As I have mentioned in the summary, this story is part of, or better, the end of A Night to remember. Although it can be read as an independent tale, I think some explanation should be in order.

In "A Night" Anders isn't the villain; in fact, after a whole range of hectic events, he makes it to First Enchanter with Cullen as Knight Commander and Aveline as Viscountess. But after the peace and quiet finally have returned, something else happens. Some would call it disturbing, other exciting. If you want to know more about the background, just read the whole story but of course you don't have to.

As a PS, the sex scene in chapter 2 is in fact a reaction on what happened earlier but again there's no need to read that first.

Enjoy!

An Unexpected Surprise Chapter 1

Several weeks after all the excitement

'Is Albran still not awake?' Orana sounded innocently surprised. 'I mean, we all know she's not an early riser but it's close to mid-day by now and normally she's up and about around this time. If only because she craves for her morning coffee.' She looked expectantly at Fenris who sat silently at the kitchen table, absentmindedly munching his breakfast. Just like his wife he wasn't a morning person though usually he got out of bed before her. It had become a habit to bathe and dress while he let her sleep just a while longer. Especially after all that had happened. She deserved her rest. Normally though she would join him at the breakfast table with a yawned "Good morning" and come alive halfway her first mug of coffee. Before that it would be close to suicide to disturb her brittle peace, after those precious sips she suddenly was able to face the whole world and all the ugly problems it threw at her. And yes, normally at this time of day she would have come to life.

Fenris looked up with slight confusion.

He had been pleasantly surprised to hear Orana call her employer "Albran" without the appalling additive "Mistress". He cocked his head, the hand that had taken an apple from the fruit basket sitting on the table hovered halfway his mouth. 'It is rather late, even for her, I give you that. Not completely her style.' He caught the twinkle in Orana's eyes and assumed it wasn't hard to guess what she was thinking. Making love all night could wear a person completely out. But he knew that hadn't been the case. Not this time. Albran had been asleep before her head had hit the pillow. He put the apple back and tried fervently not to turn red under Orana's amused scrutinizing eyes. 'I will check on her. And take a cup of coffee with me,' he added hastily, knowing how much she hated to be hauled out of her bed but could be mollified with just the scent of the precious black liquid.

Little he knew the mischievous smile on Orana's face had had nothing to do with what did or did not happen the previous night.

'Albran, love.' Fenris had put the mug with steaming coffee down on the side-table next to the bed and gently poked her. 'Don't you think you have slept enough by now? Time to wake up.' He was met with a grumpily groan. She stirred but didn't reply. He carried on. 'There are invitations you have to turn down and Varric wants to know if we will be present at this night of wicked grace.' He made that last part up, knowing it would kindle her interest. She was always in for a game of wicked grace, if only to gloat upon the distraught if not wounded look the dwarf threw her when she managed to beat him at the game. Not so this morning.

'I want to sleep,' she murmured sulkily and hid her face in the pillow.

Right. Time to try another approach. He sat down on the side of the bed and drew his fingers slowly through her dishevelled hair. He stooped over her and mumbled into her ear, 'I brought you coffee.' He paused for a moment and let his voice drop a few notches to the soft rumbling resonating level he knew she couldn't resist. 'And if you don't want that, I can provide you with some other – alluring features.'

To his nasty surprise she swatted his hand away and pulled at the blankets in an attempt to cover her head. 'I said, I want to sleep.' This time she sounded outright irritated.

Not used to this kind of response to his seductive voice he lost his patience and stood up at once. His manly pride was hurt. 'It is already too late to sleep late, ' he growled fractiously and hauled with a swift and angry gesture the covers from her lovely frame.

'Oh bloody hell,' she countered crossly. She sat up with a jolt and glared spitefully at him. 'Okay, have it your way.' She jumped out of bed and threw her arms wide with a dramatic gesture. 'There. Out of bed. Happy now?' He had no time to admire her beautiful naked body because she staggered violently not a moment later.

