As the morning sun come through the window Arthur woke and with a satisfied smile looked at the man beside him. The sheets had been kicked off in the night and Merlin was led in all his naked glory for Arthur's perusal. He took his fill as the other man slept on, knowing that if he woke he would not be happy to allow that level of gaze. Arthur had been surprised at just how far they had got the night before, and was determined to press home his advantage. He accepted deep within his own heart that this man owed him life and soul, but he also knew that no matter what he said he would….could never accept less than a full sexual relationship. This morning he intended to take their new found intimacy one more step forward. He found his month salivating at the thought, he would give Merlin a blow job to wake up to, not giving a thought to how different a thing he was going to start, and without expressed permission. Arthur got up and moved to the end of the bed and knelt between Merlin's legs. The raven haired man was splayed out in his sleep. Putting his hands either side of Merlin's body Arthur nuzzled Merlin before licking a strip from Merlin's belly button downwards. Merlin woke up at this point and his hands went downwards pulling Arthur away.
"What are you doing!" he demanded, all traces of sleep gone
Arthur gave a droll grin, still not realising he was going too fast. "Waking you up sweetheart, if you had waited just a little while longer you would have known what I was doing. Now let me continue, you will enjoy it I promise" the voice was cocky and sure.
Merlin wriggled up the bed and covered himself up with a pillow "What happened to at my pace!" he demanded.
Arthur looked surprised "After last night I thought…"
Merlin looked like deer caught in the headlights, his eyes full and he had lost what little colour he had to his complexion Before he finished what Arthur was saying he saw Merlin's face and realised he had gone too far. "I'm sorry…I thought you would enjoy it. I wasn't going to have sex with you…..just a blow job. I wanted to please you."
Arthur followed Merlin up the bed and took the now shaking other man in his arms "I'm sorry, please forgive me" he pleaded, he realised he was apologising to Merlin more than he had ever to anyone else. In fact he couldn't remember ever saying sorry to anyone in his life before. He knew he had cocked up as Merlin pulled away from him and got of the bed.
"Merlin please" Arthur pleaded
Merlin looked at the blond as if he had been betrayed "You promised" he whispered "I believe you!" he paused looking at Arthur "I can't do this, not if I can't trust you."
Arthur felt as if a knife had been twisted in his gut "Sweetheart you can! I said I'm sorry, I'll will slow down" he got up and moved towards Merlin who bolted from the room and locked himself in the bathroom.
"SHIT!" Arthur rubbed his hands through his hair as he stood outside the bathroom door. "Now what do I do?" he had no idea how to fix what he had done. He wasn't used to putting others feelings first not like this. Arthur called out to Merlin pleading with him to talk. Continuing to promise he wouldn't do anything else and that he was sorry. His voice hoarse Arthur slowly slid down the door and sat his head in his hands. He could hear Merlin sobbing and it cut him to the quick.
He must have dozed off because the next thing he knew was Morgana shaking him. He looked up at her. It was clear he too had shed tears. Morgana frowned and very quietly asked "What have you done now!"
Arthur stood up and after putting on some clothes followed his sister into the lounge. She looked at him "You are a mess! What's happened?"
Arthur shut his eyes and tried to collect his thoughts. "We were doing so well last night, then this morning I woke up first and….well I went too far and when Merlin woke he flipped."
"You didn't try to force him did you?" she hissed
"NO! Not like that. I just stretched the boundaries and now I don't know what to do." Arthur looked at his sister "It's his birthday I wanted to do something nice for him"
Morgana shook her head "Instead you upset him, so much that he's locked himself away from you! You are a total idiot!"
"Don't you think I know that?!" Arthur said desperately.
Morgan hugged her brother "It can't be that bad, you admitted you are wrong, I've never heard you do that before. Go and get a shower in one of the other bathrooms, leave Merlin to me" she looked at her brother "GO ON! You need to get him to his parents"
As Arthur went to one of the other showers Morgana tapped gently on the door of the bathroom "Merlin its Morgana can you let me in please? Arthur's not here I promise"
After a couple of attempts she heard noises then the lock opening and the door opened. Morgana went in and found Merlin in much the same state as her brother. She hugged him and let him collect himself. "I don't know what Arthur did, and I probably don't want to, but he is sorry. I found him on the floor outside the door." She made Merlin look at her "He had dried tears on his face, I haven't seen that since he was eight!"
