"Oooooh Cuuuuuuulleeeeeen" Came a sing-song voice just beyond his closed door. He didn't need to see the person to know who it was. He fixed his face to a frown but inwardly, he was smiling. It had been quite some time since he heard the upbeat greeting and the familiarity gave him a warm feeling of nostalgia.

After the events with Meredith, Hawke had become Viscount and Cullen took over the reigns of the fragmented shell that was left of the Circle and Templar order in Kirkwall. With him leading the Templar order, Aveline leading the guards, Varric working his magic behind the scenes and Hawke assuaging the nobles' fears and putting out the daily fires, they were able to restore some semblance of peace to Kirkwall.

During Hawke's tenure as Viscount, the first thing she got rid of was the autonomous way each section worked. She made both Aveline and Cullen join her for weekly meetings to discuss any issues and work out solutions to lingering problems. During this time, Cullen got to know both Aveline and Hawke fairly well. He wouldn't exactly say that it was a friendship but Hawke certainly would and she relentlessly bugged him to open up more to her, much to his chagrin. He knew she meant no harm and if he were to be honest with himself, over time he did gain a soft spot for her. She was a good person and had a good heart even though that did come coupled with her smart mouth.

His door swung open to reveal a brightly smiling Hawke who walked into his office with her hands behind her back and Varric pulling up the rear.

"What trouble are you bringing me now, Hawke?" Cullen asked as he eyed her.

Hawke gave him a mock pout.

"Cullen, you wound me. I am just here to visit an old friend," She replied as her face shifted back into a smile that looked rather mischievous to Cullen. He gave a snort, clearly showing his disbelief. Varric chuckled at the two of them but remained quiet.

"Honest, I just came to visit a friend. I even come bearing gifts," She said as she extracted the item she had been holding behind her back and held it out towards him.

Cullen eyed the ceramic jar that she held within her hands warily as if he half expected something to burst out of it.

"What is it?" Hawke gave a huff and placed the jar down onto his desk.

"It's more cream for your hair. It's looking great by the way," She replied with a smirk.

He studied her for a few moments before removing the lid from the jar and peering in, seeing the thick white cream. He replaced the lid and offered Hawke a small smile.

"That was very kind of you. I was actually running a bit low."

"You could've just asked me, Curly," Varric spoke up.

Cullen shrugged.

"We had other concerns. It wasn't a pressing issue," He replied.

"Oh? I thought the fear of letting the Inquisitor see your hair in all its curly glory would have made it a priority," Varric said with a grin. Cullen could feel his face heating up at the mere mention of the woman whom has captured his heart.

"I-I have no idea why you think I would care if she saw it or not," He replied lamely. He could see the grin Hawke had been sporting grow impossibly wider and the realization finally dawned on him why they were really here. He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck feeling suddenly tired. He could very easily remember how the two would gang up on him when they were in Kirkwall.

"So," Hawke began, drawing out the 'o' in the word unnecessarily long. "I was right that a new hairstyle would get you laid huh? Look at you! Landing yourself an Inquisitor. You aim high my friend."

Cullen scoffed. He refused to give Hawke any credit for the budding relationship he had with Kira. This was something that they found and were nurturing together.

"My hair had nothing to do with it—" He paused as he had realized that he had just willingly admitted that there was something going on between them.

"I mean uh if there was something going on between Kir-I mean the Inquisitor and I, which there isn't! But if there was-Maker-you aren't buying this are you?"

"Nope," Varric and Hawke responded simultaneously, both of them now had toothy grins plastered on their faces. Their glee at his torment served only to annoy him.

"There has to be something more important you need to be doing," Cullen muttered.

"Nope, your Lady Inquisitor said she wanted to visit the Hinterlands and finish up some lingering issues before she tackled Crestwood and met with my friend in the Wardens," Hawke replied.

"So there is absolutely nothing keeping us from catching up with you, Curly," Varric added.

"Well I am busy. So if you'll excuse me," Cullen said lowing his head to the stack of reports on his desk.

"Still working too hard. Tsk Tsk, Cullen. Didn't anything I teach you in Kirkwall stick?" Hawke asked as she sat atop Cullen's desk. Cullen sighed heavily and pinched the bridge of his nose with his gloved hand. How did he actually miss this?

"So, Inquiring minds want to know, how is our lady Inquisitor in bed?" Hawke asked with a lecherous grin that reminded him of that loose pirate Isabela that he was sure bedded half of Kirkwall.

"Honestly, Hawke. Must you be so vulgar? Do you honestly think I would tell you about something like that? And get off of my desk," Cullen replied in a hard tone.

"So haven't done the deed yet eh?" Hawke responded, completely ignoring Cullen's irritation and request.

"That tone screams sexual frustration if I ever heard it," Varric remarked. "Perhaps we should give him pointers? He's been in the Chantry for a long time. Maybe he forgot what to do-If he actually ever learned that is."

