I'm not dead! Sorry it took me so long. School is stressing me out as it comes to an end. Plus I got wrapped up writing fanfiction about a friend and a guy from school. It's been a crazy time.

Please enjoy!

"Arthur, what is it?" Merlin was lying next to him above the covers. His eyes opened to a blue light shining up on the pale white ceiling.

"What? Oh. It's nothing. An email from a teacher about what I will be missing while I'm away. Assignments, tests, and notes. The whole lot."

"It's pretty late for a teacher to be emailing their students..."

"Maybe they just remembered as they were getting ready for bed." Arthur knew Merlin wouldn't believe that. He was smart even for an idiot.

Merlin pushed off the lie and turned to face Arthur's profile staring up at the device. He had to respect his space. He would tell him eventually. "The same of what you should be doing! Put the phone down and let me cuddle you till you sleep."

"Fine. Don't ever say I never listen to you!" Arthur turned off his phone for extra measures and placed it back on his bedside table. He turned on his side to look at Merlin. They mirrored each other's positions with their hands settled between them.

Merlin creeped his hand till it rested on top of Arthur's. "I love you."

"I love you too."

No matter what the situation might be, those words were needed. The two boys had giant grins stretched against their cheeks.

"I hate that I have to leave you tomorrow."

"Tomorrow!?"

"Did I forget to mention that?" Merlin blushed and looked at their tangled fingers, running his thumb over Arthur's knuckles.

"Yes, you idiot! You should be packing instead of lying here with me." Arthur started to push Merlin towards the edge of the bed. He finally fell off the edge of the bed and onto his butt.

"Ow! You prat!"

"Love you too. Now go!" Arthur laughed as he watched Merlin walk out of the room, rubbing his backside.

Merlin turned to stick his tongue out and walked over to his room. Shoving clothes into a bag, along with his bathroom stuff, as quickly as he could. He wouldn't need a lot since he forgot some stuff back at his mother's. He slipped off his jeans and shirt to replace them with his pajamas. As he turned off the lights, he ran back over to Arthur's room. He slipped under the covers as gently as possible, not wanting to wake his boyfriend. He rested his arm on the other's hip and pulled him slowly back towards him. This was the first time they had ever cuddled in bed. There have been several cuddling sessions on the couch but nothing as intimate as this. Heck, this was the first time they slept in the same bedroom. It seemed so natural as Arthur pulled his arm tighter around him, like a teddy bear.

Snuggling his face into his boyfriend's neck, the smell of Arthur's aftershave and mint helped him relax. Merlin closed his eyes and let sleep overtake him. It was perfect.

The morning that followed was tense, the kind that you could cut with a knife. At first it was filled with kisses in bed and at least an hour just staring into each other's eyes. Its cliche, but they enjoy every second of it. But Arthur soon remembered that his boyfriend was going to leave him for a couple days. The dorm was going to be empty and quiet. Just like it was before Merlin had ever entered his life. But he was going to be all by himself. No one to hold, no one to kiss good morning and goodnight, and definitely no one to make him feel whole. Especially now, he was being forced to bed rest because of his ribs. He didn't even remember the times he was alone without Merlin. It felt like his life started when the man entered the dorm.

"Arthur, please talk to me." Merlin was sat in front of the TV with a bowl of his favorite cereal, lucky charms. They are magically delicious. "I'm not happy about leaving either. But my mother is worried and I don't exactly feel up to seeing Valiant again. It's only for a couple days. I'll be back before you know it."

Arthur was lying down next to Merlin with his head in his lap. As long as he was lying down, he should be okay. Doctors can't stop him from spending time with his boyfriend. "I just hate thinking about you being miles away and me being stuck here. If I wasn't injured, I would totally go with you."

"I know. We can still talk and see each other. You have your laptop and I have my mother's computer. We can Skype or just chat."

"We are definitely Skyping."

"Of course we are." Merlin smiled and tangled his fingers in the blonde hair in his lap.

"I love you."

"rydw i'n dy garu di gymaint. Ydych yn fy nghalon a'm enaid. Ni allaf gofio fy mywyd heb i chi ynddo."

"What'd you say? I didn't know you spoke another language."

Merlin hadn't realized he went from English to Welsh. It's been awhile since he spoke it. I had studied it for a couple years back in Ealdor. "I'm not telling you. It will give you something to do while I'm gone. Speaking of which, I need to start heading out. It's a long drive."

Arthur frowned and refused to get up from Merlin's lap. Maybe if he didn't move, Merlin would stay.

Being the sneaky man he is, Merlin slid out from under the weight of Arthur's head, replacing his legs with a pillow. Almost complete with his escape, he felt a grip on his thigh. Two hands wrapped around and pulled him back towards the couch.

"No."

"Arthur. Come on. If I want to make it before dark, I need to leave now."

Arthur continued to pull back on Merlin's slender leg. The tug of war lead to both men falling to the floor in a heap of limbs.

Arthur stared up at the ceiling, feeling a pressure build in his chest. Soon he was letting out a deep wince and sob.

Merlin listened to the deep baritone voice as it traveled across the floor. He was going to miss it. "Well, I'd better leave." He stood and fixed his clothing as it was all askew.

Arthur stayed on the floor as the fall caused his chest to hurt. He couldn't do anything to stop Merlin as he was in too much pain.

"I'll call you, okay?" Merlin grabbed his bag and threw it on his shoulder. Tumbling out the door as he headed out to his car.

Arthur stared at the gray ceiling, hoping it would give him answers. Merlin was gone. "Only for a couple days. It was only for a couple days." He knew it wasn't the most reassuring thing, but he was going to try.

Will Arthur be able to survive the next couple days? let's find out :)

please review and let me know what you think..