Straight Gate - For now I think they'll be able to manage, Amhar is a toddler and sleeps through the night so they should be fine, though Hunith does make a mini appearance this chapter!
With golden string, our universe was clothed in light. Pulling at the seams, our once barren world brims with life. That we may fall in love, every time we open up our eyes. I guess space and time, takes violent things, angry things and makes them kind
13th September 2020
Amhar's second fell on a Sunday. As usual in the Emrys family, they all woke up stupidly early yet stayed in bed for cuddles.
"My birfway!" Amhar squealed as he climbed onto Merlin and Morgana's bed.
"And here's your presents!" Merlin exclaimed as he brought two wrapped up presents out of the wardrobe. Alfie woke up with a cry and Morgana took him in her arms, watching as Amhar opened his presents.
"Oooo" Amhar gasped. "What dis?".
"It's a scooter" Morgana smiled. "Daddy can make it and then you can play with it".
"Tank ooooo" Amhar grinned. "Dat for Alfie?".
"No Amhar, that's for you".
"But ... but" Amhar's bottom lip began to wobble. "But I want Alfie to have it!" He wailed.
"Amhar, Alfie had his birthday already" Merlin explained gently. "Remember, we got him a fawn and bunny".
"Okay" Amhar sniffed. "Oh yeah!".
"Let's watch some milkshake" Morgana said as she stood up, still feeding Alfie. "And then we can have a special breakfast". Amhar climbed down the stairs himself while Merlin made the bed and sat in front of the tv, Thomas the tank engine was on.
"What on earth has happened to Thomas!" Morgana snarled at the tv, with the incessant singing of "big world big big adventures, Thomas and friends big world big adventures".
"Bleh" Amhar declared. "No thomas".
"Thank you sweetheart" Morgana said sarcastically as she switched to CBeebies.
"Noddy's a toy land detective now" Merlin sighed.
"Why have they screwed over the kids shows!" Morgana cried. "What was wrong with good old Thomas, old Noddy, Pingu".
"Rolie Polie Olie" Merlin added. "Well at least CBeebies is somewhat sane".
"We'll have to see what we think after going there" Morgana shrugged as she sat at the table. "At least last time we had mainly the adult rides. Now we're tied to baby land".
"At least this time you won't throw up on spinball whizzer".
"Fuck off" Morgana scowled.
"I mean it was an awful ride" Merlin shrugged.
"Kara and I are going to go on the smiler together" Morgana decided. "So you'll be alone with the kids for a few minutes". After breakfast and texting Kara, morgana and Merlin put the kids into the car after Alfie was fed and they had their nappies changed, driving to the graveyard to see Arthur and Gwen then up to Sheffield. They stopped at Merlin's parents for lunch and spent some time there, Amhar happily running around declaring that it was his birthday. Alfie hadn't seen any other people in his six weeks of life except his parents and grandparents, the rest of the interactions had been over zoom. He was rather alert when awake and slept quite a lot as newborns tend to do. Kara had texted after three to say that they were already there, so they said their goodbyes to Hunith and Balinor and headed to Alton Towers, parking near the mini golf and getting out the car after putting Alfie in the sling and unstrapping Amhar from his car seat. Amhar and Noah immediately ran to each other, squealing their nicknames for one another of "Ahhhhhh" and "Noooooooo" as they hugged.
"Oh my god! He's adorable" Kara gushed as she looked at Alfie. She had Amelia strapped to her chest in a Tula, who was smiling and gurgling.
"Thank you" Morgana smiled. "She's gotten really big now".
"Seeing your little one just makes her look bigger" Mike chuckled. "How old is he?".
"Five weeks" Merlin grinned. "Five weeks of eye bags, couldn't care less about them".
"Welcome to parenthood with a toddler and newborn" Kara chuckled. "It gets easier. I think we need masks for the mini golf?".
"Probably" Morgana shrugged as she put her mask on. They were given four adult sized golf sticks and two little kid sized ones. Even though no one was that good at it, it was still a rather fun afternoon. Shortly after they checked into the hotel, they were staying at the CBeebies hotel and it was extremely colourful with lots of loud music, Amhar was very much in his element and scrambled out the buggy as soon as they walked in. Merlin and Morgana were given lanyards for the hotel and Amhar had a snap band wrist bad. They were also given purple wristbands to show that they already had their temperatures checked so wouldn't need to have them done again in the morning.
