Arthur waited for Gwen and Lance to leave so he could return to Merlin's bedside. He didn't want to be away from his lover's side for a moment. Arthur knew he had to go to work for awhile tomorrow, but desperately wanted to stay with Merlin as much as possible. After about an hour Lance came out and came into the waiting room, he seemed surprised to see Arthur there.

"I thought you'd gone home." Lance said.

Arthur looked at Lance: "No I'll stay longer; the nurses said I could stay for awhile tonight. They seemed to think I was helping to keep Merlin calmer." Arthur looked at Lance not forgetting the other man had hit him. He didn't know quite what to think of him. "How long will Gwen be?"

"She won't be long. Look I don't think she'll like you being here." Lance appeared nervous.

"Hard luck, sorry but Merlin asked for me, and I don't intend to go anywhere. Please get it into your heads I won't hurt Merlin. I'm going to stay around. Now he's awake it's up to him who he sees." Arthur had no intention of being pushed out of Merlin's life.

"Ok, keep your hair on, but we've been friends with Merlin for years and Gwen picked up the pieces last time. She's very protective of him." Lance looked uncomfortable.

"Good, he needs good friends as many as he can get. Look I'm not trying to get between you all, but I intend to be more than a friend to Merlin for a very long time, if he'll have me. Can you try to get Gwen to understand that?" Arthur just didn't want to argue.

They both heard the ITU outside door open. Lance stood up expecting Gwen to come through the door. When she did he smiled at her and went to her side. Gwen glowered at Arthur when she realised he was still there.

"I thought I told you not to visit."

"Merlin asked for me. Now he's awake it's up to him who he sees. Look Gwen we both have Merlin's best interests at heart, let's work together." Arthur didn't want to come between Merlin and his friends.

"Come on Gwen let's get home. See you again Arthur." Lance pulled his wife out and down the corridor. Arthur could hear them talking as they went.

Getting up Arthur went back to Merlin's bedside. Merlin's body looked tense and had his head turned away.

"Hi Merlin, look at me." Arthur spoke gently. "What did Gwen say? Did she upset you?" Arthur took Merlin's hand in his. "Look Merlin we can all get together to help you. I know Gwen thinks I'll hurt you, but I won't I promise. They're your friends and I accept that, don't worry they'll come round."

Merlin looked up at Arthur and gave him a weak smile. Arthur sat down and just gave Merlin the time he needed to think. An hour later when Merlin had fallen to sleep Arthur left. But he left a note for Merlin for when he woke up. The nurse promised to show it to him. For the first time in days Arthur felt optimistic.

The next morning he rang the unit before going to work. Merlin had had a good night. He asked the nurse to tell Merlin he would visit at lunchtime. Then he went to the office. He had a meeting of senior staff that morning, including his father. The atmosphere was strained, and on occasion downright hostile between the two men, and Arthur was pleased when it was over. Everything Arthur brought up Uther tried to shoot down. Something would have to give.

An hour later Arthur left work and went to see Merlin, he spent his lunch hour with the sleepy man. Before returning to the office, promising to return during the evening. When he got back to work he called Gwaine and updated him. Gwaine wanted to go with him that evening but Arthur said he would need to ask Merlin if he wanted to see him first. Gwaine was happy with that. The plan with the mole was progressing with the unsuspecting man having taken the bait and provided Cenred with the information. Now it was time for the next stage.

During the afternoon he had a phone call from his father about a business deal. His father was picking holes in everything Arthur had arranged with the client. Arthur answered all his questions and managed to keep his cool. But he knew Uther would not let anything rest until he thought he had regained the balance of power. This was something Arthur was not going to drop easily so it looked like a tense time for all. Arthur had been under his father thumb for too long and at last was flexing his muscles. Both Pendragon's were stubborn and neither was in the mood to back down.

Arthur continued to visit Merlin twice a day and at the weekend spent most of the time at his lover's bedside. Gwen and Lance continued to visit but avoided talking to Arthur. Percy was also visiting both as a friend and as his case worker. Merlin was getting better each day and on the Saturday morning the haemofiltration was stopped. Then in the afternoon he was removed from the ventilator. At last the young man could communicate properly.

As soon as the doctors left the young men alone Arthur took Merlin's face in his hands and bent and kissed Merlin gently on the lips. As he did so Merlin lifted his arm and put them around Arthur's neck and kept the other man there lengthening the kiss. They then sat and talked Arthur explaining everything to Merlin and answering all his questions. Merlin was very tired afterwards so Arthur went down to get a drink and let the other man have a rest. When he arrived back at the bedside he found Gwen and Lance visiting.

Merlin was telling Gwen that he was going to continue to see Arthur. As he did so he saw Arthur at the doorway and held out his hand. Arthur walked forward and took the outstretched hand and squeezes it.

"I know you're unhappy about us Gwen but we love each other, I still think of you as my best friends but you need to trust me on this." Merlin looked up at Gwen. "I know what I'm doing I promise."

Gwen looked down at Merlin her face unreadable "I'm sure you think you do Merlin, but don't rush into things promise me. I don't want you hurt again."

"Some things Gwen are worth the risk. You will always be my friends, please give Arthur a chance." Merlin's eyes were moist.

Arthur looked at them all then spoke "Gwen, Lance I know Merlin means a lot to you but he also means everything to me. I don't want this to be a battle." He was very wary of the other couple and unsure of their motives but clearly Merlin thought a lot of them, and that was good enough for him to try to get on with them.

"Well it's your life Merlin, we can't stop you, just remember we're here when you need us." Lance spoke for the first time since Arthur had returned. "Come on Gwen, let them have a chance to talk. We'll come back tomorrow Merlin."