Sorry for the lack of posting. I've had no Internet or phone, hopefully now back. Thank you for PM of concern. Nice to be missed.

….

Morgana arrived to visit Merlin with Gwaine. It was nice to see them again and before long they were laughing. Both his visitor's told Merlin they could always contact them if he needed anything and the mobiles were soon out and numbers exchanged. Then Percy arrived, seeing that Merlin already had visitors he offered to go away but Merlin told him to stay. Before long Morgana and Percy were talking more to each other than Merlin. Gwaine and Merlin exchanged glances and grinned. When it was time to go Percy offered to walk Morgana to her car and the two left together. Gwaine hung back, after the others had gone he grinned at Merlin.

"Was that the plan?"

"Yes of course, it was silly them breaking up like that. It was nice to see you all." Merlin grinned the visits success had cheered him up.

"You're a kind man. I hope Arthur looks after you. Make sure you let me know if he doesn't I'll sort him out for you." with that he bent and gave Merlin a kiss. "That's the only one I know. Arthur's the possessive type. If ever you fancy someone different you know where to find me, but for what it's worth you made the right decision. I'm not the settling sort."

"Thank you Gwaine, but Arthur might not be yet."

"Oh he is, you're a keeper for him, mark my words." Gwaine ruffled Merlin's hair.

"What is it with you guys and my hair! Anyway thank you Gwaine, You're a good friend and if Arthur hadn't have been there…."

"Yes I know, as I've said before always the bridesmaid never the bride." With that he left.

Uther called Arthur to his office the next morning. As he was let in by Nimueh she smirked at him, it was obvious she knew what the summons was about. Arthur walked in and his father told him to sit down. Arthur would rather have stood; the chair Uther had for other's to use was hard and very uncomfortable. Uther preferred it that way to stop anyone staying to long. Arthur knew he had a nicer one hid away for when he had important visitors. He sat down reluctantly.

Uther looked at his son as if weighing him up.

"Arthur I won't beat about the bush I've decided to retire. Now before you try to talk me out of it, hear me out." Arthur was surprised it looked like Gaius had done it. Keeping the surprised look on his face Arthur listened, as his father continued to speak.

"I'm not getting any younger and accept for the recent problems, and I sorted those, you have proved yourself capable. I want to travel, there are countries we have branches in that I've never visited, and it would be good to see them. So I intend to hand over the company to you tomorrow. I will stay on for two weeks during the transition then leave. I leave the country a fortnight after that. There is no changing my mind, in fact as soon as we finish speaking Nimueh will send out a memo, to all our staff informing them, including the overseas branches. Tomorrow morning at nine o'clock the legal bods will be here and we can sign all the transfer papers." Uther looked at Arthur.

"Thank you for your confidence father. I don't know what to say." Arthur was cheering inside, but he knew better than to let the other man see that.

"As I said except for that business with the boy, you have proved yourself. That was an unnecessary episode, but had more to do with Pendragon stubbornness than anything else. It showed you were ready to stand and fight."

Arthur wisely kept silent, obviously Uther had no idea Arthur was dating Merlin and visiting him twice a day in hospital.

"Now the details, I will continue to transfer the company assets to you, but instead of five percent a year it will be ten percent. At the moment you have thirty percent and your sister has six, she will continue to get one percent a year. What you don't know is that there is a silent partner. I am not going to disclose who, or their share, however they are happy with the situation. Their dividend will be paid via their lawyers, to maintain that anonymity. They invested in the company before you were born, to enable me to expand and have never interfered. You will be told who they are once your share is higher than the combined shares of all others."

Arthur nodded dutifully, secretly smiling to his self, good old Gaius.

"The only other thing you need to know is that you won't be able to keep Nimueh, I know she is a great asset, but we are getting married and she is coming with me."

Now that was a surprise to Arthur, and one he was glad of. The last thing he needed was a spy in the camp.

"Congratulations father, that is a surprise, but I'm pleased for you."

"In return for the company I want you to tell Morgana, and then keep her out of my hair. I don't want her in here shouting and causing a scene. I also expect both of you to be at the wedding and looking happy for me. I won't see Nimueh slighted."

