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“Arthur, Merlin, a word,” Eggsy said as Merlin finished the last of their briefing notes.
The Dining room was clear now, all except Eggsy who had quite the expectant look on his face. Merlin couldn’t help but wonder if this was due to his recent assignment to Budapest to divulge an underground sex trafficking ring. It hadn’t been the first mission he was assigned similar to this one, but of course his life had changed over the last five years, so now Merlin was curious. He shared a brief glance with Arthur, who nodded for Merlin to take a seat; he did. They both sat with mirrored expressions of curiosity and concern, waiting for the lad to continue.
Though it seemed Eggsy was waiting for permission to speak. “Yes, Galahad, You have our attention,” Harry finally said.
Eggsy squared his shoulders, reached down the left side of his chair to procure something off of the floor. It wasn’t much, a simple standard Kingsman issued folder with what appeared to be a few sheets of paper in it. Suddenly Merlin feared the worst; Eggsy would be leaving the Kingsman.
It was a topic discussed, about four to five years ago, when Eggsy’s twins were born. They had kept him local for a time, because Eggsy didn’t want to be too far away from the girls, but that slowly changed as the world’s needs grew and Eggsy would take the occasional overseas mission; just like the one he was just assigned. Eggsy had assured Harry and Merlin he was committed to Kingsman just as he was his family. Although it didn’t stop the fear and anxiety that maybe one of their best agents was tired of the spy life, and wished to settle down with his wife and daughters. Merlin couldn’t blame him and the brief look he shared with Harry proved he didn’t hold any grievances either.
“Gentleman,” Eggsy began in a strained voice; this was it, Merlin thought. “There has been a lot of planning and thought put into this, but I felt it necessary to bring it up now considering the upcoming events this month.” Merlin hadn’t ever gone through an agent leaving the agency on their own accord, so this brought on unfamiliar anxiety. Merlin noticed Harry straighten in his seat from the corner of his eye. “As you both know, the twins–”
“I know how much your family means to you, Eggsy,” Harry quickly interrupted. “Which is why I am prepared to pull you out of the field, keep you safer for your children. For Emily,” he spoke of Eggsy’s wife. “We can have you with Merlin.”
“Emily is my second in command, Harry. It might be a conflict of interest,” Merlin reminded Arthur. Emily had been a candidate who showed far more promise in Merlin’s department than agent. It worked out well, truly, as Eggsy and Emily fell hard and fast over six years ago, and now had two gorgeous girls and a son to show for it. As well as a love that most people would be jealous over.
“I am aware, Merlin,” Harry almost snapped back at him.
Merlin raised an unimpressed brow. “Then pray tell how your plan will work.”
Harry geared up for what was likely going to be quite the argument between the two, until Eggsy asked, “What are you two on about?”
Merlin was the first to tear his eyes away from the insufferable man in front of him, giving his attention to Eggsy who looked as lost as a puppy on the street. “We are trying to bring a solution to the table before you resign.” Eggsy’s expression didn’t get much better, it contorted with confusion and a touch of humor. “I assure you we can make it work,” Merlin continued.
“And I can assure you I ain’t leaving,” Eggsy almost chuckled. When neither Merlin or Harry laughed with him, or relaxed for that matter, Eggsy’s eyebrows shot up to his hairline. “You two nutters really thought I was leaving?” Merlin nodded as well as Harry. Eggsy leaned back in his chair, blowing a hard sigh through smiling lips. “For two spies, you both are daft, you know that, yeah?” Eggsy shook his head, opened the folder before him and withdrew the contents. “Halloween,” he explained.
Merlin could see the title of one page: Project Costume for Grampy and PopPop.
“Oh,” Merlin drawled out. “The tradition continues, aye?”
“As if it wouldn’t.” Eggsy scoffed and rolled his eyes, handing each man a sheet with the girls’ wishes on them. “I know Em and I started it, but they truly enjoy it.”
