After getting a reluctant agreement from Merlin Arthur picked up the phone the next morning, not able to get hold of him he made an appointment via his father's PA. Then ranted at Merlin "What sort of father do you call that when I have to make an appointment to see him!"

Merlin shrugged "He's your father, what's new? He is also your boss, perhaps he just feels it is better this way. Anyway better you see him face to face than over the phone. He can't murder you at work can he?"

Arthur stomped of to change and came back in one of his bespoke Saville Row suit with a red silk tie, his shoes having an almost impossible shine, something Merlin knew all about with his dress shoes. Merlin smirked "I forgot how good you look in a suit, not that you don't look good in casual."

"I am not going to work in casual wear Merlin!" Arthur shock his head. Nor admitting it was good to be dressed properly for a change. He always liked wearing a good suit.

Merlin went up to kiss the blonde "Do you what me to come, for moral support?" not waiting for an answer he noticed Arthur's tie pin. "Where did you get that?"

"Where do you think idiot?" Arthur smirked looking down at the symbol of the Welsh Regiment, the three plumes in silver. Gold and white and blue enamel "I got them made ago intending to wear them when you came back."

"Them?"

Arthur stretched out his arm and showed off the matching cuff links. "I wanted to show how proud I am off you"

"You rich ponce! You know you could have got cheaper once of the regiment if you had asked" Merlin was secretly pleased at Arthur support.

"I know but I wasn't about to wear base metal and they told me where I could get these" Arthur took Merlin by the shoulders and kissed him "I wanted to show my support"

Merlin knew that Arthur wasn't happy about his occupation and that he had gone that far as to wear his regiment badge both shocked and pleased him. "You might want to change your mind about wearing them today, your father will see it as me interfering."

"Sod him, you are a hero and I'm damned if I will cow down to him" he smirked again "I am doing this at your request so don't push it. See you later and don't try to do too much while I'm gone" with that he picked up his car keys and left.

Merlin sat and waited, hoping the meeting would go well, much as he disliked Uther he was Arthur's only living parent. And he didn't want them to be estranged.

Arthur arrived at the office in plenty of time and the minute he was in the building he was surrounded by people asking after Merlin. Also telling him how he had been missed. After chatting for a few minutes he made his way to the top floor and his father's office. His father's secretary let him in. Arthur walked in and standing in front of his father's desk waited to be given permission to sit. He always felt like a naughty schoolboy when he went to his father's office, but knew all the employees who were ever called here felt the same.

His father spoke without even looking up "Sit down"

Arthur sat in the chair placed there for him, crossing his legs he waited in silence for his father to look up.

"You asked for his appointment, I assume it's to arrange your long overdue return to work" his father made it more a statement than a question.

"I asked for this appointment because It was the only way I could speak to you Sir" Arthur said bluntly. He never called his father anything but Sir at work.

"I'm a busy man, especially as my Vice President decided to take months off of work for personal reasons" the last two words were spat out in distaste. "Well you're here so speak"

Arthur found himself bristling with anger, he was still not recovered from the past few months and couldn't believe the man in front of him could be so cold. "I am here because my husband asked me to speak to you, he seems to think that as we are father and son we might need to talk." He stopped to control himself "As to me returning to work, I know you have had Leon act up to VP. Merlin is still recovering so I won't be back full time yet, although I am willing to come in a few hours a week. At the moment I am needed more by Merlin"

Arthur looked ready to spit feathers "I had no choice! Mr. Knight knew what was happening with your work load but he is far from ideal. As for your domestic arrangements I am sure you can make other ones you are needed back at your desk and I expect you to be there at eight thirty tomorrow morning. As A soldier I am sure the Army can supply the 'help' needed. Even if it means your Lieutenant moves back to barracks. Pendragons is not a charity, speak to the regiment." He looked at Arthur his eyes narrowing as he saw the tie pin. "That's over the top don't you think"

Arthur glared at his father "No more than your old school tie I am proud of my husband, and I will not ask someone else to give him the support he needs at this time" he reached into his jacket pocket "I thought you would be unreasonable so here is my resignation. I will not work my notice, over the years you have had enough extra hours out of me and you can keep any money due. I had noticed you stopped my salary already."

"What are you talking about you can't leave just like that, this company will be yours one day. Take that back" Uther pointed to the envelope Arthur and put in front of him "Stop being a fool and throwing your life away over some stupid idea, just turn up tomorrow and we will say no more"

"No it's for the best. I will never be the person you want me to be. Find someone else after all I have always been a disappointment to you."

"Don't be a fool! What will you do? No I will not accept this" Uther was going red. "How will you earn a living? I will make sure you don't get a similar position on the industry if you step out of that door"

"To be honest this is probably the most sensible thing I have ever done. You can't accept me for who I am, you won't accept the man that I love as my husband. As for what I'll do I have no idea yet, but I'm sure I will find something. I have mother's money to fall back on I am hardly a pauper. Hell I could not work again if I didn't want to! I am proud of Merlin, far prouder of him than I am of you. He asked me to speak to you, he wanted us to settle our differences even though he knows you will never accept him. Merlin is a far better man than you will ever be. I won't contact you again father, but you know where I am if you ever change your mind, or at least Morgana will know." Arthur stood up and walked to the door as he opened it he turned "Do your worse Uther Pendragon I'm sure all your 'friends' will be only to pleased to listen to you running down a National hero, who was injured doing his duty to the country. I will clear my desk. Goodbye"

Arthur walked out and strode past the secretary who had clearly heard everything. The rumor machine would soon be at work. He walked along to his office and unlocked it. It took him five minutes to put all his personal effects in a spare briefcase and the collected the spare suit and shirt he kept there and then knocked on Leon's door. "Hello Leon, I have just handed in my notice, Uther should give you my old job, if he does, and you want it, take it. I won't be back. If you don't and you want a reference I will gladly give you one. Or maybe a job I when I decide what I am going to do"

Not waiting for the surprised man to speak Arthur turned and left the building he had worked in since he had left University and had never felt so free. Now to go home and tell Merlin! He had spoken to his father but somehow he didn't think it had gone how Merlin would have hoped. But he could no longer live this life, his life had been changed forever by what had happened and how his father had reacted.