I don't own Merlin sadly, it belongs to the BBC.
This is a request from Kenya1234 and is therefore dedicated to them. I want to thank them for giving me this chance to write this as I have really enjoyed writing it. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it. :D
Summary: In return for helping Gwen, she introduces Merlin to the rest of the gang. While it is love at first sight for Merlin, Arthur is a closed shell. Can Merlin break down the wall Arthur has built around his heart and get into where Arthur is determined no one will ever get to?
This story is the longest I have ever done it has 38 chapters.
Warnings: Malexmale. Ygraine alive, Uther nice lol. AU.
I apologise in advance for any mistakes
The next day Arthur rang Merlin to see if he would meet for lunch. "My treat." Arthur said.
"Wish I could but I'm snowed under with work and I am on my own as Will has had to go and pick up some parts. Sorry."
"No don't apologise. I know what it's like. Will you be free for the football match on Friday?"
"Of course. Kick-off is at seven thirty; no matter how busy I am I make sure I am home for six."
Arthur laughed. "I'm the same, even though sometimes I have to bring my work home with me."
Merlin laughed. "I better get back to it."
"Okay love." Arthur said before pausing.
Merlin smiled. "That's the second time you called me that."
"Sorry."
"Don't apologise. I like it."
Arthur laughed. "Alright I will leave you to our work. See you at mine on Friday for the match?"
"Of course."
Uther sighed for what must have been the fourth time.
"Are you even listening to me?" Ygraine asked.
"Of course dear."
"They were singing to each other Uther."
"So you have said and so you have been saying since you saw them weeks ago."
"I know but surely this must mean something. How long have they been together now?"
"Nearly nine months now." Uther answered.
"I wonder if Merlin knows all about Cenred yet."
"Don't go there love. You know full well our son will tell Merlin when he is ready to sleep with him and tell him he loves him back."
"Back? Merlin has told Arthur he loves him?"
Uther looked up from his computer screen and saw the look on his wife's face. "Ygraine dear don't even think about it. You are not to tell Hunith this, you are not to ask Arthur about it and push him, you are to leave him to it. Promise me Ygraine."
Ygraine looked at Uther. "I promise."
"Good, if Arthur comes to either of us to talk we answer and give advice and help him how we can. If -"
Just then the door banged open and Arthur came hurrying in and up to Uther, not seeing Ygraine sat on one of the settees by the door. "I called him 'love' again father. I just been talking on the phone to Merlin and when he had to ring off to get back to work I said 'okay love'."
"What do you mean again?" Uther asked.
"I called him love a couple of months ago when we were getting out of bed."
"Bed? Together?"
Arthur looked up and saw his mum standing up.
"They only sleep when sharing a bed Ygraine." Uther explained before looking at his son. "Is it just me you want to talk to or do you want to talk to the both of us?"
"Well I didn't know mum was here." Arthur looked at Ygraine. "You won't push or anything will you?"
"No she won't." Uther said before Ygraine could answer.
Arthur sat down. "I have just got off the phone with Merlin and this is the second time I have called him that, it just comes like it is natural as saying his name and yet you only use an endearment with the person you love. I know I feel something for Merlin, something really strong but I don't know if it is love, the love I had for Cenred is different to what I had for Sophia, could I feel a different kind of love for Merlin?"
"Oh love of course you can if what you have with Merlin is real and true." Ygraine said, sitting down next to her son.
"Really?" Arthur asked looking at his father.
"Of course son. When are you next seeing Merlin?"
"Friday. He is coming over to mine and we are going to watch the football match that is on."
"Will Merlin be sleeping over in your bed?"
"Ygraine." Uther warned before looking at Arthur. "You need to talk to Merlin Arthur, tell him how you feel."
"I can't right now, not about this, something is bothering him."
"Bother how?" Ygraine asked.
"He went swimming the other day, Will told me Merlin only goes swimming when something is bothering him, when I asked Merlin about it, straight away he asked about Sophia, like he was worried I would want to be back with her or that I will dump him as he is not her."
"But you explained it all?" Ygraine asked.
"Yes, he said she was stupid for what she did and he seemed alright after that but that was until I rode his bike to my house, when I got off and we said goodbye I could tell something was bothering him, I asked him what and he just smiled and said he loves me."
"So he is just a bit down?"
"I don't know. He just doesn't seem like the Merlin I know and l-"
"Yes?" Ygraine asked inching forward.
"No pushing." Uther said.
Arthur sighed. "I don't know. I have been with Merlin for nine months now. Surely I should feel something."
"Oh son you do, you have to just work out what that something is."
"I would help you son but your father would say that would be pushing."
"It will be pushing Ygraine as you will say it is what you want it to be, Arthur has to think about his time with Merlin so far and how he feels when he sees him, is with him and when he thinks of him and when Arthur knows what that feeling is then Merlin is to be the first one to hear it."
That Friday night Merlin pulled up outside Arthur's and knocked on the door, he sighed before putting on a smile ready for when Arthur answered.
Arthur opened the door and smiled. "Hey you came in your car? I take it that means you won't be having a drink, unless you are staying the night?"
"Would love to but have to be up early tomorrow, I can stay but will have to leave about six am."
