This was written in a hurry so I'd just like to thank the people who have reviewed and keep reading and reviewing this story, it means a lot to me that you guys take time to do that, I love you all and enjoy the chapter.

Chapter - 10

Merlin moaned softly as he felt his entire body aching and wondered if he'd have to make the effort to wake up. As much as he'd love to just lie low and wait this horrendous hang over out though he knew he should get up.

His throat was dry as sand paper and his head was pounding. Not to mention his mother was going to grill him for having drunk so much.

He opened one eye blearily, thankfully the room's curtains were shut and Merlin threw out a silent thanks to the hotel's staff who'd been kind enough to afford him this small mercy.

He brought his hands up and rubbed at his eyelids and focused more on his surroundings. He saw two doors each on the same side of the wall and blinked. 'Odd, I distinctly remember them being on opposite ends.'

However, Merlin couldn't be arsed to make sense of his confusing surroundings as he looked around for a glass of water, surely his bodyguards must have left it for him, this wasn't the first time he'd been hung over or drinking.

When he found no glass of water and no Tylenol he began to get irritated and with a scowl on his face he got himself out of the bed stumbling a little and only then noticing the green satin sheets. 'Green…and satin? What the fuck!'

Merlin screwed his eyes closed for a minute before he began to panic and look around the room in earnest.

He began murmuring, "Oh my God, this isn't my…this isn't my hotel…."

His mind began bring up scenario after scenario of where he could be because he'd been stupid enough to get so drunk that he ended up stranded somewhere strange. What if he'd been kidnapped by some thugs for ransom? What if he'd been brought here by a psychopath for torture? What if this was some elaborate plan to threaten his father and country?

"Fuck, fuck, you're so stupid Merlin, stupid, stupid…" just as Merlin was full out ranting about his many follies and shortcomings the door opened and the last person he expected to see stood standing there looking amused.

Merlin then glanced down to notice that he was only in his boxers and there standing in front of him was Arthur, Prince of Prats looking cool as a cucumber shirtless and in pj's, Merlin screamed.

Arthur let it continue for some time before he rolled his eyes and stepped forward closing a hand over Merlin's mouth. Merlin tried to bat at him inefficiently which lead to him tripping and they both landed on the bed with the soft thud.

Merlin was still letting out distressed noises and wiggling in Arthur's hold. Arthur who had become quite aware of their precarious position struggled to hold himself together as Merlin was unintentionally rubbing himself quite soundly on Arthur's chest, thighs and cock, they were pressed from foot to toe and the noises Merlin was making was not helping, Arthur felt himself get hard.

"Stop it Merlin! Damn it!"

Merlin though remained struggling and Arthur had to tighten his grip and lock his knees together on either side of Merlin's legs before Merlin stopped moving, still letting out quiet sounds in distress.

"Stop it!" said Arthur, out of breath and panting as he was aroused beyond measure and the imprudent brat just kept making it worse for him.

Suddenly Merlin's eyes widened and he stopped moving and making noises altogether, Arthur's cheeks flushed knowing what Merlin must have realized and he looked away from Merlin's accusing stare.

Arthur turned back a second later and asked "Now, I'll take my hand off your mouth if you promise not to scream."

Merlin narrowed his blue eyes but then nodded so Arthur cautiously took his hands off.

Merlin erupted as soon as Arthur hand came away, "What the hell Arthur? What do you think you're doing? Where am I? And why are you here? And get off of me you prat!"

Arthur though reluctant as he was did get off of Merlin and backed away from the bed sinking into an armchair that faced the bed and tutting at Merlin's harried appearance.

Merlin was sitting up on the bed and staring at him accusingly and expectantly but all Arthur could do was stare at the milky expanse of his chest, no hair in place and the dusky pink nipples that taunted Arthur's self control.

So Arthur turned away from the tempting sight and asked "Do you remember nothing of what happened last night?"

Merlin paled and Arthur when he turned back to face Merlin was amused now as he watched Merlin panicking, "What…what do you…what do you mean what happened last night?"

Arthur couldn't resist teasing him, "What do you think happened last night?" he asked with a pointed look at Merlin and the bed.

Merlin brought his hands up to cover his mouth and groaned, he didn't know whether to be mortified or overjoyed that he'd lived his fantasy and not been sober enough to remember any of it.

"This is a dream, this is a dream…..I'm dreaming…I'm dreaming….I can't have had sex with you of all people! No, no, no!" Merlin kept mumbling.

Arthur huffed, "Oh shut up already Merlin, nothing happened last night." Arthur's arousal had waned a little and he was able to be reasonable now, well as reasonable as he could be anyway.

