The whole group finished the evening buy going out to a club to celebrate, and Morgana bribed the DJ to play lots of slow songs so the two men had an excused to dance close together. Once Arthur and Merlin got back to Arthur's flat Arthur asked Merlin to move in with him. To his surprise Merlin agreed, and they decided to move Merlin's things the following weekend. That way they could organise things before hand. Not that Merlin went home that weekend. Nor did they go out; instead they rang Hunith to tell her the good news and then spent the whole weekend either in bed or sat watching films together. Merlin was surprised at Arthur that weekend; whenever they made love Arthur would whisper in his ear "your mine". He teased Arthur about his possessiveness and Arthur replied "I'm not possessive, but once we're married we will be together forever, your mine."

Merlin knew that Arthur wouldn't try to control his life, but that they both felt the same way. He had moved on so far since his pre Arthur days, he understood the need they both had to be truly together in every way.

"Your mine now! I will never let you go, you are my one and only lover. No one else will ever touch me." Merlin whispered into Arthur's ear as they fell asleep.

Once their friends knew what was happening, they all offered to help. Not that Merlin had much to move. Merlin said he would pay Will a month's rent, to help until he could find someone else to share with. Not that Will was bothered, he was now earning enough not to need the extra person. Merlin also insisted on paying the utility bills on the Penthouse. He told Arthur he wasn't about to be a kept man. Arthur didn't care, but agreed to let Merlin keep his pride. Arthur never let Uther know the news. He figured he'd hear anyway and wouldn't come to the wedding anyway.

Just after Merlin had moved in he got home one day and decided to sort out the wardrobe. He had just hung everything up in a hurry, and wanted to make it easier to find his stuff. At the moment it was all mixed up together with Arthur's. Arthur was never home as early as him so he knew he had time, the first thing he noticed was just how many clothes Arthur had. Then he started to notice the labels. By the time he had finished he was deep in thought.

Merlin cooked the evening meal, Arthur has texted him to say he was on his way home. After their meal and loaded the dishwasher they sat to watch some television. Merlin decided he wanted some answers to some questions he had.

"Arthur I sorted out the wardrobe just now, so we could find our stuff easier. I notice the labels in your suits and stuff. Out of curiosity how much do you spend on clothes?"

"I don't have any idea Merlin, if I need something I buy it. Why do you ask?" Arthur looked at Merlin puzzled.

"Well you've got Armani and Savile Row stuff, that doesn't come cheap."

"I buy the best, it fits nicer. Just what is this all about Merlin?"

"Well the clothes, this flat, your big car…are you rich or something?"

"Yes Merlin I am, my mother left me a large fortune when she died. Is it a problem?" Arthur sounded amused.

"How big a fortune?" Merlin was sounding upset.

"I don't keep track Merlin, but I am a multi millionaire. As I said is that a problem?"

"Of course it is! I don't want people to think I'm after your money! I'm not you know." Merlin sounded defensive.

Arthur laughed "I know that idiot! As you didn't know I had it, you couldn't have been."

"We best get one of those pre nup things done. God I didn't know, I really didn't, what do you want a person like me for?" Merlin was almost panicking.

"Calm down Merlin. It's no problem, I know you're not after my money! I want you because I love you. As to a pre nuptial agreement, over my dead body. We're not going into this planning on how to get finish! I fully intend for us to be together forever." Arthur pulled Merlin toward him and looked into his eyes. "The money is nothing Merlin, it's there if I need it, but I've hardly touched it, except to buy the penthouse. I earn good money and will earn even more soon."

How much?" Merlin demanded.

"How much what? Earnings or fortune. Well once I start as a barrister proper I've been told I'll get around £70,000 to start with, and as I said about my money I'm not sure, including property about nine or ten million. But it doesn't matter."

Merlin swallowed several times "But I only get £28,000 and have £3000 in the bank. I can't use your money!"

"You Muppet! It will be our money, and yes you can use it, that's what money's for. Now forget the money and come here and cuddle up and watch the film." Arthur pulled Merlin closer and gave him a kiss.

