San Antonio, Texas

July, 2027 AD

I clenched my jaw and increased the volume on the TV as I tried to drown out the slow and unceasing beeping noise that emerged from the machine that stood some metres away from me. It had been a comforting sound the first day that it was near but, as more time goes by, it's becoming more and more annoying. Still I pray constantly that the rhythm might change, if only slightly, to indicate some sort of conscious life.

The 'Pink Panther' theme-song played and I tapped my fingers on my thigh along to the music, the familiarity of it being somewhat soothing.

"Star..." I started at the sound of my cousin Sage's voice as she entered the room and she gave me a disapproving glare. I responded to it with a sheepish look and promptly turned down the volume again. "I swear, you're tryin' to get kicked outta here," she grumbled.

I decided to ignore her comment as I followed her movements with my gaze, a hopeful grin growing on my lips as she set down a brown paper bag. She playfully rolled her eyes when she saw my expression and slowly opened the bag, pulling out a plastic container.

My mouth watered at the sight of a veggie sushi roll and I dropped the TV controller to the ground, producing a clattering sound, so that I could grab the container – my other hand refusing to let go of Arthur's unless I have to get up to use the bathroom.

"Why are you so careless?" Sage asked with a scoff as she handed me my chopsticks.

"Don't worry, it still works," I waved her off before grabbing the soy sauce cup and emptying it all over my sushi.

"So the game is to see how many times you have to drop it for it to stop working?" she questioned as she quirked an eyebrow while pulling out another container from the bag.

"Sure," I responded with a shrug, "let's make that the game."

"I was being sarcastic," my cousin shot back, rolling her eyes once more.

"It won't look that way in the court transcript."

"Did you just quote Doctor House to me?"

"Yup."

We ate in silence after that, with the TV continuing to show 'Pink Panther'. Small giggles left me in between bites and I really wished that Merlin was with me. I'm sure he would appreciate the series. And Gwaine and Gwen and even Gaius! Then I glanced over at Sage and shrugged to myself. It's not that I'm not happy to be back in her company, it's just that I miss my brother...

She suddenly asked the question that haunts me through the centuries – "Have you slept at all?"

"A little, but I can't get comfy," I responded nonchalantly.

"If you would just let me take you to get an x-ray..."

I scowled at her while tightening my grip on Arthur's hand. "No. He could wake up at any moment. I'm not risking it."

Sage sighed in frustration and averted her gaze.

I finished eating my food some minutes later and I closed the container before flinging it towards the table at which my cousin sat. She glared at me once more and carefully placed the trash inside the brown bag before returning her attention to her yakimeshi. I sighed and curled up on the sofa chair, moving to lay my head on Arthur's bed, just beside our joined hands. I pressed a kiss to the back of his and returned my attention to the TV.

"From what Oliver told us, he sounds like a great guy," Sage commented in a gentle tone.

I glanced at her and nodded. "He's the greatest."

"I can't wait to meet 'em properly."

"And I can't wait for you to meet him..." I whispered.

"He'll wake up soon, Star," she affirmed while starting to throw away her own take-out trash. "You just gotta be patient."

"Yeah," I breathed out before lifting my head and letting my eyes travel to my King's unrealistically handsome face.

He has regained a lot of colour during the two days that he's been sort of comatose following his emergency surgery, and he looks more at peace than I've seen him in a long while.

I kind of dread the moment when he'll finally wake, knowing that I'm gonna be waist-deep in crap – considering all the crazy things that I'll have to explain. I'd hoped that when he found out about my true origins, I'd have Merlin to support me with explaining... but... it didn't work out that way, obviously.

Anyway, what matters is that he's alive. We saved him. We bent physics to do it, but we did it.

"Well..." Sage began as she stood up and stretched, "visiting hours are almost over. I'll come n' see ya' tomorrow, yeah?"

"And you'll bring coffee?" I asked with a small grin.

"Sure," my cousin responded with a playful eye-roll.

"Thanks. G'night."

"Good night, Star. Try to sleep."

