As always thank you to Blissful thinking who is my beta for this story.

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Hunith led Arthur into the bedroom he used when he stayed at his parents' house. Telling him as she did so, "He wanted to go downstairs but I told him one more day in bed wouldn't hurt him. That boy just doesn't know when to stop. Even worse than his father!"

As she went to open the door she turned to Arthur, "Make him see sense, will you? He might listen to you."

Arthur smiled reassuringly. "I will try but he is stubborn when he wants to be."

"That's as maybe but he is fond of you, you know that don't you? He is more likely to listen to you than us." Hunith opened the door and showed Arthur in, saying as she did so, "Merlin, a visitor for you."

Arthur walked in and looked at the empty bed before glancing round the room. It had the look of Merlin, much like his penthouse, even though Merlin didn't stay there very often. His parents clearly left it just for him. Merlin was sat in a chair by the window.

Rolling his eyes at his boss, Arthur said, "I thought you were supposed to be in bed."

"Hello to you too Arthur, it's good to see you. As for being in bed I am getting stiff and sore. And what is the difference in resting here or in bed?" Merlin's voice sounded slightly off, due to his neck recovering from the emergency opening the paramedics had made but his grin was still as big as ever if slightly tired.

"Thank you for saving my life."

"Well I couldn't have you dying on my watch, could I? I need the job too much, and anyway your mother would never forgive me," Arthur grinned as he looked round at the room.

"That she wouldn't. Come and sit down so I don't have to strain my neck," Merlin said pointing at the other chair.

Arthur sat down. "Seriously it's good to see you. You look better than I thought you would."

"God knows how bad you expected me to be then!" Merlin croaked. "I can't thank you enough, nor apologise enough that you found yourself arrested over this whole mess."

"It wasn't your fault. I was set up and very well. I have Gwaine to thank for snooping around and finding the truth. It's certainly been an interesting time, not one I would want to repeat but not my first time in a cell."

Merlin, realising that Arthur must have been held when his father's exploits came to light, paled at the thought. "I'm sorry you had to go through that, and your sister, how is she? Hating my guts I expect."

"Stop apologising! And no, Morgana doesn't hate you, nor does she blame you." Arthur put his hand in his pocket and brought out a container with the remaining whiskey in it. "I saved you this. We opened my last bottle of 25 year old Glengoyne Single malt, we opened it to celebrate and I stopped Gwaine from drinking the last dram. Mind you, I don't think you should drink it yet."

Merlin snorted, "That's right, give me a present then tell me I can't drink it." He paused, "Your last bottle?"

"Yes, of my old lifestyle, not sorry to lose that life but the booze was nice." Then Arthur looked at Merlin suspicion in his eyes. "Oh no you don't! That's not what I meant so don't you dare. I know what you are thinking and stop it. I have no need of those trappings in my life now and I'm better for it."

"Caught out. Well maybe for Christmas." Then changing the topic the raven haired man asked, "Seriously, are you ok? You and your sister? It can't have been easy for you so soon after last time."

"Not that soon, Merlin, we are both fine now. In fact if anything, I think it brought Morgana and Leon closer together and that can only be a good thing, she has been to tied up in my life and needs to get on with hers."

"Has my father spoken to you? About a new job offer?"

"He has mentioned something, but I am happy where I am, unless of course you want me gone?" the blonde asked slight worry in his voice. "I mean, I understand if you do."

"Don't be a prat! You really can be a clotpole sometimes. You are too experienced to be P.A. and you know it. The job is as an assistant V.P. and you will still work closely with me. However, my role has been getting bigger and bigger and I want to start some developmental work but, in order to do that, I need to delegate." Merlin smirked, "Some of the more boring jobs of course. Just think about it. Now I best get in bed, mum will be up soon with coffee and cake for us both."

"Too late son," Hunith said as she walked in. "I wouldn't have been fooled anyway your bed is far too tidy, you never could stay still in bed. The sheets and duvet would be upside down and inside out if you had stayed in bed."

Merlin blushed. "Mum," he whined. "Don't give away all my secrets."

Hunith grinned as she looked at her son, "Oh, I haven't finished yet. I still have to show Arthur the photo albums. He was such a cute baby."

"If you do I'm going home! No matter what you say," Merlin protested.

"This is your home, Merlin and it always will be, just as you will always be my little boy." Hunith was clearly enjoying winding her son up.

"I am supposed to be calm and rested remember!" Merlin turned to Arthur, "She is showing her true colours now, people think she is sweet and loving, but, oh no, my mother is a cruel woman."

Hunith looked at the grinning Arthur and put the tray down before turning to her son and hugging him. "I know you don't mean that. Now eat your cake and drink up. While you are here I intend to get some weight on you."

Merlin snatched up the plate with the cake on as he glared at the grinning Arthur. "In that case, I will eat both pieces, we wouldn't want Arthur to put on any more weight. He won't fit into his Armani suits if he does."

Arthur looked offended, "Are you saying I'm fat!"

Hunith turned and hugged him. "Don't listen to him Arthur, you are perfect how you are."

"See Merlin, your mum loves me more… you are skinny but I am perfect!"

Arthur was grinning from ear to ear.

A deep chuckle came from the door, "Sorry Arthur, Merlin is her pride and joy and I don't think anyone will ever take his place as favourite male, not even me," Balinor told the blonde. "In fact, I am Hunith's third favourite person if you count Freya so you have no chance."

"Not true I love you all the same!" Hunith protested. "And I have decided to make Arthur and his sister honorary Emrys'."

"Good god woman, how many more? You have already adopted Gwaine!"

The banter was light hearted and was breaking up a heavy atmosphere. "Also maybe Arthur doesn't want to be adopted."

"Of course he does." Hunith smiled at the blonde, "Don't you love?"

Arthur smiled at the family in front of him and found he really did want to be accepted into this family, it was so different than the one he had grown up in. "I would be honoured."

Freya squealed from behind her father, "That means I have a sister!" then she frowned. "But also a second brother!"

With that they all started laughing.