AN: Once again thank you all so much for the feedback I'm getting from this story. Now I'm going to be a really rude author and suggest you check out my newest story 'The Power of Three' which is going to be a series of one-shots about Merlin, Arthur and Gwen's friendship that will be a mix of canon and modern AUs, I hope you enjoy them and this update.

"Don't wanna sit in the seat! I'm a big boy!" Merlin insisted as he squirmed in Arthur's arms, refusing point blank to sit in the dreaded plastic seat of the trolley.

"Merlin! if you don't sit in the seat then you'll be put in the naughty corner when we go home." Arthur stated firmly as he managed to grapple Merlin into the small seat of the trolley. Merlin however was having none of it and by the time they had crossed the car park and into the supermarket, Arthur had admitted defeat and lifted him out of the trolley again and Gwen took Merlin by the hand.

"Now listen Merlin, if you behave then you won't go back into the seat but if you grab things or run off, you'll have to sit in the seat. Ok?" Gwen offered and Merlin clutched tightly onto her hand and nodded his head.

"Yes Mummy," Merlin replied as they walked into the supermarket. As they walked through the aisles, Merlin was distracted by the biscuit aisle and as soon as Gwen and Arthur had turned their backs, he decided he would go and get some biscuits. Merlin toddled off, Thusie clutched tightly under his arm. Yet as he wandered into a few of the aisles, he realised that he had made a mistake.

"Arthur, where's Merlin?" Gwen asked as she realised how silent it had suddenly become without Merlin pointing out various items on the shelves or attempting to reach some of the more brightly coloured jars or packets. Arthur looked around but there was no sign of him.

"Merlin?" Arthur called loudly but there was no response, save for some of the other costumers to shoot them curious looks. "Ok, let's not panic, he mustn't have gone far."

"Oh my god," Gwen muttered as she pressed a hand to her mouth as various scenarios raced through her mind. One glance at Arthur and she knew he was thinking the same. A toddler missing in a crowded supermarket on a Saturday was never a good thing. Anything could happen to him. He could be abducted or run out into the road. As they continued their search for Merlin, it was only then did they realise just how large their local Asda was.

Gwen spotted a young man who was restocking shelves and she and Arthur hurried up to him. "Excuse me but we can't find our son, he's run off!"

"Ok, calm down he can't have gone far. What's his name?" the teenager asked.

"Merlin, he's three years old." Arthur replied.

"Do you know what he was wearing?" the teenager asked and before they could answer, a tannoy announcement echoed throughout the store.

"Attention all customers; a small boy has been found wandering in the toiletries aisle. The boy is approximately three years old with dark hair and wearing a red t-shirt with denim dungarees and has a white toy dragon. He is in a distressed state and we insist that his parents or guardians report to the customer service desk immediately. Again, a toddler has been found wandering around the store and we ask his parents or guardians to come immediately to the customer service desk. Thank you."

"Where's the customer service desk?" Gwen asked the teenager.

"At the front of the supermarket, just past the tills." The teenager replied before turning back to his work and Arthur and Gwen hurried as quickly as they could to the customer service desk; dodging other shoppers as they did so.

Merlin sat on the counter of the customer service desk. The nice lady had offered him something to drink but his mummy and daddy had told him never to accept anything from strangers. Merlin rubbed his eyes and cuddled Thusie to him tightly.

"Where's my mummy and daddy?" Merlin asked the woman who was working at the desk and had just spoken into something which made her speak really loudly.

"They'll be here soon pet," the woman reassured kindly. This boy wasn't the first child to have wandered off in a supermarket and he definitely wouldn't be the last. Indeed as she looked up, she could see two people hurrying towards her desk. "I think that might be them now."

"Merlin!" Gwen exclaimed as she scooped Merlin up and clutched him to her, hugging him with all her might. Gwen passed Merlin to Arthur who hugged him just as tightly and rubbed his back soothingly.

"Thank you," Arthur said to the woman as Gwen took Merlin in her arms again and checked him over for any sign of injuries but he seemed unharmed as they led him away and back to where they had abandoned their trolley when they realised Merlin had gone.

"Are you all right Merlin?" Gwen asked and Merlin nodded.

"I was gonna get sweeties but then I couldn't find you and Daddy and I was scared and a nice lady found me." Merlin explained and Gwen looked at Arthur who shook his head. Merlin had scared the living daylights out of them over a packet of sweets.

"All that for a packet of sweets, I've half a mind to never let you have any again." Arthur said as he crouched down to Merlin's height and both he and Gwen took one of his tiny hands in theirs. "You really scared us Merlin. You know you shouldn't have walked off like that."

"I'm sorry," Merlin said as he looked at the floor. He hadn't meant to scare his parents but he hadn't meant to get lost either. It had seemed like an adventure but it had all gone wrong.

"As long as you're safe, that's the most important thing." Gwen replied as she lifted Merlin up and they continued with their shopping.

Needless to say, it was one trip to the supermarket that wasn't forgotten in a hurry.