chapter16

Arthur walked into Merlin's hospital room and couldn't help the tremble in his body. Merlin had after all tried to take his own life, and was now in the hospital with bruises all over his thin, pale body.

Arthur slowly walked over to the bed then just as slowly leaned down and brought his lips to Merlin's.

Merlin took a deep breath and opened his eyes. He stared up at Arthur and smiled, then shut his eyes, still smiling. "I feel like Cinderella. The handsome princes kiss has awoken me."

Arthur silently chuckled. "Dont you mean Snow White?"

Merlin reopened his eyes. "Whoever she is."

Arthur smiled then leaned down on the bed and brought his hand to Merlin's hair. The blonds smile faded. "Why would you do that?"

Merlin's smile now faded.

"Merlin, you almost killed yourself."

Merlin stood silent.

"Merlin, I swear if you ever do that again..." Arthur shook his head then sighed. "I just want you to talk to me. You know you can talk to me, I'm here. I've always been h-"

Merlin's brows narrowed at that point. "No you havent Arthur."

Arthur blinked at Merlin's serious tone. "Merlin I-"

"Arthur, I tried to explain what happened." His voice cracked. "I tried." Tears ran down his cheeks. "Do you know how it feels to have your boyfriend hate you? To have him put his hands on you and say he never wants to see you again?" Merlin shook his head angrily. "You're the only one I have, and you let me down."

"What about me?"

Merlin's eyes trailed to the door where Cenred stood. The man walked towards the bed and grabbed Merlin's hand. Arthur's brows narrowed at the intimate gester.

Merlin gave a small smile. "You're my best friend next to my boyfriend."

"I thought you didn't have a boyfriend." Cenred said back.

Merlin blinked and slowly shook his head. "Cenred please, don't do this."

The man shrugged. "You told me Merlin, you said you didn't care if you ever saw him again."

"I was drunk, and hurt."

"You weren't drunk when we first met." The man argued back.

"The next day when you told me you loved me, I told you I still loved Arthur. That I'd never turn my back on him." Merlin said forcibly.

Cenred tilted his head. "What about last night?"

"Cenred." Merlin said warningly with wide eyes.

Arthur's brows narrowed. "What are you talking about?"

Merlin gulped. Cenred saw the boys distress and couldn't bring himself to destroy what he thought he had a chance with. The man sighed. "Nothing." He breathed. "Merlin was a little drunk last night and he said some things. He didnt mean it." Cenred licked his lips then leaned down and kissed the boy's forehead then turned and left the hospital room.

Arthur eyed the man before turning his attention back to Merlin, who gulped and took a deep breath then pulled on a smile. "So, how's everything?"

Arthur's brows narrowed and he lightly shook his head. He understood what Merlin was doing and he wasnt going for it. "Merlin-"

"I've never felt so wonderful. What did they give me?"

"Merlin?"

The boy leaned over to the small tray and lifted the menu for dinner. He groaned. "Urg! I hate hospital food. Maybe you can go can get me a large pizza, I feel like I haven't eaten in days..." He stood staring at the menu with an unreadable expression. Arthur could tell he wasn't really reading the menu, so the blond snatched the paper from his hands and watched as Merlin stood there staring at nothing.

"Merlin, you can't avoid it forever." He said sadly.

Merlin blinked then licked his lips. He forced another smile and looked back at Arthur. "There's nothing to avoid. Cenred's just a fr-"

"I couldn't care less about that dimwitted poor excuse for an adult." Arthur said with narrowed brows. "You know what I'm talking about." He said lower. "Merlin both our parents are going to be gone for a while. Now, I don't need my father to get an apartment, so here's the deal. You move in with me on two conditions, one, you go to therapy, two, no more drinking, and three no more Cenred, he's not a good influence. And you have to stop selling yourself for money. Anything you need or want I will get for you, all you have to do is ask."

Merlin just stared down at the hospital sheets.

"Merlin did you hear me?"

Merlin slowly lifted his blue eyes to meet Arthur's, he gave a small smile. "That was four things."

Arthur blinked in confusion. "What?"

"You said you had two conditions, that was four."

"Merlin." Arthur said annoyed.

Merlin still smiled. "I'm just saying, if I'm going to live with you, I think you should at least know how to count right."

"Merlin?" Arthur sighed.

The boy only smiled. "Yes, Arthur. I promise I won't let you down. And I'm sorry."

Arthur shook his head. "If anyone should be sorry, it's me. I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions. And I most definitely shouldnt have believed my father about you stabbing him. Look at you, he's at least four times your weight."

"Yeah, thanks for pointing that out. But I have been weighing myself and I still weigh the same."

Arthur's brows narrowed. "That can't be possible."

"It's true Arthur, I swear."

Arthur frowned. "Maybe we can ask your doctor. She can possibly give you some vitamins."

"That wont be possible."

Both boys turned to the door where Merlin's doctor stood with her clip board.

"Mr. Pendragon, I'd like to speak with Merlin alone if you dont mind."

"Ah... sure, I'll just go get some coffee."

"Don't take long Arthur." Merlin called. The blond nodded then left the room.

Arthur walked over to the snack machine instead of the coffee and grabbed a small bag of chips instead. He opened the bag just as he heard a voice.

"Arthur, how is he?"

The blond reached out and sent the hug back his sister sent. "He's ok, for now. We're going to get an apartment. He just needs some time to get better."

Morgana nodded. "Are you going back to see him?"

Arthur smiled and nodded.

Together, the two took the elevator back up to the 7th floor. The moment they reached Merlin's room, the door opened and the nurse walked out with a smile.

"He's ready for you."

Arthur smiled back. "Thank you."

Morgana was the first in and she ran to Merlin. "Merlin how are you?" She wrapped her arms around the thin frame. When she got no response, she frowned and pulled back. "Merlin?"

Merlin broke down just then and Arthur was quick at his side. "Merlin? Merlin whats wrong?"

The boy shook his head. "Your father..."

Arthur's brows narrowed. "What about him?" He asked worriedly.

Merlin looked at Arthur. "He's out. His lawyers went and took him out of the prison."

Arthur licked his lips and shook his head. "Don't worry Merlin, we can keep you far away from him."

Merlin brought his hands to his mouth and shook his head.

Arthur nodded. "We will Merlin. I promise, I'll keep you away."

Merlin removed his hands from his mouth. He sniffled and his body trembled violently. "If you do that, he'll just have you arrested on kidnapping charges."

Arthur's brows narrowed more. "What?"

Merlin's tear fell more. "He just signed adoption papers."

Morgana's brows narrowed. "He what?"

Merlin looked towards the young woman. "They told me Cenred couldn't take me home, because my father, Uther Pendragon was going to pick me up."

Arthur shook his head angrily. "That's impossible. They wouldn't let him adopt if he's got a record."

Morgan looked towards her brother. "Maybe that's what his lawyers were for." She said low.

Arthur looked to his sister.

"Arthur, he used his lawyers to destroy his records. He's a very powerful man."

Arthur shut his eyes and suddenly felt very sick to his stomach. "This can't be happening." He said low.

"That's not all."

Morgana and Arthur both looked down at Merlin who burst out in more tears. "My doctor told me... I'm pregnant."

THE END. FOR A SEQUAL ALSO! IT JUST SEEMS SOOOOO RIGHT TO ME, BUT IT"S SOOOO WRONG!

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