Champagne flute in hand, Kass swayed and grooved along to music with strong beats and throwbacks to her teen years. Her free hand was above her head and her hips were bopping to the beat. She never claimed to be a good dancer, but she was buzzed and having fun and feeling good. The champagne was doing an excellent job of making her forget about any sort of mom guilt she might have for not being with Ash for New Year’s. Really, Ash had requested this sleepover. It’s the only reason why Kass came here anyways. And now here she was, on the fast track to drunk in a silver dress that was just a bit too short dancing away her cares.

The song changed to one of her favorites and she might have made an embarrassing remark about how it was her song. She might have started trying different dance moves that were less than successful. But damn if she didn’t feel good. 

-

Aelynthi had asked to spend New Year’s Eve with Faunalyn and Nithroel. It was fine, it was his prerogative to request it and Melarue was nothing if supportive of their son’s choices. Even if it stung. Even if they had made preliminary plans that had to be redone and now they found themselves…here, at this party with these people they barely knew. Somehow surrounded by people they felt incredibly alone. The champagne was making them maudlin, remembering times when all four of them wore PJ’s and stayed up to midnight to welcome the new year. Nithroel threw a dance party to keep Aelynthi awake. Faunalyn carried him on her shoulders, and Melarue…was there. A perpetual interloper eventually asked to leave with overly polite paperwork. 

No, stop. They’re at this party, and despite the track of their thoughts lately, they did want to have a good time. They put their half empty glass on the tray of a passing wait staff and made their way closer to the dance floor. They maneuvered their way through the throng of people until they came to a larger than usual opening of bodies pressed together. There in the center was a tall qunari woman, dancing alone with a champagne flute in hand clearly feeling herself as she danced to the song. Everyone was giving her a wide berth and they could tell some were likely gossiping in less than complimentary ways. While she wasn’t exactly…coordinated, she was certainly having a good time which was more than they or perhaps many others here could say for themselves. The woman’s white curly hair bounced in a brilliant halo around her head, light glinting off the silver of her dress. Somehow captivated by her, Melarue approached.

-

“Mind if I cut in?” A dark and sultry voice broke through the thrum of the songs, making Kass open her eyes. Before her stood…probably the most beautiful person she’d ever seen. They were an elf, tall especially for an elf, with long dark hair that was middle parted and slicked down behind their gold cuffed pointed ears. They wore a pantsuit that was so dark of a green it appeared black. Their eyes were a molten silver shrouded in black kohl and just damn they were so hot. Why was a hot person talking to her? Oh, right she had to respond.

“Yes! Wait, no! I mean…dance with me!” She smiled ear to ear and began to move again, her eyes never leaving them. They started to move too, and soon they were dancing together to the beat. It’s easy to lose herself to the rhythm and thrill of dancing with someone so beautiful. She had no idea why they had decided to dance with her, but she was thankful for it. It really seemed like everyone at this party was nicely paired up, leaving Kass alone for the majority of the party. It was admittedly very nice to have a partner herself now. They dance and dance, never straying too far from each other. There was something in the way they moved - graceful movements blending together and the small smile gracing their face every time their eyes met. She was a bit too drunk to get it, but she liked it, liked them.

“What’s your name?” She asked after…what, the fourth song? Fifth? What was time anyways but waiting or enjoying.

“Melarue. What is yours?”

Wow, that was a very pretty name. Made sense because they were soooo - right, her name!

“Kassaran, but everyone calls me Kass!” She twirled around. “It’s very nice to meet you, Melarue!”

“Likewise, Kassaran.” Normally, Kass would insist on using her nickname but um, it was really hot to hear them say her full name. Their voice was all dark and sultry, like a perfectly aged red wine that went down so, so smooth. 

They danced more until a song neither of them cared for came on. It was funny, they shared a look and vacated the floor together and somehow ended up on one of the balconies. The night air was blessedly cool compared to inside. The city was alight with people waiting eagerly to usher in the new year. 

Kass tilted her head back and breathed the night air deeply. 

“I haven’t danced like that in…I can’t even really remember the last time.” She was still a bit winded but she couldn’t stop smiling as she looked over to Melarue. They were looking out over the city looking so hot. How did she end up on the balcony with someone like them?

“That is a shame, you’re an excellent dancer.” They grinned and stepped closer and oooh, she could feel some of their body heat. She inched towards them, her body language open and hopefully saying “yes, me, the good dancer, is so into this right now.”

RING. RING-RING!

The loud ringing and buzzing from her purse shattered the moment and she groaned as she leaned back.

“I’m so sorry, I have to check this - and I have to get this.” She clicked answer and immediately put the phone to her ear, turning away but not stepping away from Melarue. “Hi baby, is everything okay?”

“Okay, I’m not a baby, and two…did you pack blankie? I can’t find it.” Ash’s voice came through the phone along with a gaggle of giggles from the other 8 year old girls she was having a sleepover with.

“Yes. Check the front pocket on the backpack in the little holder section, I folded it to make sure there was room.”

“Okay, let me see…” Kass heard some rustling and then a successful “AHA!”

“You found it?”

“Yes! Thanks, Mama!”

“Good, have fun, sweetheart and you’ll always be my baby.”

