(A/N: Okay, so I know I haven't updated this ff in about a year, but I was without a computer for a long time, so I was trying to write on a tablet, which is pretty imposable. However, I'm back and this will be the second to last part, I decided to break it up because I had all this written and I could put this out right away instead of waiting any longer. Sorry for the awful long wait, I hope you enjoy!)

Outside Gwen's house, Halloween night, Arthur shook his head at Merlin fiddling with his wings. Bright green and yellow wings at that, they matched quite well with his green vines and flower crown. However, the wand he carried in his hand was just white, not as fancy as the rest of his costume. Arthur thought Gwaine had missed a great opportunity there. Speaking of Gwaine, he stood near them, in the grass, talking to Leon, in a full on pirates outfit. Hat, sash, toy gun in his pocket, the likes of which he would probably make inappropriate suggestions with later.

Leon had gone simple, him and Percy were dressed as footy payers, which pretty much just meant they were supporting their favorite teams jersey for a night, as they did other nights and didn't call it a costume. Lance was dressed as Prince Charming, of bloody course, and Gwen, who was currently rushing down the stairs looking very angry at something over Arthur's head or maybe even Arthur himself. What, with the death glare she was currently giving him. She was dressed up as a princess, and Arthur was sure it was probably a certain princess, but he really couldn't be bothered to figure out which one.

"What are you wearing?" Gwen is demanding before Arthur knew what is happening, and she is in front of him, looking a little bit too pissed off. Arms crossed over her chest, maybe even tapping her foot, Arthur couldn't tell. Arthur looked down at his plain white tee-shirt and jeans, and shrugged. Gwen made a noise like she was dealing with an idiot. "You could have at least pretended to dress in a costume!"

"I didn't feel like it," Arthur told her, just being honest, he hadn't felt like it. Merlin had already called him a 'party pooper prat' in the car, and before they left, and that afternoon. Gwen's angry face and even angrier noises, that were attracting peoples attention by this point, were hardly doing anything to change Arthur's mind now. Gwen quite literally stomped her foot after having a thirty second stare-down with Arthur, who hardly thought he deserved this abuse, before she went over to Gwaine and yanked on his ear.

Arthur had no idea what she was doing, or why Gwaine was being punished for her anger toward Arthur, but he didn't have time to even laugh at Gwaine and his pathetic 'ow', or wonder why anymore, because Gwen was back, reaching up and pinching Arthur's ear, too. Only the pinching stayed after she pulled her hand away.

"There," she said, looking pleased with herself, as Arthur reached up and felt the round thing, aka Gwaine's fake pirate erring, stuck on his ear. "You are the young Mr. Clean."

And with that, she walked away.

Pop music, not even as good as Taylor Swift, and that was really saying something, was playing throughout the house as Arthur made his way through the small crowd. Arthur always thought these types of parties were not for him. Well, he hadn't always thought that, but ever since the bakery incident he had. Before, he would have happily joined in on the drinking and whatever else was taking place in the house behind Gwen's back.

Gwaine typically liked to bring uninvited guests to parties, such as illegal drugs, and stuff like that. It wasn't as though Gwen didn't know these things, it was more she chose to play dumb and pretended this was just an innocent party for her teenage friends. Everyone knew it wasn't.

Arthur stepped through the kitchen archway, spotting Merlin, beer in hand, chatting to someone from school that Arthur could careless about. Merlin noticed him there and smiled, seemingly blowing off the girl to rush over to Arthur and wrap his arms around him. Arthur could feel the warmth in his heart, right where Merlin now rested his head. That was nothing new; the warm, fuzzy feeling Merlin gave Arthur. Sort of like he belonged nowhere else but right here, in a overly cleaned kitchen, with Merlin. Always with Merlin.

Sometimes Arthur thought about the future, a future with Merlin, a future without him too, and those...those, they were the most painful. How this happened. How Arthur had become so whipped by one person. Just by looking at him, or touching him, he would never figure it out. Merlin poked him in the ribs with a finger, bringing his attention back to him, as if it was anywhere else. Arthur looked down, with a raised eyebrow.

Merlin grinned, goofily, as he usually did when he was a little tipsy, or just wanted Arthur to laugh. Maybe this grin was a little of both. Arthur leaned down and pressed his own lips to that grin. Merlin laughed against him, kissing him back. And they only broke apart when someone, Gwaine, shouted to 'get a room' from behind them.

Gwen hosted a costume contest soon after that, which Arthur did not take part in, but cheated and voted for Merlin twice. In the end it hardly mattered though, because Gwaine had cheated in his own way, promising make out sessions with whoever voted for him. Needless to say he won.

"Your costume isn't even that good!" Arthur argued with him, for the very injustice of it all. And not at all because he wanted his boyfriend to win. He was certain Merlin would have won too, everyone cheered for him the most before voting started. "You were the one that made Merlin wear that, wouldn't that be partly winning the contest?"

"It was a bet he lost, so he would be embarrassed and hide behind your protective ass all night, there's no bloody way I'm letting him win," Gwaine explained, looking smug and rather pleased with himself. "Besides...now you have to cheer him up," Gwaine winked in Arthur's general direction. Arthur figured he was probably too drunk to really aim his winks too well anyways. "We all win, mate, we all win..."

XXX

This was Gwen, Lance and Percy's last year of school, and although Arthur was nowhere near as stressed as they were, trying to find a uni to go to, or finish with a decent score. He still was starting to feel the pressure. If he didn't start paying attention he was going to be held back. So, he sat in Merlin's kitchen, going over and over his Maths book. He hated Maths, he hated school in general. But he had to do it. And it didn't help that as Arthur was working on a particular hard problem, Merlin came waltzing in, and took up the seat next to him, running his fingers up and down Arthur's right forearm.

"Arthur..." he trailed off, clearly wanting attention. Arthur huffed and did his best to ignore his boyfriend. Though, it gave him no pleasure to do so. "Arthur!" Merlin was becoming impatient, which wasn't fair at all, as that was Arthur's job. Either way, Merlin pulled the text book from under his eyes, setting it on the other side of the table. Letting out one finale, a bit annoyed, "Arthur!"

