A/N: Well, this is it, guys. The last chapter. So go on and enjoy.

Chapter 18- In Which the Story Ends

Morgana had released Merlin and walked on past. He needed to know that if he continued to stuff his nose where it wasn't wanted, that he'd be in for it. He had ruined her plans for far too long, and she knew that, somehow, it was his fault Arthur had returned.

She had been only too relieved when she'd heard Morgause's voice in her mind, calling her to meet. She had been terrified that she'd been killed, that Merlin or Arthur had murdered her or left her in the future to die. She couldn't bear the thought.

But Morgause had called to her, asking her to meet in the catacombs of the castle. It was still too dangerous yet to leave the castle walls for fear of being caught, so this was the best place they had to see each other. Morgana had been terrified that her sister may be found, but Morgause had assured her not to worry, and Morgana had eventually agreed.

Now she rushed into the torch-lit bowels of Camelot, her blonde sister in her sights.

"Morgause!" she gasped, embracing her sister. The blonde looked exhausted, though Morgana could find no physical damage. If Arthur and Merlin had hurt her, she must have healed herself already. "Are you alright?"

"I am fine, my sister," Morgause assured her. "But I am sorry to say that Arthur has escaped me."

"I know," Morgana said. "He returned, Morgause. I don't know how, but he came back to Camelot."

"I don't know how either," she agreed. "But I do know one thing, my sister. I made a mistake."

Morgana looked troubled.

"What do you mean?" she asked, confused.

"I did not expect the magical consequences that the use of that bracelet would bring about," she told the dark-haired girl. "I did not expect what almost happened. My actions could have caused the end of this world, and an end to your rightful reign. It is only by chance that time seems to have healed."

Morgana shook her head.

"No, it is not your fault," she assured her. Morgause's brown eyes became hard.

"I am sorry that Arthur escaped, my sister," she said. "But trust me, he will not be so lucky again. Arthur will die, I promise you. And Camelot will have itself a queen."

Morgana smiled, and knew that Morgause was speaking the truth.

Merlin sat on the bed in his room, the bracelet in his hand. He had shown it to Gaius when he'd explained all that had happened. It felt good to be able to share all the events of the past few days with someone, as Gaius would be the only one who would understand. Some of what he had seen in the future still didn't make sense to Merlin, and it had been rather interesting trying to explain the concept of "cars", but all in all it had been therapeutic to just tell someone about what had gone on.

He had also told Gaius about Morgana catching him in the corridor, and he and the old physician agreed that they would have to keep a close eye on her. Morgana was becoming a major threat, and Merlin would have to be on high alert to protect Arthur from her anger and hatred.

After they had finished their meal, Merlin had gone up into his room in hopes of getting some real sleep. Unfortunately, one idea had kept forcing its way into his mind. An idea that would not let up.

Now he sat, staring at the bracelet in his hand which he had kept. He intended to destroy it or somehow get rid of it, so that he wouldn't have to worry about Morgause or someone else trying this scheme again. Once healing time was bad enough. He didn't want to try it again.

But, there was something he did want to try. Something that wouldn't leave him alone.

Yes, he believed he would try it. Especially since he seemed to have the hang of this bracelet and it's strange magic.

The warlock stood and closed his eyes, recalling what he had done when he had healed the rift in time. Focusing on the bracelet, he connected his magic to its power, and opened himself up to time.

"Amser aros am unrhyw ddyn," he spoke. Immediately the power spilled from the bracelet, and he harnessed it to his own. A smile flickered across his face as white light exploded around him. This time-travelling stuff was starting to get fun.

Crystal sat at the tiny table in her apartment, staring at the dishes she had yet to wash. Honestly, everything seemed rather boring after what she'd been through the past couple of days. She'd been dumped head-first into a world of magic and adventure and kings and princes and servants, and now….now it was all normal again. Well, there may have been a little that had happened in the day since Merlin and Arthur had disappeared and the world had shifted back to normal (she was so glad to have her car back). But everything just seemed so…boring now. And it was rather depressing.

She was just picking at her dinner when she felt a clanging inside her head that she was beginning to learn was her magic. She turned just as a white light exploded near her sofa, and she raised an arm to protect her sight.

When the light faded, a very familiar young man was standing in her living room, glancing around with amazement, and a goofy smile on his face. Crystal blinked.

"Merlin?" she asked, almost not allowing herself to believe it. At her voice, he turned cerulean eyes to her and smiled cheekily.

"I did it!" he laughed. Crystal smiled with amused bemusement, then slowly stood and crossed over to him.

"Merlin?" she asked. "Is it really you?"

"Yes, it is," he answered with a smile. "I just wanted to drop in and see how you were doing."

"You fixed it, didn't you?" she asked. "You fixed time."

He looked down, and Crystal was amused to see the tips of his ears turn red. She smiled coyly.

