travelingmysticTitle: Friends to Lovers
Rating: G
Pairing/s: Merlin/Arthur/Freya
Character/s: Merlin, Arthur, Freya
Summary: Arthur eagerly awaits the newest addition to their family.
Warnings: Modern AU, polyamorous relationship, major fluff
Word Count: 575
Prompt: Belonging
Author's Notes: Not beta'd
The sun had already set by the time Arthur finally arrived home, a bag of groceries in one hand, a bouquet of roses in the other. Between his boss forcing the entire department to work over time and the traffic jam on the highway, Arthur's patience was wearing thin.
While stuck behind a rusty old Buick, Arthur had flipped through the pictures on his phone, and was reminded of the reason he got up every morning, and why the over time was entirely worth it. Fatherhood was upon him, and, nervous as he was, he couldn't be more excited.
He set the grocery bag on the porch, and fumbled around for his keys. Before he could even locate his keyring, the door opened, revealing one of the aforementioned reasons Arthur put up with a lousy boss and the traffic jams from Hell.
“Hey, handsome.” Merlin smiled that gorgeous, toothy grin that still made Arthur go weak in the knees, even after so many years. With his free hand, the dark haired man took the roses, the smile still fixed on his pretty features. “That was very sweet of you. She's having a bit of a rough day, but she'll love these.”
Grabbing the bag from the porch, Arthur followed his boyfriend into the kitchen. Merlin began to unpack the grocery bag, but stopped short when his lover came up behind him, strong arms wrapping around his thin waist.
“I missed you.” The blonde whispered into his ear. Soft kisses trailed along his cheek, and Merlin turned his head slightly, offering his lips as well.
After a moment, and with more than a little effort, the pair separated, each wearing a devious grin. Merlin extracted the last item from the paper bag, and let out a giggle the was entirely too boyish and adorable to be allowed.
“Her favorite ice cream. And roses. She's gonna love you more than me.”
“That's kind of the point.” Arthur laughed, ruffling his pouting companion's hair. “If you want, you can deliver it to her.”
A few moments of bickering later, Merlin and Arthur made their way into the living room, one bearing a vase filled with roses, the other a triple-scoop of Ben & Jerry's delight.
Freya lounged out on the couch, watching the kind of trashy soap opera that the three of them had entirely too much fun laughing at. The girl's pale, skinny legs were stretched out over the coffee table, her hands habitually rubbing the large swell of her belly. In just a few weeks, a fourth addition would be made to their family. Best friends, who had become lovers, would soon experience the adventure of parenthood.
“Darling!” She smiled as Arthur leaned down for a kiss. “You brought flowers!”
“And I brought ice cream.” Merlin wiggled his eyebrows at Arthur, before presenting the bowl to his girlfriend with unnecessary gusto.
Arthur sat down on the couch to Freya's left, just as Merlin plopped down on her right. He took her small, delicate hand in his, his thumb rubbing along her knuckles. With a contented sigh, her head came to rest on his shoulder. Merlin mirrored the action, the way the three of them often did, and curled up beside her.
In his heart, Arthur knew that their entire relationship, and living situation, was completely unorthodox. But he'd never felt such a sense of belonging in his life, and he wouldn't trade it for the world.
Fin
Author's Notes: As always, Merlin does not belong to me.