Leliana buried her face in the pillow, gulping down air in loud gasps. Her blood was aflame, refusing to still. Every muscle from her neck to her toes relaxed at once, and she gave herself fully to the feeling. It was like being suspended in mid-air, being pulled in opposite directions by equally powerful forces. Pleasure pulsed through her body in waves and she clutched the pillow tightly, digging her nails in.

As her body came off the high, as her breathing slowly stabilised, Leliana felt herself go limp. Suddenly, it was a struggle to stay awake. Her body, relaxed beyond compare, wanted to ride the wave into oblivion.

But that was not to be.

She smiled upon feeling his chin on her shoulder, then moaned as he trailed his lips up the side of her neck.

"I'm spent," she slurred, forcing out the words through a veil of relaxed exhaustion. "Stop."

"That's what you get for stalking me at the pier."

The laugh that escaped her sounded like a grunt, and she stretched her back, purring and sighing as he brushed away her hair and kissed the nape of her neck. "You are thoroughly unfair…"

"Are you complaining?" He chuckled and rubbed his stubble against her cheek.

"I wouldn't dare," she replied, planting a cheek on the pillow. Her eyes fluttered shut when he pecked her cheek. "But in our time apart, I think you have forgotten that I am not blessed with your stamina."

It had taken them less than ten minutes to lose their clothes once they were inside the villa. She didn't know how many hours had passed, but both breakfast and lunch had been forgotten in their zeal. After months apart, it was only normal. She was sure there would be more to come later.

Leliana sighed as Alistair slid off from atop her – she loved feeling his weight. But then he lay down beside her and she nestled into his chest, happy to be near.

"I love you," she told him, nuzzling his chest. She'd missed his scent, missed the fine hairs tickling her nose, missed the strong hands wrapped around her. Missed him, and the security of being with him. Of-

"I love you too," he responded, cupping her cheek. She reflexively tilted her face up and his lips met hers halfway, moulding around hers and leaving her breathless.

She hummed, smiling, and opened her eyes upon parting. Found him grinning at her.

"Hello," he began.

"Hey." She waggled her eyebrows. "What's a fine man like you doing in a girl like this?"

Alistair pressed his lips together and she could see the struggle unfold clearly on his face – he wanted to tell her that it was a horrible joke, but he also wanted to laugh.

Amusement won out in the end and Alistair chuckled heartily. Then he held her eyes, still grinning, his hair falling over his forehead, and said, "I missed you."

She knew. She knew very well, but it was always nice to be reminded that she wasn't the only one doing the missing. True, she had his letters, but hearing him say it meant much, much more.

Instead of replying, Leliana put her arm around his waist and pressed herself to him. Tucked her head under his chin and snuggled in. She smiled when he sighed and held her tighter.

"I missed you, too," she said finally, and patted his derrière. "But I've missed your buttocks more."

A pause. Then a snort. Then: "I do have a nice butt, huh?"

"Mmhmmmm. It's so soft! And round. I could squish it all day."

"Yes, well, I clenched my arse so hard while fighting the archdemon, I doubt it'll ever lose shape."

That broke her. Leliana laughed into his chest, howling with it.

It felt as if only now was she truly living. Everything she had done for Dorothea and the Chantry over the past few months seemed so distant and meaningless that she didn't want to believe she'd be going back to it, that this was just a short interval.

No. Don't think about that. Don't waste a single second of your time with him on useless thoughts. Make the most of it. Make sure you get enough of him to last until next time.

She sighed inwardly and kissed his chest, right over his heart.

"Home," she whispered, loud enough for just her ears... and maybe the Maker, if he chose to listen.

No, thought Leliana, pressing her cheek to his chest, this is where I truly belong. My work with Dorothea is the interval. This is what keeps me going.

Time with him was the reward for her services. So long as she had that, Leliana didn't mind whatever the future threw her way.