A/N Last chapter of the Autumn part of this story. You can end it here and have this happy ending, or you can keep following and wait for the first chapter of Winter. It's up to you. Just want to say a quick thanks for all the lovely comments and all you favouriters/followers. Thanks so much!

Arthur had one hand resting under Merlin's top, on his waist, and his head on his chest. They were stretched out in the back of Arthur's car, listening to the radio on low volume and drinking cans of coke from a cooler. Merlin was drawing slow circles on Arthur's skin.

The sun hadn't risen yet but the jogger had disappeared. Leaving Merlin and Arthur to entertain themselves, by talking complete nonsense. Gaius used to tell Merlin that after three in the morning, your intelligence goes to sleep, and you become an idiot. Which, judging by the drivel they'd been spouting, was probably true.

"If we get married, can we have a pet elephant?"

"For the last time, Arthur, we are having a cat."

"We are not having a cat. Any pet is better than a cat. You know how you can improve a cat? Turn it into any other animal in the world." Arthur ranted.

"How about a dragon?" Merlin asked thoughtfully.

"Sure, I'll buy you a dragon for Christmas."

They both laughed and Arthur chucked their empty cans to the floor, muttering about cleaning that up later. He moved back and wrapped his arms around Merlin's shoulders, pressing his forehead against his neck. Merlin sighed happily and hugged Arthur closer to him.

"You know, at some point, we will have to return to real life again." Merlin whispered.

"No we won't. Let's just stay here forever." Arthur whispered, shutting his eyes.

"We can't live here, what will we eat?" Merlin asked.

"We'll get our pet dragon to buy us some food." Arthur mumbled.

Merlin laughed and shut his eyes too.

When he reopened his eyes, the sun was rising and the sky was streaked with orange. Arthur had moved and was sat in the front seat, playing on his phone.

"What are you doing?" Merlin asked, stifling a yawn.

Arthur turned back to look at him, "Waiting for you to wake up and playing Candy Crush."

Merlin moved into the front seat and stretched his arms high above his head, Arthur watched him and yawned. He placed his phone back into his pocket and smoothed Merlin's hair down. Merlin felt so peaceful and relaxed, he wanted to stay in this car forever.

"Ready to go back to reality?" Arthur asked, his hand falling away from Merlin's hair and gently touching the side of his cheek.

"Not really." Merlin replied, he fastened his seat belt anyway and rubbed his tired eyes.

Arthur twisted the car keys and reversed away from the sports field, finding his way back to the main road. They turned back the way they came and drove for a while. Exactly twenty minutes later, Arthur took a right when he should have taken a left.

"Where are you going?" Merlin asked, suspiciously.

"My place. Last time we slept in your bed, I bumped into my sister, I don't think I can go through that awkward conversation again." Arthur laughed, scratching the back of his neck.

He drove round the carpark outside his building and finally pulled into a parking space. He turned off the car and looked over at Merlin. Merlin's head was resting against the car window and his eyes were closed. He wasn't asleep, but he wanted to be.

"Meerrrliinnn." Arthur sang quietly.

Merlin didn't reply, and he heard Arthur unbuckle his own and Merlin's seatbelts. The car door opened and closed. Merlin assumed he'd been left to sleep. He was okay with it. Even the small walk up to Arthur's apartment felt too long.

Suddenly, the door holding his head, was yanked open.

"Wha-" Merlin gasped, falling downwards alarmingly fast. Strong arms caught him just before he hit the pavement.

"Sorry, there was no other way." Arthur laughed, helping Merlin out of the car.

"You could have woken me up in the car..." Merlin suggested.

"I tried." Arthur shrugged, still smirking at the terrified look that had appeared on Merlin's face.

Merlin pushed him slightly and followed him up towards his building. He didn't actually care that he wasn't wearing shoes anymore, he just wanted to sleep for the rest of the day.

Arthur's building was much nicer looking than Merlin's. It looked cleaner, and quieter. Arthur unlocked the door and leaned into the hall, looking for his flatmates.

When he was sure the coast was clear, he gestured for Merlin to come inside. Merlin merely shrugged in confusion at the obscene hand movements Arthur was using. Arthur rolled his eyes, grabbed Merlin's arm and pushed him in front of him, into his bedroom. Just before Arthur could shut the door behind himself, Percival wandered out of his room in his pajamas.

He looked at Arthur, fully dressed, and drew his eyebrows together in question.

"What are you doing?" Percival asked.

"Erm, I, er, went for a walk." Arthur lied quickly.

Merlin shook his head at Arthur stood in the doorway. He was clearly a terrible liar. Arthur threw a quick glance at him and looked back at Percival, still oblivious to Merlin's presence.

"You went for a walk?" Merlin heard Percival ask, "At ten past six in the morning?"

"...Yes." Arthur said, "I do it all the time."

"You do it all the time?" Percival asked, sounding confused.

"Yes... Don't you?" Arthur asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Whatever." Percival said, and Merlin heard his footsteps followed by the sound of a door closing.

Arthur sighed with relief and shut his bedroom door. Merlin had one eyebrow raised, and an amused look on his face. "What the hell was that?" He asked quietly, laughing.

"I'm not a good liar, okay?" Arthur said.

"Clearly."

Arthur stuck his tongue out at Merlin and joined him in bed.

"You never answered my question." Arthur said.

"What question?"

"I asked if you wanted to be my boyfriend." Arthur smiled, turning to look at Merlin.

"Um... No you didn't."

"Yes, I did." Arthur protested, "You were asleep in the back of the car, and I asked you and you didn't say anything."

"I was asleep..." Merlin answered.

"Oh, that's right!" Arthur said in a mocking voice, "You were incredibly rude and fell asleep while I was talking to you, I remember now."

Merlin laughed and pushed Arthur so he fell back on the sheets, "Arthur."

Arthur pulled Merlin over onto his chest, "Seriously, Merlin, boyfriend or not?"

"Yes, I'll be your boyfriend." Merlin agreed.

Arthur kissed the top of Merlin's head, "Obviously."

"But..." Merlin said, clambering away from Arthur and pulling the sheets over his shivering shoulders, "It might not be for long."

Arthur looked confused, it was really quite cute, "Why?"

"Because Morgana's going to kill me for forgiving you."