[Merlin_Arthur] A Fortunate Fall.pdf

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Title: A Fortunate Fall

Fandom: Merlin (c) BBC

Genres: AU, Romance/Drama

Rating: PG-13/R

Words: 4587

Progress: 1/18 (if everything goes according to plan...prev. 1/20, but outline was revised)

Summary: Single father Arthur Pendragon, at the end of his rope, finds a miracle in the

form of a young cashier boy at the local convenience store. As for Merlin, he's not quite sure

about what to make of his new job as an au pair for the wealthiest man in town; but he does

know that his employer has more than a few skeletons in his closet.

Notes: A Fortunate Fall is my baby, this chapter took an entire two weeks to write and

revise...I'm honestly a little scared about putting it up. But any feedback that you could give

me would be absolutely awesome--including rotten tomatoes and potatoes and what have

you. xD. A special appearance by genius!Mordred, because he's just that awesome. =)

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"Arthur, I'm done." Morgana folded her arms, "Starting tomorrow, Alex goes to a daycare

like other kids his age or you take him to work with you. But I'm done." She didn't look

amused at all. "It's never too late to start picking up after yourself, you are thirty." Her tone

was both motherly and disapproving, "You're a father; you have a responsibility to your

work, as well as to your son. You have to grow up someday, Arthur. I'm tired of this."

Arthur Pendragon desperately, desperately needed a drink. He needed alcohol so badly that

his head felt like it was going to split in two. In all respects, Arthur Pendragon and thirteen

hour workdays didn't mesh so well. "Morgana--"

"I'm done, Arthur. Don't make me repeat myself." Morgana shot him a baleful glare as she

swept out of the room, all lilac satin and French lace. "If you don't mind, I'm already more

than fashionably late in meeting Owaine."

"But I can't take him to work with me." Arthur protested, already envisioning the havoc that

Alex would cause if he were allowed to run amuck in the office. Arthur was proud of his

son for being a quiet, manageable kid, but the fact that Alexander Pendragon was five-

years-old still remained. Five-year-olds, in Arthur's mind, did not hold a great precedence,

even if the said five-year-old was his own flesh and blood. "You know that."

"it's none of my concern, he's your son, and not mine. Hire an au pair for him if you have to.

It's not like you can't afford it." Morgana's gaze was no less sour. "The trouble with you,

Arthur, is that you try too hard to go out of your way in order to take advantage of people.

We all tire of that eventually." She opened a door, the door led to her library. Alex was there,

perched on one of the cushions, his head bent over a book. It was a rather thick spine and

when Arthur squinted, he could make out the faded threads of the title: Shakespeare

Anthology -- The Complete Works.

"Why is my son reading Shakespeare?" Arthur asked, finding the scene somewhat amusing

and horrifying at the same time.

"Just because he's five doesn't mean he can't appreciate good literature." Morgana shrugged,

"And besides, if I don't get him started on the right books, he'll be hooked on those stupid

trash paperbacks that are always on sale for fifty cents. Do you want that to happen? He

asked me for something good to read, so I just gave it to him. If he didn't get it, Alex would

have asked me for something different."

Or perhaps Arthur had unintentionally raised his son to fear his Aunt Morgana

unconditionally. But he kept that bit to himself. "Oh."

That earned him another look, and then Morgana walked over to clasp a kind hand on

Alex's shoulder, "Hey, Arthur's here."

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Alexander didn't look at his father at all, Arthur thought. The boy was dark-haired where

Arthur was blonde, and where Arthur was well-built, Alex was so skinny that Arthur often

wondered if he was sick. Where Arthur's demeanor was imposing and demanding, Alex was

shy, "...May I take this book with me?"

"Sure, of course you may." Morgana smiled warmly at the boy, "I still expect you to come

visit me often, okay? You can bring the book back anytime."

"Okay." Alex nodded solemnly, and at last Arthur saw something of himself in his son.

"Thanks."

"Don't mention it."

That was where it got awkward, Alex practically stalked past Arthur without

acknowledging him at all. The "how was your day" fatherly greeting that Arthur had

carefully prepared faded from his lips altogether. He just followed Alex to the door and

watched the boy tug on his shoes. Morgana must have instructed him on how to tie his

sneakers properly because it only took Alex a minute.

"Bye, Alex." Morgana smiled at him.

"See you, Aunt Morgana."

Arthur said, "...Thanks, Morgana."

And his sister merely clapped him on the shoulder, "Good luck. I've got to run, I'm really late

for my dinner."