“Ugh! Bye, love you.” Kass said “I love you too” in response then hung up. She turned back to Melarue with an apologetic smile to find them looking at her quizzically.

“Parenthood calls?”

There were generally two ways people that Kass was interested in reacted when they found out she was a mother. The first was revulsion. Seeing as Melarue hadn’t left during the conversation with Ash, Kass was placing them in camp two: unbothered to supportive. 

“The one job where you’re always on duty, even at a party. Sorry about that, my daughter’s at a sleepover and couldn’t find her blankie.”

They chuckled softly, “I understand. I was in the middle of a work cocktail party when my son called me from a sleepover asking where his retainer was. Turned out that he had forgotten to pack it, and since it was at my house, his mother and father couldn’t get it so I had to leave early.” Oh, they weren’t camp two, they were the second third that she rarely encountered outside of online groups - a fellow single parent. 

Before she could respond, they glanced down at her hand conspicuously, “Would it be bold of me to ask if you are involved?”

“Yes, but I like it. I’m divorced, thank goodness, and currently not seeing anyone.”

“My fortune then.”

“Oh? Would it be equally as bold of me to ask the same of you?”

They grinned and stepped forward, “Divorced as well, and also not seeing anyone currently.”

“Then I’m the luckiest woman at this party.” Maybe the city. County. Country? 

From within the party and all around the city, a chant began

TEN!

Melarue stepped forward.

NINE!

“Shall we invite in the new year together?”

SIX!

“You must be reading my mind.”

FOUR!

“No mind reading necessary.”

THREE!

“Then kiss me, Melarue.”

TWO!

“My pleasure.”

ONE! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Their lips met with eager curiosity as the new year came to fruition. Even in heels, Melarue was shorter than Kass by about two inches, but that didn’t stop either of them from plastering their bodies together in a kiss that sent Kass’s mind spinning. Their tongue slid across her lips and pressed into her mouth. Kass eagerly opened her mouth for them, twining their tongues together. They tasted like champagne and something just a bit darker, like them. She cupped their face and pressed her tongue into their mouth in return. Kass had no idea who divorced whom, but she truly didn’t know how anyone could divorce a kisser as good as Melarue. Kass had had sex that wasn’t this tantalizing. Read: sex with her husband.

When they broke apart for air, Melarue’s lipstick was slightly smudged and still they looked incredible. A freshly kissed Melarue was so far Kass’s favorite Melarue.

“There is a beautiful hotel two blocks from here,” they said, silver eyes bright with intent.

Fuck it. “Let’s go.”

Year Two

What started as a prolonged hookup at New Year’s last year turned into friends with benefits. Which then turned into dating. And then that turned into meeting the kids. There were separate dinners for Ash and Aelynthi to introduce them to their respective parent’s new partner. One would think that Aelynthi, now being eighteen, would have been the easier one to talk to given he understood that divorced people eventually dated. It was normal. That had not been the case. Melarue assured Kass that their son would accept it eventually, but Kass hated not being in his good graces. Meanwhile, Ash had been…well, Ash.

Upon meeting Melarue over a lovely dinner at Kass’s home, Ash had shrugged then looked Melarue directly in the eyes and said, “If you hurt my mama, I’ll burn your house down.” To their credit, Melarue wasn’t taken aback even if Kass had admonished her daughter for saying something so rude (and true, but that was neither here nor there). 

The dinner party with Melarue, Kass, Ash, Aelynthi, Nithroel, and Faunalyn had bordered on disaster. Aelynthi and Ash had sat opposite from each other, not saying anything but just glaring. If Kass didn’t already have white hair, she was sure she would have had it by the end of that dinner. Nithroel had been nice enough while Faunalyn had conducted a deceptively innocent interrogation. Ash threatened to burn down her house, then Aelynthi groused at Ash, who then got upset and actually accidentally set the curtains on fire. 

Bordered on disaster? She stood corrected, it was a disaster. 

Still, Melarue and Kass continued to see each other. Despite their familial challenges, their feelings for each other just seemed to deepen and they grew closer and closer. As did the new year once again. 

Ash, now nine, asked to spend it with her friends again. Aelynthi was off with his own friends for the event as well, leaving Kass and Mel free to go to the same party they had met last year.

Once more, they danced until their feet hurt. They escaped to a different balcony, kissing and laughing. Melarue had cut their hair shorter recently and it blew easily in the night wind. Kass loved it, loved running her hands into their hair to tip their head back and kiss them senseless. 

TEN!

NINE!

EIGHT!

SEVEN!

“Kassaran…” They breathed.

SIX!

“Yes, Kadan?”

FIVE!

“I love you.”

FOUR!

“As I love you.”

THREE!

“Will you move in with me?”

TWO!

Kass smiled, “Yes, yes, we will.”

ONE! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

They kissed deeply and welcomed in a new year with promise of building their family. Despite the challenges they faced with the kids and exes, Kass couldn’t help but be hopeful for the future.

Year Three

“One hundred and one. Sorry, baby, but it looks like you’re too sick to go out.” Kass placed the thermometer down and turned to a very clearly sick Ash. The girl’s groan turned into a cough, shaking her whole body. They were on the couch in the living room of what was now Kass, Melarue, and Ash’s home. The TV for the New Year’s festivities was on, but muted as Kass and Melarue tended to a very sick Ash. 

