The response to the last chapter was awesome! I was going to do some sort of poll where the readers could say whether the wanted me to carry on with the original storyline or change it, but decided against it. Anyway, I hope you like this chapter and enjoy reading it. Improvements are welcome, as are any other comments!
Also, see if you can Spot-the-Sherlock-Quote! It's a bit obvious, but hey.
Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.
They had fallen asleep, but now she is awake and wondering why her and Merlin had slept on the sofa in the first place. Her head aches and her eyes are sore and itching, like she has been crying. But why?
She huffs and rolls closer to Merlin. She blinks as the memories return. It is like waking up at a friend's house, wondering where you are and then remembering and getting that safe feeling.
Except she doesn't feel safe at all. She feels more vulnerable than she's ever been before. What with that... thing inside her.
She inwardly kicks herself at her cruel thoughts.
This wasn't the baby's fault. Only hers. And Alvarr's. But not Merlin's.
He is still asleep, his chest gently rising and falling. His grip around her waist is so tight his nails dig into her skin, like he is afraid of letting go.
She doesn't mind. Her grip on his t-shirt is equally tight, her fingers fisted in the soft, dark material. Her eyelids start to droop again as some kind of mental and physical exhaustion washes over her, so close to sleep again.
Merlin suddenly jerks awake next to her and her eyes snap open. He sits up, rubbing his eyes.
"What time is it?" He asks with a groan.
"Oh, um." She glances up at the clock. "Half nine."
"You're kidding, right?" Merlin looks at her in disbelief.
"No."
"Shit." He scrambles around for his jacket and trainers.
"What is it?" Morgana, asks confused.
"I was supposed to be at work half and hour ago," he rambles on, rushing around the room.
"I'm sorry, it's my fault," she apologizes, picking at one of the cushions.
"No, no it's fine," he corrects her and kisses her quickly. "Try not to throw up this morning."
"Don't worry, I don't feel like I'm going to chuck up my intestines today."
"You had me at hello," Merlin jokes and she finds herself laughing.
"You aren't wearing your work shirt," she tells him as he goes to walk out of the living room.
Oh, right. Do you know where it is?" He looks around, slightly breathless.
"Coffee table," she directs him and he scoops up the red material.
"You're a star," he compliments. "You'll be alright on your own, won't you? I mean, I can always-"
"Merlin, please, just go. I'll be fine, I'm not made of glass," Morgana just about manages to convince him.
"Okay, er, see you later," he rushes and nearly runs out of the front door.
That had gone... better than expected. After last nights 'argument', she had still expected him to be angry. She couldn't really blame him.
His girlfriend, (well, she assumed she still was) was pregnant with a man they both hated.
She sighs, her fingers rubbing her forehead. How he could be so upset and yet appear so happy at the same time, she did not know. Or maybe he wasn't upset. Maybe she needed to stop overthinking things. Maybe. Probably.
Aithusa makes an appearance, slinking in through the door and rubbing herself against her ankles.
"Hey, cat," Morgana greets her, picking her up and placing her on her lap, the warm, greyish fur soothing to her fingertips. "What am I going to do, eh? What do you think I should do?" She asks but Aithusa just purrs.
"Ugh, everything's just so complicated," she goes on. "Because Merlin probably hates me. And I have to tell Arthur and Gwen and everyone and it's just, I don't want to," she groans resting her head against Aithusa's head.
She nearly falls asleep again, she is so tired. Aithusa seems to be in the same kind of mood and soon both have given in and are curled up on the sofa, a blanket pulled around them.
A loud knocking on the front door interrupts them, Morgana grumbling about people never leaving her alone and couldn't she just get some peace and quiet? She eventually heaves herself off of the sofa, opening the front door to a man she hadn't expected to see.
"Uther, um, come in."
"But you can't fire me!" Merlin insists to his boss, Cenred. "Please, I know I'm late, but I really need this job!"
"If you need it so much, then why don't you come in when I ask you to? It's not hard, Merlin. You come in, on time, stack some shelves, tell people where certain CDs are, work on the tills at the checkout. It's really very simple," Cenred drawls in a patronising tone.
