I think we can all agree that Merlin will be a stroppy teenager.

The inspiration for this came to me while scoffing strawberries on afternoon on a camping trip. Said camping trip is also to blame for lack of updates recently. Though the good news is that I have written half of the next chapter! It's the cold and the boredom you need to thank for that.

And for people who asked, Magick was not required for the potion that turns Merlin back because then that would just be to much to write about and would stray from the plot. I might write an alternative version of this though where Magic was needed, though that won't be until the story is finished.

Once more, any requests for fluff interactions between the knights and Merlin, Gaius and Merlin or even Uther and Merlin (For the love of pineapples, do not request that.) either leave a review or PM me. I take inspiration from friends and fluffy thoughts, so please don't be afraid to ask! Pillow fights, hopscotch, Gwaine abuse, anything you like! So, without further delay...

ALONSY!

Gaius wished he had never come home. It would have been much easier just to stay away.

Because you see, his ward Merlin...

Had been turned into a toddler.

As if he wasn't enough bother as it was. Gaius thought to himself with a groan.

And had been under the care of five over protective knights and one prat prince. The physician could really understand why Merlin called him that now.

"Well?" Gaius crossed his arms and looked sternly at the knights and Arthur.

"It's all Gwaine's fault!" Arthur cried, waving an accusing finger at Gwaine.

"Oi! Was not!" Gwaine scowled back, crossing his arms in a sulking manner.

"Was too!"

"Was not!"

"Was too!"

"Was not!"

"Was too!"

"Boys!" Gaius scolded. Both men snapped their jaws shut and looked guilty.

"Yah boys!" Merlin repeated, sticking his tongue out. He shook his way out of Gwaine's grip and toddled over to Gaius, who lifted him up and balanced him on his hip. "Beehive!"

"Beehive?" Gwaine looked confused.

"He means behaive, Gwaine..." Lancelot rubbed his face tiredly. "Listen, here's what happened..." He quickly explained the whole fiasco with Gwaine dropping the potion on Merlin, Arthur covering them to Uther, and Elyan finding the cure.

"So he will grow up in his natural age order. It must have been the Rondre potion." Gaius nodded. "Well done Elyan. I would not have thought of it."

Elyan blushed. "It was pure fluke I found it."

"Balderdash!" Gaius waved him down. "I'll make a physician out of you yet, boy. Since this one deems the human anatomy too... What was it Merlin?"

"Icky-bum!" Merlin made a face and crossed his arms.

"Yes, that was it." Gaius said tiredly, ignoring the sniggers coming from the young men in front of him. "Well, I must report to Uther for a council meeting. You as well, Arthur. I trust you will be able to watch him for an hour or two?" He raised his eyebrow at the knights.

"Of course, Gaius!" Gwaine grinned, taking Merlin back into his arms. "Don't you trust us?"

Gaius didn't answer.

Later that afternoon, Merlin was sat happily on the floor playing with a basket of daisies Gwen had dropped in earlier. Percival and Elyan were sat cross legged in front of him trying (and failing) to make daisy chains. Merlin was very interested in the way the men's large fingers

"Gwaine for God's sake!"

"Damn!"

"Look, you've gone and got Merlin saying it now!"

"Damn!"

"No, shh Merlin..."

"Damn damn damn damn damn!"

"Merlin!" Leon scolded.

"Damn Leon!" Merlin stuck his tongue out and toddled away from the angry knight.

"Calm down Leon, he has to learn this stuff eventually." Gwaine said reasonably.

"Gwaine," Lancelot rubbed his face tiredly. Again. "Stop talking. Leon looks like he's about to hit you."

"Fine." Gwaine pouted. "But don't blame me when Merlin comes crying that other kids are bullying him for not knowing what these words mean."

"Gwaine, you-" Leon looked about ready to break Gwaine in half.

"Prehaps it would be best if I took Merlin out for a bit." Percival said nervously from the corner.

"What a wonderful suggestion, Percy!" Elyan said in an overly cheery voice. "I shall accompany you! Tally ho!"

Elyan scooped Merlin and rushed out of the door, closesly followed by Percival. The latter managed to slam the door shut just as the sound of Leon throwing himself at Gwaine hit the air.

"Jeesh, you'd think Gwaine didn't have a brain." Elyan rolled his eyes.

"Who's to say he has?" Percival retorted. Elyan grinned.

"I knew there was a reason I kept you around, big guy."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*THREE HOURS LATER*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Merlin's giggle was like music to the men's ears.

"I don't want him to grow up." Elyan tilted his head to the side and grinned at the baby. "He's far too cute."

"He was cute as he was before," Percival said with a crooked smile. "He was like a child even in his grown up state. Always so bouncy and full of life."

"Yeah," Elyan smirked. "Look at him now! He's hardly changed a bit."

It was true! Merlin had never been known for holding back from fun in his adult years, but as a child, he was really milking the exciting parts of life. The toddler was scrambling around on his knees, picking up a couple of daisies every now and then and attempting to put them together in a dasiy chain link. It really was adorable, especially when Merlin got frustrated and threw the offending flowers to the side, his face glowing with the most spectacular pout the two knights had ever seen.

"But you know what will be hard?" Percival said with a sudden frown. Elyan turned towards him.

"What's that?"

"When he starts to get hormones."

Elyan choked. "What?"

"You know what kids are like when they start to develop hormones. They get all angsty, start to develop sexual feelings for girls-"

"We should be fine with that last one. Both Arthur and Gwaine are convinced Merlin's Gay."

"Gay?"

"Or a crossdresser at the very least."

#awkwardpercy

Sorry for the wait/short chapter. I've had a lot of shit going on recentley. Thanks for your cooperation! But it's summer holidays now, so I should be able to write a lot more now. Next chapter will have a lot of awkward conversations involving Merlin's sexuality.

Merlin: I'm not Gay!

John Watson: I used to say that. You'll get over it soon enough.

Sherlock: :3