They say it's a matter of time, a thousand days and the sun won't shine before I'm coming back to you. And I'm happy, nothing's going to stop me, I'm making my way home, I'm making my way. For your love I will go far, I wanna be wherever you are, I know I'm coming back for you. Our love is a river long, the best right in a million wrongs, I know I'm coming back to you
12th October 2019
"Come on, Merlin" Morgana snapped. "Lamia will be here soon and I don't want her to think we live in a fucking doghouse". Lamia was their social worker and was helping them throughout the process. Lamia had been rather helpful and thought that they were ready to get the adoption done yet Merlin and Morgana had their doubts so she decided to do a few more home visits to make sure everything was OK.
"I'm hurrying" Merlin insisted as he quickly grabbed the laundry basket and ran across the living room. Failing to notice the edge of Amhar's bounce puppy, he caught his foot on the edge of it and went flying with all the clothes. "Why do we have so many fucking baby toys!".
"Because we have a baby" Morgana rolled her eyes as she began to help pick up the clothes. "Who has three doting older brothers, an aunt that is obsessed with spoiling him and another aunt that loves to get him the most noisy toy in existence".
"It wasn't this messy when Arthur and Gwen were alive" Merlin grumbled.
"That's because he was six months old and was addicted to his Jumperoo and tummy time mat. He didn't need that many toys...well, as for now" Morgana grimaced as she turned around and quickly ducked to avoid being hit in the head with whatever Amhar had just decided to throw, luckily his talking Bing toy.
"Is the baby's room clean?" Merlin asked.
"Why would the baby room need to be clean?" Morgana scoffed.
"Because the whole house should be" Merlin shrugged.
"And it's perfectly fine, it looks like the bloody IKEA SUNDVIK brochure with all its matching furniture" Morgana sighed. "You pick up the toys and keep them in the corner, move the jumperoo into the conservatory and I'll do the clothes".
"There's no space in the conservatory we have the table!" Merlin exclaimed.
"Yeah, well the kitchen's big and there ain't anywhere to put things apart from those measly countertops. So we're moving the table into the kitchen and using the conservatory as a store room. At some point. That way I can keep Amhar in the kitchen when I'm cooking easier".
"Sounds good" Merlin shrugged. "You put him in the cot and I'll move the table".
"What, now?" Morgana scoffed. "They're going to be here in.." she checked her watch, "an hour".
"Plenty of time" Merlin shrugged. "Put the laundry basket on the bed, we can move the highchair and then the table, then shove all the baby stuff in the conservatory".
"You do the highchair, I'll put the clothes away" Morgana sighed exasperatedly she stomped up the stairs. With Amhar watching with a grin from his highchairs Merlin and Morgana had to quickly dismantle the table slightly in order to fit it through the door, Merlin reassembling it while Morgana put the toys in the conservatory.
"You don't think it looks like we literally just moved it, does it?" Merlin asked.
Morgana shook her head. "Looks fine. Anyway, I think there are some things we should go through before Lamia gets here".
"Okay" Merlin shrugged as they sat down at the table. "What is it?".
"Right, first of all. The surname issue. I mean, long term if we stay together and ... you know, maybe get married, I'd be likely to change my surname. Yet if we don't change Amhar's surname, it still works cause I'll have his surname, so I guess I'm unsure as to what to do".
"Marry me" Merlin replied shrugging lightly.
"What did you say?" Morgana sputtered.
"Marry me" Merlin repeated. "Look, it makes sense. We want to be a family, we have the surname issue, then I suppose finances and housing too can be easier. So, why not?".
"Okay" Morgana agreed as she put the baby on her lap. "Let's get married. Eloping?".
"Sounds good. Before the adoption?".
"Before the adoption" Morgana agreed. "I think it sounds good but if I'm being honest ... I think we should definitely consider it but sleep on it, if you get what I mean".
"Of course" Merlin nodded. "Right, finances".
"Thank god Arthur and Gwen paid off the mortgage" Morgana muttered. "I get £800 a month from my renters".
"Only £700" Merlin pouted.
"Ah finally, the gender pay gap has been closed" Morgana grinned. "So nursery fees are .. £700 a month, combined income is £4600 a month plus our flats so £1500, weekly shopping too. Not to mention the bills".
"Maths teacher to the rescue" Merlin grinned as he began to work out their finances. They soon concluded that with the recent addition of insurance payout from the car company and Arthur and Gwen's life insurance they would soon be given a rather good sum of money yet they decided to open up a joint bank account first, otherwise they would be financially OK. Lamia soon arrived afterwards knocking loudly on the door, Merlin going to answer the door while Morgana played with Amhar as he bounced on his puppy again.
"Well, how are thing?" Lamia asked.
"It's all going rather well" Morgana replied with a smile.
"We're also feeling more confident about the adoption" Merlin added. "We're ready to do it".
"That's good" Lamia smiled. "Are you having any problems?".
"There is actually" Merlin admitted as he picked up Amhar and sat next to Morgana. "We're unsure on surnames".
"I wouldn't worry about it, obviously it's different for everyone and everyone makes different choices so it's up to you of course. I mean, you don't even have to change his surname seeing as Morgana you already have the Pendragon name, or maybe a double-barrelled name?".
Merlin and Morgana glanced at each other, Merlin nodding.
"We may be getting married...".
"Oh" Lamia gawped. "Congratulations. When's the wedding?".
"It's not certain yet" Merlin clarified.
"But we have been considering it, it'll give us stability, I'd change my surname so that way that we'd all have the same surname, the finances and we'll have a shared property" Morgana went on.
"Well, if you think it's right for you then that's the way to go" Lamia remarked. "But now you can apply for your adoption court order as I have approved you for adoption" she smiled.
13th October 2019
The next morning Morgana woke up later than usual. She was rather surprised to see Amhar was in bed with them, already changed for the day.
"Well, we slept on it" Merlin commented.
"We didn't sleep on the baby did we?" Morgana frowned.
Merlin facepalmed. "Not the baby. You know, the conversation we had yesterday? Marriage".
"Oh, that" Morgana murmured as she sat up. "Well, I suppose I have been thinking about it, there are some things we ought to talk about".
"Yeah. So, what do you think? About marriage?".
"I want us to go for it" Morgana smiled. "But you know, we're going to have to get used to it. Us. The long hard nights, waking to next to each other for the rest of our lives. You know, I want us to be able to stay together forever sooner rather than later".
"Me too" Merlin agreed. "Fuck all that wedding shit. Everyone gets stressed anyway. We've been through so much together and somehow managed to stay intact. I trust you, you trust me".
"We love each other" Morgana added. "I'd feel safe with you making my medical decisions etcetera. And if I'm being honest" she gently ruffled Amhar's hair. "I can't imagine life any other way".
"I love you, Morgana Pendragon. Will you marry me?".
"Yes! Yes, a thousand times yes!" Morgana squealed. "Let's get our wedding date booked!".