Cullen was on edge. Nothing his fellow advisors said could stop his pacing. Of course, they had already received reports of the Inquisitor's victory, as well as her impending return. Still, it hadn't been enough to quell his anxiousness. Only seeing her, feeling her, would stifle his apprehension. She had gone against, not just any enemy, thee enemy—Corephyus, and his twisted dragon. The powerful ancient mage that had caused so much devastation had been defeated, leaving the rest of the world in peace…? Well, that was a matter of perspective. Cullen had no qualms with admitting there could be more trouble later on. However, for now, it was a time of celebration.

Despite his own reservations, the rest of the Inquisition rejoiced without seeing their Herald. In their minds, they had been victorious in their cause. A feast had been prepared for her arrival. Many gathered, awaiting her return. So excited to see the face of the woman who had saved Thedas. Then suddenly, their murmurs broke into cheers and applause. Cullen halted his pacing, shifting his gaze from the stone underneath him to the ground below. He sucked in a quiet breath. The Inquisitor—Akásha walked through the throngs of people. They parted as she moved. The Commander released his breath, feeling a smile tug at his lips. She, their hero, had returned.

Of course, the others followed behind her—all of them safe. There was a distinct lack of Solas. His disappearance had been a wonder. However, the fact that he was no longer with the Inquisition was not at the forefront of Cullen's mind at the moment. Admittedly, as she grew near, Akásha was the only one he could possibly think of. She climbed the steps calmly with a smile on her face. The Commander could not contain his smile even if he tried. He was a moment's away from running at her to meet her halfway. He refrained, however hard.

Finally, she made it to them. Each advisor bowed low to show their thanks, support, and respect. She had been a… rather unexpected leader, but a leader all the same. It had been her efforts that had gotten them this far. Could anyone else do all that she did to ensure the future of Thedas? Cullen doubted he could be the one. He lifted his gaze to find the Inquisitor moving forward again. She shook hands with Leliana. They exchanged a few words with smiles. She gave a fierce hug to Josephine, who squealed in surprise. He chuckled lightly as the horned woman released the smaller advisor.

Then she turned his way. There was a pause on her end. Her ears flattened and her shoulders rose. Bashfulness. In this situation? There was no need. Cullen stepped towards her, decreasing the space between them, filled with determination. He was no longer nervous. No longer anxious or hesitant. This was the woman he was so deeply in love with. She was safe. And she was home. He could no longer hold himself back. The Commander intertwined his fingers with hers and pulled her down so he could meet her lips. He felt her freeze, but quickly she melted against him and returned the kiss.

Cullen was vaguely aware that the noise of the crowd had ceased, but he did not care. Not at this moment. His light, his love, his forever had come back to him. He could care less what others may think. Slowly, he reared back and opened his eyes. Akásha stared back at him, lips still parted. "I'm… not sorry," he told her in whisper.

"I'd be a bit disappointed if you were, yeah," she whispered back, hand sliding across his right shoulder. The Inquisitor pulled him close, her warm embrace assuring him that she was really here. She had made it back to him. Cullen squeezed his eyes shut as his grip tightened. He nestled between her breasts, enjoying the feel of her once again. Maker… Thank you so much for watching over her, he thought.

"I FUCKING KNEW IT~!"

A scream broke the moment as well as their embrace. The scream had sounded much like Sera. He wouldn't be surprised if it had been Sera. The scream had been the catalyst for more thunderous applause. Shouts of 'I hope you hitting that!' and 'Get it, Inquisitor!' made the Commander flush. Akásha chuckled lightly. She looked back at the crowd for just a moment before taking his hand again and leading him to the edge. The crowd had become more rambunctious.

He felt her squeeze, and he squeezed back in return. It was over. Finally over. The world could focus on healing now. Cullen lifted his gaze to the Inquisitor. He stared as she watched the people below her. She could rest. Just relax and be normal for a bit. But not until she was away from the public's eye. Only then would she show her exhaustion. She deserved all the relaxation she could get, and he would be more than happy to help.