Once Sage left the hospital room, I turned to look at Arthur again and let out a sigh. I moved my free hand to gently caress his cheek, where he had a small bruise, and then I brushed some hair away from his eyelids.

"Man... you're gonna hate me so much, Artie," I mumbled. "Between this, and the dragons, and Merls... But I did say that I'd do whatever it took to save you n'... well, this is what it took. So... I'll pay the price. And if you hate me too much once you wake up and don't wanna be with me anymore... at least you'll be alive to make that decision. That's what matters..." I sighed again and ran my thumb over his knuckles. "I love you, Artie."

I reached up to kiss his cheek and then I curled up again, resting my head beside our hands and returning my attention to the TV.

I slowly exited the bathroom while giving Sage a playful glare. She'd forced me to take a five minute shower, stating that she wouldn't give me my coffee if I didn't at least tidy up myself a little.

"Good girl," she praised jokingly while handing me my oat milk vanilla frappuccino. I grinned as I grabbed it and I took a long sip. "Was that so hard?"

"No, but only 'cause he didn't wake up," I responded as I plopped down on the sofa chair again, instantly latching onto Arthur's hand.

My cousin shook her head, a small amused smile playing on her lips, and then she changed the subject, "Oliver was gonna go shoppin' for 'em today. He n' mom will probably drop by afterwards."

I turned to look at my King again and smirked at the mental image of him in modern clothes: a t-shirt... jeans... sneakers... He's gonna look so strange!

"It'll be nice for them to meet again," I commented. "They got along great when Olly 'stumbled' onto the machine."

"Don't I know it," Sage grumbled. "It was all he talked about for months!"

"That's just the effect that Artie has on people," I responded while still staring at his cute sleeping face.

"Well, he certainly had an effect on you. I never thought I'd see you this way about anyone who ain't fictional," my cousin stated.

"Same," I conceded while tilting my head.

We finished our breakfasts in relative silence and then Sage left shortly after – since she kinda has work to do. Apparently, hospitals don't give their employees days off so that they can entertain their bored cousins who are waiting for their sort of comatose spouses to wake up.

Y'know, I still can't believe that Arthur freaking Pendragon and I are freaking married! Or that I'm the freaking queen of freaking Camelot! Or that I'm back in freaking Texas with him! Or that freaking time-travel is real!

"She's right," I told my King. "You really did a number on me."

I let out a puff and reached for the controller on the nightstand, then I turned on the TV and browsed Disney for something to watch while my other hand absentmindedly played with Arthur's fingers.

After being stuck with the same thirty or so movies on my tablet for so long, it's mind-blowing to see all the options that are available to me at the click of a button, and I must've gone around the entire site at least three times before I finally settled on 'Avengers: Infinity War'... 'Cause who needs a huge database when the same thirty or so movies you've been watching for five years are epic?

As I watched Dr. Strange, Iron-Man, and others fight against Thanos's accomplices in New York, I couldn't help but think back to Camelot's own battle only two days (and fifteen centuries) ago. It's insane to think how I was there – shooting arrows, killing people, flying on a dragon, galloping across the kingdom... And now I'm casually back in San Antonio almost as if nothing ever happened. Or, well, it would feel that way were it not for Arthur's presence beside me.

I puffed again and kissed the back of my King's hand before returning my attention to the movie.

I started when the door to the room opened and I turned to find a nurse coming in.

"Sorry to disturb ya', Mrs. Stevens. I am just here to administer your husband's pain-killer," she said in a polite tone.

You see, I can't exactly tell the hospital that they're dealing with Arthur freaking Pendragon because... who would believe me? So, in a moment of panic, I told them that his name is 'Roger Stevens'.

"Yeah, go ahead," I waved her off and offered a little grin. "And call me Astra. I hate formalities, and the word missus makes me feel old."

"Sure thing, Astra."

The nurse used a syringe to inject the medicine into Arthur's I.V. bag, and then she paused her movements while she stared at the TV just as Steve Rogers was leaving the aeroplane after he and part of the team had landed in Wakanda.

"Huh. Steve Rogers, Roger Stevens," she commented.

