Chapter Text
Cullen stood still while the water hit his shoulders, and tried to come to terms with the evenings' events. It was easier to put it into tidy points, to see everything as black and white. Iron Bull had a daughter, but wasn’t due back for another month. He’d have to try and call him, and in the mean time would look after Grace. To add to the complications, his neighbour was extremely attractive, and he definitely had to rope her into helping him as much as possible.
His arm tensed, braced against the wall, hand clenching into a tight fist. That last point wasn’t so much a fact but rather a bad idea, and shouldn't be followed under any circumstances. But he wanted to. Even now he imagined her next door, looking after Grace, no doubt complaining about him. She seemed the type to mutter without noticing. He smiled, rubbing his face and stepping out of the shower.
He was tempted to linger, to stay under the stream of hot water for an hour, and then spend the rest of the night trying to reach Iron Bull. But he’d promised to be no longer than fifteen minutes, and he’d wasted ten already. Say one thing for Cullen, say he was a man of his word.
Wrapping a towel around his abdomen, he strode into the kitchen and hunted for a quick meal. The fridge revealed nothing but beer and dubious smelling milk. He groaned and took one of the beers, gulping it down to the neck.
He’d have to buy a cot. Grace couldn't sleep in her car seat forever. How much were cots anyway? Years of being a workaholic had left him with a fair amount of savings, but Cullen was sure babies were expensive. The amount in that bulging sports bag had said enough.
He finished drying and moved to get dressed, pulling on slacks and a t-shirt. Iron Bull didn't own a cell phone. He wondered coldly if Bull would even know who the mother was. She certainly had to be found as well. Clearly the woman was in trouble if she would willingly give up her baby to Iron Bull without even a hello. These were thoughts for later though. Running a hand through his still wet hair, he groaned. Fifteen minutes were up, and with some reluctance Cullen abandoned his drink and walked out of his apartment.
Crossing the threshold into her own, he’d expected to find Ellana awake and with a practised argument ready to go. Instead she was asleep on the couch, sprawled out haphazardly with her neck craned at an awkward ankle, drooling onto her arm. Grace was asleep in her car seat, looking surprisingly cute now that her mouth was closed. He watched for longer than was necessary, feeling his stomach flutter over the picture perfect scene - or well, nearly picture perfect, as it turned out Ellana snored, grunting in time with her breathing.
He could leave. It wouldn't be abandoning her with the baby. Not really. They were both asleep, blissfully he might add. Cullen could get some work done, make his phone calls, start hunting down Iron Bull. It would be better for anyone.
He’d already taken a step back when a voice spoke out, and Cassandra appeared from the kitchen, frowning.
“So when you said you had stuff to do, I had no idea it involved giving my roommate a baby.” She huffed, turning back around to finish wiping down the counter tops. Clearly angry,
“W-What?” He stuttered, embarrassed. How long had she been stood there? Had she caught him looking?
“Ellana’s been telling me what happened. Apparently you tried to trick her into taking your baby. Or Iron Bull’s baby. It was difficult to grasp the situation before she fell asleep.”
“I didn’t plan this Cassandra.”
“No. As far as first impressions go its pretty bad. Even for you.”
His cheeks flared red, and Cullen started to clean up the mess he’d made in the living room. Stuffing baby clothes back into the bag in an attempt to get back in her good graces.
“When did you get back?” He asked, quietly so as to not wake up Ellana.
“Ten minutes ago. Not long after you left. You should have come with us. Leliana pinned Josephine’s pants to a small board.”
He smothered a laugh and shook his head. A comfortable silence fell on the pair as they cleaned up. Cassandra collected the paintbrushes and washed the used bottle, Cullen finished packing the bag and pulled a blanket from the couch, gently covering Ellana with it - who continued to snore.
He smiled down at her, until Cassandra gave him a look and he turned away, clearing his throat.
“Well?” She said, clearly having been expecting something this entire time.
“I urm..” he panicked, trying to think what she possibly wanted him to say or do. “I’m sorry for bothering you both.” He said finally, only that apparently was the very wrong thing to say, as Cassandra rolled her eyes and grunted, flinging her arms in the air as if his oblivious nature was typical.
“No. I meant, when are you going to ask for my help? You clearly need it. From all of us.”
“Oh I wouldn’t dream - “
“Don’t be so stubborn, Cullen. You can’t do this alone. Leliana and Josie can help find the mother. You can reach Iron Bull in that time. And then we’ll have to make sure no one finds out theres a baby in the building.”
He nodded, grateful, really. But those weren’t the issues he actually wanted help with. “So you’ll... look after Grace every now and then?”
Her eyes widened, first at him, then to the baby. “I don’t know the first thing about children.”
“Neither do I.”
“Besides, our shifts coincide on most days. Its impossible.”