"I know, I'm sorry, but I'm having trouble at home," Merlin attempts, fidgeting uncomfortably in his chair.
"Not my problem!" Cenred tells him.
"I know that, but please?" I'm your best worker!"
"Why don't you work when you're told, then? No, no I'm sorry, but I can't keep you on any longer. You know where the door is."
"Okay," Merlin says quietly, picking up his jacket to leave.
Morgana wrings her hands nervously as she leads Uther into the living room.
"So, erm, how did you know I was here?"
"Arthur told me."
"Oh. Oh, right."
"Don't worry, Morgana, I'm not stalking you," Uther says with a smile.
"Of course," she laughs, slightly nervously. "So, why are you here? Arthur send you to check up on me?"
"Partly, yes. But I also came to check up on this man you're staying with. Oh, what's his name again?"
"Merlin?"
"Yes, that's the one. The pixie boy with the big ears, or so Arthur says," Uther comments and she suppresses a scowl.
"So, this is his house?" He asks with a slight look of disgust on his face as he inspects the untidy room.
"Yes."
"And I take it he has been gracious enough to let you sleep in his bed, while he sleeps elsewhere?"
Well, actually he's been generous to let us both sleep in his bed, Morgana thinks to herself, but maybe it isn't the best thing to say to her strict 'father'.
"Well, I insisted that I sleep on the sofa, since it's only fair that he's letting me stay with him."
"I see," Uther remarked. "And when did you meet him?"
"About... about two and a half weeks ago."
"So, in conclusion," Uther explains. "You met a man called Merlin in- Where did you meet him?"
"In a pub."
She finds herself irritated at Uther's disapproving sigh. "You met a man, in a pub, then the next day you moved in with him- "
"And now we're solving crimes together," Morgana interrupts and then starts giggling.
"I'm sorry?"
"Nothing," she shakes her head. If Merlin had been here, he would've laughed too.
Uther clears his throat. "If you say so."
"Sooo. How's your, um, business going?" Morgana asks him.
"Well, this is another one of the reasons why I came. You know me and Arthur went up to meet Alvarr's parents about them signing the deal?"
"Y-yes," Morgana stammers.
"They refused to."
"Oh?"
"Said they got a phonecall from Alvarr a few days before telling them not to sign it. Do you have any idea on why he would've done that? And why are staying with Merlin in the first place?"
"Uh, well, to start with, Alvarr and I have split up so that might answer your first question," she says slowly, studying Uther's face for a reaction.
"Why did you split up with him?" He frowns.
"That's none of your business," she says, a stubborn look passing over her features.
"It is. It's my job to look after you and make sure you're okay," Uther states.
"Well, I'm not telling you."
"Fine," he sighs. "Have you got a job yet?"
"Yes, well, I did, but, I was working in an office. But then they fired me."
"Fired you? What on Earth for?"
"Oh, just something to do with me accidentally sitting on a photocopier," Morgana explains, waving her hand dismissively.
Uther raises his eyebrows at her. "And was it accidentally printed as well?"
"Maybe. But I was dared to."
"And what about Merlin? Does he have a job?" Uther asks, ignoring the last remark.
"Yes, he does. He works in HMV, actually. He's very good at his job and he even-"
"Well, would you believe it? They've bloody well gone and fired me!" Merlin yells as he storms into the room. "It's ridiculous! I mean, I know I've been - whoa, erm hello..." he trails off as he sees Uther.
"Hello. Merlin, isn't it?" Uther begins.
"Yeaaah."
He stands. "Well, lovely to see you Morgana. Maybe we can talk again another time?"
"Yep, okay. See you later."
A bit of a boring chapter, I'm afraid. But I just needed some kind of filler chapter till next week and bonus Uther :D
Um, I know this wasn't particularly interesting but heh, you know, I tried my best!
Leave me a review if you feel like it, but not much happened so I can't blame you if you don't!
Oh, and also I might make the next chapter go up to an M rated, not because of any smut (haha, sorry :P) but, well, you'll see!
Thank you for reading!
