A/N: I can't believe it's been 2 months *hangs head in shame*. I was very ill for 7 weeks (I have a chronic pain condition) and then I flew off to meet my amazing beta, so I have been very preoccupied. I hope a birthing scene makes up for it. I love you guys, thank you so much for hanging in with me 3
Fenris wiped his brow as he finally made his way to the estate. The sun had long since set, and after trailing the Wounded Coast all day with Varric and Sebastian, the elf was completely drained. He shut the front door behind him, and took a few steps forward when he heard a scream that froze him dead in his tracks. Hawke. Unsheathing his sword, Fenris bolted all the way up the stairs into the bedroom where he heard her cries. He swung open the door loudly, seeing Anders' hand clenched in Hawke's as he whispered soothing words to her. She was in her nightgown, beads of sweat trickling down her temples. Anders shot a look towards Fenris, whose weapon was still drawn.
"Nothing to panic about. She's been having contractions for several hours now and is a few centimeters dilated. It shouldn't be long now." The realization of the mage's words dawned on Fenris and he lowered his sword. "She was worried you wouldn't be here in time."
"Fenris," Hawke whimpered, her arm stretched towards him. Hearing her weakened voice snapped him out of his state of shock and he came to her side, sitting at the edge of the bed. He tossed his gauntlets aside, before he took her free hand in his, squeezing it tightly for support.
"I am here." He said, as he brushed a damp strand of chestnut hair away from her forehead. "How are you faring?"
"Oh, just peachy. It feels like a small ogre is wrecking havoc on my insides."
Fenris almost laughed at that, but the pained look in Hawke's eyes stopped him. Her grip on his hand tightened and another whimper left her lips.
"Another contraction coming?" Anders asked, and she nodded her head right before letting out a sharp cry. She wailed out, her fingers bruising Fenris' hand. His heart plunged into his gut, seeing his strong, brave Hawke in such a state.
"Do something, mage! She is in a great deal of pain."
"You think I would allow her to suffer? There is nothing I can do, Fenris. All women go through this. It's perfectly natural."
"It certainly doesn't feel that way," Hawke groaned as she writhed on the bed.
"Shh...sweetheart," Anders said but she glared at him.
"Don't you go shushing me!"
The mage looked as if he were going to say something but closed his mouth and kissed her hand instead.
"Oh Maker, how much longer is this going to last?" Hawke groaned, completely exhausted.
"With the way things are moving, I'd say it shouldn't be much longer." Anders reassured her.
But he was wrong. Four hours later, as the sun was beginning to rise in the sky, Hawke was still in labor. Drops of perspiration trickled down her temples and her hair was soaked and clung to her skin. Fenris took a cool wet cloth, and pressed it to her forehead as Anders examined her for what seemed like the tenth time. The mage's mouth was set in a tight line, and Fenris felt panicked, seeing his fingers covered in blood. Hawke's blood.
"What is it? Is she alright? What of the child?"
Anders looked at Hawke and squeezed her calves. "Alright Hawke, the baby is ready. I need you to start pushing."
Hawke nodded and Fenris climbed behind her, as they had planned prior. His legs were on either side of her torso, his fingers intertwined with hers. He felt her grip tighten, and somehow Fenris knew she was afraid. He had grown to know every single bit of her, whether she spoke the words or not, they were not needed. Fenris placed his lips beside her ear and whispered "I am here."
With that Hawke let out a deep breath, and began to push. Fenris assumed once she had started pushing, it would soon be over and done with, but that wasn't the case. She was pushing for nearly an hour, when she began to scream even louder than she had been.
"Oh Maker, it hurts!" Her grip on Fenris became tighter, his knuckles white from the pressure. It was then as Anders was examining her that his gaze met Fenris', and the elf could not miss the panicked expression set on his face. An icy grip squeezed at his heart.
"Hawke, we need to get the baby out now. I can feel that the chord is around it's neck. I need you to push again. I'm going to help pull the baby out, love. Push, now."
"Oh please…" she sobbed, trembling in Fenris' arms. Fenris could barely breathe at the thought that their child was in danger, and there was nothing he could do to help. He knew he had to be strong, if for no one else, for Hawke.
"You can do this," Fenris murmured, and with a nod of her head, she began to push again. She yelled loudly, straining to push and bear through the pain, as Anders inserted a few fingers inside of her to assist in pulling the child out. Fenris' chest was soaked with her perspiration, and he felt warm himself as his own anxiety was getting the best of him. There was blood, a lot more than he expected there to be, and although he was often covered in blood, it was Hawke's blood. His heart thumped rapidly in his chest, and he began to feel overwhelmed with worry.
"One more time." Anders said, his voice calm and collected. Hawke did as he said, whimpering and groaning through the process. Moments later, a sharp cry rang out, and in Anders' arms was a squirmy, tiny human. Half-elven human, to be exact. Anders laughed, his voice quivering with emotion.
"It's a little girl, Hawke," he spoke, his eyes watering with joy. "She made it."
