This chapter is set just after the end, and then a few months after the end of Inquisition. I'm not sure if Cassandra or Vivienne is Divine yet (I don't want it to be set in stone for the story this follows) so assume whomever you'd like, but it's not Leliana due to her being connected with the Agents of the Maker (they want to raze the Chantry and remake it). This chapter is actually in Aedan's POV. I wrote it just for movienut96 because I completely agree with you on that one suggestion. You'll figure out which pretty quickly. Anyway, hope you enjoy this chapter!

Review please! You tell me if there's something in particular you want to see and I'll do my best to make it happen! Thanks for reading!

I'm back at Skyhold for the celebration of Corypheus' defeat. Not that Leliana knows. I've taken to surprising her with random visits. She claims they annoy the hell out of her, but she hasn't objected to me actually popping up yet. I'm not dumb enough to think she's not expecting me, not after what just happened, but still, I want it to be as big of a surprise as possible. I even persuaded Elissa into letting me bring Wolf, her old mabari that's been living at Denerim for breeding purposes for the past four years. Leliana loved that dog, and that dog loved her. If I didn't know any better, I'd say he loved her as much as he loves me and Elissa. Being twins, Wolf has always been 'our' mabari even though he imprinted on my sister. It shows his true loyalties when he has to choose between one of us. But Elissa and I were inseparable as children, so Wolf grew up with 'two masters'. Many in Highever believe he somehow imprinted on the two of us since we are twins. Elissa and I know the truth, but we have not said anything about it to anyone.

I grin as I make my way up the steps of Skyhold. She can't sense me. My friends at Weisshaupt finished my work in searching for a cure. They sent enough of the potion, along with instructions on how to make it, for Elissa, Alistair, Leliana, and myself to absolve ourselves of the Taint. Elissa and Alistair needed it so they can produce heirs once Anora dies. I just wanted it because...well, to be perfectly honest, so I could have more time with Leliana. I don't care how selfish that sounds. It's true. After everything I've done, and everything I've seen, I just want a chance to have a normal life. Nothing will be normal until the Agents are no longer needed, but now I don't need to worry about being claimed by the Taint in the next twenty years. I'll live beyond that.

The thought makes me smile broadly as I step into the main hall. Arin knows I planned on coming and so does Josephine. I sent a messenger to them so they'd know. Now all I have to do is hope Leliana didn't catch the poor kid.

Wolf looks up at me, wagging his tail excitedly. I'm not sure if it's because of all the food or the fact that he's somewhere new. He's always been an adventurous dog.

I reach down to scratch his ears before straightening my shirt. This is one of the few times in several years where I haven't worn armor. One was at Anora's announcement naming the Couslands heirs to the Fereldan throne, and that ended with Orlais forfeiting our treaty and declaring war on us. The other was at an Orlesian party I spied on. Don't ask how I did that without Leliana giving me pointers. Let's just say it took lots of whiskey and a rope and leave it at that.

"Aedan Cousland." I turn to the voice, grinning at the dwarf who said my name. I walk up to Varric and offer him my hand. We clasp arms as best as our drastically different heights will allow before he chuckles.

"Here for Red, Cap?"

I look at the Qunari shuffling his way over to plop in a chair next to the fireplace. Then I look back to Varric, raising an eyebrow. "Have you told everybody my nickname?"

"Not Curly. We don't talk much." Varric shrugs, laughing. "Well? You here for Nightingale?"

I scowl. "I find myself missing when you called her Orlesian."

"Really?" Varric's eyebrows go up. "You want to be reminded of the war between your two countries?"

"It would remind me less of my war with the Chantry."

He shrugs. "Which is the lesser of two evils?"

"Neither," Bull says, kicking his feet up on the small table. He takes a drink from his mug. "I get that right, pal?"

"More or less," I grumble. "See you later."

"Enjoy the party!" Bull calls after me.

I sigh, running a frustrated hand down my face as I weave through a crowd, Wolf padding along happily behind me. Several Orlesian noblewomen step out of the way at the sight of a Fereldan and his warhound, making noises of disgust, but I keep my mouth tactfully closed and my hand away from the sword resting on my hip. I don't carry my shield, but I'm smart enough to know if I march into a party filled with Orlesians that my sword could be useful. Thankfully, their husbands and I share a silent agreement to keep it nice and in the books. War is for tomorrow. Tonight is to celebrate. Thedas is safe, and now, only Orlais has to fear the Agents of the Maker. Any and all countries of importance quickly took to our views once Elissa demonstrated what her mark did to them. And with many soldiers in the Agents being Fereldan, few people are objecting our involvement in Orlais' latest attempt to occupy the Blight-weakened nation. Since we hold most of Thedas under one banner (all but the Qunari, Tevinter, and Orlais) the Orlesians' invasion attempts have been met by Nevarran, Antivan, and even Marcher troops. Once I'm done here, I'm to rejoin my sister and the Agents for a march on Val Royeaux. We want Orlais to come easily with as little bloodshed as possible, so we're attacking the heart of the problem. And once we've claimed Orlais, all we'll have to do is take Tevinter. They might be the largest nation in Thedas, but not even they can hope to stand against an army as large as ours.

