Arthur left the party early with no Merlin there it just wasn't worth staying. He spent a restless night going over things in his mind. But by morning he had made a decision and he was determined to act on it. He rang his sister as soon as her dared.
"Morgana are you alone?" he asked her "Only I want to ask you something."
"I am, Gwen's awake but she bathing Megan, so ask away" Morgana was intrigued although she had a good guess what it was about.
"It's about Merlin…you know what happened last night?" Arthur asked
"Off course, you leaf early and there was no sign of Merlin so I cornered Lance" Arthur's sister admitted "I wanted to make sure you hadn't cocked up again"
Arthur rolled his eyes even if his sister couldn't see him "Did Lance tell you that Merlin was going to be moving out as Gwen's pregnant?"
"They announced she was expecting but he didn't tell me that!" Morgana was annoyed with herself for not picking up on that.
"Merlin told me, it's made him feel he's a burden. I told Lance I'd buy Merlin somewhere. I had already told Merlin he could use the spare room here, Trouble is I think he might have been asleep by them. I poured out my heart to him and then found him asleep in my arms"
"You numpty, but I'm proud you got that far. So what's next?"
Once they had finished talking Morgana put the phone down and sat nursing her cup of coffee. She was glad Arthur had asked for her help, she wanted the two men together again. She was still sat there when Gwen walked in with her daughter.
"Lance is up now" Gwen told Morgana "It was a good party, I'll help you clean up after breakfast"
"That's alright Gwen I suspect little Megan would rather be home. I can manage I have Leon to help." She smiled. "No sign of Merlin yet?"
"No we can't go until he's ready so I'd just as well help" Gwen smiled "After all you don't want to spend all day doing housework"
Megan spoke she had clearly been listening "Home mummy, I want to go home"
Lance walked in and smiled at the two women and ruffled his daughter's hair. "You'll be home soon pet, I'll wake Merlin in a bit, I've got to be at work this afternoon. Great party Morgana thank you for inviting us, it finished Christmas off nicely"
"Look why don't you leave Merlin, he can give me a hand, I didn't get to talk to him much last night. Also it would be nice for you to have some tome together as a family. Merlin won't mind" Morgana played it cool "I'll drop him back later when I return the hire glasses"
Gwen and Lance looked at one another and silently agreed "OK as long as it's not too much trouble, I expect he'll sleep for a while and he's always grumpy if made to get up." Lance told her grinning "We'll be off shortly and have breakfast at home, Megan always eats better there."
"Mummy home" Megan piped up once more as if on cue. Megan had been refusing to eat the toast Gwen was trying to give her.
"That's great, it will give us time to talk as well, and Merlin is a good friend" Morgana smiled that had been easier than she had thought, thanks in some part to Megan. With that Lance went upstairs and collected all their things.
Morgana wondered if they were finding Merlin being there all the time a bit of a drag. She knew they were very good friends but she knew she wouldn't want someone living in her home all the time. OK for a couple of night or even weeks but months. Both Gwen and Lance had been good to Merlin and she didn't blame them if that was the truth. She also knew that now Merlin was getting better he would soon pick up on it.
Morgana soon had the family on their way. In fact they were just going when a very sleepy Leon came downstairs. "Off already?" he asked surprised.
"Yes and thank you for letting us stay. We won't to get Megan settled and fed" Gwen explained.
"I don't think she likes out toast" Morgana said smiling "Little ones like to be home"
Megan was a bit overawed by Leon and was hiding behind her daddy's leg. "Thank you Leon and Morgana we hope to see you soon, perhaps you could pop over for a drink over New Year?" Lance asked.
The couples made some arrangements then Gwen and Lance left, Megan waving at them as they drove off. Leon turned to his wife "What are you up to and why is Merlin still here?"
Morgana looked at her husband "He's still in bed I'll take him home later" she smirked "Or Arthur can"
Leon followed Morgana into the kitchen "Come on spill"
Morgana told Leon of the conversation she'd had with Arthur earlier adding "They need this chance Leon, all this pussyfooting about has gone on too long, either way it needs to be sorted, for both their sakes"
"For once I agree with you" Leon said "So when's Arthur arriving?"
"I'll text him now, he wants to take Merlin breakfast in bed! The old romantic"
Arthur arrived ten minutes later with a large bouquet of flowers and several bags "Are they for Merlin?" Morgana asked her brother
"No way, they're yours, I made that mistake before Merlin was livid he said he wasn't a girl. All I want is the few white tulips" Arthur kissed his sisters cheek and gave her the flowers.
"Thank you Arthur, out them in water for me "Come on Leon get your coat you're taking me shopping for a few hours. Oh and if it goes really well no shagging in the kitchen or on my white leather chairs." She smirked at her brother. "If you're cars here when we get back we'll make lots of noise as we come in" Morgana grabbed Leon's arm "Come on husband mine, let's leave Arthur to it, and good luck and don't mess up" With that the couple were gone.
