Christmas fluff for the holiday season. Not my usual, but I was inspired by the Camelot Countdown challenge. Prompts: mittens, hot drinks, baking gingerbread, sledding, horse riding in snow, catching a cold, presents, soulmate AU, childhood, mistletoe. Companion sequel to Choices, Chances, Changes.

"Hurry up already!" Merlin loosened the green and silver scarf around his mouth. As cold as it would be outside this spacious cabin, it was too warm to be waiting at the door already dressed in three layers plus toque, mitts, scarf, and winter boots.

"I have to find my mittens." Arthur shoved aside the snowmobile suits hanging in the walk-in closet and dug through the basket of multi-coloured caps, gloves, and assorted outwear.

"Here." Morgana tossed him a pair of dark green, nylon shell, leather palm gloves.

They probably cost more than everything Merlin wore combined.

Arthur batted them aside. "Not those ones. My mittens."

"You've been through that basket twice." Gwen frowned at the pile of wool, leather, and thinsulate strewn across the hardwood floor. "Choose a pair and let's go." She fanned a few black curls from her perspiring forehead.

Arthur dumped the basket and began picking through its contents.

Morgana rolled her eyes. "Deal with your fiancé," she said to Gwen. "We'll meet you outside." She grabbed Merlin's arm and tugged him through the door.

The view outside the two-story glass-fronted cabin was spectacular: evergreen trees with postcard-perfect mounds of sparkling white snow on each branch, poplars lined with hoarfrost, sun bright and distinct in a cold blue sky, all the imperfections of the uneven ground smoothed beneath a covering of snow.

None of it was as beautiful as Morgana's smiling face, dark brown hair a stark contrast to her fuzzy white cap. How had he caught the attention of this intelligent, successful executive? Her red lips curved upward, breath stirring the white fur of her upturned collar.

A faceful of frozen wetness smacked his cheek. He sucked in a breath, blinking snow from his left eye. Morgana laughed. Pure joy bubbled up in his chest at the hearty sound of her mirth. Then he bent to make his own snowball and she sprinted toward the snow-topped garage behind the cabin.

His shot went wide, making a wet splotch on the wooden siding as Morgana ducked inside through the man door.

He followed her still wiping melted snow from his face, grinning so broadly his cheek hurt. A bright red sled hurtled toward him and he put up his hands to catch it.

"Take that one outside." Morgana lifted a matching green sled from its hook on the wall.

Merlin turned with the red sled, which was almost as tall as he was, and crashed into the person just entering the garage.

"Ouch." Arthur shoved both sled and Merlin backward. "Watch where you're going."

Catching his footing before stumbling into a pair of snowmobiles beneath matching black and grey covers, Merlin refrained from telling his former boss to likewise watch where he was going.

"Arthur, give Merlin a hand." Gwen brushed past the two men to help Morgana with the green sled.

Arthur scowled at Merlin. Merlin held back a grin as he pushed the sled toward Arthur. Still frowning, Arthur took a corner and helped Merlin carry it outside. The frown was replaced with a charming smile as Gwen and Morgana set down the other sled beside them.

Arthur and Gwen held hands, their other hands grasping the tow rope of the red sled.

"Lead the way." Merlin gestured to Morgana.

His heart leapt when she took his hand with her left as she picked up the green sled's tow rope in her right. Her white, fur-lined glove fit perfectly in his grasp.

"It's not far," she said.

The four of them fought their way through knee-high drifts uphill, breaking trail in the undisturbed white behind the cabin. It was more difficult that Merlin expected. By the time they reached the peak, his breath was heavy and white, frosting the edge of his scarf. Bits of wet wool stuck to his chapped lips.

Morgana pointed the green sled downhill and pulled Merlin to sit behind her on the polished wood. "Race you."

Her brother narrowed his gaze at her. "No cheating."

Gwen set the red sled at the top of the hill. Arthur positioned himself on his sled with the tow rope in his gloved hands. Gwen slid on behind him with her hands wrapped around his waist.

Morgana rolled her eyes. "How can you cheat at a sled race?"

