Once they got home that night, it was quick dinner for the pair, that Arthur's mother had made, while she sat across from them, asking about what they did in London all day. After dinner, Merlin and Arthur sat on the sitting room floor, while Arthur's father complained about having to get up for work and his mother put in a movie.

"It's family movie night!" she said, matter-of-factly. "We haven't had one since Arthur's been here, it's a must."

She took a seat on the couch next to her husband, who complained still, as the DVD started.

"Titanic?" Morgan barked. "You are freaking kidding me!"

"No, we are not freaking kidding you," resorted the mum. "Just hush and watch it, it's a beautiful love story."

"Its rubbish," Arthur muttered, Morgan nodded in agreement, even though she was sitting on a chair a few feet from Arthur, she still heard.

"It is a beautiful love story," Merlin said then and Arthur rolled his eyes. Merlin would like this garbage. The movie started soon and Arthur and Morgan both tried not to puke. They both agreed, though, through a quick glance, during the dinner scene, that they were just lucky their mother didn't put on The Notebook. But as soon as the words 'Draw me like one of your French girls' were uttered from the telly screen, however, Morgan swore openly and got up and left. Arthur wished he could join her, but felt a slight nudge to his left and looked over at Merlin, who was smiling at him.

"The next time you try and draw me I can say that to you," Merlin offered with a grin. Arthur didn't like that idea so much.

"Shut up."

"I promise I won't be naked."

Arthur felt flushed suddenly. He tried to focus on the movie, but that was hardly helping.

"I could just get you drunk, and then you would be willing," his mouth said for him and he had only a second to react badly to it.

"Would you like me to be naked…?"

"I would like a lot of things."

"I would be willing to do a lot of things," Merlin told him, Arthur gulped then, did that mean what he thought it meant? He looked over at Merlin, who was still grinning. "If I were drunk…"

Of course, Arthur huffed, looking back at the movie again. Of course, he would take Merlin's words out of context...although. He was grumbling to himself now, ignoring what was happening on screen, he only vaguely saw the car Rose and Jack did it in, before an arm wrapped around his neck and two hands covered his eyes.

"We can't have the child seeing such things," Merlin said, in his ear, hotly. Arthur huffed at this.

"It's just a hand!" Arthur complained.

"The hand of sex!" Merlin whispered.

"I've already seen her naked, why didn't you cover my eyes then?"

"I thought you were enjoying that bit too much," Merlin said, Arthur was sure 'the hand of sex' was over by now, but still, Merlin didn't move. "I could be wrong."

"You're wrong," Arthur told him. Merlin made a humming noise and finally let him go; Arthur glared over at him, only to see him still grinning. "Stop looking at me like that!"

"You two quiet down other there!" Arthur's mother said then and Arthur rolled his eyes.

"The boat hits an iceberg, they die...the end!" Arthur said loudly, rolling his eyes. "It doesn't change no matter how many times you watch it."

"You're grumpy," Merlin muttered, nudging Arthur with his elbow again.

"I am not!"

As the movie went on, the boat hit an iceberg, and everyone died, Arthur realized, though, he had been a bit grumpy. He didn't mean to be, he just had a lot on his mind. He looked over at Merlin once again and noticed he was near tears, as Jack hung onto Rose, on the door. If the idiot had just moved over, they would have both lived! He bumped into Merlin's side, matching the grin Merlin had been sporting earlier. The man looked over all watery eyed and sad, but smiled at him nonetheless.

The movie ended soon after that and Arthur flattened himself out on the floor, sighing, his father looked the same, as if he would very much like to strangle himself at the moment. Chick-flicks, man.…

Arthur's mother excused herself then, probably to go have a cry and soon Arthur's father let out a laughy huff, before getting up to follow in her tracks.

"Better go make sure she hasn't used all the tissues," he was muttering as he went. That left Arthur and Merlin alone in the living room. Merlin was still in his spot; Arthur looked up to see him already staring back.

"I'm hungry," Arthur said then, to which, Merlin rolled his eyes.

"You always are."

"And so what if I am?" Arthur raised an eyebrow. "I'm just a child, remember, I am still growing."

"Yes, growing in the belly."

"Are you calling me fat?"

Merlin didn't say anything and Arthur was affronted. He sat up quickly and grabbed Merlin, yanking him down, pinning him to the ground.

"You're fat and a bully!" Merlin said. Arthur chuckled then, climbing on top of the thinner man, anyone was fat next to him. He pinned both of his arms over Merlin's head and grinned. They had shared a strange exchange during the movie; Arthur didn't know what to make of it. He knew what he would like to make of it, Merlin was being…well, rather playful, in a very touchy way. Not that far off for them, really, they were always very touchy-feely with each other, but this had felt different somehow, he feared it was just his mind toying with him though. And after that almost kiss today on the Eye…well, he didn't know what to believe, or what to do, for that matter.

He looked down at Merlin, his eyes were bright, and almost dancing with light, at he looked back up at Arthur, biting down on his lip. He had never wanted him more; he thought maybe…just maybe, Merlin might want him too.

He smirked and leaned down then, pressing his body into Merlin's.

"Is it true…" he said, lips brushing against Merlin's ear. "Is it true that back in Camelot days they called having sex tumbling?"

"Sometimes," Merlin said, sounding a tad confused. Arthur smirked at this, against his ear. "They also called it bedding."

"Hmm," he said, trying to sound sexy, but really, he just sounded sick. He ignored that. "When's the last time you were properly bedded, Merlin?"

He felt Merlin take in a sharp breath from underneath him.

