"And how are you enjoying school, sweetheart?"

"Mmm, it's okay," she answers thoughtfully, smashing a pea under her fork with determination. "But sometimes I get in trouble."

"Oh," Uther manages to sound serious, but everyone at the table struggles to keep a straight face. "In my day when you got in trouble, you got a good whipping or a spanking. But I don't suppose spanking is allowed anymore, so I think you'll be just fine," he says with a conspiratorial wink.

Gwen is continually impressed with how well Uther fits the grandfather bill, but she thinks perhaps it's his way of showing how much he's changed since the trials of raising his own children.

Scout stares curiously at her grandfather before tilting her head with the strange, birdlike quality that is all her own. "Sometimes Daddy spanks Mummy when they go to sleep. Does that mean Mummy's in trouble?"

Arthur chokes and at the same time Merlin spits out some of his drink.

"Wow," Morgana is the least fazed, giving Arthur an impressed smirk. "I didn't know you had it in you, little brother."

Gwen blushes furiously and attempts to distract her daughter from saying anything else incriminating.

Uther is graciously silent for a few moments, eyes decidedly fixed on the napkin he's using to dab at his mouth, and then he clears his throat. "Well…that's…uh, that's between your Mum and Dad. Now, what does my little angel want for Christmas?"

Gwen's panicked gaze darts to her husband's and she stifles a small giggle at how his ears have gone pink at the tips, but there is a certain glimmer to his eyes that betrays his own amusement.

"""

Arthur insists on washing the dishes after dinner, more from the urge to hide than from any real desire to help. He knows from experience that Morgana has no qualms about grilling him with awkward questions in front of their father and would just as soon avoid any further humiliation for the evening.

Gwen doesn't blame him, finding herself perhaps a little overeager to join his retreat on the pretense of assisting with the drying.

"Did you know she saw us?" she asks quietly.

"God, no!" Arthur whispers back. "She usually sleeps so soundly, and anyway I'm rather distracted when we're...you know..."

"Oh my god," Gwen giggles. "Maybe we should start locking our door."

"How many other people do you think she's mentioned it to?"

"Oh, shit," she laughs, covering her face. "Shit. Do you think she's said something to her teachers?"

"I hope not. They might think I'm abusing you or something."

Gwen's unexpected burst of laughter was sure to give them away. "That or they've all realized you have a spanking fetish and they'll never be able to look at you the same again."

Arthur lets the pot he's holding slip from his hands into the water, splashing his shirt. "I do not have a fetish!" he turns on her with an indignant glare, but he can't help cracking a smile at Gwen's face.

"Don't worry, I love you anyway," she beams, teasing.

"You think this is funny, don't you?" He grabs a hold of her waist with his wet hands and pulls her against him as she yelps.

"No, no!" she shrieks, bordering on hysterical. "You're getting me wet. Arthur, you're—"

Her laughter dissipates as he kisses her, leaning her over.

"That's it," he declares as he draws back to look at her again, and her eyes search his curiously. "We're gonna have to switch schools. They're all going to think I'm a pervert now."

A/N: To my lovely Guest reviewer: Yes, I am fond of TKAM. I chose Atticus on a whim as a cute dog name for The Happiest Place on Earth and thought little of it. When I started working on Soft Raptures I didn't have a name in mind for their daughter and decided not to force the issue by trying to think of one just yet. But later as her character began to emerge it just kind of clubbed me over the head and seemed obvious as something cute, appropriate for her personality, and true to what I imagine my version of A & G might have chosen. I certainly didn't intend to make it a theme but it happened naturally anyway, and I do enjoy the parallel of their bond as characters. Atticus is loyal and protective, while Scout is naturally very curious and investigative to the point of getting herself in trouble. So there you have it!