Gwen laughed as Merlin said something, then pulled the cloth from the basket to show her what he'd prepared for their picnic. After a very stressful few days dealing with the delegation from Rhegad, Gwen was looking forward to the picnic. Just her and Merlin and fresh air and hopefully, fresh food from the kitchens.

Someone cleared his throat and Gwen looked up at Arthur. "Ready for your picnic?"

Gwen smiled. "I am looking forward to it." She took a step towards him and pressed her lips against his cheek. The bristles of his beard rubbed against her lips. "You need a shave."

"That I do." Arthur rubbed his chin. "You sure I can't come along?"

"I remember someone saying that he wanted to spend more time with his children. You did promise to take them to the fields and they are all excited now."

Almost as if mentioning them conjured them up, Gwen heard first their footsteps and then their laughter. Before Gwen could react, Anne was wrapped around her leg while her younger brother, Gwydre ran up to Arthur, his saliva soaked hands petting Arthur's trousers with abandon.

Arthur sighed as he picked Gwydre up, flinching when Gwydre started to pet his face. "I did think we would both do this together."

"No. Merlin and I have plans." Gwen grinned as worry shone from Arthur's eyes. "They will behave, won't you Anne?"

Anne nodded, then released Gwen's leg to latch on to Arthur's. "We're going to the fields to play! I want to catch butterflies and then we can pick flowers! I want to be carried Dad!"

"Butterflies!" Gwydre pulled at Arthur's hair. "Flowers!"

Absently, Arthur ruffled Anne's hair but kept his pleading eyes on Gwen. "Save me," he mouthed.

Gwen grinned. "You'll be fine. George will be with you."

"Yeah sure," Arthur muttered unconvinced as he pried Gwydre's hand from his hair while Anne clung to his leg demanding to be carried as well. "I might have been slightly hasty in promising this."

Laughing, Gwen reached up and kissed him. "Be good ok?" She said as she hugged the children before giving Arthur a little shove, smiling as he scowled at her, then walked away with Anne still clinging to his leg. From the distance, she could hear Anne demanding to be carried.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" asked Merlin.

"He'll be fine. It's about time he learns to deal with them alone." Maybe some time later, she and Merlin would go by the fields to see how Arthur was coping.

AN: This is the end. It's a short epilogue / one time Gwen didn't save Arthur chapter but I hope it's fluffiness made up for it. :)

If you're interested, I'm still struggling with the big bang (ugh) and I think I will post my previous big bang up next. Maybe. It's a pity ffn doesn't allow smut. :p