"You got soused and I had you to bring you here to my place because you lost your body guards again."

Merlin looked at Arthur in contemplation before he bit his lip and said "That was mean, you could have stopped me from freaking out."

Arthur smirked in return, "And miss the show, no way!"

"Prat!" spat Merlin.

"Idiot!" Arthur returned and then the tension evaporated as they smiled at each other.

"Do you have a head ache?" asked Arthur concerned now.

Merlin groaned "Yep, though I'm not going to be puking on your floor so be glad."

"Glad, I should be glad about you not puking when I had to drag your drunk arse all the way here last night.."

"Oh shut up! Now that I remember Lance was there too, you could have asked him to take me to my hotel."

Arthur ignored Merlin's comment, "And do I get a 'thankyou for saving my arse Arthur', no, no, you go screaming at me like a banshee."

"I did not scream like a banshee!"

"Yes you did, you're such a girl Merlin."

"And you're a cave man!"

"I am not!"

"Yes you are!"

Arthur sighed, they could keep going at it for hours but he had a feeling Merlin would keel over if he doesn't have something to drink soon.

"Wait here for a minute."

Merlin huffed, typical Lord Arthur not even bothering to tell Merlin where he was going before ordering him to stay put, not that he wanted to move away of course, now that the adrenaline rush from his fight with Arthur had all but gone Merlin began to feel the awful effects of his hang over.

Arthur brought back a bottle of water and a topical gel to ease the pain.

Merlin chugged the water down gratefully and then scrutinized the tube Arthur had placed on the bed.

"Don't you have a Tylenol?"

"I thought you couldn't take pain killers."

Merlin was surprised he remembered such a thing but he sulked, "This is a special occasion, I need a Tylenol."

Arthur clucked his tongue and said "I'll make coffee, it's a substitute and it works."

"But Arthur, my head is killing me! I need the pill."

Arthur heard the whiny tone and chuckled reminded of how young Merlin really was. "No you don't get to have a pill, maybe you'll think of this next time you get so drunk." Unbidden, the image of a burly man curling his meaty arms around Merlin preventing him from moving came to Arthur's mind and he scowled.

Merlin huffed again, "Where are my clothes?"

"They are in the drier, you spilled you're drink onto your shirt and jeans. I'll get you some old pj's and a shirt but come down first."

Now that he was feeling marginally better Merlin felt self conscious in his boxers and as Arthur opened the door to the room and gave Merlin an expectant look Merlin sighed.

He took off the thin satin sheets and wrapped them around himself making Arthur cock up an eyebrow but he thankfully didn't comment.

Merlin followed Arthur down through the stairs, there were two flights before they came to a hallway and Arthur walked to the left.

There was a kitchen, dining table and a counter all furnished with chairs. Merlin opted for the counter and sat down in one of the chairs. The satin sheet was thin and didn't make him feel any less naked as Arthur's eyes roved over him from time to time as he made coffee.

"So…how have you been?" asked Merlin as the silence seemed to drag on forever.

Arthur was tempted to make a sarcastic remark but he held his tongue and only said "Good."

"Can I have the clothes now; it's a bit cold in here."

Arthur thought it was just as well, he could only mount so much resistance before his will crumbled into dust.

He quickly grabbed a pair of old sweatpants and a loose shirt and handed it to Merlin pointing the direction of the bathroom.

Once Merlin was out of sight Arthur sighed and rubbed his temples as he poured the coffee into two mugs.

His phone rang and Arthur saw it was Morgana from the caller ID, he had a feeling he knew what this was about.

"Hello."

"Arthur! You sly dog!"

"Morgana, I don't know what you're talking about."

"Of course you do, you vainglorious brat….you've been seeing Merlin all this time haven't you?"

Arthur scrunched his face in irritation, "Okay, what have they written now?"

"Oh I don't want to spoil that for you; I think you ought to read it yourself."

Morgana's tone was smug as though she'd been expecting something like this to happen all along.

"Mother is in equal parts exasperated and happy, she might be planning a wedding again. Father of course is absolutely furious."

"No doubt' said Arthur and then after a beat, "Morgana please see to it that mother doesn't get any ideas, they're blowing the whole thing out of proportion."

"Are they really?" asked Morgana skeptic, "Is Merlin with you now?"

"Yeah but its not what you guys think, he was drunk, some brutes were trying to take advantage and I had to step in."

"And also bring him to your London flat I'm sure."

"Where else was I supposed to take him? Taking him to the hotel he was staying in would have caused more scandal."

"Alright, alright, I believe you, a little."

"Why thankyou Morgana! Your faith in me is astounding."