Outside of the office, Arthur drove an expensive, but still unassuming car. Alex quietly

buckled himself in the backseat and kept up a stony face with his arms crossed. It was not

until they turned onto a commercial street that Alex ventured, "It's all your fault, Dad. You

made Aunt Morgana hate me."

The accusation stung. Probably because it was true. Arthur gripped the wheel. "Morgana

doesn't hate you." He said, "She's just busy.'

"No," Alex gave a little huff, "She just hates you."

Arthur liked to think he had thick skin, but nothing could have prepared him for that.

"Alexander...please don't be difficult. You know I have to work."

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"You know, most CEOs in your position rarely go to the office and still make seven figures."

Alex said.

He was really going to have to talk to Morgana about this. Arthur liked his kid so much

better when he acted and sounded like a normal five-year-old. "For me it's different, my

company is relatively new, and it's good to oversee things myself." Although it was

undeniable that Arthur Pendragon had a knack for business; he was just thirty, and even

though Camelot Software (CamSoft for short) was only in its third year mostly subsisting on

heavily borrowed capital, it held promise. In fact, Arthur's head accountant was so

enthusiastic that he predicted that revenues were going to shoot through the roof within the

next couple of years.

Arthur would have liked to believe him, but he was born and raised a cynic.

"Who's going to take care of me tomorrow?" Alex wanted to know.

"I don't know. I'll call someone. Pellinor, maybe." But Arthur wondered if calling old frat

brothers for caretaker favors was a smart idea; actually, it probably wasn't.

"Pellinor smokes like a chimney." Alex said, "I don't want to stay with him."

Perhaps it was not in Arthur's best interest to let his son know that he himself sometimes

smoked like a chimney--except he was smart enough to do it when Alex wasn't around.

"Fine, you don't have to stay with Pellinor. I don't know of anyone else that can take you on

such short notice." he bit his lip, "...As a last resort, I guess you'll have to come to work with

me."

"Da-ad."

"Sorry, okay? I can't help it." Arthur swerved dangerously into the parking lot of a 24-hour

convenience store, he usually hated these places, but desperate times called for desperate

measures. "I'm assuming you didn't eat with Morgana."

"I didn't. You made her late for dinner. You were supposed to pick me up at six."

"Alexander, stop it. If Morgana taught you to talk like that, stop it." Arthur slammed the car

door shut. "I hope you like microwave pizza." If Alex was subtly implying that Arthur loved

driving during the rush hour...the kid wasn't as smart as he thought he was.

"I hate it."

So did Arthur. In fact, he reflected somewhat bitterly as he scooped up a still pouting Alex in

his arms, he decided that he quite hated his life. When Alex was asleep in bed, Arthur

would have to console himself with a nice stiff drink. But until then--

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"Dad, I hate microwave pizza."

"I heard you the first time." Arthur felt his forehead prickle. "Pick something else."

"Put me down."

Arthur did, and Alex toddled off to one of the aisles. Arthur took the opportunity to

disappear down the liquor aisle himself and grab a bottle of vodka. The week had started

out fine, but it had quickly spiraled downwards, everything was behind schedule. And how

funny that Morgana took away his final lifeline on a Friday night. She had damn good

timing. And he couldn't be that worried about Alex because a.) the convenience store wasn't

big, and b.) Alex had proven himself a little too capable. Any potential kidnapper would

have his hands full.

He walked to the front of the store, where the one store clerk, a college boy with an open

face and ears he had yet to grow into, grinned at him amiably, "Thank goodness it's Friday?"

Arthur found himself shaking his head, "I prefer Mondays." And he did. Because Mondays

meant everyone at the office was sleepy (with the exception of Arthur.) Having everyone

sleepy meant peace and quiet.

"You're nuts."

"Yeah, I guess I am." Arthur gestured to the vodka, "Ring this up for me?"

The cashier did so, and bagged his purchase without further comment. He slipped a small

bottle into the bag along with the vodka.

"What's that?"

"Caffeine pills. On the house, they'll be your best friend."

Arthur decided that the cashier wasn't a bad kid. "Thanks."

"No problem."

Alex materialized from the aisles then, his dinner of choice was a huge bag of pretzels, and

a bottle of root beer. Arthur wasn't the best parent in the world, but even he knew better.

"Alexander, is that supposed to be your dinner?"

"Yes." Alex jutted his chin out defiantly. Arthur saw a flash of himself as a boy and almost

gave in.

"No."

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