Just when I think you're gone hear our song on the radio. Just like that takes me back to the places we used to go. And I keep trying but I just can't fight it, when I hear it I just can't stop smiling. I remember you're gone baby it's just a song on the radio that we used to know
30th June 2021
Things were rather well albeit stressful in the Emrys family. The end of term was nearing and Merlin was absolutely ready for the summer holidays to begin being absolutely shattered and on 'teacher survival mode'. The euro's were progressing successfully, with the next match England playing in being nil-nil followed by two wins against Czechia and Germany. Merlin and Morgana stayed home to watch the euro's as that way they'd be able to do so in their pyjamas (with their England t-shirts on top) and go to bed straight away, as well as not having to be careful to not wake up the toddler. Morgana lasted around five minutes into the second match before she went to bed, leaving Merlin alone for the other ones and subsequent wins. Though even with them staying at home they slowly began to oversleep, a rather usual thing for teachers and students as they approached the end of the year. They'd decided this year that they'd take Amhar out of nursery for the summer holidays, sticking to a term time only schedule as that was what would be followed in the preschool. Hunith and Balinor had also finally completed their renovations for the new bungalow and had moved in much to the delight of all the Emrys family.
"It's way too hot" Merlin muttered as he crawled out of bed.
"Too cold" Morgana sighed as she pulled back the covers and Merlin helped with making the bed. She went over to the windows and pretty much immediately opened them. They had the fan on all night and it had finally cooled down a bit. It was always awkward in the mornings as they'd either end up too hot or too cold.
"Well last Wednesday" Merlin commented.
"Two days" Morgana sighed. "Two more days".
"I'll go get Amhar and start on the coffee". Merlin pressed a kiss to Morgana's forehead as she sat in the rocking chair feeding Alfie. As expected, they were almost late again though just about left the house on time, Merlin walking through the school gates right as the bell went. It was going to be a long day.
2nd July 2021
Both Merlin and morgana woke up in a rather good mood, earlier than usual with smiles on their faces.
"Today's the day" Merlin smiled.
"What day?" Morgana murmured into her pillow.
"The last day of term".
"Oh yes, the day where I all of a sudden become a mother of three" Morgana grinned.
"Mother of three?" Merlin frowned. His brain was rather foggy in the morning before coffee, especially today as he had woken earlier than usual (checking the time, he saw it was quarter to six).
"With you and Amhar I'll have one baby and two toddlers" Morgana smirked. "The husband becomes the third child. The difference being that the baby can easily be settled with the boob, unlike you and the toddler".
"Who said I couldn't be?" Merlin grinned.
"I'm afraid you'll have to wait until the children are asleep if that's the case Mr Emrys" Morgana purred as she pulled Merlin closer to her with his pyjama top. "But anyway, don't want to be late on the last day". They ended up leaving earlier than usual, taking the double buggy for what Morgana was sure to be the last time on the nursery run (with Alfie going to Hunith's they wouldn't need it if they were to walk, and Amhar was getting rather close to three and thus a bit old for it even if it was a bit of a trek at just under a mile). Morgana didn't usually walk all the way to the school, tending to part ways with Merlin at the nursery (especially on Friday's as she had baby swimming to get to) though she walked with her husband up to the gate before walking home rather quickly, getting into the car and driving to Avalon (fortunately there were no more roadworks so it was a much quicker journey).
Merlin smiled at his class as he passed the packets of biscuits around. The last day consisted of watching a movie of all their choice (Shrek), followed by speech day. As schools were still required to have bubbles, they decided it would be best to have speech day outside with chairs socially distanced on the field/rugby pitch. Fortunately it was nice and sunny so they could still go ahead with it (unlike sports day which had to be cancelled). The speeches and rewards being given out lasted around two hours, giving them some time to stay in the fields and talk to their students before they were allowed to leave at lunch time.
'You here?' Merlin texted his wife. They'd agreed that they would meet at the school and then go somewhere for a walk, probably have a picnic in the park afterwards.
'Yes, just getting through quickly' Morgana replied. Merlin ended up saying goodbye to many of his students and received quite a few gifts, everyone happy to see Morgana and the baby as he smiled at people from his pushchair. At twelve-thirty the bell rang signalling freedom.
"Well now what?" Merlin asked with a smile as he picked the baby up.
