The next day, Arthur's mother was weeping into a dishrag as Arthur loaded his and Merlin's belongings back into his car. It had come time to leave already, it was bittersweet for Arthur, really. He liked being with his family, but he missed his own house and space and his cat. Plus, if he fancied taking advantage of Merlin in the living room…that was a hell of easier when they were alone, in a house by themselves. That thought, made him smirk as he pulled his mother into a hug.

"We'll come back soon, I promise " he told her, pulling away and yanking his sister into a hug. They did this every time he left, she acted like she didn't want to hug him goodbye, but Arthur knew better. She would miss him, who else does she have to annoy when he's not there? Merlin came out of the house then, talking with Arthur's father, probably about fire. Arthur rolled his eyes, watching them. "Come on, or we'll get stuck in all the city traffic!"

"Coming…" Merlin said, turning to Arthur, but looked right back at the father, who was nodding. After a moment, he hugged Arthur's father, then his mother and then Morgan, promising the same as Arthur had, that they would come visit again soon.

"Finally you got rid of that bitch, Pepper," Morgan told him then, as she followed him to the side of his car. "Don' screw this up, Arthur, or I'm coming after you."

"Shouldn't you be warning him not to hurt me…?" Arthur asked, raising an eyebrow at his sister, who smirked at him.

"He won't," she said, as if she knew for sure. But Arthur thought he knew for sure too, Merlin wasn't going anywhere. He grinned at Morgan then, as he got into the car, waiting still, for Merlin. When he finally stopped hugging Arthur's mother, for the second time mind you, he walked over and hugged Morgan again. He seemed to be looking at her profoundly all of a sudden and Arthur knew that look, he tried very hard to ignore it.

"Come on, Merlin…" he whined, but went ignored.

"Mind your parents, they only want what's best for you," Merlin was telling Morgan and that seemed rather weird. "And if you need anything, you can call me."

"I will, Merlin," she smiled at him. Arthur suddenly wondered what had happened between those two when Arthur wasn't around. He smiled at her and waved to Arthur's mum and dad as he finally got into the car.

It was after they had been on the road for a few minutes that Arthur finally asked.

"What the hell was that with my sister?"

"Oh, she's just been having strange dreams, I told her it was no big deal," Merlin said, off-handed, watching out of the window as London went by them.

"Why didn't she tell me?" Arthur asked, a bit offended, she hardly knew Merlin. But then again, Merlin had that thing about him, that thing that made you trust him, even when he wears a Cas coat and tells you you're a dead king.

"You two don't get along that great, now do you?" Merlin said, factly, smirking over at Arthur. "I'm happy she confided in me, it means she trusts me."

"I guess," Arthur shrugged, getting onto the highway that lead them back to their small town. "It's not like we're going to be breaking up any time soon, so having a relationship with my family without me included is a good thing…"

"Breaking up?" Merlin was smirking again. "When did we get together?"

"Last night…the night before…" Arthur said, he would count on his fingers, but they were busy driving. "Three times last night..as I recall."

"That was just sex for me…sorry," Merlin said then, grinning. "I'm in love with someone else…his name is Noodles."

"Stay away from my cat, you pervert!"

"Have you ever seen that movie where that guy's in love with a goat?" Merlin asked then and Arthur laughed, what does he think about? "I suppose not, it's not right…"

After Arthur finished laughing, he turned to Merlin, for a second, (eyes on the road!) and smiled, taking one hand off the steering wheel to tap Merlin's knee.

"I want to take you on a date," he told him then.

"A date?" Merlin asked, smiling a little. "I was only joking before…"

"I know," Arthur nodded, trying to keep his eyes on the road, which could be hard when you have Merlin sitting next to you. "But I already wanted to take you on a date, I just hadn't asked before."

"Why do we need to go on a date?"

"Because it is the gentlemen thing to do, I like to be a gentlemen, Merlin!" Arthur told him, glancing at him, to see Merlin grinning. "A man is supposed to take the person he fancies on a date, it's proper."

"Alright then…ask me."

"Merlin…" he started, slowly. "Will you go on a date with me?"

"I don't know…this is all so sudden," he joked; Arthur rolled his eyes at this. "I suppose yes, if nothing better comes along."

