For Lunaris Dies.

Inspired by IMPRINTING by Lunaris Dies.

THE STORY IS NOT MINE!

This is a translation of the Italian story "Imprinting" by Lunaris Dies

You can find the original work on the website 'efpfanfic'

this is the last chapter, my friends.

the Author Lunaris Dies would like to thank you for your comments, for favoriting and following her story.

I would like to also thank you for your patience and your nice words... I hope you will help me spread this story, because I think it and Lunaris deserve it!

I apologize for my mistakes... I did my best.

you are the best! THANK YOU AGAIN

CHAPTER 28 OF 28

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God, I can't believe it.

This thought haunted Gaius's mind, while he was about to submerge two tablespoons of Black Tea in the filter in his ceramic teapot, already preheated, on a rainy morning.

The smell that came out heartened him instantly, helping him to calm the accelerating beating heart that the Alpha sitting in his living room had been causing him for more than half an hour.

He was sure that his poor heart would not hold for much longer in the presence of Uther Pendragon, who had come to his house that morning, hollow face and dark circles under his eyes. He must have not slept well in the last few days.

To be honest, neither he was in much better condition. Although he had wanted that moment for an absolutely indefinite number of years and he had dreamed about it again and again in every detail for many years to come, Gaius was not prepared for the reaction that his body and his heart had had as soon as he found himself in front of his True Bond Mate.

They had stood still, watching each other on the doorstep for at least a full minute, before Gaius had decided to let him in.

There had been no need for words and suddenly the last forty years were wiped out with a blink of an eye.

The Omega had been unnecessarily trying to impose his usual demeanor, while the scent of iron, wood and rain, which had always distinguished Uther's figure, had crept in him, impressing upon him as it used to do once, seeking him.

"You have not changed," Uther had simply said, following him into the living room. He too was lost in the ancient scent of lavender and sun that used to distinguish his Omega from the rest of the world.

"This is the best joke of the past decade." the doctor had said with a tight smile, inviting him to sit. "Why are you here, Uther?"

"Well, Morgana has informed me (in truth she had shouted at me for a good hour) about the Imprinting and about the fact that Arthur is with your nephew at the moment. It seems like they are sharing his Heat, despite my ban..."

"They are True Soul Mates," Gaius had said in turn, taking place in the old leather chair in front of the one where Uther sat. "And this is the fifth day together. Merlin has sent me a message; they should come back later this morning. And when they are here, you should not make a scene like that of the other day, Uther. Those boys have the right to love each other and to be together without the opposition of the family. They have already suffered too much."

Uther had run a hand through his dejected hair, "Sure. Therefore, you think I should let them do it, don't you? Or maybe I should be happy for my son: at least he has the opportunity to be with his Omega. Unlike me."

Gaius had gripped the arm of the chair, stiffening and planting his eyes in those icy ones of the Alpha. "Uther, it is useless to reopen old wounds ... once and for all, why are you here?"

"Because I want a bloody answer" Uther had spat, clearly angry. His pheromones had gone crazy all around them, "You left without a word years ago and I want a damn explanation once and for all. First, you leave without a word; then, you reappear in my life and do as if nothing had ever happened between us! Do you have any idea how long I've looked for you? How sick I have been because of you? And now, you have the courage to give me a lecture about how I should act with my son? For Christ's sake! You've hurt me too much, Gaius. And I demand to know why!"

"Ah, I have hurt you too much?" the doctor had snapped, flushed. "You and your family are monsters! Your brother killed my nephew Will and tortured Merlin. Not to mention that brainless bastard of your father! And you, who had hated him so much, have become exactly like him!"

"And what did you expect me to do? You have broken our Bond. I was in love with you. I was your Alpha and I would have given my life for you! And you, who had promised me undying loyalty, disappeared into the shadows. You have been killing me slowly for all these years. I haven't even allowed myself the luxury to love Ygraine fully because, despite everything, my heart has always belonged to you! And don't think I did not try to deny it to myself in the long nights of my life, or every time I looked at her and laid with her. And what's worse is that she knew it. She had always known it! And she had never made me feel guilty. On the other hand, you…you hid yourself from my eyes. You ran away like a thief in the night, after having promised me that you would have stayed by my side forever! I was willing to fight against my father, to give up anything to be with you! How could you have done that to me? How could you have condemned me so? Damn it!"