Suddenly her vision became blurred. Everything started to whirl around her and a fountain of white stars exploded behind her eyes. She swayed, desperately trying to keep her equilibrium; she heard Fenris say something but his voice seemed to come from far away. She took an uncertain step forward, tripped over her own feet and collapsed. Despite his shock Fenris reacted in an instant and was just in time to catch her. He lowered her gently on the bed, still holding her close and she leaned her head heavily against his shoulder. Concerned he put a hand on her forehead but could not feel a disturbing rise of temperature. 'Are you ill? You don't feel feverish.' He sounded troubled.

Even in her drowsily condition she on her turn managed to sound annoyed. 'Of course I'm not ill. I just stood up too fast. That's what you get when you want to drag me out of bed against my will.' She didn't convince him and she knew it. She didn't even convince herself. 'And I'm hungry,' she added lamely.

He raised his brow in confusion. Even if that were true, her behaviour was still strange. But if it took just some food to deal with her extremely foul mood this morning, or almost afternoon, he would see to it she would receive it to get her back on her feet. 'That can be remedied. Just stay here, I will get you something to eat.' He tucked her in again and smiled charmingly. 'Breakfast in bed, how about that.' She didn't reply and he worriedly hurried out of the bedroom.

When he returned with a tray laden with bread, fruit and a plate with Orana's unsurpassed scrambled eggs, he found her leaning back against the pillows with her knees pulled up and wearing an expression that lingered somewhere between frustration and remorse. He noticed she hadn't touched her coffee and frowned.

'I'm sorry I yelled at you,' she said meekly, 'I don't know what came over me. After all you were right.' She didn't explain what exactly he had been right about. 'I, er, I tried to get up once more but almost fainted all over again. I really must be hungry.'

Fenris frowned some more. Must be hungry? She couldn't say for sure? But he plastered a smile upon his face and handed her the plate with the scrambled eggs. 'Here you go,' he said jovially, 'and I see the coffee has gone cold. I'll you fetch you a new cup.'

Albran wrinkled her nose in disgust. 'Don't bother,' she said, 'I don't feel like coffee this morning.' In fact the mere aroma had almost made her nauseous.

Now he got really alarmed but he tried not to show it. 'Tea?' he suggested weakly. At the same time he decided he would consult Anders if she'd take this any further. He almost wanted to shout out loud, 'Who are you and what have you done to my wife?!'

She gave him a lopsided smile. 'Tea would be nice.' At the same time she stuffed her mouth with the scrambled eggs but stopped eating after a few bites. Instead she started to move the pieces of fried eggs listlessly along the plate with her fork. 'It's a lot of food,' she murmured.

'You said you were hungry,' Fenris reacted testily. There definitely was something horribly wrong and he wished he knew what it was.

'I am not hungry anymore,' Albran stated firmly and put the plate on the side-table next to the untouched mug of coffee.

Fenris could just restrain himself to scream at her by biting his lip until it bled. But in the end he managed to get her out of bed and persuade her to get dressed. He brought her a cup of tea which she accepted gracefully and with an apologetically smile that melted his heart.

'You're the best that ever happened to me,' she assured him, 'I love you so much.' She kissed him warmly and he was willing to forgive her anything.

But he felt not that forgiving anymore when the same scene got repeated the next day and the day after that and again on the fourth day. He grew extremely vexed if not mortally afraid and his patience waned visibly. He completely missed the increasing fun Orana and Bodahn shared each time he returned to the kitchen to get some food or drink Albran had ordered and turned down the moment he had brought it to her.

'They still don't get it, do they,' the dwarf smirked after Fenris had disappeared for the umpteenth time, with a thunderous and at the same time very concerned expression flinging down an untouched dish of apple-pie and taking an unpeeled orange instead upstairs.

Orana very hard tried not to laugh out loud. 'They will find out soon enough. I hope.' She beamed impishly. 'Perhaps it would have been better if she had had the morning sickness. That always helps to trigger the mind.' She giggled. 'I'm afraid if this goes on some longer we will have to tell them.' And finally she couldn't avoid that explosion of laughter. 'Maker, who would have thought two people so worldly-wise could be so naïve and ignorant.'

