Arthur smiled when he saw his babysitter's face as he woke up. "Merlin!"

Merlin smiled back. "Morning, Arthur."

The little boy jumped up and hugged him tightly around the neck. "I had a dream about you last night!"

"Really?" Merlin picked him up and carried him into the kitchen, where Arthur's breakfast was already set out.

"Yeah!" Arthur was placed into a chair, and Merlin sat next to him. "In it, we were the same age and I had to wear heavy clothes. You were wearing a jacket…and a neck-thingy." The four year old suddenly frowned. "I was upset. I was thinking that maybe if you wore heavy clothes like me, you wouldn't have gotten hurt."

Merlin remained neutral. "I got hurt in your dream? What about you?"

Arthur screwed up his face. "I was fine…just really sad and angry. You were hurt really badly. I had to carry you." He looked up at the warlock. "You kept telling me to leave you behind."

Merlin smiled tenderly. "It's just a dream, Arthur."

The four year old shook his head. "It seemed real."

Merlin tickled him under the chin, making the little boy giggle. "Don't worry about it."

Arthur gave him one last look and started on his cereal. When he was finished, Merlin rinsed the bowl out in the sink and placed it in the dishwasher. Arthur stayed by his side the whole time, trying to distract him by making funny faces. The warlock looked down at him and ruffled his hair.

He got Arthur ready after that, and then carried him out the door.

"Did you go to school, Merlin?"

Merlin thought about the question. "Many times."

Arthur cocked his head. "How many times?"

Merlin shook his head, eyes a little misty as memories flowed back. "A lot. I taught, too."

"What did you teach?"

Merlin smiled. "You know; a little of this, a little of that."

Arthur snorted. "You're funny, Merlin."

The warlock then turned to him, mischief laid in his voice. "And you're funny looking."

The little boy pouted, and then smirked evilly. "At least I'm not an idiot!"

"But you're a tiny prat!"

"I'm not tiny! I'm the tallest in my class! And you're a clotpole!"

Merlin poked him on the nose. "That's my word!"

Arthur put on a confused look. "No it's not. I made it up."

It was the warlock's turn to be surprised. "Really? Are you sure?"

The blonde pondered this for a while. "Actually…I think someone called me that before. I don't remember who..." He shook his head and poked Merlin back. "But you're still a clotpole!"

Merlin rolled his eyes and the banter continued all the way to Arthur's school. Per usual, Arthur didn't want to go in the building.

"Arthur – you – have – to – let – go!" Merlin panted, but the child just clung tighter to his neck.

"But I'll miss you!"

"You see me after school," the warlock reassured. "We'll have fun then."

"But I want to have fun now!"

"You can have fun with your friends!"

"But I want to have fun with you!"

Arthur finally let go, and Merlin walked him to his classroom. The teacher greeted them warmly enough, and then Merlin left a moody four year old there.

"Arthur!" Dwaine called from the sitting carpet where Percy and another two boys, Elliot and Leon were. The blonde stomped over.

"What's got you angry?" Percy asked.

He shook his head and stared at the floor.

"He just wants to stay with Merlin all day!" chimed Dwaine.

Elliot put on a puzzled expression. "Why?"

"Because he loooooves him!" Dwaine sing-sang.

Arthur just kept glaring at the floor.


Arthur didn't think the day would ever end, but when it did, and he saw Merlin waiting for him in his usual spot, he thought his legs wouldn't move fast enough. He charged at the warlock, who picked him up under the arms and spun him around once.

"Merlin!" Arthur beamed up at him as he was gently placed down. "I drew you a picture today!"

Merlin looked surprised, but happy. "Oh, really?"

Arthur smiled brightly and pulled out a piece of paper from his Iron Man backpack. "Look! It's me and you!"

Merlin looked it over. For a four year old, it was pretty good – you could actually tell the shapes on the page were people. And Arthur had gotten details right, such as Merlin having black hair, but one thing was off.

"Why are my eyes yellow?"

Arthur looked at the picture for a moment. "They're gold. I think you would look nice with gold eyes. Do you like it?"

Merlin smiled. "I love it."

Arthur beamed up at him again, especially when the warlock said it would go in a place of honor at his house. Unlike most full-time babysitters, Merlin still lived at his own place.

"Can we watch a movie when we get home?" Arthur asked as they began the trek home. This time, they held hands instead of Merlin carrying him.

"Of course. Which one?"

"The Lion King!"

Merlin chuckled. "Did I even need to ask?"

Arthur was obsessed with The Lion King, and knew every lyric to all the songs. He liked to act out scenes from it, usually ones where Simba showed how brave or noble he was. Nothing much had changed from his Camelot days, Merlin thought.

Arthur babbled on this or that the whole way home, Merlin at least half paying attention. When he stopped, though, the warlock looked down.

"Arthur?"

The little boy looked up at him. "Merlin, can you do magic?"

The warlock choked on his own breath. "What makes you say that?"

Arthur blinked. "I just…I 'membered something. You were crying…and you said you were a sor – sor – sor – something and you had magic. Why were you crying?"

Merlin stopped breathing for a full second. He gulped. "I was sad."

"Do you have magic?"

Merlin closed his eyes. "What do you think?"

Arthur squeezed his hand. "I think you do. You're special."

Merlin opened his eyes. "Thank you."

Arthur squeezed his hand again. "You look sad now."

Merlin smiled. "I'm fine."

"You sure?"

"I'm sure."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

With that, Merlin picked Arthur up, perhaps holding him a bit tighter than usual, and continued on the way home.


A/N: I'm sorry, the plot bunnies were screaming at me to post the second chapter all the day. So, what'cha think? Terrible? Good? Fluffy? Pedo-ish in any way?

Oh, and Arthur's not the only one that's been reincarnated...you've probably guessed already but:

Dwaine: Gwaine

Percy: Percival

Elliot: Elyan

Leon: Leon

Gwen and Lancelot are coming soon. And Morgana and Mordred. Maybe even Gauis.

Oh, and thank you to all the people that reviewed! You made my day! Smiley faces for you! :D

Okay, well, may the magics be ever in your favor!