A/N: I hope everyone enjoyed reading everything over the past couple of weeks. Hopefully everything will be back to normal from now on.

I'll also start work on a sequel, I was thinking about making Gaius a bit of a bigger character.

Enjoy and thanks for putting up with the break. :D

Chapter 32

"It's amazing," Arthur muttered.

"Wow," Percival breathed.

"I can't believe it," Lancelot said.

They were standing in front of their new hotel, admiring how beautiful their plans looked now they were a reality. The building works had finished about a week ago but Arthur hadn't want to take Merlin out because he was recovering from a cold which could have made worse by going out in the harsh autumnal weather. Even now, Arthur had Merlin wrapped up tightly in jumpers, hats, warm socks and blankets. After the damage Merlin's lungs had suffered, Arthur was not taking any chances with anything else that could cause him harm.

But everyone had been desperate to see the hotel and even though Arthur did want to keep Merlin at home a little while longer, even he couldn't resist visiting.

They had a tour of the whole building, glancing in a few of the guest rooms and looking around everywhere else properly. They were overjoyed with how good everything looked. They had a few extra ideas of things to add to make it even better, but they weren't urgent. The hotel wasn't opening until the New Year and it was still only November.

The grounds of the hotel were beautiful. The property had lots of walks around the surrounding countryside. Everyone was completely in love with the hotel and very proud of what they'd created. It had taken months of work together to put everything together and seemingly hundreds of meetings and phone calls to get planning permission and all sorts of other things that were very stressful and time consuming, but no one had considered previously. Uther had been a great help, having been through the process before, and was happy to advise everyone.

It had taken them a while to come up with a decent name for the hotel. But the one they'd settled on, put a smile on their faces whenever it was mentioned. It was called…

Albion.

"I think we need to celebrate," Gwaine said happily as they walked back to their car.

"I think we need to go home," Arthur replied, glancing down at Merlin who was slightly pale and coughing.

"We can- we can celebrate at home," Merlin spluttered with a cough, "We don't have to go out."

"You need to rest," Arthur said.

"I will. It's still only the afternoon. We can all have dinner together."

"Come on, Arthur," Gwaine said, "We haven't been all together for ages. Let him have some fun."

"Alright, fine. Everyone can come back to ours but Merlin has to rest for a while before we eat so you have to be quiet."

Merlin sniggered and rolled his eyes.

"And we're alright to bring William?" Lancelot checked, looking down at the baby in the carrier who was glancing around in intrigue.

"Of course," Arthur said, "He can't have too much wine, though."

"Arthur!" Gwen cried.

"I was joking," Arthur laughed as he opened his car, "He can have as much as he wants."

Lancelot snorted, "We'll need to pop home and get a few things. We only brought enough for a short outing."

"That's fine. We'll see you there," Arthur gently lifted Merlin out of his wheelchair and into the car, "Is everyone coming?"

The rest of the group looked at each other and nodded.

"Right," Arthur buckled Merlin into the car and stuffed the wheelchair in the boot, "I'll get some hot drinks made ready for you all."

"We'll go to the shops and get a few things to eat," Morgana offered, "I doubt Arthur's prepared enough to have decent food in."

"I don't have time to go to the shops on a regular basis," Arthur defended, "Merlin barely lets me leave the house and I can't push a wheelchair and a trolley at the same time."

"Don't blame everything on me as if you can't go online and order the shopping on there," Merlin told him.

"Stop arguing," Gwen said, "It's cold, I want to go somewhere warmer. We'll see you soon." She and Lance got into their with Elyan car and drove away.

Arthur walked around to the driver side of his car and got in before looking at Merlin, whose door was still wide open. Arthur groaned, "Can you reach it?"

Merlin turned to it and reached out an arm to try and grab the door handle. When he failed, he went to undo his seatbelt, but Arthur stopped him, "I'll get it."

"No, I can reach."

"Merlin, it's too far, you could fall. Just let me." Arthur jumped out the car and ran around to get the door before Merlin managed to get out.

"I'm so useless I can't even close a door anymore," Merlin joked when Arthur started the car, but his voice was reserved and sharp.

"You can," Arthur told him, "It was just too far away to reach. If I'd let you, you would have been able to use your leg to stand up and reach the door."

"Except I wouldn't," Merlin said, "Because I haven't used that leg in months."

"You haven't used it to stand," Arthur corrected, "But you exercise it every day. If you wanted to, you could stand on it."

"So why didn't you let me get the door?"

"You're ill. Weaker than you usually are. So if you had fallen and been injured-"

"How many people do you know that have died because they fell out of a car?" Merlin asked sarcastically, "A car barely thirty centimetres off the ground."

