This is the first part of a Christmas series that I have going for Merlin/Arthur. I'm planning on 12 parts, with one each day starting from the 12th of December.

Unfortunately for me, I do not own Merlin or Arthur, or any other characters from the Merlin series. They are all property of the BBC.

This series assumes that Merlin and Arthur are already a couple, and living in Arthur's house. It's definitely AU.

Reviews would be fantastic. c:

On the first day of christmas, my true love sent to me, a truly massive christmas tree.

*****

Arthur was at a loss of what to say. There were just no words that could cover what he was thinking. Well, almost no words.

"It's… really big."

"Isn't it amazing?" Arthur watched with an eyebrow raised, as Merlin threw his arms around the abnormally large Christmas tree, a look of complete adoration plastered across his face.

"Is it going to fit through the door?"

Merlin's face fell. "Well, I figured we could just…" He trailed off, frowning as Arthur let his face fall into his face.

"Only you could not think about whether it would fit!"

"Well, we could just keep it outside?" Merlin looked hopeful, his arms tightly wrapped around the tree. His fingers only just brushed each other. "Please?"

"But… it's so big!"

"Please? For me?" Arthur had no idea how just a single look could have him slowly melting into compliant goo. After a few moments of hesitation, he caved to the puppy dog eyes Merlin had perfected over the years and sighed, gesturing towards the house.

"I swear, if that thing breaks my door, you will very quickly find yourself staying outside, with the remains of your shredded tree."

"Thank you, Arthur! Thankyouthankyouthankyou!" Merlin flung his arms around Arthur's neck, almost knocking him over in his excitement.

"I refuse to decorate that monstrosity."

*****

"But, green and silver would just look better!" Merlin whined, thrusting a box of silver baubles in Arthur's face. "Red and gold is just so… so…"

"Much better?" Arthur prompted, gently pushing the box away. Leaning casually in the doorway, he wondered if his living room was actually still there under the mountains of decorations Merlin had pulled from… somewhere.

"Frumpy!"

"Frumpy?!" Arthur scoffed, stepping completely into the room. He narrowly missed crushing a small shiny bauble under his foot. Carefully, he picked the red bauble up and waved it at Merlin. "How in the hell is this frumpy?"

Avoiding the question, Merlin shrugged and began lovingly placing green baubles on the tree. "Yes, frumpy. Besides," He unwound the silver tinsel from around his neck and set to draping it about the tree. "I clearly remember you saying, 'I refuse to decorate that monstrosity'". Merlin shook his head and gently patted the side of the tree, as if to comfort it from Arthur's harsh words.

"I may have, but this is my house! So technically, I make the final decision."

"Just this once?"

"No! I am not falling for that again!" Arthur turned away from Merlin's intense gaze, refusing to be tempted by the puppy dog eyes. "How about a compromise?"

"A compromise?" Merlin asked, his voice laced with suspicion. He paused in his decorating for a moment, peering around the tree at Arthur.

"Yes, Merlin, a compromise."

"What did you have in mind?"

"For starters, you remove those atrocious green things, and then we replace them with red and silver."

"Why not green?" Merlin looked hurt. "I like green." He hugged the box of green baubles tightly to his chest.

"I'm sure you do, but Merlin, have a little common sense. The tree is green."

"So?"

"You can't see them."

"That may be so, but red looks so aggressive."

Arthur slapped a hand to his forehead, and spoke through his fingers. "What am I going to do with you, Merlin?"

"Let me have the green baubles?" He prompted, his face hopeful.

"No."

*****

Twenty minutes, and many games of rock-paper-scissors later, Merlin was feeling triumphant. "Green and silver it is!" Quietly humming a Christmas carol under his breath, he continued to arrange the baubles and tinsel about the tree.

"But Merlin-"

"Nuh-uh! I won fair and square!" Merlin tssked. "Where's the star, Arthur?"

"In the big box. No, not that one. The other big box." He grumbled, dropping down onto the sofa. He never lost rock-paper-scissors. Never. He watched as Merlin rummaged through the contents of the box, tossing red and gold decorations over his shoulder as he went. "Careful!"

"Aha!" Merlin held up the star, his look of triumph slowly slipping to disappointment. "It's gold!"

Arthur snorted, placing his elbow on the arm of the sofa, and resting his chin in his palm. "What a shame."

"Oh, shh." Merlin looked at the star, to the tree, and back to the star. "Arthur…"

"What now?"

"Will you give me a piggy-back?"

Arthur stared at him in disbelief. "Why?"

"So I can put the star on the tree." Merlin explained, as if Arthur were stupid.

"Really? Are you deliberately trying to hurt yourself?" He ignored Merlin's hurt expression. "Or more importantly, are you trying to hurt me?" Arthur sighed and pushed himself out of his seat. "I'll go get the stepladder.

Maybe Arthur wasn't thinking straight, or his judgment was clouded by his frustration at losing Rock-paper-scissors, but whatever the reason was, it probably wasn't his best idea to set up the rickety stepladder, climb up half way, then ask Merlin of all people, to hold it steady while he put the star on the top.

"For Goodness' sake, Merlin! Hold it still!"

"I am!" He cried, as the stepladder gave a disagreeing lurch to the side. It shook Arthur off balance, and he struggled for a moment to right himself. With an undignified cry, Arthur tumbled from the stepladder, somehow managing to throw the stupid star on the tree, just before he hurtled to the floor.

As he lay there for several seconds, waiting for Merlin to come rushing over, apologizing profusely and worrying over his health, he frowned. There was no worried Merlin, and definitely not apologizing. Instead, as he hauled himself onto his elbows, he found Merlin staring at the tree, hands on hips, head tilted to the side, looking concerned.

"Arthur, it's wonky."

Arthur let himself fall back down, letting out a groan of frustration. It was going to be a long Christmas.

*****

Are you coming to bed, Arthur?" Merlin asked, clearing away the collection of mugs and plates that had gathered. As he left for the kitchen, he sent a loving glance toward the Christmas tree stood proudly in the corner. Much to Merlin's surprise, Arthur hadn't complained at all about it during the day.

"Mm, later." He replied, tearing his eyes away from the TV to let Merlin kiss him goodnight.

"Alright."

As soon as he was sure that Merlin was safely upstairs and crashing around in the bathroom, Arthur leapt into action.

*****

Merlin yawned, stomping down the stairs. "Coffee, Arthur?" He took the sleepy grunt as a yes. Grabbing the post on his way through, Merlin rubbed at his eye absently and flicked through it. A Christmas card from his mother, some junk mail, and what he assumed was a bill. As he wandered into the living room, he froze, staring at the Christmas tree. The very red and gold Christmas tree.

"Arthur!"