Fenris ran his palm up the doorjamb of the small, yet elegant holding Sebastian and Varric had obtained for him and Marian. The wood was smooth, well-oiled, and most importantly, sturdy. It was almost unbelievable to him that he owned his own house, that it wasn't contingent on him pleasing a master or mistress. He still wanted to pay Sebastian back for the holding, but his friend-no, brother, Sebastian had asked him to consider him a brother-had given it to them as a wedding present and an early gift for the baby.

Baby. He swallowed against the instinctual panic. Fenris put his head to the smooth wood, and took a deep breath. He could do this. Their child wasn't going to be taken from them for any reason if he could help it, and Marian would be as fierce as a Fereldan bear with a cub. His child would be loved from the moment it was born. He knew he would not be a perfect father, but he had vowed before the Maker to do right by Marian and the babe. His best was all he could offer.

Looking in the main hall, he could see Marian puttering back and forth in an outfit similar to the one she would wear when she was at home in Kirkwall. The loose tunic was belted above the swell of her belly, and she had a hand resting protectively over the rapidly growing bump. Flinging her long braid over her shoulder, Marian directed a workman holding a rug towards their bedroom. The man hefted the rug over his shoulder and moved off, the mass of other workers quickly moving furniture and crates of things Orana and Carver had sent from the Amell estate to the various rooms.

How Varric and Sebastian had pulled this off without the Seekers or the Chantry finding out that he and Marian were in Starkhaven, he didn't know, but he felt he owed them everything. Marian spotted him in the doorway, and shuffled over to him. "We should have our own bed to sleep in tonight, isn't that exciting? Not that playing camp in the middle of an empty foyer wasn't exciting, but a real bed will be so much better on my back."

"I appear to be remiss in my duties." Fenris moved behind her and started circling his thumbs around the spot that he knew was bothering Marian. She let out a groan and leaned into him, resting her head back on his shoulder.

"It's too late, you can't stop now. I've fallen under your spell and will never escape."

"Marian, honestly."

"Just a little to the left… yes, precisely there." Fenris felt the knot loosen under his fingers, and felt inordinately proud that he had eased some of her pain.

"As soon as our room is all put together, I think I might take a nap." Marian pulled his arms around her, and gently moved them around to observe the workers.

"Are you sure you can with this racket?" Fenris rested his chin on her shoulder.

"I'm sure I can. I think you underestimate my ability to fall asleep anywhere lately. At least Varric and Sebastian were smart and made sure this heap is one floor, or you might find me asleep on the stairs."

"Or falling down them." Marian elbowed him in the side as he grinned into her hair.

"Hush, you. I told you that was my shoddy boots!"

"Even after you got new ones?"

"I was breaking them in!"

"By nearly snapping an ankle."

"You're awful, you know that?" She was giggling, and it lightened his heart.

Marian sucked in a breath, letting out a small whimper. Fenris peered over her shoulder to see what had caused her mood to shift so suddenly. A pair of maids was unwrapping the portrait of her mother out of a crate. He remembered when Marian had found the betrothal portrait, and said that her sister, Bethany, strongly favored their mother.

"Please, be careful with that," Marian called.

They nodded to her, and carefully moved towards the room they had designated their library. Fenris gently guided Marian out of the way when a pair of workmen passed them with one of the crates of books, straining under the weight.

"Your bedroom is finished, Mistress." Another maid stood in the door of their bedchamber. "Shall we work on the nursery next?"

"Yes, please, Lysann."

"Naptime, Marian."

Marian opened her mouth to speak, but was interrupted by a tremendous crash from the library. He watched her go pale, and dash across the foyer. Fenris was right behind, praying that the noise wasn't the portrait. Thank the Maker, it hung safe and whole above the fireplace, but the two workmen who had been carrying the crate of books stood on either side of a disaster of broken wood and scattered tomes.

"Ugh, Maker."

Fenris stopped Marian from kneeling on the floor to start picking up books, and pointed a finger out the door, "You go take a nap."

"But-"

"I can fix this, I swear. Rest and hog all the blankets."

Springtime eyes lit up at the thought of not having to fight for all the blankets. "Ser, yes, ser!"

Fenris rolled his eyes, smiling at her as she shuffled out.

Kneeling, he started gathering the books in his arms, shooting a look at the two men still staring at the chaos in confusion. "Well? Let's get this cleaned up."