Morgana had been living with Merlin for a week now and she had become a part of his life. A good one, he thought while he was going through the company's file. He would wake her up every morning, leave for work and come home at 4 while she did some shopping and cooked lunch and painted. The flat walls now where full of her sketches, men, trees, flowers, anything she came up with. Then Merlin would sleep for an hour or so and in the evening they would go for a walk or watch a movie. He was beginning to get used to having Morgana as a flat mate. He already thought he knew her quite well.
A knock on the door distracted him from his thoughts. It was Uther, his boss and as he had recently learnt, Morgana's stepfather.
"Merlin, can I talk to you for a second"
He followed him and he led them to his office, a small room, cramped with papers and books.
"So, Merlin, you have been working really hard the last few weeks, am I wrong? Because the sales have increased by 20 percent in your department. I shall reward you for that. You've done well"
But Merlin wasn't listening. He was now watching Uther who was pacing up and down the room. This move seemed some way familiar to him. And then behind him, he saw a photo of a young girl, about 15 years old. He had no doubt it was Morgana. She had the same hair, eyes and the smirking smile she put on when she teased him at home. And then he remembered that Morgana too had a habit of walking while talking or thinking. Soon, he had found some more similarities. Their way of talking was quite the same, jumping from formal to friendly in seconds and when Merlin said the awkward "I'm sorry, what were you saying?" Uther raised his eyebrow the same way Morgana did. Also, both, couldn't care less about where their glasses where, he thought. Uther threw his on a pile of papers while Merlin at home would find Morgana's thick-framed reading glasses under cushions, on the floor, anywhere. This didn't seem like a coincidence. He resisted the urge to laugh and put on a straight, concentrated-looking face.
Uther though caught him staring at the photo of Morgana.
"I think you don't know my adoptive daughter, Morgana. She must be at your age now."
"No, sir"
"Though, I'm not sure if I should call her that since she left me, when I ordered her to break up with someone."
Merlin heard the same story Morgana had told him but from Uther's point of view. He was surprised to see that Uther told a part of his private life to him, a plain assistant like many others in his company.
"So, that night, she packed her bags and left for that idiotic man, Draco. I still miss her"
"Well, if you have her phone, why not ring her and make things right, if I may sir?"
"You think she'll accept?"
"I can't see why not"
He leaved the building three hours later, having received a raise. He decided that he could celebrate it with his friends. It was also a great opportunity to introduce them to Morgana. He walked home thinking.
He entered his flat and saw Morgana, sitting on the floor, drawing something on a large paper which was on the floor too. Her glasses had slipped down on her nose from the sweat and she was wearing a loose shirt which was covered in paint. She furrowed her eyebrow as she looked at her work and once more she reminded him of Uther.
"How much do you know about Uther Pendragon, Morgana?" he said.
"Well not very much, since I left him two years ago the only things I knew are that he is very arrogant, has a lot of money and a son, Arthur. He thinks he can buy anything, people's lives too".
"Ok, right. So, do you want to meet my friends? I suppose you already know Arthur, as it seems you two have grown up together but I want to introduce you to Gwen and Gwaine. If he is not on a night shift at the hospital, Lancelot will come too. I got a raise"! He smiled.
Morgana stood up and hugged him tightly, forgetting she was covered in paint. "This is great news, Merlin. Well done!" she said with a bright smile.
A few hours later, after they had tidied up the place and prepared pizzas and pasta, they sat on the sofa in anticipation. Merlin was wearing a plain blue T-shirt with a pocket and light brown jeans while Morgana had made an effort to look her best as she wanted to make a good first impression on Merlin's friends. She was wearing dark jeans, a dark green top and white belt and shoes. They were waiting in silence while Morgana's ringtone dragged them out of their thoughts.
"Hello, this is Morgana le Fay, who am talking to?"
"This is Uther Pendragon"
Morgana looked at Merlin looking terrified. The last time she had talked to that man on the phone, she had decided she would move out of his house. She made the phone call loud, so that Merlin could hear as well.