"Picnic at Camelot park" Morgana said as though it was obvious. "I've made the sandwiches so let's head off. Then once the baby's asleep we can have some mummy-daddy time then we're picking up Amhar at three".
"Yeah, that'll be good" Merlin agreed with a smile. "I wanted to stop somewhere first though". Morgana didn't have to say anything, she knew it was Arthur and Gwen's bench. They stopped there before heading out, sitting down on it for a little while.
"Well another academic year over and two years without them" Merlin commented.
"I've been looking at things this way. You only get one go round at life, when you're dead you're dead. So you can spend your life thinking about how things haven't gone perfect or you can just get on with it, have a laugh and all that. That's what I've been doing lately, I'm pretty happy" Morgana smiled.
"You are aren't you?" Merlin smiled. "And I'm glad".
"Me too" Morgana agreed. "I mean of course we're going to miss them, there's no denying that. But the past is in the past and we can't change it, only learn from it and move forward".
"I love you" Merlin said as he kissed his wife.
"Ew! No romance at school or during a pandemic!" One of the students shouted with a grin.
"See you next year Ollie" Merlin replied with a smile.
"Right first, lunch" Morgana said with a smile as she put Alfie back in the buggy and they walked over to the park to eat their lunch. It was a lovely sunny day so they sat in the shade for a while then after applying suncream took Alfie on the baby swings.
"Shall we go higher?" Merlin cooed as he pushed his son more. "Weee!"
"How about the slide next" Morgana suggested as she picked him up after the swing stopped. "Dada can take you up".
"Dada" Alfie said as he kicked his small legs against Merlin.
"Or mama?" Merlin said with a smirk.
"A-Mama" Alfie said with a toothy-gummy grin.
"Mama it is" Merlin grinned. "You climb up then I'll put Alfie on your lap".
"Oh for goodness sake" Morgana muttered as she climbed up the steps to the slide. "Okay I'm up here". Merlin put the baby on his mothers' lap, he grinned and giggled with glee as he slid down safely in her embrace. They headed back home so the baby could have his nap (and they could have mummy daddy time) the headed out to collect the toddler for three. They had themselves armed with four gift bags for his nursery workers, as it was his last time in the two year room (he'd be turning three in September, therefore to make the transition and going back to nursery easier he'd go straight to the three year old room).
"Mummy! Daddy! Alfie!" Amhar squealed with delight.
"Amhar these are some presents for your nursery teachers, do you want to go give them out?" Merlin smiled as he passed the gift bags along, with help from one of the other workers giving them out to all his teachers.
"See later?" Amhar asked with a smile.
"No Amhar" Morgana said. "It's your last day in nursery with Kim, Sarah, Liz and Emily".
"But why?" Amhar asked with a pout as he went back to his parents.
"You'll be three soon so you'll be going to the three year old room, but Sarah, Emily Liz and Michelle won't be there".
"But, but … why!" Amhar asked.
"They stay with the two year olds" Morgana explained. "And you'll be with the three year olds".
"But … I don't want to" Amhar pouted.
"You'll still see us" Liz piped up. "And your friends too".
"Noah's going into three year olds with you" Kara added with a smile as Noah hugged Amhar.
"Okay" he reluctantly agreed. "Cuddle?". He had lots of cuddles and a couple of photos with his teachers and best friends before they left, going to see Arthur and Gwen before heading home.
3rd July 2021
"Another beach trip" Merlin happily sighed. "So who's coming? Mithian and Leon's family, Morgause and boyfriend, Gwaine, Will, Sefa?".
"The whole squad I believe" Morgana shrugged as she put the double buggy in the car. "So everyone that was at the football. That's all of them I think".
"I can't wait to get the new car" Morgana sighed. "Well, bring on Monday". They'd managed to find a reasonably priced seat Alhambra, with lots of extras at a newer year with low mileage so they opted to buy it.
"So we're heading back for the match aren't we?" Merlin checked. "It's at eight so we need to leave no later than half six".
"Merlin, we're not going to miss the match" Morgana chuckled as she put her seatbelt on. "Everyone is planning to watch it, and I want to get back in time for it too".
"You want to watch the match?" Merlin grinned.
"Yes okay I might've gotten into it" Morgana rolled her eyes. "It'll be nice to see if we do win. I'll admit I want it to come home maybe but I'm determined to stay for the whole match". As usual, Merlin and Morgana were the last to arrive at the beach, though it didn't matter much as they'd arrived just in time for lunch getting lots of chips and eating them before heading down to the beach, finding a nice spot in the shade and setting down their picnic mats and sharing out their ice cold ciders between those who were drinking (or cordials in the case of the children and those not drinking).
