My cousin started watching Merlin, so I've been rewatching, and I can confirm that it is just as good the second (fourth?) time. I'm excited to get this chapter out now.

"I don't know. I think so. Maybe," Morgana started rushing to explain, but Arthur stopped her.

"I don't need to know the details," he said, looking completely disgusted and a little bit sick.

"Right."

They ate the rest of the meal in silence, silverware loudly scraping the plates. Every sound reverberated throughout the not quite full room, and every breath seemed deafening. Morgana could not be done fast enough, and as soon as she finished eating, she rinsed her plate and hurried to Merlin's room which was slowly becoming hers.

She wasn't surprised when the sometimes overly caring Gwen followed her in.

"So you're pregnant?" She asked.

Morgana nodded.

"With Merlin's baby?"

Again, a nod.

"Are you sure, like have you taken a test or gone to a doctor?"

"I took the test, but I haven't gone to the doctor yet. It feels wrong without Merlin," Morgana said, her voice betraying no emotion.

"But you have no idea when or if Merlin will be back," Gwen tried to reason with her friend.

"I told you what he said. He's coming," a fierce determination burned in Morgana's eyes.

"I believe you. I need to, but we can't live our lives waiting for him," Gwen's sage words reminded Morgana of the long life she'd lived before. The full life that had been taken away from herself and Arthur.

"I know," Morgana said.

"Then for God's sake, go see a doctor!"

~oOo~

Morgana did see a doctor, and it was confirmed that she was pregnant. And everything was fine, but it wasn't. Because Merlin wasn't around. The baby living and growing inside of Morgana belonged to Merlin. It shared his DNA and his power, and Morgana already knew that it would have his eyes (she'd had a vision). But he wasn't there to see it all.
When the sonogram showed the baby's heartbeat, there was no one around to be as touched as Morgana. And when it started growing fingernails, there was not a single person who felt simultaneously grossed out and impressed like Morgana did.

When the baby's first kick left her bursting to tell anyone the good news, Morgana realized why people usually did this together. And she felt more alone then she ever had.

It was times like this that she had the dreams. They weren't her usual nightmares or visions. These were different. They were Merlin.

"I'm coming," he'd remind her. "Almost there. Just wait a little bit longer."

Then he'd kiss her.

"I love you," he'd whisper in parting, and then he'd be gone, like breath on a mirror.

However, it was a great relief having Gwen and Arthur around. Morgana didn't think she'd met a person more caring and maternal than her former servant. Without Gwen's help, Morgana was fairly certain she wouldn't have made it through her pregnancy.

And it was nice having a brother to take her mind off of things. If there was one thing Arthur was most unequipped to deal with, it was emotions, so when she was around him, she didn't have to feel anything for a while. They could just sit and watch Doctor Who (she'd got him hooked) and make jokes about the characters and for a little while, Merlin wasn't gone, ad Morgana wasn't facing the world alone.

She could just be happy.

Arthur was good at that; at just being happy and enjoying himself. And it rubbed off. Being around him was just fun. It was the family that Morgana had always wanted.

They'd been settled into ordinary life for a while, and tonight was nothing special. A Doctor Who marathon was on, so they were all curled up on the couch, watching it together. Gwen had made caramel popcorn for all of them, and it was just very right.

Gwen's head rested on Arthur's chest, and her arms wrapped around him while Morgana was curled up on the side, enjoying the feeling of the baby's kicks.

"Every life is a pile of good things and bad things," the Doctor started explaining from the tv, making Gwen tear up. A lot of shows made Gwen tear up; she was just that kind of person.

Arthur chuckled.

"Gwen, you've seen this episode at least three times," he said. "It's not that sad.

She nodded, but she didn't respond.

"In her defense," Morgana started, but she was interrupted by a pain in her stomach. She brushed it off as the baby kicking too hard and went on. "It is one of the sadder episodes."

Arthur smiled, ready for an argument. He was always ready to argue with Morgana.

"It's all made up, the story and the characters aren't real."

"Actually," Morgana replied. "Vincent Van Gogh was real."

But another shock of pain stopped her from saying more.

"Are you alright, Morgana?" Arthur asked with slight annoyance and real concern.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Morgana said. "But I think I might be having contractions."

Sorry it's short. I have midterms, so studying... Hope to have another chapter up soon.