Ding dong!

Hello everyone!

The time has come for your Christmas present! And guess what, it is the continuation of last year one (chapter 37)! I hope you will like it because I definitely loved writing it!

I want to give a super big THANK YOU to my Beta who corrected this even during her holidays! Which is Brillant!

And finally, I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas (if you celebrate it!) and a lots of love! You are all making my life fantastic with your support!

A review would be my favorite gift ;)!

Enjoy!

Christmas Night

When Merlin and Freya entered the living room, everyone turned towards them with expectant expressions and, in Arthur's case, a teasing glint in his eyes. It made Merlin reach up to try and bring his messed up hair back in shape, a blush rising on his cheeks as he cleared his throat. Freya squeezed his hand encouragingly while keeping as close to him as possible.

"So, are you going to introduce your lady friend or should we assume you go around enchanting strangers to come and kiss you when you're lonely?" The former king asked teasingly.

Freya had to bite back a chuckle at her lover's deepening blush and the outraged expression that appeared on his features.

"You know I wouldn't…" He interrupted himself when he noticed that everyone was trying not to laugh. "Right. Right. Everyone. This is Freya. Freya, this is Arthur, former king of Camelot and continuous prat, his lovely wife Gwen, my mentor Gaius and his companion, Alice."

The Lady of the Lake waved at them timidly, suddenly feeling nervous under their scrutiny. It was clear from their curious expressions that Merlin hadn't told them anything about her. Or maybe just Gaius as he was the only one who was not observing her but instead watched Merlin with such a happy expression it made Freya's heart warm.

"Nice to meet you Freya!" Gwen exclaimed after a moment, jumping up to enthusiastically hug her which felt both nice and slightly overwhelming.

The others nodded their agreement to the statement when the former Queen released her.

"You still have some explaining to do though Merlin. I don't recall ever meeting a Freya in Camelot." Arthur piped in.

She felt Merlin sigh quietly.

"Well, better sit down then."

He tugged her to a free sofa and sat down. It felt only natural for her to curl around his waist, his arm settling on her shoulders as she let her head fall on his chest. She couldn't describe how being able to feel his heart beat like that made her feel. She never thought she would ever get to do that. Not when they were in Camelot and certainly not once she was dead.

She had no idea how she was alive or if it would last but she was determined to make the most out of it. Destiny would have to pry her from Merlin kicking and screaming.

She focused on what Merlin was saying, enjoying the sound of his voice as he told his friends their story.

"Let me get this straight…" Arthur said long after the warlock had finished, frowning. "That time when I made you polish all my boots because you implied I was fat you had just lost your girlfriend and were grieving?"

Gwen's eyes shone with tears as she observed the couple in front of them. Freya shifted even closer to Merlin as he shuddered at the words. He looked down at her as if making sure she was really there. She smiled at him.

"Yes." He finally answered.

"Damn it Merlin! Why didn't you tell me?"

Merlin shrugged, calm in front of his friend's frustration.

"What would it have changed? You would have had to arrest me for treason."

"I wouldn't…"

"Yes. You would have." The warlock interrupted forcibly but not unkindly. "And you would have had every right to do so."

The king shook his head.

"I wish it was different…"

"Arthur. There's no need to beat yourself up for this. It happened a very, very long time ago and it is of no use to think about what could have been. You cannot change the past."

The king still looked like he was blaming himself.

"You know he's right darling." Gwen said, rubbing his arm.

"So Freya, what have you been doing since then? What does your life look like?" Alice asked before the king could find another way to blame himself.

Freya stared at the kind woman uncomprehendingly.

"Wha-what do you mean?" She asked straightening a bit.

"What were you doing before you got your memories of Camelot back?"

"I… I was in the lake… I just woke up this morning on the shore and knew I had to come here."

She turned slightly to gaze at Merlin, ignoring the shocked gasps.

"I knew I had to come back to you."

Merlin closed his eyes and touched his forehead to hers.

"But… How? Why?" Arthur spluttered.

"I don't know. As I said, I just woke up. As for why… Maybe… Maybe destiny wanted to do something right for once?"

She looked again at Merlin, knowing only too well how much he had raged at his destiny and at what he had had to sacrifice for it. He didn't answer but she saw his eyes mist over and his arm tightened around her almost painfully.

They all lapsed into silence for some time as the information settled but after a time conversation picked up again.

It was after two more hours of discussion and laughter and Freya listening to stories about Merlin and the others before they all decided it was high time to part ways and get some sleep. They wished each other warm goodnights.

Merlin led Freya to his room, blushing slightly when he closed the door and they found themselves alone for the first time in centuries.

An awkward silence filled the room. The warlock let go of her hand to rub at his neck.

