Disclaimer: I own a temperamental computer and lots of homework, and if I owned Merlin, then I would treat myself to a ski vacation in France. As of yet, my butt rests in the South, completely snowless…

This was a game changer.

Morgana prided herself on her borderline-obsessive planning, mapping out every single possibility before making a well informed and level-headed decision. This was neither.

She blamed it on Merlin; the charming, seemingly naïve man who had stolen her heart. Ever since he waltzed into her life, many of her well laid plans were thrown out of the window. He opened his arms to hold her, his chest to cry upon, his mouth to kiss, his bed to lie in and she fell into them without hesitation or care.

That was what had gotten her into the predicament she was now facing, sitting on the edge of the bathtub in his apartment and looking at the detrimental little stick in front of her. From it, a cheerful bright pink plus sign was telling her POSITIVE. Hundreds of women hoped, begged, pleaded and prayed for this little miracle. It was almost cruel that it should happen to someone who hadn't planned it, who didn't want it.

They had been careful, of that she was sure. There was a strict condom rule that was tediously followed, and if someone forgot, it was up to the other person to remind them of the consequences-This.

She had meant to take the test to her home, but his apartment was closer. Or that's what she had told herself, the truth lying somewhere in the fact that she wouldn't know what to do if the test was positive. She was half scared that she would do something she would regret later.

Now, all she could think about were her plans. There were so many, running around in her head like little mice on a wheel. She was set to inherit one-half of Camelot, the great trading empire run by her father, Uther. She was going to take over the fashion and "girly" aspect of the company, while her half-brother, Arthur, would take the natural resources section. It was going perfectly, everything according to plan, carefully laid dominos falling into place. At least, it was like that, until Arthur got a new assistant.

Merlin was not her type at all; tall but gangly with huge ears, beautiful blue eyes, and a heart of priceless gold. Maybe that's why they were so good together, because they were opposites.

Morgana wanted a life in the big city; with fast cars, gorgeous clothes, heading a corporation along with a virtually unlimited credit card. Merlin was only in the city because his mother felt it would be good for him to be away from home before he came back to run the family Bed and Breakfast in Wales. He had degrees in psychology, math, and business management, but this was what he wanted; to return to his hometown, settle down, and live the rest of his life in peace.

In many ways, they wanted similar things, but from very different situations. How would this ever work?

Her mind briefly thought of ending the pregnancy, no doubt that's what her father would want, as he had never fully approved of her relationship with Merlin. The idea made her faintly nauseous however, and she pushed the thought away as quickly as it had come.

This little life was special, precious. In that moment Morgana felt a protectiveness creep into her that she didn't even know existed. She was suddenly reminded of a conversation she had with her own mother, mere weeks before she died in a car crash.

"Having a child changes you. From the moment you find out you carry this gift, everything becomes centered on it. What food you eat, whether you smoke or drink, and whether or not the father of your child even deserves to be in its life, as was the case with you sugar blossom and as it will be for your children too."

Morgana ate a fairly balanced diet, or so she hoped. She had stopped smoking after her 21st birthday, but the drinking… Now that she thought about it, she had drunk recently. Not like she used to do with her friends when they were younger, but she'd definitely had a glass of wine with dinner or a casual drink with her best friend, Gwen.

Gwen! What would she think? She approved of Merlin, but could be a bit old-fashioned, especially about pre-marital sex. A point that often infuriated poor Arthur, who was Gwen's steady boyfriend of at least a year or so.

All of these thoughts were running around, scratching the inside of Morgana's head while the loudest thought was, "WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO TELL MERLIN?"

The question was soon answered as she heard the front door open.

"Morgana, are you here? I talked with your secretary; she said you weren't feeling well and went home…. This isn't some sort of elaborate plot to seduce me, is it?"

He turned to enter the bathroom, and was startled by the sight of Morgana sitting on the edge of the bathtub, fully clothed and deep in thought, staring at something resting on the toilet.

"Hey, snow flower. Are you okay?" Merlin knelt down on the floor next to her. He followed her line of gaze to the little stick and froze.

Morgana finally broke the silence;

"This test is 99.7% accurate, the best and most reliable one that money can buy. I'm so sorry…" with that, tears began to slide down her cheeks, smearing her previously flawless make-up.

The last part caught Merlin's attention more than the first. Pulling Morgana onto the floor with him, Merlin rocked her gently and whispered in her ear.

"And what could you possibly be sorry for? Making me the happiest man on earth?" he looked into her eyes, "I love you, and I love this baby, and whether or not you believe me now, we will be happy together, no matter what."

They stayed there for hours, Morgana crying into Merlin's chest, and he rocking her gently, back and forth, as one might do with a child. Neither wanting to speak their minds, neither wanting to think of the past, or of the future; they would have been content to sit there for the rest of their lives, but people, especially pregnant women, need to be fed. So the young couple left the floor, and went off to face the world, though they could never predict where their journey would end up taking them.

AN: Oooookay… no idea where that came from, but it popped into my head and wouldn't leave! :/ So this is why I am up way too late on a school night, not even doing my real story A Most Interesting Tale, because I'm crazy *sigh* It was supposed to be a One-Shot, but now I have little plot bunnies running around in my head, so I think it will probably be longer. Review please! I want to know what y'all think!