Ash had originally wanted to go out with her friends for what seemed to be their traditional sleepover, but it seemed the flu had other ideas. While they knew rationally Ash would be okay, her illness only ramped up Melarue’s current anxiety. It was nothing bad, Aelynthi was traveling with his boyfriend. He was an adult now but he was just twenty, and he’d always be their baby. Still, thinking of their son up in the air in a plane and then their daughter sick on the couch -

There it was again. In their mind, Ash was their daughter. After a year of living together and two years of dating Kass, their heart had adopted the girl as their own. Ash called them Melarue, not nanae, which was fine. Two years really wasn’t much of anything and after knowing how horrible Ash’s biological father - no, sperm donor - was to both Kass and Ash, Melarue couldn’t ever begrudge the girl for being hesitant to accept a new person in her and Kass’s life. Or for threatening to burn down their house. And Faunalyn’s house. 

Melarue went back into the kitchen to fetch a bowl of chicken noodle soup. They came back out and helped Ash sit up to take the bowl. Kass turned the TV up a bit and they all settled in for a quiet night watching the specials and making sure Ash’s fever didn’t spike to dangerous levels. Melarue reached out with their magic to Ash’s, monitoring it to ensure it didn’t make the fever worse. It was known that more fire aligned mages tended to spike dangerously high fevers when sick, which put both Kass and Melarue on edge. Thankfully, her magic seemed calm and not reacting to the illness. 

Kass eventually rose from the couch to put the bowl away and to use the restroom. Ash shifted and leaned against Melarue, careful to make sure her growing horns didn’t dig into them. She blinked slowly as she watched the TV as some man interviewed dancing people on the street.

“Can we change the channel?” Ash asked.

“Of course, what do you want to watch?”

“I don’t know, something…”

Melarue thought for a moment, then clicked through the channels until they found a popular cartoon’s New Year special. It was aired on public cable every year. As soon as they turned it on, Ash smiled and snuggled into Melarue.

“Thanks, Nanae.”

The world stopped. The word rang in their head for long after the moment had passed. 

“Of course, da’len.” She didn’t move, just remained snuggled against them. It took everything in them to resist pulling her into a hug or firmer hold. Nanae. Of all the names they had been called, all the titles they had held in their long, long life, “Nanae” would forever be their favorite. 

Kass returned from the restroom and stopped when she spied Ash resting against Melarue. A brilliant smile spread across her face. 

None of them made it to the count-down that night. When Melarue and Kass awoke in their bed in the morning, they kissed, long and lazy.

“Happy New Year.”

Year Four

“Ash! Your ride is here!” Kassaran called down the hall as she hurried into the hall bath to fluff her hair and make sure she was ready to head out as soon as Ash was picked up. 

“Ugh, they’re early! I’m coming!” By early, she meant on-time. Kass rolled her eyes then strolled out of the bathroom. Ash was walking quickly to the door, braids and backpack bouncing as she picked up the pace. 

A knock came at the door and Ash was first to respond, “COMING!” 

But it was Melarue who was closest to the door. They opened it and…not Mr. Dannis stepped in. 

“Aelynthi,” Melarue breathed barely before the young man practically collapsed onto his nanae. Kass heard the crying before she saw Aelynthi properly. Worry seeped into her as she walked into the foyer. Melarue was holding Aelynthi fiercely with a look of pure murder on their face as they gently pet their son’s hair. 

“You’re safe, you’re safe, I’ve got you,” they whispered. Something was very wrong. When Kass stepped to the side to see Aelynthi, she saw what had Melarue in such a state. While the majority of Aelynthi’s face was obscured by Melarue’s shoulder, she saw the deep purple and and blue of a bruise circling his eye. Her stomach churned, a chill went down her spine. She heard Ash’s bag hit the floor behind her. 

“Let’s go into the living room, there’s more privacy there,” Kass said softly as she went to pull curtains. She glanced outside to see the ride service already driving away. She wasn’t sure why he didn’t take his own car, but if he needed a new one, they’d get him one. She was already recollecting all the names she had found indispensable when divorcing her husband then getting him formally charged for what he’d done. And that was just her, goodness knew what Melarue was going to do. 

With help from his nanae, Aelynthi made it into the living room. When Kass turned to join him and Melarue, she saw Ash still standing to the side in the foyer. Her eyes were wide and her body completely still. Shit. 

Kass walked to her daughter and took her hands. “You are safe, Aelynthi is safe. No one is going to hurt us, okay? Melarue and I got this.” 

Absently, Ash nodded her head before leaning into Kass. Like Melarue had done with Aelynthi, Kass wrapped her arms around her daughter and slowly guided her into the living room. To his credit, Aelynthi had managed to pull enough away from Melarue to be sitting up on his own, trying to breathe deeply. Melarue sat next to him, their face schooled into a calm facade but their entire being radiated fury. 

Kass sat Ash on a chair then went into the kitchen to make some hot coco. Aelynthi might not be a sweets person, but she always found having a hot drink in hand during things like this helped. In a couple minutes, she was back in the living room, gently holding out the mug to Aelynthi. He accepted it as if on auto-pilot. 

He took a sip. Then another. Another.

No one said anything, just huddled around Aelynthi in a protective wall. 