It was an annual tradition that Merlin and Harry embarked on trick or treating festivities with the twins, ever since they were born. They always dressed up for the occasion, but this year looked a bit different than previous ones. They’ve never had an itinerary to follow.
“Clever name. You?” Harry asked.
Eggsy shook his head. “Madi and Vi.” Harry looked as shocked as Merlin felt; the girls were four. Of course they were well spoken for four, and smart, but it still didn't ease the surprise they felt. “They run around these halls. Their Mum helps run R&D as well as navigating missions, their Dad is a spy, one grandfather is the head of this agency while the other is the mind behind it. Did you really think they wouldn't pick up on anything?”
“Well, no. Not when you put it that way,” Merlin conceded with a frown as he looked over the paper he was handed. “Park rangers?” It was clearly well thought out. Violet and Madison may be four, but as Eggsy mentioned they were smart, and girls who knew what they wanted.
“That new Jurassic World came out. They loved it, as well as the original films. Em and I didn’t even fight it. If they want to be park rangers, then they get to be park rangers.” Eggsy shrugged, looking every bit like a man who would lay out the world for his kids; he was a good father. “Which brings me to this meeting. Vi and Madi have asked that Grampy and PopPop dress up with them, just as they always do.”
Harry’s and Merlin’s expressions softened. They didn’t ever have children of their own, but Eggsy was just as much their son as if they had a child. So once Eggsy married Emily and they had the girls, Merlin and Harry were honored to be called grandfathers.
“Of course,” Merlin agreed, his voice was a bit emotional. He always became choked up about it. “What shall we be this year?”
Eggsy smiled in a way that caused Merlin’s previous anxiety to return. “Turn the page.” He looked too happy about what they might find.
“No,” Is what Harry said.
“Pop!” Eggsy exclaimed. “It’s what they want and goes with their theme!”
Harry leveled an forbidding gaze on Eggsy. “And are you expected to dress in this inflatable abomination?”
“Yes,” Eggsy answered flatly. “I was asked to be one, as well as Emerson and JB.”
“Emerson is three months old, I’m sure he hardly has an opinion,” Merlin murmured. He already had his tablet to search the specific costumes the girls wished they’d wear, ordering them off of amazon. “Will Emily be one as well?”
Eggsy shook his head. “Another park ranger. The girls had the idea that all boys are dinosaurs, and girls will be rangers. Emerson will be the baby dinosaur still in his egg.” The expression on Eggsy’s face told Merlin he was in love with the idea. “We’ve already bought ours. I meant to bring it up last week at Sunday dinner, but Emerson was fussy so I forgot.” He shrugged. “Now you know. It’s still early enough that the costumes should arrive on time.”
“I’m not doing it.” Harry shoved his itinerary away like a child about to have a strop. “I apologize, but I cannot bring myself to walk around in an inflatable all night,” he sniffed, sounding as prim and snobby as he looked.
Merlin kicked him under the table, causing Harry to flinch away. “Don’t be a prick, Harry. We’re going for our grandchildren.” He was just as bad as Eggsy when it came to giving them what they wanted. Last Christmas Merlin had managed to get Harry into a Mrs. Claus outfit while Merlin was Father Christmas; the girls had loved it.
“I will go but I will not dress in that disgrace of a costume, Hamish!”
“So you’d rather see Madison and Violet cry?” Merlin countered. Harry turned away, nose up and eyes cast toward a photo of a previous Arthur that hung on the wall. “Remember Easter?” He continued as if Harry wasn’t ignoring him to spite him. “You couldn’t bring yourself to put the bunny ears on and Madison just wanted a photograph with her PopPop in the bunny ears.”
Madison had dissolved into tears because of that. Of course she was three and couldn’t understand that PopPop didn’t want to ruin his perfectly coiffed brown and gray waves.
“They are spoiled, Hamish. You spoil them,” Harry finally replied.
