Morgause and Agravaine were furious when they heard that Merlin had survived, albeit badly injured. But they decided to play the waiting game after all there was still time for Merlin to die of his injuries. When news got out of his loss of memory it gave Agravaine an idea. The couple discussed it and decided to put into action when and if Merlin left hospital. They weren't finished yet.
Arthur rang Hunith before returning to the hospital and she suggested leaving his visit until the next day, Merlin was physically and mentally exhausted from all that had happened. Arthur reluctantly agreed and after having a shower he went to see his sister. It would be good to sit and have a meal at a table instead of the rushed meals he had been snatching since Merlin's accident almost a week ago. He explained to Morgana and Leon what he and Hunith had decided and Morgana agreed that that seemed the best plan. They then spent the rest of the evening discussing the various outcomes, depending on what if any memory Merlin regained. Leon promised to phone the police in the morning to find out what if anything was happening in regards to the person who dumped/pushed Merlin. Arthur then went home and after finding out the photos he went to bed and managed to get several hours sleep, he hadn't realised just how exhausted he was.
The next morning Arthur went into work and caught up on some of his work then after lunch he headed out to the hospital once more clutching the wedding photos and several they had taken on honeymoon. As he arrived he found Hunith sitting with Merlin, the young man had an oxygen mask on but the trachyostomy tube had been removed. He looked so pale and fragile to Arthur that he was almost scared to go up to him in case his presence made Merlin upset. He walked up and smiled but made no attempt to kiss Merlin.
"Hello Hunith and Merlin" he gave Hunith a kiss on the cheek "How are you feeling Merlin?"
Merlin looked at Arthur it was clear he was still shocked to find out he was married to the blonde. "Better thank you" Arthur put the bag down in front of Hunith unsure of what to do. It was a strange feeling for him, he was used to being in command of situations.
"Morgana and Leon send their love to you both" he looked at Merlin to see if there was any sign of recognition in the other mans eyes. "That's my sister and her husband."
Hunith spoke next "Look darling Arthur's brought in the photos" she drew out one that was in a silver frame. Arthur had had it framed sometime ago and had it on his desk in his office, not just for show but once he realised he loved Merlin he like to have it there. It was a photo taken at the wedding, not one of the posed ones but one when the camera had caught Merlin with a look of happiness on his face, the raven haired man had a huge smile and looked totally as a man should look on his wedding day. Arthur often wondered what Merlin had seen or heard that gave him such a wonderful expression.
Merlin looked at it and his expression changed "We are married" he said finally "I really can't remember it" Hunith handed him another that showed Arthur looking at Merlin and allowing his love to show. It was such a look of tenderness that it had shocked Arthur when he saw it, he had thought he was better at hiding his emotions. Now he was glad it might just make Merlin realise he was loved. Merlin stared at the second photo for even longer before looking at his mother and Arthur. He looked frightened. "What happens now?" he asked Arthur.
"You get better, once your stronger we can make those decisions, what I would like to do is let you get to know me all over again. I won't expect anything you don't want to give Merlin, you're alive that's the important thing."
"Arthur's right love, you need to get better, if your memory doesn't come back then you need to get to know Arthur again and take it from there. You loved him before; you will fall in love all over again." Hunith smiled at her son. She put the photos on her son's locker, "Your husband is a handsome man isn't he?"
Merlin blushed "He looks to good for me" he muttered.
"No Merlin you've got it wrong it's me that's the lucky one." Arthur told him.
Hunith stood up "Well Merlin I'm going to get a cup of tea, you men have a talk, and Arthur you'll have to court him all over again. I'll be back later" with that Hunith kissed her son's cheek and walked away.
Arthur sat down and smiled at Merlin "Hello I'm Arthur, do you mind if I sit here"
"No it's free, my name is Merlin" Merlin gave Arthur a small grin "Sorry about my hair it's in a mess, someone attacked me with a razor." Arthur laughed the tension lessened by Merlin's quip; it was so Merlin Arthur had to remind himself that this was a different Merlin.
"They did at that. But it will soon grow back, you do have some left." Arthur reached up unconsciously to run his fingers through it.
Merlin jerked back not expecting it "Sorry" he told Arthur.
"Don't be it's my fault, I just can't ….. it's hard I want to hold you so much" Arthur voice broke.
"I'm sorry, I can't I don't know you" Merlin said "I can't just pretend"
Arthur looked at Merlin "I know, look your mums right I need to court you again, after all you don't know me. Ask me whatever you want, let's talk." Arthur looked at Merlin not even trying to hide the love he felt for his husband. Perhaps in a strange way this was for the best they had a second chance to get this right.
"Tell me how we met?" Merlin asked.
"I saw you for the first time in New York gay bar; my friend had come with me but left after a met you. I waited until you finished work and I walked you home. We talked nothing else just talked, then two days later we met up again and it just went from there. When I was in New York we got together and then you came to London a couple of times. It wasn't easy." Arthur said pausing "Has your mother told you she wasn't well?"
"Yes, I wanted to know how I had got on with my course she told me I'd taken a break to work to pay for her treatment. She also said that in the end you had paid for it" Merlin looked at Arthur "Thank you; I might not remember anything but my mum means everything to me."
"Well you were working two jobs and exhausting yourself, you were even selling your blood to make extra. We had met and fell in love we wanted to be together. You had paid for a lot of the treatment I just paid the last bit. I don't know if your mum has told you but I'm a wealthy man and I wanted to help. You weren't happy to start with"
"She didn't put it quite like that but thank you anyway. I owe you" Merlin had that tone in his voice that Arthur knew so well.
"Merlin you don't owe me we're married, the money is ours now, anyway I love your mum, she my mum now as well. I did it for her as well as you. The sooner she was better the sooner you would marry me and you and your mum could come to London." Arthur was sincere even if what he was saying wasn't completely true.
"What about your parents?" Merlin asked "You've mentioned your sister, what about your mum and dad"
"Mum died when I was born and dad died just before I met you, we didn't get on very well, he was homophobic and couldn't accept me for what I was, yet in a funny way I do miss him" Arthur admitted.
"Oh" was all Merlin said then after an awkward pause he started to speak once more "My dad died, it was my fault"
Arthur leant forward and took Merlin hand in his "Merlin it wasn't, I know what happened and with Will, you don't need the pain of telling me again, you have no need to blame yourself neither of them would have wanted you to."
"I suppose you do. I don't know what you do know about me" Merlin said. "You'll get bored with my stories, like living with an old man that repeats himself." Merlin said
"No never, I know some stuff but we have only known each other for nine months and quite a bit of that we were an ocean apart. I only stopped you before because you have no need to cope with that part of your past, the rest I will willing hear all over again and hopefully learn more about you in the process." Arthur explained."One thing I do know s that I not only gained a wonderful kind and loyal husband but I also gained a mum, something I never had before. Oh and I knew your great uncle when I was a child, he was more like a father to my sister and I than out real father."
"You know Uncle Gaius! He's coming to see me later. I'll ask him your secrets"
Arthur could see that Merlin was getting tired "You need to rest love, just stop talking for a bit, I'll sit here with you. Do you mind if I hold your hand?"
Merlin looked at Arthur he was clearly thinking then he tentatively put his hand near Arthur's "I suppose that's ok, after all it's not our first date, even if it feels like it."
Arthur took Merlin's hand "For you it is our first date! I'll try to do better next time. Now rest"