Arthur was shocked into silence for a moment "I was going to ask you to move in with me but I thought it might me too soon" he replied.

"Before you say anything else there is something I need to do first." Merlin said surprising Arthur for the second time in as many minutes. "I need you to see something first" Merlin looked down at the floor.

"What's the matter love? Arthur asked concerned.

"You can't answer until you've seen … you might not want to then….. you know" Merlin muttered clearly at a loss for words.

The penny dropped and Arthur realised that Merlin was at long last going to let him see what to Merlin his 'shame' was. Arthur felt humbled that Merlin trusted him enough and knew he had to be very careful how he handled the next few minutes. So he looked at Merlin trying to work out what to do next. Merlin spoke once more before Arthur had relied. "Could we go to your bedroom?" Merlin asked quietly. They had come to Arthur's flat to look at the plans because Leon had cooked Morgana a meal.

"Of course we can" Arthur said and followed Merlin through. Merlin stopped by the bed and looked at Arthur as if pleading with him.

"Please whatever happens don't hate me. If you decide you can't see me afterwards I understand." Arthur immediately went closer to Merlin and hugged him.

"Merlin I would never hate you and nothing will make me change my mind, I love you." he kissed Merlin gently.

Merlin pushed Arthur away and started to undo his trousers and let them drop to his feet, his hands then went to his boxer waistband and he hesitated. Arthur realising how difficult it was for Merlin, put a hand under Merlin's chin and made Merlin look at his face. "Let me" with that he gently lowered Merlin's boxers all the time maintaining eye contact with Merlin. Once the boxers were down low enough Arthur spoke "I'm going to look at you Merlin, if you're sure"

Merlin nodded and Arthur looked down, schooling his face so it didn't show his immediate reaction, after all he had no real idea what he would see, he had looked online at reconstructions, to try to prepare himself, but they seemed to vary so. As he looked he was surprised it was better than he thought it would be, Merlin had already explained that he had had testes implants so his 'balls' appeared 'normal' and he even had the appearance of glad's at the end of his reconstructed penis. Yes there were scars, but Merlin had so many scars Arthur didn't really notice them. He allowed himself to show what he was feeling as he looked up at Merlin. The younger man had his eyes closed and silent tears were running down his face. It was clear he was expecting rejection.

Arthur touched Merlin's face gently and the younger man opened his eyes but still would look Arthur in the eye. Arthur spoke "Merlin look at me please" he waited for Merlin to look at him then continued "I know you have found this very difficult and I know to you, your body is not how you want it, but love to me you're wonderful, the surgeons did a very good job and you have nothing to be ashamed of. I know you can't get an erection and I understand that, but otherwise you are to all intents and purposes 'normal' and I can't wait to share your bed fully. I love you Merlin and this hasn't changed a thing."

He pulled Merlin into a hug and just held the other man as the tension started to relax from them both. After sometime just holding each other Merlin looked at Arthur and spoke "You mean that don't you?" he said wonder and relief evident in this voice.

"Yes I do, now either take your trousers off or pull them up before I get ideas" Arthur grinned.

Merlin gave Arthur such a smile it almost looked like it would split his face in two. Then he bent and resting his hand on the bed pulled his pants and trousers up with his fingertips, then Arthur gave him a hand. "We have to have something to look forward to when we move in together" Merlin said still grinning.

"I will keep you to that! I'll also be glad when you finally get that plaster off your arm!" Arthur said relieved that they had both coped so well, with what was a major marker in their relationship. "Now back to where we are going to live" Arthur said.

"Well it would make more sense for you to move into my place" Merlin said trying to sound reasonable "Your on the tenth floor, great for views but if the lift goes out or there's a fire I'm stuffed. We can do up my place to suit us both and it's got a garden."

"That's true, I hadn't looked at it that way. The only problem as I see it is living next door to Morgana but I suppose it could be worse." He paused than a grin spread across his face "Well in that case Merlin Emrys I would love to move in with you, but if you think I want a different bedroom you have another think coming!" With that the men moved back into the living room and sat holding on another lost in their own thoughts until they decided it was time for them to return to see what Leon and Morgana were up to.