"I have to study," Arthur finally answered. Turning in his seat to face the other. Merlin smiled, leaning forward to peck at Arthur's lips. "I think you want me to fail..."

"Eh...who cares? You don't need schooling to make coffee," Merlin teased, wrapping his arms around Arthur's neck. "I'll do the books for you."

"Is that so?" Arthur retorted, joking. "Got our whole lives planned out, have you?"

Merlin laughed, nodding. "We'll travel for awhile, then when our mums get too old we'll come back and take over. We'll live here and get a nice house for them to share...your house now will be too big for two old ladies," Merlin explained, seriously, like he really had been planning this . Arthur didn't know how to feel about that, how could either of them be sure this was what they wanted for the rest of their lives? They were both young. "...we'll invite them over for tea every Sunday, and I think for Christmas we'll go on holiday to see my uncle. He'll love you, I know. You both have wonderful eyebrow games. And we'll have a cat-"

"Merlin!" Arthur interrupted. "How do you know this is what you'll want in a few years, or even ten years?" Merlin looked at him confused, kind of kicked, like Arthur had just thrown this futuristic cat out of a moving car. "You've planned our whole life and you can't even properly grow facial hair yet, doesn't that bother you?"

"No," Merlin replied, simply. And then stood, Arthur thought he was angry for a moment, and was going to leave, but instead, he wiggled his way into Arthur's lap. He looked down at him like Arthur was a bit special. "Arthur..." he said, slowly, rubbing the back of Arthur's neck in a way that was both soothing and frightening all at once. "Do you love me?"

Arthur felt hot all of a sudden. Almost like he was embarrassed, but he wasn't. Flustered, at most, maybe. His heart raced quickly, and he said the first word that came to mind. "Yes..."

Merlin looked pleased, very pleased actually. He bit his lip as he smiled at Arthur, a smile that made Arthur's heart race a little bit faster. "Good, because I love you, too. And that's how I know what I want for the future."

Arthur didn't know how to feel from Merlin's words, even more warm? It kind of felt as if Merlin had just made his whole life, up to this point, that much better, with the simple words he had just said. Arthur didn't know how to react to this though, so he leaned forward and kissed him. Hard, firmly, not normally how they kissed. With much more passion, and meaning than the usual teenager make out sessions they took part in. But it was rather short lived, Merlin pulled away and still looked pleased, but now slightly worried.

"We should tell our mums about us."

They had been together for months now, but for some reason, whatever it was, they hadn't exactly told their mothers that they were together. Most of their school knew, their friends definitely knew, but there was something scary about telling their families, something Arthur didn't exactly want to face just yet.

"Do we have to?" he retorted, pressing his forehead into Merlin's shoulder. Merlin laughed, petting Arthur's hair . "We could…not, they probably wouldn't notice anyway."

"Probably not," Arthur could hear Merlin's frown, even though he was too lazy to look up and see it. "Your mum's too busy with the store and mine's too busy trying to nail your uncle."

"Ew…thanks for the mental picture," Arthur said, rubbing and tickling at Merlin's back. It didn't cheer him up any however, much to Arthur's dismay. "My mum doesn't even know I'm gay, how am I supposed to tell her I am? 'Guess what mum? No grandkids for you, yeah…sorry.'"

That got a giggle out of Merlin, an unexpected one, but Arthur would take it nonetheless. "We could adopt…"

"Alright, fine. But can we please finish High School first, at least?"

"Hmm…alright, you got a deal."

XXX

Arthur was in the kitchen, cutting out leaf shapes in cookie dough, which seemed a bit stupid to him, as yes, it was fall, but the tail end, and it was much more like winter than anything else. You would probably freeze to death within five minutes outside today. However, he did his work, minding his own business. He could hear chit-chatting and giggling from the front, Agravaine was here, entertaining Hunith, and pissing off Merlin with his very existence. Merlin seemed at his wits-end as he entered the back room, cheeks reddened. He looked a bit mad, crazy and angry all at once. He stomped over to the table Arthur was working at and leaned his hands on it, glaring at Arthur.

"Arthur, I need a favor," he said, directly, clearly serious. Arthur looked up slowly from the table, raising an eyebrow. Prompting Merlin to continue. "I'm going to have to ask you to wait here for thirty seconds, then follow me out there and kiss me."

Arthur's eyebrow rose higher. "What?"

"He's touching her butt, Arthur, her butt!" Merlin exclaimed, and Arthur tried not to laugh at him. "He needs to know two can play at this game. I can touch his nephew's butt!"

"I'm not going out there and letting you touch my butt, Merlin."

"I would do it for you."

"Yeah, that's what scares me the most…"

"Come on, please," Merlin pleaded. "I hate him!"

"So do I, but I don't want him to find out, or he might tell my dad, and…and I just can't deal with that right now, I'm worried enough about how my mum will take it."

Merlin pouted, but Arthur could tell he had let go of his stupid butt touching plan. "I'm not going out there, he wants to touch my mum's ass, well then...they both can kiss mine," Merlin stated, walking around the table and leaned closer to Arthur. "Come upstairs with me?"

"I can't, I'm doing…" He motioned down to his plate of leaf cookies and Merlin rolled his eyes. "I like getting paid, it's what pays for all our little dates."

"We never go on dates", Merlin pouted more, just because he was in a pouty mood. However, they definitely did go on dates, even if the lads tagged along, those were still dates, in Arthur's book. Although that might mean he was also dating Gwaine, Leon and Percy, so maybe he would have to start taking Merlin places alone. "If you come upstairs we can do stuff," Merlin continued, suddenly looking quite sly, lips turned up in a smirk like grin. "I'll use my mouth."

"You aren't going to convince me to do things just by promising me you'll use your mouth," Arthur stated, he would be offended, but Merlin's sudden annoyed face made him laugh too much.

"Yeah, is that so? Well…see just when I decide to use my mouth again," Merlin huffed, pushing off the table and headed toward the stairs. "You'll be too old and numb to care!"

"Really? This might be a blessing then, god knows it'll be nice if for once you shut your gab," Arthur retorted, teasingly. He wasn't mad like Merlin was, though he was pretty sure Merlin would get over it pretty quickly. He always did.

"Shut up!"

