A/N: Thanks to the person who gave a suggestion yesterday of something I could include in a third installation. I'll happily take anyone's ideas to work them into the story so if anyone else has something they want to happen, please just leave a review or message me :D
Chapter 19
Over the months, Camelot's renovations came along well. The first couple of trips had been difficult for Merlin, knowing it was where Will had died. But it looked so different, it wasn't long before he got used to it. Now that they had five properties, two of which being very close together, they'd decided to do some renaming. Their original hotel remained as Albion, the name which the entire business had. But the second hotel in Ireland was now called Ismere. All three of Uther's old properties kept their names. Camelot, Mercia and Nemeth.
The main issue they were having was finding reliable staff. They were all still very much of the attitude that they wanted to stay together and work at Albion. Otherwise it would have been easy enough to send someone to each different property. But they couldn't stop clinging to each other's company. Especially now that they had children settled at schools they knew well. Management was always something the company struggled to explain. Arthur, Merlin and their group of seven friends were the official owners of the entire business and all it's properties. They, in turn, hired managers for those properties. The confusion only came because that group of nine also managed one of those individual properties.
They struggled to find people they trusted enough to run a building in their name. Their morals and requirements were very specific to ensure that everything they claimed was true. Otherwise everything would have been worthless.
By that point, the overall management team had such good names for themselves that if there ever were any issues with the staff, it only ever reflected badly on that person and not on the company. But still, it was important to them to find the right people.
"How about this," Lancelot said one morning as they stared at piles of paperwork, "We manage it ourselves? It's close enough that we'd basically all still be working together. Except some of us are in the city and some of us aren't."
"That's too much work," Morgana said, "It takes all nine of us to manage both the company and the hotel. We can't take on anymore."
"Ok," Elyan said, "But this hotel is already set up and sorted. And the workload is only going to increase when we have Mercia and Nemeth open too. So, how about we find someone else to manage this branch. It's easy enough now, all they have to do is run it. And, if it is needed, we're still in the same city anyway. So we manage Camelot until that's set up and running smoothly too. Then we need to take a step back. We work ourselves to the bone but we have families at home that need us too."
"So we resign management of any individual branch and end up nothing except the owners?" Arthur summarised to himself.
"It's still work, we're still in charge, we're still doing things to help the world but we have time to do other things too that are just as important."
"He's right," Gwen said, "We barely have time for our families."
So, they bought a set of offices just outside the city. They found a group of perfect people to take over management of Hotel Albion and turned most of their attention to Camelot. Elyan's plan was good. Albion had a reputation. Any manager who tried to change that would be fired immediately. In a few years, when they had all five properties open and running, the nine of them would spend all their time together in the office. Each person or pair, having their own branch to keep an eye on from afar whilst also working as a group to keep the business going.
That was a long time in the future yet, though. For now, the offices were just a place for them to work because the new managers of Hotel Albion needed the offices there and there weren't any in Camelot. Not that they needed to be there much while it was still being built. It was more about buying things that needed to be bought, planning and managing their money.
It immediately eased so much stress that they didn't even know they'd had. Not having to juggle what was technically two or three jobs. The dogs didn't seem to like it so much. They were still just in the countryside so there were outside spaces for them to run around in. But there were no guests to get food or attention from and it made them realise something that they should have done half a year ago.
Merlin woke up one morning coughing and struggling to breathe.
"Arthur!" he spluttered.
He heard Arthur sit up and curse from next to him, "Oh, Killi! Get off!"
Merlin felt something move on his chest and then remove itself with a huff. He only continued coughing.
"Here," Arthur pulled him upright and shoved an inhaler into his hand, "Come on, it's alright."
Merlin took a few deep puffs and looked at Arthur for an explanation.
"Killi was using you as a pillow."
Merlin groaned. Thanks to Aithusa's hatred for being in a room with the door closed- something they were working through but slowly given that it had been six months- they left every door except their bedroom door open through the night. That gave the dogs free roam of the house, which surprisingly had only ended in disaster once or twice. Once being when Killi had taken it upon himself to break into the cupboard and leave food everywhere and the other time when he'd ripped apart the sofa cushions. Still, two issues in six months wasn't a huge deal.
Until he decided to suffocate Merlin. If he hadn't had pre-existing lung conditions, it wouldn't have been a problem. But Killi and Aithusa were both very furry and even with the measures they took to keep the hair around the house to a minimum, it wasn't always perfect. So the master bedroom was the only place the dogs weren't allowed in. Apparently Killi had ignored this rule and, in an attempt to get the attention he missed from his days at the hotel, somehow managed to push the door open.
"He could have been in here all night," Arthur said in annoyance, "Stupid dog."
Merlin continued to cough and splutter, lungs clearly irritated by something. Arthur opened the windows to try and get some fresh air in, hating the way Merlin was starting to panic.