'Cinnamon bums?' Sandal offered the moment the desperate elf returned from another unsuccessful mission. He let his words accompany with a broad innocent though somewhat uncertain smile.

Fenris started to scowl at the small dwarf but immediately changed his mind and demeanour. He realised the current mess wasn't the boy's fault. He sighed and sank down on a chair. He shot Sandal a tired smile. 'Why not. Everything else failed.'

'All right, I've had it,' Fenris said on the fifth morning, after he had got her with much effort and resistance on her part dressed for the day, 'I'm taking you to Anders now.'

'There's absolutely no need,' Albran started stubbornly.

'I said now!' Fenris shouted angrily. He grabbed her arm and without further ado he dragged her through the cellars to the clinic where he knew the healer held consulting hours during the morning. All the way she protested indignantly but he paid her no heed. 'Just shut up,' he finally snapped while he hauled her through the door. Inwardly he thanked whatever deity was listening the clinic was empty. Apparently nowadays even the people living in Darktown found their way to the Gallows - the Free Circle, he corrected himself, to find cure for their illness or injuries. The word had spread like a wildfire. Undercity habitants accepted at the posh even if still half ruined Gallows was a happening apparently everyone liked to experience. Even the ones who weren't sick or injured he suspected. In an absent way he noticed the clinic was swept clean and the empty cots where covered with bright white sheets. It even smelled nice. A vague aroma of lavender entered his nostrils.

Anders looked up from the tome he had been studying at the solid oaken writing desk that had replaced the smashed flimsy old one. He stood and stared confused from one to the other. Even or better especially after he had become the First Enchanter he cherished the early morning hours in his clinic. Probably because it was the only time he could find some peace and quiet. Or perhaps to get some familiar and reliable foothold in his overwhelming new world. 'What seems to be the problem?'

'You tell me,' Fenris snarled, 'or better her.' He pushed Albran in Anders's direction. 'For five days now she can hardly drag herself out of bed in the mornings. She is complaining of being dead tired and she gets dizzy all the time. She says she's hungry but doesn't want to eat. Look how pale she is! Don't say this is normal. And she doesn't like coffee anymore!' he ended as if playing his trump cart. He frowned and added, 'I'm deeply worried but she won't have it.' He looked at her angrily. 'Stubborn woman.'

Anders cocked his head and narrowed his eyes. 'Is this true Hawke?'

She grumbled morosely something about a storm in a tea cup and overprotecting marbari behaviour but didn't deny the charges.

'You'd better lie down then so I can examine you.'

With a face like a thunderstorm she followed his order and lay down on one of the new cots and grudgingly let Anders do his work. 'This better be worth my time,' she said ominously to both her husband and the healer. 'I keep telling you, there's nothing wrong with me.' Fenris glared darkly back.

After a few minutes Anders stood straight with a tiny and amused smile on his face. He scratched the back of his head.

'What?' Hawke asked, sitting up, 'why are you smiling like that? What's so funny?'

Anders tried to keep a straight face. 'When was your last period?'

'What has that to do with it,' she bit back, if possible getting more exasperated.

He sighed, rolling his eyes. 'Just answer the question, Hawke. It can't be that difficult.'

She clasped her hands in her lap and looked annoyed. 'I don't know. So many things happened, I didn't give it much attention. Probably last month.' She was silent for a while and frowned contemplatively. 'Or the month before ...' Her expression suddenly became confused. She thought for a few moments longer. 'Or perhaps a couple of months; it, it could be two ... not long before out actual wedding day ... but not after I think. That was ...' She stopped talking when the implications hit home. Her eyes grew wide. 'Oh fuck.' And realised at the same moment the stupidity of that particular swearword.

A big grin appeared on Anders's face. 'That's what I figured. Nice expression by the way, very accurate.' She wanted to strangle him but only managed to stare breathlessly. He paused for a moment to let the effect fully kick in. 'Congratulations Hawke. You're pregnant.' From the corner of his eye he saw Fenris become completely rigid. With a lot of effort he smothered an upcoming hearty laugh.

Hawke jumped from the cot and stared at him with panic. She had to hold on to the small bed to keep her balance. 'What? That can't be! How is that possible?!"

