i amaze and astonish

Merlin, Gwen, we’re finally going to be on the same team. 

I know, I don’t have to keep trying to smack you off your broom. Can’t say I’ll miss that.

Really? Really? 

Yes, really! I wouldn’t fuck with you on this one. You start practices as soon as we settle your contract with Puddlemere. Though we’re gonna’ push the trade angle to call a truce. You for Wilda. You should be in practices by the end of the week. 

Thank you. [ he shrugs ] It doesn’t matter. She does what she wants. You know this.

I know, and I love her for it. But I do question her choices too. He’s nice, I guess, but she could do better. 

I’m nearly scared to ask. 

Well then don’t. [ she reaches over and beneath her chair, pulling out a bundle of green robes and tossing them right into hestia’s face ] Congrats, kid, you’re a Harpy. 

There wasn’t a tie? 

[ she shakes her head ] It was a unanimous decision, for once in a bloody century. Wanna’ guess?

He grins at her. “We’re a very proud little group here, it’s true,” he agrees with amusement. “Of course you did. You’re very small but you yell very, very loudly. It’s terrifying; I don’t blame them for being scared. Good, she should come over for dinner soon. Been a while since we had a Jones-Diggory get-together.” He leans against the counter. “Want help?”

We are, yeah. I like it. [ she laughs ] Hey, I’m not that short. And shut up, because I know you’re going to make a stupid joke, so can it right now. That’d be great, yeah. And I know the entire Jones clan together freaks you out, so just Hestia, then? [ she laughs again and pokes him with her spoon ] No way, get your own macaroni. 

“He’s been working on it all morning. He’s really proud of you, you know.” He nods his head. “Just good? Uh oh, did you not make anyone cry today? How’s Hestia doing?” He chuckles, and produces a bowl of macaroni, which he places in front of her. “Cedric demanded that we save some for you.”

I’m really proud of him too. And of you. My Diggory boys. [ she chuckles, sitting down at the counter ] Scared the shite out of one of the new chasers, but no tears today. Hestia’s alright, yeah. I love having her on the team with me. Oh, that absolute saint. I shouldn’t eat this, but I’m starving and it smells amazing. I’ll work it off later.

Cedric giggles, and Amos smiles at both of them. He scoops Cedric out of Gwenog’s arms. “Yeah, c’mon, buddy. Did you finish your picture for Gwen?” Cedric wiggles. “I forgot. Put me down.” Amos deposits Cedric on the floor, and watches the little boy waddle off towards his room. He looks back at Gwenog. “See, he didn’t even notice the shit flyer comment. That was just rude.” He kisses her temple. “Good practice?”

You drew me a-- oh, there he goes. Never mind. [ she laughs, shaking her head before she looks up at amos. she lets out a breath and sighs ] To be fair, you’re really awful. Practice was good. I’m starving, though, is there anything to eat?

“Cedric!” Amos shakes his head at Cedric, who giggles at him, before he reluctantly smiles. “Sorry,” he says to Gwen. “He was messing around. He’s gonna’ be a beater one day. Aren’t you, buddy?” Cedric giggles again. “Can we go flying?”

Oh no, a seeker. I’m calling it now. He’s too quick. Aren’t you? [ she smiles at Cedric ] Maybe later, alright? I just got back from work and I’m exhausted I’d say your dad can take you, but he’s one of the worst flyers I’ve ever seen, aren’t you? [ she grins over at amos ] 

Someone was messing with my beater’s bat again, nearly took out the cat. 

“When have we ever been a mistake? We’re right. We knew that in school and I think we know it now.” He shakes his head and closes the final distance between them. Her lips are soft against his, the kiss too fleeting and too tentative for him and for the moment, but Gwen bolts. And the last thing he wants is for her to run. “Does this feel like a mistake?”

We were idiots back then. [ it feels right, though. she can’t pretend that it doesn’t, though she desperately wants to. she puts her arms around amos’ neck, but then he pulls away, and she blinks up at him. she shakes her head ] No.

“Besides, it was super gross. I don’t think I stopped kissing him. You wouldn’t have wanted to be there.” She teased, mostly. “I am, actually. That’s such a weird thing to think about.”

I don’t doubt that, you two are disgustingly in love. Definitely don’t need to see that, or worse yet get any ideas about how nice it’d be. No thanks. [ she chuckles ] A good weird, though, right?

“Would it really be so bad if I did?” He shakes his head, letting out a frustrated sigh. “I’m not asking you to change. I don’t want you to change. I wouldn’t ask if I couldn’t live with it, Gwen. Be impulsive with me. Just this once.”

It’d be insane if you did. [ she shakes her head slowly ] I-I don’t know if I can be, Amos. I don’t know if I’m tough enough for that. What if we do this and it’s all just a big mistake?

“Don’t be, Claudia was our witness and that was it. Fourteen and a half hours, to be precise.”

Oh, alright, I can’t begrudge you that, I suppose. Are you happy being a married woman?

“Would you?” he said, raising his eyebrows even more. He crossed his arms over his chest. “If I asked?” He frowns at her, and his arms uncross again as he steps closer to us. “What part of this is impulsive, Gwen? We’ve never been brave enough to be impulsive. We’ve never done anything impulsive. You went for your career. I got Cedric. We get here and we dig our feet in, nothing more. Ever. How’s that impulsive?”

[ she stares at him ] You can’t be serious. You would never ask. And no, that’s not a challenge. [ she lets out a breath, closing her eyes and rubbing her hands over her face before she looks at him again ] I can’t change who I am to fit into your life. Do you understand that? If we did this, if we ever got together, I wouldn’t change for you. I won’t. Can you live with that? Actually, not just because you want to. 

He shakes his head. “I’d never ask you to be a stay-at-home mum. If that’s what you think, then I don’t know if we’ve been friends all this time.” He frowns at her and sighs. “We wouldn’t resent you. We’d be proud of you. We are proud of you. Make the choice for yourself, alright? Not for us. I know what I’m asking.”

Then what the hell are you asking? For us to get married and raise Cedric? You’ve got war brain, Amos, if that’s what you’re thinking. I don’t know what this is, honestly, but we’ve always been impulsive, and it’s never worked out for us.