"Morgana, I'd like to ask you whether you could reconsider not talking to me. It is not right, the way things are. I've missed you"
Morgana remained silent.
"Please, Morgana, I'm sorry. Please accept me back."
"Ok, right, so what should I do?"
Merlin panicked. Morgana was going to ruin everything if she continued speaking in this irritated tone. He patted her on the shoulder and told her, moving only his lips, so that he wouldn't be heard "Calm down"
"Well, pay me a visit. Come and meet me at a cafe probably. And as I can guess you are unemployed, I can offer you a place at my office."
"Right, so, should we set a date?"
"Are you doing anything tomorrow evening?"
"No, nothing, see you tomorrow then."
"Good Evening, Morgana, I'm glad we sort this out."
Morgana was about to end the call when he heard form the other side of the line a knock on the door and Uther saying " Come in, Gaius"
Morgana had never been one to eavesdrop but she hadn't seen Gaius from ages and she wanted so much to hear something from him."
"So sir, how was the call? Has she agreed?
"Yes, Gaius, I can't believe it. It seems just like the old times."
Morgana realised they were talking about her. She looked at Merlin and he too thought she should hear the rest of the conversation.
"Sir, I would like you to consider again about telling her about the Vivian thing"
Morgana knew they were talking about her mother but what could Uther and Gaius have to do with it?
"No, Gaius, I have told you a million times, she cannot know. We have to keep the truth from her at any cost. I'm scared even to imagine what would happen if she knew."
"As you wish, sir"
"Come on, Gaius, that is no way to treat an old friend. We have gone through a lot, we two"
Morgana decided it was time to close the phone. She was confused and felt deceived but the sound of the bell took her out of her thoughts. She had to appear friendly and pleasant, so she put on her best smile and walked along with Merlin to the door.
The first to come was a handsome guy with quite long untidy hair and street style clothes. He patted Merlin on the back saying "hey mate" and when he said:
"Gwaine, this is Morgana, my flatmate"
"Hey, gorgeous" he said with a mock bow. Morgana smiled at him.
They entered the living room and Morgana went to the kitchen to bring some cookies. She wasn't really the housewife type that would serve the guests but she felt she had to give some alone time to Merlin and Gwaine.
When she entered the kitchen and Gwaine was sure she was out of earshot, he winked at Merlin
"Lucky, eeh?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Don't pretend you don't know. You're dating her, aren't you?"
"No, of course not. She's only staying with me because she broke up with her boyfriend and didn't have anywhere else to go"
"Come on now, don't tell me you don't fancy her"
"Well, you know, she's beautiful but she doesn't deserve me and I would never take advantage of her like that."
"What the hell, Merlin, you're a man, not a boy. Think about yourself a bit"
Morgana came with a plate with biscuits and sat next to Gwaine. Before anyone had the chance to say something, the bell rang for a second time.
Merlin went to open the door and saw Arthur and Gwen.
"Hello, how come you two have come together?"
Both blushed and looked at each other but Arthur replied hastily
"Guinevere was walking here and I picked her up with the car"
Merlin cast them a devious look and went to introduce them to Morgana.
"Hello Arthur" she said before he had the chance. "It's been long, hasn't it?"
"So, you two know each other, Morgana, this is Gwen"
"Hello, pleased to meet you, Gwen"
They shook hands and went on to enjoying the meal. Merlin, Arthur and Gwaine talked about music, sports etc while Morgana and Gwen found that they liked each other a lot. They talked about everything and Gwen even admitted to Morgana she liked Arthur really much. They planned to go out for coffee one day to say the rest. Afterwards they all played some card games and Gwaine announced he had to go. A bit later, Arthur (who of course had decided he could take Gwen home) and Gwen left too.
Morgana sighed and fell on the sofa, tired and confused. Now they had left, she and Merlin had to deal with what they had heard previously. The Vivian thing? Weird thing to say. And certainly even more when she knew it was something that she was not to learn according to Uther.
"Come here Merlin"
Merlin came slowly and sat next to her. She repeated "Vivian thing".
"What the hell is that supposed to mean."