I don't own Merlin. (Sadly.)

Thank you for everyone who has reviewed, put this on story alert or made one of their favorites. It has made me write to get the next chapter up :)

A/N: malexmale. (Eventually.)

A/N 2: Sorry for any mistakes I may have made :)


Over the next week Arthur avoided Merlin as best he could. If Arthur ever passed Merlin in the building, he would give Merlin a curt nod before carrying on his way, missing the hurt look Merlin had on his face everytime this happened.

A week after Merlin got pushed from Arthur's flat he was in the one next door, fixing a faulty wall socket. "Would you like a cup of tea dear?" the elderly lady asked him.

"Um, no thanks Mrs Whiston. I'm almost finished here."

"Okay dear."

When Merlin was all done and packed up, Mrs Whiston saw him to the door. She opened the door and they both came face to face with a delivery bloke who had his hand up as if he was about to knock on the door.

"Mrs Whiston?"

"That's me."

"We was informed to leave this with you if Mr Pendragon wasn't in."

"That's right." Mrs Whiston showed the man proof of who she was before signing for the booklet which Merlin took as it looked thick and heavy. The man smiled and bid them both good day and left.

Merlin looked down at the book in his hands and saw it was an information book for 'do it yourself' jobs around the home. Merlin flicked through it and saw that it was in alphabetical order of how to fix things around the home.

Mrs Whiston patted Merlin's arm and smiled at him. "I'm sure he just feels awful of having to call on you all the while." she said, trying to reassure him, but not believing it herself.

"It's not that. I've only done a couple of jobs for him."

"Perhaps he can't afford it?" she guessed.

"I don't think it's that either." Merlin placed the book down on the table near her door and gave her a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Let me know if you have any more problems."

"I will dear. And thank you."

"You're welcome."

When Merlin left, Mrs Whiston wrote a small note and attached it to Arthur's door, letting him know that his book came before going back into her flat.


The next day was Arthur's day off so he spent it reading the book that Mrs Whiston signed for him. He went straight to the page that told you how to sort out a leaking pipe. After reading what to do several times, he stood up to make his way to the bathroom, but never made it as someone was pounding on his door. He opened his door and saw Gwen stood there, he opened the door wider and she walked in. He shut the door and as soon as he turned to face her, he found his arms full of her. "Thank you for the gifts." she pulled back and looked at him. "Am I right in guessing that they were bought with the money I left here?"

"You are."

"I didn't leave that much."

"I know. I bought some stuff as well."

"Thank you Arthur. You won't believe how happy me and Lancelot are that it was you who walked in here that day." Arthur chuckled and sat down, inviting Gwen to do the same. When she sat, she looked at Arthur before speaking. "What's happening between you and Merlin."

"Nothing."

"I know that. I want to know why. And don't think about lying to me."

Arthur sighed. "I fancy Merlin. I was relieved to find out that he was gay, hoping that something would happen, I was even thinking about breaking things around the flat, just so that he would come round. Then one night last week he came and asked me for my boxes that I used. He mentioned someone called Will. I asked him who Will was and he told me that he was his partner."

"So you have been ignoring him because it hurts that he's with someone and you can't have him?"

"Yeah."

"Arthur you are so stupid. Will is Merlin's work partner and is straight."

"Oh." Arthur dropped his head so he wouldn't have to look at Gwen. How could he have been so stupid in jumping to conclusions.

"So. Are you going to talk to Merlin and explain?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because now I feel stupid."

Gwen huffed and stood up. "Men. I've got one at home wrapping me up in cotton wool thinking he knows best even though it's me carrying the baby. A handy man who has been crying on my shoulder over the bloke in front of me who won't even try to make amends once he realised he was wrong because he feels stupid. I think I might just save myself the hassle and become a lesbian. I won't have a bloke complaining, moaning or lecturing me left right and center." she said before letting herself out.

Even though Arthur was taken back by Gwen's little rant he couldn't stop the big smile on his face. Merlin was single, and he was upset that Arthur wasn't talking to him, which meant he must at least care for Arthur.

After ten minutes of sitting, Arthur made his way to the bathroom to try and fix the leaking pipe, unaware that when Gwen left, she left the door on the latch so that a certain handy man could let himself in after being told a few things by Gwen.


After a couple of hours of trying to fix the pipe in his bathroom, Arthur stood back and grinned when he thought he had finally done it. The grin was soon was wiped off his face though when the pipe burst and soaked him from head to foot.

"Well. First it was just a towel, then just in your boxer shorts, now, in wet clothes that stick to you giving me the perfect view of just how tight and firm your arse is."

Arthur turned and saw Merlin leaning against the door frame with a smile on his face. "Oh the front's even better." Arthur followed Merlin eyes downwards. He took his wet top off and chucked it at Merlin, hitting him in the face, making him laugh.

"Shall I sort this out whilst you get dry and changed?"

Arthur smiled and nodded, rubbing himself against Merlin who made no effort to let Arthur walk freely from the bathroom.


What do you think?

Message to: MarillaT'Pel, DreamScribbler and HELEN. All three of you were right :) I couldn't put Merlin or Arthur with anyone else but each other :)

Chapter five will be up within ten days :)

Review? :)