Merlin sat in silence digesting what he had been told, why hadn't he asked before? It was clear to him that he was way out of his league. He now felt very uncomfortable. Arthur realised that Merlin was worried about the money and wasn't sure what to do about it. He decided that for now he would just drop the topic and give Merlin time to adjust.

Merlin was still fretting at work the next day, so much so that Morgana noticed and asked him what the matter was. Merlin said it was nothing. But Morgana decided to ask Arthur. When her brother told her that Merlin was unhappy about his money and wanted a pre nup agreement she laughed.

"You would have thought it was you asking for one."

He brother got cross and said he had no intention of splitting up with Merlin, so didn't need one and would refuse no matter what Merlin said. Morgana decided to see if she could speak to Merlin, and ease his mind about Arthur's fortune. She asked Merlin to bring to coffees to her office, and when he arrived she made him sit down.

"Now future brother in law I need to talk to you. I understand you know my brother dear is loaded." Morgana grinned.

"I didn't know until yesterday honest, I'm not after him for his money" Merlin said to his boss.

"I know that you goose, anyone can see you two are head over heels, no that's not what I'm worried about. I asked Arthur and he says you want a pre nup agreement. You won't get one you know, Arthur wants you for keeps, and what my brother wants he invariably gets. Just forget about the money."

"I can't Morgana, I won't be a kept man. I have my pride. People will say I'm only after his money."

"Stuff what people say. As for being a keep man, what do you mean you're working? You will be contributing. It's either accept Arthur and his money or finishing with him?" Morgana looked at Merlin "You can't do that he loves you and you love him."

"I don't know and that's the truth." Merlin muttered looking utterly miserable.

"Merlin my brother will spend money on you because he'll want to. He will want you to be comfortable, and he will want to care for you. Can't you just accept that?"

"I'm not some girl to be cosseted." Merlin protested.

"No you're not, but you're still his lover, and that's what he'll want to do. I know you want to be independent, but you've got your job. The fact that you don't have as much money as Arthur doesn't matter. You wouldn't care if it was the other way round. I know my brother, he'll see himself as the head of the house, you know he will, but he won't think any less of you for that. You knew he had a better job so, it's only the inheritance and believe me his mother would have been only to pleased Arthur has someone he loves to spend the money with." Morgana looked at her PA "Now forget all this and put it behind you."

Merlin did his best but he still worried about the money and wished it wasn't there.

The two men planned the civil Ceremony for four months time, by then Arthur would be a fully fledged Barrister and his bosses were happy for him to have three weeks of work. Arthur also got Morgana to agree, although Merlin though it was one week. They would have preferred a full marriage, but as yet that wasn't available in the UK. Arthur had a wonderful honeymoon planned. Arthur was having the rings made to a design of his making and inside there was an inscription "Together forever your mine."

The next thing was going to see Hunith in Wales; Arthur had yet to meet his future mother in law. They had spoken several times on the phone, but now Merlin and Arthur were headed to Wales for the weekend, and Arthur was nervous. All the way there he his hands were clammy. Merlin thought it funny that a barrister, used to standing in front of a court, should be so worried about meeting his mother.

As they drew up in front of Merlin's home it was Merlin's time to feel worried. What would Arthur think? The cottage was small and hardly up to Arthur's standards. The money issue was still an underlying concern for Merlin. What would the blonde think of them, he wasn't ashamed of his background far from it, but he didn't want Arthur or his mum to feel uncomfortable. As it happened he shouldn't have worried. Hunith took to Arthur straight away and Arthur loved Hunith. As to the cottage Arthur said he could feel the love coming out of every brick. The weekend was a great success.

Hunith had a chance to speak to Arthur one morning, while Merlin was having a shower, and told him she was glad her son had found someone to love him as much as she had loved Merlin's father. She did ask him to look after her son always and never hurt him. Arthur promised saying it was the easiest thing he had ever promised anyone.