Gwen stayed by her husband's bedside holding his hand, while the sedative, administered through the IV drip, took hold. When she was certain he was asleep, she took a deep breath and rejoined the others, who were waiting in Dr. Lam's office.

After more discussion, mostly concerning Arthur's continued care, Martha offered to drive Gwen out to the house. It had been nearly two days, since Gwen had returned there and seen her son. Her stomach was tied up in knots of anxiety. She didn't know how she was going to tell Arthur about his son, not that she thought he would take it badly, but rather that he would then feel guilty for leaving her...which was something he had no control over.

If he did, Gwen knew his anger would be taken out on Merlin, most likely. She couldn't imagine how this much older and worldly version of her husband's manservant, would actually respond. In many ways, she thought she still knew him, but she wondered how much of what she saw, was him putting on a show to help her ease into this strange existence. Merlin had stayed on the Base, in case Arthur woke up again...and also to allow Dr. Lam to begin her tests on his blood. Gwaine was on standby, in case he was needed for the continuing search for his friend Cameron. He'd managed to make it home once, in the last two weeks.

The lives of the two men, seemed so much different...yet, oddly similar...to when they lived in Camelot.

"What is he like?" She asked Martha, out of the blue, as they drove to Gwaine's house. The window of the rental car, which Martha insisted on getting, was rolled down, and Gwen was enjoying the continuous rush of wind that came through.

"Who?" Martha glanced at her friend.

"Merlin. I almost feel I don't know him anymore...perhaps, I don't. He has seen so much over the years, and it humbles me to realize how small of a part I was in it."

"You were a bigger part of his life than I think you realize. He has served other kings and queens over the years, but he has said, none of them compared to his time with you. He's a good man, with a good heart, and he has never forgotten you...well, he did have some trouble remembering what you looked like..."

"He what?"

Martha smiled sheepishly. "Don't tell him I told you this! But...it had been so long...He could recall some things, like feelings and even bits of conversation; but until you all began returning, he wouldn't have been able to describe you. So much of that history has been obscured by different writers. Each one of them has described you all so differently, that it muddled his memories."

"I suppose that makes sense. If you are told something often enough, it can become a sort of truth." Gwen said, insightfully. "In Camelot, I grew up hearing nothing except how evil magic was. Nearly all encounters I had with it, were negative...mostly people out for revenge, I know now. It wasn't until my father was saved by magical means, from a curse, that I began to question that knowledge.

"'Why would someone use magic, in a good way, to save a simple blacksmith?' I thought to myself. Then, of course, I was arrested and accused of witchcraft, by Arthur's father. I was told, later, how Merlin burst into the council chambers and proclaimed that he was the one who healed my father. I thought he was just trying to save me at the time, but now I know he was telling the truth." Gwen giggled softly. "The first time I met him, Arthur had put him in the stocks for mouthing off. This, of course, was after Merlin had already spent a night in the dungeons. I remember saying to him, that he didn't look like the type who could take on someone like Arthur...Do you know what his response was?"

Martha shook her head.

"'I'm in disguise.' I...oh my, I still laugh about that. Had I only known, just how honest he was being at that very moment. I suppose what I'm asking...is he still in disguise? Is he simply trying to act like he used to, just for my sake?"

"Perhaps a bit," Martha answered truthfully, as she turned onto the dirt drive. Many aspects of her husband would always remain a mystery, but she accepted that. "He doesn't purposely keep secrets from me, but there are things in his past, I imagine he would rather forget. Merlin is rather guarded with his real emotions, much of the time. He opens up to me when we are alone. Although, since Gwaine and Percival's arrival, I've begun to see a lot more of it outside of our private life. It almost seems as though...he's become more alive, especially since your return."

Gwen's eyes glistened with tears. "Do you ever think...any one of us will really have a clue what he's been through?...Or how he managed to stay sane all these years?"

"No." She answered plainly, shutting off the car. "There are a couple of men I know, who might be able to understand to an extent...but Merlin can barely stand one of them, and the other...I haven't seen for quite some time. I'm not sure if Merlin even knows himself, at times. Sometimes, I almost think he could use someone his age, to compare notes with. That might be the only way any of us can really know what he's like."