Merlin reared back in anger. “I didn’t know it was a crime for a grandfather to spoil his grandchildren!” Suddenly everything else fell away. Merlin was irritated and angered enough by his husband’s words, he didn’t even notice Eggsy anymore. “I indulge them with silly requests that make them happy, and that is a crime. But you shower them in gifts that are outrageous for two little girls, and Emerson! Let’s not forget his brand new bespoke suit, for a bloody three month old who shits himself every hour. And yet I spoil them.” He laughed but it contained very little humor.
“They are sensible and useful. This will make me look ridiculous!”
“It doesn’t matter what it makes you look like! We live in their world, Harry. Not the other way around,” Merlin reminded him before he shoved away from the table and stood. He looked at Eggsy, hoping the apology in his eyes was conveyed as he said, “I will be there, Eggsy. I cannot speak for Arthur. Excuse me, I have a mission to oversee.” He grabbed his tablet and left, leaving Eggsy and Harry alone.
“I know you think it’s stupid but it’s for the girls. If you truly wish to abstain from Halloween this year, I will tell them now so that the devastation wears off by the time they go trick or treating.” Eggsy reached across the table for the paper he’d given Harry, packing it away and stood as well. “Good day, Arthur.”
The fact that both his husband and son had called Harry Arthur wasn’t lost on him. He was certain Merlin would either lock him out of their room or sleep in the guest bedroom. Later that night Harry found himself sleeping in their guest bedroom with their dog, Henry. The Great Dane looked at Harry with sad brown eyes, somehow it seemed as though the canine pitied him.
“I am not dressing up as a dinosaur,” he told Henry. “Perhaps we can dress you up.” Harry offered and then remembered it was requested Henry be a dinosaur too, as well as JB. He sighed just as Henry cocked his head in a way so similar to Merlin, it was scary. There was even that ‘really, Harry’ expression on his brindle face. “Yes, well…a gentleman has standards,” he snuffed with less heat than he’d managed at The Tailor Shop.
Henry then jumped off the bed and headed out with the sound of toe nails clicking down the hall toward their bedroom.
“Fuck,” Harry whispered to himself.
---
Eggsy had managed to avoid Harry for the next three weeks. It was rather easy as he was off to Budapest and had his debriefing with Merlin, and sent an electronic report to Harry. He would have tried to convince the older man further on the matter, but between work and home he just didn’t have the time. And before he knew it, it was Halloween.
“You’ve got him, yeah?” Emily asked as she cleared the table from supper. It was spaghetti and meatballs with a side salad and garlic bread; the girls favorite. “I’m going to get these two washed up.” She continued as she tossed her chestnut brown hair into a messy bun, and tried to get as much pasta sauce off Madi’s face as she could.
Eggsy grabbed a fussy Emerson from his bouncer. “Yeah. Got him. There’s milk in the fridge?”
“Just pumped this morning,” Emily answered.
Their home was chaotic with three kids under five, but he wouldn’t change it for the world. They worked around each other well. Eggsy with Emerson, getting a bottle ready. Emily with the twins, trying to wash them up for trick or treating. He pressed a kiss against her freckled cheek as he passed her, making sure she knew how thankful he was. Eggsy was in awe of his wife. How she balanced work and their family. It was a joint effort, but he felt she was the heart of their home and kept them all in order.
“Is PopPop coming, Daddy?” Violet asked once her mother was done wiping her face. She had the same pale skin as Emily, both of the twins did. He was sure they'd have freckles over the years, too. Eggsy watched her a moment and didn’t mention there was red sauce all in her brown locks; they’d get a bath anyway.
Eggsy’s lips pressed into a thin line. “No, Vi. Mummy and I talked to you about it. PopPop is busy.” Emily gave him a hard look over the twins’ heads; she didn’t like lying to them but understood it was easier than the truth. “He promised to stop by before you go to bed,” he softened the blow his words had inflicted on his daughter.
They both loved Harry and Merlin as much as any child loved their grandparents, but Vi took to Harry where Madi favored Merlin. It wasn’t uncommon for a child to bond more with one over the other.
