Chapter Text
The baby gurgles and babbles as Scarlet nimbly picks him up even with her single arm and kisses his forehead.
“Da’fen.” she says with a smile and her son looks up at her, curious and attentive. “Dinner is ready, but Papae is still sleeping.”
More happy gurgles and the toddler rubs his face against her chest, smearing drool and chocolate on her clothes. She laughs and presses her lips on his soft hair, feeling him chew the strings of her dress.
“I know, I am hungry too! And I bet he is starving as well. He is just too busy exploring the Fade to notice.”
She nuzzles the child’s face to let him drop the strings and he understands, pulling them out of his mouth and focusing on her face instead. He giggles when she kisses his nose.
“We should wake him up.” she continues, smiling when he blinks up at her and asks: “Wake Papae?”
“Yes. Do you want to help me, da’fen?”
The child smiles and nods; there is chocolate on his face - he has a sweet tooth just like his father - and his fingers are dirty with various hues of paint and colors, left there after spending the afternoon painting and drawing with his parents.
Solas went to read and write down some notes just a few hours ago, but Scarlet saw him sleep soundly on the chair in front of their desk when she passed by their room. She put a blanket on him, made sure his position was comfortable, and let him sleep after kissing his bald head.
But now it’s evening, the sun has set, and dinner is hot and ready inside the oven. Their son, whose appetite is vast and apparently never sated, has already started to fuss and pout, asking for his meal with the psychological manipulation typical of adorable babes.
“Kiss.” he says as they head to the main bedroom. “Mamae kiss and Papae wake up.”
“Oh?” she smiles, rubbing her cheek on the top of his head. His hair is fuzzy, soft, and smells like the delicate herbal soap they use for his baths. “So you are saying if I kiss Papae, he will wake up? Like in that fairytale Uncle Varric wrote for you?”
“Yes!” the baby cheers, happy that his reference has been understood. He squeals when he sees his father’s figure reclined on the big chair.
There are huge tomes and notebooks laying down at his feet and Scarlet made sure to put a bookmark on the book he was reading before closing it and draping a blanket over him. A thin trail of saliva runs down a corner of his mouth and he is snoring lightly, mouth slightly open.
He moved during his sleep and his position now looks less comfortable than before. His neck is going to be stiff if he doesn’t get up soon and she sighs, caressing his cheek.
“Papae!” their son whispers, flailing his chubby, short arms and legs. He looks up at his mother, watching her expectantly with a big, bright smile and happy eyes, and she chuckles.
“Why don’t we kiss him together, da’fen? I am sure he will wake up in no time.”
The little one giggles, bouncing in her tight hold, and she carefully leans down to help him reach Solas’ face. She kisses his lips - a sweet, gentle kiss - while their son presses a loud, wet smooch on his cheek.
“Papae!” he exclaims as his father’s eyes slowly open. It takes Solas some time to fully wake up and he observes the child - now on his lap - with bleary eyes. Then awe replaces the sleepiness and he slowly takes the child into his arms, observing him as if he can’t really believe he is there.
He looks up and sees Scarlet smile at him and his surprise and wonder increase. He reaches out for her as the babe on his lap gurgles happily and clings to his clothes.
“Ma vhenan.” he murmurs, cupping her cheek, and she leans into his touch, her smile and gaze tender and loving. She rests her hand on his and says softly: “We are here, Solas. We are real. Never fear.”
He still looks amazed and his eyes seem to shimmer in the warm light of the room.
“Real.” he repeats and she nods, her smile bigger and brighter, and kisses the palm of his hand. He smiles too, joyous and elated, and helps her sit on his lap, their son carefully held by them both.
The little one gives him another kiss on the cheek and announces proudly: “Papae up now!”
“Yes, da’fen.” Solas says, returning the kiss and embracing his family, his heart bursting with love and relief. “I am awake now.”