Eventually, Leliana directed them to the throne room. Akásha had not released his hand yet. As they moved, Cullen took the time to speak with her. "Breathing alright?" he questioned in a hushed tone. She turned to him, tired smile on her lips. Still, she nodded and squeezed his hand again. "You brought us here. You are proof that the Inquisition made a difference. That we will continue to do so."

"Let's hope that continuing to do so will wait a couple weeks," she replied. Cullen chuckled lightly. Her expression lit up in response. "But seriously… Our soldiers put their trust in you, yeah. If I am to be proof, then you are as well." Akásha halted just near the door and completely faced him. "I doubt we would have made it so far without such an excellent Commander. Thank you… for all you've done." She gave him too much credit, but it was appreciated regardless. He felt the warmth in his cheeks and he couldn't resist rubbing his neck, high and serene from her remark.

"I should be thanking you," Cullen murmured. "You are the one who gave me the chance… to prove myself." He averted his gaze for a moment, thinking back to those nights he truly thought himself incapable due to the lyrium withdrawal. Perhaps he would have faltered if not for remembering her words to him. If he had faltered, he would command no more. He knew that he would have felt guilty for it. And that she would be so disappointed in him. With her support, his symptoms, though harsh, would not get the best of him. "I appreciate all you've done… for me… and for the world." Akásha bent down to give a chaste kiss to show her thanks. The Commander grinned lightly. "Now… I should let you… mingle. I'm sure everyone desires your attention. As much as I might want it for myself."

"Perhaps you can steal it later then, Commander," she replied demurely, though her smirk was far from it. She released his hand slowly and walked away. Cullen watched her go, knowing his grin stretched crooked. It wasn't surprising that she made a beeline over to Cole. The boy had stood in a corner and smiled at her in greeting. More than likely, she would speak to her friends to find out their plans now that the Inquisition had completed what it had set out to do. She would save the nobles, and such, for last.

Without warning, a hand clamp down on his shoulder. Judging by the strength of said hand, it shouldn't have been too hard to figure out who the hand belonged to. Without surprise, Cullen turned to the hawkish stare of Cassandra Pentaghast. Her frown matched eyes perfectly. The Commander had to wonder how he had come to be the target of her petulant expression. Usually, Varric was on the receiving end. "Cullen, might I have a word?" she questioned. Though, from the way she walked away, his choice mattered little. With a slight grimace, he followed after the warrior. She did not go far—only far enough away from potential eavesdroppers. She sharply turned to face him. "Is it true?"

Cullen blinked at her odd question. Was he supposed to know the meaning behind 'it?' … Wait. Oh. Perhaps Cassandra did not know of his relationship with Akásha, which came as a surprise, really. "It is," he replied with a nod. "Akásha and I are together, though I am shocked that you did not know it." The warrior's frown deepened into a scowl. Her eyebrows knitted close together.

"I did know of your relationship, Cullen," Cassandra replied. She folded her arms over her chest plate. She closed her eyes for a moment and smiled fondly. "She had been fidgety for hours that morning before she finally blurted out what had happened. Barely a day had passed since you had confessed your feelings for her. She had been quite… jubilant." That was true. After their night on the battlements, Cullen had heard many talking of how wide her smile had become. Some had even heard her giggling to herself. A smile tugged at his own lips. He had been in a similar mood, minus the giggling. "What I meant-" Cassandra drew his attention again. Her voice had become sharp as a blade. "-is your commitment to her. In front of the Inquisition, you announced your relationship clear as day. Not many people knew of your relationship until now. I admit that I had been… wary of your intention towards her because I believed you had wanted to keep your relationship a secret. But kissing her publically-"

Ah. He saw what this was about now. "Rest easy, Cassandra," Cullen interrupted. "What I did was not on a whim. I know that what I did changes how people see us. I do not care. What I do care for is her happiness. As long as she is happy… others do not matter." The warrior blinked twice at his admission, and then let her arms fall.