'Weeeell,' Anders said with a naughty twinkle in his eyes, 'when two people love each other very much –'

'I know that!' she cut him short with an aggravated growl, 'don't give me that crap; I'm not a child. I mean how can I be pregnant so out of the blue? I never even gave it a thought! This cannot be true! I wasn't expecting this!'

Anders grinned broadly. 'On the contrary I should say –'

'Shut up!' Hawke yelled, 'don't you dare to utter that stupid pun!' And suddenly she burst out in tears. With an aggressive twirl she turned to Fenris and pointed an accusing finger at her bewildered husband. 'This is all your fault!' she wailed.

The poor elf, completely stunned already by Anders's declaration, became even more upset. He looked helplessly at the First Enchanter.

'Welcome to the wonderful world of mood swings,' the mage chortled with wicked glee, 'I should get used to it if I were you. It will last for about half a year. At least.'

Fenris stepped over to his wife and closed her in his arms. 'I'm, er, sorry?' he volunteered, absolutely not knowing what else to say.

Heatedly she pummelled his chest. 'You idiot!' she yelled, 'why would you be sorry? How can you say such a thing! Are you sorry? Aren't you happy with it? You told me you wanted to have lots of babies and now I'm pregnant with the first you're not happy with it,' she whined. And wept some more.

'I, er, yes of course I'm happy with it,' he stuttered. At least I think I will be when this overwhelming news has got through to me. His own words, uttered after the wondrous lovemaking in the former Viscount's ridiculous large bathtub ricocheted and hit his mind. I want to grow old with you and have lots of little babies. She was right. Now the first of the row he had wished for was on the way he panicked. Though apparently he wasn't the only one. He coughed awkwardly. 'But it seems you aren't.' He sounded completely forlorn. And please stop crying.

She leant into his frame. 'But I am,' she declared with emphasis, 'it's just so sudden and strange and startling.' You don't mean. She looked up at him and smiled through her tears. 'Daddy Fenris,' she said and started giggling uncontrollably.

'Yes, I agree,' Fenris said desperately, 'it's very funny.' He drew his fingers through her hair. 'Perhaps it's best I take you home and make you a cup of tea? And then we can try to digest this information.'

She pushed him away. 'Don't patronise me!' she shouted furiously.

He staggered a step back. Yes, she had stopped crying but this was no improvement.

And then Anders burst out laughing.

They both looked at him, totally befuddled, forgetting all about their silly argument.

'What ..?' they asked in united irritation.

Anders wasn't able to utter an understandable word for quite a while but finally he managed, 'I believe Orana has won the bet.'

Albran and Fenris looked first puzzled at each other before they turned their guarded attention back to the hiccupping mage. 'Meaning?' Fenris asked cautiously.

'Oh, for the Maker's sake,' Anders hooted, 'it was so obvious Albran is pregnant! We all knew it. We all placed bets on when you finally would find out.'

Hawke narrowed her eyes. 'What do you mean, it was so obvious? I haven't even been sick!'

'You will be surprised at the number of women who don't suffer from the notorious morning disease,' Anders grinned, 'but the way you have been behaving of late spoke volumes.' He crumbled a little under her murderous glare. 'Let us say your, er, colourful character has become even more flamboyant. In fact we have been wondering how long Fenris would be able to cope with it before he would snap and try to do something about it. You yourself would not admit something's the matter even if you were lying on your deathbed.'

She glowered daggers at him. 'So you say I have been acting like a monster.'

'Well, that's perhaps a bit exaggerated, but –'

'No, you haven't at all,' Fenris interrupted him resolutely, 'strange, yes, but absolutely not like a monster.' He shot Anders a fierce look.

'That's brilliant,' Albran scoffed, 'apparently I've been the laughing stock of all of my friends. My so-called friends,' she added venomously.' She turned on her heels. 'I've heard enough. Come on, Fenris, let's go home. That is, if you can stomach my flamboyant behaviour.' And she stomped off. Fenris followed her but not after he had given the mage something that could only be described as the evil eye.

After they had left, Anders once again burst out in a fit of roaring laughter.