Author's Disclaimer: I don't own a thing belonging to "Dragon Age 2." They all belong to Bioware.
Author's notes: Yup, we're going that way in this story. I love Isabela and Merrill too much to make Hawke have to choose between them :P And Isabela's character would enable her to share, Hawke would want to please both, and Merrill would just be happy to get Hawke. So it fits :P Everybody's happy!
Oh, and a certain scene will be abit noncom-like? This type of behavior is not to be condoned in real life, it's just part of the story. And Zevran winds up liking it, so it's all okay?
CharlieBarrow: Zevran's line about "feeling like a sir" came from Charlie, so thanks for that :P
QueenTyzula: Enjoy this long one. It's a doozy.
"Catching the Wind"
Chapter fifteen "Zevran and the pups come to Kirkwall"
Isabela adjusted her shift and climbed into bed on the right side. Hawke was prone in the middle, long fingers clutching the covers over her waist. Isabela wondered if she was shifted, and watched Merrill run her fingers through her short hair and smooth her nightgown down. Being surrounded by two women she loved would do anyone in, and when both were equally attractive, Isabela knew Hawke was debating what to do. What was allowed with her mate, would they all touch each other at once or one at time…
Isabela didn't want to worry about the details, but she knew her mate was considerate. She would want to know what was allowable for both of them…. Isabela certainly wasn't helping by tucking into Hawke's side, and caressing her musculature through the fabric of her shirt. Hawke's low groan was gratifying, even if she was being good by avoiding erogenous areas. Merrill blushed and pulled the covers back, settling in on Hawke's left. Hawke turned to give the elf a shy smile. Isabela let her hand wander further south as Hawke leaned to peck Merrill's lips with hers.
Hawke gasped and laid a hand over Isabela's, stopping her. "You two….are too much!" she gasped. Isabela flashed an evil grin to Merrill across the Champion. Merrill was all sorts of shades of red and not much help. Isabela tried to push her mate further, but she was stoically resolved to sleep the night without touching either of them. At least too much. Merrill did have Hawke's arm over her middle, so Isabela cuddled on her other side.
"Goodnight, Champion," Isabela purred in a throaty voice. Hawke blushed in the middle of the bed as the pirate blew out the candles on the bedside table.
"Goodnight, Bela…." Hawke murmured. Merrill clutched her hand in the dark. Hawke's heart went still when the elf placed her fingers along her side. Hawke gently clutched her, feeling comfortable. Isabela had even stopped trying to grope between her legs. A good thing too; she had shifted, and Hawke had to viably concentrate on keeping her lusts low so it wouldn't stiffen further and be a problem.
"Goodnight." Merrill's sweet voice chirped in her ear. Hawke leaned to kiss her. Merrill's lips grazed hers and Hawke fell onto her back, giving a soft gasp. Isabela giggled beside her and rubbed her tight abdominal muscles.
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Hawke woke slowly, feeling heaviness stir between her thighs. She came to consciousness, sighing as heat slammed between her legs. A soft hand was caressing the turgid flesh, coaxing her to stiffness. Hawke sighed mentally as her eyes opened. Isabela. Her mate was kissing along her shoulders as her hand pumped her shaft firmly. Hawke grinned at her.
"Morning…" Isabela's voice was throaty indicating what she wanted. Hawke's hips tilted upward, pushing herself into her mate's clever fingers.
"Morning….." Hawke murmured before a new weight pressed against her left side and she panicked before registering Merrill's soft sighs as she began to wake. Hawke froze, cock stiff and in Isabela's hand, as Merrill kissed her neck, eyes fluttering open. She smiled and blushed, seeing what Isabela was doing beneath the Champion's night shirt. "Bela!"
"It's nothing we haven't seen," Isabela urged. Hawke fell onto her back, gasping as her mate kept up her slow torturous squeezing and gripping. Merrill buried her face in Hawke's shoulder, blushing.
"She always wakes this way, doesn't she?" Merrill asked shyly. Isabela nodded. The shared knowledge didn't bother her, not when there was a flustered Champion to entice.
"Hard and ready to go," Isabela purred. A blush spread through her upper body as she felt the heft and weight of her mate's need.
Hawke looked like she was choking and trying to regain her dignity. "Could you….Bela….not now?"
"But we're both with you, warm and needing you," Isabela pouted. Was Hawke still going to play the old stubborn fool and not give in to her desires with both of them present? Did she really have a hang up of having them both in the same room?
Hawke winced with guilt as Merrill caressed her jawline with warm kisses. "I just…I'm sorry….maybe we could talk about it in the bath?"
Isabela brightened instead of wilting. Nudity would be required, and she was sure she could entice Hawke to drop her inhibitions and let them enjoy her. Flashing an aside glance at Merrill over Hawke's prone body confirmed the elf was in just as much want and would be inclined to team up with her. In fact, it was shaping up to be a fine plan in her head. Merrill blushed but nodded.
Hawke didn't notice and gently extricated her mate's hand from her lap. She sat up, pushing the covers off of them.
