Modern times, London

'Argh…' Merlin Emry's jolted up abruptly off the lounge she had 'affectionately' nicknamed lumpy, and slapped her hands over her ears, trying desperately to drown out the inhuman screeching noise echoing round the small flat. She groaned as her head pounded, and her mouth pulled down into what she assumed was a really unattractive grimace.

She turned her head, bleary eyed , and glared at her Uncle who smiled cheerfully back at her, his bright, too short, red dressing gown making her want to scrub her eyes out with soap.

Or maybe I should just go right ahead and just scratch them out. Saves the trouble, she thought, before turning away from him with a groan, burying her head in the doona.

'Oh god, why?' she mumbled, pulling her pillow over her head to muffle the noise.

'Good morning, Merlin,' Uncle Gaius said way too cheerfully, flipping the coffee machine off and pouring himself a huge cup, sighing as he took a sip.

Merlin opened one eye and glared at him. 'Was there a need?' she asked, gesturing at him, coffee machine and the too short dressing gown that was an inch from causing life-long trauma.

Gaius raised an eyebrow at her.

'Good morning to you too! I see you're not a morning person.'

Merlin sat up; blowing the heavy dark curls that fell into her face with a loud huff.

'Usually I'm the sunniest, most cheerful, Disneyesque morning person on the whole damn planet, okay? But since my most definitely EX- boyfriend Daniel- soon to be eunuch- Valiant decided 'you know what would be a fun thing to do today? Smack Merlin around' and gave me a concussion and a headache that feels like dull nails are digging into my brain I got two hours sleep last night. So, excuse me if I am a little grumpy this morning.'

Merlin crossed her arms over her chest, and decided she would ignore how Gaius's shoulders were shaking as he tried to hold back laughter. She turned her head away and stared at the wall, uncaring at how childish she knew she looked.

She blinked as a mug was suddenly held in front of her and the decadent, oh-so tempting aroma of coffee wafted in her noise. She gave a groan and wrapped her hands around the mug, and took a huge sip, wincing as she burned her tongue.

The lounge dipped as Gaius sat down and she turned to look at him, as she moved her tongue, frowning at the uncomfortable feeling.

'Feel better?' Gaius asked, kindly, his lips only twitching a little bit as he took a sip of his own now lukewarm coffee.

Merlin blinked up at him, before giving a small, sheepish smile.

'Heaps.'

Gaius leaned back and studied the young who sat curled up on his couch, eyebrows furrowed.

'I think it's safe to say you've moved on from denial to anger.'

Merlin's eyes narrowed as she lifted a hand to touch the line of stitches above her right brow.

'Yeah and if I ever see that prick again, I promise that he'll be looking a lot worse than I am.'

Gaius chuckled, as he placed his mug on the coffee table.

'I wouldn't expect anything less.'

Merlin blew on her coffee, and wriggled in the silence that followed.

'Thank you, by the way. You know, for setting me up here last night, and stitching me up. Literally. I just…you know how Uther is. He would have just sent me packing straight back to Daniel.'

Gaius expression suddenly darkened. Yes, he knew all about Merlin's step-father, Uther, more than the girl knew herself. The man hadn't changed from one lifetime to the next and has made it his life to cause misery and pain wherever he went. Expect this time around, he focused on one person in particular- Merlin.

Uther had married Gaius's sister Hunith when the girl was only seven years old and had taken one look at her and knew that she was different. Something Uther could never tolerate. And there had started the gradual isolation of Merlin and Hunith from the rest of her, including Gaius, his wife Freya and their son Lance.

He'd never been more shocked in his life when Merlin had shown up last night shaking in the rain, wearing nothing but a drench nightgown, her dark hair slick to her head and blood dribbling down her face.

The horrible thing is that he had never made the connection that his sister's daughter, the large-eyed, wild haired Linny had been their Merlin. The Merlin they had searching for and who hadn't been reborn since her death in Camelot. The Merlin who had stood before him last night, her face pale and drawn as she smiled sadly, and said 'Hello Uncle Gaius.'