XXX

Arthur panicked in the car, pulling at his dressy button up, and feeling way too over heated for it being so near to winter. He was freaking out to say the very least, waiting for Hunith and his mum to arrive. Tonight was the night, a Sunday, they closed the shop early, and Merlin seemed to think it was the perfect time. Arthur, however, thought the perfect time was about quarter past never.

"Stop worrying so much," Merlin told him, leaning across the middle console, to kiss Arthur's cheek. "Your mum is open minded."

"But what if she hates me? What if she tells my dad? He'll disown me..."

"Would that really be that bad? You hate your dad. I don't know why you are so worried about what he'll say," Merlin sighed, laying his head on Arthur's shoulder. "I don't want you to be ashamed of us."

"I'm not, I swear..." Arthur trailed off. "It's just...I'm scared, Merlin, this is scary shit."

"It's not that scary. I'm not scared," Merlin said, and Arthur rolled his eyes. He didn't bother mentioning that he knew Hunith knew Merlin was gay. Even suspected of Arthur being gay, too. Hunith would take it in stride...Merlin was lucky. "One day things will be different in the world, there won't be any coming out, boys loving boys will just be natural. No one will judge anyone."

"You know...it sounds pretty interesting in Merlin Land, what else have you got there? They pay you to go to uni? No taxes?"

Merlin lifted his head, about to retort, but that was when Hunith's car pulled up next to them in the parking lot and Merlin had no choice, but to smile and get out of the car. But Arthur would probably hear about that one later.

Sitting in the diner, it was hard for Arthur not to reach out and take Merlin's hand that was lying on the table. He would normally do that, even if they were with their friends. But here, he couldn't. He felt on display. And it dawned on him then, how little time he spent with his mum these days. He felt a bit of remorse, almost like a bad son. He had even kept something so big from her, his first real romance. He was definitely a bad son.

"It was nice of you boys to take us old hags out like this," his mum commented, looking over the menu, or pretending rather, because her eyes were actually on them. "It makes me wonder what you broke...or plan on breaking."

"I am also a bit curious as to why you brought us here, it's out of character for you two," Hunith added, and then they shared a look, like they were silently communicating about how weird their son's were behaving. Arthur would otherwise be offended, if he wasn't about pissing himself.

"There is a reason we asked you here tonight, actually, we have to tell you something..." Merlin said, and there it was. The moment was here, Arthur took a deep breath. "Arthur and I...we've been seeing each other for a bit now."

It was out, Arthur closed his eyes. Waiting...waiting for a reply. And there was nothing, for a good ten seconds. He looked over at Merlin, who looked just as confused. It was awkward, Arthur didn't know what to do, or say, so he just sat there.

"...and?" His mother asked, like she expected more than finding out her son was dating another boy. Arthur looked over at Merlin, again, but that was just utterly useless, as his mouth was slightly agape now.

"He means dating, mum," Arthur stressed the point. Not sure if they just didn't get it. "We've been dating the last few months."

"We know that," Hunith laughed, looking a little too fond at the both of them. "Did you honestly think we are that clueless? Hell, we've seen it coming for the last year."

"We kept on wondering when you two would finally realize it," Ygraine added. "We thought for awhile that we had raised two idiots..."

"We both were so pleased when you finally got together, it was a long time coming."

"Wait, so you knew?" Merlin asked, being a bit slow. But it was okay, because Arthur felt the same way currently.

"Of course we knew," Hunith laughed, again. "We're your mothers."

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"We wanted you two to tell us when you were ready."

"And you haven't told anyone else?" Arthur chimed in, worried still.

"No, son, that isn't our job," his mother said, almost bored. "It's yours...when you are ready."

Arthur nodded, looking over at Merlin again, and they both silently agreed, they had pretty cool mother's.

XXX

Tugging Merlin closer, Arthur kissed him hard, and needy. Merlin took it in stride, returning the favor entirely. Even adding to it, by licking into Arthur's mouth, in that way that always had Arthur going mad. They were parked at the park, under the tree they always sat under. The car was still running, unlike normally. They had only come here to talk about the dinner with their mothers, but very little of that was happening now. In fact, Merlin was pushing him further back into his seat, kissing him harder and harder, tongue going everywhere.

Suddenly, Merlin was in his lap, lips being torn away, hand struggling to find the lever. He did, eventually, and Arthur went back, back and back until the car seat resisted and Merlin was sat on his hips. Merlin's hands were now on Arthur, again, slowly unbuttoning his button up, and he leaned forward, pressing kisses to the skin he slowly unveiled.

"You should wear shirts like this more often..." Merlin muttered, voice muffled by Arthur's skin, mostly, but he was also sort of out of breath, too. "You look so sexy," he continued to kiss his chest, unbuttoning the shirt the rest of the way, hands now roaming the area. "Makes me want to rip your clothes off."

Arthur laughed, because what else were you supposed to say to that? And they knew each other so well, Merlin wouldn't get upset by Arthur laughing. But more than a laugh, right now, Arthur mostly just wanted Merlin's mouth on his, and so he tugged on Merlin's hair until he gave in and slide back up, knowing what Arthur wanted already, and pressed their lips together.

They kissed for awhile, but Arthur pulled away after a bit, out of breath, and left kisses on Merlin's jaw and neck, until he reached his boyfriends ear. "You talk about me, hmm?" He licked the shell of the ear. "Burgundy is really your color, love."

Merlin made a noise Arthur really couldn't understand, and suddenly jerked his hips. Taking Arthur by surprise, and he was hardly ashamed to say he moaned like he was practicing to be a pornstar, which only made Merlin do it again...and again. Arthur fell back into the seat, heat rushing to his face, and his hands, and a few other places, too. Merlin sped up, having more room, and his hips rolled against Arthur's, which retaliated by jerking up in return.

Oh god, he was pretty sure he heard Merlin say 'fuck' a few times in a row, but his ears were blocked by the blood rushing to his head. He struggled to think about how his mum would kill him if he soiled these trousers. They were expensive trousers after all. But Merlin was relentless, and like hell if Arthur wanted him to stop. It felt too good. Merlin always felt too good, no matter what he was doing.

