Author's Disclaimer: I don't own a thing belonging to "Dragon Age 2." Nothing!
Author's notes: Baby's name mentioned. Enjoy!
Tautiana: I'll hear any suggestions but glad you liked it.
CharlieBarrow: keep on keeping on.
"Catching the Wind"
Chapter thirty "New baby"
Hawke's eyes snapped open as she heard the snuffles of her infant. Her hand tightened, registering the warm bundle on her chest and she relaxed, feeling the baby's tiny feet kicking out against her torso. When she looked around, she caught Isabela dozing at her side, face pressed against her shoulder, and Merrill awake, watching her.
Hawke's eyes softened. "Go to sleep, Merrill," she said softly.
Merrill reached to stroke the back of the baby's head. Her fingers cupped the dark brown curls protectively.
"I'm leaking," she said plaintively, and Hawke smiled to see the dart of fluid across the front of her night shift. She tried not to stare; she knew her mate was in a large amount of discomfort with her breastfeeding. Merrill took the infant as Hawke sat up and stacked the pillows so the elf would be comfortable.
Hawke stoked her lusts low as she tugged Merrill's shift off so the baby could get to a breast. She woke, rosebud lips open to wail. Isabela opened her eyes at the sharp squall. Her eyes softened as she watched their daughter feed. The diapered infant was wrapped in part of a tunic, one of Hawke's, cut down to size and wrapped around her. They really DID have to obtain some baby clothes at some point.
"How's our little Magpie?" Isabela asked, yawning. She leaned against Hawke's side, eyes closing despite herself. She reached, one long finger extended to the baby's balled up fists. One tiny hand opened and clutched the digit. Isabela's heart skipped a beat. Merrill's eyes were soft with love as she fed the infant.
"Hungry. Oh, that feels strange… sometimes it hurts," Merrill winced. Isabela nodded in understanding.
"With the twins, it was a lot. I was lucky I was near some friends who were new mothers also," the pirate offered. Hawke's eyes softened.
"Bela….." she began. Isabela let the baby hold her hand, her sharp eyes retracing every feature of hers.
"I know," Isabela said. Merrill's eyes filled with tears but Isabela leaned to wipe her eyes with the corner of her sleeve. "Now, we can't have you all weepy, little one."
"I'm sorry, it's just…." Merrill sniffled. Magpie lifted her lips from her nipple and yawned. Hawke took the baby and burped her. Her large hand gently rubbed the tiny back of her child carefully.
"Tears of happiness, little mother," Hawke crooned. Merrill nodded. She curled up against her mate's muscular side, reaching for her shift. The baby yawned and turned deeper into her sire's arms. Hawke's smile was infectious even if they all looked blasted tired.
"Oh, she messed, sweet thing," Isabela noticed. Hawke sat up carefully and moved to stand, moving Magpie to the table.
"I'll change her."
Isabela watched her do the task with a lot of love in her gaze. Hawke hadn't been there for the early days of the twin's lives but was really making up for it. She didn't seem to care she was volunteered for the messy jobs. Isabela put a hand on Hawke's hip to prevent her from bringing the baby in.
"Go on, her cradle is sturdy," she suggested. Hawke balked, but reluctantly laid Magpie into the cradle. The base was nailed into the floor and wouldn't lurch with the ship's movements. Still, she felt untethered as she laid her child in, standing and gazing in after her. Hawke bundled her carefully as Isabela had shown her. She bit her lip and slowly retreated back to the bed as the infant slept.
Her mates latched onto her as she climbed back in, but Hawke had eyes only for the cradle beside them.
"She'll be fine, ma vhenan," Merril said sweetly. She was already nodding off against Hawke's shoulder. Hawke wrapped her arms around her mates and blinked as sweet warmth pulled at her limbs with promises of rest. Isabela was kissing her neck, purring as she drowsily told her to relax.
"She'll be fine…." And Isabela was asleep. Darkness pulled behind Hawke's eyelids and she finally fell to blessed sleep.
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"Hold her head….like that…. Very good, Fal," Merrill said. Falcon was sitting in one of the chairs in the captain's chambers, tongue poked in the corner of his mouth. He carefully cradled his baby sister and stared in fascination at her rosebud features.
"She sure sleeps a lot," Lark commented. He stood by the chair and peered down into his sister's face. Falcon carefully held the bundle to his chest. His sister yawned and burrowed against him.
Hawke smiled and gave a loving smile to her mates. The twins noticed they looked exhausted as anything and hard to imagine the beautiful sleeping baby was the cause of it.
"Babies need their rest. Right, Bela?" she said happily. Isabela gave her a loving smile.
"Best she does and leaves us all to rest," she teased. She combed her fingers through her son's hair. Falcon giggled and leaned to kiss Magpie on her nose.
"Magspie, hi," he said.
Hawke laughed. "Magpie, son."
"Magpie. What's it mean, Papa?"
"A small bird. Just like you two are," Hawke offered.
"We're not small; we're Hawkes!" Lark gave a fierce grin. Hawke felt pride move through her heart. She gave him a nod.
"Yes, you are."
"Can we drill later, Papa?" Falcon asked. Isabela leaned and carefully took Magpie from him. Her daughter burrowed into her chest, molding to her voluptuous breast. Merrill looked slightly empty, so she carefully passed the girl to her. Merrill relaxed and gazed with such adoration at their daughter, it was moving.
