"You okay now, love?" Uther cradled Merlin's head in his hands and wiped the few tears that were left away with his thumbs. He smiled at Merlin before leaning in for a soft kiss.

Merlin nodded in Uther's hands.

"But you must let Gaius examine you, please. I just want to know everything's okay."

"Alright." Merlin answered.

"And we also need to inform the people that they should expect a child in nine months." Uther added happily. His eyes shone with mirth.

"No we can't tell them!" Merlin said, panic in his voice and his hands gripping Uther's upper arms tightly. Then he lowered his head and softly added, "And it's just seven left."

"What? Why can't we tell the people, and what do you mean with just seven left?" He cocked his head and brought Merlin's head up again by putting a finger under Merlin's chin. "Love, what's the matter?" Uther added when he saw Merlin's eyes tearing up again.

Merlin breathed deeply in. "I'm two months pregnant." His bottom lip started to quiver. "I-I couldn't tell you. Kilgharrah, he spoke of how the new beginning would bring doom and I – I couldn't let you know until I was sure everything was alright, but I'm still unsure, you weren't even supposed to find out already. I just wanted to keep it a secret, just a little longer but –"

"Merlin," Uther said, but Merlin rambled on.

"- then Arthur and Lancelot saw me vomit and –"

"Merlin!" Uther said a bit louder and grabbed Merlin's hands in his. "Merlin, calm down and take a moment to breathe." Uther added when Merlin stopped talking for a minute and looked up at him. "Start from the beginning. When did the Dragon tell you this?"

"T-two months ago." Merlin took in a quivering breath. "It was in the week when we made up after we stopped our fighting. That day when I needed to go to the clearing."

Uther nodded his head, a tiny smile forming in the right corner of his mouth. He remembered them making up several times that week.

"I – I was just so scared." Merlin admitted. "He told me moments before confirming I was pregnant that with the new beginning there will also come doom, a-and I thought it was about the child, I was afraid I would lose it. I couldn't let you go through that, that's why I wanted to wait until I was sure." Merlin started to sniffle and one tear dripped down his cheek. "And now the secret is out. What if – what if people want to harm our child?" Merlin buried his head in his husband's chest and Uther brought up his hands, softly shushing him.

"Merlin, do you really think I let someone harm you, or our baby?"

"No." Merlin answered after letting himself calm down a little bit more.

"Merlin, I will do everything for you, you know that." He waited until he saw Merlin nod and then embraced Merlin tightly again.

"But we need to let everyone know. It will only make them more nervous if you're suddenly surrounded with knights. They will speculate and gossip and we both don't want that."

Uther sat back again and smiled at Merlin. "And don't you want to tell Arthur he's going to be a big brother? I'm sure if he hears about it he'll be your personal guard at all times." Uther shook his head in amusement.

"Alright." Merlin finally answered softly, looking down. Then he lifted his head. "Alright, let's tell them." He said again, more firmer this time and nodding his head.

"Good." Uther answered, bending forwards to press a gentle kiss on Merlin's forehead. "Then I'll let them in."

Uther got off the bed and opened to the door. When he opened them he was immediately met with Gaius, Lancelot and Arthur's concerned faces but he didn't tell them anything yet. Instead he opened the door a little more to let everyone in, before he closed it behind them again and took his spot next to Merlin. He looked at his husband first before turning to the trio.

"We have something to announce." He smiled broadly, while Merlin barely managed something more than a twitching of his lips. "Merlin is pregnant. Two months already."

A heavy silence fell, until after several moments the congratulations streamed in. Except from Arthur that was. He just stared blankly at the bed.

"Arthur?" Merlin called his name when he noticed that Arthur hadn't said anything.

"T-two months?"

Merlin nodded, his smile now widening.

"B-but we trained – oh god, what if I have…"

"Arthur, it's okay." Merlin quickly assured. "Hadn't you noticed I had a different stance?"

"Well, yes. I did, but I thought –" Arthur rubbed his forehead.

Merlin got off the bed to get to Arthur. "You have done nothing wrong. I made sure nothing would happen to the baby. To your sibling."

Arthur inhaled sharply, he hadn't even made that connection yet. His hand went towards Merlin's stomach, but he drew it back at the last moment. Merlin chuckled softly. "You can touch, if you want. It's just that there isn't much to feel as of now. That'll take another month or two I think."

Merlin looked at Gaius to confirm. "Maybe even another month." Gaius said, "Every pregnancy is different. Some mothers feel their child move eary while the other mothers feel it later."

"Merlin, may I examine you now? To ensure your and your child's health?" Gaius asked, and Merlin nodded. He then looked around him, silently asking with his eyes for some privacy. Uther noticed immediately and bustled his son and the knight out of the room before swiftly closing it behind him. Merlin then went to lie on the bed and scrunched his top up and let his old guardian examine him.

~oOoOo~

That night, Merlin and Uther were lying in their bed. Merlin had his head on Uther's shoulder and Uther had drawn his arm around him, keeping him close. Merlin had thought about everything that happened that day.

After Gaius was done and had told him that everything went as it was supposed to be, Uther had taken Merlin to a different room and had discussed yet again about the fact that they should inform the people, sooner rather than later. Merlin had finally yielded and said that there was no time like the present and so they immediately sent out some squires to tell the people there will be an announcement made within the hour.

The citadel was laden with people when Merlin and Uther walked onto the balcony overlooking the square and they were greeted with applause. Then Uther had stepped forward and announced the news of the pregnancy. People clapped even harder and were cheering and celebrating and Merlin let out a breath he didn't knew he was holding. He was glad that the people took it well.

Uther also hadn't forgot about his promise and immediately set up groups of personal guards for Merlin that would rotate through the entire day. And as Uther had expected, Arthur had volunteered as well. Uther had told his son that he could be extra surveillance as he had usually other things to attend to during the day, which had made Arthur put on a grumpy face.

It had been a tiring day for Merlin. But he was happy that he could finally let go of the secret and could now enjoy his pregnancy in the fullest. But Kilgharrah's warning never strayed far from his mind.

"What you thinking off, love?" Uther's voice cut through his absent mind and Merlin briefly flicked his eyes up to meet Uther's before snuggling closer to his husband.

"Just about today." He answered curtly. Uther hummed then breathed in deeply.

"Just seven months left." He mumbled. "We need to start the preparations."

Merlin groaned softly. "Not now, enough time left." He looked back up to Uther and saw the calmness and serenity on his face, with a smile playing at his lips. "Why weren't you freaking out when I told you I was with child?" Merlin asked as he traced a pattern with his fingers on Uther's chest.

Uther chuckled. "Oh I was… when I first thought of the possibility about a week ago." He moved his head forward to kiss Merlin on his hair. "But I had time to adjust to it, and now I am just extremelyhappy."

Merlin nodded on Uther's chest. Sleep was already starting to claim him and he yawned loudly. Uther stroked his fingers gingerly up and down Merlin's arm. "Sleep, love. Tomorrow's another day."


So the secret is out, we can focus on the pregnancy and such.

And here's a happy late Christmas from me! :)