“He said he was busy tonight, which I thought was weird but it happens. I made plans to go out with Serahlin and Adannar to a club instead. We were having a good time when I saw him…dancing with someone else.” He glanced over at Ash and Kass supposed he was censoring himself for her sake. She could tell to Ash to go to her room but knew that would only trigger her more. Too many times Kass had told Ash to go to her room to keep her safe from Qal. It was a shit position to be in as a parent - trigger one kid, to give the other privacy, or take away some privacy to not trigger the other. 

Aelynthi kept talking, though, “Serahlin saw him and was furious. We’d been drinking so…we went over and confronted him. The guy he was with had also been drinking and was…belligerent. He shoved me. Serahlin punched him. It just went from there. One of the guy’s friends hit me even though he kept shouting for it to stop. Before I knew it, we were tossed out of the club. Adannar was crying and having an asthma attack, Serahlin’s nose looked broken so they hopped a cab to the ER. I caught an uber here because it was close and I’m so sorry, I didn’t think-

Melarue visibly relaxed and tension eased in Kassaran. It was just a bar fight. It wasn’t…it wasn’t Qal again. Thank goodness, that was the last thing she wanted for Aelynthi. 

“You are always welcome here, da’len. You never have to apologize for coming here.” They kissed the top of his head. Bit by bit Aelynthi calmed enough to retract himself from Melarue to his usual stance. His eyes were red and puffy and he looked so young. 

Ash rose from her seat with a quiet, “Excuse me.” A moment later, Kass heard rapid footsteps up the stairs. Oh dear.

She turned to Aelynthi, “We are always happy to have you, Aelynthi. This has always been and always will be a home for you here. I never wish to take that from you. Now if you’ll excuse me for just a second.” With that, Kass left the living room to Melarue and Aelynthi. While she wanted a better relationship with Melarue’s son, she wouldn’t force it. There was a lot at play and at the end of the day, it was Aelynthi’s choice to be closer to Melarue and then perhaps accept Kass more. 

Kass headed upstairs to Ash’s room. The door was closed, likely locked, but unusually there was no music radiating from within. She knocked on the door.

“Ash? Can I come in?”

A long pause before a sniffled, “Yes,” answered back. The door was surprisingly unlocked and inside was Ash, sitting on her bed, legs pulled up and hiding her face.

“Hey, sweetie. Mind if I sit here?” Ash shook her head without looking up. “Okay.” Kass sat down on the edge of the bed. Out of the corner of her eye she saw one of the many, many candles in the room light, grow, then go out. It lit again, flared, then went out once more. 

“When I saw Aelynthi I was really scared. Melarue was scared too.”

“They seemed angry.”

“They were - but not at you, not at me, not at Aelynthi. They were mad at the person who hurt Aelynthi because that’s what parents do - we see someone hurt our baby and we want to protect them and sometimes that means getting angry. I know it’s scary.” There was a long pause before Ash glanced up, violet eyes bright with unshed tears, brows drawn in her own fear and anger. 

“I felt angry too. I feel angry. And scared, it’s like he’s here again.” Kass’s heart broke for her daughter. The guilt of not leaving earlier, of not figuring out how to get her and Ash out of that horrendous situation faster haunted her. She knew it haunted Ash. They had some counseling following the finalization of the divorce but counseling costs money and life needs money and she was suddenly a very single mother. Maybe…maybe it was time to go back for both of them.

“I felt that too. It is completely understandable to feel that way. The good news is - he isn’t here. Aelynthi is okay, and this situation is completely different. You take as much time as you need, okay? Can I bring you anything to eat or drink?” 

Ash raised her head, “I could use a hug.”

“Oh, baby, of course.” Kass moved over and took Ash in her arms. She held her daughter for a long time until the candle in the corner went out for the last time and Ash let out a long breath and pulled away.

“I’m feeling a little better. I don’t want to go to the party, though. I want to be here with Aelynthi… Is that okay?”

“Of course that’s okay! Baby, that is so sweet.” She gave Ash one last squeeze, “I love you so much.”

“Love you, too.”

They made their way back down to the living room. Aelynthi’s bruises were gone thanks to some quick healing magic and at some point he had changed into pajamas Melarue kept on hand just in case. 

“Hey, Aelynthi.” Ash was the first to speak. He looked over at her, his usual bright eyes dark and exhausted.

“Hi, Ash.”

“Where’s Nanae?” 

He waved behind himself, “In the kitchen.” 

“I will go see that everything’s okay. Ash, how about you join Aelynthi?” It was a bit heavy handed, sure, but something nagged in the back of Kass’s head about Melarue. 

Thanks to the age of the home, the kitchen was in a separate room. It provided privacy for moments like the one Kass walked into. Melarue was hunched over the sink, hands gripping the counter top with white knuckles going into black finger tips. A shadow in the glass of the window rose and roiled around their reflection. Kass blinked then stepped forward and placed a gentle hand on Melarue’s back. 

They jerked and turned to her, eyes black and magic flaring. The eyes, the shadow, the finger tips - all gone in a second.

“Kassaran, I can explain -

Kass raised a finger, “I trust you will talk to me about it when you’re ready. Right now, all I want to know is if you’re okay.”

Melarue looked more rattled than she had ever seen them before. They were normally so calm and collected but right now they looked like any worried parent.

