DISCLAIMER: I do not own Merlin

Summary: Merlin and Arthur have known each other for a long time. They've been friends since birth. What will happen when unexpected events occur that threaten their friendship. Will they get through it? Takes place in modern times.

Chapter 1: Babies

Hunith and Igraine never expected to find such a strong friendship between them. Theirs was the friendship you read about in books or see in movies. Surely two terrified pregnant women don't go to childbirth classes together and become best friends for life. They were supposed to become acquaintances, someone to complain to about the pains of pregnancy, and then when the baby comes, they would become too busy with the baby to give a second thought to the woman they had spent weeks with.

But that's not what happened. Their circumstances brought them together. Somewhere in the pints of Ben and Jerry's ice cream that they would eat at 3:00 in the morning while they were talking to each other on the phone, their relationship changed. They weren't merely acquaintances. They were friends. Best friends.

When Hunith got the call, in the middle of the night that Igraine, with still a month left in her pregnancy, was going into labor, she forced her pregnant hormones aside and took the bus to the hospital to meet her friend there. Igraine's husband, Uther, was away on a business trip, so Hunith knew Igraine would need her. Hunith couldn't help but curse Uther as Igraine practically broke her hand in the delivery room. That man always cared more about his business than his family, he always had. He couldn't help that he was away right now, but he should have been prepared. He should not have planned a business trip that would have him on a different continent when his wife was so close to her due date.

A couple hours after Hunith arrived at the hospital, a little boy was delivered. It was several more minutes before his scream penetrated the room. Igraine didn't get to hold her son. He was immediately hooked up to some machine and whisked away to be taken care of. Tears streamed down Igraine's cheeks.

"He'll be okay," Hunith promised quietly. She soothing rubbed circles in the back of Igraine's hand. She didn't know what the doctors were doing, only that pretty soon, a look of peace soon spread across Igraine's face as she drifted off into sleep.

She only left that room once, not wanted to leave Igraine by herself too long. She only left so she could call Uther and give him a piece of her mind.

-The Next Morning-

That was the first time Hunith spent the night in an uncomfortable hospital chair. She was awoken by a hand on her shoulder. An elderly nurse was looking down at her kindly. "Can I get you anything?" She asked.

Hunith realized how strange of a sight she must look. She was woken up in the middle of the night, never bothered to change into real clothes, hasn't had a chance to brush her hair, and is seven and a half months pregnant.

"I'm fine," she answered softly. She glanced up and saw that Igraine was still asleep. "How's her boy?"

The nurse bit her lip. "Technically I'm not supposed to tell you this, since you're not related, but…" the nurse said. She looked like she was contemplating murder from the guilty look on her face.

"Please. She's my best friend," Hunith pleaded.

"He's doing much better," the nurse whispered. "His lungs are a little underdeveloped, but he was more developed than most babies are at eight months. I'd say that in a couple of days, he should be out of intensive care."

Hunith grinned. The boy was okay. He was going to be fine. "Thank you," she whispered to the nurse.

Hunith suddenly realized how hungry she was when she had an overpowering craving for pickles. "Is there any way I can get some breakfast?" She asked the nurse hopefully.

"I'll show you the way to the cafeteria," the nurse said kindly. She waited a moment for Hunith to pull herself to her feet and then headed towards the cafeteria.

Hunith was pleased with the food she got. She had heard horror stories about hospital food, but it really wasn't that bad.

As Hunith was hobbling back to Igraine's room, someone ran right into her. She looked up and gasped. "Uther?" She asked surprised.

"Where is she? Where is my wife?" He asked desperately.

Hunith was barely able to wrap her mind around the fact that Uther must have literally hopped on a plane immediately and flown here to get to the hospital. Maybe he cared more about his family than Hunith gave him credit for.

Moving on auto-pilot, Hunith guided him to Igraine's room. She watched with a small smile on her face as Uther approached Igraine and grabbed her hand. Hunith excused herself, entirely willing to give the couple their moment.

-One Week Later–

"I can't believe he's coming home," Igraine squealed, holding her precious son. Since yesterday when she had first gotten to see her son, she hadn't put him down once, except when she needed to sleep. He has her piercing blue eyes and Igraine can't help but think they are perfect for her perfect little boy. To say she was ecstatic when the doctor's said she could bring him home today was an understatement. She listened to every teeny tiny tidbit the doctor told her about caring for Arthur.

