The holidays came and Arthur and all the rest of them cheered when the Wednesday practice was over. Very loudly. The five days break was most welcome to all of them. That much Merlin knew. He let Jordan, Pellinor, Bedivere and Noah copy his history homework just because he could. And because it would potentially annoy Geofrey. They didn't tackle him to a hug just because Merlin managed to dodge and hide behind a surprised looking Elyan who happened to pass by.

As expected, Arthur slept late on Thursday and then he fretted over the homework for most of the evening. Merlin did them with him. He kept encouraging, pressing, pushing, and downright forcing Arthur to concentrate in hope they could get everything ready so after Mongana had gone on Sunday at sometime o'clock she hadn't bothered to inform them, they would still have time for a date. At least on Monday even if most of the places were closed. If nothing else, maybe they could go to see a movie. If something nice had come out of Merlin's episode with the knife, he had found a gift card to a small movie theatre amongst the scattered condoms and lube Gwaine had given him while pushing the said items to a plastic bag he had hidden very carefully under the most unused pile of clothes in their closet. He just hoped Morgana's visit would be smooth and Arthur would enjoy it. Merlin knew now for certain he himself wouldn't. He didn't like his home being invaded by anyone. Not even Gwen and much less by Morgana.

-0-

Arthur had nothing to do and it somehow managed to make him even more stressed. Merlin had helped him to accomplish more than he had deemed possible in such a short time even if he felt he wasn't learning much. It felt like nothing stuck to his brain for long nowadays. And now he was waiting. Waiting for his sister to arrive. She hadn't messaged him or anything, but he had expected her to be here by now. Hunith had prepared lunch for the four of them. And tea with cookies and now dinner and still Morgana was nowhere to be seen or heard. He felt he should call her. To ask if she was alright. To ask if she was coming at all. But he couldn't because he hadn't done it yet and what was ten more minutes? If he had known he had this much time, he would have rested. He would have taken Merlin to a cafe or just for a walk. Or cuddled him on their couch. Or ordered that quite nice looking couch that was on sale home delivered. The one with lush cushions and no room for sleeping, but enough for two to cuddle while watching a movie for example… He wanted all of that. But maybe Morgana would be here in a minute and he didn't have time anymore. He should have asked her to at least estimate the time. But then again he hadn't thought he would get this much done so early… and he was back at the beginning.

Merlin didn't seem much better. He was pacing and being snappy about it when asked. Arthur kind of knew he should be upset of how sarcastic Merlin could be when he was stressed, but somehow he liked it. He liked how they functioned. It was like from each others they could take anything. And it was not like Merlin was mean in an abusive way. They just… they both understood. And that made at least Arthur feel confident that even if he was in a bad mood or nervous or anything really, he could let it show. That was it. They could let anything show, they didn't have to keep up appearances for each others.

"Merlin… come here-" he started tenderly and just then the doorbell rang. Merlin snapped his head towards their door while Arthur looked out of the window. Of course neither saw anything as Morgana was obviously already by their front door. They looked each others in the eye and as one moved towards their door. Neither were in a hurry and when they reached the door, Arthur gave a gentle squeeze to Merlin's arm. Merlin looked him in the eye and gave him a reassuring smile. Arthur kissed him softly, he couldn't help himself and Merlin smiled at him wider. Hunith had already opened the door when Arthur came downstairs.

Morgana had stepped just inside not bothering to close the door. Arthur felt a flash of annoyance as the weather wasn't too warm and Merlin didn't like to feel cold. Morgana looked as displeased as ever and Hunith looked worried and uncomfortable. Arthur felt a bang of worry that his sister had been horrible to Huntih, she didn't deserve that at all, but then Morgana turned to look at him and he forgot Hunith. "Do you have any idea how hard it was for a cab to find this place? It cost me a fortune, you know." Morgana was pissed and Arthur hated it. He wished so bad this visit would go well and now it started like this. "I… could have come to pick you up…" He hated how hesitant he sounded. Morgana rose her chin. "Yes, Merlin told me." She still didn't look happy, but then she again turned to Hunith and Arthur felt ridiculously relieved. "Mrs. Pendragon." She said like their conversation was over. "Um, I actually switched for my maiden name a while ago. Huntih is fine…" It looked like Morgana was about to comment on something but then a voice much calmer and surer than Arthur felt said "Don't bully my mother. Come inside so we can all eat." and Morgana's face brightened.

