Fic: M.E.R.L.I.N. epilogue
So, this is the end of it. I might do tidbits that didn't make it into the story, but we'll see. I'm not feeling all that hot today, so I'll probably stay at home tomorrow and get some rest. I hope you enjoy the epilogue! And thanks to all those that have read and replied. It means a lot to me.
M.E.R.L.I.N. Epilogue
Pairings: Arthur/Merlin, Gwaine/Elena, Lancelot/Gwen, Morgana/Morgause/Cenred
Rated: PG-13 to R
Warnings/contents: sci-fi/futuristic AU, sex with a robot, language, more domestic scenes in this part, minor character deaths (off screen)
Notes: Not sure where this idea came from, but the first grains of it might have been when I was thinking about the scene from Heavy Metal (the movie) where a woman was explaining to a robot why they couldn't go steady.
Notes 2: I really tried to keep this shorter than a normal chapter but it decided to grow…. This part is a bit more fluffy and has a sort of different atmosphere than parts 1-4. It's almost like a competely different story or a sequel of sorts.
Summary: Captain Arthur Pendragon mail orders for a companion robot to keep him company and provide him with sex while in space; he didn't plan on getting MERLIN.
Disclaimer: these characters do not belong to me.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
**
About three and a half years later:
The doorbell went just as Merlin was putting a bottle to the baby's mouth. He was about to stand up to answer the door, as he habitually did, but then Arthur rushed out of the kitchen, tea towel flung over his shoulder, and said, "Don't worry, I'll answer it."
"Thanks, husband mine," Merlin intoned and then blushed. He still wasn't used to calling his master (ex-master now, since he'd become a free individual since their marriage and no longer a servant) husband. He sank back into the old, handed-down rocking chair and resumed his feeding duty. Their son, Mordred, was quite the handful and very demanding when hungry, but it wasn't something Merlin couldn't handle. If he could grow and tend a vegetable garden then he could care for a growing human baby.
Arthur opened the front door, hoping that it wasn't his father (and kind of hoping it was at the same time, because he hadn't spoken to his father ever since he returned to Earth for his and Merlin's outdoor wedding and he kind of missed the old drill sergeant), but to his semi-relief it wasn't his old man-standing on the other side of the door was a slightly large box… with legs.
Arthur wondered if this was some sort of new age development in the postal service, but then he saw that there was a blue hand clawing into the side of the box to hold it steady and a blue arm attached to that hand, shaking from the weight of it. A face peered around from behind the box to show that it was indeed being carried by someone (an Areslan) and not a box on robotic legs.
"Package… for Arthur and Merlin Pendragon…" the alien postman grunted. He gestured his head toward the top of the cardboard box. "The-huff-clipboard to sigh-puff-is at the top…" This Areslan must be new to the post service, because Arthur was sure that a professional would have set the box down on the stoop by now, or at least used a two-wheeled trolley.
"Are you sure I can't get it?" Merlin said, suddenly at Arthur's shoulder and still holding and feeding Mordred. Arthur turned in surprise, and was about to tell Merlin that he was strong enough to handle lifting the box since this alien could do it, when said postman keeled over on their front step. Arthur moved forward quickly to take the box off the Areslan, whom was groaning and wheezing under it.
"You really should have used a two-wheeled trolley," Arthur told the postman. "Would have saved you a lot of strain." He tried to lift the box himself, but he had to admit that it was a bit heavy. He didn't want to show either of them that he was effected by the weight, so he carefully, without a sound, moved the box off the man and scuttled back into their house to place it on the floor of the parlor. His face was not red as a beet either, thank you very much. Then he took the clipboard that had been lying on top of the box and signed his name on the dotted line.
With a free hand, Merlin helped the postman up from the steps. The postman was shocked by how strong Merlin was, since Merlin looked quite thin and underfed, but when he studied Merlin a bit closer he realized that Merlin wasn't as human as he originally thought.
"Wait," the Areslan said, a little shaky, "You're a-"
"Thanks for your hard work," Arthur said, handing the postman his clipboard.
The postman didn't respond right away, so Arthur nudged his arm with the clipboard. Startled out of his shock, the postman took the clipboard, still ogling Merlin.
"Yes, he's a robot," Arthur said impatiently, rolling his eyes. "And yes, we're married and started a family. Is there a problem with that?"
"Oh, uh, no… not at all, sir. Er, wait, you wouldn't happen to be the Arthur Pendragon, would you?"
"Yes, I am," Arthur smirked, amused that the man finally recongized him.
"The famous Captain Arthur Pendragon of the Starship Excalibur? The son of Uther Pendragon, owner of Camelot Enterprises? That Arthur Pendragon?"
"Yes," Arthur said, almost laughing. "That's me."
"The one who fought off a vicious, malfunctioning robot to save the lives of his crew?" the postman continued to boggle, and Arthur decided not to correct him in assuming that Merlin, Lancelot, Gwen, and Elyan were his crew at the time. "The one and only Arthur Pendragon who discovered the benefit of having plants in outer space, for the oxygen intake?"
"Well, that was more Merlin's discovery, but yes, I'm Captain Arthur Pendragon."
"And he's-" the postman pointed to Merlin with a shaky finger.
"My husband," Arthur said. He was amused by this man's reaction, but it was starting to get on his nerves. "Merlin. Yes, he's a robot and yes, we're married, as I've said before. Are you quite done ogling us now? We're not animals in a zoo, you know."
"Yes, sir," the postman babbled. "I'm sorry, sir. I'm just… I never thought I'd get to meet someone as famous as you. And, well, I've never met a Starship robot like MERLIN before either." He bowed his head a tad and tipped his cap at Merlin. "It's a real honor to meet an advanced robot such as yourself, sir."
Merlin blushed, craddling a wiggly and now stinky Mordred who started to cry. "It is… nice to meet you as well. Thank you for bringing us our package." Merlin was free to express all the emotions he wanted now, thanks to the laws of marriage (married to a human) that protected him. He was given his freedom of expression and speech and everything else that humans were allowed, and even though some were still wary of a robot that acted more human than any other robot before, most that met Merlin and got to know him weren't frightened of him one jot.
"Yes, thank you," Arthur repeated, remembering his manners. "And a good day to you…" Arthur squinted to read the nametag on the postman's shirt, which was in small print. "Eoghan."
"Good day to you as well, sir," Eoghan said. "And to your husband bot."
Arthur shut the door none too quietly in the alien's face, even as he forced himself not to slam it.
"I thought our fifteen minutes of fame were over with," he grumbled.
"You know that it's more than fifteen minutes this day and age," Merlin said. "Now it's more like fifteen days."
"Feels longer than that," Arthur continued to grumble. At first, the attention and fame had been great, but now it was becoming annoying. He couldn't even go to the market without getting mugged by so-called fans. Arthur was fine with his face being on posters and t-shirts and other merchandise, but he hoped that once they had their son they'd get left in peace. He was even hounded by agents who want him to do commercials, but they weren't so hard up on money that he needed to lower himself to such a thing (thanks to Merlin's discovery of plant benefits in space). He was still the sole heir of his father's riches, even if his father was angry with him for choosing a robot over a human. Yes, Uther could change his will, but it would only make him look bad in the public eye and that was something Uther didn't want. Uther then opted to mostly ignore his son and act as if Arthur hadn't married a male robot at all.
"You were known well before your space exploration even started, Arthur," Merlin reminded him gently. He set a crying Mordred down on the sofa and grabbed the nappies. "Your father is well-known throughout the galaxy."
"It wasn't so bad when I was just the son of a successful Starfleet commander," Arthur said. He took out his switch knife and cut the tape off from around the box's flaps. He quickly opened the box only to discover another box within, but this time it wasn't just a plain, ordinary cardboard shipping box; this one was pink with the company's letters written on it. "Now it's so a man can't go jogging in the early morning without-oh. Oh, Merlin."
"What is it?" Merlin asked, looking up from a squirmy and nude baby. When Mordred made a fountain with his pee, Merlin tisked and grabbed a dry cloth to mop up the mess. Mordred giggled.
Arthur hauled the pink and white box out and held it up. Merlin read along the side of it: "DREA… Daughter Robot Emulating Anyone (you wish). …Well, seems they're running out of witty acronyms."
