A/G Christmas fic. Modern AU.

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin, the characters, etc.

Gwen had expected that by this time she would have been curled up in an armchair drinking hot cocoa and listening as her brother told stories about his latest free lance gig. Instead she was sitting at a desk waiting for Arthur to demand that she go do something else completely inane that he could probably do himself. But why should he when he had her? He'd already sent everyone else home hours ago, including Merlin, but had absolutely insisted that she stay.

"Guinevere?" She rolled her eyes. He's the only one that calls her that. Even her father had called her Gwen. Usually it didn't bother her. Usually work didn't bother her. But it was Christmas Eve. She glanced at her watch. Make that almost Christmas morning.

"Arthur," she leaned into his office. "You have something for me?"

He glanced up, "Yes, I need you to make me a cappuccino. And do that little swirly thing with the foam."

"Alright."

"Oh, and if you could also finish up that proposal that I had you working on. I needed that on my desk an hour ago."

She kept her expression neutral. "Of course."

She bites her lip as she walks toward the kitchen. She can distinctly remember him saying that he didn't need the proposal until after the holidays. She was beginning to hate the holidays.

Gwen opened the door to the kitchen and her last thought was completely wiped from her mind. It's been completely transformed. The little tree with one sad string of lights had been replaced by a full fir tree with lights and garlands and ornaments and silver snowflakes are hanging from the ceiling. A plasma television has been set up and there's a fire flickering on the screen.

"So, what do you think?" Arthur has appeared behind her. Bottle of wine in hand.

She jumps. "Arthur, did you do this?" She enters the room and turns to face him. "It's…it's wonderful."

"I did."

She raises her eyebrows.

"Alright, so I had Merlin set it up, but I picked everything out."

"I thought that you said that we couldn't-"

"I know what I said, but I've changed my mind."

"You did, did you?"

"Oh," he leans in and kisses her. "I most certainly did."