It was quiet in the library, eerily so.

The mage had said she'd be fine, but there was more shocking news then that...

"So, you going to tell her when she wakes up, Fen?" Isabela called, leaning on the door frame, arms crossed over her breasts.

"Go away," he hissed.

"Just answer me. It'll be better coming from you then anybody else!" the pirate paused. "Are you?"

"Yes, I see no other options." the elf sighed.

"Your impossible. Katie will be shocked, and your the only one she can turn to. Bethany has magic, so they aren't similar, no matter how close they seem." Isabela paused. "You think she can trust and speak her mind with just anybody?"

"No, I know she can't."

"Well, you don't act like it. Sure, she's friends with Aveline, Varric, myself, Kitten. But she can't talk to us the way she talks to you. The woman...I envy her, for many reasons."

"I get it, Isabela."

"No, you don't, Fenris. If you understood then you'd be up there now, watching over her!" she spat, it was silent for a moment.

"Do you know how it feels to have somebody ripped away from you?" he asked her. "Because that's how this is right now. She is injured, and there is nothing I can do, and I know it! That's what hurts the most!" he snapped. Isabela looked as if he had struck her across the face.

"I didn't mean it like that, I...I'm sorry. She just...her affection is clear."

"Just...leave."

"I will, now," she continued. "I have to visit Kitten."

"Good, go, leave me in peace." Fenris muttered as she walked away, silence engulfing the room once more.

-x-x-x-

Kathrine sat up, clutching her side as she groaned.

"You know you shouldn't move, Kat." a voice laughed. It was familiar, the deep and loving voice.

"Come, come. You know me, Fenris, I don't listen." she joked, swinging her feet over the side of the bed with a grimace. Fenris came and sat down next to her.

"I remember you yelling 'No, I won't allow it!' but, nothing else. What happened?" she asked.

"You were shot in the back with an arrow. Just missed your heart by an inch, for once, I have to thank Merrill, she used the last elf root potion and it saved you until we got you to the mage's clinic." he explained. "Everybody was worried, you've been out for three days."

"I see." she sighed. "Well, anything else I should know?"

"Yes, but I'll tell you when I help you change your dressing." he responded. Kathrine lowered her head and looked at the burning flames in the fireplace.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, her eyes welling with tears. "If we had never gone then nobody would have been worried, or if I had been more careful, I'm an idiot." there was a moment of silence and she felt him grab her shoulders and twist her to face him.

"Kathrine Hawke," he said, moving one hand to lift her face up. "Your being too hard on yourself, your fine."

"But it's true, I should have been more careful, I should have known!" she managed, pain gripping her body. The elf's grip didn't loosen.

"The archer was behind you, you could have seen him," Fenris argued. Another moment of silence.

"I'm sorry," she murmured. "Your right, I just...I feel horrible." she added, collapsing against his chest.

"Come on, let's redress your wound," he sighed. Hawke sat up and nodded.

"Thank you," she said and he slowly untied the not in the cloth that was covered with the Champion's blood. She sighed.

"About what you were going to tell me..."

"You have to take it easy, Kat." he replied, reaching for a wet cloth to clean her wound. It touched her back and she winced.

"I'm fine, it'll be healed in no time, it's not that bad, either." she assured, grimacing.

"That's...not what I meant," he told her, setting the wet cloth down and taking a dry one. She arched a brow as he dried her back.

"Oh?" she questioned.

"The mage...he said...that you were carrying a child." Fenris finally told her. Kathrine nearly jumped.

"What? No, that can't be right...I was careful..." she trailed off. It was silent as he put the clean dressing on and Kathrine put a hand on her stomach after a moment. "I just...will I be a good mother?"

"Kat, you'll be a wonderful mother." he told her. The rogue's lips twisted into a smile.

"Yes. But, Fenris, will you stay? With me, I mean." she asked, moving to face him again.

"Why would ask such a question?" he responded, confused.

"I...I didn't know if you wanted children or not..." she managed, averting his eyes.

"Kathrine," he said. "I will stay by your side, through everything and anything. You have done that for me."

"Thank you, Fenris, that means a lot to me," she whispered. He put a hand under her chin so she looked at him.

"I love you, Katie, I could never leave." he said.

"I love you as well, Fenris." she murmured before they kissed.