"You're such an ass."

Once they got home, it was almost dark; Arthur had to quickly unpack before it was completely dark outside. So, it was Merlin, who went next to pick up Mr. Noodles, from the nextdoor couple. And Arthur was more than affronted when he came inside to see his cat and got nothing more than a yawn as the stupid feline sat on Merlin's lap, licking his paws. Arthur pouted for the rest of the night and kicked Mr. Noodles out of the bed, that night, as he pulled Merlin into it. Merlin was better company anyway.

The next morning, Arthur had it all arranged, he and Merlin would go out to dinner, somewhere nicer than Lou's, and then to a movie, it was a perfect date. And something they had already done so many times, he couldn't even count them. Arthur thought then, of how they had already basically been dating without him knowing it. But being a gentlemen called for a date such as this. He made Merlin dress up and everything.

He waited in the kitchen for him, and when Merlin walked out, he didn't know what to say. Should he compliant him, complain about how long he took? After a moment, Arthur decided to say nothing and headed for the door. Merlin followed him, out to the car. It was only Merlin who shouted a goodbye to Noodles as they left, Arthur was still angry at him.

"You can't be angry with Mr. Noodles," Merlin told him, as they got into the car. "He's a cat, he doesn't understand."

"Stop defending your lover, Merlin, you're on a date, god dammit!" Arthur told him, backing out of the driveway.

"I'm serious though…"

"That's the sad part."

They reached the restaurant within minutes, a small, little French bistro, that Arthur had never eaten at, but it looked fancy and Merlin deserved fancy. Arthur had to then, shove Merlin back into the car, and shove the door shut on him, only to reopen it in a romantic gesture.

"Knock it off," Merlin told him, a bit annoyed, as they walked up to the door and Arthur pulled it open. "I want you to be normal, stop trying to impress me."

"You rather me act like a slob?"

"Yes, like you normally do."

Arthur was affronted again, Merlin and Mr. Noodles…they were one in the same. Arthur stopped acting like the nice, charming, first date then, as they sat down at their table and Arthur looked at the menu, ignoring Merlin as he muttered something about spending time in France once. Arthur even made it his job to glance at the backsides of every waitress that passed them.

"Alright, stop acting like that much of a slob!" Merlin said, very annoyed now, as the fifth girl had walked past and Arthur, very plainly, checked her out. He wasn't interested in them at all, but it was fun getting a rise out of Merlin.

"Jealous?" he asked then, with a smirk.

"No, it's just rude!"

"Don't worry, you don't need to be jealous, your backside is the only backside I'm interest in."

Merlin still looked less than impressed, so to seal the promise even further, Arthur leaned over the small, candle-lit table, to kiss Merlin softly. Merlin was smiling by the time he pulled away, Arthur grinned at this, sitting properly again, but a frown soon appeared as a voice shouted his name. Oh no!

"Patrick!" Merlin called back, happily, waving the man over. What the hell was Patrick doing in a French Bistro? Arthur wondered, as he walked over to them, grinning. Behind Patrick was a man, he had curly, brassy hair, he was tall, he looked like he could possibly play Footie too. Most of all, however, he looked so familiar it made Arthur's head hurt. Who the hell was this guy?

"Hello, lads" Patrick grinned, looking between them like he had just figured something out. "This is my boyfriend," he turned back then, petting the man's shoulder. "Leon."

"Hello Leon," Merlin grinned, looking at Arthur who was feeling rather confused. That guy…he looked so familiar, he was sure he hadn't gone to school with him, he had never seen him in Uni…he couldn't place him. "I'm Merlin, and this is Arthur."

"Nice to meet you, Arthur," Leon said. Even Arthur's name sounded familiar on his tongue, Arthur decided to ignore it then and smiled, politely at them both. "You are the two Pat has been talking about, I thought you said they weren't dating?" He turned back to Patrick.

"The last I knew they weren't…" Patrick trailed off, grinning madly at the two of them suddenly.

"This is our first date, actually," Merlin deiced to share; Arthur wished he would shut up.

"That's great!" Patrick said, sounding too happy about something that was just utterly not his business. "We can double soon then."

"I'd like that," Merlin said, turning back to Arthur with a smile. Arthur fought not to roll his eyes.

