Arthur was trying to convince Merlin to go on holiday for their tenth wedding anniversary. Before the kidnap they had planned a cruise, to see the Northern lights and go whale watching. Arthur had looked into the possibilities and found they could still go. They could have a penthouse cabin which could cope with the wheelchair. Or they could go on Safari to Africa another dream of theirs. Merlin flatly refused to go on either saying Arthur could go by himself. Merlin wasn't prepared to leave Isolde behind.
Then Gwaine suggested that they have a canal boat holiday. He had recently seen a programme about a trust who had specially adapted canal boats. They ran on the Kennet and Avon Canal from Berkshire to Wiltshire. That way Isolde could go as well. It would be peaceful and Merlin wouldn't have to go in crowds of people.
Merlin liked that idea, so Arthur got in touch with the charity and booked a barge for the week of their anniversary. He asked for volunteers from the security team to come. They could bring their families as there were several different size boats available. Percy and Freya were the first to offer. Gwaine said no as they would have two children by then and he didn't fancy taking a small baby.
The others were thinking about it. Arthur said one of the others needed to go but gave them a bit more time to think. In the end Kay said he would go. He wasn't married so it made more sense for it to be him. Hunith said she wouldn't go it was her son's anniversary and it wouldn't be appropriate. They couldn't change her mind. For the same reason Gaius and Alice declined. The holiday wasn't until the next year but it gave them something to look forward to.
Christmas came and was celebrated with the now established large group. Except for this time Gwaine and Mithian went to stay with Mithian's parents. But they celebrated New Year with Arthur and Merlin. Uther stayed for three days and Merlin managed to keep out of his way for most of the time. Somehow Uther had found out that Agravaine had stayed for a while and warned Arthur that the man was unsavoury. Merlin giggled as he heard Gwaine comment under his breath that that was the pot calling the kettle black.
In February and March Merlin and Gaius continued with the work for the Archive and they were establishing a detailed data base. It made Merlin use his mind and was helping his mental state, although on occasion it also put him in his Black hole when memories were triggered. Arthur tried to talk him into doing something else but he refused saying he wouldn't let his past rule his life. He enjoyed the work. Alice often bought her knitting over and would sit and keep them company. Both Arthur and Merlin ended up with a thick winter jumper each that was ideal when they went out with Isolde.
April came and Gwen had her second baby another girl who she named Elizabeth. Mithian stood in for Gwen again as she had last time she was on maternity leave.
It was just after this one night when Kay was sitting in the bodyguard's office watching the cameras. He was panning them around to see what he could pick up. Night duty was always long but he didn't mind he had been watching a fox on its night time wanderings for several nights now. As he looked at the camera that was sited between the garages and Gwaine's cottage he notices two shadows near the fence, He had a closer look zooming on the area. He sat up it was two men. He watched for a couple of seconds and then called Percy who was doing the inside patrol.
"Percy we've got two intruders, they've just come over the front fence. Better put the screens down! I'll keep an eye"
Percy immediately became more alert. "Will do, call the police now!"
Percy went into the lounge and to the corner by the window nearest the master bedroom. There was a button hidden behind the curtain. Pressing it he waited to here a motor start before he headed to the master bedroom door.
Kay followed the intruders with the cameras round to the kitchen door.
"They're coming in the kitchen. I'm on my way" he radioed to Percy.
As the two intruders came into the hall Percy had sat down in the lounge as if he were asleep. He watched then under half closed eyes had seen the two men were armed and were looking around as if they knew there would be security about.
Kay had carefully come in the door at the gym and moved toward the guest bedrooms. As the intruders reached the master bedroom they stopped. It was if they knew the layout of the house. As they opened the door they looked at each other in shock. That was when Percy and Kay struck, Kay hit the one closest to him over the head with his torch and Percy grabbed the other round the chest pinning his arms to his side.
Kay quickly took the gun out of the hand of Percy's victim and kicked the other one down the hall. He then ran to their office and got some rope and tied to the two men up.
What had shocked the men and given Percy and Kay the change to act was a metal screen inside the door. Percy went to release the screen and then went into the master to check on its occupants.
As he went into the room a further larger screen was still rising up at the window. Arthur was stood up and looked at Percy.
"Practice or real?" he asked with a quirked eyebrow.
"Real this time boss, two of them, they're tied up and the police are on their way."
Merlin walked into sight, he went to Arthur and put his arms round his husband's waist.
"It's safe and secure."Percy looked at both the men.
"Good job, Merlin you go back to bed I'll sort this out." Arthur gave Merlin a kiss.
"No I'll go and make some tea for everyone. I couldn't sleep now" Merlin insisted.
The men walked toward the lounge and Merlin carried on to the kitchen.
Percy looked at Arthur "He's taking this well."
"It's all the practice runs we've done, when the scenes started to go down he was completely calm, I however was shitting bricks, I knew we didn't have a practice due." Arthur laughed. Then looking at both the men he said:
"Thank you lads,that was a perfect job. Now perhaps everyone will stop telling me to get rid of you!" Arthur grinned.
They all hear the police arrive and Kay went to let them in. The officers were somewhat surprised to see the two men tied up. The one Kay had hit was now conscious and they were both protesting they had been assaulted.
Kay went and got a copy of the security tape for the police including the ones taken from the corridor. Two police cars had arrived so one took the two men back to the station while the others took statements. Merlin called them all into the kitchen for a cup of tea.
After the police had left Arthur took Merlin back to bed, by now the truth of what had happened had hit both of them and they lay hugging each other.
Merlin pulled away and looked at Arthur "Thank you."
"Why are you thanking me? Its Percy and Kay that need thanking."
"No thank you for looking after me. I know it's not easy; I'm a mess most of the time. But I do appreciate all you do even if it doesn't always seem like it. I love you so much."
"And I love you, and your worth everything to me and don't think you're a mess, you have made great progress."
The two men went to bed and managed to get a bit more sleep. The next morning more police arrived and tied up the rest of the information they needed. As all the bodyguards were registered and had acted within the law, as the men were armed the actions the Kay and Percy had taken were reasonable. The process would be fairly simple to sort out and get to court. Although the two men would not disclose who had paid them. They were maintaining it was a burglary.
Even once the case went to court the police were unable to prove who had been behind the break in. Although they agreed with Percy and Kay that it appeared they knew the layout of the bungalow and as they looked nowhere else but headed straight for the master bedroom it was more likely it was more than just a burglary. The two men were found guilty of armed robbery.
Merlin surprised everyone by how well he took the whole thing. Arthur put it down to the fact that they had run practices so at the time he didn't realise it was a genuine so by the time he did his mind had adjusted to the idea. It was Arthur who became more paranoid for a while. Arthur had a long chat with Gwaine and made legal provision for if he died before Merlin. He made Gwaine power of attorney of his fortune to be used for Merlin's care. He also made Gwaine promise to care for Merlin. Gwaine had no problem with that as he thought of Merlin as a brother anyway. Arthur told Merlin what he had done which did upset Merlin as he couldn't bare the idea of Arthur dying first. Percy and Kay were both given a large bonus each by Arthur and Gwaine took both men out to the pub on their next night off.