Chapter 2

Merlin was reaching the Hospital doors when he saw Arthur getting out of the cab – but he wasn't alone. The young boy he had picked up earlier was following him, and Merlin rolled his eyes.

"Did you have to bring him?"

"Most important phone call of my life, he was there! I couldn't leave him. And you wanted to come, didn't you?"

The boy nodded, and there was something about him that made Merlin feel deeply uncomfortable, in a way none of Arthur's other one-night-stands had ever done before. He merely shook his head and followed when Arthur broke into a jog inside the hospital, running towards Elaine's room.

Merlin was amazed when he walked inside. The girls were gathered around Elaine, who had a newborn in her arms and the biggest smile in her face as Arthur walked in. Even from the door Merlin could see his golden curls, matching his parents. By her side, Morgause stood looking softer than usual.

Arthur's face showed how awed he was, as he should be. A baby – a true, living, breathing, baby. Sophia was sitting in one of the chairs with Vivian on her lap as she started speaking.

"We were talking… Of course it's up for you and Elaine to decide in the end… But we thought Percy."

Arthur snorted.

"Is it supposed to be ironic? In a very Arthurian kind of way?"

The girls giggled, and Morgause merely nodded.

"Then it's not ironic enough. It should be Amhar."

"Too dark" complained Merlin. "Arthur killed Amhar in the end."

"Don't you dare" said Morgause, and there was danger in her eyes, and Arthur merely agreed.

"What then? What do you think, Merlin?" Said the man, looking at him.

"Llaheu is too much. Why not Gwydre? Oh, I know! Gwydion! That's how they used on Mists of Avalon!"

"Fair enough" said Arthur, looking at Elaine. "You are practically my sister." He tilted his head. "You are not a secret lesbo wiccan priestess, are you?"

They all laughed, as Elaine shook her head.

"I like Gwydion", she said, smiling. Arthur caught the baby in his arms and turned to the boy, who was still hanging by the door.

"What do you think? It's mine."

"Cool" he said, his voice weak. Elaine big brown eyes looked at the boy for the first time, inquisitive, and then she turned to Arthur.

"Oh, this is…" begun the man, and then he seemed lost. Merlin puffed, this was typical of Arthur, bringing along some random bloke whose name he hadn't even cared to learn.

"Mordred" said Morgause, annoyed. She hated when Arthur did those things, but he only smiled. She never forgot a name, let alone an Arthurian one. It felt like a bad omen to Merlin, but, then again, neither Morgause nor Morgana had ever meant any harm, despite their names.

"Oh, yes, you met on the phone already."

Vivian looked at the boy, judging him, as she always did.

"Isn't a bit late for him to be out?"

"Leave him alone, Viv" said Elaine, always sweeter than the rest of them. Merlin didn't think much about Vivian, but he was with her on this one.

"Don't you have school tomorrow?" she pressed on, while Sophia joined:

"How old are you again?"

"Eighteen" said the boy, and Arthur snorted again, while Morgause showed her disapproving smile to the boy, while Sophia pressed on.

"Really?"

"Seventeen" said the boy, clearly uncomfortable. If Merlin wasn't such a good person, he would laugh at the scene. Being pressed by a room full of lesbians was hard on anyone.

"What year were you born?" asked Morgause, slowly and maliciously in a way only her was capable of.

"Ninety five?" said the boy, stammering a bit.

"Bullshit, no one needs to think about the year they were born in" she said, while Elaine looked at them horrified.

"Not in front of the baby."

"Ninety-seven" he confessed, finally, and Merlin laughed a bit.

"So you both had children tonight" pointed out Morgause, smiling at Arthur, that smiled back, not bothered at all.

For a while, Merlin watched as Arthur cuddled baby Gwydion in his arms, adoringly, while the girls cooed, Morgause gave her evil grin and Mordred squirmed near the door. Then, Arthur was sitting beside Elaine and looking into her eyes, full of despair.

"Elaine, what the fuck did we do?"

