AN: I just want to say thank you, several times over, for reading and enjoying this. To all of my reviewers, the people who have favorited me or put me on their alerts in some way, you are what keeps me going. All of you are the reason I've made it this far even, and I'm grateful. Never be afraid of telling what you did or didn't like about the chapter, because I am more than willing to see what I can do to fix it. 3 Now on with the fic.

For once, he laid in bed awake in the early morning hours. He was as warm as he could be under the thick comforter, and the twin bands of steel that wrapped around his upper back and waist kept him firmly in place, even if he wanted to move. But he didn't, so he was happy.

He'd woken to the sounds of the others moving, and had suffered silently as the mage had checked on him without waking his companion. Then the two of them had quietly left them alone, and he busied himself with looking at his new master. Thick lashes curled on high cheekbones, and he swore there was some black surrounding his eyes to make them stand out even more. Not that he needed it, with eyes that were that red. Narrow brows, a straight nose, full lips that begged to be ravished, even in his sleep, and a jawline that he wanted to run his hand along. Not that it would stop there. His hand would slide up into the blue-black hair and lightly ruffle it, making it flip just a little more. Shaking his head, he dropped his gaze again, feeling as if he was betraying Danarius by simply thinking that this man was more appealing in a number of ways.

He allowed himself a small nuzzle against the other's collar bone as he relaxed once again, though he was soon rewarded with a soft sound as the other man loosened his grip and stretched a little.

"Where are the others...?" The smooth voice was sleep rough and sent a small shiver down his spine. But..he honestly didn't know the answer for once.

"I do not know...they left about one bell ago." The muttered curse was expected, as was his sitting up and releasing him, and he used his arms to push himself into a sitting position to get mostly out of his way. He watched as his master quickly yanked on his clothing from the day before silently, and wondered how to ask for help so he could perform his ablutions. It was an embarrassing topic for sure.

Thankfully, he was spared from asking as he was scooped up in strong arms and carried over. It was almost clinical, the way that he was taken care of in that respect, and he couldn't blame him. After all, it wasn't the normal way of things. Still, he wished he could at least walk. The saying of never knowing what you missed until it was gone was very true. The blanket that was on the bed was neatly wrapped around him once again, and he was carried downstairs. He could get used to this, truly, and he had to force himself not to delude himself. As soon as they returned to his home, he was sure that he would be used for whatever it was he had intended. There was no doubt that Danarius had gotten rid of him for his affliction, and hadn't informed his new master. It was probably irritating him and he knew he wasn't worth very much anymore.

Then again...that didn't seem to fit. If he was angry, shouldn't he be taking him back? Rather than holding him close as if he were more important than anything else, shouldn't he be demanding his money back for a faulty slave? There were so many things he didn't understand, but he was sure he would in time. For now, he relished the contact and relaxed.

"Ah Hawke, we were just coming to find you." Anders' voice was cheerful and he tossed a coin pouch toward them that Fenris quickly caught. "We got the carriages and horses lined up and they're all ready to go."

The silence that met the declaration made Fenris look up, and he was almost amused to see his master's mouth hanging open a little.

"Ye see, we decided that since ye were up well before the rest of us yesterday, we would let ye sleep and take care of details today." Sebastian showed up not far behind Anders, and Fenris didn't miss the touch that passed between the two of them or the smile given in return.

"So, if you'll follow us~" Anders voice was entirely too cheerful, something he somehow didn't think was normal, and he watched the mage turn and hurry off.

The box-like shapes in the distance were indeed carriages, each to be drawn by two bays. They were non-descript, likely meant for a noble's transportation while they were moving to another location. One of the doors were opened and he was placed inside on a plush seat before Hawke turned to the others again. And again, he was cut off.

"Climb right in there with him. Anders will be riding with you and the rest of us will be in this one." Isabela had already claimed the driving seat on the carriage she was on, which wasn't very surprising, and Fenris leaned forward a little to see what was going on a little clearer.

"Do you even know how to drive one of these things?" the question was directed at Anders, and he got a vigorous nod.

"How else do you think I escaped templars sometimes? Just get in already so we can get going." There was a not so gentle shove, and Fenris's eyes widened as Hawke nearly faceplanted right in his lap before the door was slapped closed. It rocked a little as Anders was climbing up outside, and the snap of reins was heard before Hawke even managed to right himself.

"Of all the bloody stupid ideas..." A glance out the window told him that the girl mage was sitting with Isabela, and that Sebastian was in the carriage alone. No doubt for appearances only. Settling back into his seat, he looked at the man across from him again as he roughly tried to neaten his hair.

