The 9th Day of Christmas

The big day draws near and the simple Christmas dinner is slowly transforming into a major event. Cooking, holiday shopping, and mulitple trips to the grocery store begin, ahhh the fun of Christmas. Merry Christmas and happy holidays everyone.


The 12 Days of Christmas, Day 9

Gwen scooted round Merlin and pulled a second pan of corn bread out of the oven and put a third one in. Arthur was off to the butcher's get the ducks and the rack of lamb. She moved the second pan of corn bread to the built-in kitchen bar where they usually ate their breakfast.

"Taste this." Merlin said and she slurped a sweet orange sauce from a wooden spoon.

"Mhmm." Gwen smacked her lips "Is this for the yams?"

"Yep."

She smiled and gave his hand a squeeze, "It's delicious."

All the prep work was being done over the next few days. The pie crusts were being made, the stuffing was all but baked, sauces, marinades, chopping were all done ahead of time. All of the presents were wrapped and decorating was complete, on Christmas day everyone just wanted to eat.

Gwen cut the first pan of cornbread into four large pieces and put them in a container. Merlin's cell phone buzzed.

"Oh hi Janine," He said a moment later.

Gwen glared at him.

"Mhmm, yep she's right here."

Merlin pressed the phone to her ear and Gwen had no choice, but to catch it between her ear and shoulder or let it drop to the floor.

"Gwen I don't blame you for ignoring me. I shouldn't have said those things. I just- When you told me you were getting back with Arthur, it didn't make any sense. I shouldn't have dumped on either of them. It's just with everything that happened with you and Arthur and Merlin…I don't want you to get hurt, but I shouldn't have said that I should have listened to you and tried to understand."

Gwen didn't say anything.

"Mom and I talked and I think I understand the situation with the three of you now. It makes sense actually. Can you forgive your big sister pleasssseee?"

"You're going to be supportive?"

"Absolutely."

"All right you're forgiven but one slip-up-"

"Say no more." There was another pause. "So I'll see you at Christmas?"

"Janine!"

"What? Mom thinks we should come and your niece wants to see her auntie. Here talk to Monica."

"Janine don't you-"

"Hi Auntie Gwen." The four year's old voice was sweet and high and filled with excitement.

"Hi Monica."

"Are you and mommy still fighting?"

"No."

"Yayyyy! Does that mean you're gonna visit soon?"

"Yes."

"Okay. Um does that mean I can come by for Christmas and show you my toys and see your tree and Uncle Elyan and Uncle Merlin and Granma and Granpa'? I'll be good I promise."

"Of course you can," Gwen said tone sweet, even as she gritted her teeth.

The little girl cheered again and Gwen shot a glare at Merlin.

"Give the phone back to mommy."

"Okay. I love you Auntie Gwen."

"I love you too sweetheart."

"You're an evil, bad woman Janine."

"I love you too Auntie Gwen." Janine said.

"Mhmmm you just better bring a bottle of wine."

"I'll bring some wine and banana pudding."

Gwen considered, "Banana pudding?"

"From scratch."

"Oh all right. Thanks for apologizing I gotta go." She handed the phone back to Merlin. "Can you call Arthur? I hope he hasn't left the butchershop."


"You haven't left the butcher shop yet have you?" Merlin sounded terribly earnest.

"You guys need something from the store?"

"If you've left already-"

"-Merlin," Arthur said with great calm. "What do we need?" Arthur scanned Lake Shore Drive south for the nearest exit, 31st street, he was practically home.

"Janine and her husband and kids are coming."

"Oh." Arthur smiled a bit, that was good news. "So what should I get a fish, a goose, a turkey?"

"A roast I think and Gwen's going to text you a few things to pick up from the grocery store."

"Oh," Arthur managed not to sigh. The weekend before Christmas all stores were packed with cranky shoppers. It didn't help that the sky was overcast, the streets packed and damp, and parking terrible. He just wanted to go back to the apartment and snuggle up with Merlin and Guinevere.

"Have you guys thought about anything for dinner tonight?"

"No actually."

"All right I'll pick up something."

"Thanks Arthur, love you, bye."

The phone disconnected and Arthur pulled off lake shore drive at 31st. Thirty-fifth street was the exit for Merlin and Guinevere's apartment. He'd just fought through the snarl of holiday traffic that regularly stalled Lake Shore Dr from south 18th street to Fullerton Ave on the north side. He wasn't fighting through that again.

Instead he detoured over to Halsted, which moved until he reached the north side where he ran into Lincoln Park and Belmont traffic as people pulled over for shops, double parked, blocked the streets with sloppy parking, pedestrians walked into traffic and all manner of rude inconsiderate behavior made its way onto the road. Still none of it was as bad as the near paralysis that descended onto Lake Shore Drive from Fullerton to 18th.

He got further north and the congestion that had strangled the city from the center out relaxed and he was able to drive again. Merlin texted him Gwen's list of a few things and Arthur groaned. There had to be at least twenty items on the list. Arthur told himself that this dinner was important, especially since Janine had decided to come.

He looked up party tables while in line at Hozlokopf's. They could have squeezed seven or eight into the kitchen and at the bar, but twelve, not possible. He reserved a table and scrolled through the menu at Udupu palace. They were rarely this far north so he may as well pick up Indian on Devon street.

He got the requested roast and decided to order a ham as well, just in case anyone else added themselves to the guest list. After that he fought the Sunday crowds in the grocery store to pick up the things on Gwen's list. He got a call from Guinevere just as he was picking up dinner.

"Hey Arthur is everything okay? You could have driven home and back in all this time."

"Well I did actually. I was at 31st street when Merlin called."

She gasped. "Why didn't you say? We could have done something else."

"Its all right this dinner is important and you guys are working hard on the food, so I'll just keep going back and forth to the store. It'll be like an episode of the Cosby Show."

Gwen laughed at that and he smiled.

"I also picked us up dinner from Udupu and reserved a party table for our guest."

"Oh. I love their food."

He could hear the little smile in her voice.

"I know," he said by way of reply.

"You're taking care of everything so wonderfully Arthur."

He smiled at her tone.

"Are you about done?"

"Heading back now."

"Okay well we will be done and ready to eat when you get here. Be careful, love you, bye."

"Love you too baby, bye."


They put the groceries away and sat down to dinner, all of the time looking equally weary and subdued. Merlin and Gwen from their work in the kitchen and Arthur from driving all over the city.

"Arthur why'd you get the ham?" Merlin asked.

"Our guest list has nearly doubled since we decided to host Christmas . I figured we should have the ham in case anyone else decides to invite themselves." Arthur said all this without looking up from his plate.

Guinevere and Merlin grimaced and exchanged worried glances.

"Arthur you do realize that the only people left to invite are your parents."

He paused samosa half way between his mouth and the plate.

"They got to Prague every year anyway, so they won't be coming. I guess the ham can go in the freezer." Arthur popped the rest of the samosa in his mouth.

"Besides," Gwen remarked tone thoughtful. "We don't have enough room for another guest anyway."

"No!" Arthur and Merlin said unison.


And that's the end of day 9. Only three days left. Update is tomorrow, hope you enjoy. :) Please leave a comment.