"Merlin!" She practically leaped to hug him. "Ok, nice to see-" Merlin tried to back away, but Morgana held firm. "Oh you cut your hair! It looks way better than before!" She cooed while running her fingers through his hair. Arthur had to grin, Merlin was blushing and looking hideously uncomfortable while trying to push Morgana away while backing towards the kitchen while trying to not seem like he was trying to wrestle his way out. Yes, a grin was way better than a scowl. He had run his fingers through Merlin's hair when he had come home from the saloon, but even if he had wanted to do it again, he hadn't felt he had deserved it without getting something worth mentioning done first. He wished they would win their first game and then he could feel like he deserved to ask for some hair petting action at least… But he really shouldn't project his issues on people who accepted them as a couple. Besides, Morgana was right. Arthur had liked Merlin's longer hair and he still wasn't too sure if he had been happy to see the majority of it gone, but it did look great. It was slightly longer on top and Merlin used some kind of product to it nowadays. It made his short hair curl even more on shiny curls that didn't turn as ruffled even as day went on. It had only irritated Arthur slightly when Sara from their class and half of his team mates had commented on it. And for someone who had told him he didn't really care how his hair was, he sure used the product Vivian had gifted him regularly. It was nice, but it also smelled like Vivian. It had completely escaped Arthur's memory when, where or why he would have been close enough to Vivian to learn the scent of the products she used, but he would get used to it.

The stew Hunith had made was nice. But nowhere near as nice as the lunch Morgana had cooked them and Arthur felt somehow embarrassed of how he couldn't show the same kind of hospitality. He wished he could cook. Maybe he should take her to eat out tomorrow? Them all, of course. Morgana didn't comment on the food. She kept sitting way too close to Merlin and mainly asked Merlin stuff. Some of it was normal, but some of it seemed to Arthur to be something they had spoken over the phone. He… regretted he hadn't taken Morgana's calls himself. But maybe then Morgana wouldn be here at all? He didn't know what to think.

After dinner They showed Morgana where she would be sleeping and that turned out to be a house tour. She was the most interested in their room and Arthur was happy to show it. Merlin seemed uncomfortable which saddened Arthur and this time around he was not sure if he could just concentrate on Morgana. It shouldn't have surprised Arthur as this wasn't after all just a few hours, but half of their vacation and they were not guests but hosts. "You always liked red." Was Morgana's comment after eyeing their couch and new curtains and Arthur had no idea if she was playfully remembering their childhood or if she was being critical. He wished Morgause had somehow tagged along.

The weather had turned from slightly cold to awful come the evening, but still they went out. Merlin seemed like he couldn't stay inside another minute and Arthur's suggestion of going to Gwaine's to get something for the evening tea got Morgana to tell him it was a nice idea and Merlin's shoulders to visibly relax. Arthur made them walk through the park and he told Morgana where he went for a run and where he played football and he tried to make her play with him. He realised what a bad idea that had been the moment he had said it. There were only two options of how that would go and the one where Morgana would smile at him and run to play some football was not likely, but Morgana went for the third option by first just staring at him and then she looked down on her ankle length pencil skirt and Arthur laughed. "I bet you I would win this time!" This was good. "And pray tell me little brother how would you win passing a ball in between the two of us?" Arthur's smile faltered at the 'little brother' even if she lacked the sneer in her voice, but Merlin picked up "Oh you don't want to know. He can be aggressive with that thing." and he gave the ball Arthur had taken with him compulsively a pointed look. Morgana laughed. It was starting to rain and all of them started to jog towards Gwaine's. Arthur felt light. This was nice. He had kind of been afraid to show Morgana all of his favourite places, but it was good. This was what he wanted.

Gwaine looked at Morgana like a dump struck idiot he was. Morgana didn't seem to mind, but Arthur glared at him until he snapped out of it. "You never told me you had such a beautiful sister." He was obviously joking, maybe even trying to get the conversation flowing in his style but Morgana scowled at that. "Like you haven't seen me already. Mr. Mayhawk." And for that Gwaine scowled. Arthur was quite taken aback. He had never seen Gwaine look quite like this. They bought some cake Arthur only on their kitchen table realised was his favourite chocolate one. It tasted fine, he guessed.

They retired to sleep early. Arthur was equally disappointed and exhausted. At least tomorrow they had something to do as they had agreed to go to the aquarium and to eat out. He sprawled himself to their bed while Merlin walked in closing their door. It was nice. Peaceful with just the two of them. "Come here…" He said knowing his tone was almost pleading but Merlin did lie next to him without commenting on it. Finally. It felt like forever since Merlin had been in his arms and Arthur hugged him and inhaled his scent and kissed his neck and buried his face to Merlin's chest. "What's the special occasion?" Merlin sounded pleased but Arthur felt guilty. He hadn't managed much lately, had he? Merlin had actually, truly tried a few times. He had asked him on a date and he had bathed with him and Arthur… had been tired and overwhelmed and as he had felt he would have to do something to make Merlin proud to earn his love, he had denied Merlin too the physical intimacy he himself had been craving. He was tired still, but if Merlin was willing to cuddle, why shouldn't Arthur let himself, them both, enjoy it.

