FIC: For Worse or For Better, Chapter 5
Title: For Worse or For Better, Chapter 5 (THE END!!!)
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 3,095 this chapter; 20,636 total (GAH)
Spoilers: None
Warnings: None
Notes: Written for reel_merlin Take 2 prompt: The Proposal. Huge thanks to krazykipper for the britpicking, and as always to marzilla for the beta, and for somehow always convincing me that I want to write, even when I swear that I'm quitting. Any remaining mistakes are mine.
Notes Part 2: I don't really know anything about how all this immigration stuff works, so it may or may not be exactly right- I just followed the movie. And also, for the sake of storytelling, we're just going to pretend that same sex marriage is legal and enforceable in the US, 'kay? =) See additional end notes at end of chapter.
Disclaimer: Merlin and The Proposal are properties of BBC/Shine and Touchstone Pictures respectively. Sadly, I'm making no money off this.
Arthur fiddled with his tie in front of the mirror, trying to get the knot right. He hadn’t slept much, so he was tired and his fingers were clumsy.
He still hadn’t decided what to do. After his short conversation with Merlin, they’d spent the rest of the day helping Hunith and Gaius with various tasks. Arthur had grown quieter and quieter as the day progressed, leading Hunith to make cracks about nerves and cold feet. Merlin had just kept looking at him, sidelong glances every now and then, as though he knew Arthur was wavering and was trying to suss out what he was thinking. He knew that given the chance, Merlin would try and press the issue. So he avoided him until Hunith ushered them off to bed early for a good night’s rest.
Thankfully, she insisted that Merlin and Arthur sleep separately the night before the wedding. He didn’t think he could spend another night in bed with Merlin without blurting out everything he was feeling, and the last thing he wanted to do was let Merlin how know much all of this had affected him. But the time alone hadn’t done him any good.
He knew that Merlin wanted to see it through for appearance’s sake. He’d said as much. It was probably the smartest thing to do-they were already in so deep. But it all felt so wrong now.
The door opened behind him, Hunith and Gaius ushering Merlin in. He was in his tux as well, laughing and batting at his mother’s hand as she fussed with his hair. “You’re so pushy,” he joked, stopping when he saw Arthur.
“Oh, don’t you two look wonderful,” she said happily, looking between them.
Arthur took in the sight of Merlin in his tailored tux, all clean cut and slim and beautiful, and, all his doubts aside, he wanted this. He wanted to marry Merlin just so that no one else could have him. He wanted it to be real so he could take Merlin upstairs after and peel him out of his clothes.
Blushing at the thought, he tore his eyes away from Merlin to look at Gaius, who was approaching him with a smile.
“I’m going to go get everyone seated,” he said. “Since it isn’t a traditional wedding, you’ll both be walking Hunith down the aisle.”
Arthur nodded dumbly. He was so distracted by Merlin at that point that Gaius could’ve told him to strip naked and jump off the pier and he probably would’ve agreed. Hunith did some last minute fussing, finally fixing Arthur’s tie. He was grateful for her presence, because had he been alone with Merlin, he probably would’ve done something stupid, like pin him up against the wall and kiss him in a way that was entirely real and not at all for show.
Oh, if only he could.
Hunith finished with him, smiling up at him so brightly that it almost broke him. “Ready?” she asked, taking both their arms and leading them outside, where the barn had been done up for the ceremony. It was a smallish, cosy building, packed to the brim with people. Arthur’s heart started to pound as everyone turned to look at them walk down the aisle. They sat Hunith down, and when Arthur turned to the altar and saw the minister standing there, his nerves slammed into the pit of his stomach full force.
The minister smiled at them before beginning. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to celebrate the love between these two men….”
Arthur listened, his jaw clenched so tight that it was making his head hurt. He could feel Merlin next to him, and wanted to pull him aside to ask him just one more time if he was sure about this, if he actually wanted to go through with this. He’d said so yesterday, but-
“But what is love?” the minister was asking, and Arthur barely kept from rolling his eyes. Of course he would have to torture him with a dissertation on the topic. “It is happiness, of course, but it’s also pain, and honesty, and sacrifice. No one can truly say they’ve loved if they’ve never put their partner’s needs ahead of theirs, for it is through the selfless actions, through the sacrifices that one makes, that his love for the other truly comes through.”