Merlin looked so determined, as Arthur fluttered his eyes shut, like he could be writing an important paper. But to a teenage boy, getting off was much more important than any silly paper. That's probably why Arthur sucked so bad in school... Well, probably not, but either way, it was definitely Merlin's fault. Merlin's fingers dug into Arthur's shoulders, Arthur didn't mind, eyes remaining shut, the whole car was shaking, and Arthur just didn't care, it was too good, it was too-

HOOOONK!

Arthur's heart nearly stopped, and all at once Merlin came to a halt. It took Arthur too long to figure out what happened and open his eyes. By the time he did, Merlin was already laughing. His cheeks were an adorable shade of pink and Arthur couldn't help but start laughing, too.

"Sorry," Merlin breathed, climbing off Arthur's lap, and back into his own seat. "I got a little bit carried away and..."

Arthur continued to laugh, hitting the lever, pulling up his seat. "Let's go home?" He suggested, and Merlin nodded. Home, being the bakery, and up to Merlin's room, where hopefully they could finish this in a nice, safe bed, behind a locked door. Not in the car, where they could easily get arrested for being illegally parked and perverts in the drivers seat.

Arthur pulled on to the actual road and to the stop sign. When Merlin slide closer, once again. "I got an idea," he breathed, hand going down to Arthur's- And well...Arthur's eyes widened. "Drive...and don't stop. Okay? Don't stop, Arthur, until I tell you..."

Arthur considered this for a second, how stupid it was, eyes still budging, his heart racing, and he hit the gas...

XXX

Arthur lay in the hospital bed, inching and burning in a place he didn't want to admit to. But that was nothing next to the shame he felt as the nurse gently poked and prodded at the skin there. Only two people were allowed to touch there, himself and the other person was currently laid up in the bed next to him, with a cast covering most of his arm. But in all honesty, Merlin touching him there was the reason they were in this damn hospital in the first place, and why his junk was now top news. And also why his prize fucking possession, his baby, his car...was fucking totaled!

"The burns will take time to heal," the nurse explained. But so had the doctor, and now Arthur was going to have to tell her the same as he had the doctor. Who was at least a guy, and Arthur felt the man could have at least related a little more to his plea.

"When my mum gets here, can you... Not tell her where the burns are?"

To his horror, the nurse laughed. "I'll be very vague."

And she left, continuing to giggle while she went. Arthur decided then, that he made the right choice of being gay. He glanced over to Merlin, who hadn't said a single word the whole time. Maybe he thought Arthur was mad. But he really wasn't, he was too glad Merlin was okay. He had been so scared right after the accident, Merlin had gone limb against and he was so, so terrified for that second until Merlin coughed from the (airbag) dust. Gwaine would make a crack about Arthur being whipped, but so what if he was? He was in love...

"Mer-" he started, but the door burst open and in walked their mothers. Arthur swallowed his words. His mother looked pissed, putting it lightly.

"How irresponsible, speeding through a neighborhood, Arthur Pendragon, what could have possibly been going through your mind?" Arthur recalled very little but Merlin's game, and how he couldn't stop, because then Merlin would stop...

Hunith was fawning over Merlin. Hugging him and asking him how his arm felt, and Arthur felt a little jealous, until she turned toward him and started doing the same. Ygraine then, at least had the common curtesy to start telling off Merlin in turn. This went on for quite awhile. Both of the mothers taking turns yelling, scolding and looking very ashamed of their sons. All while babying them like no tomorrow. Arthur was glad when they decided to go get cups of coffee. He just wanted to talk to Merlin alone for a moment. He still hadn't said a word, at least not to Arthur.

"Mer-"

That was when the door burst open again, and this time, all of their friends filed in. Arthur sighed, tired. All he wanted was a moment to talk to Merlin, was that too much to ask?

"Are you two okay?" Gwen mum'ed them, as usual. "We came as soon as we heard. What happened?"

"We heard you fucked your car up pretty good, too," Gwaine added, not helping anyone, but maybe himself. As Arthur noted, he seemed too pleased about this fact. He always seemed too pleased about things that he shouldn't.

"How'd it happen?" Leon continued the questions. Arthur really didn't know what to say, he couldn't tell them the truth, it was way too embarrassing. Merlin would be mad at him if he dare do that. So, in his mind, he began to make things up; Arthur wasn't looking, his phone distracted him, they had spilled-

"I was giving him a hand job!" Merlin suddenly blurted out, sounding so pained. "It was a my fault, I'm so sorry, Arthur!"

Arthur was momentary shocked silent, face heating in embarrassment. Did Merlin really just say that in front of all of their friends? In front of Gwen who acted more like their mother than their friend most of the time? Did he really? But he sounded so upset, so scared as he said it, it made all the embarrassment wash right out of his body. He turned toward Merlin, as best we could with a rash-burnt penis.

"You were seriously worried about that?" Arthur asked, Merlin looked ever so ashen faced. "I know it wasn't your fault."

"But you love that car..."

"Not as much as I love you..."

Merlin's face turned from the deepest look of sorrow to a beaming smile, and Arthur smiled as well, forgetting his friends were there entirely. He tried to reach across, gingerly as he could, to kiss Merlin, but it was no good, Arthur had to settle for reaching between the beds and taking Merlin's hand. Luckily, it was his right wrist that was broken, not his left, so Arthur could have at least some sort of connection with him. However, Merlin is right handed, so they were in for a very interesting next few weeks.

It was about that time, where Arthur would have to look back over to his friends, and he suddenly felt a little insecure about it. They had messed around and kissed in front of them before, but never said I love you, and Arthur didn't know how they would take it.

Arthur looked over, slowly, and they were all staring at them, grinning like madmen. Arthur grinned at them right back. Grateful that they, at least, approved.

XXX

They were allowed to leave the next morning, Merlin with a large cast on his arm to almost his elbow, and Arthur, walking around like a cowboy. It was life changing-ly embarrassing, so that's why he locked himself and Merlin away in Arthur's room. Merlin lay on his bed, whining about his wrist hurting, and Arthur let him, as he dipped into the bed, gently, hissing and groaning in his own right. Boy, they were idiots.

"I'm sorry," he heard Merlin say, as he finally got comfortable on his back. Arthur hummed, knowing this already, he petted Merlin's belly with his hand. He didn't need to hear it again. He was just happy that they were both alright, for the most part. "I know you say you're not mad, but it's my fault, and what if-"

"What if what…?"

