Morgana burst into her brother's office without knocking, which was nothing new she never knocked. "Arthur you have to do something!"

Arthur looked up in exasperation he was doing he was very busy and didn't have time for his sister's hysterics. "Leave me alone Morgana, I have to get this merger sorted out" Arthur Pendragon was the CEO of a large pharmaceutical company that had been started by his father but had gone from strength to strength under his leadership, after his father had handed over the reins when he remarried and moved abroad. At twenty nine he was doing a job many older and more experienced men would have found stressful.

"No Arthur this is important, you have to help him, they can't do this to him, they just can't its inhuman" she put her hands on her brothers desk and glared at him. "I wouldn't have had to come here if you were normal and went home at five like everyone else."

Arthur realising that he wouldn't get anything done until he had got rid of his sister stopped what he was doing "It's only six I'm not that late! Alright sit down and tell me what's wrong" he hoped it wasn't another argument between his sister and her husband. Leon was one of his best friends and he hated it when he was expected to get involved in their tumultuous relationship.

"His brother has turned up and is going to ruin his life!" Morgana shouted

Arthur raised his hand "Hang on Leon hasn't got a brother"

"Not Leon you fool MERLIN!"

Arthur took a deep breath, Merlin was his best friend and had been since they had met years before when Merlin's Mum had been his parent's housekeeper. Merlin had two older brothers but it had been Merlin who was six years younger that Arthur had bonded with, they had got on almost straight away, Arthur had always been very protective of the younger man, his sister was also very good friends with him, hell everyone who ever met him was, he was that sort of guy. "Right start from the beginning and make sense this time!"

Morgana took a deep breath before speaking again. "Merlin rang me, he was so upset. He had a letter from some solicitors, Mordred is trying to get custody of Freya, he has got married recently and says he can give his niece a better life and that Merlin isn't caring for her properly. Arthur he can't do, can he?"

Arthur looked shocked this was bad. Freya was Merlin and Mordred's niece, her parents, William and Helen along with Merlin's mother, Hunith, had died in a car crash that had left the little girl an orphan at five years old. Merlin had been nineteen when it had happened, and had immediately given up university to look after his niece. Mordred was a year older than Merlin, and had been happy for his brother to take full responsibility for the small girl. Helen had been an orphan so there was no one else and Merlin wouldn't let his niece go into the care system even if his brother encouraged it. Despite his grief at losing his mother and William, Merlin had done a good job for the past four years and Freya was a well-adjusted little girl. All right materially they didn't have much and lived in a grotty two bed flat, but Merlin showered the girl with love. He worked from home doing low paid work that meant they could just about get by. Merlin had refused all help, saying he was capable of providing for the two of them, refusing to use any of Freya small inheritance to help. When Freya started school Merlin had found a second term time job to help with his finances. Mordred had visited the pair three or four times a year, but had never helped his brother financially even when he had stared work. He had even taken half of the small amount his mother had left in he will saying it was his right and he needed it.

"I don't know Morgana but we can look into it" Arthur told her "Have you asked Lance" Lance was another mutual friend who worked in the social work system.

Morgana rolled her eyes "Of course I have, he says that if Mordred and his new wife can prove that they can provide a better home and that Merlin is failing in some way they would have a very good chance. Mordred has a good job and his new wife is a paediatric nurse who is willing to give up work to look after Freya. That flat of Merlin's is in poor condition and Freya suffers from asthma so it could be argued it would be in Freya's best interests. You know the Social services wouldn't let Merlin adopt her to start, with as he was so young and on his own and since then he's never bothered as he couldn't afford it"

"But that's not fair! Merlin has been arguing with his landlord for over a year about the damp, and has been trying to get on the housing list for one of the council houses." Arthur paused "I tried to get him to let me rent him somewhere, but you know how stubborn he is, he thinks he's a failure if he can't do it himself. But they love each other so much it would be a sin to separate them"

Morgana looked at her brother her expression one of disgust "Mordred evidently says Merlin can have visitation rights. I suppose he could be trying to help, but he never has before."

Arthur looked up at his sister "I'll just tidy this up and I'll go and see Merlin there must be something we can do, don't worry Morgana we'll get this sorted somehow, those two can't be parted it would be criminal"

"Thank you Arthur, if you need anything let me know, and tell Merlin I will see him tomorrow. Tell him he can still take up my offer of living with us. We have a couple of spare rooms."

"I don't think that will solve anything Morgana, he has to be seen to be coping himself." Arthur said.

Arthur had an idea and as soon as his sister had gone he quickly phoned a lawyer friend. After that he made a few other phone calls and found out that Mordred's wife's mother was Morgause King who was a top lawyer in family law so if Merlin was to have a chance of winning, drastic measures would need to be taken and quickly.

Within half an hour Arthur was driving to one of the more run down areas of Camelot and parking up, He went up to Merlin's flat that was the top floor of a terrace house. Knocking on the door he waited for Merlin to answer. When he did Arthur saw his friend was in a state, but clearly trying to hold it together for Freya. "Morgana told you, did she?" Merlin asked gloomily his always unruly hair sticking up everywhere and his cerulean eyes red and puffy.

