Cullen could finally breathe when they landed.

His muscles felt like they went through one of the intense drills he used to have to do as a Templar and he could feel a headache coming along. Tessa had handed him a migraine pill when they landed so it was probably not going to be around for long.

How she knew, he didn't know.

She truly was a miracle worker. She made the plane ride bearable by asking him to just talk about anything. And he finally told her about Aaron and Rebecca. He always wanted a marriage like his parents had. Even as a child, he could tell they had something special. Aaron always preached about being honest and supportive and Rebecca always preached about being a friend before anything else.

He supposed that was why he felt so guilty when he didn't tell Tessa everything about him at the beginning of their marriage. He was going against what his parents always told him.

But the plane ride made him realize something.

He wasn't just falling in love with Tessa.

He was in love with Tessa.

It hit him shortly after he told her about how her hair looked like the wheat fields he used to work on.

The bashful look she gave him caused his heart to ache.

And the fact she helped him through the whole plane ride and tried to comfort him the whole way when he knew she was grieving inside hit him like a sucker punch. He had to step up and be there for her. These next few days were probably going to be the hardest in her life and he was determined to help her through them.

He would ride on a dozen planes if it would help her.

She started to look more and more distressed as they waited for her brother, Oliver, to pick them up and he almost didn't know what to do.

So, he did the only thing he could do. He held her hand and kept telling her it was going to be okay. A big SUV finally stopped in front of the airport entrance and Tessa tugged on his sleeve. "That's him."

The biggest man Cullen had ever seen stepped out of the SUV. Tessa had said her brothers were the typical Free Marchers, but Cullen didn't know what that meant until now.

Oliver was big. His broad shoulders took up the doorway to the airport and Cullen was sure he could probably bench press him. His strawberry blond hair was cropped short and his light, icy blue eyes crinkled up when he saw Tessa.

"Hey Tessy," his deep voice rumbled as he hugged his sister.

Tessa looked like a doll compared to him.

"Hey Ol, thanks for picking us up."

Oliver finally looked at Cullen and Cullen did his best to remain calm. It was finally hitting him. He was going to meet her family. And he knew their thoughts on him could make or break their marriage.

He couldn't screw this up.

"It's about time we got to meet you. Wish it was under better circumstances," Oliver finally said, holding out a hand to Cullen.

"Likewise," Cullen replied, giving him a firm handshake. He didn't miss how Oliver shook his hand harder than necessary.

Tessa had warned him that her brothers were protective.

"Well, let's go. Mum and Dad have a room ready for you guys. They were kind of surprised when you told me both of you were coming," he said, arching a brow at Tessa.

Tessa huffed and put her hands on her hips. "And why wouldn't my husband come with me? Thanks, arse." She thumped his shoulder before picking up her carry on.

Cullen quickly picked up her suitcase before she could and she gave him a grateful look. "Thank you," she said, pecking his cheek.

She sent a look toward Oliver's way before walking toward the SUV.

Cullen quickly followed her and the winter wind stole his breath away when he stepped outside. She opened up the back for him and she let out a deep sigh. "Shit, I'm sorry in advance. My brothers are…" she trailed off and glanced toward Oliver, who was watching them closely from the driver's side.

Cullen put the suitcases in the back and wrapped an arm around her and pecked the top of her head. "Don't be. I can understand where they're coming from."

Tessa rolled her eyes and tugged on his scarf. "It doesn't make it okay for them to be rude to you. They're probably still sore about the big fight. I think they're more upset about it than either of us are," she grumbled.

"Well, that's our business, and we're obviously okay now. That's all they need to know."

Tessa smiled up at him and got in the back of the car. Cullen sat in the back with her.

"I see how it is, Tessy," Oliver grunted as he got in.

"Just drive," she retorted, leaning against Cullen.

