Chapter Ten; Flaws in Repose

"Yume Mai Barde! Where have you been?"

I asked up to her. Probably too sharply, but I had been worried sick! Solas looked up, brow furrowed. Yume shrank back against the wall, "Mama, I wanted to see Mister Solas. "

I huffed, "I asked you and Kieran to stay in the garden. You could have gotten hurt wandering around on your own!" I said. I was frustrated, but not entirely for the reason I was saying. You could have run into the commander. My heart screamed.

Solas looked down at Yume, "Is that true Dal'len, did you disobey your mother to come see me?" He asked softly. Yume nodded, but was close to tears. I sighed, it wasn't her fault, I didn't want her to be sad. "Baby girl, come here. I'm not angry with you." I held out my arms for her.

Solas placed a hand on her back, and nudged her to the ladder, she went, sniffling the whole way. I knelt on the ground in front of her once her feet hit the floor and pulled her into a hug, trying not to squish Jace in the process. "Mama is sorry sweetie, I didn't mean to shout." I said into her hair. She sniffled and hugged me. "I forgive you mommy." I pulled her back and moved a blond curl behind her ear.

"You still should not wander off Dal'len." Solas said from above us, "Even to come see me." He smiled. I felt my face get red, I had really biffed it and lost my temper that time. It wasn't the mother I wanted to be in private, much less in front of others. I felt myself become even more ashamed, my image to others should not even matter. Vain as always Gracie.

"Kieran said we would be right back!" Yume huffed. I turned to look at him, and he buried his nose more into his book. "Kieran?" I asked, mother voice in full tilt. He looked up, "Auntie, mother always let me roam around." He said frowning at me.

"Even when you've been asked to stay close? Even when you have studies to do?" I arched an eyebrow at him. His frown dropped, and his looked away, still angry with me but more embarrassed now. "No Auntie." He mumbled.

I stood my, taking Yume's hand and holding out the other for Kieran, "Kieran, I trust you to watch out for Yume. But next time ask me first?" Kieran mumbled sometime about "Not a baby.", but nodded and grabbed my hand.

I turned to Solas, "I'm sorry Solas, I know they were not in danger around you. I just.." He shook his head, "I understand, no need to apologize." He slid down the ladder. "If you don't mind, I think I will join you. I am curious as to your teaching skills."

I flushed. Great, no pressure Grace! But nodded anyway. we made our way back to the garden, where keiran pulled his hand out of mine and stomped into the house. I winced, I really would need to make it up to him. I had never spoken so sharply to either child since we had been here.

I knew my mind was still a wreck. I hadn't given myself anytime to dwell on what happen yesterday. I grieved for my husband like it was fresh. And I was intensely embarrassed at how I had thrown myself at the commander. I don't deal well with embarrassment. I looked down at Yume.

She was sulking, her normal humming and singing all dried up now. Wasn't this exactly what I was trying to keep her from, feeling sad? Kieran too, it's why he let her go barefoot today, instead of winning the race.

It made my heart hurt. I had made it worse. I noticed her feet then, peeking out from her dress. She had bright green wraps on her feet, going up her legs to her knee. Like Solas. I looked over at him, and he smiled knowingly. He picked her up and held her high in the air. "Dal'len, you haven't shown your mother what you learned today." He chuckled. Her eyes lit up and she squirmed to be set down.

"Mama! Lookie!, Aren't they pretty?" She lifted up her dress slightly to show off her new 'Shoes' and danced around on one leg. I giggled, "They are! Did Solas show you how to do that?"

She nodded, "Yeah! He said that if I was going to run like a El vee han, that I should be careful of my feet like one." She beamed at him. He chuckled, "Elvhen, Dal'len, the word is Elvhen." She cocked her head, "I said that." She said.

I smiled. Though my heart hurt more. She had been learning, enjoying her time with Solas. And I had to go and ruin it. "You will have to teach me baby girl, so I can do it for you from now on." I told her, smoothing her hair. "Yay!" She giggled, and ran ahead to tell Kieran.

I adjusted the sling, Jace having settled asleep again and was now heavy in a way only a sleeping child could be. I took a breath, "Solas, I am sorry. I haven't been myself today." I didn't look at him while I apologized, worried he would have a disappointed look on his face.

Or worse, ask why. I felt his hand on my arm, "Lethallan, I understand. We all have flawed moments." He said softly. I looked at him then, he looked so composed. I couldn't ever see him losing his temper, or even being embarrassed.

"Solas, the day I see you have flaws, I will do a song and dance in the tavern on a table!" I laughed. He chuckled, "Well maybe I will have to stumble on purpose then." He smiled at me. It was charming, almost a smirk. I blushed.

No that would have been kind. This wasn't the type of "I'm embarrassed and my face is a little red." flushing. This was full tilt, "Oh God! He's hot." Kind of flushing that made me want to smile and giggle and possibly drool. Check, yup! Mouth wide open.

I snapped it shut, and tried not to giggle. Not that it worked, but I did manage to move my feet and get myself to not stare. I could have sworn I heard him chuckle too!

Grace! Get ahold of yourself! He's teasing, just teasing! It hasn't been that long, just…. whoa, okay maybe a bit long. I was doing math in my head and didn't notice I had stopped. Solas chuckled, "Two more steps lethallan." He teased. He put his hand on the small of my back and nudged me through the door.

