A/N: Thank you for all of the reviews, I really enjoyed reading them. As all writers do! Anyway, in this chapter, Arthur will see Arya for the first time so expect some gushiness and some father/daughter bonding (there will be loads more in the upcoming chapters, don't worry). I want this chapter to be in Gwen's POV but the next one will be from Arthur's as I will tell you about how he's got home and what's happened to Jacque. I hope you enjoy this chapter and I still don't OWN Merlin!
As I explained slowly to Arthur about already having the baby, a tumult of emotions crossed Arthur's face. Firstly, Arthur looked slightly guilty as I had explained the rest of my pregnancy from after he had gone missing but as I explained how I had went in birth earlier today, he looked even guiltier. However, he also looked excited at the prospect of seeing Arya.
"Can I see her?" He asked me, once I had finished talking.
The tone of his voice had told me all I needed to know. I could tell that he was still in shock and I can't really blame him. After all, the last time he had seen me was when I was five months gone.
I nodded to him, smiling, before taking him by the hand and making our way up the stairs. The feeling of Arthur's hand in mine was such a wondrous feeling that I couldn't help but keep glancing at Arthur to see if he was really with me.
Arthur, seeing this, gave my hand a squeeze and kept smiling at me. However, there was something in his smile which made me want to frown. He not only looked apprehensive but also slightly guilty. I couldn't help but wish to relieve those feelings but I knew that he sees Arya he'll be fine.
We softly made our way into our bedroom in order to not wake Arya. As soon as Arthur spied Arya sleeping peacefully in her Moses basket, I saw him look at her in wonder. His blue eyes were alight with awe and happiness and I started smiling at the sight. It was absolutely obvious that not only was he was besotted with his daughter but the protectiveness his eyes showed me, he felt the surge of protectiveness and love all new parents do just like I did.
Not only did he look absolutely contented but as I saw him gaze at Arya's delicate little hands and feet, I saw him gaze at her with complete, utter love.
"She's absolutely precious, Guinevere." He breathed to me, smiling.
My eyes filled with tears of happiness at his words and as I looked to Arthur, who was still gazing happily at our baby, I realised that I felt whole. Throughout the rest of my pregnancy, there had always been something missing and I knew it was Arthur but now, I feel absolutely fulfilled.
"Yes, she is." I told him, softly.
Arthur took his attention away from Arya for a moment and turned to look at me. As soon as he had done so, I saw the look in his eyes. He had always been a loving husband before he had went missing as I could always see the love he felt for me in his eyes but this time, there wasn't just love in his eyes but also pride as well. Pride that we had managed to create something as absolutely beautiful and precious as Arya…..
Arthur hadn't let go off my hand the entire time and I hadn't felt the desire to let go of his either. After everything that had happened, I didn't want let him go for a minute and as Arthur pulled me into another hug, I knew he felt the same.
"I'm sorry I wasn't here for you, Guinevere. I've missed so much." He admitted to me, in the hug.
At his words, I couldn't help but slightly angry. Arthur hadn't gone missing on purpose and I felt the need to tell him so he would stop blaming himself.
When I did so, my voice was a little sharper than I would have liked.
"It wasn't your fault, Arthur. You're here for Arya and I and that's all that matters!" I told him, emphatically, looking up to his face.
At soon as I mentioned Arya, Arthur started to smile and for what seemed the hundredth time since I had answered the door, I wanted to thank God that Arthur had returned to me.
"I love you, Guinevere." Those three words came so smoothly out of Arthur's lips and the sound of them were so ecstatic that I was half torn between crying out of happiness or telling him how I feel. After gazing at Arthur for a moment, I decided to tell him my feelings.
As I did so, the look of pure love I received from Arthur made me feel as if we were still at the airfield waiting to be married again. It was as if he couldn't wait for our life together to start. Even though, technically, it already had as we were now married, Arya's birth would mean a whole new chapter.