"Ah, the term is over at last" Sefa sighed as she lay down on her towel.
"What a year" Gwaine commented.
"I'm back next year let's hope it's better" Morgana sighed.
"This little man is getting too big, aren't you?" Gwaine cooed as he gently pinched the giggling baby's cheeks.
"Well, he's not going to be the youngest for much longer" Leon smiled while Mithian bit her lip.
"Who's pregnant?" Gwaine asked as he leaned forward with his elbow on his knee.
"I am" Mithian smiled. "Due January 2022".
"Holy shit the 2022 babies are being conceived" Will muttered.
"Congratulations" Morgause smiled. "Thought you had a bit of a bump".
Mithian blushed and put her arms around her stomach. "Honestly this time I've started showing so much earlier, fortunately no morning sickness".
"I hope that's the case with me" Morgana sighed. "You doing the pool again this time?".
"Hell no" Mithian scoffed. "That shit was painful, been there done that and never again".
"But you said it wasn't that bad!" Morgana exclaimed.
"Only cause you were pregnant at the time and I didn't want to put you off" Mithian smiled. "Honestly, it was so painful. Epidural for me".
"So Sefa, you next?" Morgana smirked as she gently punched her shoulder.
"Shut up" Sefa scoffed as she took another sip of her cider. "I thought it'd be you?".
"Have to wait and see" Morgana shrugged.
A day at the beach was followed by showering immediately as there was simply too much sand on them all (Amhar decided that after swimming in the ocean it'd be a great idea to roll in the sand afterwards).
"We really seem to be winning this game" Merlin commented, though by the time they were at half time there were no goals scored.
"I hope it's coming home" Merlin pouted.
"Oh look!" Morgana commented as she noticed England become closer towards the goals.
"It's coming home!" Merlin shouted as he jumped and they scored.
"That was so nerve wracking" Morgana muttered. "I'll admit, I'm hooked". It was a great evening in the Emrys household, with England winning the match and all of them celebrating the win.
5th July 2021
"Well, let's say goodbye to our car then" Morgana sighed as she patted the bonnet. After much searching she and Merlin found their perfect seat Alhambra with all the features they wanted (2018, heated seats and electric sliding doors) at a good price after exchanging Morgana's old Polo in. They had to empty the car of its many odd baby crap, out of date snacks and other things that Merlin and Morgana didn't even want to know what it was. As it was rather expensive to get two of the extended harnessing car seats and they used Morgana's car mainly for short journeys, they'd moved Amhar into a high back booster with a seatbelt which he was surprisingly well behaved in, though as they had a long drive Merlin was tasked with moving the harness car seat into the car.
"This car seat is really flipping heavy" Merlin huffed as he sat it down behind the drivers seat.
"Meh you get to rest after you install it" Morgana shrugged as she clicked Alfie's seat onto it's base as Merlin continued to grunt as he pushed the seat into the cars' isofix points, put the seatbelt through and attach the tether. He was rather out of breath as he sat in the passenger seat while Morgana buckled Amhar in and they began to drive towards the car dealer. Both boys were asleep as they arrived, morgana transferring Alfie's car seat to the buggy and Merlin carrying Amhar as he nuzzled his face into the crook of Merlin's neck. It didn't take long at all, having to do some paperwork and leaving with their new car after half an hour.
"Well, this feels so much better" Morgana remarked as she put Alfie's base in, leaving Amhar strapped into the buggy and Alfie in his car seat on the floor while Merlin did Amhar's seat.
"Wow. We actually have space" Merlin remarked as Morgana put the two boot seats up then lifted Amhar into his car seat.
"I don't think we need to fold the buggy, even with the two boot seats up" Morgana commented. "Okay, let's get some lunch then head home". Nearby was a restaurant with a play park, Amhar burning off his energy and being tired by the time they left and Alfie happy to crawl around before they went home.
"Do you ever get a song stuck in your head? I've got one stuck in my head for ages now, I only know some lyrics but I remember we used to listen to it often with Arthur and Gwen".
"I think I know which one you mean! But I can't find it. Like, why is it so hard to find it! How many songs do we even have?" Merlin wondered.
