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Merlin has a huge grin on his face as he and his Prat(husband) held hands walking down Piccadilly enjoying the beautiful afternoon. They had spent the morning touring Buckingham Palace. They had gone to the Wellington Arch and had just left the Bomber Command Memorial. Merlin could see the Hard Rock Café on the Corner of Old Park Lane. A gentle breeze was blowing towards them and carrying the scent of delicious food the Hard Rock served. As he registered these scents, Merlin heard Arthur’s stomach growl in hunger. Merlin turned to him and saw the shy smile on Arthur’s face.
He smiled back, “Well I haven’t taken you to enjoy an American burger and fries yet. The Hard Rock Café is one of the best places to enjoy a really good one especially for the first time and not being in America.” He led Arthur back past the Bomber Command Memorial so they could cross Piccadilly. “I went to the Colonies just after the First Great War until I think 1969 when I came back to Albion. I’ll tell you about my time as a hippie another time. Though you would look amazing in a flower crown.” He turned to look back at Arthur who laughed, “I am not wearing a flower crown. You however.” The look on Arthur’s face almost made him want to go straight back to their hotel room.
With a slight blush and a mumbled, “Maybe Later.”
“Anyway, I was back here and saw this new American-style café was going to open up in the old Rolls-Royce Dealership across from the palace. Decided to check it out. Rita Gillian is an amazing woman. She was the first server they ever hired. I haven’t been in a long while not since the Seminole Tribe of Florida bought the franchise.” They stopped in front of the restaurant. Merlin smiled remembering the fun he had had with Rita, Peter, and Isaac. He turned to Arthur, “You are going to love the food. Oh, a milkshake will be good with the burger.” Arthur smiled indulgently at his husband’s enthusiasm. “What’s a milkshake?” Merlin tugged his hand, “You will love it. Come on”
Merlin opened the door and they stepped inside. Arthur was amazed by everything he was seeing. There were guitars, drum sets, microphones, and different styles of clothing all over the walls and ceiling. He was glad that Merlin had such an extensive music collection that he knew what these items where even if he didn’t know who they may have once belonged to. The music playing was some he recognized as well. Merlin squeezed his hand and he focused on him. “We follow the waitress to our seats, Love.” Arthur nodded following Merlin while carefully looking around.
"This place is Amazing! I love all the musical instruments. Some of the closing is really...Um, I think you say out there?" Merlin smiled, "Yes that would be a good description for a lot these outfits. That one there," he pointed to a white heavily sequenced baseball outfit with an equally sequenced belt in blue and the word Dodgers in blue slashing up from the right hip to the left shoulder and a red number 1 along with a sequenced blue baseball cap with a Stylized LA, "was worn by Sir Elton John in 1975 for his concert at Dodger Stadium." Arthur smiled glad that Merlin had pointed out something from his favorite singer.
The waitress gestured to the table and placed their menus before them after they sat. Merlin smiled, "We won't need those. We want two of the Double Decker Double Cheese Burgers with fries and Coca-Cola to drink. For dessert I will have a New York Cheesecake and my husband will have a Hot Fudge Brownie Ice Cream." The waitress smiled, "I will have that for you shortly."
They talked about a few things, mostly things that Arthur had been learn in the month he had been back. When he learned that marriage between two people of the same gender he had asked for Merlin's hand within a week. Merlin had been so shocked that Arthur had started babbling about how he had been intrigued by Merlin from the first moment they met and that was why when Arthur had seen him in the market the next day he couldn't stop himself from antagonizing Merlin. It started slow when it turned to love and it had taken even longer that he loved Merlin. It had been even before he loved Gwen. Oh she was drawing his eye but his heart had belonged already to Merlin. He had chosen Gwen back then because he had needed a blood heir. He had talked with Gwen a week before they went to Camlaan and Gwen admitted to loving Merlin as much as she did love Arthur and had loved Lancelot before he had stepped aside for her and Arthur to be together. They had decide to court Merlin but well Camlaan happened. Merlin had simply let Arthur babble for a minute before he knelt in front of him and kissed him till he came back to himself. Merlin told him that he had loved Arthur since Arthur had gone against his father and fetched the Mortaeus flower to save his life after drinking the poison chalice. They had been married two days ago.
The food arrived and conversation stopped after Merlin laughed at Arthur's bulging eyes as he stared at his food. Merlin bit in to his own burger as Arthur glared at him. Arthur soon picked up his own burger intensely staring at it. He gave Merlin a skeptical look before taking a bite. Merlin couldn't help snort at the look of ecstasy on Arthur's face. With every bite Arthur kept that look and had even moaned a few times especially after eating the fries. Merlin thought it was rather funny how much Arthur loved any type of fried potatoes.
Soon after they had finished the meal the waitress return to gather their plates and ask if they were ready for desert. They decided to go ahead and get them. Arthur once more gapped at what was placed in front of him causing Merlin to laugh. Before Merlin could stop him, Arthur had scooped up a large spoonful of ice cream into his mouth.
Arthur swallowed the ice cream and grabbed his head, "Sorcery!!!" Arthur immediately grabs his head and whined, "OWWWW". Merlin chuckled, "That is what is known as a brain freeze." Arthur groaned, "Merlin remind not to yell when my brain freezes." Arthur said in a whinny voice. Merlin rolls his eyes, "Yes, Sire." Then smiles fondly at his prat(husband) and imagines the things they will be doing when they get back to the hotel tonight.