Arthur smiled at Gwen over his shoulder. "You can start before—"

Morgana tipped their sled over the ledge and pushed off. Merlin grabbed hold of her waist as the hill it had taken so long to climb whizzed below him.

"Hey!" Arthur yelled.

Freezing air rushed past Merlin's cheeks. Morgana laughed.

At the bottom, she threw her weight sideways, tipping them both into knee-deep snow. Before he could catch his breath, she rolled on top of him, planted her lilly-white mittens on either side of his head, and kissed him. Hard.

The winter cold was swept aside in a blaze of heat. Merlin's arms crushed her against him, his whole focus on the wet warmth of her tongue against his lips, then inside his mouth.

Abruptly, she was gone. For the second time, frozen wetness smacked Merlin in the face.

"Hands off my sister. We're in public."

Merlin blinked up at Arthur, whose silhouette blocked out the sharp sunlight. Merlin turned his head left, then right, viewing the even white broken only by their footsteps. "Public?"

Arthur opened his mouth but before he could speak, a snowball smashed against his cheek. His head whipped around. "You'll pay for that." His gloved hand scooped up a handful of snow.

Morgana was already packing another snowball. Arthur's aim was better than Merlin's, though, and she screeched when his missile splatted the white fur framing her face. Arthur ducked her return fire, but was forced to remain crouched, arms over his head, as she threw half a dozen more in rapid succession.

Merlin sat, pulled his knees to his chest, and used a corner of his green and silver scarf to wipe melted snow off his face.

Gwen plunked down beside him. "It's nice to see them getting along again."

There was another screech as Morgana fended off Arthur's next volley.

"They are cute." Merlin winced as one of Morgana's snowballs caught Arthur square between the eyes.

"Is your mother going to miss you tomorrow?" Gwen asked.

Despite a prick of guilt at leaving his mother alone on Christmas, Merlin shook his head. "She's going to spend the day with her sister. And Morgana and I will spend Boxing Day with her." He looked sideways at Gwen. "What about your dad and Elyan? Isn't this your first Christmas away from them?"

"They'll be with Elyan's wife's family. Arthur and I had our Christmas with them before we came up here."

"Were they excited when you told them Arthur finally accepted your proposal?"

Gwen tucked a wayward black curl beneath her toque. A smile twitched her lips. "Actually, Elyan said, 'I hope he's worth the bloody wait' and Dad muttered 'about time'."

Merlin reached out to squeeze her mittened hand in his. "I hope he is worth the wait."

In return, Gwen turned her hand over and squeezed his fingers. "I hope you finally found your happily ever after."

He watched Morgana's dainty white gloves fashion an icy-looking ball, her fine features narrowed in concentration as she lined up her brother. Arthur's eyes widened just before the ball of ice and snow crashed into his ear.

"I've never been happier," Merlin said right before a snowball hit his chest.

Gwen leapt to her feet, already rolling snow between her mittened hands. Merlin scooped up a handful and helped her return fire.

All four of them were wet, red-cheeked, and laughing when the sound of hoofbeats interrupted the waning fight.

Two riders dressed in snowmobile jackets with checkered flag sleeves and mounted on horses came around the base of the hill.

"Bertrand. Ranulf." Arthur waved.

"Arthur." They brought their mounts to a halt beside the snow-covered foursome.

"Hi, Morgana." One of the riders, his blond hair as neatly styled as Arthur's, raked his gaze over her.

"Bertrand." She nodded in his direction.

"And Gwen, right?" He smiled at her.

She returned his smile coolly as she stepped closer to Arthur and took his hand.

He glanced at their joined hands and returned his attention to Morgana. "You staying at the cabin over Christmas? Is your husband with you?"

Morgana stiffened. Ranulf poked his companion and jerked his chin towards her.

Protective rage uncurled in Merlin's chest. He glared at Bertrand. Then he glanced sideways at Morgana. She was not his girlfriend, not officially, not in public. They had agreed to wait until her divorce was final. So far, only Arthur and Gwen knew he was involved with her.

And this blond on his immense horse was probably a wealthy friend of her wealthy parents, far more acceptable to be her next partner than he was. More worthy of her than a skinny compliance manager with overlarge ears.

