I am so sorry I'm putting this up late. Work has sort of consumed most of my time. The rest has been spent sleeping or trying to write a story to submit to a specific publication. Percival and Galahad just sort of slipped my mind.

The ride that day went smoother than the day before. The sun was shining and the birds were chirping their most obnoxious songs. A raven decided he took either a liking or a dislike to the duo and hopped along tree branches yelling at them for about fifteen minutes. Galahad just ended up giggling at it like a mad fiend, trying out various names for it. He had finally decided on George when the bird tired of its game and flew off.

The path this time took them close to one of the lakes dotting the landscape around lunchtime. They stopped and Percival watched as Galahad scampered by the shore. He didn't think Galahad had been able to just be a boy for quite a while. He looked around at the lake as he kept an eye on Galahad. The trees were turning, their leaves beginning to show their Autumn finery. One particular tree caught Percival's attention. It had a knotted trunk that seemed to go around in a spiral, twisting upon itself and looping back around, the branches making it look much like a gymnast he had once seen at a feast bending before making a leap.

When he thought he'd given Galahad enough time away from his pony to recover, he called him back. The boy must have needed the run, because he was much more cheerful as they got back on their mounts. Cheerful enough to give Merlin a run for his money with the endless prattle that started to drip from his mouth. "Did you see that hawk, Percival? It was so big. I've never seen one that big before. Do you think it might actually have been an eagle?" "Possibly."

"Do you think George will be back, Percival? He was fun." "I doubt it. I think we've left his territory." "Oh, that's too bad."

Galahad seemed excited to be arriving at Camelot now and was keeping Percival busy with questions about it and Selene. "Does she make honey cakes? I had one once. It was delicious." "She doesn't usually make them, but her friend Mary does. I'm sure we can make sure you get one or two." "What type of horse do the other knights ride? Yours is so big." "Theirs are a bit smaller." "What about the Court Sorcerer? Can he really turn people into toads?" "No, but if you irritate him too much, I'm sure he'll give it a go." "What, Percival? I didn't hear you." "No, Merlin doesn't turn people into toads, but I'm sure he'd like to know how." "I wonder if he could teach me to do that." "I just said he doesn't know how to, besides, you don't have magic, do you?" "No, but some people can learn it anyway, right?" "Don't think that's how it works, lad." "Oh, too bad, I would love to be able to turn my stepfather into a toad. Percival? Are you alright? You sound like you're choking."

The two rode later than Percival normally would, pushing his horse harder than usual. They stopped at a small village tavern at dinner just to fuel up and give the horses a rest, but Percival was determined to get home tonight. He was already two days behind his expected arrival time and he wanted not to have to explain to Leon why he required a patrol to go out looking for a man who simply wasn't lost. If they got home tonight, then the usual three day window of delays would be beaten and he wouldn't have put his friends through any unnecessary worry. Galahad was tired and started drifting off on his pony, so Percival simply plucked him off and tied the reins to his own saddle so the horse would follow. It probably would have followed anyway, but Galahad had certainly taken a liking to the horse he had named after his baby sister, and Percival wanted to make sure he had it for as long as he needed.

Galahad somehow managed to curl up into a small ball against Percival's chest, reminding the knight of a cat once again. He pulled his cloak around himself so it covered the boy better and let him sleep, his arms holding the boy closer so he wouldn't fall off the horse.

They arrived at the gates of the lower town an hour or so after dark. The guard on duty nodded to Percival as they he let him pass. For the life of him, Percival could never remember the man's name, or he would have greeted him personally. As Percival made his way through the streets of the town, he jostled Galahad, realizing the boy might want to look around. "Galahad, wake up." His sleeping companion simply sighed and curled into Percival's armor covered chest more. Oh, well, he'd have to get a look around tomorrow.

Somehow, word of Percival's arrival sped ahead of him. When he got to the steps of the Citadel, Leon and Arthur were already waiting for him. "Dear gods, Percival, where the hell have you been?" Leon took the reins of Colum and looked behind the large horse. "And why do you have a pony trailing you?"

Percival pulled back his cloak and lifted Galahad down to Arthur, "The pony is for him."

Arthur looked up at the knight as he got off his horse, shifting the sleeping Galahad so his head was nestled on his shoulder. Fatherhood was settling in well with Arthur, he was familiar enough now with holding a sleeping child. "And who is 'him'? And is Selene going to kick you out?"

Percival grinned, "Selene may kick me out, but 'him' is named Galahad." His grin fell, "He's Lancelot's son. I found him by accident after I delivered your messages to Bayard." He turned the horses over to the sleepy stableboy and addressed him, "Put the pony in with Colum. I'll make better arrangements for her tomorrow."

