Written as a response to a review for No Emergency Exit left by . I've wanted to write a scene like this for a while but just haven't found the drive to do it, so having it requested kicked me into gear to do it. Fits into the epilogue.
The tension in House Pendragon was at an all time high. With the scattered shards of the dinner plate that the nurse had launched at her husband remained on the floor. It all seemed so stupid now. Not worth the time nor effort of screaming at him, having him shout back and having their children overhear everything. She trusted her husband more than anyone, yet the stress of work teamed with Ava's immanent start to school and her father's short stint of bad health. It was Arthur that paid the price for the bad things that happened. He knew it.
With the three children safely tucked back into bed, the two youngest firmly asleep, Gwen ventured back into the kitchen to clear up the mess she had made. She picked up the larger pieces in her hand and placed them into the centre page of the local newspaper before she grabbed the dustpan and brush from the cupboard under the sink. She crouch by the pile of broken pieces and swept them into the pan.
A shadow cast across the tiled floor from the doorway into the hall. Gwen didn't need to look up to know that the father to her children was standing there. "I'm sorry," he apologised, leaning against the door frame.
Gwen chewed on her lip, halting all movements before she chose to look up at him over her shoulder, "You shouldn't have to apologise. I shouldn't have started on you."
"No, you were right to. I've not been there for you as much as I should have recently and I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault. You're busy."
"I shouldn't be too busy to be there for my wife."
"Will you stop making excuses," she said with a lowered tone to stop herself from snapping at him again, "it's not your fault. I'm not making excuses for shouting at you but it's been hard for me recently, with Dad and Ava and going back full-time to work. I have people I can depend on, you shouldn't have to feel like my problems are yours."
"But you should be able to share them with me when you need to," he said quietly moving away from the door and crouching down beside her, taking the brush from her hand and sweeping up the remaining pieces into the dustpan in her grasp, "we're not the perfect couple."
"We never have been. But I love you and I shouldn't have shouted."
"Maybe it was what you needed."
"I do feel a bit better, if a lot worse for scaring the kids."
"They'll be fine. Jamie and Ava will have forgotten about it by morning and Lexie will cope. She's the strongest person we know, remember." Gwen nodded. She'd been tough since birth.
"What about us?"
"I think arguing is healthy for people. Though maybe next time we do it whilst one of our Dads have the kids." He kissed the top of her forehead. "We'll be just fine. All of us."
