Disclaimer: I own none of the recognized characters. I am merely borrowing them to satisfy my muse

Chapter 26

As the ball grew closer, Josephine and Vivienne began to grow more irritable. CJ learned very quickly that it was a very bad idea to be trapped by one, or both, when they were in a mood.

"CJ, my dear," Vivienne's voice sounded out, and CJ glanced around, looking to see if she could hide somewhere. "I've already seen you, darling. If you try to run, I will freeze you." Sighing in defeat, CJ moved to meet the woman.

"Something I can help you with, Vivienne?"

"I have been told by a reliable source that you can play the flute. Is that correct?"

"Yes?" CJ was confused.

"Can you play a waltz?" CJ blinked. "Or a dance of six candles?"

"Not perfectly, but I can manage." She answered. "Why?"

"It was come to my attention that there are some in our party who don't know even the most basic of dance steps. I will not stand to be seen at the ball with someone so clumsy. So I am holding an optional dance lesson." CJ raised an eyebrow. She seriously doubted that the lesson was 'optional'.

"You're giving dance lessons? How does Talon feel about this?"

"He was very excited at the prospect to learn." Vivienne answered shortly, and CJ hid a grin. In other words, Vivienne had browbeat him into it, no doubt. "Come along, dear. We have much to do."

CJ couldn't stop her grin now as she obediently followed Vivienne to the room that had no doubt been cleared for this exact reason. Already in the room was Talon, Solas, Sera, Cassandra, Varric, Iron Bull, Dorian, Krem, Blackwall, Cullen, Leliana, Josephine, and to CJ's surpise, Cole and Tommy. The boy grinned and waved at her before turning his attention back to a paper that was spread out before where he and Cole were sitting.

"So you found her, obviously." Varric exclaimed. "Too bad. Shoulda hid better, Fighter."

"I was threatened if I tried to run." CJ said simply.

"Now that our music has arrived, we can begin." Vivienne clapped her hands sharply. "Form two lines. Men in one, women in the other."

CJ was very amused as everyone obeyed. Soon, Vivienne had arranged couples and were guiding them through the steps, using Iron Bull as her amused partner.

"On my count, CJ." Vivienne instructed. CJ nodded. And the couples were off, some (like Cullen and Leliana) spinning around the room with ease, both clearly already knew the steps. Others (like Varric and Cassandra) were at a standstill, Cassandra refusing to follow as Varric tried to haltingly lead. Krem and Sera, after a few steps of indecisiveness, began dancing with ease. Blackwall and Josephine weren't too far behind, Blackwall's movements stiff as he tried to maintain the respectable distance he had so painstakingly preserved between them. Because of the uneven numbers, Dorian and Talon had paired up, Talon haltingly trying to lead the taller man.

This continued for upwards of two hours, as Vivienne rearranged the couples and went through different steps.

"How come Twiggy isn't dancing?" CJ blinked in surprise at the new nickname Sera gave her.

"Twiggy?" She exclaimed, startled.

"Your hair. Looks all twiggy when you wake up." Sera shrugged. "How come you don't have to dance?"

"That's a very fair question, actually." Talon exclaimed, shooting a triumphant look at CJ. She stuck her tongue out at him. He was just annoyed because Dorian had grabbed his butt.

"I'm the music." She retorted, holding up the flute as evidence.

"Darling, do you know how to dance?" CJ was startled by the question.

"Yes." She answered immediately, which technically wasn't a lie, depending on how far you stretched the definition of 'dance'.

"You will join the next rotation. Krem, you will be her partner."

CJ very quickly discovered a problem with this arrangement. Apparently, she had a very difficult time allowing someone else to lead.

"You've got to stop trying to take control, Fighter!" Krem laughed as they once again ended up on the floor. "I'm supposed to be the one leading!"

"I can't help it!" CJ protested. She tried with Cullen next, only to run in to the same problem. "This just means I don't have to dance at the ball, right?"

"What happened to 'where ever you go, I go?'" Talon exclaimed, and she shot him a dirty look.

"Iron Bull, darling, you try."

CJ felt her face flush as Iron Bull grinned and stepped up to her.

"Got a thing about relinquishing control, huh?" He muttered.

"Shut up." Vivienne began counting off the steps, and instinctively, CJ tried to lead. But Iron Bull wouldn't let her. He just tightened his grip, pulling her closer to him.

"Follow me, Kadan." His voice was low, only she could hear it. "Move your body with mine, not fighting against it."

"I'm trying." She forced out between gritted teeth, trying to keep the count straight in her head.

