Here's the new chapter! Sorry I haven't been updating lately. Finals have been terrible! But I figured I'd try to update more over the holiday season as a gift to all of you, so expect updates once a week at the very least! This story will be around 18 chapters, so we are more than halfway there! Anyways, enjoy the chapter. Happy holiday's and happy 2016.

Chapter 10

Merlin hated going to church and Sunday brunch with Arthur's family. There! He said it! Well, not that it was a secret, but still! Oh yes, he now considered Arthur one of his closest friends, and yes, he adored Morgana like a sister. The problem was with Uther. He would always manage to make the most uncomfortable comments at the table, and it unnerved Merlin to no end. He could tell it had the same affect on Arthur and Morgana although Morgana was the only one who spoke against Uther. That would lead to some sort of fight between them, and Uther would drag Arthur and Merlin into it, and it was just tiring.

Half of the time, those uncomfortable comments stemmed from ignorance of homosexuality. Uther would stupidly ask Merlin questions about the entirety of the gay populace as if he represented all of them! Honestly, who thinks it's okay to ask, "So Merlin, why do your people speak in such a feminine manner?" Morgana had a fit with that one.

The other half of the uncomfortable questions centered on their relationship, and those were even worse! He remembered two weeks ago he was just peacefully sipping some coffee as Arthur was telling him about this great movie they should see that night. When Merlin agreed to go, Uther rudely cut in and asked the boys if they needed condoms. Morgana had a laughing fit with that one.

Now Merlin was sitting at the brunch table in the Pendragon house after another church visit. Uther was making comments about the service and how nice it was while the three teenagers kept quiet. Once Uther finished with his praise of the church, Arthur asked, "That's great Father. You know what caught my attention? How the priest talked about making your own decisions and living life freely."

Uther nodded, "Yes, I would expect you to like that part."

Morgana bit her bottom lip to keep from groaning at that comment. Arthur flushed and took a deep breath before continuing, "It actually reminded me of Morgana and how she is at a school she doesn't like. I think she should transfer to a public school."

Uther raised an eyebrow, "Arthur, do you think it is appropriate to bring up a topic like that during brunch?"

Arthur didn't seem intimidated; "Almost as appropriate as asking if I properly preparing Merlin during dinner."

"WHAT?" Merlin exclaimed, flushing.

Uther blushed at that as well. "I was making sure you weren't hurting the boy!" He snapped. "I was doing research, and I found out it's very different for two men! You could seriously hurt him if you're not preparing him in the proper manner!"

"Oh my God…"

"Still," Arthur cut in, "it was definitely not the right time to have that conversation! So I figured if you can bring up stuff like that, I can bring up how unhappy Morgana is at private school."

"You are unhappy at private school?" he turned to Morgana, who immediately nodded in response. Huh, he supposed he should have expected that. Now that he thought about it, he never saw Morgana with anyone from her school. She appeared to be friendlier with Arthur's friends than anyone at her school.

"I get along much better with Arthur and Merlin's friends than I do with the girls there," Morgana stated, voicing Merlin's inner thoughts. "I'd much rather go to their school, and I don't think it's too much to ask."

Clearly you did if you asked Arthur to talk to him about it, Merlin thought to himself but he didn't dare speak out loud.

Uther appeared to be thinking about it and eventually he sighed. "Alright… I'll transfer you."

Morgana smirked, and Arthur beamed back at her.

"But!" Uther smiled almost devilishly. "Arthur has to show around one of the new boys coming to our school in a couple of days."

Arthur instantly groaned, "Why?"

"Because you are my son," Uther answered as though it were obvious. "It would be good for the principal's son to show leadership to those who are new. Are we agreed?"

Arthur sighed and nodded, much to Morgana's joy. She immediately beamed and whispered, "Thank you, Arthur."

"No problem," he grumbled. "I still can't believe I have to show around some new kid."

"Maybe it'll be fun," Merlin offered in support.

Arthur shrugged. "Maybe."

After a few more minutes, the Pendragon family (and Merlin) finished their meal. As Uther and Morgana left, Merlin remembered that it was their turn to do the dishes. For some reason, the Pendragon family liked to rotate who would do the chores. Since Uther considered Merlin part of the family for some reason, it meant Merlin was included in this rotation. Luckily, Uther insisted he do the chores with Arthur instead of doing it on his own.

"It is good practice for when you two will live together after you graduate," Uther chided in.

Merlin blushed when he remembered that particular comment. Without speaking, Merlin began picking up the dishes on the table with Arthur, who was just as silent. Maybe he was remembering the strange comment Uther made as well. They made their way into the kitchen and started their usual routine (Merlin washing, and Arthur drying).

Feeling as though he were suffocating by the silence, Merlin spoke up, "It was nice of you to stand up for Morgana."

Arthur smiled. "Thanks. I knew she wasn't happy at that school, and I think it would be fun if she transferred to my school. It would definitely make things more interesting."

Merlin nodded in agreement, "It's nice you're so close to her." He casually commented.

"Yeah, we've been close since we were children," Arthur smiled softly.

Merlin beamed. "That's nice. You know, when I was growing up, I always wanted a sibling."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Elyan and Gwen were always close growing up, and I really wanted that kind of relationship with a sibling, you know?"

"It's not like that all the time," Arthur warned. "Morgana and I may be really close, but we fought all the time as kids. Some maids quit because they couldn't handle it, and I don't really blame them. We were the devil's children back then."

Merlin snorted. "I can imagine. That hasn't exactly changed, you know."

"Thanks Merlin."

"You're welcome!" He beamed.

Arthur smirked, and the two continued to clean the dishes. When Arthur put the last plate away, he turned around to see Merlin staring at him curiously. Before he could comment, Merlin said, "I think the real reason I wanted a sibling was because that meant my dad would have to come home to my mom. If I got another brother or sister, it meant I'd have a dad."

Arthur's expression softened and he rubbed the back of his neck. "I know the feeling. When Morgana started living with us, I thought I'd have a new mom. I wasn't sure how I felt about that. I remember staring at the door sometimes waiting for my new mom to show up, but she never did. I don't remember feeling relieved or abandoned whenever the door didn't open, but I know Morgana did. I used to hold her hand and tell her that if her mom won't come home then she made a big mistake."

"That's cute," Merlin smiled. "Will would tell me the same thing about my dad."

"He was right," Arthur admitted, glad the topic of Will wasn't depressing Merlin like it usually did. Perhaps it was due to the fact they were on another depressing topic. "And besides, now you have a new dad. Mine."

The smile instantly dropped from Merlin's face. "What do you mean?"

"You haven't noticed?" Arthur grinned evilly. "He treats you like a son-in-law!"

"Oh no," Merlin paled.

"Welcome to the family, Merlin."

"I'm sorry Arthur, but this fake relationship is no longer going to work out for me," Merlin stated.

"It's too late for that now!" Arthur swung his arm around Merlin's shoulders. "You're one of us now! Merlin Pendragon. Sounds kind of nice, doesn't it?"

"Yes it does!" Uther suddenly shouted, and the two boys froze.

Arthur immediately blushed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Oh no…"

Merlin whirled around, his eyes wide, "Did he just…?"

"Yep."

"Do we have to convince your family that we're not married now?"

"Possibly."

Merlin groaned, practically burying his face in Arthur's shoulder.

This is why he hated Sunday brunch!

Thanks for reading! The next update should be around next week. Let me know what you thought about the chapter! In the next chapter, Arthur discovers some startling information about Merlin's past.