Hey guys!

That was probably one of the worst cliff-hangers I've ever left you on! Luckily, most of you dealt with it quite well, though I know you've been eagerly anticipating this chapter. I hope it's everything you were expecting, and everything you wanted! :P

I was planning to do a few more chapters between this one and the epilogue, but I just couldn't extend it anymore. So this is it now. The last "official" chapter. The epilogue will be next, as I cut out all the parts in between, and put it all in this chapter. It just didn't make sense to continue to drag it out. I will thank you all properly in the epilogue, but thank you for all of your wonderful reviews!

And about the other Merthur fic I was going to be writing. I'm not sure about it anymore. I may still write it sometime in the future, but I've got so many other ideas at the moment, I think I'd rather focus on them. Still, follow me if you want to read more of my writing, and I'll have some new stuff for you soon!

Enjoy!

Megz

oxox

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Merlin had been planning for a while what he was going to say to Arthur. There was a lot of explaining to do, for both of them. But despite everything that was going on between the two of them, all of the lies, the confusion, the arguing, Merlin had never felt more determined. Now all of the pieces were slotting into place, and everything made sense again. He could worry about everything else later, the only thing that mattered now, was making things right with Arthur. He couldn't even be angry at him anymore.

Because now, he understood why he'd done it. A few weeks ago, if Arthur had walked up to Merlin, and tried to make polite conversation, he probably would have been met with either a punch in the face, or a string of obscenities. Merlin never would've even been civil with him, never mind become friends - and eventually more - with him. So Arthur had created 'A', as a way to get closer to him. As a way to find out more about him, without Merlin judging him the way he would've done normally. It wasn't entirely Merlin's fault though, and they both knew that. Arthur had given him more than enough reasons to hate him in the past.

So no, he wasn't angry at him anymore. The only person he was angry at, was himself. For not figuring it out sooner, and for putting Arthur through all of that. Of course, you could argue that it had put them both through some pretty bad things, but none more so than Arthur. He'd had to sit there, night after night, talking to Merlin about how much he hated Arthur "Prat-dragon". It must've been horrible, to hear himself described that way, by someone that he cared about. Though surely he knew now, that Merlin's opinion of him had changed completely?

He must do, otherwise, he was an even bigger idiot than Merlin had originally thought.

But as Merlin approached the school's courtyard area, and he spotted Arthur sat on a bench, all these thoughts that were swimming around his head, went out the window. And he was left with the sound of his heart breaking. Because Arthur - the strongest, funniest, happiest, kind, honest, and most brilliant person that Merlin had ever met - was crying. And it was all because of him.

Arthur was completely unaware of Merlin's approach, as his head was buried in his hands. His shoulders were shaking slightly, and Merlin wanted to slap himself now more than ever. If only he'd figured it out sooner, then this never would've happened. Seeing Arthur sad, seeing someone that perfect, that beautiful, looking as weak and fragile as Arthur did now, felt like a crime against nature.

Merlin made his way over, slowly, and quietly. He knew this was a fragile situation, and he had to handle it carefully. Just like Arthur had done when he'd found Merlin in that alleyway. That had been the night he'd saved Merlin. The night he'd held him as he cried on that park bench. The night things changed between them. Merlin hoped he could do the same thing again.

"Arthur?" he whispered, watching as Arthur lifted his head slowly. A stray tear was still rolling down his cheek, and Arthur brushed it away hastily, when he realized who it was.

"Merlin, I -" Arthur began, but Merlin interrupted him. Arthur had done his big speech, now it was his turn.

"No, you don't need to say anything. I'm the one that needs to explain." Merlin began, and Arthur nodded, looking down at his hands. Merlin sat beside him, taking a shaky breath, as he took Arthur's hand in his. "I need to explain why I left earlier. Because I think I gave you, and everyone else in that room the wrong impression. The last few weeks, have been . . . an emotional roller-coaster. There was so much going on at times, that I just didn't think I could cope. But do you know what the one thing was, that always brought me back? It was you, Arthur.

After everything with Mordred, I felt like nothing, I felt useless, like a waste of space. And you made me feel better again. You made me feel better than I'd felt in a long time. And I know you blame yourself for what happened with him, but you shouldn't. It's not your fault, you didn't know. So don't blame yourself. Because you made everything better. And things were pretty bad before you came along. Not that I'd let it show. I didn't want people to worry.

You made me feel better than I think I've ever felt. You made me feel special, and safe. And I know I'm rambling, but this is what happens when I get nervous, so just . . . hear me out, okay?" Merlin continued, using one of his hands to force Arthur's chin up, so their eyes could meet. Arthur looked confused, and hopeful, but still a little sad. All Merlin wanted now, was to get rid of that sadness. "The way I feel about you, when I'm with you . . . I've never felt that way before. With anyone.

