So Freya didn't manage to do what she had planned; to get Merlin and Arthur together. Because honestly the two of them were so blind it was infuriating. She genuinely wanted to go and smack their heads together and knock some sense in them. On the other hand though Christmas was fast approaching and their parents had told Merlin he could bring some friends home because they were going to a Christmas do that was some sort of ski resort for a week and neither Merlin nor Freya wanted to go to that.
Needless to say, Freya was looking forward to Merlin bringing his friends home; she loved them, she fit in with them and somehow despite being the annoying little sister of their friend, they accepted her into their group and she was positively giddy at the thought of seeing them again.
Okay so she's a little obsessed, but who wouldn't be? Somehow Merlin had integrated himself into a group of absolutely beautiful people and for some bizarre reason they were completely down to earth and seemed to actually like Freya. So she thought it best not to dwell and just accept their love no matter what.
December twenty-second had come and Merlin was packing his bag ready to go home for the holidays. It didn't feel as strange this time, namely because he had most of his friends coming with him. When he had invited them all Morgana and Mithian almost jumped on top of him in excitement; a simple 'yes please' would have been sufficient. Gwen wanted to, but she couldn't because she was taking Lance home for Christmas and Elyan wanted to spend time with his family. Fair enough. Morgana forced Leon into going, which wasn't difficult both because he wanted to go anyway and the fact that Morgana was batting her eyelashes. Gwaine was going home to Ireland so obviously wouldn't be able to make it, Percival was flying over to America- he wouldn't say why and that just left Arthur. Last in the room to give an answer so everyone turned to look at him expectantly. Morgana spoke up:
"Arthur you may as well. I'm going, Leon's going. Father is on a business trip so I doubt we would see him until boxing day anyway and you get to hang out with Merlin, in his house, where he can't run away"
Merlin was taken aback by the last part. He turned around to her and glared, punching her softly in the arm. Arthur hardly seemed to bat an eyelid…strange.
"Yeah I suppose you're right…about the first bit. I mean well yes Merlin, I would very much like to…er…go to yours"
"O-okay" Merlin couldn't help but feel a bit flustered. For what felt like hours he and Arthur just stared at each other until someone decided to break the tension.
"So Merlin"
"Yes Morgana"
"Is it alright if we stay until Christmas? I mean, we wouldn't like to impose"
"No no, it's fine really. Mum and dad won't be home until New Year's Eve for the party so you can stay as long as you want."
"A party?"
"Yeah we have one every year, I didn't go last year obviously but I'm going this year. I was going to invite you all. So…I guess if you want to come, you can as long as you're not bored of me by then"
"Oh Merlin we could never be bored of you"
That was that, they were coming until Christmas, then leaving, then coming back on New Year's Eve. Quite the holiday Merlin had ahead of him.
He dumped his laptop and charger into his suitcase, zipped it shut and put it on the floor. He then picked up his back pack and slung it over his shoulder before moving into the living room where Mithian was standing with two bags at her feet, staring in the mirror trying to tie her hair up. Merlin smiled affectionately and checked that everything was turned off and he had everything he needed.
"Mith, you ready?"
"Yeah" she mumbled with one of her mittens hanging between her teeth. "but where's Arthur? Isn't he supposed to be driving us?"
"He's downstairs"
"Oh right, your boyfriend is a good'un isn't he" She put the mitten on, wrapped her scarf round her neck and pulled a hat snug over her ears and then proceed to smile smugly and Merlin's red tipped ears and flushed face. "I'm only teasing… come on"
The two of them grabbed their bags and scurried down the stairs toward the car park. Arthur was standing next to his car, red nosed and staring intently at his phone. Merlin smiled at the light dusting of snow in his blond hair before the man looked up, their gaze met and Arthur beamed at him. To anyone else they would have looked like a couple about to go on holiday for a few weeks but to the two of them they were just so damn oblivious and it was driving everybody, even Gaius, stir crazy.
