Merlin rolled out of bed at 8 on the dot. He quickly showered and got dressed for work, thinking about his conversation with Freya. At 8:30 he peaked his head in her room and found her awake, practicing magic. He smiled at the sight of her gold eyes.

"Hey, Friday is the first football game, Lance invited us. Gwaine is on the team too."

"We'll be there!" Freya said with a grin.

"Invite Gwen, I think Lance has a crush." Freya purred with excitement.

"Good because I think she does too. Have fun at work, I'll stop by later." Merlin waved goodbye and slipped out the door. He arrived five to nine and found the shop in full swing, with a line several people long.

"Merlin! I hope you're ready." Aithusa half yelled from behind the counter. Merlin got to work quickly, throwing himself into the work. He made coffee quickly as Aithusa took money and stacked up the orders. They worked well together, moving quickly. It was nearly 10:30 before the rush ended. Merlin sagged against the counter.

"Holy crap is it always this busy on Saturday morning?" Merlin asked as the door opened.

"Nah mate, it was because all the muscly footie players just ended the scrimmage." Gwaine's voice floated through the room. He was covered in mud, head to toe.

"Stop right there!" Aithusa shrieked. "Take those shoes off ofr turn right back around!" Gwaine held up his hands and obliged.

"Gwaine is that you under all that mud?" Merlin asked with glee. Lancelot popped up behind Gwaine, perfectly clean.

"You should have seen it!" He grinned. "He took a header right into Arthur and they both went into the mud." Merlin and Aithusa both laughed.

"Come in, but if you get mud on my floor, you will clean it up Sir Gwaine." Aithusa said sternly. Gwaine and Lance both chuckled and took a seat. The door opened again, and Arthur stood in the doorway, also covered in mud, but he had tried to get it out of his hair, leaving it a mess of streaked mud and blonde tangles. Merlin doubled over, laughing so hard tears came to his eyes. Aithusa tried to keep from laughing but ended up just like Merlin.

"Gwaine," Arthur bit out.

"Yea your highness?" Gwaine answered brightly.

"I said I wanted to speak with you." Arthur said calmly.

"Well I wanted to speak with Merlin." Gwaine answered indignantly. Arthur glanced at Merlin, who blushed almost immediately and averted his eyes.

"I am your-"

"Prince?" Merlin interrupted with a grin.

"Captain," Arthur bit out.

"How about iced coffee for everyone?" Aithusa suggested soothingly.

"That sound fantastic my dove," Gwaine said suavely. Aithusa blushed. Merlin snorted and shook his head, grinning. "What?" Gwaine asked innocently.

"Always the flirt." Gwaine just shrugged. "You two look ridiculous," Merlin chuckled. Arthur had taken off his shoes and sat in the seat next to Gwaine, but he carefully avoided Merlin's eyes.

"Says you! Remember when we went to the beach!"

"Not the same."

"How so?" Gwaine asked indignantly.

"Well for one, you pushed me off a cliff." Lance and Arthur both looked at Gwaine, who rolled his eyes.

"It was a tiny cliff. Mr. I regularly throw myself into the nearest and greatest danger possible." Gwaine scoffed.

"I only do that sometimes." Merlin tried to defend.

"Like now," Aithusa said unhelpfully. Merlin gave her his best glare.

"Merlin what did you do?" Arthur said sternly.

"Absolutely nothing. Aithusa can attest I did nothing." Merlin said forcefully. Aithusa grinned and nodded, now trying to agree with him. Arthur didn't believe them for a second, but he let it drop. He would find out what Merlin was hiding though. Aithusa handed them all their iced mochas and she and Merlin took seats side by side on the counter.

"So Lance says you're coming to the game Friday." Gwaine said brightly. Arthur gave Lancelot a sharp look, but didn't say anything.

"Oh yea. Frey and Gwen are too. Lance just can't seem to get enough of Guinevere." Merlin teased. Aithusa giggled. They chatted amiably for almost half an hour, Merlin and Arthur quickly falling into the habits of banter. Arthur left first, claiming a shower, which Merlin tried not to think about. Lance went soon after, wanting even more practice for the game. Gwaine didn't leave. He sat in his chair, making fun of Merlin like he had when they went to high school.

"So Pendragon," Gwaine mused when the shop was clear. Aithusa flashed him a grin when Merlin hit his head on the counter.

"Jesus was there a school bulletin?" He grumbled.

"Might as well have been, right in the middle of the Rising Sun mate." Gwaine laughed. He tried not to let the sad smile settle onto his face, but he couldn't help it. It was Merlin, there always has been and always will be that soft spot.

"I was drunk. I don't even remember it." Merlin groaned.

"Oh that must help the princesses ego." Gwaine grinned. The door opened and Professor Nimueh breezed into the café. Merlin felt her presence hit him like a brick. It was cold, dark, and horribly familiar.

"Merlin!" She exclaimed. "Your sister said you were ill!" Merlin forced himself to breathe as she glided up to the counter.

"I… uh… I was. It was just a twenty-four-hour bug I guess." Merlin shrugged. Nimueh looked sympathetic.

"Well your sister gave you your assignments, right?" Merlin nodded. "Good, be prepared for class Monday," she said brightly. "I'll have a single shot 20 oz. vanilla mocha please."

"I will be, Aithusa will ring you up." Merlin let Aithusa by him, but he kept one eye on Nimueh. She was soon out of the shop with a smile and Merlin sank to the floor.

"Bloody hell she was gorgeous." Gwaine whistled. "Think if I asked her out she's say yes?" He asked the room in general.

"Nah she's a professor. You okay Merls?" Aithusa asked worriedly.

"Yea I'm good, she just gives me the heebie jeebies." He met Aithusa's eyes and tried to convey what he learned.

"Damn, well I better go." Gwaine stood with a grin and waved his way out of the shop.

"Merlin what's wrong?" Aithusa bent down.

"It was her." He breathed.

"You mean?" Aithusa asked shocked. Merlin nodded. "But she's a professor!" She exclaimed.

"Well then I guess she's the Professor Umbridge of the staff." Merlin joked, but he took a deep breath and tried to calm his heart. She had been so close and he had felt the power and fury beneath the surface. "I have to tell Freya." He said.

"Tell me what?" Freya peaked over the edge of the counter. Merlin and Aithusa yelled in shock. Freya giggled. "I told you I'd be stopping by later. Now tell me what?"

"My kidnapper. It's Professor Nimueh."