“Someone hit my son.”

“They did. He is here now, and you healed him. He is going to be okay, there is no one after him - it was…a horrible singular situation.” Kass took Melarue’s hands in hers, holding them tight. 

“How is Ash?”

“Rattled, but okay.” Kass lifted their hands to her mouth, kissing their knuckles. “We’re going to be okay.” 

And miraculously, they were. The evening gradually turned from that point onward. Melarue and Kass brought out snacks and drinks and ordered a few giant pizzas for them all to eat. Kass called Ash’s friends’ parents to inform them there was a family emergency and Ash wouldn’t be joining them for the evening. They put on old animated movies from Aelynthi’s childhood. Kass and Melarue watched with glee as Aelynthi and Ash bonded over watching the films together - him for the hundredth time and her for the first. They were only ten years apart, but apparently that was enough to have a gap in the movies they had watched. Kass took out a board game and soon they were all embroiled in buying property and hoarding money. They switched off the movies to watch the live coverage of the New Year’s celebration happening downtown. Together, they counted down

TEN!

NINE!

EIGHT!

Melarue turned to Kass while the kids were engrossed with the TV and whispered so softly only she could hear, “Marry me.”

SEVEN!

SIX!

Stunned, Kass blinked but then smiled and nodded.

FIVE!

FOUR!

“Yes.”

THREE!

TWO!

ONE!

They kissed and ushered in another new year together - as a family.

Year Five

Melarue adjusted a pin in their hair as they assessed their image in the mirror. Another New Year’s Eve was here and more importantly - it was their wedding day. Truthfully, asking Kass to marry them last year had been impulsive and it was a terrible time to ask but in that moment, they knew. They just knew she was part of their family and always would be - they wanted it official. They wanted documents and records that tied her to them…even if it was for a short time. They hadn’t announced the engagement right away. Aelynthi and Ash both had counseling to go through, and they didn’t want to put more pressure on the two. But turns out, they hadn’t needed to tell them - somehow the two figured out it on their own. Ash decided to let that out of the bag one spring morning over breakfast when she asked Melarue, “Will you adopt me before or after the wedding?” The answer, after some tears later, was after since the marriage would make the process simpler.

Now, Melarue stood in front of a mirror wearing a beautiful gown waiting to get married again. They never thought they would be here again, not after the divorce. Yet, here they were waiting to marry Kass. 

They had reserved the ballroom of the building where Kass and Melarue had met. The New Year’s party that somehow changed their lives was now the place where they would say their vows. Orchestrating everything on relatively short notice had been an expensive challenge, but they did it. It had to be this date - no other date would do. 

A knock sounded at the door. 

“Come in!” They called. The door opened to reveal Aelynthi dressed in traditional ceremonial attire. His hair was a little longer and he was…smiling. The change in him over the last year brought them immeasurable joy. He had agreed to counseling, partly because of Ash’s wise threatening words of “If I can go to counseling about my shit, abusive sperm-donor, you can do it too. Nanae can hold your hand if you want.” He didn’t ask them to hold their hand, but he had agreed to go. In recent months, he met a nice man named Victory, whom Kass loved. 

“Mamae said the best man should be helping you, so here I am.” 

Aelynthi helped Melarue finish their preparations, then escorted them out to the ceremony space. A door on the opposite end opened to reveal Kassaran and Ash. Beautiful white, silver, and red thread adorned their clothes and horns in intricate but varied patterns. A veil trailed after Kass, while beaded threads dangled from her dress, forming intricate patterns similar to the Vitaar on her face. It was not actual Vitaar given its poisonous properties to those who were not Qunari, but rather face paint and makeup to achieve the same presentation. She was a vision of beauty. 

Slowly, they both began their circular trek towards the elven woman in the center of the room. It was not like an Andrastian aisle, but a walk both Melarue and Kass had agreed upon to represent their winding paths to finding each other. Ash and Aelynthi walked with them, leaving only just before Kass and Melarue joined hands to continue the ceremony. From there, the Dalish woman began her rites. 

“Do you, Kassaran, accept Melarue as they are and will be to be your spouse?”

“I do. I accept all of you,” Kass said. There was no disguising what she meant by all of Melarue. The secret they had shared with her after she found them in the kitchen out of sorts. The knowledge that they were not alone, that they were possessed - but she had taken it in stride and love. More love than they ever thought themselves worthy of. 

“Do you, Melarue, accept Kassaran as she is and will be to be your spouse?”

“I do. Always, Vhenan.”

Voices from the street grew into a chant that could be heard within the ballroom.

TEN!

NINE!

EIGHT!

“By the power invested in me...”

SEVEN!

SIX!

FIVE!

“Declare you married!”

FOUR!

THREE!

TWO!

ONE!

Melarue and Kassaran leaned forward and kissed as they had done for the past five years, welcoming in the new year, and a new beginning.

Year Six

“Knock, knock!” A familiar voice called from beyond the hospital door. Kass groaned, not another person. Sure, it might be Victory and Aelynthi but she was not in a position to entertain.

Melarue was quick, though, and opened the door. 

“We didn’t miss it, did we?” 

Pain wracked Kass’s body as her muscles seized, “NO! You’re all insufferably early!” She practically growled through the pain. Dammit, where was that anaesthesiologist?

