***Author's Note***

Okay, a small warning: This chapter contains pretty graphic and traumatic descriptions of birth. Please don't read if you don't want to know where babies come from.

Also, I have yet to decide on the future of Fenris and Sophie, so if anyone wants anything in particular to happen...let me know.

Please review! I like to know what people are enjoying and what they think I need to change.

-Sophus xx

Chapter 25

All Sophie could do is stand there as she watched Sarah be carried to her room. People rushed past in blur collecting things to help; towels, water, Lyrium, Elfroot, and all she could do is watch.

Her entire life had been a whirlwind of poverty, beatings, punishments and servitude. Sarah was at its center, a light that Sophie fought to protect. And then they were here, in Thedas, and the tables had been turned. Sarah was the one to protect her. And now she was bleeding out and all Sophie could do is watch as the blood soaked into the carpets.

Somewhere she could hear Anders barking orders "Heat the water!" or "Get her on the bed!" He grated on her nerves. She knew he would put Sarah in danger. This is his fault! Look at what he has done! Her anger bubbled beneath the surface as she watched her brother carry their little sister up the stairs. Amber eyes flicked to Anders and she held his gaze, she poured all her hatred into it. Malice, it turned out, was a powerful thing as it drained the colour from his face.

She felt a hand lightly land on her shoulder, she knew it was Fenris. "Sarah is asking for you." She nodded and walked away.

Her Sarah was screaming. The noise burnt into her brain and made her shut her eyes tight. It got louder as she climbed the stairs, she could hear Hawke crying out for help. Sophie opened the door to her sister's room and had to fight with herself to not turn back.

The metallic smell of blood filled her nose and settled at the back of her throat. Sophie desperately wanted to cover her face, but looking at Sarah and the pain mixed with relief mixed with fear made her stop. Sarah needed her and Sophie couldn't abandon her now. Blood smeared the blue and white of the room but she ignored it all as she came to Sarah's side.

"It hurts Sophie! I can't-" A scream tore from her throat. Sophie put on a passive face to hide her own fears as she leant her sister forward. She climbed behind her and allowed her to lean against her.

"You must." Sarah clamped down on Sophie's hand as a new pain tore through her. Sophie lent her strength to her sister and best friend. Hawke shouted for Anders.

He was followed in by Orana, Merrill and Isabela. Merrill's hands flew to her mouth at the sight of the Hawke siblings. The rogue holding her sister as she clawed at her through her pains, the brother stood over them both covered in his sister's blood. Isabela stood by his side as she held a wet towel to Sarah's forehead, her face stoic to keep the mage calm. An unspoken agreement went round the room to appear as calm as possible, Sarah would get through this. Orana stood by Anders, ready to receive orders from the mage, Sophie was surprised by her strength. Merrill took a deep breath and brought an Elfroot potion to Sarah's mouth, which she gulped at desperately. It wouldn't replace her lost blood, but it would give her the energy to do what must be done.

"Hawke, get on the other side of the bed and grab her leg." Anders motioned for Hawke to move. "Isabela, you get the other." They both pulled Sarah's legs up. Anders looked to Sophie, it seemed like he was going to tell her to get out, but then Sarah screamed again and his attention was elsewhere. "Merrill, I'm going to need you to keep her going. We don't have a lot of time." He placed his hands over Sarah's stomach and furrowed his brow, listening intently to something only he could hear. "Orana, heat the towels. We're going to need them when the baby arrives." Devil spawn, you mean.

Anders inserted his fingers into Sarah making her cry out. Her hands gripped so tightly her nails pierced the skin of Sophie's.

"Shit."

Sophie looked up at the mage. "What do you mean, shit?" He had gone pale, a cold sweat forming on his brow. "Anders! What do you mean, shit!?" Hawke and Isabela looked at him, faces drawn in with worry. Merrill spoon fed another dose of potion into Sarah. Anders didn't answer his head held in his hands.