Part of me hopes to talk the Inquisitor out of defending the Chantry. It shouldn't be hard considering he's a Dalish elf, but at one point, he had been from the Alienage. He used to share my beliefs, and that may obligate him to protect their founder. I seriously hope to persuade him into joining forces with the Agents. It would add to our credibility and would give Orlais pause when we arrived.

That, and the fact that I have begun to doubt Leliana's allegiances. I'm no longer sure if she would throw her lot in with the Inquisition if Arin doesn't agree to combining forces or if she would stay with us. I don't want to have to enter a battle knowing my wife was a leader of my enemy.

"Aedan?" a distinctly Antivan accent asks. "What are you doing here? We didn't think you would come."

I fight the urge to say fuck. "Well there goes that plan. Tell me; where's Leliana?"

Josephine shakes her head. "I honestly do not know. I haven't seen her since the party started. Perhaps you could check her quarters?"

I nod. "Thanks, I'll do that. Come on, Wolf. Let's go find the lady who makes you fat." He barks excitedly. He knows who I mean. I used to refer to her as that all the time when talking to him after doing everything possible to make sure she wasn't within earshot.

We manage to get into the tower without much incident, but that's when I remember the other thing the Maker has assigned the Agents. This is a job for the original four of us though, and us only. Hunt down and kill the elven gods. I completely forgot about Solas. As I step into his office, I prepare for a confrontation, but he's nowhere to be seen. I still keep a hand on my sword, however, and actually end up finding Leliana in the process of coming downstairs.

"Hello."

Yep. She caught my messenger. There's not an ounce of surprise in her tone.

I smile. "I brought a gift!" Stepping to the side, I release the mabari behind me, allowing him to run forward and jump on Leliana's chest. She grunts, but the grin on her face says she's fine. "Wolf, the fattest mabari Ferelden has ever seen!"

She laughs, holding the beast of an animal up by his elbows. "Oh, it's good to see you! Yes it is!" He gives her a big, slobbery dog kiss similar to the one I received when I picked him up from the kennels in Denerim. Still, it's nothing compared to how he greeted Elissa when we stopped at the army camp by Lake Calenhad. "It's been years, my furry friend. Tell me. Have you been eating enough, or do I need to go to Denerim and tell those handlers how to feed you properly?"

Chuckling, I say, "They said he was too fat when Elissa and I took him in." Leliana looks up, grinning, and I'm struck by how familiar that face is. Everything I've heard about the Inquisition's Spymaster has been about how ruthless, cold, and calculating she is. Her only saving grace would be how much she cares about her men. After knowing her during the Blight, her carefree and friendly personality, and knowing her now as the woman who arranges people's assassinations, I wasn't sure if they were the same person. I only saw her a few times since Haven was attacked by the Red Templars, but I never caught the brunt of her anger. She was always too relieved to see me.

But seeing that grin, the same one I fell in love with, wipes those fears away. She's still the same person I met in a tavern at Lothering. She just chooses who gets to see the soft version of her now. The only people I know of that get to see it are me, Elissa, and Alistair. Showing that side of herself cost her enough and allowed her to gain so little that she doesn't flaunt it about anymore. Best to seem cold and stiff until you know someone can be trusted enough to see your kind side.

"Aedan?" She raises an eyebrow. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

I blink stupidly. "Like what?"

"Like I've gone and grown a second head." She lets Wolf hop off her chest and sit by her feet.

I shrug, laughing. "I don't know. I can't just be glad to see you?"

"That doesn't entail looking at me like I have two heads."

I grin. "Maybe it does now. Who knows? You haven't seen me in a while. Things can change."

"They can," Leli muses. "But you never do." She walks up to me. "See this?" She traces my jawline down to my chin. "No stubble." She taps my head. "And your hair is back to being as short as it was during the Blight."

"You like my short hair," I counter. "And I shaved to look fancy."

"Fancy?" she asks incredulously. "Then you should've come in your armor and let me dress you."

"Hey! Unfair! I did pretty well on my own!"

