Disclaimer: IDOM

Okay, so firstly, sorry about no update last week, guys. Really. If you didn't see the post in my "Announcements" my beta and I became really caught up in real life. It's (apparently) a needed thing. She needs it to graduate college, and I need it to graduate high school. :P Anyway, really sorry, guys. I hope it doesn't happen again, but I can't promise anything. *hugs to all*

I hope this makes up for it! I did want to mention, though, that there were a few of you who thought that Merlin and Gwen had had a romantic relationship after Arthur's death... And, in answer to that, no they didn't. I can only see Merlin and Gwen being in a brother/sister relationship. No more. No less.

Anyway, enjoy! :)

Chapter 13: Little Wonders

Sunlight poked through the closed curtain, a single ray cutting across Guinevere's blanketed legs and making her room just a little brighter. Slowly, consciousness came to her, and she inhaled through her nose sharply, the fresh air of the morning refreshing her as she rubbed a hand across her face. Her mouth stretched in a yawn before she smiled and opened her eyes. Quickly, though, her eyes widened in shock at her surroundings.

She was in her apartment, in her own bed, surrounded by her own things, but this wasn't Camelot. This was... this was... the future. And she... she was a secretary at the New Scotland Yard. And Arthur was there, and her brother, and Leon, and Percival, and... Gwaine. They were all... but they had all... Even she had...

...And Merlin.

She'd been attacked, and he had saved her. With his magic. With his wonderful gifts. He-he was... He was here. He had lived. Her warlock was here!

She remembered.

"Merlin!"

Everything that had happened in the last few months, everything that had transgressed: their meeting, Merlin working beside Arthur -her husband- and the others... they had all been threads in Destiny's hands, slowly being woven together for a second time. Everything made sense now. Everything.

Her memories pounded in her head and heart, pushing and pulling her emotions and thoughts in thousands of directions, and her breath escaped in short, nearly giddy gasps. There were so many answers, but twice as many questions, and Merlin -everything revolved around her warlock.

She remembered his soft, dark hair, blithe, dancing eyes, and a sweet smile that could make serving girls swoon with one glance. She remembered his charm and character, his beloved neckerchief and hand sewn jacket. And he... he...

"Merlin!"

It only took a few seconds and he was there, standing in the doorway with a look of alarm and protectiveness in the depths of his eyes. His hair stood up in tufts from where he'd ran his hand through it anxiously, and his clothing, plaid pj pants and a grey tee, was wrinkled and creased like he'd had a restless night. But he was there. He was here.

Tears flooded her eyes, and in another second, he was sitting in front of her on the bed, wrapping his long arms around her and pushing her head into his shoulder comfortingly. It felt so natural, and Guinevere melted in his hold, bring her arms around and grabbing his tee shirt with her fists. "It's okay, Gwen, I'm here. It's me."

She let out a sob and hugged him tighter, like a young child would her father after waking up from a nightmare. Her mind recalled each movement, each action of this life: she had forgotten about everything-her friends, her family, her destiny, even her death-she was a secretary, and Merlin...

She knew about his magic's ability to heal him; he had been alive all this time. Alone.

Guinevere wept into his shoulder again, and the warlock stroked her hair, whispering into her ear again. A sudden thought flashed through her mind, and, God, had he ever had children?

A new wave of tears hit her, and it took a few more minutes for her to settle down enough to speak. She pulled back, carefully putting her hand on Merlin's face and caressing his cheek. "Oh, God, it's you, Merlin. It's you. Thank goodness."

The warlock smiled through his own tears, and the pure relief and brotherly love in his eyes was enough to bring fresh tears to Gwen's eyes. Her thumb rubbed his cheekbone as his full lips parted with breathless laughter. "Of course it's me, Gwen. It's always been me." There was a moment of blessed silence before, quietly and in a thick voice, Merlin said, "I'm so glad you're back." His voice, its depth, betrayed the pain he was hiding-was always hiding-and Guinevere pulled him back into a tight hug.

"Oh, Merlin, I'm so sorry." She stroked the back of his head as he cried softly into her shoulder, and Gwen wondered when it was that he last allowed someone to properly comfort him. "It's alright now. I'm here. We're all here, even if the others don't remember yet." His arms tightened around her, and she could feel hot tears against her skin. "Merlin?" He slowly pulled back to face her, smiling softly as his fingers rubbed bits of her hair between them. "Can I ask you a question?"

He sniffed, smile widening with lighthearted humor as another tear fell from his eye. "Of course. Anything, Gwen, anything."

