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

Ygraine squealed when she opened the door and saw Merlin stood there at the side of Arthur. "Oh Merlin!" she gasped as she pulled the laughing brunet into a hug. "Come on in."

Arthur watched as his mother dragged Merlin into the house and left Arthur standing there. "I will just let myself in then shall I?" he said as he walked in and shut the door behind him. He walked into the living room to see Merlin sat on settee, Ygraine at side of him holding his hand and Uther on the settee across from them.

"Arthur?"

Arthur turned to see his Uncle. "What?"

"What did you ring me for this morning before hanging up? What was that about?"

Merlin laughed at what Uther just said and turned to see Arthur and paled when he saw Agravaine behind him who had just spotted him and looked livid, he stood up. "I er, I should get going. I only came really to see how you all are." he hurried from the room.

Arthur put his hand out and stopped Merlin from going. "If anyone is leaving it is him, not you Merlin." he whispered.

Merlin dropped his voice. "Arthur my parents..."

"Nothing will happen to them I promise." Arthur whispered before walking into the living room and up to his father. "Father me and Merlin need to speak with you privately but Agravaine can't know."

Uther saw the serious look on his son's face. "Of course you can son." he said loud enough for Agravaine to hear. "Keys are hanging up. All the money you are now earning you can buy yourself your own Jag."

"Why when I can just borrow yours." Arthur said catching on, "come on Merlin let me take you for a ride in one of the most smoothest cars."

"Go home Arthur." Uther whispered.

When Arthur opened the door to his house Merlin looked around. "Arthur what are we doing here?"

"Dad is coming, he will probably come in my car as I left it at my parents."

No sooner had Arthur said it Merlin saw Arthur's car pull up outside and Uther step out. He opened the door and Uther smiled at Merlin before handing Arthur his keys. "I text my secretary, told her to ring me and sound hysterical about anything, bloody woman staring complaining about her kids and why can't they sit still for half hour." Uther shook his head, "told your mum had to go and sort something, Agravaine seemed to believe it as you could hear my secretary screeching."

Arthur laughed. "Sorry father but I needed to talk to you as need your help and Agravaine can't know as it involves him."

"Arthur..."

"It's alright Merlin, father will help us."

"I will help anyway I can, surely it is obvious I am no fan of the wanker." Uther scowled.

Arthur nodded and led him into the sitting room where Arthur sat on the settee holding Merlin close and Uther sat on the chair at side of them.

"What's this about then son?"

Arthur sighed. "I found out today why Merlin disappeared all those years ago without a word." saying nothing more Arthur took out the voice recorder and pressed play, and he and Merlin watched as Uther got angrier and angrier the more he listened, when the recording finished Uther was shaking. "Right then. I need time to think on what is best to do with the bastard, but first things first, Merlin you have plenty of money now don't you?"

"Yes."

"Tomorrow morning you book your parents on a last minute deal cruise they are to tell no one where they are going, just those two and us three only know."

Merlin nodded. "Okay, thank you Uther."

Two days later Merlin was watching the team train, Tristan shouting orders and cheering them on, Merlin looked down at his clipboard of all what the players suffered with and then watched at how they play.

"Very clever Merlin." a voice said making Merlin stand frozen to the spot.

Agravaine came and stood by Merlin's side making the younger man step away from him a little. "What is clever? I didn't know Arthur was coming to this club."

"No not that. Where are your parents boy?"

"Like I would tell you."

"Kicked their door in when they wouldn't answer, state of the place it was hardly worth turning it over."

Merlin turned sharply to Agravaine. "You fool! Do you honestly believe that when I packed up and left all those years ago I went alone? I don't know whose house you just turned over but it wasn't my parents place!"

"I told you -"

Merlin turned and faced the man he despised. "No. You told me to fuck off and leave Arthur and that is exactly what I did, you said nothing about taking my parents with me did you, you still got what you wanted, Arthur to fame, you get all that money clubs are no doubt ringing you for training Arthur to get as good as he has got, I bet you have clubs ringing you."

"I will do. Once Arthur has won Albion's first match and he gives the speech about how he couldn't do it and get where he is today without me."

Tristan spotting Merlin looking troubled called Arthur over and let him know.

Arthur went jogging over. "Hey Uncle. Still training hard as you can see." he said before turning to his boyfriend. "Merlin? Calf playing up a little." he lied.

