"Alright," said Gwaine, eyeing Arthur's and Merlin's intertwined hands at lunch one day. "What's up? You two have been acting all lovey-dovey lately."

Merlin turned red and ducked his head as Arthur sat a little straighter. "We're together."

There was silence at their lunch table. Leon nodded and shrugged as Elyan and Lancelot looked shocked. Gwaine looked down and his hand subconsciously slipped into Percival's. Gwen's reaction was the most surprising.

"I knew it!" cried the only girl in their group gleefully. "You two are meant for each other! Ooooooooh, I can see it now!" Her face suddenly turned very serious, determined, and eager. "I'm planning your wedding!"

Merlin turned even redder and Arthur hugged him. "We're only in seventh grade, Gwen. Can you wait a couple years?" the blonde chuckled.

"So how long….." Lancelot felt awkward asking this.

Arthur looked at Merlin. "About a year?"

Merlin shook his head. "Since the end of sixth grade. Ten months and two weeks." Another blush.

"Ooooh," Gwaine wolf-whistled. "It's getting hot in heeeeeere!"

Leon hit him around they head, earning a glare from the brown-haired boy. "Quiet you."

Elyan still looked a little lost. "….So, you're…..gay?"

"Is that a problem?" Arthur asked more harshly than necessary, crushing Merlin to his chest protectively.

He shook his head. "Nah. Actually, I've kinda suspected." He looked at his friend next to him. "You own me five bucks, Gwaine."

"I do not!"

"We made a bet!"

Arthur shook his head at his friends' idiocy. Taking Merlin by the hand, the two marched out of the lunch room, making all their companions smirk. The blonde dragged the raven into the hallway, then into an empty classroom, much to the his protests.

"We could get caught!" Merlin hissed as Arthur shut the door with a snap.

Arthur smiled. "And we should care, why?"

Merlin shook his head. "Clotpole." Instead of continuing their banter, Arthur captured his best friend's lips. They pulled away, but Merlin went back for more.

"Mmmmmmmmm," Arthur groaned. They pulled away again. "Merlin," he panted. The raven looked at him with such…..lo – affection. Not love. Right?

"Merlin," Arthur started again, getting down on one knee. Merlin's eyes widened comically, but he remained silent. "Merlin, will you be my boyfriend?"

The raven looked a little hurt. "I thought I already was."

Arthur got up and smiled. "Then that's a yes."

Merlin rolled his eyes. "What, were you just making it official? And, really, getting down on one knee? That's a little cliché."

Arthur brought a hand to the raven's cheek. "Cliché or not, you're now my boyfriend!"

"Already was….."

Arthur's smiled faltered and he suddenly looked stunned. "Oh my…you're my-"

"What?" asked Merlin, getting confused.

"You're my boyfriend!" the blonde came out with. "Merlin Emrys is my boyfriend!"

"Aaaaaand?"

Arthur's face turned ecstatic. "You're my boyfriend!"

"We've covered that." Merlin was starting to worry about his boyfriend's (he liked the sound of that too) salinity. It was a little unfair though; Merlin was supposed to be the loopy one.

Arthur got behind him and pulled him into a hug, so his chest and Merlin's back were touching. He hands slid to the raven's waist. "You're my boyfriend," he whispered dangerously in his ear. "Now, I won't have to share you."

Merlin felt a wave of something wash through him. It made adrenaline pump in his blood stream and his stomach had the roller-coaster feeling. "Have you ever?" he asked causally, leaning back against his boyfriend.

Back at the lunch table, Elyan and Gwaine were still squabbling over the owed money.

"C'mon, I was right, just pay up."

Gwaine pouted. "I don't even have five bucks….."

Elyan snorted. "Yes you do. Pay up."

"I just noticed something," Gwen said, as if awakening from a deep though. "Merlin and Arthur were together for almost a year. How didn't we notice?"

"I guessed at it," Elyan grumbled, glaring at Gwaine. "That's why Stupid over here owes me money."

"They were always so close before," Lancelot shrugged. "Being 'together' probably just means they kiss now."

