Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin or any of the characters in the series, I'm just borrowing them from their respective owners to play with a little and I promise to give them back when I'm done. No copyright infringement is intended and I don't make any money from writing fanfiction.

Facing the facts

Forced to deal with the situation by their (meddling, well-meaning and somewhat overbearing) friends, Merlin and Arthur manages to establish a tentative truce.

The next morning Arthur woke up to the heavenly smell of freshly brewed coffee and a less than pleasant discussion with his sister and he solemnly swore that his revenge would be doing his outmost to embarrass Leon on his stag party when that day finally came. Maybe he'd force him to walk around as a drag queen, or perhaps in one of those horrible jumpsuits. Yes, that was it, a pink jumpsuit would look terrific with that curly blonde hair and…

"Arthur." His sister's sharp voice broke through his thoughts and he looked up to find her suspiciously glaring at him. "Are you listening?"

"Yes" he said straightening up. "I've been a horrible person and a bloody idiot and I should apologize to Merlin and make it up to him by offering him more hours at the office." As much as Arthur realized that what he'd done wasn't exactly something to be proud of he just whished that everyone would just stop rubbing it in his face and let him handle it in his own way and in his own time. Apparently he wasn't to be trusted to do that since Leon sighed and Morgana's eyes narrowed when they heard his response.

"What?" Arthur asked angrily. "Ow!"

"Sorry, brother dear, but you deserved that" she said, causally leaning back on the couch after having smacked him over the head. "As thick-headed as you are it shouldn't leave any lasting damage" she added smirking and Arthur glared accusingly at Leon for support.

"Sorry, mate, but I don't fancy sleeping on the couch tonight" Leon mumbled apologetically and Arthur huffed something about his friend being thoroughly whipped.

"You're not making it up to Merlin by reinstating the hours that you cut, which I might add, lead him to nearly not being able to pay his rent, that goes without saying" Morgana said looking at him sternly and Arthur was prepared to admit that in this case then maybe he was a bit whipped as well. He would certainly not argue with Morgana when she'd made up her mind like that. "You will, however, make this up to him by doing something nice for him" she continued and Arthur stared at her unbelievingly.

"Do something nice?" he said, making it sound like a completely foreign concept. "Like what, by him flowers?" This time it was Morgana that sighed and Leon went as far as putting his face into his hands and groan.

"And to believe that this one has actually been engaged to an actual human being" Morgana muttered but Arthur paid no attention to the insult as he had suddenly had a vision of himself and Merlin, in a large hotel suite where every surface was covered in roses. How the soft candle light would create shadows dancing on the walls and how he'd scatter rose petals all over Merlin's body to see the contrast between pale skin and blood red roses, how he'd gently brush them aside as he kissed and licked all over Merlin's body before wrapping his lips around…

"Arthur!" His sister's shout startled him and had him looking guiltily from her to Leon and then back again, as if they'd somehow been able to read his thoughts. He blushed bright red at the thought and that didn't escape Morgana's notice.

"Seriously, Arthur, for how long are you going to live your life the way Uther dictates it?" Morgana asked brusquely. "You were thinking about him just now, weren't you?" she continued and her tone softened a little. Arthur abruptly stood and went over to the window, his jaw set in a firm line.

"I most definitely was not thinking about Uther" he snapped, deliberately misinterpreting who his sister was talking about, but there was no fooling Morgana and the look in her eyes almost resembled pity.

"If you say so" she mumbled, sharing a knowing look with her fiancé.

The first thing that Arthur did when he came to the office was to call Merlin into his office to apologize. As he ushered the paralegal inside he rolled his eyes at Morgana who tried to look casual standing with a mug of coffee in the small kitchenette it was clear that she observed what was going on to make sure that he followed through. As he disappeared through the door himself he couldn't resist giving his sister a rude two-fingered salute as a parting gift but unfortunately Gwen stood next to Morgana and she looked less than impressed with his behavior. Arthur winced, it clearly wasn't his day today, and if he didn't watch out he would soon have to apologize to the whole firm for the sole reason of existing.

As soon as the door closed behind the two of them Merlin started nervously fiddling with the cuffs of his shirt and Arthur motioned towards the small couch with what he hoped was a friendly smile.

"Please sit down Merlin, I need to talk to you." Merlin complied although he sat on the very edge of the couch, looking ready to run off at any minute. Arthur took a deep breath.

"First I would like to apologize…"

When they emerged from the office around an hour later Arthur wasn't surprised to see not only Morgana and Gwen throwing anxious glances towards his office, but also Leon, Gwaine and Lancelot, and, for some weird reason, Percival. Arthur smiled wryly when he realized that at least someone had thought that this meeting might require assistance from security personnel. Merlin went back to his desk and immediately he was surrounded by Gwen and Gwaine asking him a million questions while Lancelot got all of them coffee. Arthur, who soon realized that if he wanted any coffee he'd have to get it himself, made his way over to the kitchen and responded to Morgana's questioning look with a shrug of his shoulders.

"What?"

"Well?" she prompted. "Did you apologize?"

"Oh, ye of little faith" Arthur scoffed, sneaking a shortbread to go with the coffee. "Yes, I did, you harpy, now will you get off my back?"

"Not just yet." Morgana's eyes narrowed and she blocked the way as Arthur tried to get back to the safety of his office. "What else did you say?" she wanted to know and Arthur growled at the question, pushed roughly past her and slammed the door to his office behind him. Even if she meant well, there were still some things regarding his private life that Arthur preferred to keep just private.