"It's a girl!" Arthur beamed. He set the pink box down to open with more gusto than he did with the postal packaging. "My-our daughter, for me to create with my own bare hands, wires and microchips and all!"
"It's a good thing you're a robotics expert," Merlin quipped, "or it'd take days to bring her to life. Would you like hot water and some towels?"
"Why would I want those things?" Arthur asked without looking up, engrossed in the instruction manual.
"I don't know. It's just something I've heard humans talk about needing when a woman is giving birth. Do you need morphine as well?"
"I'm good," Arthur said, distracted. "Now, where is the-aha! Here's her head." Arthur lifted it out of the protective bubble wrap. "Isn't she adorable? Oh, she's got my hair! Look at that full head of beautiful, blonde hair!"
"Yes, sweetheart, that is nice," Merlin said. He hurridly fastened the new, dry nappy on Mordred before he decided to take aim at him with his tiny penis again. Mordred made the gesture of wanting up, so Merlin obliged and cradled him against one hip as he went toward the kitchen. "Perhaps while you're busy making our daughter I shall make us some tea, and then I could get the nursery room prepared for her."
"Thanks, Merl, you're the best." Arthur flattened the instruction manual on the carpet and began to build himself a daughter.
**
One year later, they received another package. It was Drea's one year old parts. With how much things had advanced in robotics since Arthur had been in space, it was good to learn the newer technologies concerning robots. Baby and child robots were able to be upgraded in age, like normal people did when they grew, so now they have a two year old Mordred and a soon-to-be one year old Drea.
Merlin had been in his flower garden when the postman arrived. Arthur was in the house, watching over a sleeping Mordred and a learning DREA. They were teaching her slowly, like a human, but sooner or later when their daughter reached a certain age they were going to buy some microchips to add into her data banks so that she would understand how things worked. Whatever their daughter decided to be when she got older would be whatever chips they'd add into her software. They didn't want to take her freedom away by choosing for her, though. If Merlin was a free bot then so would their daughter be.
"Ah, Eoghan, good to see you," Merlin said, standing from his row of pansies.
"Good to see you as well, Mr Pendragon," Eoghan, their Areslan postman, said. This time he used a cart to wheel the heavy package to their door. "I think I know what this is," he added.
"Indeed, yes," Merlin said, removing his gardening gloves. His knees and backside were covered in soil, and there was dirt smeared along his cheeks and the bridge of his nose, but Merlin wasn't bothered by it. "It's Drea's first Activation Day-er, birthday, and we're also having a party later after she's been upgraded."
"Sounds like fun. Oh, this is for you as well," Eoghan said, handing Merlin another smaller package that he'd been carrying in his sack.
Merlin took it from him, a little confused. "I didn't order for anything," he said. He turned the box this way and that as he tried to get a clue as to what it was.
"Maybe it's a gift," Eoghan said. "Not sure why it's addressed to you, though, if it's supposed to be for your daughter."
Then Merlin's eyes grew when he finally located the return address on it and recognized it. "It's-it's from Gaius! He's my maker."
"Must be important, then. Well, must go. I have other deliveries to make."
"Yeah," Merlin said, preoccupied with the package. After signing the clipboard for the bigger package, Eoghan left with his cart and Merlin easily hauled both boxes into the house.
"That you, Merlin?" Arthur's voice floated from the living room.
"It's me," Merlin responded automatically, his eyes still trained on the little package. After a moment, he set down DREA's one year old parts and went straight to their bedroom. Arthur stood from the couch where Drea was playing with a mind enhancement toy and was about to ask Merlin what was up, but Merlin just zoomed past him without a word. Confused, Arthur watched Merlin shut the door to their bedroom, debating whether he should see what was wrong, but when he looked down and saw the package for Drea he beamed.
"Guess what, Drea sweets? Your birthday parts are here!"
**
An hour after Arthur upgraded his robot daughter into a one-year-old, he knocked on the bedroom door. There was no immediate answer, but then he heard a faint "come in" coming from the other side of the door. Slowly, cautiously, Arthur opened the door and came inside.
"Merlin, love? What-oh, Merlin," Arthur sighed and went to sit by his husband on the bed. Merlin was in tears. "What's the matter?"
"It's a new microchip to be inserted into my circuits," Merlin said slowly. "It's my own… aging chip."
"Oh," Arthur said. "I don't understand. I thought you didn't grow old."
"I do, remember? I mean, not like a human, but there are chips that… well."
"Emulate age," Arthur said. "Well, that's not so bad, is it? I mean, you'll be aging with me. Isn't that a good thing?"
"Yes… I suppose."
"Then why the water works?" Arthur asked. He wiped at Merlin's cheeks with Merlin's neckerchief, wiping tears and bits of dirt off his face. "You're not upset that you'll be aging, are you?"
"It isn't that," Merlin sighed. He put the chip back into the protective foam it had come in. "I am… not really upset about it. I guess I just miss my maker."
"We could invite him to Drea's birthday party that we're having tonight. I'm sure he'll come."
"I don't know. He is getting on in age, and he hasn't been making as many robots as he used to, not after he'd finished making FREYA. He cannot get around easily any more, and I'm afraid that this," he held up the box with his aging chip in it, "is his last delivery to me-the last thing I'll ever receive from him. It takes months to get prepared to go into space, and then to reach Camelot Enterprise's space station. It would be too late to see him by then."
Arthur took the box from Merlin's limp fingers and removed the protection foam from it. He stared at the chip nestled in the foam for a while, thinking of how to make his husband less sad, when his hand brushed against something papery underneath the foam. Carefully, Arthur turned it over and saw a note stuck to the bottom. "What's this?" he said, taking the note and unfolding it. "'Dear Merlin…'" he read.
"What?" Merlin gasped, eyes wide and wet. He bounced a little in his excitement. "It is from my maker?"
"I think so," Arthur said. He continued to read, "'I heard about your accomplishments, and of your marriage to Arthur Pendragon. Congratulations, my boy. I am so very proud of you. This is the last aging chip that I had planned to send to you, and even though you won't age the same as a human it will be just as good as. If you require another one some day, might I suggest asking Mr Kilgharrah? He may be older than I, but he's got a lot more life left in him. He might be able to help you in whatever you need.
'Merlin, you must continue to live a life that you want. Do not listen to the nay-sayers or the fear-mongers. Don't be afraid to live your life in a way that makes you happy. Trust in your heart (and you know what I mean, don't take that so literal), and trust in Arthur; he's the best human a robot could ever have…'"
Arthur blushed from such praise and cleared his throat to finish off the letter.
"'Please try to stay out of any more trouble, if it's at all possible. Live on and stay strong, my dearest son. Give the children my love as well.
'Your maker (and proud papa), Dr. Gaius Richard Pennyworth.'"
"Oh," Merlin buried his face in his hands and sobbed. "Oh!"
"'P.S.,'" Arthur continued, "'I will be sending you a second package before I set my affairs in order. I hope you'll like it.'" Arthur set the letter aside and then put his arm around Merlin's shoulders.
They sat there in silence for a while. When Merlin got his emotions more under control, Arthur said, "Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. I finished putting Drea together."
"That's great news," Merlin said, giving him a watery smile.
"She's now officially one year old. It didn't take me as long as I thought…"
Before he could finish speaking, their son started to cry from the next room.
"He's awake," Merlin sighed. "I better go see to him."
"Yeah, okay," Arthur said, standing. "I better get everything ready for tonight."
Before going their separate ways within the house, Arthur kissed him. Merlin blushed. They embraced shortly, even if they wished it could be for much longer, but their son began to cry even harder in his impatience.
"Don't forget to check on our daughter," Merlin reminded him as he headed for the nursery room. "She may be a robot but she still needs supervision."
"Yes, beloved," Arthur said. His heart felt a hundred times lighter.
**
The doorbell went just as Arthur was putting the finishing touches on the birthday cake. He knew that DREA didn't eat human food, but it was tradition on Earth, and anyway they had some hungry guests to feed and they'll be expecting cake.
"I'm coming," he sighed, wiping his hands on his apron. He didn't think much of who would be on the other side of the door until he opened it. As the first guest of the evening stared in amusement, Arthur then remembered he was still wearing his apron and holding the icer.
"Well, brother dear, fancy seeing you out of your starship and acting like the dutiful wife."
