Note the established relationship between Arthur and Merlin. When the gang has to face a certain evil sorceress Merlin get's turned into a toddler. As Arthur has to take care of him, Merlin suddenly is very good at expressing his feelings (and, as baby's come, expects the world to turn around him) and the knights occur have a soft spot for children, fluff, drama, romance and hilariousness happens.

Today our heroes face an evil witch, adorableness, the issue of a lover being turned into a baby and the absolutely lack of a cradle.

Oh and this was written before episode nine of season four.

Disclaimer: It's all BBC, alright? Now back off.

Warnings: Plain old slash. Obviously.

The Toddler

– Chapter One: Enchanted –

Now, it had been bound to happen.

Why? Because these kind of things always happened. And of cause always at those moments when everyone thinks everything is alright.

Arthur had originally planned on just going on a small patrol. Since he was King, these were almost relaxing compared to what waited in the castle for him.

But then, they'd come across his – his sister – and well, it had not been your average family meeting. But after all they got somewhat lucky. Morgana had obviously been as surprised as they were and did not go for much of a fight, and disappeared with swear, curses and threats on her lips, as always.

She had however left them "a nice, little gift" to quote her. With these words she had shot a flash of light towards Merlin and disappeared from were she stood.

She'd always been the one for dramatic appearances, Arthur decided absentmindedly, his full attention turning towards Merlin instantly.

At first he was relieved. The other was not dead.

Where Merlin had stood now sat a toddler. He looked about a year old, as far as Arthur was able to tell and he gazed around shyly.

Suddenly Arthur wasn't so relived anymore. What exactly happened to Merlin, except for his changed appearance? Could there be a way to turn him back?

"Aww", someone's voice came behind Arthur, followed by laughter at whatever poor knight had spoken what no doubt everyone was thinking.

Baby Merlin was sitting in a pile of the clothes he'd been wearing, looking around wide-eyed, his eyes seemed unnaturally big, as did his ears and his head was covered with a messy mob of black hair.

Arthur had never seen anything more adorable. Wait, did he just really think that? That is, he was used to think (and sometimes even say) something along the lines of 'beautiful' and 'lovely' regarding Merlin, but 'most adorable'? When did Arthur become so soft?

Ah, yes, when his beloved had gone and gotten himself turned into a child, obviously not older than a year.

Merlin himself had now taken to notice his company and stretched his arms out towards them and gave a happy and high-pitched: "Arthur!" That is, he was struggling to pronounce the 'th' and it came out more like: "Arfur!"

Arthur was caught between running towards him and taking him in his arms and trying to get the earth to open up and take him in.

Merlin just kept his arms outstretched, looking at him expectedly and seemed to be completely confident, that he was going to come. Plus, someone pushed Arthur's back now. "Go!"

To Arthur's bewilderment, it was Leon of all people.

Especially slow he moved forward, glad that his knights couldn't see the endearment on his face as Merlin started to grin widely and stretched his arms out even further.

Arthur took the shirt that was now of cause way to big for poor Merlin and wrapped it around the little body, before carefully lifting him up and hugging him close to his chest.

"How do you always manage to get in these messes?"

Merlin nuzzled his neck. "Goo."

"Articulate, as always." Arthur turned to his knights. "Any ideas?"

"We could ask Gaius", Elyan said. "If anyone can tell us what to do, it's him."

"Well, Arthur seems to handle the situation well", Gawain grinned. "Too cute."

"You are so lucky, that I can't reach my sword right now…" Arthur growled, but his attention was dragged towards Merlin, who pulled his hair now and asked: "Where Gaius?"

"Well at least he seems to remember us all", Arthur mused, before turning to the child in his arms. "He's not here, small one, but we're going to see him."

Merlin beamed.

"Love you…" he said happily and touched the tip of Arthur's nose with his finger.

Arthur did his best to ignore the presence of his knights (and the fact that his beloved was a baby – well, but that was much harder to ignore) and whispered back: "I love you, too, little one."

He took Merlin's small hand into his and pressed a kiss to his palm, making him squeal in delight, and carefully ignored the tell-tale grins, that showed his, that he had not been quiet enough.

Tightening his grip around the toddler, he looked at his men. "I take this as a good sign."

"You love him, of course you do", Gawain said, still grinning cheekily.

"Yes, but not only does he recognize us, he also still has the same feelings about us or at least Gaius and me and maybe that means that he remembers everything and it's only his body that changed."

"Well, his mind must have gotten simpler at least. He's also behaving like a baby", Percival argued.

"Yes, but he did not forget everything that happened since he was a baby and that is a good sign" Leon said.

"Indeed", Arthur mumbled and walked towards his horse.

The way back to Camelot was dominated by Merlin being delighted by simply everything that they came across and everyone else trying desperately to hide their endearment.

Arthur didn't bother to explain himself to anyone and made his way directly to the physician's chambers, the others following closely behind.

