A/N: Thanks to everyone for the sweet and encouraging reviews! I really appreciate it! Also, thank you so much to MosterJunkie for being so helpful! You're awesome!

Sorry to keep everyone waiting. I've had an illness and a health scare with my grandma (she's okay now.) Plus the holiday and school. I'm making excuses, but seriously, this semester has been killing me. No worries though. After the second week of December updates will come more frequently. =D I hope everyone who celebrated Thanksgiving had a wonderful time. Also, sad to see that this is the final series of Merlin. My heart aches a little. I desperately need to catch up seeing as I've only seen the first three episodes.

This is actually part one of two for this chapter. This one is pretty dialogue heavy. I apologize if that's not your thing. I actually really enjoy writing it. I'm pacing this story, so if you think it starts to drag a little, please feel free to let me know. I'm definitely open to suggestions!

If you see any grammatical problems please let me know!

Reviews are appreciated!

Disclaimer: Not Mine.

II.

Morgana's words weighed heavily on Merlin's mind the entire day. Of course he had lied to her. Said he'd been to loads of clubs. He didn't want to sound like a fool in front of the people he was so desperately trying to get on with. The truth was that he had only ever been to one house party—never a club. And that house party was when he was fifteen. And there wasn't even alcohol there. He had went with his best mate Will, and the party had been cut short when the kid throwing it (he hadn't even known the guy) freaked out after someone spilled sparkling grape juice all over the area rug in the sitting room.

Needless to say, Merlin's party experience wasn't very helpful to his current predicament. He frowned as he left Gaius's thinking about it. He had managed to help Gaius get through the Fs in his patient records. At that rate it would take at least a week to get the room cleared, if not longer. That meant another week at Gwen's.

It was nearly six in the evening when he re-entered the flat to complete silence. It appeared that no one was home. He flicked the hall light on and grabbed his bag. He'd have to find something else to wear tonight seeing as his current shirt was covered in dust from his work earlier that day. He sifted through the clothes he'd brought (mostly t-shirts) until he found the old AC/DC shirt he had found when going through old boxes in the attic as a child. His mother confessed it had belonged to his father and he decided to keep it. As he pulled it over his head he heard a chuckle behind him.

"Are t-shirts the only things you own?"

He jumped at the sound and collided with the table to his right.

"CHRIST MORGANA! Why the hell do you do that?" He turned quickly to face her but turned back around when he saw that all she was wearing was an oversized shirt. "And will you put some clothes on?"

"Oh Merlin. You're so modest. You know, we are in the 21st century. You were aware, weren't you?"

He turned around and kept his eyes on her face. "Well aware, thank you." And though she smiled he noticed the dark circles under her eyes. "Sleeping?"

"I like to get a little extra sleep before a big night on the town." She winked playfully at him. She looked at his shirt. "Take back what I said, that's a good choice."

"Where exactly are we going anyway?"

"The Raven."

When she realized he had no idea what she was talking about she laughed. "Merlin, you've never been to a club have you?"

"Yeah, uh, course I have. Why?"

"You have got to be the worst liar I have ever met."

"Really? How do you know I'm lying?" He crossed his arms to emphasize his defiance.

She rolled her eyes at his sad attempt to convince her. "Really? Your ears turn red."

"No they don't," though he knew that they definitely did. His mother never let him get away with anything.

"There's a mirror behind you," she said pointing over her shoulder as she turned and went over to the sofa, choosing to sit on the back of it and let her legs dangle rather than sitting on it properly.

He watched her amused smile with a bit of disdain. He'd never win this argument. "Fine." He threw his hands up. "You've found me out. I've never been to a nightclub. I am officially the most anti-social, boring person that exists."

"Oh poor baby." She mock pouted. "Someone quick! Arrange this man a pity party! Oh wait, he has no friends! Oh no!" She pressed her hand to her heart dramatically. "Whatever shall we do Merlin?"

"You are an impossible women, you know that?" But he couldn't help but laugh as he said it.

"It comes naturally darling. Now tell me, why are you so worried about looking cool? I mean, there's nothing wrong with not being the party type. It's okay if that's not your thing, ya know?"

She cut her eyes at him and leaned forward, a sly smile taking over her face. "Unless you want to impress someone. Say, my flatmate?"