[hr][/hr]

Mordred was more than a bit overwhelmed. He could barely keep his head around the things he had to carry back to the hall. He stared at the machine, wondering how he was going to take three cups along with all the snacks he had been asked. It was an impossible job. He moved everything around to be able to carry it and spilled more than a bit on his pants while he walked back to the waiting room.

Sophia was doing some sort of psychic thing with Merlin, but both turned around as soon as Mordred reached them. Arthur was on the phone with someone, talking in falsely happy voice.

"Yes, I'm sure she'll love them. I'll tell her. Bye!"

As Sophia and Vivian unloaded his hands, Arthur was raging.

"Bloody Cendred, he sent her flowers! I should have sent her flowers." He didn't even look to Mordred as went on. "Mordred, here, get some flowers as fast as you can!"

Arthur turned around on his heels, heading for the stairs, his cellphone back in his hand.

"You can't use that, you'll turn off the artificial respiration system" complained Merlin, following.

"We should have a cigar!" was Arthur's reply, and they were both out of sight.

Morgause was leaning on the doorway, looking at him.

"You don't have to do as he says" She reminded him, smirking.

"I don't mind" said Mordred in a small voice.

He turned around, coming back through the corridor. He hadn't seen any flowers in the shop, and there was no way he was going to find a florist in the street at three in the morning. Arthur had given him twenty pounds for the flowers, and he pocketed them, wandering through the long rooms, full of sick people.

It took him a while to find a worthy bouquet that lay in the bedside of an ancient looking bloke. He was asleep, and there was no one around, so he tiptoed near the bed to get the flowers. As soon as he had pulled them off the vase, the man opened his eyes and turned on his bedside lights. Mordred didn't even think about it, he just ran, wildly, crossing to the other side of the hospital with them clutched tightly in his hand.

[hr][/hr]

Merlin was hardly surprised that Arthur had gone until the top of the hospital. It was the perfect place to be when everything seemed too much – it made you feel very small. You could see the whole city from up there, even his mother's house, which was saying something. Arthur just kept walking, and stopped at the edge of the building.

"It's weird" Merlin finally said, breaking the silence. "I mean, it's brilliant, but it's weird." Arthur still didn't say anything, but he could see the tightness in his shoulders that meant he was still stressed out and trying to deal with the fact that he now had a son. "I mean, he's real. With little fingers, and toes, and fingernails"! Merlin knew he was babbling, but it was hard for him too, to deal with the sheer reality of the baby.

"The most expensive wank I ever had" said Arthur, finally. Merlin had no answer to this, and Arthur looked around for a second, before finding a bit of something that led out of the ceiling and into the air. He climbed it quickly, walking as far as he could, before Merlin's voice stopped him.

"Good. That's how they do it in soap operas – a birth and a death in the same episode. Perfect." Arthur didn't walk further, but he was already in the middle of the air, stepping in a thin line of concrete that supported the metal holding the hospital's name tag. "Stop that" said Merlin, this voice firmer than he could have hoped for. "You have to be responsible now, dad."

Arthur came back, jumping easily on the hospital ceiling. His hand reached for Merlin and he took him to the edge of the building again, making him step out and face the great fall.

"Arms out" called Arthur, spreading his arms. "Come on, like that", he said, reaching for his arm and balancing him, his hands intertwined with Merlin's, before shouting. "I'M THE KING OF THE WORLD! KING OF THE WORLD!"

His voice seemed to echo through the whole city, and Merlin laughed as a young girl.

"I'm always Kate Winslet!"

Arthur laughed with him, and he turned around, embracing Arthur. He held him close for a while, both safe in the circle of their arms, before whispering.

"Congratulations."

He nuzzled Arthur head for a second, and touched his face softly, before letting go. Arthur gave him a smile that soon became a wicked grin as he held Merlin through the hips and rubbed himself against him.

"OH, MERLIN! A hard on! I didn't know you cared!" Merlin felt as if he could die of embarrassment in that exact moment, but Arthur didn't care. "Come on, there's no one watching, put it out!"