"Of course father, and we are pleased for you, you deserve some happiness. I will speak to Morgana as soon as I leave here." Arthur kept reminding himself what Gaius had said. Let Uther keep his pride at all costs. "You will be greatly missed in the company; it will be hard to fill your shoes."

"Thank you, son, I know you will make me proud, just remember head before heart. That is your only fault. If in doubt ask yourself what I would have done. You won't let me down. Now we both have things to do. I will see both you and Morgana tomorrow evening for a meal." With that Uther started to look at the paperwork on his desk.

Arthur left the office had gave Nimueh a smile "Congratulations you deserve each other; I hope you'll be very happy." He meant both parts of the statement.

Arthur headed straight for Morgana's office and reached there just as he heard the screech of surprise. He walked in quickly to keep the promise he had made to his father.

"You sly old dog you how did you manage that!" She asked her brother as she threw herself into his arms.

"I didn't he called me the first I knew was this morning when he called in to his office." Arthur decided to keep Gaius's part to himself for now, at least until after he had spoken to him.

"Did father announce his marriage as well?" Arthur asked.

"Marriage?" Morgana looked again at the email. "There's life in father after all. Well at least we get rid of her as well."

"Morgana, he asked me to keep you out of his hair, he doesn't want you interfering. Nor do I. Say nothing but congratulations for now, let him keep his pride intact. If you say anything, say how he will be missed, OK. Oh and we both have to go to the wedding and look happy for them both. I for one am happy I wouldn't have wanted her to stay here. He also expects us both for dinner tomorrow evening."

"Alright brother, I can manage that if it gets rid of both of them. But I think you know more than your saying. You can keep your secrets for now, but once they're gone you spill." Morgana glared at him.

"Oh and two other things, Uther doesn't have any idea I'm seeing Merlin, keep it that way until the legal bit is done. The other is after tomorrow you will be the Vice President, so you have a week to sort your replacement."

Morgana was speechless and just stood staring at her brother.

"Morgana did you hear me"

"Yes, I just didn't believe it….repeat it please."

"You will be Vice President. Is that clear enough for you?" Arthur hugged his sister. "Who else would I have picked? And one other thing, organise the leaving do, and a collection for a wedding present from amongst the staff."

Arthur went back to his office and asked the PA not to put calls through if they were to congratulate him, but thank the caller. He also asked her to put out an email thanking people in advance and saying he would speak to everyone at a later date.

Arthur used his mobile and rang Merlin with the news asking him to keep quiet about it for now. He promised to visit that night but said he wouldn't have time that lunchtime. Merlin understood. He told Arthur he was going to theatre that afternoon for repair of his wounds and hopefully he would be going home in two weeks. Everything seemed to be working out at long last. Arthur was only able to make a quick visit to the hospital, due to his father's summons but Merlin understood.

The meal at Uther's was as normal a difficult affair for the siblings with their father offering to set them both up with potential partners from the children of his business colleagues. In failing in that he then lectured them both on the need to establish links to benefit the business. Both Morgana and Arthur were please when ten o'clock came round and they could escape.

The next morning Arthur and Uther signed the transfer documents. Arthur was now in charge. He wasn't moving office until Uther leaf in a fortnight. The older man wasn't giving everything up that easily. Arthur didn't mind, it gave his PA chance to sort through all the paperwork and see what needed to move with him. The whole building as a buzz, everyone seemed very pleased with the new man at the top. Gwaine had hit him for not seeing him the day before as had several others.

That evening the couple celebrated together. Merlin's operation had gone well and so everything was working out. Arthur asked Merlin to come back as his PA as soon as his wounds were healed enough for him to sit in them all day. Merlin said he would consider but probably would now Uther was going.

The collection for Uther and Nimueh looked like it would break all records not because they were popular, but because people were pleased to see the back of them, and due to pressure from Morgana to donate. Everyone found her scary and couldn't say no. The leaving party was scheduled for Uther's last day and was already well organised. As well as staff from the company, customers and business associates had been invited. It was being held in a hotel that had a large enough conference room.