"Okay…. I'll draw the water. Ladies," Hawke said gallantly. She crawled to the end of the bed to climb off with a bit of dignity intact. Merrill noted the bulge between her thighs and the way she gingerly moved because of it.
"Is she going to be okay? She may think we won't want her in the same room with each other?" Merrill blushed. Isabela rolled closer and ran a friendly hand through Merrill's short hair. It wasn't sexual at all but affectionate and the elf smiled with relief at her friend.
"I trust you, Merrill. Do you trust me, kitten?" Isabela asked brightly. Merrill nodded, blushing. Isabela caressed her cheek and climbed off the bed. She pulled her shift off nonchalantly and headed toward the washroom. "Let's see to Hawke's bath, now."
"Coming," Merrill said, climbing off the bed quickly. In the doorway of the washroom, she was able to see Hawke's reaction. Her eyes widened noting her mate's bare flesh, and she swallowed hard. The bulge between her thighs stood at attention, poking out the fabric of her night shirt.
"Bela…." Hawke said hoarsely. Isabela sauntered closer, round hips swaying.
"Water looks good. Why don't you get in?" Isabela purred. Hawke blinked and turned her curious gaze to Merrill. The elf was pulling off her own shift and her perky high breasts were capped with hardened nipples. She swallowed.
"I thought we were going to talk about all of this?" Hawke asked. Her words sounded weak to her own ears.
"We will," Merrill said sweetly. She leaned to kiss her Champion's cheek. Her hand ran down the play of muscle along Hawke's back. Hawke couldn't resist leaning to kiss her affectionately. Hawke groaned when Merrill snuck in a hint of her tongue. Heat slammed in Hawke's face as she blushed.
"Oh, you're tricksy today," Hawke groaned.
Merrill tucked her head shyly against the Champion's shoulder. "Well, not so much…"
"I think so..."
Isabela sauntered closer to Hawke, her round hips swaying. Hawke's gaze roved up and down the lithe lines of her body, her eyes gleaming. Isabela knew she was having an effect; the hem of Hawke's night shirt said it all. Isabela tutted her mate and took the hem of the shirt's fabric between her dark fingers. She pulled up and tugged the shirt over her mate's head. Hawke's dark hair tousled with the quick disrobing, but it made her look far more striking in Isabela's mind.
"Well, surely you won't mind if we…take care of you," Isabela purred. She darted a glance down; Hawke's cock pointed upward to the ceiling and twitched at her words. She smiled.
"Uhm…we are talking….about just washing?" Hawke said weakly. Isabela gave a languid shrug. She had taken her choker off, but kept her wide earrings in. Her bandana was off, her dark hair loose around her shoulders. She was so beautiful, and Hawke's eyes kept roving up and down her as they all slid into the in-ground tub.
When Merrill soaped up a rag and set to washing her back, Hawke shot her a grateful smile over her shoulder. Isabela noted how easily the two reacted toward each other in this setting and how familiar Merrill was with Hawke's body as she washed her from behind, even sliding her fingers over Hawke's scalp, working in shampoo to wash her hair. Hawke gave a low groan of appreciation and the sound vibrated through both women.
Not to be outdone, Isabela urged Hawke up a few of the steps so only her legs from the knees down were submerged. As Merrill took care of her back, and really, didn't they look so familiar with the act, as if they'd had several baths together….
'Don't be jealous, Isabela, you were the one who left,' she thought.
Isabela soaped up her own cloth and began at her lover's collarbone, worked down her breasts and leaned forward to deliberately suck over her own mating mark.
Hawke shivered between them and Isabela noticed her cock stirring. Good. She met Merrill's eyes over Hawke's shoulder and the elf was bright red. She gave a small nod and Isabela trailed her kisses lower. Really, her goal was to head down south and take care of her mate's problem, but along the way, the pirate couldn't help lavishing attention along Hawke's abdominal scars. Her muscles tightened with each kiss and lick and Isabela closed her eyes momentarily, feeling a surge of love make her heart throb. Then she got down to business and gently engulfed Hawke's tip, giving small suckles as she worked her head up and down slowly.
Hawke was trapped, locked within her own lust, and at the first feel of her mate's warm mouth, her hips arched off the step, leg muscles tensing. Isabela got so much pleasure from pleasuring her and it showed with each enthusiastic suck and slide along her length. Hawke was starting to enjoy herself, and the coy looks Isabela flashed up along her torso, until she remembered the elf behind her. Hawke panicked momentarily, worried Isabela's wanton act would make her leave or feel she had to. But she was surprised when Merrill hugged her from behind, trailing her lips along her shoulder. Hawke tried to untense her back muscles, and Merrill's soft hands ran along to calm her.
"Hmm….feels good…." Hawke murmured. She slid her fingers through her mate's hair, urging her. She forced herself to hold still as Isabela engulfed her fully and pulled back to suckle on her head. Hawke leaned back against Merrill, sighing as she was pleasured. When Merrill leaned to kiss the side of her jaw, Hawke turned to capture her lips. They kissed slowly, breaking apart so Hawke could moan her pleasure. She was pushed steadily along by Isabela's clever mouth.