"Shut up" he said, moving away. "It's been six months. It's like Pavlov's dogs! I'd react to a girl."

Arthur laughed and cupped his face, putting his forehead against Merlin's.

"You are a sad bastard" he said, and let go of Merlin.

Merlin took a moment to compose himself, feeling awkward and completely used although Arthur had acted as he usually did – somehow, it just felt wrong. And, for the first time, he agreed with Arthur with his whole heart: he was a sad bastard with a sad life.

[hr][/hr]

Arthur could feel the adrenaline pumping through his veins as they walked back to the maternity ward. He had done it, even what he had always thought he could not have because of who he was. He had never felt so alive – every bit of him seemed to shake with different emotions. Merlin was walking beside him, but they were silent: no words could possibly be appropriated.

A male nurse came walking towards then – a pretty thing, blond and a bit skinny, with a strongly masculine face underneath the super-sized hipster glasses. Arthur had drunk him in one go, and the nurse giggled as they passed each other. It made him turn around, checking his backside out, as Merlin pulled his sleeve.

"Not now."

He gave his cutest grin to Merlin, and then put his hand in his pocket, reaching for the paper bag.

"Do you want some?" he asked his friend, who frowned.

"You don't do that shit" Merlin said, a bit shocked, looking at the pills.

"I've gotta try."

"You shouldn't do this. You have to wake up early in the morning, go to work, and work your ass off for the next twenty years to pay for your child."

That was exactly what made Arthur try it – he didn't have the time for it latter, not anymore, and if he didn't try things now, he'd be too busy to try it afterwards. It was his last day as a single, irresponsible, man. Afterwards, he'd have a child to look after.

"More for me" he said, taking both pills at once. Merlin shook his head, disapproving, and Arthur chuckled. He should have known that it would only lead him to do it, and yet, he had said the words. As he reached the waiting room, Mordred was still there with the girls, looking like a scared puppy lost among the wolves – which was exactly what he was.

"We're leaving" he announced, waving to them.

Merlin would be driving; of course, there was no question of him driving after taking ecstasy. Mordred sat in the back seat, and Arthur jumped next to him. Merlin merely looked at him through the rear mirror, but he didn't even pay attention – he knew he was taken care of.

They were just two blocks from the hospital when he begun to giggle, and turned to Mordred.

"You see, that child, it is a clock… It's staring me in the face. You see, all it can do is growing older, that's what they do, and it means I'm old. Before I know, I'll be an old man. And he will be there, glowing, all young and shiny, like you" he nudged the boy, that merely looked at him. "But they don't always live. Meningitis, it would be a good one. Maybe I should have called him Amhar…"

"That's not E" said Merlin, looking at him through the mirror. "You only took it a few minutes ago. What was that?"

"Anne sold me" he said, shaking his head. "It's good."

"You twat" Merlin said, still looking at him. "You don't even know what it really was!"

Arthur could just giggle, and Mordred gave him a somewhat condescending smile. He was a pretty thing, high cheekbones and deep blue eyes under a mop of dark hair. He had such a pretty jaw, and looked incredibly fit, although a skinny kind of fit – it was alluring. He reached for Mordred and kissed him, deep and slowly. He could see how eager the boy was, and it was such a turn on, he couldn't stop creeping one of his hands under his sweater and pulling the other to his crotch.

A part of him was aware that Merlin could see it through the rear mirror, but it didn't matter – actually, it made it better. He pulled Mordred closer, nibbling his ear and rubbing his lower lip through his neck, and heard him panting as his hand grabbed Arthur harder. It was exactly what he was looking for, and as he bit his neck, he could see Merlin watching them. It only made him pull Mordred even closer, almost in his lap, full of desire – and a truck's horn broke the moment, as the car pulled to the side abruptly.

"Let him alone" said Merlin, his tone concerned. "I'm taking him home."

