CHAPTER 7 : CHRISTMAS BREAK

Merlin was up late the next morning. His mother offered to make him brunch when he appeared bleary eyed in the kitchen.

"Sit by the fire…full Irish?"

Merlin laughed, "Modified, please Mam!" Knowing full well that his mother would get carried away and try to get him to eat blood pudding, baked beans, fried tomatoes and mushrooms as well as the eggs and bacon.

She said over her shoulder as she stood at the stove, "Eggs fresh this morning…did you sleep well."

"Yes, it's a nice feeling waking up and realising the ceiling and the walls, the curtains and the room is really yours. My place in Paris is fine but I can lie in bed and survey my whole kingdom, while here I know there are other rooms and the chance of someone sitting in the kitchen waiting for me." He got up and walked to the stove putting his arms around her.

"Get off you daft thing! You know that this will always be your home no matter where you live in the world. Anyway, sit down, it's ready!"

"Are you not having anything?"

"No, I ate at the normal breakfast time but I'll join you for a cuppa."

Merlin ate while answering his mother's questions. He smiled even though he tried to speak to her weekly on the phone it was so different face to face. Yes, he had put on some weight as he was eating a proper lunch every day in the company cafeteria…yes, he was still friendly with Tom and Lance but their group also now consisted of a chap from Dublin and another one from London. He explained how the latter had given them a lift on his father's company jet, "That's how I arrived yesterday night instead of today. The train schedule fit in perfectly and we had a chauffeur driven car from London City Airport to Paddington."

"You're living in the lap of luxury!"

"Yes, Mam but only for those two hours as we're going back by train."

"How about dropping by to see Brigid? She had her baby a lovely little girl which her mother-in-law Mrs. Cullenhy insists will be called Siobhan. Mind you I think Brigid has already decided upon Aisling so a battle royal might take place."

"What about Rory?"

"He says he doesn't care as long as they decide before the baptism but we know he'll side with his wife. Anyway, I bought a little gift for her so you wouldn't have to go empty handed." His mother passed him a little plush lamb with a pink bow. She then took it back and wrapped it. "You can go this afternoon."

Merlin grinned; his mother had his week lined up for him. He rather enjoyed it but realised that another person of interest was loitering on the outskirts of his mind. He wondered, when would be the best time to speak to him without seeming too forward? Arthur would probably be very busy and he didn't want to make a nuisance of himself. He grinned; life in Paris had become so much nicer since he had met up with Arthur. The Londoner liked to organise things so that as a group they'd even attended a concert and a history lecture at the University. Next on the list once they returned to Paris was a weekend skiing in Verbier. Arthur said that as he knew it from peak to pub to pillow, he would take care of all the arrangements and all they'd have to do was bring themselves and their passports. Merlin smiled to himself, there was something about Arthur which made he feel special.

The week in Swansea seemed to fly by. Midnight Mass was beautiful and Christmas day's dinner was excellent. He'd taken his mother shopping at the Boxing Day sales and surprised her with a new television. He'd gone off with some of his friends and had really enjoyed himself. Gaius and he had had long talks with Gaius mentioning to him that he seemed more relaxed and happier all around, than when he had last seen him. Merlin was so tempted to tell him about this man whom he'd met but didn't as really was there anything to tell? However, his heart was racing and he so wanted to share his feeling but he kept them close to his heart and felt lovely and warm inside. He kept checking his phone for texts but apart from one from Lance wishing him and his family a Happy Christmas, and a few from local friends there was nothing.

-0-0-

On Friday, he'd only just rolled into bed when he was disturbed by his phone buzzing. He'd left it across the room and he had a feeling that he shouldn't miss the call. He jumped up and launched himself across the room stabbing his little toe on the chest of drawers. He glanced down saw it was bleeding. He checked the sender and it was Arthur, he answered it as he hopped back to bed saying, "Ouch!" each time his toe was jarred. Grabbing a Kleenex, he paid attention to Arthur's text.

'You're home? I'll phone you.'

Merlin texted, 'I am, you may!' Within three minutes, the phone buzzed again and he was connected with Arthur.

"Arthur, it's so nice hearing from you. Did you have a good Christmas?"

Arthur took a deep breath and tried to compose himself. He's missed Merlin more than he realised he would. It was now five days since he's seen him and just hearing his voice was doing strange things to his insides. "Yes, typical family event. My Father wanted to talk business and my sister was annoying. How about you?"

"Poor you! You should have come here, we had a really good time. Yule had a very relieved look on his face. One day, Arthur, I'll tell you all about Yule, maybe even introduce the two of you. Could offer you a sofa once everyone else had turned in for the night…"

Arthur lied, knowing that he'd have willingly dropped everything to fly to Swansea at this very moment. But he controlled himself and said, "I'll have to take a rain check on the offer."

"That's all right…there's always room for one more, as long as long as you don't mind living 'en famille' as they'd say in France." Merlin tried to rewrap his toe and said, "Ouch!"

"Merlin, whatever are you doing, you sound as if you are in pain?"

"I am, I had to get out of bed and go across the room to get my phone and I hit my toe and it really hurts. It's bleeding."

"Hope it wasn't my fault as I texted you?" Arthur was having problems thinking as he imagined Merlin getting out of bed for him.

"Not really, more mine as I left my phone on the chest of drawers instead of the bedside table."

They chatted about everything and nothing in particular for another twenty minutes when Arthur said. "I'd better go have to be up at the break of dawn tomorrow as my Father and I are flying to Zurich to check up on a business."

"That's work not a holiday."

"Well, Merlin, they always say there is no peace for the wicked. Now, once you hang up put the phone on your bedside table. Don't want you coming back to France with anymore injuries."

