Okay, okay, it took longer than I wanted, but it's here. I have had a crazy time and you can't imagine how hot it's here... I'm melting. And I'm rather tired these past few days, so please forgive me if this isn't one of my stronger chapters. But that's not the point now. We will skip a bit through time and I will place in front of each fragment how far along Merlin is. Next chapter the action will start...

Oh and I haven't said this in a long time, but; I don't own Merlin... If I did then so many things would have been so different, but soon my precious... soon I will own it... Mwhahaha... Uhh... You didn't read that, no you didn't.

X

16 weeks

Merlin sighed softly as he brushed his hands over his stomach, he could clearly feel the small bump that he now had, he was currently sixteen weeks along and according to both Iseldir and Gaius his pregnancy was going great. He still felt sick sometimes in the morning, but it wasn't that intense and it seemed to decrease.

A small yawn left his lips as he curled up closer into the blankets, Arthur was late.

His thought shifted for a moment to Gwen and her child. The baby was currently almost one and a half months old and she got happier and prettier by the day. Gwen and Lancelot were tired with taking care of their child, but it was clear that they also enjoyed it a lot. Gwen wore a bright smile everyday of the week and Lancelot was the overprotective father everyone had guessed he would be.

He hoped that Arthur and he would be like that, a happy family together with their two babies. They still hadn't decided on names and it probably was even more difficult as they didn't know what genders the babies would be. Iseldir had offered to tell them, but somehow it felt better if it would be a surprise till the end.

Merlin looked up as he heard soft footsteps on the hallway and a smile spread over his lips as the door was opened and Arthur walked through. Arthur looked slightly tired before he eyed his lover with a gentle grin. 'You're still awake?' He asked slightly surprised.

'Of course, you know I can't sleep without you.' And those words were true, he always got nervous when he tried to get asleep when Arthur wasn't there.

Arthur quickly undressed and Merlin pulled back the blankets to allow Arthur to get into bed. The blond quickly pulled the covers back again and pulled Merlin to his chest. 'You shouldn't have stayed awake, you and the babies both need the rest.' He placed a gentle kiss on the raven's lips.

'Hmm...' He just mumbled before he asked. 'Why did they need you?'

The king didn't immediately answer him. 'Leon's patrol has been attacked near the border and two of the knights were killed.' Merlin shot up, glancing worriedly at Arthur as he feared for his friends lives. 'Sir Alton and Sir John.' Arthur answered to the unspoken question. Merlin bit his lip, slightly relieved, he hadn't known both knights that well but he knew that it was a terrible loss for Camelot.

'Do they know who did it?'

A hint of worry spread through Arthur's eyes. 'Leon thought that it were the sorcerers that attacked us... you.' He said, glancing down at Merlin's stomach. In instinct Merlin wrapped his arms around his belly, his eyes growing wide with fear. Arthur in return pulled him closer, trying to comfort him. 'I won't let anything happen to you or the babies, I promise.'

Merlin nodded as he kissed the other man's lips. 'I know... but it still scares me to know that they are still in the land... that they even killed two knights.'

'I know... I know... But you shouldn't worry about it.' He said reassuringly as he placed a couple more kisses on his husband's skin. 'I love you.' The king whispered as he pulled Merlin down to the bed again and they curled up against each other.

'And I love you too.' Merlin replied as he curled himself up against Arthur. He should just trust that everything was going to be alright.

X

21 weeks

A small smile crossed Merlin's lips as he stared at the students training. It was one of the few times that he went out and watched them train under Gilli. The boy had done a great job when he took over Merlin's duties as instructor. Still the raven tried to be as involved as possible, helping Arthur and the council with magical decisions and the students with pronunciations and the use of spells... it just didn't feel enough.

At the same time there were a lot of rumors under the students, why Merlin didn't teach them, but to his relief none of them were about him being pregnant.

'So how are you feeling?' Gilli suddenly asked.

Merlin blinked for a moment before he looked at the other man. 'I'm feeling great, just more tired than normal and sometimes I have heartburn, but furthermore it's going great.'