"Nothing special, just you." He murmured to Merlin's shoulder and Merlin smiled. He could feel it against his hair. He loved it. "Wow, thanks" Arthur just nuzzled harder. The sarcasm was pleasantly light, homey. Arthur took Merlin's leg in between his and he slid his hand under Merlin's shirt. Merlin breathed out raggedly and kissed the skin just behind Arthur's ear. Arthur moaned. He felt so alive. He had been so tired but now he felt like his veins had been filled with pure energy. He wanted Merlin and this time he wouldn't hide it. If Merlin didn't tell him to stop, there would be no force on earth to stop him from going further. He wanted… he wanted everything. Oh yes. He wanted everything. He felt it so strongly right then. He was ready. He was ready for everything. He had thought of it before, but now he felt it and he knew he really was.

Merlin let him take his shirt off. He encouraged Arthur to take his off too and they kissed, they kissed so deeply, so tenderly that it almost broke Arthur. He wanted it all. The bare skin against his felt divine. He let his hands roam on Merlin's back and linger where he knew the tattoo was. Even imagining how it looked turned him on. And he was already so hard. He pressed himself against Merlin's leg and Merlin let it happen. Relaxed, hugging him close. They lied down on their bed. Merlin rolled to his back and took Arthur with him. Arthur broke the kiss and looked down. Merlin looked wonderful. His eyes were slightly glassy and his lips kissed and smiling, his hair a beautiful mess against their white pillows. Arthur ran his fingers through it feeling a bit like reclaiming the soft locks from Morgana. Merlin's hip bone was just right there where Arthur needed pressure and he rolled his hips against it slowly. He tried his hardest to control himself so he wouldn't just rut on Merlin until he came. He closed his eyes and moaned slowly until his lungs were empty. Merlin took a hold of his shoulders and pressed his forehead on his neck. "Arthur…" it sounded so good, his name said like that but he had to open his eyes, he had to see Merlin was really willing and feeling good. It was hard to tell when all he could see was a mop of black hair, but then Merlin breathed in and said to his collarbone "Can you- could you touch me?"

Arthur felt a hot rush of pleasure course through his entire body. He must have rambled something around the lines of yes and yes and maybe yes again, because he could hear his own voice and Merlin's chuckle but he didn't hear any words. But he knew very well what he thought of touching Merlin. His hands trembled with excitement while he opened Merlin's belt. Merlin hugged him close and he was tenser than a block of wood, but just when Arthur managed to open the belt and was about to ask if he wanted him to continue, Merlin breathed in and asked "It's alright isn't it?" Arthur had no idea what, but he couldn't imagine anything that would not be alright in his opinion right now, so he answered "yes" and after a moment of consideration he added "I love you". And Merlin looked him in the eye searching and then relaxed. It was beautiful. Merlin was beautiful. And as words like consent and enthusiastic consent circled in his head, he was quite confident he didn't verbally have to ask for either in this case.

He took all the time he could to carefully peel Merlin from his jeans while his hands petted all the exposed skin. His own jeans he basically kicked off without care when Merlin asked if he wanted to while never stopping stroking Merlin's calves. Merlin kept his hands on Arthur's shoulders or hair until Arthur stood up at the end of their bed just to jank his jeans alongside Merlin's socks off. He climbed back to the bed with the intention to go all the way up and kiss Merlin before letting his fingers trail bare skin down, down… but he changed his mind halfway through and lowered his head to rest on the side of Merlin's hips. "Oh, um, I didn't shower…" Merlin twitched and sounded unsure and Arthur just inhaled. Deeply. Merlin's scent was almost intoxicating. And he didn't care about a shower, he loved the musk and there was just something… like Merlin's skin, but slightly different, arousing, intimate, hot.

He trailed the showing hardness with his finger through the dark green boxers. It was long, longer than Arthur's was and Arthur loved it. He wanted it inside of him. He kissed it through the fabric and Merlin made some kind of a whimper. Arthur looked up but he didn't raise his head. "Is it alright?" He had to ask and when Merlin nodded looking somewhat dazed, he nuzzled his face to Merlin's cock. It was so hard and it twitched against his face. Arthur hooked a finger on the rim of Merlin's boxer's and looked up again. Merlin was blushing furiously. He looked a bit unsure, but when Arthur smiled at him, he nodded and Arthur took his time to gently take the boxers down. Merlin's penis was flat against his stomach and as Arthur hugged Merlin's waist, he could really do just one thing. He kissed the side of Merlin's hardness and then, he gave it a lick. Merlin kind of yelped and covered his mouth with his hand while his other hand was gripping Arthur's shoulder. Arthur moved in, opening his mouth when the grip tightened, stilling him. His tongue slid out without a conscious decision. He wanted to taste, to lick, he wanted so much… it took all his will power to look up again to see Merlin looking unsure and serious. He nearly whimpered, but Merlin didn't make him wait for long.