Merlin looked at her his head down and he was clearly still upset, mumbling he said "He broke his promise, he said it would be at my pace!"
"Oh Merlin! He is very sorry, whatever he did, and he thought you would be pleased, he wanted to make you happy. My brother is a total idiot and has no idea how people work. He hasn't had a normal life. But I do know this, he would rather hurt himself than you"
"I can't do this!" Merlin said his voice breaking "I want to go home"
"Merlin you can't keep running away! You are young you need to live and that means taking a few risks. I won't pretend to know what you have go through and what it must be like, but I do know sometimes you have to understand that other people are flawed." She paused "I haven't even told Arthur this but when I was sixteen I fell in love, but I kept it quiet, I knew Uther won't approve, he was 'not good enough'. I didn't even tell Arthur. But the boy was just using me, because he thought it would help him rise through the ranks. I slept with him a couple of times and got pregnant. When Uther found out he made me get rid of my baby. I never saw the boy again, but I know Uther killed him. Arthur was 'learning the trade' at the time and I knew he was going through hell, so I kept everything from him. It took me a long time to trust anyone, but I had to or I would have let Uther win" she paused "It wasn't until Arthur was older that I felt I could open up again and I found Leon. Even now I think of my baby! What I am trying to say is give Arthur another chance please, he loves you, and even with me he has never felt so much for one person"
Merlin looked up at Morgana shocked by what he had heard "Sorry" he told her as he hugged her. He took a deep breath "I never had my dad when I was young, but my mum loves me so much. Yet neither of you had any parents, not a proper one. Mum always accepts what I am, and supports me."
"I did have my mother for a few years, I do remember her. And we weren't alone Merlin…we had each other, without Arthur I don't think I would have survived. I owe him a lot. He had a harder life than me. I know Uther made him do things from an early age to 'toughen him up' Arthur never told me but I'm not a fool" Morgana knew she had to be honest if she wanted to get through to Merlin.
"Arthur told me" Merlin whispered. "That man has ruined all our lives"
"Only if we let him Merlin! Now have a shower and change It's your birthday and you are going to your parents aren't you? But before that I am making you breakfast" she hugged him once more.
"Don't make Arthur suffer by leaving him…please…. I mean you can make him grovel a bit, but make up, for both your sakes" Morgana smirked as she went to the kitchen hoping she had done enough to make Merlin pause before he broke up with her brother.
Morgana started to get the things out of the cupboards to make pancakes. She was a poor cook but had at least learned to make a mean pancake. As she went to the fridge she sensed someone behind her. Turning she saw her brother now dressing and shaved he was leaning on the door frame with an unreadable expression on his face.
"Looking better" Morgana smiled "Coffees made pour yourself out some"
Arthur did as he was bid, then putting his mug on the table he walked towards his sister "I heard"
Morgana blushed "I wondered if you would, I hoped not" she carried on with what she was doing.
"Was it true?" What you told Merlin?" his voice was surprisingly calm
Morgana hesitated "What do you think?"
"Why didn't you tell me Morgana, I might have been able to stop it" Arthur sounded hurt.
"No Arthur you wouldn't, not then. If it had been later maybe, but not then. Look can we drop it for now. I told Merlin for a reason, maybe another day we can talk but not now" Morgana squared her shoulders "Just don't mess up with Merlin please."
Arthur wanted to talk but realised now was not the time, maybe there would never be a time. "I will do my very best" he told her. "I let you down I won't make the same mistake with Merlin."
"No Arthur you didn't. You were young and Uther was ….. well Uther. Nothing we could have done would have changed anything, I accept that now. It took me a long time to accept it, but it's true. I hated him before but afterward…well let's just say hatred is a wasteful emotion it poisons the soul." Morgana put some of the batter into cook.
Merlin came in a few moments later, looking smart in one of his suits. Arthur raised an eyebrow he knew how Merlin hated suits. "Mum likes to see me dressed up" Merlin explained "There isn't much I won't do for her"
Arthur got up and poured Merlin a coffee and handed it to him. "You're in luck Birthday Boy. I seldom get Morgana's pancakes"
"Who says you are getting any now" Morgana quipped "I may have only made enough for Merlin" it was clear she was trying to lighten the mood.