"Then you truly…?" Her gaze shifted to the ground for a moment. "I am very fond of Akásha," she continued, looking him in the eye once again. "But I realize her… attributes may be off-putting for some men… most men. Do you truly care so little for her… height?"

"Height…?!" Cullen replied incredulously. "I fell in love with her, not her height!" Cassandra's eyes widened, clearly shocked by the declaration. For a moment, the Commander felt a bit uneasy. While it was true that he had said it to Akásha numerous times, he had yet to say it to anyone else. Not even his family knew how deep his feelings ran. Cullen bit the inside of his cheek, taking a moment to calm himself. "… It does not matter how tall she is, I assure you. Her… attributes, as wonderful as I find them, matter little compared to the person she is." The warrior looked rightfully apologetic. Still, it was a wonder why she chose that particular feature of the Inquisitor. One would think that her horns—lovely horns that caused a delightful moan when kissed just right—would be pointed out.

"Forgive me, Cullen," Cassandra said. "I am… merely curious. I meant no offense to you or Akásha. You are not a man that would be put off by a woman's… differences."

"Really, Cassandra, I would much rather you threaten me than interrogate me," the Commander replied in jest. A slight frown graced the woman's face. Her eyes narrowed and her brow furrowed. A chill went up Cullen's spine. Her stare was rather frosty.

"Believe me—I was getting to that part." Her voice matched her expression perfectly. "Know this, Commander Cullen. If you hurt her, they will not find your body whole." The chill went down his spine, and back up again in rapid succession. The horror must have appeared on his face because Cassandra dropped the cold glare. A small smirk, and eyes lit with mirth, appeared in its place. "Do not worry—I have said the same to Akásha."

"That is… reassuring?"

Her smirk turned into a smile. "Really. I am happy for you—the both of you. You two deserve your happiness," Cassandra continued. "What do you intend to do now that our enemy is slain?" She shuffled a bit. "I, myself, am planning to travel. I will find other Seekers… and reform them. Varric has offered to use his sources for me to make it a bit easier."

"Good for you," Cullen replied with a nod. It was an admirable goal. "I plan to stay in Skyhold for a time. Akásha wants to visit her family now that the danger has passed… We will be visiting my family as well." He nervously rubbed the side of his neck. Mia had been adamant about it and had roped the Inquisitor into it. He couldn't very well deny the both of them. "After that… I am not sure. I have an idea, but… To be honest, when we began, I didn't think about the future... I suppose that has changed." Her smile grew and she nodded, clearly approving his words.

"Well, I have taken too much of your time. I'm sure you wish to mingle with the nobles," she said.

"Sarcasm is unbecoming of you, Cassandra." The two warrior shared a small chuckle before she walked away, leaving Cullen by himself. He took this time to scan the room for Akásha. It took a moment, but he caught her sitting at the table and chatting with Sera. The horned woman was grinning widely. He could also see her darker cheeks from his vantage point. No doubt the blonde elf was commenting on their relationship. Cullen held back his own grin. Everyone knew now. Everyone knew that he belonged to her. And she belonged to him. It was… good. Really good. Akásha felt the same, judging from the way her ears were twitching quite rapidly.

Cullen let himself grin as he turned away. Maker's breathe, he had never felt so fortunate. Finally, things had worked in his favor. Kinloch Hold, Kirkwall—they both seemed so far away now. Furthermore, he had found someone. "Someone for me," he thought fondly, eyes once again finding the Inquisitor. She made him so overwhelmingly happy. If anyone knew just how much, they'd call it a crime. The Commander rubbed the side of his neck as he shifted his attention again. If he continued to stare at her, they would surely know.

Still. So good.