"Bugger off Arthur. I'll inform Hunith that you're buggering her son in you're house."

Arthur ended the call and switched off his phone for good measure, he really didn't feel like listening to tiring berating from his parents at the moment.

Merlin came back in dressed in Arthur's old clothes, they hung loosely around Merlin's slender frame and Arthur's mind reminded him how domestic this scene was.

Arthur gluped and raised one of the mugs "Coffee?"

By the time it was mid-day Merlin was getting anxious, Arthur had left out to get some lunch for them both as they were both confined to this place for the time being until Merlin's parents could arrange for somebody to take him back to Mercia without being caught out by the press again.

His mother had been furious and he'd had a good tongue lashing for the better part of an hour before Arthur took mercy on him and grabbed the phone to talk to Hunith and allay her concerns with his completely cheesy charm.

Hunith had apologized profusely for Arthur having to put up with her son's drunken antics and she'd rebuked him and told him in no uncertain terms that he was to apologize to Arthur and thank him for his consideration.

Merlin hadn't gotten around to doing either as he loitered around the house without a purpose.

He slipped in and out of the rooms, not particularly caring about exploring them.

When he reached one room though he stopped and paused in the doorway, he could easily say that this was the master bedroom and unlike the other rooms which were clean this room had a lived in feeling to it.

Merlin immediately knew this must be where Arthur slept and he crept in quietly.

The room was huge of course; it had an attached bathroom and a closet. Merlin opened the closet to find it filled with business suits.

"Gucci, Gucci, Ralph Lauren, Gucci…." Merlin rolled his eyes at all the pricey designer labels, "he sure loves his suits."

There were also a couple of jeans in the side racks and some causal shirts and tees.

Merlin closed the closet door and inspected the other aspects of the room. There was a comfortable looking couch which was set facing the tv and a sound system. There was also a computer on the other side of the room with a table and a swivel chair.

And lastly there was the kind sized four posters, occupying the center of the room. There were bedside tables on either side of the bed and Merlin spotted a picture frame in one of them. It was a picture of Arthur and a woman who had dark hair and a kind smile, they were both smiling at the camera and Arthur was wearing a white shirt and trunks while the woman was wearing a beach dress and evidently they were in a beach.

Merlin wondered who the woman was finding an odd sense of disappointment taking hold of him before he shrugged and opened the bedside drawers.

His eyes promptly landed on a bottle of lube and a pack of condoms and he blushed, cheeks heating as he realized this must be where Arthur brings in his numerous conquests. He felt like he'd been slapped as he was reminded of how Arthur was a rather known lothario and he thumped his head berating himself about forgetting for even a second.

And oh god, here he was in Arthur's lair with Arthur here and having nowhere to go. He was in Arthur's live in sex den and if what he'd felt earlier that day was any indication Arthur was clearly interested in him, in that way. He was fucked.

When Arthur came back from running a few errands and bringing them lunch Merlin felt jumpy and nervous.

Arthur noticed it as Merlin kept avoiding his eyes and was actually silent for a change. Arthur wasn't sure he liked Merlin being edgy around him though, it was endearing as everything Merlin did was to Arthur these days but he simply didn't understand what had Merlin regress into himself when just a few hours ago he was mouthing off and insulting Arthur every chance he got.

When lunch was over Merlin insisted on doing the dishes, "It's the least I can do after you helping me last night." There, he'd said it and that was as much of a thankyou as Arthur was going to get out of him, no matter what his mother said.

Of course Arthur couldn't leave it be though, "Is that you're way of saying you're very very grateful for me having saved you last night?"

Merlin rolled his eyes, "Yes Arthur, thankyou but I will point out that I needed no saving."

"Yes you did."

"Nope."

"Although I have to say you could be a great burlesque dancer Merlin, I didn't know you had those moves."

Arthur made a frankly exaggerated hip movement and Merlin groaned rubbing at the dishes a bit too forcefully.

"I did nothing of the sort."

Arthur laughed climbing on to the counter and taunting "Oh yes you did."

Merlin quirked an eyebrow at that, "Well it sure seems like you enjoyed my performance."

Merlin expected Arthur to point blank refuse but Arthur's eyes darkened and his voice was low and intimate as he said "I sure did."

Merlin blushed and went back to scrubbing the dishes.

After a beat he said "Just so you know I wasn't performing for you're pleasure, I was entertaining the much worthier patrons of the club."

Arthur's jaw clenched as his good mood evaporated, he didn't know why he was feeling this angry over Merlin putting himself out for so many people.

Before Merlin could say anything though Arthur said "I have an online conference meeting, you'll be fine by yourself for awhile right?"

