I don't own Merlin sadly, belongs to the BBC

This is a story for TashaHill, an apology for having to wait so long for a snarry she asked for, honestly she must have the patience of a saint! This is dedicated to her. Hope you enjoy x

Warning: AU, Malexmale, Ygraine alive.

Rated M for swear words. This will have four chapters, one a day x

Summary: Back in college Merlin and Arthur were happy and in love, until Merlin left without a word to Arthur, it is now nine years later and after signing a deal with etg hnew football club Arthur meets the club's doctor. Merlin. Arthur wants answers.

I apologise in advance for any mistakes I may have made

Nine years earlier...

Agravaine smirked when he saw Arthur sat on the bench at side of the football field, his head in his hands, rocking back and forth. Walking over he heard Arthur crying and rolled his eyes, pathetic. "Arthur lad?"

Arthur looked up, not caring there were tear tracks on his cheeks. "He has gone Uncle. Gone!"

"Who?"

"Merlin! He hasn't given no reason, he was fine yesterday when I saw him but I went to see him where he sleeps and everything is packed up, left the college and left me! What have I done?"

Agravaine sat down. "You have done nothing Arthur, look at you, strapping young lad, you could have any girl you want, he was a fool to leave."

"I don't want any girl I just want Merlin. I need Merlin."

"Arthur I know just how you are feeling right now, ask your mother, when my wife died I didn't want to go on as she was everything to me."

Arthur sniffed and looked at his uncle. "What did you do?"

"I remembered all the good times with her but I focused on something else, put all my energy into that, if I focused on that I would forget, not forget her but forget the pain."

"I'll train, I will focus on only my football and studies, if I do that then the pain won't hurt so much as I won't be focusing on the pain right?"

Agravaine nodded. "That's right. Good lad."

Present day

Merlin was sat at his desk writing when he froze at the sound of a sing song voice.

"Emrys..."

Looking up he saw Morgana stood in the doorway, smile on her face.

Merlin cried with relief and stood from his desk and hurried over pulling her into a bone crushing hug. "You wouldn't believe how much I have missed you!"

Morgana laughed. "Well I can believe that, I am very lovable."

"I knew it would only be a matter of time before you came after Arthur told you all I am his doctor."

"Of course you did, you didn't just leave Arthur that day but you left me also."

"At least you got a goodbye. Arthur got nothing."

"Look Merlin I know my uncle must have done something, he hated the sight of you both together and whenever your name has been mentioned since college he has scowled and shuddered. What did he do?"

"Yes Merlin." came a voice.

Merlin and Morgana looked towards the door and saw Arthur walk through it. "What did my uncle do? I saw his face, he wasn't at all happy when he learned you are now my doctor, he has been talking to me, wants a lawyer to go over the contract I signed for a way of leaving this club. When I asked why as I never want to leave as I am finally where I want to be all he said was he did some digging and Albion isn't as good as I believe."

Merlin scowled. "Bollocks, your Uncle has nothing! There is fuck all wrong with this team."

"I know that Merlin, I also want to know what happened the day before you left, everything."

Morgana looked between them both and stood up. "I will just leave you both to it. I will give you a ring later Merlin I got your number by going through Arthur's phone.

"Hey!" the blond snapped. "That has a password on it."

"Yeah Merlin's date of birth, too obvious, if you are going to have a date on it make it the one when you both had sex for the first time or something." she said, smirking at the blush on both mens cheeks before leaving them, cackling as she went.

Arthur closed the door and locked it. "I am not leaving until I know it all Merlin. And neither are you."

Merlin sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "Not here. Follow me home." he said, picking up his car keys.

Walking out into the car park Merlin was about to get in his car when Tristan called out to him. "Merlin, I need a word, something has happened."

Merlin walked over with Arthur following. "Sounds serious."

Tristan sighed. "It would be if I didn't know you Merlin." Tristan looked at Arthur. "You can go Arthur."

"No." Merlin said. "Arthur is fine, we er... well we have known each other for a very long time."

Tristan looked between them both and watched as Arthur raised his arm and ran his hand down Merlin's back. He nodded. "Okay. There has been a report against you Merlin, someone rang and spoke to me and says he has proof you are not a real doctor you slept your way to get your certificates which are fake and for the best of the club I am to be rid of you."

Merlin nodded and took Arthur's phone and going through the phone book he rang Agravaine and handed Tristan the phone. "Don't speak just let him speak and when he does put phone down."

Tristan nodded and took the phone.

"Arthur? Where are you? Arthur?"

Tristan put phone down and handed it back to Arthur who looked down at who Merlin had called.

"Is that the voice you heard over the phone who complained?"

"Yes Merlin."

"Of course it was." Merlin sighed.

"My Uncle complained and said all of that? Why?"

Merlin turned to Arthur. "Money Arthur! This is why I left all those years ago. I had no choice if I was with you, which he believes is wrong and disgusting you are not training enough, not getting football clubs attention, not being signed up, not getting money which in turn he would get for getting you that far!"

"Calm down Merlin." Tristan said, "I know there is no proof of what he said as I was with you all the way while you were training under one of the best doctors around, Gaius would have been proud at how far you have come. Nothing to worry about I just thought I would warn you." he said, nodding at them both before walking away.