Someone loudly, and obnoxiously, cleared their throat. Cullen paused, and then turned to face who had interrupted his thoughts. Dorian Pavus. No doubt he wanted to comment, too. Especially after he had been denied details of the relationship. "Cullen—look at you all smiles and blushing!" The Commander nodded and coughed into his closed fist. His greeting was expected. "If you don't stop, others will attempt to call it a crime."

"Yes, well…" Cullen mumbled, letting his arm fall. He had been spending too much time with Dorian, it appeared. "I assume you want to comment on my relationship with the Inquisitor?" The mage smile turned smug. Apparently, his assumption had been wrong.

"Oh no, I came to gloat," Dorian replied. "Your little public display of affection earned me five whole sovereigns." Cullen blinked, not understanding how kissing Akásha would benefit the mage in such a way. After a moment, he realized.

"You bet on our relationship?!" he accused in a hushed voice. Conversely, he wanted to shout his displeasure at such a thing.

"Others didn't believe me when I told them," Dorian replied, unimpressed with the angry look being directed at him. He waved off the ripples of anger as though they were merely flies. "Bull had been certain Akásha didn't want such a little man. Blackwall had been almost adamant that you held no affection for her. Only Sera seemed to be on my side in this. Varric, too. Vivienne couldn't care less if she tried."

"I cannot believe you-"

"Anyway," Dorian cut in smoothly with another wave of his hand. Cullen scowled in response. "I am glad for the both of you." He smiled. "The way you two are—practically glowing—leaves much to be envied." His smile faltered somewhat. The Commander furrowed his brow.

"Does that mean…?" His cheeks grew a bit warmer. Honestly, he couldn't believe he was asking. "You and Bull?" Dorian breathed in deeply through his nose, and then released it sharply.

"It was mutual," the mage replied with a slight shrug of his left shoulder. An action he had picked up from Akásha, Cullen noted. "Don't look at me that way. I'm fine." The warrior shifted awkwardly, wanting desperately to change the subject. When he had learned of Dorian and the Iron Bull's relationship, the mage had expressed concerns about it. The mage had believed that the relationship wouldn't last, so getting his hopes up would be ridiculous. Perhaps Dorian had gotten his hopes up, after all, only for the relationship not to survive the turbulence. Whatever that turbulence was. Cullen supposed that Dorian would tell him eventually. Not tonight, though.

"So what are you planning on doing now?" he asked in hopes of shifting the topic at hand. A smirk touched Dorian's face. Cullen felt relieved.

"I am happy to inform you that our lovely Akásha has allowed me to stay in Skyhold," the mage answered, the smirk growing into a grin. "You'll be seeing a lot of me in the coming months."

"I had assumed you would return to Tevinter," Cullen murmured. Dorian loved his home country. He had been certain the mage would return as soon as the enemy had been dealt with. Then again… Perhaps not. Akásha had vaguely mentioned what happened between him and his father. Perhaps Dorian was reluctant to return home after what had transpired.

"Eventually, of course," he replied. "My country needs me." Cullen almost didn't stop the eye roll at the mage's chuckle. "Seriously… I will drag my country through change, kicking and screaming if I have to. But… for the time being, I'll stay by the Inquisitor's side. I need to plan, after all." The Commander nodded his head in agreement. Without a plan, the kicking and screaming may very well come from Dorian.

"You can stay for however long you need," Cullen said.

"Oh? And here I thought you would be wary of having me on longer than needed."

"Don't be ridiculous, Dorian. We are friends." To his surprise, his words had caused the mage to appear stunned. Eyes wide and lips parted, he looked quite speechless. A wonder, for certain. Cullen knitted his brow together in confusion. "What?"

"I…" Dorian shook his head a bit. "I didn't think… you thought of us as friends. I-"

"What? No, why would you think that?" Even as he asked, the Commander couldn't help but think back to the times he had been indifferent to Dorian—downright cold sometimes. However, that had gradually changed. "You're as much a friend to me as Akásha is to you. One could say that you are a best friend." The stunned look did not leave. In fact, it had become more prominent.

