The penultimate update! *Sniffles* I'm kinda of sad that it's almost over. ):

Somehow, the 12 days of Christmas have got a bit mixed up, so rather than finishing on the 24th, have somehow worked out to finished on the 23rd, so I changed the timeline a bit, so the 11th Day of Christmas is officially Christmas Eve, M'kay? c:

I still don't own any part of the Merlin series. It all belongs to the BBC.

I hope you enjoy this as much as I enjoyed writing it. (:

On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love sent to me, Christmas cheer and good-will.

*****

Merlin knew that Arthur was obsessed with eating healthily and working out and looking after himself; but he also knew hat Arthur's guilty pleasure was chocolate chip cookies. Not the huge chocolate chip cookies you buy in batches of four, but those smaller ones that come in groups of about twenty – Merlin could never remember the brand name.

So this was why, during their last food shop before Christmas, Merlin had picked up several of the packets, purely for Arthur's consumption. He had completely ignored Arthur's previous instruction to not buy anything unhealthy under any circumstances. Looking down at the contents of his trolley, Merlin smiled to himself – Arthur would not be pleased with the large amounts of biscuits and chocolate and salted peanuts he had gathered. Ah well, he thought, It's Christmas.

*****

"What is this, Merlin?" Arthur rummaged through the bags of shopping Merlin had brought in from the car. "I thought I said not to buy anything unhealthy?"

"But it's Christmas, Arthur. It's almost law that you have to eat unhealthily at Christmas.

"What? It's not law, Merlin."

"I said almost law, Arthur. It's like an unwritten code."

"Maybe for you, but I don't plan on gaining 5lbs this year, thank you very much."

"So you won't eat any of it?" Merlin asked, before sticking a hand in one of the bags, seemingly searching for something.

"No."

"Not even these?" Merlin held up a packet of Arthur's favourite cookies, grinning.

Arthur seemed unsure for a moment, his face twisted into a frown. "Well, maybe just one…" He took the packet from Merlin, instantly tearing open the wrapper. His face lit up with a smile as he took his first bite. "Perfect."

*****

Merlin loved Christmas. Not because of the presents, or the food, or anything like that, but because of the feel of Christmas. He loved the general feeling of good cheer that everyone seemed to experience at this time of year, and the way that everyone came together. He particularly loved the part of Christmas "law" that demanded you at least speak to every single relative on both sides of your family, and wish every person you speak to (friend or not) a very merry Christmas.

He loved to spend time with Arthur when neither of them had to work, and could spend an entire day flopped in front of the TV, and not have to feel guilty about not doing anything. He loved the way every channel had a countdown to Christmas day in the corner of their screens, and how they only seemed to play films that were based around giving and good-will and Christmas cheer.

As a member of the Emrys family, Merlin had been subjected to the family tradition of putting out cookies and mil for "Santa" every single year, even when he was too old to believe in men dressed in red coming down the chimney to give him presents.

So it should have been nothing new to Arthur that Merlin's family had traditions that had to be followed, no matter what. Arthur, however, was still incredibly confused when he saw Merlin carefully pouring a glass of milk and placing several of Arthur's cookies onto a plate.

"Merlin, dare I ask, what are you doing?"

"Putting out cookies and milk. What does it look like?" Swallowing the piece of cookie Merlin had nabbed in the process, he stepped around a very puzzled Arthur and made his way to the fireplace.

"I hate to break it to you, Merlin, but Santa's not real."

Merlin glared at him over his shoulder. "Yes, I know that, Arthur. I am not four years old."

Arthur frowned. "Well, why are you putting cookies and milk out then?"

"It's a family tradition." Merlin said simply, standing up slowly. "Don't eat that!" He cried, wrenching a cooking out of Arthur's hand. He re-placed it lovingly on the plate.

"Well, if they're not for Santa, why can't I eat it?"

"Because they're not for you!"

"You are an extremely strange person, Merlin Emrys."

*****

Despite being twenty-three now, Merlin could never get to sleep on Christmas Eve. He knew there was no man in a red coat placing presents under the tree while he slept, so he guessed it was just because he loved Christmas so much that he could never drift off to sleep until well after midnight.

As he lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, Merlin could feel his heart beat quicken in excitement. It's nearly Christmas! His mind chanted, and a large grin spread across his face. He rolled over onto his side slowly, so as not to wake Arthur, with the intention of checking the clock on Arthur's bedside table. He was quite surprised to find that Arthur was not in bed. From the silence, Merlin knew that Arthur was not in the bathroom (Arthur's bathroom light buzzed terribly loudly everytime you turned it on), so he assumed that Arthur was downstairs.

Curious as to what was so interesting downstairs that required Arthur out of bed at ten to midnight, Merlin crept downstairs to find out.

He smiled softly as his eyes fell on Arthur. He was sat on the sofa, cookie in hand, just watching the Christmas tree The tree lights were the only source of light in the room, casting a faint glow on Arthur's blonde hair. Arthur looked up as Merlin stepped into the living room.

"Come here." Merlin took the offered hand, joining him on the sofa.

"What are you doing out of bed?" Arthur didn't complain as Merlin took the cookie from him and ate it himself.

"Family tradition." He snuggled up to Arthur's side as he put an arm around Merlin's shoulders. Merlin smiled as the clock hands flicked to midnight.

"Merry Christmas, Arthur."

"Merry Christmas, Merlin."