Merlin was running through the park he was late for his dentist appointment just because some idiot had come into the shop as he was about to close it. Why did it have to be today of all days that Mr Williams his boss had felt ill and left him to close up. He would have to pay for the appointment and then make another one and he really couldn't afford it. As he careered round the corner he ran into something very solid and nearly fell only to be held up by a pair of strong arms.

"Ha go steady there, you'll do someone a damage is there a fire or something" Merlin looked up at the face of his dreams and he'd just crashed straight into him. Merlin had always had a thing for blondes with blue eyes and this one was like a Greek god, clear strong and muscular without it being over the top and a golden tan.

Standing up Merlin smiled "Sorry mate I'm late for the dentist and I really can't afford to miss it. Look I'm really sorry but I have to run"

"That's alright but if you want to buy me a coffee as a proper apology I could be sitting here for the next hour" the blond gave him an appreciative look liking what he saw. Merlin was tall perhaps a tiny bit taller than the blonde but was totally different in all aspects in that he was very slender and had raven coloured hair and very pale skin but he too had blue eyes.

Merlin looked at him in surprise "Love to mate I shouldn't be took long" with that he started to run once more. The blonde found a bench and sat down to wait, this was clearly his lucky day.

Merlin gat to the dentist just in time and within half an hour was making his way back to the park, not really expecting the man to still be there, but as he approached the spot where he had left him he was surprised to find the blonde sitting on a bench watching the ducks in the pond. Feeling quite nervous Merlin approached, this wasn't his normal thing at all, he was shy and nervous around strangers, but he had promised the man a coffee and his mother had brought him up to keep his promises. Looking at the man Merlin couldn't believe his luck, he was gorgeous, the early evening sun was shining of his golden hair and he was wearing a red shirt and black trousers than showed of hid frame perfectly. Merlin rubbed his hands down his black shirt and trousers and wished he had taken a change of clothes to work, not that he would have had time anyway, but even so. His old fleece jacket didn't help either. But then who was he kidding this was just a coffee right, the man was probably only killing time.

Merlin walked up to the bench "Hi, do you still want that coffee?"

The blonde looked up and smiled "That was quick"

Merlin grinned showing off his teeth "Yes all fine and perfect, thank goodness"

"I'd love a coffee, there's a nice place the other side of the park, shall we go?" the man's voice was deep rich and very up market and Merlin wondered what he had got himself involved in he was clearly out of his league.

Merlin held out his hand as the man stood up "Merlin Emrys, klutz and clumsy" he said with a smile. The other man shook his hand, it was a firm and confident shake just how Merlin would have expected.

"Arthur Pendragon, pleasure to meet you, and I'm glad you ran into me or we might never have spoken. But tell me do you often run into strange men?"

"I'm clumsy and always tripping over but I've never run into anyone before, well not since I was a kid anyway" Merlin grinned.

Arthur noticed how his whole face lit up when he grinned and was pleased he had met this man, whatever the circumstances. They were soon chatting away like old friends and had soon reached the café. Arthur held the door open for Merlin and went to the counter "What would you like?" he asked.

"No it's my treat, I ran into you" Merlin replied.

"Will in that case I will have a Latte please"

Merlin ordered the latte and a black coffee for himself and they found a seat by the window overlooking the lake. They chatted until the waitress came across and told them they were shutting. As they got up to leave Arthur turned and said "I'd like to see you again Merlin"

Merlin looked surprised "You would?"

"Of course, how about the same time tomorrow? and this time I'll buy the drinks"

"I'd love to" they parted company and each went their own way both had the feeling that they would like this to turn into something more.

Merlin got home to his small bedsit with a big smile on his face. He had had very few dates in his life, he hadn't even come out until he was at college and then only in the last year. Then looking after his mother hadn't left him much time. He had had a few dates that had stretched to the second one and only one boyfriend who had lasted longer than that, but that had ended in tears when he had found his boyfriend was cheating on him, and with a girl. As soon as he had had something to eat he started to looked through his rather limited wardrobe to something to wear, this time he would change before leaving work.

This time Merlin was on time and changed, he had even had chance to have a quick wash before putting on his clean clothes, this time a blue shirt and skinny jeans. He was the first at the bench so sat and watched the birds on the lake and didn't hear Arthur come up behind him until the other man whispered in his ear "I could be an axe murderer and you wouldn't have known"

Merlin jumped and then turned round "You prat what did you do that for!"

Arthur smiled "To make up for having to catch you yesterday, not that I minded having you in my arms of course. Come on coffee time" he head out his hand and pulled Merlin off the bench. They walked hand in hand across the park. Merlin found it refreshing to be out with someone who was confident enough to do that with another man. As they got to the café Arthur once more held the door for Merlin and this time he ordered and once again they had the same thing.

This time they started to find out more about one another, Merlin told Arthur about his job and Open University course in Graphic design and how he was toping up his wages by doing freelance design work for an advertising company. He also told Arthur that his mother was dead and he had never known his father and was all alone in the world with no relations he knew of but two very good friends.

Arthur in turn told Merlin he was in the Army and had been since attending Sandhurst at eighteen, Merlin was surprised to find out that Arthur was a Captain and that his father was a Member of Parliament and his sister was a lawyer for Liberty the civil rights group. Arthur also told him he had had very little to do with his father for several years as his father hadn't approved of his choice of career having wanted him to go into politics and then when he had come out to his father, they had only recently started talking again. Arthur's half-sister Morgana was a year younger than him and had always been supportive of his choices. They found out that they were three years apart Arthur being twenty six and Merlin twenty three.

This time when they were asked to leave as it was closing time they agreed to meet up in two days on the Friday night and go to a club. The two days dragged for Merlin he had told his friends he was seeing someone and they were both excited for him and demanded to meet him and make sure he was suitable to date him. Merlin laughed and told them they would have to wait.

Arthur's best friend had also guessed that something was going on when Arthur pulled out of their Friday night met at the pub. He too wanted to meet the new man but had no more luck than Merlin's friends had. It was to new for them both and they wanted to see where it went before they introduced each other to their respective friends.

They went to a gay club were they knew their nosy friends wouldn't be, both of them were the only gay members of their groups and so there was little chance of accidently seeing their friends. They had a good night and both found themselves falling very quickly under the others spell and they ended up spending the whole weekend together seeing the sites and by the Sunday afternoon Arthur turned to Merlin.

"Merlin I like you, I like you a lot and would like to continue to see you. But I need you to understand I am an Army man through and through a career soldier and I will go away for tours of duty and if we are to continue this you have to understand that that is part of my role."

"Do you know when you will be away next?" Merlin asked

"Not at the moment, accept for some short stints on Salisbury Plain, but it will come I expect a six month tour in the next twelve months but where I can't say" Arthur looked at Merlin "It's not an easy life for partners and I understand if it's not for you but I need to let you know before we go any further as I can see me getting very attached to you"

Merlin understood what Arthur was saying and he had already thought about what it would mean "Arthur would you be surprised to hear that it's too late I'm already half in love with you. I think I would rather have you about some of the time than not at all."

Arthur gathered Merlin into his arms and kissed him "I'm glad, you know your like my other half already these past few days have been some of the best of my life. I'm so pleased you fell into my arms"