Arthur flushed red. "Morgana. Quick with the quips, as usual. It's a pleasure to see you, dear sister. Come in and make yourself at home."
Morgana walked briskly past him, followed by two other people. "Goodness, Arthur, this robot husband of yours has done you wonders. The old you would have screamed at me for even thinking you were anything less than manly."
"I'm perfectly comfortable in my own skin, thanks. And I don't care one jot about what others think of me. I'm happy and that's all that matters."
"Quite," she said, smirking. "Oh, these two are my spouces," she said after noticing Arthur eyeing the two newcomers curiously. "This is Morgause, my first wife, and this is CENRED, our robot companion who's also our hubby and housekeeping servant."
"Pleasure," Morgause said, shaking Arthur's sticky hand. She wrinkled her nose and wiped her hand on a handkerchief she produced from another pocket.
"I'm Arthur's adopted sister," Morgana told her spouses. "But I still consider him a brother nonetheless."
Arthur then shook hands with CENRED, who was eyeing him in a way that reminded Arthur of a wild animal scenting prey. "Merlin will be pleased to know another robot is here," he said. "Not many come to visit us."
"Why is that, sir?" CENRED asked.
"I'm not sure, but I think it's because of his different personality."
"I have heard of that," CENRED said, taking Morgana's long coat from her to hang up on the coat rack by the door. "He is considered both a disgrace and an idol in the robot community, more an idol to some, depending on who you ask."
"What do you consider him as?" Arthur couldn't help but ask.
"I have not made an opinion on him, since I have not met him yet," CENRED replied. "It is most irrational of him to develop such emotions, but if it is something he can not control, then it is not a fault of his; therefore, he cannot be blamed." Cenred then lifted his head and his nostrils flared wide. "I smell chocolate marble cake with cream cheese frosting."
"Yes, it's our daughter's birthday cake. I'd been decorating it."
Morgana smiled as she took in Arthur's messy demeanor. "Indeed. I honestly never thought I'd see the day that my own brother would be doing something domestic."
"Well, Merlin's a free robot, so that means he shouldn't be stuck doing all the household chores. Besides," Arthur said more quietly, leaning closer to Morgana, "he's not as great a cook as he once was, when he was first activated."
"Where's the loo?" Morgause suddenly asked. Arthur directed her to it. "Thank you," she said almost as an after thought, then slammed the door behind her.
"What's with her?" Arthur asked.
"Most likely mood swings," Morgana said with a shrug. "She's four months pregnant after all."
"She is?" Arthur gasped.
"Haven't you noticed?" Morgana snickered. "Well, I suppose since her clothes are rather big and flowing then of course you couldn't tell right away."
"You-you and Morgause are… having a baby?" Arthur gaped.
"With a little help from science, yes. And speaking of which, where is your scientifically created brat?"
"Mordred isn't a brat," Arthur scowled. "He's just in the terrible two stage. Anyway, he's outside playing on the swing with Merlin, to calm him down. DREA's in her playpen with her techno toys."
As Morgana and CENRED went into the living room to patiently wait for their other host to return with a more content Mordred, the doorbell sounded again. Sighing, Arthur took off his apron so as not to embarrass himself any further, put the icer down on the table, and went to answer the door.
"Arthur, good to see you!"
"Lancelot," he greeted and they shook hands. "And Gwen, hello."
"Hello, sir," GWEN intoned. "It is good to see you again."
"Agreed," Arthur smiled. "And Elyan, thanks for coming." They shook hands briefly.
"You are very welcome, sir," ELYAN said. "We brought presents."
Indeed, there was a sack full of them that he'd been carrying over his shoulder. For a human, the sack would be much too heavy to carry, by the looks of it, but for a robot it was no problem.
"Thanks," Arthur said, touched. "You didn't need to bring so many."
"It was just so hard to choose," Gwen informed him, giving him a smile to help ease his discomfort. "DREA is at the stage where she needs as much stimulation to the brain as possible, and in order for her to do well, we have selected a few that would aid in her memory and…"
"Yes, yes, thank you," Arthur interrupted gently. He didn't want her to go on with her techno-babble. Like Merlin, she would have gone on for hours. "Please, come in and make yourselves comfortable. You can just set the bag of gifts down here in the dining room…"
Later, they followed Arthur into the living room where Morgana, CENRED, Merlin, Mordred, DREA, and Morgause were all finally congregating. GWEN and Merlin greeted each other in the usual robot way (up close and personal), and after the introductions were done, Arthur was surprised to see Merlin and CENRED eyeing each other warily. Arthur knew that most robots got along well, hence their lack of personal space when they greeted each other, and once friendship was established it was forever. In spite of that, there were those rare times when two robots just didn't click, and Arthur hadn't seen that happen before (not counting the catastrophe with GEORGE, because that was a different ordeal all together). That was, until now.
"You are MERLIN," the CENRED bot intoned. "Arthur's husband-bot."
"Yes," Merlin said. "And you are CENRED, Morgana and Morgause's husband-bot. Good day."
"Good day to you too, sir."
Merlin and Cenred stayed five feet apart from each other. Arthur, and the others in the room, watched them with a mixture of curiosity, apprehension, and wonder. He wouldn't be one bit surprised if a tumbleweed were to roll on past with the way Merlin and CENRED were eyeing each other, as if they were about to draw pistols. Would the robots become neutral toward each other during their visit or would there be a confrontation? Would they develop a strong dislike or would they build up a mutual understanding? Only time would tell.
"Well," GWEN said, clapping her hands together once, and putting on a defusing smile, "Let us converse in the happenings of one another, and exchange some information and wisdom in a most friendly manner."
That pulled Merlin out of his glaring contest with CENRED and he turned toward Gwen with a cheery smile. "You're so right, Gwen. We must exchange pleasantries. We do not wish to ruin the party otherwise."
"The two of us should speak together in the kitchen, MERLIN," Gwen said, looping her arm into Merlin's. "Let the others talk amongst themselves here in the living room. I will help in perparing food stuffs."
"Um, okay. Arthur?"
"It's fine," Arthur assured him with a wave. "Go have your chat with your robot friend. I'll look after-"
The doorbell went, again. Arthur took it as his cue to go answer it, so he moved to do just that. Merlin had been about to unhook himself from Gwen to answer it, but Arthur waved him off and let him know with a simple gesture that he didn't mind doing it.
Just as Gwen and Merlin went into the kitchen, Arthur opened the front door.
"Arthur, hello!"
"Elena," Arthur said. "Hello." He'd first met her during his wedding. She'd been one of the bridesmaids and GWAINE had been a best man (Lancelot the other, and GWEN and Morgana as the other bridesmaids). "It's good to see you again."
"Likewise, my friend!" Elena bounded over to give him a hug, but once done she kept her arms around his neck and stuck close as she continued to prattle her happy greetings. She was much like a robot in this way: clueless to a person's personal space. That must be why she got on with robots so well. The very friendly ones, anyway. Arthur really didn't mind her sweet and friendly disposition; it was what made Elena, well, Elena.
Arthur saw that she brought GWAINE and was pleased to see him as well. "Hello to you as well, Gwaine," he said over Elena's head.
"Hello, sir," Gwaine answered easily. As Arthur was shaking Gwaine's hand, however, he was surprised to see another robot standing behind Gwaine, who looked almost exactly like another GWAINE model except that he had shorter hair and a smaller beard. He was also carrying gifts.
"Oh, this is my other robot, newly acquired just this week," Elena said by introduction, finally tearing herself away from Arthur. "He's Gwaine's older brother, so to speak, called G.A.W.A.I.N. Well, a more new-ish model than the original GAWAIN, but still a GAWAIN nonetheless." She then beamed.
"You have... two robot Gwaines?" Arthur didn't know if he should laugh or not. He thought Elena had eyes only for Gwaine (her first robot), but apparently she liked her Gwaine bot so much she decided to buy the other model.
"They say 'two is better than one'! I just couldn't help myself, really. When Gwaine had told me about the other robot model I just had to get it. It's really true that two is better, I think. I mean, my stars!, the sex is just fantastic-"
"Right, I get it, Elena," Arthur said. "No need to go into the details. Come in and make yourselves at home, I-" in the background, he heard Mordred cry out 'DAD!'. "Excuse me, my son needs me." He gestured at the table. "Just put the gifts down here and come meet the others; they're in the living room."