"That's right, you're getting divorced." Bertrand's smile broadened. "I'll be at our place until New Year's. Swing by if you like."

She grinned in return as she reached for Merlin and yanked him closer. "We just might."

Bertrand frowned. Merlin straightened. He put his arm around Morgana's shoulders and smirked back.

"Maybe see you at the lodge." Ranulf yanked on his friend's puffed sleeve and urged his horse forward.

With a wave, they were gone.

"I don't know if I like your old friends." Gwen stared after them.

Red-cheeked, Arthur shrugged. "I haven't seen them much in ages."

He sneezed.

Gwen put a hand on his forehead. "We better get in before you catch cold."

"Let's go back to the cabin and make hot chocolate." Morgana tilted her head up at Merlin.

She fit perfectly into his side and he squeezed her shoulders tighter. "Great idea."

"With candy cane stir sticks," Gwen said.

"And tiny marshmallows," Arthur said.

Merlin raised a brow. "How old are you?"

Morgana punched him in the side. "Hey, I like tiny marshmallows, too."

He rubbed his side. "Fine. Tiny marshmallows."

They hung the sleds on pegs in the garage and shed their winter gear in the cabin's wide entryway, leaving their boots and clothes to drip melting snow on the rubber mats.

"Milk or water?" Morgana took four large Christmas-themed mugs from the cupboard above the marble countertop.

"Milk," Arthur said.

"Water," Gwen said.

"Whatever you're having," Merlin said.

She wore the green top again. The low-cut blouse that showed a hint of black lacy bra. He licked his lips.

Morgana winked at him over her shoulder. "Milk it is."

"We should have cookies." Gwen clapped her hands together. "Let's bake gingerbread cookies."

Arthur stared at her. "You hate cooking."

She put her hands on her hips. "I don't hate cooking. I just don't like cooking. Baking, however, I like."

"Cooking is an art, baking is a science," Merlin said.

"Which is why I enjoy cooking, but I'm not baking." Morgana filled a mug and put it in the combination microwave and hood fan suspended above the smooth-top range.

"I like cookies." Arthur looked hopefully at Gwen.

"Are you going to help me make them?"

"Ummmm…."

"I'll help, Gwen." Merlin's gaze skimmed the marble countertops, oak cupboards, and stainless steel fridge. It looked more like a magazine layout than a functional kitchen.

"I'm not sure you'll find baking supplies but I think there might still be frozen cookie dough in there." Morgana tipped her chin toward the stainless steel side-by-side as she took one mug of steaming milk from the microwave and put in the next.

She dumped a generous scoop of cocoa powder in the first mug and stirred. Merlin sucked in a whiff of warm chocolate.

Gwen rummaged through the freezer. "Aha."

By the time they were on their second mugs of hot chocolate, bottles of Bailey's and peppermint schnapps had joined the tin of cocoa powder on the counter. The scent of fresh-baked gingerbread cookies competed with the smoke from their fireplace as they curled up on leather sofas around the marble hearth.

"The tree looks nice." Arthur's head was reclined on the beige leather of a sofa, Gwen's head on his shoulder and her feet tucked beneath her. His eyes were half-closed.

In front of the floor-to-ceiling windows they had set up the tree which had barely fit in Gwen's jeep. It was now draped with three strings of blue LED lights, silver tinsel, and frosted blue and silver balls.

Beyond the windows, the evergreens were a darker black against the inky sky. A round moon shone from behind rows of curly clouds.

"We decorated the ceiling, too." Gwen pointed to an arched doorway that led to the bedrooms.

A sprig of mistletoe swung from the doorframe. She winked at Arthur. He leaned down to kiss her.

Morgana squeezed Merlin's knee and his stomach flipped at the thought of kissing her under the mistletoe and then backing her into their bedroom with its king-size bed and silk sheets that smelled like lilac and its view of snow-covered evergreens. It would be a lovely picture after they made love, when they cuddled together to fall asleep. And when they woke in the morning, and made love, and cuddled together under the blankets. And maybe they should check out that view right now…

"I liked being here for Christmas." Morgana stared into the fire, one hand on Merlin's knee and one wrapped around her mug.