Cullen felt her start to tremble and his heart dropped to his stomach. They had decided to head to the hospital first thing before going to her parent's house. Cullen knew this was going to be horrible for her no matter what. He wrapped his arm around Tessa's shoulders and pulled her close to him. She eventually stopped trembling.

It took about 30 minutes to get to the hospital and Cullen felt like he was being interrogated the whole ride. Oliver asked innocent questions at first and they slowly evolved into 'So what's your plan with my sister?' Tessa had intervened and told him to stop when it got to that point.

Cullen was going to honestly answer that he was planning to stay with her, but he felt he should talk about that with her first. There was three months left in the damn experiment for the TV show after all.

Oliver stopped in front of the hospital and dropped them off. "I've been here all day. I'll take your stuff to the house and Jon can drop you off after he gets here. Gav should be here tomorrow."

Tessa leaned into the car window and pecked Oliver on the cheek. "Drive safe."

Oliver saluted to her. "Will do!"

Tessa smiled at him and he finally drove away. She looked up at the hospital and Cullen saw tears start pooling in her eyes. He reached over and held her gloved hand in his. "Ready?" he asked. It was a stupid question. No one was ever truly ready to see a loved one on their death bed.

Tessa squeezed his fingers and looked over at him. "Let's go."

They navigated their way through the hospital until they got to the hospice care unit. Tessa pulled off her gloves, reached over and put on hand sanitizer from the dispenser on the wall. She quickly rubbed it in and reached up to knock, but she stopped. She let out a shaky breath and gave him a sad grin. "I forgot I'm not here as a nurse. Habit I guess."

Cullen grinned and rubbed her back. "It's going to be okay." He reached over and put on hand sanitizer too.

Tessa closed her eyes and took a shuddering breath before looking up at him. "Thank you."

For a second, the beeping and the bustling of the nurses and doctors didn't exist around them and he pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Do you need coffee or anything?"

Tessa's nose scrunched up. "Yes, but not hospital coffee. It's never good."

She finally reached up and knocked on the door and opened it.

"Tessy!"

Cullen opened the door the rest of the way so Tessa could hug her mother.

To say Tessa was a spitting image of her mother was an understatement. They had the same red-gold hair that curled softly and the only difference in their faces was that her mother's was a tad longer and her eyes were bright blue.

Madelyne Trevelyan's intense gaze landed on him and her eyes hardened for a moment before she let go of her daughter and she held out her hand. "Hello Cullen."

Cullen had a feeling the person he should be most afraid of was Madelyne. "Hello," he said, shaking her hand.

"Cullen's here?"

Tessa tugged Cullen further into the room and Cullen realized the most important people to his wife were all in one room. She always talked about her grandparents and her father, and there they were. It was noon, so lunch was just brought up. Frederick Trevelyan was awake and more alert than the usual person was on their death bed and he was slowly spooning soup into his mouth.

That was what made lyrium withdrawal so horrible. Some days are good, some days…not.

Frederick was probably getting the intense extremes on both ends.

Jacklyn Trevelyan was sitting to her husband's right while Cedric was on his left. Cedric Trevelyan stood and Cullen could tell where Oliver got his height and build now. Cedric though, was looking kinder than any of the Trevelyans have so far. His dark red hair and beard gave him a friendly look.

"Cullen, it's about time we properly met," he said, giving his hand a firm shake.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Sir." Cullen didn't know why, but he felt he had to call Cedric that.

Cedric's eyes softened as he looked at his daughter. "Hey Tessy," he said, giving her a big hug.

Frederick perked up. "Tessy's here?"

Jacklyn patted his arm. "She is, dear."

He gasped out a breath and coughed a little before beckoning her over. "Come here, Tess. Maybe you can cure me."

Tessa let out a soft laugh before stepping close to give her grandfather a hug.

Frederick glanced around after she stepped back. "Jackie, I bet Tessy and Cullen are famished from the plane ride. How 'bout you girls go and get lunch?"