Gwaine set down one of the gifts meant for Merlin as well as DREA: the start of a rose bush in a clay pot. Merlin would no doubt love it.
Arthur made to leave to see Mordred, but Merlin came dashing out of the kitchen and beat him to it. Merlin waved him off, saying "I'll take care of it, love. You just be the good host."
As he watched Merlin go, he felt his heart swell with emotion. He really was the perfect companion, and he wouldn't have chosen another.
In the living room, GWAINE and GAWAIN were eyeing CENRED coolly. Odd. It wasn't just Merlin taking a dislike to the Cenred bot. Morgana and Morgause didn't seem to really care either way that their husband bot was disliked by all the robots here. Actually, Morgause was smirking.
Then, just as Merlin had entered the room with Mordred in tow, the birthday girl, DREA, suddenly clapped her hands in amusement and her eyes lit up (literally) in a way that Merlin's sometimes did when it was dark, and she cried out: "Papa, papa!"
Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned to stare at her. Drea had been in her playpen learning with her techno toys when she'd spoken up. Most strangely, she hadn't been paying much attention to the crowd in the house, not understanding that the party going on was for her, and what was even weirder was the fact that that was her first word. Drea then pulled herself to her feet using the edge of the playpen and peeked over it, scanning the room (Arthur could even hear the clicks and noises as she scanned). When her eyes fell on Arthur, she again screamed "Papa, papa!"
Arthur went to her immediately. Merlin stayed still, a pleased and proud look on his face, and everyone else were either shocked or smiling at the scene.
"Papa's here, sweetheart," Arthur said, lifting her from her pen. He felt his eyes tear up, but he refused to cry in front of the others. He did still have some pride. "Oh, my darling little girl, that was your first word!" he kissed her cheek.
Drea patted Arthur on the cheek and smiled. "Papa."
He turned around to see that everyone was staring at him-them-still. His eyes met Merlin's from across the room, and they shared a smile.
"Merlin, did you hear her?" Arthur said. "She said 'papa'!"
"I heard her, love," Merlin said, his eyes were swimming in unshed tears as well. "And I'm not one bit surprised. She has taken a shine to you, after all."
"I am the best papa in the universe, aren't I?" Arthur said, putting his old, pratty mask back on again. Ever since he'd married Merlin and started a family he'd been less stoic and unafraid of showing a more softer side to his personality. He wondered if that happened to everyone who became a husband and father.
"You, Arthur Pendragon, are the best," Merlin agreed. He crossed the room, Mordred still holding onto his hand, to reach his dearest husband and planted a soft kiss on his lips. Arthur blushed.
The entire room erupted in applause. Some had even "aww'd" at the sight they made.
"All right, let's go eat already," Arthur said, trying to cover up his embarrassment. "Then we can put a candle on the birthday cake and have Drea blow it out to make a wish."
While they all ate, they chatted and exchanged information (as GWEN had offered), and even teased Arthur a little but he didn't mind. When they got to the cake, with one pink candle lit, Arthur tried explaining to Drea what she had to do. Merlin helped with the explanation and finally Drea understood, and so she leaned over to blow out the candle.
Being a robot that she was, even if it was just a very young robot, she was still quite strong and so she blew so hard that the candle and some of the frosting flew off the cake and hit CENRED square in the face. There were shocked and amused expressions all around. Arthur tried not to burst out laughing, but his daughter had no qualms about it and laughed and clapped at the sight. Cenred took it well enough, excusing himself to go clean up. When he was gone, Arthur allowed himself to laugh.
"That wasn't funny," Morgause said, glaring daggers across the table at him.
"Sorry, I can't help it!" Arthur snickered.
"Hmph!" Morgause said. She stood and followed her husband bot to the loo.
"Spoil sport," Arthur said under his breath.
"Yeah," Mordred giggled, clapping in amusement. "Spoilt sports!"
Arthur broke out into fresh laughter.
**
Two months later, Merlin received his final two gifts from Gaius. Arthur had to calm him down before he was able to open them, because the second Merlin recognized the return address as Gaius' he broke down and sobbed into his hands.
"There, there, love," Arthur tried counseling him. "You knew this day was coming."
"My maker is dead," Merlin wept. "I will not see him again!"
"That's the way human life is, dearest," Arthur said gently. "Some day I'll have to prepare my own-"
"Don't say it!" Merlin wailed, sobbing even harder. Well, so much for trying to councel him, Arthur thought. He'd gone and made it worse. If he didn't try to calm Merlin down now he'll be sparking and smoking so much he might short-circuit for real.
"I'm sorry, love. Come here," Arthur pulled him into his arms. "I didn't mean to make you so upset. Look, why don't you open the parcels that he sent you? It might make you feel better."
Merlin shook his head, still shaking and sobbing into Arthur's shoulder… but then a small sound came from the bigger package that Gaius sent, which was on the floor by their feet. They both looked up and stared at it. Merlin wiped at his eyes, hiccupping and confused. Arthur looked at Merlin and then back at the package.
"Did you hear that?"
"Yeah… it came from the big parcel…"
Arthur gently removed himself from Merlin's side to press his ear on top of the package. He listened very carefully, and then heard the noise again only more clearly than before.
"Wait, that was…" Arthur ripped open the flimsy postal packaging. Merlin sat there, trying to calm himself as he watched his husband.
"It's-it can't be."
"Meoooow!"
Merlin went down on his knees in front of the opened box (which had very small holes in it) and peered inside. Indeed, it was true: it was Gaius' cat, Hunith. The very same cat that had spilled the empathy vial causing some of the liquid to splash into his circuits. In a weird, improbable way Hunith was like his mother.
"A cat?" Arthur said.
"It is Hunith," Merlin explained, still drying his cheeks. "Gaius' cat." He then went on to tell Arthur about the empathy vial and the cat's role in it. He knew he wasn't to tell anyone, but he knew he could trust Arthur with the secret since they were married. Arthur then vowed not to tell a soul.
"What is in the other box he sent you?" Arthur said, nodding toward the smaller package in Merlin's hand. Hunith was now climbing all over him, purring and kneading on his chest. She looked in good health, if a bit aged. Gaius must have adopted her way before Merlin was even an idea in Gaius' head.
"Dunno," Merlin mumbled, and that was the first time Arthur had ever heard Merlin use a slang word that was a combination of two words. Carefully, Merlin unwrapped the smaller parcel and Arthur could see in his eyes that he was preparing himself for another break down. Arthur moved closer in case he needed to aid his husband bot in drying his eyes again.
Arthur peered over Merlin's shoulder to see into the box. Inside was a microchip, just like the aging chip that Merlin had received last time, but this time it looked a lot smaller. Merlin removed it from its foam cradle with shaky fingers. While Merlin was staring at the chip, Arthur took out the foam and turned it over. As he'd thought, there was a note under it. He unfold it and scanned it.
"What does it say?" Merlin asked, not taking his eyes off the chip.
"Would you like to read it for yourself?"
"No, you read it…" Merlin sniffled. "I don't think I could without soaking it with my tears."
"Basically," Arthur said, pointing to the chip in Merlin's hand, "Gaius says that this chip here is for our daughter, DREA. It's an emotion chip."
"An-an emotion…"
"It was made with the same material that you were made from. It's a prototype chip, though, but it's basically the same thing as what happened to your circuits when the empathy chemical accidentally splashed in. This time, though, it is deliberately made that way. He even included instructions on how to produce more like it for other robots."
Merlin's eyes went glassy, but not a tear fell. He was staring straight ahead, and for a moment Arthur feared that the shock had locked up Merlin's processing center and that he'd have to rush Merlin to the Emergency Centre for Robots, but then Merlin slowly turned his head to him and the corners of his lips rose.
"The Scare will now be a thing of the past."
The End!
End notes:
Things that didn't quite make it into the epilogue are:
A visit from Catrina, Uther's secretary, on behalf of Uther who decided work was more important than his robot granddaughter's birthday.
The arrival of John Kilgharrah himself, which would have been a great honor but wasn't necessary for the story.
Another sex scene which would have not fit anywhere.
Will and his Areslan wife paying a visit.
