"True!" ey agrees hugging him. "I know at least three ways to handle a sore throat."

“It’s good to know the clinic will be in good hands while I’m gone.” Anders rests his chin on eir head. 

"-you are going then." Cia's grip tightens a little. "Guess they would need a good healer."

"They're getting the second best," Anders says, smiling at Cia. "Don't worry too much. The darkspawn couldn't do me in back in Ferelden, they won't here. I'll be back before you know it."

"I'm holding you to that. You're gonna owe me if you're wrong."

"A debt I'm very happy to owe," Anders says with a smile.

Ey pokes his side. "The point is that you don't owe me that."

Anders laughs. 

Then he becomes somewhat serious, and pulls out of the hug to look at Cia very fondly. "I'm really proud of you."

Ey looks down, blushing. "I had a good teacher."

"Oh, really? You'll have to recommend them to me, I could use some extra lessons," Anders teases, delighted by that blush.

Cia doesn't respond for a moment and then: "Da~ad."

Anders grins hugely at that. "Yes, child of mine?"

Cia giggle and skips off to get back to work.

Anders does the same. 

A few days later saw him packing some potions and dried herbs into a pack, still arguing with himself about leaving with Hawke.

"You can still change your mind," Ilska points out quietly as she appears beside him.

“True. I could be contrary,” Anders says, smiling over his shoulder at Ilska. He closes the bag and does the tie. He slings it over his head. 

Cia appears at that point, holding a package. "You're always contrary," ey says, and while ey's trying, eir tone isn't quite as bright as it would normally be.

“Am not,” Anders argues without any heat. His heart sinks to see the look on Cia’s face. That might’ve been enough to turn him from leaving, were he a weaker man. 

“You don’t have to come to Hightown if you don’t want,” he says gently. 

"Nuh-uh. You're not getting out of me threatening Hawke about what happens if you don't come home."

Pauses. Holds the package out. "For you."

“For me?” Anders is a little surprised. He takes the package with trepidation. It feels...like clothing? He unwraps it and-

“A coat? Where...how did you get this?” He says, a little breathless with wonder. 

"Made it," Cia says, bouncing a little. "Do you- do you like it?"

He takes off his bag to put the coat on. “You made this? It’s...it’s amazing. Thank you so much.” He hugs both his kids. “How in Thedas did you keep this a secret? You’re getting far too sneaky.”

"We've always been sneaky," Ilska points out.

"And Lirene let us leave it at hers while we were making it."

“You’ll both make excellent rogues some day.” He hugs them a little closer, wanting to imprint the impression of them into him forever. His kids. His family.

His.