April

As the weeks went on Merlin and Arthur started to talk more over the phone and would meet up whenever they were free for a bite to eat, the more time they spent together the closer they became until they started to fall for each other.

It was the midweek of April when Arthur's mobile rang while he was talking to his partner, Leon.

"Can you hold that thought please." Arthur said as he answered his phone. "Hey, you forgot to call me yesterday." Arthur smiled.

"Sorry, I've busy getting ready for the end of term play and then I have to move my things around." Merlin laughed. "I finally found the time."

Arthur smiled and leaned into his desk. "Yeah and you're calling to get the help of a willing police officer."

"Well I was planning on paying him in food, but if he is willing then maybe I don't need to." Merlin joked.

"I happen to know that he loves your cooking. So when do you want to start?" Arthur asked as he looked up to find Leon, Gwaine and Percival looking at him with a smirks on their faces.

"Well if you're not doing anything this week I was hoping you could help out, maybe even stay over so we can get it all done before the kids go back to school." Merlin said slowly.

"As long as you promise to feed me and take me on my nightly walk you got yourself a deal." Arthur laughed.

"It's a good thing I like you or I would totally call you a prat." Merlin giggled.

"We both know that's not true you love calling me a prat." Arthur said as he stood up. "I'll be at your place in an hour, just have to wrap up a few things at the station, want me to bring anything?"

"Just yourself and a change of clothes, a weeks worth and maybe something old that you don't mind getting paint on." Merlin replied.

"Okay, I'll see you soon." Arthur said as he hanged up. "Will you just shut up."

"I didn't say anything." Leon smirked.

"No but I could feel you thinking it." Arthur laughed as he walked off towards his father's office.

"Come." Uther yelled as he heard a knock in his door.

"Hey umm I'll be using up some of my sick leave starting now." Arthur informed his father.

"Oh?" Uther raised his eyebrow.

"I'm not going to say anything because you'll tell mum who will tell Morgana then I'll never hear the end of it. Just know that I'm taking the week off to help out a friend paint his flat." Arthur answered.

Uther laughed. "Okay son, but don't forget to call your mother."

Arthur rolled his eyes. "Don't I always call her. I'm a grown man, I can't be seen calling my mother every night, I mean I don't want him to think I'm a mummys boy."

Uther smirked.

"I hate you, you know that. You're evil." Arthur laughed.

"You fall for it every time son." Uther laughed. "I'm sure your mother and sister would love to hear about this 'him' you're spending the week with."

"I'm not saying anything till I know for sure." Arthur smiled and said good bye to his father before walking out of the station and to his car.

Merlin had just put the cover the final cover over his living room furniture when Arthur knocked on the front door.

"Hey, I'm glad you made it." Merlin smiled.

"I told you I would be here." Arthur winked and walked into the flat. "I see you have been busy."

"Of course, wouldn't want to get paint on anything." Merlin replied closing the door. "So wanna get started before ordering something for dinner? I have beer in the fridge."

"Sounds like a plan, let me just get changed. Go a head and start without me." Arthur smiled.

"Okay, umm my spare room is just down the hall to the right." Merlin informed him, secretly wishing he only lived in a one bedroom flat so Arthur would have to get naked in his room.

"Thanks." Arthur nodded and walked off in the direction of Merlin's spare room.

An hour later half of the living room was painted a pale blue when Merlin called it a night and handed Arthur another beer.

"So shall I cook or should we order in?" Merlin asked.

"Let's order a pizza. It's moving food." Arthur laughed. "We can finish up this part of the wall while we wait."

"Sounds like a plan, so what kind of pizza do you want to eat?" Merlin wondered grabbing a menu from the side table by the front door.

"Anything is fine with me." Arthur said taking a swig of his beer.

"Ham and pineapple okay then?"

"Perfect." Arthur smiled.

"I'll go and order, shouldn't have to wait long I hope." Merlin smiled and picked up his mobile.

"Let me know how much and I'll pay." Arthur informed him putting his beer down.

"No you're my guest, I'll pay." Merlin told him.

"Fine but it's my turn tomorrow." Arthur laughed and winked at Merlin.

"Seems fair." Merlin smiled and moved into the kitchen to place their order, Arthur couldn't help but watch Merlin's arse as he moved away.

The week passed all too quickly for Arthur and soon he found himself coming to the end of his week with Merlin, the thought sadden him even more so when his father called him up during the week and informed him that when he came back in on Monday they were all going to be to busy for a social life and that it might continue that way for a couple of weeks.

"Arthur is something wrong?" Merlin asked as he watched Arthur paint the same patch of wall over and over again.

"Arthur?" Merlin moved closer to the other man, when he didn't get a reply Merlin smirked and flicked Arthur with his paint brush covering him in a dark purple. Arthur blinked as he came back to reality to find Merlin laughing at him.

"Merlin." Arthur laughed.

"Well then pay attention." Merlin smiled. "What's wrong Arthur?" He asked placing his free hand on Arthur's arm.

"Sorry, just trying to think how I'm going to cope without seeing you or even having a talk over the phone for the next couple of weeks." Arthur sighed.

"The life of a police officer is a busy one, but so is being a teacher, my class is going away for a week this monday to the countryside. But we'll make do." Merlin smiled and flicked Arthur again with his paint brush.

"That's it this means war." Arthur laughed and flicked his brush towards Merlin.

The next ten minutes turned into a full on paint fight, that made both Merlin and Arthur grateful for the plastic protecting the furniture.

Arthur pulled Merlin towards him and laughed. "Seems I won."

"And just what is your prize?" Merlin asked looking up at Arthur.

Arthur smiled and leaned down and captured Merlin's lips in a passionate kiss.

"Wow." Merlin gasped when they pulled apart.

"Wow indeed." Arthur smiled and kissed Merlin one more time.

"I do hope we can stay friends."Arthur worried he had blown a good thing too soon.

"Maybe we could be more than friends." Merlin smiled and kissed Arthur one last time.