Sacrifice. The only things Arthur had sacrificed in his relationship with Merlin were things that didn’t belong to him-Merlin’s time, his energy, his wishes, and now probably his happiness. It wasn’t fair, no matter how badly Arthur wanted to stay. Merlin deserved to be happy, to be able to be honest with his family about everything, instead of being forced to lie for Arthur’s sake.
He couldn’t do this.
His blood roaring in his ears, he raised his hand, lifting a finger to indicate that the minister should stop. He blinked at Arthur, surprised.
“Umm, yes?”
“Sorry,” he said, clearing his throat. “I just-there’s something that I need to say.”
“Oh. Go on, then.”
“Arthur, what are you doing?” Merlin whispered sharply. He probably knew what Arthur was about to do. It would hurt his family, Arthur knew, but Merlin could start making it up to them much quicker if he wasn’t in jail. Decided, Arthur turned to the guests.
“Hello,” he said, wavering briefly when he saw Hunith and Gaius looking at him, confused. “As you all know,” he said, pressing on, “Merlin’s been working for me in New York these past few years. I’m sure you’ve all heard the stories.” He paused for the chuckles, gathering his courage. “But what you don’t know is that recently, my work visa expired and my application to renew was denied.”
“Arthur,” Merlin said, sounding well and truly panicked now. Arthur ignored him.
“I love my job,” Arthur said. “But they were going to make me leave for a year unless I could figure out another way to stay. So, knowing that Merlin was a citizen, I blackmailed him into marrying me.”
A shocked murmur went through the crowd. This time, he avoided looking at Merlin’s family.
“You see, Merlin’s incredibly motivated. I knew how badly he wanted to be an editor, so I knew that if I threatened his career, he would do anything I asked. So I made him come here and lie to all of you.”
All right, so it hadn’t happened exactly that way, but it was better that all the blame fell on Arthur. Perhaps they wouldn’t be so hard on Merlin if they thought he’d had no choice.
“So,” he continued, “we came here, and I met all of you, and now I find that I can’t do this. I thought I would do anything to stay, but it turns out that it’s not so easy ruining someone’s life after you find out how wonderful they are.”
He was met with complete silence, which was fine, given that he’d completely exhausted his nerve. Without another glance at Merlin, he stepped down off the dais. He stopped next to Hunith and crouched down, taking her hands into his. “You have a wonderful family,” he said to her and Gaius. “I wish I deserved everything you’ve given me. Please don’t blame Merlin for this. This was my fault. I am so sorry.”
He stood up and strode down the aisle, not looking at anyone and ignoring the chatter that burst out on all sides. He got to the house and ran upstairs, changing out of his tuxedo, grabbing the bag he’d packed. He was counting on everyone’s shock to buy him enough time to get away without being seen.
He took one last look at the room and then left. As he’d predicted, no one had left the barn. He rushed down to the pier, grabbing one of the water taxis the guests had used to come over for the ceremony. His heart heavy as the boat pulled away, he opened his phone and dialled the number he’d memorized last night.
“Nimueh Dumond’s room, please.”
“So what happens now?” Arthur asked as he buckled his seat belt on the small plane that would take them to Juneau.
“Well, now that you’re coming along of your own accord, there won’t be any problems,” she said happily. “Once we get back to New York, you have 24 hours to get on a flight to London.”
“And nothing happens to Merlin.”
“No.”
He looked at her. “I want your word that you won’t go after him once I’m gone.”
She smiled. “You have my word, as an agent of the United States government, that Merlin will not in any way be punished.”
Good enough. Arthur sat back and waited for the plane to take off.
+++
“Are you taking these?” Morgana asked, indicating a stack of manuscripts she’d unearthed in Arthur’s study.
“No, have Merlin-” he grimaced as he caught himself. “Have one of the editorial assistants catalogue and archive them.”
It was early afternoon the day after the almost-wedding. They were at Arthur’s flat, packing up the things he’d take with him and setting everything else aside for Morgana to deal with after he’d gone. He had a late flight to London that night. Morgana looked around at the disarray. “Do you really need to do this?” she asked. “I mean, you’re coming back eventually.”