"What if I do something worse than this? Something really, really stupid," Merlin muttered, wiggling closer to Arthur, and laying his head on Arthur's shoulder. "I don't want you to leave me."

"I won't leave you, ever, Merlin, no matter what," he turned, hurting himself a little, but did his best to ignore the pain and wrap his arm around Merlin. "No matter the stupid thing, l…I've probably done worse."

"Like what?"

Like burning down a building…but Arthur pushed that thought away. "I don't know, but I'll probably do more stupid things."

"That's typical of you…"

"Hey!"

Merlin giggled.

XXX

Being injured like this was a bit of a damper on many things, it was hard to get around, with all this pain, and now Arthur had no car, so he had to rely on his mother, Hunith or Lance to take them around. That meant a lot of nights at the bakery, or Arthur's house, for him and Merlin. Arthur's area cleared up within a few weeks, however, and Merlin kept having to go to the doctor and get his brace adjusted. Hunith and Merlin had just gotten back from said doctors trip, while Arthur sat in the front of the bakery, eating a cookie his mum had given him.

Since Arthur could hardly walk, still, and Merlin could pretty much only man the register, Ygraine and Hunith asked Agravaine to help out, which of course he did, and of course, Merlin didn't like, one bit at all. However, neither did Arthur, really. But he hadn't really bothered them yet, yet being the word. Merlin came over and sat across from Arthur, eyeing his cookie with great intent, Arthur did his best to ignore it.

"How'd it go?" he asked, biting said cookie, making little mmm noises. Merlin did not look impressed. Arthur had to hide his smirk.

"They said everything looks good, and I shouldn't have to get another cast, this one should do it," Merlin explained, licking his lips. Arthur could no longer hide his smirk.

"Does that mean I can write things on it now?"

Merlin looked up, mind momentarily off the cookie. He smiled, extending his arm toward Arthur. Arthur picked up the blue sharpie he had been using to mark things in a book, for an essay in school, and popped the lid. "You're not going to write anything dirty, are you?"

"Course not," Arthur shook his head, carefully writing the words he wanted to say in clear, nice handwriting. He pulled back, and let Merlin look, while he picked up the cookie once more.

"Your broken cookie, huh?" Merlin grinned up at him.

"You are my little broken cookie," Arthur teased, leaning across the table to peck Merlin on the lips and shove the rest of the cookie into his mouth.

However, both were too engrossed with each other to notice Agravaine standing there, watching them with a glare.

XXX

A few more weeks passed and Christmas break started, and the two finally felt healed enough to go Christmas shopping with their friends. Gwen, Percy and Merlin went one way, and Arthur, Lance, Leon and Gwaine went the other. Arthur wanted to find the perfect gift for Merlin, and it seemed Lance wanted the same for Gwen, but they were both having a bit of trouble trying to figure out what that would be.

"You are both a disgrace," Gwaine informed them, shaking his head, and crossing his arms, looking at them ashamed Lance frowned, as if he agreed with him, Arthur growled.

"You think you can do better?" he pointed his finger in Gwaine's face. Gawaine only shrugged. "I spend the most time with Merlin, if anyone knows what he wants, it's me!"

"You spend the most time sucking his face, sure…" Gwaine retorted. Arthur raised his fist, ready to strike the obnoxious bastard in the face, but Gwaine threw up his hands in surrender and quitted himself down, while Arthur and Lance thought about it for a bit longer.

About a half an hour later, Arthur walked out of the book store with a bag, nestled in his arm, inside was a cookie cookbook and he was very proud of himself, too, because he knew Merlin would love it. Lance…he wasn't so lucky in that store, or any store he had been in thus far. Leon had since left them to go do something else and Gwaine had made a crack about a diamond ring before he had been hit and ran off, too.

Arthur, feeling Lance's pain with this certain subject, stayed until Lance decided to buy that jumper Gwen had been pointing out for the last few weeks. And Arthur, so relieved Lance finally made up his mind, didn't have the heart to tell him…

XXX

Ever since their accident, the way they...fooled around had changed a bit. It usually was always Merlin who started things, but now that Arthur one-uped him in mobility, and Arthur's burns were still not entirely healed, all the way, it left Arthur the one to take matters...into his own hands.

And it was amazing what Merlin could still do to him, even when Arthur was technically the one doing. It definitely put a hint of rose into his cheeks and a spring in his step, as he made his way down the stairs to the bakery. He had left Merlin upstairs to recover for a moment or two...which, only made him smirk more.

"Did you fuck him?" The voice caught him off guard, and he jumped to find Agravaine sitting behind the desk, by the stairs. "Did it feel good?"

"W...what?" Arthur could think of no other words to say.

"Merlin..." Agravaine stood, walking around the desk, smirking. Arthur felt his face turn red, in a bad way. A very bad way.

"We don't... We don't have sex..."

"Hmm..." Agravaine said, thoughtfully. "Why not?"

"We...I don't know?" Arthur questioned, feeling really, rather uncomfortable. 'We're not ready, I-"

"Is it because he doesn't trust you?"

"Merlin trusts me..."

"Really...?" Agravaine asked, casually enough. "Does he know you burnt down his bakery?"

Arthur's eyes widened. "I-How did...I don't know what you mean."

"Your answer says otherwise," Agravaine put on an oily smile, suddenly making Arthur feel so dirty, that he needed a bath.

"It...it doesn't!"

"Defensive!"

"What...?"

"No, forget I said anything..." Agravaine's dirty smile grew, and Arthur didn't move. Still confused, still scared beyond anything he had felt in awhile. "My love, Hunith, still cries about it sometimes..." he started up again, and Arthur's stomach dropped. "It hurts my heart, so...I looked into things, much deeper than even the police were willing to look. And you know what I found there?"

"No...?"

"You."

"I...I was young, angry, I didn't understand what I was doing!" Arthur pleaded, not sure where this left him now. What would Agravaine do with this information? what could he get from it?

"Relax..." The oily smile only grew, reminding Arthur of deranged Jack-O-lantern. "I would have done the same. Kill the competition, I'm almost proud of you." He chuckled. "It's a good thing Merlin doesn't know...he might never trust you again. I suppose you'll just have to keep lying to him...oh well."