Gilli nodded. 'Good... and you shouldn't worry about the students, everyone is working hard and they are progressing almost as fast.' The younger man fell silent for a moment before he added. 'How long do you plan on keeping it a secret?... I mean it's starting to show and you can't hide the next few months locked up inside the castle.'

The raven wrapped his arms around his stomach, silently touching the bump that formed under his cloths, the people closest around him could even see it through hi-Arthur's shirt. 'I don't know... I honestly don't know. Gaius suggested that the last few weeks everyone would pretend that I was sick or something, but... then our enemies would know that I'm weak and Camelot is vulnerable.'

Gilli stared at him before he placed his hand on the raven's shoulder. 'But you don't have to do this all alone, we're here for you... All the students are loyal to you and they're willingly to fight for you and Camelot and out there-' He signed with his hand to the woods outside the castle walls.'- there are even more that will fight for you.' He paused for a moment before he repeated. 'You don't have to do this alone.

Merlin turned away, he knew that they would do that for him, but... 'I don't want anyone to get hurt because of me.'

'And we don't want to see you hurt, we truly care for you and eventually also for your children... Arthur maybe the king, but you're Emrys, you're our true lord, even when you don't want to be that.' The last he added as he knew what Merlin was going to say. Merlin didn't want to be admired, he didn't want to be a king, he just wanted to follow Arthur, advise him if needed, but overall just stand beside him.

Merlin just nodded silently, knowing that none of his words would stop the loyalty he received... still it felt good to hear.

They turned back to watching the students, but it was when Merlin felt this incredible sensation that a loud gasp left his lips and his eyes grew wide in shock. Gilli's eyes immediately ran over to the warlock, his hands reaching forward, almost touching as he searched for what was wrong.

'What's wrong?'

A soft chuckle left the raven's lips as he wrapped his arms around himself as he watched the other with a big grin. 'One of them kicked.'

X

Merlin was still wearing his wide smile as he and Gilli walked back to the castle after training. That little movement inside of him had felt so incredible, he knew they were growing inside of him, but to feel one of them... it was just breathtaking.

According to Gilli he was even glowing with joy, but Merlin didn't care that people saw it, he wanted everyone to see how proud he was.

Inside the castle they quickly said their goodbyes as they separated ways. Merlin quickly, - or at least as quickly as he was allowed to by Arthur , Gwen and the knights - , made his way upstairs. Outside their chambers he waited for a moment to take a deep breath, his whole body still filled with pure excitement. He slowly opened the door as he peaked inside, smiling as his eyes landed on Arthur.

The king looked up from his work and smiled back. 'You're early for once, they haven't even brought us diner.' He chuckled softly as he opened his arms and Merlin sat down on the blond's lap. They quickly pressed their lips together and kissed each other passionately as Merlin wrapped his hands in Arthur's hair.

Merlin moaned softly against his husband's lips before he whispered. 'I missed you.'

Arthur smirked. 'We saw each other this morning.'

The warlock pulled back as he looked at Arthur with a raised eyebrow. 'You can really ruin the moment.' Arthur didn't answer as he just placed as gentle kiss on his lover's neck. A soft moan left Merlin's lips before he added. 'Clothpole.'

'My sweet idiot.'

'Prat...' He whispered before he said with a wide smile. 'I'm curious how much they will look like you... I know at least one of them likes to kick me.'

Arthur blinked at him for a moment before his eyes shifted down. 'I don't understand...' He started.

Merlin smiled softly as he grabbed Arthur's hand and placed it gently on his stomach. 'One of them kicked me.' He said enthusiastically. 'I felt one of them!'

'Oh my... Merlin's that's incredible.' The king breathed out before he kissed Merlin once more passionately on the lips. '... Can I feel them too?' Arthur asked with a slight blush on his cheeks.

A soft chuckle left Merlin's lips. 'Arthur it isn't as if they will kick on command... they're as stubborn as you.' The last he whispered and in response he received an irritated glare from his husband. 'But I love you.' He added sweetly.

Arthur groaned softly but smiled. 'You know I can't stay mad at you, I love you too.' And he kissed him once more.