"You bet. What say we…"
"Cap'n!" A hasty knock admitted Mel. She saluted jauntily and smiled at the children. "Big squall a 'coming. We should reroute our course."
Isabela sprang to action. She picked up the baby, depositing her into Merrill's arms. She then picked up Lark and Hawke followed suit, picking up Falcon. They placed the twins on the edge of the large bed and moved towards the door to head topside.
"I think we should. Sweet thing?"
Hawke cast a look to the boys and her mate and child. She gave a smile. "Boys, watch over your mamae and sister. I'll be back down soon."
"Yes, papa!" the boys chirped. Falcon crawled up beside Merrill to gaze down at the waking baby. Magpie squirmed and began to wail as thunder crashed overhead. Merrill hummed and rocked her.
Hawke firmly shut the captain's door and followed her mate down the hallway. Cook cursed from the galley, as pots clanged, and the ship rocked hard to the left. Hawke lost her footing and grabbed at the wall. Isabela paused; she had a definite set of sea legs as it were, and she didn't stumble once. And what a set of seas legs…..Hawke grinned and followed her to the stairwell.
Rain was pelting down hard, plastering their hair to their heads. Craven was steering on the wheel deck and Isabela made her way there quickly. He was trying to read a map, attempting in vain to shield the scroll from the rain. He tucked it away into his shirt and leaned against the wheel.
"Craven! Can we stay the course?" Isabela asked by way of greeting. Craven frowned. His large hands held onto the wheel, holding it in place. The veins in his forearms stood out though and Hawke knew the current had to be a bad one.
"I don't know, Cap'n! I think we should make for one of the islands yonder. At least wait out the storm!" he suggested. Isabela nodded.
"Oh, very well. Storms come and go. Let's take an aside," she commanded. Craven nodded, notching the wheel to the right and holding it in place with his strength. Lightning arched across the sky and all three ducked out of reflex. A chorus of booming thunder echoed it.
Hawke could hear the sailors running to and fro on the deck below, cursing and crying out at the loud thunder.
"Will we be alright?!" she asked her mate. Hawke slung an arm around her waist, holding her close. Isabela nodded. Her bandana hung limply over her damp hair.
"Course! We're getting out of here!"
"I hope the baby's okay," Hawke worried. Isabela was worried too.
"She will be. We'll make sure."
The pair stayed with Craven, reading off his map as the rain lightened the further they got off course. Dark clouds still dotted the sky, but at least the sun was trying to poke through.
Isabela took up a spyglass and hummed softly, looking through it.
"Small island ahead. We'll set anchor off shore," she said. Craven nodded.
"Aye. Cap'n!"
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"She fussed the whole time," Merrill said tiredly. Magpie had stayed awake, even though they were far from the storm at sea. Her wide green eyes took in her family as she chewed on a fist. The twins were taking advantage of her being awake, making faces and talking to her. The infant merely stared.
Hawke sighed. She rocked Magpie in the crook of one arm, letting Merrill fall against her other shoulder to rest.
"We'll be at this island at least a day, I think. Shall we go ashore?" Isabela asked. The twins brightened then looked after their sister, asking if she could go too. Merrill watched them curiously.
"Maybe for abit. It's too much excitement for such a little one," Hawke said. Magpie continued staring up at her, rosebud lips pursing together as she sucked on a fist.
The crew came ashore in threes and fours, taking a few trips in the ship's dingy. Hawke splashed out of the small vessel, helping drag the boat toward the sand. The twins hopped out after and waded after their sire. Hawke gave a grin and propped a boat against the side of the boat, halting its rocking motion. Magpie was awake, small squishy head covered by a bonnet much too large for an infant's head. She fairly stared, wrapped in Isabela's arms. The pirate carefully climbed out and took her daughter ashore. The twins flanked her on either side, casting furtive glances at the small copse of woods further in.
Hawke reached up and helped Merrill hop down, her hands strong around her hips. Merrill giggled, blushing prettily as Hawke swept her to the side to avoid splashing down in the drink.
"Thank you, ma vhenan," she purred. Hawke leaned and stole a kiss, smiling when Merrill melted against her. Hawke's arm was strong around her waist as they made their way to their family.
Some of the sailors took out instruments, small pan flutes and pipes, striking up a jaunty tune. Fish were caught and a fire set up and Cook began roasting skewers for everyone. Merrill got the first one, and Isabela waved her to it. She was the mother feeding the baby after all.
As everyone talked and jibed, Hawke gazed tiredly at the landscape. This wasn't their island. Not the one they'd obtained documents for. But she was getting a feel for what it would be like to live on it. Her family would have a new home.
Falcon dropped part of his fish, but Craven gave him his. Lark showed his brother how to cup his hand under his mouth to catch any more fish. Magpie wailed as the sun beat down. A few of the sailors held up large palms to shade the baby. The singing actually quieted her, and she stared at the faces beaming down at her.
Isabela noticed Hawke's serious expression and bumped her hip with hers. "We'll get there yet, sweet thing. Then we'll set up anchor awhile."
Hawke gave her a smile. She nodded.
End for now
End notes: Short but wanted to get something out for the new babe. Drop a review and smash that button if you liked.
Pen 3/6/2019