Arthur went into the kitchen and found a vase for the flowers, then he started getting everything ready. He was nervous, but having talked it through with his sister felt as confident as he could. His first task was to start to make a breakfast. Once that was done he quietly went upstairs and into the bathroom next to Merlin's room. Once he was ready he finished of the breakfast and carrying it upstairs he put the tray on the small hall table and opening Merlin's door as quietly was he could he side his MP4 into the room and switched it on and 'I'll make love to you' started to play on a lope gradually getting louder. When Arthur heard Merlin stir he picked up the heated food tray and making sure the food was still good he opened the door and walked in. He had never felt so nervous in his life. The whole plan he had was based on this going down well. The song was one he had often sung to Merlin and the last time was on his birthday just before he was posted to Afghanistan.
He looked at the bed as he walked into the dim light of the room, the curtains were still pulled across to shut out the light. It was clear that Merlin had woken on the night as Merlin was sat up and his chest was bare. Arthur very briefly wondered if Merlin was nude. Walking closer and starting to sing he watched Merlin's face all the time. As he reached Merlin's side he stopped and placed the tray on the bedside table, he would have loved to have knelt at this point but that was now impossible for him so he looked down at Merlin.
"Good morning, I've brought you breakfast in bed, full English." As Merlin was still looking at him and hadn't made any effort to move Arthur sat on the edge of the double bed. Looking at his former husband Arthur uncovered the tray and place the tray over Merlin's knees. "I wanted to do something special for you, but we seemed to be getting nowhere, so here I am." Arthur smiled at Merlin's shocked face "Don't worry we are all alone in the house but if this isn't what you want, I'll respect that but at least I'll know" he leant forward and placed a gentle kiss on Merlin's forehead.
"Wha..t" Merlin wasn't sure what to do,
"Eat up Merlin there more to come." Arthur took the fork and started to feed Merlin "Do you remember the long weekend mornings we used to have? Just for us and no one else. I miss that so much only this time I cooked for you!"
Merlin seemed to come to himself as the food hit his taste buds "You remembered the song"
"How could I forget, there all on there" Arthur got a remote out of his pocket and the loop finished and the next song started. Stevie Wonders voice started to sing 'I just called to say I loved you' "Do you remember the fun we had going through all the love songs we could find to make our own list. I haven't been able to listen to them until now"
Merlin ate the food but as he reached the last piece he gave it to Arthur "You always pinched my last bit of bacon, even though you had your own" there were unsplit tears in both the men's eyes as they looked at each other.
Arthur moved the tray and gave Merlin the single tulip "I would have given you the shop if I thought you would have liked it, but white tulips signify the asking of forgiveness and for new beginnings. Can you ever forgive me?"
"It wasn't just you, we both played a part, I should have realised you weren't coping and fought you, but I just wanted you to be happy" Merlin looked at Arthur unsure what to say or do.
Arthur leant forward and took Merlin's face in his hands and leaned forward to give Merlin a tender and loving kiss. As their lips touched Merlin found himself responding so Arthur's hand went round the back of his neck and pulled him in closer. The kiss was full of longing and regret. Regret for time wasted apart. Arthur pulled away "I used to carry you to the bath after breakfast, do you remember? I can't do that now but I've run a hot bath and hopefully it's still warm enough" he held out his hand.
Merlin took the hand and get out of bed, he had a pair of boxers on. As he saw Arthur look Merlin smiled "I took my jeans off when I got up in the night, did you put me to bed?"
"I did, but I knew I would wake you if I tried to take them off and I didn't want to upset you" Arthur gave Merlin a fond smile.
"I put the boxers on, I didn't want to run out naked if there had been a fire!"
"I doubt Morgana would have minded" they walked hand in hand to the bathroom, Merlin smiled as he saw the bathroom. There were candles around the bath and bubbles with the remained of the tulip petals scattered around. "I wish I could lift you in like I used to"
Merlin kissed Arthur and put his arms round the blonde's neck. "It doesn't matter" he sniffed "You have on my favourite aftershave"
"And you smell of pine needles and honey, I never understood that, even before you had washed you always smelt the same. Now get in before the water gets cold."
Merlin quickly took off his boxers and plunged into the water.
As Merlin sank into the water Arthur sat on the side of the bath "Now I believe I played hunt the soap, Are you ready for that?" he wriggled his eyebrows suggestively.
"You can wash my back first" Merlin grinned. After Merlin had had his back thoroughly washed he looked at Arthur shyly. "This is where you used to get in"
Arthur paused "Do you want me to? Are you ready for that?"
Merlin paused "Just to be together, to feel your skin next to mine his words had a question in them that Arthur was ready to answer, Things had gone far better than he had ever hoped.
