I hope you all enjoyed the last chapter.

And here comes the angst…

…

Next Monday was Merlin's day of. When he woke up around midday he didn't expect Arthur lying on the couch instead of going to work and facing the consequences of his actions; facing his father, who hadn't made any contact during the weekend after Morgana's birthday.

"What are you doing here?" he said sleepily. Arthur, instead of answering held out a piece of paper to him. Merlin read it quietly.

"I don't understand…How…?"

"It's quite simple Merlin. My father threw me out of my office, fired me actually. And I have an official paper claiming just that, with his signature and seal and everything".

"But…He didn't say anything?"

"Oh, yes…He said that I wasn't a son of his, that if my mother was alive she would disown me and that he didn't wish to see me again or hear about me. Any more questions?"

Merlin didn't know what to say. That was too much, even for Uther.

"I'm so sorry Arthur. He will come to his senses, you will see. Did you speak with Morgana?"

"She tried to reason with him but he wouldn't listen. The whole company heard our voices though".

Merlin sat next to him and stroke his smooth hair.

"What can I do? Is there anything you need?"

"No, you've done enough already", his tongue was bitter.

"Don't be like that", Merlin pleaded but the blond man didn't reply. He wasn't a quitter though.

"I will make something nice for us to eat and then we could go for a walk, ok? You will feel better with your stomach full. Or maybe I could prepare a bath for you and then you should get some sleep. You look like you need it". Arthur still didn't utter a word. He stood up, grabbed his keys and left, closing the door behind him with a loud thump.

…

'Arthur, I understand you need some time alone but call me ok?'

'Baby it's been hours…I'm worried'.

'Come home…Please…'

'Just text me and let me know you are ok, please! Don't be a brat'

It was almost midnight and Merlin was going frantic, leaving one voice message after another to Arthur's phone and still no answer. Finally Morgana called him, informing him that her brother would stay at her place for the night and not to wait up for him. She tried to sound reassuring but Merlin could hear that she was also worried about him, her voice rough with emotion. He thanked her for thinking about calling him (as he was sure that it wasn't Arthur's initiative) and tried to get some, much needed, sleep.

Things got worse after that. It wasn't like Arthur didn't have money, he had worked his whole life and had his own bank accounts along with what his mother had left him. He could support his grandchildren financially and he hadn't even turned thirty. It was his father's behavior that tore him apart. He had worked really hard for everything, even for Uther's love and he wasn't at all used to just sitting around waiting for Merlin to be back from work. And he didn't appreciate him petting him too.

So as the weeks passed, he was getting home even more late at night, most of the time drunk and always accusing Merlin about everything that went wrong in his life. Merlin would rush to his side, aid him in any way he could, sober him up and put him to bed, not allowing everyone to see how Arthur's words stung into his heart and soul. Every time he would try to reason with him but the older man's ego was getting in the way. And one night, after three months in hell, the storm blew up and washed away everything they had struggle to build together.

"I don't know what more to do Arthur; you need to snap out of it and get your life back".

"This coming from the man that was sulking over his mother for ages before I went and humiliate myself".

"Is this what you need me to do then? Try to reason with your father?"

"Gods no! Stay away from him, you could only be more damage!"

"At least I didn't take it out on you", Merlin was now yelling.

" We've still got us…Please…Let me help you", he lowered his voice in a desperate attempt to pull the other man away from the shadows and back to his arms

"And what could I possibly do with you Merlin? You have destroyed my entire life! I'm nothing without my job I don't have a place where I belong".

"You belong with me".

And Arthur laughed really hard.

"Great! I have my bonus then. I should be all domestic now…Waiting for you, cooking, doing the laundry until you come home. And then, give you a quick fuck and everything will be ok, right? I could get used to feeling miserable. YOU make me feel miserable".

"Don't say that", Merlin whispered.

"Is that what you want? Is that why you've been so cranky?" he had come uncomfortably close, grabbing Merlin by his neck.

"Don't do this, please".

"You want me to shag you, is that it?" He started groping him. Merlin tried to shove him away but Arthur was too drunk to be reasoned with. He finally managed to push him away and back into the couch but it was too late; he was already a broken man, crying his heart out.

"I love you with all my heart…And that's why I'm not going to sit around looking at you being destroyed. I'm leaving, before you make me hate you". He threw his scarce clothes into a backpack and left, feeling like his heart was being torn out of his chest. He hesitated before stepping out, part of him wishing that his lover would stop him, that he would say that he was sorry, pull him into his arms and make everything better. The other part though was screaming at him that it was time for Arthur to learn a lesson. But nothing happened. Arthur had collapsed on the couch, not even looking at him as if he didn't care. Merlin left then, and Arthur was fast asleep.

…

When he woke up two hours later he was much more sober.

"Merlin!" He yelled stumbling to his feet but collapsed outside of the bathroom door when memories of that night started bombing his brain.

Oh no, no, no, no…He was now panicking. What have I done? I'm so stupid…Please, god no.

He tried calling him but Merlin didn't pick up. Instead he sent him a text, repeating his last phrase to him as he wasn't sure that Arthur had heard him.

"I love you…I love you so much that hurts and that's why I had to let you go. Go back to your father, apologize, tell him that it was a stupid mistake and take your job back as you seem lost without it. I guess I wasn't enough…I'm so sorry for any damage I caused to your life. Please don't call me again…Leave what small piece of my heart is left in peace. Good luck…"

After that he wasn't able to leave to the same apartment anymore, being a guest of Morgana's instead. He was glad that both she and Leon were being supportive but he knew he had become a burden. His place was strangely empty without Merlin there. The shock of losing him was enough to quit drinking as he couldn't trust himself anymore. Sometimes he considered talking to his father but he didn't dare to. Merlin didn't deserve this. If he did this he would lose him forever. Merlin was right, it wasn't his fault. Uther was the bastard who had destroyed their lives, not their love. How could he do this to Merlin? How could he treat him like rubbish? He had to get him back even if he had to beg.

And beg he did…So hard…For so long…But when finally Merlin threw him out of his mother's house he knew he had lost.

…

"Father? It's Morgana..I'm in the hospital…Hurry!"

Uther was standing next to Arthur's hospital bed with Morgana by his side staring at her sleeping brother, crying.

"They say he lost control of his car and crashed into a tree. He hasn't wake up since and they fear that he may have sustain a brain damage". She informed him keeping her voice calm and yet so cold.

He didn't make a sound.

"He had gone to see Merlin…I guess it didn't go very well". She didn't need to guess that their father had already been informed about the break-up. Uther looked at his son's face, not showing any kind of emotion. Quietly, he stood up and left.

"You have destroyed your son's life! At least you could show some remorse!" she yelled to his retreating back.

….

So? Let me know what you think!