The journey back to headquarters was spent discussing what they had found on site and what they hoped would happen now. "With luck we can throw the book at them," Merlin said.

Arthur grinned back at him, "You played the 'spoilt' boss well, not like you at all, a good bit of acting."

"How did you manage that, boss?" Percy asked from the back seat. "I didn't think you had it in you."

Merlin smirked as he looked at Arthur. "I channelled my hidden Arthur." Then as he looked at the blonde sat next to him in the car, "From when you first joined us," he explained quickly.

"I wasn't that bad," came the protest.

"No, but I heard you were, before, when you were a V.P." Merlin grinned, "I have heard the stories."

"They are greatly exaggerated," Arthur said blushing slightly, as he knew it had been the case. "Have you been speaking to Morgana?"

Merlin chuckled. "No, as it happens, but I do talk to Gwen. She said you were nice underneath but took a bit of getting used to. Look at it this way, it helped me today."

A week later, Merlin was called to his father's office and Arthur was also invited along. Balinor ushered them in and once they were seated, he smiled at the pair

"That was good work, boys. I heard from the police this morning that they have all the evidence they need and will be charging the group later on today. It seems the scam had been going on from before we bought the company. In all probability with your father's involvement Arthur. Sorry about that."

Arthur shrugged, "Nothing surprises me about that anymore."

"Nimueh Lake told the police that they just continued on as normal when the company changed hands but pocketed the money for themselves. She has, of course, placed most of the blame on Sarrum. What's worse is that it seems Valliant's company was involved. Cheeky bastard was trying to sell us our own stock back, mixed in with some of his!" He looked at Merlin proudly "You did well spotting the discrepancies and hopefully now that will prove to your inferiority complex that you deserve the V.P's post. Do you know how many people missed the fraud? Including me, I might add, when we bought the company."

"It was just luck," Merlin said in a self-deprecating voice.

Both Balinor and Arthur looked at him in disbelief. "No it wasn't!" they both said together.

"It was acute observation and dedication to a task," Balinor told his son. "I have thanked Percy for his input. However, you will all be getting a bonus once the case is wrapped up. They have all been given bail at the moment and it will be some months before it goes to court. Other than Nimueh's comments, the others have all insisted that they are innocent. She is trying to lessen her sentence I believe. Anyway, I have put in a temporary management team to sort out the mess but in future, we will be managing the factory from here, with managers on site of course." Balinor paused, "It appears that the amounts of money involved were considerable over the years but thanks to you, we will keep the factory going and not lay anyone off."

Merlin gave a sigh of relief, "Good, I hated the thought of redundancies."

As they left the Balinor's office, Gwen smiled up at them, "Good work, boys." She paused, "Arthur, we are having a meal this Friday as you come with Morgana?"

Arthur smiled; the once a month Friday evenings were a long established event and one he greatly enjoyed. "Just try keeping us away!"

Then Gwen looked at Merlin, "Would you like to come? It's just a few friends, we get together once a month for a meal and this time it's the turn of Lance and myself to cook."

Arthur pounced on the opportunity. "Yes Merlin, come along, it's good fun and a chance to relax."

Merlin looked doubtful, "I wouldn't want to intrude."

"You wouldn't be intruding! In fact, I invited Percy when he came to see your father yesterday. He hasn't been in the area long and doesn't know many people. Otherwise, it is my brother, who you already know and Leon who went to university with us. In fact, he has known Arthur all his life so should be able to dish out some hints on how to keep him in line," Gwen's eyes sparkled. "Other than that, there are a couple of girlfriends of Morgana and mine also from Uni: Mithian and Elena. Like I told Percy, you will be evening out the numbers."

"Maybe another time, Gwen. I sort of promised Gwaine I would go out with him," Merlin sighed. "Off to the clubs!"

"But you hate the club scene. I know what, bring Gwaine as well, that way he will be happy and you will know an extra person," Gwen looked at Merlin with determination; she was not letting this go without a fight.

Merlin knew he had lost. "I swear you have been seeing too much of my mother, you have that same tone of voice." Merlin looked at Arthur, "You know that tone don't you? The, 'I will be obeyed' one."

Arthur chuckled, "I do, my sister uses it all the time. But it would be nice to mix outside the office and Gwen is a great cook."

"I know," Merlin admitted. "Alright, I will phone Gwaine and if he agrees, I will let you know."

"He'll agree," Gwen said positively. "He likes Lance, they haven't seen each other in ages and tell him I will do an apple pie for him."

Once the two men were back in Merlin's office, Merlin looked at Arthur, "Funny how our friends know each other."

