The next day Arthur was surprised to receive a letter from his father. He opened it in some trepidation.

Arthur,

I have decided after some consideration that I cannot offer you a place in my company. Despite my efforts on your behalf I fear you name will still be associated with the whole sorry affair and I cannot allow my years of hard work to be ruined by your name being attached to my company. Mud sticks. As a consequence you may forget our previous conversation.

Note however that I find myself in a position of removing you as my heir. As of from this letter you have been disowned and will receive nothing from my estate. Should you ever in the future find yourself in difficulties do not contact me.

Uther Pendragon.

Arthur read the letter through twice, all he felt was a sense of relief that Lance and Merlin would be left alone. He felt no sorrow at being disowned his father had of course threatened it before. His sister was welcome to everything; she had to put up with the man every day. He remembered the conversation with Gwaine and rang the other man to thank him.

"I don't know what you did but thank you. I am finally free of my father for good. I have been officially disowned." Arthur told Gwaine.

"Sorry Arthur that stinks. But if you ask me it's for the best. Concentrate on getting yourself sorted. Any way you have a new family now. Just one thing I do need to say ….. Hurt Merlin and you'll think your father was a pussy cat." Gwaine waited for a moment before continuing "Is there anything I can do?"

"No Gwaine and thank you, and you have my work I'll never hurt Merlin."

"I know that, and you need to thank Gaius and Percy as well. Boy that Gaius is a mean man I didn't think he had it in him" Gwaine laughed.

"Oh one thing, are you seeing Leon?"

"Yes tonight" Gwaine replied

"Can you ask him to ring me, only I'm nearly out of phone credit."

"Sure thing buddy" with that the conversation was over.

Arthur did as Gwaine had suggested and put his efforts into getting better. When Leon called he told the solicitor that he wasn't going to go back to his old job and that he would be grateful for any help Leon could give in securing some sort of compensation. Arthur also spoke to the hospital social worker about signing on the sick and what other help if any he could get. Now was not the time to be proud. He also spoke to Lance and fixed a rent of the small building he was living in. He wouldn't be able to work for the rent and didn't want to accept charity. Lance hadn't wanted to take anything but agreed a small rent in the end. Arthur was able to get help with that while he was off sick so at least he knew that he had a roof over his head.

Arthur's sister visited him; Morgana was disgusted with their father and was threatening to leave the company. Arthur talked her out of it. "Look Morgana I was never going to work for father, and you are, stay with it and the company will be yours one day. I really don't mind being disowned. Oh I would have liked to have rebuilt some sort of relationship but I'm not so devastated. We went our separate ways when I refused to work for him. I still have you and my new friends."

Morgana accepted her brothers reasoning but insisted that they keep in close contact. Regard less of their father's decision.

Arthur was discharged a fortnight later and Gwen and Lance held a welcome home party for him. Merlin was upset as due to her plaster she was unable to do any baking. The couple had got closer during Arthur's hospital admission; Merlin was unable to do much with her broken wrist although she was able to do the theory part of her course using a lap top and her left hand. The college weren't concerned as her practical skills were far above everyone else's.

Leon had secured all of Arthur back pay, a months' severance pay and an extra two thousand pounds as a non admission of guilt payment for his wrongful suspension. He may have been able to get more if he had gone through the legal system but just wanted to put the matter behind him. With that his sick pay and rent allowance he at least could live and start his new life.

Once home he started to try to work on a computer programme to help Merlin. They also started to look at drawing up plans and a business proposal for her bakery business. Merlin was getting very excited. They plan was for her to make cake and other items to order for special occasions and events, but also to sell cakes to the local shops in the area. Merlin didn't want to open her own shop because of her communication difficulties, but felt taking orders would be much easier for her. Arthur was going to work on an online ordering service for her.

Arthur knew it would be months before he could use his hand and arm again properly, and might even have some residue problems but was feeling optimistic for the future. His friendship with the gang had grown from strength to strength. Once Merlin had her plaster removed she was soon back to baking. Gwaine, Percy and the gang were working at the weekends to get the bakery finished so that once Merlin's course had finished she could start her business. Even Morgana had come forward and said she would tell all her friends about the service. In the run up to the opening Arthur was Merlin's voice on the phone and he was using his knowledge of business to make sure everything was set up for her. He had also helped her get grants and loans to start up the business and get the ovens and other items she needed, including one from the Prices Trust who would also help by providing her with a mentor.

Once the building was ready and Merlin had all the health and safety certificates in place they worked towards her opening. They had decided to have on open day and offer samples of Merlin's baking. Invitations were sent out to small local shops and also to several wedding planners and event's organisers. To gain local support the local villagers were also invited as were the local press. Merlin was thrilled when the local television company asked if they could cover the event. For the week before Merlin was baking nonstop, Gwen helped with some of the preparation but Merlin insisted that the actual baking should all be hers.

Arthur had the online ordering site up and running so that orders could be placed on the day. He was hoping to develop of sign recognition system that could read sign and translate to non signing people but that was work in progress. His own reading of sign language was leaping ahead, but because of his injury he was unable to sign back very much but he was learning slowly on a one handed basis.

The opening was a great success and generated several orders with the busy Christmas period only weeks away it was good news. Morgana had been true to her word and she had managed to get several of her friends and associates to place orders for Christmas cakes, which was good news as Merlin had been making them, in some number, over the past month. Hopefully word would spread. Lance had also picked up orders from the day when people saw his work while they were on site. So as well as a get together of the gang for a major celebration, Arthur finally plucked up courage and asked Merlin to go out with him on their first date. To his surprise she agreed.