Let's dance in style, let's dance for a while. Heaven can wait we're only watching the skies. Hoping for the best, but expecting the worst. Are you gunna drop the bomb or not? Let us die young or let us live forever. We don't have the power but never say never. Sitting in a sandpit, life is a short trip. The music's for the sad man
9th April 2021
"Woohoo, another lockdown birthday" Morgana muttered. She and Merlin were sat in the garden, Amhar had gone to bed and Alfie was asleep on her chest in the ergo. With the longer and warmer evenings, Merlin and Morgana were sat outside enjoying the lovely warm weather with a cold glass of lemonade some fruit and snacks.
"I'm making it special" Merlin protested.
"I know" Morgana replied as she kissed her husband. "I know you are, and I am grateful for that. Though is this life as it is now? Is this how we're going to live for the rest of our lives—social distanced, face masks? Just getting older with life getting well, worse. The new variant becoming resistant to vaccines, the whole free-for-all in a couple of months with no restrictions, I mean ... it isn't going away! On one hand it's a few months away on the other hand it's like ... is this it? Is this life as we know it?".
"I guess the thing is, life keeps on going. I mean, things may change, they may not change. Though I think life okay now?".
"It is" Morgana insisted. "It is. Just the whole feeling of getting older, we're not young anymore. Well we are, but we're getting older all the same".
"That's life though, it's a ticking time bomb" Merlin shrugged. "Look at it this way, the older you get the closer up the vaccine list you become".
"I guess it's okay when you put it like that" Morgana chuckled. "Though now, everything is perfect. Amhar has been a bit of a little shit as of late granted, though Alfie is at a good stage. Then again they're growing too fast. I don't want things to get bad again".
"They won't" Merlin promised. "We can get through this together".
"I don't even know why I'm so emotional" Morgana chuckled and wiped at a stray tear. "It's just me getting old".
"The days and weeks are long but the months and years are short" Merlin said.
"True" Morgana agreed. "Soon we get to move into our new home, we've got a new car to get ourselves, you back on driving and your parents back here with us".
"Maybe be able to leave the country too?".
"That too would be good, though travelling with two kids" Morgana grimaced.
"We'd have to stay in Europe of course, we're not going long haul with a baby and a toddler ... though now cause of brexit".
"Being an adult is stressful" Morgana muttered. "And we all couldn't wait to grow up".
"I know" Merlin agreed. "At least we have Butlins?".
"True, as long as it doesn't rain. Hopefully it'll be like last summer. Nice and warm, life at a somewhat normal. I guess last summer was good".
"Better than the summer we do not speak of, that's for sure" Merlin shrugged. "Though I know this summer will be better. Boris can't lock us down all summer".
"People would not accept that" Morgana agreed. "The summer we do not speak of?".
"2019" Merlin replied. "In many ways, it was awful. On the other hand, this is ultimately what led to you know, us. This".
"Exactly, the best part of our lives" Morgana agreed as she kissed her husband.
"You could say that happiness returned to us through a grave emergency. The dark before the light and whatnot".
"I mean 2019 was such a dark time, though I'm glad we managed to get this. I mean i know they say trauma shapes you and whatnot, then again that trauma is a tragedy that prompts a big change in your life. I wish we could've worked things out before. It'd of been great for everything to be the way it is now and still have Arthur and Gwen".
"Me too" Merlin agreed as he kissed his wife. "Though I refused to see it at the time, everything happens for a reason".
"I can't believe Prince Philip died today!" Morgana exclaimed.
"He was ninety-nine years old, he was in and out of hospital constantly.." Merlin drawled.
"I know, but I was still fucking shocked" Morgana said. "Here I was, scrolling on mumsnet and I saw some thread saying he'd died! Searched it up and it was true".
"It's still tragic" Merlin shrugged. "There was that guy in Friday night dinner a few days back. That little baby on his first walk".
"If bloody Meghan Markle gives birth in the next few days—which I absolutely wouldn't put it past that narcissistic witch to do so, I will be bloody pissed of. Well, I don't care when she gives birth but it better not be my birthday".
"Baby won't even be royal, they quit the royal family" Merlin shrugged.