"C'mon, I know you did it," she said. He looked up and smiled.

"Yeah, I did," he answered, and they laughed.

"So, how's everything back in….Camelot?" she asked, surprised that after everything that had happened she still felt weird knowing that Camelot, that Arthur and Merlin and everything like that, were more than just a legend. Merlin nodded.

"Back to normal," the warlock reported. "We chased off Cenred's army, and I don't they'll be coming back for a while, so for a little while it'll be okay."

"I have no idea who that is," Crystal responded. Merlin smiled.

"How about you?" he asked. "Is everything back to normal?"

"Fortunately," she replied, relief flooding her voice. "After you and Arthur disappeared, things got really crazy and for a while I wasn't really sure what was going to happen. But then I closed my eyes or something and when I opened them again I was standing in front of the old department store, and everyone was walking around like nothing had happened. Ms. Payne (okay, she wants me to call her Helen now) was holding me because we were both kind of scared and people were looking at us strange, but it was like nothing had happened. And I got my car back. Oh, which reminds me…"

She turned from the warlock and ran into her bedroom and up to where she'd dumped the two sets of clothes she'd left in the car after she'd bought Arthur and Merlin their new clothes. She returned with them and handed the folded outfits to Merlin, complete with folded neckerchief on top.

"I found them in my car," she said. "I didn't think I'd ever see you again to give them back. But, here they are."

"Oh, good, that's my favourite scarf," Merlin said, taking the folded clothes. "And Arthur will be happy to have his stuff back. He…had me burn the clothes you got us."

Crystal rolled her eyes.

"They were on sale anyways," she said with a shrug.

For a moment they lapsed into friendly silence, and Merlin opened his mouth to speak but Crystal got there first.

"Helen – Ms. Payne – is going to teach me how to use my magic," she told him. Merlin's eyebrows rose in response. "She's going to start helping me out with my rent and stuff, too. And, well, she's going to get in contact with my brother. To see if she can teach him, too."

"She thinks he may have the gift?" Merlin asked, intrigued. Crystal shrugged.

"We don't know, but if he does, he needs to be trained," she replied. "I….I'm not sure how I feel about seeing him again since our fight. But I guess this may be my chance to say sorry."

Merlin nodded and looked sympathetically at her.

"Good luck," he wished her. Crystal nodded.

"Thanks," she replied. He smiled.

"You're welcome."

"No, really," the redhead continued. "Look, I was hunted by an evil sorceress, almost killed three times, lost my memory, lost my car, and just about became a witness to the apocalypse, but I'd actually have to say thank you. I never thought life could be so….fun."

Merlin laughed.

"You're welcome," he said. "I have to go. Gaius will be looking for me."

"Okay," Crystal consented. Merlin nodded and looked down at the bracelet. But before he started the spell, Crystal thought of something else.

"Oh, and Merlin?" she said. He looked up.

"Yeah?"

"Be careful, okay?"

He smiled and nodded.

"Don't worry, I will."

With that, he spoke the same words she heard him say when he'd disappeared with Arthur only the day before. Light spilled from the bracelet, and Crystal raised her arm to protect her eyes. When the light faded, he was gone.

Crystal smiled to herself.

"Goodbye, Emrys."

Merlin opened his eyes to find himself standing in his room once more. He slipped the bracelet off his wrist and, after kneeling on the floor and pulling up one of the lose boards under his bed, placed it in the cavity and covered it up with the wood once more. He'd find something to do with it soon. After all, he couldn't have people just decide to go time traveling and mess up the fabric of time, could he?

What had Crystal called that Doctor guy on that TV show? A Time Lord? Heh, that was almost like what he was now.

Merlin dumped the clothes Crystal had given him on the foot on his bed before flopping down on it himself, exhausted. He closed his eyes, thankful to be back in a world he knew, where he might have at least one day where he wasn't running for his life.

He heard a knocking on the outer door to Gaius's chambers, and then some voices. A few moments later, Gaius stuck his head into Merlin's room.

"Merlin," the old physician said. Merlin opened an eye.

"Arthur wants you in his quarters. Something having to do with wanting a 'hamburger'."

Merlin groaned.

Some things would never change.

The End

A/N: Well, that's all, folks. I want to thank everyone who has favorite this story and those who have been following it, and of course, the wonderful people like stormus, Amethyst M, AnotherMerlinFan, cflat, ChelGallifreya221B613, Jessica. .9, Inky Fingerprints, Miss Eleonora, Gloorywantshappiness, Kisa Black, and nutellainewonderland (and any I missed) who commented on this fanfiction and made me feel like I wasn't posting to a missing audience, if that even makes sense. As a first shot at writing fanfiction, you guys have made me feel great and appreciated, and I hope to be adding some more to my collection soon.

Thank you all again, and I truly hoped you enjoyed It's About Time. I know I enjoyed writing it, and seeing your responses to it. Bye for now!