Arthur lifted his head slightly to look at her. "While Mother complained about how cold it was and Father phoned the office?"

She scoffed. "Father never stayed with us."

"Oh, yeah." Arthur leaned his head back again.

"But I liked it here." Morgana glanced from the fire to Arthur. "We had a good childhood, didn't we?"

"Mostly, I guess."

It was hard for Merlin to imagine a childhood spent in mansions, world travel, and spacious winter cabins but he would choose growing up with his mother in a one-room apartment rather than with Uther and Ygraine.

"In my family, we open a present on Christmas Eve." Gwen gazed at the small collection of red and green bags and tinfoil-paper wrapped boxes beneath the tree.

"Mother never let me see any present until Christmas morning." Merlin eyed the gifts gathered beneath the tree. "I had to set my alarm for 6:00 a.m. so I could get up early and open them."

Arthur snorted. "You never set your alarm for earlier than 8:00 a.m. I know because you never arrived at the office before 8:59 a.m."

Morgana's lips twitched.

Merlin sniffed. "If I got paid what you senior executives get paid, I might."

Gwen giggled. "No, you wouldn't. I certainly wouldn't."

"So are we opening a gift tonight?" Arthur looked at Morgana. "One gift each?"

She looked from her brother, to Gwen, to Merlin. "Yes. One gift each."

"Excellent." Arthur rubbed his hands together. "I go first."

He took his arm from around Gwen and crawled under the tree to retrieve a jewellery-sized box wrapped in red foil with a red and silver bow. With a flourish, he handed it to Gwen and sat down again beside her.

Her eyebrows rose as she accepted the delicate package. "It's too pretty to open."

Arthur pouted. "Opening a gift was your idea. Go on."

"Fine." With an indulgent smile, Gwen unwrapped the box, careful not to rip the paper, and set aside the wrapping still intact with its shiny bow.

Inside was a long, flat plain blue box with a silver logo in one corner. She lifted the lid and gasped.

Her gaze flew to Arthur. "It's so beautiful."

Morgana and Merlin leaned over to see. The necklace was a string of pearls with a pendant of two intertwined gold dragons, one with ruby eyes and scales and one with diamonds. Morgana's finely-arched black brows rose.

"Thank you, Arthur." Gwen leaned over to kiss him.

"It's not from me," he said. "It's from my parents."

Her brown eyes widened as her gaze tracked back and forth between the necklace and him.

"It's a Pendragon family heirloom. They wanted you to have it."

Gwen's hand flew to her mouth at such an extravagant way to apologize. Morgana grasped Merlin's hand and squeezed. If this was a sign of their regard for Gwen, Merlin could forgive Ygraine and Uther for having encouraged Arthur to find someone else to marry.

"My turn." Gwen wiped her eyes and got up to reach under the tree. She presented a box wrapped in Santa Claus paper with dancing elves and candy canes to Morgana.

"Thank you." Morgana turned the gift over between her hands, giving it a subtle shake. It rattled faintly. "Most people give their boss a bottle of wine. Or a coffee mug."

"It's not from the staff. It's from me." Gwen sat beside Arthur and grasped his hand in both of hers. "I hope you like it."

Morgana's fingers trembled as she slid her red-tipped nails under the scotch tape holding the wrapping in place.

Inside was a cup-sized pot with green and orange succulents and a fat candle tin tied with peach-coloured ribbon. The candle tin said in flowery script, "I couldn't say 'I do' without you."

"Thanks for all your help with the wedding," Gwen said, her gaze fastened on Morgana's downturned face. "I really appreciate it."

Morgana touched the tin with a fingertip, her dark brown hair hiding her face from view. "I'm sorry for the trouble I caused you both." When she looked up and met Gwen's eyes her own were watery. "My brother is lucky to have you."

Gwen smiled and patted Arthur's hand. "I know."

A chuckle burst from Morgana.

Merlin smirked. "On that note." He kissed Morgana's cheek, patted her knee, and went to retrieve a present from under the tree. "Here." He handed Arthur a mug-sized gift wrapped in Christmas-tree printed green paper.

Morgana sent him a quizzical glance when he sat down again and put an arm around her.

