A/N: I can't believe I'm writing this right now, instead of doing what I should be doing. lol. Oh well, just think of this being in the same continuity as "Sapphire".

Disclaimer: The characters in this story belong to Bioware and EA. The derivative work, however, is mine.

Carver absently thumbed through a book whilst sitting near the warm hearth of the Amell estate. The templar recruit had hoped to visit his mother but instead found Leandra out for an errand. Worse, he found his usually-out-adventuring older sister in for the day. Worst, Hawke had swindled him to staying for dinner.

He stared at the tall woman across from him and frowned. As painful it is to admit to himself his sister looked and took to the noble-life quite well. He shuddered as he remembered how his fellow recruits begged to be introduced to his 'hot sister'. He shut the book with a soft thud as his eyes landed on a small note on the desk.

'Good day Hawke,

Dropped by to water your plants and planted a bit of embrium. Hope you don't mind!

Lots of love,

Merrill'

Carver winced at the 'lots of love' bit. He finally addressed his sister. "Do you fancy Merrill?"

Hawke looked quizzically at her brother with a wooden mug in hand. She took a small sip. "Sure, why not?" she answered nonchalantly.

Carver turned red neck up. "But she's a girl," he sputtered, "and an elf! And a mage! A blood mage!"

Hawke raised an eyebrow. Then it dawned upon her, that kind of fancy.

Carver abruptly stood up from his seat, his armor clinking with the action. He paused for a moment, speechless.

"And a GIRL!", he finally punctuated.

Hawke casually strode to Carver then chucked a similar wooden mug to his hands. "Never stopped me before, I like pretty things." A bit of water found its way to the young man's face. "Aww, jealous?" she chided. "You always had the sweets for Miss Babble Boo-Boo." She then made kissy faces at Carver.

Carver snarled, slamming the cup on the table. Anyone else would have been alarmed with how angry he seemed. Hawke, however, only took it as an invitation for more teasing. She was more concerned with the water seeping through her letters.

"I'm serious, Sister." glowered Carver, whilst Hawke was drying her wet letters with a warm pulse from her hand. This infuriated Carver more, he hated how Hawke used magic for the most trivial things. "Will you listen for once? I have enough trouble keeping my philandering apostate sister a secret, I don't need Merrill attracting the same attention."

Hawke rolled her eyes. 'Philandering' she didn't mind but she hated the A-word. She'd prefer 'freelance mage' but it hasn't caught on. Well, better than maleficar, she thought. "Oh settle down, Carver. I fancy her alright, but not that kind." Her elegant face became solemn. "She reminds me of Bethany, that's all."

A small pain erupted within both Hawke siblings. An uneasy silence pervaded the room.

"A more elfy and unholy Bethany." finally said Hawke, forcing a laugh. Carver's gaze remain fixed on his sister even as she hastily took a poker from the fireplace and began shifting the ember. "Or was it Elvhen, rather...?" Hawke trailed off. Two years have passed but still, the absence of Bethany Hawke tugged at their hearts.

Carver knelt down and threw a few pieces of wood into the fire. His face was drawn to the side but Hawke could see the fire's glow reflecting in the moisture on her brother's eyes. Carver will never admit it but the loss of his twin hurt more than he's ever showed. Hawke rubbed the scar across her face along with any moisture forming in her eyes.

Then she promptly erupted fire from her fingertips, right past Carver's face. The templar backed on impulse and fell flat on his ass. The fireplace bellowed with the renewed heat.

"What the..." Carver slowly drawled, then cocked his head at Hawke. "Are you mad?" His face contorted with anger.

Hawke howled laughing as she offered a hand to Carver, who was still sitting with his ass on the floor. The same hand which she just projected fire from. Carver swatted the hand away and heaved himself up along with the great weight of his templar armor. "If only you weren't my sister I would've..." Carver spat at Hawke, who was already leaning on an arm at the edge of the fireplace with the other on her bended knees, weak from laughter. "UGH!"

The templar recruit stomped towards mansion's hall, away from his crazy sister. He was muttering curses beneath his breath.

"Brother!"

"What?" he spun around, his darker blue eyes bulged out from their sockets in sheer annoyance.

"I'll be with Merrill tomorrow to Sundermount," Hawke said breathlessly. An easy smile formed on her lips. "Shall I make kissy faces at her for you?" Her smile erupted into a toothy grin.

"Screw you!"

"Carver!" huffed Leandra, walking into the hall with a basket of assorted food stuffs. "I haven't seen you in weeks and I find you badmouthing your sister?" She thrust the basket into her son's hands. "Apologize!"

"But mother, she..."

"Apologize!"

Hawke feigned a forlorn expression. Carver gritted his teeth.

"Sorry."

Thus Carver decided to visit only when Leandra's home.