Disclaimer: Dragon Age II and all related names are owned by BioWare.

AN: I'M STILL ALIVE!
I must thank Peewit22 for giving me such a kind review and bringing this fic back to the forefront of my attention. Hopefully I'll have a few more stories in more rapid succession for you all soon.

"So what happens when you get your ship?" Kianna asked suddenly.

"What?" Isabela asked, caught off guard by the question.

"What happens when you get your ship? Are you going to leave...the city?"

Isabela paused. "Well, that is the idea. A ship isn't much good stuck in a harbor."

"I see," Kianna said, defeatedly.

"What?"

"No. Nothing," Kianna lied unconvincingly.

"You're a horrible bluffer. Never play cards with Varric – or me for that matter. Unless we're playing strip poker, in which case, do play against me," Isabela said with a smirk.

Kianna shook her head, fighting to keep from smiling.

"What?" Isabela asked more tenderly.

"I...don't want you to leave. But I know I have no right to ask you to stay. I'd never tie you down like that," Kianna said quietly.

"Oh, but I think I like the idea of you tying me down."

"Isabela, stop it!"

Isabela sighed and folder her arms across her chest in a mock pout. For some time there was silence between the two. Then, as suddenly as Kianna had asked her question, Isabela spoke again.

"Why don't you come with me?" she asked, her eyes lighting up at the thought of having both Kianna and a ship.

"What?" Now it was Kianna's turn to be caught off guard. "I – I dunno. I hadn't even thought of it."

"It'd be great! You could be my first mate! I could teach you all about sailing! You could help me keep the crew in line! We could share a bed in the captain's quarters!"

"I don't know, Isabela. I'm not so sure I could ever leave Kirkwall. This is home to me now. Bethany's still in the Circle here, and there's...well...Gamlen. Plus, what would Aveline do with out my help? How would Merill stay out of trouble? Or Varric, or Anders, or -"

"Maker! Hawke, I get it. You don't want to come with me," Isabela said, disappointment heavy on her voice.

"No! It's not that. I – There's nowhere I'd rather be than wherever you are, Isabela," Kianna breathed, leaning in close to Isabela's ear and planting a swift kiss just below it on her neck. "But, I just can't leave Kirkwall. I have too many responsibilities."

Isabela sighed dejectedly. "Well, I can't say I didn't see it coming."

"You'll at least come and visit? I'll make sure you can always dock here," Kianna said hopfully, adding "Oh go ahead, make the joke," upon seeing the mischievious smirk that crossed Isabela's face.

But the pirate simply smiled and shook her head. "Too easy. But yes, I'll visit. As often as I can. I'll take jobs that bring me home - to Kirkwall - whenever possible. But you have to understand that sometimes, I'll be here every month, then sometimes, if I can't find the right work...it could be a year or more."

"I've already waited longer than that for you in the past. And for you, I'd do it again," Kianna said, seriously.

Isabela smiled sadly. "I'll break your heart someday..."

Kianna shook her head. "Never going to happen. Plus, where else are you going to find sex like you have with me?"

Isabela's smile broadened. "Ah, you have a point there." She sighed. "But I'm afraid all this is rather a mute point seeing as I am still rather shipless."

"You won't be forever."

"So even after knowing I'll leave, you're still going to help me get my ship?" Isabela asked, intrigued.

"I said I would. So yes." Kianna deadpanned. "And anyway, I already said I would never tie you down...not like that at least."

"See," Isabela smiled predatorially, "now you're getting the right idea." She grabbed Kianna's hand and began leading her toward the closest bed.