Gi was already a well established member of the family and the two animals helped keep Merlin busy. When Gi was taken to the vets for his check up Merlin was advised to have him castrated. They had never had Finna neutered and at her age it would be dangerous for her to have puppies. At first Arthur was against the idea. He felt the little dog should keep his bits but he didn't want to risk anything happening to Finna. Merlin teased him asking why he hadn't minded Isolde having the op but didn't want their little boy to have his.
Gwaine then announced that his and Mithian's son William was starting University in Cardiff to train to be a physiotherapist in September. This pleased Gwaine as it was something he wished he had done when he was younger.
When September came Miranda and William went off to their separate universities, the two men couldn't believe how time had flown. Leon and Arthur were happy as Miranda had decided she wanted to study law and follow in her father's footsteps. But it would seem strange without her about at the weekends and the group of cottages would be much quieter.
Penny had decided to finish her education after college; she wanted to go into baking. She was applying for a job as an apprentice baker with a speciality baker in the nearby town and needed a character reference which Arthur was only too pleased to give. A couple of weeks later an excited Penny came to see Arthur and Merlin she had been successful and would start soon. Merlin gave her some money so she could get some of the equipment she needed.
The changes were all happening at once and Merlin in particular would miss the older children. They had all spent quite a bit of time with him over the years. But he still had Elizabeth and Tristan about although they were starting their last year at secondary school and both hoped to go on to college afterward. Tristan had already decided he wanted to be a carpenter and Elizabeth a nurse. It made Merlin wonder what Arthur and his children would have turned out like if they had ever had a family. So once more he became down in mood. He hated thinking like this but couldn't help himself; they had missed out on so much. He knew they would have been good parents.
Gwen was the one that picked up on the reason for Merlin's latest drop in mood as she was also finding the changes difficult. Gwen had loved having the children around the place, as they had grown and spent more time with their friends she missed their constant presence. So Gwen tried to get Merlin more involved once more in the kitchen. He was still doing work for the archive but that had become a solitary occupation once Gaius had died, Gwen knew Merlin was better with company.
Hunith still went out with Merlin in the garden but was not quite as fit as she once was; arthritis was making it harder for her. She was in her late seventies but still very good for her age and still very good mentally. The mother and son spent quite a bit of time together having his mother so close certainly helped Merlin. She had become like a grandmother to all the children and was also noticing their absence.
However at Christmas they all descended and Arthur had bought a second table to be used when everyone was about. So Gwaine's two lads were given the job of helping their father and Percy too bring it out of storage in the garage. This year the Christmas cake was made by Penny for the first time. Having the extra person helping in the kitchen was certainly a help. Hunith was told that this year she was there in a supervisory capacity only, much to her disgust.
Once the Christmas holidays were over peace descended once more. There were two big events the following year. William and Penny were going to have a combined eighteenth birthday party in the bungalow garden. It suited both of them. Although they now spent most of their time apart they had become very close and had started going out together and William came back from Cardiff as often as he could.
The other celebration was still a secret. Arthur was planning an event to celebrate Merlin's fiftieth birthday and also the thirtieth anniversary of their meeting for the first time. It was in the August and Arthur was trying to think of something special. Gwaine was involved and they wanted something he would enjoy and that they could all participate in. They had thought of going away but that would be too difficult to include everyone. In the end they decided on a hog roast in the garden, with a live band for music. Now it was just working out who and keeping it a secret.
…..
Sorry to those who wanted Finna to have puppies but she is too old to safely have a litter.
Also suggestions please for who Arthur can get for the live music. Don't forget Arthur is loaded.
Thank you to all those who are following this story, it has doubled its length already!