"You think it was easy for me to leave my Alpha? Do you still believe that it was 'my choice'? That one day all of a sudden I woke up and I decided to disappear? Christ, how little you know me! Your father had forced me to. The day 'I went away', I was taken from my room in the campus by two big Alphas that pushed me forcefully into a car. They brought me before 'His Highness' your father, who thought well to threaten not only me, but also my sister and my brother if I did not stay away from you! He had files with their photos, addresses and phone numbers! He even knew where they worked and about their health problems. He knew everything. And if I had not left you immediately, he would have destroyed not only my life (that I would have willingly sacrificed for you), but also that of all my loved ones. And let's face it: your father could have done it with a snap of his fingers. When I told him that I would have denounced him if he had tried to do something to my family, he ordered his men to take me away. They kept me imprisoned in an apartment in a French town, whose name I don't even remember, where two of 'his' men were always ready to beat me whenever I tried to rebel or to run away. After nearly six months of torture, one morning I got up and his men were gone. I found myself alone and penniless in a country that I did not know. I managed to return only thanks to the embassy. As soon as I returned to the campus, I found out that you were not there anymore. I tried to ask around and they told me to look in the newspaper: there was your and Ygraine's picture, announcing your engagement and upcoming wedding. After only six months, you were engaged to another. So, I dropped out of university and spent a whole year lying on a bed with a broken heart. I was dead inside. It took me time to recover and to complete my studies. However, every single day I felt sick, thinking that you were breathing the same air I was, that we were under the same sky and that you were not with me. Not a single day has passed without me suffering. I have never mate with anyone else, despite the fact that our Bond was broken. And this should be the proof that you have been my one and only Alpha and my one and only love. I have never given myself to others. And you know what that means for us Omegas not to share our Heat with someone. It's a life sentence"

That said, the doctor had stood up with a quick and abrupt gesture, running to the kitchen to make a cup of tea. He had hoped to calm down a bit and to stop the tachycardia prevailing in his chest, after giving voice to years and years of secrets and pain. He had left a gaping and puzzled Uther in front of him, gazing into space.

"I cannot believe that my father had gone that far," The Alpha whispered, devastated.

"You can bet he did," Gaius muttered from the kitchen.

Uther put his head in his hands, trying to rub his temples, swallowing hard. He tried to process the whole series of information that had fallen on him like a cold shower.

He knew that his father was a monster. Nevertheless, he would have never imagined this much.

All those years spent hating his Omega, asking himself why of that gesture. And all that anger poured into the lives of his children...

"Why have you never tried to get in touch with me?" the Alpha asked softly.

"And what was I supposed to say?- 'Hello Love, here I am. Your father has kidnapped me but I'm back. Oh, you got married in the meantime? But what beautiful children you have had without me!'- Uther, do me a favor. Stop talking nonsense. You'd made a new life. And I did not want to reappear as a ghost to ruin your life more than your father had already done."

Uther stood up and went into the kitchen, pausing in the doorway, not daring to go further; eyes planted on the floor, getting lost in the pheromones of his Omega, feeling the stress clearly showing in the acidity of his scent.

"I have hated you for all these years, Gaius."

"I know," said the Omega. The regret was oozing in every letter, "But that's okay. Just don't do to our boys what your father did to us." He finished with a broken voice.

Uther's heart sank and he instinctively went to Gaius, who was showing him his back and trying not to make his hands shake too much as he poured the Tea into the cups, and clasped his shoulders, resting his forehead on the back of his neck.

The Omega did not rebel. That touch did not turn out to be unwelcome, despite a part of his mind was detached by it.

"God, I feel so bad ... after all these years. Your scent has not changed."

"Unlike yours, Uther" Gaius sighed, closing his eyes and trying not to enjoy too much the touch of the Alpha that his body still recognized as his own, after so many years.

"I blame myself ... for what my father had done. For not trusting you not to hurt me on purpose. Christ everything seems a bad dream. It's as if I have lived in a bubble of resentment and hatred for so long that I have lost touch with reality."

"What is done is done, Uther. I don't want to live in the past anymore. I have been doing it for too long. Now I just want to look ahead and think about Merlin's happiness. And you should do the same for your son..."