Violet’s sea green eyes welled up a bit, but she managed to firm her lower lip and nod. “Okay.”
Emily sighed as she worked away a few fallen tears from their daughter’s face. “We’re going to have so much fun, right? And Grampy is coming with Henry all dressed up.” That little bit of information was enough for Violet to bounce back with a smile that dimpled her cheeks; kids were so resilient. “Now let's get washed up while Daddy feeds Emerson, and we’ll be ready to go.”
Madison and Violet shouted in unison, hands tossed over their heads as they hopped out of their booster seats and ran toward the stairs.
“Walk! Wait for Mummy!” Eggsy called out. He heard their footsteps slow and stop where he was sure they sat on the bottom step. “I hope you’re much calmer,” he softly said to his nursing son. Emerson didn’t flinch the entire time, well used to his older sisters’ boisterous energy. “Leave the dishes. I’ll do them when the kids are in bed.”
Emily turned away from the sink with a grateful smile twinkling in bright blue eyes. “Thank you.” She walked over to plant a proper kiss on waiting lips. “His costume is hanging up. When he’s good to go just give him to me so you can get ready, and JB.”
“Alright.”
“Mummy! We have to get ready!” Madison whined from the hallway.
Emily straightened to stand and sighed, eyes shut in silent prayer. “I know. I’m coming,” she promised. Just as she headed out of the kitchen, their doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it, babe! It’s probably Dad!” Eggsy shouted as he stood with Emerson still contently feeding. “Dad! The door is unlocked!” Eggsy said loud enough for him to hear through the door. Merlin opened it just as Eggsy reached the door. “Oh,” Eggsy laughed. “You look…how did you drive in that?” Eggsy wondered.
Merlin stood in a blue inflatable dinosaur costume, a leash wrapped around one of his tiny T-Rex arms that led to Henry. The canine was adorable in his spiked dinosaur attire, he even had a little T-Rex hood; Henry was a green dinosaur.
“I walked. We don’t live that far,” Merlin told Eggsy as he hobbled in. They didn't live that far, anymore, not since selling their place at The Mews and moving closer to Eggsy. “I couldn’t get in a cab like this, mostly because I can’t sit in this.” Eggsy was pretty certain Merlin shrugged but couldn't tell. “Why isn’t this little lad ready?”
Eggsy shut the door behind Merlin and walked toward the sitting room. “He needed to be fed first. Em is washing the girls, we had spaghetti.” Merlin made a noise of understanding. “He’s nearly done then we’ll be getting ready,” he promised.
“GRAMPY!” A naked Madison shouted from the top of the stairs.
“Madison Avery Unwin, you get your bum back in here!” They heard Emily say sternly.
“Go on, my sweet. Grampy will be right here,” Merlin promised. Once Madison had run off, he chuckled and said, “I guess they’re excited." Because now they could hear the girls chatter happily from the bath while Emily tried to get them clean.
Eggsy had now propped Emerson over his shoulder for a burp; he was a good burper. “They are,” he agreed.
From there on out the next half hour was chaos. The twins ran around like little bolts of lightning, Emerson fussed through his nappy change and costuming, and JB tried to chew the tail off Henry’s costume. It was a struggle to get everyone dressed, which had Eggsy second guessing their timing, as usual. They were only fifteen minutes later than they wished to be, but finally everyone looked as they should for trick or treating.
Emily fastened Emerson into his pram while Eggsy helped the twins into their shoes. Merlin had the dogs and the girls’ sacks for their sweets. They were all too busy to hear the front door open, or notice another dinosaur walk through.
It wasn’t until Violet gasped and screeched, “POPPOP!” That the adults turned away from their respective task.
Eggsy watched as a brown dinosaur waddled in. He could see past the mesh screen where Harry’s face was, that the man was smiling and blushing all at the same time.
“Hello, sweetheart,” Harry replied tenderly.
