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
The next day Merlin was sat beside Tristan watching as Arthur warmed up along with the others, talking and laughing as they got ready. He looked around to see the stadium full, he could not see one empty seat, he looked back at Arthur who looked at all the fans before his eyes landed on him, he nodded once before he joined his mates to go inside and get ready in the rooms. Tristan stood up and followed his team in leaving Merlin sat there alone.
All too soon both teams were coming out, Albion was to play against the Knights, the team Arthur had left to play for Albion, Merlin just knew that everyone would be watching this game, to see how Arthur would play against those he played with for so long.
Albion had won the match two goals to none. Arthur had scored both goals, he actually had an old team player spit at him and glare, he only returned to glare before taking off his top which was now covered spit. He made his way to the changing rooms but was stopped by Tristan. "The press are here, they want a statement from you about the match."
Arthur nodded and looked at Merlin. "Are you ready Merlin? Stand near the press until I ask for you?"
"I am Arthur, I am with you all the way." the brunet promised.
On the way to the changing rooms Gwaine came across the player that spit on Arthur. "You seem to have a problem keeping that gob of yours shut as you use it to spit on others. Allow me to help with said problem." he said before punching the bloke in the mouth.
The bloke was about to fight back when Gwaine was flung over Percival's shoulder. "Control that temper of yours." Percival said as he carried Gwaine away to the changing rooms.
"He gobbed on Arthur."
"And Arthur would have dealt with it I am sure." Percival answered as he continued to walk on to the changing rooms.
Arthur walked through some doors with Merlin and Merlin stepped to the side as the photographers started clicking their cameras, taking pictures. "Arthur Pendragon this way." so many voices shouted.
So many questions were fired at him and he got lost at who was asking what before he clapped his hands together. "I can answer your questions but only if they are asked one at a time and not all together."
The cameras dropped and one by one the questions started, most about the match he had just played and how it felt playing against those he played with for so long.
"And what do you think of Gwaine punching Steve who spat at you?"
Arthur did a double take. "Gwaine punched him? When?"
"Just now. Percival had to carry him away."
Arthur smiled and shook his head. "I have come to find Gwaine is very protective over those he makes his friends."
"You are very happy to be finally at Albion are you not?"
"Yes. For years I have wanted to play for Albion, I was so happy when they recognised me and wanted me."
"Is there anyone you have to thank for that?"
"Yes. This someone has been with me for years, always there for me, he supported me right from the start, he knew how much football meant to me, how much I wanted to become one and that man is here." Arthur looked to the side and held his hand out. "Merlin."
Merlin smiled and walked over to Arthur and took his hand, smiling when Arthur kissed his knuckles.
In one of the many rooms in the stadium stood Agravaine, Uther, Ygraine and Morgana, all watching Arthur's interview on the telly that was on the wall, as soon as Arthur said Merlin's name Uther looked at Agravaine. "Ha!"
Arthur smiled. "We got together in college, Merlin training to be a doctor and me a footballer, being a teenager then and in love I was more focused on Merlin and Merlin knowing how important football meant to me did the most bravest thing, he left, told me to find him once more when I became the great footballer he knew I would become. It did help, to forget about Merlin and how much I missed him I trained and got better."
"What of your Uncle, Agravaine, wasn't it him who got you as good as you are today?" one reporter asked.
Arthur frowned. "No. He never encouraged me and pushed me to be better, he bullied me into being better. One of the many reasons I am glad to now be at Albion, not only have I found my Merlin again but all my money I earn from playing football I get to keep."
"Keep?"
"Yes. Agravaine always took half of what I earned, sometimes even more. I will never leave Albion, I will be here as long as they want me here which I am hoping is until I retire for now I am free."
"That's all lies!" Agravaine roared.
"Is it?" Uther asked.
Ygraine frowned. "Why is Arthur saying all of this?"
"Because of this." Uther said and played the recording.
Once it had finished Ygraine turned to face her brother and slapped him hard. "I never want to see you again. Get out! You are nothing to me!"
Arthur finished up his interview and held Merlin close who laughed and tried to pull away. "Get off." he laughed. "You are all sweaty."
"Shower?"
"For you yes."
Arthur laughed and pulled Merlin even closer and kissed the brunet with all he had, neither of them taking notice that the photographers had followed them, their cameras flashing as Merlin was dipped by a laughing Arthur before being led away.
Epilogue
Merlin sighed as he watched Percival help Arthur into his office and helped him sit on the bed. "Thank you Percival I will deal with my husband now."
Percival nodded. "I know that look, I give that look to Gwaine." he said before looking at Arthur. "Good luck mate." he said, clapping the blond on the shoulder.
It had been two years since Arthur had won Albion the game and since all the games they had played since then the amount of games they had lost or drew you could count on one hand. Merlin got out the equipment he would need to heal Arthur and started by cleaning the cut making his husband wince. "Oh shush you big baby." he whispered as he started to clean the eyebrow.
"It hurts."
"You shouldn't have started the fight then."
"He called you. Ow!"
"Serves you right, you should have ignored his taunts, he got married for publicity and for what? He is always in papers as he doesn't like to stick with just one woman, he is only jealous of what we have."
"Mmm. Can't you heal it with your magic? It hurts you know."
"No I can't, it will teach you not to answer with your fists."
"At least I waited until we were off the pitch." Arthur sighed. "Have you heard from father?"
"Whose?"
"Mine. Mother said she overheard him arguing on the phone but his voice was quiet so couldn't make out who he was talking to and this morning he left early, missed my game, first one he has missed since I joined Albion."