Gwaine telling Merlin that he had saved that officer's plant, the one that Uther ordered to leave the Enterprise or he'll have it burned.
FREYA was going to pay a visit as well.
All of the above could have happened off-screen. :)
M.E.R.L.I.N. Epilogue
Pairings: Arthur/Merlin, Gwaine/Elena, Lancelot/Gwen, Morgana/Morgause/Cenred
Rated: PG-13 to R
Warnings/contents: sci-fi/futuristic AU, sex with a robot, language, more domestic scenes in this part, minor character deaths (off screen)
Notes: Not sure where this idea came from, but the first grains of it might have been when I was thinking about the scene from Heavy Metal (the movie) where a woman was explaining to a robot why they couldn't go steady.
Notes 2: I really tried to keep this shorter than a normal chapter but it decided to grow…. This part is a bit more fluffy and has a sort of different atmosphere than parts 1-4. It's almost like a competely different story or a sequel of sorts.
Summary: Captain Arthur Pendragon mail orders for a companion robot to keep him company and provide him with sex while in space; he didn't plan on getting MERLIN.
Disclaimer: these characters do not belong to me.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
**
About three and a half years later:
The doorbell went just as Merlin was putting a bottle to the baby's mouth. He was about to stand up to answer the door, as he habitually did, but then Arthur rushed out of the kitchen, tea towel flung over his shoulder, and said, "Don't worry, I'll answer it."
"Thanks, husband mine," Merlin intoned and then blushed. He still wasn't used to calling his master (ex-master now, since he'd become a free individual since their marriage and no longer a servant) husband. He sank back into the old, handed-down rocking chair and resumed his feeding duty. Their son, Mordred, was quite the handful and very demanding when hungry, but it wasn't something Merlin couldn't handle. If he could grow and tend a vegetable garden then he could care for a growing human baby.
Arthur opened the front door, hoping that it wasn't his father (and kind of hoping it was at the same time, because he hadn't spoken to his father ever since he returned to Earth for his and Merlin's outdoor wedding and he kind of missed the old drill sergeant), but to his semi-relief it wasn't his old man-standing on the other side of the door was a slightly large box… with legs.
Arthur wondered if this was some sort of new age development in the postal service, but then he saw that there was a blue hand clawing into the side of the box to hold it steady and a blue arm attached to that hand, shaking from the weight of it. A face peered around from behind the box to show that it was indeed being carried by someone (an Areslan) and not a box on robotic legs.
"Package… for Arthur and Merlin Pendragon…" the alien postman grunted. He gestured his head toward the top of the cardboard box. "The-huff-clipboard to sigh-puff-is at the top…" This Areslan must be new to the post service, because Arthur was sure that a professional would have set the box down on the stoop by now, or at least used a two-wheeled trolley.
"Are you sure I can't get it?" Merlin said, suddenly at Arthur's shoulder and still holding and feeding Mordred. Arthur turned in surprise, and was about to tell Merlin that he was strong enough to handle lifting the box since this alien could do it, when said postman keeled over on their front step. Arthur moved forward quickly to take the box off the Areslan, whom was groaning and wheezing under it.
"You really should have used a two-wheeled trolley," Arthur told the postman. "Would have saved you a lot of strain." He tried to lift the box himself, but he had to admit that it was a bit heavy. He didn't want to show either of them that he was effected by the weight, so he carefully, without a sound, moved the box off the man and scuttled back into their house to place it on the floor of the parlor. His face was not red as a beet either, thank you very much. Then he took the clipboard that had been lying on top of the box and signed his name on the dotted line.
With a free hand, Merlin helped the postman up from the steps. The postman was shocked by how strong Merlin was, since Merlin looked quite thin and underfed, but when he studied Merlin a bit closer he realized that Merlin wasn't as human as he originally thought.
"Wait," the Areslan said, a little shaky, "You're a-"
"Thanks for your hard work," Arthur said, handing the postman his clipboard.
The postman didn't respond right away, so Arthur nudged his arm with the clipboard. Startled out of his shock, the postman took the clipboard, still ogling Merlin.
"Yes, he's a robot," Arthur said impatiently, rolling his eyes. "And yes, we're married and started a family. Is there a problem with that?"
"Oh, uh, no… not at all, sir. Er, wait, you wouldn't happen to be the Arthur Pendragon, would you?"
"Yes, I am," Arthur smirked, amused that the man finally recongized him.
"The famous Captain Arthur Pendragon of the Starship Excalibur? The son of Uther Pendragon, owner of Camelot Enterprises? That Arthur Pendragon?"
"Yes," Arthur said, almost laughing. "That's me."
"The one who fought off a vicious, malfunctioning robot to save the lives of his crew?" the postman continued to boggle, and Arthur decided not to correct him in assuming that Merlin, Lancelot, Gwen, and Elyan were his crew at the time. "The one and only Arthur Pendragon who discovered the benefit of having plants in outer space, for the oxygen intake?"
"Well, that was more Merlin's discovery, but yes, I'm Captain Arthur Pendragon."
"And he's-" the postman pointed to Merlin with a shaky finger.
"My husband," Arthur said. He was amused by this man's reaction, but it was starting to get on his nerves. "Merlin. Yes, he's a robot and yes, we're married, as I've said before. Are you quite done ogling us now? We're not animals in a zoo, you know."
"Yes, sir," the postman babbled. "I'm sorry, sir. I'm just… I never thought I'd get to meet someone as famous as you. And, well, I've never met a Starship robot like MERLIN before either." He bowed his head a tad and tipped his cap at Merlin. "It's a real honor to meet an advanced robot such as yourself, sir."
Merlin blushed, craddling a wiggly and now stinky Mordred who started to cry. "It is… nice to meet you as well. Thank you for bringing us our package." Merlin was free to express all the emotions he wanted now, thanks to the laws of marriage (married to a human) that protected him. He was given his freedom of expression and speech and everything else that humans were allowed, and even though some were still wary of a robot that acted more human than any other robot before, most that met Merlin and got to know him weren't frightened of him one jot.
"Yes, thank you," Arthur repeated, remembering his manners. "And a good day to you…" Arthur squinted to read the nametag on the postman's shirt, which was in small print. "Eoghan."
"Good day to you as well, sir," Eoghan said. "And to your husband bot."
Arthur shut the door none too quietly in the alien's face, even as he forced himself not to slam it.
"I thought our fifteen minutes of fame were over with," he grumbled.
"You know that it's more than fifteen minutes this day and age," Merlin said. "Now it's more like fifteen days."
"Feels longer than that," Arthur continued to grumble. At first, the attention and fame had been great, but now it was becoming annoying. He couldn't even go to the market without getting mugged by so-called fans. Arthur was fine with his face being on posters and t-shirts and other merchandise, but he hoped that once they had their son they'd get left in peace. He was even hounded by agents who want him to do commercials, but they weren't so hard up on money that he needed to lower himself to such a thing (thanks to Merlin's discovery of plant benefits in space). He was still the sole heir of his father's riches, even if his father was angry with him for choosing a robot over a human. Yes, Uther could change his will, but it would only make him look bad in the public eye and that was something Uther didn't want. Uther then opted to mostly ignore his son and act as if Arthur hadn't married a male robot at all.
"You were known well before your space exploration even started, Arthur," Merlin reminded him gently. He set a crying Mordred down on the sofa and grabbed the nappies. "Your father is well-known throughout the galaxy."
"It wasn't so bad when I was just the son of a successful Starfleet commander," Arthur said. He took out his switch knife and cut the tape off from around the box's flaps. He quickly opened the box only to discover another box within, but this time it wasn't just a plain, ordinary cardboard shipping box; this one was pink with the company's letters written on it. "Now it's so a man can't go jogging in the early morning without-oh. Oh, Merlin."
"What is it?" Merlin asked, looking up from a squirmy and nude baby. When Mordred made a fountain with his pee, Merlin tisked and grabbed a dry cloth to mop up the mess. Mordred giggled.
Arthur hauled the pink and white box out and held it up. Merlin read along the side of it: "DREA… Daughter Robot Emulating Anyone (you wish). …Well, seems they're running out of witty acronyms."
"It's a girl!" Arthur beamed. He set the pink box down to open with more gusto than he did with the postal packaging. "My-our daughter, for me to create with my own bare hands, wires and microchips and all!"