"Let me see her." Hawke sounded exhausted, but the desire to hold her baby outweighed everything else.
"Just a moment, sweetheart. I need to examine her briefly."
Anders cut the umbilical cord before taking the child over to a table, and looked her over. As he did this, Fenris climbed out from behind Hawke, and sat at her side, kissing her softly. "You are a mother now."
"And you're a father." she answered as she stroked his cheek. Anders came over, baby in arms, with a huge smile on his face.
"She's a perfectly healthy little girl. See for yourself." He put the tiny baby in Hawke's arms, and Fenris felt her quiver with emotion beside him. He peered down at the child, his child, for the first time. She had dark hair like her mother, but definitely had many elven features; there would be no doubt who her father was. Her eyes were almond shaped, although they were hazy and it was unclear as to what color they really were at this point. Her little ears pointed ever so slightly at their tips, and she had a narrow nose. Her lips however, were round and full like her mothers. Hawke wept joyously beside him, and in that moment, Fenris was taken aback by the overwhelming love he felt instantly for this tiny baby he had never seen before. His child, his baby, his daughter. This little life was a part of him, and he knew from that very moment, he would do anything in his power to protect her.
"Would you like to hold her?"
"I...I don't know how." Fenris said. She was so tiny and fragile.
"Here, it's okay." Hawke placed the baby in Fenris' stiff arms. She felt as if she weighed nothing at all. He noticed that her eye shape and nose were almost identical to his own, and a smile spread across his face. His daughter was beautiful, half of him and the woman he loved. Suddenly, all the doubts he had a year prior, when he first agreed to his arrangement with Hawke and Anders, all the pain and heartache were worth it. He had a family now, even if it did involve the mage. "Thank you, Hawke." he said quietly, the emotion weighing heavily in his voice.
"No, thank you Fenris." Anders answered.
They named the baby Sadie Leandra, and she certainly was a spirited one. Fenris was positive all of Kirkwall knew of the child, for it seemed she cried endlessly for hours on end. Two weeks had gone by since the birth of their child, and the Hightown mansion was filled with gifts from their friends. On this particular day, Sadie was especially cranky. Anders was gone for the day, but Fenris stayed to assist Hawke with their child. She had tried feeding her, changing her, singing her ridiculous songs, but nothing soothed her raging temper. Her face was a deep shade of scarlet and her shrill cry rang throughout the bedroom.
"What do you want from me?" Hawke sighed, rocking the baby in her arms. "You are not hungry, you are not wet, you have been burped. Do you wish to torment me? Is that it? Why are you crying?"
"Hawke, your child will not see reason."
"She's your child too! And it certainly shows with her temperament." She said with a deep sigh. Fenris' face was set in a scowl. He envied the way Anders was always able to soothe Sadie. He could just scoop her into his arms, and whisper in her ear and the child would stop any signs of fussing. Fenris still to this day was not able to pick Sadie up without having her handed to him. He was terrified of hurting her, and he had no experience with infants. Hawke placed the baby down on the bed, and buried her head in her hands. "Could you please take her for a few minutes? I just….I can't right now."
Fenris froze, as he stared at the squirming child on the bed. Her cheeks were wet with tears and her arms and legs were flailing about. He took a step forward, but then froze dead in his tracks. Hawke looked up at him with a questioning eye. "What is it?"
"Could you hand her to me?"
Hawke raised an eyebrow, then exhaled deeply. "You still won't pick her up by yourself? Fenris, you're her father."
"But what if I injure her?"
Hawke stood up with a smile. "Trust me, you won't. Come here. I'll tell you what to do."
Fenris moved to where Hawke was standing in front of Sadie. "Place one hand gently under her neck to support her, and just cradle her with your other arm." She took his hand in hers, and placed it under Sadie's neck just as she instructed. Hawke removed her hand to allow Fenris to lift her on his own. He carefully scooped the baby up, his heart pounding aggressively within him. He held Sadie close to his chest as she cried. "Shh," he tried to soothe her, and rocked her gently as he had seen Hawke do many times before. To his surprise, her wails became sobs, and she opened her green eyes to peer into his own, her lip in a pout.
"Well, would you look at that," Hawke said with a short laugh. "Why is it that she only listens to her fathers? I'm the one that gave birth to her, the little traitor."
Fenris chuckled, and gently ran a finger under Sadie's pouted lip. The baby reached up, and wrapped her tiny hand around his digit. "You look tired Hawke, get some sleep. I will handle it from here."
"Are you sure?" She asked, hesitantly.
"Yes. She is my daughter, and I will see that she is taken care of. It is my responsibility too, after all."
Hawke planted a chaste kiss on his lips before plopping down onto their bed. "Oh, I'm going to enjoy this," she said with a yawn before closing her eyes. Fenris chuckled, glancing at her once more before leaving her to get some well deserved rest. He bounced his little girl in his arms as he walked down the hall, and soon, she too was fast asleep.
End notes: Opinions? What would you guys like to see next? I am open to suggestions!