"..it's a lost cause, you know," he offered quietly, and he got a quick look for offering anything. "I...merely meant your hair. it...looks good, in a disarray." He wasn't looking at the others face and missed the grin.

"Well you would say that...you did say it before."

"I...did?" He gave up on not looking and gazed back at the other man.

"A couple of years ago...you really don't remember, do you?" There was a slightly sad tinge to the smile he was given.

"I apologize...I truly don't." But oh how he wanted to. Everything that was said and done pointed to something on the edge of his mind that he wanted to recall. He wondered though, why he had forgotten. Had something happened to him, something horrible, that he'd forgotten everything about this man?

Either way, he heard the heavy sigh and felt the urge to apologize again. He almost did, but he felt fingers on his lips. Familiar, calloused fingers. He was quiet then, and sat back in his seat. It was going to be a long ride, and no doubt a quiet one.

There was a break for a meal as they moved across the back roads, only once passing the Imperial Highway. That was the only time Hawke breathed a sigh of relief, and he refused to stay in the carriage after that, instead chasing Anders inside to see what he could do to help Fenris instead and taking the reins for himself. He saw Sebastian shoving both Isabela and Merrill inside as well and grinned at the other rogue.

It started a race, and over the carriage's clatter, he didn't really hear anything else. A vague murmur, perhaps from the carriage behind him, but that was to be expected. It was when they were going uphill that there was a yell, distinctly in Fenris's voice and a rock to the carriage. Immediately, he reined the horses in, cursing that they were just hitting the mountains and weren't far from Kirkwall at all as he climbed down.

As he yanked open the door to find out what was going on, he saw Anders sprawled on the seat he had been occupying and Fenris pressed into a corner and clutching his head.

"Do NOT touch me again mage," it was growled, and somewhat pained.

"Well see if I try to figure out what happened to your legs then," Anders muttered and it just left Hawke feeling confused. When the mage laid eyes on him, he scrambled out of the carriage. "You're riding with that bastard again. I refuse to."

He opened his mouth to say something, then shook his head as Anders scrambled onto the seat he had been occupying to take the reins. It prompted him to move and climb in himself and shut the door again. The carriage lurched about as angrily as Anders had seemed, and he finally looked at the elf. His scowl was very familiar however, and it gave him a small thrill of hope.

"Fenris...what happened?" He lifted a hand and reached out as if to touch him and was stopped by a hand held up between them.

"I do not want him near me..until my headache subsides. And I will...apologize then."

"For what?" He was still so confused and somehow, the situation was mildly amusing to him.

"...For slugging him. He was leaning over me, with his hands on my head, and he was ridiculously close." The consternation on his face made Hawke crack up and he sat back himself, sliding down with both hands clutching his sides. "It is NOT funny Hawke! If I could kick you I would!"

"Well then I am temporarily happy that I have to constantly carry you around," he teased through his laughter, and then he had his arms full of Fenris as the elf tried to lean forward and smack him, just as they went over a bump in the road. He heard the muttering that went along with him trying to push away and only tightened the hold he had on him until the elf went limp in his arms and jabbed him in the chest.

"Let me go, you bru-" The words were cut off as he kissed him, despite the audible protest. He only got a small response before he allowed Fenris to draw away, and the elf ended up sitting in a heap on the floor.

Leaning down, he helped him up on the seat again and watched as Fenris hastily recovered himself with the blanket. "You don't have to hide from me you know."

"So you say. I've had more than enough people looking at me naked in the past week than I care to have again." Was that a hint of insecurity? He could almost overlook it and he shook his head some.

"For one thing, you're not naked-"

"I may as well be!"

"And for another, I think you still look wonderful." His compliment was easily brushed aside and he sighed softly.

"How much further to Kirkwall?" Deflectionary tactic, check. He didn't really blame him though.

"Hours, at the rate Anders is going. We were about to head up the mountains when you two made me stop."

"My apologies then." The sooner they were home, the better he would feel, Hawke was sure, but he didn't intend to let the elf go back to that drafty old mansion. At least not until he was sure he could take care of himself.

"You don't need to apologize for that..." But apparently their easy conversation was over. Fenris had turned his head away and was looking out the window. He wished he could ask him what was going through his mind, but that might be a little invasive for even him.

He'd dozed off somewhere through the mountains again. It wasn't because Hawke wasn't talking to him, but more because he wasn't really answering him at all. He'd pulled his legs up onto the seat with him so he could just wrap the blanket firmly around them like that to hold them still and resolved to do the distasteful thing of apologizing as soon as he could. The sooner it was done, the sooner he could actually be free to move around.