(*~*~*~*)

"He's taking this entirely too well." Merlin's disembodied voice stated in a suspicious tone.

Arthur had his eyes closed, pretending to be asleep, but he was listening to the hushed voices speaking on the other side of the curtain.

"I don't know, maybe it's just because of his injuries...or maybe he does understand. You were the one who convinced me to believe in him, to start with. So, don't you go giving up on him now," came Gwaine's response.

Merlin scoffed, "I'm not...I just..."

The rest of the warlock's reply was muffled and Arthur could hear the voices moving away. He took the opportunity to open his eyes and survey his surroundings. His mind couldn't make heads or tails of pretty much anything he saw. Turning his head, he saw the curtains and the odd boxes with the magical appearing lines, that seemed to jump with every heartbeat. The tubes connected to him, and ran to bags and other noisy boxes. The Doctor...he rolled his eyes at the thought...had threatened him harshly, if he even considered removing them.

Something on a small bedside table caught his eye. He weakly reached for it, grimacing as the needles taped to his arms, pulled slightly. It appeared to be a small portrait, the clarity of which, utterly amazed him. Inside the frame was his Guinevere...but even more astonishing was the small child in her lap.

The child had dark hair, but his skin was a lighter tone than Gwen's. It was closer to what his looked like, after he'd been outside training for a full summer. His eyes were gray. A closer look and he could discern various flecks of blue and a darker hazel. Across his small nose was a smattering of freckles, very similar to Guinevere's. He felt his breath catch at the sight of their smiling faces, so lifelike and real enough he could almost touch them.

"Aurelianus."

Arthur was startled at being caught, enraptured by the portrait. His blue eyes glistened, though he tried to hide it. Looking up, he met Merlin's eyes and relaxed.

Merlin walked over, holding a cup in his hand. He handed it to Arthur.

The king started to take a drink before noticing that there wasn't any liquid in it, just pieces of broken ice. He stared at the chunks of frozen water, all very similar in size and wondered why anyone would employ a craftsman to cut ice into small bits like this, that would only melt.

"Still lazy," he said in a raspy voice. "...can't even melt ice for me to drink."

A look of anger flashed through Merlin's eyes, but was gone in the next moment, and Arthur wondered if he had imagined it. "Doctor Lam would prefer if you ate the ice, instead of drinking water outright for now. It'll help give your body some time to adjust with less possibility of vomiting."

Tentatively, Arthur took a few of the chips into his mouth. "You're bedside manner hasn't improved with age, I see."

Merlin sighed and flopped down on the chair nearby. He chose to ignore the way the king was trying to bait him into an argument. Pointing to the picture Arthur held, he said again. "Aurelianus. It means 'golden' in latin."

"I know what it means."

Merlin allowed himself a ghost of a smile. "That's his name. The name of your son, Arthur."

Arthur looked back down at the picture, not fully processing...or acknowledging...what Merlin said. "This painting is amazing. I can't even discern any brush strokes..."

The warlock chuckled, "...Because, it's not a painting. It's a photograph." He noticed Arthur watching him, waiting for an explanation. He groaned, "I've never been good at explaining things, Arthur. You know this. Why are you being evasive?"

"Why the hell wouldn't I be? I barely recognize you."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Guinevere, looks different...her clothing and her hair and such. Hell, Gwaine looks downright odd. I don't think I'd ever been able to clearly see both his eyes before...but they are both still people I know. I look at you Merlin, and I don't think I know you anymore."

They stared at each other for a few minutes, in silence.

The king finally spoke again. "The last time we had a clear conversation, was prior to Camlann. I called you a coward...and you were, just not for the reasons I thought."

"We spoke again, after that, you know." Merlin rolled his eyes.

"Yes...we did. I was gravely injured and had just found out you had magic." Merlin started to interrupt, but Arthur's glare forced him to remain quiet. "I meant what I said...Thank you, for all you had done and for saving me. I never thought I would open my eyes again."

"So your words weren't only those of a dying man, trying to clear his conscience? You also told me not to change. I'm sorry, I have...it was rather inevitable."

"Was it?"