She brushed Merlin's hair back from his face, drinking in every feature with a new appreciation. He still looked the same, thank God. "How... how old are you, Merlin?"

The warlock's face ducked a bit as a cavern opened up in his eyes. His hand dropped from her arm, and he carefully threaded his fingers around her free hand. Lifting it, he rubbed her fingers between his like he used to whenever they would cramp after long hours of sifting through the paperwork in Camelot. Or when he was debating on what exactly to reveal to her.

"Merlin, please," she said, almost beseechingly. She only wished for him to know that he didn't have to bear this alone. Not anymore.

His soft eyes rose to meet hers, and with a small smile pulling on his lips, he answered in a voice thick with emotion, "Fifteen hundred and twenty seven."

Fifteen hundred... It had been exactly fifteen hundred years since...

She pulled him back into a firm hug, hand caressing the nape of his neck. There were no more tears to fall, but they both needed the connection. The brother and sister relationship that they'd held back in Camelot was still there, and it always would be. "I'm sorry. You weren't meant to wait that long."

Merlin hugged her back, smirking into her hair. "It's alright, Guinevere. It was Destiny's choice; it wasn't your fault."

"But, Merlin-"

He pulled back, putting his hands on her shoulders. "And seeing you, Arthur, Gwaine... everyone-seeing everyone again... and you remembering-it... It makes it all worth it."

And seeing the hope in his eyes, the joy, Gwen knew that even though there would always be things that hurt him-things in his past that they may never know about, things that, no matter what, would always be there as a reminder, and things that no matter how hard he tried, would never go away-he was telling the truth. The absolute truth.

So she smiled through her tears and nodded happily. "The others will remember too. I'm sure of it."

"In time," he answered with a watery grin.

"Can't you... I don't know... Help them?"

The warlock shook his head. "I don't know what I'm dealing with. If I try anything, they might be gone forever."

Gwen's brow pinched. "But with me..."

He nodded, understanding. "I think it was because you were the last one to..." He glanced away, something dark and full of sorrow flashing in his eyes as he audibly swallowed. "You were closer than the others-to the surface, I mean. How are you feeling anyway? You had a fever."

Acknowledging his change in subject, Gwen squeezed his hand. "A bit of a headache, but otherwise I feel fine."

"Just a sec," Merlin grinned, hopping up from the bed and jogging out of the room. Guinevere felt her smile grow and warmth spread through her chest as she remembered Merlin running through the brightly lit corridors of Camelot. Even after Arthur had passed, the warlock had always had a bright, eager spirit. It was what always helped her to persevere. If Merlin Emrys, whose life was filled with such agony, such loss, could still plaster a smile on his handsome face, then so could she.

He came back a moment later with a traditional ibuprofen bottle in his hand and handed her two pills. "This might help a little."

Gwen smiled at him gratefully and downed them with a sip of water.

"Are you hungry?"

Laughing a little at the eagerness in his voice, she gave him a small nod. "A little."

Merlin's grin only broadened, and he extended his arm. "Wonderful. I'll make us some lunch."

"Lunch?" she questioned, taking his hand and climbing off the bed.

"It's nearly noon, Gwen. Oh, careful." He grabbed her elbow to help steady her as her hand went to her head and she stood on wobbly knees. Peering into her face, he frowned and asked with concern, "Are you alright?"

She bobbed her head again. "Yes, I'm-I'm fine, really. Just... a bit of nausea is all."

A soft smile appeared on his face, and he put his hand on her arm. "It's probably the memories," he reassured. "Your body isn't used to the magic, especially not the rush of it just had."

"Magic?"

"What else do you think was keeping your memories suppressed?"

She hadn't thought about that. But, in truth, it did make sense. Of course it did. Her- their, actually-whole lives revolved around magic. Gwen nodded at him and swallowed, letting her hand fall from her temple as she grasped his arm.

"Would you rather stay in bed?" he asked.

"No," was her immediate reply. She didn't want him out of her sight. After everything he must have endured, she didn't want him ever to feel that he was alone again. Especially after all the care he took to make sure they never felt that way. "No, I'll be okay."

Merlin gave her a small grin. "Alright, Gwennie," he teased. "Let's get you to the sofa, then, yeah? I'll make something to eat, and we can talk."

She looked into his eyes, his beautiful, clear, crystalline eyes, and smiled, nodding vigorously.

