Sorry for delay in posting. Life has been a bitch what more can I say. Thank you all for staying with me and I will try and improve and post quicker

...

Arthur snorted "I am in my early thirties mother not my dotage. Don't worry I'm sure Morgana and Leon will pop a sprog before long, then you'll have a grandchild to spoil. As for finding someone, I'm not desperate someone will come along."

"Not if all you do is work!" Ygraine looked fondly at her son." I am right aren't I? He's your type after all. You do fancy him don't you?"

"Mother keep your nose out please" Arthur pleaded.

Ygraine smiled she knew her son only too well. "Fine I will say no more, except don't hang around too long or someone else will snatch him up."

Back in the pottery Gwaine was grinning to himself, like Ygraine he had got the idea that his boss was smitten with the potter. He could see why. He himself had become friends with the young man very quickly. Gwaine liked him and also know he would be a good match for his friend and boss. But he was also concerned about Will, he had taken an instant dislike to the man. Going down to the studio he found Elena the only one left and she was just packing up.

"Hi Boss, you said we could go, no problem is there?"

"No Problem, I just wanted a word with you, could you come up to the office so we can speak in private" Gwaine asked the paintress "I won't keep you long"

"OK I'll pack up here and come up" Elena started to tidy her station and make sure everything was safely stored. The she double checked the other stations before making her way upstairs. Although they were all much of an age Gwen had always taken to role of 'mother' figure to them all even if she was only four years older. With Gwen off work Elena had taken on the mantle. Elena came across as clumsy and somewhat loud, but she cared deeply for her workmates, even if she was somewhat outspoken.

Going up to the office she knocked on the door and was called in. To her surprise Gwaine had a cappuccino waiting for her and a slice of cake. "It's apple, they had some in the café and I couldn't resist it." Gwaine said innocently.

It hadn't taken the staff long to find out their new managers love of apples. He was often seen munching on one as he worked. "Take a seat please"

Elena sat down and looked at Gwaine "Alright what do you want!" she demanded "It must be something, my favourite coffee and cake, I smell a rat, just spit it out"

Gwaine laughed "So it couldn't just be my kind heart?" he looked at the girl in front of him, he found her forthright ways a pleasant change, he knew she had a heart of gold under that front she put up. "Alright straight to the chase, I want to know about Will" he leaned back in his chair so it tilted on its back legs.

"Will? You mean Merlin's Will? What do you mean, you know I don't gossip" Elena looked at her boss "Ask Merlin"

"I would but I don't think now's the time, only Will's back. We found him and Merlin arguing when we took Lady Pendragon for a meal." Gwaine paused "Arthur rescued him, Will was getting a bit pushy wanting Merlin to take him back"

Elena's face told its own story as concern and anger crossed her face "The bastard! He's got a nerve after what he did. And today of all days" she glared at Gwaine "Did Pendragon hit him"

Gwaine laughed at her forthrightness "Not exactly he made out he was an item with Merlin and played the jealous card"

"Oh better still" Elena beamed "Will was always too sure of himself" she paused staying no more

"Look Elena I consider Merlin a friend and if I'm to help him I need to know what happened." He reached across for the cake in front of the woman. Elena slapped his hand away

"Get of you great oaf, that's mine." She snarled at him. Then sipping her drink she was clearly thinking "What do you need to know?"

"What happened, look I'm not a gossip but I want to keep an eye out and with Merlin on holiday I need to have a reason. If I am to help I have to know what went on. I could ask the gossips downstairs but I'd rather not."

Elena nodded "I'll tell you some of it, the rest you will have to ask Merlin. I guess you know that Merlin and Will grew up together and were friends long before they got involved?" Gwaine nodded "Well about six months before Hunith died Will moved in with Merlin. They had been dating for about a year. Although as they were best friends before that it was hard to tell when the dating started. Will helped Merlin to take Hunith to the hospital and supported him he was great to start with. Then after the funeral he seemed to think Merlin should just get on with life. Hunith had been like a mum to Will but once she had died it was like she hadn't existed." Elena stopped and ate some of her cake, clearly think what to say next.

Gwaine remained silent not pushing her. She continued "Merlin was devastated he and his mum had been so close. While she was alive he hid his grief so not to upset her, but the collapsed at the funeral. Will wasn't at all supportive and shouted at Merlin to pull himself together, then he went to the pub and left Merlin at the graveside" she looked at Gwaine "I mean at the funeral!"

