Notes: this is the end! I'm not sure how I feel about it so tell me what you think and thank you guys so much for reading this and sticking it through with me I really appreciate all your support!
Merlin changed his shirt yet again before just going back to what he had wore to school that day. He wanted to look good for Arthur, but was just so nervous. What if Arthur didn't realize that this was meant to be a date… or at least a step in that direction? What if he shows up just looking to hang out and Merlin's all dressed up for a date?
'What am I doing?' Merlin though to himself. Gwen was right when she yelled at him for making excuses and told him to be his normal self, this wasn't how he usually acted. Merlin had realized a long time ago that he was a little different than other people. After years of seeing so many people trying hard to conform just to fit in he had decided to just be himself and let the pieces fall where they may. He'd rather have his few awesome friends who loved him for the spaz he was than a million people liking him for something he's not. Thinking that way didn't always make life easy but Merlin had always thought it was worth it.
Merlin sighed, then smirked to himself with resolve as threw the shirt he was wearing into the hamper and pulled on a tight blue one instead. His smile growing he changed into his best jeans and made a special playlist.
Merlin wasn't about to play it safe, he wanted Arthur so he was going to get him, and if not at least he'd know he did everything he could.
A couple hours later Merlin's mom let Arthur in telling him to go ahead up to Merlin's room as she left to go out with her friends and give the boys some alone time. Arthur walked into the other boys room, being startled by the sudden blast of music that started up, only to crack up laughing once he recognized the song.
Merlin smiled from his spot on the bed as Arthur tried to control his laughter, Rod Stewart's 'Da Ya Think I'm Sexy' blaring out of Merlin's laptop.
Arthur, finally calming down, looked Merlin over before nodding "I do think you're sexy" he said, answering the song.
"Yeah?" Merlin asked.
"Yeah."
"Then prove it" Merlin said with fake confidence as he rose up to meet Arthur in the middle of the room.
Arthur wrapped his arm around Merlin's waist, pulling him closer as he leaned down to peck quick kisses. Merlin slowly rising up on his toes for more and more before finally grasping onto Arthur's shoulder's as he met him at his full height and turned a peck into a deep kiss, sucking on Arthur's lip before finally pulling back slightly.
Merlin smiled "I dare you to kiss me again" he said, regretting the corny words the second they left his mouth until Arthur just leaned down kissing him agaon.
"Deal" he said as he slowly backed Merlin back on to the bed. moving until he was laying over him. Arthur ran his hands slowly down Merlin's side deepening a kiss as he slid his tongue into Merlin's mouth.
Merlin moaned around the intrusion, his own hands clawing at Arthur's back through his sweat-shirt. Merlin's tongue battled Arthur's for dominance until Arthur nibbled at Merlin's lip, causing Merlin to arch up into him, making them both moan.
Arthur drew out a long hungry kiss as he began to grind against Merlin.
"Mmm, we have to stop, mmm, need to… slow down" Merlin said between kisses, trying to pull away.
Arthur pulled him back for one more deep kiss before backing off, "alright" Arthur grumbled as he rolled off of Merlin and sat down on the bed.
Merlin laughed, "hopefully we'll have plenty of time for that, but we might want to take it a bit slower… Oh. …Unless that's all you want" Merlin said, just realizing the possibility.
It took Arthur a second to catch up to what Merlin was thinking, "What?... No! I just got carried away. I want… well you know."
"What?"
"I don't know man… I've never done this before."
"Dated?" Merlin asked, incredulous, "I doubt that."
"No, I mean you know… with a guy."
"So what; since I'm a guy you can't be in a relationship with me?"
"I never said that!" Arthur defended.
"Yeah, that's the point. Can you even say it, that you want a relationship with me? That you want to be in a gay relationship?"
"I'm not gay!" Arthur shout out, before thinking "…wait that's not what I meant."
"Right, I don't know if I can do this" Merlin said as he walked out of his room. He made it about halfway down the hall before spinning on his heals and turning around. He marched right back in his room, closing the door.
"I'm doing it again, aren't I?" Merlin asked.
"Doing what?" Arthur was still sitting on the bed looking helpless.
"Jumping to conclusions without giving you a chance to explain."