Igraine frowned slightly, trying to figure out how she was going to stand up without waking Arthur.

Hunith couldn't suppress her eye roll as she held out her arms for Arthur. Igraine reluctantly handed over Arthur and then with a speed unprecedented by someone who gave birth one week ago, she made a mad dash for the wheelchair the hospital was forcing her to leave in.

Hunith chuckled as she handed Arthur back to Igraine. She wheeled Igraine out to where Uther was impatiently waiting. Igraine had truly chewed Uther out about the whole, wasn't here when she gave birth thing. Uther had promised he would spend more time with his family, but he really didn't seem to care for his son much. He hadn't held Arthur yet and had only seen him for a few minutes.

Igraine blatantly glared at him as she intentionally spent as much time possible putting Arthur in the car and making sure he was safe. Hunith had to hold back her laughter as she got in the car.

As Uther dropped Hunith off in front of her home, Hunith felt a pang of sorrow. She doubted she would see Igraine much now that she had Arthur to keep her busy.

She couldn't be more wrong. It took exactly one week after Arthur came home for Uther to be off on another business trip. The first person Igraine called was Hunith.

It took exactly five minutes for Hunith to be knocking on Igraine's door. She had talked to Igraine the whole time. Hunith bustled around, changed Arthur's diaper and rocked him until he fell asleep while Igraine took a much needed nap. After that, Hunith was at Igraine's house more than she was at her own.

-Four Weeks Later-

Hunith was at Igraine's house. She and Igraine were enjoying one of the precious moments of silence that Arthur offered when Hunith suddenly paled. She gripped her container of ice cream so hard that ice cream overflowed over the top.

Igraine looked at her concerned. "Are you alright?" She asked anxiously. How could they have been so foolish? Hunith was due any day and rather than have her safe at the hospital, Hunith was at her house. But she had to be sure. She didn't want to call an ambulance if this wasn't real.

After a moment, Hunith's color returned and she let out the breath she was holding. It was several minutes before she said anything. "If this is what labor feels like, I don't want to be preg- aaah!" Hunith screamed as another contraction rippled through her.

Igraine's eyes widened. Her contractions were only about seven minutes apart. Igraine ran to the phone and called an ambulance. Then she grabbed Arthur and ran to Hunith's side. Within minutes, the ambulances sirens were heard.

Any fuss made about letting a baby in the back of an ambulance were silenced when Hunith screamed again. For fear of the baby being born in the back of the ambulance, Arthur was allowed to stay.

When they finally got to the hospital, a nurse offered to watch over Arthur while they were in the delivery room. The father of Hunith's baby had left her before she even found out she was pregnant and Igraine was prepared to mimic the role Hunith had played for her. For the first time since Arthur left intensive care, Igraine let him out of her sight.

Hunith's labor was short. It was barely an hour after she got to the hospital that Hunith was blessed with a little boy. Igraine couldn't help but notice how different this childbirth was from her own.

Hunith was handed her son once he was cleaned up and a little bassinet was wheeled in so he would be able to sleep in the room. "Merlin," Hunith cooed at the little boy.

Igraine couldn't help the chuckle that escaped her. "How appropriate," she joked. "Arthur and Merlin."

Hunith joined in on Igraine's laughter. As if someone had sensed his name being called, the nurse holding Arthur returned. Igraine gratefully held him.

She watched Hunith as she held her son. He was born with a mop of black hair and giant ears. Hunith kissed each of them. "Don't worry. You'll grow into them," Hunith whispered.

Hours passed while both women just marveled at their sons.

Finally, Hunith's yawn broke the silence. She carefully placed Merlin in the bassinet. He was so tiny, he barely took up any space in the bassinet.

"Do you mind?" Igraine asked, motioning toward the bassinet.

Hunith shook her head. Igraine laid Arthur down in the bassinet. Merlin was absolutely dwarfed by Arthur. It was amazing to see how much Arthur had grown in just six weeks.

The mothers smiled as they watched their sons sleep.