"No! I-I-I mean, I don't think of her that way. I just wanted to seem like I knew what I was doing. I don't really know anyone here." He shrugged but she could tell that what he said bothered him more than he let on.

She sighed and hopped off the back of the couch. "Well lying will get you nowhere. And after you go a few times you'll get a feel for it. And if you don't like it, there are other things we can all do. It's not that big of a deal."

"Really?"

"Sure. And if it's not your thing, there's always a play park around the corner we can try."

He ran to the couch and grabbed a throw pillow, chasing her down the hall with it until she slammed her bedroom door in his face.

He didn't fancy anyone. Not that girl from the coffee shop called Freya, not Gwen, and most certainly not the new thorn in his side, Morgana. Not even when she walked out of her room in a one-shouldered, lace black dress with her hair down in loose curls. Nope.

"You look nice," he managed as he averted his eyes in an attempt not to stare too long.

She scoffed. "Really? Nice? You know, showing this much skin usually turns guys into blithering fools."

Suddenly he was feeling quite bold. "Well, considering I've seen you in your knickers I'd say there's not much left to the imagination."

She stared for a moment, a confused look crossing her features. "Touché, Merlin."

If there was ever a time where Merlin felt out of place, this was definitely it. He could hear the dance music pulsating through the building's brick walls as he stood across the street, shifting awkwardly from foot to foot watching people file into the club. He was aware that he was under-dressed, and he knew that was something he shouldn't care about, but he couldn't help but feel as though people were judging him.

"You coming Merlin?" Gwen broke him out of his thoughts and he looked up and caught her backward glance as she started to cross the street. Of course she looked flawless. She had pinned her hair up and was wearing a gold shirt dress with sleeves. She looked effortlessly pretty. And it made him feel even worse when he looked at his old shirt and fairly ratty jeans.

"Ye-yeah I am." Suddenly Morgana was at his side looping an arm through his.

"You fancy her," she sing-songed into his ear. To curious onlookers, they looked like a couple caught up in some intimate discussion.

"No, no I do not. Are you always this difficult?" he whispered back through clenched teeth.

She laughed then, loud and unrestrained. Gwen whipped around and eyed them suspiciously.

"I obviously missed something."

"Merlin was just saying that he feels under-dressed. But he looks nice, right?"

Gwen smiled sweetly at him. "Honestly Merlin, you do look nice. And you shouldn't worry. Most of the guys here are not as gentlemanly as you are."

Morgana pinched him discreetly in the side. "So cute."

"Stop it. You don't even know if I fancy her, why are you doing this?"

But she didn't give an answer. Instead, she looped her arm through his again and the other through Gwen's and marched them both to the front of the line.

"What are we doing?"

Again, no answer. Instead, the bouncer nodded at the three of them and they all entered the club. Merlin was immediately assaulted with an array of lights, loud music, the smell of smoke, and bodies swaying in all different directions. It was overwhelming.

"I'm going to get a drink." And suddenly she was gone, leaving Merlin and Gwen alone. He frowned. It was probably part of her scheme to get them together. But Gwen didn't seem to notice his frustration and instead smiled at him.

"I see a few people I know. Would you want to go over and meet them?" She gestured at a table where a girl with honey colored hair and a round face sat looking rather bored as two men sitting across from her—one blonde and one with deep brown hair—laughed over something she obviously didn't find funny. Even Gwen's friends were good-looking. Merlin felt even worse now, but he swallowed his doubts and slowly nodded his head, allowing Gwen to take him by the arm and guide him towards their table. If they liked Gwen they'd probably like him too, right?

When they reached the table all three occupants looked in their direction and smiled.

"Thank God you're here Gwen. I've been sitting with these two for over an hour because they thought getting out of the house would help me get over Paul."

Gwen beamed. "Well, I'm here now and I've brought a friend. Sophia, this is Merlin. Merlin, this is Sophia, Gwaine, and Leon." She gestured to each one and Merlin waved at them before jamming his hand back into the pocket of his jeans.

"Is that little Irish vixen with you?" Gwaine eyed the club quickly before meeting Gwen's somewhat disapproving look and a light punch in the arm from Leon.

"Morgana will not go out with you, Gwaine. I don't know why you insist on trying so hard."

