Disclaimer: Dragon Age and all related names are owned by BioWare. I just play with other people's toys~

AN: Here's part two! Would have had it up sooner, but the local renn faire decided to rob me of my weekend. (And hell yes, I am /that/ kind of nerd! And sodding proud of it!) I was really happy to finally be able to incorporate Aveline into one of these drabbles. I just hope I did her justice.
Enjoy~

Somehow, even through her tears, Kianna managed to make her way back the Hawke mansion. She paused before entering, forcing her crying to stop and wiping the tear tracks from her cheeks.

Inside her home, she was greeted by Varen and Aveline. Hearing the door close, Aveline turned her attention from the mabari to the Champion.

"Hawke, you're finally home. There's something –"

"Maker, Aveline! Don't you ever sodding sleep?" Kianna lashed out.

Aveline took a step back and was about to fire a retort when she noticed the redness around her friend's eyes. Her expression and tone softened. "Hawke, what –" again she was cut off, but this time it was not by Kianna's words, but her actions as the Champion closed the distance between herself and the guard captain and flung her arms around Aveline in a tight, desperate hug.

In an instant Aveline went from the captain of the guard with a concern for the Champion of Kirkwall, to Aveline Vallen with concern only for her friend. "Kianna," she said softly, placing her arms around the now trembeling warrior. "What happened?"

"Isabela," was all Kianna managed to mumble out.

"That whore!" Aveline breathed angrilly. An exclaimation that only evocked a louder sob from Kianna. "What did she do?" Aveline demanded.

It took another few minutes for Kianna's crying to subside enogh for her to tell the story of Isabela's "miraculous" pregnancy. When she finished, Avaline looked livid.

"I'm going down to The Hanged Man right now and that whore and I are going to have words," Aveline annonced.

"Aveline, don't," Kianna caught the guard's arm and pulled her back.

"And why not?"

"Because...I don't know. Just don't."

"Hawke," Aveline said in a disapproving voice. "I know that look. You're going to take her back, aren't you? She cheated on you. If she thought she'd never get pregnant, thought she could get away with it, then Maker only knows how many times."

Kianna stiffened at the thought.

"And now you're just going to take her back into your life and help her raise this bastard child?" Aveline finished.

"I love her." The softly spoken statement was followed by a moment of silence.

"Does she love you?" Aveline asked, taking no pleasure from her question's suggestion.

"I think so," Kianna said softly.

"Then why? Why did she cheat?" Aveline gently proded.

"Why is the sky blue? Why is grass green? Why do mages and templars hate each other? Nature."

"That doesn't excuse it," Aveline said definitively.

"Maybe not. But it doesn't change the fact that I love her. That I need her. With Bethany in the Circle and Mother and Father and Carver all dead," she closed her eyes for a second, forcing back all the memories that threatened to spur more crying, "Isabela's the only family I have left."

"You know that's not true," Aveline said, slightly offended.

"I know, I know. But it's different. You know what I mean. You have Donnic," Kianna pointed out.

"What Donnic and I have – he would never do to me what she's done to you. This was never a healthy relationship, but now she's crossed the line. She cheated, she abandoned you, she –"

"I left her."

"Hm?"

"She told me she was pregnant. And I got mad. I yelled at her. Said horrible things. Maker," the last word was whispered as the tears started again. "I have to go see her. I have to make this right."

This time it was Aveline who caght Kianna's arm as she made for the door. "Kianna. Let it rest tonight. You're exhasted, physically and emotonally. Sleep on it, then go see her in the morning when both your heads are clearer," the guard captain said softly, but in a tone that implied she'd tie Kianna to the bed if that's what it took.

"Alright," the Champion relented. "In the morning."

With a smile, Aveline turned to make her exit, but Kianna's words called her back. "Aveline!"

"Yes?"

"Thanks," Kianna offered lamely. "You're my family, too."

"Good night, Kianna," Aveline smiled.

"Good night."