Arthur looked at Merlin. "Now don't take this into me not believing you Merlin please, but it doesn't sound like my uncle would do this, he was there when you left, supported me."

"Made you forget all about me I bet." Merlin sighed, "just follow me home, I actually have proof, kept it with me all these years in case I ever did see you again and all of this came up."

"Unbelievable!" Arthur said as he looked up at the block of expensive flats.

"What?"

"Do you know how many times in the last six months I have walked past here. If only I had known."

Merlin laughed. "I have the entire top floor, instead of it being several flats on top floor it is just one big massive flat and all mine."

"Wow Merlin." Arthur said as he followed his ex into the building. "I bet when we were together you couldn't even dream of seeing a place like this let alone living in it."

"I know, but that is why I have it, I struggled and worked hard for where I am today, why shouldn't I have some luxury, you should see my mum and dad's new house what I bought them in thanks for all of their support, they have never been happier."

Merlin stepped into the lift and hitting the button to the top floor he was then asked to give a password, Arthur looked away. "It's fine Arthur, I guess after all these years we still think alike with passwords as mine is your birthday." he said as he typed it in. "You need a password as the lifts open up into my flat so really if you think about it my front door is a lift." he laughed.

When the doors opened Merlin stepped out and looked sideways at Arthur, "I won't be long, just try not to get lost."

When Merlin walked away instead of looking around Arthur decided to follow, he followed as Merlin walked through his bedroom opened a double door which revealed a very big walk in wardrobe, hung his coat up and then closed the doors behind him before walking down the hall to a small door in which he held out his hand and unlocked it whispering an incantation.

Arthur quietly followed Merlin in and couldn't stop the gasp that escaped him.

Merlin turned around and looked worried to see Arthur there. "You followed me?" he looked around the room and pictures of Arthur in with his previous football teams newspaper clippings in frames about how Arthur had been progressing, his scores, moving football clubs. "This isn't a shrine Arthur I swear!"

Arthur chuckled and walked over. "I know that, seems you like to keep up to date with me."

"I do, I always have ever since I left. People have said I needed to get over you that I shouldn't keep looking at the sports news for you but I liked to keep up hoping you were doing well. I told people I stopped just to keep them happy and kept this room for you, remember at your first club, you broke your ankle and they said two months you wouldn't play and yet four weeks you were playing and no one could believe your quick recovery?"

"Yeah even I couldn't believe it."

"I saw how down you were, remember that strange doctor who came and prodded your leg with a scrunched up face telling you to stop moaning when you said it hurt."

"That was you?"

"Yes Arthur, I healed it completely, you was so happy to be out there again doing what you love."

Arthur hurried forwards and hugged Merlin close. "Gods you smell good Merlin."

Merlin blushed and backed away and opened a drawer taking out a small device he handed it to Arthur.

Arthur took it and looked down. "What's this?"

"I loved you Arthur, still do, never stopped but I wanted to tell you and was too nervous, I asked Morgana how was best to tell you as I didn't want to mess it up, she suggested that I say how I feel on a voice recorder and then play it back and work out what best to change. Only thing is while practising Agravaine burst his way into my room, it recorded everything Arthur."

Arthur pressed the recorder and turned the volume up.

"Arthur I love you a lot... no that doesn't sound right. Um... Arthur remember how I am always telling you how much I love your cock and what you do to me well I also love you... no Merlin don't mention his cock, um. Arthur I -"

A bang sounded and a scrambling of feet. "Agravaine? You nearly broke my door!"

"I couldn't give a shit Melvin. Now you listen and you listen good, you pack your bags now and leave."

"What? No! My life is here my studies I am not leaving."

"You will leave Merlin, with you around Arthur isn't focusing as much on his football as I would like, I want to be a big name and that nephew of mine is my ticket, you being with him is disgusting and not right, unnatural. You pack your bags and you leave today, you don't call, Email, text or contact him in any way."

"And if I don't?"

"Fond of your parents are you? Love them? Do anything for them?"

"Yes!"

"If you don't want anything to happen to them you move away, lie to your parents and say you have been offered a chance to further your studies and leave, if you don't I will make sure you have no parents before the year is out!"

Merlin spluttered. "You would actually kill?"

"I wouldn't have to but a word from me would have others to do so. You keep in touch with your parents but warn them if Arthur goes calling you don't want him knowing as this is a big opportunity and you want no distractions."

"I..."

"You have until the end of the day, you best be gone before Arthur gets back from his parents this evening."

When all could be heard was sobbing Arthur turned the recorder off and looked at Merlin to see him crying. "Merlin." he breathed, pulling the brunet close. "You have my promise Merlin. I am going nowhere and he will pay for this. If it is the last thing I do he will pay for this."

Merlin just continued to cry as he clung to Arthur tighter. Calming down Merlin frowned, Arthur hugging him, his hold got tighter, he remembered Arthur clinging tightly to him when he got protective of him. "Arthur a little breathing space please,"

Arthur pulled back. "Sorry, guess I haven't changed much."

"Mmm. You have got more better looking as you have gotten older, which I didn't think was possible."

Arthur reached up and stroked Merlin's cheek. "Can I kiss you?"

"Of course, I am surprised you actually lasted this long." Merlin laughed before being pulled into a possessive kiss.

What do you think?

Chapter three up tomorrow :D

Review? x