Ten Lords-A-Leaping

Merlin woke in Arthur's arms, his warmth surrounding him. His head rested on Arthur's torso and the steady in-out pattern of his breath let it rise and fall with the expanding and shrinking of his ribcage. Merlin smiled and lay there for a few minutes, before gently moving Arthur's arms and quietly getting up.

Arthur was eventually woken by bright light streaming in from the sides of the blackout blinds. He sat up and rubbed the crusty sleep from his eyes, before realising he was alone in the bed. He was reassured though, by the delicious smell of frying bacon coming from the kitchen. He smiled and got up, padding into the kitchen he sneaked up behind Merlin and put his hands on either side of his shoulders. "Boo!"

"Argh!" Merlin jumped and spun around, a smile on his face. "Don't creep up on me like that! You scared me!"

"You love it really" Arthur nuzzled Merlin's face and kissed him gently. "Breakfast smells good."

"It will be ready in a minute. The eggs are in the oven, being kept warm. Could you put some bread in the toaster for me?"

"Anything for my lovely fiancé!" Arthur placed four slices of bread into the double toaster with a flourish.

"You seem to have cheered up today" Merlin turned the bacon over in the pan and it sizzled loudly.

"It's you. You being here just makes me happy, every day." Arthur took the bread out of the toaster and out it onto two plates.

Merlin lifted the bacon from the pan and placed it on the bread, followed by the eggs. "Aw, Arthur, you have just made my day!" Merlin washed his hands and then hugged him. They stood like that for a moment, before sitting at the table and tucking in to breakfast.

"What are you going to do?" Merlin finished the rest of his bacon and egg toastie and licked his fingers.

"I don't know. I said I'd stay away for a while, let dad come to terms with it."

"Good idea." Merlin stacked the plates in the sink and sat back down. "Let it sink in. I'm sure eventually it will. Nevertheless I still love you." He leaned over and gently kissed Arthur.

Arthur kissed him back and smiled before disappearing into his room and reappearing wearing a pair of jeans, and a hoodie, his coat open over the top. "I'm just going to the shops to pick something up."

"Okay. We're out of tea, could you pick some up?"

"Yeah, sure." Arthur kissed Merlin and left the flat, a grin on his face. He walked down towards the high street. Snow had begun to fall again and the sun shone through the clouds, staining them with a yellow-gold tint. Arthur took in a deep breath of the chilly air and smiled, he loved being outside, and it gave him time to think, to clear his thoughts.

Merlin yawned and ran some warm water into the sink. Adding in some washing up liquid, he turned on the radio and hummed along to Take That's 'The Flood'. He watched as the bubbles grew in the sink and smiled as he started the washing up.

Arthur stood in the queue in the theatre lobby, in amongst the jostling families. A huge panto banner was hung above the box office. He smiled again and moved forward. "Hello, two adult tickets for the pantomime please." He looked up to see Gwen and started. "Gwen? What are you doing here!"

"Laying an egg. What do you think you silly bugger!" She smiled. "The theatre was offering temporary Christmas jobs and I thought, why not? It's a bit of extra money isn't it?"

"Yeah, well it's great!" Arthur paid the money and Gwen slid the tickets to him, along with £20:00 change. Arthur picked it up and looked at her. "You've given me £10:00 extra change." He went to give it back, but Gwen stopped him.

"I gave you a relative's discount. Think of it as a present from me." She smiled.

Arthur smiled back and slipped the tickets and money into his wallet. "Well um, thanks! See you later maybe?"

"Yeah, I'm here till seven tonight so maybe we can go out after the panto's finished?"

"Yeah, that sounds great. I'd better go, these people are probably wondering what the hold up is!"

Gwen laughed. "Yeah, get out of here!" She waved. "See you tonight!"

Merlin lay stretched out on the sofa, watching some 'Home Alone' on ITV. The door opened and he smiled, got up and went into the hallway to greet his fiancé. "Hello"

Arthur smiled. "Hello. Hey! You're still not dressed! You lazy arse!"

"Hey! There's nothing wrong with having a lazy day!" Merlin hugged Arthur and smiled.

"No, there isn't I suppose." He smiled and they walked to the kitchen. Yawning, Arthur boiled the kettle. He turned to Merlin and smiled. "I got you something!" He reached into his wallet and pulled out the tickets. "I got us tickets to the panto!"

Merlin's face broke into an exited grin. "Oh, Arthur!" He flung himself into Arthur's arms. "I haven't been to a panto since I was about ten! I love pantos!"

"I know you do, so I thought I'd treat us to some evening festive entertainment!"

"Thank you!" Merlin hugged Arthur again and smiled.

That evening, Merlin and Arthur were sat in the auditorium of the theatre, the exited babble of laughter and voices echoing around the huge room. Suddenly, the lights on the stage went up and fast paced, cheerful music began to play. Merlin smiled at Arthur, put his arm round him and settled down to watch the panto.

Two hours later, Merlin and Arthur walked from the auditorium hand in hand, ignoring the dirty looks from some people and staff. Merlin couldn't stop smiling and they stopped at the doors.

Gwen came jogging over and smiled. "Hello you two!"

"Gwen!" Merlin pulled her into a hug. "You didn't say you were working here!"

"Well I am, and to prove it, I am here!" She laughed. "Did you enjoy the panto?"

"I loved it!" Merlin smiled. "It was great!"

"Good" she smiled at Arthur. "Shall we go then?"

Arm in arm, the three of them left the theatre and were soon sitting in a pub in the next street, laughing, talking and sipping at drinks. Christmas tunes were playing quietly in the background and there was a background buzz of conversation.

"I didn't know this place was here" Merlin took a gulp of his Guinness and leant back in his chair.

"No, not many people do; that's why I like it" Gwen smiled and sipped her vodka & orange. "It's great."

"It is" Arthur yawned. "Sorry, I'm so tired at the moment."

"Isn't everybody?" Gwen drained the rest of her drink.

"I suppose" Arthur chuckled. "So, where's Lancelot then?"

"Oh, he had to rush off to work, some sort of disaster."

"I see. I hate getting called in to work." Arthur took a sip of his beer and leant on the table on his elbows.

An hour later, they left the pub arm in arm, laughing with eachother. Down the street, a group of ten guys were shouting, all dressed in fancy dress 'king' capes and crowns and were jumping up and down and singing 'last Christmas' drunkenly.

Arthur laughed, "look, Merlin, ten lords a leaping!"

Merlin laughed. "On the tenth day of Christmas!"

Gwen laughed along. "You two are so cute together!"

Merlin and Arthur both looked at her and blushed, provoking another laugh from her. They laughed and joked all the way home as they trudged through the thick snow, and Merlin thought he couldn't have a better day. He was with friends, had just been to a fantastic panto and had had a nice evening. Life, he thought, was good after all.