"There's our wedding songs. A thousand years which essentially describes us and then can you feel the love tonight. I love those".
"We had that Shawn Mendes one around 2019 too…senorita I think?".
"Don't you dare call me senorita" Morgana hissed. "If I can't have you. Everything means nothing if I can't have you".
"Why did you just hiss?" Merlin asked with a frown.
"I just don't like it that much" Morgana shrugged. "Arthur used to call Gwen that, her mum's Spanish and this was when they were dating so it made sense. I guess it's one of those things that I want them to have, you know? Like we have so much of their stuff, Amhar, their old house. I guess that I wanted to let them keep some of their things, you get me".
"Of course" Merlin agreed. "Of course I do. That makes perfect sense. Thank you for telling me".
"Of course I would" Morgana smiled. "I tell you everything, you know that. No more secrets between us".
"No more secrets" Merlin exhaled as he put his hand on Morgana's.
"Back to the songs then. I know Avicci's SOS song was also good for that time of year. But that song, I can't even remember all the words to it! I know it, I know the way it goes but no matter how many times I search it it simply doesn't come up!".
"I guess now it's just a song on the radio we used to know".
"I guess so" Morgana sighed.
7th July 2021
It wasn't the nicest day and with having two under three (therefore free to many places), Merlin and Morgana headed into central Birmingham to go to the aquarium, loading the car up with picnics and only one buggy as they tried to get Amhar to walk more or go on the buggy board. They drove past the hospital where Amhar had his surgery—Birmingham children's hospital before they took the junction off for the aquarium.
"Oh my god!" Morgana gasped.
"Hm?" Merlin mused.
"It's that song! Our song!".
"The one with Arthur and Gwen?" Merlin asked
"Yes! Listen" Morgana said as she turned it up, Shawn Mendes' there's nothing holding me back playing.
"I forgot about this!" Merlin exclaimed with a grin. "I love this song".
"Me too" Morgana agreed as they began singing along to the lyrics.
"Stop" Amhar giggled as he woke up.
"There's nothing holding me back" Merlin and Morgana sang.
"Baby this is mummy and daddy's song" Merlin smiled. "Do you like it?".
"Okay fine" Amhar sighed exasperatedly and facepalmed. They arrived home with plenty of time to go until the Euro match would start, with England playing against Denmark. Once more, Morgana stayed up with the baby sleeping in the cot in his room (he could usually sleep in there for short periods of time, only a couple of hours and mainly co-slept still). An extra half an hour at the end of the match was required as England and Denmark had drawn, though this ended as soon as England scored their second goal.
"ITS COMING HOME!" Merlin yelled as he stood up.
"Holy shit" Morgana whispered. "We're in the finals".
"It's coming home!" Merlin continued. He made his way to the front door, putting his shoes on and going out into the driveway, jumping up and down as many others on the street sang "it's coming home".
9th July 2021
It was a lovely sunny day in Wales. After much consideration Merlin and morgana agreed to take the children to go and see Dobby's grave, both of them being huge Harry Potter fans and planning on introducing the children to it once they were old enough. The pair of them had already done their sorting quizzes, Morgana being in Gryffindor and Merlin in Slytherin (both of them wanted both children in their respective houses, though as they were too little they couldn't do so yet and instead had to opt with pushing their house pride onto the children). They left early in the morning, the same time they would leave for work had it not been the holidays. Amhar alternated between flapping his legs about and looking out the window while Alfie looked at himself in his reflection, both boys falling asleep. They had some chips for lunch then began the hike towards dobby's grave, alternating between carrying both children in the carriers up the hills through the marshes and sand dunes.
"What that?" Amhar asked as he pointed to Dobby's grave.
"That's Dobby's grave" Morgana murmured.
"DOBBY dead? How he die?" Amhar asked.
"He got hurt in an accident" Merlin explained.
"Like Arwur and Gwen? He in heaven with them?".
"Yes, I suppose he is" Morgana shrugged.
"I love dobby" Amhar said. "I want to see picture of him". Amhar decided that he loved dobby and cried slightly at the fact that he wasn't going to meet it, likewise with Arthur and Gwen. He did meet them, though he couldn't remember them and wanted to hear stories about them. As they drove home, Merlin and Morgana reiterated many of the stories that they had of Arthur and Gwen until Amhar fell asleep with a happy smile on his face.