"Can someone get the post please?" Merlin yells from the kitchen.

Morgana starts to get up but Hunith beats her to it, sweeping out of the room at quite a speed.

"You have to get it as soon as possible otherwise Aithusa will try and eat it," she calls to her from the hallway, scooping up the envelopes.

"I thought it was dogs who did that?"

"Maybe Aithusa is a dog then. A big untamed beast," Hunith jokes as she walks in again, shuffling the letters around to look at them in turn.

"Anything for me?" Morgana asks half-heartedly.

"Um... yeah, here's one," Hunith hands her a big brown envelope. "It's got one of those air-mail things on it. Have you got friends abroad?"

"A brother. In Afghanistan," Morgana states.

"Army?"

"Yes. It's funny, we always used to have arguments about who got the most post when we were younger. We used to sign up to all sorts of things just so we could get newsletters sent through to us and then we'd see who had the most by the end of each month. I remember hiding some of Arthur's letters in my sock drawer so he couldn't find them," she says with a devilish smile. "Uther was furious with us. Kept saying about how we'd probably cut down half of the Amazon rainforest for our little game. So me and Arthur got him back by getting all of these womanly perfumes samples to the house in his name."

"You both sound like you were lovely children," Hunith remarks with a grin on her face.

"We were. And then when Uther went out, we sprayed them all over his clothes and he couldn't wash the perfume out for weeks. We always said silly things about him meeting new women and then ran upstairs giggling," she continues, smiling at the memory.

"I'm sure he was most pleased by that. Aren't you going to open it?" Hunith asks, nodding at the still closed envelope.

"Oh... yeah."

Hunith goes out into the kitchen to give Merlin his post and Morgana opens up her letter. She scans the page quickly, not really paying it much attention, until the words 'missing in action' catch her eye. She reads on to find apologies littered all over the paper, staring at the words until her eyes go out of focus.

This wasn't fair. Arthur had only gone back a few days ago and now he'd gone missing. In action. What the hell was that supposed to mean? That he really was missing or that he was already dead and they just hadn't found him yet. Like a preparation for the worst. A warning. She blinks and shakes her head to clear it. She was not going to lose him, or anyone else for that matter. She'd already suffered enough for this to happen.

About to crumple the piece of paper and burst into tears of absolute desperation, she stops. What would Merlin do?

So she folds the letter in half and slots it carefully back into the torn envelope.

Hunith comes back in with Aithusa in her arms, prodding the cat with a frown. "She's definitely getting fatter, don't you think?"

Morgana nods, not really listening. "I guess so."

"Well, I hope she's not got kittens on the way, things are going to get a bit hectic otherwise," she comments, a bit troubled. "Anyway, what was your letter about?"

"Just that they've moved to a different base in another part of the country. Nothing to worry about," Morgana says smoothly, surprised at the ease of the words. When had she become so good at lying? Usually she was awful at it and Merlin could see straight through her. "I'm just going to put it upstairs," she goes on and then leaves the room.

She wouldn't have to keep this up for long. Just a few more days and then they'd find Arthur again and then everything would be okay. He had promised to write letters to her this time, so she could receive those and learn about what his life was like over there, what they were doing and about the people he worked with. And then he'd come home for things like Christmas and they could have a New Years party and just celebrate silly things and get hopelessly drunk. That's what she had to keep telling herself, because if she thought it enough then it had to come true. That's what her father had always told her.

So she repeats the story over and over again in her mind as she runs up the stairs and shoves the letter under her pillow. Maybe it wasn't the best place to hide it, but she could think of somewhere else later. And Merlin was leaving tonight anyway, so there wasn't much chance of him finding it.

"Morgana, what are you doing?"

She jumps at his voice and swears at him. Merlin laughs and walks over to her.

"Now, what did I say about you swearing?"

She glares at him and he laughs harder.

"It's unladylike."

"Mm, so why do you keep doing it, then?"

"Because I was never a lady in the first place," Morgana provides him, haughtily.

"We'll see. Hopefully when you kiss me I'll transform into a handsome prince," Merlin teases her so she kisses him quickly and then peers up at him.

"Nope, no changes yet," she informs him, poking him in the shoulder.

"You'd better keep trying then," he says with a roguish grin and she can't resist, pressing her lips fiercely against his over and over again, desperate to throw all of her thoughts from the past 5 minutes to the wind. The warm, repeated pressure seems to last forever, her lips becoming harder and harsher against his, until he pulls away frowning.

"Morgana..."

"Shut up," she mumbles, kissing him again and edging her hands up under his t-shirt. He moans quietly at the sensation of her cool hands on his warm stomach and starts trailing his lips down her neck. She manages to slip his t-shirt up and over his head, kissing the exposed skin and tossing the fabric behind her. His fingers tangle themselves in her hair and the other arm sneaks around her waist, holding her closer.

He should stop this. Right now. He should have resisted earlier, should never have started this in the first place because it isn't fair on either of them. They should be waiting 2 months to do anything like this, not 2 weeks.

But everything just feels so good, their bodies flush against each other and burning hotter by the second. He shouldn't want her now, not like this, but he does. He has only been allowed to have her once and that was the better part of three weeks ago, another 2 month wait will be the death of him.

Her fingers are fiddling around with his belt now, but he pushes her hands away, using them to guide her backwards towards the bed. Her back comes into contact with the soft mattress and he leans over her, wasting no time in sliding his own hands under her blouse, stroking over her ribs and then lifting her up slightly to run his palms up and down her tingling spine.