"Lancelot's son?" the king whispered. "Truly?"

"Just look at him, Arthur. Tell me you can deny it. Besides, I spoke to his mother and she confirmed it. I remembered her and when she and Lancelot were together. The timing is even right." Percival reached over and took the sleeping boy from the king. "I'll be raising him. I just hope Selene will be good with it."

Leon put his hand on Percival's shoulder and smiled at his friend. "I know she will." He shook his head. "Lancelot's son. It's amazing."

"And it's right that he's here. He belongs here." Arthur reached out and pushed the hair from Galahad's brow, smiling. "I can't wait to spring this on Merlin. You realize he'll spoil the lad rotten."

Percival groaned. "His mother told me Galahad is a tough one, but when he gets comfortable with you, he doesn't shut up. I dread letting him get together with Merlin and Gwaine. We'll have to lock them in a room together and throw away the key."

The three men mounted the steps, heading toward Percival's quarters. He hadn't purchased a house in the town yet, liking the fact that he and Selene had so little distance to travel to get to the places they worked. If his family was up to three and a half already, he may need to get that house sooner than he thought he would. "Where is his mother?" Arthur asked.

"Still in Mercia, in Maygard. She married a right arsehole and wasn't able to take care of Galahad. The stepfather is a complete and utter moldwarp. He married Rosalie but treats her like scum. The best thing that can be said about him is that he has given her a married name, but he obviously still looks down on her for her former profession."

"Former profession?" Leon looked confused.

Percival nodded. "Rosalie was a prostitute. She and Lance spent some time together while we were waiting for Master Jacobsen to finish up some business in Maygard. We were there for about a week and they holed up the entire time."

"Lancelot? The extremely honorable knight who never took advantage of a woman or any other person Lancelot? Holed up for a week with a doxy?" Arthur's voice never left a whisper, but that whisper became more shocked with the longer he spoke.

Percival grinned. "Yep. I was as surprised as you, but something set him off. He had been drinking and just left with her. I never asked and he didn't tell me what it was that set him off. It never seemed to matter." He looked at the sleeping boy in his arms. "I just figured even he had his limits and he had reached them."

Leon shook his head in amazement. "I think we're going to have a lot to talk about tomorrow. You get some sleep. Settle the boy in. Kiss your wife. We'll see you around noon? Is that alright, Sire?"

"I think so." He reached out and stroked Galahad's hair softly. "Gwen will be as happy as Merlin to see this lad, I think."

"He's going to have way too many uncles for his tastes, I think." Percival shrugged. "He'll learn to deal with it." They had reached his quarters and he smiled at them. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Selene was already asleep by the time he opened the door with Galahad in his arms, but she woke when she heard him trip over the rug, catching himself with a curse before he fell over and crushed his adopted son before he had a chance to raise him. He must have been over-tired himself if he was tripping over something that had been there since before he had moved into the quarters. "Perce?"

"Sorry, Selene. I didn't mean to wake you."

"No, I'm glad you're home. You're late." She started to climb out of bed but Percival stopped her.

"No, darling, stay in bed. I have to do something then I'll be able to join you."

Selene tsked at her husband. "Well at least light a candle before you kill yourself."

"Yes, my dear. Hold on." Selene heard him pause, then curse quietly. "Um, I sort of have a gift for you but I'm not sure how you'll take it, so just stay calm? I have to put something on the bed before I can light that candle."

The bed dipped and Selene reached out to feel what he'd put there, her fingers bumping into flesh and hair. "Percival? What?"

The candle lit and Percival brought it back toward the bed, illuminating the young child laying on their bed. Percival's armor glinted in the candle light. "Help me get this off and I'll explain?"

Selene's eyebrows could have rivaled Gaius' for how high they were settled in her forehead. "This had better be good," she told him as she rolled herself and her belly out of the bed.

Percival went through the story of how he had run across Galahad and Rosalie. When she heard the deprivation the boy had gone through the past year and a half, she wanted to cry. Everything made her want to cry these days, actually. "I just couldn't leave him there, Selene. His father was one of my best friends and I could do something about it." Percival shrugged and took her in his arms. "Just tell me I did the right thing and you aren't angry."

"Angry? Oh, Perce, how could I be angry with you for this? Shocked, yes. Surprised, yes. I would have liked a little warning before I started my path as a mother." She pressed her finger to his lips to stop him from speaking. "Of course we should take him in. Lancelot would have done the same for your child. And now he'll get a chance to grow away from those people in Mercia who wouldn't give him that chance." Selene kissed her husband lightly. "But this means we'll need a larger set of quarters."