And that was how it started.

Gwen and Lancelot were dating, but for some reason, Merlin ended up in the pub, on a Friday, with her and the rest of the group. It was either Arthur or Gwaine who ended up gathering him up and not taking no for an answer. They weren't really his friends, Merlin said to himself, they were doing it for Lancelot, and Gwen. It occurred to Merlin he hadn't really got any friends, other than Gwen. Anyone else he had had around him had been dropped over time. Cenred didn't like sharing him, but he was quite happy to share himself with others.

Merlin jumped out of his contemplation as Gwaine, his wrangler for that Friday, linked arms with him.

"So, how is the divorce going?"

"All very civilised," Merlin snapped. The tone bounced off Gwaine's thick hide and he shrugged.

"Well, I didn't think you would be happy about it, but at least it's getting done. Better that than wallowing in misery. I just presume that's the reason that you have a face like a wet weekend."

"I was just thinking," Merlin said, which caused Gwaine to laugh.

"So that was your thinking face, was it? I'll remember that."

It at least, Gwaine thought, caused Merlin to crack a smile.

"I was just thinking... stop it!" Merlin snapped as Gwaine started to chuckle. "That the only friend I have is Gwen."

"Thanks," Gwaine said pouting. Merlin glanced at him.

"You know what I mean, we don't know each other. We're friendly, but not friends."

Gwaine tightened his grip on Merlin's arm. "We'll rectify that."

"Cenred didn't like my friends, he didn't like Gwen and he always came out when I went to meet them, and... I just sort of stopped seeing them."

"So, Gwen stuck it out. Why don't you try ringing some of the others? Who are they?"

"There was Will, we knew each other from school, but he didn't like Cenred; Cenred didn't like him."

"They don't have to like each other, they just both have to like you. Do you know your ex-husband, soon to be, is a massive bell-end?"

Merlin giggled. Gwaine sounded so serious when he insulted Cenred, and he had found out that it made Merlin giggle; if he planned it right. It took careful timing to pick the correct moment, but when Gwaine did, he liked the result.

"I'm becoming aware of that. I refused the money though. I suggested we sell the house and split it. I paid in for that, probably not evenly but it's less humiliating. I've got a flat, I can't stay at Gwen's forever, I need to behave like a grown up."

"Whatever for?" Gwaine asked.

"Because I need to be. I don't want to give Cenred the satisfaction of making me sound childish, so I am pretending to be a grown up, in grown up relationships."

"Okay. I'm not entirely sure what that means but okay," Gwaine said. As they rounded the corner he waved at the group gathered outside. The late spring weather was good enough for them to enjoy some early evening sunshine. Gwen waved back, Arthur lifted his hand, then pulled out his wallet and disappeared inside, to get another round. Merlin always had cider and Gwaine lager, he didn't need to ask.

"Better timing than usual Gwaine," Lancelot said.

"Because I have an incentive," he said.

"What's that?" Merlin asked.

"You," Gwaine said.

"When you are my shepherd for the night?" Merlin said, then realised how he sounded and put down his rucksack by the edge of the barrel that was masquerading as a table. As he came back up his face was flushed red, Arthur returned with a tray of drinks, and Gwaine put a hand briefly on Merlin's arm and winked at him. Gwen looked mildly reproachful but said nothing.

"Sorry," Merlin said.

"For what?" Arthur asked as he handed out drinks, and then twirled the tray in his hands, while he waited for Merlin's answer.

"I'm being stroppy."

Arthur smiled. "Trust me, they have dealt with much, much, worse."

"Him," Gwaine said, pointing at Arthur who shrugged.

"Yes, me," he confirmed before heading back to return the tray.

"I've found a flat," Merlin said as Arthur returned.

"Good."

"It's in an awful area," Gwen said.

"No it's not," Merlin said. "Not the best, but not awful, and may I point out I used to live in that area, I know it; so it's fine. I signed the rent agreement today."

"Good for you," Arthur said.

"I'm not having a housewarming party," Merlin said.

"Very wise," Arthur said. "Especially if Gwaine invites himself."

"I would be good."

"Would you really Gwaine?" Arthur asked.

"Yes. Just because I threw up on your neighbour's pot plant doesn't mean to say I will at Merlin's."

"Ew," Gwen said.

"It was not a pot plant," Arthur said. "It was the neighbour's dog."

"Ew," Merlin added. "Poor dog."

"It was fine, it found sick very appetising. And the dog loved me ever since, even if the neighbour didn't."

"You're a fucking millionaire, you can pick your own damn neighbours if you wanted," Gwaine told him.

"I am not a millionaire Gwaine, and I do work for my money."

"You're a lawyer, you charge for air," Lancelot said.

"I am a very good lawyer," Arthur said. "Plus I work for the CPS, I'm a good guy."

"Unless of course the person is innocent," Merlin said.

"Trust me, the police have to have decent evidence to ensure prosecution," Arthur frowned. "Did I say that right?"

"Say it," Lancelot said.

"Solicitor's Letter," Arthur said, with some thought.

"Sounding a little tricky, bad week?"

"Yes," Arthur said in a tone that shut down the conversation. Lancelot starting talking about a film that he had taken Gwen to see. Some sort of action thing that she had chosen, and everyone spent time being impressed. Merlin watched Arthur who said nothing, and oddly drank heavily. So when Gwaine went off to help Gwen carry drinks, Merlin moved closer.

"Are you all right?"

Arthur rubbed his head. "Bad week, bad case. I'll live. Gwaine will carry me home, as long as you don't mind sharing a cab with a sobbing man, and an idiot. I mean Gwaine by the second one."

