Chapter 40

"Ow, ow, ow."

"Sorry, I'm sorry!"

"Merlin," Arthur growled and lowered himself onto the sofa.

"I'm sorry! Better? Are you comfy?"

"I'm fine."

Merlin sighed in annoyance, "I wanted it to be perfect."

"What?"

"You coming home. I wanted it to be perfect."

Arthur softened, "You just jostled me a bit. I'm ok."

"I'm sorry."

"Merls."

"Ok. Going to make tea. Shall I release the hounds?"

"Yeah, I'm desperate for a cuddle."

"What's wrong with my cuddles?"

"Nothing. But you're making tea."

"Fine," Merlin scowled and left, "Killi! Go attack him! He sinks of hospital, make him smell like home!"

Arthur smirked and braced himself for the two incoming balls of fluff that launched himself at him. When Merlin returned with two mugs of tea a few minutes later, Arthur was still trying to fight them off.

"Oi!" Merlin put the mugs down and picked Aithusa up, "I didn't tell you that you could attack. You're too vicious. Killi does not attack viscously."

"But he's still attacking!" Arthur squawked, "Get him off."

"Killi," Merlin whistled.

Killi didn't jump down but he lay still by Arthur's side so Arthur could give him attention.

"Ok, you, you devil," Merlin looked at Aithusa, "Are going to behave and not kill Arthur. Ok?"

He put her down carefully and watched her closely until she settled calmly.

"Sit," Arthur said, "You're not going to stress yourself to death looking after me."

"I-"

"When I looked after you after one of your many near-fatal accidents, did I get this stressed?"

"Yes."

"Sit down, give me a cuddle, no stressing. This will be a stress free recovery."

"You had heart surgery."

"And if I stress, it might do damage to my heart. If you stress, I stress, so…"

"No stressing," Merlin sat down, "I just want to look after you."

"You are," Arthur kissed his temple.

Everyone came over that evening for a sort of party to celebrate Arthur being home. During that, Elyan stood up and spoke loudly and clearly, "I wasn't involved directly in the crash. I'm speaking now on behalf of mysel- and of Mary, by the way. We weren't there and we heard about what happened second hand from a police man while you were all still on that plane. I dropped everything to come to you, leaving my baby with my wife at barely a second's notice to come for you. And when I got there all I could do was collect your children and your suitcases. I was proud of that. I've never been at the front line of anything that happened. There's nine of us in our team. Four couples and me. I'm the extra. You've all been through a lot and been so present through all of it. I was in the background. But not this time. I was there, looking after your children for you. I was going in to work and talking all day about how proud I was to be on the team. I rebuilt our business while you recovered. I was on the front line. And I was proud of that."

Everyone grinned and started clapping. "Guinevere," Leon said, "Tell Elyan what happened on the plane."

Gwen explained. She told her brother how he was the reason they all survived. She told him what they'd said and what they'd thought and how Alined had refrained from killing them because of Elyan's faith in Albion alone.

"You're not the extra, Elyan," Lancelot said, "You're one of us. Will, Eira, Belle and Luke and even Briar and Rose are already forming a team as strong as ours. The next generation of Albion. I know for a fact that Angel will slot into that team perfectly."

"Do you know what I like about the number nine?" Gwaine said.

Everyone looked at him.

"You can only split it into even groups. One nine, nine ones or three threes. They stay equal and strong."

"Are you drunk? Because you can definitely split it into a five and a four."

Gwaine laughed, "By subtraction. Not division."

"Someone take the alcohol away from Gwaine," Morgana said with a grimace, "He's spurting nonsense."

"Shut up it was deep and meaningful."

"By that logic, we are not allowed any more kids," Lancelot said, "Because seven is prime."

"Merlin what the hell is in the beer you're giving to these people?" Morgana demanded.

"Our team of mini people is going to be stronger than our team of adult people," Gwaine said, "Although the boys are majorly outnumbered."

"If you add it together," Gwen said, "There's seven girls and nine boys. Morgana and I never complain about being outnumbered."

"Actually," Morgana said awkwardly, "There are going to be seven girls and ten boys."

Everyone looked at her, "What?" Arthur, Gwaine, Gwen and Lancelot said at once.