That greeting alone had been enough to confirm his worst fears. Merlin had no memories of her past.

'Uncle Gaius,' Merlin asked, ducking down to look at him, her eyes wide with worry. 'Hey, you okay?'

Gaius blinked and looked at her blankly. 'What?'

Merlin gave him an odd look. 'Are you okay? You kind of blanked out there.'

Gaius shook his head and gave her a too-bright smile as he stood and made his way over to the kitchen.

'Don't worry, I'm just thinking. You hungry? I was thinking of making some breakfast. Your Aunt Freya should be home from her night-shift at the hospital soon.'

Merlin shook her head slowly, before standing up and pulling the oversized shirt she was wearing further down her thighs as she walked towards the kitchen, stepping over the sleeping black kitten, Mordred, who lifted his head to glare at her before laying it down again.

Merlin rolled her eyes at it. Damn evil cat, she thought, as she sat down on one of the benches, and watched her Uncle Gaius move around the kitchen.

He had been acting weird ever since she'd turned up last night. She'd caught him staring at her during the night as Aunt Freya had rushed around, bringing out an old shirt of her cousin Lance's and piling blanket upon blanket over her and force-feeding her food. It was almost expectant. Like he was waiting for something to happen.

Merlin tugged on the edge of her shirt, and asked quickly, before she lost her nerve, 'Uncle Gaius, are you weirded out by the whole magic thing?'

Gaius froze before swinging around, holding the spatula in mid-air, frowning.

He put the spatula down on the counter and came to stand in front of her, taking her hand in one of his.

'Why would I be?'

Merlin shrugged, looking lost. 'Uther always was. He hates me for it. And you've been acting weird so I just thought…'

Gaius shook his head, smiling kindly. 'Uther's an idiot. I've known about your…your mum told me about your abilities through letters when you were little. I have to admit I thought she was insane. That was, of course, until Lance came back from staying at your house, chattering some nonsense about dancing ginger-bread men.'

'I remember that. I threatened to beat him if he tattled,' she laughed before she sobered. 'Uncle Gaius, you know that eventually Uther will wise up enough to come looking for me here, right? I'm going to have to find somewhere else to hide out, cause I sure as hell am not going back to that git, even kicking and screaming.'

Gaius nodded, looking sombre. 'I know. But don't worry, someone has just moved out of the flat where Lance lives with a bunch of friends. I was going to give a call and see if it's still open.'

Merlin's eyes widened and she grinned. 'Thank you so much, Uncle Gaius. I really appreciate it.'

Gaius smiled. 'You're welcome,' and then he lifted his head as he heard the front door creak open, 'That must be your Aunt Freya. Can you go help her with the groceries?'

The phone rang in his ear as Gaius stood in the kitchen, peeking through the doorway to watch Merlin and Freya talking like old-friends and munching on peanut M & Ms as they watched some ridiculous make-over show on the television.

He inched back into the kitchen as the phone suddenly clicked on and a familiar bright voice sang, 'Hello.'

'Hello Gwen.'

'Gaius,' she said, and he could hear the smile in her voice, 'how are you? What have you been up to? Lance is still on the camping trip with the boys if you're looking for him? Not that I think you'd only ring to talk to him, of course,' she said, hurriedly, not stopping for breath.

Gaius smiled, despite himself and interrupted quickly, 'I'm fine, thank you, Gwen. And actually I was ringing to ask you something.'

'What's up?' she asked, her voice curious.

'Is that room still up for rent at the flat?'

'Uh…yeah it is. Why, what's going on Gaius? Is Freya finally kicking you out?' she joked, trying to cover up the sudden anxiousness in her voice.

Gaius closed his eyes, chuckling weakly. 'Not yet. I just have someone who desperately needs a place to stay.'

Gwen was silent for a second before, 'Who?'

'Merlin's here, Gwen,' he told her, and heard her sudden intake of breath and a loud crash as something clattered to the floor in the apartment, 'We found her.'

'Oh my god!'