.

Arthur leaned down to whisper. "What was that all about? He said some cryptic things to me earlier."

"He apologized and told me to take care of you." Gwen paused. "And he called me a true queen."

"I couldn't agree more." He kissed her temple. "But an apology from him—Wow."

"What did he say to you?"

Arthur's eyes were clear and shining with hope. "That he's proud of me, and the choices we make are for the best."

When the clock chimed midnight, everyone shouted, "Happy New Year!" Gwen had expected Arthur to kiss her, as the tradition was, but all he did was lean in until their noses touched and whispered, "Later."

The old lords and Annis bid farewell shortly after, and Gaius left too, stating that he'd be expecting his regulars at the vet in the morning. Something about the holidays and carelessly feeding pets. There was a pub in town that Gwaine saw that didn't close until five in the morning and suggested they all go down. The knights and Merlin were eager, and Elena bet Gwaine that she could drink him under the table, and that Mithian and Vivian had to see. The Deira's son also tagged along since it wasn't every day he got to see a vampire drinking contest.

Mr. and Mrs. Deira and Hunith volunteered to clean up, so Arthur and Gwen could go with them, but they stayed, it was their house after all. They joked that they could just resend their invitations to keep them out. The thought of a bunch of drunken vampires in the cold entertained them. When the Deira's left, Gwen gave Hunith a proper tour of the mansion before ending it at one of the guest bedrooms, and they bid each other goodnight.

Arthur followed Gwen into their bedroom, closing the door behind him. The balcony doors were closed, but the curtains were open, letting the moonlight shine through, filling the room with pale blue light that silhouetted Gwen. He approached her, wrapping his arms around her from behind and kissed her neck.

The cold air seeped through the window chilling the room, but Arthur's lips seared her flesh. Gwen turned in his arms and Arthur's hand came up to her cheek, caressing it, and his thumb stroked her bottom lip.

"I never believed in New Year's resolutions," Arthur said. "Nothing changes between December 31st and January 1st; your troubles don't magically disappear at the start of a new year." Arthur's hand slid down Gwen's bare back, the way it did that Christmas Eve night.

She shuddered on the downward stroke of his fingers. She felt them splay on her back, and Arthur pressed her to him.

"Tomorrow morning, the threat of Morgana will still be hanging over our heads. And you will still be fighting with letting her go," Arthur continued.

Gwen avoided his eye and picked at the buttons of his shirt until he made her look at him. "I know, Guinevere. It could take years, decades, centuries, but it will get better. It doesn't have to start tomorrow." Their foreheads touched. "I will make one resolution, though, for this year and forever: Every single day, I will be there for you."

Gwen's hands crept around Arthur's neck. "You've done so since the day we were reunited."

Their lips met, gently molding together. Gwen lifted to her tip toes to deepen the kiss, and managed to untuck and unbutton Arthur's shirt without breaking away. As her hands trailed down his bare chest, she became reacquainted with the contours of his body. She stopped at his belt, and they finally pulled apart with heavy gazes between them.

Arthur's hands came up and pushed the dress off her shoulders. In one fluid motion, the dress pooled at Gwen's feet like blood. She stood exposed in front of him in nothing but her underwear, but instead of shyness and uncertainty from him not seeing her in eighty years, Gwen burned with anticipation.

She pulled Arthur back to her by his belt, her other hand bringing his head down to hers. Their mouths collided, tongues battling, desperate and hungry. Gwen caught Arthur's bottom lip between her teeth, and Arthur squeezed her bottom. She giggled, and Arthur lifted her. Gwen's legs wrapped around his waist and he carried her to the bed.

Gwen writhed under Arthur; he remembered what made her sigh, what made her moan, what made her toes curl and cry out in ecstasy. And when he entered her, she felt whole.

There were so many things she was grateful for as a vampire, one of them being her heightened senses. The pleasure she felt with Arthur when she was a human was tremendous. As a vampire, that feeling was explosive.

x

No one questioned Arthur when he left his birthday feast early, and Gwen should've expected it, but her mind was preoccupied. She was pacing in his chambers in her nightdress second-guessing decision. She couldn't decide whether to drop her nightdress in front of him or lay naked on his bed.

