Merthur/Merlin one shot

In which Merlin ends up with a son

It had been now 1 year and 5 months since Freya ended up escaping. And he never has seen her again. She was someone he holds dearly to his heart and he loved her, but to his king, a deeper feeling was felt. It was just that there was a connection between the two. But what he hadn't expected getting woken up by Gaius one day, in the middle of the night.

The male put something in front of him and he could just stare at the basket now on his lap. There was a gurgling sound heard and a letter was on it. The writing he knew, and he bit his lips now. Freya and that was making him just feel nervous. So, he opened it with shaking hands -by now entirely forgetting that Gaius was still there.

Hello, my dear Merlin

I am sorry. When you get that basket and that little guy, I am not anymore in this world. I was struck with an illness and I am terribly sorry that we never met again. I loved you and you brought me a present which I would have never thought would be possible. A baby boy called Bentley. The boy has your hair and your personality. His smile brightens up the entire room and he likes to cause mischief. He has your gift. Which makes him more special. I hope that you will take care and love him.

Your love Freya.

"No..."

He could just whisper out as he gripped tightly on his letter. This broke his heart and now he lost another person he loved. Another one who he would never see. A small hand pats him and he looked down to be met with a gurgling yet bright smile. The boy was around 5 months old and his heartfelt heavy. Tears by now rolled down and he picked the boy up as pulling him close. A gurgling sound was heard again, and he couldn't help but feel bittersweet about this.

"Merlin, what is going on? Who is that child?"

He rocked the child up and down. The tears still rolling down but this time with a sad smile. Gaius knew about Freya and he told the male that he had helped her escape. What he hadn't told was that they ended up...well, now he had a child to take care of.  And the prat who he would have to work to and knowing his luck this could end up stressful.

"S-She died, Freya. But I -um- Gaius meet Bentley, my son."

The male had wide eyes now and he sniffed by now but had still a smile. He would take care of him and would try his best, but how will he do this?

"Oh, Merlin...how will you do this now? Like you have still responsibilities as a manservant."

That was something that he knew, and he wasn't sure how to do this. But he would find a way. And he would take care of him. Even when he would have to overwork himself. This was his son and abandoning him was out of the question.  He realized that Bentley had her eyes but with some specks of blue and some golden was swirling around. This was enough for him to know that the boy was like him.

"I know, but this is still my child. I won't abandon him. Freya gave me something and I want to try."

Gaius let out a sigh and he could tell that he would not back out. So that the older male gave a soft smile.

"I will help, but he is still your responsibly."

He nodded at this a beamed. And Bentley giggled now. A smile stretched on his lips and he couldn't help but feel attached to the little guy. Merlin would try to be the best single father he could ever be.

"Oh, and we need to be careful. He is like me. From the letter, he can move things too on elemental instinct."

Gaius stared at him and he looked down. A decision was made when Bentley would be found having magic he would run away. The boy was his son and he be damned not managing to protect him. Even when he had to get through Arthur.

---

So being an only parent with a baby was more exhausting than he thought it would be. Bentley was crying in the middle of the night and waking him up more than once. He ended up using a spell to make his room sound prove. There was just no way that he could let Gaius have less sleep.

And Freya hadn't joked when she wrote that he was being like him. His son was letting things float and Merlin ended up stopping this with his own magic. Now he knew the fear of his mother. And he had a respect that he took care of him alone. Being a single mom was for sure hard and a single father too.