Epilogue

"What are we going to tell them? It's pretty clear none of them remember Camelot."

"Gaius said not to tell them right? So there's absolutely no chance of them remembering like we do? Even if we explained to them...?"

"No, Gaius said it took a lot of magic for Mordred to force us to remember, and that magic was lost in his death."

"Well, We'll just say you and Mordred-"

"Michael. I still can't believe I was with Mordred. I mean, I had sex with-"

"Alright! Anyway, you and Michael didn't work out."

"Where's he gone though?"

"He's er….gone to live with his parents! Moved away. Ashamed because…"

"Because?"

"Because he cheated on you!"

"Great."

"What?"

"I'll be getting lots of sympathy then, won't I? Though I'd rather not tell him what he's…what he did for me."

"We won't. Anyway, you deserve the sympathy, for the things you've been through."

"No I don't-"

"You do."

"I d-"

"Merlin, shut up."

Arthur and Merlin walked out of Merlin's room and into the main living room to join the others. Gwen was absent, bustling around in the kitchen with Lance helping her. Gwaine and Percy were sitting on the sofa, discussing the recent football results. Morgana was quite content sitting on Gwaine's lap whilst he was talking, and his fingers were tangled in the ends of her hair. They hardly noticed the two boys enter. They slipped past them and went into the kitchen.

"Hey, boys!" Gwen said cheerily, placing a kiss on each of their cheeks. "How are you, both?" The two boys nodded cheerily, shaking Lance's hand.

They stepped back from the scene slightly, and their hands brushed together. Arthur took a deep breath, his lips upturned into a smile as he hooked his little finger over Merlin's and clasped their hands firmly. Merlin felt beads of sweat escaping from Arthur's skin, he squeezed the blonde man's hand tighter as though he wanted to push his worries away. It worked - Arthur rubbed small circles on Merlin's knuckles with his thumb.

"Wha-?" Lance looked down at their hands and looked between them and Gwen, his eyes wide. Gwen, however, just smiled proudly, her eyes gleaming with tears.

"Lance, you alright?" Arthur laughed, pulling Merlin's hand closer to him, holding it with his other hand as well.

"Sure, I have no problem with it…" Lance folded his arms, "What about Michael?"

"He's gone." Merlin spoke up, sternly speaking. "He's moved away."

"Ah, I'm sorry mate." Lance clapped Merlin on the arm.

"Don't be." Arthur interrupted. "He's a cheat." Arthur gripped Merlin's hand tighter, "Merlin's better off without him." Merlin caught Arthur's eyes and smiled, a blush spreading across his cheeks.

They heard a ruffle coming from the other room and Morgana's voice echoed through the room.

"Merlin, Michael cheated on you!? The bastard!" Arthur and Merlin let go of their hands as Morgana enveloped Merlin into a close hug. Arthur looking wearily at Morgana, as though he expected her to attack at any moment. Merlin moved closer to Arthur, taking his hand and rubbing circles over his knuckles with his thumb, squeezing his hand reassuringly. Morgana is okay,he told Arthur with just a soft look into his eyes.

"Woah…" Gwaine and Percy followed, both pointing their fingers at Arthur. "You were…" Gwaine fell speechless, pointing at Arthur's face, and then down to his hand.

"Ah, boys." Arthur held his hands up in defence.

"You're-?"

"Lads, I suppose I gotta tell you something." Arthur grabbed Merlin's shoulders pulling him to his side, and taking his hand once again. He murmured in Merlin's ear, "Didn't talk this part through did we?"

"Nope."

"Your fault."

"Is not."

"So, you're gay?" Percy asked calmly, "Not that we're bothered, right Gwaine?"

"Not at all!" Gwaine smiled, "Doesn't bother me! Just…was unexpected." He grinned at Arthur, looking between him and Merlin.

Arthur stroked circles on Merlins knuckles, as thought it was their way of reassurance, and looked at him, smiling.

"Yeah, it was a bit." Arthur smiled, bumping shoulders with Merlin, both of them laughing, Arthur turned to whisper in Merlin's ear as the others grabbed drinks from the fridge, "I'm sorry I made you wait so long."

"It's not your fault." Merlin turned into him, his hands on Arthur's shoulders. "I couldn't remember Camelot, either."

"No," Arthur shook his head, resting his hands on Merlin's hips, "I mean, I made you wait, in Camelot. I should have realised that you were more than just a manservant to me."

"You loved Gwen."

Arthur nodded, "I did, I'm not going to deny that. But if there were nothing between us in Camelot then why would I be so drawn to you now? I should have seen you for who you were, I should have realised that you were more to me back then than Gwen would have ever been. You saved my life. A thousand times over."

"Don't apologise." Merlin smiled, "We can just make up for lost time now." He pulled Arthur closer, ignoring the scene of people around him and kissed Arthur softly, feeling his eyelashes flutter against his own.

"Thank you, Merlin." Arthur smiled against Merlin's cheek as he pulled him into a tight hug. Merlin relaxed into Arthur's touch as he felt Arthur's heart beat hammer against his own chest. He felt safe, whereas before he felt vulnerable. He felt loved, whereas before he felt hated. He knew, now, this was where he belonged, and anything that Mordred could have given him, what they could have achieved combining their powers, it would never have compared with this.

"You really have got to stop saying that, Arthur. It just doesn't sound right. That's three times you've said that in, what? Over a thousand years?"

The boys smiled, kissing each other again, and moulding their bodies together as one, as they have been parted for far too long.

Authors Note: Thank you ever so much to everyone who has stuck by this story, commented with kind comments and/or constructive criticism, or even if you've just read it now! it means a lot to me!