You're different, Arthur. And you make me different, when I'm around you. You've been a terrible person in the past, but that's over now. I've forgiven you, and you need to accept that. Because everything that happened, is in the past, and I don't want to think about that anymore. I want to think about who you are now, and how I feel about you now. You're the most infuriating, annoying, controlling, loud, obnoxious, weird, possibly mentally-challenged prat I've ever met in my life, but you know what? I'm in love with you. There, I said it. I love you."

For a moment, there was silence. Even the birds seemed to stop singing, and they just sat there, staring at each other. Merlin's hand was still closed around Arthur's and Arthur was starting at him so intensely, Merlin almost didn't know where to look. He didn't think he'd ever told anybody that he loved them before. But somehow, it just made sense. It was like he'd always loved Arthur, before he'd even met him. It just . . . fit.

And before Merlin had the time to think about anything else, Arthur's lips were on his.

"W-Wait, I . . . I can't do this." Arthur mumbled, pushing Merlin back onto the bench. The tears were now gone from his eyes, but he still looked just as sad and confused. He stood up from the bench, and began pacing, running his fingers through his hair. Merlin couldn't count the number of times he'd seen Arthur do that today. It must be a nervous thing. Though Merlin would be lying if he said he didn't find it kind of attractive. "There's something I still haven't told you, and there are things that . . . things that still need to be resolved . . ."

"Arthur," Merlin interrupted, leaping up from the bench. He stepped in front of Arthur, but the blonde continued to pace. So Merlin took on a different approach. He grabbed Arthur by the shoulders, forcing him to stop. This was it. The big moment. The thing he'd been waiting for, for weeks on end. It was finally here, and Merlin could not feel happier. "Arthur! I know."

Of all the people that 'A' could've been, Arthur had never even crossed his mind. He'd assumed it would be someone obvious, someone that nobody else noticed, but Merlin did. Merlin had always been a bit of a wallflower, so he tended to notice things that other people didn't. The people that never really spoke up, the people that blended into the background, a bit like him. He noticed things, except, it would seem, the obvious. Because Arthur had been staring him in the face from the beginning, practically screaming for him to notice. And he felt like the biggest idiot on Earth for not figuring it out earlier.

"You kn - you can't know . . ." Arthur whispered, looking confused again. It seemed there really was a lot of explaining to do. "How can you know?"

"Arthur, I figured it out." Merlin replied, releasing Arthur, and stepping back, smiling. But Arthur still looked stunned, as if the possibility of Merlin figuring it out was something that had never occurred to him before. Something that had seemed virtually impossible. Merlin wondered if Arthur would've ever told him himself. Perhaps when the time came, he would've.

"You know . . . and you're not mad?" he asked, still looking unsure. It was as if he thought they were talking about two different things. But Merlin just nodded, smiling at him. Everything was coming together, and although it wasn't exactly the way he'd imagined meeting 'A' a few weeks ago, this was perfect, in its own imperfect way. And upon watching Merlin smile at him, Arthur finally relaxed. He squared his shoulders, and sniffed, looking off to the corner.

"Sure took you long enough."

Merlin laughed, and the tension between them was broken. His laughter became louder and louder, and he became slightly hysterical. The absurdity of the whole situation, and the perfect timing of Arthur's comment, brought tears of laughter to his eyes. And Arthur couldn't help but laugh in return. Their laughter echoed throughout the school, and both of them were glad that the whole horrible ordeal was over. Except, there was still one small issue that had to be resolved.

"What about when you said you liked someone else?" Arthur asked, suddenly becoming serious again. Merlin's laughter stopped immediately, and he straightened up. He cocked his head to the side, and Arthur could tell he hadn't a clue what he was talking about. He doubted he'd even remember it. "When I told you, as 'A' that I liked you, you said that it couldn't work, and that you liked someone else. Who was it?"

"Oh for God's - are you really that thick, Pratdragon?" Merlin laughed, "Is that why you wouldn't talk to me? Because you thought I liked someone else? That was what it was? The whole time?" Merlin couldn't stop laughing, though when he saw that Arthur was deadly serious, he shook himself a little. "I'm sorry but, Arthur, surely you must've . . . it was you, you clot-pole! I didn't know that you were the same person, and it was the night after you kissed me, and I couldn't stop thinking about you. You thought there was someone else, really? Of course not. After everything we've been though, and everything you've said to the lies, and confusion, and rumours . . .

God help me Arthur, it's still all about you."

Well? What did you think? We're almost at the end now guys, so please, don't forget to REVIEW! :D