"He's coming back with me" said Arthur, pouting. "Aren't you, Mordred? Tell him!"

"Stop messing around" said Merlin, but Mordred interrupted him, being assertive for the first time in the night.

"I'm going with him."

Arthur gave his biggest grin to both, rubbing Mordred's head.

"Good boy."

It was going to be a good night, he could feel it.

[hr][/hr]

Merlin was tired, but he still couldn't sleep. He lay on his couch and put a DVD on, letting his pants loose. He really needed that right now – he felt like he shouldn't, it wasn't the right thing to do, and yet, it was exactly what he was about to do.

He turned the TV on, ready, waiting, and relaxed as it begun to play – the familiar images, the familiar music, and he was already feeling better – the tension was leaving him quickly as he repeated the familiar words.

"Jackie, it's the TARDIS!"

[hr][/hr]

Mordred had tried some things before, but he never knew it could feel so good. Arthur seemed to be everywhere, and it was intoxicating. His fingers, his hands, his lips, his torso, his cock, everything seemed to touch him at once. He let himself be guided, kissing back as hard as he could, touching everywhere, partially sure that he was dreaming.

It just wasn't possible that it could be so easy – everything seemed to come to him as an instinct, touching, sucking, nibbling, kissing. It just happened, following Arthur's lead. He felt the shivers when Arthur rubbed his lower lip through his entire spine. He allowed himself to be turned around, his legs spread, pulled into Arthur's lap, all while he spoke, easy and dirty words, exclamations of pleasure, promises and teasing.

"I want you to always remember this" he whispered, as he pushed himself inside Mordred, slowly. "So it doesn't matter who you are with, you'll always remember this."

Mordred gagged the pain and excitement being almost too much for him. He squirmed under Arthur, but the guy just soothed him with his hands, moving so slow it made him burn for more. Mordred moved his hips up and Arthur grinned.

"Will you ever forget this?" he asked, and Mordred panted before he could answer.

"Never."

"Good", said Arthur, and pushed himself inside one more time, filling Mordred and it was heaven and hell – it hurt as nothing had ever hurt, but it also made him tingle in every single place in his body. It didn't stop either – Arthur was moving, his hips against Mordred's, his hands moving up and down Mordred's cock, smiling wildly as he did it. It seemed to be an eternity and not nearly time enough when he came again, his body tightening around Arthur, while he moaned so loud it would have shamed him if he only still could notice anything other than the pleasure ripping through his being. The man came as well, his body arching, but the smile never left his lips.

He fell over Mordred, still inside, still panting, and still kind of smiling.

"I love you so much right now" Arthur said, weakly.

And the thing is, Mordred believed him.

[hr][/hr]

Arthur woke up on the following day with the alarm clock ringing. He could feel a body in bed with him, and he hit it with the pillow before even opening his eyes.

"Get up, I gotta work."

As the light stopped blinding him, he saw the flat – the walls were full of drawings, and things written.

"FUCK" he screamed, getting up. He couldn't believe it. "What the hell is that?"

Mordred set on the bed and chuckled – it was the first time he had seem the boy amused.

"It's a sex map" he explained, and things slowly started making sense to Arthur. "You drew a map of every place you ever had a shag."

"WHY DID YOU LET ME DO THIS?" he asked, annoyed, getting up. He could see Denmark on one of the living room walls that represented most of Europe, while the bedroom wall showed England in detail. When he walked into the living room, he saw that his fur carpet was rolled over one of the side tables, which were upon another table. "AND WHAT IS THAT?"

"It's the space needle" said Mordred, still smiling. "You said he met this guy…"

Arthur gestured him to shut up, walking to his fridge. He drank some of the water, before complaining.

"It's the pens, you should have gotten rid of the pens!"

He used cool spoons to make his eyes look less swollen, as Mordred walked to the living room.

"Can I have a shower?"

"Yes, but hurry up", he said, looking for the phone. Merlin would have to bring the car to him really fast. The answering machine was shining with new messages, and he hit play, wondering what he had missed. Morgause's voice filled the room.

