A/N: Hello everyone! This is my newest story, Inamorato, which is Italian for 'lover', specifically a male lover. This story will revolve around my female Hawke, Anders, and Fenris, and will have a plot that begins during the main quest of DA2 and then trickles out into post-game time and my own designs will take over. It will be a love triangle. Just thought I'd put that out there. As for how I played the game, my Hawke romanced Fenris. But in this story, the characters are all going to act slightly different because of my own plot thrown into the mix. Dialogue, when taken out of scenes, will be altered slightly intentionally, so don't feel the need to correct me about that. This first chapter is a bit M rated, just a warning in advance. Overall, this story will be mainly T-rated, and when any M-rated scenes are going to occur, you will be given fair warning so you can avoid it if you don't like it. Anyhow, I hope you all enjoy and decide to stick around. Please feel free to review and let me know what you think!

The mansion seemed lonely this time of night, Lyra realized, biting her nails anxiously. Her eyes gazed steadily into the flickering firelight kindling with life in the hearth, dancing a gleaming dance as it cast misshapen shadows upon the walls of the darkened room. The flames reflected in her pupils, accentuating the seriousness of her mien; she was feeling rather unsure about what she'd set herself up for. Was this really what she had wanted, all the way back when she had first taken him in, had she ever really yearned for anything like this? She thought she knew the answer, but she dared not admit anything to herself at that moment. She was too vulnerable to be giving second thoughts to any of her reasons for her actions – it was far too late. What had been said was said, what was done could never be undone. All that was left to do was follow through and give things a chance to work out. All she had to do was allow them to…

Echoing footsteps from down the hall. Instantly her head jerked up and she peered down the darkened corridor, her breath catching in anticipation. Would he really have come? Yes, she scolded herself. Gradually, a figure materialized into focus and glided toward her, a pleasant smile etched upon the handsome face that levitated before her. Not for the first time, she appreciated his chocolate colored eyes, the blonde stubble that always graced his chin, though she was sure it was more likely there because the man never had time to get everything done, let alone shave, than its being there was intentional. The smile grew into a slight grin, and then Lyra spoke.

"Anders. You came."

He nodded, but glanced sideways, as if referring to someone else momentarily. "Of course. Justice doesn't approve, though. He thinks I'm more than a bit obsessed…that it's going to be my undoing."

He then stepped forward, refocusing his gaze on Lyra, and continued with a serious tone, "I disagree with him. Which is a rare thing."

Lyra glanced downward shyly, feeling warm in the cheeks. "If you hadn't come, I'd be out there looking for you."

She wasn't entirely sure why she had said that. Only moments before she had been questioning her motive for nearly everything she had done so far since arriving in Kirkwall three years ago. How could she be sure she would have done anything about anything? She was confused, and she realized her expression was betraying her.

"Really?" Anders had titled his head ever so slightly, and his eyes were inquisitive. "Are you sure you…want me here?

Lyra hesitated just slightly. She was immediately barraged by the memory of Anders crushing her lips upon hers earlier that day in the clinic. Even if she hadn't really been expecting it, she had to admit she couldn't complain about his kissing abilities. What could be so bad about reliving that moment, maybe seeing just how up to par the rest of his abilities were? Nothing, she told herself. Nothing at all.

"Yes, I'm sure Anders. I…I trust you. Even if you don't think I should."

The look on his face told her she'd succeeded in convincing him, and relief swept through her at the evident gladness that washed over his own expression. It was all she needed as proof that he was serious about this…whatever it was. He stepped ever closer, and she felt the hairs along her arms stand up straight.

"When I was in the Circle, love was just a game, never anything more serious than – well you know. A few good one night stands here and there. It could never be something more. It gave the Templars power; they could use anyone you loved against you. It was a rule many of us set up for our own personal protection, you see. So, forgive me for taking so terribly long to finally…let you know how I feel." At this he sharply turned away, looking quite unsettled. "It would kill me to lose you." He finally stated.

Lyra momentarily felt her chest lurch, and impulsively reached out and laid her hand on Anders's back, feeling the need to ease whatever pain he suddenly seemed to be experiencing. His words fascinated her; no one had ever made any claims like that over her before. She wasn't quite sure what to do with them.

"You're…not going to lose me." She managed.

He slowly turned back toward her, and caught her eyes with his own, which looked like melting chocolate at the moment. Firelight seemed to suit him just as well as daylight, Lyra mused. Anders grasped her hand in his own, and held it to his cheek emotionally.

"No mage I know has ever dared falling in love…but this is the rule I will most cherish breaking." He uttered fervently.

For a slight second, Lyra's mind circulated around that word, 'love', and she thought to herself, Love…so that's what I'm getting into. Before she could hazard the concept anymore thought, Anders was kissing her, and she couldn't help but let herself go and throw caution to the wind. Once again, she found herself swept away by the ardor of his touch, his breath, the gentleness with which he regarded her, and in every moment the way he seemed to pause and gaze at her, as if he needed to be reassured she was truly there and was not some specter in a dream.

Lyra wasn't entirely sure what to do. In all honesty, she hadn't really had much experience with this sort of thing. Men, sure, she could play them left or right and she wasn't a novice to a heavy kissing session; but this was entirely different. She'd never let anything go this far before. Beforehand, she wasn't sure she was even ready for this. Now, she couldn't help thinking she just needed to do it. She was young, but she wasn't as young as she used to be. It was time to cross this bridge called love and see where it would take her, especially now that she had someone who seemed to be willing to cross it with her. It was at that revelation that she pulled away, though not too far away. Anders still held her in a tender embrace, his eyes searching for an explanation.

