AN: I am so sorry for not updating this sooner. I was swamped by a 2000 word assignment for university but I finally managed to finish and hand it in and to celebrate, I'm updating this story. After this I'm going to move into a collection of one-shots of the Pendragon family life, so any you can think of feel free to submit.
Merlin was aware something strange was going on. Two people as well as the adults in the home were giving him lots of attention, sometimes he got new toys or clothes and every time he seen the adults who he knew were called Wen and Arfur. Wen and Arfur were really nice and always spent a lot of time with him, taking him places and sometimes buying him sweets or a new toy. They told him that someday he would come and live with them. He hoped so, he wanted to have a Mummy and Daddy again and he wanted Wen and Arfur to be his new Mummy and Daddy. The last time Wen and Arfur had come to see him they gave him big hugs and told him that very soon he would be coming home to live with them.
"Merlin come on, time to get up." Sefa, one of the care workers said as she entered the room and lifted Merlin out of his bed. Merlin grabbed Thusie as Sefa took him to get washed and dressed before leading him downstairs to join the other children for his breakfast. As she fed Merlin, Sefa turned to Will, one of the older boys in the home who had a soft spot for Merlin and looked out for him whenever he could.
"Will would you keep an eye on Merlin? We need to get his things packed up." Sefa explained and Will nodded his head.
"Yeah all right. What time's he going at?" Will asked; the thirteen year old had to admit, he was sorry to see the toddler leave the home even though he knew the boy was going to a loving family. It was always the littlest ones who were fostered first but ever since Merlin came to the home, Will had enjoyed having the toddler around. Merlin listened to everything he said and seemed to regard Will as a big brother and Will privately loved how Merlin would toddle around after him asking question after question, it made him regard Merlin as the baby brother he never had.
"Arthur and Gwen should be here at around two." Sefa replied as she finished feeding Merlin and left the room. Will lifted Merlin off his seat and took him one a final walk around the home before taking him outside. The rest of the children were aware that Merlin was leaving and the majority were making sure to spend some time with the toddler before he left. Merlin was contented with the attention he was receiving and to spend time with Will, who was sometimes too busy to spend time with him. Merlin was unaware of what was really going on until Sefa and Nimueh came into the room along with Gwen and Arthur who walked over to Merlin grinning at him.
"Hello Merlin," Gwen greeted as she and Arthur hugged him tightly.
"Hi," Merlin replied and Arthur lifted Merlin onto his knee.
"Merlin, remember when we said that we would want you to come home with us?" Arthur asked and Merlin nodded. "Well, we're going to be taking you home today, what do you think about that?"
"Yay!" Merlin shouted as he flung his arms around Arthur's neck before jumping into Gwen's arms and hugging her too, causing the adults to laugh as Merlin repeatedly shouted 'yay' excitedly.
"We've got almost all his belongings packed and its tradition to have a little celebration whenever one of the children leaves." Nimueh explained. It wasn't anything special, just a little sort of farewell party for the children to say their goodbyes.
A few hours and several sweet treats later, Arthur and two of the care workers were ensuring all of Merlin's belongings were packed into the car while Gwen and Nimueh took Merlin around all the children, allowing them to say their farewells. Most of the children ruffled Merlin's hair or told him that he would be missed. Will however gave Merlin a tight hug and seemed a bit teary-eyed as he said his farewells to Merlin. Then it was the care workers and Nimueh's turn to say their farewells.
"I'll miss you little Merlin," Nimueh said as she gave Merlin a tight hug before passing him to Arthur who hoisted Merlin into his arms.
"Thank you, for everything you've done." Gwen smiled as she shook Nimueh's hand and Arthur shifted his hold on Merlin to do the same.
"We couldn't have done this without your help." Arthur said, if it hadn't been for the tireless help from both Nimueh and Mithian, their dream of having a child would never be coming true.
"It's just our job. From here on in, Merlin is now your son. Good luck." Nimueh smiled as she escorted the three out of the house. Arthur's hands trembled slightly as he fastened Merlin into the car seat they had bought when they first started visiting Merlin; still daring to believe that this was really happening and it wasn't just some wonderful dream. Once Merlin was fastened into the car and still holding tightly onto Thusie, his little white stuffed dragon, Arthur and Gwen climbed into the car, smiled at one another before Arthur turned the ignition and pulled out of the grounds of the children's home.
"We've actually done it," Gwen commented as she smiled at Merlin in the rear-view mirror. He was her son. He was their son. They finally had a child of their own.
"It's incredible, I feel like I'm dreaming." Arthur replied.
"Really?" Gwen grinned before playfully pinching Arthur's arm.
"OW! Hey what was that for?" Arthur yelped as Gwen rubbed his arm and Merlin giggled at their antics. "Was that funny Merlin?"
"Yeah!" Merlin laughed, resting his chin on Thusie's head and smiling innocently at his adopted father as his adoptive mother turned and beamed at him again.
"See, he's my boy already. Aren't you Merlin?" Gwen asked playfully, still getting used to saying those words. 'Her boy'.
"Yeah!" Merlin repeated as Gwen reached through the gap between the seats and took Merlin's hand as they reached the suburb Arthur and Gwen lived on and pulled up outside the house. They had taken Merlin to their house a few times to get him used to what would have been their new home.
"This is your new house Merlin." Gwen said as she got out of the car, opened the back door and unfastened Merlin from his car seat before lifting him into her arms. Arthur opened the front door and the three of them walked into the house together. Merlin peered around the hallway and squirmed slightly to be let down. Gwen obliged and the toddler ran off, Thusie clutched tightly in his hand as Merlin ran into the lounge to start exploring. Arthur and Gwen watched him go with a smile before Arthur turned to get Merlin's belongings from the boot of the car.
"It all begins now." Arthur commented and they both smiled as they could hear Merlin running around the lounge and what sounded like him undoubtedly jumping on the sofa.
"It does," Gwen agreed as Arthur went outside. Gwen stood at the doorway and glanced momentarily at the two blooming rose bushes before a loud cry from the lounge diverted her attention. Gwen walked into the lounge to see Merlin standing on the arm of the armchair and Thusie who had somehow ended up on top of the shelving unit that was filled with their DVDs, books and CDs. Gwen reached up and grabbed Thusie and handed him back to Merlin who immediately stopped crying, hugged Gwen tightly and continued playing the flying game with his dragon.
"Yes, it's begun." Gwen smiled to herself as she watched Merlin play in his new home.
AN: Sorry it's so short but my brain is still fried from essay writing. Like I said earlier, I'm not going to move into a series of one-shots and feel free to contribute any ideas you may have.