Arthur entered, brooding as he usually did on his birthday, and she stopped pacing, surprised by his early arrival. They stared at each other in silence, and then Gwen said. "I wanted to surprise you." Arthur said nothing, but a grateful and loving smile graced his face, and he scooped her up, carrying her to the bed.

Gwen shuddered as Arthur's fangs pulled out of her inner thigh and his fingers left her center. He laved at the bite and licked his fingers before kissing his way up her body. She stretched languidly as he settled above her, grinning. She traced his stained lips, and he captured her finger between his teeth. She giggled, removing her finger and tapping one of his fangs.

"I've always wondered…does it hurt?"

"Does what hurt?" Arthur asked through the kisses he was placing on her collar.

"When you fangs come out." She moaned as Arthur nestled between her thighs, his member nudging her entrance. Her thighs spread wider and he teased her with the tip.

Arthur chuckled into her neck as she arched into him with a pleading whimper, wanting him inside her. "It's actually a relief," he said as he sank into her, giving her what she wanted.

Very few of the candles remained lit by the time they were through. Gwen's head rested against Arthur's chest, and her hand stroked up and down the side. "There's something else I've been curious about," she said.

"Hmm?" Arthur's eyes were closed and his hands threaded through her hair.

"When you fed on your former blood servants, did it always involve…sex?"

"What—?" Arthur's eyes shot open. "No!"

"Really? Oh." Gwen felt embarrassed and relieved. "I just ask because, well, other than the first few times, you usually drink from me during…"

Arthur interrupted her with a rich laugh. "Oh, Guinevere."

"What? Why are you laughing?" She smacked him on the chest and he took her hand, kissing it.

He rolled on his side, propped up on his elbow, and looked down at her. "I'm surprised Morgana hasn't told you. She's certainly not shy about these things." Arthur admired Gwen as she laid on her back, hair fanned out on his pillow. Only her lower half was covered by the sheet. One arm draped across her stomach while the other rested across her breast while she nibbled on her thumbnail.

Her eyebrows furrowed. "Hasn't told me what?"

"That the taste of blood is enhanced during climax," he answered.

"What?"

Arthur nodded. "Your blood is sweet and floral; I can taste your kind nature, who you are as a person, and your emotions at the time. But when you reach that point of release…" Arthur's eyes clouded with arousal, "You taste like the sun, the moon, the heavens. Guinevere, you taste like life."

The way Arthur looked at her now sealed the thought that's been on Gwen's mind for a while. "I want to be a vampire."

He cupped her face in his hands. She didn't break eye contact with him. "You're serious."

"You and Morgana will go on living extraordinary lives, and I'll grow old and die," the bitterness in her voice dampened by sadness. "I can't stand the thought of one day I'll be unappealing to you, and useless to the both of you." Then she came to a terrible realization. "Oh, I'm so stupid." She wrapped the sheet around her and sat up. "I shouldn't have assumed you'd want to keep me around." She tried to get out of the bed but Arthur pulled her back to him.

"Gwen," Arthur tried to get her attention, but she kept rambling and struggling.

"Guinevere!"

She stopped.

"I love you."

It was their first time together after she turned when Gwen bit Arthur as her orgasm ripped through her. Her eyes clenched shut and her fangs extracted, sinking into his shoulder. It spurred Arthur's own release. He fingers dug in her thighs and bit her neck, locking their bodies together.

Gwen swallowed and let go, gasping. She didn't mean to bite him, but the pleasure was so great and she still had yet to gain control of her fangs.

When she fed from Morgana during her transformation, she initially tasted the metallic flavor of blood, and then it morphed as it settled on her tongue. There was ferocious spice laced with sweetness.

"Flowers?" Gwen asked curiously as she held her fingers to her lips.

Morgana smiled. "That would be you, my sweet Gwen."