“Mummy and Daddy…they they said you couldn’t come!” Violet stumbled over her words in her excitement. “But you came!” She sounded happier than she did on Christmas morning.
“I did. I’m sorry that I upset you,” Harry replied, and he truly sounded apologetic. “All of you,” he clarified to include his husband as well.
Merlin shuffled over as best he could with two dogs in tow, just to reach Harry for an inflatable dinosaur kiss. “Thank you,” he told Harry.
“It’s for the grandchildren, right? They’re only this little once,” Harry said with such adoration for them, it warmed Eggsy’s heart.
“Aye. That they are,” Merlin whispered. He added something else Eggsy couldn’t quite make out, but by the looks of their faces he was happy they’d said it so quietly.
“Okay! Everyone’s here! Grampy, PopPop, let's go!” Madison interrupted the tender moment to shove one of Merlin’s inflatable legs.
“Hold on! Let me inflate Daddy!” Emily jogged over to Eggsy and turned his costume on. The motor roared to life, inflating him so he looked just like Harry and Merlin, except he was orange. “Okay! We’re set!”
They herded everyone out of the house, locked the door, and proceeded to go down their street where other kids and parents ventured house to house for sweets. Every now and then they would be stopped for a group photo. At one point Eggsy asked someone to take a few on his mobile to capture the memory forever.
“Is this so bad?” Eggsy asked about halfway through. “Enduring a little humiliation to see them so happy?” He cocked his head toward Violet and Madison. They were holding hands, smiling from ear to ear as they looked back every so often. Eggsy thought his heart would literally burst in his chest from joy.
Harry had JB’s leash, Merlin had Henry’s, as they walked side by side. “No, I suppose it’s not,” he allowed.
“I’m shocked you found the costume.”
Harry turned to Merlin, as much as he could anyway. “It was in your office, where you keep all the amazon packages you think I don’t know about.” Eggsy could see Merlin’s face darken with a blush. “Don’t worry, I know it’s Christmas gifts for the children. But that’s where I found it,” he explained.
“I’m glad you did,” Merlin finally answered.
Harry grinned as they rounded up the other side of the street. “Me too.”
They finished their street and then half of another before the girls were spent, and Emerson was sleeping in his pram. Harry and Merlin had to deflate their costumes, stowing them in the bottom of the pram, in order to carry Violet and Madison back; they’d specifically asked for Grampy and PopPop. Despite their exhausted states, the girls still wanted to go through their sweets and trade ones they didn’t like, and had their allotted three pieces for the night. They ended up in laps, Madison in Merlin’s and Violet in Harry’s, while their parents undressed and readied Emerson for the night.
By the time Eggsy descended the stairs, he found both older men on the floor, leaning against the sofa with sleeping girls in their laps and sweets strewn all over the carpet. It was even better as he took a photo with his mobile, because they were fast asleep too.
He had a mind to wake them, but instead propped a pillow beneath each of their heads so their necks wouldn’t ache tomorrow, and covered them up with a large afghan his mum had crocheted when they’d bought the house. Eggsy turned down all of the lights, locked up and wandered back upstairs for the night.
“Another successful Halloween,” Eggsy said as he entered the master bedroom.
“That was fast,” Emily said from where she lay in bed.
“They’re all asleep on the floor,” Eggsy explained. He slipped beneath the covers and scooted toward Emily to wrap her up in his arms, pulling her against his chest.
Emily yanked away enough to glare at him. “Eggsy,” she hissed disapprovingly. “They’ll be sore after that,” she chided.
Eggsy pecked her lips to soothe the disappointment there. “They’ll probably get up and migrate to the guest bedroom, I’m sure.”
Despite his efforts Emily still sighed at him, but lay her head against his chest. “Goodnight, Eggsy.”
His lips pressed to the crown of her head. “Goodnight. I love you.”
There was a long pause before she yawned and whispered, “I love you, too.”
And just as Eggsy had predicted, Harry and Merlin ended up in the guest bedroom with Violet and Madison curled against their chests.