Title: Surprise
Rating: G
Pairing/s: Merlin/Freya
Character/s: Merlin, Freya, Lancelot, etc.
Summary: Merlin's birthday is off to a crappy start until his friends surprise him.
Warnings: none
Word Count: 656
Prompt: #269, Belonging
Author's Notes: Enjoy! :)
........................................ ........................................ ........................................ ...............
Merlin sighed as he unlocked the building to let himself inside. His birthday had already started out awfully—he’d overslept then left his flat without an umbrella, so of course it had rained his entire walk here. He began flipping on lights and slowly made his way back to the breakroom.
The moment he opened the door, the lights flipped on and several voices yelled out, “Surprise!” He stood there blinking for a moment before a huge grin spread over his face.
“Happy birthday, Merlin,” Freya said, walking over to him. I’ve wanted to give you this for a long time. She put her hands on either side of his face and brought it down to hers, where she kissed him soundly. “That was just as perfect as I’d imagined she said, before she fled to hide behind Gwaine.
“Wow, thanks you guys,” Merlin said, looking around at the crowd. All of his friends were there, even ones who didn’t work at the shop—Arthur, Gwaine, Lance, Will, Gwen, Gwaine, and Freya. “You totally surprised me. I had no idea you all were planning this.”
“Aw, Merlin, we couldn’t just let your birthday pass without letting you know how much you mean to all of us,” Gwen said, coming up to give him a hug. “You’re one of our favorite people.”
“Hey, Merlin,” Arthur said, walking over next. “What would I do without my favorite verbal sparring partner?” He clapped him on the back.
“Thanks, prat.”
Arthur smiled. “Idiot.”
“I hate to interrupt the lovefest,” Gwaine said, “but what does a mate have to do for a hug around here?”
Merlin opened his arms. “Thanks Gwaine.”
Will was next. “So Freya, huh?”
Merlin grinned. “I wasn’t expecting that at all, but I can’t say it wasn’t welcome.”
“Lucky dog.”
“Hey, mate, you’ll find someone someday.”
“I can only dream,” Will replied before moving off toward the cake Merlin had noticed earlier.
“Merlin,” Lance said. “It seems like I’ve known you forever.”
Merlin chuckled. “It hasn’t even been a year, Lance.”
“Well, that’s how much you’ve ingrained yourself into our lives. In fact I think the birthday boy should give a speech.”
Merlin paled. “Oh no, I couldn’t.”
“Speech!” Lance said loudly.
Others took up the cry “Speech, speech, speech!”
Merlin waved his hands frantically. “Okay, okay. Just calm down will you?” There were a couple of whoops and some clapping. Merlin looked all around the room, at the decorations his friends had put up, the cake and punch sitting off to the side. “You all definitely surprised me. I’m so grateful to have all of you as friends. You took in a lonely Irish boy and made him feel as if he belonged somewhere. Thank you so much for remembering my today. Now, let’s have some of that cake that Gwen probably made!”
“I did make it!” Gwen yelled.
As most everyone drifted off toward the cake, Merlin sought the one who didn’t. Freya blushed but stayed where she was. “Hey, Freya,” Merlin started.
“Merlin, I—”
He reached out to touch her face. “I didn’t know you felt like that about me.”
“I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”
“But you didn’t embarrass me. You see, I’ve been feeling the same way about you for some time.”
She looked up into his eyes. “You have?”
“Yeah, and I’d like to get to know you better.”
“Anytime,” she breathed, giving him a blinding smile.
He took her hand. “Now let’s go try that cake.”
She pulled him back toward her and once again leaned up to press their lips together. This time Merlin was better prepared. His arms encircled her waist and pulled her closer as he deepened the kiss. Soon they heard more cheering and clapping behind them and they broke apart. He took her hand again and led them to the rest of the group.
All in all, it ended up being Merlin’s favorite birthday.