Parents.

tambear13

“An...  And then...” Arthur drew in a deep breath, and choked out a sob.

Uther sat on the coffee table in front of the couch frozen, watching his five year old son wrap his little arms around himself and try to hold in the sobs that were shaking his body. There were tears running down Arthur’s flushed cheeks, and his nose was dripping too.

Uther didn’t know what to do, so he sat there awkwardly waiting on the little boy to explain why he was home early, and why he was so upset. His teacher, Ms. Woods had rang and asked Uther to collect his son – he was supposed to be out on a picnic with the class, but here he was, sitting on the couch, crying and Uther was flummoxed.  

He wished he hadn’t sent Gaius out to do some shopping – Gaius knew how to handle crying children.

“And then,” Arthur started again, voice shaking. “Valiant said I couldn’t go on the picnic, cause it was a Mommy’s and children picnic and I don’t... I don’t have a mommy.” And then the big gulping, body shaking sobs started again.

“Oh, Arthur,” Uther said, putting his hand on his little boys knee – suddenly hating the world, and hating children – for the mean and thoughtless things they said.

He was saved from saying anymore as the doorbell rang and he hopped up to get it, casting an eye back at Arthur huddled on the couch, clutching at his toy dragon.

Uther opened it to see a kind looking woman, holding hands with another little boy that Uther recognised, who, God have mercy, looked like he might have been crying too.  

“So sorry, Mr. Pendragon to call around like this but you see, Merlin here wanted to come and see Arthur. He didn’t want to stay at the picnic if Arthur wasn’t there, and well... There were tears and here we are!” She grinned apologetically but Uther’s heart soared.

“Come in, come in,” he said, standing back. “Arthur’s a little bit upset too.”

“Children can be so mean sometimes,” the woman said, following Uther back to the sitting room.

“Arthur?”Merlin said, walking over to him.

“Why aren’t you at the picnic?” Arthur asked, wiping his nose on his sleeve.

“Cause you weren’t there, and... and I don’t care that you don’t have a mummy, we can share mine!” Merlin said, clambering up onto the couch beside Arthur.

“Really?” Arthur asked, eyes lighting up.

“Yep,” Merlin grinned, handing Arthur a crumbling cookie out of his pocket.

“Thanks,” Arthur said, breaking it in half. “And you can share my Daddy if you want, cause you don’t got one of those.”

“Thanks,” Merlin said, the two boys sitting happily side-by-side munching away on a cookie, their feet just sticking over the edge of the couch.

Uther and Hunith grinned at each other, a little sheepishly.

“Kids,” Hunith said fondly, shaking her head.

“Wanna play Dungeons and Dragons?” Merlin asked.

“Ok,” Arthur grinned, hopping down off the couch. “But only if I can be the Knight again!”

“You’re always the knight! I’m not being a princess,” Merlin said, stamping his little foot.

“Ok,” Arthur said, tilting his head to one side. “You can be my wizard!”

“Cool!”

“Come on, we can build a castle in my room,” Arthur said, grabbing Merlin’s hand and pulling him out of the room.

“Some tea, then?” Uther asked, watching the boys run away, tears completely forgotten.