"You know that any sort of knock to your chest could damage your lungs seriously. And they're-"

"Weak already," Merlin finished, "Yeah."

"You can get some sleep if you want," Arthur said.

"You think I'll ever be able to sleep in a car after that crash?" Merlin shook his head, "Now I have to look at every turn and check for any oncoming cars."

"That's not healthy."

"No. I know. I try to stop myself."

"You know I check the junctions before I move."

Merlin nodded, "It's not like I don't trust you. I know you can drive safely and I'm not in any danger with you. I just find myself looking and I can't take my eyes away."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I know you don't like driving much anymore either," Merlin said, "I don't want you to have to worry about me being anxious when you are just as much."

"Will you try for me?" Arthur asked for a moment, "Just put your seat back a bit, close your eyes and keep them closed for as long as you can."

"Why?"

"Because then you're putting all your trust in me to drive safely."

"I do trust you," Merlin said, his eyes instinctively flickering around every lane of the junction they were stopped at, "It wasn't your fault we crashed."

"It'll prove you can relax in a situation that scares you," Arthur said, "I want you to be happy, Merls, and you're not happy in the car. We drive too often for you to be uncomfortable when we are. We've already conquered the stairs problem."

"We can't fix every single problem I have."

"No. I know. But this is one I think we can. Please try, gorgeous. Lie back and think about something else. Something nice."

"Everything in my life is linked to an accident," Merlin said, "There's nothing nice to think about."

"Everything in everyone's life is linked to everything else. That doesn't mean there aren't nice things for you to think about. It doesn't matter what else they're linked to."

"But it matters if they remind me of a tragedy. I don't like to think of nice things in case they get corrupted by something else."

"Ok then," Arthur sighed, "What about Killi?"

"What about him?"

"He's not linked to anything tragic. I bought him for you because I love you and you love dogs."

Merlin thought about that for a second.

"Put your chair back, relax and think about Killi. I promise nothing bad will happen."

Merlin did as he was told and reclined the car seat so it was more horizontal but Arthur could see out of the corner of his eye that Merlin was tense and stiff. His eyes were squeezed shut forcefully, not relaxed and his hand was clenched around the handle inside the door.

"Merlin."

"You can't force yourself to relax," he said tightly, "That defeats the purpose. And I'm scared."

"Why?"

"I don't want to crash. Arthur, the first crash I was ever in killed my father right in front of me. The second nearly killed us both. I don't want you to die."

"I'm not going to. We've been in a car hundreds of times and crashed once."

"That means nothing. It could still happen."

"I know. But you can't be this terrified every time you get in a vehicle like this. We're only twenty minutes from home now. Try and get some rest."

"Why? I only have to wait twenty minutes and you'll be carrying me upstairs at home anyway to make me rest."

"Merlin, please. I'll put some music on."

"I'll do it. Watch the road."

Five minutes later, Arthur glanced over and was happy to see Merlin lying back, his eyes shut, mouth slightly open and hand around the door handle lax. Arthur wasn't sure if he was actually asleep, but whether he was or wasn't, he was at least relaxed. Arthur was glad. He hated seeing Merlin so uncomfortable and anxious, and driving was something they had to do. Other things that upset Merlin could be avoided to some extent but this couldn't. So Arthur wanted it dealt with.

When he pulled up on the drive outside their house, Arthur wasn't surprised to see Gwaine's car already there. He was a much slower driver since the accident but Gwaine most certainly did not take things steadily.

"Honestly," Gwaine teased when Arthur got out the car, "You drive like an old man in a golf cart."

Arthur frowned and tossed him the house keys, "Open the door. And let Killi out into the back garden."

He opened Merlin's side of the car and reached across him to undo the seat belt, "Merlin?" he said gently, "Merlin, gorgeous? Are you awake?"

Merlin didn't stir so Arthur quickly rested a hand on his chest to make sure he was breathing steadily and deeply before gently lifting him.

"Need a hand?" Percival came over.

"Could you lock the car up?"

"Is there anything you need from it?"

"There's a bag in the boot and Merlin's coat is on the back seat."

"On it."

"Thanks."

Arthur carried Merlin upstairs, slipped off his shoes and tucked him into bed before hooking the oxygen tube under his nose. He kissed him on the forehead and closed the door behind him as he left to head back downstairs and join Percival and Gwaine.

"Is he alright?" Gwaine asked as soon as Arthur entered the kitchen.

"Fine. That cold just took a lot out of him. He's tired."

"Has it damaged his lungs more?"

"I doubt it. It was just uncomfortable for him. We have to be careful now. Things that are just colds or flus to us are serious for him."

