I fixed my collar on my shirt and stood outside the café doors. I looked at my watch on my wrist and sighed. I couldn't believe that my dear cousin had dragged me away from my laptop because she wanted me to meet her and Gwaine, her boyfriend and my best friend, for lunch and also a friend of Gwaine's. I sighed and opened the door to the café.

I loved this café for this place brought back so many memories and even this far into the future as I sit wallowing in this tale it brings tears and laughter to my eyes for this is where it all began. My nose sniffed in the warm coffee smell that floated from the counters and I licked my lips at the thought of the good and spicy chili that would soon be in front of me. Okay so maybe coming here wasn't so bad because it wasn't has like I had food back at the house.

"Merlin, there you are!"

I looked over and saw Will, my best friend since primary school walking over to me, waving and trying to balance a tray in his hands. He had his uniform on that was but only a white apron and some black boots, the rest was his own style of own, a band tee and holy jeans.

"Hey, Will," I said smiling, "the others here yet?"

I made a show of looking around the café looking for my cousin and Gwaine but didn't see them and I rolled my eyes in mock anger, "Of course they're not in here!"

Will smirked and patted my arm, "Gwaine called and said they were running late cause his car got jammed again," he then tugged on me and pushed me over to where we usually say, in the back of the café, "you go on and sit and I will bring you that chili you love and you work on a rant for those two, right?"

I had just got or table in view when I saw a blonde head lazing on the chair that sat across from me, I turned to ask Will who the person was but he was already gone in the jumble of the busy café. I looked back to see the man who took a long drink of something in the mug and I tried to recall why the person looked so familiar. I then pushed myself to the table and pulled out the set, sat down, and froze when I meet those so familiar green eyes looking back at me in amusement and surprise.

"You! What are you doing here?" I asked him, sitting down hard in my seat.

He put down his water and raised an eyebrow and let out a small smile, the one that I can today remember his white teeth and his sparkling eyes even though I have not seen him for years.

"Last time I checked the café was free reign," he said and then he spoke softly, " I don't think I caught your name last time, Squirt."

I sputtered, squirt! I crossed my arm not liking Arthur once more. I pointed my figure at him," My name is not squirt it's Merlin. And it's is free rein, but this table is already reserve. For me and my friends, plus I don't feel like being accused again for something again by you, you're an ass!"

"Hey," he said, shaking his head, " I said that that was already resolved because we both got what we deserved…so don't go calling me an ass, Merlin." He smiled and I glared and was about to open my mouth again to tell him to go away, so I was being childish but he deserved what he was getting. Sure, that was a few weeks ago but Arthur, the jerk wouldn't got out of my head, but that was only because of his assinse ways and nothing else.

"So," said a calm and sweet voice of my cousin Freya behind me, " I see you two met already, but last time I recall exchanging threats was a way of getting to know each other."

I looked up to see her putting her jacket on the back of her chair and Gwaine, his messy mop of his head, coming back with food and drinks. He smiled at me and sat down passing out the food. Even to Arthur!

"Wait, he's the one that you told me I was meeting, this lout!"

Freya hit me on the back of the head while Gwaine snorted and looked at Arthur pointy who only rolled his eyes at me again. "Yes, and it seems it's the same for me. Nice to meet you, Merlin," he stuck his hand out and the others were looking at me, "names' Arthur and I work with Gwaine at the shop."

I wanted to bang my head against the table. So this was Gwaine's friend from this shop, the same friend. Small world indeed, I sighed and looked at Arthur and then to my friends and shook his hand, the past behind us for now, it said.

He smiled and I found it was hard to look away. I ducked my head and let myself listen to the conversation and Arthur laughing, and I looked back up at him….I recall how the light had reflected of him and he looked like an angel…..and he had been my angel then and maybe even now…..or not…..

As the lunch came to a stop and we departed as we walked out of the café, I stood be Arthur my jacket on and the snow falling down around us as I waved to my cousin and Gwaine. So maybe the lunch had not been all that bad as I had thought, even with Arthur there, he was kind of funny in that pratish dollop head way. I didn't even give him a glance I started to go home, but someone caught my wrist and I looked back to see Arthur behind me, his hand on my sleeve. He smiled and let go of it almost shyly.

"Um, look, I wanted to apologize for you know today before at the table and when we first met I was an ass, your right."

I looked at him and felt like gapping like a fish for, even though I didn't know Arthur well, he didn't seem to be like the guy to say sorry, he must have picked up what I was thinking for he flashed his eyes down and said softly, " I- look I am not…I didn't mean that…..mmmm you want to go see a movie?"

"A movie!"

He nodded at me, " Yhea you know with moving pictures and stuff," there was the Arthur I was used to seeing. I huffed at him and rolled my eyes, " I know what a movie is, Arthur, but why me?"

"To make it up to you for being an ass, like I said. I'll buy and what not, we don't even after see each other after today, plus you are kind of amusing, so?"

I looked at him and then to his eyes as the snow fell down around us, and then I knew that maybe it would be okay just for once to be around people. I smiled and nodded and he smiled back and we headed to the theater, and I silently thanked my cousin and my friend.

For this night was the night that began my romance with Arthur, but then, when given the choice I ruined it all…..

Sorry for taking so long to update, I have been sick, so here you go! Please review and thanks to those that have in the past chapters!