The weekend went well, and on her birthday Hunith was surprised with a whole heap of presents, and then had a lovely meal out, but all too soon it was time for the men to head back to London. Merlin hugged his mum and promised to ring her at least twice a week. They had all tried to talk her into coming to London to stay with them for Christmas but she wouldn't commit herself.
On the Monday morning Will and Merlin headed off on the tube to work once more. Will was doing really well in the graphic design team and loved his work, and Merlin now had a permanent contract as Morgana's PA. He had been working for the firm for eleven months and has developed a good selection of friendships. Yet still no boyfriend. Gwaine was still working with Arthur to break down Merlin's resistance, and it was slowly working. The two men could have reasonable conversations now, and were gradually getting to know all about each other.
On the Thursday after Merlin's weekend at his mother's Morgana asked Merlin if he would do a special favour for her. She needed something taking to her brother's office before close of business, and she didn't want to use a courier service. She told Merlin if he did it he could go straight home afterwards. This would give him an extra hour off. He agreed and told Will to catch the tube by himself, and set off across the park to the building Arthur worked in. Arthur was working for Savil, Savil and Atkins one of the top legal firms in London. He was over six months into his pupillage and enjoying the work as he was now taking cases of his own. Arthur was proving to be a natural and everyone was predicting big things for him.
Merlin entered the building and reported to the desk, and was told to go to the third floor where he would find Arthur's shared office. Merlin took the lift and soon found himself outside a door labelled Knight and Pendragon, knocking on the office door, he heard a "come in" and entered to find Leon, Morgana's husband sitting at one of the desks. The other desk was empty.
"Hello Leon, I've brought a package over for Arthur."
"Take a seat he won't be long he's just gone to see Mr Atkins. Will Morgana be finished on time today?"
"She should be, I left everything done for her. She was just dictating some letters when I left." Merlin said smiling. He like Leon and sometimes wondered how he coped with his boss's fiery temper.
"You've been good for her Merlin; it's nice she's found someone she can work with. It makes my life easier." Leon confessed just as Arthur walked into the office.
"All I need now is for someone to make my life easier." Arthur said, obviously having heard the end of Leon's comments.
"Here's your package from Morgana, Arthur." Merlin handed over the envelope.
"Typical, she got rid of that quick enough. Your wife's got a nasty streak Leon."
"Don't blame me she's your sister!" Leon said. "More stuff from Uther?"
"Right I'm off" Merlin said having done his good deed.
"If you wait a minute I'll give you a lift. I'm going past your place" Arthur offered.
"You off early?" Leon asked.
"Yes Mr Atkins wants me to do some work Saturday morning, so I'm off early today and tomorrow." Arthur didn't look that pleased.
"That's alright I can catch a tube" Merlin made for the door.
"Oh for Christ sake, sit down. It won't hurt you to accept a lift for once." Arthur snapped.
Merlin looked at Arthur and sat down. Much to his embarrassment Leon laughed. "Don't worry Merlin, he won't bite, it's just the letter you brought over. Anything from his father makes Arthur bad tempered."
"Well he needn't take it out on me, the prat." Merlin muttered "I was only doing Morgana a favour."
"You're right I'm sorry Merlin" Arthur said "I shouldn't have snapped. I take it you haven't met the Right Honourable Uther Pendragon MP yet."
"No I haven't"
"Well hope you never do, my father is the most insufferable snob ever." Arthur said. "If he visits Morgana keep well out of the way."
Arthur collected together some papers, including the envelope Merlin had given him and put them in his briefcase. "Come on let's get you home."
Merlin followed Arthur down to the basement car park and got into Arthur's car without saying a word. As they drove off Arthur looked at Merlin.
"Look Merlin I meant what I said I am sorry."
"What the great Arthur Pendragon apologising." Merlin said in an amazed tone.
"I'm not that bad!" Arthur said.
"No I suppose not, so that letters bad news eh."
"Anything from my father is bad news, he's not an easy man Merlin, he wants me to give up law and follow him into politics. He won't give up, that and the fact that he keeps pushing woman at me, he wants me to marry and give up my silliness"
"But your gay" Merlin said amazed.
"He thinks I'll grow out of it. How did your parents react when you told them?"
"I've only got my Mum, Dads dead, but she was very supportive. It wasn't easy in a small Welsh village; she encouraged me to move away for university so I could be myself." Merlin admitted. "It was hard for her I'm all she's got. It must be hard if your Dad doesn't accept who you are." Merlin said sympathetically.
"Your Mother sounds very nice Merlin, I'd like to met her one day."
"She'd like to meet you." Merlin said before he could stop himself.
"She's heard about me!" Arthur asked.
"Well I went to stay with her for the weekend with Gwaine and Will. Gwaine mentioned you." Merlin hoped Arthur didn't ask more.
"So why should she want to meet me because Gwaine mentioned me?" Arthur persisted.
"Mum wants to meet everyone I know." Merlin was aware he was blushing and hoped Arthur didn't notice.
Arthur did notice but said nothing; in fact he thought it looked adorable. He was going to ring Gwaine after he'd seen his father. He hoped it meant that Merlin was at long last melting a bit. Arthur pulled up outside Merlin's flat.
"Here you are safely home, are you coming to the Dragons Lair tomorrow?"
"Thank you for the lift Arthur, yes I'll be there." Merlin jumped out of the car and ran indoors. It had been nice talking to Arthur and he couldn't believe his father hadn't supported him. He knew his mother was special, but how could any parent not support their child. Perhaps that was why Arthur was so prickly sometimes.
Arthur called in at his father's house as ordered and handed Utter the papers Morgana had sent him. "We've both signed them Father." Arthur told his father.
"Of course you have, I didn't doubt that for a minute. Neither of you show any interest in your father, but both of you want to inherit." Uther sneered at his son.
"That's not true Dad, just because we don't show your interest in politics doesn't mean we don't love you. I don't know why you needed our signatures to make changes to your will anyway." The papers had been about the future ownership of the family house.
"You as a lawyer know why, don't be dense, your mother left her half of the house to you both." Uther was clearly upset.
"Only after your death before then it's yours to do with as you see fit. Neither of us would worry." Arthur protested.
"Well this way I know they'll be no challenges."
Arthur said no more. He finished his coffee that his father's housekeeper had brought him and stood up to go.
"I've invited Sefa and her father to Sunday lunch. I trust you'll be nice to her, she'd be good for you." Uther said to his son.
"Look father you have to stop this, I won't play your games. I'm gay and I keep telling you. If you don't stop I won't come to the meals. I can find my own life partner, in fact I think I have and he's a man, so get used to the idea." Arthur turned and left the room before his father could say anymore.
Later that evening Arthur rang Gwaine "How did your weekend go?" he asked
"Great you must meet Hunith one day she's a wonderful woman." Gwaine loved Hunith as if she were his mother.
"Merlin said she wanted to meet me. What was that about?" Arthur asked hopefully.
"You heard about that did you, I was talking to Hunith and she asked if Merlin had anyone in his sights, I mentioned you were keen on him. Then Will got involved and when Merlin came in and went slightly red his mum knew he must like you. Our Merlin blushes well." Gwaine laughed.
"I noticed, so you think it might be working?" Arthur asked hopefully.
"Yeh I do, just take it easy mate were nearly there, let him make the first move and don't force the issue." Gwaine advised.