Freya laughed at his nervousness, stepping closer to him, slowly reaching out to touch the side of his face, caressing his cheekbone. He closed his eyes, leaning against the touch. She smiled and pushed up on her tiptoes, placing her lips on his and kissing him.

It was a gentle kiss at first, an affirmation of their love but before long Merlin's arms squeezed around her and soon they were kissing almost violently, passion lighting up their bodies.

Freya moaned softly as he let go of her lips to tuck his own against the side of her neck, breathing in her scent, kissing her skin, marking her. She retaliated by sliding her hands beneath his jumper, caressing the warm skin she found there.

"Freya…" He breathed out in a moan. "I…"

"Shhhh Merlin." She answered, already knowing everything he wanted to say. "Come here."

She tugged him towards the bed, grinning at his lustful gaze. He smiled back at her and kissed her again, letting himself fall back onto it. She landed on him with a surprised laugh that soon turned into a moan and before long they both concentrating simply on being with each other, on learning the others body and the ways to make them cry out in pleasure.

It was hours before they finally just lay tangled in each other, sated and exhausted. Freya felt Merlin tracing patterns on her naked back. She was lying half on him, mouth on his damp chest, listening to his heart as it slowly regained a normal rhythm.

"Freya?" He asked shyly and she only hummed in answered. "I love you."

She shifted to look up into his eyes, feeling the love for him swell once more deep inside her. She moved enough to kiss him.

"I love you too." She answered, kissed him again and lay back down, caressing his chest.

She drifted in sleep for some time, feeling safe and warm and loved against Merlin's warm body and woke to the feeling of fingers against her skin.

She opened one eye to see the clock. It read 3:55 AM in glaring green digits. It suddenly hit her that she hadn't transformed. Midnight had passed and she hadn't transformed into a blood thirsty beast. She wanted to jump and cry out in joy and relief. But then she remembered what woke her and shifted to look up at Merlin, noticing that he had managed to put them both under the bed's covers.

He was watching her with clouded but loving eyes. His movement stopped and he smiled tiredly as she pushed herself higher so she could rest her head next to his on his pillow.

"What is it Merlin?" She whispered, unwilling to break the night's quietness.

He looked away from her to look down at their joined bodies.

"It's stupid."

"Tell me."

He sighed softly, lifting his eyes to hers.

"I… I'm scared that if I go to sleep you… You'll be gone when I wake."

She understood his fear. She felt it too. But he couldn't reasonably stay awake forever. She reached up to caress his face again, eyes never leaving his.

"I can't promise you that won't happen…" She said, voice soft with emotion. "But what I can promise is that even if I'm not physically here, I will always be with you."

She placed her hand on his heart, kissing his shoulder.

"And if destiny wants to take me back to the lake she will have to fight very hard because I want to stay with you for as long as possible."

She punctuated her declaration with a long kiss, pouring her love intp it.

"Now, I want you to close your eyes and sleep." She said as they separated.

It was clear, however, that he still hesitated. She pressed herself closer to him, running her hand soothingly up and down his side.

"Don't force me to sing you a lullaby Merlin." She insisted. "Close. Your. Eyes."

He gingerly obeyed and she felt him tense as his eyes closed.

"Shhh. Relax. I'm still here, okay? I'm right here."

She kept murmuring in his ear and caressing his skin until finally his muscles unclenched and his breathing deepened. She watched him sleep for a bit, enjoying the fact that she could do it.

Eventually, sleep began pulling at her again too and, with a last kiss on the side of his neck, she laid back down, pillowing her head on his chest and fell asleep.

Freya was rudely jerked awake by a door crashing open and a complaining voice.

"Merlin! You lazy…"

The voice stopped short and Freya opened her eyes to see a crimson former king spluttering like a fish out of water.

"Bloody hell Arthur! Get out!" Her lover cried out, pulling the covers higher on their naked bodies.

"Yes. God. Sorry."

He was out in a flash, door closing with a clank.

A few seconds later and Freya and Merlin erupted in laughter.

"Well… I guess now I can understand why he insisted on me knocking." The warlock commented once he got his breathing under control.

Freya observed his face, flushed with merriment and couldn't help herself but kiss him.

"I had a more romantic awakening planed, though." He said when they separated, running his hands across her skin.

She grinned and straddled his hips.

"I don't mind as long as I get to be with you." She kissed him again, addicted to the feeling of him so close to her.

"You do know they will never stop teasing us if we don't go down soon, right?" Merlin asked even if he made no move to stop her but instead encouraged her by gripping her waist.

"I don't care."

They may have taken another hour before finally leaving the room in search for food but no one disturbed them. And if they received knowing glances upon their arrival, well… They didn't care.

Again, have a fantastic week end! (and keep a look out in your mailboxes, I know of a story that will get updated too ;) )