"Morgs is pregnant," Leon said, "We found out at the hospital when- well you know when. It's what made everything so complicated for her getting treated. The shot nearly killed the baby. He might be born disabled or impaired and we gave to watch out for complications for Morgana's sake but he survived getting shot and he's not been born yet. We weren't going to give up on him."

Everyone congratulated them and hugged them tightly.

"You have to come here to get my congratulations, I can't move," Arthur said, beaming at his sister.

"We want to say, no matter how unnecessary it is to say it, that if this child is born with any sort of disability, he's going to have the best life we can possibly give him. That's what we do for thousands of people every say with our job and it's what we'll do for our son too."

"He can be the me of the mini team," Merlin said with a smile, "And all the rest of the mini team will love him and look after him like you do for me."

"Unless he's born completely healthy in which case the mini team will lead long, healthy, happy peaceful lives with no fear," Leon said.

"We'll always be the originals, though. The best," Gwaine said, "And I call for a sleep over."

"What?"

"Come on. The kids are all crashed in the spare room, what's the point in getting them up to bring them home? I have had lots of experience in waking up my daughter when she doesn't want to be woken up and it always ends up in tears, fighting or seizures. It's the weekend, it'll be the weekend tomorrow, let's have a sleepover."

"We're not all sleeping in our bed," Merlin said.

"Nope. We're sleeping down here," Gwaine said, "Go and find as many blankets, mattresses, duvets and pillows as you possibly can and bring them here."

Gwaine built an interesting structure using both sofas, the armchair, the coffee table, the mattresses from the beds in the twins' room from when they stayed and mountains of bedding. It allowed them all to lie together safely and comfortably. After checking on the children, letting the dogs out and calling Mary to let her know where Elyan was, they arranged themselves and settled down.

Merlin was extremely fussy on where Arthur was positioned and Leon was extremely fussy on where Morgana was positioned but eventually they all ended up cuddled together.

"Gwaine this is ridiculous," Morgana said from her position squashed between Leon and Elyan.

"Hey! This is lovely."

"What are we going to do?" Lancelot asked, "Tell ghost stories? Orgy?"

"Lancelot!" Gwen screeched, slapping her husband.

"It was a joke!"

"Does it upset you that there'll be eight kids now, Gwaine?" Morgana teased, "That divides by more things."

"We'll kick the twins out."

"Six still divides by more than three things."

"And you don't get to kick my nieces out of anything!" Merlin protested.

"Fine someone needs another kid, then. Gwen? You had the first, have the last too, it's poetic."

"No! We don't want more kids."

"Only children are spoilt."

"Your daughter is an only child."

"She has epilepsy, we have our hands full."

"Mary and I are considering it," Elyan said, "When Angel's older. The birth was difficult, she wants a better experience."

"Excellent," Gwaine said, "So there'll be nine on the mini team and nine on the original team."

"Gwaine, you can't control how many kids our friends have," Percival said.

"Ten divides by five and two. Nine divides by three."

"Did you stop drinking when I asked you to?" Morgana asked.

"Nope."

"Daddy?" Eira appeared in the doorway, looking sad.

"What's wrong, sweetie?" Percival looked up.

"I don't have Mr Cookie. Can I have a cuddle?"

"Come on."

Eira climbed over the people until she reached her fathers and she settled in between them. "Better than Mr Cookie?"

"Yeah."

With Eira there, everyone settled down and became quiet. Arthur fell asleep quickly, his head pressed against Merlin's as he breathed in his ear softly. Merlin had only just fallen asleep himself when more small hands and feet started clambering over him. He grunted and looked up, "Will?" he asked, his voice thick and sleepy.

"Where's Eira?" he whispered.

"She's just there," Merlin assured him, "She's ok."

"Can I go to her?"

"Go on. Just be careful, don't wake anyone else."

Will continued to scramble over everyone else, kicking people and punching people accidentally until he reached his mother. Gwen was lying beside Percival who was lying next to Gwaine while they both held Eira.

"Hey, little man," Percival said to Will when he arrived, "You ok?"

"Can I sleep here?"

"Of course you can."

Will shuffled into a comfortable position. Gwen now had one arm around her husband and one around her son and Will was holding Eira's hand.

Only a couple of minutes later, Belle came downstairs too. She didn't go to her parents but instead came to Merlin. "What's wrong?" he asked patiently, "I got scared because I'm somewhere new. I didn't know where I was."

