mythandmagic (mythandmagic) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2017-05-11 09:06:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, audrey, groot, merlin, nina pickering |
Who: Audrey, Merlin, Nina, Gabe, and the kids!
When: April 16, 2017
Where: Audrey and Merlin’s house
What: Easter Baskets and egg hunting!
Rating/Warnings: Low/None
Status: Complete
Gabe loved Easter. Not just because an over abundance of Peeps showed up, or that his bi-annual visit to whichever local church was always nice for the sermon and the nostalgia of doing so with family, but he loved it for the flowers. Easter always equalled spring, more so than the vernal equinox did. Some of the best flowers came out: tulips, lilies, hyacinths and the like. So when they had made their way over to Merlin and Audrey's he'd brought a nice basket of such flowers he'd arranged. In the other arm he held an Easter basket from he and Nina.
“I can't believe Easter is here. Man this year seems to be flying.” He said to Nina as they waited for their friends to answer the door.
Not being in the least bit religious Nina had always just enjoyed the chocolate which she associated with Easter, she liked the bright colours of course and helped decorate the kids wing of the hospital but it hadn’t really ever meant much as an event for her before. “Don’t remind me, it’ll be August soon and we still haven’t got everything sorted yet” she said with a smile.
Like Nina it wasn’t about religion for Merlin either but since being with Audrey it was definitely a time which represented family and for them that included Nina and Gabe. He’d hidden eggs early that morning all around the garden so everybody could hunt for them - it wouldn’t be fun for Ben if he was hunting on his own after all. “Morning” he greeted them as he opened the door, “Can I interest you in a bunny shaped crumpet or chick shaped cookie?” he offered after ushering them inside.
Audrey loved all the holidays. She’d spent them with her family when she was little, and though she’d sort of lost interest in formal religion over the last few years, she’d become something of a “C&E” Christian. (Christmas and Easter)... She knew she wanted to take Ben and Bea to church because Sunday School was invaluable to her own development… but she and Merlin had to figure out what role religion was going to take in their parenting together. So far she was just playing it by ear, and being really laid back about everything. As was Audrey’s way.
She was thrilled to be spending Easter with her family, though. The Easter Bunny left the kids a couple of small baskets with little toys, and dropped off a bunch of eggs for them to hunt in the backyard. Audrey was sitting in the living room with Bea in her lap, grinning over as her friends came through the front door. “Happy Easter!”
“I could use a cookie.” Gabe said, giving Merlin a smile. He would have given his friend a clap on the shoulder in greeting but his hands were full. It felt good to be celebrating these holidays with their friends, who were essentially the only family Gabe had this side of the country. “Heya! Happy Easter!” he said, spotting Audrey and Bea. He set the basket of flowers down and put their easter basket with the others before giving Audrey a friendly kiss hello. “Happy Easter to you too, munchkin.” he said to Bea, tickling her. “Where’s my little bud?” he asked, glancing about for Ben.
“In this house I know better than to turn down any offer of a cookie” Nina said with a smile before they greeted Audrey. A small bundle came flying into the room and threw itself onto Gabe’s back with a cry of “Boo, Uncle Gabe” making Nina laugh, “I think he may have found you” she commented.
Merlin chuckled as he returned with a plate of cookies and set them on the table for everybody, “Ben, be careful” he said but he smiled and Ben beamed at him.
“Gah! You got me!” Gabe feigned being startled and twisted around, scooping up the boy into his huge arms with a playful growl. “Now I got you mwahaha!” And he blew raspberries on Ben's tummy then burst into laughter. “Looks like the Easter Bunny came, huh little man?”
“The Easter Bunny was especially nice to these two,” Audrey said, grinning over at her friends and family. Actually, she mused, this was her family. Nina and Gabe were as good as siblings. Way more than friends. She bounced Bea, who was giggling and making grabby hands at Auntie Nina. “I think she wants to show you her new Bunny.”
Ben’s giggles were rather hilarious and Merlin was incredibly amused as he watched his son with Gabe, there was no doubt he was going to be a great dad. “Definitely, there’s enough sugar for an army of kids around here” he joked.