"That would be wonderful, we take this as slow as we need to" Arthur meant every word. Just to be close to Merlin would be enough.
Arthur started to strip, as he took his shirt off he heard Merlin hiss "I forgot that scar, it was red and angry last time I saw it." Arthur had a scar that ran up his chest for the explosion. It had been a flesh wound but quite a large one.
As Arthur dropped his trousers Merlin watched with interest. He has seen Arthur's stumps but by the time Arthur had had his prosthesis things were already going downhill for them and he had never seen them on without trousers before. Arthur sat on the toilet lid and removed his false legs. "Shimmy up the tap end and I'll drop in behind you" Arthur told Merlin.
Then he levered himself over and into the bath. Merlin moved back until his back touched Arthur's chest. "You have stronger arms now" he commented
"Had to build them up at bit, not much more but I often have to lift my body about once my legs are off." Arthur admitted. "Now rest back and relax I want to hold you"
They led together as they used to as they got more comfortable together Arthur started to plant small kisses on the back of Merlin's neck. "I think you need to put some more hot water in if we're going to stay here" Arthur told Merlin.
It was nearly an hour later and several more tops up of water before they decided to get out. Merlin hoped out first and wrapped a towel round his waist." How do you want to do this?" he asked Arthur,
"Don't worry I have it pegged, although I nearly always have showers I do like the odd bath." With that Arthur got himself on the edge of the bath then across to the toilet once more "The hand makes it harder, less grip but I can do it" Arthur looked at Merlin "Look I would like to lie on the bed with you and cuddle, but it's ok if you don't. But if we are, I won't put the legs on yet. We needn't do anything else"
Once again Merlin blushed and Arthur put his hand up and touched Merlin's arm "I've even missed making you blush, you've always looked so adorable when you do that"
"How will you get to the bed? We don't have a wheelchair"
"Idiot I walk myself using my arms and sit on my bum, it's no problem I do that if I need a piss at night" Arthur laughed.
It wasn't long before the men found themselves cuddled up on the bed. The cuddles soon turned too kisses as they relearnt each other's bodies. Merlin kissing the length of Arthur scars and the ends of his stumps. Merlin looked at Arthur as they found themselves hard from the arousal. "I know this is daft but I want the rest to be at home and not here"
Arthur smiled sweetly "So do I" he paused scared to ask "Does that mean you will come back with me?" he stopped and looked into Merlin's eyes loosing himself in them "If you do you can't go again ever, I could stand that"
"I will, but you have to take Dragon as well" Merlin smiled
"Of course" Arthur looked at Merlin "You know the most I hoped for from today was that you would agree to talk to me again, this is more than I ever dreamed off"
"I've always loved you Arthur, I've never stopped, but I didn't want to be your pity project, take me back out of guilt, but you have proved to me we are meant to be together. I was just so scared, so many people were giving me different advice I just wasn't sure what to do. When I saw the Blacks last time they told me to follow my heart, so today I did" Merlin bit his lower lip something Arthur knew meant he was still worried.
"And…." He asked
"You do know I'm not 'cured' yet. I still get days I want to stay in bed, and times I want to hide behind the bottle" Merlin was trying to be honest.
"I saw that last night Merlin, I still have issues as well, I just manage to hide mine better, but we can heal together. You be there for me and I'll be there for you. But one thing we must do is promise to stay together. I can't do this again"
"Kay" Merlin looked at Arthur "We best get dressed and go home…..that word sounds good" then he paled "Oh…"
"What's up love?" Arthur was all concerned once more.
"I'll have to tell Gwen, Lance will be ok with it but Gwen is very protective I don't want to hurt her."
"We'll tell them together, but tomorrow. You can texted her and tell her you'll be back tomorrow, then we'll go together and collect dragon and your things. She'll be fine Merlin. But I want tonight together first. Then tomorrow we'll contact the Blacks and go and see them." Arthur smacked Merlin's bare arse "Come on up and at um"
The two men got dressed Merlin was quicker and went to tidy the bathroom and then stripped the sheets and put them in the laundry. Together they washed up the breakfast things. Arthur wrote a short note to his sister promising to ring the next day, while Merlin text Lance saying he would be back the next day, he knew she would think he was staying with Morgana but took the cowards way out.
Then they set off for the flat. As they arrived Merlin sat in the car looking at the home he had left behind, yes he had been back once but it seemed strange.
"Second thoughts?" Arthur asked.
"No, it's just funny that's all." Merlin got out of the car and waited for Arthur and they walked together to the door.
"I can't carry you over the threshold" Arthur teased
"Perhaps I should carry you?" Merlin joked
"Perhaps when you have your muscle mass back, but I don't think I'll risk it thanks" Arthur laughed.
The walked in together and as soon as they were in the door Merlin turned to Arthur and threw himself into the blondes arms and kissed him "I love you Mr Pendragon."