She demurely looked over her shoulder, where she knew her bed waited. When she turned her head back to Anders, he seemed to take the hint. Having lost all abandon, he apparently didn't need any more convincing that she was sure this time – he more than eagerly closed the slight space between them, returning to kissing her while at the same time edging her backwards. She allowed it. Upon reaching the trimming of the sheets, she separated from him yet again and leaned back until she was able to fall enchantingly downward and land upon her soft, downy coverlet. Without any beckoning, Anders lowered and hovered over her, moving his hand to brush a stray strand of her dark hair out of her face. He smiled again, and Lyra had a feeling this would be all that she'd heard it would.

/•|•|•\

Ow.

That was the first thought Lyra had a while later. No one had mentioned that part before, but she had a feeling it went with the territory. She mentally chastised herself. She took worse pain that this on a daily basis. Furthermore, she reasoned, it could probably be a lot worse if Anders had been in a 'love beast' mood. He hadn't though. He had been extremely tender and careful, respectful but not so much so that things got awkward. It had felt natural enough, Lyra concluded.

"You should have told me." Anders said quietly.

Startled, Lyra turned her head sideways on the pillow and looked at him. He was a marvel without his robes on, she noted as the fire illuminated his sculpted chest and abs. His hands were tucked behind his head, making him look entirely satisfied and pleased. The only feature out of harmony with that laconic image he presented was his expression. He looked…guilty? Was that it?

"Told you what?"

He titled his head toward her and sighed as if she weren't being serious. He made no response and just continued to stare her down until she felt she had to say something.

"…What?"

He rolled onto his side so that he faced her and stretched out his arm to touch her cheek, "That you'd never done this before."

"What makes you say that?" Lyra forced out, trying to cover up anything that might blow her cover. She didn't realize it was all ready blown.

"Don't do that."

"What are you-"

He sighed and pointed, stopping her from continuing her defense. She followed his index finger and looked down at the sheets. Crimson. Panic was her first reaction, and she felt the blood rush from her face. What had happened?

Anders realized she didn't know anything about how sex was supposed to happen other than the bare essentials of it, and immediately touched her arm in an effort to comfort her.

"Calm down," he said, "It's completely normal. It only happens the first time."

Oh. She thought. So, that's what gave me away then…She also figured that was why he looked guilty to her. Perhaps he was one of those noble guys who didn't believe they deserved anyone's virginity. To her, it wasn't that huge of an ordeal. Now, she was feeling a little differently about the matter. No wonder people made such a fuss over it if it caused women to go through this sort of mess. The sight unnerved her, and she immediately wanted to move away. She felt dirty somehow. She swung her legs off of the bed and stood; it was when she started walking she noticed the slight soreness. Naturally, she assumed that came with 'the first time' as well. It wasn't all that great, she decided.

Anders followed her and moved in front to halt her forward motion, putting his hands on her arms, grasping tightly, and standing still, like an unbreakable wall. Without warning, she buried her head in his bare chest and felt her eyes water. What was wrong with her? Was this part of it as well? She hoped so, because the overwhelming sense of vulnerability and weakness was not at all like her in the slightest. She was thankful Anders wasn't freaking out, because she certainly was.

"It's okay, Lyra…ssshh." He crooned for a few minutes.

"I'm sorry." She finally managed.

"No, no, don't be. I'm honored, truly, I just…had no idea."

She chuckled softly, and felt better. "Apparently, I had no idea either."

Anders pulled back and gazed at her, a warm, comforting expression peering at her now. When he decided she was stable again, he moved away and walked back around to the side of the bed. Without warning, he gripped the sheet and then yanked it off the bed, leaving it bare save for the comforter. He smiled after tossing the soiled sheet off to the corner of the room.

"There now, come back over here."

A few minutes later, they were back in the bed with the comforter spread over them, Lyra's head resting in the crook of Anders's shoulder contentedly. She was calming down more now, realizing that if everything that happened was normal, then she wasn't about to die or anything. She was just about to doze off when Anders spoke softly.

"Lyra…I love you."

Her eyes were more than willing to stay open now. She looked up at him, surprised.

"I've been holding back from saying that until now. Just a bit ago…you deciding to trust me without even knowing what to expect…it made me realize I do. Wholeheartedly. I could never ask for someone to trust me as much as you do, to put as much faith in me as you have." He smiled appreciatively at her. "But you deserve a normal life…not one with a fugitive like me – a mage ever on the run from Templars. You deserve a future, something I'm not even guaranteed to have for myself, let alone you." Another pause. "I don't want to leave you, though."

Lyra digested his commentary. It wasn't something to just toss aside without a so much as a second thought. She had been alone her entire life as far as trust and love went. It was high time she tried a real relationship, and Andraste, it wasn't like she hadn't just taken the first step. She might as well see this through all the way.

"Then don't."

She felt him shift slightly and move so that he was looking down at her, hope shining in his eyes.

"Do you mean that? Would you really have me here with you for the world to see? They know what I am. They would talk…who knows what would happen."

"I don't care." Lyra heard herself say. "I mean it. I want to really do this."

He seemed mystified, but extremely pleased about it nonetheless. "That's all I've dreamed about for the past three years…but I'm still terrified I'll wake up in the morning and all this will be gone. A passing shadow in the night."

Lyra smiled. "It's not a dream."

She was answered with another kiss, and even though she wasn't entirely sure she was ready for it, she wanted to get past the previous disappoint her 'first time' has granted her and experience what she had heard about. She returned the kiss deeply, and felt hormones surging through her veins yet again.

She still wasn't entirely clear about what her expectations in the long run were, but for the time being, she was satisfied with this new thing that she'd never experienced before. 'Love', it was called. She herself had not said that word just yet, she realized fleetingly, but the thought was drowned out of consciousness a few kisses later.