Melarue said something to Aelynthi and Victory, then sent them out to hang with Ash in the waiting room. The last thing Kass wanted was anyone to witness what was about to happen to her vagina except for a very select number of people. She even had Melarue under strict orders to stay up by her head - birthing qunari babies was…grizzly at best. Thank goodness for modern medicine and magic. 

The contraction was long but it eventually passed. They were getting much closer now - she really needed that epidural before it was too late. 

“I’m going to get that doctor,” Melarue said, their voice dark with purpose and promise. Fine, whatever, make a deal with a demon - just get her the damn epidural. 

Melarue did in fact return with the anaesthesiologist, who to his credit looked terrified of Melarue. He placed the epidural and the pain faded into odd pressure. Kass eased back into the bed, relieved. 

“You’re doing wonderfully, Vhenan.”

“Mmm, thank you, Kadan. Oh, I need to apologize to Aelynthi and Victory.”

“Love, there is no need - they understand you are a woman in labor.” They kissed her forehead. 

“Aelynthi and I just got good, I don’t want to ruin it and then there’s the baby and I don’t want this family to be in a bad spot just when the baby’s coming into the world-

“Kass, Kass, Vhenan - no one is upset with you. We are all so happy to meet the baby, Aelynthi included. I think even Nithroel already bought baby dance shoes.”

Kass laughed nervously before the door opened and her doctor strolled in. “Hello, Kass!” Following the exam, the doctor smiled, “10 beautiful centimeters, Kass. Are you ready?”

Ready? She wanted this baby so badly. She wanted this family more than anything. But she had done this once before and it was hard to not recall Ash’s birth. It was a long labor, no anesthetic, no Qal…which was a good thing in retrospect even if she had been alone. This was different in every way. She had Melarue in the room, Ash and Aelynthi waiting outside, and doctors who gave a damn about her. 

She nodded to the doctor, “Okay, okay, let’s…have a baby.”

For the next several hours, Kass pushed and worked to get the babe out. Melarue held her hand through it all, speaking kind encouraging words to keep her going. The longer the labor drew on, the more antsy the nurses and even her doctor got. 

Midnight was rapidly approaching…and so was the baby. 

“Alright, Kass, one last push and we’ll have baby. I’ll count it down, now push!

Ten!

Nine!

Eight!

Seven!

Six!

Five!

Four!

Three!

Two!

One!”

“AAAAH!” Kass pushed and pushed and suddenly the room was filled with more than just a counting doctor and a murmuring Melarue. Cries, distinctive in their high pitch. 

“Well done, Kass! She’s here, a beautiful baby girl! Born right at midnight to welcome in the new year.” The doctor announced. A girl. Another daughter. Emotions bright and strong filled Kass in a wave of amazed euphoria. The baby was placed on her chest and oh, she was perfect. Smaller than Ash, but that was the elf in her. Her hair was dark, just like her nanae’s,  and she was absolutely perfect.

“Kadan, look at her.” She caressed the baby’s cheek in awe.

“She’s perfect,” Melarue whispered pressing a kiss to Kass’s horn.

“I think she takes after you, look at that hair.” The room was bustling with activity and soon the baby was taken for her weight and vitals while Kass dealt with the afterbirth. Once declared fit as a fiddle, the baby returned and Kass went about getting her latched for her first feeding. She was exhausted but riding a unique high of energy that only came from birthing a baby. 

Eventually Melarue left to gather their children, plus Victory, from the waiting room. Ash was the first in the room, smiling broadly as she spied her little sister for the first time.

“Everyone, meet Asaaranda.”

One by one they held Anda. Ash insisted on holding her first, then Aelynthi, and then even Victory took a turn. As Melarue held their daughter with a look of complete love and wonder in their eyes, Kass found her heart full. Her family was complete, her heart full, beyond anything she had ever thought possible even six years ago. 

 It’s not really much of a surprise. He spent the entire night locked in a fit of creative fervor, such that when he finally came to bed Thenvunin was already asleep, and barely woke up to the sense of movement and the shifting of the blankets. The scent of paint still clinging to Aelynthi’s skin in places, as he slipped into the opposite side of the bed, and then sleep claimed them both.

 Their alarm is still set to go off at five o’clock, though, so that Thenvunin can make his morning jog and Aelynthi can get started on his yoga. It blares, and Aelynthi groans and, before Thenvunin can reach over to shut it off, flails an arm down to the wall socket and yanks out the plug instead.

 The blankets are deliciously warm, and at some point in the night Aelynthi ended up against Thenvunin’s chest. He goes back there after the alarm’s offenses have been silenced, his hair mussed and his hands slightly scratchy with died paint, as they press up against the bare skin of Thenvunin’s lower back.

 “Just five more minutes,” Aelynthi grumbles.

 “You need a shower,” Thenvunin grumbles right back. But he thinks he would stop Aelynthi if he tried to leave the bed right now, too. The morning air is just a little too cold, and the blankets are warm, and Aelynthi isn’t showing any signs of discomfort with all the rampant cuddling that’s going on. Thenvunin shucks his own hands up Aelynthi’s tank - that ratty old thing that he always paints in that Thenvunin is going to burn just as soon as he stops finding it inexplicably attractive - and buries his nose in his boyfriend’s hair.