Uther nodded, gently rubbing his back, enjoying the disappearance of the acidity in the doctor's pheromones, who was apparently relaxing under his touch.

And for a moment, everything was as it was once. Sunny afternoons and smiles invaded the memories of both men, while the threads of an old broken Bond pushed under their skin to be able to intertwine again. Hearts found the synchronicity they used to have. Words steeped in soul and pain resurfaced in the tears that now were streaming down their cheeks.

"I remember of when you used to tell me that I was an ass and that I had to study more ... you used to throw books at my head ... you were violent. It's amazing that you have become a doctor..." Uther said behind him.

"Well, I don't think you've changed that much, Uther ... as for me, now I have more subtle ways with which I could hurt you ... needles and needlesticks for example. If I remember correctly, you have a natural aversion for them, so ... don't piss me off and drink your tea." The Omega smiled, bringing the cup to his lips and holding out the other one, full of amber liquid.

The moment was interrupted by an arrhythmic and strong sound, coming from Uther's pants pocket.

The Alpha took the phone from his pocket, intrigued, "It's Morgana. Excuse me a moment; I have to take this!" The other said, kindly going away from the doctor. A moment later, the cup that Uther was holding was slammed hard on the nearest surface.

"What the hell do you mean 'Arthur is in prison'? Which one? Where have they taken him? WHAT THE HELL HAS HAPPENED?"

Gaius put down his cup in turn, getting closer to the other man, trying to understand what had happened, when even the phone in his house rang. In that confusion, the doctor took the receiver to answer, intent to cut it short to listen to the conversation between Morgana and Uther.

"Gaius, it's Gwaine"

"Yes, boy. Sorry but now I don't have time for you. I am busy with..."

"Gaius" The brown haired man interrupted abruptly, "You have to listen to me! Morgana called me a few minutes ago and asked me to warn you. Arthur is in prison and Merlin..."

Gaius swallowed hard, while a dark fear clutched his stomach.

"Merlin WHAT? Where is my nephew? Speak!" The doctor asked, now seriously worried.

"Gaius ... Merlin has been taken to a Center for Assisted Reproduction."

"WHAT? WHERE? WHICH ONE? What the hell has happened? Why..."

"From what Morgana has told me, they were returning home, but the police was waiting for them to pick Merlin up. It seems like someone has reported him to the Police as a more than twenty-six years old Omega without Bond and offspring. The police was waiting for him in front of our flat; has taken him and loaded him on a truck. Arthur has fought them, making it clear that Merlin was his Omega and that they were Mated, but apparently they have not listened to him. In an attempt to free Merl, he has beaten three police officers, before being restrained and taken to jail, sedated. As soon as he recovered, he used the phone call to alert Morgana, who warned me. I'm coming to pick you up, Gaius! Get ready!"

Gaius put the phone down. He was so upset. He looked at Uther, still on the phone with his daughter.

Merlin…

In a C. A. R.

My God, no.

NO!

The doctor felt his knees becoming like jelly. He barely managed to reach the armchair and to cover his eyes with both hands, suddenly feeling weak. The Alpha's voice seemed distant.

"Warn our Law Firm. I want to know where they are holding him. All right, see you there..."

The touch of Uther's hands on his was gentle but firm.

"Gaius, my son has been arrested. Morgana is already on her way to him."

"Yes, I know ..." The doctor whispered, unabashedly agitated, trying to still the beating heart in his chest and to retrieve his clarity. "Go ahead. Go to him. Gwaine is coming to get me. Merlin is a CAR… he has been put in a..."

"I know Gaius. Morgana has warned me. We're going there. She went to bail Arthur out of jail. I'm coming with you to the C. A. R. as a lawyer and I'm going to demand your nephew's immediate release. Gana and Arthur will join us there as soon as possible"

The doctor suddenly sobered: what was he saying? He was going to come with him to his nephew?

"Why? I don't understand ... you hate this situation and certainly, you hate Merlin too, since he is an Omega ..."

Uther took the Omega's hands in his, peering into the soul in his eyes.

"Let's just say that I don't want to repeat the same mistakes that my father made. I'm also doing this because otherwise you will never forgive me. Now let's go. Gana has told me that someone is going to pick us up..."

oOo

In that moment, everything seemed surreal.

