Chapter 21 – I Never Really Had a Chance, You Know, You Had Me From Hello

The lobby of the Pendragon headquarters was friendly and welcoming, unless you were there for business - in which case it was either stifling or fooling you. On the sides of the main area were four sets of circular tables made of wood surrounded by four identical, red, plush seats. The front desk was at the back by the elevators and stairs and also made of wood. It was set back farther in the room to create the spacious, awe inspiring, money-showing-off-ing feel of the lobby, and to make everything feel less crowded. This was important because of the numerous bodies that filled the area at any given point. Only about one person was sitting in each set of comfortable seating arrangements, meaning about six people were resting here.

As Morgana Pendragon stepped off the employee only elevator, she scanned her eyes across these six people. A grunt level employee stared agape at her when her shoes, simple purple flats, hit the bottom floor. He rushed out of sight and came hurrying back with her matching light jacket. Although she didn't need it, she took it from him anyway and smiled thankfully before walking over to one of the seating areas closest to the door. She set her jacket down on the table and took a seat, crossing her legs in front of her.

"I see you're still here," she said. "I would have figured you to have gone home by now. What's it been, four hours?"

"Not long enough," her male counterpart grunted. He put down his paper, which blatantly read out an American headline, and leaned on the table to be closer to her. Morgana regarded the paper with a glance and then frowned until it seemed her entire body was sad.

"Still no word?" she asked. "Gwen's letter came today, the last before she arrives. She said she's bringing Merlin's mum with her when she comes. Apparently she received her ticket from Merlin. It's the one he was supposed to use himself. She hasn't seen Merlin in weeks either. Can you believe it? His own mother doesn't even –"

"Morgana," Arthur cut in, caught between teasing and begging. "I'm sure he's alright. He'll write back to me soon."

"How can you be so sure?" Morgana asked. "He hasn't written in over a month. He hasn't even phoned, and you know how easy it is for people to find your phone number."

"I'm sure." Arthur picked his paper up again and flipped it open to the comics section.

"But how?"

"Can we just drop it?" Arthur asked, dropping his paper into his lap loudly. His fierce look quieted Morgana, and she leaned back in her seat.

"Alright fine. Have it your way, but if he's not here when Gwen arrives, I'm placing a call to the American police," she said.

"Fine. But right now, we're not doing anything. I'm going to head home. You stay here," Arthur said, setting the paper on the table and standing up. He looked dressed down for having come from a meeting before his brooding time, but Morgana didn't question it. If their father hadn't said anything, neither would she.

"Fine. I'll see you later then. I'm going out tonight for dinner," she said, placing her slender hands on her knee.

"God, another date? When are you not out for dinner? How does he afford it?" Arthur groaned, eyes flickering to the front doors of the building, continuously opening and closing for the stream of people.

"Actually, I usually pay. We're not stupid. We know he doesn't have half as much money as I do. You know his parents said he would be cut off for at least another year and-," Morgana's over-told explanation was cut off by the sound of a woman yelling angrily as the automatic doors eased open again. "Oh goodness. Not another Mary Collins," she groaned as an end instead.

Arthur was already walking to investigate when Morgana stood up and grabbed her jacket. She noticed he was quite a bit ahead and huffed in annoyance before hurrying to catch up. Just outside the doors, Arthur followed the sound of yelling to the flower shop situated to the left of the company. It was an anomaly, a small building amidst all the corporate giants, but the owner just wouldn't sell the land. Said owner, a short and stout dwarf of a woman, was standing in front of her shop, screaming at the top of her lungs in her native French and motioning angrily to a shattered vase on the ground.

As Morgana made it out of the doors, Arthur jogged his way over to the storefront. Morgana sighed in annoyance, slipped on her jacket to carry it easier, and ran to follow. The shop owner spotted them coming and started causing a fuss about their stupid customers, all in French of course, which didn't help the flustered bystander who'd knocked over the vase. The man was gasping out half-words and apologies that weren't being heard and looking very anxious.