Arthur opened the boot and fitted the bags in before climbing into the driver's seat, Merlin in the passenger seat and Mithian sat in the back watching the two boys interact.
"Mithian"
"Yes Arthur"
"I can see you staring at me in the mirror, would you please stop"
"No"
The drive was long and despite the conditions of the road that Arthur should have been keeping an eye on, he kept on glancing over at Merlin who was reading a book. Occasionally they would catch each other's eyes and exchange shy smiles to which Mithian rolled her eyes to the point where she thought they would pop out of her head, or roll back completely. Instead of having to bear witness to the cute-apocalypse she made the decision to go to sleep and when she woke up, the car was stopped in a petrol station. Merlin was sat in the front leaning on the window, a cushion was resting under his chin and Mithian was at least 80% sure it wasn't there before. Arthur.
When the man came out of the shop he got back in to the car, looked at Mithian who was scowling and raised his eyebrow at her. She whispered as quietly as she could.
"Did you put the cushion there?"
"Yeah why?"
"Jesus Christ, how've you not figured it out yet?"
"What?"
"How in love you are with each other?"
"I'm not-"
"Save it, I'm not in the mood to hear your excuses. Drive"
"Yes boss"
Two hours later, Merlin was cuddling the cushion as they pulled off the motorway and into the more quiet roads where Arthur had to stop at another petrol station so that Mithian could get out and stretch her legs.
He leant over to Merlin and placed a hand on the man's shoulder. Merlin raised his own hand and grabbed Arthur's. He smiled warmly at the contact before gently shaking him and tenderly saying "Merlin, wake up"
He woke up slowly and looked round at Arthur all bleary eyes and dishevelled. He tried to talk but it came out a bit like a drunk squirrel trying to communicate. "Tum'sit?"
Arthur chuckled softly and replied "about half two, we'll be there in about an hour"
"M'kay" Merlin murmured before turning back round to get comfortable.
"Merlin"
"mmm?"
"Come on, get out of the car we're going for a walk"
"no"
"Yes come on, I'll buy you a ridiculously sweet hot chocolate, I know you like those."
"Hmph, fine"
Reluctantly he followed Arthur out of the car and along the snow covered footpath where a small park was situated. Under a large evergreen tree was a bench just big enough to fit two on it. They sat down and looked around. The park itself was small yes but there was a lake at one end of it where there could see the familiar figure of Mithian walking.
Merlin closed his eyes and breathed in a sharp breath of cold winter air; he leant back on the backrest of the bench and felt a tinkling of snow dust over his nose. When he opened his eyes Arthur was smiling down at him with his crooked and endearing smile that made Merlin's stomach do backflips. The amount of time Merlin had thought about that smile, thought about kissing that smile off his face. There was nothing that Merlin liked more than being the reason for that smile yet he couldn't stop himself from asking why.
"Why are you smiling at me?"
"No reason"
"Come one Arthur tell me"
"I was just thinking plus you've got snow in your hair" as he said this Arthur reached over and wiped the snow out of Merlin's dark hair. The touch shot electricity shoot up Merlin's back, he got goosebumps which he was sure were not caused by the cold. His stomach was filled with butterflies and oh how he long to kiss the man.
"What were you thinking about? Must've been important to earn one of your endearingly adorable crooked smiles"
"My what?"
"You hear me, don't change the subject"
"Alright then. I was thinking about how a year ago we weren't even really friends and now here we are, I'm going to yours for Christmas and coming back for New Year's and we're more or less inseparable"
"Is that it?"
"Yeah"
"hmm"
Arthur looked away from Merlin and stared up at the tree above them; he leant his head back and took a deep breath. Merlin knew there was more, he knew Arthur was hiding something and he wanted to know what it was but he didn't want to pressure him. Instead he lay back and stare up at the trees again.