Merrill nibbled on Hawke's lower lip and sighed into her mouth. Her hands roamed all over Hawke's upper torso, sliding over her breasts and shoulders, and along the broad expanse of her back. Isabela's head bobbed in Hawke's lap and Merrill's gaze fell on a pocked scar on the back of Hawke's left shoulder. In the three years Isabela had been gone, Hawke had gone to battle recklessly. It must have been shortly after it set in that Isabela was not coming back. Hawke had been so angry, and all the thugs of Kirkwall incurred her wrath.
In one occurrence, Merrill and Varric had come along to help on the beaches surrounding the city. A volley of arrows had been let loose at them and Merrill was shocked when Hawke jumped on top of her, shielding her. One arrow hit lucky, lobbing in between the space between breastplate and armor. Merrill had felt so guilty that she had tended Hawke's wound herself and kept up with it. It let Hawke's guard down enough that had led up to her attempt of seduction and to their first time.
And look where they were now. Hawke's eyes gleamed with affection and love, even as her muscles tightened and she rode out the attention to her cock. Merrill caressed her Champion's shoulders, soothing her with light touches as Isabela sucked down harder. Hawke cried out, hips raising off the step. Isabela clasped Hawke's hips in her hands as she worked her mouth over her mate's cock, swallowing as she came in harsh hot spurts.
Isabela pulled back and missed the next stream. Hawke slumped back into Merrill's arms as the last spurts of her release streamed into the bathwater. Isabela wiped her mouth with the back of her wrist and gave her slumped mate a roguish grin.
"Now look, you dirtied the bathwater, Hawke. Lucky we were already clean," she teased. Merrill giggled behind her. Hawke blushed and scrambled over the top of the tub. She grabbed up a towel, running it briskly over her naked body.
"S-shut up!" she blushed. Isabela climbed out of the bath, avoiding the floating flecks of white seed. Merrill took a towel from Hawke, but before any of them could approach her, the Champion tore into the bedchamber.
"Hawke?" Merrill called. There was a flurry of activity past the door.
"I…I'm going to help Aveline! Bye!" Hawke called. Isabela strolled naked to the bedchamber and propped a hand on her round hip.
"At least kiss us goodbye?" she scolded lightly. Hawke's somewhat wild eyes met hers and she managed a nervous smile before darting out of the bedchambers. Bodahn met her on the other side of the door. Hawke waved him in with the breakfast tray and ran down the stairs.
Isabela sighed, toweling herself off, unperturbed with her nudity. Bodahn set the tray down and hightailed it out much in the same manner as his mistress.
Merrill wrapped her towel around her thin body and sat gingerly on the wide bed. "She didn't have to leave…"
"I agree. When she shows back up tonight, we're going to have to punish her about it," Isabela's grin was playful. Merrill smiled nervously.
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After getting dressed for the day, Isabela was shocked when Bodahn delivered another letter to her, claiming it had just arrived by messenger boy. She opened the letter quickly, and her fingers tensed on the parchment when she recognized Zevran's handwriting. She took hold of Merrill's wrist when she walked by and the elf looked at her curiously.
"What is it, Isabela? You look as if you'd seen a spirit!" Merrill wondered.
"I wish!" Isabela said. She shook the parchment, excitement and dread coiling through her body. "Zevran's here ….with my pups. We need to go see them."
It didn't need to be said that she missed her boys. Zevran had to be at his wit's end to take them all the way to meet her at Kirkwall. She had a feeling he needed Hawke's help more than he wanted to admit.
"Oh, Maker's breath, Hawke's pups." Merrill's eyes were shining with love for her Champion. She couldn't wait for Isabela to tell Hawke about them and she was going to meet them. "Hawke will be so happy!"
"After we deal with Zevran's little problem, I hope so," Isabela mused. She strapped her daggers to her back and waited for Merrill to fetch her mage's staff. "He's got a room at the Blooming Rose. It'd be just like him to."
Isabela wasn't necessarily worried about her sons being inside a brothel. They'd spent their lives up to date inside one, after all.
"Well, let's go!" Merrill chirped. Isabela filled in the elf as they hurried to the brothel. Zevran had had a falling out with his assassin's guild, the Crows. And the Crows didn't take kindly to being dear-johnned. That or it could be that Zevran had slighted one of its members. Either way, they wanted his head on a pike, and he had her sons with him. Isabela couldn't allow that to happen to her friend, particularly when he was caring for her sons.
Inside the main room of the Blooming Rose, Isabela asked the matron in charge where the rented rooms were and asked about a traveling elf.
"Oh, him. Here with two kids in tow. They're in the room at the end of the hall on the second floor. Can't miss it," she said.
Isabela found herself bounding up the stairs, bypassing betas and alphas embracing their consorts for the hour. Finding the room, she knocked, and the door flashed open. Zevran's grin was huge and he had his arms around her in a moment.
"Zev!" Isabela gasped, clasping him warmly. "Need I ask if you're okay?"