"Excusez-moi. Mon ami ne comprend pas le français. Excusez-le s'il vous plait," Arthur spoke quickly, interrupting the flow of French and catching both parties' attention. With the yelling gone, passerby's stopped staring and went about their business. It lightened the tension of the situation by bucketloads and also showed how quickly people stopped caring when the situation wasn't possibly violent.

"C'était nouveau! Il l'a cassé! Il est en morceau!" the woman cried. "It was new! Monsieur Pendragon!"

"I completely understand, Madam Davies. I'll pay for it. How much?" Arthur asked.

"Combien? But Monsieur!"

"How much?" Arthur pressed, not sounding as kind, but still being gentle.

With a sniff, Madam Davies said she would have to check with her husband and tottered out of sight into the store. As soon as she was gone, Arthur turned to the poor tourist who'd fallen into the path of the Frenchwoman.

"You really don't have to," the dark haired man assured. "I'll… pay for it."

Arthur took a deep breath to fill his chest, and Morgana smiled as she took a check book from her purse. Arthur wouldn't be paying for this. Instead of looking for the shop keeper and her husband, Arthur walked to the tourist and placed heavy hands on the other man's shoulders.

"Merlin?" he asked, though he already knew the answer.

Merlin glanced away from the shattered vase and up to Arthur, looking sheepish. "Hello?" he tried.

Arthur raised one of his hands to Merlin's face, gently touching a barely noticeable yellowed tint, where a bruise had mostly healed from Merlin's cheek. Then he gripped Merlin's shoulders and ripped him into a tense and strong embrace that Merlin returned fully. Morgana smiled, relaxing on her heels, and played absentmindedly with her checkbook. The pair of them was cuter than her and Gwen could have imagined, and she was the only lucky observer. Arthur pulled back and grunted.

"Where have you been, you idiot? You had us all worried! Why didn't you write to me?" he asked. He was supposed to sound angry, but he only sounded relieved. Merlin smiled.

"I went to see my mom. Kanan got in a few good hits on me, but I punched him in the eye, and he took off like a coward. I was still worried about my mom so I gave her my ticket and sent her to live with my uncle for a bit… and I went to Ireland!" Merlin exclaimed, looking well pleased with himself, Morgana noted. "I couldn't have my mail forwarded because then Gwen wouldn't get any letters either, and I figured I would see you soon anyway, so it wasn't dramatically important."

"But you posed a really important question to me in that last letter," Arthur argued, slipping his hand up on Merlin's cheek again, hating the man who'd caused the bruising. "How do you call that not important?"

"I don't know," Merlin said and leaned his head into Arthur's hand. "I convinced myself not to worry about it until I got here and got the answer in person."

Arthur looked stunned and watched his own traitorous hand closely where Merlin's skin touched it. His own thumb moved over the high cheek bones he'd grown familiar with in the photos, and his chest heaved with the effort.

"And?" he asked, voice quiet. The sound of traffic almost drowned him out, but Merlin was listening for it.

"The outlook is positive," Merlin answered. Arthur scoffed and smiled.

"You even sound like a nerd in person," he said and then leaned in to kiss Merlin's lips before they could protest.

It was a quick kiss that Arthur drew back from almost before it was finished. He looked shocked at himself and glanced back at Morgana for assurance. She covered her broad smile quickly and gave him a reassuring head nod instead. Only when he was facing Merlin again did she glance to see if anyone had seen it. No one appeared to be looking in this direction anymore since the yelling stopped and then Madam Davies had left the scene. Merlin didn't seem overly worried about other people anyway.

"So you… think we could make a try at this?" Merlin asked. "Even though you were worried that I'm the son of a lord?"

"I thought you said you didn't get my letters," Arthur said, running his hand through Merlin's hair. So many letters, so many weeks of worry, and now this basic feeling was so pronounced.

"Well maybe I got one," the dark haired noble allowed. "But stop avoiding the question. Is that a yes?" and he motioned to Arthur's fingers now tracing his neck.

"Well maybe it is," Arthur answered and leaned in for another kiss.

Their lips were almost touching when a deep voice sounded and a throat was cleared loudly. Both men pulled apart and turned quickly to face Morgana, where the voice had come from. Morgana hushed her smile and turned to look at the new arrival cooly.