Nina smiled as she looked at Gabe before focusing on Audrey and the baby, “You got a new bunny?” she said to the little girl before she held out her arms for Audrey to place Bea in them.
Gabe chuckled at Merlin’s comment about the sugar, Ben in one arm as he reached down and grabbed a cookie with his free hand. He munched on it as he watched Nina with Bea. “Who’s got a new bunny?” He then looked at the cookie he was eating and looked at Audrey. “Wow. These are amazing, Aud. I mean, your cooking always is, but wow. You might wanna hide that plate.”
Audrey passed Bea over to Nina thankfully. Not that she didn’t like holding her little girl, but she was eager to get lunch ready. Audrey was starving. She stood and dusted off her skirt, then Gabe’s praise of her cookies made her beam brightly. “You like them? New recipe.” And she laughed. “Please have more! It’s just royal icing. The secret? Almond extract. Can you taste it?”
Merlin smiled, “Careful, don’t give away all your secrets” he told his wife, pressing a kiss to her cheek now they were both child free. He was always so glad when his kids easily went to Nina and Gabe, he’d seen other kids who were clingy and worried around people and had never wanted that for Ben or Bea.
“Don’t worry, neither Gabe or I are at Audrey’s exalted level of cooking skills” Nina said holding Bea in one arm while making the bunny hop with her free hand causing the little girl to giggle and grin.
“Yeah, baking isn’t really my skill set.” Gabe chuckled, setting down Ben. “I’d probably end up making hockey pucks.” He snatched another cookie, broke it in half and shared it with the little boy. He watched Nina with Bea a moment, grinning at the interaction. He loved watching her with kids, she was such a natural. Then turning his attention back to Ben he said, almost conspiratorially, “I heard there was supposed to be some sort of Easter Egg hunt going down today.”
Audrey grinned at Merlin, then leaned in as he kissed her cheek. It was nice to have arms free for a moment so she could cuddle close with her husband. “But with my recipe, they’d be delicious hockey pucks,” Audrey teased after sending Nina a bright smile. “Yes! The Easter Bunny left baskets inside, but she also left some eggs in the yard. We haven’t gone out looking for them yet, we were waiting for you guys to get here.”
Merlin tucked Audrey close as he chuckled, “Why do you think I married the greatest baker in the world? I was living on takeaway and beans on toast before Aud” he winked at his wife and grinned at their friends.
“Takeaway is a valid dinner choice” Nina protested with a laugh before nodding, “Well Bea has her bunny to help us look so I think it might be the right time, what do you think Ben?” she asked laughing properly as the boy nodded eagerly and bounced on the spot looking at his parents and practically hot wheeling it out when he got a nod from Merlin.
Gabe laughed, watching the boy take off. “He trailed after him along with the other adults to watch him hunt around the yard for the brightly colored eggs. “Hope you guys remember where you put them all. One year I did this for my nephews and cousins and forgot where I put them all. I remember finding a few in random places in the house six months later.”
Audrey laughed, too. “You’d still be living on beans on toast… and, actually, I think it’s a valid lifestyle choice.” She poked a finger into Merlin’s side affectionately. She turned to wander outside with the rest of the gang, following after Ben. “Don’t forget your basket!” She called out, and the toddler had to come running back for his basket.
Once they were outside and Ben was off looking for eggs (with his basket), Audrey turned to Gabe. “I counted them this year. If we’re missing some… well, we’ll all have to search!” She grinned.
Merlin grinned pressing a kiss to her forehead before they followed Ben outside, laughing as his son moved so eagerly he forgot the basket.
“I get the feeling Audrey may just have hidden some in really hard places so we all have to look anyway” she said with a smirk, watching her friends eyes twinkle with mischief, “I think your mummy can be very sneaky Bea Bea” she said to the little girl who gave a giggle.
Gabe smiled at Nina, placing a kiss in her hair before booping Bea's nose. He watched Ben scamper about eagerly looking for eggs and making shouts of delight with each find. Unable to help himself he drifted over and started shadowing him, helping to point out the harder to find ones.
“Who, me?” Audrey asked, playfully, then broke into a bright grin. “You know me so well.” She turned to follow her family outside for the Easter Egg hunt. It was turning into a beautiful day.