A couple of moment later, a piercing wail came for the Moses basket and we reluctantly ended our hug.
I looked at my watch and seeing that it was time to give her the milk, I knew she would be hungry hence the reason for her crying. With Arthur standing next to me, I bent down and softly picked Arya up before rocking her gently.
I could feel Arthur looking at me and I knew he wanted to hold her. As I motioned for him to come to me so he could hold her, Arthur looked absolutely ecstatic. The look of joy on his face filled me not only with happiness but relief. In that moment, I knew that everything would be alright.
After I had shown Arthur how to hold Arya properly, I slowly transferred Arya into Arthur's more than willing arms.
"I'll just go and get her bottle." I told him, softly.
He nodded to me, looking a little apprehensive but I could tell he wanted to bond a little with his daughter and him holding her would help that. As I reached up to give Arthur a kiss on his check, I gave him a reassuring smile.
I quickly made my way downstairs before going into the kitchen. I must have still been in shock as I searched for the bottle I had ready made for Arya. Just as I was about to come back up the stairs, I realised Morgana was coming down the stairs.
I was swamped with guilt as I noticed how tired she looked. Not only did her raven hair look a little untidy as it was in absolute disarray but the bags under her eyes reiterated how tired she must be. As she rubbed her eyes, I realised the knock on the door had woken her up.
"I heard the door. Who was it?" She muttered, half asleep, before yawning widely.
At her words, I wondered whether I should tell her straight away or wait for her to have woken up properly. When she sat down on the sofa, I decided just to come out with it as I was slightly too happy not to tell someone.
"It was Arthur!" I told her, smiling happily.
Morgana, at my words, was visibly shocked as I waited for the barrage of questions to come, they didn't. She opened her mouth to speak a couple of times but she never uttered a word. She seemed too shocked to say anything.
After a couple of seconds, she finally started talking and this time she sounded a little happier and less shocked.
"That's great, Gwen." She told me, simply.
Despite the simplicity of her words, I knew Arthur returning was a big thing for her and as I looked into her eyes, I saw some apprehension and in that instant, I knew why she was acting the way she is. After all, the last time she had talked to Arthur, it had hardly gone smoothly.
"I had better give Arya her bottle." I told her, motioning the bottle in my hand.
She nodded and gave me a smile. I wanted to speak to her more, to reassure her about the situation but I aware that Arya was probably still crying even if I couldn't hear her from downstairs.
I once again made my way upstairs. Before I entered our bedroom, I heard Arthur talking to Arya. Although, from where I was standing, his voice was muffled, I could still hear his words clearly enough.
"How could I miss your birth, Arya? I had already missed so much. You do realise that you're my little princess, don't you?" He told her, as he rocked her. His voice full of tenderness and sincerity. So tender that I felt that I was intruding simply by listening.
To my amazement, as I made my way into the bedroom, I noticed that not only had Arya stopped crying but she was gazing up at Arthur. Even though, her gaze was slightly unfocused, something told me she was looking at her daddy.
Arthur noticed my presence and the blush on his face told me he knew that I had heard some of what he had told her. Either way, I didn't want to embarrass him and as I passed the bottle to him, I could help smiling at him.
Throughout my pregnancy, I had been absolutely terrified of losing Arya because she was link to Arthur but from the moment she had been born, she was so much more than that. How can you love something so small and delicate so emphatically? I had never thought I would love someone as much as Arthur as soon as Arya was born, I did.
Everything I had ever dreamed of was coming true. When I had married Arthur, I never believed I would feel as fulfilled as I did then but as I looked to Arya in Arthur's arms guzzling her milk greedily and Arthur shooting me loving looks in between gazing at Arya, I felt so complete that I was worried, I would combust.
A/N: There you go! In the next chapter, it will be from Arthur's POV but he will also find out about Morgana and his father and Gwen will be finding out about what's happened to him. Including his leg!
I hope this was alright. There isn't too many to go. About 4 at the most, so make the most of the story!
Please review!