Gwaine felt this fists clenching at the thought of his gentle friend being treated in such a way. Elena collected herself. "We supported him, but he needed Will. Merlin loved him deeply and it hurt him. All he wanted was for Will to hold him. Anyway Merlin forgave him, he told us it was because Will was grieving as well and couldn't cope! Merlin kept on making excuses for Will. But it was clear that Will wasn't helping Merlin at all. Will immediately wanted to sell the house and move into town, they argued about it. I think Will started to get domineering, I don't think he hit Merlin or anything but Merlin started only doing things if Will agreed first. Merlin lost his sparkle and was full of self doubt. He was doing everything at the house as well as working. Will worked at the mariner looking after the visiting yachts. When he got home he just wanted to go out, he wasn't helping Merlin at all. Anyway one day Will went home and packed a bag. He told Merlin that one of the owners wanted him to sail round the world with him. Will could navigate and knew boats and sailing inside out. I was on duty with Merlin when Will walked in with his bag and in front of everyone told Merlin that he was leaving him. Merlin had no idea until then that Will had anyone else. Will told Merlin that the man who he was going with was a proper man and not wallowing in misery, that he could be a partner to him, that the sex was great and not dull and boring. That he had found a man who looked after his body and wasn't a stick insect with large ears and no personality, and he was sick of carrying Merlin. That he wanted a man not a girl with a cock"

Elena had tears running down her face "He shouted so everyone one in the shop could hear. Merlin just crumbled. Elyan had caught the end of it and he hit Will, but the new boyfriend came in and dragged Will out. We never saw him again."

"The bastard" Gwaine was more than angry

"It took months for Merlin to look anyone in the eye, some of the girls were horrid to him. Laughing at him and retelling the story whenever we weren't about. A couple of them used to refer to Merlin as the finktwink whenever he was around and the manager was a bitch, and let it happen. You know he hasn't dated since, not even a one night stand. On the surface he's ok but he's broken inside. If it's about his pottery he can cope but personal stuff he has no self-esteem has taken him all this time to get where he sis today. He loved Will so much and for him to do that…."

Gwaine was shocked by the story and wished he had hit the man when he got the chance. "Thank you for telling me. I promise I will do my best to protect Merlin from him. For a start I will place a ban on him coming in the shop. I know that won't help now but it might if he stays about. I'll check on Merlin later, he was going for a walk this afternoon"

"That will be to the cliffs I expect" Elena looked thoughtful "I don't think Will will bother him there, he never liked the cliffs. He always said he wanted to be on the sea not looking down at it, personally I think he might have been scared of heights. I'll let the others know he's back, he had better keep out of Elyan's way."

Once the shop closed Gwaine rang Merlin on his mobile but got no answer so he decided to grab a quick bite then go to Merlin's house. Hopefully by then he would be home.

An hour later he rang Merlin again but this time got an answer but it wasn't Merlin but Gwen. "Hello Gwaine, Merlin is asleep"

"Where is he?" Gwaine asked

"With us, he will stay here tonight. Elyan found him up at the cliffs this afternoon and talked him into coming here. We have a spare room and Dad doesn't mind" Gwen explained. "Elena told us that he's back" the girls tone told Gwaine all he needed to know.

"Ok thanks for that" Gwaine was pleased that Merlin was safe. But he decided to go along the front to see if he could find Will. He found him in the fourth pub he went in. Gwaine walked up and sat down next to the man who had clearly been drinking. Will looked up and seeing who it was immediately got belligerent.

"What the fuck to you want" he demanded. "Piss off I didn't say you could sit here"

"Don't worry I won't be long. Just wanted to have a word. I might not have known Merlin long, but I do know he is better off without you, so why don't you just catch a train somewhere tomorrow and don't come back."

"It's no business of yours! We will be back together soon, you don't think that ponce will take my man from me do you? You don't know Merlin he loves me and always will" came the slurred comeback,

"He did once, but why I'm not sure, but it's been a long time and you hurt him too much, you were a right bastard and lost a good man through it, he's better off without you, now I won't repeat it clear off and don't come back" Gwaine was an affable man until he was roused then he could be as hard as nails. He had also been in enough fights over the years to no he could handle himself.

Will had drunk too much to see the signs "Yeh, well I'm going nowhere. So push off and leave me alone. You blokes with money think you can do whatever you want, well it doesn't always work"

"Is that what happened? Your new man threw you overboard when he got fed up? So you think you can walk back in with Merlin, is that it?" Gwaine snarled "Well think again, he's found someone who will look after him as he deserves, in fact they're perfect for each other."

Will looked at Gwaine, he wasn't quite as sure of himself all of a sudden. "Yeh wait and see" he snarled back. With that he got up and staggered out.

At Gwen's Merlin had a disturbed night, his dreams involved both Will and Arthur. He dreamt of growing up with Will and the good times. At one stage he was dreaming of making love with Will only to find that half way through he changed and it was Arthur. Then woke up as the day Will left replayed in this mind and he relived the despair and hurt of that day. The next morning when Merlin woke up he felt more tired than he had when he went to bed.

Gwen and Elyan were concerned at the dark shadows under his eyes and how low he appeared. But after a breakfast he left telling them both that he needed to go home so after thanking them he headed back to the cottage. It was nearly lunchtime by the time he had done a bit of shopping and had arrived back at the cottage. Pulling into the gate way he got the carrier bags out of the boot of his car, he would open the doors and put his car in the garage later. He walked up the path and put the bags down before getting his key in the lock. To his surprise and dismay he found it was already unlocked "Oh shit I forgot to lock up" he muttered as he opened the door praying he wouldn't find he had been burgled that was all he needed.