"Oh, you know me. And I think someone's missed you," Zevran invited the two women in, glancing at Merrill curiously. Two small dark-skinned boys were seated at the room's table, spoons in hand as they plucked at bowls of porridge. Even a dollop of syrup couldn't entice them to try the bland gruel. But when their eyes alit upon their precious mother, both boys yelped and scampered down.
"Mama!" Falcon called, sprinting. Lark beat him, hopping up to hug his mother's waist. Falcon grabbed her leg with all his might.
"Boys!" Isabela's eyes shone with joy and she held her arms out. The twins colliding into her arms made her tumble to her backside to the floor, but Isabela went with it, falling to her back and hugging her children tight. "Oh, I missed you!"
It was when Falcon and Lark's heads raised so they could babble about the ship ride to the city that Isabela noticed their hair was combed and they were dressed in fine clothing. She grinned at Zevran across the room.
"You did well by my pups," she complimented. She then noticed how dressy his outfit was and tossed a bone his way. "And yourself, Zev."
"Why, thank you." Zevran etched a low bow and adjusted the embroidered sleeves of his tunic. "It tickles my fancy and makes me feel like a sir."
"Oh you," Isabela grinned. She sat up, both boys in her arms and kissed one face then the other again and again. "Boys, I need you to stay here and be good awhile longer. Merrill?"
Merrill nodded, getting where Isabela was going. "I'll watch them, Isabela. Hi, Falcon, Lark."
The twins stared at the elf mage curiously. "Who are you?" Falcon made out.
"She's your Auntie Merrill," Isabela said, and Merrill found she liked the title. "Uncle Zevran is coming with me to handle something so you'll both be good for her. Then we'll all go home."
"Home? Across the water?" Lark wondered. He and Falcon flashed a worried look.
"No, our new home here." Isabela's eyes were serious. "When we return, I'll have your papa with me."
The boys brightened, wriggling against her legs. "Our papa's here?!"
Merrill's eyes filled with tears. Only a few years old and Hawke's pups wanted her desperately. She wondered what kind of life they had had before Isabela came back to the city. Even without a sire, they had been well cared for. Isabela had made sure of that.
"Yes," Isabela soothed. "She is. She'll be…so happy to see you." Her eyes met Merrill's and there was a desperate light in them. Merrill understood her plight. Even after reuniting her love affair with Hawke and being mated to her, the matter of her children hadn't been addressed. Merrill felt sorry for her friend, for even if Hawke loved her pirate dearly, Merrill hoped she would after the day's events panned out.
Zevran caught abit of Isabela's desperation and gently took her elbow. "It'll be alright, darling pirate queen. If your mate is anything like you told me, all will be well." Isabela knew he said this for her pup's benefit, but she wished bitterly it were so.
Isabela sighed. "Come, Zevran. We've got to take care of your problem. Believe me, even I would feel guilty should anything happen to you."
"My thanks, darling," Zevran grinned.
Alone in the room, Merrill made sure to lock the door and she sat on the bed. Hawke's sons wandered up slowly, whispering together in hushed tones. Finally, Falcon plucked up his courage and looked up into the elf's face.
"You know our papa?" he asked. Merrill nodded. She combed a careful hand through the boy's dark brown hair.
"Yes, I do."
"C'n you tell us a story bout her?!" Lark asked excitedly. His small hand clutched the fabric at Merrill's waist. She laughed.
"Course I will, da'len!" as Merrill set to entertaining the wide-eyed pups with tales of their valiant papa, she hoped Hawke would be back soon with Isabela.
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When Hawke had been sent for in the guardsman barracks, she came all eager smiles and was happy to see her mate. A quick hug and kiss had to suffice because she had an elf in her wake. And when Isabela explained, Hawke found herself not liking the situation at all.
"This is Zevran, my sweet thing. Remember, the one who….took care of my husband for me? He's been a dear friend to me for years. He's come to Kirkwall to ask my help and yours, in a matter of elimination," Isabela said smoothly. She trailed her fingers along the exposed skin of Hawke's forearm where her tunic sleeve had been rolled up. Hawke tried to greet the elf amicably enough, but there was something in his smile she didn't like. As he spoke, heaping flowery praise on HER mate, Hawke seethed. He was a smarmy beta and he spoke as if he were familiar with her Isabela! In fact, the memory of her first time with Isabela swarmed back uncomfortably and she remembered Isabela's soft words over the assassin who had dispatched her cruel husband. They had slept together. Knowing Isabela, of course they had. Hawke scowled, jealousy burning through her stomach.
Aveline harrumphed across the room. "By way of 'elimination', you mean assassination."
Zevran shrugged, not put off by Aveline's stoic code of morals. "I suppose you are right, dear lady."
"I'm not your 'dear lady'," Aveline snapped. "That's Captain Aveline to you."
"Aye, Captain," Zevran grinned, trying to pour on the charm. Hawke could have smacked him in the head for her friend. Senseless flirting never did well with Aveline.
"What did you need help with exactly?" Hawke groused. Zevran scratched his neck.
