At two o'clock that afternoon Merlin's phone rang. He fumbled for it on the bedside table.

"lo" was all he could manage.

"Come on sleepy head get up or you won't sleep tonight, anyway you need to go to the bathroom by now." Arthur's amused and slightly sarcastic voice came down the phone.

"Oh hello it's you." More awake now.

"That's nice, is that all you've got to say? I was ringing to see if you wanted a takeaway bringing over for lunch. I need to make sure you eat." Arthur's voice had gone soft.

"That's alright, Gwen left me a snack and she's cooked me a meal. They'll be enough for you; she's bringing it down at five o'clock if you want some."

"Oh, that's alright I won't bother you…" Arthur sounded really disappointed. "I'll stop by tomorrow and we can go out for lunch if you like, I've got tomorrow off."

"No really, there will be enough, please come!" Merlin wanted to see the blonde man again, out of work.

"As long as you're sure. I'll bring some wine." The voice was more certain this time.

"OK see you then, I'll get up and sort things out. Bye" Merlin now had a smile on his face. He was feeling better about the situation, realising he really liked Arthur, and that he himself was becoming more certain that Arthur felt the same way.

"Goodbye Merlin"

Arthur felt much better after he had made the phone call. He wondered if Merlin would feel different once he got back home and change his mind. He supposed he should have thought about Gwen and Lance looking after Merlin, they were his friends after all. He would have to wait to see Merlin for a bit longer.

As it happened Arthur wasn't the only one to think about Merlin that afternoon. At four o'clock Merlin's door bell rang. He went to open it, thinking Gwen or Lance was checking up on him, to find Gwaine stood at the door holding several carrier bags of shopping. Gwaine was dressed Fr more casually than Merlin was used to, gone was the suit instead he had on a pair of jeans and what looked like a silk shirt undo at the neck. Merlin thought he looked good, he loved silk.

"Hi Merlin, I thought you might be low on supplies, I managed to get hold of your address, so here I am." The Irishman gave Merlin a big smile.

"That's kind of you Gwaine. Gwen and Lance got me the basics but thank you, come on in." Merlin was surprised and at the same time happy that he appeared to be getting more friends.

Gwaine walked into the flat, it was his first visit, but it was just how he thought to would be, somehow very Merlin.

"Gwen's bringing me down a cooked meal later so I'm getting spoilt."

"How did your trip go?" Gwaine asked as he settled himself down on the sofa.

"Busy, but we had a bit of time to see things, Oh hang on a minute." Merlin went back to his bedroom and came out with a small parcel. He handed it Gwaine. "It's not much but I thought you might like it. I understand no animal was hurt to provide it."

"Thanks mate you didn't need to." Gwaine was pleased that Merlin had thought of him and hoped that meant that the other man would agree to go on a date.

"You haven't seen it yet. I've worried about since I bought it, but at the time I thought it was so you. It's not much"

Gwaine's curiosity was well and truly engaged as he opened his parcel. He took one look at the contents and laughed. "This is great Mate." He hugged Merlin. He had been given a Kangaroo Scrotum bottle opener.

"I can have so much fun with this. It's even a real one! Great stuff! Thank you."

Merlin was relieved he thought it would be Gwaine's sense of humour. But he hadn't realised it was a real scrotum. "Oh God it's not real is it! I thought it was fake…..gross." he said screwing his face up.

Now he needed to do was get Gwaine gone before Arthur arrived. Just then the door bell rang and Gwen and Lance had arrived to see their friend.

"Oh I didn't realise you had a visitor, good job there's enough food." Gwen gushed. Merlin rolled his eyes at that. Now he'd never get the other man out in time. Lance stayed and spoke to Gwaine while Merlin went in with Gwen to the kitchen.

"You didn't let me know he was coming. Come on Merlin spill are you seeing him?" Gwen was excited she had been waiting for Merlin to find someone.

"I didn't know he was coming and no I'm not seeing him, now he'll want to stay for the meal." Merlin had his sulking face on.

"What's wrong with that? It will be good for you." Gwen was determined to set her friend up.

Merlin was very embarrassed this was going to be awkward. "Look Gwen…Arthur's coming over and I didn't want Gwaine here."

"Oh…..oh….when did that happen?" Gwen looked at Merlin "Is that a good idea Merlin? He's your boss."

"Look nothing has happened, we've been on one date that's all, and we were going to keep it quiet for now… please don't say anything….what do I do now?" Merlin looked really worried.

With that the bell rang again, this could only be Arthur. Merlin was going to go to the door but Gwaine beat him to it. He was shocked and upset to find his boss standing there. He too was dressed to impress. No jeans but a pair of trousers and an expensive red shirt, again open at the neck. The whole look designed to show him off to his best advantage. It was obvious to Gwaine that Arthur was after the same thing as him…..Merlin.

"Hello Princess, what a surprise, come on in it's a regular party in here." He was upset; so much for getting Merlin alone to ask him out on a date.

To say Arthur was surprised to see Gwaine was an understatement. "What are you doing here?" he growled.

"I might ask you that." Gwaine was getting defensive.

"Arthur offered to get me a takeaway to save me going out, but as I knew Gwen was cooking I invited him over." Merlin explained to Gwaine. Then turning to Arthur he said "Gwaine brought me some supplies since I had just come back, that was a nice surprise wasn't it?" He hoped Arthur would understand.

Gwen came out of the kitchen "It's a good job I always cook far too much. We can all stay. There's enough for everyone come on sit down." She had heard what the two men had been saying and realised they both wanted Merlin. Talk about awkward.

Lance had just come to the same conclusion but he didn't know Arthur had already got there first.