"Sure. I'm glad I sometimes have a none complicated retail life and can now take on extra hours without my ex moaning," Merlin said.

"Oh, talking of work, my friend Leon saw your sketch of me, and would like to commission you."

"For what?"

"To do a portrait of his cat. He just lost her, he has some photos, so... he'll pay you. I have the photos, if you want to take a look."

"Okay, what do I charge?"

"More than I gave you for my portrait," Arthur suggested.

"It's of you, who else would want it." Merlin closed his eyes. "That didn't sound quite right."

"I paid with a pint, which doesn't count, and rude. You are very rude. But I'll forgive you, and I suggest about £50 minimum for the work, materials and time."

"Really?!"

"Yes, I would think so. Don't sell yourself short."

"I don't. But I never thought I would be half as good if I worked on it for a living."

"You're not, you're doing a favour for a friend."

"I don't think Leon is a friend of mine," Merlin said.

"I'm certainly not!"

Both Merlin and Arthur turned and Arthur reached out and took Merlin's elbow to stop him reeling back.

"Will! HI!"

"Will! Hello, my fault. I told him where you were," Gwaine said. "I picked up your phone, and sent a text. Several, in fact."

"I thought you sounded a bit weird," Will said. "It's why I came, I thought you were on drugs or something. What's going on?"

"Sounding weird, that's about right for Gwaine," Lancelot said.

"Oi! I was doing a good thing. I think."

"You thinking, that's dangerous," Arthur said. He guided Merlin to a nearby table and turned to Will. "I'll get you a drink, what would you like."

"I can look after myself."

"I'm sure you can," Arthur said.

"He likes lager, Stella," Merlin said.

"Right you are," Arthur said, taking Gwaine firmly by the nape of the neck and taking him away and pushing him back towards Gwen and Lancelot, who gathered him up. Merlin looked up at Will.

"I'm sorry."

"What are you apologising for?" Will asked, moving closer to the table but not sitting down.

"Being a prat, dropping you because Cenred said, because he's now dumped me and regrets rushing into marriage."

Will snorted.

"Gwaine thinks he's a massive bell-end," Merlin offered.

"Gwaine probably is."

"No he thinks Cenred is. Don't be a..." Merlin started and then stopped, looking down at the table top.

"Bell-end?" Arthur said as he returned with Will's drink. "Gwaine has a great deal to answer for, but at least he tries to be nice, especially to Merlin. Merlin's had enough; either you be nice, or fuck off."

Merlin lifted his head at that. Arthur glared at Will for a second longer before stalking off. Merlin had the sense of Will sitting down, and he put his hand around the pint, but didn't drink it.

"I take it you and Cenred..."

"He had an affair, he wants to leave me for her and is doing the honourable thing. I told Gwaine that I didn't really have friends, but there was Gwen and you and you didn't like Cenred and..."

"And he clearly found Will in your contacts," Arthur said as he came back to hand Merlin's phone back to him. "Do not leave your phone unattended unless you have a pin lock on it."

"I'm rubbish at them, I can never get into them."

"Fine, I'll deal with Gwaine."

Arthur turned away and Merlin watched as he started to talk very sternly to Gwaine, who listened and argued in equal measures.

"So these are your new friends," Will said.

"I guess, a bit. I've only known them a few weeks, 'cos Gwen started dating Lancelot. They seem okay, especially Arthur."

"Looks like a posh prat to me," Will said loudly. Merlin winced inwardly, but felt fairly convinced that Arthur heard, and consciously ignored Will to prevent him having the satisfaction of a reaction. Instead he continued to lecture Gwaine, although some of what he said caused Gwaine to smirk.

"Will!" Merlin reproached in a low tone. He stared at the table for a moment, feeling rather depressed about the way the conversation was going, and wishing that Gwaine hadn't bothered.

"So Cenred dumped you?" Will said. If Merlin wasn't aware of Will's tactless streak he would have thought he was being deliberately mean.

"Pretty much. I've just got a new flat, I have been staying at Gwen's."

"You could have called me."

"I know, it got a bit hard as time when on, after the last argument we had."

"It wasn't your fault, that was Cenred's. Gwaine is right, he is a massive bell-end."

"We did have a good relationship, at the start."

"He was a user," Will said. "And he was possessive, and nothing you did was right; and you turned into an utter mouse!"

"All right, for fuck's sake," Merlin snapped.

"That's why he didn't like me. I'd have tolerated anyone who was with you if they were at least nice to you, but he wasn't even that. Who's this bird he's with then?"

"She's called Morgause, and she's... I dunno, I met her once but..."

"In the pub, that's what you do on a Friday!" Arthur announced loudly, moving past Will and Merlin as he spoke into his phone, sounding quite irritable towards whoever had phoned him. He paused walking, turned on his heel, and walked back, hanging up on whoever it was. "Harpy," Arthur muttered to himself and he staggered back over to the bar.

"He's had a bad week," Merlin explained to Will.

"Whatever," Will said. "Do you want me to help you move then?"

"Will you? I need to get my stuff from Gwen's, and some stuff from Cenred's, our house, his house... whatever it is now," Merlin rambled.

"As long as when we pick up your stuff, I can tell Cenred he's a twat."

"No," Merlin said sternly.

"Sod off then," Will said, smirking as he spoke. Merlin gave a bright grin. Arthur came back.

"Right, we are heading off for food, are you two staying or coming with us."

Merlin looked up, glanced at the others, then looked at Will.

"We're staying. Tell Gwaine thanks."