"No, you're not." He answered. "You're thinking too much. Trying to be in control of the situation. So you don't fail. But you don't have to worry about that with me." She looked up at him. "I will always be there, Kadan. If you stumble, I will catch you. If you fall, I will lift you back up. If you fail, and everyone fails at something sometimes, I will be there. I will be by your side for as long as you let me."

"Excellent!" Vivienne's voice cut through CJ's stunned silence. "See, CJ, you can dance!" CJ tore her gaze away from Iron Bull's to find that they were spinning around the room, Iron Bull leading expertly, and CJ following. They stopped, and Iron Bull released her after a moment. She stepped away from him.

"Just needed the right partner, is all." Talon grinned at her. She flushed. No one could have missed the double meaning in his words.

"Apparently so." She shot at him, refusing to feel embarrassed. "Good thing I found him, huh?"

Talon's grin widened.

"Mama! Look!" Tommy rushed towards her, brandishing the paper he and Cole had been bent over. "Tommy's family! Cole helped draw!" CJ took the paper, the others gathering around to look in interest.

The paper was filled with sketches, all of them very well done. Above or below each face was a name, as how Tommy considered each of them. Tommy's face was in the middle of the paper. On his left was a sketch of CJ's face. On the right, Iron Bull's. Beneath her face was the word Mama written in shaky letters. Beneath Bull's was Da. Cole, Sera, and the chargers were labeled as Tommy's siblings. Talon and Dorian were listed as uncles, with a double line connecting them. Josephine and Blackwall had a double line connecting them, each labeled as an aunt and uncle, respectively. The rest of the group was on the paper, lines crossing, intersecting; linking them all together.

The room was silent as they stared at the paper. CJ didn't know what to say. She couldn't say anything, actually. She felt like she had a lump in her throat, her eyes focused on the word beneath Iron Bull's face. Da.

The silence was broken as Varric let out a low whistle. "I'll tell you what, little one," He looked at Tommy. "You've got to be the luckiest kid in Thedas to have such a family. Your Ma and Da would move the entire world to make you happy." Eyes locked on to Iron Bull, to see how he would react. Tommy grinned in response. But the grin faltered as he realized neither CJ nor Iron Bull had spoken.

"Mama?" CJ dropped to her knees and smiled at the boy.

"It is a very beautiful picture, Tommy." CJ managed to unstick her voice. "You and Cole did a very good job."

"Da?" The hesitant question tore at CJ's heart. She couldn't bring herself to look at Iron Bull. She was too afraid of what she'd see. What would he do? Would he accept the boy's use of the word, essentially cementing himself into Tommy's life? Very publically revealing the relationship between himself and CJ? Tommy's face became more and more unsure as Iron Bull remained silent.

"It's a fine picture." Iron Bull knelt down to be more eye level with the child. He had his head bent low, his face angled away from everyone but Tommy. "A very fine picture." His voice sounded rough. More rough than it usually did.

"Da likes it?" The boy questioned.

"Da likes it very much." He pulled the child to him in a gentle hug. CJ felt tears sting her eyes. No. She would not cry, damn it. No matter how sweet this was, she would not cry! Instead, she turned a glare on the others still in the room. They fled, all exchanging knowing grins.

"You know that the chargers are going to start calling you Da now." She said softly a while later. They were leaning against the wall, Tommy had fallen asleep in Iron Bull's arms.

"It's fitting, isn't it?" He answered. CJ was looking at the picture again. "Do you think he was the one who picked up on the relationships between Dorian and the Inquisitor and Blackwall and Josephine? Or do you think Cole did that?"

"Probably a mixture of both." She answered. "Tommy can be very observant when he wants." She glanced at the sleeping child. "Cole's an amazing artist."

"Who knew the kid could draw?"

CJ shook her head. "I sure as hell didn't." She couldn't stop the yawn that escaped her.

"You had another nightmare last night." It wasn't a question.

"I did." She didn't bother denying it.

"Why didn't you wake me?"

"You and Tommy were sleeping so peacefully." CJ smiled at the memory. She had awoken to find Tommy curled up on Iron Bull's stomach, one of Bull's large hands covering the boy's back. The sight had melted her heart. "I didn't have the heart to wake you."

He scowled at her. "I told you to wake me up when you have a nightmare."

She ignored the scowl. "And I chose not to."

"Why are you so stubborn, Kadan?"

"Born that way." She muttered, leaning in to him.

"Sleep, Kadan." His voice lowered. "I'll watch over you."

She didn't have the desire to fight him.

She knew that beyond the doors of Skyhold, the world was on the brink of destruction, but right now? Right at this moment? CJ was content to lean against Iron Bull, the man she had grown to love, and sleep. Just sleep.