Hello! Okay that was unexpected. Not unwelcome, but… No! Grace! Stop! Good God girl! I shrugged off the feeling and took Jace upstairs to but in his crib, grabbing my phone on the way. It was taking up too much space with the children's books and all. Besides, might as well use it since I had it.

I went to the master bedroom, and placed it on the windowsill. I would have to move it later, didn't want to drop it or anything. My mind niggled at me to do that now, not wait. But I ignored it; nothing was going to happen in the next hour or so.

Back downstairs, Solas had sat himself down next to Yume at the table, and had been tracing over the letters with her. Listening to her pronounce as she went. I smiled; it was such a sweet sight. I went over to Kieran and asked him what he needed. He spouted off some magical theory that I had no clue about. But Solas shot up and came to stand behind him, pointing out apparent flaws and explaining formulas and figures.

I shook my head; the boys could keep themselves on task it seemed. I sat with Yume instead, and helped her through her workbook. We finished the three pages, ending with her signing her name at the end of each one.

From there I pulled out my old Grim Fairytale reader, and had her start on the last story. It wasn't child friendly tales I guess, but I grew up on them so I didn't really mind. In my world, it was a terrible thing, but here everything seemed a bit more brutal.

I didn't notice when Kieran and Solas had stopped talking to each other and started listening. Not until Solas corrected a word Yume had stumbled over. I chuckled; this was the kind of thing I loved. All of us gathered together reading, it was something of a 'happy place' I would go to sometimes in my head. To see it out in the open, it really filled my heart.

Soon enough, the light had begun to fade to the point I had to grab the candles. I had put out snacks of bread and cheese at some point, and those where now gone. I debated taking the children to the main hall for dinner tonight, simply because it would give me time to finish cooking and restocking for the next day.

Jace cried from upstairs, and I went to get him. I was changing him on my bed when Solas called upstairs, "I have some books I would like to get for Yume to work on. I believe her to be ready. Would you mind?" I laughed and called out, "I was actually going to ask you to do that!" "Alright, I will be back in a moment." I heard him open the front door. A thought crossed my mind, she loved his painting maybe he would share some of his paint with her. I leaned out the window to catch him, "Solas!" I called, he turned around, and his eyes tracked something.

I looked. I had knocked my phone out the window. "Shit!" I swore. Solas reached to catch it, and caught it by the solar panel. The phone however hit the ground swinging by the cord.

"Damn it! I knew I should have moved it!" I cursed, "Is it cracked?" I asked, realizing of course that was a really stupid question. He wouldn't even know it could be cracked.

Regardless he looked down at it, turning it around a few times, "Your mirror?" He asked, "No, it appears to be unharmed. Though it is…. shaking?" He looked up at me curious.

Mirror? Oh, it must have turned on the camera. I sighed, "Yeah, it does that. Thanks Solas!" He nodded and looked back down at it. I was about to continue changing my fussy boy that was still being held to the bed mid unwrap, when I saw his finger go to caress the screen. "Fascinating."

All at once my mind jumped into modern mode, and I remembered what that motion did. "Wait! Solas don't…." He gasped, stiffened, as held that pose, eyes glued to the screen.

The Gallery! Fan fucking tastic Grace! He's on the gallery! And the last picture you took… and sent to Victor… in the army…. Good job!

"Fuck!" I cursed, tying Jace's diaper hurriedly and setting him back in his crib. He screamed at me, not at all happy. But I was flying down the stairs and out the door. I snatched the phone from Solas's hand, and turned away to turn it off. Oh and yes, it was what I thought it was.

There was a good two minutes of awkward silence. My back to him, I could feel Solas still looking at his hand. Well, flirtation is done now Grace. Congratz! I peeked behind me.

The only light came from the front door, so it was faint. But I could see Solas face as he stared unblinking at me. And his face was red. His ears too, which I found adorable really.

I couldn't hold in the giggle at that. It came out and he seemed shocked out of his daze. "Ahem," He cleared his throat, "Interesting device Grace." He said, not quite looking me in the eye. I looked down, "Sorry. I forgot that it was on there." I mumbled.

He said nothing for a bit, and Jace was screaming in earnest now. "I should go, um…" I mumbled, a bit downhearted and ashamed I will admit.

Solas reached out and tilted my chin up and turned me towards him. He met my eyes and smiled, "I will be back in a moment. Perhaps you can show me the... other... things that device can do?"

He was smiling warmly, but I could have sworn there was a smirk there in his eyes. I ducked my head and chuckled, "Sure." He turned to go and I called after him, "You bring the wine this time!" He chuckled and waved without turning.

I walked back in, slightly dazed. I went upstairs; calmed Jace, changed him, and took him back down and fed him the last of the oats we had all without seeing it. I was smiling stupidly, I could tell. But well, that turned out better than I thought it would.

Morrigan came blustering in, setting down her various things as she went, grabbing a handful of berries like I had earlier. She hugged Kieran and Yume and said hi to me as well. I don't think I responded. She poked my cheek, "Grace? Makers breath do you have a fever?" She asked, putting a hand to my head.

I giggled breathlessly, "Actually, I think I have a date!" She plucked Jace from my arms and stepped back, smiling at me and shaking her head. "Auntie dropped her phone." Kieran supplied.

I laughed harder. It had made him blush, So he has flaws after all! Couldn't even look away. I snickered.

Wait…. ah hell...