Today was the day of the sentencing and Arthur Pendragon was pleased he had been working on this case for some time and had got the conviction a week earlier and it had been a hard fought case. It was at times like this that he felt his job was so worthwhile. He enjoyed his work for the crown prosecution service. At 30 Arthur was one of the youngest and most successful QC's in the country. Alined had been running a crime syndicate in London for many years and had always managed to get away now all was left was the sentencing. Tonight he could relax with his friends. They had planned on going out for a meal to their favourite restaurant and then a drink nothing to heavy but it would be great to relax.

Finishing early he drove across to the other side of the park to collect Merlin from work. At least today they could go home together and if Morgana tried to keep him late he would steel him away. He didn't think she would for all strange ways she was a good boss and Merlin had worked for three years as her P.A. something of a record for her. After all she had introduced Merlin to him at one of the nights out. Morgana had her good points and he would always thank his half sister for introducing him to his now husband.

Entering the building he went straight up to Merlin's desk and crept up behind him as he stood at the filing cabinet. Putting his arms around the slight mans waist and nuzzled his neck.

"Hello Arthur off early today I take it you won your case" Merlin continued with his work without turning round.

"Yes we did but how did you know it was me?"

"Who else attacks me while I'm working? Now let go and I can get finished quicker. Go and bother Morgana she's free at the moment"

Arthur turned and went into his sister's office.

"Hi I've come to steal my husband away early so he can get ready for tonight" Arthur went up to his sister's desk and leaned on it.

"You're not the boss over here so what makes you think you can give the orders" Morgana smiled up at her brother.

"I take it you got a good result and were off to celebrate?" Morgana looked up at her brother

"Yes we will meet up at seven o'clock normal place I've let the others know and they are all coming"

"Great, well you can take him then but I hardly think you need three hours to get ready so I take it you have other plans" Morgana smirked

"Mind your own business harpy" with that Arthur left the office and found Merlin waiting for him outside.

They left the building and in 20 minutes were home.

Just after seven the pair entered the restaurant to find the rest already there.

Morgana was there with her husband Leon who was the junior QC with Arthur, sat at the other side of Morgana was Gwen and her husband Lance on the other side of the table was Elyan who worked in Arthurs office and was also Gwen's brother, Gwaine and Will who were like brothers to Merlin's and last of all Percy and his Girlfriend Freya. Freya had gone to university with Merlin and they had remained friends.

Taking their places they all soon ordered and it wasn't long before the banter that normally took place started.

"Lance were not going to have to watch you two being all lovey dovey all evening again are we it's unnatural you've been married for two years now"

"You're just jealous Will just because you can't get a girl to stay with you longer than two dates" Merlin injected

"The last one lasted a week at least mine aren't one night stands like Gwaine here"

Gwaine winked at Will "I have to spread the good fortune around now don't I"

"It's time you two grew up and settled down that's if you can find fools stupid enough to put up with you" Morgana had been trying to set them up with dates for sometime but none had lasted.

Elyan kept quiet he had just broken up with his long standing girlfriend, his sister seeing his plight smiled at him.

"Don't worry someone special will come your way soon. Unlike those to you are a catch"

"So's a cold" Piped in Will which got him a glare from Gwen and Morgana

"We are here to celebrate the putting away of one of London's criminals so here's a toast to Arthur and his team" Morgana held up her glass and they all cheered.

After their meal they moved on to The Dragons Lair and stayed there until eleven when they all went their separate ways except for Gwaine who had hocked up with a leggy blond earlier in the evening and was staying behind. Unlike the others he had a later start in the morning as he was a personal trainer and started at 10 in the mornings.

A week later Arthur went back to court for the sentencing and was please with the eighteen year sentence passed. He went back to his office and settled down to clear his desk for a holiday. He was determined to get off early tonight as he had promised to take Merlin by themselves for a meal to make up for all the late nights he had been putting in recently before they went off on a well deserved holiday. He smiled at the thought of the man he had made his life partner. They had been married for two years and the time had flown by. Picking up the phone he spoke to his P.A.

"Lance can you let me know as soon as Merlin gets here and bring us both in a coffee please"

"You two off to celebrate tonight?" Lance replied grinning

"More getting some quality time together it's been a long case"

"You deserve it"

Lance enjoyed his job and it had only got better after Arthur had met Merlin. Merlin had made Arthur more tolerant and easier to work for. Merlin was the P.A. for Morgana, Arthurs step sister and the editor of an up market Fashion Magazine.

Across the park between the two offices Merlin was just finishing off his day. Morgana had just left and he was actually getting off early for once. Looking at his watch he saw would be leaving the building at 16.00hrs a good hour and a half earlier than normal. He would be able to get across and wait for Arthur to finish and go home with him instead of catching the tube. That at least would please Arthur who hated Merlin using the tube and had been on at him for ages to get a taxi home. They always came in together but seldom finished at the same time. Merlin was too stubborn to listen to his husband. Having come from a less wealthy background he refused to waste the money. His mother had always installed in him her values of not wasting money. They hadn't been poor but had had to watch how much they spent.

Merlin quickly rang Lance to say he was on his way and to check that Arthur would be able to keep his promise to finish early and picking up his jacket he left the building he said goodbye Will who was still working at his desk and to the security guard at the door and set off across the park. It was a beautiful day and the path followed the edge of the lake. He stopped for a moment to watch the ducks before setting off once more. The park was quiet it was too early for the normal evening rush. As he approached the end of his walk the path veered off through some trees. It was pleasant under the trees giving some shade from the hot sun. This summer had been one of the hottest he could remember and he was glad he worked in an air conditioned building. As he approached the bend in the path he was grabbed from behind and a cloth put over his face before he had time to react. Then he was bundled into a trolley and two men dressed as council gardeners pushed the trolley to one of the wider paths and into a van. The whole thing had taken only a few moments.