Percival made a face. "Those two were in love before they were together."

Leon nodded. "In kindergarten, it was obvious. They were totally besotted with each other."

"Now they're together," Gwaine concluded. There was a mutual sigh.

"Just one more thing," Gwen started again as Gwaine submitted and coughed up the money he owed her brother. "Why didn't they tell us?"

At Arthur's that afternoon, Merlin was in heaven. As soon as the bedroom door shut behind them, the blonde had pushed him against the wall and the snogging began.

"Oh," Merlin said as he felt a hand under his shirt. "Oh."

Arthur pulled away, sheepish grin across his face. "Sorry. Just, you know, feeling."

Merlin's face was priceless.

"Not in that way you little perv!" the blonde suddenly said, turning red. They were in freaking seventh grade, he didn't want to go that far. Merlin looked a little hurt by the way Arthur had snapped at him, so the blonde sat down on the bed, and pulled Merlin down, making him fall on his lap. "But you're my little perv."

Merlin rolled his eyes, but leaned into the caress that Arthur had started on his neck. "Now who's the perv? That sounded wrong."

Arthur chuckled. "Oh…..Merlin." He brought their lips together again. They didn't notice the door creak open.

There was a cough and they broke apart, Merlin jumping off of Arthur. In the doorway, Uther stood, small amused smile on his face.

"It's about time, boys," was all he said, before closing the door again.

Merlin looked at Arthur, who stared right back. The blonde shrugged, pulled Merlin back down, and resumed.

"Merlin," Arthur breathed out. "I think I….I think I…"

"What?"

"I think – I think – I probably.."

"Spit it out!"

"I – I…..shit, this is harder than I thought." Arthur never looked more nervous.

Merlin smiled, as if reading his mind. "I know what you're trying to say."

"But I want you to hear me say it," Arthur insisted. "Merlin, I….I – I…"

Merlin sighed. "I love you."

Arthur's heart exploded. "That's what I wanted to say," he said very hoarsely.

Merlin rolled his eyes. "No, clotopole, I meant it. I love you."

Arthur was in shock. "I love you, too," he whispered. His eyes got wide. "That's the feeling!"

"What?"

"Remember in fifth grade?" Merlin nodded. "Well, when you asked me to dance, I felt strange. I couldn't think straight. After that, I couldn't get you out of my head, no matter what I tried. I hated it when other people made you smile or when they made you laugh. I wanted to be the person that got all your smiles. Merlin, it was love!"

"All this time…" Merlin started dumbstruck. "Really? Do you mean it?"

Arthur nodded. "Forever."

A/N: Okay, it's a little shorter than usual (sorry!) and maybe a little cliche at parts but...*shrugs*

And I know some of you are thinking "What? They're in seventh grade, they can be in love yet! They're too young to evern date!" Well, contraire to popular belief, seventh grade relationships can be quite heated. SO, just go with it. Besides, Merlin and Arthur are soulmates.

I now would like to thank...*drum roll* all the reviewers! Seriously, it's great feedback! You guys rock! Ice cream sent through screen to you guys!

Oh, yeah, before I forget, that "companion" to this fic, the one through Merlin's point of view, will be up soon. It's going to be called "Why?" (because he wonders "why" about so many things) or something like that. Here, I got a little excert. Tell me what you think.

"Listen here, Merly." Pain slashes across my face. "I'm in charge here." His hand dives for my ankle, and I'm too slow to dodge it. He picks me up and dangles me upside down. "I can do what I want, and not have to answer to a brat like you!"

Mommy does nothing as he flings me across the room. My head hits the wall. I hear a crack. Suddenly, a warm something flows in my hair and down my neck. I feel sleepy. I think I hear mommy let lose a sob before everything goes dark.

My name is Merlin. I am three. Today, my step-father almost murdered me.

This is a very short excert, but I got about three pages of it on Word. I thought to give you guys this part just to see your reaction to Cenred's abuse (that will not be the worst of it). So, anyways, please tell me if it'any good.

;)