Jacklyn winked toward Cullen and beckoned to both Madelyne and Tessa. "That's a good idea. Come on, the café here is good. What would you boys like?"

Cullen said he would take anything and Cedric said the same.

The silence in the room was almost crushing after the girls left. Tessa didn't seem to look worried and she even smiled at him before walking out of the room.

Well, that had to be a good sign, right?

"We've been watching the show all season. Jacklyn is tickled pink about you two," Frederick managed to rasp out. He gave Cullen a teasing grin.

Cullen felt his neck heat up and he cleared his throat.

Cedric shook his head in amusement, pushing out a chair for Cullen. "What he means to say is, we like what we're seeing. And Tessa always sounds happy when she calls us. You don't have to worry while you're here. My wife just wished you two met the…how do I put it? Traditional way."

Well, Cullen couldn't blame Tessa's mother for feeling that way.

"That's good to hear," he finally said, taking a seat.

He shrugged off his coat and leaned back in the chair.

"The fact you came up here with her spoke volumes to us. I hope you realize that," Cedric added on.

Cullen pinched his brow. Why was everyone so surprised he was here? Tessa was even surprised he wanted to come with her in the first place. "Why wouldn't I be here?"

Cedric's brow quirked and he shared a look with his father, whose expression screamed 'I told you so'. Cullen wondered what the story was behind that.

"Well, we figured since you two didn't know each other that long—"

"He thought you two weren't treating this like a real marriage, which I know you two are. I can tell from how she talks about it," Frederick interrupted, "We have many doubters in our midst."

Cullen couldn't help but grin at the old man. Tessa had said her grandfather was a character. Now he believed it.

"Anyway, we're glad you're here, even if it's for my death. We can see that you actually support Tessy."

Cedric frowned. "Father."

"What? The lyrium is going to get me for good this time. We've already talked about this. I'm ready, your mother's ready. It's going to be fine." Frederick hacked and took a sip from his water jug with a shrug.

Cullen was shocked. He didn't know if he would have been taking this as well if he was in Frederick's position.

"Now, make sure to keep your wife under control when they get back. I don't want poor Cullen to have his balls handed to him by his mother-in-law."

Cedric snorted and he tried to cover up his laughter and Cullen couldn't help but smile himself. He could see where Tessa got her laugh.

"So, Cullen, why did you leave the Templars? I'm curious," Frederick rasped, beckoning to the chair next to him.

Cullen moved to that chair and he rubbed the back of his head. "Well…I served at Kirkwall. I saw what was happening there and I didn't like it. So I left."

Frederick nodded. "Hm, is it okay if I say that Tessy told me about your part in the Knight-Commander's arrest?"

Cullen nodded. He told Tessa he was alright with people knowing about Kirkwall. It was Kinloch he didn't want people knowing about.

"That's impressive. I was Knight-Commander at Ostwick before I retired and I know how intimidating that can be. That took a good deal of courage. I'm also impressed you became a Knight-Captain at your age. Usually they're at least 30. When did you get that position?"

"24, sir."

"Again, impressive. You must have busted your rump for that.

"I suppose I did."

They remained in a comfortable silence. The IV machine beeped and a nurse bustled in and pressed a button on it and she glanced at Cullen for a moment and she quickly did a double take.

Shit.

"Sorry, but are you on that show-"

"Yes, and my wife is with her family," Cullen easily replied, trying not to be short with her. She wasn't the first person to recognize him or Tessa.

The nurse, thankfully, was professional about it. "Sorry, I just wasn't expecting to see you. My sister loves it and she makes me watch it. She likes you guys the most and we're both rooting for you."

Cullen was surprised to hear that. People usually immediately asked if they were planning to stay together.

She turned to Frederick and adjusted some dials on the machine before asking if he needed anything else before she left. Cullen would have to tell Tessa that her grandfather had a good nurse taking care of him.

"So when did you stop taking it?"

Cullen stiffened. Did Tessa tell him?