"So how did you get this job at Scotland Yard, anyhow?" the former queen questioned, sitting, not on the couch, but on a barstool by the raised countertop across from Merlin, who stood in front of the stove trying, and failing, to make pancakes.

The warlock grinned at her and poked the bubbling liquid. "John got me the job, actually."

Her brow furrowed, and her fingers curled around the hot cup of tea Merlin had prepared for her. "Arthur told me that you two have been friends for a long time? How does that work?"

"John and I met during the Korean War in the fifties. I was an army doctor working for the UN in a MASH unit, and he came in wounded."

Guinevere smiled softly at him, eyes hiding sadness that Merlin had been involved in the war at all. "Sounds like you. But, so... I assume he knows, then? About you, I mean-with your..."

Releasing a fond, laughing breath, Merlin's grin widened, and he attempted to flip the blob on the pan. "Yes, he knows. About the magic and the not-aging bit, but not much else, and not about you. Him and a few other people."

"Others?"

He nodded. "We were ambushed during the war after a bug-out. That's, um, where, if there's a threat of an attack, we move the camp to a safer location," the warlock explained. "John, his unit, and I were all riding in the same jeep, and a bomb blew out our tire. We were separated from the main unit and had to find our own way. And... I used my magic to protect them all. I was just so... tired of it all."

If Merlin had been any closer, Gwen would have folded her hand around his, but she settled for a calm, tender look, and said, "It's alright, Merlin. You did the right thing."

He gave her a small smile, eyes showing only a sliver of the pain inside. "Thanks. It's... good, great really, to hear you say that. I... I didn't know if I ever would again."

And her heart completely shattered for him.

"I'm really, really glad you're back, Gwen."

This time, she did climb off her stool and walk around the counter before enveloping him in a fierce hug. He embraced her just as tightly, his body only giving away a small amount of emotion in the form of trembling.

"Me too, Merlin," she said, hearing him give a small sigh of ecstasy at just the sound of his true name. "Me too."

He pulled away, and she saw how his eyes were glazed over the slightest bit. Gwen suddenly realized that he must have been up all night watching over her as she regained her memories. Raising her hand, she cupped the side of his face and stroked his cheekbone. "You need some rest."

Merlin let out a laughing breath and nodded as Gwen let her hand fall from his cheek. "I'm sure I do... but not now."

And she understood that, as much as she didn't want him out of her sight, he didn't want her out of his. They had been the first two in Camelot to become friends after Merlin's arrival, and they were the two who'd been left behind after everyone had passed. They had a bond stronger than destiny itself because they'd been fighting it all their lives. A bond unbreakable, even through time and trials and hardships.

"Alright," she replied. "But soon." He answered with a small nod, and suddenly, she put her hand on his arm. "Um, Merlin, your... your pancake, it's-"

Turning around, the warlock jumped to remove the pan from the heat as the burnt mass on the pan hissed, and Gwen laughed. "I can cook anything, except pancakes. Why can't I cook pancakes?"

Guinevere only gigged again at his amused expression.

"I hope you like cereal."

"Well considering we're in my apartment, and it's my cereal, I should hope I like it."

"Touche."

So as Merlin grabbed the milk out of the refrigerator, Guinevere grabbed the cereal out of the cabinet. They both sat down at the counter, shoulders brushing as they prepared their meal. They talked about nothing, which, to them, was everything. As long as the other was near them, and they could hear the affection and jest and teasings in their voice, everything was perfect. They laughed and giggled and chuckled and chortled, but, inevitably, it turned towards a more serious, more sober, conversation.

Guinevere's hand brushed his. "Does Morgana remember?"

"Um..." The warlock set his spoon down in his bowl, watching the ripples spread. "Yeah. Yeah, she remembers."

"How?"

Merlin threw her a smirk, remembering something Arthur had said off hand. "She said that she remembered after a car accident in-"

"Wales"

"You know about it?"

Gwen sighed. "Everyone knew about it. Well, everyone close to her. That accident nearly killed her, but if she remembered... Why didn't she say anything? In Camelot, she was so... Why didn't she...?"

"Try to kill you?"

"For lack of better words," Gwen breathed. "I mean, that was years ago..."

Merlin nodded. "I think... she didn't see any reason to tell you. She could create a whole new identity with no guarantee that you would ever remember."

"But what about you? Surely she would have known you would come."

"No, I don't think so," Merlin said. "Morgana didn't know the whole truth about my destiny, and I hadn't shown up after all those years, so why should I now? It was by chance, or destiny, Gwen, that I became partners with Arthur at all."