Merlin's breath trembled as he inhaled. He could feel a biting remark on the tip of his tongue.

The two men fell into another awkward silence.

Arthur chewed on some more of the ice chips, his throat feeling less scratchy and raw. "You were a coward...for not trusting me before that. Did you set out to purposely wait for me to be on my deathbed to tell me, so I couldn't retaliate...or question it...or god only knows what I would have done...?"

"Which is why I didn't tell you..."

"You were a coward Merlin. You should have trusted me, like I trusted you." Arthur shifted in the bed and looked at the picture again. "I'll have Guinevere tell me about him, when she returns."

Merlin's head was bowed, his ancient blue eyes stared at the floor. "I'm sorry." He whispered, and then stood up. "I'll leave you in peace for now."

Arthur nodded, "Perhaps that would be best."

(*~*~*~*)

"Hey Merlin!" Gwaine called, bounding down the hallway. "Just got a call from the girls, they're on their way back in...What's wrong?"

He closed his eyes and stuffed his hands into his pockets. "I thought the longest road was behind me, Gwaine. Now, I'm not so sure."

""The princess has had a real shock to his system. It'll take some time for him to acclimate. What's really bothering you?"

"I was happy, Gwaine. I had a good life going. I was looking forward to my future with Martha...for the first time in centuries, actually considering children again. There were dark times over the years, but I always pulled back and left them behind me..."

"You'll get through this." The former knight began to realize how the situation was really affecting Merlin emotionally. He couldn't begin to imagine the memories that had been dredged up for the warlock, by the recent events. He pulled his friend into a hug. Gwaine didn't have any words of real comfort, but he wanted his friend to know he was still there for him. "I'm going to go see if Arthur's awake, but then I have to run. I'm going out with my actual team today."

"Still searching for Cameron?"

"No...the search efforts have been scaled way back. The decision came from the IOA." He wasn't happy about leaving his friend to the Sodan...and he wasn't the only one who had grumbled to General Landry, about his reluctance to give up on Cameron Mitchell. Unfortunately, that was life in the military. When orders were given, you carried them out...personal feelings aside. "We're heading out on a basic Recon...'meet and greet', type of thing. So I can 'get my feet wet.'" He said, his last words mimicking General Landry.

Gwaine looked his friend over. "I'll be out for a couple of days. Are you going to be alright?"

Merlin nodded, "You should go see Arthur, before you leave."

They parted ways. Gwaine headed to the infirmary and found Arthur asleep, gripping the picture of his wife and son. He smiled and nodded to himself, deciding it would be best to let the king continue slumbering.

(*~*~*~*)

"How's Elvis handling things?" Martha asked her husband.

She and Gwen had just returned from a tearful goodbye with Laney. The negotiations Gwen had managed with Landry, included...with Gwaine's suggestion...transportation back to the UK. It was unlikely they would be able to see Elaine again before then, but they promised to keep in touch through video chats and such, once Gwen and Arthur were settled.

The queen took Aurie into the infirmary and sat down at her husband's bedside. She and Martha listened, as Dr. Lam went through an update on the king's status.

Merlin held himself back during the conversation, and as soon as Martha got an opening, she went to him. Linking her arm through his, she led him away.

He only shrugged.

"Hey...no shutting down on me." She warned him.

Merlin rubbed the back of his neck. "Sorry. I was trying to talk with Arthur earlier...It was a very interesting conversation, to say the least."

"How about we go grab a bite, and sit down outside somewhere? When was the last time you saw the sun?"

He snorted, "A few days at least."

"Let me go tell Gwen what we're doing. Then we'll get you out of here for a bit."

As Martha suspected, the other woman had no qualms about staying, and even seemed relieved that Merlin was finally going to take a break. It would probably be awhile before Arthur woke again, and Gwen was hoping for some time alone with him to introduce Aurie, when he did.

Outside the Base, Merlin stopped and pulled Martha close to him. They held each other silently, and watched the colors of the sunset. The light began to fade, and the pair made their way to the rental car.

"So, want to tell me what happened?"

"Not really."

Martha pinned him with a glare.

He squirmed, and finally relented, "He called me a lazy coward and tried to start an argument. What else needs to be said? He's still the same supercilious prat he was, all those years ago."