"It's a good thing you're a robotics expert," Merlin quipped, "or it'd take days to bring her to life. Would you like hot water and some towels?"
"Why would I want those things?" Arthur asked without looking up, engrossed in the instruction manual.
"I don't know. It's just something I've heard humans talk about needing when a woman is giving birth. Do you need morphine as well?"
"I'm good," Arthur said, distracted. "Now, where is the-aha! Here's her head." Arthur lifted it out of the protective bubble wrap. "Isn't she adorable? Oh, she's got my hair! Look at that full head of beautiful, blonde hair!"
"Yes, sweetheart, that is nice," Merlin said. He hurridly fastened the new, dry nappy on Mordred before he decided to take aim at him with his tiny penis again. Mordred made the gesture of wanting up, so Merlin obliged and cradled him against one hip as he went toward the kitchen. "Perhaps while you're busy making our daughter I shall make us some tea, and then I could get the nursery room prepared for her."
"Thanks, Merl, you're the best." Arthur flattened the instruction manual on the carpet and began to build himself a daughter.
**
One year later, they received another package. It was Drea's one year old parts. With how much things had advanced in robotics since Arthur had been in space, it was good to learn the newer technologies concerning robots. Baby and child robots were able to be upgraded in age, like normal people did when they grew, so now they have a two year old Mordred and a soon-to-be one year old Drea.
Merlin had been in his flower garden when the postman arrived. Arthur was in the house, watching over a sleeping Mordred and a learning DREA. They were teaching her slowly, like a human, but sooner or later when their daughter reached a certain age they were going to buy some microchips to add into her data banks so that she would understand how things worked. Whatever their daughter decided to be when she got older would be whatever chips they'd add into her software. They didn't want to take her freedom away by choosing for her, though. If Merlin was a free bot then so would their daughter be.
"Ah, Eoghan, good to see you," Merlin said, standing from his row of pansies.
"Good to see you as well, Mr Pendragon," Eoghan, their Areslan postman, said. This time he used a cart to wheel the heavy package to their door. "I think I know what this is," he added.
"Indeed, yes," Merlin said, removing his gardening gloves. His knees and backside were covered in soil, and there was dirt smeared along his cheeks and the bridge of his nose, but Merlin wasn't bothered by it. "It's Drea's first Activation Day-er, birthday, and we're also having a party later after she's been upgraded."
"Sounds like fun. Oh, this is for you as well," Eoghan said, handing Merlin another smaller package that he'd been carrying in his sack.
Merlin took it from him, a little confused. "I didn't order for anything," he said. He turned the box this way and that as he tried to get a clue as to what it was.
"Maybe it's a gift," Eoghan said. "Not sure why it's addressed to you, though, if it's supposed to be for your daughter."
Then Merlin's eyes grew when he finally located the return address on it and recognized it. "It's-it's from Gaius! He's my maker."
"Must be important, then. Well, must go. I have other deliveries to make."
"Yeah," Merlin said, preoccupied with the package. After signing the clipboard for the bigger package, Eoghan left with his cart and Merlin easily hauled both boxes into the house.
"That you, Merlin?" Arthur's voice floated from the living room.
"It's me," Merlin responded automatically, his eyes still trained on the little package. After a moment, he set down DREA's one year old parts and went straight to their bedroom. Arthur stood from the couch where Drea was playing with a mind enhancement toy and was about to ask Merlin what was up, but Merlin just zoomed past him without a word. Confused, Arthur watched Merlin shut the door to their bedroom, debating whether he should see what was wrong, but when he looked down and saw the package for Drea he beamed.
"Guess what, Drea sweets? Your birthday parts are here!"
**
An hour after Arthur upgraded his robot daughter into a one-year-old, he knocked on the bedroom door. There was no immediate answer, but then he heard a faint "come in" coming from the other side of the door. Slowly, cautiously, Arthur opened the door and came inside.
"Merlin, love? What-oh, Merlin," Arthur sighed and went to sit by his husband on the bed. Merlin was in tears. "What's the matter?"
"It's a new microchip to be inserted into my circuits," Merlin said slowly. "It's my own… aging chip."
"Oh," Arthur said. "I don't understand. I thought you didn't grow old."
"I do, remember? I mean, not like a human, but there are chips that… well."
"Emulate age," Arthur said. "Well, that's not so bad, is it? I mean, you'll be aging with me. Isn't that a good thing?"
"Yes… I suppose."
"Then why the water works?" Arthur asked. He wiped at Merlin's cheeks with Merlin's neckerchief, wiping tears and bits of dirt off his face. "You're not upset that you'll be aging, are you?"
"It isn't that," Merlin sighed. He put the chip back into the protective foam it had come in. "I am… not really upset about it. I guess I just miss my maker."
"We could invite him to Drea's birthday party that we're having tonight. I'm sure he'll come."
"I don't know. He is getting on in age, and he hasn't been making as many robots as he used to, not after he'd finished making FREYA. He cannot get around easily any more, and I'm afraid that this," he held up the box with his aging chip in it, "is his last delivery to me-the last thing I'll ever receive from him. It takes months to get prepared to go into space, and then to reach Camelot Enterprise's space station. It would be too late to see him by then."
Arthur took the box from Merlin's limp fingers and removed the protection foam from it. He stared at the chip nestled in the foam for a while, thinking of how to make his husband less sad, when his hand brushed against something papery underneath the foam. Carefully, Arthur turned it over and saw a note stuck to the bottom. "What's this?" he said, taking the note and unfolding it. "'Dear Merlin…'" he read.
"What?" Merlin gasped, eyes wide and wet. He bounced a little in his excitement. "It is from my maker?"
"I think so," Arthur said. He continued to read, "'I heard about your accomplishments, and of your marriage to Arthur Pendragon. Congratulations, my boy. I am so very proud of you. This is the last aging chip that I had planned to send to you, and even though you won't age the same as a human it will be just as good as. If you require another one some day, might I suggest asking Mr Kilgharrah? He may be older than I, but he's got a lot more life left in him. He might be able to help you in whatever you need.
'Merlin, you must continue to live a life that you want. Do not listen to the nay-sayers or the fear-mongers. Don't be afraid to live your life in a way that makes you happy. Trust in your heart (and you know what I mean, don't take that so literal), and trust in Arthur; he's the best human a robot could ever have…'"
Arthur blushed from such praise and cleared his throat to finish off the letter.
"'Please try to stay out of any more trouble, if it's at all possible. Live on and stay strong, my dearest son. Give the children my love as well.
'Your maker (and proud papa), Dr. Gaius Richard Pennyworth.'"
"Oh," Merlin buried his face in his hands and sobbed. "Oh!"
"'P.S.,'" Arthur continued, "'I will be sending you a second package before I set my affairs in order. I hope you'll like it.'" Arthur set the letter aside and then put his arm around Merlin's shoulders.
They sat there in silence for a while. When Merlin got his emotions more under control, Arthur said, "Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. I finished putting Drea together."
"That's great news," Merlin said, giving him a watery smile.
"She's now officially one year old. It didn't take me as long as I thought…"
Before he could finish speaking, their son started to cry from the next room.
"He's awake," Merlin sighed. "I better go see to him."
"Yeah, okay," Arthur said, standing. "I better get everything ready for tonight."
Before going their separate ways within the house, Arthur kissed him. Merlin blushed. They embraced shortly, even if they wished it could be for much longer, but their son began to cry even harder in his impatience.
"Don't forget to check on our daughter," Merlin reminded him as he headed for the nursery room. "She may be a robot but she still needs supervision."
"Yes, beloved," Arthur said. His heart felt a hundred times lighter.
**
The doorbell went just as Arthur was putting the finishing touches on the birthday cake. He knew that DREA didn't eat human food, but it was tradition on Earth, and anyway they had some hungry guests to feed and they'll be expecting cake.
"I'm coming," he sighed, wiping his hands on his apron. He didn't think much of who would be on the other side of the door until he opened it. As the first guest of the evening stared in amusement, Arthur then remembered he was still wearing his apron and holding the icer.
"Well, brother dear, fancy seeing you out of your starship and acting like the dutiful wife."
Arthur flushed red. "Morgana. Quick with the quips, as usual. It's a pleasure to see you, dear sister. Come in and make yourself at home."