“I’ll find a new flat. I’ve always thought this one was too big for one person anyway.”
She flipped idly through the largest of the manuscripts. “I don’t suppose it’d be too big for two, though.”
He frowned at her. “What?”
“I’m just saying. It wouldn’t be too big if someone-say Merlin, for example-lived here with you.”
He ignored the vague ache in his chest at the reminder. Had he not backed out, they’d probably be moving Merlin’s things in right now, instead of moving Arthur out.
“Don’t be ridiculous, Morgana. Why on earth would Merlin live here?” he asked, glaring at the glassware he couldn’t quite get into the box he was packing.
“He would if you were married.”
“But we’re not married,” he said, pinching the bridge of his nose. He really wasn’t in the mood for one of Morgana’s cryptic fits. “What are you on about, anyway?”
She took a deep breath. “I think you’re making a mistake.”
He sat back on his heels, incredulous. “I’m sorry, wasn’t this your advice? You were the one saying what a horrible person I was for making him do it in the first place.”
“That was before I knew you were capable of actual human emotion,” she said loftily, tossing the manuscript aside. “And before I knew how you felt about him.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said automatically, turning his attention back to the box.
“You love him.”
“No, I don’t.”
“Then why didn’t you go through with it?”
“I didn’t want him to go to jail,” he said. It was a good, emotionless reason. Plus, it was actually true.
“Bollocks,” she said. “Well, I’m sure you didn’t want him to go to jail,” she amended when he glared at her, “but you’re also in love with him.”
He sighed, hating her inability to drop the subject. “It was three days, Morgana. You can’t fall in love with someone in three days.”
“No, it’s been three years. You’re just too stupid and repressed to realise it.”
Ignoring the insults, he stopped to think about what she said. Was that really possible? He thought back on all the things he tolerated from Merlin that he’d never take from anyone else, the way Merlin’s opinion always seemed to matter, even when Arthur pretended that it didn’t-the way he’d harassed Merlin late at night and on the weekends because he’d hated it when Merlin wasn’t with him.
Huh. Interesting.
Either way, it didn’t matter anymore. Arthur was going back to London and Merlin was free to be with whomever he wanted.
“I don’t have time to argue with you, Morgana. If you’re going to sit there and insult me, go home.”
Thankfully, she didn’t say anything else, just looked at him sadly. They packed for a while longer before the buzzer rang.
“Must be the takeaway,” Morgana said. “I’ll get it.”
Arthur had given up on the glassware by the time she returned, takeaway in hand. And Merlin in tow.
Shit.
Arthur’s stupid, stupid heart skipped a beat. Merlin was holding the bag he’d taken to Ealdor and wearing the clothes he’d travelled in the first day. He was a bit dishevelled, looking every bit like he’d just gotten off the plane from Alaska and come straight here.
He also looked very, very angry.
Morgana set down the takeaway bag, barely managing to keep the smile off her face. “I’m just going to, um-go over there. Somewhere,” she said, heading quickly toward the door. Bloody deserter. Merlin waited until he heard the door to the spare bedroom close before turning on Arthur.
“What are you doing?” he demanded, hands on his hips. Oh yes, definitely angry.
“Packing. I would think that’d be obvious, even to someone of your limited intelligence,” Arthur said dryly, falling back onto the familiar territory of insulting Merlin. Only it didn’t feel quite as comfortable as he remembered. And Merlin was having none of it.
“You,” he said, pointing accusingly at Arthur, “do not get to leave me at the altar and then insult me.”
Arthur held his hands up in a placating gesture. “All right.”
“Arthur, what were you thinking? Do you realize that when Nimueh finds out about this, I could go to jail?”
“You’re not going to jail. I’m serious,” he said at Merlin’s disbelieving look. “I made a deal with her.”
That got Merlin’s attention. “What sort of deal?”
“If I admitted to the whole thing and left quietly, she’d not bother with you.”
“When the hell did this happen?”
Arthur got up, brushing the dust off his sweatpants. “Morgana told me about it first, but we discussed it at the coffee shop.”
Merlin crossed his arms over his chest. “And you didn’t think it important to tell me?”