"I'm not interruptin or anythin, am I, Princess?" the new man asked, and it wasn't clear which Pendragon he was talking to. "These are for you," he said, and this time it was clear his message was for Morgana as he bowed and presented her with a single rose.

"Thank you, Gwaine, but you should really save your money," Morgana said, but she looked extremely pleased with the gift regardless.

"Nah. Money means nothin in the way of picking a flower for such a lovely lady," Gwaine assured. He grinned and held his hand out toward the other two. "And what do they call you then?"

"Uh, Merlin," said man replied, quickly taking Gwaine's offered hand. He was shaken forcefully and drawn closer with the motion.

"Pleasure. Name's Gwaine. So you and the prince, eh?" he asked, nodding his head to Arthur. "Good. Cause I never thought I'd see the day he came out."

"Gwaine," Arthur warned and the ruffian put his hands up in surrender.

"Your carriage awaits, my lady, if you're prepared for dinner," Gwaine said, again directing his attention to Morgana.

"Lead the way," Morgana said and then turned to Arthur and Merlin. "Wait up for me, will you? I want to hear all about how things went with your father, Merlin."

"Sure thing," Merlin agreed and gave her a small salute. Then Gwaine took Morgana's hand and led her off toward the street, where his car sat idling. "Gwaine? As in the drunk who saved your life and Morgana wanted nothing to do with, Gwaine?"

"The very same," Arthur said, nodding and watching the pair with doubtful eyes. "The world works in mysterious ways."

"Yes. A month ago, I was a normal pre-med student," Merlin agreed. "Now I'm a nobleman."

"So is Gwaine. He's just a financially unstable one. His family left him to fend for himself."

"Glad to know we have something in common."

"How did you get to England?"

"My father bought me a ticket."

"Shut up, Merlin."

Merlin laughed and slipped a hand in Arthur's. Their fingers slipped together, and Merlin let out contented sigh, like he'd been waiting for that since long before the letters stopped. There was another cleared throat, not as deep but definitely male, from behind them and they turned surprised stares toward the shop again.

"Grettir," Arthur sighed in relief when he saw the tiny man. "Good to see you. How much for the vase?"

"My wife fusses too much," the dwarf said. "It was a cheap vase. I'll get another one tomorrow."

"Are you sure?" Arthur asked, hand pausing over his wallet in his back pocket.

"Completely. Besides, I can't ruin this day for you. You've shown bravery, and that deserves to be rewarded." The small Englishman crossed his arms and nodded with a smile. Arthur tried to smile, but it looked lost in confusion.

"As usual, Mr. Davies, I don't really know what you're talking about. But thank you," he said.

"Anytime," Grettir said, turned on his heel, and disappeared into his shop again.

Merlin frowned curiously after him and then turned to look at Arthur. The blonde pat his wallet and then shrugged. He'd never truly understood Grettir. He was always a little bit cryptic. Maybe it was dwarven magic.

"You really don't understand what he meant?" Merlin asked. Arthur shrugged again.

"Maybe a little," he said.

"He thinks you're being very brave, kissing me out here in front of everyone. How public it is. How spotlighted. How romantic." And even Arthur could pick out how Merlin was taking lines from the last letter Merlin had received.

"Merlin," he warned.

"And how devilishly handsome you are too. We must be drawing all sorts of media attention, you know," Merlin continued.

"Merlin," Arthur said again, louder this time.

"Shut up?"

"You guessed it." And they kissed in the shade of the overhanging irises.

THE END

Translations:

Excuse me. My friend does not understand French. Excuse him please.

It was new! He broke it! It is in pieces!

How much?

A/N: Title is from You Had Me From Hello by Kenney Chesney. Link: www. youtube. com/watch? v=SMu9MZQpMus

I think I got every major character besides Aredian, Cedric, Cornelius Sigan, and the Fisher King. Ha! At twenty chapters and only 55 pages on my computer, this is by far the shortest story I've written in awhile besides one-shots.

I hope you enjoyed it! Please review!