Agravaine patted him on the shoulder, as if they were just talking about sports, and headed to the front of the store. Arthur just stood there. "It's not lying..." he muttered to himself, heart suddenly hurting, because he knew the truth...

And what he was going to have to do...

XXX

Could he continue lying to Merlin? And keep something like this from him? What kind of man did that make Arthur? Like his father…like Agravine? He didn't want that, but what would Merlin do, or say, if he found out? It had been too long, things were too good. Arthur was an idiot for even thinking about doing this. What was the matter with him? No, he didn't want to ruin this, Merlin didn't need to know. He was happy this way, Arthur would just take this to the grave if he had to, perhaps a fire-y grave, and somehow that seemed rather fitting…

Their friends were coming over tonight, so they could hang out and watch movies, it was rather lonely being broken. However, they had each other, so it wasn't so bad. Yet another reason not to tell him…

Arthur was grateful for the distraction, left alone with Merlin, he might say something stupid. Like the truth, and really, the truth was just a bit too overrated, who needed to tell the truth? Arthur shook his head and watched as Gwaine, clearly high off his ass, challenge Percy to a wrestle match. So, needless to say, they were going to be making another visit to the hospital tonight. Percy was no small lad.

Leon took bets.

"….and Arthur, wagers, please?"

"He'll be dead in five minutes."

"Luckily being Gwaine's friend, I have the morgue on speed-dial, never know when you'll need it," Leon explained, Arthur laughed, and nodded. It was true. It had been Gwaine's idea to burn the bakery, in the first place. But Arthur pushed anyone thoughts about the bakery to the back of his mind, and focused on the here and now, watching Gwaine get decked by Percy was only an added bonus.

XXX

A few days had passed; things in Arthur's mind had calmed down, some. He supposed it was all up to guilty conscience, but that wasn't a good reason to tell Merlin what he did, he had been thinking crazy and he had known that the whole time. Nevertheless, keeping something like this from the person you loved wasn't easy. At least Agravaine hadn't said anything, Arthur still wasn't sure what he was going to do with this information, use it against him, probably...it had to be something like that. He couldn't be trusted.

Today they were helping their mum's do a bit of cooking, Merlin was cutting out snowmen shapes in cookie dough, and Arthur was cooking them. He didn't even mind Merlin's jabs about his shit cookie-making skills. Anymore it was just cute, everything Merlin did was cute.

"Thank god you didn't make these," Merlin teased, having snuck a fresh snowman, off the baking rod. "I would be vomiting all over the dough."

"Har, har…" Arthur rolled his eyes, setting them down on the counter to cool before they were frosted and put out on display. Hunith or Ygraine would be doing that, though.

"Seriously, after all I've shown you, you still can't bake to save your ass", Merlin continued, Arthur turned and placed his hands on his hips, eyebrows rising on his forehead.

"You love that ass!"

"Me?" Merlin looked innocent. "No, must be confusing me with one of your other boyfriends."

"Yeah…" Arthur sighed, coming closer to Merlin and wrapped his arms around his waist. It was nice how close they could be, now that they had told their mothers. Arthur never knew what he was missing. "Gwaine really does love my ass…"

"Ew!" Merlin spat, and wigged his way out of Arthur's grasp. "Sicko, Gwaine? You could do so much better!"

Arthur shrugged, taking the tray off the counter, now that Merlin had filled it with twelve faceless snowmen. "I know, but you can't help who you love…"

"You could try!" Merlin retorted, pouting, which made Arthur laugh quite a bit, as he headed over to the ovens. He placed the cookies into one of the ovens and turned around, about to ask if Merlin was jealous, as he messed with the temperature of the ovens. It was at this point that Agravaine walked in from the stairs and looked over at Arthur, and the good feeling suddenly drained out of Arthur completely, it was like he could feel it happening, and there was nothing he could do to stop it, as Agravaine smiled at him, that oily smile.

"Be careful, Arthur, wouldn't want to burn the cookies like you did the bakery…"

It was like a movie running in slow monition, Arthur felt his heart actually stop in his chest, as Merlin paused and turned around, Agravaine had the balls to actually look ashen faced for half a second, covering his mouth with his hand.

"Oh no, did I let the cat out of the bag?" Agravaine chuckled. "I never was very good at keeping secrets…"

"What is he talking about, Arthur?" Merlin asked, looking confused and sick, because he already knew the answer. Arthur could see it in his eyes, he knew. "Arthur…?"

"Merlin…" was the only thing that would come out of Arthur's mouth. He had nothing else to say, nothing else to do. This didn't seem to sit well with Merlin. At all.

"Please tell me he isn't talking about what I think he's talking about…" Arthur was silent, and that seemed to be all the answer Merlin needed. "You did it, didn't you?"

"I'll just leave you two alone," Agravaine muttered, and weaseled himself out of the room. Arthur couldn't believe this, that he did this. Though, he should have expected it, he should have known Avragaine would do this. He should have told Merlin himself…years ago.

"Merlin..."

"How could you do that?" Merlin demanded, face like someone had just kicked his puppy. Arthur couldn't take it. "You hated me that much?"

"I was completely wasted at the time, we both were..."

"We both?"

"Gwaine, he...it was his idea."

Merlin looked floored, disgusted and hurt all in the matter of a second. "Really...was it?" Arthur had never heard Merlin's voice sound like that, so dangerous. "Who else knows?"

Arthur gulped. "All the...all the lads know."

"They all know?" Merlin asked, shaking his head. "You make me look like such a fucking fool, Arthur!" He threw the cookie cutter down. Advancing toward Arthur. Arthur had never been scared of Merlin before. Until now, broken wrist and all. "I should have known it was you, fuck...I'm so stupid!"

"You're not stupid...and no one thinks you're a fool." Tears were well passed welling in Merlin's eyes, they ran over his cheekbones and down his face. Arthur had to stop himself from reaching up and wiping them away.

"I always just wanted to see the best in you, no matter how much you hurt me..." Merlin sniffed, wiping at his eyes, for himself. "But all you did was hate me...hate me so much, that you could do this...take away the one thing we had..."