"Now, before you start thinking that your wife spilled the beans, she didn't. I could tell." Frederick arched a bushy white brow, waiting expectantly.

Cullen peeked at Cedric out of the corner of his eye and the other man didn't look concerned. "When I left the order. My superior officer was a Seeker and she has been helping me."

"Hm, why? The Chantry would have sent you lyrium still."

Cullen shifted in his chair and licked his lips nervously. He suddenly realized how easy it was to tell Tessa things like this. But, Frederick was a fellow Templar and Cullen tried to focus on that. "I didn't want any connections to the Templars after I left."

Frederick nodded in understand. "I see. That was my only concern when I noticed. I was thinking you pissed the Chantry off somehow."

Cullen snorted. He supposed he could see why Frederick would be concerned about that. It took a good deal to make the Chantry angry at someone.

"No, I just want to put that in my past and focus on the future."

Frederick nodded and looked over at his son. "See Cedric? Told you he was a good man."

Cedric grinned. "I never doubted. I trust Tessy. Convince Madelyne and this all might go smoothly."

Frederick hacked out a laugh.

Cullen suddenly put two and two together. Frederick sent all of their wives away so they could talk to him. No wonder Tessa wasn't worried.

Right as he had this revelation, the girls all came back with lunch. Tessa plopped down next to him and handed him a chicken sandwich and kettle chips.

"You and your husband are famous, Tessy. The nurse recognized him," Frederick laughed right away.

Tessa's eyes widened and she looked like a chipmunk with her mouthful of food. She quickly swallowed and looked up at Cullen. "Seriously? Even here?"

Cullen snorted. "She was polite about it. She wished us good luck."

Tessa's expression became incredulous. "What? No asking about our love life and what we're going to tell the experts? That's a first."

Frederick cut in. "Nope. She just said good luck and that she and her sister like you two the most."

Tessa's eyes widened even more and Cullen saw the playful glint. "What? Why would people like us? We're boring," she joked.

Cullen snickered and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "I think they like you, not me."

"B.S. Do you know how many of the nurses at work tell me how lucky I am to be married to an attractive man? You have a fan club."

Cullen choked on his bite of sandwich.

Frederick threw his head back and laughed and Cedric was losing it. Jacklyn was giggling away and even Madelyne looked amused. Cedric was laughing hard enough to have tears in his eyes.

Cullen finally regained his composure and he frowned at Tessa, who looked smug.

"So that's all I am? A pretty ornament for your arm?" he joked.

Tessa nudged him. "Among other things."

"See Madelyne, what are you so worried about? He's there to look pretty," Frederick laughed.

Madelyne shook her head, but she was smiling and Cullen took what he could get.

"There's nothing wrong with that, Cullen. Frederick did it for years," Jacklyn added, patting her husband's arm.

That made everyone lose it.

Cullen had expected teasing, but he wasn't expecting this lighthearted teasing.

He was just glad his wife was able to smile through it all.


Tessa was never one who had trouble sleeping. Usually she was out like a light and she slept like a log until she had to wake up or if someone physically shook her. Now…she could do neither. She kept falling asleep and waking up and it would take her forever to sleep again. Usually, it was the warmth she felt from Cullen and his heartbeat that lulled her to sleep.

Now, it was an ungodly hour in the morning and she just couldn't go back to sleep. All she could think about was her grandfather. He looked weaker than she ever seen him at the hospital. He was still himself, but she could tell he was struggling to appear the way he did. She saw the slight tremor. She saw the glazed look when he wasn't actively part of the conversation. His breath reminded her of a rattle occasionally and it made her heart sink when she listened closely. Toward the end of their visit, he had dozed off and when he woke he didn't know where he was.

At least he still recognized them.

Tessa couldn't stop looking at the IV pump and she even caught a glance at his ECG chart at the nurse's station. He wasn't doing well. He might have appeared to be oddly chipper for someone on their deathbed, but she hated how she saw the signs that said otherwise.