"I… truly did not think you thought that way, Cullen," Dorian admitted. "To be honest, I do not have many I can call friends." His brow furrowed as a slight smile appeared. "In fact, you and Akásha are my dearest, and only, friends. I just didn't think you thought the same."

"Of course. And when you depart for your homeland, you will be missed," Cullen stated.

"Now you're just being lavish!" His smile became wider. "I'm already touched. No need to go further. Akásha might become jealous." The Commander rolled his eyes as the mage chuckled to himself. "I'm not going anywhere too soon. Anyway, skipping the warm fuzzy feelings… How about you? Any plans? Long term, I mean. Not just cuddling with Akásha, I assume?" Flushing, Cullen coughed a bit. Admittedly, cuddling was something he expected a lot of. But that is not what Dorian had been aiming for with his question.

"Nothing solid yet, but I do have an idea," he stated. The mage nodded, gesturing for him to continue. "The Templar Order will be reformed. Of this, I have no doubt. But there could be others… like me. I want to create a sanctuary for former Templars… where they can safely recover from lyrium addiction." Cullen shuffled awkwardly for a moment. "Or… Or those who have already lost their minds to the addiction. I want to help them. Left unchecked, lyrium addiction is too horrible to ignore." Samson had spiraled. That could have happened to him if not for Cassandra and Akásha. Their support had been important, and others deserved that type of support. "It would be a chance for them to move on."

"How noble of you," Dorian said, approvingly. "And so very expected. Looks like we're both expecting changes. Good for us." The message was clear despite his words. The mage was proud of the former Templar. The former Templar was also proud of the mage. Who would have thought it possible? "So let us fill our bellies with warm food and ale in celebration of more than Corypheus' defeat, shall we?" Cullen nodded, glancing over Dorian's shoulder in search of tankards. However, his eyes spotted and settled on a familiar elf.

"Ketul…?"

It had been merely a whisper, but Dorian's head whipped around so fast that it was a wonder how his neck didn't snap. "Ketul?!" He sounded incredulous and… panicked? The pale elf moved slowly through the throne room, grey eyes glancing about as though searching. He stopped suddenly, and then hurriedly moved in one direction. Cullen's gaze followed Ketul to Akásha. The Inquisitor stood up with a grin and embraced her brother. She had been expecting him? "I can't believe he's here." The words caused the warrior to turn his attention back to his friend. Dorian, too, had kept his eyes on the elf.

"You didn't know either?" Cullen asked. The mage just shook his head. "You seem… in a state of shock." Dorian finally tore his gaze away from the reunited siblings. He shook his head again.

"You're seeing things. I'm fine," he responded. Was I'm fine a universal lie? "I just… didn't think I would see him again."

"You've spoken to him before?" Cullen felt himself frowning. He hadn't gotten the chance to speak with any of Akásha's family before they had left Clemency.

"A bit…" Dorian confessed. "Well, I talked—ranted, actually—and he just sat there. Still, he was able to calm me down." Oh… He must be referring to when the Inquisitor attempted to take her own life. The mage had been terribly upset. Cullen had thought Akásha had been the one to calm him down the next morning. Apparently, it had been Ketul. "He knows his sister well. He helped me understand her… reaction."

"You understood him?"

"Wasn't hard. Akásha laid the groundwork with her little idiosyncrasies," Dorian explained. "And he can speak, but chooses not to because of the way his voice sounds. Barely audible, some would say." The mage took a step in the siblings' direction. "I should go say hello. I don't think I thanked him. Don't fall apart without me." He waved as he walked away, not giving a backwards glance with his departure.

Cullen shook his head. It was a bit of whirlwind how Dorian behaved once Ketul showed up. Curious, he watched his friend approach the siblings. The elf, impassive as the last time the Commander had seen him, greeted Dorian with a nod of his head. The mage smiled and said something while lightly touching his moustache. Ketul blinked once, raised his brow, and then flattened his ears against his head. Cullen felt the beginnings of a smirk tug at his lips. He had been greatly reminded of how Akásha reacted to a compliment. His compliments towards her.