Merlin frowned. "Strange, Uther misses your games for nothing, wonder what he is doing."
Uther stood still and raised his arms, allowing him to be scanned before providing certain information, after doing so he stepped through the door and walked up the aisle between tables until he reached the small square table at the end, at it sat a man with long dirty hair tied back, a split lip with an eyebrow to match and a black eye. "Well aren't you a sight for sore eye."
"Very funny Pendragon. Where is my sister, you told me she would be coming."
"Ygraine knows nothing of this. What do you want Agravaine?"
"A lawyer."
"And what makes you think I will get you one? You deserve to rot in this place."
"Not in here I don't, all I did was take Arthur's earnings and threaten to kill Merlin's parents."
"Oh well if that is all you did then that's alright then."
"There are murderers in here Uther, if I am to be in prison I want to be in a different one."
"You got sent down for what you did, you do not get to pick and choose where you go or who you share with, you lost all of that right when you decided to become a fucker." Uther sat back. "Who beat you up?"
"Despite being murderers they are big football fans, support Albion."
"Ha!"
"This is no joke Uther. They think Arthur is the best at everything."
Uther banged the table with his fist causing a guard to walk over. "Sorry officer. Will keep my temper in check." he promised before looking at his brother in law. "He is the best. I have had to miss my sons game for the first time to come and see your sorry excuse of an arse. Why would I want to help you."
"Despite being hated in here for people who love Arthur there are also people in here who hate him, think he is disgusting for marrying a man, I get along well with them, you get me a lawyer and get me moved or their friends on the outside will pay your son a visit."
"This conversation is over Agravaine and your sentence just got longer for threatening my son and his husband."
"Prove it."
"Alright." Uther sat back and touched his ear. "Did you hear all that?"
The head of the prison guards walked into the room. "I did Uther, you were right in him going to try something."
Uther stood up. "Do not contact any of us again. Enjoy your years in here." he said, glaring at the man before leaving.
"Wait Uther. Wait!" Agravaine shouted, being held back by guards and dragged away as Uther walked out, not looking back.
Merlin sat on the settee and handed Arthur a drink. "Well I have some news, I would have told you earlier but had to patch you up."
"Oh?"
"I got a call from the adoption agency this morning."
Arthur put his drink down and turned to face is husband. "What did they say?"
"We have been accepted Arthur and there is a seventeen year old girl who is due in two months and she picked us. She wants to finish college go on to uni, get a job she has always dreamed of, she said when she found out she was pregnant she couldn't abort as she doesn't believe in it as it is not the baby's fault, she decided to carry to term and then give the baby up for adoption and chose us."
"Oh Merlin." Arthur beamed as he launched himself on his laughing husband. "We just have to go tomorrow and sign some papers and meet her and then it's all done."
"Then I guess tomorrow is a busy day baby shopping. Oh have you been told what she is having?"
"That is the only thing she was nervous about, but I said yes as it doesn't matter."
"What?"
"She is carrying twins Arthur. A boy and a girl."
"Two children?"
Merlin laughed. "Yes."
"I don't care if she has five in her we are going to be parents!"
The two months seemed to fly by, they had met with Amelia every week and they all got on so well, it was just before Arthur was about to start a match when Merlin got the phone call that she had gone into labour, Merlin had got to Tristan in time who swapped Arthur for another player and within five minutes they were on their way to Amelia.
After an hours drive Arthur and Merlin ran into the hospital and after being told where to go they saw Amelia sat up in bed looking tired but happy, two small cots at the side of her, one wrapped in blue and another in pink. "You could have at least changed Arthur." she smiled.
Arthur looked down to see that he was still wearing his football kit. "I didn't think, just got the call and came off the pitch."
"You were playing? I am sorry."
"No don't apologise, I wasn't playing, game was just about to kick off." he said as he walked with his husband over to the babies that were sleeping peacefully.
"Your daughter was born first, your son twenty minutes later." Amelia said.
Just then nurses came in to check Amelia before taking the brake off her bed to wheel her out.
"Wait." Arthur said as he walked over and held her hand. "Thank you. For everything."
"No." she smiled. "Thank you. I know you are going to be fantastic parents and they are going to have a happy and healthy life with you both." she looked at Arthur holding his son and Merlin holding his daughter and smiled. "Perfect family." she whispered.
"Thank you so much." Merlin said, close to tears.
After saying their last goodbyes Merlin and Arthur were left alone with their children. "Names?" Arthur asked.
"You name our daughter Arthur and I will name our son."
Arthur looked down at his daughter, asleep in his husbands arms. "Freya."
Merlin smiled. "Gorgeous, and as for this little one." he said, running his finger down his sleeping sons cheek. "Tristan."
"Mother will love you even more. Naming him after her brother."
A nurse came in and smiled. "You can take them home."
"Already?" Arthur asked.
"Yes, they have been checked over and they are well," she smiled at them both. "Picture?"
Merlin took his phone out and set the camera up before handing it to the nurse. "Please."
The nurse held the phone up. "Ready?" she asked. Taking the picture when the proud parents smiled.
That night Merlin and Arthur collapsed into bed, their children and been fed, bathed, changed and fussed over by proud grandparents and after a long day of visitors and caring for their children they had collapsed into bed once their children were asleep.
"Who would have thought that this would be us twelve years ago?" Merlin asked. "We did it Arthur. We have our happy ending."
Arthur cupped his husband's face and smiled. "Happy ending? Merlin love, this isn't the end, this is just the beginning." he whispered, leaning in to kiss his husband with all that he was.
The end.
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