"Right. Well, I could use your sword arm. And maybe ten guardsmen. See, I used to run with the Crows….and well, I'm not with them anymore…"
"So you skipped your guild and now they want you dead. Great," Aveline sighed. "Must we protect every ex-lover of yours, Rivaini?"
Zevran laughed and Hawke scowled as Isabela blushed, looking away. It wasn't like she could deny it and her silence told Hawke the truth.
"Fine. Let's get this over with," Hawke said. Isabela trailed after her irate mate, her heart in her stomach. She and Zevran flashed a look and Aveline went to roust her guardsmen. They would meet the trio at the meeting place on the beaches outside of Kirkwall.
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"For the last time! Hand him over!"
"And for the last time, that's not happening," Isabela scoffed. Hawke drew her broad sword over her shoulder and readied her stance. The confrontation was already coming to a head and Aveline and her back-up hadn't even arrived. Seagulls cawed overhead, and waves crashed upon the nearby beach. The scenery was pleasant, but the meeting belied the nice surroundings.
"My thanks, Isabela," Zevran soothed. Hawke grit her teeth. She focused on the Crow in front of her as the assassins drew weapons and charged them. She sliced the first man in half and charged, slamming her armored shoulder into the second, knocking him across the sand with the impact of the blow. She could hear Zevran laughing in her peripheral and darting a quick glance told Hawke her mate was okay. She was a whirlwind fighting with her daggers and Hawke knew how sharp she kept them.
Hawke would have been content to take a few prisoner, but the Crows wouldn't relent. So, bodies were tossed to and fro across the sand, limbs sliced off at random. Bright red blood scattered across the sand. Zevran laughed as he wiped his blade on the tunic of a fallen body.
"Champion, I can't thank you enough. They'll no longer be a thorn in my side," Zevran said happily. He straightened, flashing a grin but Hawke just glowered at him.
"Yeah. Fine. Good," Hawke said in a surly tone. Isabela recognized the look as the end of patience. Anything said wrong could break her temper in the next moment. Isabela inhaled sharply.
"Zevran…" she warned. But Zevran didn't heed her hard look. He sheathed his blade and ran a hand through his blond bangs.
"Really, I was kind of worried for a moment there! But Champion Hawke here, what an arm! Hey, we should celebrate…. Maybe one last turn for old times sake?" Zevran grinned at her and Isabela blanched. Hawke was steaming a few yards away. Before she could speak up, for anyone's sake, Hawke was stalking across the sand. She charged right up to Zevran, getting in his personal space and snarling in his face.
"You will NOT be having a turn with her. She's MY MATE, don't you fucking touch her!" she snapped. Zevran paled and held his palms up in front of his face. His beta instincts commanded him to obey, and obey he did.
"I….I'm sorry…..I wouldn't….I know she's your mate…."
"MINE!" Hawke snarled. She grabbed Zevran by the shoulder and shoved him to his knees. One hand grabbed at the waistline of his trousers, yanking, as her other hand went to her fly. "But you don't care about that, do you?! Well, I'll show you!"
Zevran grunted as he was shoved to his face in the sand. His hands scrambled for purchase, but he finally went as limp as he could, surrendering to his beta instincts. He could hear Isabela gasping nearby but he focused on not drowning in the alpha's lusts. When she shoved inside, the muscles of his anus trembled around her length. He groaned and beat one fist on the sand as he surrendered, feeling small pockets of lust through the forceful joining.
Hawke slammed in and out of him, concentrating on shoving her dominant aura in and through him. As she worked to a hard and fast climax, Hawke was dimly aware of the clanging of armor as Aveline and her guardsmen arrived on the beach. A few of the guardsmen cheered her on as Aveline was yelling something faintly. In her lust-addled brain, Hawke couldn't understand what she was saying.
"Hawke! For the love of….HAWKE!"
"Teehee! Champion tops all!"
"Shut up, Brennan!"
Riding the harsh thrusts, Zevran worked a hand inside his trousers and tugged at his own cock. It was stiff and excited due to the attention to his other end and he squeezed, howling his pleasure. He began to tremble, seed shooting from his erection into his palm as he moved to accommodate the Champion stretching him open.
Hawke shot her load inside the still body under her and groaned. She cast a glance over at her mate through her sweaty bangs. Isabela didn't look mad, in fact, she almost looked hot and bothered. Hawke flashed her an alpha roguish grin and withdrew from Zevran's ass, her seed dripping out of the well-used hole. The elf groaned, hand coming out of his trousers as he eased onto his side on the sand and Hawke had a flash of sympathy for him. But when her eyes fell onto her mate again, Hawke didn't cast him another thought.
"Did you have to do that, Hawke?!" Aveline was screeching. She knelt to help the stunned elf off the sand. He spat out a mouthful and shuddered. Aveline grit her teeth and let the elf lean on her as he tried to yank his trousers back up, to cover his seed-lined rear.