As he pushed the door open and he walked into the kitchen he was pleased to see everything thing seemed Ok. So with a relieved sigh he put the bags on the kitchen table kitchen then he began to put things away. He was bending down to put the milk in the fridge when he felt two hands grasp his waist. At the same time as hearing "God I've missed that view"

Merlin whirled around his facial expression once of dismay and shock as he realised it was Will "How the hell did you get in!" he pulled away from the hands that held him.

But Will tightened his grip. "Don't pull away, I got in using my key of course, aren't you pleased to see me and where have you been I got here hours ago" Will demanded before moving in for a kiss. He smelt of the stale alcohol he had drunk before and hadn't made any effort to wash or shave.

Merlin jerked backwards hitting his back against the work surface. "Get out! You have no business coming into my home. Get out and leave the key"

"Oh come on Merl, there's no need to be like that, Look I'm sorry Ok, I shouldn't have left but I couldn't cope. But I'm back now and back to stay" Wills voice had that tone to it that in the past had made Merlin agree to anything. But times had changed, he would never forget that day in the shop, even without his dreams the night before he still remembered every word.

"No Will, I said go, you aren't welcome here and never will be, I don't even think I can be friends anymore let alone anything else" Merlin tried to make his voice sound calm and determined, so that Will didn't hear the hurt and anger he still felt. "Now don't touch me, put the key on the table and leave, before I call the police. You had no right to enter my house"

Merlin pulled himself away from Will's grasp. But the other man wasn't going to give up that easily. He looked at Merlin "You don't mean that, not you Merl, you love me, it's not that fancy man of yours is it? Look forget him I'm back, hell I don't blame you having a bit of fun but you have me now. He won't stay with you, I've read about him, he's a player, he's using you and will soon spit you out. Come on love I've been waiting for you, give me a hug" the he winked, knowing full well that always made Merlin's heart flip. He knew all Merlin's buttons and would press then all to get his own way. As soon as he'd seen his old lover again he knew he wanted him back.

"No Will I don't, and won't not again, what makes you think you can just waltz back into my life? You left me remember. Now what did you say and in front of all my friends? Oh I remember 'the man I'm leaving you for is a proper man and not wallowing in misery, a proper partner that gives me exciting sex that is great and not dull and boring. You had found a man who looked after his body and wasn't a stick insect with large ears and no personality, and you were sick of carrying Me. That you wanted a man not a girl with a cock'. Does that ring a bell?" Merlin spat out the words. "Well I found I could live without you so go away!"

"Merlin don't be bitter, you know I didn't mean it" Will said not wanting to hear what Merlin was saying, he quickly moved and grabbed Merlin and kissed him holding the other man's arms down at his sides. Merlin struggled and freed himself then lifted his hand and his fist hit Will across the face as hard as he could. But without much room to swing it didn't have much force behind it. Even so Will fell backwards. Merlin had good upper body strength and the blow was enough to set Will back, but not for long. Will had worked on sailing boats all this life and was strong and Merlin was no match for him. Will grabbed Merlin again, and it was clear what he was going to try to do. Merlin looked Will in the eye.

"So rape your thing now is it Will? Because that's what it will be." Merlin gasped, at the same time feeling behind him for anything he could reach.

Will paused just a second, allowing Merlin to gasp the wine bottle he had placed in the side. He had bought it to give to Arthur next time he saw, him as a thank you for the meal. Seeing Merlin pick up the bottle Will forced his hand down "You wouldn't, violence isn't you Merlin"

"I didn't think this was you either" Merlin gasped out "Stop Will please don't do this"

In the struggle the bottle fell to the floor and smashed. The noise seemed to bring Will back to his senses, and he forced Merlin back against the work surface once more and again kissed Merlin more in anger than passion, before Merlin forced the other man off, falling over as he did so.

Will looked down at the man on the floor "You'll regret this Merlin, you've had your chance to get back together. Now you can be a lonely old man, the ponce won't stay with you, his sort wouldn't want to keep you around for long, you'll wake up one day and realise he is just using you" With that Will grabbed his bag from the side and left. "I give you a couple of weeks and you'll be begging me to come back."

Merlin led there for a moment then pushing himself upright he walked to the side door and closing and locking it, and put the bolts across, he then stumbled to the front door and made sure that was bolted. Then he sank down on his knees behind the door and his body shock. He would never have believed Will would act in such a way.

He wasn't sure how long he had been there when he got up and walked into the kitchen and looked at the mess. He picked up the larger pieces of glass then started to sweep up the remaining glass before moping the floor. It was while he was doing that that he realised he was bleeding form several small cuts from where he had fallen on glass. But he finished what he was doing before going up and showering and cleaning himself up as best he could. He was on autopilot not wanting to acknowledge what had happened. Pulling a hoody on and same lose jogging bottoms he sat on the edge of his bed and zoned out for a while.

Then realising he had things to do he went downstairs and started to put away the rest of his groceries. Then he forced himself to think about what happened and realised he needed to make sure Will never surprise him again. He got out the yellow pages and looked at locksmiths. Normally he did as much as he could himself but he knew his head wasn't in the right place so he rang round and found someone who would replace the back door lock that day. The front door could remain bolted for now. But he needed to know that Will couldn't use his key again. The cost horrified him but he went ahead. He needed that piece of mind more than the money.