"Perhaps Dorian is fine about Bull, after all," Cullen thought. "Good."

0-0

The celebrations went well into the morning hours. The sun hadn't risen, but it would soon. All throughout the night, Cullen had gotten congratulatory slaps on the back from anyone bold enough to do so. Not from winning the war, he was certain. Most of the celebration had been a blur. Mostly because he had been itching to find the Inquisitor by herself so that he could sneak her away. However, hours had passed and no one allowed her freedom from conversation. The Commander had almost lost hope of stealing her away.

That's when he noticed people began trickling out of the throne room, searching for beds—or anywhere to lay their drunken bodies—more food, or missing shoes. It was a chance to sneak away, and Cullen noticed that was exactly what the Inquisitor had in mind. The horned woman swiftly and stealthily moved towards the door that led to her quarters, avoiding anyone else that sought her attention. Smirking, Cullen followed her path.

Just as she reached the door, he stopped her with his voice. "Thought you could slip away, did you?" he questioned. Her back stiffened, and then relaxed before she turned to face him. She matched his smirk perfectly, but her eyes were tired. Cullen moved closer as she leaned against the door. She tilted her head to the side, smirk becoming quite sly. Despite his own fatigue, his heartbeat sped up.

"And so the big kitten catches his prey," Akásha whispered, eyes trained only on him. "What are you going to do to your prey now that you've caught her, yeah?" Cullen moved forward again, enough to take in her lovely scent.

"Anything she wants," he replied. Chuckling, the Inquisitor used her body to open the door. She did not shift her gaze from him. Her hand reached for his and she pulled him towards her.

"Careful—you might come to regret those words," Akásha advised as she slipped into the shadows.

"Never," he told her as he willingly followed into her domain.

Before he heard the door shut, he had been pushed against the wall with his lips captured by hers. The sound of the door closing was muffled compared to the blood rushing through his veins. This wasn't like the kiss the Inquisition had seen. No. This was more feral. Filled with want, passion, and slight desperation. She was here, kissing him in the dark. Alive. Home. Maker, he had missed her so. And he finally had her all to himself.

Akásha eventually pulled away with a giggle on her lips. He couldn't see her, but he knew a smile lingered. Cullen couldn't hope to contain his own satisfied smile. She tugged at his hand, leading him up the stairs. They had made it to her room. The morning sun shined, filling the room with light. Just how long had they been on the staircase? It didn't matter, and he didn't care. Akásha faced him, only to be met by another embrace. "Cullen…" she murmured. Her left hand slid against the back of his head, fingers getting tangled in his hair. Her other hand lightly massaged his lower back.

"Battle's won. There'll be a new Divine soon, and yet…" The warrior nuzzled her breasts. "I can't bring myself to care about anything other than you being alive."

"Were you that worried about me?" Akásha questioned. She chuckled lightly, and he could feel the slight rumble of her chest. "Did you forget I have luck?" Cullen lifted his head to meet her gaze. She stared down at him with a smile on her face. Her left hand left his hair only to caress his cheek. The Commander shifted a bit, lips finding her palm.

"I have luck, too. Did that stop you from worrying about me?" he asked. Akásha chuckled again and shook her head. She had mentioned the necklace. He had mentioned the earring. Neither item had managed to quell their anxiousness about the other's battles. Still, he would wear it for her forever. As he hoped she would do the same for him. Cullen took one step back and removed his hands from her hips. He began to unclasp her tunic, starting from the bottom. While he did so, he felt her eyes on him. He did not meet her gaze until he was ready to slide it off her shoulders. "I want to make sure you can relax," he told her. She nodded and sighed through her nose. Smiling, Cullen finished pushing the tunic off her shoulders. He tugged at the sleeves until it freely fell to the floor.