"Now I know why you chose her, Isabela. What a forward….performance…. oh wow…" Zevran's eyes got a glassy dreamy look and Aveline sighed, letting him lean on her. Hawke adjusted her trousers, tucking herself away and re-lacing. She sniffed in the beta's direction, her indifference heightening her alpha pheromones. Despite the hard fucking, and of someone else, Isabela couldn't deny her body was reacting to her mate's aggressive show. She surged forward, scraping her fingers through her mate's short hair, running through the sweaty strands to cup her jaw and pull her down to press kisses along her face.
Hawke gave a low smirk and accepted the attention her mate showered upon her. Her hand clutched the small of her mate's back possessively, and Aveline sighed with disgust as her hand went lower and cupped the full swell of the pirate's ass.
"Shall we get going?" Aveline snapped. Zevran took small mincing steps beside her, wincing. Hawke scratched the side of her jaw idly.
"Fine," she said. But she couldn't help grinning like a fool with her mate plastered against her side.
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The closer they got to the Blooming Rose, the more nervous Isabela became. Hawke had at first protested. Why the heck were they walking Zevran back to his room anyways? It wasn't like any of the Crows were left to retaliate. Isabela finally admitted Merrill was guarding something in Zevran's rented room. To put it mildly. Zevran, sensing a fly in the pudding over the predicament, kept quiet. Hawke didn't know about her pups. And he'd leave it to Isabela.
The closer they got, the more Isabela pressed against her mate's side, at last ducking under Hawke's arm, throwing her own around the Champion's waist. Hawke took the walking embrace, happy to be close. Isabela ducked her head against Hawke's shoulder, whispering how much she loved her.
"I know you love me, Bela," Hawke purred. The door of the brothel was up ahead. Isabela's heart dropped to her feet seeing the honest smile on her Champion's lips. "I love you too, beloved….."
"Do you know? That it's always been you?" Isabela paused, taking Hawke's hands in hers. Hawke had tucked her gloves into her sword belt, so Isabela kissed her bare hands tenderly. Hawke's eyes were soft with love.
"I do know, Bela. I love you so much. What's gotten into you? I'm not going anywhere," Hawke swore. Isabela's heart cracked at that.
"Promise me, please don't leave," Isabela murmured. Hawke leaned to kiss her lips sweetly.
"I'm with you," she whispered. Isabela wrapped her arms around her neck and held on. "Stop worrying, my love…."
But as the party stepped foot into the Blooming Rose, Isabela's worry mounted higher and higher.
Aveline stepped in, grimacing at the rowdy patrons and prostitutes mingling in the common room of the brothel. But she was steadfast to see Zevran back to his room at least and helped him limp up the stairs. Isabela's feet were heavy, even though she did want to see her sons again. Hawke strolled proudly beside her, unaware of what was about to happen. Outside the room, Aveline made to step aside and Zevran leaned against the doorframe. He rapped shortly, and Isabela called out.
"It's us, Merrill!" she said. Hawke perked. Well, they'd all go home together. Her heart was glad until the door burst open and Merrill had two small boys by the hands. They cried out and ran to latch onto her mate.
"Mama!" they cried, and Hawke was shocked, utterly dismayed to note their skin tone was the same as Isabela's. Her dark hair, her complexion; they looked very much like her and Hawke felt like she'd been hit in the gut. She staggered, her mind whirling.
"Bela?" she whispered, her throat dry. Isabela's eyes were wide with fear and worry. She patted her children, trying to calm them.
By that point Hawke's gaze had fallen on Zevran, who was smiling fondly at the twin boys. His! First, he'd had Isabela and now they'd had children together? He was far more to Isabela than an "old friend!" She'd been lied to!
Hawke didn't respond when Isabela took her hands in hers. Tears welled in her eyes and sobs clogged her throat as she stared with naked hurt at her mate. "I can't….. with him… his?!" she croaked. Isabela clung to Hawke's shoulders, trying to pull her close. Hawke stepped back.
"No!" Isabela got out. Her fingers dug into Hawke's shoulders. "They're not his…no…. they're yours."
Hawke stared at her, aghast. She had never serviced any of Isabela's heats, so that knotting had eluded their relationship so far. More lies! "No…..we never…"
"It was when you were gone to the world, Champion," Zevran tried to explain. Isabela scraped her palm over her face.
"Zev, please, let me explain!"
Merrill felt her heart tearing as the pups, confused, tugged at their mother's legs, trying to get her attention, tears spilling down their cheeks. Their mother was upset and there wasn't anything they could do to help. Hawke's lip quivered. If there was ever a scenario to upset her world, this was it. If Isabela had had children…..her heart broke over that. Well, if she had, she needn't lie about it! The subterfuge could destroy them….
"She told me, Hawke….they are yours. Just look at them!" Merrill insisted. She set a hand on Falcon's head, and Lark reached for her free hand.
Hawke stood crying, shaking her head. Isabela clung to her neck, pulling her down in half a hug, fighting Hawke's natural strength and her want to pull away. Isabela's heart was breaking. Hawke had no idea what she was asking when she'd ask her not to leave! And she was going to!
