I don't own Merlin, sadly. It belongs to the BBC

Summary: When Uther dies Arthur and Merlin's eldest son begins to read his grandfather's journals and soon wishes he hadn't as what he reads causes upset and problems amongst them all...

This is a belated birthday story for EGBDF-Treble-Clef. I hope you like your story :)

This is an idea that just came to me, it will have four chapters, a chapter a day.

Warnings: Light malexmale. Mpreg. Rated 'M' for safety only for swear words

I apologise in advance for any mistakes I may have made

Merlin walked amongst the corridors of Camelot's castle, never before in all the years he had lived here had it known it be so quiet, inside the castle itself was as quiet as the town. Everyone knew this day had been coming for weeks, Merlin left his husband Arthur to be comforted by their children while he headed to the courtyard.

When he reached the doors he opened them to see the entire town all looking squashed as they were stood in the courtyard, each of them holding a candle, he took in all of their faces and took a deep breath before speaking. "King Uther is dead. Long live King Arthur."

Arthur was sat at the table in his and his husband's chambers. His eldest child, his son at eighteen, Ben sat facing him, his fourteen year old twin daughters Autumn and Skyler sat on his left and his youngest son Orion aged only six sat next to him.

Arthur blinked when he felt someone grab his hand and squeeze it, looking he saw Orion looking at him, worry on his small face. "Orion miss granddad too."

Arthur leaned over and pulled his son to him, hugging him close. "I know baby, we all will."

"Father King now?" Orion asked, his small arms going around Arthur, hugging him tightly.

"Yes baby, there will be a ceremony but yes, I am King now."

Merlin opened the door and his eyes went straight to his eldest son Ben, looking at him was like looking in a mirror, after all these years neither him nor Arthur could get over someone looking as much like his dad as Ben does with Merlin.

He looked from his son who had his head down to his husband. "Arthur love."

Arthur looked up and seeing his husband he gave a small smile. "There is nothing more we can do this night except try and get some sleep." Arthur looked at his eldest. "Ben can you please take Orion to bed?" he asked.

"Of course father." Ben got up and after saying goodnight both Ben and Orion left the room. Autumn and Skyler got up and hugged Arthur and then Merlin before they left, holding each other.

Once the door closed and Merlin locked it Arthur got up and hurried over to Merlin, pulling his husband into a tight hug. "I have known for weeks this day was coming but I..."

"I know Arthur, it still doesn't prepare you even though you know it is coming." he said soothingly, his left hand on the back of the blonds head, his right hand running up and down his husbands back. "Let it all out love."

And Arthur did, clinging on tightly to his husband as he cried for his father, something he couldn't do outside the privacy of their rooms.

Merlin woke up when he turned over and felt the empty space next to him, he looked out of the window and saw it was still dark out. He got out of bed and held out his hand "Leoht." he whispered, now walking to the door, the small ball of light in his hands helping him see where he was going.

He went walking through the corridors and stopped when he saw a light coming from under the gap of one of the doors, it was Uther's chambers, he opened the door and saw his eldest son Ben sat on the floor by the unit in which Uther kept his clothes and personal belongings, the ball of light that was in his hand there were several floating around his son's head as he was looking through some books.

"Ben?"

Ben looked up. "Dad I didn't know granddad kept books that he would write in."

Merlin frowned as he walked over. "Me either, I don't think your father knows either, it was probably something he did before going to bed, if he had a worrying or stressful day and couldn't confide in anyone he would write it down. I know that sometimes when I am stuck with a problem or a worry in which I don't want to worry your father with I find that writing it down helps."

"Dad can I have these?"

"I don't see why not. Have you seen your father?"

"He isn't in bed?"

"No. I think I might know where he is." Merlin placed his hand on top of his sons head. "Don't stay up too late."

"I won't dad."

Merlin continued to walk through the corridors until he came to a stop outside the throne room, he opened the door and saw his husband sat on the throne, his elbows resting on his legs, his head in his hands. "Arthur."

Arthur looked up. "Did I wake you?"

"No you're fine. Haven't really been asleep." he said as he walked over to the blond and sat on his knee.

"How can I do this Merlin?"

"Arthur Uther has been poorly for a while, you have been running the Kingdom fantastically on your own."

"We both have love. Merlin people are to be saying they are sorry tomorrow, looking at me with sympathy, how can I keep it all together if they start to do that? I won't be able to and yet I have to as I can't break down in front of my people."

"Arthur you are the bravest and strongest man I know. You will be able to do this as I will be right by your side like I always have been and always will be. You are going to be a fantastic King, the people will know how hard it has hit you so they will just apologise and comment on the kind of King Uther was and that is it."