“I didn’t think you’d have any objections, considering you never wanted to do it in the first place. Look,” he said, “I really need to finish up here. I have to leave in a few hours.”
“You’re leaving tonight?”
“Yes, so if you don’t mind...”
“Oh, I mind,” Merlin said. “So you’re telling me that you’re willing to leave for a year just so I won’t go to jail?”
“Yes.”
“Why now?” Merlin asked. “You weren’t willing to do that three days ago.”
Arthur looked away. He was not telling Merlin anything about his newly discovered feelings. The last thing he needed was for Merlin to feel sorry for him. Merlin shook his head, smiling. “Apparently your communication skills are something else we’re going to have to work on once we’re married.”
Arthur’s ears were playing tricks on him. They had to be. “Sorry?”
“We had a deal,” Merlin said, “and I’m going to make sure you stick to it.”
“I’ve already seen to your promotion.”
“All of it.”
Merlin was practically on top of him now. Arthur took another few steps back, putting distance between them so he could think. “What, you’re saying you want to get married now?”
“I didn’t fly all the way from Alaska and then rush over here for the promotion, Arthur.”
His heart started to race. “Then why?”
Thankfully, Merlin stopped his approach. “And you call my intelligence limited?”
He didn’t dare hope. “I do,” he said, trying for levity, “quite often, actually.”
That got him a chuckle. “You’re a complete prat, you know that?” he asked, resuming his prowl toward Arthur. “Marry me.”
“You don’t even like me,” he said, feeling the need to resist further.
“Sometimes,” Merlin agreed, “but I think I might possibly love you.”
Arthur’s heart actually stopped beating for a moment. If he survived this without having a heart attack, it’d be a miracle. “Really?”
“Yes,” Merlin said, taking that final step that backed Arthur up against the wall. “So you see why it doesn’t really work for me to have you piss off to London for a year.”
Arthur cleared his throat, trying to reign in his wildly careening emotions. “I guess I see how that might be a problem, y-“
Merlin cut him off with an eager kiss, pressing him back against the wall. Arthur responded just as enthusiastically, finally able to wrap his arms around Merlin and pull him close like he’d been wanting to. Merlin curled his hands in Arthur’s hair, holding him still while he licked into Arthur’s mouth.
Arthur’s head was spinning, unable to grasp that this was real after everything that had happened since yesterday morning. He pulled back suddenly, horrified as a thought struck him. “Oh God,” he said, “your mother. Gaius. They must hate me.”
Merlin laughed, curling into Arthur’s embrace and resting his head on his shoulder. “Not really. I suspect you’ll get the same lecture I got on honesty, though.”
“I’m really sorry, Merlin,” Arthur said, pressing his face into Merlin’s hair. Knowing what he did now, he was truly ashamed of his behaviour. “I never should’ve forced you into any of this.”
Merlin lifted his head. “I could’ve said no, you know. It would’ve sucked for me having to quit, but ultimately it was my choice.”
“Why didn’t you?” he asked, curious, running his hands up and down Merlin’s back, just because he could.
“You need me,” Merlin said, grinning as he slung his arms around Arthur’s shoulders. “You haven’t had sex in five years.”
Arthur choked out a laugh, feeling his face grow warm, though not entirely from embarrassment. “Just trying to get in my pants, were you?”
Merlin nuzzled at his face, brushing their lips together, sending a shiver down Arthur’s spine. “Maybe a little,” he said, though Arthur could feel him smiling.
“Just for that, you’re not getting any until we’re married,” Arthur declared, though the press of Merlin’s body against his was going to make a liar of him soon if he wasn’t careful.
Merlin straightened up and looked at him, wide-eyed. “You’re not serious.”
“I assure you, I am.”
“We are going to City Hall first thing in the morning,” Merlin said with conviction. “As soon as we take care of the whole you not getting deported thing.”
Arthur laughed. “Whatever you want.”
It couldn’t be soon enough for him.
THE END =D
Or maybe not. This way to the sequel, So This Is Christmas.
NOTE: I seriously LOVED this movie and stuck pretty close to the general story and dialogue. I hope I did it justice. There might be a couple of one-off sequels, because this universe has just taken over my brain. Thanks for reading!!