"They are yours….you have to believe me!" Isabela sobbed. Hawke stared sadly at her, shaking her head.
Aveline sighed, rounding the corner. Isabela and company were riling up the hallway and the brothel owner had asked her to settle the affair before she left. She stalked closer, curious as to why Hawke and Isabela were crying, and why two dark-skinned boys were at Merrill's side, crying out for their mama and reaching for Isabela.
"Quiet!" Aveline called. She sighed as the fighting cascaded to white noise and Hawke's ragged exhales. "What IS all the fuss about?"
By this point, the captain had had a good look at the twin boys. She darted a glance from them to Isabela. "What HAVE you done this time, slattern?"
Isabela didn't even care about the insult, clutching Hawke's jaw in her hands, bringing their brows to press together.
Hawke winced. "Don't….don't call her that…."
That small gesture uplifted Isabela's heart with useless joy. Useless if Hawke chose to leave anyway, that small ray of light could very well destroy her as well as her lie…..
"Well, what is going on? Well, they DO look like you, Hawke. If you squint just right," Aveline said in wonder. She raised an eyebrow, getting the scene. Wisely, she bowed out of the conversation. If this was between her friend and her pirate whore, she'd have to stand aside.
Hawke looked again through blurry eyes. The boys were finely dressed in small tunics and trousers, and their dark brown hair was combed carefully. Probably by Merrill while they were gone. Her girlfriend's hand in that helped Hawke to look again. They did look so like Isabela, but also….those green eyes had to have come from her. Zevran's eyes weren't green…. And looking closer, she didn't see the any sharp points to their ears. They were as rounded as hers and Isabela's.
Hawke's lip trembled with impotent hope as she looked down into her mate's eyes. "Truly? Are they?..." she asked, daring to hope against all hope.
Isabela nodded, tears rolling down her cheeks. "That night….when you had collapsed from your wounds…."
"How did you…." Hawke had to laugh in her head. Of course Isabela could turn her body on even while she was unconscious. "That doesn't matter. They're really mine?"
At this point, Falcon left Merrill's side to bravely stand before the Champion of Kirkwall. His wide green eyes made out the elaborate armor and the Hawke family crest etched into the breastplate. "Are you our papa?" he asked plaintively. His sweet voice brought tears to Hawke's eyes.
She looked to Isabela who nodded. Hawke knelt down and looked the boy in the face.
"Yes, I am." She said. Falcon grinned and gestured to his brother. Lark darted forward, and the two boys didn't throw their arms around her, not yet. They patted her sides and armor with small clever fingers, fascinated. Hawke surprised herself by wrapping both of them in a hug. When she felt their small bodies warm against her, tears streaked down her cheeks.
Lark wriggled happily. "Don't be sad!" he encouraged. Hawke sniffled against his head.
"I'm not….I'm very happy you're here. I'm sorry I wasn't there," she croaked. Falcon wrapped an arm around her neck.
"Well, you're here now!" he. insisted. Hawke darted a look up to her mate. She smiled tenderly.
"Yes, I am…."
Isabela turned aside, covering her mouth with her hand and to try and hide the fat tears in her eyes. Her face was already tear-streaked. Merrill reached to take her hand gently.
Aveline sighed. "Well….this day is just full of surprises."
"You're not wrong," Merrill agreed. Seeing the tears on her Champion's face and the smiles Hawke had for sons she didn't know she had filled her with joy.
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The trip to the Hawke estate was full of chatter and the boy's seemingly endless questions. Hawke was happy to answer them, and she found her heart growing fuller with each smile. Isabela was absurdly grateful when Hawke took her arm as they walked, showing her affection. She smiled at her, but there was also a depth of sadness in her mate's eyes. Isabela swallowed.
"I….I should have told you sooner…" Isabela whispered. Hawke raised her hand; she kissed the back of it as they walked. Lark was on her left side, fisting the hem of her tunic with one small hand, and Falcon was content to hold Merrill's hand.
"Later… my love, I do love you," Hawke whispered, and Isabela was absurdly happy to hear the note of desperation. So, she wasn't the only one who had despaired.
Isabela nodded, rubbing her wrist across her eyes. "I'll tell you anything you want to know."
"Wow, is this home?" Falcon asked when they came to the door of the Hawke estate. Hawke rapped and Bodahn answered, seemingly surprised at the addition of the estate dwellers.
"Mistress Hawke?" he asked. Hawke gestured, and lead the awestruck boys in by the hand. She flashed a genuine grin to her servant.
"These are my sons, Bodahn. Boys, this is Bodahn. Orana?" she called. The elven maid set down a pile of linen and came to the entry way, also shocked to silence.
"Well, you two certainly always have a surprise for us!" Orana made out, getting by looks whose children they were. Isabela blushed. She ruffled Lark's hair who was staring at his papa with awe.
"They're Falcon and Lark," Merrill chirped. Falcon took her hand, seemingly shy as they entered the main room of the estate. Their wide eyes took in the rich surroundings.