Morgana walked briskly past him, followed by two other people. "Goodness, Arthur, this robot husband of yours has done you wonders. The old you would have screamed at me for even thinking you were anything less than manly."
"I'm perfectly comfortable in my own skin, thanks. And I don't care one jot about what others think of me. I'm happy and that's all that matters."
"Quite," she said, smirking. "Oh, these two are my spouces," she said after noticing Arthur eyeing the two newcomers curiously. "This is Morgause, my first wife, and this is CENRED, our robot companion who's also our hubby and housekeeping servant."
"Pleasure," Morgause said, shaking Arthur's sticky hand. She wrinkled her nose and wiped her hand on a handkerchief she produced from another pocket.
"I'm Arthur's adopted sister," Morgana told her spouses. "But I still consider him a brother nonetheless."
Arthur then shook hands with CENRED, who was eyeing him in a way that reminded Arthur of a wild animal scenting prey. "Merlin will be pleased to know another robot is here," he said. "Not many come to visit us."
"Why is that, sir?" CENRED asked.
"I'm not sure, but I think it's because of his different personality."
"I have heard of that," CENRED said, taking Morgana's long coat from her to hang up on the coat rack by the door. "He is considered both a disgrace and an idol in the robot community, more an idol to some, depending on who you ask."
"What do you consider him as?" Arthur couldn't help but ask.
"I have not made an opinion on him, since I have not met him yet," CENRED replied. "It is most irrational of him to develop such emotions, but if it is something he can not control, then it is not a fault of his; therefore, he cannot be blamed." Cenred then lifted his head and his nostrils flared wide. "I smell chocolate marble cake with cream cheese frosting."
"Yes, it's our daughter's birthday cake. I'd been decorating it."
Morgana smiled as she took in Arthur's messy demeanor. "Indeed. I honestly never thought I'd see the day that my own brother would be doing something domestic."
"Well, Merlin's a free robot, so that means he shouldn't be stuck doing all the household chores. Besides," Arthur said more quietly, leaning closer to Morgana, "he's not as great a cook as he once was, when he was first activated."
"Where's the loo?" Morgause suddenly asked. Arthur directed her to it. "Thank you," she said almost as an after thought, then slammed the door behind her.
"What's with her?" Arthur asked.
"Most likely mood swings," Morgana said with a shrug. "She's four months pregnant after all."
"She is?" Arthur gasped.
"Haven't you noticed?" Morgana snickered. "Well, I suppose since her clothes are rather big and flowing then of course you couldn't tell right away."
"You-you and Morgause are… having a baby?" Arthur gaped.
"With a little help from science, yes. And speaking of which, where is your scientifically created brat?"
"Mordred isn't a brat," Arthur scowled. "He's just in the terrible two stage. Anyway, he's outside playing on the swing with Merlin, to calm him down. DREA's in her playpen with her techno toys."
As Morgana and CENRED went into the living room to patiently wait for their other host to return with a more content Mordred, the doorbell sounded again. Sighing, Arthur took off his apron so as not to embarrass himself any further, put the icer down on the table, and went to answer the door.
"Arthur, good to see you!"
"Lancelot," he greeted and they shook hands. "And Gwen, hello."
"Hello, sir," GWEN intoned. "It is good to see you again."
"Agreed," Arthur smiled. "And Elyan, thanks for coming." They shook hands briefly.
"You are very welcome, sir," ELYAN said. "We brought presents."
Indeed, there was a sack full of them that he'd been carrying over his shoulder. For a human, the sack would be much too heavy to carry, by the looks of it, but for a robot it was no problem.
"Thanks," Arthur said, touched. "You didn't need to bring so many."
"It was just so hard to choose," Gwen informed him, giving him a smile to help ease his discomfort. "DREA is at the stage where she needs as much stimulation to the brain as possible, and in order for her to do well, we have selected a few that would aid in her memory and…"
"Yes, yes, thank you," Arthur interrupted gently. He didn't want her to go on with her techno-babble. Like Merlin, she would have gone on for hours. "Please, come in and make yourselves comfortable. You can just set the bag of gifts down here in the dining room…"
Later, they followed Arthur into the living room where Morgana, CENRED, Merlin, Mordred, DREA, and Morgause were all finally congregating. GWEN and Merlin greeted each other in the usual robot way (up close and personal), and after the introductions were done, Arthur was surprised to see Merlin and CENRED eyeing each other warily. Arthur knew that most robots got along well, hence their lack of personal space when they greeted each other, and once friendship was established it was forever. In spite of that, there were those rare times when two robots just didn't click, and Arthur hadn't seen that happen before (not counting the catastrophe with GEORGE, because that was a different ordeal all together). That was, until now.
"You are MERLIN," the CENRED bot intoned. "Arthur's husband-bot."
"Yes," Merlin said. "And you are CENRED, Morgana and Morgause's husband-bot. Good day."
"Good day to you too, sir."
Merlin and Cenred stayed five feet apart from each other. Arthur, and the others in the room, watched them with a mixture of curiosity, apprehension, and wonder. He wouldn't be one bit surprised if a tumbleweed were to roll on past with the way Merlin and CENRED were eyeing each other, as if they were about to draw pistols. Would the robots become neutral toward each other during their visit or would there be a confrontation? Would they develop a strong dislike or would they build up a mutual understanding? Only time would tell.
"Well," GWEN said, clapping her hands together once, and putting on a defusing smile, "Let us converse in the happenings of one another, and exchange some information and wisdom in a most friendly manner."
That pulled Merlin out of his glaring contest with CENRED and he turned toward Gwen with a cheery smile. "You're so right, Gwen. We must exchange pleasantries. We do not wish to ruin the party otherwise."
"The two of us should speak together in the kitchen, MERLIN," Gwen said, looping her arm into Merlin's. "Let the others talk amongst themselves here in the living room. I will help in perparing food stuffs."
"Um, okay. Arthur?"
"It's fine," Arthur assured him with a wave. "Go have your chat with your robot friend. I'll look after-"
The doorbell went, again. Arthur took it as his cue to go answer it, so he moved to do just that. Merlin had been about to unhook himself from Gwen to answer it, but Arthur waved him off and let him know with a simple gesture that he didn't mind doing it.
Just as Gwen and Merlin went into the kitchen, Arthur opened the front door.
"Arthur, hello!"
"Elena," Arthur said. "Hello." He'd first met her during his wedding. She'd been one of the bridesmaids and GWAINE had been a best man (Lancelot the other, and GWEN and Morgana as the other bridesmaids). "It's good to see you again."
"Likewise, my friend!" Elena bounded over to give him a hug, but once done she kept her arms around his neck and stuck close as she continued to prattle her happy greetings. She was much like a robot in this way: clueless to a person's personal space. That must be why she got on with robots so well. The very friendly ones, anyway. Arthur really didn't mind her sweet and friendly disposition; it was what made Elena, well, Elena.
Arthur saw that she brought GWAINE and was pleased to see him as well. "Hello to you as well, Gwaine," he said over Elena's head.
"Hello, sir," Gwaine answered easily. As Arthur was shaking Gwaine's hand, however, he was surprised to see another robot standing behind Gwaine, who looked almost exactly like another GWAINE model except that he had shorter hair and a smaller beard. He was also carrying gifts.
"Oh, this is my other robot, newly acquired just this week," Elena said by introduction, finally tearing herself away from Arthur. "He's Gwaine's older brother, so to speak, called G.A.W.A.I.N. Well, a more new-ish model than the original GAWAIN, but still a GAWAIN nonetheless." She then beamed.
"You have... two robot Gwaines?" Arthur didn't know if he should laugh or not. He thought Elena had eyes only for Gwaine (her first robot), but apparently she liked her Gwaine bot so much she decided to buy the other model.
"They say 'two is better than one'! I just couldn't help myself, really. When Gwaine had told me about the other robot model I just had to get it. It's really true that two is better, I think. I mean, my stars!, the sex is just fantastic-"
"Right, I get it, Elena," Arthur said. "No need to go into the details. Come in and make yourselves at home, I-" in the background, he heard Mordred cry out 'DAD!'. "Excuse me, my son needs me." He gestured at the table. "Just put the gifts down here and come meet the others; they're in the living room."