"It's alright," Arthur soothed, picking Merlin up gently and taking him downstairs. Somehow managing to hold Merlin with one arm, Arthur unlocked and opened the back door and took Merlin outside, hoping the fresh morning air would help.
"I'm just getting you a glass of water," Arthur said, leaving Merlin on the bench while he ran inside, ignoring Killi who was moping around the kitchen.
"Arthur!" Merlin gasped when he returned, "I can't breathe."
"Yes, you can, it's ok. Inhaler?"
"Wrong one," Merlin flailed the item around.
"Which one do you need?"
"Not this one!"
Arthur sighed, not really blaming Merlin for not being able to be of more help given the situation. "I'll go and get it, Merlin, but you have to try to calm down, otherwise you're not going to get anywhere."
Arthur dashed inside, rummaged around for what he hoped was the correct medication and shut the back door behind him as he returned to Merlin. He was horrified to find his husband lying on the ground, still not breathing properly and now also in the midst of a panic attack. Arthur swore. He gathered Merlin in his arms and held him upright, "Merlin, gorgeous, can you hear me?"
Merlin didn't show any sign of acknowledging his presence. Arthur forced the inhaler into Merlin's mouth carefully and said, "You have to do this with me, Merls. It won't help otherwise."
Arthur watched Merlin's chest rising and falling unevenly and tried to time the release of the medicine from the inhaler with one of Merlin's breaths in. It seemed to work, Merlin's breathing became a little easier. Arthur took his hand and placed it on his own chest. This was often the technique they used in situations like this. Merlin would put his hand over Arthur's lungs and feel his breathing to copy.
When Arthur was sure it was working, he fished his phone out the pocket he'd stuffed it in while searching for the inhaler and called Morgana.
"I need a favour," Arthur said desperately.
"What's wrong?" Morgana had clearly just woken up.
"Merlin's not well. It's difficult to explain."
"Ok, what do you need?"
"Can he stay with you for the day? I need him somewhere clean."
"Arthur we're meant to be at work this afternoon."
"I know, but I'm going to ask everyone to work from home, I need help." Arthur kept his eyes on Merlin the whole time for any sign of him coming around.
"Why, Arthur, tell me what's happening?"
"Killi slept in our bed last night. I don't know if his fur got into Merlin's lungs or what but he's spent all morning coughing. I need to clean the house properly."
"Yeah, ok. Sure."
"Thank you so much."
"What are you doing with the dogs?"
"I'll just shut them outside. Give them a brush, maybe run them over with the hoover."
"Arthur!"
"I'm kidding! Will you come and get him?"
"Yeah, of course, I'll be there in ten. Leon's happy to help you clean, by the way."
"Oh, amazing. Thank you so much. I've got to go, see you soon. Let yourself in." He put his phone down and put his hand on Merlin's cheek, "Merlin? Come on, please, Merls. Wake up."
He was breathing a lot easier now, unconsciously still mirroring his breathing with Arthur's and no longer thrashing about. Arthur was holding onto him tightly, worried that when he did wake up, he'd panic.
Eventually, Merlin rolled his head to one side and his fingers twitched against Arthur's bare chest.
"Hey," Arthur sighed in relief, "Merlin?"
Merlin's eyes fluttered open and he stared at Arthur, upset, confused and embarrassed.
"It's ok," Arthur assured him, "Don't worry. Can you breathe alright?"
Merlin nodded and reached out the grab the forgotten glass of water. Arthur watched him take a sip closely and let him sit up on his own. "Please tell me I didn't pass out."
Arthur bit his lip, "Well I could, but-"
"It would be a lie?" Merlin assumed. He looked completely mortified, "I'm sorry."
"Well I've certainly been woken up in nicer ways," Arthur joked, "You ok?"
"I've been better. What happened?"
"Killi decided to smother you. All night. You woke up coughing so I brought you out here to get some fresh air but it didn't end too well."
"Panic attack?"
"Yeah."
Merlin groaned and leant back into Arthur's arms. "I called Morgana," Arthur said, "She's going to come and pick you up."
"Why?"
"So I can deep clean the house. Dust and hoover so you don't get a lung infection. I doubt just Killi being there would have set it off and we've been worse with grooming them since we started work for Camelot."
"You're not coming?"
"Sorry, Merls. But I don't want you getting sick."
Merlin nodded.
They were sitting in the same position when Morgana came into the back garden ten minutes later. Merlin pale and sweaty, dressed in a top and shorts, Arthur wearing nothing but his underpants and looking very stressed.
"Well," she laughed, "Isn't this an interesting sight?"
"Morgana," Arthur breathed in relief.
"Did you know you're practically naked, brother?"
"I didn't have much time to get dressed," Arthur snapped.
"What happened?"
"I'll explain when we've got some clothes on," Arthur stood up and helped Merlin up too. They got dressed and Arthur hugged Merlin, "I'll see you later, ok?"
"I love you."
"I love you too."
