Author's Note: Chapter 2 D

I've been too busy to play DA2, with school, family and what not. So I just type this up at night while I'm supposed to be sleeping, that's how I get my Anders time in 3

BTW Everything but my idea for this fanfic belongs to Bioware


"Dear Diary…" Solana began, cuddling up nice and snug to her love. "I met the most wonderful man…"

"I was walking with Lanna, going shopping in Hightown. We were enjoying ourselves, shopping and talking when we lost track of time, and night fell. Everyone knows it was dangerous, even in Hightown, to be alone at night. There were thieves, muggers, and even rapists around at night. Of course we were scared, and didn't want to split up. But Lanna lived on the other side of Hightown, and we would have too. But instead of splitting up, I offered to take Lanna home, and then walk home alone.

I admit…that wasn't one of my brightest ideas…"

Solana heard Anders make a small noise of disbelief.

Solana turned to him and made a face. "What?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I see where you get a lot of you cockamamie ideas from."

Solana elbowed him. "What "cockamamie" ideas?"

"Like the time you and Isabela- "

"Shh I want to read this…"

"But- "

"On my way back, the worst happened. Though I can't say I didn't know it would happen. I was attacked. I still don't know who the man was or what he wanted, but by the time I turned around. A lightning bolt knocked the man off of his feet and into a wall."

"I'm guessing there were no Templars around…" Anders interrupted with a sly grin.

Solana elbowed him in the ribs again and continued to read.

"I didn't scream. I was in too much shock to really even breathe. The events that happened just seemed to blur together until the mage who saved me came to my side. He helped me too my feet and asked if I was alright. I was fine, besides my new dress being dirtied. I knew right away this man was an apostate mage, but he didn't seem like the monster image the Templars put in your head. He was kind and gentle, and even walked me home.

He bowed like a gentleman, saying something about it being a privilege to escort a beautiful lady home. I asked his name and he said it was Malcolm Hawke. I hope I get to see him again."

Solana marked the page and closed the book. "That's the end of that entry."

Anders held Solana a little tighter. "So that's how your parents met?"

Solana giggled lightly. "Yep…I heard that story many times. I can still hear father telling it, with a few exaggerations of course."

Anders laughed a bit. "Exaggerations?"

Solana stood on the bed, pulled out a dagger hidden on her person - she was always prepared – and thrust it in the air like it was a valiant sword. She began to mimic her father. "And then I slain the evil dragon and saved your mother from certain death!"

Anders began laughing. "That is one big exaggeration."

Solana hid the dagger away and sat down across from Anders, sitting with her legs crossed. "That was only one."

Anders smirked again; Justice still hadn't surfaced so he was still in a good mood. "What were some of the others?"

Solana stood back up on the bed and grabbed one of the posts, and held onto it as she pretended to hang from it. "I was walking innocently along when I saw Templars trying to take a woman away, saying she was a mage! She obviously wasn't but they didn't care! So I valiantly swooped in, froze the Templars in their place and ran off with the lovely lady."

Anders chuckled, that would have to be his favorite one even before hearing the rest.

So the two spent the next few hours laughing and smiling together, neither could remember the last time they enjoyed themselves this much. She also hadn't seen Anders smile this much in one sitting since she met him. It was nice, and she wouldn't question why. She loved seeing Anders happy, and wished his smile would never leave.

Night had fallen hours ago, and Solana was cuddled under Anders' arm, both of them staring dreamily into the fireplace. This had been the most fun they had in a while, but both of them knew that at any minute they would have to start running again.

"Anders…?"

"Yes, love?"

Solana looked from the fire to his hand placed on her shoulder, trying to avoid his gaze. "I just was wondering, why you are in such a cheerful mood all of a sudden."

Anders shifted; she had noticed his mood change but not the reason why. The first week they were running Justice did nothing but yell and bother Anders about taking Solana along, and that the next thing they should do was free more mages from the circles instead of hiding. But one day, Justice all of a sudden fell silent. Anders knew he was still there, he could feel Justice inside him, but he said nothing.

"Justice has been oddly quiet." Anders spoke, gently squeezing his lover's shoulder. Anders saying that caused Solana to look at him in disbelief, which he only responded too with a nod.

Anders then continued. "I never got peace, not in my sleep, not even when we…you know." He blushed a bit. "He would go on and on, and his words only fueled my anger which caused him to change. After a while he fed off my anger…" His grip on Solana's shoulder grew tighter. "Around the time I blew up the Chantry…" saying that earned a small "pffft" noise from Solana, "He began asking me to do terrible things, he asked me to kill innocent people he suspected of being a templar, and even…" he trailed off.

"Wanted you to kill me…" Solana finished his sentence, looking slightly horrified, but not surprised.

"He thought you might be a threat to our cause. I defended you, saying your sister was stuck in the circle and your father died an apostate, but he didn't care. He didn't care how much loosing you would drive me over the edge." Anders couldn't look at her as he spoke now.

"That's why before you blew up the Chantry, you became distant towards me, everyone." Solana spoke looking up at him.

Anders nodded. "Justice saw everyone as a threat to the cause…his cause…our cause."

"Maybe he got tired, or even went back to the Fade."

"He wouldn't go back there willingly, and I don't think he got tired." Anders said, finally looking back at Solana.

Solana smiled at him, giving him a light peck on the cheek. "Well…let's worry about it later – if at all – and just relax."

Anders nodded and smiled back. "Great idea, let's get some sleep, its late."

Solana got that certain glint in her eye that Anders knew all too well. "I have…something else in mind."

"Oh? Ooooh…hehe. Should we do something special tonight?" Anders asked, a light pink blush gracing his cheeks.

"I have admired your great bravery and strength for so long, Anders. Being a Grey Warden must be so hard." Solana sat herself on Anders' lap with a small smirk. "You must get very lonely out protecting everyone from those dangerous and nasty darkspawn. Ooh! Look at these arms; you must be very…very strong."

"I am fair lady." Anders began with a smirk, gently taking Solana in his arms. "But I can be gentle as well…"

"Well do try to be gentle with me…"

Anders kissed her deeply, and soon they lost themselves in a hot and well needed passionate night.