"You can't stop him from getting every single illness on the planet," Percival pointed out as he came in with Killi.

"I thought you were taking Killi out," Arthur said to Gwaine.

"I opened the door for him."

"He didn't want to pick the poo up," Percival said.

"I could have done that," Arthur said, "I just needed someone to make sure he didn't run off while I took Merlin upstairs. I can clear everything up."

"Too late," Percival washed his hands, "I did it."

"Thanks, Percy," Arthur sent a pointed look to Gwaine.

"It's not like I've been completely useless," Gwaine said, "I put the kettle on."

"Wow, Gwaine," Arthur mumbled, "I'm so impressed. Sorry for getting annoyed that you left my dog outside somewhere he could run away. You were clearly doing something much more valuable."

"Hey, it's not my fault if your garden isn't secure enough to keep your dog in."

"I asked you to take him outside."

"I did."

"And then left him," Arthur sighed.

"Why are you so annoyed?" Gwaine laughed, "Nothing happened. He's fine."

"Because if he had run away or escaped and got stuck in the middle of a road or was missing, what do you think that would do to Merlin?" Arthur said, "Please, just, just be more careful with him."

Arthur bent down to stroke and play with Killi, tugging one of his toys back and forth for him to wrestle with.

"Has William met Killi?" Percival asked.

"Not yet. We always keep him in here if they bring William over. We keep thinking about what the best way to do it would be so Killi doesn't get too excited."

"I bet Gwen doesn't want him within a mile of William," Percival laughed.

"Actually it's Gwen that wants them to meet. She thinks William will love Killi."

"Why not introduce them today?" Gwaine suggested, "There'll be plenty of people here for Killi to let out his excitement with first and then, when he's calmer, you can let him see the baby."

Arthur nodded, "We can ask Gwen when she gets here."

As usual, when Gwen and Lancelot came over with the baby and Elyan, they shut Killi in the kitchen and went to answer the door which Gwen had knocked on. The whole group was very accustomed to knocking and not ringing the doorbell. Arthur had considered having the doorbell removed but had seen no point in it given that they'd be moving soon and whoever moved in afterwards would just have one installed again. They'd taken instead to taping over the bell to try and deter people from using it and placing a sign above it. It didn't stop everyone but most people managed to read the sign and knock.

They settled in the living room to wait for Morgana and Leon to arrive with the shopping, after which Arthur planned to go and get Merlin down. But that plan was ruined by a harsh coughing sound which was quickly echoed by Killi's barking. The cacophony was completed by a knock at the door signalling Morgana and Leon's arrival. Arthur frowned and stood up, "Can someone go and get Killi to calm down? Take him outside if he doesn't shut up but don't let him upstairs."

He took the stairs two at a time and bound up to the bedroom where Merlin seemed to be trying to cough up his insides.

"Sit up," Arthur perched on the edge of the bed and pulled Merlin into a more upright position, "Come on."

Merlin continued to choke and splutter.

"What is it?" Arthur tried to keep his concern at bay, "Is something stuck?"

Merlin shook his head wildly and attempted to say, "Can't breathe," but ended up just groaning and croaking.

"Does it hurt?"

Merlin nodded. Arthur took his hand and placed it over his own chest, "Can you feel me breathing?"

Merlin nodded again.

"Do you think you can breathe in time with me?" He watched Merlin try desperately for a while before shaking his head sadly, eyes filled with panic. Arthur didn't know what to do. Merlin was clearly in pain and there was obviously something wrong with his lungs, but he couldn't fix it.

"Did sitting up help?" Arthur asked.

Merlin shrugged, bending his head down so he wouldn't be coughing straight in Arthur's face. He seemed to be less anxious and panicked now that Killi was no longer barking downstairs but there was still a terror in his eyes that Arthur didn't like.

"Is the oxygen on?" Arthur looked at the tank, "Oh, it's empty. Didn't you realise?"

Merlin looked at him sorrowfully.

"It's alright," he propped Merlin up against the headboard, said "Two seconds," and ran to the top of the stairs, "Leon!"

He waited a few seconds and Leon burst out of the living room, "Yeah?"

"In the cupboard in the back of the kitchen there's a few oxygen tanks, can you get one please? Quickly."

He quickly put his head back around the bedroom door to check Merlin was still alright only to find him hunched over, close to falling off the bed, still wheezing and heaving for breath with his face screwed up in pain. Arthur took Merlin's shoulders and forced him up, "Lie back against the headboard," he said, "It's alright."

