Merlin panicked a bit at the thought of having two small children at home. He had got used to looking after James, who was a quiet and well behaved child. He was very placid and had been ideal for Merlin to look after. In the four weeks they had had their daughter home she proved to be totally different. Morgana, or Gana as she was soon called, was a different story she was temperamental and a crying baby. Arthur said unhelpfully that's what they got for using his sister as a surrogate. Gana was the complete opposite of James. She woke several times in the night and was a nightmare to settle. She'd wake her brother with the loud cries. Merlin was so pleased to have Isolde staying to help him for awhile once more.
Arthur thought Merlin was great with the children, he had a patient, even temper with them, but Arthur could see he was getting tired, even with the extra help, and he was finding it difficult to sleep. Even with Isolde and Arthur doing some of the night feeds Merlin still woke up. He also had to wake to do his own catheterisation once in the night. It got so bad Merlin even considered a permanent catheter, but after speaking to the nurse specialist decided to persevere. The blessing was that the weather was nice and Merlin could take the babies out for walks. He had a double buggy that fitted in front of his chair, but even with that he found it difficult to push the weight if there was much of a slope. Luckily the trip to the shops and back was fairly flat.
One of their neighbours had moved and Merlin was having some problems with the new people. They were very uncomfortable about living next door to two men who had children and weren't slow to let Merlin know it. He was outside one day getting in the washing, there was always a lot of that now a days, and he heard his neighbours speaking. Then he realised he was supposed to.
"I think it's disgusting, I know everything goes now and we have to put up with that sort of thing, but to let them have children. It's all wrong." Merlin recognised the speaker as the woman Heidi.
Merlin nearly went back in, but he still had washing to get in and the babies were resting so now was a good time. Anyway he was damned if he was going to be forced out of his own garden.
"They'll be bought up to be just the same way. The baby's a girl as well, poor thing. I heard that one of their sisters is the mother of that one. I suppose she was happy to have a poff service her." His time it was the husband Eric.
"Darling now you're being daft, they use IVF now, but it's still wrong. Even if they weren't, you know homosexuals" she said the word as if it was dirty. "to let that boy look after children, I mean he's in a wheelchair how can he look after them properly."
"Yes but don't forget our taxes are paying for a helper for him." The voices faded as the couple went back indoors.
Merlin knew that they were well aware he could hear them, and it hurt that people could be so cruel. He was nearly in tears but he fought hem off. There was no way they would make him cry. He was just tired that was all. The trouble is that wasn't the only incident and it was running him down. He hadn't told Arthur, he thought it best to ignore them and he knew Arthur wouldn't allow that. They even had their facts wrong Arthur paid for Isolde not the tax payer. Isolde knew that Merlin was upset when he went back inside.
"They been saying things again?" she asked.
"Yes, I suppose they'll get fed up eventually. It's a pity we didn't meet them before they moved in, they might not have purchased then." Merlin had got on really well with the previous people.
"You should tell Arthur, it's not right." Isolde said. She was getting worried about Merlin and how he would cope when he was on his own.
"No Isolde, we've talked about this already, they'll get fed up eventually. Arthur would make it worse."
"Well I don't agree. They never do it when he's here I notice."
Merlin ignored her and started to do the ironing. "Leave that Merlin, I'll do it, go and have a rest for half an hour."
Merlin put down the iron, to tired to argue with her, he went though and lay down on the bed. He would have to start the evening meal soon, Arthur was getting back early today so they could all eat together, but he could have half an hour. Isolde let Merlin sleep on and started the meal. She knew he would be cross but she could see he was getting down. It was a pity, Merlin was such a good father he didn't deserve the new neighbours. Merlin was still asleep when Arthur got back. He was surprised not to be greeted by his husband as soon as he arrived back.
"He's asleep Arthur, he went for half an hour and I left him there, he's had over an hour now. The children will be awake soon. I'll go and give him a call."
Arthur smiled he knew how stubborn Merlin was and how cross he would be to find he's slept on. "Don't worry I'll wake him. Can you sort out the little ones if I'm not back?"
"As if Merlin would let me!" Isolde laughed knowing full well as soon as Merlin woke he'd be straight to the babies.
Arthur walked into their bedroom; the curtains were drawn across so it was very dim inside. But he could still make out Merlin laid in the bed. He walked across to the curtains and pulled them back flooding the room with light.
"Come on sleepy head time to get up." Arthur walked across and kissed Merlin as the younger man stirred.