Arthur continued his thoughts, they scared him sometimes but at the same time they gave him a thrill. What if he were to tell Merlin how he felt? Would he feel the same? It was hopeless though. Arthur had never been particularly gifted in the matter of speaking from the heart so thought better of it. He thought of what to say but how well would it go down if he came out with:
Honestly, I was thinking about the fact we've gone from disliking one another, to being best friends. Everyone seems to think we're going out because apparently it's blatantly obvious that we're in love with each other. And I wonder if maybe they are right, maybe we're just completely blind. Or I'm being an idiot because I know I like you, and yet I tell myself that you can't possibly like me back. The way I treated you, how can you forgive that. You can't like someone like me because I don't deserve that, you're so much better than I am and I wish I could just tell you how much I love you. How much I want to kiss your stupid face you beautiful, wonderful, spectacular idiot.
He didn't think that would go down very well.
When Arthur pulled his gaze away from above him he saw Merlin staring intently at him. He wondered if Merlin knew what he was thinking, if he could read his thoughts. Well that would make things a hell of a lot easier.
Arthur let out a choked laugh and wiped his hands over his cold face and looked back up to the trees he didn't see Merlin quirk an eyebrow in his direction so he just concentrated on trying to think of something anything else.
"Merlin?"
"Yes?"
"What are these plants?"
"it's mistletoe"
"Oh" and wasn't that a kick in the bollocks. Merlin was sat there, snowflakes in his hair, looking beautiful, looking positively kissable. Except he couldn't kiss him because that would be absurd. That would freak him out and he would lose his friend and Arthur didn't think he could have done that.
"We get a lot of it around here, there're a whole tree covered in it at this time of year down the far end of the garden. Maybe I'll show you later"
"yeah" That's all he could say. What else was there? "Come on, we better get going."
"MITHIAN! WE'RE GOING COME ON!"
She bounded up behind them and made Merlin jump and then clambered back into the car. "Merls can I have that cushion please if you're not using it?"
"yeah" and he chucked it behind him. "Arthur would you like me to drive? You've been going all day"
"No no it's fine, I'm fine. It's only another hour"
"Okay well I'll make sure you get a decent bed then"
"Seems fair"
When they got in Merlin walked straight to Freya picked her up and hugged her tightly. When he put her down their mother came in with a smock on and a paintbrush behind her ear.
"Mum shouldn't you be going?"
"We're leaving in the morning; I just wanted to finish one of my paintings before we go"
"Fair enough"
"Let me go and get changed and I'll come and make dinner, your father is in his office what time will Morgana and Leon be here?"
"In about an hour"
"Alright, go see your dad he's missed you"
After everyone met everyone, they all sat down and ate dinner. It was comfortable and friendly. In the early hours of the morning Merlin was asleep in his room, Arthur in the spare room opposite, Morgana and Leon in the next one and Mithian was in Freya's room as she had a sofa bed but Hunith and Balinor crept through the house in order to get to their taxi to the airport.
Hunith left a note on the fridge for Merlin:
'Merlin, Freya and company; I wish you a very merry Christmas and I shall see you on New Year's Eve. Please at least tidy your mess and Merlin- there's new paints in the studio. Have fun all.
Lots of love mum and dad xxxxx'
In the morning when Merlin read it he smiled and jumped when Mithian came up behind him.
"Jesus Mith, we need to put a bell on you or something"
"yeah alright, what's that?" she read the note. "They're going skiing right?"
"Yeah why?"
"I thought your dad had a broken leg"
"Oh he did, it healed up all nicely, so did the wrist. Doctors said he was fine to go skiing, he still gets pains in his back so he knows his limits. He'll be fine, they have health insurance"
"Okay, what's for breakfast?"
"I fancy sausage and egg mcmuffin"
"Same"
"I'll get the car keys"
They drove to the nearest McDonalds drive-through and ordered three double sausage and egg mcmuffins and tea for Arthur and Merlin and Mithian, a bacon and egg mcmuffin and a coffee for Leon, a breakfast wrap and orange juice for Freya and pancakes with a latte for Morgana. Full of pride that they remembered their friends' orders (obviously Merlin would remember Arthur's) they drove home.