Gwaine looked at Gwen as if the answer was obvious. "It's because she gives good chase, and that interests me."

"She doesn't give good chase, she's just not interested in you." Sophia dropped her head back onto the table with a sigh.

Merlin watched them with amused expression as Gwen addressed the situation.

"Gwaine fancies Morgana quite a bit," she said with a huff. Clearly she didn't approve of this infatuation.

"He fancies anything with a pulse," Leon said as Gwaine shot him a look of mock offense.

"That's debatable," was the muffled response from Sophia, whose face was pressed firmly into the table.

"All right, all right!" Gwen stood up and yanked on Sophia's arm. "We are going to get a drink and we are going to dance, yeah?"

"Fine." She allowed Gwen to lead her off, which left Merlin alone with Gwaine and Leon. They went through the normal questions. Merlin told them of his current situation and he learned that Leon had known Gwen since they were children and that he and Gwaine were both mates of Morgana's older brother. He also learned that the bouncer outside the club was their friend Percy, and that even though he looked quite scary, he was incredibly nice.

He was genuinely enjoying himself when he noticed the air to his left side stir. He looked up from the table to see Morgana next to him, grinning wildly at all three of them.

"Is this strictly male bonding time, or can I join as well?"

"I can always make time for you, Morgana."

"Oh Gwaine. Honestly. It's not going to happen." She laughed, and Merlin realized this must be a little game they've been playing.

"Come on, can't you see it? We would have beautiful Irish babies. They would have fantastic hair!"

She rolled her eyes at him. "Nope. Not happening. Find yourself another girl to pine after."

He pouted and downed the rest of his drink. "Well, if there's absolutely no hope, maybe you could at least dance with me? You know, to ease the pain?" He winked at her as she laughed.

"You're pathetic, but I suppose I can dance with you. Wouldn't want to see you in that much agony, now would I?"

"Not too sure about that one," Leon mumbled as Morgana and Gwaine disappeared into the crowd of people. "They're so dramatic."

"I could tell." Merlin liked Leon. He seemed the most laid back and sincere out of the group so far. "Tell me, does he actually fancy her?"

Leon nearly choked on his drink as he stifled a laugh. "Oh good Lord, yes. But everyone has at one time or another. That's just Morgana. She does that to people. He'll get over it. He's a flirt. They've been dancing around each other for so long that I doubt anything will ever happen between them. They're too wild to be together. They need someone to anchor them down."

"Did you ever like her?"

"Yeah, I did. But we were kids. I was only fifteen and she was thirteen and we were so stupid. It was a hit and miss. We kissed once, but that was it. She was always going in so many directions and I was always the friend of her brother. It happens." He shrugged. "Besides, she's sort of in a relationship and I've been seeing someone for nearly two years now. I think I may propose soon."

"That's great! Congratulations!" He reached out and shook his hand. After that he didn't know what to say. So he said the first thing that came to his mind. "What do you mean sort of?"

"Ah, Tauren. He's a jerk and they're on and off again so often that I can't keep up with it."

"Oh." He stared at his hands for a minute in contemplation. He wasn't disappointed. Nope, not one bit.

"But Gwen. She's such a saint. I don't know how she puts up with all whirlwind that accompanies Morgana. You've been staying with them, you must know."

Merlin laughed. "She definitely likes to irritate me. But Gwen has been absolutely wonderful these last few days. Really. I'm surprised she's not with anybody."

"Well, there's this bloke called Lance that just moved here. He works with her now. She told me they've been talking, but I don't know." He took another drink and rubbed his face tiredly. "Listen to us Merlin. Sitting here gossiping like old biddies when we should be out there drinking ourselves into a frenzy and chasing skirts."

"Chasing skirts? Really? Are you sure you're not my Gran?"

Leon laughed. "Well I was in a dress once but-"

But Merlin didn't hear the rest of his story. Even though he most definitely didn't like Morgana, he couldn't help but be captivated by the sight of her dancing. Or maybe it was her hips. He shook the thought away. Either way, it's not like it mattered. He didn't fancy any women here. Yet.

A/N: Next chapter we'll see Tauren being a jerk and get introduced to Arthur. Things are going to get pretty interesting. ;) Oh, and Merlin still won't admit he's attracted to Morgana. But he's getting there, I promise!