"Arthur, everything is fine. Elena is having contractions, but I'm driving her to the hospital."

And then, it hit him.

"FUCK, I HAVE A BABY."

He could hear Mordred's laugh from the bathroom, as he ranted angrily. "Why did I do that? Someone should have stopped me…"

He walked to the bathroom and found Mordred already in the shower. He looked gorgeous as the water dripped through his body, and Arthur decided to stop worrying and simply act. He walked into the shower, joining Mordred with a smile.

Soon enough they were snogging wildly, all thoughts of work and babies forgotten.

[hr][/hr]

It wasn't the alarm clock or the phone that woke Merlin up – it was the distinct sound of vandalism. He jumped out of the bed and looked out, and saw two kids messing up Arthur's Jeep. He ran outside as fast as he can, screaming.

"STOP THAT. I'M GOING TO CALL YOUR MOM."

"FAG" screamed the boy at him.

"We saw you" said the older, not yet ten years old. "You disgusting poof!"

They ran away, while Merlin just looked at them. It hurt more than he could say – he could talk to their parents, but they had learned that kind of crap somewhere. He could go to the police, and they would help and be nice, but inside they'd be saying the exactly same things. It made him feel tired of his own pathetic life – it was all a lie, all the ads and all the campaigns and all the politics to say they weren't a ghetto, that homosexuality was accepted. It wasn't how it happened in real life; it was just some fantasy, an ideal world represented by Albion Street and its clubs and bars, its tolerance and acceptance.

He looked at the car, barely registering the damage they had done – it was nothing compared to what they would do once they were older. He heard the phone ringing inside and came back, not surprised that Arthur wanted him there asap – everything was like that with Arthur, always on his timetable. He went to the shower wondering why the hell he had to rush to meet Arthur.

When he arrived in front of the flat, Mordred was still there. Merlin didn't even had the energy to feel annoyed as Arthur screamed about the mess the boys had made.

"I told you. If you don't want it to happen, don't leave the car with me" he said, shrugging. Mordred looked thoroughly well shagged, and Merlin envied him a bit. Arthur hopped into the driver's seat, and Merlin banished the boy to the back sit of the car.

"We're taking him to school" announced Arthur, and he knew it had nothing to do with Arthur being particularly kind to his flings – it was more of the opposite, in Merlin's opinion.

When they were arriving, Merlin tried to dissuade him.

"Drop him here."

"I'll take him to the door."

"They will see the car" said Merlin, tired, knowing that this was the whole point.

"Let them look."

He drove as a possessed man, not caring about the children walking in the middle of the street, hitting the horn and moving on as if no one would ever not open passage to the King of Albion Street. He was such a twat – Merlin had no idea why he put up with it.

Arthur made a long turn, stopping in front of the school, showing the painted side of the Jeep to all those who were arriving. Mordred got off, while some boy yelled at him.

"What is this, Mordred, your boyfriend?" he asked, and wasn't dignified with an answer. Mordred had only eyes for Arthur – as you do.

"When can I see you again?"

"You can see me now" was Arthur's reply, arrogant as ever. Merlin shook his head, not surprised at it.

"Oh, come on, one kiss" said another boy, and Arthur turned to him, his voice loud and heated with humor and rage.

"I'll kiss your ass, bastard, and then fuck your virgin hole so hard you won't seat for a week!"

Merlin couldn't avoid a grin, and Mordred just pointed at Arthur with his head to the boys. He didn't seem to mind that the car was proclaiming him a queer to the whole school.

"Can I see you tonight?"

"Who knows where I'll be tonight?" replied Arthur, ready to leave. "You can see me in your dreams."

As Arthur turned the wheel to leave, Merlin grinned at Mordred:

"Do not skip domestic economics!"

He was sure he'd never see Mordred again, he was just another of Arthur's many one night stands, and would be gone soon, forgotten in an hour.

How wrong he was.