"Our first game of the season is in a few weeks, you ready, Arthur?" Patrick turned tables then, slamming a hand down on Arthur's shoulder, who shrugged.

"I'm prepared."

"I bet you win every game this year," Leon said then.

"You say that every year…" Patrick trailed off, grinning at his boyfriend. Leon shrugged and Patrick turned back to them. "We'll let you have your date now, it was nice seeing ya lads."

"Bye!" Merlin called after them, as they walked away, and finally…Arthur could roll his eyes freely. Merlin was grinning back at him, excited. "We should spend more time with them, I like them."

"Who was that guy?" Arthur couldn't help but ask.

"That was Patrick…" Merlin trailed off. "You play Footie with him."

"I know Patrick, I meant his boyfriend…he looked," Arthur paused. "Like someone I've met before."

Merlin choked on the sip of water he had been drinking.

"He did?"

"Yes…"

"Where do you think you've seen him before?" Merlin asked, trying to look clam, but Arthur could tell he was only a few sentences away from being the Merlin that had showed up at his door.

"I think Footie games, I guess," Arthur said then, shrugging. Merlin looked disappointed, going back to sip his water. Arthur hated doing that to him, but he just couldn't let him find out that he had been remembering, clearly this guy had been someone King Arthur had once known.

After dinner, the pair piled back into the car and drove the few streets over to the movie theater, once inside, Arthur was the gentlemen again and allowed Merlin to pick the movie they saw. Merlin chose Capitan America, of course he would, but that was alright with Arthur. They got popcorn and many different candies, (that was Arthur's doing,) before going into the theater and taking their seats, in the back.

"Why do you want to sit all the way back here?" Merlin asked, as he cozzied into the seat, popping popcorn into his mouth after.

"So we have some privacy," Arthur said, turning to Marlin with a smirk. "And if the movie sucks, we can just make out."

"I don't make out on the first date," Merlin said, matter-of-factly, shoving a handful of popcorn into his mouth then. Arthur scoffed, they had already kissed twice.

"You know what the best thing about going on a date with you is, Merlin?" Arthur asked then, putting a loose arm around the other man's shoulders. "It's because I know for sure…I'll be getting lucky tonight."

"I don't do that on the first date either!" Merlin announced, pushing Arthur's arm off him. "What kind of tosser do you take me for?"

"The worst kind," Arthur told him, low in his ear, proceeding to kiss the spot right underneath his ear. Merlin struggled to get away, but there was nowhere to go.

"The lights haven't even gone out yet!" Merlin told him, letting out a gasp as Arthur's tongue darted over the skin. "This is not suitable for children!"

Arthur was quite entertained with Merlin's protest and gasps, that was until he heard a gasp of a completely different kind and made by someone else entirely.

"Oh my god!" the voice said, Arthur wanted to kill someone, as he pulled back and there stood Gwen. On her arm was Lawrence, they both looked rather amused. "I knew you two were together, why did you lie?"

"I didn't lie…" Arthur corrected. "We were not at the time…"

"This is so great, so great," she said, happily, climbing over Arthur's legs to get to Merlin, she popped down next to him and did something one could only call fangirling. Arthur wanted to punch her."I am so thrilled for you! I knew, of course…the moment you two looked at each other, I could see it. The way he got so jealous in the bookstore," both Gwen and Merlin looked over at Arthur, who, very much wanted to put his head in the popcorn bucket. "And of course, the way you two acted, like you were already married."

"Love, why don't we leave them to their date?" Lawrence said then, looking at Arthur with an apologetic look. "We looked like we were interrupting something."

"Oh, they have all the time in the world to make out," Gwen blew him off, grinning still, at Merlin. "I am so happy for you two!"

Gwen had insisted on sitting with them during the movie, which annoyed Arthur quite a lot. So much for making out if the movie sucked, which of course it didn't, but that was hardly the point. As they left, the movie theater Gwen had her arm wrapped with Merlin's, mouth still going a mile a minute. Arthur walked behind them, shaking his head; Lawrence seemed to be doing the same.

"I'm sorry about her, she gets really excited about things," he explained. "She's quite fond of you two as well."

"I can see that," Arthur nodded. "I think it's more Merlin though."