As soon as they walked through the door they delivered the food to each room because everyone was a bit lazy and it was Saturday morning, so they were forgiven.
Merlin knocked on Arthur's door, when there was no reply he pushed open the door steadily until the sigh before him was Arthur spread out like a starfish drooling into his pillow and Merlin couldn't deny that it was ever so slightly (extremely) adorable. He padded over the side of the bed and nudged the sleeping man awake.
"Arthur, breakfast. I have greasy fast food and tea for you" He heard Arthur groan into his pillow and mumble something incoherent. When he looked up with half hooded eyes he smiled sleepily, looked at the bag of McDonalds and choked out "marry me"
Merlin smiled and let out a quiet chuckle "I'll think about, eat your food"
With that the boy was left in peace.
On Christmas Eve everyone had the buzz of festiveness around them. At around six in the evening Merlin was in the kitchen making macaroni cheese when he heard the doorbell go. He turned the heat on low and walked to the door, when he opened it he was greeted by a huge hug that almost winded him. He pulled back and smiled, Will stood there with a bag in one hand and two boxes wrapped in red paper by his feet. "Merry Christmas Merlin!"
"It's not Christmas yet"
"I know, I'd thought I'd come over early considering I was home alone and bored out of my mind, where's Freya?"
"FREYA!" Merlin called up the stairs "WILL'S HERE!" Not long after that did they hear the sound of footsteps clambering along the hallway. Moments later Will was attacked in a huge hug.
"Will! I've missed you, how've you been?"
"I'm alright squirt, come on I'm bloody starving"
After fifteen minutes of catching up Merlin went upstairs to tell everyone that food was ready. Mithian was first down and then Morgana and Leon, they all greeted each other and sat down. For a while they chatted amicably until Arthur finally decided to show up. Merlin looked up at him and rolled his eyes.
"Took you long enough" Will turn to see who Merlin was talking to, he smiled at the man in the doorway. He stood up to shake his hand.
"You must be Arthur the boyfriend" Merlin choked on his drink and Arthur tried to stutter out something but it didn't quite work, instead he stood there with wide eyes and an open mouth. Everyone at the table was sniggering and Freya sat covering her nose and mouth, eyes shut and trembling in laughter.
Once Merlin recovered he said, "Will, he's not…he's not my boyfriend"
"Oh I thought…Freya said" Merlin swivelled to glare at his bright red sister.
"Freya. Said. What."
"Nothing, nothing at all"
Merlin looked displeased for a while until Morgana coughed and asked if they could please have some food now. So they ate and they talked and Merlin sent Arthur awkward apologetic glances every so often to which he received a smile and a shrug.
Later that evening they all sat around watching Christmas films until it got to about half past eleven. Morgana and Leon went upstairs to bed, Mithian woke Freya up from where she was asleep on the sofa and told her to go to bed then shortly after she followed. Merlin had fallen asleep on Arthur's shoulder and had an arm slung around his waist, Arthur had his arm around Merlin's shoulders and was holding him there, also asleep. Will looked across from where he was sitting and grumbled under his breath "not boyfriends my arse" then proceeded to get out his phone, take a photo and then go upstairs to bed- he knew where his room was.
Christmas morning had arrived. Merlin and Arthur were still soundly sleeping on the sofa. Everyone else had silently congregated around them, Freya held here camera out, she had already taken a few pictures but she was preparing herself for what came next. Mithian stood with a megaphone- God knows where she had found it- and placed it in front of her lips. Morgana counted to one on her fingers and Mithian shouted.
"WAKEY WAKEY LOVEBIRDS, IT'S CHRISTMAS!" Merlin and Arthur both jumped out of their skin, Arthur fell to the floor in surprise and Merlin was hyperventilating on the edge of the sofa. Their so-called 'friends' were all laughing around them.