"Here's to betting it'll be called Philipa or something like that" Morgana rolled her eyes. "Anyway, fuck them. I'd love to continue being royal but here I am and not complaining about my losses. My mum disappeared of the face of the earth when I was eleven, I too was suicidal in 2019. We don't all go broadcasting our shit".
"If they didn't cancel Jeremy Kyle you'd be pretty good on it" Merlin shrugged. "That whole issue with Morgause and the wedding, Arthur's secret love kids".
"Touché" Morgana smirked.
10th April 2021
Morgana's 27th birthday was slightly chilly when it began as per usual for a spring morning in Wales. While the end of March had been lovely and warm (apparently the warmest one in fifty-three years), it was soon followed by snow across the United Kingdom before the weather warmed up once more, though it was still slightly chilly nonetheless (not that it was unexpected, it was a part of the package of living in Wales).
Morgana squeezed her eyes shut against the light. Now that the clocks had moved forward it meant it would get lighter earlier on in the day and while Morgana loved the evenings being longer she was not a fan of the mornings beginning earlier. Merlin remained asleep on the other side of the bed, Alfie was awake for his morning feed. Morgana reached over to the bedside table and checked the time. Six o'clock. Part of the teacher (and parent) life meant waking up ridiculously early even on the weekends having had to wake up early all week. She did take Merlin to work, though she had been on maternity leave since July (technically March, as while she was still working it was from home) so it didn't make that much sense to her.
The faint sounds of birds chirping could be heard alongside Alfie's suckling and Merlin's snoring, Morgana getting poked in the eye and up the nose by the baby. She put her phone back down and stared into space, waiting to drop back off to sleep again. She hated waking up this early when it was a weekend and she was still tired.
By the time she woke up once more the other side of the bed was empty, she checked the baby monitor and Amhar wasn't in his bed either. The sound of pots and pans and other things echoed downstairs, Morgana checking her phone while she fed Alfie in bed. Many 'happy birthday' messages had come through on her Facebook timeline, Morgana replying to each and every one with a 'thank you x'.
Merlin came upstairs with Amhar carrying the breakfast tray while Amhar carried a bunch of flowers. The toddler climbed onto the bed and Morgana propped her pillow up while keeping Alfie feeding in her arms, Amhar thrusted the flowers into Morgana's arms.
"Happy birthday!" Amhar beamed. "It's your birthday".
"It is" Morgana confirmed with a smile as she kissed his forehead. "Thank you".
"You welcome" Amhar said as he fidgeted with his hands, twisting and turning them together.
"And daddy has breakfast" Merlin said as he brought the tray over.
"Mmm, coffee" Morgana practically inhaled it as she immediately took it off the tray and began drinking it, gulping it down in almost one go only stopping as something had caught Alfie's eye and he stopped feeding to see what it was. "Well I'm old now".
"That you are" Merlin chuckled. "Though some things?".
"Never change" Morgana smiled as she kissed Merlin. She ate her breakfast—French toast and Merlin made the bed with Amhar's help while Morgana went to brush her teeth before the headed downstairs. As 'usual' for special events, there was a couple of gift bags on the sofa alongside three cards.
"Open my one first" Amhar insisted as he grabbed one of them.
"Okay" Morgana chuckled. Merlin put the breakfast tray on the coffee table and Morgana shuffled the baby in her arms then opened it.
"Happy birthday sexy wifey" Morgana read. "I think that ones from daddy sweetheart".
"Silly me" Amhar facepalmed. "Try this one". Morgana eagerly opened it up—'mummy, I love you more than I love waking up a million times a night, pooping through a fresh outfit, that horrible noisy flashy toy, puking in your hair and that annoying shark song ... so that's a lot'.
"The joy of having a baby" Morgana chuckled as she sat down with Alfie on her lap. "Isn't it? We've had no sleep since you arrived, haven't we?".
"Mama" Alfie said.
"Oh my gosh!" Morgana squealed as she stood up with him. "You just said mama!".
Alfie grinned widely loving all the attention. "Mama".
"Alfie's talking!" Merlin gasped. "You just said your first word".