That morning they had been so happy. They had left the countryside house at dawn and they had hold hands all the time in the car, making plans for the future, laughing and joking happily.

Arthur had every intention to buy a loft, big enough for the both of them, where Merlin was going to move in with him in the nearest future. He did not want to stay away from his Omega, not even for a minute, especially in the early months, when the Bond required the mate's almost constant presence.

That morning, they had gone to Merlin's house to take his clothes and to take them to the Pendragons Mansion, where Arthur was going to set up the guesthouse of the villa as their own private marriage bed, until they could find their future apartment. Moreover, his father was never there, but if necessary, he was ready to face anything in order to be with his Omega.

Everything had seemed perfect.

Until they had arrived at Merlin's house that morning.

"Merlin Emrys?"

The voice behind them, as they were opening the door, had been dry and cold.

How could he have not noticed their presence ... he was a Prime ... he had not even smelled them.

They had hardly had time to turn around, when four pairs of hands had grabbed his arms and shoulders, pushing him away, while two black figures had encircled his Omega's white wrists, tugging him back.

"Merlin Emrys, you are hereby under arrest for violation of the Omegas' Mandatory Reproduction Law. You have to come along peacefully..."

He had not understood what was happening.

He had only known that it was wrong.

Those men were touching MY Omega.

The reaction had been decomposed and blind, totally instinctive: before realizing it, he had wriggled free; he had put the two dumb thugs that had imprisoned him in their grip out of the way, one with a well-aimed right punch, the other with a punch to the stomach. Then, he had launched on the two men that were tugging Merlin.

The voice in his head had kept hammering incessantly: Merlin. Don't touch Merlin. Don't touch my Omega. He is mine. MINE. MINE. MINE.

The last thing he remembered had been Merlin's ocean blue eyes, wet with tears, pleading, steeped in confusion and fear, as he held out his hand to him. His pheromones had gone crazy with a heavy sour note that had permeated the air around him.

"Arthur ... Arthur, NO!"

He had been about to take his hand and free him from the clutches of the Police.

He would have defended and protected him at all costs.

Then, Arthur had been pushed on the ground, with three people crushing him on the cement floor, immobilizing him, while shouting Merlin's name, trying desperately to free himself. The syringe had been the last thing he saw, while hearing a dry, 'just hold him still, fuck'.

It was the sound of a key and the cell door opening on its complaining hinges to redeem Arthur from his thoughts.

"Pendragon, you're out. Hurry up!" The voice of the guard was toneless.

oOo

Morgana was waiting patiently for her brother's arrival, walking up and down the long and dark corridor of the police station, where her brother was detained.

She recognized the sound of his footsteps, before recognizing his figure.

Turning around, she could see two police officers down the corridor behind the bars and she immediately recognized her brother walking between them: the shaggy blond hair; a cut on his full lips, as he was trying in vain to break free from the grip of the two Alphas; eyes down; his jaw drenched in pure hatred. The guards led him to her and removed the handcuffs.

"Mrs. Pendragon, he is all yours." One of the policemen said, pushing him forward towards his sister.

Arthur embraced her immediately, strongly, and Morgana returned the hug, trying to instill a bit of calm in her brother.

He was shaking with rage.

"Gana, we have to go to Merlin. Immediately! I'm feeling him through the Bond. He is scared! I must go to him NOW!"

"Of course," She decided, leading the way through the door of the district, "I have already warned Gwaine to fetch Gaius and ... I have also warned Uther."

"Our father? What were you thinking, Gana? Holy Christ I have enough of what is going on to worry about him too!" The blond spat, tensed, getting in his sister's Mercedes.

"I have spoken to him..." Gana said starting the car.

"You have TALKED to him?" Arthur said almost incredulously.

"Yes... for hours, in fact. The fact that he has found his Omega after years and years, has ... you know ... knocked some sense into him! In practice, I have blackmailed him: Gaius's address in exchange for a bit of indulgence towards you and Merlin..."

"God, Gana, I cannot believe it. I cannot believe it! You gave him Gaius's address?"

"Well, I have asked him first ... don't worry!"

"Anyway, I don't care. Do you know who has reported Merlin to the cops?"