"I pwess button" Amhar insisted as they waited for the lift. Kara and Mike were still checking in, though they had tried to book a table together due to social distancing they'd have to eat separately as the maximum table size was six. Morgana pushed the pram while Merlin took the small suitcase and travel cot for Alfie. Amhar happily babbled to the music while Merlin and Morgana grimaced at each other.
"It's like when i was in labour and threw up skittles, only with CBeebies" Morgana drawled as they walked down the corridor. All the doors had bright colours (with the numbers on of course) which was somewhat migraine inducing, though the painted mural walls looked nice.
"Well he is our rainbow baby" Merlin pointed out.
"True" Morgana agreed with a smile.
"Did we choose a theme?" Merlin asked.
"In the night garden" Morgana replied as she opened the door. The floor was completely green with a few flowers in it to represent a meadow, as were the walls adjourned with trees. On the left there was a kids room with bunk beds, black with an iggle piggle mural on the wall and the words "the night is black and the stars are bright and the sea is dark and green. And someone I know is safe and snug, and they're drifting off to sleep". The bathroom had a large makka pakka, while the adult bed was a carousel themed with Upsy Daisy opposite, the Tomliboo's on one wall and the weird inflatable things right on top of the bed's headboard. Amhar walked in the kids bedroom then out, looking at Morgana weirdly.
"What that?" Amhar asked.
"Iggle piggle!" Morgana smiled. "Look, here's makka pakka and upsy daisy". Amhar shrugged and wriggled free, walking around in circles then sitting down on the bottom bunk once he realised there was a telly in the room. Merlin set up the travel cot in co-sleep mode and attached it to the bed while Alfie was fed. Even though there was a travel cot set up at the foot of the bed, Morgana didn't feel comfortable with it given Alfie would be rather far away from her. Amhar began to get cranky after a while and loud stomachs rumbling meant it was time for dinner. They already had the cake at Merlin's parents, Hunith had surprised them with a Hey Duggee cake which Amhar loved and showered both his grandparents with slobby kisses in thanks, not that they cared even with coronavirus given that most interactions were over zoom. Everyone was getting fed up of the restrictions by now, but at least they weren't in lockdown.
Usually there'd be evening entertainment with kids shows yet the area was cordoned off to allow social distancing. Dinner was veggie burgers before they were back in the room. It was extremely kid friendly, having a travel cot, step for the bathroom, built in kid toilet seat, bottle warmer, fridge and baby bath. Normally Alfie would have a bath with his angelcare with Morgana given that he was so small still and it was hard to do so otherwise, though Amhar was thrilled that he and Alfie had a bath at the same time, the toddler in the big bath and the newborn in the baby bath on the counter next to the sink.
"I makka pakka" Amhar insisted. "I wash myself".
"Look, here's makka pakka's sponge!" Morgana exclaimed as she took the wash cloth out the bath and squeezed water over Amhar's head while he squealed in response.
"Amma makka pakka" Amhar insisted again.
"You are" Merlin chuckled. "Time to get out the bath now". Morgana quickly dried off Alfie and put a nappy on him, taking him to the bed for a feed and lying there with him while Merlin drained Amhar's bath and dried him off.
"I go on toilet" Amhar insisted.
"You sure?" Merlin checked.
"Ya!" Amhar said. "Pwease, daddy?".
"Okay kiddo" Merlin said as he brought the step over and put the kid seat down and placed Amhar on. He went to the main room to grab Amhar's nappy, pyjamas and fresh socks. Merlin wrinkled his nose as he walked in, noticing a rather putrid smell. "Did you poo on the potty?".
"Yeah" Amhar grinned.
"Morgana!" Merlin shouted.
"What is it?" Morgana asked as she awkwardly scrambled out of bed still feeding Alfie and rushed to the bathroom.
"I'm a big boy" Amhar grinned.
"Did you just poo on the toilet?".
"Yeah" Amhar grinned.
"Oh my god, he's growing up!" Morgana cried. "I'm too hormonal for this ... when did he get so big?".
"I two" Amhar said as he put up two fingers.