Arthur ripped the paper off and opened the top of the plain white box. "A mug? I'm not your boss any more, remember?"

Merlin shrugged.

Arthur lifted out the mug. "Congrats on Becoming Gwen's Husband," Arthur read. "You Lucky Bastard."

Gwen laughed. Morgana chuckled. Merlin smirked.

"I'd take offence if it wasn't so true." Arthur leaned sideways and kissed Gwen.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back.

"Can we avoid public displays in the living room?" Morgana put her hand up as if to block out the view of her brother snogging his fianceé on the sofa.

"Mistletoe over there." Merlin pointed.

"Sounds good to me." Arthur stood and held out a hand to pull Gwen up.

When she was on her feet, he kissed her again, then began walking backward, heading toward the bedrooms.

"Wait." She broke their embrace to look over at Merlin. "Morgana hasn't given her one present yet."

"I'll give Merlin my gift upstairs." Morgana winked.

Arthur groaned.

Merlin shifted at the abrupt rush of heat to his groin.

"Don't tell us!" Gwen tugged Arthur toward the mistletoe. "We'll see you in the morning."

After a thankfully quick peck under the mistletoe, the two of them disappeared down the hallway, then the door to their bedroom closed.

"Our turn." Morgana got to her feet and held out a hand.

Merlin's heartbeat sped at the mischief in her green eyes. He hoped his comfortable lounging trousers hid his erection at least enough to get him upstairs to their room without embarrassment. From the glitter in her eyes, though, she had already noticed.

Under the mistletoe, she stopped and tilted up her face.

Struck again at the luck that had allowed them to finally find each other, he cupped her face in his palms, stroking the satiny skin of her cheeks with his thumbs. Waves of black hair flowed over her shoulders. Her green eyes were soft, her red lips parted. Her breath, scented of chocolate and bailey's, wafted against his mouth.

His eyes closed as he leaned down slowly, savouring the flavours on her tongue, the moist warmth of her mouth. His right hand slid lower, brushing along her jaw, then her neck, then lower to where the lacy black bra peeked out from her green blouse.

She sucked in a gasp of air and pulled back a little. "We should be upstairs."

Unable to form words, Merlin nodded. He was torn between wanting to kiss her longer and wanting to get upstairs to their room.

Morgana blinked and caught her breath. She stepped away but clasped his hand in hers. "I really do have a present for you."

She pulled him up the staircase to the room at the top, then inside. He tried to take her in his arms but she ducked away and pulled open a dresser drawer.

"I wanted to give you this." She held out a legal-sized manilla envelope.

Was this bad news? Why did she look so apprehensive?

"Right now?" he asked. Making love seemed a better option.

But she pushed the packet toward him. "Right now."

He glanced at the address as he took it. It was from her lawyer. He flipped it over. The seal was broken, so he slid the pile of documents out. On top was a letter addressed to her. The regarding line said, "Certificate of Divorce."

His breath caught. She was free? He looked up to catch her eyes.

She was studying his face.

"Does this mean…" he let his voice trail away.

She took a deep breath and raised her chin. "I was hoping it meant you're going to ask me to be your girlfriend."

His heart leapt in his chest. She wanted to be his girlfriend. This beautiful, intelligent, forceful woman wanted him. Wanted people to know she wanted him.

"In public? At work? With your friends and your family?"

She nodded.

"Can I punch Bertrand if he leers at you again?"

As long as the blond prick was on the ground, not on a horse.

Morgana laughed. The hearty sound warmed Merlin's chest. Even her laugh was beautiful.

She tilted her head so a few locks of dark brown hair curled against the lacy black bra. "I didn't think violence was your thing."

Merlin shrugged. "Maybe I'll just snog you in front of him, then."

She laughed again. "Staking your territory?"

"Every chance you give me from now on." He took her in his arms and kissed her, squishing the papers between them.

She kissed him back, his lips, his jaw, his neck. Then she took the envelope from his hands and opened the drawer she had kept it in. Her brows lifted. "I found Arthur's mittens."

"Tell him tomorrow." Merlin spun her around and walked her backward toward the bed.