She laughs, wrapping her arms around my neck. "Your shirt should be tucked into your trousers and your trousers should be tucked into your boots."

"Pfft. I gave up dressing like a noble when I joined the Wardens." She looks at me quizzically, eyes narrowed, and my grin broadens.

"Something about you is different..." She stares at me for another few seconds when it dawns on her. "You found a cure!"

"Not me technically, but yes. When I left Weisshaupt, my friends there kept working on it. They found a way to rid a Warden of the Taint and sent four vials to Amaranthine immediately."

"Four? Does that mean Elissa and Alistair have taken it?"

"Alistair has, but Elissa is willing to remain a Warden to keep them as allies to the Agents. Once that's over with, she's taking it too." I remove my hand from her waist to reach into my pocket. I pull out a vial the size of my pinkie finger full of a foul-smelling (and foul-tasting) clear liquid. "For you." Her eyes go wide as she takes it from me. "Careful though. If you thought darkspawn blood was gross, that stuff will kill you. In comparison, I mean."

Leliana can only stare at it in awe. "You know how useful this would've been when Corypheus was tricking Wardens into thinking they all had their Callings at once?"

I nod, looking down. "I'm sorry I wasn't here long enough to help you with those nightmares, Leli. I can't imagine how horrible they were."

After a minute, she tucks it into the purple scarf-hood thing she wears and looks back up at me, smiling wolfishly. "You know what I just realized?" I shake my head.

"What?"

"That I'm a Warden and you're not," she says. "It's so...strange. You were always a Warden, and now you're not."

"I wasn't always a Warden." She gives me a look and I chuckle. "Fine, fine, I'll shut up. But yeah, I know what you mean. It's weird to think of that. No death sentence, no creepy attraction to red lyrium. It's great."

"Is that all that makes it good, or are you just making me work for it like that time at camp?"

"No, I was being stupid," I say. "It's great because of all those things I already listed. It's amazing because I finally have the chance to offer you a real life away from the Wardens. And it's even better because I could grow old with you."

"Mmm." She hums to herself, leaning her head on my shoulder.

Yes. She is still the same person I fell in love with all those years ago.

Elissa permitted me to return to Skyhold again. Her and Alistair have to head to Denerim to speak with Anora, but I'm not needed there, so I came here. I haven't been here since the celebration for Corypheus' defeat months ago. Elissa and I didn't even argue about it. She said she'd send for me when I was needed and that I was to try to bring Leliana back. So far, nothing. It's been a week, but I'm not complaining. I won't start to worry unless this lasts much longer.

I crack my eyes open to see how late it is. Hardly any light is shining in from under the door leading outside and Leliana's still burrowed into my side, so I don't make any move to get up. She's always up before I am, down at Josephine's office for something or other while I doze. I'm usually woken up by a shoe bouncing off the side of my head. It doesn't even faze me anymore. She's been moody, switching from happy and smiling to someone who would rather punch a wall. My day always starts out with the angry version. Hence the shoe. I asked her what the point of that was the first time, and she shrugged, saying she wasn't in the mood for my bad jokes. That, and she was too lazy to walk over from her table that doubles as a desk.

Just as I feel I've managed to doze off again, I feel the customary shoe hit me a little harder than usual. "Get up!"

I groan. "You can't let me sleep longer?"

"No. Go get me food."

"You don't think you eat enough as it is? You eat more now and you're not even a Warden."

She's silent for a moment. When she speaks up again, I want to smack myself. "What's that supposed to mean?"

I scramble out of bed, grabbing my shirt from where I left it last night. "I'm going! Maker, woman!" I pull it over my head before tugging on my boots. "Can't even let me wake up."

"I'll throw something harder tomorrow. You'll be awake faster."

"Thanks so much," I mutter. I walk past her, yawning, while she reads some report about something I don't care about in Maker knows where. I rub my eyes as I open the door to the library with my shoulder. Dorian, a Tevinter mage, is standing there waiting. "Morning."

"Good morning," he replies. He follows me down to the now-abandoned lower level and out into the main hall before saying, "Do you mind me asking how she wakes you up?"

"With shoes," I say gruffly. "To the head. Hard shoes." He laughs. "She's got an arm. Don't let her throw something at you."

"Well she's an archer, yes? Shouldn't you expect that?"

"I never thought she'd be throwing shoes at me or I would've talked her into using her daggers more often," I grumble. "Do me a favor and get her breakfast. I don't want to get yelled at for picking something that was pink or green or whatever she wants."

"And you think I do?" he asks, raising an eyebrow.

"I want to ask Josephine if she knows what's wrong with her."