He side, rubbing his neck. “Well someone will have to babysit her, I can’t skip work and neither can you.”
“Who though?”
They gave each other a look, stubborn and a little bit guilty all at the same time, before speaking their answer as one.
“Ellana.”
_______________________________________
Sunlight streamed through the windows the next morning, pouring warm sunlight directly onto Ellana’s dozing face.
She groaned, extremely uncomfortable but far too exhausted to get up. Instead twisting her face into a pillow and wincing as her neck cracked in response. Ouch. That was what you got for sleeping on the couch.
She then tried to remember why she had drifted off on the couch. She’d been bouncing Grace’s car seat with one foot, glaring at the clock. Had Cullen come to collect her in the end? She was sure he’d come back. Or maybe she’d dreamed it all?
Just thinking about her insufferably handsome neighbour irked her mood, and she pressed her face harder into the pillow, trying to wipe the memory of his bare chest from her mind. If anything though, the picture in her head became more vivid. Recalling chiselled abs, broad shoulders, a stubbly jaw, and honest eyes that seemed to bore into her very soul.
Stop. Stop. That was enough of that. The less she saw of him the better. In fact, Ellana made a point to avoid him. Which shouldn’t be too difficult. He’d been living in the same building over a month and she hadn’t even caught a glimspe of the man until he’d been banging on her door, baby in tow. The creep.
“Ellana?” A deep voice rumbled near her head, sounding sweet and caring and thoroughly enticing. Her stomach flipped and she pulled her head up, horrified to find the man she wanted to avoid was stood in her living room.
“Oh good you’re awake.” Cassandra drawled, coming to stand next to Cullen. She was feeding Grace by the bottle, and the sight alone was enough to wake her up completely. Ellana gaped at her, then at Cullen, frowning at how handsome he managed to look in a police uniform. Now that just wasn't fair.
“Am I still dreaming? Whats happening?” She said. Croaked really. Unlike them - apparently - Ellana was not a morning person, and no doubt looked terrible. She ran a hand through her bed head hair, feeling suddenly self conscious. Creators, he looked ravishing in a police uniform. Did he even realise?
“We've come to an agreement.” Cassandra said, straight to the point as always. She noted how uncomfortable Cullen looked, guilty, and her eyes narrowed into a distrustful glare.
“Oh?”
“Me and Cullen are going to go to work, as per usual. During this time we will attempt to contact Grace’s parents.”
She could see where this was going, and started to protest, standing up now. “Wait one second -”
“You can watch Grace while we’re at work. After all, the more time we have there, the sooner we’ll be able to sort this entire thing out.” As if it brokered no argument, Cassandra handed her the still suckling baby, who seemed happy to be passed around as long as her bottle came too.
Ellana had little choice but to hold onto Grace, and was once again over whelmed by that baby smell. Damn it. “Thats not fair. I have to work too.”
“Its just you and Dorian in a cafe though. You can bring Grace along. She can’t ride around on patrol with us.” Cullen said, gulping.
“Just a cafe is it?” Her lip curled, temper flaring. “Sorry my job isn't as important as yours, but its still how I buy all my food. And I can’t do it if I have Grace.”
The pair shared a guilty glance. Good, they should feel guilty. And for a few moments Ellana thought she’d won.
Until Cullen covered her hand in his own, warm fingers stroking, strong and soft and completely capturing her full attention. “Please Ellana. I’ll come in at lunch to give you a break. It’s just for a little while... I have no one else to ask.”
Creators help her, but she couldn't say no to that face.
“You’ll come in at lunch?” So much for avoiding him, idiot.
“I promise.”
“You promised you’d come after fifteen minutes last night.”
“And I did! But you were asleep and - “ his lips pulled into a slow, dangerous smile. She noted how he was still holding her hand. “Has anyone ever told you how beautiful you look sleeping?”
Her face felt like it was on fire, and Ellana snatched her hand back, staring down at the baby settled in her crook arm in order to avoid that heavy gaze.
Cassandra glanced at them in turn, eyebrow rising slightly before she cooled her expression once more, lips twitching into the faintest of smiles.
“Fine. Fine. Don’t push it, I’ll look after her today.”
“Thank you. I won’t forget it.”
“We’ll see you later then,” Cassandra said, grabbing her keys from the coffee table and already leading the way outside. “I’ll call you if we get any answers.”
“Okay.” Ellana watched them both leave, taking Grace’s pudgy little arm and waving it gently as a goodbye. Cullen flashed her one last smile, genuinely relieved to have her help, and Ellana tried to ignore how excited she was to imagine him visiting her at work. Dorian would have a field day when he saw.
“Looks like it’s just me and you kid,” she said. Until midday at least. “You get to meet Dorian in an hour though. I’m not sure if he likes babies though… he definitely won’t like it if you’re sick on his shirt.”