"Are you more upset that he hasn't had the time to change...like you, Gwaine, and Percival have...or that he's interrupted your life?"

"I don't know. I once told him I would be happy to be his servant until the day I died..." He scoffed, "Little did I know at the time, I couldn't seem to die."

Martha bit her bottom lip. It was very unlike her husband to be in such a dark mood. She knew he must have seen more death over the centuries than anyone should, but most of the time, it wasn't something he spoke of...especially when it came to himself. "He really got to you, didn't he?"

He looked out the window and sighed.

Martha pulled out onto one of the highways. "Gwen told me how you first met her." She said, trying to get his mind out of the darkness. "You told her you were in disguise."

He couldn't help but snicker at the memory. "I guess that's how he must be feeling, when he looks at me. He never had time to really process the revelation of who I was, under the bumbling fool I let the world see."

"We'll be getting him out of there soon." She said, thinking about the arrangement Gwen had come to with Landry. When Dr. Lam felt Arthur was stable enough, Prometheus would transport them to Merlin's estate. Although, Merlin had yet to tell the former queen exactly where it was located. He half-wanted it to be a surprise, but was also very nervous about how Gwen...or more especially, Arthur...would react. "I think a change of scenery would do well, for you both."

(*~*~*~*)

Gwen smiled and tried to stifle her laughter. Cassie sat on the floor a few feet away from the bed, playing a clapping game with Aurie. The little boy was giggling profusely, while he bounced up and down. He reached out his hands to Cassie, and the young woman allowed him to grab her fingers.

He pulled himself up to a very wobbly, standing position and tentatively took a few awkward steps forward, with Cassie's assistance.

His mother's eyes lit up in wonder, when he let go and took a step on his own, before falling back on his padded bottom.

A sound from the bed caused Gwen to turn. Arthur's eyes were open, and watching the little boy in fascination. His eyes shifted to meet his wife's. "Has he been walking long?"

Gwen shook her head, tears of happiness filling her eyes. "No..that was his first step."

Arthur nodded and smiled proudly. "Can I meet him?"

(*~*~*~*)

They grabbed some takeaway and followed the GPS in the rental car, up to a viewpoint high above the city. The lights of the city laid out before them, in blueish-white and amber patterns. The moon rose from the flat plains to the east, not quite full, but close enough to it that it bathed the land in a bright orange. It appeared extremely large, which Elaine had explained to Martha, was typical during the fall season and Harvest Moon time.

They spoke a little, mostly about the work Martha had been doing for UNIT in Germany, before she came to meet him in Colorado. They also talked about the situation with the Ori, though neither had a solid grasp on the information. "Feeling better?" She asked, once they had eaten.

He made a sound and nodded, taking a drink out of the paper cup from the fast food outlet.

"Have you eaten much this past week?"

Merlin looked away, sheepishly. "No..."

"I'm guessing you haven't relaxed much either?" She reached across to the passenger seat, and began to play with the dark hair on the nape of his neck. "We could always go find a hotel or something?"

Merlin thought about it for a moment, looking at the view below them. He had been so preoccupied since finding out about the pods, he wasn't sure of the last time he'd slept properly, or even attempted to relax. His altercation with Arthur had set him on edge, and here was Martha, his wife of barely six months, offering to help pull him back.

"I was talking to Gwaine earlier and reminded myself...before all of this happened...I was actually considering approaching you about something." He took her hand gently and rubbed circles on the back with his thumb. "We haven't really spoken about...children."

Martha's eyebrows shot up. "I thought you didn't want kids...because of the immortality and all."

He shrugged, "I didn't...but...I never asked if you did...and...lately, I've been questioning that, especially after you three left me to play nursemaid the other day."

Chuckling, she turned to stare out the windshield. "I don't think I really gave it much thought. When I was younger, before I went traveling with the Doctor, I figured at some point, I might settle down and have children. Then things just began to happen, and I saw so much of the world...including an entire year that never even existed now, because time reset itself. Part of me balks against the idea of bringing a child into the world I know...but meeting Gwen and Aurie...I guess I realize, that what we're faced with isn't nearly as harsh...and here they are, thrown into a completely different century."

