Well hello! I decided to continue this story (which was intended to be a one-shot). It's just going to be short stories about our boys in different parts of their lives. Of course, I'm not going to stay in the child stage forever. We'll see how it goes. Be prepared for long absences! Also, this will be canon-esque. So that basically means all the characters will keep canon-y relationships. In addition, be warned! I don't plan on making every chapter fluffy, there will be dark times and happy times, just like real life (Except super angsty cause why not?). So...enjoy? :D

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The boys had just turned six years old. Well, technically Arthur was six and a half now, but who's counting? The Pendragon's had taken their annual trip to whatever warm tropical place there was to visit, and thus had left Merlin without his other half for a month.

Hunith could barely restrain the bundle of sharp elbows and knees she called her son. Mother and child were standing together in the airport waiting impatiently for the aforementioned family to arrive home. Little Merlin once again escaped his mother's grasp and bounded closer to the arrival gate for a closer look. He clutched a small paper crown close to his heart. He had created it especially for Arthur's arrival.

"Merlin, sweetheart, come back here!" Hunith made a halfhearted attempt at gaining her son's attention before she settled for keeping an eye on him. Meanwhile, Merlin was dodging the legs of busy adults and flight attendants as he watched for Arthur. Suddenly a loud "Merlin!" was heard, and the slight boy in question broke into a run. The two friends attacked each other in an embrace, Arthur making loud growling noises all the while.

Merlin escaped the hug, and presented his blonde companion with the honorary homecoming crown. "I made it for you," he said, grin crinkling his eyes in what would soon become somewhat of a trademark. Arthur plopped the crown on his head, slung an arm around Merlin's shoulders, and said his thanks.

"Hey! You grew!" Merlin exclaimed, suddenly taking in all of Arthur's four feet. Merlin, being a late bloomer wouldn't have a massive growth spurt until he was sixteen. Arthur, however, - in true Pendragon fashion- tended to surpass his peers at an alarming rate.

At the smaller boy's remark, Arthur smiled with pride. "Yup! I grew while we were in Spain. Father says I'm going to be real big when I grow up."

Merlin stuck out his tongue, and grabbed Arthur's hand. "Come on, me and Mummy are taking you home."

"I know, Daddy told me. On the way home, I'll show you all my stuff from Spain." Arthur grinned down at Merlin. As the pair made their way to their parents (and a grumpy Morgana), they made sure to watch out for the large, sweeping legs of business men in a hurry, and the sharp edge of lady's high heels. Arthur, being the more aggressive of the two, managed to shove his way through the crowd, dragging the ever-polite Merlin (who was uttering a litany of 'excuse me's) behind him.

Of course, this reckless behavior soon showed its consequence, and Merlin was harshly knocked down by a jean-clad leg. A yelp escaped the poor boy, and he hit the floor with a thud. Arthur gasped in outrage and quickly threw himself on top of his best friend, all while shouting a series of angered pleas asking these overgrown people to take note and avoid trampling the children.

"Arthur! Off!" Merlin's muffled protest was ignored by the raging blonde on top of him.

The commotion was finally noticed by Hunith and Uther, and the two rushed over. Hunith arrived to the scene first, immediately crouching and trying to gently pry Arthur off of her son. Uthur appeared in a huff, with a greatly annoyed Morgana perched on his hip. With an indifference that suggested this kind of thing happened regularly, Uther yanked his child into an upright position. Arthur started beating on his attacker before realizing the man was his father, and simmered down. Merlin (gripping the beloved paper crown with fright) was picked up by his mother, who was apologizing profusely to anyone who would listen.

Uther swept Arthur up onto his other hip, and stormed away, quietly scolding his son under his breath. Hunith followed in a rush, wondering what the car ride would be like.

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As soon as the last door was closed in the car, Uther twisted in his seat to glare at his defiant, car seat bound child. Arthur glared back, ever so slightly puffing his chest out.

"Arthur. I can not even begin to describe to you how tired I am. Your sister seems to be getting sick, Miss Hunith is doing us a favor so we need to be civilized, and Merlin did not ask to be pounced on. If these dramatic moments of yours are you asking for attention, then stop because-"

"NO! I'm not a baby, I can think on my own. Merlin got knocked down and he's so little, he was gonna get killed, and-"

"Arthur-"

"Uthur." Hunith interrupted father and son. "Why don't we leave the children be and let things quiet down?" Uther looked a little miffed, but settled into his seat. As the adults had quiet conversation, the children quickly forgot their guilty status.

"Merlin, aren't you glad I grew? I'm big enough to protect you now."

"No, that's stupid." Merlin pouted.

"Arthur, don't be dumb, you're not a prince or something." Morgana crossed her arms.

"I know! But I am really tall now."

"Shut up."

"Hey! Don't say that!" Uthur piped up from the passenger seat. Morgana stuck her tongue out. Merlin sighed.

"I just haven't grown yet. I'll be tall one day."

"Well. Until then I'm gonna look out for you, because Percy does the same for us 'cause he's ginormous. So as long as I'm bigger, I have to take care of you."

"Arthur that's not how it works." Uthur smiled at his son in the rear view mirror.

"No matter, I would love for you to look after Merlin!" Hunith beamed. Merlin scowled in annoyance.

"Mum, that's no fair!" He complained. Arthur nodded at Hunith, taking on a serious manner.

"I vow to, Miss Hunith." There was silence for a moment until Morgana said, rather loudly,

"What does that mean?"

"Yes, Arthur, how did you learn that word?" Uthur turned his head slightly. Arthur looked a little ashamed.

"What word? Is it bad?"

"No, no, no it's not bad! Ah, you said 'vow'. How do you know that word?"

"Oh. Merlin told me it's like a promise that has to last a long time 'cause all these old kings used the same word." Arthur pointed an accusing finger at the dark-haired boy. Hunith chuckled and exchanged a glance with Uthur.

"Looks like I have a genius on my hands. " She said quietly. Merlin gently molded the paper crown back into shape and placed it on Arthur's head.

"Okay." He grinned.