"Arthur..."

Arthur pulled back then and looked at Merlin.

"I…" his blue eyes twitched. "I think…I'm hungry too."

He wiggled from Arthur's hold then and ran off, not that Arthur had been holding him too tightly anymore. This is what he was worried about, being rejected, whatever Merlin was doing during the movie clearly wasn't what Arthur thought it was. Arthur rolled onto his back and felt sick suddenly. He shouldn't have….he was so stupid. He was almost near tears, again, he was so beside himself. What an idiot he was being, he was blinded, blinded by his feelings in one weak moment… he acted like an ass. Now what? Now what was he supposed to do?

It was clear, Merlin didn't want this, not with this Arthur. Arthur still wanted to cry, but he wouldn't, he was pretty sure the king of Camelot wouldn't cry, just because someone rejected his advances. He pulled a stiff upper lip then and stood up, glancing into the kitchen to see Merlin sitting at the table, in the dark, with no food in front of him at all. He sighed, feeling more foolish than ever, as he climbed the stairs and went to his room.

In the morning, when Arthur woke up, he didn't feel any better. He had hoped sleeping would ware off some of the idiot, but it didn't. He rolled over in his bed and didn't see Merlin there. He was probably scared to be in the same room with Arthur, afraid Arthur might jump on him again. Arthur rubbed his face with his hands now, letting out a growl.

He didn't want to get out of bed ever again, no wait…he wanted to crawl under the bed, and never come out again. But he didn't do either of those things, instead, his hunger won out and he got up. Getting dressed quickly, he hoped Merlin wasn't still having breakfast, he hoped Morgan had dragged him somewhere, or his father had him in his den. But alas, none of Arthur's hopes came true. In fact, the only person in the kitchen was Merlin. Oh, this was great.

"Good morning, Arthur," Merlin said, chipper. He's a cool character, Arthur thought. Merlin didn't seem like anything was bothering him at all, as he puttered around the kitchen and then set a plate of eggs and toast in front of Arthur. "Your mum had to go out and buy some last minute things for Morgan's party," he explained, as he sat down. "Told me to make breakfast for your lazy ass, her exact words."

Arthur fought the smile off, still determined to stay in a bad mood. He just shrugged and started eating. Merlin watched him, still smiling, Arthur didn't understand, was Merlin just pretending to be happy? He glared at him at this thought.

"What?" Merlin asked. So innocent, Arthur thought, faker! "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"The eggs are cold!" Arthur lied, not sure what else to say. He didn't want to mention the night before. Merlin's mouth formed an O then, as he sat up straight, suddenly.

"The eggs are cold?" he barked. "Maybe you should get up at a descant hour and your eggs would be warm, you prat!

Arthur laughed then, he couldn't help it, it was all so ridicules. All of it. Merlin looked confused and rather peeved, before he finally cracked a smile.

"You are such a prat!" he said, shaking his head.

"You've already told me that a few times," Arthur told him, picking up a bit of egg and throwing it at him. Merlin picked the egg off his shirt as he watch Arthur continue to eat his (now, actually cold) eggs.

"What do you want to do today?

Arthur thought about it, "We could go around town, see some of the places I used to, when I lived here."

"I'd like that," Merlin grinned. And so, after Arthur finished his cold eggs and soggy toast, and the two were off.

First, Arthur showed Merlin where he had gone to school, and where he used to hang out with his friends, then, to a park he used to play at.

"Is this where you learned your love for jogging and inflicting pain on old men?" Merlin asked, sitting on a bench, near a small pond.

"In fact it was," Arthur smirked, sitting down next to him. It was peaceful.

"Should have known you liked to abuse the elderly…"

Arthur laughed. He looked over to Merlin then, struck by his presence, he definitely didn't look a day over twenty eight and of course, Arthur knew why now. But that didn't matter, he didn't like thinking of Merlin as an old man, Merlin wasn't really old, he was just ageless...and perfect. He looked over at Arthur then, blue eyes, bright and searching over Arthur's face. He could feel his belly doing flips, it sucked.

"Merlin..." he said, slowly. "I think we should try again."

"What?" Merlin asked, his bright eyes turning concerned. "Here?"

"Yes, here," Arthur answered, turning in his seat to face Merlin. "Shall I close my eyes?"

"Yes," Merlin said, timidly. "I was thinking…Maybe I should touch you." Arthur liked the sound of that, but kept his mouth shut on the matter. "It might um…help, I'm the portal to the past I guess."

"Go on then," Arthur, said, trying to sound nonchalant about it. He closed his eyes then and felt a hand on his knee. He bit his lip.

"Okay, close…oh, you're already doing that," he could hear Merlin laughing nervously. "Clear your mind and just be open."

Arthur nodded, doing just that…or trying to rather. Be open….be open….be open….clear minded….clear minded….clear minded. He tried to clear his mind, but every time he did he thought about being open, and every time he thought he had his mind open, he didn't have his mind clear. He growled after a moment.

"It's not working!" he complained, he peaked open his eyes just in time to see Merlin shrug. "Maybe I'm not doing it right."

"You are," Merlin argued, petting his knee before pulling his hand away.

"How would you know?" Arthur asked, with a raised eyebrow. "Are you in my head?"

"No, but…"

"I'm not doing it right!" Arthur said, standing up. "Later we'll try again and I'll try harder."

"Maybe if you just relax more."

(A/N: Hello! Long time no update, huh? It feels like it's been a long time...I am so utterly behind on this story, I need to start writing. The next chapter is very important. The next two chapters are very important actually. This is just the calm, before the store.)