A smile suddenly spread out on her face. "Partners. I like that. You're finally his equal."

A blush crawled up Merlin's neck, and he grinned. "It does have a nice ring to it, doesn't it?"

Gwen bumped him with her shoulder, eyes dancing. "Yes, it does. Now, I have another question, warlock." Merlin's eyebrows rose in amusement and consent, and she continued, "Why were you wearing a suit last night? And, thank you for that, really. I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't come along."

"You're welcome, Gwen," he answered, brushing her hand. "Arthur arrested him, you know. Oh, you should have seen him when I told the guys what he did. He was furious! I, personally, thought his reaction was hilarious, but you know Leon, all diplomatic. He stepped in and tried to calm the prat down."

"So Leon knows too?"

He laughed. "Gwen, everyone knows. Seriously, your brother-I swear, it was like a match to see who was more mad at the guy. I think that if they weren't all cops, they would have all torn that guy apart."

Guinevere grinned, comforted. "Well it's good to know they care. Now, Merlin, the suit. Why were you wearing a suit?"

"Uh... I had a dinner date."

"A date?" she giggled. "Merlin, whoever she is, I think you're a bit old for her, don't you think?"

The frown his lips had pulled themselves into broke at her jab, and he rolled his eyes. "Thanks, Gwen, that's all I need to hear. And... Well... Actually, it was with Morgana."

"What?"

"It wasn't an actual date date... We were just catching up, and that's how I found out how she remembered. And then she had questions about me, ones that she wouldn't be able to ask with you guys around."

"Ah," Gwen breathed. "But... she didn't try to... hurt you or anything? I mean, Merlin, this is Morgana."

"No," he soothed. "She didn't try to kill me. She... she actually already knew that I hadn't died. She'd guessed and then did some research and decided that all the deaths in the legends just weren't... in character."

"Well..."

"Really, Gwen, you too?"

"Now that I think about it..."

Merlin pursed his lips and sighed, smirking. "Anyway, she's tied to the case Arthur and I were assigned to... somehow. She said we were looking in the wrong direction, but... I don't know. Do you think she's behind the murder? The coroner said that there were no marks on the body, so I assume it's magic, but that doesn't mean it has to be her."

The former queen's brow scrunched. "There are more magic users here? I thought that... Well... there's never been anything..."

"Yeah, there has," Merlin disagreed. "All those little unexplained house fires, or little 'miracles' when someone who should have died didn't. Magic is still around, Gwen, just less... advertised. I mean, in this world, if someone found out about me and my magic, they might try to take advantage of it. Or worse."

"Merlin, has everyone ever..."

The warlock smiled softly at her. "Nothing I couldn't handle, Gwen. I'm alright."

Guinevere nestled her head against Merlin's shoulder, and he put his arm around her. "You know that you can always talk to me, right? About anything."

"I know, Gwen," he whispered, planting a small kiss in her hair. "Thanks."

"Do you still have nightmares?"

Merlin's mind went back to Camelot, to when he would wake up in a cold sweat with his friends' names on his lips. But Gwen was there to talk to, to help him. And then his mind jumped forward to the cabin beside the lake, where the same thing would happen, only no one was there for him. "Yes," he answered, hesitantly.

"You could talk to me about those, too, if you want."

He let out a breath of laughter, already feeling the pressure that came from remembrance release from his chest. "I'll keep that in mind."

"You'd better," she smiled. She jumped as a vibrator buzzed and sent pulses through the table. Guinevere laughed as her eyes locked onto Merlin's cell, and she rolled her eyes. "Now I just have to remember that we have technology in the twenty-first century. Noisy, disturbing technology."

Merlin grinned and reached for his phone. "You should have seen cars in the twenties. Loudest things ever." He put the phone to his ear as Gwen laughed again and reached for his bowl. "Hello?"

"Colin!"

"Arthur?"

Gwen perked up and looked at him, brow furrowed.

"How's Gwen?"

"She's fine. She's right here. What's up?"

"Come down to the station. We just made a break in the case."

"Really? That's great!"

"And bring Gwen!"

"I will, I will," Merlin laughed. He said goodbye and hung up before filling Guinevere in and ending with, "And he wants us over there."

She smiled brightly and set the bowls in the sink, saying, "I'll grab a sweater."

I hope you guys liked it. I need coffee. I am so tired, but I have things to do. Like this new one-shot I'm working on... :D I'm hoping to post it within the next few days. :)

Later, tatters.

Dream of Jack Frost tonight. ;)