Solona was nervous. She had been less nervous facing the archdemon than she was now.

"You're shaking," Cullen commented, placing his hand on her arm. "What's wrong?"

"I'm about to meet your family. I'm terrified."

He laughed. "The great hero of Ferelden terrified of the Rutherford clan. You have nothing to worry about. They are going to love you."

She snorted.

"Mia was already gushing about the fact that I know the Hero as it is. They are eager to meet you regardless of me."

"It's you they are eager to see. How many years has it been?"

"Far too long. Thank you for convincing me to do this."

"It was the inquisitor who ordered you to visit your family."

"And who got him to do that? Don't deny it Solona."

"It wasn't fair that you said the only way you'd go was if I went along too. And then he ordered me to come with."

"Be careful what you wish for," he said with a twinkle in his eye.

"I'd be less nervous if it wasn't for the whole Hero thing anyways. If I was just going as Solona Amell, mage…"

"Love of my life?"

"There's that pressure again. What if they don't like me? What if they don't approve?"

"They will like you. But even if they don't it doesn't change how I feel about you. I don't need my family's approval to love you."

His words were sweet and she held on to them as they made their way through South Reach and to his family's home.

She hadn't expected the sheer amount of people to greet them when they arrived. It wasn't just his parents and siblings, but his siblings significant others and all their children. And there was a lot of children. It didn't take long for Solona to become completely overwhelmed.

An older woman who Solona guessed was Cullen's mother, embraced her son tightly. "It's been so long, Cullen." Cullen hugged her back, burying his face in her shoulder.

There was more greetings and Solona took a step back to watch her love surrounded by the people he called family. But it wasn't long before the attention turned on her. A woman who looked no older than Cullen embraced her first. She hugged her back awkwardly, unsure of what to do.

"I almost didn't believe it when he said he knew you. And then when he said the two of you were together I really didn't believe him. I mean who would want my awkward brother? I guess since he never wrote or visited, I had this image of a gawky teenager still in my head."

"I wouldn't call Cullen awkward or gawky," she said with a smirk. Cullen reddened.

Cullen's mother approached her cautiously but when she realized Solona wouldn't run away, embraced her as well. "I'm so happy to finally meet you. My son has written telling us all about you. You've made him very happy and for that I am grateful."

"You have a wonderful son."

"That we agree on. Come on, let's get some food in you. You must be exhausted from your travels."

Solona followed the other woman into the dining room and was seated between Cullen and his sister Mia. His family had hundreds of questions for her and she answered each politely. It wasn't long before there was much laughter and teasing, especially at Cullen's expense. It was clear to anyone who saw it how loved the commander was and how much he loved his family back. Solona hadn't seen him so relaxed and comfortable. It relaxed her as well. The longer she spent with his family, the more at ease she became. They really were an inviting bunch.

# # # # #

Cullen found Solona standing alone in the kitchen, the candlelight flickering and casting shadows to dance upon the walls. She watched as his shadow joined hers. "What are you doing in here?"

"I needed to be alone for a minute, I'm sorry."

"They can become a bit much I know."

"It's not them. They're wonderful. It's me."

"What do you mean?" When she didn't answer, he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her into his chest. It was strange to be pulled against him without his armor in the way. Instead she could feel his heartbeat, a steady beat that calmed her. "Talk to me."

"You deserve this. A family. Children. A legacy. And I can't give that to you."

"Solona…"

"Listen to me. You deserve a woman who can bear you children. Someone who can grow old with you, not leave you in ten or twenty years."

"We'll find a cure."

"There is no guarantee. We could waste years searching for something that doesn't even exist instead of building a family and a home. Being with you is selfish. I'm keeping you from having what you deserve."

"Does what I want matter at all? I love you Solona. You. I wouldn't want a family with someone else. I didn't want to do this in front of my family and put pressure on you, but I can't wait any longer." He dropped to one knee, holding her hands in his and she raised her eyebrow. "Solona Amell, would you make me the happiest man in Thedas and become my wife?" His honey colored eyes implored her for an answer as she stood there stunned. She pulled him to his feet, her mouth dry and unable to conjure the words he wanted to hear.

He immediately became flustered, his cheeks pink and his hand rubbed at his neck. "I'm sorry. I didn't want to pressure you. If you're not ready…"

She silenced him with a kiss. When she finally pulled away from his lips, tears streamed down her face. "Yes."

His face broke out into a huge grin and he scooped her up in his arms. When he put her down, he reached into his pocket for a small silver ring. "It's not much. But I don't want you to think this was spur of the moment either. I've been thinking about it for a long time, I just didn't have the courage until now."

He slipped the ring on her finger and she admired it in the candlelight. "It's beautiful."

"Would you be willing to tell my family?"

Fear suddenly gripped her gut. "What if they don't approve?"

"What do you mean? They adore you."

"But I'm not good enough for you and they will see that. I can't give you the family you deserve."

He brushed a strand of hair out of her face. "You already said yes. There is no taking it back now," he said with a grin.

Solona nodded. "If you're sure."

"I've never been more sure in my life."

She grabbed his hand. "Then let's tell them."

The family reacted just as Cullen expected, with joy and much hugging. Finally Solona felt like she belonged.

# # # # #

"Tell us a story," the littles ones asked, gathering around her feet.

"I'm not much of a storyteller really," she said, feeling her cheeks grow hot. She didn't do well with all the attention.

"Please?" asked a particularly sweet little girl with curly blond hair and amber eyes. She looks like Cullen, Solona thought. That now familiar pang that she wouldn't be able to give Cullen a family came back. She looked over at him to see him smiling sweetly, eager for her story too.

"All right. Let's see." She thought for a minute. "Once upon a time there lived a princess in a tower. The tower was her home and in it was a brave knight whose sole purpose was to protect her from danger. One day, the princess left the tower to see the world. However she had to leave her knight behind."

"Why?"

"Because he had other charges to look after and this brave knight was honorable. The princess loved seeing the world but she got lonely for home…"

"And her knight?" asked Mia. Even the adults were listening to her story.

"Yes. So she returned only to find out that a bad man had taken over the tower and had hurt her friends and family. He had taken her brave knight and thrown him into a magical cell. You see the bad man wanted to twist the brave knight into a monster like he was but the knight was far too strong to give in to the bad man and so he locked him away in order to break him." She risked a glance at Cullen, unsure of how her tale was affecting him. He looked a bit troubled but when she caught his gaze he gave her a small smile.

"What happened then?"

"The princess fought the bad man and defeated him, freeing her brave knight and rescuing the tower from evil."

"Did the princess and the knight live happily ever after?"

Solona looked at Cullen. "Yes. Yes they did."