"Anders! What!?" Hawke was shouting.

Anders lifted his head, new determination in his eyes. "Her placenta is covering her cervix. The baby's exit is blocked." Sophie nearly threw up. "We're going to have a cesarean." Sarah started crying. "Get Riordan."

"Why?"

"We need to numb her and I don't have anything with me. He can numb her with ice." Merrill left quickly to get their cousin. "Orana, ask Sebastian or Fenris to sharpen a dagger. We'll need that."

"You are not cutting into my sister with a dagger!" Hawke exploded.

"How else do you expect me to do it!?"

"With your tools at the clinic!"

"We don't have time, Hawke!"

"Yes we-!"

"Brother!" Everyone looked to Sophie. "We don't have time!" Sarah's hands were cold. "She's bleeding too quickly! She'll die!" Hawke hung his head.

"Drop her legs and get out." His tone left no room for argument but Sophie wasn't leaving. As they left Fenris came in with a devilishly sharp blade. His eyes went wide at the sight of the blood and pale sisters on the bed. He took Anders to one side and whispered to him. Anders shook his head once, nodded, and set his jaw. Then Fenris left.

Riordan And Orana were next and were put to work, numbing Sarah's abdomen and helping Anders prepare. "You'll need me to stay."

"Why?"

"The numbing won't last, I'll have to redo it." His hands were white as he lay them on her sister, spreading them over her belly making it blue. He nodded to Anders who had been super heating the blade with fire and lightning. It was moving so quickly, Sophie wasn't ready for the pain as Sarah clenched her hands, squeezing hers with such force she felt her fingers crack. Sarah didn't cry out in pain as the blade pieced her low in the stomach, a small whimper escaped her.

Riordan numbed her again before Anders pulled the blade across her skin. Sophie watched with a sick fascination as the skin opened up. Blood poured out and pooled beneath them, the cotton and wool clothing soaking it up greedily. "Orana, hold her open." Orana's tiny hands held the two sides open. Sarah gasped and another numbing was applied. Riordan was sweating with concentration. Anders took the blade and swiped it again, opening her womb. His eyes went wide as he ever so carefully opened the womb up with his fingers. He lay the dagger down and reached into his lover.

Sophie held her breath as he began to pull his arms out, dragging with him a cloudy white sac. The amniotic sac. It was full of fluid, a small hand pressed up against it was distorted as the small thing was pulled away from Sarah's belly. With one hand Anders carefully pulled the dagger back up and cut along the sac, fluid spilled everywhere and a sharp cry filled the air. Sophie breathed out as Sarah let out a breathy laugh.

The baby was pulled from the sac, umbilical cord trailing behind it. It's frail cries filled the air, small lungs gurgling out the water it had lived in for the past twenty-three weeks. Anders grin never wavered as he cut the umbilical cord and cast a small healing spell on it. Riordan brought a towel over and promptly wrapped it in it. It's too small. Sophie's relief did not last long at that realisation. Anders pulled the placenta away from Sarah and got to healing her. Her muscles and flesh knitting itself back to the way it should be. Scar-less.

"Where's the baby?" Her tired request was ignored as Anders picked Sarah up and placed her in a nearby chair. Sophie followed, the pain in her hands making her wince at every move her arms made. He looked at her and held her hands in his. Sophie couldn't help but flinch a little, he furrowed his brow and healed her. Her bones clicking back into place. He then went to the other side of the room to Riordan who passed the bundle over, he whispered in his ear and Riordan left, winking at his cousins as he did so. "Anders?" She sounded so frail.

He turned, a tear falling down his cheek. A lump in Sophie's chest fell into her stomach. The baby was too small. It's died. He stood and waited, Sarah breathing deeply, waiting to meet her too small bundle of joy. Hawke came in a broad smile on his face. Proud uncle. His smile faded as he took in the scene, his sisters still covered in blood, the bed soiled and spattered in fluids, Anders crying quietly, Sarah pale, Sophie clenching and unclenching her fists.

