Once Hawke and Fenris was out of sight, I slid down to the floor of the cave, curling up into a ball and crying.
Why was this happening?! Why did my heart have so much love for not one, but two men?! Why couldn't I just choose?!
About an hour passed before I picked myself from the floor and slowly returned home, the pain from the stab wound was starting to act up again. I ended up going to work first, explaining the situation about my wounds, and then walked home.
When I got home, Anders pulled me into a tight embrace.
"KELLY! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?! YOU'VE BEEN GONE FOR ALMOST THREE HOURS!"
I looked into Anders's eyes, my own were still swollen and red, as new tears slowly began to form.
"Kelly...?"
I wrapped my own hands around him, curling into him, and sobbing into his shoulder, too upset to speak. Anders sighed, petting my head with one hand while guiding me to the bed, sitting me down.
"Hey... Are you ok...?"
I looking at him once more.
"Anders... I love you with all my heart... but I'm a fool... I... I fell in love with two men..."
His eyes grew wide, but didn't say a word.
"Anders... I don't want this... I want you... I finally have you, and I don't want to share this heart with anyone else... I waited too long for this..."
"Kelly..."
The blonde haired mage sat beside me, gently pulling me into a hug.
"I actually know how you feel... That use to be how it was with you and Karl..."
My gaze shot up to him.
"R-Really?!"
He nodded.
"I used to love both of you, and it was a struggle I always had..." he sighed, "but I didn't want either of you hurt, since I continued to run away from the Chantry and the Circle... I didn't want either of you hurt..."
He began to shake violently.
"T-Then... Then they took him..."
I knew exactly what he was talking about, so I held him just as tight.
"It wasn't your fault, Anders... You were trying to help him, and they took it too far..."
I could feel water hitting my face as I held him.
"I COULD HAVE SAVED HIM! BUT I WAS TOO LATE! AND THEY TURNED HIM TRANQUIL! ALL BECAUSE HE WAS SCARED! I-It's all my fault..."
"No it's not, Anders..." I pulled away, seeing the tears pouring down his face, "Neither of us could have done it. You tried your best, and I know Karl would have been proud of you for not giving up, and not running away. You've grown up so much, love... You use to run and hide, yet now you're trying your hardest to make up for all that now."
My hand cradled his face, which he leaned into, which I smiled slightly.
"I am so proud of you... You've done so much more than any of us thought you would, and I am proud to stand by your side... Both as your best friend and the love of your life... So let's work together to make sure that it doesn't happen again, even if I'm constantly getting myself into trouble... " I tried to joke through my own tears
He lifted a hand, and held it against my own.
"Kelly... Thank you... And thank you for being honest... I admit, I'm a bit jealous, but at the same time... I know he'd be a lot better for you than I would... With Justice..."
I growled, slapping his face. Especially because I KNEW he knew who I had been referring to...
"HOW COULD YOU SAY THAT?! I DON'T CARE ABOUT JUSTICE! I CARE ABOUT YOU! I'm not afraid of him! And I know you're going to argue about it, but I HAVE ALREADY MADE MY CHOICE! I CHOOSE YOU!"
He held his face where I had slapped him.
"Even if Fenris...?"
"I love Fenris, yes. But I have loved you for almost as long as I have been in Thedas. I have waited and wanting you for so long... And now I have you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you...!"
"Kelly..."
I smiled, wiping my tears away.
"You're an idiot, but I love this idiot... Even if he gets himself into trouble. Do you still love me...?"
He smiled and nodded.
"With all my heart..."
"Then that's all that matters to me. I... Just can't work for a few days is all... Not only because I'm not ready to face him right now, but they want me to take it easy after I explained that I got hurt today. 'Better ta have one less man, than 'ave one die on me!' they said."
I laughed, the weight of my anxiety finally lifted... Mostly...
Anders stroked my face, smiling wider.
"Even if it's dangerous to be with me, I'm glad to have you still stand by my side... I hope you never forget that..."
I leaned in and kissed his lips.
"I never will."