"Arthur, if you don't like it, stop. Ok?" And Arthur was so relieved he didn't have to stop. He nodded shortly and as Merlin's grip lessened, Arthur sank down.

He realised later that he probably should have told something similar to Merlin, but at the moment he wasn't thinking. He licked the side of Merlin's length up and up until he could run the tip of his tongue on the slit. "Arth-mphh!" Merlin had probably again covered his mouth with his hand, but Arthur didn't mind. He took Merlin in his mouth. It wasn't as easy as he had thought it would be. He really had to open his mouth wide so his teeth were not in the way and he had to suck with his lips which made his face muscles feel tired surprisingly quickly and to his disappointment he couldn't fit much more than half of Merlin's length into his mouth. But Merlin was moaning and he was making small jerky movements and when Arthur dipped his head just right, he could feel the hair on the base of Merlin's cock tickle his nose and he did his best. He sucked slowly, up and down as smoothly as he could. He braced himself with one of his arms and let the other one wander on Merlin's side and leg and trail out the edge of his hipbone with his thumb and finally he took the base of Merlin's cock to his hand. Merlin groaned and his hand was running through Arthur's hair and he was so very clearly enjoying himself. That turned Arthur on like nothing else. It made him feel proud. When Merlin moaned his name, Arthur was sure he would come just for this. "Arthur… I'm going to-" And he pushed on Arthur's shoulder, but Arthur just sucked harder and then Merlin came.

Arthur moaned deep from his throat as he heard Merlin's muffled cry of pleasure and felt Merlin pulse in his mouth. He swallowed it all. The taste was different than he had expected, but he wanted it, he wanted all he could get. "Arthur…" Merlin sounded worried and somehow tight so Arthur hugged his waist and let himself enjoy himself and cling to Merlin's body until he felt the softening cock fall from his slack jaw. Merlin looked at him like he was going to apologise and Arthur didn't have any voice or concentration to try and tell him it was all good, that he had wanted it and that he liked it. So he just dug down again and licked all he could before nuzzling his nose on Merlin's pubic hair. Merlin let out kind of a startled breath and then he hummed sounding content and then his hands were suddenly on everything he could reach. Arthur pressed himself to the mattress to get some relief. He wasn't sure what he should do now.

"Oh, Arthur, love, come here..." And Merlin pulled at his bicep and Arthur moved like in a trance. Merlin guided him to turn around and then Merlin spooned him, reaching for his aching hardness. Naked Merlin pressing to his back and Arthur imagined them both naked, Merlin hard against his ass, pushing in... Arthur felt Merlin slid his hand inside Arthur's boxers and it took about two pulls for Arthur to reach his climax. He soared so high… and then he kind of fell slowly and landed slowly. Then he woke up. Feeling unbelievably relaxed and just generally good and warm, except his crotch which felt sticky. Merlin was still hugging him, his nose buried in his hair and Arthur realised he must have fallen asleep. Horrified of his own inconsideration and rudeness towards Merlin only dimmed when he realised how Merlin might have reacted to the smell. Then the unwanted thoughts surfaced.

How Merlin had said to stop if it didn't feel good. How horrible Merlin must have felt with Uther. How disgusting it must have felt to swallow. How much force or fear it must have needed to keep his jaw that open for-

"You awake now?" Merlin asked gently and with no accusation in his voice even if there was not much to question since Arthur had forcefully turned around ready to beg Merlin to talk to him and accept his apology for being this dense. But Merlin just hugged him close. "That was so…" And the tone of his voice relaxed Arthur like nothing in his life.

"I should take a shower…" He still felt guilty for falling asleep and he felt very conscious of the dried sweat and cum on his skin. Merlin kissed the spot right next to his ear and said "We should take a shower." sounding shy of all things and Arthur felt like kissing him and so he did. Imagining all the horrible things could wait a bit.

They took a shower together and even if Arthur felt bone achingly tired, he still got half hard of seeing Merlin shower naked next to him. Merlin somehow managed to get Arthur to wear clean underwear and pyjama pants while Arthur would have been very content to just sleep naked with Merlin. Merlin gathered him in his arms and told him good night. He took it as a permission to fall asleep.