"Have you heard anything yet?" Arthur's voice sounds anxious – still – as he calls her – again – on the afternoon of their 31st birthdays.

"No, I haven't," Guinevere answers. "If I don't hear anything by four, I will call them, all right?"

He looks at his watch. It's just past two. "You went in at eight," he says.

"Yes. You don't want them to rush, do you?"

"Yes!"

She laughs. "Love, I need to get back to work. I have my mobile in my pocket, and I promise you I will call you as soon as I hear, all right?"

"All right," he says. "I'm getting bugger all done today. You know that, right?"

"I know. Go back to pretending to work," she chuckles.

Guinevere had finished the pack of birth control pills she was on back in May and then stopped taking them. On the advice of her doctor, they began earnestly trying to get pregnant two months later, in late July, in order to allow the drugs to completely leave her system. Her monthly was now two weeks overdue, so she made an appointment to have a blood test that morning, since her doctor also insisted that the store-bought pregnancy tests cannot be trusted.

Even so, she had taken one a few days earlier, and it turned up negative. When her period still did not arrive, she called.

And has been waiting all day for the results.

A few of her coworkers have noticed her distracted demeanor, and she blamed it on not sleeping well the previous night. While that was true, she didn't want to give anything away. Arthur should be the first to know, not anyone else. She found herself being glad for the first time ever that Freya no longer worked at the Gardens, because her friend would have definitely been able to tell there was something up. Freya opted to stay home with their children after giving birth to their twin boys.

Guinevere circulates amongst the shelves, checking the latest additions to the seed bank. She makes some notes, then stretches, tilting her head back and forth. I need to go outside. "Sefa, I'm going to go check a few things outside," she says. The younger woman nods, and Guinevere heads out.

She grabs a sweater and walks outside. It is sunny but cool today, and she smiles, thinking back a year to the unseasonable heat of her last birthday and how that day changed her life. This day may change my life again. Her feet carry her without much thought, and she finds herself walking towards Arthur's mother's garden. The Ygraine Pendragon Memorial Garden. While it isn't strictly Guinevere's job, she has always liked to make sure that this particular area is being properly cared for. And now that she is a Pendragon herself, she feels she has that right. Dr. Gaius indulges her because he has always been fond of Guinevere. He also knew Ygraine and has told Guinevere that Arthur's mother would have loved her.

Her phone rings just as she sits on the bench bearing a plaque with her late mother-in-law's name. She sighs and pulls it out of her pocket, assuming it is Arthur again.

It isn't.

xXx

There is a quiet knock on Arthur's door, and he looks up, annoyed.

"Emma, I asked not to be disturbed," he calls out, then turns his attention back to his computer screen. His door quietly clicks open, and when he looks up, his anger immediately dissipates.

"Even if it's me?" Guinevere asks, stepping inside and closing the door behind her.

He stands and crosses to her, reaching for her, but hesitating, his entire bearing a question.

"I wanted to tell you in person," she says, hoping her face doesn't give her away. She holds her hands out, and he takes them, holding them tenderly.

"You heard?" he asks, looking like he is about ready to jump out of his skin.

She nods, then takes one of his hands and places it against her stomach. "We are," she says.

"There's a baby there?" he asks, his eyes widening.

"Yes," Guinevere confirms. "The nurse said I was probably only about three weeks along, but I am definitely pregnant."

Overcome, Arthur wraps his arms around her in a hug that lifts her off of her feet. He tucks his face into her neck, and she can feel his tears against her skin.

He sets her on her feet again and kisses her, gently cradling her face in his hands. "This is amazing," he says, wiping the tears from her cheeks.

She returns the gesture, rubbing her thumbs across his cheekbones. "It's so weird… hasn't sunk in yet."

"I know," he agrees. "It will though." He kisses her again, then drops to his knees and kisses her stomach.

"Arthur!" she exclaims, fondly chuckling at how sweet he can be.

He stands and kisses her again. "Let's go home. Wait. Do you have to go back to work?"

"No. I told Dr. Gaius I wasn't feeling well," she answers. "I've been kind of a space cadet all day, so it didn't take much convincing."

"Right," he says, going over to his desk to shut things down for the day. "Okay. Let's go."

She takes his hand and they walk out. A very timid-looking Emma watches from behind the hotel's reception desk. When she sees Arthur smiling, she looks very confused.

"See you Monday," Arthur says. "Sorry I was a bit of a prat today. Had a lot on my mind."

"Yes, sir," Emma answers. "Um, have a good weekend. Always nice to see you, Mrs. Pendragon."

"You too, Emma," Guinevere answers. She stops and quietly tells her, "Everything is fine, don't worry."

Emma nods, but then the phone rings, drawing her attention back to her job.

"Do you want to call your father?" Arthur asks as they get into his car.

"Do you want to call your father?" she asks back.

"Not really."

She smiles. "Let's keep it to ourselves… just for tonight," she suggests.

He starts the car, but doesn't shift it into gear yet. He leans over and kisses her. "I love you so much, Guinevere."

"I love you, too Arthur," she replies.

Arthur pulls out of the parking garage and heads home, Guinevere's hand in his.

For the first time in twelve years, they do not go out for their birthdays.

-End-