Arthur tasted like fire, true passion, and there was an undertone of floral sweetness and humility. It was her.

She licked her lips and Arthur groaned, rousing him again. And she could feel it within herself as well. Their blood coursed through each other's veins, and they were hyper aware of each other. Gwen thought she would come again just by sensing Arthur's raw desire for her.

x

Now she needed to feel that again. Arthur's deep, hard thrust would've been enough for her in her human life, but as a vampire and the recollection of how their blood bond made her feel, Gwen ached for more. They hadn't discussed when they would bond again. The idea had been to take it slow, but neither of them cared for slow at the moment.

Arthur's face was buried in her neck. The moment his teeth scraped her neck, Gwen felt herself coming undone. "Do it," she said in his ear, gasping in pleasure. "Please." The moment his teeth broke the skin, Gwen came, her nails digging into his back and her thighs holding him to her in a vice like grip.

Gwen caught her breath and her mind cleared. Panic filled that brief peace when Arthur pulled away to look at her. He licked his lips, and Gwen let out a nervous breath and turned her head away. He didn't like the taste of her and was disgusted, she feared. But Arthur's head dipped back into her neck, licking the remaining blood. "You're angry," he said against her neck. "You feel scared. Fragile." He had thrust between each adjective. "But you're not," he punctuated with a powerful stroke that made her breath hitch. "You are strong. You are my queen. My love. My Guinevere."

Arthur's words ignited Gwen, and she rolled them over, straddling him. She leaned down for a kiss and tasted herself on him. She could taste that newfound anger that boiled her blood. Morgana manipulated her, broke her. And she was going to use that anger to protect her love. She rocked her hips forward and back, building up a rhythm. Arthur sat them up and gripped Gwen's hips tighter. He was close.

"I love you," she said against his lips. Their pace was quickening she felt herself coming undone for the second time. She dropped her face into his neck and as he released, she bit down. A rush of emotions—Arthur's emotions—his undying love flowed through her, and she came for a second time.

They laid there for some time caressing and kissing, sleep weighing on them. Arthur rolled over, spooning behind Gwen, trapping her within his arms. He kissed the back of her neck and muttered a sleepy, "I love you" before drifting off.

She held his hand between her breasts. "With all my heart."

They didn't move for the rest of the night. When Gwen woke, she heard movement coming from around the house, clattering in the kitchen, yawns, showers running, and even a sneeze. As her body woke up she focused all her attention on Arthur, from the secure weight of his arm around her and the hairs on his forearm tickling her abdomen, to the meditative rise and fall of his chest against her back, and the soft flesh of his bicep she laid her head on instead of the pillow. He was warm and unaffected by the chill in the air. She placed a lingering kiss on the muscle and it flexed under her lips. She turned in his arms and brushed his hair out of his eyes.

"I know you're awake," she said, bringing her fingers down to his cheek then traced his jaw, admiring the chiseled features of her king, her love, her husband in blood.

His eye finally opened, and he brought his hand up to hers and felt the ring. He kissed her palm. "Feeling better?" Arthur could feel it, but he still had to ask.

Gwen lifted her head the small distance to meet his lips and kissed him deeply. "Does that answer your question?" she said in a husky whisper.

Arthur rolled over on top of her, planting both arms on the side of her head to support his weight. He grinned and lowered himself closer. "It's a start."

It was another hour before they got out of bed and headed downstairs to have breakfast with everyone. Arthur held the kitchen door open for Gwen. She gave him a smile as she passed him.

Gwaine snickered. "You owe me a tenner, mate," he said, holding his hand out to receive payment from Percival.

"About time," Elyan said. "I was beginning to feel like a child of divorce."

Merlin had a confused look on his face. "I don't get it." Hunith, on the other hand, had a feeling what happened last night, and made a plate for them.

Gwaine took a bite out of his sausage. "Why do you think I was so eager to go out on the town? Didn't you see the way they were ogling each other all night. I'm surprised they didn't devour each other before midnight."

Arthur blushed.

