Arthur woke up an hour later, confused and disoriented. The first question he asked was something along the lines of "where's my armor?" while the next was "Merlin, why did I just ask about armor?" The warlock didn't answer, but smiled in a way that the four year old found both comforting and annoying.

"Merlin, seriously, what the hell is going on?" Arthur asked in a voice that didn't exactly sound like a young child's.

"Language, Arthur," Merlin softly chided. "You promised that you wouldn't repeat bad words."

The blonde blinked and blushed deeply, his voice sounding normal for a second. "Sorry, Merlin."

Merlin rolled his eyes. "It's okay, you tiny prat. Now, are you ready to go home? I think your daddy will notice that you're gone."

The little boy shook his head fiercely and suddenly had the warlock's neck in a death hold. "No! Don't wanna go home! Stay with you!"

Merlin choked a bit, until Arthur loosened his grip, before speaking. "You have to go home. Your daddy probably misses you."

Arthur shook his head again. "No! He doesn't! I wanna stay with you!"

Merlin knew that if he kept Arthur it might be considered kidnapping, so, as much as he didn't want to, he needed to get the child home. "I know you don't want to, but you need to go home. And I want you to stay, but your poor daddy – imagine how he feels."

Arthur shook his head for a third time. "I don't care about daddy. I care about you."

"Then, will you go home for me? For me, will you put up with your daddy?"

Arthur glared at the ground with as much fury as a four year old could muster. "Alright." His look softened as he looked Merlin in the eyes. "For you."

Satisfied, the warlock stood Arthur up and began to change him from the over-sized gray sweat shirt to the child's now cold, but dry, clothes. He wrapped Arthur back up in the sweat shirt when he was done. Arthur held onto Merlin's hand as they then walked to the door, only to be swept up into the warlock's arms when they stepped into the outside environment.

"Merlin, did I really defeat that dragon?" the four year old asked after a few minutes of comfortable silence. His voice was disbelieving, but casual, as if he didn't just mention an incredible feat he did in a past life.

Merlin's face turned a bit apologetic. "Errrmm, no. Sorry, but he was alive for a few years after that. He just flew away after I told him to."

Arthur banged his head into the warlock's shoulder, keeping his face hidden there. "Well, thank you for that. You just crushed my ego."

Merlin was pretty sure Arthur, the original, his Arthur, was coming through. That was why he was being so nonchalant about all of this. "Good," he replied a bit gruffly. "Your ginormous head needs some deflating."

"I'm not fat!" said the child, popping up.

Merlin rolled his eyes. "Never said you were. You just have a big head."

The little boy pouted, but didn't respond, muttering about an "idiotic manservant," until his eyes widened and he looked like he was going to cry. "I didn't mean it!"

Merlin raised an eyebrow. "Didn't mean what?"

Arthur relaxed a little bit. "Good. You didn't hear what I said."

"What did you say?"

The little boy bit his lip and didn't meet the warlock's eye. "I said…I did mean, either! It just popped out!" He sighed. "Okay…I said…" He whispered the last words, so Merlin couldn't hear.

"What was that?"

Arthur bit his lip harder. "I called you…" He looked up. "I'm sorry!"

"Arthur?"

"I called you a servant. Just a stupid, useless servant."

Merlin stopped, a bit shocked, and gulped. "Oh?"

"I didn't mean it! You're not stupid, useless, or even a servant!" Arthur's four year old disposition made him start to cry. "I'm sorry!"

Merlin smiled, over his immediate shock and hurt. "Hey, it's okay. I say a lot of things I don't mean." He wiped away Arthur's tears.

The blonde looked up. "You're not mad? You don't hate me?"

Merlin hugged him tighter. "Nope; not mad and I could never hate you."

Arthur smiled. "Thanks Merlin…I-I am sorry. And I love you."

"I love you, too, Arthur. Now, we're almost to your house, let's go meet your daddy."

Arthur nodded and pressed his face into the warlock's shoulder, breathing easy and making slow circles in Merlin's shirt material with his small fingers. He began to hum a bit and soon found himself wishing that this moment would last forever. Of course, two weeks seemed like forever to a four year old, but Arthur wanted forever as in actually forever. He wanted to stay with Merlin forever.

Merlin closed his eyes, enjoying Arthur warmth and the cool breeze that was passing them by. He was reminded of the time when he visited America in the 1960's. A small child had walked up to him and given him a flower for no reason. Later he found out she was considered a "flower child," also known as a hippie, but was still touched by her action. He had felt warmth spread through his body when she had smiled at him. He felt that warmth now, while Arthur was curled around him.

"We're here," Merlin said, his voice not conveying how disappointed he was.

Arthur looked up and scowled. "Don't wanna go, but….." He smiled. "Only for you."

The warlock smiled back and strode forward, waiting after he rang the doorbell. There was a scuffling noise before a frantic Uther answered the door.

"I'm sorry, this isn't a good time. My son-" he stopped and narrowed his eyes.

Merlin tried handing Arthur over, but ending up putting the child on the ground. Arthur immediately hid behind his babysitter's legs.

"My son, apparently, has been with you," Uther said, dead serious with a calm sort of fury. "Now, why, would that be?"

Merlin wasn't sure how to answer, but Arthur suddenly spoke up. "I went to his house."

Uther seemingly calm composer turned to immediate rage – he was practically shaking with it. "Arthur, are you telling me – you ran away to be with him."

The four year old stared his father in the eye, not quivering even though Merlin saw that the child was going to. "Yes, daddy, I went to find him. And guess what? He does love me."

The man's eyes widened and he rounded on the warlock. "Get out!"

"What?" Merlin gaped.

A fire blazed in Uther's eyes. "Get out of here. You're fired. I don't want you around my son anymore."

To say Merlin was in shock was an understatement. What had he done wrong? Vaguely, he was aware of himself nodding and turning, Arthur crying and reaching out to him in the background.

He thought he felt himself cross the street, his head down and eyes wide. He got fired. He was torn away from his king again. He almost didn't see the small gray object fly across the street in the way of a car. But he did.

"Arthur!" he called as the four year old rushed out to follow his babysitter. At his name being called, Arthur turned, and saw the huge black pick-up truck about ten feet in front of him.

Later, Merlin couldn't say what happened, but he knew he used magic. Only magic would have been able to slow down time so he could push Arthur out of the way, receiving the full brunt of the vehicle's bulk.


A/N: Well, well, well, look what we have here! A little bit of a cliffie to keep you interested! Haha! I've been wanting to hit Merlin with a car in this fic for a while (Wow...um, that came out wrong). You'll see what happens next soon enough.

Oh, yeah...sorry this is a bit late. It's been like, forever, since I last updated.

Okay, whale, thank you to all you guys, the bros (Pewdiepie reference!) for reviewing (you have no idea how much I blush while reading reviews). (No, seriously, my mom thinks that I'm texting/emailing my *non-existent* boyfriend or something. I blush and smile THAT much.)

(Oh, and, yes, I said "whale" earlier instead of "well.")