 After a few minutes, though, Aelynthi’s lips start to press against his collar. And one of his hands slips lower, and settles on Thenvunin’s backside instead.

 He waits, wondering if they’re heading in that direction, now. But a minute more, and Aelynthi’s kisses have stopped, and his breaths have evened out. Thenvunin eases back just enough to verify that his eyes are closed again, and then lets out a huff. Trust Aelynthi to start groping him and then fall right asleep. He grumbles sleepily about it, until he finds himself waking up more. Habitually, he glances at the clock; but of course the numbers are blank, because Aelynthi unplugged it.

 Do they have anywhere important to be today…?

 No, Thenvunin realizes, they don’t. But he’ll need to get up to feed his birds, if nothing else. With a sigh he starts reluctantly pulling untangling himself from Aelynthi and the covers. This earns a few grumbles from Aelynthi, who rolls over, but doesn’t really seem to wake up. Thenvunin takes full stock of him once he’s finally up. His boyfriend came to bed without bothering to take off his top, it seems, but his pants and belt are on the floor. There is the paint he’d felt on his hands and a few streaks of it dried into his hair, from where he probably touched his head while he was thinking about his project. The bedsheet is caught up in a lump somewhere at the bottom of the bed, and Aelynthi left on one of the ankle bracelets he’d been wearing yesterday, too. The other is on the floor, next to his belt.

 With a soft ‘tsk’, Thenvunin straightens the blankets over his boyfriend, and pulls off the ankle bracelet - there are little red dents on Aelynthi’s leg now, from where it’s been pressing into him all night, and then leans down and gives him a quick peck on the lips.

 “Five more minutes,” Aelynthi blearily murmurs against his mouth.

 Thenvunin brushes some of his paint-flecked hair back from his face, and feels incomprehensibly fond.

 “Just sleep,” he says.

Inanallas is on a movie set. They got here because Uthvir started dating Thenvunin who’s friends with Aelynthi who’s Nanae is Melarue the Famous Actor Person. Who they met at some nice communal wintersend party thing and was very interested in their career as a magical martial artist. They later got a message from Melarue who asked if they wouldn’t mind taking a small part in a movie they were going to be in, there was apparently a need for competent martial artists in it and while Inan fought in a less traditional style they did know all the classic elven forms so they were a perfect fit. It was a daunting concept to be on film and Inan was definitely not an actor but Melarue was very nice and very talented and they’d mostly be fighting other stunt people and martial artists so they accepted and trusted their friend’s boyfriend’s friend’s nanae to see them through it. So now here they are on a movie set.

Only now there was a Very Big Problem. And shockingly it wasn’t all the people or the cameras or any of the Normal Anxiety Triggers. The problem was they were too good. None of the stuntmen could keep up with them.

It was………Bad.

It was Wild and Impressive and kind of amazing for them but it was just overall Very Bad.

They talked to Melarue extensively on it and they talked to the director and now there are apparently shifts happening to the script or filming or something because the director wants to keep them in the film regardless of this glaring problem. They end up having to rearrange filming so Inanallas can train some of the stuntmen to keep up, there’s no way they can train all of them so the plan is to get a handful up to speed and have them interact with them the most. It’s fun, being a movie stunt guy, they’re still kinda anxious about it but it’s turning out to be pretty fun. It’s been a great experience and they might be friends with their friend’s boyfriend’s friend’s famous nanae now which is Wild but also Very Cool.

They take everything back it was a terrible terrible idea to do that movie and now they’re goING TO DIE.

Melarue is on the other end of the phone calmly trying to talk them down from the ledge, which is working bc they’re an evil wizard with dark powers of soothing and like, an emmy.

The premiere is coming up and there are posters and billboards everywhere. Thankfully they’re not on any of them but it’s a looming reminder they are going to Die. Melarue quickly puts together a strike team consisting of mainly them and Thenvunin’s Mamae along with the occasional Aelynthi, Thenvunin or Uthvir (who is usually dragged by force) there for moral support while Thenvunin’s Mamae gets to work making them presentable in public and Melarue hypnotizes them with their insidious powers of compassion into thinking they can manage the premiere without taking out a city block.

When the day comes they go with Aelynthi who begrudgingly offered to come with them and “babysit”. Which despite everyone else’s kind attempts at defending their honor is exactly what he’s doing. They’re a big baby and they need an adult with them at all times. He has to remind them multiple times to “Not fucking rip his damn arm off” when they grip too hard from fear. The two of them don’t come with Melarue or really get near them the entire time until it’s time to sit down and watch the damn thing. This is part of the plan and frankly Inan loves Melarue but if they came near them here they’d be force to attack them in self defense. Melarue is an Actually Famous Person which is not the kind of person they need to be near right now when they want as little attention on them as possible.

But it is nice to watch the movie with them. Inanallas gets excited whenever Melarue is on (which is a lot) and super excited when it’s a scene they actually saw the filming of and can compare then to the final product. Melarue and Inanallas are both excited for their action scenes, they hear the older elf gasp on occasion when they manage something that looks particularly impressive.Their role had been a bit expanded once the director had seen them in action so they’d gone from stunt mob to bad guy #5 and well… They’re pretty proud of their work, their form is good, they don’t look stupid, yeah not bad. Aelynthi starts the movie texting aggressively then gets into it, only texting occasionally, presumably to inform Victory or someone about the movie or something like that.