"Yes, funny coincidence, we're always jokin' about it," I quickly replied.

She nodded and chuckled before leaving the room.

I smiled when Bucky Barnes showed up on the screen, then I turned to look at Arthur, then back at Bucky, then back at Arthur. There was a time when I thought that Bucky would be the ultimate jackpot of a husband, but...

I snorted and shook my head, reprimanding myself for the dumb thoughts, and went back to watching the movie.

I frowned when I heard the beeping of the heart-monitor change its rhythm and paused the TV before turning to look at Arthur again.

A soft groan escaped him and my own heart began to speed up as I fixed my eyes on his face.

He stirred a little and a smile formed on my lips as I tightened my grip on his hand.

"Artie?" I said softly.

His eyes opened and I let out a relieved chuckle at the sight of his enchanting cerulean irises, tears of joy pooling in my eyes. We really saved him!

"Oh, thank heaven!" I exclaimed as I jumped to hug him – being mindful of his wound, of course.

"Astra?" he asked groggily.

I looked up again and found him scanning the room frantically.

I gulped when the heart-monitor started to beep rapidly.

"Calm down, you're okay, you're safe," I told him, moving my hands to cup his face and make him look at me. "I will explain everything, I promise. But, first, I need to get the doctor to check on you."

He frowned, but nodded in understanding.

"I need you to trust me and follow my lead, yeah?" I asked. He nodded again. "Your name is Roger Stevens, you were injured in a LARP game, and you're a normal civilian. All right?"

"What?"

"Just... Trust me? Please?"

Arthur nodded once more and I sighed in relief before placing a quick kiss on his forehead. Then I moved to press the button on the nightstand that calls the doctor and I gripped my King's hand once more as we waited.

I quickly turned off the TV when I noticed it was still on.

Doctor Hayashi – the heart specialist who, coincidentally, also tended to my uncle before he passed away – showed up not a minute later and he offered a small grin when he saw that Arthur is awake.

"Mr. Stevens, it's good to see you're up," he stated as he moved to check the vitals on the monitor. My King seemed puzzled as he followed the man's actions with his gaze. Dr. Hayashi nodded as a pleased look took over his features – which was comforting to see – and then he moved to Arthur's side as he said, "With your permission, I'd like to check the wound."

Arthur turned to me with a questioning look and I gave him a reassuring nod. He gulped and turned to the doctor, "Yes, of course."

"Oh! British!" the doctor chirped before gently unbuttoning my puzzled-looking King's hospital gown to uncover his chest.

I averted my gaze as the gauze was removed, not wanting to see the stitched skin, and I instead focused on playing with Arthur's fingers again.

"Looks good," the doctor informed, which caused me to let out another sigh of relief. "I'd like you to try walking, if you're up for it. I'm sure a trip to the bathroom and a shower sound nice." Arthur nodded slowly. "Great! I'll send a nurse in!" And with that, the doctor left.

I leaned backwards on my seat and let out a long exhale.

Arthur's okay! We really, really, really saved him!

"Astraea?" my King said and my head instantly snapped his way. "What on Earth is happening?"

I gulped before asking, "What's the last thing you remember?"

"Merlin and Gaius tying me to a dragon's back," he responded through gritted teeth while raising an eyebrow.

"Sounds about right," I murmured. "And before that?"

"Merlin explaining that he has magic... that he was born to protect me... and that you have been helping him all this time..." I nodded along with Arthur's words, wondering how much my brother told him. "A-are... Are you a sorceress as well?" he asked warily.

I snorted and shook my head. "No, just an accomplice."

"What is all this then?" he asked while glancing around at the room once more.

I bit down on my bottom lip. I spent two days thinking a lot about how to ease into the subject of how I'm a freaking time-traveller, but I couldn't find a way to soften the blow. It's just too insane.

Just as I went to open my mouth, a male nurse entered the room, carrying a walker. "Mr. Stevens, I am here to help you to the bathroom," he announced.

"Later," I promised Arthur.

The nurse left after Arthur took a quick shower and did his business – simple tasks that left him very confused, no doubt because of how modern showers and toilets work.