Merlin nodded, "let's get you inside and checked out then."

"What was he doing here?" Arthur asked once they were in Merlin's office.

"Telling me I am very clever in moving my parents he said he has trashed their house, only it wasn't theirs, when I left all those years ago mum and dad came with me, so your uncle has just broke into some poor family's house and trashed the place!"

Arthur took his phone out and Merlin stood and watched as he rang the police telling him he just walked past a house and saw the door had been kicked in and the place turned over, after giving the address he put the phone down. "Hope they get prints and arrest the bastard. Hated acting normal in front of him, but father said the less he suspects the better as far as Agravaine is concerned you told me nothing, we just met again made up and are seeing how things go."

Merlin smiled. "Let's have a look at your leg then."

"Nothing is wrong with my calf Merlin, Tristan saw Agravaine and let me know. Come on, lets go back out I am sure by now he has gone."

A couple of weeks later just after midnight had Uther going to the house that Agravaine had turned over and smirked when he shoved through the letterbox ten thousand pounds in cash with a small note, Uther after learning from Merlin and Arthur what Agravaine had done, he had set to work in being sneaky and after going through his brother in laws things. He finally found his bank details and after drawing the last of the ten thousand pound out he pushed it through the letterbox of the home Agravaine had turned over.

The next morning Uther was sat at his desk at work when his door banged open and Agravaine came storming in followed by Uther's secretary. "You are not allowed in!"

"Fuck off you bitch!" Agravaine snarled.

Uther banged on his desk and stood up. "Hey! You don't get to talk to my staff that way, apologise now or I call security and have you thrown out, security or police, your call."

Agravaine went red in the face." Sorry." he ground through gritted teeth.

Uther smiled at his Secretary and smiled. "Take the rest of the day off Cynthia and don't let his empty and uncalled words upset you, bright and early tomorrow."

Cynthia smiled. "Thank you Mr Pendragon sir."

When alone Agravaine faced Uther. "You shagging her?"

"Get fucked, I have only touched and will only ever touch one woman that way and that is my wife, now what is up with you to make you come charging in here, upsetting my staff and insulting me and your sister."

"I never said a word against Ygraine."

"You thought I was shagging my secretary meaning I am not happy or bored at home. Now I will not ask again. What. Do. You. Want?"

"My bank account. Ten thousand pounds is missing."

"And you are telling me because?"

"Just what did you have me signing last week?"

"Stupid for not reading and looking at all you sign. You signed a cheque for ten thousand pound to an account where I drew it out and gave it to the poor people who live in the house you turned over a couple of weeks ago."

"I turned no house over."

Uther banged the table once more. "Do not lie! You turned over that house believing Merlin's parents still live there."

"What has Merlin got to do with anything?"

"Do not act innocent it does not suit you at all. Merlin has told me everything, why he left the reason he left, all about you, oh don't worry, Arthur knows nothing, the poor boy needed someone to talk to as only he knows what you threatened him with, he obviously saw how much I dislike you and has come to me to talk to and for help."

"The boy lies."

"Merlin has never lied, I know Merlin, know what he is like how he thinks, know more about him then very few," Uther walked around his desk. "Merlin now has me on side, you have a problem with him then I will have an even bigger problem with you, you call him, I hit you, you threaten him I promise you, you promise him I deliver on my promise is that understood."

"Ygraine wouldn't let you touch me."

"I wouldn't let myself touch you and risk getting my hands dirty. Get out of my building."

"This isn't over." Agravaine said before leaving.

"Oh I agree brother in law, this isn't over." he whispered.

Merlin looked up from his desk when someone knocked on his door. "Uther."

"Hello Merlin lad, sorry I not long got your message, have been in meetings all day. What's up?"

"I think Agravaine is planning something."

"What makes you say that?"

"He is being... well... not nice, but he doesn't even give me so much as a dirty look now."

"And you are complaining?" Uther laughed.

"No, it just makes me worry, if he isn't being horrid to me anymore just what is he planning."

"He is planning nothing Merlin, he and I had words, or rather I had words and he had no choice but to listen. Agravaine won't risk anything now, Arthur's first match is tomorrow, we will all be there along with the press, all Arthur has to do is score the winning goal tomorrow and say what I tell him to after with the press."

"Which is what?"

Uther only smiled in answer.

What do you think?

Chapter four up tomorrow :D

Review? x