Freya ran along to her father's office, grabbed a stack of photo paper and printed off several copies of the multiple pictures. She found a frame for the best one and sneaked into the living room where the group of people were talking now, Merlin didn't seem happy and she placed the picture on the fire place, where it was visible but Merlin wouldn't notice straight away.
Leon volunteered to make breakfast and afterwards they all sat in the lounge and opened presents. Nothing happened all day, neither one of the boys saw the photo frame. Basically the whole day was spent in pyjamas eating chocolate and drinking eggnog. Merlin and Freya found a box of gingerbread that their mother had left them and decided to make gingerbread milkshakes because why the fuck not? They ended up covered in crumbs and used almost a whole can of squirty cream but the drinks tasted nice so all was well.
Just as it was beginning to get dark, Freya spoke up.
"Merls please can you get the arm chair from the summer house"
"why?"
"So we're not all sat on the floor"
"It's just you on the floor actually"
"Exactly, so can you get the chair please"
"Yeah okay"
"Arthur you might want to go with him, it's quite heavy" Merlin stopped dead in his stride, wide eyes staring at Freya. He didn't want Arthur to come to the summer house because the tree with all the mistletoe grew right next to it and what if…
"N-no that's fine, I can manage it's no proble-"
"Merlin, I'll help you it's fine"
"Fine."
They walked down to the end of the garden toward the summer house, Merlin lead the way and Arthur followed closely behind admiring the décor. Merlin's mother, Hunith, and Merlin had painted a mural on the wall on the back of the house. It was beautiful and Merlin was proud to say that he helped.
"I had no idea you were so good at art"
"Yeah, I did it for GCSE and A-level. I'll show you some of my work later there's a pile of full up sketchbooks in my room."
With a genuine smile Athur replied "I would love that"
For a moment they stopped and smiled at one another. Unbeknown to them Mithian, Morgana and Freya were standing on either side of the French doors trying not to be noticeable but watching every step.
As the boys moved closer to the end of the garden, Merlin froze and Arthur carried on walking until he was standing under the tree which stood next to the door of the cabin. Merlin stood shaking, a look of fear plastered on his face. Luckily for him it was already getting dark so Arthur would not have been able to make out his facial expression.
"Merlin, why are you just standing there?" He looked up and saw the mistletoe above his head. "Seriously? You're afraid of mistletoe. You said you were going to show me the tree anyway… You know the rules come on."
"I was joking …and I'm not standing under the tree though" Arthur lunged forward, grabbed Merlin's arm pulling him under the branches and low hanging white berries.
"Come on, just one kiss. It's Christmas."
Merlin's back was facing the door so the girls couldn't see what was happening properly, they had seen Arthur pull Merlin under the tree and Freya had squealed like a pig. Mithian slid the door open as quietly as possible and sat on one of the lawn chairs, gathering as much snow as she could which incidentally was a hell of a lot.
Merlin hoped to God that it was too dark even with the lights for Arthur to see the blush that was creeping up his face and neck. He felt like he was on fire and all he wanted to do was surge forward and claim the kiss he had waited so long for and what better moment to do so than Christmas Day under a tree lit up with fairy lights and covered in mistletoe. It was like some sort of dream. "Okay then. Merry Christmas"
Arthur smiled and they both leant forward, he was just about to cup Merlin's cheek and then…boom.
A snowball to the face.
Freya stood dumbstruck and Morgana hissed at Mithian. "Why the fuck did you do that?"
"They've waited this long. If they want it that badly they need to work for it"
"Oh my god"
Merlin shook himself and looked back up to the patio where Mithian sat cackling almost falling over into the snow, Morgana was rubbing her temples and Freya, well Freya looked like she'd just had her puppy kicked.
"Come on we better get that chair"
"Yeah we should" That was it, that was Arthur's only chance and it failed. He was so close to getting what he so desperately wanted and it was destroyed. Maybe the universe just didn't want them to be together.
Everyone aside from Will went home on Boxing Day but assured Merlin they'd be back for New Year's and he looked forward. Merlin didn't mention the almost kiss, he didn't try again, there was was no point. So he relaxed or tried to relax for the next week.