"Exactly who you think! Although I am not 100% sure"

"If it hadn't been my father ... it was that asshole of Agravaine?"

"That's right, little brother. The complaint was anonymous, but there's no sign of our uncle. It seems like he has left London, but I have not been able to find out where he went. Probably, to avoid a counter- complaint for kidnapping and injuries, his reasoning must have been: 'If I can't have him, no one else can'."

The Mercedes sped at full speed through the streets of the city.

"That piece of s ... I should have killed him, killed him, HOLY CHRIST! Not just beating him!"

"Unfortunately, it was in his rights as an Alpha to do the complaint, even if anonymous. Obviously, the Police checked and then... they put two and two together! However, Gwaine went to pick Gaius and dad up to take them to the CAR of Kenninghton."

"Gaius and Uther were together?"

"Yes ... at Gaius's house! Dad has gone to see him this morning, on my advice. I wanted them to clarify themselves before your return ... and I hope they have managed to do it!"

Arthur shook his head sadly. Then, he inhaled strongly. He widened his eyes and started to tremble visibly.

"Artie, what's wrong?" His sister asked him, worried.

"Gana...I can't feel Merlin anymore..."

oOo

When Gaius set foot in the lobby of the C. A. R., he nearly fainted. The smell of chemical disinfectants was something horrible, in perfect harmony with the monochrome gray marble that covered the entire shiny and aseptic floor and walls.

He, Uther and Gwaine went to the cage of the information office, where a Beta in black uniform and with thick glasses was reading a book, behind a thick layer of glass.

"Merlin Emrys" the doctor began, "they have brought him here this morning. I demand to know where he is and what you have done to him"

The attendant looked up, clearly annoyed by the Omega's worried tone.

"You are?"

"I'm his uncle, Gaius De La Croix. His one and only relative. And now, tell me what happened to my nephew."

The clerk tapped his fingers rhythmically on the keyboard of your computer, narrowing his eyes on the screen. Then, in no hurry, he said.

"Yes ... Merlin Emrys. He has been taken this morning. They are treating him right now."

Gaius felt his blood frozen in his veins.

"Treating him? What the hell do you mean?"

"Sir, this is a Center for Assisted Reproduction. In your opinion, what can it mean? You know the law for Omegas: Bond within twenty-one years of age or children within twenty-six years..."

"His nephew is mated with my son. Arthur Pendragon" Uther said, authoritarian. "And I'm his lawyer. Uther Pendragon. I demand to see my client immediately."

In response, the attendant pushed his glasses on his nose, looking at him with absolute indifference.

"If the Bond had occurred recently or less, we will update the archives. But the fact remains that Mr. Emrys has no offspring. And, although the late Bond may be 'forgiven', we cannot do the same for the fact that he has generated no Alpha or Omega. Therefore, the violation of the law remains. Mr. Emrys will be subject to fertilization and once we can confirm his pregnancy, we will return him to you for the gestation. In ten months, our Police will check to confirm the birth and that Mr. Emrys has fulfilled his duty toward society"

"My nephew has just stopped a multi-years cycle of suppressors: he is not fertile. He will not be before his next Heat. If you induce the Heat chemically and make him mate, you will not get any results anyway. You have to give him time. He wouldn't be able to conceive even if he wanted to!" Gaius intervened in panic.

The attendant wrote something on the keyboard and then resumed, flat:

"Thank you, but Mr. Emrys has already given us this information. However, we have found no traces of suppressors in his body; therefore ... he will be able to enjoy the hospitality of this institution until he conceives."

"It's obvious that you have not found them: he stopped using suppressors months ago. But, that doesn't mean that his body doesn't need to adapt..."

"Mr. Emrys has already had his first natural Heat a few days ago, as he himself has told us and as the tests have confirmed. Data tell us that 80% of the Omega population that stops suppressors returns fertile between the second and third natural Heat ... but a remaining 20% is already fertile between the first and the second Heat. Therefore, Mr. Emrys is still going to be subjected to our treatment."

Gaius beat his fists against the double glass, giving the Beta a fright.

"What the hell do you mean, you ignorant fools? That you can rape my nephew in the hope that he is part of that 20%? And if he is not? If instead he is part of the remaining 80% and will be fertile in three months?"