Love’s requests have become a part of her everyday life, living with Ess. The bright spirit is always asking her to do this or that, and only about half of them are actually doable. She can’t, after all, actually just explain to Love why she has so many ‘tattered threads’. Nor would she particularly like to, really. Those thoughts plague her at night enough, she’d rather not have them haunt her during the daylight hours too.

(They do, anyway.)

Still, she isn’t adverse to obliging Love occasionally, especially if the intent behind it is to make Ess smile.

“Mmah-muh,” She tries, brow furrowing at how wrong that sounds, pursing her mouth to try and get the words out properly, “Muhma.. Muhmay.. Mamae!”

She grins victoriously, looking up at the target of her attempts and pausing. Ess has ceased all action, staring at her with widespread eyes and mouth slightly agape. Saeris frowns, worried at the bizarre reaction, though it is thankfully brief. A moment later Ess is lifting her straight out of the chair into her arms, delight practically bursting from her.

“You said mamae!” Ess presses a flurry of kisses to her baby-round cheeks, and Saeris can only blink in mild bewilderment, “It is still so early! The books said it’d be a few months, at least! My clever da’vhenan..”

Ah, excitement over baby progress. She should’ve guessed. Still, the joy is infectious, and Saeris doesn’t attempt to curb the urge to babble happily back at Ess, laughter bubbling between them both.

The moment passes and Ess is just moving to settle her down in her chair once more when a bell rings. Saeris watches as Ess blinks in the direction of the door with an air of surprise, before moving to answer it, Saeris along for the ride cradled in her arms. The door is opened, and she wiggles slightly to get a better look at the sudden stranger, and wow.. he is.. very well dressed.

Easily one of the prettiest elves she’s ever seen- and she met the hearth keeper herself... In fact, she hasn’t seen an elf this pretty since she left Sylaise’s tower, and she suddenly feels anxiety coil inside of her. Is he here to take her away from Ess, for some unfathomable reason? She would scream if he was. Wail, and cry, and kick up enough of a fuss until they brought her back. She would. She shoves her fist to her mouth to curb any distressed noises.

“Aelynthi! This is surprise, come in!” A part of her relaxes at Ess’ friendly and familiar greeting, though she still eyes this Aelynthi with large eyes warily as he steps over the threshold.

“I heard your petition had been accepted weeks ago, but I was in the middle of a commission for our Lady,” He explains, dark-lined eyes shifting to her own as he looks at her, looking at him, “And that she’d been found in the..”

“The river,” Ess confirms, lips tight with concealed anger that echoes the look in Aelynthi’s eyes. The only anger she has ever seen Ess show has been when she is reminded of how Saeris was found, come to think of it. ‘It’s alright,’ She wants to reassure them both, ‘There is no evil river-dropping baby-abandoner sneaking around- Just a deluded man who will eventually make some very bad choices’… Perhaps it is better she cannot speak well yet, if that is the only measurement she can think of.

“May I..?” He moves slightly towards her as the two adults shake off their anger for her sake, and Ess hands her off with a nod and weak smile. His hold on her is natural and practised, and she wonders if he has children of his own… Not that she’s really a child, but.. Still. She is curious.

“What is her name?” He gazes down at her with a smile, and she can’t help but return it. Now that she knows he is a friend of Ess, she supposes she need not be so cautious.

“Rosanavir,” Ess supplies as the trio make their way deeper into the living room, taking seats on the simple furniture adorning the room. Aeylnthi looks laughably out of place with his complex outfit, but it does not seem to bother him much.

“That is.. fitting, isn’t it?”

A piece of his jewellery sways above her, and she can’t quite stop herself from batting at it, momentarily struck at how shiny it looks when it’s moving. The laugh it draws from the man holding her startles her out of her momentary lapse, and feels her face heat slightly at having given in to the very baby-like urge.

“Another child, abandoned, just like my El’ena,” He murmurs, disbelief colouring the air around him, and Ess makes a sympathetic noise of agreement across the table. Saeris listens, and stores this information away. Had another child been abandoned and found, recently?

“How is your daughter? She is nearly twenty now, yes?” Maybe not so recent, then.

“I remember when she was this small,” Aelynthi replies wistfully, before standing to hand her back to Ess once more. “I’m afraid I can’t stay; Commissions have been pouring into the workshop, lately. The piece I did for Thenvunin’s wedding seems to have caught some eyes.”

Ess gives a nod of understanding and sees her friend to the door, wishing him well as he goes. He departs with a lingering stare at Saeris and a promise to visit once more. Once the door is shut and it is just them once more, Ess smiles down at her ruefully, walking back to finish the dinner she’d abandoned cooking.

“He certainly outclasses Mamae, doesn’t he?” There is no bitterness in her tone, only an easy acceptance. Still, Saeris does not think that is quite true.

“Nuh,” Saeris refutes, shaking her little head as best as she is able. Aelynthi was beautiful and friendly, but there is a great warmth to Ess that, she thinks, is very hard to measure up to. She is once more grateful that she is a recipient of that love, despite the circumstances in which it came to be.