Merlin laughed saying, "I promise I will take good care of myself and not collide with anymore furniture in the dark. 'Night, Arthur, great hearing from you."

Arthur let himself grin as he said, "Goodnight, Merlin! Keep yourself safe. Have a great time on New Year! I'll try to phone Wednesday." Reluctantly, he put the phone down, slipping it under his pillow in the hope that it would keep Merlin closer to him.

Merlin lay back on his bed, still holding the phone in front of him. His heart rate was still elevated. Arthur hadn't forgotten him…he'd phoned him.

-0-0-

At breakfast his mother asked why he was limping. "I hit my little toe getting my phone and bruised it...my toe that is not the phone."

Gaius smiled, "Strange…from the earliest of times, people have answered the phone with their hands."

Merlin laughed, "I walked into the chest of drawers in the dark. Anyway, it was Arthur…" As the words came out of his mouth he mentally cringed; he hadn't intended telling either his Mam or Gaius about him. Not that he was ashamed of him but he didn't fully understand his own feeling about Arthur so he couldn't really discuss him with anyone else. He knew that he'd blushed but hoped the other two hadn't picked up on it.

"Haven't heard you mention that name before, Dear?"

"No? He's the man whose father sent the plane and we all flew to London together."

"Works in the same department as you?"

"No, he in off-shore investments." Merlin didn't want to get started as he was frightened the next thing he was going to blurt out that he lived in the same building as him and he…he liked him." He said to throw them off the track. "Leon met him when he was staying with me."

"That's right, Leon visited you before taking on his new job. Heard from Frank that he really enjoys it."

"Has he killed any of his patients yet?"

Gaius laughed, "Merlin, he was only just a student when he had that rat episode. Be kind!"

"I am, aren't I?" Merlin's mother looked at him and he corrected himself by saying, "Well, most of the time…?"

"You are and I wouldn't have you any other way, would we, Gaius?"

"No, he's number one in my books!"

Merlin looked from his mother to his grand-uncle and smiled. Family was something special.

-0-0-

Merlin heard from Lance on Tuesday and they arranged which train they would take to London on the coming Sunday arriving in time to get the Eurostar in the late afternoon. He then texted Arthur giving him the time they'd meet up at St. Pancras and sent the same text to Tom who was in London staying with his dad's family for a few days.

Within the hour, his phone buzzed, it was Arthur. 'Take the Friday train, stay over a couple of nights at my place? Supper and show? Take the Sunday Eurostar?'

Merlin texted back, 'Check with Lance. Phone you.'

Arthur read the last text and felt excited. He'd get to hear Merlin's voice hopefully saying that he'd stay overnight in London. He lay back on his couch. After New Year with his father in their country home, he'd opted to remain in London and now chances were that Merlin would be coming to visit. It was stupid how one word of encouragement sent his mind soaring. He remembered the hand holding on the flight to London and he smiled. Please God that Merlin felt the same way about him. He dozed allowing his mind to take him where someday he hoped his body might. He jumped when the phone at his elbow buzzed and he answered it with, "Merlin?"

His father's voice said, "Whose Merlin?"

"One of the men in Paris."

"Well, it's not Merlin, so pay attention. My friends, Alphonse and Mireille Chouinard are staying at The Savoy and we are dining with them tonight at eight. Their driver will pick you up at seven thirty. Their daughter is in town and Alphonse thought it would be nice for you to meet. Don't mess up, Arthur!" The call finished with that order and Arthur glared at the clock. It was four thirty.

By six and not having heard from Merlin, he showered, making sure that he had his phone in the bathroom. He had just got out of the shower and the phone buzzed. He grabbed a towel and drying his hand, answered it.

"Hello, it's me!"

Arthur smiled, standing there dripping water on the bathmat, as he said, "Merlin…"

"Yes! I spoke to Lance and he said that it's fine with him if we go down on Friday. Are you sure we won't be an imposition?"

"Not at all, I look forward to seeing you both. But I can't talk now as I'm just out of the shower and my father has arranged a dinner for tonight. Car's coming for me in three quarters of an hour!"

Merlin imagined Arthur standing there with a towel around his waist…or not! He cleared his throat before saying, "Text me your address or I'll phone once we get to Paddington."

"Will do! Looking forward to seeing you…Bye!"

Of course, Arthur took showers but Merlin had not allowed his mind to imagine it. He put his phone back in front of him on the table and said, "Well, that's organised. Lance and I will spend Friday night in London with Arthur and take the noon train on Sunday."

His mother said, "That's very kind of him. Don't make a fuss if he gives you a sleeping bag on the floor."

Merlin laughed, "I promise I won't, Mam!" as he dialled Lance to confirm it with him.

The next time his phone buzzed it was after midnight and it was a text from Arthur. 'Waste of perfectly good evening. See you Fri.' He had also included an address on Grosvenor Square. Merlin thought, 'Don't think it will be sleeping bags on the floor!"

They had reserved seats for the early train which they knew would be packed. Once Lance got on at Bristol, they chatted about their holidays and what Paris would hold for them once they got back. Soon the train slowed down on the outskirts of London and in no time they had pulled into Paddington.

They walked to the exit gate on the platform and Merlin had to laugh as straight ahead of them was Arthur with a card which read, 'Messieurs Emrys et Patterson de Paris'

Arthur grinned when they saw him and walked over giving each of them a quick hug then offered to carry their bags.

Merlin smiled at him, "We've been on the train for four hours, sitting on our derrieres, I think we can manage our own bags but thanks for the offer."

Arthur punched him in the arm, "Last time I offer to ever carry anything for you, Merlin," he said, with a large grin. The grin remained on his face as he made his way to the taxi rank thinking, 'Merlin is here with me in London…'