Leon, who had been staying in the car with the kids, got out and switched places with Merlin. They drove back to Morgana's and chatted to Belle the whole way. They had breakfast together and Merlin spent most of the day playing with Belle.
"Honestly, Merlin," Morgana had joked, "Couldn't you have chosen to do this on a school day so I didn't have to look after three kids on my own?"
Arthur texted her regularly to make sure Merlin was alright. They enjoyed a few affectionate giggles about how overprotective and worried he was. Late that night, Arthur pulled up outside his sister's, dropped Leon off and came in to get Merlin. He thanked both Morgana and Leon, stopped for a quick cup of tea, and left.
"Do you want a doctor's appointment?" Arthur asked Merlin when they were in the car, "Morgana said you haven't stopped coughing all day."
Merlin shook his head tiredly, "Not if it's better by tomorrow."
"We dusted and hoovered everywhere, washed all the bedsheets and as many of our clothes as we had time for and I've brushed the dogs thoroughly and got them appointments to be properly groomed."
"Thank you, Arthur. I'm sorry I scared you."
"Don't be silly. Killi doesn't understand what he's done. He's been moping around all day with his tail between his legs."
"Awh, Arthur."
"What? He could have killed you!"
"He doesn't understand that."
"He understands that he's not allowed in our bedroom."
"He's used to getting more attention," Merlin said.
"Yeah, well. He'll have to get un-used to it."
"We have to be able to close the kitchen door. We need Aithusa used to it and it's been half a year now. It's not fair to her to drag it out."
"We'll work on it more tomorrow when we're off."
"We're not meant to be off tomorrow."
"You're ill, I want to make sure you're alright before we start going out places where it could get worse. Gwen spent all day cleaning and dusting the office apparently. She, Lance and Elyan all went in. Everyone else just worked from home."
"Surely we're meant to be working then, not training our dog."
"Sick leave," Arthur said.
"I think I have the world record for most days of sick leave."
"I'd rather that than you being ill all the time. It's dangerous."
Merlin rolled his eyes, "Ok. Dog training it is."
They both went straight to bed when they got in. Arthur fed the dogs, not wanting Merlin to be too close to them on the same day. Merlin was too tired to complain. Looking after Belle all day after the morning he'd had was exhausting.
The next day, they took Aithusa into the living room and played with her for about half an hour until they were sure she was comfortable in there. Then, Merlin closed the door half way and they continued to reassure her and play with her.
After a while, Arthur sat on the sofa and put Aithusa in his lap, her favourite toy nearby too. Merlin slowly closed the door while Arthur soothed Aithusa and stroked her fur. They still didn't close the door all the way, but spent the rest of the morning showing her that what they'd done so far was safe.
They gave her a break over lunch and continued the same way they'd started. Arthur held onto her and comforted her while Merlin opened and closed the door, pushing her as far as he dared little by little.
"That was better," Arthur said as they ate dinner, "Last week she would have gone mental if the door was closed that far."
"We'll keep going after work tomorrow."
"I want to book you a doctor's appointment," Arthur insisted.
"Arthur-"
"Don't. You've been coughing all day."
"You know why. It'll pass."
"I want to be sure. Your health is serious, Merlin."
"I know but it's just a little irritation. My breathing isn't affected at all."
"Please? It'll make me feel better."
"Arthur, I know it's serious, ok? Really, I do. But we can't keep going back and forth to the doctors all the time over tiny little things! It's paranoia and it won't get better like this."
"I don't want anything to happen to you. You're my whole life."
"Nothing's going to happen," Merlin said, "Trust me. Everything that could possibly happen has already happened between us. Fires, crashes, explosions, poisoning, drowning, hypothermia, infections. Everything, Arthur."
"There are thousands of illnesses," Arthur said, "If we're working our way through all of them, we've got a long way to go yet."
"Arthur-"
"Just be careful. Tell me if it gets worse."
"I will," Merlin took a deep breath, "You know, Arthur, I'm not going to outlive you. I'll die first."
"Merlin!"
"No, I'm serious."
"That won't be for ages, Merlin. Decades!"
"I know! But I have to know that you'll be alright. Without me."
"We'll both be old men by then, Merls. We'll probably be sick of each other."
"Arthur, please take this seriously."
Arthur sighed and tried to discreetly wipe away a tear, "I don't want to think about it."
"You have to at some point. I'd rather that be now than when I'm not there to help you. We still have the rest of my entire life to be together but that means nothing if I leave you alone and broken."
"Merlin, when you die of old age, we'll have lived our entire lives together and spent every minute we can loving each other. We'll have accomplished everything, helped thousands of people. When you die, I'll be right behind you. There won't be anything left."
Merlin only nodded solemnly.
"You're not angry?"
"I'd do exactly the same."
"Excellent," Arthur sniffed, "Just so you know, if you die before we're old and creaky, I'll be really annoyed. Can we talk about something else now?"
Merlin smiled, "Pudding?"