Cullen hooked a few fingers and tugged at the band of her pants, pulling her forward just a bit. Before he could pull them down, however, Akásha stopped him. Her fingers encircled his wrist, causing him to look back up. "Take off your clothes and get on the bed." It was not a request and the Commander found himself obeying without complaint. As he removed his armor and clothes, she took off her boots, and then slowly pushed down her pants. Then she released her hair from the bun, holding his gaze all the while. He watched, fascinated as her dark hair fell to her bare shoulders. "I want to hear your voice. It helps me relax."

"You want me to sing for you?" Cullen asked, sitting on the edge of the bed. He had kept his smallclothes on, and she did not object. Instead she walked over to him, leaning over his form. She smiled, and then guided him further up the bed. She had remained hovered over him as he had crawled backwards. Slowly, she lowered herself on his body. With her head positioned on his shoulder, she stretched her neck and lightly kissed under his chin. Cullen sighed in content, feeling her full weight. In the beginning, she had been hesitant being on top of him for fear that her weight would be too much. It hadn't been. It would never be. Her body was a comfort no matter how they slept.

"No… no singing. Not now," Akásha said. The fingers of her right hand slid down his left arm until they entwined with his. "Ask another question." Cullen's eyebrows rose in slight surprise. It had been months since the last question. Well, a lot had happened in the last few months. The Commander hummed lightly, free hand lifting to slide up and down her back. She shivered pleasantly, causing him to smile.

"Alright then… Could we… Crush?"

"Ooh, that sounds interesting, yeah," Akásha remarked.

"I'd like to think so," Cullen replied, laughing. The Inquisitor laughed with him, squeezing his hand. "Let's see… It started off as a normal day. Only I had just received the report that your men had been located. I remember that I couldn't wait to show you…" And so he told her. The seemingly sudden shift in his feelings for her back when they had lived in Haven. As he spoke his memories aloud, he thought perhaps it hadn't been so sudden. He had been fond of Akásha long before the dream. However, it had been the dream that had him diving headfirst into feelings beyond friendship.

Akásha suddenly chuckled. She had been quiet until the point. "I had no idea!" she said, voice slightly muffled because her mouth was pressed against his neck. "The morning after—you had been acting so strange. I hadn't imagine it was because you had a dream of kissing me!" She chuckled again and lightly squeezed his hand. "And you call me naughty."

"You are naughty."

"You love it." Cullen only smiled in response before shifting his head to plant a kiss at the base of her horn. Always, he conveyed through the kiss. For more than a few moments, the two laid there in silence. A warm, comforting silence that usually came right before sleep. However, Akásha kept wiggling. Slight though the movements were, they were enough to keep sleep at bay. "Hey…" she finally murmured. "I woke up, you know." She lifted her head, staring into his eyes. "I realized what had happened when I woke up and you were in my arms." Despite it being so long ago, Cullen felt his cheeks grow warm. He had been caught, after all.

"Why didn't you wake me?" he asked.

"I was going to. I had done it numerous times to Cassandra while we camped out in the Hinterlands…" she trailed off, gaze averting for a second before returning to him. "But I thought about how you would react to the situation. You'd be awkward and more than likely stop coming to me at night because you'd be too embarrassed." The Commander moved to sit up and the rogue slipped off his body to let him.

"Akásha, I wouldn't," he said. He bit the inside of his mouth. On second thought, he had run away as soon as he had realized. … And he became quite distant the next morning. "Well, then again, maybe I would have." Cullen turned his body to face hers. His hand tenderly stroked her left cheek. "I doubt I would have stayed away too long, though."

"That's…" She smiled and kissed his wrist. "That's something I didn't want to risk, yeah. I enjoy our friendship, too. Hearing how your feelings for me grew started from our friendship, so I wouldn't change it. Not one thing." Cullen let out a shaky breath. How, after all this time, could she still overwhelm him? Maker, he loved this woman. He kissed her soundly then, pouring his emotions into her. She met his kiss with equal vigor, pulling him as close as she could. No one else. No one else could make him feel this way. No one else could light a fire within him and simultaneously send him crashing into transcendence.