The attendant got up from the chair in defiantly, resting his palms on the marble desk. He approached the glass, so that they could hear him better.

"Mr. Merlin Emrys has broken the law. He will be subjected to the first treatment today. If after this treatment he is not pregnant, we will wait for his next Heat and we will repeat the operation. We will repeat it again and again, until Mr. Emrys goes through a pregnancy. Is that clear now?"

"I demand to speak with the director of the Institute! Now!" Uther spat, angry.

"I'm sorry, but the director does not receive anyone without an appointment. And I want to remind you that this is a public facility. We take all necessary precautions before subjecting our guests to the treatment. We are not the ones that have violated the law. At the moment, Mr. Emrys cannot see anyone, since he is in pre-treatment. If you want to wait for the afternoon visiting hours, you can do it in the waiting room."

"Call the director RIGHT NOW or you will regret it for the rest of your life."

oOo

Merlin curled up on the small bed in the room where he had been locked up. It was completely white, except for a large mirror on one wall.

He was naked. His body ached. His muscles were rigid. His skin was hot and permeated by a thin layer of cold sweat. The viscous substance that was dripping from his legs left no doubt that the liquid in the syringe that had been injected in him less than one hour before had induced the Heat.

When they had taken him that morning, they had thrown him in the shower, stripping him by force. Then, they had given him a hospital dressing gown. They had closed him in a room with a doctor, who had asked him a thousand of questions for an hour.

He had been treated like an animal, naked and weak without his Alpha protecting him. The worst part was, he knew full well what he was getting himself into. In his mind, he had called Arthur many times, feeling his desperation growing; feeling his Alpha's frustration, as fear ran through their Bond.

"I have just shared my Heat with my Alpha! See? The bite of the Bond is vivid and fresh. I have just finished a long period of suppressors. I'm not fertile yet! If you give me time, I am sure that I can conceive my Alpha's children on my next Heat, without having to endure all this! I'm a doctor, I ..." His voice had come out like a broken lament.

His assigned doctor, an elder Omega with understanding eyes, had gently touched the bite on his neck. Then, he had sat in front of him, releasing a regretful smile.

"I can see it, Mr. Emrys and if it were up to me, I would let you go. I work for this Institute, but I don't approve the laws that govern it. There is very little I can do. I am going to draw some blood to make more specific analysis, but unfortunately, I don't think there will be enough time to get the results on your fertility before you are subjected to the fertilization process. And to be honest, I think it won't matter... the minds that manage these structures see us omegas only as broodmares. Once you have broken the law and end up here, your rights disappear and the only thing you have to do is pray to conceive as soon as possible. An Omega's only chance of getting out of here is if he is pregnant."

Merlin had begun to hyperventilate. The fear that had gripped his heart was twisting his stomach, causing him to vomit. The very thought of being intimately touched by someone who was not Arthur was driving him crazy. The doctor had noticed it and had given him some water, trying to calm him down.

"I know it's hard, especially with the newly established Bond. Just close your eyes and think you are mating with your Alpha... I'm really sorry, Emrys"

His tears and sobs had been useless when they had taken him in the cell, where he was being held now, and they had not stopped the needle that they had pushed in his arm without a word, while injecting an amber colored liquid under his skin.

Now, he was lying in that bed. His body was warm and vibrant, while waiting for the inevitable with fear in his heart and tears in his eyes.

The hands that would touch him were not going to be Arthur's; the one who was about to violate his body was not his Alpha, and the life that he may bear would not belong to the man he loved, but to a stranger that had never met.

Jesus!

He closed his thoughts and fears in a cocoon, trying to alienate his mind, cutting Arthur off, so that he would not feel his thoughts, perceive his emotions: otherwise, he would die because of it.

When the pheromones of the Alpha, who had entered the room, pervaded the air, looking for him, attacking him, demanding attention, Merlin closed his eyes, sobbing.

It was useless to resist.

His body was already prepared for the coupling and, although his mind was still alert enough to rebel, his hips had moved on their own, spreading his legs and presenting at the Alpha, naked and wet with desire, ready to be taken and possessed.

The last thing he saw was his own tears wetting the pillow, before feeling the touch of the Alpha on his hips. He prayed God that the horny beast behind him would do his duty as quickly as possible.

oOo

Morgana was hugging her brother, trying to convey a calm that she, in fact, did not possess.