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 3,095 this chapter; 20,636 total (GAH)
Spoilers: None
Warnings: None
Notes: Written for reel_merlin Take 2 prompt: The Proposal. Huge thanks to krazykipper for the britpicking, and as always to marzilla for the beta, and for somehow always convincing me that I want to write, even when I swear that I'm quitting. Any remaining mistakes are mine.
Notes Part 2: I don't really know anything about how all this immigration stuff works, so it may or may not be exactly right- I just followed the movie. And also, for the sake of storytelling, we're just going to pretend that same sex marriage is legal and enforceable in the US, 'kay? =) See additional end notes at end of chapter.
Disclaimer: Merlin and The Proposal are properties of BBC/Shine and Touchstone Pictures respectively. Sadly, I'm making no money off this.
Arthur fiddled with his tie in front of the mirror, trying to get the knot right. He hadn’t slept much, so he was tired and his fingers were clumsy.
He still hadn’t decided what to do. After his short conversation with Merlin, they’d spent the rest of the day helping Hunith and Gaius with various tasks. Arthur had grown quieter and quieter as the day progressed, leading Hunith to make cracks about nerves and cold feet. Merlin had just kept looking at him, sidelong glances every now and then, as though he knew Arthur was wavering and was trying to suss out what he was thinking. He knew that given the chance, Merlin would try and press the issue. So he avoided him until Hunith ushered them off to bed early for a good night’s rest.
Thankfully, she insisted that Merlin and Arthur sleep separately the night before the wedding. He didn’t think he could spend another night in bed with Merlin without blurting out everything he was feeling, and the last thing he wanted to do was let Merlin how know much all of this had affected him. But the time alone hadn’t done him any good.
He knew that Merlin wanted to see it through for appearance’s sake. He’d said as much. It was probably the smartest thing to do-they were already in so deep. But it all felt so wrong now.
The door opened behind him, Hunith and Gaius ushering Merlin in. He was in his tux as well, laughing and batting at his mother’s hand as she fussed with his hair. “You’re so pushy,” he joked, stopping when he saw Arthur.
“Oh, don’t you two look wonderful,” she said happily, looking between them.
Arthur took in the sight of Merlin in his tailored tux, all clean cut and slim and beautiful, and, all his doubts aside, he wanted this. He wanted to marry Merlin just so that no one else could have him. He wanted it to be real so he could take Merlin upstairs after and peel him out of his clothes.
Blushing at the thought, he tore his eyes away from Merlin to look at Gaius, who was approaching him with a smile.
“I’m going to go get everyone seated,” he said. “Since it isn’t a traditional wedding, you’ll both be walking Hunith down the aisle.”
Arthur nodded dumbly. He was so distracted by Merlin at that point that Gaius could’ve told him to strip naked and jump off the pier and he probably would’ve agreed. Hunith did some last minute fussing, finally fixing Arthur’s tie. He was grateful for her presence, because had he been alone with Merlin, he probably would’ve done something stupid, like pin him up against the wall and kiss him in a way that was entirely real and not at all for show.
Oh, if only he could.
Hunith finished with him, smiling up at him so brightly that it almost broke him. “Ready?” she asked, taking both their arms and leading them outside, where the barn had been done up for the ceremony. It was a smallish, cosy building, packed to the brim with people. Arthur’s heart started to pound as everyone turned to look at them walk down the aisle. They sat Hunith down, and when Arthur turned to the altar and saw the minister standing there, his nerves slammed into the pit of his stomach full force.
The minister smiled at them before beginning. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to celebrate the love between these two men….”
Arthur listened, his jaw clenched so tight that it was making his head hurt. He could feel Merlin next to him, and wanted to pull him aside to ask him just one more time if he was sure about this, if he actually wanted to go through with this. He’d said so yesterday, but-
“But what is love?” the minister was asking, and Arthur barely kept from rolling his eyes. Of course he would have to torture him with a dissertation on the topic. “It is happiness, of course, but it’s also pain, and honesty, and sacrifice. No one can truly say they’ve loved if they’ve never put their partner’s needs ahead of theirs, for it is through the selfless actions, through the sacrifices that one makes, that his love for the other truly comes through.”