"It's ok," Merlin soothed. He moved her so that she was in his arms but nowhere she'd put too much pressure on Arthur's chest. Merlin was sill worried about it even after three months of healing time.

They were all asleep when Luke came down too and squeezed himself in between his parents. All thirteen of them slept like that all night. Together properly for the first time in months.

Arthur was the first one to wake up late the next morning. He was at the very end of their makeshift bed so sat up, propped himself on his elbow and looked at all his friends. The grin that spread across his face was unstoppable. Merlin looked adorable, sleeping with his arms around Belle protectively. Arthur kissed his husband on the forehead lovingly and then returned to studying everyone else. No one really seemed to have moved since they fell asleep. Leon at the far end, then Morgana, Elyan, Lancelot, Gwen, Percival, Gwaine and Merlin with the children interspersed. All in a sort of, wiggled, twisted, tangled and bunched up line with arms and legs everywhere, wrapped around each other, trapped underneath each other, draped on top of each other. Killi, Aithusa and Vilia had settled at everyone's feet for warmth.

It didn't look comfortable but everyone looked peaceful and relaxed and happy. So Arthur lay back down and watched Merlin. He hated the worry lines that still seemed to be around his eyes. He'd been watching, every time he caught Merlin sleeping, waiting for the lines to go. They hadn't yet. Arthur hated knowing he was the cause. It was, after all, the shooting or more specifically Arthur's shooting, that made him so stressed. Merlin had always looked so peaceful when he slept. This wasn't peaceful.

The woke up slowly, one by one throughout the morning and when they did, the went through to the kitchen for food. Eventually, Merlin, Gwaine, Morgana, Lancelot and Belle were the only ones left asleep next door and everyone else was in the garden.

Arthur had been helped through by Leon and was now on the bench around the fire pit, huddled in a blanket. "I won't be moving now for the rest of the day," he warned.

"Good job it's not raining then," Percival sat with them.

"What's this, the lazy loved ones committee?"

Percival smirked, "Never expect Gwaine up before mid-day when it's not for work."

"Merlin's normally awake before me," Arthur said, "Do you think he's ok?"

"He's fine," Lancelot limped out and sat beside them.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. He's fine."

"Should I-"

"Arthur, people are allowed a lie in every now and then," Percival reminded him.

"Yeah, Sorry. It's just that when I'm hurt I can't look after him."

"He doesn't need looking after. You do. He's fine. Ok?"

"Ok," Arthur settled again and watched Luke run around the garden after Aithusa and Vilia.

He really struggled with his sickness over the next few days. Every time Merlin did something even as small as cough, Arthur got panicky. He was terrified something would happen to Merlin when he couldn't do anything to help. The first day they went back to therapy was like a thousand weights off their shoulders, finally getting to talk about everything that had happened. They got home feeling amazing.

"When can we go back to work?"

"When you're up to it," Merlin tucked Arthur into bed.

"It's so strange me being the one that's sick."

"I'd happily trade," Merlin stroked his hair.

"No. No, no, no. It's strange like this but I hate it the other way around."

"No part of being sick is ok for either of us. Being sick sucks, watching the person we love most being sick sucks, knowing that we can't help if we're needed when we're sick sucks, not having normality sucks."

"We know how to get through it, though."

"Of course we do. Let's just, please- let this be the last time. I mean we must have been hospitalized for every reason on the planet between us now."

"I could think of a few."

"Don't you-"

"Electrocution, strokes, child birth-"

"Child birth! Merlin!"

"I know, I was being silly. I wanted to make you smile. You haven't smiled in ages."

"I'm worried about you."

"Me? Arthur, you were shot in the heart."

"And you had to go through it too. I want you to be ok."

"I'll be ok if you're ok."

"Then I will be ok as soon as I possibly can be ok."

"Good."

"Do you know what'll help?" Arthur smirked.

"I'm not having sex with you. You're hurt."

"Come on. We do it all the time when you're hurt."

"But I-"

"Shut up, take your trousers off and kiss me."

When it got to the point that only Arthur, Merlin, Leon and Morgana were still taking leave off work, Arthur was only getting more and more antsy. He understood why he couldn't be back- his chest was still in agony when he moved sometimes and he couldn't walk long distances yet. That didn't make it less annoying, though.

