Arthur scowled as he watched his Merlin talk to Freddy's mommy. School had ended for the day, and instead of going straight home, Merlin decided to chat. Arthur didn't like it.

Freddy giggled next to him. "I think my mommy likes Merlin."

Arthur rounded on his new friend. "Merlin's mine!"

Freddy frowned. "He's a person. You can't own a person."

"But Merlin's mine," the blonde little boy insisted. "He told me he was."

"Whatever." Freddy rolled his eyes then walked off to his mother. Morgan grinned as picked up her son, and then the little boy whispered something in her ear, making her eyes go wide. With an apologetic smile sent at the warlock, she kissed his cheek, and headed towards the parking lot. Merlin beamed after her.

Arthur, however, felt like throwing a tantrum. Freddy's mommy had kissed his Merlin! And Merlin didn't seem bothered by it at all!

"Hey, Arthur!" Merlin said rather happily as he reached down for the little boy's hand. The child pulled away. The warlock's grin faded. "What's wrong?"

Arthur shook his head and stared at the ground.

The same process happened throughout the week. Merlin would talk for, like, a bajillion years (as Arthur thought) to Freddy's mommy, and then she would kiss his cheek when she and Freddy had to leave.

And if that wasn't enough, Elliot's daddy had started picking Elliot up from school. Merlin would talk to him for a bajillion years, too, and Arthur didn't like how his babysitter would laugh with Elliot's daddy. Arthur wanted to be the only one that made Merlin laugh.

"Is something bothering you?"

The little boy said nothing, but his lip quivered, indicating that he wanted to cry. Merlin knelt down to his level and put both hands on his shoulders.

"You know, you can tell me anything."

Arthur bit his lip and shook his head.

"You can't? Why not?"

Arthur's eyes welled up with tears. "Because you don't love me."

Merlin's eyes widened. "Arthur? Why would you think that?"

The little boy furiously wiped his eyes and tried stepping out of Merlin's grip. "Because you don't!"

"Arth-"

"No! You said that I was the only guy for you! You said that you would love me forever and be my mommy! You said you would be mine! But you're not! You didn't! I hate you!" Arthur ducked his head and started crying hysterically.

Merlin put a hand under the little boy's chin. "Arthur, look at me." No answer. "Arthur, please, I do love you. Please look up at me."

The little boy gasped for air and gulped. He looked up. All he saw was affection, mixed with a little concern and guilt on his babysitter's face. He gulped again.

Merlin smiled understandingly. "Arthur, never doubt that I love you, alright? Because I do. You're still the only guy for me, I'll always love you and be your mommy, and I'll be yours forever. Now, tell me why you're upset."

Arthur swallowed. "I – I – Are you in love with Freddy's mommy?"

Merlin smiled again. "No, I'm not. She's my friends; that's all."

"Then – then why does she kiss you?"

Merlin chuckled. "Some people do that. I'm not sure why."

Arthur took a breath. "What about Elliot's daddy?"

"You mean Lance? What about him?"

"Why do you laugh with him so much? Don't I make you laugh?"

Merlin brought him into a hug. "You make me laugh. A lot, actually. You just don't notice."

Arthur's big blue eyes stared up at the warlock. "Really?"

"Really. Now, let's get you cleaned up." Merlin was referring to the fact that Arthur had some snot dripping out of his nose. He picked him up and held him tight. "And, Arthur, if you ever feel like this again, please tell me. I don't like seeing you upset."

Arthur nodded and buried his face in Merlin's neck. "Merlin, I don't hate you."

"I know."

"I love you." Arthur breathed out a breath. "And I'm sorry."

Merlin studied his face for a moment. "I love you too." He pressed a small kiss to the child's forehead. "And I'm sorry, as well."


Merlin and Arthur were much closer after that, and everyone could see it. It was just the looks they would throw each other, the way Arthur would never let go of Merlin, the way Merlin would softly murmur to Arthur. That was how you could tell. They now needed each other – there was no Merlin without Arthur and vice versa. And everyone was happy for them.

Except Uther. A little jealous fire still burned in his heart.

He couldn't understand how easily his son talked to the hired help and didn't even spare his own father a second glance. He didn't understand why Merlin got all the affectionate looks, and why Arthur always called out for his babysitter when he had a nightmare. He couldn't understand why he heard his son quietly tell Merlin that he loved him while Uther was lucky to get two words out of the child. What did Merlin have that Uther didn't? What did Merlin do that was different?

That was why Uther decided that Merlin needed some time off.

"Yes, sir, but are you sure? I know it's summer break for Arthur, but are you sure you don't need me for this week?"

Uther nodded. He had taken this week off from work. "I think I am capable of looking after my own son."

Merlin blushed. "I wasn't saying you weren't just-"

Uther silenced him with a raise of his hand. "Arthur will be fine. You can go home now."

Merlin looked a little reluctant but left. Uther watched him go out.

So it began. A week alone with Arthur. How hard could it be?


"You're not Merlin," were the first things out of Arthur's mouth when Uther woke him up. His father frowned. He had been hoping for a better reaction.

"Merlin's not going to be here all week," Uther informed him very business-like. He expected the child to shrug it off, but Arthur did the complete opposite of that.

"What? Where is he?!" The little boy looked around the room, as if expecting his babysitter to jump out from his closet.

"I gave Merlin the week off." Uther tried to remain calm, but his four year old son's antics were stressing him out.

"No! I want Merlin!"

"Arthur! Be quiet! Merlin will not be coming this we-"

"NO! I want my Merlin!" Arthur screamed. "I want my Merlin and you're not him!"

Uther gritted his teeth together and stormed out. He was never good with small children.


By Wednesday, the Pendragon home was a complete nightmare. Arthur wouldn't talk to Uther. The little boy woke up in the night, screaming Merlin's name. Arthur wouldn't even let his father touch him. And Uther was at wit's end.

Nothing he did made the child talk. Until…

"I want my Merlin," Arthur whispered for the first time in days. Uther turned, and was surprised to find tears streaming down his son's face. "I want my Merlin. I miss my Merlin."

Uther sighed and knelt down to his level, glad to find his child didn't flinch away. "You'll see Merlin at the end of this week," he said softly.

Arthur sniffed. "But I miss my Merlin. I bet he misses me too."

"Arthur," Uther said softly. His son had to find out the truth some time. "Merlin doesn't miss you. It may seem like he will, but truthfully, he has his own life, his own friends and family. His life doesn't revolve around you."

Arthur gulped. "But mine does. My life re-re-vo-lala – whatevers around him. I love him. And he loves me."

Uther sighed, knowing this would probably break his son's heart. "Merlin doesn't love you, Arthur."

The little boy glared and hugged his arms to his chest. "He does love me. He's told me. It's more than you've ever done."

"Arthur –"

It was too late, though, because the little boy had run off.


A/N: Too much? I don't know...

Well, here's the chapter!

Oh, yeah, ummm Elliot's "daddy" is Lancelot a.k.a. Lance. I always thought there was some jealousy between him and Arthur over Merlin in the show. (Like Arthur's all like "Merlin's MINE! MY PRECIOUS!" and Lancelot is all "troll-face!" Sorry, that's just how my head works. I'm a bit insane.)

Ummm, this might seem weird that I'm mentioning this...but I'm American (you've probably guessed). Sorry, I'm just using a lot of American dialect and it's a British TV show... (like "mommy" instead of "mummy" and stuff like that). Yeah. So, sorry!

Oh, and thank you to all the lovely reviewers! You make me smile! Magic cookies to you! ^.^

Until next time...