The both of them were disappointed and angry. They could do nothing but wait for the afternoon visiting hours with Gwaine, Percy (who had arrived in the meantime), Gaius and Uther in the cold and sterile waiting room of the C. A. R. But when the time had come, they were informed that Merlin was not yet available for visits after the treatment. Therefore, they had to wait.

Not even her father, with all his influence, had managed to pull Merlin out of there.

Arthur was like a lion in a cage. He had tried desperately to 'feel' Merlin and the thought of what they could do to his Omega sent him into a rage, especially because he was helpless in this situation.

"Are you Mr. Emrys's relatives?" The gentle voice in the doorway caught everyone by surprise.

Immediately, all eyes rested on the tall figure, dressed in a white coat, over the threshold.

He was an Omega, a senior. He looked like a doctor.

Arthur quickly lunged at him, taking the collar of his coat, while Gwaine and Percy tried to restrain him.

"Where is my Omega?! What have you done to him?" Arthur roared with a so intense hatred that the doctor inadvertently moved his neck to the right, a sign of submission, closing his eyes, assaulted by the Prime's pheromones.

It took a moment for the blond to calm down enough to allow him to talk.

"You must be Arthur Pendragon, Mr. Emrys' Alpha. We are releasing your Omega today. He is getting ready. We wanted to warn you."

That statement shocked everyone.

Arthur let go of the doctor, who struggled immediately, getting as far away as possible from the Alpha, holding his neck.

The blond stood there, watching him. His blue eyes were glassy and his jaw was rigid, as his mind flew to a range of possible scenarios.

Gaius stepped forward: "What the hell does it mean that you are releasing him? They told us that the only way for an Omega to get out of here was..."

He could not finish the sentence, because his breath was caught in his throat.

"Yes. Mr. Merlin Emrys is pregnant. Confirmation came about half an hour ago, against all odds. Therefore, he can leave the facility now. I wanted to be the first to congratulate you"

"TO CONGRATULATE FOR WHAT?! FOR RAPING A MATED OMEGA? FOR HAVING FORCED HIM TO CONCEIVE WITH SOMEONE WHO IS NOT HIS ALPHA? WHAT KIND OF PEOLE ARE YOU? YOU DO THIS AND THEN, YOU COME HERE AS IF NOTHING HAS HAPPENED, HAPPY OF YOUR WORK? HAPPY TO HAVE RUINED THE LIFE OF A PERSON THAT WILL BE TRAUMATIZED BY THIS DAY FOREVER?" Arthur shouted, held back once again by Gwaine and Percy, before he could reach the doctor, who had stepped back against the wall in the meanwhile.

"Mr. Pendragon, please, calm down." The doctor said, trying to sound as calm as possible, "Mr. Emrys has not been subjected to our treatment. His blood tests has indicated the conception just before we went on with the insemination. The process has been stopped just in time"

Arthur paused again, eyes widening. His clenched fists relaxed for a moment.

"What the hell are trying to say?" He asked with a slim hope in his heart.

The Omega smiled kindly, approaching him, "I'm saying that the baby is yours, Mr. Pendragon. It's the result of the Heat that you have just shared. We would have never thought it possible, given the fact that this has been his first Heat after the suppressors, notoriously sterile. Yet, the miracle has happened. Apparently, Mr. Emrys is carrying your child. That's why I'm congratulating you. And now, excuse me, but I must return to my duties..."

After a moment of silence, smiles began to appear on the lips of everyone in the room.

The first to embrace a still shocked Arthur was Percy, who nearly lifted him up, shaking him amicably. "Oh-ho. Bravo. This is our Alpha! Well done! Congratulations, Artie!"

"You, scoot over!" Gwaine said, laughing and shoving Percy out of the way. He embraced the blond too. "Congratulation, big head! You'll be a great father. However, the kid will love his Uncle Gwaine the most! I'll give him a ton of apples..."

Arthur turned toward his family, still trying to absorb the information.

"How is it possible? ... Gaius ... this Heat ... you told me it would be sterile."