Gaius looked up from whatever he'd been doing. "Sire? Has something happened? Is someone harmed?"

"I think that is in the eye of the beholder", Arthur sighed and put Merlin down on a table.

Gaius looked at the toddler. Then he looked at Arthur. Then at every of the knights. Then back at Arthur. Finally back at the toddler. And then he raised his eyebrow.

"This is…?"

"Merlin", Gawain said, grinning.

"I would hit you…" Percival said and then shrugged.

Merlin looked up at the mention of his name, but found some bottles next to him significantly more interesting soon.

Arthur thought, maybe he should take them away from him, but as he went to do so, Merlin started to whine so heartbreaking, that he almost gave them straight back.

"How did that happen?" Gaius asked, drawing everyone's attention from the sobbing toddler.

"That is actually a good question", Arthur began. "You see…"

"It was Morgana!" Leon interrupted.

"Yes", Arthur mumbled. "But we don't know how."

"I suppose you wouldn't" Gaius sighed. "There will be magic necessary to turn him back, Sire."

Arthur nodded. "Of cause. Do whatever it takes."

"Then I shall look something up, though, Sire that might take some time, especially if I was to watch over…"

At this point Merlin decided that he was not getting enough attention and started to cry as loud as he could stretching his arms out to – he guessed it, Arthur.

Who of cause didn't have the heart to object and picked Merlin up, bringing him to his chest, gently rocking the child and making soothing noises.

Everyone had fallen silent and watched them, as Merlin slowly fell asleep. Arthur smiled. "He's truly a child", he whispered. "Does someone know where we can lend a cradle?"

"From some woman?" Gawain frowned.

This time Percival did hit him. On the back of his head.

"That's only logical. We'll see to it", Elyan said and dragged Leon and Percival out with him.

"Maybe I've something we could use upstairs", Gaius mumbled, excusing himself.

Arthur was left with Gawain and a sleeping child.

"Gawain, what am I going to do?"

"Wait until someone has found something to put him in?" Gawain grinned.

"Not about that, idiot. My beloved is a baby."

Gawain started to laugh, but hurried to stifle it, when Arthur casted him a sharp look. No one wanted to wake Merlin up, after all. "You're worried about that? Everything will be fine."

"But this is the person I sleep with. And now this body…I don't know how to feel."

Gawain suddenly developed a certain seriousness. "Your feelings…your romantic feelings haven't changed, have they?"

"No."

"And they were developed long before the change. And your…desires? Are you turned on by this kid?"

"NO!"

"Schhh", Gawain said alarmed, as Merlin made some uncomfortable noises. "That's what I mean. It's still Merlin, Arthur, and we will turn him back. I promise."

Arthur looked at him suspiciously. "You are a good friend. But promise me one more thing."

"What?"

"Never hint at that again."

This time Gawain couldn't stop himself as he burst out laughing.

He did his best to stifle it again, but apparently Arthur's face was just too hilarious.

Merlin, for that matter, failed to sleep through yet another noise and gave some uncomfortable whines, burying his head deeper in Arthur's shoulder.

"You woke him up", Arthur snapped quickly stroking Merlin's head in order to prevent him from crying.

"Sorry", Gawain mumbled excusing, but still smiling.

Merlin had obviously figured that, now he was awake, he could as well examine his environment.

"Da", he said and grabbed a lock of Gawain's hair. Gawain laughed and carefully twined the child's fingers out of his hair.

"Aye, Merlin, you don't pull peoples hair", he scowled playfully, but there was nothing but care in his voice.

Merlin was delighted. "Da", he repeated. Then he turned to Arthur. "Da?"

"Uh…yes, I completely agree with you, love", Arthur hurried to reply and gave the toddler his mist loving smile.

Merlin laughed cheeringly and clapped his hands once.

Gawain mirrored Arthur's smile.

It turned out that, when Elyan, Leon and Percival returned, no one was able to lend out a cradle. Neither did Gaius have one, as he thought. And, to be fair, why would he?

"We could buy one", Leon explained. "If that's necessary."

"I'll think about it", Arthur replied. "If it takes longer than a day…"

"And what for now?"

"I am to meet with the council today." Arthur frowned, then handed Merlin to Gawain. "Will you watch over him?"

"'Cause."

"No taverns!"

"What do you think of me?"

"Just making sure." Arthur smiled. "Leon, are you coming?"

But as the two made their way towards the door, Merlin, who had been perfectly content in Gawain's arms until then, gave a heartbreaking cry of: "Arfuuuuur…"

Arthur stopped. He turned to look in the disappointed eyes of a child, of Merlin; arms were again outstretched to him. "No leave…"

Arthur sighed, walked over, took the toddler into his arms and strolled – head held high – out of the door.

Leon hurried to follow.

Horrible? Adorable? Anyone coming back for a second chapter? I'm planning on doing four and I'll update as fast as I can (I know, I always say that). Leave me a review. They're love.