"Well that's how I heard about this job after all," Arthur said grinning. "But seriously, please come, it's a good evening and you don't relax enough. It will do you good."

Merlin rang Gwaine a couple of hours later before contacting Gwen, "We'll both come, it was the apple pie that did it."

"Of course it was, I know Gwaine well enough to know how to tempt him. Don't worry, I will do a veggie option for you for the main course," Gwen reassured him.

"Don't put yourself out, Gwen. I can bring something."

"No trouble, Lance likes veggie dishes as well. I think if I didn't eat meat, he would go down that route anyway," Gwen said. "But he is too sweet to say."

"I'll bring some wine then, I better had, if I am bringing Gwaine!" Merlin knew his friend had a large capacity for drink and wouldn't want him to drink his friends out of house and home.

On Friday, Merlin and Gwaine arrived at Gwen' house together. The brunette was staying in Merlin's spare bedroom overnight and so it made sense to arrive together. They had decided to take a cab so that they could both have a drink during the evening. Gwen and Lance lived on a housing estate in Southwark, it was close enough to Lance's station but not as expensive as some areas in London. They had been lucky, in as much as, Lance's parents had left him their house, both having been killed in a road accident a few years before. They had done it up and made a few changes to put their own stamp on it.

Arthur was surprised just how shy Merlin was out of his comfort zone, he might have been to the house before but clearly felt ill at ease among strangers. Arthur introduced him to Morgana.

"This is my sister, boss," he said with a grin. "But don't believe anything she tells you."

Morgana shook Merlin's hand, "Nice to meet you, tell me, how do you put up with him?" she smirked.

"Oi!" Arthur said glaring at his sister.

"He's very good at making coffee," Merlin smirked back. "But he is a bit bossy, I bet he was high maintenance as a V.P."

Morgana laughed, "You are so right. You know what Merlin? I think you will be good for my brother, he needs someone to keep him in line."

Merlin smiled, "He keeps me in line actually. Your brother is a good man."

"Thank you, Merlin" Arthur retorted.

"Oh please, don't make him crow," Morgana said. "I will speak to you when Arthur is out of the way."

Gwaine then arrived and started to flirt with Arthur's sister until Arthur butted in, "I wouldn't bother to waste your time, my sister is taken."

"It's never a waste of time to compliment a beautiful lady," Gwaine said as he winked at Morgana. "And maybe she will find that I am a better catch."

Arthur laughed, "Good luck with that! Her boyfriend is a top lawyer and can keep her in shopping money. He is also my best friend."

"I hope your sister is with me for more than shopping money," came a voice behind Gwaine.

Gwaine looked around and held out his hand, "I'm sure she is but you can't blame me for trying. The name's Gwaine, Merlin's best friend."

The man who had arrived late took the offered hand, "I don't mind you trying… once. I'm Leon, Arthur's old chum and Morgana's man."

Gwen interrupted them, "Now we are all here, why don't we sit down and eat."

The group soon settled into an easy friendship, even Percy who was the quietest of the group. By the end of the evening, the group had gelled well. Merlin even went as far as to suggest, "The next time you all meet up, why not come to my place, it's slightly larger and more central, there is plenty of parking."

Arthur's eyebrows shot up, "You can cook?"

Merlin grinned, "Not as well as Gwen but I pass muster and my P.A. can cook, so he tells me, so I can always get him to help."

"That's a good idea," Lance agreed. "But why don't we all bring something?"

"As long as Gwen brings an apple pie," Gwaine piped up. "I'll bring the cream and wine."

Merlin smiled at Gwen, "You have made a friend for life, he's easily bought with anything apple. In fact, I'm going to suggest to father that we pay him in apples."

When everyone finally departed, Morgana turned to her brother, "Your boss is a nice person, make sure you keep him."

"You are right, Gana, I have no intention of moving. I didn't think I would like the job but I was wrong and the idiot needs someone to look after him," Arthur said sincerely. "He is too self-sacrificing for his own good."

In the taxi taking Gwaine and Merlin back, Gwaine turned to his friend, "It was good to see you out tonight, they're a good bunch of people and that was nice to offer your place. At least, if I'm too busy, I know you will have company instead of working every evening and acting like a hermit."

Merlin thumped his friend, "I do go out, just not as often as you!"

"Yeah? Only if your dad drags you to some business do. You my friend are a recluse and don't you dare say otherwise. Look they are a good bunch and you know it. I want you to start living a bit, you my friend, are in danger of becoming old before your time," Gwaine grinned, it had been really good to see Merlin opening up and relaxing in company.