Arthur looked at Merlin. "Really?"

"Yes Arthur, the people know you will need to grieve for your father and can not do it openly like they can nor can you do it in front of them so they will not go on about it, they will pay their respects and respect that you need to grieve alone and not be constantly reminding you of your loss."

Arthur smiled and kissed Merlin. "How did you get to be so smart?"

"What do you mean how? I always have been this smart." Merlin kissed the side of Arthur's head and rested his head against the blonds. "While looking for you I saw a light coming from Uther's chambers. Ben is in there, he is sat in front of the unit where your father keeps... kept all of his things, he has found some books, they are what your father wrote his thoughts in, like a journal of some kind, he asked if he could have them."

"Of course he can. I didn't even know my father kept them, mind you if you feel you have no one to tell your thoughts to they have to go somewhere." Arthur sighed. "I can't believe it has only been hours since my father has passed yet in the morning they are crowning me King."

"I know love." Merlin said as he stood up and pulled Arthur up with him. "For now we sleep and if you don't I will use my magic that will make you sleep, you have your coronation tomorrow, you will be the man I know you to be, and tomorrow night you will spend it with your father and I will be just outside the room should you need me."

"I don't know what I would do without you Merlin I really don't."

"Nor I without you Arthur."

Ben was just coming out of Uther's chambers, the balls of light still floating around his head when he saw his parents. "Father." he looked down at the books in his hands. "Can I have these?" he asked.

"Of course you can son. But I will take them for now, you are like your dad when he has found a new book, doesn't put it down until he has finished it." Arthur said. "You can have these tomorrow, for tonight you sleep."

Ben nodded. "Okay. Night dad, father."

"Night son." Arthur watched his son walk away. "It's scary how much he looks like you Merlin, you looked just like that when you walked into Camelot all those years ago, you know if you weren't next to me I would have thought that was you coming out of there."

Merlin laughed. "Orion is your double, no doubt looking as much like you when he is Ben's age."

The next morning Arthur released the sigh he had been holding when his father's crown was placed on his head and the people of Camelot were chanting 'Long live the King' he looked to his right and saw Merlin stood there, saying the same as his people, looking straight back at him with a smile on his face. He turned to his left and saw his eldest son Ben stood there saying it also, his twin daughters stood side by side in front of Ben and his youngest Orion stood in front of his sisters, all of them looking at him with a smile on their face.

When the chanting had stopped Orion walked over to Arthur and touched his leg. "Father?"

"Yes son?"

"Do I have to wait until no one can see for a hug like with granddad?"

Arthur smiled and picked his son up, hugging him close. "No son, whenever you want a hug you come straight to me, doesn't matter who is here you come and hug me."

"And if I think you need one."

"Also then." Arthur said, kissing his son's cheek.

"Father?"

Arthur turned to see Ben walking over. "Books are on the table in our chambers son."

Ben smiled. "Thank you father." he said and made to leave the room.

"Ben you father has just been crowned King." Merlin said.

"Merlin love he is fine, you know how much time he spent with my father, he just wants to read more about him."

Ben looked at Merlin who sighed. "You bring the books here, you don't read at the table while eating."

"Okay." Ben said as he hurried from the room.

Merlin smiled and walked over to Arthur and placed his arms around his waist, kissing his cheek. "My King."

Arthur smiled and held the brunet tight. "My husband."

Autumn and Skyler who had been talking to their friends hurried over to them both. "Daddy can we go outside for a bit until food is served?"

"Of course you can, who are you going outside with?"

Instead of answering Autumn turned and pointed at two boys who were stood near the throne room doors.

Arthur's face hardened. "No."

Skyler pulled a face. "Ew no father there is no kissing or hand holding or anything, we don't like these boys much but we have made a bet with them and want to beat them and win."

Arthur laughed. "Then of course you can."

Skyler smiled and turned to her sister. "We can go sis."

Autumn looked up and smiled. "Yes. We will show them boys that we can do handstands in dresses."

Skyler sighed. So close as well.

"You are not leaving my sight, neither of you." Arthur said.

"But father it is only handstands." Autumn said.

"Yes. In dresses, you go upside down your dress will join you."

"Yeah?" Autumn shrugged.

"No, the only way that is going to happen is if you wear breeches and no daughters of mine are swapping dresses for breeches."

"Gwen wears something like that though when she is cleaning sometimes." Skyler said.

"Guinevere is a woman." Merlin answered, "you both stay in here."

Skyler sighed and walked away with her twin. "Big mouth."

"Me? It is your fault you know what I am like."

"Yeah, strangely enough, nothing like me to say we are identical!"

What do you think?

Chapter two up tomorrow :)

Review? x