Sacrifice. The only things Arthur had sacrificed in his relationship with Merlin were things that didn’t belong to him-Merlin’s time, his energy, his wishes, and now probably his happiness. It wasn’t fair, no matter how badly Arthur wanted to stay. Merlin deserved to be happy, to be able to be honest with his family about everything, instead of being forced to lie for Arthur’s sake.
He couldn’t do this.
His blood roaring in his ears, he raised his hand, lifting a finger to indicate that the minister should stop. He blinked at Arthur, surprised.
“Umm, yes?”
“Sorry,” he said, clearing his throat. “I just-there’s something that I need to say.”
“Oh. Go on, then.”
“Arthur, what are you doing?” Merlin whispered sharply. He probably knew what Arthur was about to do. It would hurt his family, Arthur knew, but Merlin could start making it up to them much quicker if he wasn’t in jail. Decided, Arthur turned to the guests.
“Hello,” he said, wavering briefly when he saw Hunith and Gaius looking at him, confused. “As you all know,” he said, pressing on, “Merlin’s been working for me in New York these past few years. I’m sure you’ve all heard the stories.” He paused for the chuckles, gathering his courage. “But what you don’t know is that recently, my work visa expired and my application to renew was denied.”
“Arthur,” Merlin said, sounding well and truly panicked now. Arthur ignored him.
“I love my job,” Arthur said. “But they were going to make me leave for a year unless I could figure out another way to stay. So, knowing that Merlin was a citizen, I blackmailed him into marrying me.”
A shocked murmur went through the crowd. This time, he avoided looking at Merlin’s family.
“You see, Merlin’s incredibly motivated. I knew how badly he wanted to be an editor, so I knew that if I threatened his career, he would do anything I asked. So I made him come here and lie to all of you.”
All right, so it hadn’t happened exactly that way, but it was better that all the blame fell on Arthur. Perhaps they wouldn’t be so hard on Merlin if they thought he’d had no choice.
“So,” he continued, “we came here, and I met all of you, and now I find that I can’t do this. I thought I would do anything to stay, but it turns out that it’s not so easy ruining someone’s life after you find out how wonderful they are.”
He was met with complete silence, which was fine, given that he’d completely exhausted his nerve. Without another glance at Merlin, he stepped down off the dais. He stopped next to Hunith and crouched down, taking her hands into his. “You have a wonderful family,” he said to her and Gaius. “I wish I deserved everything you’ve given me. Please don’t blame Merlin for this. This was my fault. I am so sorry.”
He stood up and strode down the aisle, not looking at anyone and ignoring the chatter that burst out on all sides. He got to the house and ran upstairs, changing out of his tuxedo, grabbing the bag he’d packed. He was counting on everyone’s shock to buy him enough time to get away without being seen.
He took one last look at the room and then left. As he’d predicted, no one had left the barn. He rushed down to the pier, grabbing one of the water taxis the guests had used to come over for the ceremony. His heart heavy as the boat pulled away, he opened his phone and dialled the number he’d memorized last night.
“Nimueh Dumond’s room, please.”
“So what happens now?” Arthur asked as he buckled his seat belt on the small plane that would take them to Juneau.
“Well, now that you’re coming along of your own accord, there won’t be any problems,” she said happily. “Once we get back to New York, you have 24 hours to get on a flight to London.”
“And nothing happens to Merlin.”
“No.”
He looked at her. “I want your word that you won’t go after him once I’m gone.”
She smiled. “You have my word, as an agent of the United States government, that Merlin will not in any way be punished.”
Good enough. Arthur sat back and waited for the plane to take off.
+++
“Are you taking these?” Morgana asked, indicating a stack of manuscripts she’d unearthed in Arthur’s study.
“No, have Merlin-” he grimaced as he caught himself. “Have one of the editorial assistants catalogue and archive them.”
It was early afternoon the day after the almost-wedding. They were at Arthur’s flat, packing up the things he’d take with him and setting everything else aside for Morgana to deal with after he’d gone. He had a late flight to London that night. Morgana looked around at the disarray. “Do you really need to do this?” she asked. “I mean, you’re coming back eventually.”
