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Arthur intended to approach Merlin that very night, but by the time he made it back out to the firelight, Merlin was snuggled into a huge blanket by the fire. He looked a million miles away and a small distance look in his eyes broke his heart. He sunk down next to the cocooned figure and watched as Merlin jumped slightly before smiling tentatively at him. He put a hand on Merlin's shoulder, and he surprised him by opening his blanket up and laying it over them both. Arthur felt lighting spreading from where Merlin's leg was resting against his own. He watched as Merlin got caught in yet another pointless conversation with Morgana, but it put a smile on Merlin's face and maybe it did have a point after all. He watched silently as his friends laughed around the fire, gooey smores being passed from sticky fingers all around and felt himself almost sigh at the peacefulness of it. He could hear the cackling of the fire and he watched as Merlin's eyes began to droop and he told himself that tomorrow would work. He would talk to Merlin about it tomorrow.

_Hola. I am a page break and I don't actually speak Spanish. _

When Merlin woke up the next morning, he was still pleasantly buzzing from the peaceful fun he had the night before. He loved them and was beginning to actually believe that they could love him too. He was actually starting to believe that maybe things were starting to actually look up for him and he didn't want to let the feeling go. He woke up before his alarm and showered and smiled as he checked his phone. Morgana had sent him a picture of him and Arthur curled under the same blanket. Even though he knew he shouldn't, he let himself think, for just a moment, how great they looked together. He shook his head and walked down the stairs to get something for breakfast. Before he made it to the kitchen, he was stopped by Freya, who was looking at him with concern.

"Merlin," she said, sounding almost scared. "I need you to know that you are welcome here. You can do whatever you want, love whoever you want, and we will still want you."

Merlin sat there, heart pounding a million miles an hour as she took him in her arms and gave him a hug. He stiffened in spite of himself and wondered frantically how she figured out who he liked. Had Gwen said something? Was it somehow in his file? But why bring it up now? He didn't think there was any way she had picked up on his feelings for Arthur. He hadn't even told Gwen about them yet.

Freya searched his eyes for a moment before she nodded her head for a minute before leading him into the kitchen. "We've got a surprise for you," she said, squeezing his hand in her own. As soon as he walked through the door, he wanted to throw up. Seated at the bar stool, talking to Will and Effie, another foster sister, was his nightmare. He turned and smiled at Merlin. The same blinding smile with tender eyes that had Merlin swooning before. His eyes traveled up and down Merlin's lanky form and his lips curled even bigger in appreciation.

"Merlin," he gasped, raising from his seat and walking toward Merlin and scooping him into a heated, bruising kiss before pulling back with his arms looped around his neck, fingers painfully pulling at the strand of hair at the back of his neck. "It took me so long to find you. After EVERYTHING that happened. I hope you've told these wonderful people about what happened. Effie told me you had good friends and I hope that you were able to tell them the whole story, though I may need to add my own thoughts to make it completely clear."

His voice gave nothing away, but Merlin understood the veiled threats. He played along or everyone would know the truth. Freya and Will, his friends, Arthur. He felt panic rising in his throat and he almost choked on his response. "Cendred. It's good to see you."

Cendred smiled tightly before his expression brightened. "I have another surprise for you. I got transferred to your school. We don't have to be apart anymore, love. You're all mine again."

Merlin took a deep breath and swallowed back the bile that rose in his throat. He retreated into his head and ate his breakfast robotically. He put on his coat in a daze and let Cendred lead him out the door. He let him lead him to a café and ordered hot chocolate without any thought. He let him lead him into school just seconds before the bell rang. It was only when he heard a horrified growl that his awareness returned.

He found himself surrounded by his friends. Most were looking at Merlin with confusion while Gwen was glaring at Cendred and Arthur was staring at the hand wrapped around Merlin's waist with hurt devastation.

-Hola. Me not speak Spanish page break again-

Arthur woke determined that today he was finally going to tell Merlin that he wanted to be more than friends. He got ready quickly, smiling like a buffoon the entire time. When he got to school, he was the first one there. Slowly the rest of his friends trickled in. No one said anything to him in particular, but they were all watching his smiling face with curiosity. Gwaine finally leaned over and whispered to Arthur with a grin. "Today's the day you finally tell him, huh?"

Arthur couldn't even find it in himself to be annoyed, even as everyone around him started smiling and whispering to each other, suddenly looking as anxious as Arthur was feeling. Finally, Arthur spotted Gwen coming up the hall, but there was no Merlin in her wake. He scowled slightly in confusion as Gwen finally made it to the group. She kissed Lance lightly on the lips before turning to Arthur, obviously seeing the question in his eyes.

"Merlin wasn't there this morning. Freya said that he was walking with a friend today and that he should be here when I got here. I…. I kinda thought it was you." She said, looking up and down the halls for Merlin. They all looked at each other in confusion before Elyan suddenly locked his eyes on something behind the rest of them. He gestured behind them and they all turned to see Merlin and another boy walking toward the classroom.

The boy had long dark hair that was styled carefully. He had an aid of confidence around him, like he was accustomed to winning, and his arm was wrapped around Merlin's waist like he was the prize. Merlin seemed to be in some type of daze, moving robotically next to him. Gwen growled slightly at the boy she recognized before Merlin seemed to come back to himself. The boy leant down and whispered something in Merlin's ear. Arthur felt like his heart was shaking slowly apart. He felt like a fool, especially when Merlin spoke next.

"Hey everyone," he said, sounding slightly nervous. "This is my boyfriend, Cendred."

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