"Yes, you are" Merlin chuckled as he put Amhar's pyjamas and nappy on. As usual, Merlin lay in the bed with Amhar. As he was still little, he had to stay on the bottom bunk which he wasn't happy about (although was happy he got to play up there) and had a perfect view of the TV with CBeebies on.
"I wike my birfway" Amhar said as he lay in bed.
"That's good" Merlin said.
"And iggle piggle" he continued.
"Okay Amhar" Merlin said. "Now let's sleep, and in the morning we can see the real iggle piggle".
"Ooo" Amhar gasped. "Night daddy". Even after Merlin left, Amhar babbled to himself for a short while before he fell asleep. Alfie was soon asleep in the co-sleeper, Merlin and Morgana relaxing in bed with some snacks.
"Oh, Haunting of Hill house is getting a sequel, haunting of Bly manor" Morgana commented.
"We watched that together, didn't we?" Merlin scratched his head. "The first time we babysat Amhar".
"I remember that!" Morgana exclaimed. "He was six weeks old, Arthur and Gwen went on a date".
"They had post-baby sex" Merlin chucked.
"I'm only five weeks postpartum" Morgana scowled.
"I know, I remember that they left him with us overnight".
"Gosh, he was so small" Morgana said as she leant on the headrest. "He peed in your face too!".
"Now he's a boisterous two year old and we have a nearly six week old" Merlin smiled as he looked at Alfie.
"I can't imagine leaving him overnight" Morgana sighed as she stroked Alfie's head. "I mean, Gwen didn't breastfeed so I suppose that's different. Then again, she went back to work when he was only three months. I know it was part time and to cover for the fourth and fifth years, but I don't know how she did it".
"Arthur and Gwen led very different lives to us" Merlin shrugged. "I'm not saying they were bad parents, cause they were bloody good. Yet, what works for them won't necessarily work for us. Just like what may work for Alfie might not work for another baby".
"You're right" Morgana sighed dramatically. "I'm too hormonal to be having conversations like this".
"Sleep deprivation is a form of torture" Merlin shrugged. "We ought to sleep before Alfie wakes up again".
"I can't believe we're more excited about this than Amhar" Morgana chuckled.
"See, it's sleep deprivation".
14th September 2020
Amhar woke stupidly early as usual, though was happy to watch CBeebies in his bed while Merlin and Morgana caught up on sleep, got themselves and both kids changed and made sure the baby was fed. Amhar wore a lovely Hey Duggee t-shirt that said "I'm two", while Alfie had some adorable baby blue dungarees with a white t-shirt that Vivienne had sent him. While he did have quite a few outfits, Merlin and Morgana had kept him in mainly sleep-suit's until he was at least a month old as they wanted him to be comfy. Merlin and Morgana had failed to book breakfast until they arrived there and instead of getting breakfast at their usual time of around seven thirty, it was almost half nine when their booking was due, although they did get in early at around eight. It was a rather normal hotel experience despite the restrictions, mainly being socially distanced and having to wear masks when going up to the buffet.
"Okay, so we are so going on Galactica first, I know that hotel guests have a special back entrance".
"Thank god" Morgana sighed. "They closed the monorail, didn't they?".
"Social distancing and all" Kara sighed. "We can do our ride then head to baby land".
"Parenthood really does change everything doesn't it" Morgana huffed as they walked up a hill. "Boy, I'm out of shape".
"Aren't we all" Mike chuckled.
"Not me" Kara smirked as she pushed her double bugaboo donkey up the hill.
"You're pushing" Morgana sighed exasperatedly as Merlin took over. "Man I'm out of breath".
"The irony of that hotel being the one designed for kids but the one the furthest away to walk to" Merlin muttered.
"Okay, I think we're almost there now" Mike said as they walked up to the back entrance. While non hotel guests had to walk all the way around the long way and go in the front entrance, hotel guests were allowed in early and through the side entrance.
"I can't believe I'm leaving him" Morgana pouted as she held Alfie.
"It's only for a few minutes" Merlin said. "We'll be right here, okay? It won't be long".
"Bye sweetie" Morgana said as she kissed Alfie's head. "Be a good boy for daddy, yeah?".
"Okay, let's go! Queue isn't long". Morgana pouted and waved bye to Alfie as they ran off.
"Hey little man" Merlin smiled. "Just you and me. And your big brother. Oh boy, two kids to take care off by myself".