“I’ll find a new flat. I’ve always thought this one was too big for one person anyway.”
She flipped idly through the largest of the manuscripts. “I don’t suppose it’d be too big for two, though.”
He frowned at her. “What?”
“I’m just saying. It wouldn’t be too big if someone-say Merlin, for example-lived here with you.”
He ignored the vague ache in his chest at the reminder. Had he not backed out, they’d probably be moving Merlin’s things in right now, instead of moving Arthur out.
“Don’t be ridiculous, Morgana. Why on earth would Merlin live here?” he asked, glaring at the glassware he couldn’t quite get into the box he was packing.
“He would if you were married.”
“But we’re not married,” he said, pinching the bridge of his nose. He really wasn’t in the mood for one of Morgana’s cryptic fits. “What are you on about, anyway?”
She took a deep breath. “I think you’re making a mistake.”
He sat back on his heels, incredulous. “I’m sorry, wasn’t this your advice? You were the one saying what a horrible person I was for making him do it in the first place.”
“That was before I knew you were capable of actual human emotion,” she said loftily, tossing the manuscript aside. “And before I knew how you felt about him.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said automatically, turning his attention back to the box.
“You love him.”
“No, I don’t.”
“Then why didn’t you go through with it?”
“I didn’t want him to go to jail,” he said. It was a good, emotionless reason. Plus, it was actually true.
“Bollocks,” she said. “Well, I’m sure you didn’t want him to go to jail,” she amended when he glared at her, “but you’re also in love with him.”
He sighed, hating her inability to drop the subject. “It was three days, Morgana. You can’t fall in love with someone in three days.”
“No, it’s been three years. You’re just too stupid and repressed to realise it.”
Ignoring the insults, he stopped to think about what she said. Was that really possible? He thought back on all the things he tolerated from Merlin that he’d never take from anyone else, the way Merlin’s opinion always seemed to matter, even when Arthur pretended that it didn’t-the way he’d harassed Merlin late at night and on the weekends because he’d hated it when Merlin wasn’t with him.
Huh. Interesting.
Either way, it didn’t matter anymore. Arthur was going back to London and Merlin was free to be with whomever he wanted.
“I don’t have time to argue with you, Morgana. If you’re going to sit there and insult me, go home.”
Thankfully, she didn’t say anything else, just looked at him sadly. They packed for a while longer before the buzzer rang.
“Must be the takeaway,” Morgana said. “I’ll get it.”
Arthur had given up on the glassware by the time she returned, takeaway in hand. And Merlin in tow.
Shit.
Arthur’s stupid, stupid heart skipped a beat. Merlin was holding the bag he’d taken to Ealdor and wearing the clothes he’d travelled in the first day. He was a bit dishevelled, looking every bit like he’d just gotten off the plane from Alaska and come straight here.
He also looked very, very angry.
Morgana set down the takeaway bag, barely managing to keep the smile off her face. “I’m just going to, um-go over there. Somewhere,” she said, heading quickly toward the door. Bloody deserter. Merlin waited until he heard the door to the spare bedroom close before turning on Arthur.
“What are you doing?” he demanded, hands on his hips. Oh yes, definitely angry.
“Packing. I would think that’d be obvious, even to someone of your limited intelligence,” Arthur said dryly, falling back onto the familiar territory of insulting Merlin. Only it didn’t feel quite as comfortable as he remembered. And Merlin was having none of it.
“You,” he said, pointing accusingly at Arthur, “do not get to leave me at the altar and then insult me.”
Arthur held his hands up in a placating gesture. “All right.”
“Arthur, what were you thinking? Do you realize that when Nimueh finds out about this, I could go to jail?”
“You’re not going to jail. I’m serious,” he said at Merlin’s disbelieving look. “I made a deal with her.”
That got Merlin’s attention. “What sort of deal?”
“If I admitted to the whole thing and left quietly, she’d not bother with you.”
“When the hell did this happen?”
Arthur got up, brushing the dust off his sweatpants. “Morgana told me about it first, but we discussed it at the coffee shop.”
Merlin crossed his arms over his chest. “And you didn’t think it important to tell me?”