"See!" Gwaine pointed at him. "Get a little Gwen in him and he gets all bashful. A day before, he would've tore me a new one."

"Why do I keep you around?" Arthur grumbled.

"Well it's a good thing we weren't around. There's no way there would've been any sleep with these sensitive ears. Hunith, you're lucky you're human. I can only imagine the sounds those two made," Gwaine roared with laughter then yelped when Hunith smacked his hand with a spatula.

"I will not have such talk during breakfast," she said in a stern motherly tone, but couldn't hide the rosy coloring of her cheeks. She had heard some noises last night before falling asleep. She placed a plate of pancakes in front of Arthur and Gwen and they thanked her quietly. "You're welcome, dears."

The knights watched Arthur and Gwen moon over each other, intrigued by the new development. Gwen bit the tip of the fork after eating the final piece of pancake, grinning cheekily at Arthur, who looked back at her in a charming way that no one's ever seen him do before.

"There is a television, you know," Arthur said never breaking eye contact with Gwen. "You can watch that instead of us."

"Thank God," Elyan sighed in relief, getting up first and rushing out. Leon clapped Arthur on the shoulder when he passed. Merlin, Percival, Lance, and Gwaine followed, and only Hunith was left.

"I'll clean up," Hunith said.

"You've done more than enough already, Hunith." Gwen got up to take the plate out of her hand. "It's my kitchen; I'll do the washing up."

"You wash, I'll dry," the mother compromised and Gwen accepted. "Arthur, bring the plates over, then you can join the boys."

Like a dutiful son, Arthur did what Hunith told him to do, and gave Gwen a soft kiss before he left.

"So, was he gentle?" Hunith asked out of the blue. Gwen nearly dropped the plate she was passing. Hunith caught it. "Kidding!"

Gwen scrubbed another plate while eyeing Hunith prepared for another comment. "He was a gentlemen." She passed the dish, securely, and tried to keep a straight face while thinking about the rhythm of Arthur's long, hard—

Hunith took the dish. "Those concerns you have are no longer concerns?"

"Mmhm," Gwen nodded quickly, her cheeks burning. "This could've been resolved a lot faster if just opened up to him earlier—uh my heart, not my legs." Both women erupted in a fit of giggles. Merlin came in to retrieve a glass of water eyeing is mother and Gwen, unsure of what he just walked into.

Hunith made him stay to put the plates away while they cleaned the countertop. Gwen explained to them how the blood bond worked. "Want to see something cool?"

Hunith and Merlin nodded anxiously, not understanding why Gwen just stood there not doing anything. Suddenly Arthur came through the door and said, "Yes, love?" And Hunith understood.

Gwen held out her hand for Arthur to take as he came to stand with them. "I was just showing Hunith and Merlin the perks of our bond."

"Ah," Arthur said massaging her hand. "It's just a step below telepathy. Which would be great—knowing what she wanted beforehand, so I can decide if I want to come or not."

Gwen removed her hand from his and smacked him on the shoulder. "You always come." She squealed when Arthur pulled her back to him. "So do you," he growled the double entendre in her ear which Merlin heard. Arthur and Gwen let go of each other and stood awkwardly in front of the mother and son. They were together for more than a thousand years and now they were acting like lovesick teenagers. They both laughed, having the same thought.

Merlin imagined this is what it was like to have lovey-dovey parents. "I take it this is the honeymoon stage?"

"All over again," Gwen said.

Seeing Arthur so happy was new and weird to Merlin. It's the strangest thing he's seen, in fact, and he's seen some strange things courtesy of working with vampires. But this was really doing his head in. So why not take advantage of the situation, he thought. "Would this be a bad time to ask for a raise?"

A/N: Phew. Finally! A little New Year's treat for all of you :D (and I'm very proud of myself for getting it out before New Year's)

There are 3 chapters left, which means there's some Class A drama ahead. Dun dun duuuuuuuuuun

Thank you all for sticking around and your lovely reviews 3 and I hope you all have a very happy new year!