As Merlin opened his eyes he was surprised to see Arthur stood there.
"Your early, I haven't started cooking yet." Merlin sat up and started to move his legs over the edge of the bed.
Arthur put his arm round his husband "I'm not early love, you've been asleep an hour." He bent and kissed to top of Merlin's head "Take your time Isolde's got the meal on, and she's checking the kids. You must have been tired."
"What! I asked he to wake me, she knew I was only having half an hour." Merlin snapped.
"Don't get yourself worked up, as I said you needed the rest. Now slow down and give me a hug before you rush off." Arthur pulled Merlin close and hugged him. "It won't hurt for awhile Isolde can cope."
"So can I. she won't be here forever and I need to do things." Merlin was clearly stressed.
"Merlin stop! Don't be so hard on yourself. You've got a lot of adjusting to do so give yourself chance to settle into things. You'll be fine; I know you will, you're a natural parent." Arthur was getting worried about Merlin, there was something bothering him and Arthur couldn't work out what.
Merlin got into his chair and headed to the nursery. Arthur shook his head and then changed out of his suit. When Merlin opened the nursery door Isolde was holding James and looking down at Gana who was still asleep. She saw Merlin come in.
"I was going to wake her up, but she's so settled."
"Leave her for now; I'll get her up in a bit after we've eaten. I hear you've cooked already." Merlin knew he sounded snappy but couldn't help himself.
"You'd got everything ready Merlin I only put the heat under it." Isolde was reasonable as always, and Merlin couldn't stay cross with her. "Merlin you were tired and stressed, you need to tell Arthur, its only right he knows."
"I told you no Isolde. Just drop it." Merlin put on his toddler harness and took James off her put the boy against his chest. Once he knew James was comfortable he turned the wheelchair and went to leave the room. As he turned he spotted Arthur in the doorway.
"And what do I need to know Merlin" Merlin knew Arthur when he used that tone of voice, wouldn't let him go until he got answer he wanted. Merlin scowled at Isolde.
"You did that on purpose." Turning to Arthur "Not now I need to get our meal and sort out James. I'll talk to you later ok?"
As Merlin went to wheel past, Arthur put out his hand and stopped him. "Isolde can dish up, come on Merlin I know you I could tell something was bothering you, we need to talk."
Isolde walked past and whispered sorry to Merlin as she did so. Merlin looked at Gana asleep in her cot. "Come on then, but not in here, hopefully Gana will sleep a bit longer."
Merlin went into the lounge and turned to face Arthur. He waited for the other man to sit down and then he hesitated. He really didn't want Arthur to fly off the handle.
"Look Arthur if I tell you, you have to promise not to do anything rash and to think about it first."
"Come on Merlin, just tell me." Arthur was getting angry already he hated secrets between them.
"Promise first." Merlin insisted.
"Ok I promise now spill."
"It's nothing much, and I wasn't going to tell you because I didn't want you making a scene and make matters even worse." He paused "It's our new neighbours…. Their homophobic and don't think its right we have children, especially me."
Arthur looked at Merlin and took a deep breath "How do you know this?" his voice was flat, he was waiting to hear all the facts.
"If I'm out in the garden they talk, making sure I hear them, they've done it a couple of times now. Today they said that because I was in a wheelchair it was even worse, because I won't be able to look after them properly." Even saying it made Merlin's voice crack.
Arthur moved forward and put his arm round Merlin and squeezed him. "I'm sorry love, they don't know you, you're the best parent ever. I'll go and speak to them."
"No! That's why I didn't tell you, you'll make it worse. Once they realise it's not getting them anywhere, they'll stop. Please promise you won't." Merlin was clearly very upset and Arthur wasn't sure what to do. He saw what Merlin was saying but he wasn't going to have Merlin upset.
"I won't promise that I won't say anything, but I will leave it for now. But I won't just let them get away with it. No one hurts my family, and if they're nasty to you now they might say something to the kids later." He looked down at Merlin and then smiled at James who was beginning to pick up on Merlin's mood. "Come on lets feed little un then we can get the horror up."
"Don't call your daughter such a thing. It's the Pendragon blood, you said so yourself, so it's not her fault."
Once both children were fed and bathed, and in bed for the night, or in Gana's case until her next feed, Arthur ran Merlin a bath, so he could have a soak and relax. Merlin normally had showers but he loved the occasional bath, but would only have one if Arthur was home, in case he slipped hauling himself out. Once the bath was run and full of bubbles Arthur lifted Merlin in and then sat on the loo seat to talk to him.
"Merlin I don't want you getting upset by what narrow minded people say, you're a great parent, and once you get used to the two of them you'll cope just fine. Don't let them undermine your confidence." He knelt on the floor by the bath. "Come on I'll clean you back."
"Just don't drop the soap like you did last time. I still don't know how it got down there." Merlin looked at him wide eyed and innocent.
"I should have put my trunks on first, I got soaked last time." Arthur grinned.
The water was nearly cold by the time Arthur lifted Merlin out of the bath. Then he cuddled up next to Merlin on the sofa, until Merlin was warm once more. They were nice and comfortable when they heard Gana start to cry.
"Your turn Dad, Daddy's staying here." Merlin laughed. Arthur got up and went to his daughter.