"He'll be fine" Mike reassured him. "Look at that little smile".
"I think he just pooped" Merlin wrinkled his nose. "Okay, he did".
"Do you want me to watch Amhar so you can change him?".
"Please" Merlin nodded as he put Alfie in the ergo and grabbed the baby bag. "Daddy's going to be back soon". Amhar just didn't care as Merlin made his way to the changing room. No matter how many times Merlin would change a dirty nappy (which was at least eight times a day), he never would be able to believe that a tiny abby could make such a disgusting smell. Amhar was understandable given he was older, but Alfie? It just didn't make sense.
"So that's why you've been smiling huh?" Merlin cooed as he began to change Alfie, getting out the cotton wool and warm water. "That's okay sweetie, right let's get you changed—ARGH!". A stream of liquid went straight up Merlin's nose and into his mouth. "Eugh!". For once in his life, Merlin had regretted not wearing a face mask. It wasn't intentional, he had genuinely forgotten that he was supposed to wear one and kept looking at Alfie sleeping rather than around.
Alfie pulled a face and began to cry.
"Oh sweetie" Merlin chuckled. "It's okay, it's okay" he wiped at his own face with a baby wipe and then put a clean nappy on the newborn. He rocked Alfie quite a lot, not that he stopped crying. "Sorry I don't have a milky boob for you!" He exclaimed as he walked out the toilets with Alfie still crying. Morgana waddled over to them out the shop from the ride a few minutes later, took Alfie sat down and fed him.
"How was it?" Merlin asked.
"I peed a bit, otherwise great" Morgana shrugged. "Why's he crying? Kid, can you like not bite my boob, please".
"He peed on my face" Merlin pouted.
"You say that like it's the first time, besides, didn't you have a face mask?".
"I forgot" Merlin admitted sheepishly.
"Well you ain't getting any sympathy from me" Morgana grinned. "Well, let's head to baby land".
"Remember how last time we were here. Arthur and Gwen too".
"Arthur and I threw up on spinball whizzer" Morgana chuckled.
"It was a terrible ride" Merlin agreed.
"Well we go from one extreme to the other" Morgana chuckled. "Adult rides to the baby end of things".
"Well, I guess this is life as we know it for the next twelve years" Merlin huffed as they walked up another hill.
"Oh wait wait wait" Morgana said. "Look, that Skyride thing can take us to the front of the park without us having to walk!". Amhar tried to unstrap himself immediately after seeing the CBeebies sign, as did Noah.
"You need to wait kiddo" Merlin chuckled as he took the straps off Amhar.
"Why?" Amahr pouted.
"Cause we do" Merlin said. Each family took turns taking photo's in front of the CBeebies land arch, carrying both kids before they went in. Amhar was absolutely mesmerised and loved his first rollercoaster, Alfie couldn't go on many rides though liked the baby version of a carrousel (called a bugbie go round), while Merlin and Morgana took it in turns to go on rides with Amhar. Quite a few of h the rides had extremely short queues so they went on them again and again. By the end of the day, everyone was absolutely ready to fall asleep as they walked down the hill and back to the hotel. Merlin ran ahead slightly to get to the car and open all the doors so that they could cool it down. He was happily jogging down the hill when next thing he knew he tripped over his feet and ended up lying on his back in the middle of the road, no cars there luckily.
"Oh dear" Morgana laughed. "Oh Merlin".
Merlin took one look at his wife and burst out laughing. "Whoops" he shrugged as he jumped up. He's scraped his shoulder, ripped his jeans and had a massive cut all the way down his hand. "Ouch".
"That looks painful" Morgana grimaced. "Let's get you cleaned up". After cleaning up and deciding to put his pyjama bottoms on, Merlin and Morgana headed back to Merlin's parents as a surprise. They'd just finished working so we're pleasantly surprised at seeing their son, daughter in law and grandkids, offering them to stay the night. Merlin and Morgana took them up on their offer, taking a few pram friendly walks the next day after having a lot of sleep before they went back to Monmouth.
A/N: Last time I was at Alton towers I had the misfortune of having a huge dramatic fall down a hill .. yes I recreated my fall with Merlin (it actually was in September 2020 too). And my face mask flew off my face and into the distance on one of the rides too which everyone found hilarious (except my brother who was terrified of the ride)