AN: Merlin's POV

"Dam it," I mentally cursed, "Now I've done it."

Primrose had seen. She had seen everything, almost everything. Enough to have some questions. Enough to put things together and draw her own conclusions. And I could by that look on her face that she had.

She stood up, wiping her hands on her pants leaving dirt and blood stains and walks over to me. We stared at each other for a moment and then she said, "So you're a-"

"Yeah," I said before she could finish.

"So, the tree branch where I could get a hold of it yesterday, and the push that got me out of the way of the falling branch," Primrose said, "That was you?"

"Like I said," I began, searching for a simple explanation, "I was looking out for you."

"I-" Primrose began, her face expressing so much I can't even list it all, "I don't know what to say."

"Why do you have to say anything?" I asked.

Apparently she agreed with me, because the next thing I knew she ran up to me grabbed be around my neck, embracing me. I grabbed her wait and pulled her in closer."Thank you," She said, "I know this was a risk for you."

"I just-" I began, "I don't like the thought of anything hurting you. I wish I could protect you forever."

"I'm a big girl, Merle," Primrose breathed, "I can take care of myself."

"You shouldn't have to," I said, emotion filling my voice more than I would've preferred, "You shouldn't have to take care of yourself, you shouldn't half to be alone. You deserve to have someone to take care of you the way you take of everyone else. Someone who appreciates what brave, brilliant beautiful person you are!"

Primrose pulled back a little and looked at me, and I could tell she hadn't been expecting that. In fact, she seemed more startled by my outburst than the discovery that I have magic. "Merlin," She began, slowly, "Is there something you want to tell me?"

I started breathing a little heavier. This was exactly what I swore I wouldn't do. Yet there I was, a breath away from pouring my heart out to her. I had lost complete control at that point. I pulled her back in and before I even knew what was happening my lips were touching hers. It might be the sweetest taste I've ever known, and her lips are as soft as silk, but I can't enjoy it. There's too much guilt pulsing through me, like poison. I had done the one thing I never wanted to do. The one thing I was determined not to do.

I had set her up to be hurt again. And I would be the one who hurt her.