I couldn't help but feel slightly amused at his dazed state as he stared at the door of the bathroom with a distrustful frown.

After a minute or two, he turned towards me and demanded, "Are you going to explain now?"

A nervous sigh escaped me, but I still nodded, "Yeah... I guess it's fair." My King nodded in agreement. I curled up on the chair and took a deep breath before revealing, "Well... we're in America."

His mouth opened and closed, like a fish out of water, for a few moments until he gulped and asked, "Did... did the dragons take us here?"

"In a sense..." I mumbled.

"Astraea," he pressed with a narrow-eyed look.

"I'm not a witch, Artie," I repeated. "But, much like Merls, there's something about me that I never had the guts to tell ya'..."

"What is it?"

"I-I... I was born in the year 2003..." I finally confessed.

Arthur's eyes widened. "Two-thousand-and–three?! That does not make any sense!"

"I know," I said with a sigh. "It's crazy. But a bunch of even crazier things happened... and I accidentally ended up... fifteen centuries in the past."

Man, I sound like a lunatic!

"That is impossible!" he exclaimed.

I nodded. "I thought so, too... but, as it turns out... it's not."

"How!? Did you use magic?!"

"Lower your voice, Art, there are people outside," I told him with a pointed look. He simply clenched his jaw as he stared at me expectantly. "No, it wasn't magic. Just science."

He scoffed, "Science?"

"Yeah..." I breathed out. "Remember Leo?" Arthur nodded. "He's kind of a genius, and he and some of his friends figured out all the physics to make time-travel work, and I was their guinea pig..."

"This is madness, Astraea," he muttered.

"I know... but I wouldn't lie to you about something like this..."

"You lied to me about Merlin," he growled.

"It wasn't my secret to tell," I defended.

He huffed and shook his head. "What about all of this?" he asked. "Why did you not tell me sooner?"

"You wouldn't have believed me," I noted in a whisper. He averted his gaze. "And I was afraid I would lose you because of it."

His head snapped towards me again. "And now you do not care?"

"Of course not! How can you think that?!" It was my turn to raise my voice. "The only reason why any of this happened is because I don't wanna lose you! I wasn't supposed to return to Camelot the first time Leo went to bring me back here, but I wanted to be with you!" Arthur's gaze softened at that. "You mean everything to me, Arthur. That's been true for a long time."

I wiped some tears that had formed in my eyes and stood up with the intention to pace and relieve some pent-up energy, but the pain in my ribs instantly forced me to sit back down with a groan.

I forgot about that...

"You are hurt," my King noted in a gentle tone.

"Yeah..." I responded in a mumble. "It happened during the battle."

"How?"

"Phoenix was shot out of the sky and I fell with him..." I explained sheepishly.

"The dragon?"

"Yep."

Arthur reached for my hand and I instantly took his, feeling a wave of relief pass through me.

Maybe he doesn't hate me as much as I thought he would.

"Has a physician taken a look?" he asked.

"Nope," I replied with a slight shake of my head. "I didn't wanna leave in case you woke up."

"You also seem exhausted," he pointed out.

I snorted. "Well, I haven't really slept since that last night in our room..."

He gave me a small grin and I watched in confusion as he carefully scooted over on the bed, then he patted the spot next to him.

My jaw dropped for a moment as I processed his silent request.

"Come here, get some sleep," he commanded.

"Y-you don't hate me, then?" I asked, my voice almost a whisper.

"I could never hate you, Astra," he responded. "I am definitely angry, but I love you too much to hate you."

A big relieved smile formed on my lips and I didn't waste another second before leaving the sofa chair and getting on the bed, snuggling up beside my King while being mindful of his wound. He put his arm around my waist and I let my head fall against his shoulder, breathing in his soapy scent.

"I love you, too, Artie," I said.

He kissed the top of my head and everything was all right with the world again.

"I am still very angry," he repeated.

I nodded. "I know, and I get it, and I promise to tell you everything you wanna know."

"You can start by telling me why there is a needle stuck in my arm," he stated.