"Anders?" Sarah pleaded. "Say something."

An explosive breath escaped him. Tears falling as he rocked the baby, healing and building its non-exsistant strength. "It...I...I-" A gurgle from the bundle interrupted him and the Hawke's nearly fainted. "It's a boy." The tears still fell but it was only then that Sophie realised they were tears of happiness. Sarah cried again as Hawke held on to Sophie for strength. "It's a boy!" He laughed, more tears joined by a laughing smile. He crossed the room and stood before the mother of his first child. He held his son out to her and she grabbed him up greedily.

Over Sarah's shaking shoulders Sophie got a good look at her nephew, Hawke looked on over her shoulder. Matted blonde hair stood up everywhere on his tiny head, pale wrinkly skin bunched and stretched as he wiggled in his mothers arms. Sarah sighed in happiness as in those few seconds her whole life purpose shifted. She was a mother now, her, Anders and the baby existed in their own small bubble, and Sophie couldn't help but feel a small amount of envy toward them. I wonder if me and Fenris will have anything like this? She was interrupted as Hawke gasped in her ear. She looked down at the baby, his face scrunching up, mouth wiggling and eyes trying to open. First one and then two. Piercing blue, like his mothers.

"What are you going to call him, sister?" Hawke held a finger out for the baby to grip.

"Ummm..." She looked at Anders whose brow was furrowed at the question. "Levi?"

Sophie smiled. "I like Levi."

In the two weeks since Levi was born Fenris had noticed a drastic change in the household workings.

Riordan and Nathaniel had left to finish their mission to find an old friend. Fenris thought they may have wanted to get away from the chaos that was the Hawke household.

Sarah and Anders mooned over the child constantly, making gushy cutesy noises at it. Most of the time it made him want to vomit, but sometimes it made him wonder about the future. What does this mean for them? What does it mean for Levi? Is this a possibility for me? Spending his life as a slave, he had never thought about his life short of freedom, and now that he was free he realised possibilities were everywhere.

Isabela and Hawke often stole the baby, showering it with gifts. Not all of them bought, he suspected. Hawke was the happiest he had seen him since the mage's mother died, and he often looked at Isabela with such love it made the elf uncomfortable.

Merrill sang Elvish lullabies to Levi, filling the estate with crystal notes of love, sadness and victory. Sebastian would join in with his Starkhaven brogue. Sarah's eyes watered as she watched her friends love the baby as much as she did. Then Varric would join in and get a slap upside the head for his efforts.

Aveline and Donnic would also moon over the child. Coming up with plans of creating their own family. This was often misunderstood by the Mabari who growled at them defensively. The hound had become very protective of the boy.

And then Sophie would take over to give her sister a rest from the toils of raising a child, and Fenris' heart would swell with such emotion that he didn't know what to do with it all. With the child in her arms as she bounced it to sleep she looked so at peace. The smallest smile would form on her lips as she fell in love with the baby before her. He longed to make her feel that way. He knew she loved him and he loved her, but what could he do to make her smile that way at him.

"When's it going to be your turn, broody?" Fenris jumped as the dwarf spoke from behind him.

"What do you mean, dwarf?" Varric simply chuckled and jerked his chin in the direction of Sophie and the baby. "Oh...I don't think...maybe she..." Sophie looked at him from under her silver and black fringe, amber eyes glistening with mischief. "I don't know." I don't even know if I want this. I don't even know if I can. And if Danarius...

"Well if it's meant to be it'll happen. If not..." He rubbed his chin as he thought. "...you could always steal Levi, eh?"
Fenris chuckled. "I doubt the mages would be too happy about that."

"Be happy about what?" Fenris and Varric shared a look of pure fear as they turned to face the fire mage.

I hope you liked it :)

YAY! Baby Levi! ^-^