"It's so…big!" Falcon admitted in a hushed whisper. His brother agreed, and Hawke felt a surge of protectiveness rush through her aura. She noted how easy it was to shift to affection to the twins.
"And it's your home too. Shall we pick out a bedroom?" Hawke asked. Lark nodded, and Falcon grinned shyly.
Once upstairs, the three adults poked into the nearby bedrooms down the hall from the master's bedchamber. Hawke settled on one that had two small beds that were side by side. "This will do, what do you think, Bela?"
Isabela's heart was full to bursting. Hawke's want to house their children didn't seem like something she was required to do. She WANTED to do it.
"It's lovely, sweet thing," she whispered. The soft look Hawke shot her filled her with stupid hope.
"But we always sleep with Mama," Falcon piped up. Lark nodded.
"Will we really be in here?" he wanted to know. Hawke's heart hurt for the boys. They were in a strange house with a new sire, and they'd always been close to her mate.
"Well, we should all room up in the master's chambers. Until you're ready to brave this room alone. Okay?" Hawke suggested. The boys squealed and rushed to hug her. Hawke felt her heart lurch, as if it were too big for her chest.
"That sounds fine," Merrill piped up. The boys looked confused, but Isabela was sure they wouldn't mind bunking with all of them. Looks like anything physical would be off the table for the next little while. But right now, where it mattered for her small family, Isabela didn't care.
Dinner was a loud and interesting affair. Hawke poured wine for the adults, and Merrill cut the boy's meat for them. When Hawke tore off a huge chunk of her lamb leg with her teeth, she was startled to see the twins follow her example, even though they got grease all over their small hands. She was oddly touched.
Giving two small children a bath really wasn't a farfetched task for Hawke. She remembered helping her mother bathe Bethany and Carver….the linked memory made her chest hurt, but she liked the bright smiles of the carefree boys. HER sons. Hawke cast a look across the washroom to her mate. Isabela still looked nervous, afraid of being bawled out for her omission. Hawke's heart bled for her, but her hurt wouldn't go away at the snap of a finger.
"Merrill, can you tuck the boys into our bed and start a story? I need to talk to Bela…." Hawke whispered to her girlfriend as they dried the twins off briskly with large towels.
Merrill nodded. She wrestled both into spares of Hawke's tunics. They would have to do for night clothes until a tailor was called over to make clothes for them. Falcon laughed as his sire's tunic fell over his feet easily. Lark's head erupted out of the neck hole and he giggled.
"Where are you going, Papa?" Falcon asked innocently. Hawke ran a comb through his damp hair.
"To talk to Mama. We'll be right in and we'll all sleep together," Hawke promised. Lark nodded, his eyes shining.
"Your bed is BIG!" he exclaimed. Merrill giggled.
Hawke met Isabela at the washroom door. She set the pile of towels down out of her mate's hands and put her hands on her waist, steering her down the hall. In a spare room, Hawke let her mate in, and shut the door. Isabela's hands fluttered, nervous and more than a little guilty.
Hawke watched her with still sad eyes. "I'm not going to stop loving you, Bela. Please don't look like that."
Isabela gave a sigh of relief. When she ducked her head against Hawke's breast, she was happy when those strong arms went around her. "I'm so sorry. I didn't know…I was just a mess…."
"You had our boys all by yourself. You took care of them. You are so strong, my love," Hawke whispered. She ran a hand through Isabela's dark hair. "But why didn't you bring them to me? If you just showed up with them, and EXPLAINED, I wouldn't have cared. I would have been so happy to welcome you! To welcome them…."
"I…I know that now….I'm so sorry…" tears spilled down Isabela's cheeks. Hawke held her tightly, feeling the hurt in her heart assuaged in Isabela's embrace. "After I left….I just thought you'd never want to see me again. I did leave you first."
"That hurt," Hawke admitted. "I thought you hated me."
"I left because I loved you," Isabela murmured. She ran a hand over her mate's bite mark through her tunic. "I didn't want to mess up your life. Any more than I had…."
"You're not messing anything up. Every choice I made concerning you since we've met I made of my own free will," Hawke insisted. She tilted a finger under Isabela's chin and raised her face up to meet hers. "I'd fight the Arishok all over again for you. That was my choice. I did it to free you."
"But…"
Hawke pressed small tender kisses across her mate's face. When she settled along Isabela's lips, the pirate kissed her fiercely. Hawke wrapped her arms around her tightly. Their bodies pressed tightly as they exchanged slow heated kisses that shook with the vestiges of love.
"I'm sorry…" Isabela murmured again. Hawke pinched her ass. Isabela yelped.
"You keep saying that, I'll take it out of your ass," she warned. A teasing light was in Hawke's eyes. Isabela gave a lopsided smile.
"I still am. I should have brought your sons to you sooner….."
"But you did. And we're all staying here," Hawke promised. Isabela pressed her brow to Hawke's, giving a tentative smile. The next kiss Hawke gave her blossomed slowly and filled them with hope.
End for now
End notes: Whew this one was long! Like it, leave a lovely review, lovelies.
Sincerely, pen
3/01/2018