Arthur's interview was today, he had been looking forward to it. Or more so planning for it, because looking forward to it meant someone was excited, Arthur looked like he wanted to die. Either way, he had been planning on it for weeks now, getting ready and studying countless sums and thing's Merlin normally ignored at work, like numbers. Arthur was ready, but he was nervous. Merlin could tell, because as he dressed in a nice red suit, because Merlin told him to, he fidgeted so much he couldn't tie his tie. Merlin had to help him.

"Relax," Merlin told him. Arthur didn't really look at him when he answered him, he kind of just looked slightly to the left of Merlin, like something interesting was there. But really, it was more likely Arthur was just thinking too hard.

"This is a big opportunity, Merlin," he said. "Marketing Manager has a lot more responsibility than Director."

"Which you can handle, so you will be fine."

"What if I'm not?" he asked and he sounded so sad and scared that Merlin either wanted to slap some sense into him or hug him and never let go. Merlin decided to do neither, instead he headed for the door.

"Wait here!" he said and dashed to his room. As quick as he could. He threw open his closet and dug through it, as the thing he was looking for he never used. Only once in the last six months had he used it. Once he found it he clutched it within his hands and ran back to Arthur's room. "Here," he said, as he reached Arthur once more. Arthur stared at him now. "This is my lucky tie, I wear it whenever I feel like I need a bit of good luck," Merlin lied. This was no lucky tie, it was just some random tie, but he liked the color.

"You wore this tie on our wedding day," said Arthur then and Merlin nodded.

"And you see how well that turned out."

Arthur laughed, "Should I be offended?" Merlin shrugged and leaned forward, undoing the black tie he had just put on Arthur and replaced it with the blue one. It took maybe a whole minute, and the entire time Arthur stared at him. Watching Merlin's face, not even his hands. "Do the colors clash...?"

"A fashion icon, you are not," said Merlin then, still with a smile. Arthur still watched him. "But I think you look smart."

"What if I'm not good enough...?" asked Arthur now. And it was just how Arthur looked at Merlin seriously, with worried eyes and fear written all over him. Merlin's smile at him continued and he took Arthur's hands in his own. His still fidgety fingers froze once Merlin did this. Arthur stared at him, like he had the answer to the unsolvable and Merlin shrugged again, because he did. It wasn't really unsolvable at all.

"You're brilliant," he answered, simply enough. Because it was true. Arthur didn't say anything, and Merlin wasn't entirely sure he believed him, so he added, "I wouldn't lie," with a smirk and Arthur shook his head with a sigh. Merlin ushered him down the stairs now, because it seemed Arthur couldn't do it himself. He all but pushed him out of the door, pep-talking him the whole entire time. "I believe in you, and if you don't get the job...a better one will come along. But I'm not worried, you know what you're doing with this stuff better than anyone I've ever worked with. Just...be yourself."

Once Arthur was gone Merlin huffed in worry. Not because Arthur stressed him out or anything and he really did believe in him. But if he didn't get this job he would be devastated and Merlin really didn't want to see that happen. Arthur had worked so hard, he deserved it more than anyone and Merlin would fight someone on this if they dare disagree. After he left, Merlin didn't have much to do. He didn't have any schoolwork, as he usually got it all done on the nights Arthur spent out with Gwen. Which was at least three to four nights a week. So instead, Merlin sat in the sitting room, flicking through the channels on the telly, kind of bored. His phone rang and he pulled from his pajama bottoms, and answered without looking.

It was one of three people, Merlin was sure. Either Arthur, his mother or Gwen. It was the last, before Merlin even got a full Hello out she was speaking. "Where is Arthur?" she was saying, quickly. "Why didn't he answer the phone when I just called?"

"He's at his interview," said Merlin. How could Gwen forget that? It was all Arthur had been talking about.

"Oh, I forgot it was today..." she said, a lot softer now. "Do you think he's doing well?"

"I'm sure he is," said Merlin, without needing much thought. "He will get it."

"I hope so, because this job will pay him very well," said Gwen. "Maybe then we could go on a holiday together. Him and I really need alone time, as we can never get any..."

Merlin rolled his eyes, "Right," he muttered, with no care whatsoever. "Well, are you at work right now? Don't want to keep you."

"I am on break," she said. Merlin rolled his eyes again. "Have you talked to Elyan?"

"No, not since before he left," answered Merlin. "Why?"

"Neither have I," said Gwen now. "Apparently, he hasn't called mum in two days and his phone is off. She's pissed, says he had better bring her car back right now."

"Do you think something's happened?" asked Merlin, worry filling him. He remembered Arthur's words, his worry of Merlin going on this trip. Maybe something did happen to Elyan on the road. However, Gwen scoffed at his question.

"No, nothing is wrong with him. He is just an idiot," she said, Merlin frowned at her words. "He'll be in for it when he gets back and honestly...I hope she throws him out. He is an absolute mooch."

"He just doesn't know what he wants for his life yet..."

"He uses that as an excuse," retorted Gwen. "Don't fall for his lies, Merlin." Merlin didn't say anything to this, because he didn't agree with her. He thought Elyan should be allowed not to know what he wanted with his life yet, he was only twenty. Well, almost twenty-one now, but even still that didn't make much of a difference. "My break is almost over," said Gwen then. "Have Arthur call me when he gets home. I want to know how it went."

"I will," said Merlin "Bye..."

He hung up before Gwen had said bye back and he didn't really feel bad about it. He had used to. They used to make sure to say bye, they used to tell each other they loved each other even. Not all the time, but sometimes. But not now, and probably never again. Not that he didn't love Gwen, she was still his sister, but things had changed...and not for the better.

Merlin hadn't been doing anything after his phone call. He was honestly just waiting for Arthur to get back, an hour ticked by and then another and another. Merlin was getting worried about him, should it really take this long? And if it was taking this long didn't that mean it was going well? Merlin didn't know, but he just kept worrying. He didn't want to call either and annoy Arthur. There was a time and place to annoy Arthur, and it wasn't now. Finally, after three hours of waiting, Merlin heard Arthur's car pull into the driveway. Merlin didn't get up right at first, he waited until Arthur came inside before he stood up from the sofa. Arthur slammed the door shut, which couldn't be a good sign, could it? And then screamed Merlin's name.

"MERLIN!" At the top of his voice, Merlin rushed into the hall, where he saw Arthur stood by the front door, stone faced. Merlin gulped. Oh no.

"Arthur...?" asked Merlin, timid. Arthur just stared at him. Stared for a long time, with such a harshness that it felt as if he was burning right through Merlin's skin with this glare. But then, it suddenly switched. Switched into a beaming and rather booming smile. Merlin was confused for a whole of three seconds, before Arthur was running toward him and scooping, literally scooping, Merlin into a hug. It took Merlin's breath away, the force of it. Arthur had slammed their bodies together so hard, it was as if he was trying to crush Merlin.

"I got it!" he announced happily. So much happiness just poured from his voice that it made Merlin smile, too. Even though he couldn't breathe, but he still hugged him back just as tightly. Merlin was thrilled for him. He really was. Of course he didn't doubt Artur would get it. At least that's what he would tell Arthur and he really hadn't, honestly. But, he had been worried for nothing all the same.

(A/N: Well, here is another update, it's not my favorite chapter, I do have to say, but it is something. I hope you enjoyed.)