“I didn’t think you’d have any objections, considering you never wanted to do it in the first place. Look,” he said, “I really need to finish up here. I have to leave in a few hours.”
“You’re leaving tonight?”
“Yes, so if you don’t mind...”
“Oh, I mind,” Merlin said. “So you’re telling me that you’re willing to leave for a year just so I won’t go to jail?”
“Yes.”
“Why now?” Merlin asked. “You weren’t willing to do that three days ago.”
Arthur looked away. He was not telling Merlin anything about his newly discovered feelings. The last thing he needed was for Merlin to feel sorry for him. Merlin shook his head, smiling. “Apparently your communication skills are something else we’re going to have to work on once we’re married.”
Arthur’s ears were playing tricks on him. They had to be. “Sorry?”
“We had a deal,” Merlin said, “and I’m going to make sure you stick to it.”
“I’ve already seen to your promotion.”
“All of it.”
Merlin was practically on top of him now. Arthur took another few steps back, putting distance between them so he could think. “What, you’re saying you want to get married now?”
“I didn’t fly all the way from Alaska and then rush over here for the promotion, Arthur.”
His heart started to race. “Then why?”
Thankfully, Merlin stopped his approach. “And you call my intelligence limited?”
He didn’t dare hope. “I do,” he said, trying for levity, “quite often, actually.”
That got him a chuckle. “You’re a complete prat, you know that?” he asked, resuming his prowl toward Arthur. “Marry me.”
“You don’t even like me,” he said, feeling the need to resist further.
“Sometimes,” Merlin agreed, “but I think I might possibly love you.”
Arthur’s heart actually stopped beating for a moment. If he survived this without having a heart attack, it’d be a miracle. “Really?”
“Yes,” Merlin said, taking that final step that backed Arthur up against the wall. “So you see why it doesn’t really work for me to have you piss off to London for a year.”
Arthur cleared his throat, trying to reign in his wildly careening emotions. “I guess I see how that might be a problem, y-“
Merlin cut him off with an eager kiss, pressing him back against the wall. Arthur responded just as enthusiastically, finally able to wrap his arms around Merlin and pull him close like he’d been wanting to. Merlin curled his hands in Arthur’s hair, holding him still while he licked into Arthur’s mouth.
Arthur’s head was spinning, unable to grasp that this was real after everything that had happened since yesterday morning. He pulled back suddenly, horrified as a thought struck him. “Oh God,” he said, “your mother. Gaius. They must hate me.”
Merlin laughed, curling into Arthur’s embrace and resting his head on his shoulder. “Not really. I suspect you’ll get the same lecture I got on honesty, though.”
“I’m really sorry, Merlin,” Arthur said, pressing his face into Merlin’s hair. Knowing what he did now, he was truly ashamed of his behaviour. “I never should’ve forced you into any of this.”
Merlin lifted his head. “I could’ve said no, you know. It would’ve sucked for me having to quit, but ultimately it was my choice.”
“Why didn’t you?” he asked, curious, running his hands up and down Merlin’s back, just because he could.
“You need me,” Merlin said, grinning as he slung his arms around Arthur’s shoulders. “You haven’t had sex in five years.”
Arthur choked out a laugh, feeling his face grow warm, though not entirely from embarrassment. “Just trying to get in my pants, were you?”
Merlin nuzzled at his face, brushing their lips together, sending a shiver down Arthur’s spine. “Maybe a little,” he said, though Arthur could feel him smiling.
“Just for that, you’re not getting any until we’re married,” Arthur declared, though the press of Merlin’s body against his was going to make a liar of him soon if he wasn’t careful.
Merlin straightened up and looked at him, wide-eyed. “You’re not serious.”
“I assure you, I am.”
“We are going to City Hall first thing in the morning,” Merlin said with conviction. “As soon as we take care of the whole you not getting deported thing.”
Arthur laughed. “Whatever you want.”
It couldn’t be soon enough for him.
THE END =D
Or maybe not. This way to the sequel, So This Is Christmas.
NOTE: I seriously LOVED this movie and stuck pretty close to the general story and dialogue. I hope I did it justice. There might be a couple of one-off sequels, because this universe has just taken over my brain. Thanks for reading!!