Chapter Three

Pizza Party

The next morning, I examined what I had done to the 'shack' they had given me as my house. It was now an underground complex with 10 bedrooms – slumber parties for the win – a massive kitchen, living room and 'bathrooms' in every bedroom. The old shack was converted to pretty much just be an office with a door that looked like a closet that led to our actual home.

I woke just before dawn still in Cullens arms. I whimpered as I snuggled into him.

His arms tightened around me, "What's wrong, love?"

"Nothing is wrong, love – I was just hoping to have you to myself for a while longer… why don't we make the most of this time?" I gave him a wicked grin as I kissed his bare shoulder. He groaned, "We promised Sister Leliana that we'd be at the chantry just after dawn."

I pouted but got up and asked, "At least shower with me?" his eyes darkened and he nodded.

The shower was rather relaxing – even if Cullen exercised his restraint and refrained from making it more… fun.

When we got to the Chantry, Solas was already there, talking with Leli while Varric grumbled to Flissa. I saw we also had a few other… guests. I noticed that Cassandra, Josie and Magma were there.

I giggled and turned the dungeon into a kitchen – I would turn it back later. Josie and Cass looked stunned and Solas' interest was certainly piqued.

With another wave of my hand I had 9 prep stations set up – one for each of us.

"Okay team – the first thing we are going to do is make a boat-load of pizza dough. The dough is the base of the pizza – it makes the crust. Follow my step by step instructions that are written out at each of your tables. If you do not understand something, simply ask. While you all make dough, I will be getting started on the tomato sauce and garlic alfreado sauce – this is the very next step which we will talk about once all the dough and sauce is made."

Flissa jumped right in and Cullen snagged a table close to me. I made a small ball of dough while I had the tomatoes being magically crushed and the milk and butter was started for the white sauce too. I began making two extra-large pizzas so that Solas, Josie and Flissa could try some as well as us having breakfast. Cass and Magma had tried some at my wedding, Leli while we traveled during the Blight, Varric and Cullen had eaten some back in Kirkwall.

I looked at Cullen, "What kind for breakfast? I assume no one has eaten yet – Varric, Mag, and Leli all know I would cook, you've been with me, Flissa and Josie looks like they need to eat more, and Cass is too much like you. I don't presume to know if Solas has eaten, however – he's a wild card."

"I have not," Solas confirmed. I nodded my acknowledgement of his words and looked back to Cullen. He gave me that devilish smirk that I loved so much, "For breakfast… I think that Bacon and Egg one you made a while back… actually wait, if they're trying pizza for the first time, do the one with the chicken and white sauce."

I nodded and said, "Chicken Bacon coming up." First, I began twirling the dough. Then, I used magic to add white sauce to the pizza dough since my homemade stuff wasn't even close to ready. I then added cooked Chicken, Bacon, Feta, Provolone, Parmesan Asiago and Mozzarella cheeses. I then tossed the two 20" pizzas into an oven.

I moved back to my sauces and heard Josie ask, "How did you do the twirling thing?"

I giggled, "When we get to that point, I'll show you. It's all in the wrists."

Solas' head whipped to look at the oven that had the pizza in it, "I will admit – that does smell… really good."

Cass nodded her agreement and Varric laughed, "That one is one of Feathers' two favorite pizzas. Her other is this really spicy one she calls 'Buffalo Chicken'."

"Hey now! I have three favorites – I just don't eat as much Barbecue Chicken."

Cullen chuckled, "I think the Barbecue one is good – but the one you call Supreme is actually my favorite."

I nodded, "It would be – you like efficiency and having so many vegies and meats packed onto one pizza is efficient. I think Cass will like that one best as well."

He kissed my cheek as he kneaded his dough. I beamed at him. "And while I will allow it this one time, if anyone asks for Pineapple on their pizzas after today they have to make it themselves. It is my opinion that Pineapple does not belong on pizza. Back on Earth there were debates about it – the population was pretty evenly split about it."

"Why will you allow it this time, then?"

I glanced at Solas' amused expression and said, "Because this day about trying new things – getting to know what kind of pizza everyone enjoys and such. I'm not a total bitch – just half of one." I winked.

Cullen stiffened and I chuckled, "Down, boy – he's not my type and I am far from his."

Cullen nodded with a small smile. Leli and Josie were laughing and I saw a small smile on Cassandras face too. Varric smirked and said, "You do have Curly trained, don't you?"

"Wait till you see what I've done to Alistair; when I was in labor, I was… quite colorful in my vocabulary and threats. I think I've terrified him."

"That does explain a few things about yesterday's conversation, Feathers."

"How colorful?" Flissa asked.

"I think I threatened his manhood more than once, called him a… what was it, Mag?"

"I believe it was a Dick-weaseled, Fopdoodle Puke-stocking; my Queen."

I glared at him and he chuckled, "Sorry, Ara."

Leli giggled, "What is a Fopdoodle?"