"Hmph" Amhar growled as he sunk to his knees. "Not fair!".
"What's wrong Amhar?" Merlin asked.
Amahr growled and he threw himself on the floor kicking and screaming, pounding his fists on the floor. "Not fair! I wanted my card opened first".
Merlin admitted sheepishly "they all have the same envelope".
"Okay, okay don't worry" Morgana said. "I think this one is yours". Morgana opened the remaining card, a drawn photo of Mr Tumble smiling with "mummy, I hope your day is something special".
"I didn't want mummy to have that card" Amhar wailed. "I wanted a different one".
"You chose it off the website Amhar" Merlin muttered. Amhar ignored him and continued wailing (which Alfie found hilarious) while Morgana opened her gifts. She's gotten a rose gold Celtic knotted heart pendant from the children and the new Apple Watch series six (again, in rose gold with a matching strap) from Merlin.
"Shame the straps don't fit" Morgana joked. "But this is lovely".
"I'm glad you like it" Merlin smiled. "So, Alfie said his first word. Dada next?". Merlin bent down to the baby's level and cooed at him.
"Ama mama" Alfie said.
"Alfie said my name!" Amhar beamed as he ran over to the baby. "Yayyy! Alfie said my name!".
"Looks like I'll be last then" Merlin mock pouted.
"Sorry mate" Morgana shrugged. "Any plan for today?".
"Oh, I remembered!" Merlin went over to the desk and took an envelope off it. "Morgause gave this". Morgana opened the card, a picture of Daphne Bridgerton with her friend Penelope, reading "happy birthday to my sister from another mister".
"I love it" Morgana chuckled. "It's so fitting too! She is literally my sister, but from another mister".
"Picnic in the park for lunch?" Merlin suggested. "I did make sure Morgause kept herself free".
"Sure" Morgana shrugged. "I'd prefer Vauxhall fields though".
"We can do that" Merlin agreed. "Fit in a couple of picnics out there before it's no longer within walking distance".
"Yes, it's be nice to, though having an actual park—play park— within decent walking distance".
"It'll be great" Merlin smiled as he kissed his wife. They all got changed after eating more breakfast and getting in touch with Morgause, walking over to the Vauxhall field with Merlin chasing after Amhar on his mini micro scooter while Morgana had Alfie behind alternating between being strapped in the bugaboo cameleon and being held. They headed over the bridge and set down the picnic mat on the grass socially distanced from where Morgause was sat.
"Long time no see" the older woman said as she raised her eyebrow. "You're a whole year older".
"A whole twenty-seven years old" Morgana agreed as she flipped the pram handle and sat down. They sat down and opened up their picnic baskets, beginning to eat their lunch.
"How's the house buying coming along?" Morgause asked as she ate her salad.
Morgana and Merlin glanced at each other and smiled, squeezing each other's hands.
"It's going rather well, we've paid the ten percent deposit and it's almost been two weeks ... so we should be hearing back soon!".
"I'm glad" Morgause smiled. "You two deserve all the happiness after everything you've been through". Morgana agreed with a wistful sigh as they watched Amhar eat his cheese sandwich.
"He looks so much like Gwen" Morgause commented. As the weather had begun to get warmer, Merlin and Morgana had expected Amhar's hair to get lighter with the sun, though it seemed to have the opposite effect as it instead had become light brown as opposed to it's previous blond. Naturally, being a two year old meant he spent a lot of time in the sun and while Merlin and Morgana made sure to slather him in suncream he still appeared rather tanned, his skin tone much closer to Gwen's as of late. While before he didn't necessarily look adopted, he was beginning to as he was indeed so.
"He does indeed" Morgana agreed. "Alfie's started crawling though it's more like an army-crawl type thing. He's a bit like baby yoda, into absolutely everything and chewing on everything, chewing adorably when he's caught doing something he isn't supposed to". They glanced over to Alfie where he was leant over and chewing the pram bumper bar with a happy grin.
"Happy birthday Sis" Morgause said as she air-patted Morgana on the back.
A/N: Again was supposed to post on Monday but I forgot as I had a change at work. I'll admit even though Prince Philip was old I was shocked when he died!