Title: Present: part 3Author: blackcherryangelGame: Dragon Age IICharacters: Fenris, Amber Hawke Disclaimer: I don't own any of these wonderful characters. All are the property of Bioware. I'm just thankful they allow me to play around in their universe.

Hawke mattered to Fenris. He couldn't remember anything mattering to him this much. Revenge mattered, but never a person. Not in a positive way. Fenris wanted to hear Hawke say she accepted him. That her need for him matched his own passion. He needed to lay in her warmness until he worked through all his pain, sorrow, and confusion. He came tonight to repair their lost friendship. Hawke was taking too many chances going to talk to that Templar in the Gallows. And Anders attached himself to her like a tick finding any excuse to come over to her estate. Why didn't I get back in the bed with her? She wanted to work through all of this with me. Why didn't I trust her enough to say yes?

The night they spent together he gave her everything that he possessed. Which wasn't much because the odd jobs he took afforded him no luxuries. The understood freedom that came with loving someone. He shared his soul with Hawke that night. "A man is suppose to take care of his debts." He said holding up the necklace before her. "This is payment for the night when you . . ."

"Payment." Hawke said. "Like I'm a whore by the docks?" Hawke's golden-brown eyes screamed as they filled with the one emotion her never saw from her. Fear. "Just go."

Fenris darted his eyes. This was not helping at all. They were finally alone. Nothing made them feel close at this point. "Began teaching me to read." He tossed back. "I wanted to give you something to thank you for teaching me to read."

All of his feelings for her were tied up in the image of Hawke naked before him. Fenris knew what she tasted like. He was familiar with the fragrant scent of her . Touch was a powerful thing. The lyrium branded into his skin became alive as he rubbed his body along hers. Her moans flooded his mind with a melody that to this day he could not get out of his head.

"You wanted to give me a gift? I wasn't expecting that."

He shook the necklace at her. "Why won't you allow me to do something for you?" Her eyes went to the necklace then focused back on him.

"I tried that once, remember." She said. "You got up and left before the sheets were dry."

"What?" Hawke didn't back down when he got in her face. "Sheets?" What sheets had I messed up? We stayed down in the sitting room for the reading lesson. And before that, I haven't been over here since our night. When their eyes locked, it came back to him. "Oh." Fenris cursed in Arcanum because did have the correct words to express himself in her native tongue.

"Translated that means I'm a stupid, useless mage."

"Stop this." Fenris grabbed her hard pulling her close to him so that they were only inches apart. Their breathing became calm and settled. "Look at me." Hawke flung her head back. She stood there. He missed their banter. She didn't laugh or joke anymore. Their eyes level just as they were the night they spent together.

"What am I to you Hawke? What do you see when you look at me?" All he could think about that night when her body danced under his touch. He quietly cursed himself for allowing Hawke to win his heart.

"Why do you ask me such things?" Her gaze soften until she could no longer look at him. She looked at the Hawke's crest still attached to his belt. She dragged her finger along it. Hawke tugged at it testing how secure it was. She studied him searching for a answer to a question. She exhaled wrapping her arms around his waist. Her head found his shoulder. He embraced her thankful for genuine affection Eventually, Hawke's lips found his. She was shaking. Fenris tasted the wine lingering on her tongue. The first kiss they shared wasn't this awkward. They parted and kissed again. Her hands made their way up his body. He was unable to talk to her about his pain. It was too soon. She would think he was weak. A fool. An uneducated mess.

Hawke and Fenris never fully separated. His free hand continued to press her hip into his. She no longer fought with him. She kept her arm draped around his neck. Not speaking. She took the necklace from him. "It's beautiful. The stone is perfect."

"Are you giving it back?" Why is she giving it back?

"Help me link the clasp in the back."

"You'll wear it for me?"

Hawke smiled at him for the first time in months. She placed the necklace back in his hand then spun around lifting her hair off of her neck. He didn't understand the pretense in all of human mating rituals, but he was willing to learn for her. He couldn't be the man she needed until he defined for himself who he was. Fenris was Danarius's slave. Danarius must die. With the death of a master, he would be free.

The scent of the wildflower soap still lingered on her skin. It helped him focus on the present and not his past. You needed to be almost on top of her to catch the fragrance. Hawke hated perfumed oils. She told him the expensive ones were too strong. She didn't want to seem like she was trying to catch a man by leaving her scent lingering on everything she touched.

Fenris leaned into her. Reaching around to put the necklace around her . She shivered as the stone kissed her skin. That caused her to back into him sending a rush of feeling that were so reminiscent of that night together. He knew she felt the same. She lingered a bit to long before she straightening herself. The damage was done. He felt himself becoming more aroused. People were here. Good. There were many nights in the mansion when his head filled with images of them together like this. Those nights ended with him taking care of his own needs alone. Ander's thought the unknowing was cruel.

Fenris understood what it was to be lost inside Hawke not knowing where he ended or she began. Snuggled up wrapped in each others arms. Torture was knowing he might never experience that again because he abandon her one night.

Not caring about the death that awaited both of them. Being with Hawke was the first time he knew peace.