"A fucking idiot. I wasn't very nice and have since apologized but… I believe it was a rather traumatic experience. Breakfast is ready!"

The sauce was about ready so I moved to serve the food – 2 slices each. Varric, Leli, Cullen, Cass and Magma were all tucking in at once. Solas hesitantly brought a slice up to his lips and nibbled. His eyes widened comically and he said, "I admit – I've never had anything like this. This is quite good."

With that, Flissa, Josie and I began eating too. Cullen looked at me amused, "Why do you always wait until everyone else starts eating before you do?"

"Chef eats last – it's just good manners." I shrugged.

When it was time to finally toss the dough, we had all gotten into a bit of a routine – and that was also about the time there was a knock at the door. I opened it to see Alistair and my 3 children. The twins were babbling and reaching for me while Vaala – my Dwarven god-daughter – was smiling softly. Vaala was very short, standing only at 3'1 currently and looked just like her birth mother – pale, long black hair and grey eyes.

I knelt so that the three of them could get into my arms. Duncan and Livia were at the toddling stage of walking.

I hugged them tightly saying, "I've missed you!"

Vaala giggled and said, "We've missed you too. Livia, especially. She refuses to sleep anywhere but on your side of dad's bed with Duncan."

Alistair coughed and looked away. I snorted, "You do realize that if you let her get tired enough, she'd pass out anywhere – me there, or not."

He nodded and said, "I… I know. I just find I can't say no to her…"

"Well, you'd better learn. I don't want her growing up to be a spoiled bitch."

Leli giggled and Cass asked, "You use that kind of language around…"

"Swearing is good for vocabulary – and mental development. There is no reason to curb my language."

Cullen nodded and said, "Same thing she told me last year. Anyway, we're making Pizza as requested, Al."

I giggled at how close the two men had become. Cass look absolutely horrified and said, "Commander, he's the King of Ferelden!"

Alistair laughed, "He's also my brother. Both of us being married to Ara makes us family. Besides, we share children – there is no closer bond than that."

Cass flushed and I spoke up, "Speaking of that… I had a vision of my fourth mate last night. Cullen, I wanted to ask you something about it."

Everyone looked to me while the group continued tossing pizzas and I sat on the floor with my babies.

"What is love?"

"You remember how I said I would love to watch… um… you know?"

He groaned and said, "What about it?"

"Well… what if I was watching one of my mates be with… someone who had no attraction to women at all? Would you still be jealous?"

Alistair laughed heartily and Cullen sighed. Leli looked confused and asked, "I have a good idea of what you're asking, but… what's going on?"

I looked at Vaala and said, "Cover your ears, honey – you don't need to hear this part."

She nodded and did as she was told.

"So, I think it would be incredibly hot to watch some guy-on-guy action, right? Well, Alistair and Cullen are so straight they don't even bend and Fenris is currently in Tevinter so that's not happening. My fourth mate is just as flexible as my elf is and… honestly the guy he should have been paired with – if I wasn't here – is so pretty, but so gay. He's a total flirt, but woman just do not do it for him. He can appreciate a nice outfit, but sex is so off the table from him."

Cullen sighed, "He wouldn't be trying to…"

"Not in the slightest! The man knows he's pretty and he knows that women are just far too… he's not interested. So… would you still be a jealous if you knew without a doubt that the non-mate and I would never do anything together?"

Alistair coughed a laugh, "I don't know about Cullen, but I think I would actually feel better knowing the man isn't interested in you."

I smiled and motioned to Vaala who uncovered her ears and wandered over to my prep table were there were still two un-eaten slices of pizza from breakfast. She grabbed the plate and took it over to Alistair who smiled and took just one, leaving the other slice for her.

Cullen thought for a minute and sighed, "Only one time… please?"

I let out a laugh, "No worries – mostly it will be to encourage my fourth mate to take the other man as his own 2nd mate. The rest is just… icing on the cake."

Cass flushed, "You really have no problems with your mates being with other people?"

"Are you kidding? Do you have any idea how hard it is to keep up already? When all 3 of my current mates are with me in one place, I get a bit… it's almost too much."

Flissa giggled merrily and said, "I can imagine. Aren't two of them former Templars?"

I chuckled, "Cullen has the whole Templar thing going for him – the battles he's seen and training… he's so fit. Alistair never took Templar vows, but he's a Grey Warden and the joining grants bonus Stamina and such. Fenris was a former slave whose main thing was fighting – he's so strong and… well, let's just say that all three of them have far more stamina than I do."

Cullen and Alistair were bright red, but it was Solas who asked, "Why are we discussing this?"

Varric spoke up, "Don't take it hard, Chuckles – Feathers has absolutely no modesty at all. She won't go into detail on their… exploits without their permission, but she's an open book otherwise. One time, she went into the Blooming rose and talked to one of the… workers there while he was wearing only his small-clothes and nothing else as though he was fully dressed."

