Chapter Text
“Ma-ma-e!” the child giggles, flailing his chubby arms. “Pa-pa-e!”
He laughs harder when Solas picks him up and makes him sit on his lap.
“Pa-pa-e.” the little one repeats, slowly and sweetly; he tugs at his father’s shirt, gurgling something, and Solas chuckles.
“Yes, that is right.” he says, before leaning in to press gently his lips on his son’s forehead. The baby coos and cuddles on his chest, playing with the fabric of his shirt and drooling on it.
“Da’vhenan, do not eat it.” Solas snorts, gently prying the tiny fingers from his clothes. “There are many things that taste way better than this.”
“Papae.”
“Yes, the frilly cakes are a good example.” Solas kisses the top of his head: hair is starting to grow on it, it’s soft, fuzzy, and it smells like milk and happiness and home. “The hearth cakes that Mamae makes are the first thing that comes to mind too.”
“Mamae.”
“Do you want to go to her?” Solas turns and looks at the huge bed covered in furs and colored blankets. Scarlet is resting there, eyes closed, but a smile on her lips.
“Isn’t she beautiful?” Solas says softly, getting up with the child in his arms, awe and love in his voice. The little one makes happy sounds, clinging to him, and Solas brings him to the bed.
“Mamae sleep?”
Scarlet’s smile broadens, just like Solas’ does.
“No, da’vhenan, I believe she is quite awake.”
She opens one eye, grinning at her husband and son, and the baby squeals in joy. He flails and kicks his legs to reach her and Solas gently puts him down on the bed, watching him crawl to her with another chuckle.
“Here is my little wolf!” she exclaims, sitting up and peppering the child’s face with loud, big kisses. He laughs and catches her hair, trying to put a lock of it into his mouth.
“No.” she gently, but firmly says, her smile softer. “Papae is right, da’vhenan, there are better things to eat.” She frees her hair and the child, gurgling again, focuses his attention back on his father, who is now sitting on the bed.
He reaches out for him and grabs the sleeve of his shirt, mesmerized by the pretty and translucent colours. Before he can put it in his mouth, though, Solas taps his nose and tickles his tiny ears. The baby falls down, giggling and squirming, trying to grab his long finger.
“You found his weakness!” Scarlet gasps, beaming with amusement at her husband, and he smiles, joyful and content, and presses the sweetest of kisses on her lips.
As he pulls away and his eyes flutter open, his heart is light and warm; as she looks at him with love, the tips of her hair wet with drool and cheeks flushed, the sign of the pillow still on them, he laughs and takes her into his arms. Then he looks down at their son, who is playing between them with the furs and blankets, and sighs fondly.
“I fear he will chew everything he comes across until he is grown enough.”
Scarlet’s eyes widen and for a moment she really believes him. She is about to ask him more, when she sees his smirk and the playful glint in his eyes.
“Solas!” she exclaims, lightly smacking his shoulder, and he laughs again, mouth pressed against her hair. She smells like sugar and joy and home.
Their son coos, curious about what they are doing, and Solas picks him up with his free hand, holding him against his chest so that both he and Scarlet can look at him.
“Should we stop calling him da’fen…?” she mumbles, still a bit concerned, and Solas’ muffled giggles against her hair are answer enough. She grins at the child, who smiles back, and tells him, caressing his cheek: “Da’vhenan, would you like to turn into a wolf like Papae does, one day?“
“Wolfie!”
The baby takes his mother’s hand and bites one finger, without causing any pain, only a lot of drool and funny noises.
“… He has already mastered the basics.” Solas whispers. One moment of silence, then both he and Scarlet burst into laughter.
He watches her and their son play in his arms and feels that this world has never been more beautiful.