"I didn't realize what I was doing, Merlin..." Arthur pleaded. "I know it was wrong, I've never regretted anything so much, you have to believe me..."

"I don't know that I can do that..." Merlin looked around for a second, as if he didn't know where he was, or why he was there. "I thought I knew you, but...but Will was right, god damn it, he was."

"That twat doesn't know anything about me!" Arthur argued. "I was different back then!"

"That was our livelihood, Arthur!" Merlin yelled in return. Arthur briefly wondered where his mother or Hunith was, and how if they could hear this or not. He let the thought wash away though. "We put everything into it, and you destroyed it, like it was nothing!"

"I know!" Arthur shouted, against his better judgement, but he couldn't help it. Merlin was bringing back all the emotions he had felt after the fire, tenfold. He took a breath. "I know...Merlin..." Merlin just stood there, bottom lip trembling. "But...but we're here and happy now."

"I thought we were..." Merlin trailed off, ringing his fingers together. Arthur didn't know what to say to that. "But obviously I can't trust you..."

"So, you are...breaking up with me, is that it?" Arthur retorted, suddenly pissed off. Merlin couldn't just dump him. No matter how bad this might be, Arthur thought they were in love...love doesn't just disappear. No matter what. End of story.

"I can't answer that right now..."

XXX

Beating Agravine's face in, although satisfying as all hell, would only lead to more trouble, and Arthur didn't need that right now. All he needed was Merlin to forgive him, and things could go back to normal... However, things were hardly going to plan.

Days passed slowly, and Merlin barely spoke a word. Arthur didn't know what to say to make this better, or what to do to make it up to Merlin. He missed kisses and hugs, and all the things he took for granted. Merlin refused to even sit near him.

"Does your mother know?" He randomly asked, while Arthur was cleaning the cappuccino maker. Arthur paused, sensing the trouble.

"No..."

"Surprised, at least one less person thinks I'm an idiot."

"No one thinks you're an idiot..."

"I am, for getting with you."

It was things like that, that were scaring Arthur. Things like this. He couldn't lose Merlin. Not over a stupid decision he made at fourteen. "Merlin, please..."

"Tell her," Merlin prompted. Arthur could hear his mother talking to Hunith upstairs. It was late evening, and they were probably going over sales. Arthur hesitated. Merlin frowned. "You're afraid...you should be."

"She'll kill me, Merlin!"

"I hope so," Merlin said, easily. "You deserve it."

"Will this help...with us?" Arthur asked; willing to fuck up his relationship with his own mother, not to mention Hunith, this was a new low. But he needed Merlin more than anything. And Merlin didn't answer, but he had to at least try. So, he dropped the rag and headed up stairs. To his death, most likely.

The mums were sitting at the kitchen table, paper stacks in front of them, cups of tea or coffee nearby. Arthur stopped there. Staring at them.

"What is it, love?" his mother asked. He relished in the kindness in her voice, because it wouldn't be there in a moment. He looked behind him, stalling, and Merlin was there, listening in the door way. It was now or never.

"I did it," he said, quickly. Like ripping off a band aid. "I burnt down Sugar and Spice...I'm so sorry."

Hunith's eyes widened, and Ygraine's mouth dropped open. Arthur gulped.

"Why would you say such a thing?" Hunith asked, voice high, hand coming up, over her heart. "That's not funny..."

"Not funny at all..." His mother agreed.

"I'm...I'm not joking... honestly. I did I," Arthur said it so seriously, it seemed like they believed him just from the tone of his voice.

"What?" His mother demanded. "How could you do such a horrible, hurtful...disgusting thing like that?"

"I don't know..."

"I thought I raised you better than that, Arthur," Ygraine stood up. Her face red with anger suddenly. "All I've done is harbor a criminal. How would you like to go to prison? That's what they do when you commit crimes like this..."

"I didn't realize what I was doing at the time."

"Don't you dare give me an excuse like that!" His mother shouted. And he flinched back. "I hope you are happy now. Because you are done working here...I will not see you in that store again, do you understand me? I refuse to employ a common criminal!" All Arthur had time to do was nod, before she started up again. "And it is up to Hunith if you are allowed to stay in her home..."

Hunith hadn't said a word the entire time his mother had raged at him. And it was only now he realized she was crying. And that was the moment his heart broke entirely. Into a million little pieces. And he fled.

XXX

Arthur felt so out of the loop. It had been three days since he had seen Merlin, and he barely saw his mother. Only enough for her to give him a lector or two, then go to bed. All he did was sit at home, alone. He tried to text Merlin a few times but he got no response. He knew what he had done was bad, but he didn't feel he deserved this. At least a text back saying 'fuck off' would have been something.

Arthur just let it slide as Merlin being angry until the fourth night, three days before Christmas, his mother came home and told Arthur Merlin had left...

"What the fuck do you mean he left?!"

"Language!"

"I don't care, where did he go?" Arthur demanded, speaking as if he wasn't talking to his mother right now. But he couldn't bring himself to care. Not when Merlin had apparently left. "I don't understand...how could he leave?"

"He said he couldn't take being in the bakery, he said everything reminded him of you, and how you had lied to him...to all of us," his mother said, guilt-trip in full mode. "Hunith arranged to have him stay with his uncle until school starts again."

Arthur couldn't remember where Merlin said his uncle lived. In Switzerland or Sweden, or something like that, and it made his heart hurt at the thought. He had driven Merlin that far away? He ran his hand through his hair and huffed. Trying very hard not go cry in front of his mum.

"I never meant to hurt him like this," he admitted, looking down at the floor to hide his tear-welling eyes from her. "I...I love him."

"I know you do," his mother's voice was a lot softer now. And she pretended he didn't flinch when she reached out to pet his hair. "And he knows it, too. But he just needs time, you did a very stupid thing, Arthur, but we all know you're sorry for it. You just have to understand, it will take Hunith...and especially Merlin, probably a good long while to get over it."

"Hunith probably hates me now," Arthur muttered, leaning into his mother's touch. She hadn't babied him in years, he wasn't ashamed to say he missed it either. And right now, with such a broken heart, he needed it. "I wouldn't blame her if she left us, too.."

"You couldn't be more wrong," his mother said, kindly. "In fact it was her idea that you come back and work for us."

