Summary

When Evelyn Trevelyan's family writes to her after Corypheus' defeat asking her to come back home for a visit she can hardly say no. With Evelyn the youngest of six children however, Trevelyan family reunions are not for the faint of heart. With her partner, Cullen, and close friends, Dorian and Bull, coming along for the trip she was sure it was going to be an enjoyable and relaxing vacation from Skyhold and the duties of the Inquisitor. She couldn't have been more mistaken.

From the moment they arrive things begin going wrong and Evelyn's attempts to fix them just have her digging a deeper and deeper hole for herself. Within two days of arriving she finds herself dealing with an over-protective family she hasn't informed about her relationship with Cullen, an old admirer from before she left for the conclave, and two unexpected marriage proposals. With everything a complete disaster Evelyn has to find a way to set things right without stepping on any toes, but nothing can ever go smoothly where the Trevelyan's are concerned.


Chapter One: Letters

The letter Evelyn received could be described as nothing short of huge. As she pulled multiple sheets of paper from the envelope the thickness reminded her of the contracts and reports Josephine was always insisting she read. The contracts and documents she usually was able to get through five pages of before Josephine took pity on her and handed over an abridged version she'd penned for herself earlier. This letter, however, Evelyn knew she would read every single word inked onto the pages, probably more than once.

Upon closer inspection Evelyn found it wasn't just one enormous letter, it was actually multiple lengthy letters. With a smile she curled her legs underneath her and shuffled further up her gaudy Orlesian bed so she could lean against the headboard. Carefully she began separating the letters out from one another on the bedspread before her, the smile never leaving her face as she took note of familiar penmanship and names. When the entire contents of the package were laid before her she was able to count nine individual letters and a number of children's pictures. Evelyn hesitated, unsure of which to pick up first.

She was spared from making a decision when she heard a loud steady knock at the door to her room.

"Come in," she called, glancing over to the stairs as she waited for her visitor to make themselves known. Evelyn couldn't help the small sigh when she finally saw Cullen's golden hair though the stair's banister. "I thought I told you that you don't have to knock?" she said as he reached the top of the stairs.

Cullen had the decency to look a little sheepish as he replied. "I know, I know. I just want to be polite. I'd hate to barge in." As he walked towards the bed he finally noticed the abundance of paper spread across its surface. "Uh, what's all this? Am I interrupting?"

"You're not interrupting," she chided softly. She shuffled over on the bed and patted the empty space. "Sit, I was just about to begin reading the letters from my family." Evelyn smiled as she said the word 'family', a soft and fond quirk of her lips as her eyes darted back to the parchment.

"These are all from your family?" Cullen asked, unable to keep all of the surprise out of his voice. He began to strip himself of his plate armor, placing the pieces down gently to the side of the bed. "I must say that's a lot of writing."

Evelyn laughed. "It is. By the looks of things most of my family had something to share. These are from mother and father," she gestured to two of the letters sitting side by side, "these from my brothers and sisters," she waved her hand towards the largest group of letters, "and it looks like these last few are from my nieces and nephews." She picked up one of the children's drawings, a crude rendition of a woman with long black hair holding a bow, and held it up next to herself so Cullen could see. "I think this is supposed to be me."

Cullen glanced at the drawing as he removed the last piece of his armor and snorted. "That's quite the portrait," he said. He sat down on the edge of the bed and took the drawing from her hands, looking over it with a small smile of his own. "And who, exactly, created this?"

"Uh…" Evelyn glanced at the back of the piece of parchment, pushing it up slightly with one finger so she could see the name scrawled on the back. "That would be my niece, Norah. She's, um, six years old now I think." Evelyn flopped back onto her abundant pillows. "Maker, her and her brother were four years old when I left to assist at the conclave. It's been so long, I'm surprised she remembered enough about me to draw that." She took back the picture when Cullen handed it to her and placed it off to the side. She waited until Cullen pulled his legs up onto the bed and made himself comfortable before she told him, "I don't know who's to read first."