I chuckled and reached up to kiss his cheek before starting to explain what an I.V. is.

I woke up to my phone buzzing and gave my alarmed King a sheepish grin before pulling it out of the pocket of my hoodie. I grinned when I saw that it was Oliver calling and I answered in a heartbeat – "Queen of Camelot speaking!"

"You sound cheery," my cousin noted. "I take it that means Arthur's awake?"

Oops! I forgot to text my family about that!

"Yep!" I chirped.

"Awesome!" Oliver exclaimed. "Mom n' I are headin' over now. D'ya want anything to eat?"

"If it's not too much trouble..." I responded, not really feeling up to getting some plain hospital food when I've been missing out on so much.

"'Course not," he assured me. "I'll see ya' in a bit."

"'Kay. Thanks, Olly."

I slowly gazed up at my King when I hung up and I gave him a guilty smile when I noticed his befuddled look.

"Um... this is called a smartphone," I said while showing him my device. "It can contact anyone in the world, and it can take photos and videos, and it has games."

"I do not know what half of that means, Astra," Arthur grumbled as he hesitantly took the phone from me, looking it over with a frown.

I sighed and turned it on again, causing my King to recoil in shock as my screensaver – a collage of Dallas and I – appeared. I gently took back the device and unlocked it before clicking on the camera roll and scrolling to find the very shaky video that Gwen managed to sneak of our wedding; figuring that I might be able to appease his bewilderment with that.

"Believe it or not, this fella has been with me the entire time I've been in Camelot..." I confessed as I handed it back to Arthur again, allowing him to watch the video.

He raised an eyebrow. "That is us..." he very brilliantly pointed out, "on our wedding..."

"Yeah... Gwen took it," I revealed and bit down on my bottom lip as I awaited a reaction.

"Gwen knows?!"

"Yeah," I breathed out while averting my gaze. "Only recently, though, and she found out by accident." Arthur huffed in frustration. "Well, she found out about Merls and I told her about me in solidarity to him."

"How did she find out?"

"She saw Merls healin' me after Morgana almost killed me..."

He gasped. "What?! When was this?!"

I puffed. "Remember when she took the castle with Agravaine's help? And her magic wasn't working, so she ran away, and Merls, Gwennie n' I went after 'er?"

"Yes..."

"That's when..."

Arthur scoffed and shook his head. "How many times have you been in such grave danger without me knowing?!"

I averted my gaze once more while admitting, "A bunch..."

"How many times have you and Merlin saved my life without me knowing?" he inquired.

"I dunno... We lost count after a couple"

He fell pensive as he stared at his lap with a small frown and a bit of a pout on his lips.

"You and him... all these years... you did all of this without ever seeking any recognition," he noted softly.

"We had each other for that," I responded with a shrug. "Besides, we did all of it 'cause we love you, not because we wanted praise, or fame, or money, or anything like that."

Arthur turned to me with a look I couldn't decipher, but it made my heart-rate speed up. He leaned down and gently brushed our noses together. Then he pressed his lips against mine. Finally kissing him again after three days felt like entering heaven. I quickly lifted a hand to his hair and the other to the side of his face while he pulled me closer to his warm body by wrapping his arms around my waist.

"I still wish I had known," he whispered once we separated.

"We got into a lot of crazy crap, Artie," I responded softly while gently rubbing my thumb against his cheek. "The point was to lighten your burden, not to add to it."

"You are unbelievable," he claimed before kissing me again.

"Honestly, it was all Merls," I said once I was allowed to speak again. "I only followed his lead."

"I do not believe that for a second," Arthur stated. I snorted. "And I want to hear the whole story," he added with a pointed look.

"And you will, I promise."

"Good."

He kissed me again, this time more decisively as his tongue slipped past my lips without warning, making me gasp for a moment before I allowed myself to get lost in the moment as I moved to straddle his lap, remaining mindful of his injury.

My nervous system buzzed with electricity and I felt a wave of peace travel my veins.

