The Kiss

A/N: Grrr... This is the worst part of the series. Officially. Set in Ep 4, again! With major spoilers also. Enjoy! Don't forget to review though!

Merlin grinned up at them, looking like death itself. His eyes were on Gaius who beamed down at the warlock, full of disbelief and amazed that Merlin was in fact alive. Only moments ago, the warlock's heart had stopped. Gwen couldn't believe it. Tears still lingered in her eyes. She was overwhelmed as her heart swelled, her reaction instinctive yet she did not recall thinking about it before she acted.

Bending down, she cupped Merlin's face, pulling it up and she brushed her lips to his briefly. Gwen closed her eyes and Merlin did the same for he was in shock. He didn't respond it was that short. It was one-sided and surprisingly hollow. Yet Gwen was affectionate. Her gesture was one of relief. She was so happy, it was impossible for that not to be apparent in her kiss.

When she pulled away, she put her hands over her mouth and gasped at herself as she realised what she'd done. Her eyes went wide. Merlin stared at her in disbelief. His mind was still blurry and he took a moment to recall what had just happened. That was nothing like he'd experienced before. It wasn't his first kiss.

His first kiss had been one he didn't want to remember. It had broken his heart and sent him running. Don't take that wrongly, it was one of the most amazing moments of his life. But it had terrified him. Merlin's first kiss had been cold and harsh, penetrating his soul for all the wrong reasons. It left him shaken and breathless for it was a final kiss. A goodbye kiss. And not one of love but of forgiveness.

This was the complete opposite. It was one that was meant of a sign of happiness and friendship, racing his heart with thrill. True, he did not think of Gwen in that way but only as a friend, yet the amount of affection in that gesture shocked him. It had been so long since he'd known such a thing. Merlin couldn't help but grin. It was equally wonderful and painful. The memories hurt but the past is the past and the present overruled that.

"Sorry, I'm just…I thought you were dead," Gwen stuttered. Merlin just smiled with bear amusement and surprise,

"It's fine," he replied, "It's more than fine".

That was the point in time when Merlin wondered if he would ever love anyone else. Gwen was too much of a friend for such a title. It would be strange. His mind seemed to immediately jump at the thought of Arthur.

That was also the point – because of that very thought - when Merlin started feeling worried.

And guilty.