Dorian laughs again, patting my shoulder. "If you're not quick enough to figure it out, then there's a problem." And before I can ask what he means by that, he goes through the first door, and then the one on the left leading down to the basement. I scowl after him. I hate it when Leliana does that. How am I supposed to not be annoyed by him doing it?

I march through the second door, finding Arin in Josephine's office, talking to her about something or other.

"Creators, please tell me Leliana's in a better mood," he says. "I need to talk to her about an issue in the Hinterlands and I don't want to get yelled at for having sloppy hair."

I bark a sarcastic laugh. "You might want to wait a while then, Inquisitor. She's still in a bad mood."

He groans, flopping sideways on the couch. "I almost enjoy leaving Skyhold now."

I shut the door behind me and drop into a chair. "How long has she been like this?"

"Two months almost," Arin grumbles. "I let her stay in her tower for most war meetings and post guards up there to keep her from coming down when we have someone important here. I'm afraid she'll punch someone."

Josephine just laughs, scribbling something down on her desk. "You both are so thick."

"Woah, wait, do you know what's wrong with Leliana?" I demand. Arin sits up, focusing on her too.

"Of course I know. Your sister knows," Josephine says, shrugging. "Almost all of Skyhold has it figured out. Even Cullen does."

"And how don't I know?" Arin asks.

"What he said."

"Because you're men," she says simply. "Men always figure it out the slowest."

My eyes narrow suspiciously. So...everybody else knows what's going on, but not me? How don't I know? I spend most of my day holed up inside with her, helping her with reports and anything else she could possibly ask for. I used to stay outside most days and train with Inquisition soldiers, but ever since I got here, Leliana's practically been alone in the rookery when it's usually full of her agents. People have been avoiding her, leaving her to do her work by herself. If she needs help with something, it's fallen to Dorian and I to do whatever it is. I originally thought it was her moodiness keeping people out, but her spies come up from their places to speak with her constantly. She doesn't even leave that tower most days. She has food brought up for her. Lots of it, usually the exact same thing.

"Figure it out yet?"

I open my mouth, pause, and hold up a hand. "Er...maybe. Why is she down here every morning?" When Oriana was pregnant with Oren, she used to get up an hour early to take some medicine Highever's herbalist had for her morning sickness. And everything wrong with Leliana points to...

I drop my head on Josephine's desk. "She's taking medicine, isn't she?"

"Oh yes. Some days she can barely make it here."

I get up slowly. "Wonderful. I'm going to go see if she's going to bite my head off for making Dorian get her breakfast, and then probably be back to write my sister a letter."

Arin looks confused. "Wait...what?"

"Elissa needs to be yelled at," I say before turning on my heel and marching back out into the main hall.

How didn't I figure that out sooner? I knew why Elissa and Alistair got the cure for the Taint. I knew! I told Garrett that was the whole reason I was looking for it! And yet I was too stupid to even consider that it could happen. I want to slam my head off a wall. I'm such an idiot. I guess I'm too used to the idea that I can't have kids to think that might be a possibility. When Leliana joined the Wardens, it was a guarantee that we couldn't have children. Now that neither of us are...

I smack the side of my head. "Stupid!" I mutter.

Leliana's pregnant. I'm going to be a father.

I find myself grinning like a fool at the thought. During the Blight, I was more concerned with keeping everyone alive long enough to kill the Archdemon. I didn't think about what might happen afterwards until Riordan told us how the dragon died. I was barely twenty-three when the Blight was actually considered over (months after the Archdemon died). Guys at that age don't think about having families. I was, sort of, because I wanted Leliana to really be mine in every sense of the statement. But having kids? I never thought about it. We never even talked about it before because I thought I couldn't have any.

I'm not sure if I should be happy or terrified. Leliana's the Spymaster for the Inquisition. I'm the second-in-command for the Agents of the Maker. Neither of us are ever safe. How are we supposed to bring a child into this?

Easing open the door to her quarters, I do my best to be quiet. I'd rather not get yelled at for something that doesn't make sense.

The lock clicks as I shut the door and I wince, preparing for the outburst.

"Is that you, Aedan?"

She doesn't sound mad. Maybe she's not? No. Don't believe that lie. She's never this calm before noon.

"It's me," I say, walking up the spiral staircase. I look towards her desk first, but she's not there. I check the bed, but she's not there either. "Where'd you go?" The door outside is shut.

"Over here," she says. I turn to her voice, spotting her on the floor beside a wall of crates. Most people would lean against the crate and stretch their legs out. Not Leliana. She's laying on her back with her legs resting up on the boxes.

