Well, apparently there was a little sequel coming up after all... =)

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin or any of the characters in the series, I'm just borrowing them from their respective owners to play with a little and I promise to give them back when I'm done. No copyright infringement is intended and I don't make any money from writing fanfiction.

Arthur Pendragon's not so very big aversion to prized pets

Arthur settled himself in his bed, letting out a long, satisfied sigh as he sank back against the pillows. He'd changed the bed linens, aired out and vacuumed the comforter and his bed was now a clean, fluffy haven, completely devoid of any dog slobber or shed fur. Merlin was home again and that meant that Freya would be too busy being happy to see him again, clambering all over him, to try and sneak off into Arthur's meticulously cleaned and carefully arranged bed. He was about to get his first night of uninterrupted sleep since the unfortunate day when Merlin ended up in hospital, for reasons still unknown, and he was certainly going to make the most of it. Smiling to himself he switched off the lights and pulled the duvet up around his shoulders. He stretched out fully, using the whole bed as he no longer had to leave room for the dog as well. He was ready, ready to head off to the land of dreams. All he had to do now was to wait… and wait… and apparently wait some more. But no matter how much he tried to just let go and let his muscles melt into marshmallowy relaxation, sleep somehow evaded him.

So he turned instead. Perhaps he would sleep better on his other side? Nope. He turned back, didn't like it any better than the first time, tried sleeping on his stomach instead and then on his back. Nothing worked. He tried counting sheep, dragons and even Westie terriers but it was of no use. Sleep just wouldn't come to him and finally, after tossing and turning for over two hours, he gave up and switched the lamp back on to try to read himself to sleep. Just as he'd picked up his book he heard the now very familiar pitter-patter of Freya's claws approaching and he steeled himself for the inevitable showdown that was about to take place. The battle lines were already drawn and Arthur was not about to lose this time. On his honour, there would be no dogs in the Pendragon bed tonight. Period.

"Did you abandon Merlin already?" he whispered accusingly to the small dog as she rounded the corner and entered his room but that didn't deter Freya at all. She just cocked her head to the side and pawed at the side of the bed. Arthur sighed and looked away, Freya answered by scratching harder. Arthur sighed again when he realized that this was how it was going to be like and then turned to face the furry menace again.

"No" he said, quietly but forcefully. He didn't want to wake Merlin up, not unless he absolutely had to. The other man had looked awfully tired and pale upon returning home after his hospitalization and Arthur didn't want to add to that. Freya clearly realized that she needed to up her game and switched from puppy dog eyes to pleading puppy dog eyes.

"No" Arthur said again but even as he spoke he could hear the determination in his voice wither away. "Go sleep on Merlin's bed. Go on, shoo!" Freya just plopped he butt down on the floor and continued scratching at his bed. Arthur stubbornly looked down on his book, trying to keep from being swayed by Freya's gaze, and that's when she decided to bring out the heavy artillery. Pleading puppy dog eyes and pitiful whining.

"You'll wake Merlin up" Arthur admonished her but as that reprimand only led to an increase in volume, Arthur swore loudly and reached over to lift her up.

"You," he said to the small dog, holding her up in front of him and staring her right in the eyes, "are a menace. A furry fucking menace." Freya yipped happily, wagged her tail and attempted to lick his nose in response. "A menace" Arthur repeated as he put her down on top of the duvet so she could curl up behind his knees like she'd gotten used to during the past week.

When Arthur woke up the next morning the dog was gone and the only proof that she'd ever been there was the tell-tale dog hairs all over his bed. He didn't find it in himself to care about it as he pushed the covers out of the way and got ready for work. He did however switch from the news channel that he'd watched while eating breakfast to the cartoon channel before he said goodbye to Freya who stayed curled up on the sofa, attentively eyeing the bowl containing the last of his cereals that he didn't have time to finish, and left the apartment. Unbeknownst to Arthur, Merlin smiled as he watched their interaction from the hallway and started to think of a cunning plan.

::

"Please, Arthur, just for the afternoon?" Merlin asked beseechingly. "I'll be back before you know it." Grudgingly Arthur agreed, unable to resist the two sets of puppy dog eyes currently staring at him. It wasn't his fault that Merlin had forgotten that he had a meeting that afternoon but it damn well felt like it, the way the two of them looked at him.

"Fine" he muttered. "But it's your dog and your responsibility, you can't just expect me to be here to pick up the slack every time you screw up your schedule and…"

"It won't happen again" Merlin breathlessly promised, cutting him off as he jogged around the apartment, trying to find his bag and put on his shoes at the same time.

"Better not" Arthur called out after the retreating form of his roommate as the door slammed shut. He then turned to the small dog standing beside him, giving her a pat on the head. "Well, Freya, guess it's only you and me then."

"Just Arthur and Freya-time" this particular afternoon meant a walk to the park, a coffee in the sun for Arthur and some water for Freya and an impromptu playdate with the neighbour's lab cross. After such strenuous activities both of them were thoroughly tired and felt the need to lie down for a bit. Arthur stretched out on the couch as Freya flopped down on the rug in front of the TV. Arthur only had the time to raise one surprised eyebrow before the dog was back on her feet and standing expectantly right next to the sofa instead. Freya would never skip out on cuddles on the couch if there was anyone there willing to provide them, and obviously she'd just remembered that Arthur was now permanently included in that category of people as well. Rather than pretending that he wasn't going to give in and listen to her whining for a while before admitting defeat Arthur just picked the small dog up and let her settle in the crook of his elbow. Then, with the television playing in the background both of them drifted off to sleep.

"I knew it!" Merlin exclaimed triumphantly as he clicked away on his camera phone, taking a million pictures of Arthur and Freya snuggled up together on the couch. "I knew that you like her, only you wouldn't admit it! Ha!" Arthur groaned and tried to pull one of the throw blankets over his head as Merlin continued to dance around the living room, taking more photos and making an unholy racket as he went. Merlin wasn't supposed to be home for another hour Arthur groggily noted as he threw a glance at his watch and he couldn't really figure out what was going on, especially not as Merlin continued to shout triumphantly as he did some sort of weird victory dance while, by the looks of it, posting something on Facebook. He briefly debated getting up and putting an end to it but Merlin didn't look as if he'd willingly shut up any time soon and it was too much of an effort as well, with the couch being so comfortable and he also didn't want to jostle Freya. In the end he just decided to go back to sleep, still holding the small dog who hadn't moved a muscle since the whole thing started, and just barely noticed that Merlin put away his phone and joined them as well.