Sorry this has been on hiatus for so long, I had a longer story in mind ages ago but decided instead to give you all an ending and work on something new, I will fish my other story before posting new one. Keep safe everyone in these strange times.

The trip went well the Berlin the business was done efficiently and with the normal German precision. Arthur felt Merlin didn't need his input at all and even the raven haired man felt more confident after everything was signed. The flight to Paris went well and they were soon at the hotel. But there it hit a snag. The receptionist looked at them with a smile as she gave them the keys and asked them to sign in. It was then they both realised they were sharing a room.

"There's been a mistake" Merlin explained "We booked two singles"

"No Sir I am sorry a double was booked" the receptionist said

"Then please change it to two rooms." Merlin said "I will pay any extra"

"That's is not possible for the three days Sir we are fully booked and I suspect all the hotels are. I can change you for two days but the third will have to be the double. It is Bastille Day this week and the city is full."

Arthur looked at Merlin "Let's take what they have, I will phone Morgana and ask her to sort something for the third night."

Merlin agreed and they went up to their rooms that were not next to each other as asked for but on different floors. Arthur got straight on the phone to his sister. She swore she had booked it right but said she would do what she could. The meetings at least went better, and were concluded in the first two days. The men decided to see if they could fly back early but again had no luck. Morgana it seemed had no luck either so they men would have to share a room for one night. Both deciding it was no problem. Most double rooms at least had two single beds. That could be put together or separated. The hotel arranged to transfer their luggage so the man had a free day. They decided to look around the city..

Both had been there before but Arthur knew it better, having holidayed in France. He showed Merlin the less well known spots they stopped for lunch and also had a few drinks at various bars. They weren't drunk or even merry but happily buzzed when they decided to head to the Eiffel tower to finish their day. As Merlin stood looking out across the city, Arthur turned round and saw his boss and friend in the soft evening light and was hit by how beautiful the man was. It took his breath away. Merlin turned at that moment and caught the look the blond gave him. It was as if an epiphany hit them both at the same time. Without thinking they moved closer to each other and exchanged a gentle kiss…...

Leaving the hotel the next morning they paid the extras on the bill and walked out to the waiting taxi. Both were determined not to allow Morgana to take the credit for getting them together. They had realised the plan whilst eating breakfast that morning, after all she had been less than subtle booking them into the honeymoon suite. Once back in the UK they went about their lives as before. Making sure they only showed their true feelings when hidden away from others. This went on for three weeks, Morgana and Hunith thinking the men were still obvious what the other felt. Merlin had soon realised his mother was in on the act and this made them both more determined to hide the relationship for a while.

It was Balinor who broke the stalemate. He wasn't a fool. He had realised his wife was planning something and by watching he twigged what. Then he did some digging around. It was clear Morgana was also involved and it didn't take much to work out what they were trying to do. He then watched his son and saw the happiness in his eyes. So he decided to call a meeting. Asking Merlin and Arthur to come to a meeting he sent Gwen off to sort out some other business. Once they were in the office Balinor looked at the two younger men.

"I suppose you wonder what this is all about?" he asked them. "I know" he added

"Know what Dad?" Merlin was puzzled

"I know what your mother and Arthur's sister have been up to. I also know they succeeded. So please don't take me for a fool. You secrets safe with me. But what do we do with the women?" Balinor.

Arthur went a bit green "you don't mind?" he asked timidly.

"Of course not boy, glad to see my son happy. But I do think we need to teach the ladies a lesson. So what about…."

With Balinor's help the two man managed to keep their relationship a secret. It was helped by the fact that with both the Pendragon's now in secure jobs they decided they would rather live apart. Morgana and Leon were serious and Arthur didn't want to be a third wheel. So Morgana moved out to her own flat. Luckily Balinor had told Gwen about a flat his friend wanted to rent out and she had mentioned it to Morgana. This meant the men had more privacy to continue their clandestine relationship. A couple of times Balinor had sent them on business trips, which Arthur had booked accommodation. Three months after the Paris trip they were sent to Scotland. When they got back they had been invited to one of the family gatherings at Balinor and Hunith's. Half way through the meal Balinor asked his son about the trip.

Merlin smirked "Thank you Dad for sending us. You didn't know but Arthur and I have been seeing each other for a while, in fact since Arthur was my PA, we decided to keep it quiet because I didn't want people thinking it was because of that that Arthur had got his job. While we were in Scotland we decided to get married at Gretna Green."

Morgana and Hunith were stunned and when Merlin said they had married she squealed before it hit her.

"I MISSED YOUR WEDDING!" both Hunith and Morgana shouted at the same time "ARTHUR HOW COULD YOU!"

Arthur looked at his sister. "We wanted to it, was spur of the moment."

Hunith looked at her son tears in her eyes. "I wasn't there when my baby married."

They were surprised when Freya piped up "You two have a cheek, you have been trying to push them together for ages, aren't you surprised they just got on with it." She stood up and hugged first her brother then Arthur "I wish you all the best."

Hunith looked at her daughter "How..?"

"I heard you plan the Paris rooms that night in the kitchen." Freya told her mother. "I was going to warn Merlin but decided not to as I knew they loved each other. But I'm glad they had had their own time."

Hunith was shocked and upset, as was Morgana. It was Merlin who looked at this father a question in his eyes. He didn't like the scheming but he hated to see his mother upset. Arthur however was less

"So you did book that on purpose, not caring if it upset or embarrassed us." He glared at this sister. "I thought we deserved better than that! I thought we looked after each other's backs with all that happened."

Morgana at least looked ashamed "We thought you would never get a move on, why didn't you say anything?"

"Trying to make it my fault are you. Well what if we wanted to be sure before telling anyone, If we hadn't been together why couldn't we have done it in our own time, or why didn't you talk to me? We realised what you had done in Paris. We didn't know Hunith was involved. That's why we didn't say anything then."

Balinor spoke up "Well ladies I'd say you owe these young men an apology."

"But Balinor Merlin married without telling us!" Hunith protested'

"Who says he didn't tell me?" Balinor glared at his wife

It was that reaction that started Merlin off, he laughed until tears ran down his face. Arthur and Balinor soon joined in. Leaving a bemused Hunith, Morgana and Leon looking on as Freya suddenly realised what had happened. Then she joined in.

Leon spoke for the first time "Will someone tell me what's going on?"

Merlin stopped laughing for long enough to gasp out "We aren't married, just engaged."

"You Bastards!" Morgana screeched as she realised they had been had.

Once the men had stopped laughing they showed the girls their rings and told them they were intending a small wedding asap.

"We don't want anything flash" Arthur explained "It is for us not the media."

And that's what they had. A small wedding in the grounds of Balinor and Hunith's home. The media didn't know for sometime and that suited everyone.