We jolted apart at the sound of a throat clearing, followed by male laughter. I turned slowly towards the door and smiled sheepishly when I found an unimpressed Sage, a cackling Oliver, and a flustered Kelly standing there. I rapidly moved off Arthur to sit beside him again.

"Uh... Y'all are supposed to knock," I said.

"And you're both supposed to be resting!" Sage shot back. "I swear, you're tryin' to get kicked out!"

I chuckled. "You said that already."

"Are you going to introduce us, dear?" Kelly cut in while her eyes darted between Arthur and myself.

My smile grew at the realisation that my King will finally meet my whole family... what's left of it anyway... and I nodded eagerly as I turned to Arthur again, "Artie – these are my cousin Sage, my Aunt Kelly, and, well, you remember Olly."

"What's up, man!" Oliver chirped and he approached with eager strides to offer my King a high-five and a fist-bump, which he returned a bit hesitantly, but with a grin. "It's great to see ya' again!"

"Likewise," Arthur replied with a courteous nod.

"It is nice to finally meet ya', Arthur," my Aunt said kindly. "Star and Oliver have nothing but good things to say about you."

"I could think of a few bad ones..." I piped in with a smirk.

"Hey!" Arthur whined, making me giggle.

"Y'know, I miss it when you barely spoke a sentence," Sage said as she narrowed her eyes at me.

"Hey!" it was my turn to be offended as I grabbed a pillow and flung it her way.

Kelly gasped, "Astraea! Behave yourself!"

I pouted and curled up beside my King again while my family took seats around the room.

It wasn't long before a nurse brought some food for Arthur and the rest of us dug into the take-out that Oliver got while we all chatted.

The events that led to this moment might've been chaotic and frightening, but I am grateful to have reunited with my family, to be able to introduce them to the love of my life; and, above all, I am grateful that Arthur is alive and on a sure road to recovery.

We beat the stupid prophecies!

Camelot

July, 509 AD

Sir Gwaine's eyes were struggling to remain open as he blinked rapidly while trying to keep his concentration set on the game of 'Plants VS Zombies' he was engaged in on Astraea's tablet. He had promised his friends that he would remain awake beside the little time-machine until morning, and they'd agreed that Gwen would then relieve him of the duty so he could go to sleep.

He grunted when his index finger, clumsy from exhaustion, accidentally clicked on the wrong spot in the garden, leaving an entire row without protection save for a single useless sunflower. The knight hurried to gather as many suns as he could so that he'd be able to place a peashooter in front of that.

Suddenly, he was distracted by a single beep coming from the time-machine. He paused the game, slid the tablet to the side, and quickly opened the box to find a small yellow paper square (a post-it note, of course). He picked it up and scanned the letters on it, instantly recognising the ugly handwriting as Astra's.

'Artie's surgery went great and he's expected to make a full recovery :D'

A big smile spread upon Gwaine's lips and he hastened to wake up Gaius, not stopping for a moment to explain his actions before rushing upstairs to wake Merlin as well (and accidentally waking Daegal in the process).

"Trae sent a note! Arthur is all right!" the knight exclaimed as soon as the sorcerer's eyes opened.

Merlin remained still for a moment as his brain turned over the words. Then he noticed the beaming grin upon his friend's lips and he allowed himself to smile as well. "He is?!"

Gwaine promptly handed him the post-it.

"She did it," Merlin breathed out. "She actually did it!" His eyes connected with the knight's once again and they hugged each other tightly for a few moments before dashing down the stairs to inform Gaius.

Merlin was quick to leave the physician's apartment afterwards and he sprinted all the way to Gwen's home so that he could deliver the news.

At about 10:00, the four appointed regents called for a meeting with the council, what remained of the knights, a still recovering Prince Benjamin, Prince Cynebald, and as many courtiers as could fit in the throne room... And then they fought in hushed whispers over who should be the one to announce the great news. None of them felt that it was appropriate to address the kingdom on behalf of the King and Queen. Until, finally, Gwaine rolled his eyes and stepped onto the elevated platform, causing all eyes to fall on him.

The knight cleared his throat and he smirked before cheering, "The King lives!"

A celebration instantly erupted in the room.