Plans for the Future - Part 2

A bit of info for this:
• Justice makes an appearance, and by this time (probably since Act 3 really), Anders and Justice are pretty much completely in tune with one another and Justice fades in and out with ease, without any resistance from Anders. They do it together.
• My Warden, Isabel, gets a mention. The only thing you really need to know for this is that she's ruling Ferelden with Alistair, and went to Kirkwall with him during the "King Alistair" quest in Act 3 of DA2 (they even had dinner with Liv and Anders at the estate).

"Something doesn't feel right," Anders murmured, and fear gripped at Olivia's heart like a vise. He immediately realized his words sent her into a panic, and released a wave of calming healing magic from where his hand rested upon her abdomen, his gaze landing on hers. "The baby's fine, love," he clarified, and she finally relaxed, taking a deep breath as she watched him get back to his work. He focused on her stomach again, brows furrowed as the tendrils of his magic reached within her womb, sensing their baby growing inside her.

She still worried—she always worried every night when he would check the baby, until he declared them both to be fine. She couldn't help it, not after the miscarriage. She and Anders had started talking more over the past few weeks, starting to build back the closeness they once shared, and she knew he worried just as much as she did. The memories of the miscarriage still haunted them both, and it would for the rest of their lives.

At least now they started making progress in dealing with their grief. They were progressing in repairing their relationship as well, slowly growing more and more intimate as the days went on. They were still different people than they were back in Kirkwall, but they were coming to know each other again, and it was nice to have back a fraction of what they used to have. They still had a lot of work to do, but they were taking it one step at a time, determined to get it right for the baby's sake. They may not have known what their future held, but whatever happened, they would deal with it together… well, they would try to, at least.

Olivia's attention was drawn back to Anders when she heard him gasp, the sudden, sharp intake of breath almost setting her into another panic. He lifted his gaze to hers, his eyes wide and his mouth hanging open as he struggled for words.

"There's… there's two of them," he breathed.

"What?"

"Two babies. We're having twins, Liv."

"Are you sure?" she asked, her voice higher than normal, her breath hitching in the back of her throat.

Nodding, Anders swallowed hard, his hand still resting on her stomach. "I couldn't tell them apart until now, but there's two heartbeats."

Olivia suddenly felt dizzy as the air in her lungs rushed out of her, shock quickly twisting into fear as her heart thrummed faster in her chest.

Twins. They had six months to find a way to take care of not one baby, but two. Their situation was impossible enough with one baby to worry about… they needed a miracle if they were going to manage taking care of twins.

Swallowing hard, she stood up from the floor where she sat, beginning to pace back and forth across their small camp. "How are we going to raise two babies?" she asked aloud. Anders approached her, placing his hands on her arms to steady her, and Olivia released a shaky breath, her eyes focused on his. "We don't even have a plan for one baby, let alone two."

"I know, love."

"We need to figure out what we're doing, Anders!" she said, her voice raised, almost frantic. She rested her hand on her stomach, over their twins, and he ran his hands up and down her arms to calm her. "We can't… we have to protect them."

"We will."

"How?"

Anders ushered her back to the fire, gently tugging her down with him until they sat again. Lacing their fingers together, he took her hand in his before staring at the fire. The warm light from the flames cast a soft glow over his face, the dark circles under his eyes more prominent in the dim light. He was unkempt, his stubble now a patchy beard, loose hair falling over dirt-stained cheeks. Olivia figured she looked just as exhausted as he did.

He ran his hand through his hair, sighing before tearing his gaze from the fire, his eyes finding hers. "I've been thinking," Anders started, unsure. "When the King and Queen of Ferelden came to Kirkwall… Isabel said to contact her if we ever needed anything so she could try to help."

Olivia huffed, shaking her head. "And what makes you think she actually meant that? Nobles say things they don't mean all the time."

"She meant it, I could see it in her eyes," he replied, and she quirked an eyebrow at him. "She's lost a lot. She said she didn't want to lose anyone else."

"Anders, just because you're on a first name basis with the Queen of Ferelden—"

"She lost a baby, Liv," Anders sighed, and Olivia shut her mouth, speechless. "She would understand… and she doesn't want to lose anyone else. She would help us if we asked."

"And what exactly do you intend on asking her?"

"For protection," he simply answered. "If we could go to Ferelden—"

"Go to Ferelden?" she interrupted. "Do you really think she's going to want us anywhere near her country? We blew up a Chantry and started a war. We've probably caused her enough trouble without even being in Ferelden."

"We could at least try to contact her to see what she says."

"And how are we supposed to even do that? We're fugitives! It's hard enough to contact Varric, and he's not a queen!"

"We have to try!" Anders shouted. "Ferelden is the only place that could be safe for us. We have no other options." He gave her hand a squeeze, a pleading look in his eyes.

"Fine," she muttered, accepting that he was right. It was their only option. They were quiet a moment, both staring at the fire, his thumb rubbing soothing circles over the back of her hand. "And if it doesn't work?" she finally asked, not meeting his gaze. "If we can't contact her, or she refuses to help, then what?"

"I don't know… but I will not let anyone take our babies from us, not again," he growled, his grip tightening on hers. She felt a subtle shift in the air, one she'd grown accustomed to over the years, a shift she even found comfort in—the Veil between them and the Fade became a touch thinner. Looking down at their conjoined hands, she wasn't surprised to find Anders' skin alight with blue cracks, Justice shining through. "We will keep them safe," he rumbled, and she met the glowing blue of his gaze.

"So you're both in agreement then?" she asked. "If we do this, we'll have to stop helping rebel mages, at least for now."

Justice nodded. "I felt… pain… after the miscarriage."

"Anders' pain?"

"Yes." He paused a moment, thinking. "I felt it as well. It was not the same, but it was there. I would not like to feel that again."

Olivia offered him a sad smile. "Me neither."

"Then I will not let any harm come to them… or you."

"Thank you, Justice," she breathed. "I'm glad you understand."

"I did not, at first," he replied. "I do not like abandoning the cause of mages, but I now know it is necessary."

Olivia lifted their linked hands over her head so she could wrap his arm around her shoulders while still holding hands. Scooting closer to him, she sighed as she rested her head back against his shoulder. "I don't like it either," she murmured. "But yes, it's necessary."

They remained silent, and soon the faint feeling of the Fade disappeared. Anders nuzzled her face, tugging her closer.

"We'll help them again one day," he whispered. "We'll get them their freedom, and our children will be able to live in a world where they can be mages and free."

"That sounds nice." She looked up, staring into his eyes, now returned to their usual honey-brown. "Do you really think we can make it happen?"

He released a deep breath, his free hand coming up to caress her cheek. "I… I hope so. I won't stop trying."

"Neither will I."

She closed her eyes, her mind drifting as they continued to sit by the fire.

She still couldn't believe they were having twins. It would make the coming months even harder, but now, with a tentative plan in place, they had a fighting chance.