Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin or any of the characters.
Arthur couldn't sleep.
Moments before...had it been moments? Or had it been minutes? Merlin had just come and told Arthur that he loved him. It had been so unexpected, that Arthur couldn't find the words to reply, and had just stood there, amazed. But then Merlin had left. Arthur had to go find him, and tell him...tell him that he loved him too. But he felt too scared. What if Merlin had been joking? What if...
No. He had to go.
It hadn't occurred to Arthur until he was stood outside Merlin and Gaius's, that the door would be locked. He kicked it in frustration, then turned around, and saw Merlin stood in front of him.
"Merlin," he said – the name fell out of his mouth with shock.
"Arthur. I was just...looking at the moon."
Arthur glanced briefly up at it but his gaze went back to Merlin. He realised looking at him just how much he wanted to kiss him. "You didn't give me a chance to respond...earlier." When Merlin said nothing, Arthur laughed shakily. "I didn't dream it...did I?"
"I shouldn't...have said it. I'm sorry, Arthur, it wasn't my place." Merlin was turning to walk away and panic rooted Arthur to the spot, but he managed to speak.
"I love you too." He'd said it too quietly, and clenched his fists. "I love you too!"
Merlin stopped, and Arthur's knees weakened with relief. No matter what happened now, at least Merlin knew how he felt. He was turning back, and walked right up to Arthur, and captured his lips in a kiss.
They kissed for minutes but it felt like forever when Merlin finally pulled back.
"I should, get inside," he said, his mouth already beginning to twitch with the effort not to smile too widely, made harder by the way Arthur was smiling at him.
What a magical night it had been, Arthur thought, floating all the way back to his room.