I laugh nervously. "You got that backwards, you know."

"I couldn't get comfortable."

"And that is?"

Leliana cranes her head back to look at me. She starts to reply, but then she pauses. "Well, it was until you said something." She rolls onto her side and bounces to her feet. "I hate it when that happens." She scowls at the crates before walking back over to her table. I'd expect her normal grace, but she just drops onto the bench and sprawls out on the paperwork. "Ugh. Maker, I'll never get this right."

"Get what right?" I ask, walking over to sit beside her.

"Getting comfortable," she says, voice muffled by the papers and her arms. I run my hand up and down her back, frowning. She relaxes almost instantly. "Actually-"

"So how about you tell me this secret everybody else knows about?" I ask, intentionally interrupting.

"I'll do that when you get me more food."

"That's what I thought. What did Dorian get you?"

"Fruit. So much fruit. I've never seen that much fruit in my entire life," Leliana says. She groans. "I've also never been this hungry. Not even after my Joining." I laugh, leaning my elbow on the table so I can rest my head on my free hand. I catch myself staring at her while she just sits there silently. "That feels so good, Aedan." I snort another laugh. "I don't want to move."

"Wasn't I supposed to get you something to eat?"

"I don't know. I hurt everywhere and I'm tired all the time. Can't I just sleep?"

"You just woke up, Leli," I say. "You have a job to do."

She groans again and swats my hand away from her back. Then she just...falls over backwards, staring at the ceiling again. "I can't be lazy for once?"

"I thought that's why you threw shoes at me to wake me up."

"Aedan...stop being a twit." I want to laugh at the hurt look she gives me, but I can't find the courage to. She really does look tired, and her skin is paler than usual. "Mmm. Come down here."

"Uh...okay." I get up and sit as carefully as I can. I don't want to sit on her. No, I'd never hear the end of it. I stretch my legs out beneath the bench while she leaves hers on it and bent over the other side. "Why are we on the floor?"

"Because the floor is comfortable."

"I feel ridiculous."

"And I feel fat."

That's a first. I'm well aware every woman to ever have kids thinks they're fat at one point. But seriously? She's still as thin as she was months ago!

"Uh...Leli? You realize you don't look like you've put any weight on?"

She grunts. "I still feel fat. I ate so much yesterday..."

I shrug as best as I can. "Well, I'm off to get you something to eat. Unless...you've changed your mind and will just tell me now?" I raise an eyebrow. Leliana looks away from me and folds her hands over her stomach. She fidgets with her fingers, the telltale sign of her being nervous. I frown, but resist the urge to touch her shoulder. She's...not big on touching lately. I'm surprised she let me rub her back.

"Um...I...well..."

I laugh to try to ease the tension before it can start. "You haven't been speechless since we met."

Her nervousness changes to annoyance in the span of three seconds. The glare I get...I probably shouldn't have said that. I already know what she's going to tell me, but I want to hear her say it. I don't want it to be something I figured out and went with. I want to hear her tell me that she's pregnant. It won't feel real until she tells me.

"I'm...er...uh, hmm," she says, resuming the fiddling with her fingers.

Sighing, I sit up. Before I can think better of it, I grab her shoulders and pull her into a sitting position. Then I take her hands in mine. "Leli, just tell me. There's nothing to be worried about, I promise." She looks at me suspiciously and I bite my tongue to keep from laughing or smiling. "Please?" I fold my fingers with hers. "I even used my begging voice for you."

Leliana blinks, and then laughs so hard she falls on her back again, pulling me on top of her. "And you think that will make me tell you?"

"I was hoping," I admit. "It usually works, anyway. And you told me before you thought it was cute when I talked with that tone."

"Oh, so now you're manipulating me?"

I smirk. "Is that wrong?"

"Maybe. You'll just have to figure that out for yourself, yes?"

"Maybe," I agree, kissing her forehead. "Now quit being so...goofy, and spit it out." I push myself onto my knees and sit back against the wall. She sits up too, watching me with a torn expression. I reach forward to put my hand on her knee. I allow my smirk to grow into a smile and I do my best to make it reassuring. "It's okay, you know. Tell me what's bothering you. I'll be here if you need me." Leliana looks down, sighing, and I stoop forward, looking up at her. "I will. Always."

She barely flicks her eyes up to meet mine, and they drop before she speaks. "I'm..." I squeeze her hand comfortingly. "I'm pregnant, Aedan."

I smile so hard I'm sure my face will crack. I have her in my arms so fast that she's taken off-guard and yelps.

Not that I care. I'm too happy to care if I spooked her.