"He's a nice guy."

"That he is," Arthur said, smiling fondly at Merlin, ahead, who was laughing at something Gwen was saying. It struck him then, just how perfect Merlin was; of course, he had already known it. But tell that to the affection bubbling in his chest. He wanted to be alone with Merlin, not because he wanted sex, but just so he could have Merlin all to himself.

"We should get going," Arthur tried, once they had gotten outside, Merlin nodded in agreement and hugged Gwen goodbye.

"I'll come by the bookstore soon, to see the new books," he told her, giving Lawrence a kind smile, before returning to Arthur's side.

"See you Arthur...Merlin," Lawrence called, taking hold of Gwen's hand as she waved and they crossed the street to their car. Merlin was smiling at Arthur the whole time they walked to their own car.

"Gwen managed to get the owner to make the King Arthur section bigger," he told him, as they got in the car. Arthur could careless, but nodded anyway. "I can't wait to see it."

"You can barrow the car tomorrow."

"You don't want to see it?" Merlin asked, seeming a bit offended.

"Nope," Arthur shrugged, backing out of the parking space and soon, driving down the street, to their house.

"Why not?" Merlin asked then.

"They're all lies anyway, it seems kind of pointless," Arthur explained, truth be told, he just wanted to stay away from anything King Arthur related.

"Whatever you say," Merlin mumbled, seeming a bit hurt by this, but changed the subject anyway. "How'd you like the movie?"

"It was good."

"I liked it," Merlin smiled. "But I couldn't really hear, Gwen kept talking."

"I know…I could hear her."

They got home soon after that, Mr. Noodles sat on the dryer, waiting for them. It seemed he felt they had left him alone too often lately. Arthur felt so bad he forgot about his current state of anger with the cat and petted his head upon entering the house. It was pretty late now, and Arthur wasn't that tired, but he wanted to go to bed anyway. He grabbed for Merlin's hand, as they walked into the living room and the man pulled it away from him.

"What do you think you're doing?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Going to bed…"

"You just do that, my beds out here," Merlin told him, going to plop down on the couch. "Goodnight, had a great time on our date…drive safe."

"What the hell are you getting at?" Arthur asked, a bit annoyed. "You can sleep in there with me now…"

"Sleep with you on our first date?" Merlin gasped. "You do take me for a tosser!" Merlin couldn't hide the grin then. "I wasn't kidding before, I have standards."

"So, you're going to sleep out here?" Arthur asked, crossing his arms, Merlin nodded, still girnning. "Fine…do what you want."

"You wanted to be a proper gentleman; a proper gentleman would not push sleeping together on the first date."

"Oh shut up," Arthur retorted, as he headed for his room. He hadn't even wanted to do anything, he just wanted to be close to Merlin. But if he wanted to play that game, then fine. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight, mate!"

Arthur walked into his room then, shutting the door behind him extra hard, just to let Merlin know how annoyed he was. He didn't even bother changing, just pulled off the dinner jacket and shirt, throwing them on the floor, before crawling into bed. He closed his eyes after a moment or two,it wasn't too long after that, that his door squeeked open and he wondrered if that was Merlin or Mr. Noodles.

"Arthur…?"

Well, Mr. Noodles can't talk.

"What?" he barked, in return.

"How was your date?" Merlin asked, climbing into the bed, Arthur rolled his eyes so hard it hurt his brain.

"Are you kidding me?"

"Was it that bad? That Merlin bloke is a real tosser, isn't he?" Merlin was laughing now, as he lay down and put his head on Arthur's chest right over his heart, his fingers toyed up and down Arthur's torso. Arthur smiled then, wrapping his arms around Merlin, he was such an idiot.

"You're an idiot," he decided to tell him, leaning down and pressing his lips to the top of Merlin's head. Merlin just chuckled and snuggled deeper into Arthur's side.

(A/N: This chapter is just a bit longer then the first chapter and that annoys me, but whatever, how did you like their date? I like how Merlin seems so happy now, before he was all you know, depressed and sad, but now he's happy and he jokes more, that is called character development, I have mastered it! I think so at least, tell me what you think!)

(Note: I will be going out of town on the 4th thru the 8th so I will not be updating until the 8th or 9th. I'm sorry!)