Merlin grabbed Arthur's shirt with his hand and squeezed it tightly, still trying to calm down. But he was clearly in agony. It was a wonder he hadn't passed out yet. It was good though, it meant he was at least still getting enough oxygen for now.

Leon burst into the room, heaving an oxygen tank with him and looking slightly panicked. Arthur took it off him and sorted everything out as quickly as he could.

"Here, Merlin. It'll get better soon."

Arthur studied Merlin as he managed to get his breath back, still coughing occasionally and still with his eyes closed.

"What happened?" Leon asked quietly.

"His oxygen tank ran out," Arthur said, not taking his eyes off Merlin, "And he's still recovering from the cold. He must have had a coughing fit and not been able to breathe properly. Is that right, Merlin?"

Merlin nodded.

"Does he need oxygen every time he coughs?" Leon asked.

"Only if it's a really bad fit. Most of the time he copes without. I don't know if this was particularly bad or just because he was asleep but-"

"He'll be ok?"

Arthur nodded, "You can go back down if you want. We'll be fine."

Leon smiled, "Gwaine's worried. Percival made him take Killi for a walk with Lance to get away. We could hear him coughing from downstairs, it-"

"Could you go and get some water?" Arthur interrupted, "Please?"

Leon looked embarrassed, "Yeah, sure."

"Better?" Arthur asked Merlin once the door was closed.

Merlin took a deep breath, "Yeah. That was scary."

"Tell me about it," Arthur scoffed, "What happened?"

"I woke up coughing. I couldn't breathe. But everything hurt and- my lungs were on fire, Arthur."

"It's alright. We'll just have to remember from now on to check that the tank isn't nearly empty before you go to sleep."

"It wasn't my fault. You didn't wake me up to take me inside."

"I'm proud of you," Arthur told him, "For relaxing in the car. For trusting me."

"I trusted you already."

"I know," Arthur leant forward and kissed him, "Are you coming down or staying here for a bit?"

"I'll come. I don't want to be by myself."

"Do you want to take the oxygen?"

"It's alright. Can I wear something comfier though? Jeans aren't great."

Arthur stood up and went to collect a pair of tracksuit bottoms to help him into, "You're alright? It doesn't still hurt?"

"A bit. But it's getting better."

"We'll get you an extra pillow from the other room so you're more propped up. Being upright helps."

Merlin said nothing, knowing that, even if Arthur did get another pillow, it would be discarded pretty quickly for the sake of easier cuddles. Merlin preferred to use Arthur as a cushion over any other actual pillow.

"How long does it take Leon to get a glass of water?" Arthur chuckled as he pulled Merlin's trousers up.

"He's probably too scared to come back in. Might think we're doing something naughty."

"Want to prove him right?" Arthur smirked and leaned forward to kiss Merlin but was met instead with a hand.

"Not when there are other people here who might come in."

"Tonight?" Arthur asked hopefully.

"If you behave."

Arthur smiled, "I'll show you behaving." He picked Merlin up and flung him over his shoulder carefully so as not to knock his chest before marching around the room, still holding him steady.

"Arthur!" Merlin laughed, coughing slightly, "Stop. Arthur, that's not fair!"

Leon walked in and took in the sight of Arthur with Merlin slung over his back, face slightly red but laughing roughly. "Is that safe?" he asked with an amused smirk.

Merlin spluttered, "No! He's trying to kill me!"

Arthur sniggered, "Am not." He dumped Merlin onto the bed in such a way that he had to do a roly-poly to end up the right way.

Merlin scowled at him, "That was not funny."

"It was," Leon said, "It looked like something Lancelot would do to entertain William."

"I'm not a baby!"

"No, you're right," Arthur said sarcastically, "It's not like you have to be carried everywhere, have to take naps every few hours, can't usually make it all the way through the night and have to be taken to the toilet by someone else."

Leon looked slightly scared that Arthur might have over-stepped the mark, "Arthur."

"That's unfair," Merlin pouted but his eyes were twinkling, "You can't make fun of disabled people."

"He's right," Leon agreed with a relieved chuckle, "They can't stand up for themselves."

Arthur groaned at the atrocious pun, "That was awful. Truly the worst joke you've ever told."

"I thought it was good," Merlin laughed, "Very quick."

Arthur shook his head, "Did you get any water, Leon?"

Leon handed the glass over, "Sorry it took so long. I went to get some out the tap but then Gwen started fussing about tap water not being sanitary or something and Morgana said it would be safer to use bottled. I don't know what they think is wrong with tap water, but-"

"Only Gwen would fuss over what type of water Merlin was drinking," Arthur laughed as he bent down to pick up Merlin again and take him downstairs so everyone could celebrate together.