Chapter Text
The problem may have begun with Cullen’s formal coat but it had expanded to include nearly everything he wore. He sat on his bed looking peevishly down at himself. His pants had been uncomfortable for quite some time but his shirts would no longer hide his expanding waistline. With his trousers low on his hips Cullen sighed heavily and scooted to the edge of the bed. He rubbed at the brief push his movement had caused and sighed again. There was simply no denying it anymore. He was pregnant.
Cullen had known it was a possibility, if a remote one but still possible. His cycles had never been regular and a heat often hit at the worst possible moments. This one had been just as surprising on the long trek back from Adamant Fortress in the Western Approach. Heat suppressant was in short supply however and rather than force one of his soldiers to go through it alone, or worse, he’d gone to Dorian. The mage was only a little reluctant but the extremely poor odds of a beta impregnating an omega had ultimately convinced him to help out. It was nothing they hadn’t done before after all.
There wasn’t much time that harrowing night they’d first met in Haven for romance. Long nights spent huddling to stay warm and long days of hiking up the mountain had started the improbable relationship. Cullen found his company pleasant and Dorian had apparently found his company desirable as well. Things had progressed as those things do and he found himself horribly in love with the beta Tevinter mage. Fortunately, after a few fantastic arguments, Dorian had admitted his feelings as well. They’d been sharing a bed frequently for nearly a year before Adamant.
He shuffled over and pulled a shirt from his trunk and stared down at the rounded protrusion of his belly pushing it out. In another month or so his shirts would all be uncomfortably tight. Everyone in Skyhold would know by that time however. Rumors were already flying around about him and his tendency to hide in his office. It was time to put those rumors to rest and start a batch of fresh ones. Cullen sat on his bed to pull on his socks and boots, scowling.
Everyone knew about the Inquisition’s omega Commander and the beta Tevinter. It was unusual enough for an omega to hold such a high position but Cullen had never been a typical omega. Most respected him for his knowledge and determination, his ability to lead despite the common omega instinct to follow. It didn’t surprise him a bit that he’d fallen for a beta rather than an alpha. Those who truly knew him weren’t all that surprised either.
The problem now was the odds. It wasn’t unheard of for betas and omegas to produce a baby together but it was rare enough people would question whether or not Dorian was actually the sire. If Dorian were here Cullen would have gone to him weeks ago. He wasn’t however. Barely a week back from the Winter Palace and the Inquisitor was off again, this time with Dorian, Cassandra and the Iron Bull in tow. They weren’t expected back for another three.
Hoping his reputation would quell most of the rumors he descended the ladder to his office without bothering with his coat or sword. The lack of his weapon was disconcerting but he made his way across the compound with his back straight and his head high. He could feel eyes following him and knew there were whispers as soon as he was out of earshot. Cullen made his way to the infirmary, mostly uninterrupted.
There were always sick and injured but it was fairly empty this morning. The people that were there however watched him curiously, eyes on his stomach that he wasn’t trying to hide. The head healer, a pleasant woman that had been with the Inquisition since before Haven was buried, met him in the middle of the long room. Her eyes dipped several times but she was smiling as she addressed him.
“Commander. Is there something I can help you with or…”
“I’m not here in an official capacity,” Cullen said trying to keep his irritation in check. “I’m pregnant.”
“Err… okay.” She gestured at a nearby cot. “Lay back and we’ll just… see how things are.”
Cullen held in another sigh and sat on the cot. He lay back and watched the healer closely as she cautiously pulled up his shirt. “I’m not going to bite,” he said completely failing to keep his annoyance out of his voice.
“I’m sorry Commander,” she said sheepishly. “By all accounts you’ve been really… moody. At least we know why now.”
He frowned as she began pressing and poking. Had he really been that bad? Keeping track of the soldiers, making sure Skyhold was properly defended, training new recruits, not to mention all the other things his position demanded, his job wasn’t an easy one. Cullen didn’t think he’d been any more irritable than usual however.
“Any nausea?” she asked absently.
“No,” he replied.
“Maker you’re lucky,” she said enviously. “I couldn’t eat a thing without throwing half of it up. Cramping or bleeding?”
“No.”
“Can you feel… I guess you can.”
The healer had ceased her prodding and simply held her hand low on belly. He could feel the baby pushing against him and the smile she now wore brought one to him. She straightened and pulled his shirt down.
“One of the few joys of this job,” she said happily. “Does Messere Pavus know?”
“No,” Cullen said sitting up, a little astonished. “I wasn’t aware of… my condition before he left.”
“You’ll have a nice surprise for him when he returns then. I’d say you’re both doing fine. Do you remember when your last heat was?”
“Four and a half months ago.”
“That seems about right,” she said nodding.
Cullen listened carefully to the long list of things to return immediately for and promised to return in four weeks. The rest of his morning was spent in his office trying to focus on reports and mostly failing. He still felt the staring on his way back and he expected one of his colleagues to show up at any moment. The healer and anyone else who’d been there will have spread the news quickly. The question he’d been expecting hadn’t been asked by the healer but that didn’t mean someone else wouldn’t ask it.
Unable to concentrate Cullen wandered his office for a while. He was looking out the window wondering what he was going to do about clothing when a brief knock on his door drew his attention. Both Leliana and Josephine entered seconds later. They were both grinning and their eyes landed on his belly. Blushing a little Cullen sat at his desk.
“It’s true!” Leliana exclaimed.
“How exciting!” Josephine said happily. “Does Dorian know?”
“No,” said Cullen in amazement. “I didn’t know when he left with the Inquisitor.”
“How long until they get back?” Leliana asked.
“According to the last report Inquisitor Trevelyan had just left the Emerald Graves,” Josephine said. She was silent for a moment doing the same mental calculations Cullen already had. “Three weeks at most. There’s so much to do!”
“Come Cullen,” Leliana said pulling him up. “We need to find you a suitable room in the keep.”
“I have a room,” he said in bewilderment.
“You can’t carry a baby up a ladder silly,” she said still smiling. “There’s a few close to Dorian’s quarters.”
“I must summon a tailor and you’ll need a bassinet,” said Josephine absently scribbling madly on her parchment. “A qualified nanny…”
Josephine turned to the door still writing and murmuring to herself. Leliana pulled him gently towards the door but he pulled out of her grasp and scrubbed his face, completely mystified.
“I’ve been trying to hide this for weeks now,” he said. “Fearing reactions and the inevitable questions. No one has questioned…”
“Improbable is not impossible,” Leliana said sounding amused. “There are few as loyal as you are Cullen. Some will question. There will be rumors. But none here in Skyhold. We will deal with any situations that crop up. Come.”
He allowed himself to be pulled out of his office, amazed but happy. Hopefully Dorian’s reaction would be as favorable.