On New Year's Eve Merlin's parents arrived home and a few hours later guests for the party started arriving. Gwaine turned up, so did Elyan, Gwen and Lance. Then came Mithian and Percival shortly followed by Morgana who looked as galmorous as ever with Leon on her arm and Arthur was traipsing along behind her.
Merlin's breath hitched when he caught sight of Arthur in his tuxedo. Everyone looked posh in their best suits and dresses but Arthur, Arthur looked magnificent and Merlin was finding it hard not to stare.
At 11:47pm Morgana glided over to Gwaine; "Gwaine, go dance with Merlin, try to make Arthur jealous Don't get in a fight or anything just make him jealous"
"can do ma'am" He then proceeded to bounce over to where Merlin was sat with a beer talking to someone.
"Merlin!" he looked up and the rosy-cheeked man in front of him.
"Gwaine! You're drunk!"
"Yep! Lets dance"
'Dancing' was a bad description of what happened next. Gwaine was near paralytic and Merlin was trying to hold him up whilst listening to the utter gibberish that he was saying. Merlin couldn't help but laugh and he'd probably had a bit too much to drink and was probably finding Gwaine a lot more hilarious than he really was but from Arthur's point of view from across the room it looked like Merlin and the irishman were having a right old blast.
Jealous Arthur was not to be reckoned with. Morgana floated over and placed a loving had on her brother's shoulder. He looked round, facial expression unchanging: stoic and cold.
"You alright little brother? I saw Merlin and Gwaine and thought I'd see that you're okay"
"Why does it matter?"
"Because I know how you're feeling right now; like you want to rip Gwaine's head off and throw him into the ocean."
"You can read me like a book"
"well there's two minutes until the countdown so you have a minute I'd say to go and get what you want"
"What do you mean?"
"You know very well what I mean"
"You're right"
Wth that, Arthur pushed his way through the crowd toward the dark haired man and the drunken mess. He tapped Gwaine, probably too hard, on the arm to get his attention.
"Can I dance with Merlin?"
"Knock yourself out princess"
The drunk waddled away and Merlin looked at Arthur quizzically. "You know it's…" He looked at the timer on the wall "one minuted until countdown"
"yep"
"And you're choosing to be here when that happens"
"yep"
"Fair enough"
Arthur gripped Merlin's hips and pulled him just a little too close while Merlin's arms wrapped around Arthur's neck. They swayed to the music not noticing their friends pointing them out to each other.
As the countdown began Merlin inched a tad closer to Arthur.
Ten.
Nine.
Eight.
Seven.
Six.
Five.
Four.
Three. Arthur looked down at Merlin and smiled.
Two. Merlin smiled back, his eyes gleamed.
One.
Arthur gently cupped Merlin's face and brought him into a long, slow, passionate kiss. Every sense in Merlin's body flared in that moment. The butterflies in his stomach leapt and danced, his hands tingled as they absentmindedly drew circles on the back on Arthur's neck. Electricity shot up Merlin's spine and he felt like his entire being was on fire. And yet he couldn't bring himself to care. In that very moment he felt the whole entire world melt away leaving just him and Arthur able to stay like that for the rest of their lives. He smiled into the kiss and brought it deeper, Arthur smiled back and pulled him closer so their chests were flush against each other's. Finally when they parted for air, Merlin breathed out "Finally, you bastard" Arthur snickered. Everyone was silent. They looked up and saw bright smiles plastering the faces that encompassed the room.
All of a sudden there was a chorus of cheers and Morgana from across the room screamed "FINALLY!" At which neither Merlin nor Arthur could contain their laughter. Arthur turned to Merlin and whispered softly, "God I've been waiting forever to do that"
"I know." Merlin brought the man back into a kiss. Arthur pulled back grinning.
"You know you're gorgeous right?"
"You don't need flattery Arthur, I'm not going anywhere"
"I know, but the truth is always nice to hear"