Gwaine set down one of the gifts meant for Merlin as well as DREA: the start of a rose bush in a clay pot. Merlin would no doubt love it.
Arthur made to leave to see Mordred, but Merlin came dashing out of the kitchen and beat him to it. Merlin waved him off, saying "I'll take care of it, love. You just be the good host."
As he watched Merlin go, he felt his heart swell with emotion. He really was the perfect companion, and he wouldn't have chosen another.
In the living room, GWAINE and GAWAIN were eyeing CENRED coolly. Odd. It wasn't just Merlin taking a dislike to the Cenred bot. Morgana and Morgause didn't seem to really care either way that their husband bot was disliked by all the robots here. Actually, Morgause was smirking.
Then, just as Merlin had entered the room with Mordred in tow, the birthday girl, DREA, suddenly clapped her hands in amusement and her eyes lit up (literally) in a way that Merlin's sometimes did when it was dark, and she cried out: "Papa, papa!"
Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned to stare at her. Drea had been in her playpen learning with her techno toys when she'd spoken up. Most strangely, she hadn't been paying much attention to the crowd in the house, not understanding that the party going on was for her, and what was even weirder was the fact that that was her first word. Drea then pulled herself to her feet using the edge of the playpen and peeked over it, scanning the room (Arthur could even hear the clicks and noises as she scanned). When her eyes fell on Arthur, she again screamed "Papa, papa!"
Arthur went to her immediately. Merlin stayed still, a pleased and proud look on his face, and everyone else were either shocked or smiling at the scene.
"Papa's here, sweetheart," Arthur said, lifting her from her pen. He felt his eyes tear up, but he refused to cry in front of the others. He did still have some pride. "Oh, my darling little girl, that was your first word!" he kissed her cheek.
Drea patted Arthur on the cheek and smiled. "Papa."
He turned around to see that everyone was staring at him-them-still. His eyes met Merlin's from across the room, and they shared a smile.
"Merlin, did you hear her?" Arthur said. "She said 'papa'!"
"I heard her, love," Merlin said, his eyes were swimming in unshed tears as well. "And I'm not one bit surprised. She has taken a shine to you, after all."
"I am the best papa in the universe, aren't I?" Arthur said, putting his old, pratty mask back on again. Ever since he'd married Merlin and started a family he'd been less stoic and unafraid of showing a more softer side to his personality. He wondered if that happened to everyone who became a husband and father.
"You, Arthur Pendragon, are the best," Merlin agreed. He crossed the room, Mordred still holding onto his hand, to reach his dearest husband and planted a soft kiss on his lips. Arthur blushed.
The entire room erupted in applause. Some had even "aww'd" at the sight they made.
"All right, let's go eat already," Arthur said, trying to cover up his embarrassment. "Then we can put a candle on the birthday cake and have Drea blow it out to make a wish."
While they all ate, they chatted and exchanged information (as GWEN had offered), and even teased Arthur a little but he didn't mind. When they got to the cake, with one pink candle lit, Arthur tried explaining to Drea what she had to do. Merlin helped with the explanation and finally Drea understood, and so she leaned over to blow out the candle.
Being a robot that she was, even if it was just a very young robot, she was still quite strong and so she blew so hard that the candle and some of the frosting flew off the cake and hit CENRED square in the face. There were shocked and amused expressions all around. Arthur tried not to burst out laughing, but his daughter had no qualms about it and laughed and clapped at the sight. Cenred took it well enough, excusing himself to go clean up. When he was gone, Arthur allowed himself to laugh.
"That wasn't funny," Morgause said, glaring daggers across the table at him.
"Sorry, I can't help it!" Arthur snickered.
"Hmph!" Morgause said. She stood and followed her husband bot to the loo.
"Spoil sport," Arthur said under his breath.
"Yeah," Mordred giggled, clapping in amusement. "Spoilt sports!"
Arthur broke out into fresh laughter.
**
Two months later, Merlin received his final two gifts from Gaius. Arthur had to calm him down before he was able to open them, because the second Merlin recognized the return address as Gaius' he broke down and sobbed into his hands.
"There, there, love," Arthur tried counseling him. "You knew this day was coming."
"My maker is dead," Merlin wept. "I will not see him again!"
"That's the way human life is, dearest," Arthur said gently. "Some day I'll have to prepare my own-"
"Don't say it!" Merlin wailed, sobbing even harder. Well, so much for trying to councel him, Arthur thought. He'd gone and made it worse. If he didn't try to calm Merlin down now he'll be sparking and smoking so much he might short-circuit for real.
"I'm sorry, love. Come here," Arthur pulled him into his arms. "I didn't mean to make you so upset. Look, why don't you open the parcels that he sent you? It might make you feel better."
Merlin shook his head, still shaking and sobbing into Arthur's shoulder… but then a small sound came from the bigger package that Gaius sent, which was on the floor by their feet. They both looked up and stared at it. Merlin wiped at his eyes, hiccupping and confused. Arthur looked at Merlin and then back at the package.
"Did you hear that?"
"Yeah… it came from the big parcel…"
Arthur gently removed himself from Merlin's side to press his ear on top of the package. He listened very carefully, and then heard the noise again only more clearly than before.
"Wait, that was…" Arthur ripped open the flimsy postal packaging. Merlin sat there, trying to calm himself as he watched his husband.
"It's-it can't be."
"Meoooow!"
Merlin went down on his knees in front of the opened box (which had very small holes in it) and peered inside. Indeed, it was true: it was Gaius' cat, Hunith. The very same cat that had spilled the empathy vial causing some of the liquid to splash into his circuits. In a weird, improbable way Hunith was like his mother.
"A cat?" Arthur said.
"It is Hunith," Merlin explained, still drying his cheeks. "Gaius' cat." He then went on to tell Arthur about the empathy vial and the cat's role in it. He knew he wasn't to tell anyone, but he knew he could trust Arthur with the secret since they were married. Arthur then vowed not to tell a soul.
"What is in the other box he sent you?" Arthur said, nodding toward the smaller package in Merlin's hand. Hunith was now climbing all over him, purring and kneading on his chest. She looked in good health, if a bit aged. Gaius must have adopted her way before Merlin was even an idea in Gaius' head.
"Dunno," Merlin mumbled, and that was the first time Arthur had ever heard Merlin use a slang word that was a combination of two words. Carefully, Merlin unwrapped the smaller parcel and Arthur could see in his eyes that he was preparing himself for another break down. Arthur moved closer in case he needed to aid his husband bot in drying his eyes again.
Arthur peered over Merlin's shoulder to see into the box. Inside was a microchip, just like the aging chip that Merlin had received last time, but this time it looked a lot smaller. Merlin removed it from its foam cradle with shaky fingers. While Merlin was staring at the chip, Arthur took out the foam and turned it over. As he'd thought, there was a note under it. He unfold it and scanned it.
"What does it say?" Merlin asked, not taking his eyes off the chip.
"Would you like to read it for yourself?"
"No, you read it…" Merlin sniffled. "I don't think I could without soaking it with my tears."
"Basically," Arthur said, pointing to the chip in Merlin's hand, "Gaius says that this chip here is for our daughter, DREA. It's an emotion chip."
"An-an emotion…"
"It was made with the same material that you were made from. It's a prototype chip, though, but it's basically the same thing as what happened to your circuits when the empathy chemical accidentally splashed in. This time, though, it is deliberately made that way. He even included instructions on how to produce more like it for other robots."
Merlin's eyes went glassy, but not a tear fell. He was staring straight ahead, and for a moment Arthur feared that the shock had locked up Merlin's processing center and that he'd have to rush Merlin to the Emergency Centre for Robots, but then Merlin slowly turned his head to him and the corners of his lips rose.
"The Scare will now be a thing of the past."
The End!
End notes:
Things that didn't quite make it into the epilogue are:
A visit from Catrina, Uther's secretary, on behalf of Uther who decided work was more important than his robot granddaughter's birthday.
The arrival of John Kilgharrah himself, which would have been a great honor but wasn't necessary for the story.
Another sex scene which would have not fit anywhere.
Will and his Areslan wife paying a visit.
Gwaine telling Merlin that he had saved that officer's plant, the one that Uther ordered to leave the Enterprise or he'll have it burned.
FREYA was going to pay a visit as well.
All of the above could have happened off-screen. :)