"I know precisely what to do!" Cullen growled out. "Why are you two so interested in my love life anyway? Shouldn't you be more concerned with your own?"

"Why, whatever do you mean?" Hawke asked in a sweet tone.

"I mean as long as I have known you two, I have never seen you with anyone. Yet you are always poking your nose in others' business in some hare-brained match making scheme," Cullen responded, folding his arms across his chest happy to turn the attention from himself.

"I'll have you know our hare-brained schemes as you call it has had many satisfied customers. Just ask Aveline. She is still happily married thank you very much,"

"There's also Corff, Lirene and Brennan," Varric added, ticking off each name on his calloused fingers. "All currently happily paired off."

"There you go!" Hawke chirped as she clapped her hands together. "And we can do the same to you if you would just stop acting like such a prude."

"You are still avoiding my question," Cullen pressed trying desperately to keep this topic off of his love life. "If you two are so amazing at finding love, why haven't the two of you found someone for yourselves? Unless the rumors are true that you really do have an unnatural relationship with your crossbow, Varric then I would guess you wouldn't count. That said, it still leaves Hawke who has been alone for probably just about as long as I have."

"Maker! The Commander made a joke! I would ask if the sky is falling but we already know it is. What other calamities are there? Ground swallowing us up?" Hawke lifted her feet into the air and looked to the ground as if she fully expected it to open up and swallow them whole.

Varric snorted. "I felt the same way when I first heard him joke. You'll get use to it. Getting him out of that shiny silver armor did wonders for him."

"Right. This has been...annoying. I really do have work to do so if you would please both go away-far, far away. That would be wonderful," Cullen said attempting to focus on the reports that Hawke currently wasn't sitting on.

"But we haven't helped you with your problem yet."

"You also haven't answered my question so the way I see it, we have nothing to speak about."

Hawke leaned back to look to the ceiling then rolled her head to the side to stare at Varric.

"He's right, you know."

Varric rose a brow at Hawke.

"Is he?" He could tell from the look in her eye she was up to something. He schooled his face to as impassive as he possibly could to go along with whatever she had planned. Whenever Hawke had that look in her eye, it was definitely worth a good laugh in the end.

"Yes, we have both been alone for so long. Helping others find love but neglecting our own needs. I don't want to neglect my needs anymore, Varric."

"So what do you plan to do about it, Hawke?" Varric asked. His eyes darted over to Cullen who had a look of pure confusion as he stared at the pair. He shifted his eyes back to Hawke who had hopped off of Cullen's desk and sauntered over to him and his eyes immediately focused on her plump lips. She currently had the bottom lip trapped lightly between her teeth. The sight was incredibly erotic and Varric was having a hard time pretending to be nonchalant. He looked up to her and she leaned down, stroking his cheek with her right hand before pressing her lips to his.

Well if she wanted to give Cullen a show, he would oblige. Varric wove his hand into her hair pulled her closer to him, deepening the kiss. Hawke let out a squeak of surprise before throwing her arms around his neck.

"What is happening?" Cullen asked looking between the two before turning away feeling highly uncomfortable. It was apparent that they had forgotten he was even there. He tried to clear his throat to get their attention but his attempts went largely ignored. After a what Cullen would say was entirely too long, they broke apart and Cullen could only thank Andraste that they finally stopped.

"See, Cullen? Easy," Varric said slightly breathless. As he spoke, his eyes were firmly glued to Hawke's slightly swollen lips that he desperately wanted to kiss again. Hawke wasn't fairing any better. Her eyes were glazed over with something akin to lust. It took her a moment to shake the fog that was currently clouding her brain.

"I totally forgot where I was going with this," Hawke said in a bemused tone as she stood straight.

"Ah, I do tend to have that effect on women," Varric said with a smirk.

"Oh shut up you stupid...sexy dwarf."

"Right, I have no idea what is going on with you two but I feel extremely confused and uncomfortable and would very much like it if you two would leave."

Hawke looked at Cullen as if just remembering that he was even there.

"Oooooh right. You. See? We are totally experts in love."

"So we are just going to ignore that fact that you just made out with your best friend?" Cullen asked incredulously.

"We tend to do that a lot, Curly. I wouldn't dwell on it," Varric responded with a laugh. The look on Cullen's face was priceless.

Cullen looked between the two, shock evident on his face.

"Seriously, how did you not know? I'm pretty sure most of Kirkwall knew. We weren't exactly discreet about it. I mean we didn't make out in the middle of Hightown or anything but we never actively hid our relationship. Surely you had to have notice SOMETHING was going on between us."

Cullen shook his head in disbelief.

"Honestly, I had no clue. I had too much on my mind with restoring Kirkwall's Templars and the Circle to pay heed to it. I guess I shouldn't be surprised. You two were virtually inseparable. May I ask how long you have been together?"

Varric blew out a breath and thought for a moment. Had it truly been that long?

"About nine years," He answered. Hawke nodded in confirmation.