Cullen chuckled. "You certainly are spoilt for choice." He gave the letters a quick once over. "Well, who is most likely to include the most important or urgent information in their letter?"

"Definitely my mother," Evelyn said without hesitation. She reached for the letter farthest away on the bed. It consisted of two sheets, double sided, covered in small, perfectly legible, cursive writing. In all her life Evelyn had never come across anyone with neater handwriting than her mother, and she was sure many a scribe would make a deal with a demon just to be able pen words with the effortless grace Anissa Trevelyan could.

Letter in hand, Evelyn sat back against the headboard and leaned into Cullen's side. Cullen draped an arm over her shoulders and pulled her in closer. Evelyn let out a deep breath. "Okay, here we go." She cleared her throat. "'My dearest daughter Evelyn. Word has reached us here in Ostwick that your endeavor to protect Thedas from forces that would see it harm has come to fruition. The Free Marches saw little, if any, of the struggles and danger those countries further south did, but I am sure we would have without your efforts to prevent it. Admittedly we don't know as much as we would like about this breach and the effect it had on Ferelden and Orlais aside from your few and far between letters-'" Evelyn stopped reading with a grimace. "That's certainly an admonishment."

"At least you did write," Cullen said.

"Mmm, yes, I remember you have a problem with that," Evelyn replied with a smile. "'-most other information came to us through the Teryn and the few people travelling to Ostwick from the south. I am sure, however, that you will be able to provide us with a full and detailed account when you visit home in the coming months.' Wait, visit home?"

"You weren't planning on going back home?" Cullen asked.

"No, I was, it's just that it's a bit presumptuous. Not to mention there's still so many things that need to be done here and-"

"Evelyn," Cullen interrupted with a smile, "you're allowed to take some time off. I daresay Leliana and Josephine would hardly argue against it."

"And what about you, Commander?" Evelyn turned her head slightly so she could look him in the eye. "Would you argue against it?"

Cullen laughed. "Not if it meant I got to spend more time with you."

"Good answer," Evelyn said, placing a quick kiss on his chin. "I digress though, where was I?" She took a moment to skim though the letter and find where she'd left off. "Ah, 'Your father has included a formal invitation to you, not that you aren't welcome at any time, and any members of your Inquisition that you wish to bring with you. You father has it all outlined in his letter so I shall stop stealing all his glory, you know how your father mopes when I do, and instead inform you of all you have missed while away.'"

"A 'formal invitation'?"

"That's just my father being my father. It's a joke. Probably."

Still, Evelyn reached for her father's letter to see just what this formal invitation said. She read over it quickly before laughing quietly and handing the parchment to Cullen. "Here. It's hardly serious, he just wants me to come home," she said.

"And when exactly will you be going home?"

"Soon. Like you said I'll have to speak to Leliana and Josephine, work out travel arrangements, make sure everyone here is sorted before I leave, plan for-"

"Are you scared to go home?" Cullen asked suddenly, a small smile on his face.

"No," Evelyn said, trying to sound suitable affronted by the idea. "No, I just- maybe I'm a little worried about what everyone might think. That's not unreasonable is it?"

"Evelyn, judging by this," Cullen gestured to the letters strewn across the bed, "your family seems the loving and accepting sort. Perhaps it's okay to be a little worried, but no more than that. I'm sure they'll simply be happy to see you."

"You're right," she said. Then, nodding to herself, said again, "Of course you're right. I'm being silly." She took her father's letter back from Cullen and placed it down on the bed once more. "Let's forget about the details for now and keep reading. It can be something like an informal introduction to my family for you."

"I can't think of anything better to do with my night," Cullen replied.

The pair snuggled back up together as Evelyn looked back to her mothers letter.

"'It has been much the same since your departure, but my how the grandchildren, nieces and nephews to you, have grown...'"