Arthur smiled, looking up once more. "She said that? But you said you wouldn't employ a criminal...?"

His mother laughed. "You aren't a criminal, just stupid."

Arthur didn't know if he agreed with that or not.

XXX

Arthur wasn't sure what to except the next day, when he went with his mother to work. He half expected Merlin to be there, and reminding himself that he wasn't... Hurt. He hated this, and more than anything, himself for hurting Merlin like this. Enough to make him leave. It hadn't been the first time either. Right after the fire, there was a chance Merlin was going to move with his uncle, but he refused to leave his mum. Arthur supposed a lot of things had changed since then. The biggest thing being his and Merlin's relationship, and the fact that Merlin and his mother weren't as close anymore. Not since she started dating Agravaine.

But wasn't that betraying Merlin, too? Merlin hated Agravaine, for obvious reasons, Hunith was conveniently blind to. So, if his own mother hurt him because she fancied a slime ball, was what Arthur did that bad? The answer is yes, but Arthur wanted to hold on to the delusion for another moment or two, as they arrived.

Arthur wasn't allowed to talk to anyone while he worked, he was to do his six hours and then go sit in the car and wait for his mother to finish her shift. Which, he found pretty unfair, but he had committed a crime...so he shut up and did his work.

XXX

The last few days before Christmas was a busy time for the shop, but this year, it seemed that much worse. Probably because Agravaine was completely useless in pretty much everything he did. Arthur didn't see the point of having him around. Unless Hunith just kept him around just to touch her butt, because that was the only thing he really did.

He couldn't clean; because the cleaning products hurt his hands, he couldn't brew coffee; because the smell gave him a headache. He couldn't decorate; because the small details hurt his eyes. And yet, everyone ignored Arthur when he mentioned Agravaine was the self proclaimed small print king, so there was no way the 'small details hurt his eyes.'

Christmas came and went, and this one was by far one of the worst Arthur had ever experienced. He spent the day with his mum and Hunith, and although his punishment was pretty much completely forgotten, he got very lovely gifts from both his mum and Hunith, the day still felt hollow and empty without Merlin there. Arthur had even went to the loo, and tried to call him once, but of course he didn't answer. Arthur expected as much, but it was the only gift he really wanted, to talk to Merlin for a second, he missed him so much.

The next day came fast, as it always seemed to do when Christmas was concerned. And for many years now Arthur has said it was stupid to be open on the day after Christmas. No one had work and everyone had enough sweets and their own coffee mix at home. But Ygraine insisted, which was why Arthur was walking down the street, three or four blocks from the bakery, ear being talked off my Gwaine, who had called him to complain about the gift his parents bought him.

"What the hell am I supposed to do with it?" Gwaine demanded through the phone. Arthur didn't bother to answer, crossing the street. "I am a teenage boy, I wanted a motorcycle..."

"Cats are safer than a motorcycle."

"I don't want safe," Gwaine complained. "I'm not a twenty-five year old asexual..." But Arthur wasn't listening anymore, something had caught his eye. "They said I needed to learn responsibility, and how to take care of another life. Parents aren't supposed to give you practical gifts, that betters you as a person, who the fuck they think they are, Santa Claus?"

Arthur was hiding behind a candy-cane decorated poll, watching as Agravaine sat in the car with some stranger. This stranger was a man, he wore all black and had grey, salt and peppered hair, along with a beard and mustache, he looked like a criminal. And Arthur wondered why Agravaine was talking to him, or more like...what he was up to now.

"-I just feel bad for Whiskey, he'll probably be dead in a week," Gwaine continued. Arthur laughed, because of course Gwaine would name his cat something so stupid. And yeah, the poor cat didn't stand a chance with Gwaine as his owner.

But Arthur's laugh was cut short, and stuck right in his throat. As Agravaine leaned across the middle console and planted a significant kiss to the salty stranger, just like Merlin used to do with him. Arthur swore out load.

An old lady, who just happened to be passing at that moment, stopped and glared at him.

"What?" Gwaine asked, confused, Arthur was sure. "What the fuck, mate?"

Arthur watched them kiss and kiss, feeling his stomach turn at the sight. He had to take a moment to swallow and steady himself. "My uncle is...tonguing some guy in a car right in front of me!"

"The same uncle whose banging Merlin's mum?"

"I HAVEN'T GOT ANOTHER ONE, IDIOT!"

"...OH MY GOD!" Gwaine laughed, hard and loud. So loud, in fact, it hurt Arthur's ear, and he just hung up, because Gwaine was going to be completely useless, as usual. Arthur really had no idea what to do, should he confront his uncle? Should he tell Hunith or his mother? They probably wouldn't believe him if he did, Arthur couldn't believe it himself. He didn't know what to do and he missed Merlin now, more than ever, because Merlin would probably know what to do with this.

Or at least talk about beating Agravaine in the face, right along with Arthur. He decided to walk away. Not wanting to see the make out session anymore, or wanting to get caught. He turned down a street before his turn, so he wouldn't be seen...not that either of them were really paying attention. What, with sticking their tongues in each others mouths like that. Arthur was still sickened.

'Hunith...my love.'

Had that all been a lie? Was Merlin right all this time and Agravaine was really using Hunith? Arthur had off and on believed Merlin when he said these things, but Arthur wanted not to really believe it, he knew Agravaine would not be trusted, but this...? This would break Hunith's heart if she found out...worse than even Arthur had. And he just couldn't put her through another heart break, could he?

(A/N: I will be writing part 7 (and honestly, the last part) pretty soon. I know it's a big deal Merlin finally knows and how happy this chapter started out as, how not happy it ended, right? Sad! I'm not entirely sure I am happy with how Merlin found out, and trust me, I changed it so many times, but in the end I honestly just gave up, I felt like I had built up to it for so long no matter what I did it was going to be lack luster, and it was. I hope it wasn't too bad for you and you still enjoyed this part of the story. Also, I tried to edit this the best I could, but there still might be a few screw ups, blame the tablet I was using that didn't believe me when I said Agravaine, Hunith or MERLIN were real names. And PLEASE let me know of any really bad errors, so I can fit them, tried editing the best I could, but you know...things get missed. ;D)