AN: Tiiimeee tooo say goooddbyeeeeeeeee.
DISCLAIMER: Merlin is not owned by me. That's all. Shine and BBC have got the dibs.
They couldn't wait till Christmas this year. Finally, they had gotten their way and they got to have a big family Christmas. They never saw them most of the time.
Liam was 26 and newly married. Holly - his wife - was a gorgeous, sweet thing and Arthur insisted that she reminded him of Gwen. They lived further south in Stafford where Liam worked hard as a solicitor.
Madeline was 21 and in the midst of drama school. She lived a short while outside of the city and visited occasionally. Madeline was a born drama queen so when she asked (pleaded) to apply to drama school, they really had no option but to say yes.
Two years after Maddie's birth, Gwen discovered she was pregnant again. Jessica was 19 now and had just started university up in Scotland. This move was the worst for Arthur and Gwen. A different country entirely and she could only visit every other month since the train fares were awful.
But they'd have them back at Christmas. All tucked into their family home, telling crappy jokes, pulling crackers and laughing.
Gwen made up all the room in the house in anticipation.
Their babies were coming home.
...
They were due to arrive on Christmas Eve.
Madeline arrived first, dumping her bag in the hallway and yelling out, "I'm home, MUM! DAD?"
"MADDIE!" Gwen squealed running up to her, kissing her eagerly on the cheeks. Madeline giggled and hugged her mum.
"I missed you too." Maddie chuckled and reached out to hug her father, "DAD!"
"Hey, sweetie. How's school?" Arthur asked while hugging her and kissing her forehead.
"Brilliant." Maddie beamed. "Now, am I in my old room?"
"Of course! Where else would you be!" Gwen replied, laughing. Maddie snorted and picked up her bag. She scurried up the stairs quickly and dumped it on her bed before rushing downstairs again.
...
Liam and Holly arrived a little while after.
"Hey kids." Arthur grinned, greeting them both at the door. They got in the door and simply seconds later, were attacked by Gwen. Arthur hugged his son briefly and leant to kiss Holly on the cheek.
"Oh Holly, you look lovely!" Gwen clapped her hands joyfully. "How was the drive?"
"Fine, mum." Liam insisted before hugging both her and Arthur. "Where's Mad..ow!"
Maddie had tackled him into a hug.
"Hey!" Liam smiled. "Now... well of course Jessica's the last one!"
...
Jessica yawned noisily as she approached the door to her house. She could see the shadows of her family sitting in the living room. She laughed merrily, happy to be home.
She rung the door bell and was greeted by a slightly crazy looking Gwen.
"OH JESSY!" She hugged her. "How was the train? Did it take long. Oh you look freezing."
"I'm fine, mum." Jessica kissed her on the cheek, hugged her and followed her into the living room.
"Oh the whole crew is here!" Jessica announced at the doorway.
Both Maddie and Liam stood up to hug her. Arthur stood behind them and after they were done, he hugged her tightly.
"Happy to have you home, spud." He kissed her forehead.
...
Merlin and Morgana arrived a little while later. Molly had just turned 25 and their other daughter, Poppy was 18 and just getting out of school. Both girls trailed their parents, Molly with her husband of 2 years, Drew.
Elyan and Elena arrived sometime later with their son Ryan who was 16.
The family reuinion was jumping and everyone was laughing and joking.
"Well." Liam announced. "There's no time like the present and no better company than family."
Everybody looked at him expectantly before he continued.
"Holly and I have something to tell you."
Gwen and Arthur's eyes grew wide. This sounded rather like her own admittance of...
"I'm pregnant." Holly grinned at the family.
Gwen and Arthur stared at each other before smiling happily. They shared a soft kiss before walking over to the couple and hugging them.
...
"Well then." Arthur smirked, getting into bed later that night.
"I know!" Gwen chuckled. "Such an eventful Christmas Eve."
"We're going to be grandparents." Arthur beamed at Gwen.
"I know!" Gwen grinned. "It's so weird. It felt just like yesterday I was holding Liam in my arms or when Maddie walked for the first time. Or when Jess said "Dada."'
Arthur nodded and thought back to those important moments.
"And now we get to see our children feel that same joy." Arthur told her.
"Yeah." Gwen replied, snuggling closer to him. "We've had one hell of a journey."
...
AN: CHEESEFEST SAY HEY. I regret nothing. Absolutely nothing.
Sad to say goodbye! I don't think I'll make a sequel and I'm not sure I'll be able to continue On The Right Track as I am quite focused on my Pitch Perfect fic right now (that you are welcome to read btw) but who knows!
It's been awesome guys and thank you for making me feel so welcome.
FINAL LIST OF MUSIC:
Stubborn Love - The Lumineers / Love Love Love - Of Monsters and Men / Lover of the Light - Mumford and Sons / Feels Like The First Time - Foreigner (damnit Pitch Perfect)
Au revoir, Hannah.