A Few Months Later

Roxy sighed, putting her hands on her hips and taking a final survey of the room. Colourful streamers and balloons decked the walls, and a big Happy Birthday banner was draped across one end of of the room to the other. Underneath the banner, a pile of presents were neatly stacked. In the centre of the room, a long table was set, and Eggsy was currently lighting an enormous birthday cake that they weren't going to be able to finish.

"Eggsy, if you light those candles now, they're going to run out and into the cake by the time Merlin gets here," Roxy exclaimed crossly, bustling over to where he stood. She swiped the match out of his hand and blew it out.

"Aw, fuck, I didn't even realize," he said apologetically. Roxy rolled her eyes, smiling, and took out the three candles he had already lit and replaced them.

"Okay," she breathed, biting her lip. "I think everything's ready." She looked up, glancing at where Harry was pinning up a poster of a Yorkshire Terrier. "Harry, what are you doing?" she asked.

"Pin the tail on Mr. Pickles," he mumbled. Roxy decided not to ask.

"Alright, but make it quick. I'm going to go get Merlin right now. Eggsy, when I sneeze, that's your signal to start lighting the candles and Harry can turn out the lights. When I say bear, take up your positions." They nodded.

"Why bear?" Eggsy asked curiously. Harry snorted, and Roxy shared an amused look with him.

"No reason," she replied. With that, she turned on her heel and walked out of the room.

When she arrived at Merlin's office, she rapped the door with her knuckles three times in quick succession. From inside, Merlin called "come in."

"Ah, Lancelot. What can I do for you?" he asked without looking up at her as he typed away on his keyboard.

"The lights in the game room won't turn on," she lied. Merlin paused to look at her. He raised an eyebrow.

"Why can't you ask Arthur or Galahad to fix it?" he asked, referring to Harry and Eggsy.

"Maybe I want to take a walk with you," she murmured. Merlin turned a light shade of pink. She grinned evilly. Recently, their friendship had become a little more than that… but Roxy tried not to dwell on it. Their duties to Kingsman came first. "So you can take a break from your work," she amended.

"Ah," Merlin responded. Was it just her, or did he sound rather disappointed? "Very well, then." He switched off his monitor and followed her out the door. Roxy sneezed. "Bless you," Merlin said. Roxy hid a smile.

Soon they reached the game room. Roxy paused a few metres away from the entrance, bending down to tie her shoelace.

"Wait up, Bear," she called, beckoning to him. Merlin rolled his eyes.

An excited anticipation had began to buzz in Roxy's stomach as they approached the door. Merlin reached forward to open the door for her. The inside was pitch black dark save for a few flickers of golden light.

"What the fuc-" Merlin began, when suddenly Roxy slammed her hand down on the light switch.

"SURPRISE!" Harry and Eggsy yelled, jumping out from their hiding places. A very startled Merlin stumbled backwards and crashed into the wall, swearing.

"Fucking hell, why the fuc…" he shouted, before taking a real look at the decorations and the cake.

"Happy Birthday Merlin!" Eggsy exclaimed happily. Merlin blinked, before an enormous smile spread from ear to ear.

"You lot are fucking twats," he laughed. "Especially you," he said, turning and pointing at Roxy. She laughed.

Three hours later and too many slices of cake later, Eggsy and Harry had to take their leave- they needed to prep for a mission in Seoul. After bidding farewell, they left, leaving Roxy and Merlin alone in the room. Gift paper was strewn about on the floor- Merlin had made a humongous show of opening his presents- tech stuff Roxy had gotten from Tokyo, a fluffy bathrobe from Eggsy (don't ask), and a brand new pair of Oxfords from Harry, who had insisted that a gentleman could never have enough pairs of Oxfords.

"It's like fucking Christmas," he had informed them smugly.

After the duo had cleaned up the mess and tucked the leftover cake in the fridge, they ambled back to Merlin's office. Roxy shut the door behind her and plopped down onto the ledge of the desk, swinging her legs. Merlin sat down in his armchair with a satisfied sigh, placing all the new toys she had gotten for him beside her.

"I've got one more present for you," Roxy said with a start. Merlin smiled.

"It's fine."

"What do you mean, it's fine? That's ridiculous." She hopped off the desk and made for the door. "Come on, it's in my rooms."

"Alright." They walked to Roxy's room, and once there, she pulled out a bag and handed it to him. He gave her an amused look before ruffling through the tissue paper. He tugged out a little stuffed animal.

It was a teddy bear, complete with glasses and a wizard hat.

"I had it custom made," Roxy said proudly.

Merlin stared at the teddy, before turning his gaze to Roxy. Her amber eyes met his dark brown ones, filled with fond adoration. She realized with a start how much he meant to her.

"I… I don't know what to say," Merlin began, trying to hide a smile.

"Aw, give me a hug, Teddy," she responded, before stepping into his outstretched arms.

"Thank you, Roxy," he whispered into her hair. He inhaled her scent, sighing happily.

"Don't get mushy on me, Merlin," she said simply, smiling into his chest.

"Hey Rox."

"What?"

"I just realized how short you were."

"Shut up."

-agent galahad