The glazed and confused look she saw in his eyes haunted her.

Oh Maker, why was this happening? Why did he have to go through this? Why couldn't he have had a normal life without lyrium? Why did he have to leave her now? She was just beginning to think things were looking up with her career and with Cullen and then this happened. He was being taken away.

Her heart clenched and she quickly turned away from Cullen and curled up in a ball near the edge of the bed.

Maker, it was finally hitting her.

Grandfather wasn't going to be there for much longer. His bright, shining light was going to be snuffed out and she felt like she didn't have enough time to thank him and tell him she loved him.

A soft whimper escaped her lips as she tried to hold back a sob. The lump in her throat grew with every breath and she started to shake. Maker, she couldn't let Cullen catch her like this. He was already being so great about everything by coming up with her and being the reassuring hand she could hold.

She had to be strong too and she wondered how she could possibly do it.

Her whole body was trembling now at the thought. Maker, she always called her grandfather when she needed reassurance and strength. What was she going to do when he wasn't there?

What was she going to do?

She knew this was silly. She and her family had been expecting this for years and they knew it would happen eventually. That didn't make her feel better.

A warm hand settled on her shoulder, pulling her out of her spiraling thoughts and she refused to look over her shoulder at Cullen.

"Tess?"

She didn't react, hoping he would go back to sleep. Her body kept shaking as she tried to keep her sobs in.

"Tess."

Her heart sunk even further when he scooted closer to her, pressing his chest against her back as he wrapped his arm around her and slid his other underneath her pillow.

Warm lips pressed to her shoulder and she couldn't stop a sob from escaping her.

"Let it out, Tess," Cullen whispered against her skin, tightening his hold around her.

It felt as if the floodgates were released and she finally let go as his soft words washed over her. She clutched at his hand and her sobs finally escaped. She buried her face in the pillow to hide her tears.

"I don't want him to go," she managed to croak.

"I know."

Time ceased to exist as the waves pulled her under and she finally stopped fighting it.

Cullen's warm embrace kept her a little grounded and she tried to focus on it as her tears flowed. It felt as if all of the pressure she felt in her throat and chest was slowly being let out and she could fully breathe again.

When her tears finally stopped, she forced herself to turn around. Cullen was still awake and he wasn't looking at her with pity, like she expected. She saw understanding. That was all she saw in the early dawn night. Her heart swelled with gratitude and she didn't know what to say.

She rested her forehead against his chest and wrapped her arms around him. "Thank you," she mumbled. Those words didn't feel adequate, but she didn't know what else to say.

He nodded and he started to rub circles into her back.

She plucked at the back of his shirt, not knowing what to say. For some reason, she felt she had to give an explanation or a reason, but he didn't push or say anything. He just held her.

"We have a few hours before we have to get up, try to get some sleep," he finally mumbled, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

Tessa's heart started to swell again and warmth spread through her. Tears started to spring into her eyes for a different reason now.

She loved him.

A different kind of wave was washing over her now and she gladly let it sweep her away. Her bottom lip started to quiver and she pulled her hand back to wipe her face.

Cullen's grip around her tightened and his brow pinched in concern.

"I'm fine," she managed to squeak.

"Tess."

Maker, no one called her that but him. To everyone else, she was Tessa or Tessy (or Tessaroo in Marian's case). And the way his voice would drop and soften when he did say it…

"I'm just tired. I'm sorry," she mumbled, burying her face into his chest. Maker, just because she realized she loved him didn't mean she could tell him yet.

She really shouldn't now, considering where they were and why they were here. And she knew he cared for her, but did he love her?

Well, she had three more months to figure it out because of the show.

She decided to push those thoughts aside and focus on what was happening now and remembered that Cullen was going to finally meet Gavin and Jonathan, since Jonathan never picked them up last night.

Maker, she hoped her husband was ready.