He smiled and lifted her hand to his lips. "So?"

"Can I think about it some more?"

Merlin nodded, "I wouldn't expect anything less."

After a few seconds, Martha snickered.

"What?"

"No matter what we decide about this...there's nothing that says we can't practice until then."

Smirking, Merlin turned his head and eyed the backseat of the car. "Why bother with a hotel, looks pretty spacious back there...maybe we should try it out."

She roared with laughter. "Feeling like a teenager?"

He glanced around to make certain their car was alone in the deserted Lookout parking. Merlin then whispered a spell, and Martha eyed him suspiciously. "Just to make certain a Bobby doesn't come along and nab us."

Still laughing, she bolted out of her side and into the rear of the car, while Merlin did the same.

They pounced on each other immediately. Shoes and clothing came off in a frenzy; their lips met in breathless, passionate gasps. He reached for her bra catch, before pushing her down onto the seat, and settled between her legs.

The sound of her cell phone...somewhere in the tangled mess on the floor board, made him pause.

"Ignore it. It's probably my sister..." She wrapped her hands around his neck, pulling him back to her. She captured his lips with hers again, and the heated exchange continued...until his cell rang from the front center cupholders. He pressed his forehead to her shoulder for a moment to catch his breath.

Very few people had his number. Those who did, typically only used it if there was a problem. He growled as he reached between the front seats, and grabbed it before it could go to voicemail, not bothering to check the caller ID. "This had better be one hell of an emergency!" He said into the receiver.

"Merlin..." It was Gwen's voice on the other end, she sounded like she was flustered. During the shopping trip with Laney and Martha, they had bought her a simple cell phone for emergencies. They showed her how to use it and programmed in their numbers, as well as Gwaine's and Merlin's.

He sat up, his eyes widened, "Gwen, I'm sorry...what is it? Are you okay? Is Arthur alright?" He began firing off questions.

Martha turned on the dome light and began sorting through clothing items; not needing to be told that their roadside tryst was at an end.

"I'm sorry to call..."

"Don't be. What's happened?"

"Three men came into the infirmary, while I was visiting with Arthur. He began making comments to one of them. Then another one jumped in and began arguing...something about a sword fight, and how they were wrong about things. I don't know...Next thing I know, the first man basically challenges Arthur...I think it was Gwaine's friend." She took a deep breath. "Dr. Lam had to have people restrain Arthur. He pulled out some of the needles and such from his arm. I had Aurie on my lap, and he began to scream. Then Arthur was yelling about how it was their fault for upsetting Aurie."

By this time, both Merlin and Martha were fully clothed, back in the front seats, and driving down the mountain towards the Base.

"Is everyone alright?"

"Dr. Lam sedated him, but she's worried about the strain it put on the injuries...I had to get Aurie out of there, so I don't know what's happening now."

"We're on our way, Gwen. Just take a few deep breaths, we'll be there shortly."

Beta'ed for flow by IcarusLSU, Proofed by Nance, Graphics by Aerist. How did I get so lucky to have such a great team behind me? :D

AN: There was a little 'easter egg' hint in this chapter for something that will be coming up in a future chapter! Can you guess what it was?

Ashes (aka Flamie): You are gonna spontaneously combust one of these days!

Nance: Can you imagine what Gwaine's nephews might do with a set of stocks behind the barn? hehe Thanks for the review and the editing!

Guest: Hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as the last! LOL Arthur didn't flip out on Gwaine...but I think Cameron's reappearance kind of set him off a bit hehe

CarolynneRuth: YAH! you caught up! Hopefully you had a few days to gather your strength for another review! hehe I was so excited when you actually started reading this!

Tholey: nope not a guest that time hehe AW Leave poor Perc alone...he'll be back in the story soon. Should be some more Daniel and Cam in the next chapter as well :D

Aerist: hehe...there was an itty bitty little hint dropped in this chapter for that something that will be coming up ;D

IcarusLSU: Aw thanks! You know how hard I'm working trying to keep them as in character for the respective seasons as I can!

Everyone else who reads and has fav'ed and followed! Thank you so much!