Merlin nodded his head, glad to be left alone; he couldn't wait to get out of here sooner. Arthur's presence and their bantering made him feel all too familiar and relaxed in Arthur's presence and he was afraid of slipping and revealing he might just have this totally totally embarrassing crush on Arthur.

'He's a player and you hate him, remember that Merlin!'

When Arthur came down in the evening he found Merlin sat on his living room couch watching an episode of Bones.

Arthur after grabbing a bottle of coke from the fridge went and settled himself on the couch near Merlin.

"You watch American soaps?" asked Arthur not particularly interested in them himself.

Merlin who was too focused on the screen distractedly muttered "Yeah" and went back to watching the show.

Arthur feeling quite annoyed at being ignored then hedged "So what's the story anyway?"

"Oh they find a dismembered mans hand inside a bear, turns out he's not actually killed by the bear so they're investigating who killed him."

Merlin was getting irritated quickly, Bones was one of his favorite shows and this was a really interesting episode.

"How could they find a mans hand inside if it didn't kill him?"

"Maybe somebody fed it to the bear." Merlin said sarcastic, and they were just getting to the juicy part, Booth and Brennan were arguing again doing their ritualistic mating dance around each other and Arthur was interrupting.

"How could someone in their right mind feed anything to a bear Merlin? They'd get mauled period."

Merlin turned to Arthur then and snapped "Oh I don't know Arthur, why don't you just watch the show?"

"I would but it doesn't make sense, it's stupid."

Merlin turned back to the screen leaving Arthur to sulk and make an effort to watch along with Merlin.

Surprisingly Arthur found himself getting sucked into the dynamics of the show, for a crime drama it wasn't half bad.

"Oh she is so slumming him!" Arthur was outraged on behalf of Booth.

"Well he did loose the guy!" Merlin defended.

"Because his flashlight died in the middle of the damn forest in the dark Merlin"

"Oh shut up, you haven't heard half the things he says about her. And the show wouldn't be interesting without their bantering and all the unresolved sexual tension anyway!"

"A bit like us then, aren't they?"

The comment slipped out before Arthur could even think about it and both of them froze, Merlin with his eyes wide as saucers went back to feeling nervous again.

Arthur who was at this point mortified left the couch to prepare dinner. He made a mental note to watch how the episode ended later on though.

At dinner they were both silent again, this time Arthur also feeling edgy and unsure of himself. He was quite happy when Merlin mumbled something about feeling tired and retiring to his rooms.

In the morning Merlin announced that he was expecting a chauffeur to arrive at seven who would take him to the private helipad and they'd fly to Mercia.

Arthur made coffee again and felt sad to see Merlin go despite himself. Again he began wondering if it would have been so bad to be married to the quirky Prince of Mercia.

Merlin sipped his coffee slowly already dressed and looking ready to leave whenever the chauffeur arrived.

Arthur wasn't taking his own coffee which was cooling in his hands and instead kept looking at Merlin. Merlin had been with him for one day and he was already feeling bereft at the thought of the young Prince leaving to his own home and own life miles away. Arthur didn't know when he'd get to see Merlin again and the thought that it could be a long while made him frown into his cup.

Merlin smiled after putting down the empty mug, "The coffee tastes great, thanks Arthur."

Merlin gave him a significant look as if to say, the thanks was for other reasons as well and Arthur smiled back but it must have come as more of a grimace as Merlin looked troubled again.

Arthur cleared his throat, "Anytime Merlin."

Arthur escorted him out and they were both standing on his front porch. Merlin turned and said "Well, goodbye Arthur."

Merlin expected Arthur to wave him off but instead Arthur looked pained and then with an earnest expression Merlin rarely ever saw in his face Arthur leaned closer and said "I liked having you here Merlin, really."

Merlin smiled widely and Arthur sucked in a breath, "So I take it we're friends for real now?"

Arthur managed to keep his smile genuine as he said "Friends"

"Great, so I guess I should be going." Merlin said tilting his head towards the black SUV waiting for him.

Arthur nodded his head and Merlin turned and rushed into the car. "For what it's worth, you're not so terrible to be around either Arthur."

Arthur smirked and flipped the bird as Merlin laughed and the waved his hands before the chauffeur sped away.

Arthur stood there for a minute, he threw his head back and let out a loud groan "Friends, yeah of course friends…because that's what I want to fucking be!"

Please review!

Next chapter we see the outcomes and press consequences from Merlin and Arthur's faux pas, this chapter was like an interlude because I wanted them to get to be around each other without all the fuss for a little time. Let me know what you think about it!