"Marry me," he whispered against her lips. Akásha immediately reared back, eyes wide with astonishment. Her mouth moved, yet no words had formed. Cullen felt his heart slamming against his chest. His nerves were beginning to tremble the longer she remained silent. Gently, he squeezed her side, inciting a small gasp from her. "Marry me," he repeated. It was amazing that his voice sounded steady. "I mean, will you?"

"Wh-What?" Akásha stammered out, but she did not move away again. She blinked rapidly as though she was only just processing his words and the meaning behind them.

"Please… don't think this is an impulsive question," Cullen said. "Though it's true I didn't plan this on this night, but eventually…" He shook his head a bit. "Why wait? I love you, and telling you—remembering—how I came to fall so hard for you has made me realize it's you or no one at all."

"Yes," Akásha breathed out. "Oh, Spirits! Yes!"

"Yes?"

"Yes! Cullen, I will marry you! A thousand times, yes!" The lips met again in a gentle clash. So loving and tender, he melted against her, bliss rushing through every part of his being. Oh, Maker, Akásha would be his wife. His forever. Hers forever. He had never dreamed this time would come. Pure. Unadulterated. Happiness. Suddenly, she pulled back again. "But… But what about-?" She appeared flustered and breathless. "The Ch-Chantry wouldn't marry us, would they?"

"I have it on good authority that the new Divine is a firm supporter of our relationship," Cullen told her. He gave a light kiss to her jaw. "Still, I have no qualms marrying you under the eyes of your Spirits. As long as it's together forever." He kissed her again, reassuring-like. She relaxed, only to tense up seconds later. "What is it?"

"I can't… I mean, I don't know if… I might not be able to… give you children," Akásha whispered, looking away. Cullen felt his eyes widen. He hadn't thought of that. He had not heard anything about cross-species offspring before. Though, he knew it was possible between humans and elves. The warrior sighed deeply through his nose, and then took her by the hand.

"Akásha," he said, but she did not look at him again.

"I think you'd make a great father," she mumbled, squeezing her eyes shut. "I know you want… and I want to as well, but there is a high chance I won't ever… Marrying me might not-" He silenced her by pressing the tip of his nose to hers. She whimpered a bit as he slid his nose to rest against hers.

"That is not important right now," Cullen told her. "But I assure you, when the times comes, I will love and raise any child with you. Even if that child is not born from us." She whispered his name and nothing else, but he could tell she felt relief by his words. Finally, she turned her gaze on him and smiled again.

"Ar lath ma, Cullen."

"I love you, too."

She looked surprised that he had figured it out. Well, he had asked Solas. His cheeky rogue had been professing her love to him randomly after that night on the lake—even in the company of others. And he had not a clue. Cullen had been beside himself with curiosity, and so he finally asked. Solas had been just as stunned as he.

Akásha returned his earlier gesture, rubbing her nose slowly against his. "Yes," she shuddered before kissing his lips. "The answer was always yes." Cullen nodded his head, returning the magnificent kiss. Looking back, it should have been obvious. Talking. Understanding. Crushing. Caring. Trusting. Touching. Falling. Hurting. Trying. Doubting. Sharing. Swaying. Loving. The answer to their relationship had always been the same—from the both of them. It did not matter her or his differences. Two unlikely people had come together despite those differences. They had become better together. "Could we bond?" Akásha asked, lowering her kisses to his neck. There was no longer any need to question their relationship. But he would indulge her whenever she asked.

"Yes."

0-0

Done and done! I have finished a story. I can hardly believe this story's done. And it only took a bit over a year to finish. Whoo, what a ride. And now I can focus on stories that I have been neglecting. Maybe. No promises. It's been a year, after all. Other fandoms have crept into my head, so... No promises.