I snorted, "Don't forget the time I walked in on one worker with a patron and we had a nice chat while she serviced her… friend."

Solas looked at me in interest, "Why?"

"Because I grew up in a world without those prudish ideals… mostly. Sex sells – most advertisements for anything featured women in their small clothes. Want people to frequent your gym? Put a woman in a bra on the billboard. Want people to buy bananas? Show a woman in skimpy clothes eating one sensually. Don't get me started on ads for small clothes!"

Cass was flushed at the thought. I got back up and went over to the sink I had… installed. I washed my hands and walked over to the really large table in the center of the room.

"Okay team – now that we've twirled up some dough – and it's about 3pm… time to prep them. Put red sauce on half of these and garlic on the others. I have a few to put Barbeque sauce on…"

Even Alistair jumped in and I looked at the Kings Guard behind him, "Make yourselves useful, yeah? I need I really long table set up upstairs. As these things come out of the Oven, they will need to be taken upstairs and put out for people to eat."

The three guards saluted me and walked off.

I was the one taking care of the large pizza oven – the style you'd find at a place like 'Pizza Hut' – that could fit 3 at a time. As they came out, I cut them and sent them down the line.

After a while, I got hungry myself and said, "Okay – we've had our fun. I'll keep this all going with Magic – let's go get ourselves a bite."

There were laughs from all of them. Cullen and Alistair each kissed my cheek and we headed up the stairs.

There were cheers as we all entered the main Chantry. I chuckled and shook my head, "Well, isn't that a recommendation? Nice to know everyone likes it."

Alistair snorted and said, "It's a very… versatile food. Red sauce, white sauce, brown sauce… and then there are the combinations… it'd be a surprise if someone didn't like it, my love."

"Just because something seems improbable, doesn't make it impossible. Me being from a different world, for example."

Solas gave me an approving nod, "Well put."

We all got our food and I was feeding nibbles to my two year olds… I was such a terrible mother feeding them this junk, but they liked it so…

"Mama!" Duncan clapped. I smiled and tickled him. Livia gave a cute peel of laughter and I winked at Vaala.

Varric spoke up, silencing the whole Chantry as he lifted a glass, "To our illustrious Herald of Andraste – or as I know her, Feathers – for managing to bring us all together. For the first time, I see mages, former Templars, people from the chantry and Dalish elves all sitting together – and no one is fighting. So many walks of life – and after all that has happened. Honestly, this is the kind of thing I can't put in my books – too unbelievable. But then, Feathers manages that a lot. To the Herald!"

I flushed as people raised their glasses and toasted to me. Alistair raised his own glass too with a wink. I stuck my tongue out. Cullen took Duncan in his lap and Alistair took Livia so that I could eat.

I smiled – so far, we were off to a wonderful start.

Josephine sidled up to us and said, "Forgive me, your majesty – the Herald said to speak with you about official support from Ferelden?"

Alistair glanced at me with a smirk, "She is my Queen – I'd be a terrible husband if I didn't support this. Of course you have the backing of Ferelden, Lady Ambassador."

She beamed and wrote it down, "Then I will be touch with your people. Thank you, King Alistair."

He nodded and I giggled, "So, Alistair… let me Introduce you to someone… this is Seeker Cassandra – Right hand of the Divine and the one here who reminds me of Fenris."

Varric did a spit-take. "Damn it, Feathers – you can't say that kind of thing while I'm drinking!"

I giggled, "But it's true! Think about it for a minute – Cass is our Fenris; they both brood and communicate mostly by a disgusted grunt of disapproval."

He blinked… "You have a point."

Cass was flushed and Maxwell looked amused, "Isn't Fenris your other… mate?"

I nodded, "Maybe that's why I like Cass so much?" he laughed.

"Right – and Solas is a bit like a mix between Merrill and Carver. You're… well, you, Varric. We'll meet more people who are like our friends, too. Like I was saying, Alistair, this is Solas – a mage who knows a great deal about the fade, so he's our expert. You know Leli and Varric, of course. Josie is our ambassador and an Antivan through and through. She's a lot like Zev, actually." I smiled.

Leli giggled lightly, "Now that you mention it… she is, isn't she?"

Josie flushed, "Who is this… Zev?"

"Zevran was a member of the Ativan Crows – now he works to hunt down his former guild leaders. Only because they hunt him, you see? But I know you were once a Bard…" I gave her a sly smirk. She flushed and looked away.

Alistair chuckled, "Do you have a 'me' of the group yet?"

Even Varric gave him a look of 'really?'

He looked confused, "What?"

Varric, Leli and I all pointed to Cullen. Both men flushed but Cullen laughed. Solas gave a little smirk.

I finished my pizza and took my little ones back from their fathers.

That night, Alistair was in my room and Cullen had taken his own. Alistair had been impressed but the guard he had staying in the place with us had been completely stunned by the underground fortress.