Arthur smiled and held Merlin's hand and pulled him inside. "That's okay, you have to have a drink while watching the match, we always do."
Merlin smiled. "Alright then."
Before the match started Arthur came in with some drinks and food and sat down next to Merlin. Opening a can of beer Arthur handed it over to Merlin who took it from him, thanking him with a kiss that was meant to be just a small kiss but turned into more when Arthur moaned and pressed back harder, his hand coming up and cupping Merlin's face, only breaking apart when the whistle of the referee signalling the match about to start on the telly had them pull apart from each other, with a smile.
"Thank you Arthur."
Throughout the match Arthur watched Merlin as closely as he could without being caught. Merlin had watched the match and shouted at the referee when he didn't agree but not as much as he knew Merlin normally would.
At the end of the match when Merlin helped Arthur clear away Arthur lead Merlin upstairs, "better get to bed and sleep now if you are to be up and leave for six."
Once undressed Arthur climbed into bed and smiled when Merlin just stood there. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, you alright us sharing?"
"Of course Merlin. I am not having my boyfriend sleep in the spare room." Arthur pulled the covers back and once Merlin was in and covered up Arthur leaned on his side and kissed Merlin. "Night Merlin."
Merlin looked into Arthur's eyes and reached up to cup his face. "Thank you Arthur."
"What for?"
"For being you." Merlin answered as he moved forwards and kissed Arthur with all he had.
After fooling around Arthur drifted off to sleep and Merlin... Merlin just stayed awake and watched him, he couldn't sleep, hadn't been sleeping much lately, Merlin finally did drift off past midnight but was waking every half hour or so until he was up at quarter to six.
He got out of bed and washed and dressed before walking over to a still sleeping Arthur and kissed him gently, smiling a little when Arthur started to kiss him back, slowly Arthur opened his eyes to see Merlin above him. "Why didn't you wake me?"
"You looked peaceful, I have woken you now, just to let you know it is five to six and I have to be heading off now, go back to sleep.
Arthur hummed. "Okay love."
Merlin gave a chuckle. "See you later handsome." and with a final kiss Merlin left using Arthur's key to lock up behind him and shove key back through the letterbox.
Pulling away Merlin drove around for half hour before taking a turn right instead of going home. After ten minutes he pulled into a driveway and got out and slowly walked up to the door and knocked.
After waiting five minutes the door opened and Merlin looked up.
"Son? What brings you here this early? What's wrong?" Balinor asked.
"Dad can we talk please?"
"Of course son, come on in." he said as he placed his arm around his son and lead him inside, shutting the door behind them both.
Merlin followed his dad through to the kitchen and sat down at the island while Balinor made them both a drink, once done Balinor placed the mug down in front of his son and sat beside him. "Thanks."
"So what is troubling you?"
"Dad I have to talk to someone, I can't tell Arthur this as he will think it is him doing this to me and will push him to tell me things that he is not yet ready to tell me. Dad I love him. I really do, more than I did Charlie, he only has to ring and I have the biggest smile on my face, it is the last thing on my mind when I go to sleep, first on my mind when waking."
Merlin picked up his cup and took a sip. "Father we have been together nine months now and I am yet to know how he feels about me, yes we kiss and fool around but I am yet to know how he feels for me, I feel if I ask then I am pushing, I have reassured him and keep doing so but I feel as he still doesn't trust me enough to tell me all."
Balinor looked over and his son and smiled sadly "Son I'm sure Arthur trusts you completely. It could simply be a case of him not knowing how he feels or how to tell you. But my dear boy a little push isn't going to do any harm. Hell your mother had to give me a push back in high school and I'm grateful she did or else who knows how long I would have been hiding my true feelings. Merlin does Arthur know you love him?"
"Yes I have told him twice. Dad I can't keep going on like this I am not sleeping, not eating."
Balinor sighed worried about his son; he was like this when he was worried about Charlie. "Why don't you stay with us for a while, I'll make you my secret hot chocolate, that always got you to fall asleep."
Merlin sighed. "I told Arthur I had to be up early I could be helping you. I think I only got about two hours last night."
"Then it's settled, you'll stay here. Now my dear boy why don't you head upstairs and I'll make you something that will help you fall into a peaceful sleep. Make sure you leave your phone down here." Balinor said already getting up.
Merlin stood up and hugged Balinor. "Thanks dad."
"No worries son, now leave your phone on the counter and head off to bed, I'll be up shortly." Balinor smiled.
Merlin placed his phone down. "And dad? Mum can't know this."
"I won't tell her a thing, now off with you so I can make you my secret drink." Balinor laughed.
Merlin laughed and headed upstairs to his old room and undressed before getting into bed.
Balinor sighed as he added the hot milk to the cocoa powder before walking to bathroom and collecting the sleeping pills, carefully Balinor added one of the pills to the hot drink, knowing that it was the only way for Merlin to get the rest his body needed, before heading up to his son's room. "Here you go, my famous hot chocolate promises to send you off to sleep."
Merlin took the drink and drank it. "Thanks dad." Within twenty minutes of drinking Merlin fell asleep, the last thing he saw was his dad watching him. "Thank you." he murmured.
"It's my job son." Balinor smiled.
What do you think?
Chapter Twenty Six up tomorrow :D
Review? x