"That long? So you two were together? Through the Qunari and the destruction of the Chantry?"

"Yes. I truly don't know what I would have done if I didn't have my trusty dwarf by my side. Truly, he was my rock as I am sure you are the Inquisitor's?"

Cullen sighed as Hawke had successfully steered the conversation back to him.

"I can only hope that I can relieve some of her burden. She has seemingly all of Thedas on her shoulders." A look of melancholy washed over his face. He sighed as he thought of the burden she had to carry and hoped that he at least eased it a little from her. If he could, he would take it from her entirely, alas fate had dealt them a different hand. He was determined to help her in whatever way he could.

"Look, what we have, it is still very new and we aren't exactly trying to announce it to all of the Inquisition. There are other things to focus on and I don't want anything to distract from what she needs to do so if you two would keep it to yourselves it would be appreciated," Cullen replied.

Hawke laughed. "Not doing a very good job. From what we heard in the barracks you two got caught making out on the battlements."

"That's not...Okay, maybe we did. I guess it couldn't be helped. I would prefer to have kept it quiet but in a place such as this one I guess that is easier said than done."

"I would just like to say I am proud of you for that one, Curly. Making out on the battlements? Didn't know you had it in you," Cullen rolled his eyes in response to Varric's comment.

"I think we can chalk this up to another successful match for us, Varric," Hawke chirped.

"What makes you think you two had anything to do with it?" Cullen asked in a huff.

"Tell me, who approached who? Was it you or was it Kira?" Cullen thought back to the moment with crystal clarity. Kira had asked him to chat and they were walking along the battlements. She told him she had feelings for him. Just remembering her words made his heart soar. That was the first day they kissed and quite possibly one of the best days of his life.

"The admission was mostly mutual but I guess you can say she came to me first."

"Well there you go! You are most welcome."

"I still do not see how you two did anything."

"We gave her that encouraging talk to go and grab herself a Commander and she totally did! Now when you two finally make love, you can think this is all possible thanks to Hawke and Varric."

"I most certainly will not be thinking of either of you when we are in the middle of that and the fact that you even gave me that mental image disturbs me greatly. You got what you wanted, I've confirmed our relationship now please for the love of Andraste go away and let me get back to work."

"But we haven't shown you what to do yet! We wouldn't want you floundering when you two get all hot and heavy. Varric and I are such good friend we are willing to give you a demonstration right here," Hawke said. Varric was honestly surprised she was able to say that with a straight face. He was barely holding it together.

"Hawke," Cullen said warningly. Hawke broke into a fit of giggles. It was always fun to tease Cullen. In her opinion he was wound way too tight.

"I missed the angry way you'd say my name. Ah good times." She said wiping a tear from her eye. Varric was shaking silently in laughter. Truly, she was the best at getting under Cullen's skin. Most people were too afraid to mess with him when he was the Knight-Captain. Hawke never had such qualms however. She called it her sacred duty to make sure the stick lodged up his ass never got imbedded too deeply as he was a good guy dealt a bad hand. She made it her mission to bug him relentlessly till he would threaten to lock her up in the stocks, damn the fact that she was Viscount. Cullen may grumble, but Varric knew that he respected the various ways she would annoy him, he never turned away one of her visit. He had to like her at least a little, either that or he was a glutton for punishment. Varric was sure it was the former. Hawke was hard to not like.

"Truly, it was good to see you again Cullen. I am glad to see you doing so well. I am also happy for you and Kira. I'm glad she has someone like you by her side."

Cullen blinked at the sudden sincerity Hawke's voice took. How she shifted from tormenting him to being so compassionate was a mystery to him. He sighed as he felt some of his irritation from her earlier antics dissipate just a bit.

"Thank you, Layla. While this is a bit late in coming, I am happy for you and Varric as well."

Hawke smiled.

"We had our fun for today. We'll leave you in peace."

"Finally," He muttered, though there was no animosity in his tone.

"Let me know if you need more stuff for your hair, Curly. It's no problem to get more," Varric said as he led the way out the door.

"Oh, Cullen," Hawke said before turning to follow Varric out of the office. Cullen looked at Hawke warily.

"That's a pretty sturdy desk if you get my meaning," Hawke said with a wink.

He watched her walk out bewildered. Of course it was a sturdy desk. He purposely picked it for just that reason. He couldn't have his desk breaking down on him while he was working. So exactly why could he still hear Varric's howls of laughter at what Hawke said? He shook his head, determined to put it out of his mind and focus on the reports. He grabbed some of the reports Hawke had sat on and began smoothing it out when her words finally made sense to him.

"Maker's breath," He muttered, shaking his head.

A/N: Thanks to everyone who is following this story and everyone that leaves a review. I appreciate it! I also want to give special love to my fellow Hawke/Varric fans. I'm glad there are others out there! Damn you Bioware for taking their romance out last minute for Dragon Age 2. Oh well, we can still dream.