"Um, I'm afraid to answer that… Look, Merlin I… I'm not good at all this talking stuff and this whole suddenly liking a guy is going to take me a bit to get used to. But if you can deal with that I really like you, and would like to umm… Merlin will you be my…" Arthur took a deep breath, "will you be my boyfriend?" He finally got out before mumbling, "my dad would kill me if he ever knew I said that."
"I'd like to be your boyfriend" Merlin said with a smile, making Arthur break out into a smirk as they starred goofily at each other.
"So; I may be jumping to conclusions here but I've got a feeling this isn't how you wanted this evening to go?"
Merlin shook his head in conformation.
"So how about you get over here and we watch a movie" Arthur suggested, patting next to him on the bed.
"Sounds like a brilliant idea" Merlin smiled and curled up next to him boyfriend after popping in an old zombie movie, warning Arthur that if he couldn't enjoy some good old-fashioned nerdiness the whole thing was off.
It was three months since Arthur and Merlin's four year anniversary. Or as Gwen would say it was two years and three months since they stopped being stubborn idiots and finally saw the obvious, thanks to her help.
In that time Arthur and Merlin had gone through quite a few fights, two break-ups, a couple family emergencies and a few mental breakdowns. In turn they also smiled and laughed more than either thought possible, gave into a love stronger than words could say, encouraged and were supported in return, they helped they hurt, struggled with the past and personal demons and overcame so much.
Merlin's self esteem issues had caused some stress and arguments, because he just couldn't believe Arthur would just choose to be with a bloke one day, let alone choose him. He just kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, for Arthur to leave him for one of the many hot girls who through themselves at him. Arthur tried and tried to convince Merlin of how he felt but Merlin refused to talk about it. One day Merlin got jealous (not for the first time) and just shut Arthur out, Arthur said he was done if Merlin didn't talk to him, and soon walked away. They didn't talk for days, but eventually both broke down, they fought, yelled, and snogged before Arthur finally told Merlin he was such an idiot, that Arthur loved him far too much too even think of anyone else, boy or girl. Merlin gasped and told Arthur he was the world's biggest prat, but that Merlin loved him too.
They kept their secret from Arthur's father until graduation, which wasn't too difficult considering he was never around, but Arthur had eventually had come out at school. He hadn't planned it, he had told his close friends who had mostly been surprised but supportive (although Lance wasn't surprised at all and Gwen just said 'it's about time') but Arthur never intended to come out to the school at large. Then one day they were at school, Merlin's mom was sick and in the hospital, and he just wanted to comfort his boyfriend, to kiss and comfort him, so he did.
Hunith had thankfully recovered, and had become as much a mother to Arthur as she was to Merlin. She had seen the sadness behind his eyes that came from a cold childhood and had silently vowed to help Merlin make those scars vanish.
On the day of their graduation Arthur had walked up to his father, Merlin's hand within his own, and had told his father that he loved another man. His father had stayed silent until they were in the privacy of their home before shouting louder than he ever had, even slapping Arthur once. After many insults and threats Arthur had told his father that he had a trust fund from his grandparents that he would get on his twenty-first birthday and until then he had scholarships to college and some money set aside, Arthur told his father that he needed to accept Arthur and Merlin's relationship or Arthur would cut him out of his life. Uther had told Arthur to pack his bags.
It had taken nearly a year for Arthur to break down and give his father a second chance, to Merlin's encouragement. Uther had gladly welcomed Arthur back but one day got disgusted by Arthur and Merlin's public displays and voiced his opinions only to once again find himself kicked out of his son's life. Arthur kept giving second chances, each time swearing it was the last, saying he didn't know why he even tried to which Merlin would reply "because he's you're father, whatever else he may be, he's the only one you've got." There was much effort and heartbreak on both sides but eventually Arthur and Uther seemed to find some common ground and currently had a somewhat-functional relationship.
Merlin had gone to a community school for a year, to stay with his still recovering mother (against her wishes) before transferring to the same university as Arthur along with Lance. Gwen went to a school miles away but if anyone could do long distance it was her and Lance.
Yes, it was three months and four years since their third kiss, since they stood insecure and scared admitting what they felt and wanted, but today would better be known as the day Arthur Pendragon and Merlin Emrys married.