Who: Audrey and Merlin When: August Where: Their house What: Nesting (preparing the nursery) Rating/Warnings: Low/Talk of a healthy Pregnancy Status: Complete
Audrey was up on a step ladder, hanging curtains over the window. The nursery was in the final stages, now all they had to do was fill the drawers, hang the clothes, put down the mat. Audrey had been washing baby clothes--some Ben’s, and some new--and cleaning all the other things. Ben was busy, too--he was going through all the old baby toys, making them squeak and spring. The boy was eighteen months old now, and had started talking a bit. He kept his mother company while she worked.
Merlin walked into the nursery and almost cursed until he realised Ben was there, “Audrey!” he said sternly moving forward to hold her waist, “Please come down from there before I have a heart attack, all you had to do was ask and I would have put them up for you”
“What?” Audrey asked, turning to look down at him. “What? I can stand on a ladder, I’m not that far gone.” Though, he had a point. Her center of gravity was far off, so she could easily have fallen and hurt herself. With his help she came down off the ladder. “I just wanted to get the new curtains up.”
“All it takes is one slip love and you aren’t as stable as you were before” he pointed out in his own kind way, “I’m here to do the heavy lifting and the ladder part of things okay?” he said dropping a kiss on her lips.
“Okay.” Audrey was frowning, though. She didn’t like feeling like she couldn’t handle these things on her own. And she really should have used magic to put up the curtains, that wouldn’t have put her in danger of falling. But she returned the kiss, and that made her smile. “Are you here to help with the rest? There’s clothes to put away, art to hang on the walls, and Ben’s already helping sort through the toys, aren’t you Bennie?”
Merlin didn’t want Audrey to feel helpless or anything but he also didn’t want her putting herself and the baby at unnecessary risk. “I am at your beck and call all day” he said before looking at their son playing with the toys, “Oh yes I can see he’s doing very well. Not getting distracted at all, are you Ben?” he said swooping down to pick up his son and tickle him while Ben laughed and squealed.
Audrey didn’t want to be helpless. It was hard for a strong, confident woman to admit that she needed help. But at the very end of her pregnancy, she definitely needed as much help as she could get. “I love you for that.” Audrey said, and wrapped her arms around her husband. She kissed him quickly, then released him to be with their son. Audrey beamed, then slipped into the rocking chair that lived in the nursery. It was a good angle to watch Merlin playing with Ben. “Did we ever officially ask Nina and Gabe if they would watch Ben while we go to the hospital?”
“You know I don’t think we did, but I’m sure they won’t mind” Merlin said, sitting on the floor with Ben for a minute to play with him, “How are they getting on with the Agency? Do you know? Last I heard Nina was waiting for a call about speaking to one of their doctors”
“I haven’t asked lately.” Audrey said, frowning. “That’s the last I’ve heard, too. I’ve been so busy getting Izzy and Caroline ready to run Baxter Bakeries without me, and setting up the nursery, and taking care of Ben? I’m distracted.” She sighed, now feeling guilty that she hadn’t checked in with Nina lately. “I’ll send her a note. We’ll have to have Nina and Gabe over for dinner, and get all the details.”
“That's a good idea, we have a few things to discuss with them anyway” he said with a smile, “Don't worry, you've had a lot on your plate”
“That sounds great. Dinner. I’ll send them a message.” Audrey said, rocking in the glider. “I’ll be taking my Maternity Leave starting on September first. At that point I’ll be off my feet the whole time, I might be able to catch up on some emails and whatnot. And maybe some Netflix.” She grinned softly.
Merlin nodded, “I think that sounds perfect, just what you need” he smiled, “Just don’t watch any cool shows without me” he winked at her, “I don’t wanna be left behind” he moved over to press a kiss to her lips.
“I’ll just watch re-runs of things we’ve already seen.” Audrey assured him, then wrapped her arms around him to kiss him back. It was a long kiss, meaningful and tender, until Audrey abruptly pulled back, wincing. She lowered a hand to her belly. “She jumps right on my bladder.”
Merlin smiled into the kiss, he wouldn’t hold it against her if she did watch new things but she liked it as much as he did when they watched new things together. “Hey little bit” he said, rubbing a hand over Audrey’s stomach, “Be nice to your mummy”
Audrey chuckled softly. She lowered her hand to cover her husband’s, and moved it down and over to where the baby was moving. He could likely feel her turning over, moving inside Audrey’s belly. “I think we’re all just getting anxious to meet.”
Merlin loved being able to feel the baby move, it was fascinating and he was kind of in awe of it. It was one of his favourite things to do. “I think you’re right” he said, “But it’ll happen soon enough. When the time is right” he said leaning forward to kiss her belly.
Audrey brought one hand to his head and threaded her fingers in his hair. “When the time is right.” She repeated after him. Her fingernails ran gently against his scalp. “I want it to be exactly on time.”
Merlin laughed, “You know as well as I do it’ll be when she’s ready and not before - especially if she takes after her mother” he teased looking up at Audrey adoringly.
Audrey laughed. “I wish I was that patient! I just follow the rules. You have to to be a good baker.” She lowered her hand to cup his cheek, and gave him a little tug up so she could kiss him again.
“Oh you follow the rules, when it comes to baking but in other ways you are a total rebel Aud” he told her with a smile as he moved to kiss her happily.
Audrey grinned, then kissed him. It was a kiss of hunger, love, passion. She let the rest of the world slip away and focused on her husband, the kiss, the floor under her feet and the arms around her.
Merlin did the same until a little insistent tug on his shirt increased in power and he pulled back to see Ben looking up at them. “Me” he said arms raised so Merlin picked him up and pressed kisses all over his face making him giggle.
Audrey laughed, too, then leaned in to plant kisses on her little boy’s face, too. Love from Mommy and Daddy. How could it get any better than this?