"Can I come with you to walk the dogs?" Arthur begged Merlin one morning.

"No."

"Please," he begged, "Just for a short walk. You can take them out again later. I haven't been out in ages!"

"You-"

"Don't you dare tell me I walked to the end of the garden yesterday. Doesn't count."

"Well you did," Merlin pulled a jumper over his head and shrugged.

"Come on, Merls. I'll pick up all the poo."

"You're not bending down."

"But I can come?"

"Fine. Get dressed."

Arthur grinned and heaved himself out of bed.

"Be careful," Merlin cried.

"You told me to get dressed," Arthur pointed out.

"I'll help you."

"Merlin, I'm a big boy. I can walk to the end of the garden now. I can put a shirt on just fine."

Merlin tossed a set of clothes to him, "Fine."

"Oh, you are in a good mood this morning," Arthur drawled.

"I don't want you to hurt yourself."

"You think I want to get hurt?"

"Of course not! But I'm awful at keeping the house running by myself and I can't use the hoover so I need you back on your feet. So if you trip on this walk and end up on another fortnight's worth of bedrest, I'll be so annoyed. Technically it's a risk because there's dog hair everywhere and if I inhaled it, it could-"

"Ok, I get it! I'm being careful. Please don't get a lung infection."

Merlin smiled triumphantly, "Seriously though, we need a new hoover."

"Why? What's wrong with the one we have?"

"I keep tripping over it and my leg gets caught in the wire."

"Watch where you step, then."

"When you step on a wire or it wraps around your ankle, you can feel it. I cannot."

"Fair enough. Do you trip over the dogs' lead too?" he teased.

"Shut up. Let's go."

The walk was less than half the distance they normally covered with the dogs but it was brilliant to be able to go outside together and enjoy the fresh air. They were less than ten minutes away from home when Arthur's phone started ringing. Arthur raised an eyebrow and answered it, "Leon? Is everything ok?"

"Arthur, are you at home?"

"No, we're on a walk, why?"

"Are you far away?"

"We could get there in five. Leon, why?"

"I'm coming to pick you up."

"Why?" Arthur growled.

"Morgana's been taken to hospital."

"What happened?"

"I don't know," Leon said shakily.

Merlin took the phone off Arthur, "Leon, you're not driving, are you?"

"No, Elyan's taking me. I went to work this morning, I needed to file something."

"Ok, just put the phone down, breathe and we'll talk to you when you get here."

"Ok."

"It's the baby," Arthur breathed when Merlin handed him his phone back after ending the call, "It has to be, it-"

"Arthur."

"Something's wrong with the baby."

"Stop it, don't make assumptions. We'll talk to Leon and we'll talk to the doctors and we'll see. Come on, let's get home."

Merlin couldn't tell if the walk home was painfully long or faster than they'd ever walked before. It could have been hours or seconds before they were at the front door to their house. Elyan's car was already there, Leon in the passenger seat on the phone to someone.

"Get in the car, I'll sort the dogs," Merlin said to Arthur.

"They need food and water and make sure the back door's locked so they won't get out and-"

"Arthur. Car. Now," Merlin kissed him, held a finger up to Elyan to tell him he'd only be a few minutes, and unlocked the front door. He made sure the dogs were ok and collected some water bottles and snacks. It felt like a horrible routine, one thing after another that they needed for another day at the hospital.

It was clear from the second he got into the car that Arthur and Leon were in no state to comprehend anything so Merlin turned to Elyan, "Any idea what's happening?"

"Let's just say it's a good thing they have the office phone number pinned to their kitchen fridge and the phone at a hieght Belle can reach."

"What? Belle called?"

"We don't know any more than what she said. Which was 'Mummy and Luke are hurt and won't wake up.'"

"What?" Merlin yelled.

"We got her to call an ambulance and left."

"Who was Leon on the phone to?"

"Trying to reach the hospital to see if he could find anything out," Elyan informed him, "Look, I can't stay, I have to get back home to Angel but I'll send Lance or Gwaine, I promise. I can take Arthur home if you want."

"No, I want him with me. Not home by himself."

"Sure, we'll sort it out."

The rest of the drive was silent.