mythandmagic (mythandmagic) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2017-01-14 14:08:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, audrey, merlin |
Who: Merlin, Audrey, NPC Ben and NPC Bea
When: Christmas Morning
Where: Their home
What: Santa Came!
Rating/Warnings: Low/None
Status: Complete
Ben was still young enough that he was in a crib. It was deep, and he’d tried climbing once or twice, but nothing serious. He knew that bed time was bed time and not play time, which was a good thing. They’d talked briefly about getting him a toddler bed, but Audrey wasn’t convinced. She liked having him caged, as horrible as it sounded. When he needed to go potty at night, they’d switch him up. For now, he was in his crib. And Bea was in hers, too. Bea’s crib was still in Merlin and Audrey’s room, though it was just about time to move her into her own bedroom.
Not today, though. Today was Santa day. Audrey was so excited. She and Merlin were able to stay up and set up the living room, next to the hearth, with toys and clothes for the kids. She knew that Ben was going to be ridiculously excited, and that Bea was going to have no idea what was going on. But for a couple of years the holiday wasn’t really about the kids, now, was it?
Audrey woke Merlin, thrilled, and then grabbed Bea from her bed. “C’mon, SugarPlum! It’s Christmas! Santa Came last night!” The baby was tired, and buried her face into Audrey’s chest.
In general Merlin went along with whatever Audrey thought was best when it came to the kids. He did however like to spend time with Ben when he was in the nursery at Stark Industries and he thought it had helped them bond better that he saw him at lunchtime when he was there.
It had been fun the previous night setting everything up but Merlin had to admit he wasn’t quite as perky as Audrey was when it came time for morning.
“Isn’t it supposed to be the kids that get us up?” he mumbled from where his face was still buried in the pillow. He liked bed and sometimes missed being able to spend more time in it. His Christmas spirit would soon get there though once he had caffeine in his system, he didn’t function well without that first cup of tea.
Audrey gave a little laugh. “They’re too little for that now! We have to teach them the excitement level we expect from them on Christmas morning. C’mon! I got you special Christmas pajamas!” They looked like a Santa suit and were already draped on the bed.
Audrey bounced the baby out of their bedroom and down the hall to wake up Ben. “Ben!” Her voice came faded to Merlin as she entered their son’s bedroom. “Santa came last night!”
“Can we not teach them to let mummy and daddy sleep?” Merlin asked but started to move knowing that Audrey while this excited wasn’t likely to let him lie around.
He sleepily pulled on the fresh pyjamas, he needed to put on a lot of weight to pull them off properly but they were quite fun. While Audrey woke up Ben he shuffled into the kitchen to put the kettle on.
Audrey, Ben and Bea came out into the kitchen, the boy rubbing his eyes and yawning. Bea obviously had no idea what was going on, but she seemed happy that her mother was so excited. Audrey was glowing. They moved through the kitchen area to the place where the stockings were hung, and Ben gave a shriek of happiness.
“Sahtah came!” He cried out, then rushed forward to go through all his presents.
Audrey brought Bea over to sit in an armchair and pulled one of the new baby toys into her lap to show the infant. Bea was so little she wasn’t really aware of what was going on, but she was happy enough to pull the toy into her mouth.
Merlin couldn’t deny that watching his family woke him up a bit and ignited his sleepy Christmas spirit. Once the tea was made he set it down on the table near Audrey so she could reach hers if she wanted. As soon as he sat down he had a lap full of Ben, “Daddy, Sahtah” he grinned happily as he showed Merlin his stocking.
“What did Santa bring you?” Audrey asked, knowing full well everything that was in the stocking. There were matchbox cars and dinosaurs and a new set of pajamas. She’d stuffed a couple of board books in there, too--Eric Carle. Something to wear, something to read, something they want, something they need.
“Dine-saur” Ben said as he pulled out two of his new toys and proceeded to have them rampage across his daddy who watched in amusement. “They are very good dinosaurs” he said before Ben giggled and putting them down on the sofa he pulled the pajamas out, “On?” he asked looking between his parents questioningly.
“Here, I’ll help you with those,” Audrey gave an adoring smile to their son, then reached forward to help Ben tug his current PJs off. His diaper could go for a change. He was actually doing some great work with potty training during the day, but it was early enough in the morning now that he hadn’t had a change yet. “Do you want a new nappy, Ben?” She asked. They kept a stash in a nice-looking basket in the living room for quick changes.
Ben looked like he was thinking very hard for a moment but then scrambled down from the sofa to get a fresh nappy which he brought over to his dad, “Daddy nappy” he grinned as Merlin grinned back reaching out he lifted Ben making him squeal a little as he was tickled and then placed across Merlin’s lap so he could do a quick change. Thankfully it was an easy one, “All done. Over to mummy for the new pajamas” he shot Audrey a smile.
With a fresh nappy and the new pajamas, Ben was like a new boy. Audrey slipped his legs into the pants and pulled the top over his head. It was stretchy cotton, with stars and swirls on it. Navy blue. And baby sister Bea had a matching set in purple.
“Look, Ben,” she said, motioning to the swirls. “It’s like magic.” She grinned, trailing a finger over one of the swirls, then tickled his tummy. Ben let out a little squeal of laughter.
“Magik” Ben giggled looking at both his parents, Merlin nodded, “Magic” he said making swirls appear in the air that matched the pattern on his son’s top. Ben gave a bright grin and waved his own arms around trying to do the same.
Audrey produced her wand and gave it a small wave, too, sending another set of sparks. They weren’t as perfectly matched to Ben and Bea’s pajamas, like Merlin’s were. But they were complimentary. Audrey’s magic wasn’t nearly as strong as Merlin’s was. She grinned, though. “You’ll get your magic in time, Benny,” she said, running one hand over her son’s hair. “I’m sure of it.”
“Be glad he hasn’t yet, in my dreams I caused my mother no end of trouble with accidental casting” Merlin told her as he squeezed her arm. He had no doubt Ben had magic but what form it took would be the interesting part. “But you’ll be okay won’t you Ben, you’ll be a perfect little wizard in time”
Audrey leaned in against her husband and nuzzled her forehead against his. Then she closed her eyes and sighed. “They’re going to be a lot of trouble for us. The both of them. I just feel it in my bones.” She was only partly kidding. She sat up straight up again.
Ben was already tearing through the other presents that Santa left for him.
“Yeah but who doesn’t need a little trouble in their lives sometimes” Merlin said with a smile, watching as Ben opened his gifts in a flurry of paper and giggles. Looking at him Merlin knew no trouble in the world would be too much if it meant he had this, his family.