When he opened his eyes again, he looked across the carriage toward the other man. Of all the things for Hawke to have in his hands, there was a brilliant red apple there. His mouth watered and his stomach growled very softly. At once, he remembered the pie he'd been given the night before his 'party' and he swallowed hard. No doubt the pie was rotten by now, or rather, what was left of it, but he still craved the tartness of the apple.

He was caught licking his lips as he stared at the fruit, then it was offered to him with a half-smile. Of course the rogue knew what one of his favorite foods were. The two years that had passed since killing Hadriana had proven to be very trying, with Hawke trying to seduce him, all over again. He whispered a thanks before gratefully biting down into the rich fruit, eyes closing with the pleasure of the taste.

Some juice escaped down his chin, but he didn't even notice it as he enjoyed the small treat. It wasn't until he was glaring at the core of the apple that he noticed Hawke leaning forward, and he froze as a warm tongue traced up his chin. "You..."

"Just one." It was whispered, and he didn't have time to respond before he was being kissed. At first it was nothing more than a simple press of lips to his own, but that wasn't satisfying for either of them and Fenris found himself leaning forward, sticky fingers lifting instead to tangle in Hawke's hair. A tongue licked along his lips and he let it in, a very soft groan escaping him. It felt like it had been forever since he'd tasted the spice and muskiness of the other man, and he leaned further, the other hand curling on Hawke's shoulder.

Somehow one of the rogue's arms had found it's way around his waist, and they were now side by side instead of across the carriage from one another, and one kiss turned into two, then three. Neither of them had noticed they'd stopped until they heard a sultry voice to the side.

"Well I'm glad I don't have to pay to see this show," Isabela had opened the door and was staring at them greedily, wanting, rather obviously, to see them doing more than kissing.

"You have the worst bloody timing Isabela," Hawke's voice was little more than a groan and Fenris shook his head some, allowing himself a small smile.

"Well next time I won't tell you we're just outside of Hightown then. While you two were enjoying yourselves, we've been debating what to do with the horses and carriages."

"Fine fine.." Fenris had to chuckle at the resigned tone, then he gripped the rogue tightly as he was lifted again to be brought out of the carriage. "Just turn them around, smack them to get them moving, and let them run. I don't care about the coin we spent on them and they'll find their way to a farm."

Sebastian nodded. "And draw any suspicion away from us." The plan made perfect sense.

His gaze slid over to Anders where the mage was standing apart from the group, one hand resting over his cheek. He could see a dull blue light under his hand and he sighed softly to himself. He didn't even want to talk to the mage quite yet, and didn't want to be near Merrill any more either. Using his grip on Hawke, he leaned up even as he watched Sebastian get the carriages turned so he could send them away. "Would you please just take me home finally..?"

Crimson met green briefly and he got a nod before Hawke turned from the ragtag group. "Everyone..get home and have a good rest. I'll see you all later...if you come over anyway." The addendum pretty much told Fenris, at least, that Hawke had absolutely no intention of leaving his estate and he rested his head on his shoulder. He'd almost rather be there as well, but even the bed in the older mansion would be worth it. He didn't realize that they weren't veering off for the rundown place until Hawke told him to hold on tighter and he saw the Hawke crest hanging above the door.

"Why...are we here? Weren't you going to drop me off at home?"

He received a quiet snort. "You can barely hobble around by dragging yourself and you expect me to leave you somewhere that ..." He felt more than heard the deep breath Hawke took as he opened the door. "Here is safer..alright? Let's just leave it at that."

When the arm was back behind his back again, he relaxed his hold around his neck. "Fine...for now." Within a couple of days, he had to get back into Darktown somehow. Then, if it could be fixed, he could stop being a burden on everyone. His eyes cast to the side as they stepped into the main hall. The banner was gone, there was a stain on the carpeting in the middle, and there was still a sword standing in the corner. "So that's where it was..."

"Hm?" Hawke looked down to him with one brow raised.

"I remember wondering why I didn't have a sword...when I was in Minrathous. The answer is because it has been here this entire time." It was simple, and there was a sharp calling of Hawke's name preventing the human from saying anything.

It was his mother, coming down the steps as quickly as her feet could carry her and almost launching herself at the two of them to hug them both. The welcome would have been appropriate for Hawke, but as Fenris found himself only slightly fending off the woman's kisses and hugs, he found a bit of peace in the words that accompanied them.

"Welcome home darlings."

AN: *grin* Did the author's note make you worried that this was the last chapter? I've still got a couple more in me. See you next time.