He delights in her shiver and bends down to renew contact between their lips again, bringing his hands back round to smooth them up her sides. The friction heats her skin, spreading through her ribs, arms and down to her centre. Not wanting to be idle herself, Morgana brings her hands back up to try and get off his belt again, but can't. Frustrated, she touches him through his trousers instead and he gasps out, biting down lightly on her shoulder to stop any other sounds from coming out.

He stops his actions and disappointment flickers through her. "Are you sure?" He asks, conflicted. "I don't want to hurt you. We're not even supposed to be doing this yet, Christ."

"I'm sure," she confirms and he starts pushing her jeans down and off of her hips, pulling them off of her feet and placing them to the side. He starts tracing pattens over her thighs with his fingertips, not going any higher to where she wants him.

"Merlin..." she groans, raking her nails through his hair. She just wants to forget. To lose herself, only if it's just for a few minutes.

"I know, but I don't want it to hurt," he says, his eyes rapidly alternating between strong concern and intense desire. She wonders which feeling is the strongest.

"It wont," she promises him, her voice more gentle now, almost soft. "Please."

"But if it does hurt, you'll tell me, won't you?"

"Yes," she hisses out, annoyed at the sudden lack of intimacy between them.

"Okay," he breathes and starts unzipping his own trousers just as Hunith calls up the stairs:

"Merlin, it's 5 o'clock now! You have to leave in 15 minutes!"

He lets out an exasperated sigh and pulls her up to sit on his thighs with her legs tucked around his waist. "I'm sorry," he apologises and kisses her hair.

"It's fine," she whispers into his bare shoulder, suddenly reminded of his naked chest and her naked legs. "It could've been worse. She could've walked in on us."

"Oh, yeah, that would've been fun," Merlin says sarcastically and Morgana hums her agreement, using her finger to draw lines to connect the small freckles on his arm.

"I suppose we should go down, now. Otherwise she will come up."

"Just one more minute," he says childishly and positions his hands on her back to secure her. "I'm not going to see you for a whole weekend so we need to make the most of this."

"I thought that's what we were doing 30 seconds ago?" She asks with a smile and sees his shoulders slump in defeat. "You can make it up to me when you get back."

"Yes ma'am."

"Shut up. You're making it sound like 50 Shades of Grey or something."

"Well, you'd know."

She slaps his shoulder, forcing herself to look outraged. "I have never read that book in my entire life!"

Merlin raises an eyebrow at her. "Not even those copies I found in one of your carrier bags? Hidden in one of your t-shirts?"

"Merlin!" She hits him again, harder this time and it stings.

"What I don't understand is why you brought them here in the first place," he muses, with a smug grin on his face.

"I get bored easily."

He frowns."What, like in a sexual way?"

"Maybe. You'll never know," she says cryptically.

"Did you get bored with me?"

"Especially with you," she tells him and his face falls. "Merlin, I was joking."

A bemused smile appears on his face. "Good, that's good."

"Why are you so worried about it?"

"I, um... I'm not. I mean... I wasn't."

"You are, so tell me," Morgana tries to persuade him but Hunith interrupts them again.

"Get a move on, Merlin! You're leaving in 5 minutes!"

Morgana points a finger at him. "I'm not letting you off the hook. As soon as you get back I'm going to get it out of you."

"We'll see. Now come on, we should get dressed before my Mum comes up," Merlin says and she gets off of him. Reluctantly.

. . .

The two women stand by the front door to wave him off as he drives down the road, beeping the car horn at them. As soon as he is out of sight, they quickly shut the door, shivering.

Morgana is the first to complain about the weather. "Why is it so cold? It's April for God's sake."

"I think you're forgetting which country we live in," Hunith says in a cheerful voice. "Cup of tea?"

"Yes, thanks. Your ones are the best, even better than Merlin's." She pauses. "And mine."

"I'm not the one who puts milk in the kettle though, am I?" Hunith asks, laughing.

"Wow, Merlin really does tell you everything, doesn't he?"

"Apparently so. But I like to think of it as a good thing. You don't tell me things though, do you Morgana?" Hunith sighs and flicks on the kettle.

She blinks. "I'm sorry?"

"You. Today. Can I see your letter, please?"

"Why?"

"Because you lied to me about it," she says simply.

"How... how do you know?"

"Doesn't matter. But please, I really want to read it," Hunith pleads with her.

Morgana shrugs hesitantly. "If you really want to."

"I do."

"Alright, then," she says slowly, still unsure of Hunith's motive. But she brings the letter down anyway and they sit on the sofa while Hunith examines it, a pair of glasses pushed high up her nose.

"Oh, Morgana, don't get upset. Please." She pulls the younger woman into hug and reaches for a tissue to soak up the tears. "Please, don't cry. There's no need, honestly."

"But he could be dead! He probably is dead!" Morgana manages between sobs.

"He's not, I promise you!"

"How- how do you know? It's in the letter!"

"Morgana. The letter is fake. It's been forged."

Okay, so this chapter was a little different to anything I've written before – AKA the romantic bit – because I thought the story was becoming a bit boring, so I tried to liven it up a tad! Sorry if it was a rubbish attempt, the only people I've ever kissed are my family, haha.

Oh, and I wonder who could have forged that letter? Hmm, it's a mystery. I have no idea who it could be... Do you?

Sorry this chapter took a while to get out, but I quite like it to be honest and I never say things like that!

Please review and tell me what you think - it's like a hug for me!

Thank you for reading and for your reviews, follows and favourites! :)