"I think the Imprinting has something to do with it ... obviously, Merlin's body has recognized you on a deep level, preparing itself for you and to conceive, against all expectations ... after all, I have always said that the natural chemistry is stronger than the artificial one. It's clear that my nephew's body has eradicated the residual effects of the suppressors, naturally preparing itself for you, accepting your seed. Something that would have never occurred with another Alpha. It's really a miracle ... a case that I need to study deeply. Boys! Your Bond is something unique!"

"Congratulations, little brother!" Morgana said, tightening the Alpha's muscular body strongly, whose pheromones were already abandoning the acidity that they had been carrying since early that morning.

Arthur hugged her and Gana saw her brother weeping with joy for the first time in his life.

oOo

A green field…

The sun…

Warmth…

Trees in the distance.

A scented wind was messing the ebony hair of a little girl with blue eyes, like the spring sky, and a sweet smile painted on her rosy and plump cheeks. She was wearing a mint-colored dress with a big red ribbon around her waist.

Her hands were raised upwards.

"White ... butterfly... "

Merlin smiled tenderly.

"Yes, Vivian ... do you see the butterfly? It's beautiful, isn't it?" The brunet said, once again amazed by the little girl's beauty. He lifted her from the lawn, picking her up.

Instinctively, he placed a light kiss on her plump and soft cheek, smelling her scent.

Omega, pure, wonderful combination of his and Arthur's scent.

His daughter.

Sky blue eyes and long ebony hair; fair skin, like snow, and wonderfully rosy cheeks; full lips, stretched into a smile, as he stroked her cheek.

"Where is Daddy?" The little girl asked sweetly.

"Yeah, where is Daddy?" Merlin asked, looking around.

He heard laughter behind him and turned around. Arthur, his muscular body perfectly comfortable in a pair of breeches and a t-shirt, was chasing a child of the same age as Vivian along the lawn, running around him, pretending to chase him, while the child kept running, laughing delightfully.

Even Merlin found himself smiling, while Vivian stretched out her rose hand, calling aloud: "Daddyyyyy"

The smiling blond turned towards them, waving his hand and trotting after the child, who was still running around. Arthur caught him and lifted him, putting him astride on his powerful shoulders.

"Let's go, Will. It's time to go..."

A moment later, Arthur's lips were on his, soft, fragrant and heartening, while the children laughed in their arms.

Will began to fidget on Arthur's shoulders and instantly, he encircled Merlin's neck, lowering himself in his arms.

The brunet smiled, looking at the miniature portrait of his Alpha: deep blue eyes and blond hair; red and fleshy lips; a bulbous nose that was drop-dead gorgeous; his skin was more tanned than his sister's, and he had a few freckles too...

Will…

A small Alpha, identical to his father.

Once grown up, he was going to break some hearts.

Like his sister.

The both of them were getting heavy in Merlin's arms, but he did not care.

Arthur came up with his usual sly smile, folded in two dimples on the sides of his mouth.

"I love you..." He whispered to his lips, before possessing them with a kiss, drenched in sweetness and desire that made his heart beat faster.

"Daddyyy"

"Dad, I'm hungry..."

...

Merlin woke up slowly in their bed, letting the beautiful dream that he had just had to fill up his mind a little bit more.

He found himself smiling like an idiot: his Alpha was awake and was embracing him from behind, possessive, gently caressing his belly. His nose was planted in his jet-black hair, smelling him.

"Sorry ... I did not want to wake you up ... but you have such a good scent ... motherhood suits you. You are irresistible; do you know that, my sweet Omega? If I could, I would do nothing else but make you mine all day."

"You haven't woken me up... don't worry. I like your plan... I might just take you up on that!"

"And how's going in here? How's my little boy? Or little girl?" The blond asked, drawing a trail of kisses up to his belly, which Merlin was starting to show visibly. He put a stronger kiss on it and put his ear on Merlin's belly button.

Merlin smiled, running a hand through his mate's golden hair.

"You know Arthur, I think we are having twins ... a boy and a girl ... I have imagined them just a moment ago."

"Then, you were having sweet dreams ..." The Alpha said, capturing his lips softly, sucking them slowly, ripping a moan of pure pleasure from him.

"Yes, Arthur ... beautiful dreams indeed ..." Merlin answered, smiling at him on his neck skin, before hugging the blond.

Outside the windows, the shining sun was promising a very good day.

He smiled.

He was home...

THE END