As Morgana cooked Arthur turned to Merlin and bent down and whispered in his ear. "I can't say how sorry I am sweetheart, please forgive me" as he looked into Merlin's eyes he saw a small spark there that gave him hope.
They ate the pancakes before Morgana handed Merlin a gift "I know you are going to your parents so here is my gift now, Have a good day and let nothing spoil it"
Merlin took the extravagantly wrapped gift "It's too good to open" he said as he looked at the packaging
"Don't be daft, I didn't wrap it"
Merlin opened the gift to find an expensive coat nestling in it box. Merlin took it out and put it on "Thank you, I don't deserve this"
"You do that and more" Morgana told him "Now you will have no reason to freeze this winter!"
The blond then almost nervously handed Merlin another smaller parcel. "I was going to give it to you earlier but I messed that up. Happy Birthday sweetheart"
Merlin looked at Arthur "Don't you dare refuse it, that would be extremely bad mannered of you" Arthur told him "Even if you can't forgive me, I want you to have it"
Merlin looked at the gift before slowly taking it. He pursed his lips before slowly opening it. He had some difficulty as although his hand was healing well he was still having problems with smaller items. There was a plush case inside the gift-wrap that gave no hint at what was inside. Looking once more at Arthur Merlin slowly opened the box inside were two objects, the first was an expensive watch. Arthur smiled as Merlin picked it up. He moved closer and took the watch from Merlin and placed it on his wrist taking care not to dump the newly healed area. "Now you will have no excuse for your tardy timekeeping" he quipped.
"I can't take something so expensive" Merlin protested
"Just accept it Merlin. You can always sell it if you don't want it" Morgana told him then added "What else is in the box?"
Merlin had forgotten the second item He looked in the box to find the second separately wrapped package. He nervously opened it. Almost dropping it as he realised what it was, once he held the item in his hand he started to grin and tears well up in his eyes.
"What is it Merlin?" Morgana demanded
Merlin couldn't put a voice to it so he handed her the item. Morgana looked at it a frowned "I am clearly missing something" She said puzzled
Arthur chuckled "Well since Merlin can't speak I'd better tell you, it's a dog tag. For the puppy we are picking up tomorrow. Merlin has always wanted a dog and I see no reason why he can't have one, there's plenty of room here and we have grounds for it to run in and it will be company for him when I'm not here."
Morgana looked stunned "But you hate animals!" she exclaimed
"No I don't!" Arthur protested "I just said I wouldn't want one…personally. Well it won't be mine will it?"
Merlin was still staring at Arthur bemused and still unsure as to where they stood. Arthur seeing his expression very cautiously stepped forward into Merlin's personal space and looked Merlin in the eye. "It's up to you Merlin I know you can't have a puppy at your mothers, but if you are staying here we can go in the morning, so you can have first pick of a litter. I know you said you love Jack Russell's and I have found some ready to leave their mother."
Merlin looked at Arthur then at Morgana, who took the hint "I need to go and wash my hands and powder my nose. Be back in a minute" she disappeared into one of the bathrooms.
Arthur gave a sad smile to Merlin "Please, say you will stay."
Merlin nodded "If that's alright with you, I know I'm not easy to deal with, in fact I still can't see why you want to, you could have whoever you wanted, why me?" he said softly
"Oh Merlin!" Arthur leant forward "May I kiss you Happy Birthday? And show you just how much you mean to me" Looking at Merlin he took the slight lean towards him as a yes, and put his hands-on Merlin's neck and kissed him. It took a cough from the hall before they stopped. Merlin blushing as he realised Morgana was watching them.
"I take it you two love birds have made up" she smirked "About time! You both need to realise just how much you need each other" she came forward and pecked both of them on the cheek. "Now I'm off. I will see you tomorrow Merlin, and give Hunith my love when you see her. Ring me tomorrow when you have your puppy and I will come and see it" with that she was gone.
Merlin looked at Arthur "Thank you so much for my presents, you needn't have though"
"Yes I did! I want to spoil you, I like seeing your face lights up. What good is my money if I can't spend it on my boyfriend?" Arthur hugged Merlin "I would spend every penny if it made you happy"
"I don't need things" Merlin protested
"I know, that's why it's so much fun sending it on you, most people in your position would be spending all you could. That's one of the many things I love about you. Now let's get to your mothers before I decide we will spend all day hugging and kissing you"