Merlin woke up the next morning to find Arthur looking at him. The blonde gave him a smile and look of love that made Merlin blush as he bent to kiss him. "Happy Christmas love"

Merlin returned the kiss "And a Happy Christmas to you" after kissing a few more times Merlin grinned "Up you get, don't bother to get dressed yet just put your joggers and t shirt on. Mum will already be up and so will Gwaine. We are like big kids in this house at Christmas"

Merlin got out of bed and threw on a t shirt and sleeping pants. "We have a cup of tea, open the presents and then have breakfast before we get dressed."

It was then that Arthur realized that he had never spent Christmas day at Merlin's childhood home before. He felt guilty and his face fell. Merlin prodded him. "Less of that. We haven't had chance before. I was on postings for two of the Christmas's on duty ceremonial duty for another and we went to your dads for the other"

Arthur frowned "You a mind reader now?"

"Yeah, but then you have always been easy to read, why do you think Gwaine always beats you at poker?" Merlin said jokingly

"Because he cheats?" came the comeback

"He does, he's made a fortune out of the lads, good job we pay for sweets. Anyway with a face like yours he doesn't need to. Come on lets go down stairs. Or Gwaine will open the pressies without us"

It was nice to see Merlin so happy so Arthur did as he was asked and they went downstairs and found Hunith and Gwaine at the kitchen table drinking tea. Gwaine looked up "What time do you call this?"

Arthur looked at the clock "Seven thirty"

"I was going to start without you but the old dragon wouldn't let me" Gwaine looked at Hunith and grinned as she smacked him round the ear

"Dragon if you like, but I'm not too old to keep you under control young man!" Hunith told her surrogate son.

Hunith poured out two more cups of tea from the pot and gave then to Merlin and Arthur. Merlin took a sip "Ahh nothing like tea made with tea leaves and proper welsh water"

Arthur shook his head fondly, he secretly agreed with his husband but still insisted on teabags at home, he couldn't be bothered with loose leaves.

Gwaine stood up "Come on pressie time" and he went into the living room.

The others followed and sat down on the chairs. Merlin and Arthur next to each other. Gwaine sat on the floor by the tree and started to hand out the presents. He was like a child and clearly enjoyed the whole Christmas experience. "If only your troop could see you now" Arthur quipped

Merlin gave a rueful smile "They wouldn't be surprised, when we were on postings he made the men put their gifts in a heap and he gave them out them. Anyone who declined was given the worse duties, if he out ranked them."

Once all the presents were unwrapped they made their way into the kitchen where Gwaine and Merlin cooked the breakfast together. They had a smaller version of a full Welsh breakfast with thick bacon rasher, local sausage, black pudding, egg, mushrooms, tomatoes and Laver bread. Due to the Christmas dinner they left off the cockles and smoked fish. After breakfast Arthur and Gwaine washed up while Merlin and his mother tidied up the debris from the lounge from their present opening. Sitting down with another cup of tea Arthur offered to help with the Christmas dinner.

"No need son, all the preparation was done yesterday, it kept Gwaine out of mischief. All I have to do is cook it." Hunith smiled

"Once I've drunk this I'm having a shower and getting dressed" Merlin said. Then he looked at Arthur "Just casual ok, no ties. In fact you can wear the jumper mum made you."

Gwaine laughed "That's another Christmas tradition, silly Christmas jumpers, we already have several. They only come off if it gets to warm. Oh and don't forget the musical socks"

Merlin looked at his mother "Arthur is used to wearing formal gear at Christmas and very formal dinners served up by 'staff'"

Arthur blushed "Not by choice, your Christmas sounds much more fun. Although I'm not sure about the socks!"

Hunith laughed "These two have never grown up, Gwaine spent most of his Christmas's here and they have always been the same, them and Will." She looked pensive for a moment as Merlin gave her a quick hug,

"We all miss him Mum, but he wouldn't want us to mope at Christmas, he would have hated that. I bet the mad fool is organizing some sort of mayhem where ever he is now"

Gwaine snorted "Do you remember when he took a whoopy cushion into midnight mass and put it on Old Man Symonds pew."

Hunith glared at him "Yes and the year after you put cod liver oil capsules in the heaters and stank the whole church out. I haven't been able to go to midnight mass since"

Once Arthur had stopped laughing he turned to Hunith "Next year I'll go with you and we'll leave these two here"

They went upstairs and when they came back Gwaine was wearing a jumper with a very drunk Reindeer on. Merlin has a robin and Arthur had a snowman. Arthur was surprised to see Hunith in a shirt and blouse "Where is your jumper?" He demanded

Hunith smiled "I'm in and out of the kitchen dear so I am except but I do have to wear these" She held up some plastic and fabric reindeer horns "Besides I have to knit the jumpers each year."

"Fair comment but next year I'm getting you something festive to wear" Arthur grinned.

They put on the television and watched some films Hunith disappeared every so often to do something in the kitchen. Arthur followed her in at one stage to make some coffee. While he was with Hunith she gave him a hug "Thank you for looking after him so well, it can't be easy, but he seems a lot less self-conscious about his face now."

"He is" Arthur admitted "Unless strangers are about. I keep telling him his scars are not important, they just show how brave he was, and how lucky I am to have him back" he paused "He hasn't said anything about what happens next?"

"You mean about his career?" Hunith asked

Arthur nodded "I keep hoping they will discharge him, is that selfish of me?"

"No, and I hope the same, but after the holidays you need to talk to him, maybe you could start something together?" Hunith suggested "That's if you don't make it up with your father"

"I won't go back to work for him whatever. It was like a weight was lifted from me when I handed in my notice. I'll give it some thought, come on lets go back or they'll start asking questions." Arthur picked up the tray and carried it into the others.

Arthur couldn't remember enjoying a Christmas dinner so much, nor could he remember being so full or wearing a silly paper hat and reading out ridiculous jokes. His father Christmas Crackers had been far more staid, having been handmade and the gifts handpicked. After lunch they all went out for a walk, another tradition. Getting back they watched the Queens Christmas Broadcast before they all got stuck in and washed up. Once everything was put away they had another cup of tea and sat down to play board games. Arthur found that the idea was to cheat as much as you could without being found out! They laughed so much by the end of the afternoon they were all holding their ribs.

After watching the news Hunith went and set the table with cold meats and other delights. She expected them to eat well. Merlin grinned "Now you know why we dress casually, allows for an expanding waistline!"

The evening was spent watching old films before finally turning into bed. "That was the nicest Christmas I have ever had" Arthur admitted as they went upstairs.

"I told you, you'd like it" Merlin slurred, he was slightly tipsy but nor drunk.