"She did, where's Freya?" Arthur asked as he stepped in the flat, didn't want to say too much in front of the young girl. With that there was a screech and Arthur found his arms full of a slender built young girl.

"Hello Uncle Arthur I didn't know you were coming" Arthur hugged her.

"I came to see your papa" Freya had started calling Merlin that when she began school, Merlin said he thought it made her feel more like her friends. He suggested papa as she had had a daddy and Merlin didn't want him to be forgotten.

Freya looked sad "They want to take me away" she had tears in her eyes "I don't want to go"

"I know you don't darling, can you let me talk to your papa please?" Arthur looked at the little girl and he felt so sad and angry that they both had to go through this.

Freya looked at her papa "Can I go and see Nikki" That was her friend in the down stairs flat.

"You can but no going outside unless it's their garden and be back in an hour" Merlin hugged the small girl "And be a good girl, have you got your inhaler?"

"Yes papa in my pocket" With that she ran off

Merlin looked his best friend "I had to tell her. Mordred and Kara are coming to see her tomorrow with the social worker" Merlin looked heartbroken "I don't want her to go, but perhaps I ought to, they can give her a better life"

"Merlin material things aren't what she needs, she needs you!" Arthur said "You have to fight this"

"Look around you Arthur! It's damp and she doesn't even have anywhere to play, it might have been better if they had let me keep mums place or Wills but they were both privately rented and they wouldn't let me rent them. I can't give her what they can" Merlin paused "Kara can't have kids, from an illness when she was a child, they will have to adopt to have kids and at least Freya is Mordred's family" Merlin took a deep breath trying to pull himself together "Let me make a cup of tea, that's what mum always did when anyone was upset."

Arthur followed Merlin into the tiny kitchenette and once the kettle was on he hugged his friend. "We will get this sorted. Why not let me rent a place for you or even move into mine?"

"That won't show I can look after her!" Merlin angrily wiped a tear from his cheek "Look around Arthur, this is a dump, second hand furniture, paint peeling of the walls where it's so damp and mould on the windows no matter how often I clean it"

"Yes Merlin it does have that, but it also have love and lots of it. You have helped Freya in ways you don't realise, love is more important than anything. I know that you know what my father is like. I would have rather been somewhere like this with love and affection than what we had as kids. I envy Freya and what she's got, and so does Morgana." Arthur said to his friend. "Don't you dare give up now, anyway I have an idea and I want you to hear me out?"

They sat and had their cup of tea and then the doorbell went. Merlin got up to answer it, Arthur heard Merlin's voice go angry "You aren't supposed to be here until tomorrow"

Mordred's voice replied "That's no way to speak to us brother, we just want the best for Freya and you can't do that. Kara's mother is a lawyer who deals with these cases you don't stand a chance unless you suddenly come into a lot of money. So just make things easier on yourself and Freya"

Arthur heard what was being said and acted quickly and instinctively, he had wanted to talk his idea through with Merlin but perhaps this would be better. He took off his jacket and tie and untucked half his shirt, then pushed of his shoes, so it would seem like they had been comfortable. Then he walked up and placed his hands around Merlin's waist from the back and pulled the raven haired man into him, his hand creeping up under Merlin's t shirt. He felt him stiffen and hoped he wouldn't give the game away.

"Hello Mordred" the blonde smirked "I was hoping you would turn up, we have some news for you and you should be the first to know, I have finally persuaded Merlin to marry me." Arthur felt Merlin tense even more "Also I wanted to talk to you about Freya I heard what you were trying, and unfortunately you left it too late, we can give Freya a home without upsetting her life. They are moving to Pendragon Manor once we are married and my lawyer Ms Annis says you haven't got a hopes chance." Arthur smirked "You should have just told him darling and saved him a journey" Arthur kissed the back of Merlin's neck.

As Mordred turned to his wife Arthur whispered in the shocked Merlin's ear "Trust me please"

Merlin looked round at Arthur in shock and as he did Arthur put his hand around Merlin's neck and pulled him in for a kiss to cover up the other man's confusion. Arthur looked up at Mordred with a smile "Come back tomorrow as planned you can speak to Freya then, I think you will find she is very happy and that's all you want isn't it"

Mordred glared at the two men, he wondered just what they had interrupted looking at the state of the normally immaculate blonde. "You haven't been going out I would have known!"

"And when do you ever visit Mordred? You can't blame us for not telling you, you are hardly close to your brother are you? We haven't told anyone much" Arthur told Merlin's brother.

Trying to bluff it out Mordred snarled "You're a liar Pendragon you haven't even been dating! This is all a lie to stop us having Freya. I won't let you get away with it."

Arthur smiled "No I'm not, we have been together for over a year, but Merlin didn't want to make it official, you know what he's like to independent for his own good. We love each other and I love Freya like a daughter" At least the bit about Freya wasn't a lie.

Kara glared at the couple and snapped at Merlin "You're not going to get away with this mummy says we can have Freya and we will"

Merlin was still too shocked to speak so Arthur replied "Freya isn't something you can buy, she's a human being with feelings, so push off" with that Arthur moved Merlin back and closed the door. Then he gently put his hand over Merlin's mouth "Wait until we are sure their gone" he whispered. Arthur moved to the window and looked out to see Mordred driving off.