Chapter 100 – The deep end is just the beginning.

'Fenris? Fenris where are you?' Makatza said with a pained growl, she called his name out the open window, to hopefully he would hear. She had one hand on her swollen stomach, the other on the counter. She felt pressure in her stomach doubled with rippling pain. She gasped as she felt the pressure release. 'FENRIS!' She screamed as she half slipped on the water that covered the floor. She swore as pain gripped her hips and coursed down her back. 'Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit,' she breathed heavily. She could hear Fenris running up the stairs towards the bathroom, where she was trying to do her hair that morning. 'Fenris, help!' She said as she could start to feel herself panicking. He tore into the room and looked at her expectedly.

'What is it?' He asked immediately supporting her as she stood.

'My waters have broken and I'm pretty sure the agonising pain is signs of labour,' she snapped as she doubled over again as another wave hit. His face paled and he looked her up and down in concern. She held his arm tightly and nudged him slightly to pick her up. 'Bedroom, I need to be in...in there,' she said simply. Fenris' brain finally kicked into gear and he hurriedly carried her over to their bedroom.

'We need Kiana, Alistair and everyone,' he says with a slight stutter. Makatza winced and nodded, he needs to send the hawk that the Queen had given them for this very reason.

'Hurry,' Makatza said softly. 'Please, please hurry. It hurts,' she whimpers. Fenris kisses her forehead and runs down the stairs he had just come up.

...x...

'You need to calm down Garrett,' Isabela said simply. She leant against the chair he was sitting in, his leg jumping up and down. She rolled her eyes and looked towards the bedroom door across the corridor. They were sitting in the spare room, every chair that they owned was occupied. Orana sat on Merrill's lap, Varric perching on a stool. Alistair talking to the dwarf to take his mind off things, Kiana was in the bedroom helping Makatza deliver. Fenris was pacing outside the door; Kiana had thrown him out as he was getting in the way. Aveline was trying to stop him from wearing a hole through the floor, Donnic watching with interest. They had never seen Fenris so distressed before, not even when Makatza was kidnapped, or getting married. He looked like he hadn't eaten or slept for days, when in reality it had been for ten hours or so. Makatza had been in labour for a long time.

'There's something not right,' Garrett grumbles. Isabela flicked him across the ear with a scowl and when her lover looked at her, she nodded to the elf that looked like he was going to be sick. Garrett huffed and frowned. 'Well it's been hours,' he moans. 'Where is the child?'

'What do you know of childbirth?' Aveline says as she gives up trying to stop Fenris who was biting a nail, uncharacteristically. 'Please Garrett, you only think about the things that go up, not down,' she laughs. Her husband goes a little pink and hides his face. Orana gets up and wanders over to Fenris, patting him on the arm before she walks across the corridor and slips into the other room. Makatza was panting heavily, her brow damp. Kiana spins around as she hears the door go, but allows Orana to come in. The elf picks up a cloth and goes over to Katza, wiping her forehead in reassurance.

'It's okay Katza, you're ready to go, this little one will be out in a few moments,' Kiana says as she checks her over. 'It's going to be fast and painful, but soon it will be over,' she smiles. 'Now when I say push, I want you to push,' she says as she feels the contraction on Katza's hip. 'Okay, push!'

Makatza pushes, trying to scream through her teeth, but the pain is too much and she cries out. 'I can't, I can't do it!' She whimpers. Orana takes her hand and smiles.

'You can! Miss Katza, you can! You just have to push!' She says encouragingly. Makatza looks at her and nods, squeezing her hand. Kiana tells her to push again and while biting her lip, she does so. Orana looks down at where Kiana's hands were cradling. 'I can see the head!' She says excitedly.

'Just one more push Makatza,' Kiana says happily. With a final strain Makatza feels the child leave her. The pain doesn't halt but she swears that her heart stop as she sees Kiana cut the cord. Nothing could have prepared her for that moment.

Fenris stops as he hears Makatza scream, it felt like a lifetime had passed; they all were holding their breath before they heard a small cry. A baby's cry. Fenris' face goes blank and he ignores everyone else as he runs to the bedroom pulling open the door. Garrett watched his friend as Kiana turned around and saw him, but swore as the door closed on his view. Fenris looked at Kiana who was helping Makatza with the aftercare and his attention was brought to the small bundle in Orana's arms. The little elf smiles at him and very gently hands over the new born. Fenris takes the cloth and looks down at the child. Orana excuses herself and leaves the room, Fenris barely notices the passing of time as he stares into the face of his child. Kiana cleans away any mess and follows suit, leaving both Katza and Fenris alone. Fenris looks up at Makatza, her hair had been roughly plaited and she looked exhausted, her face pale and worn. She smiled brightly as he comes over to the bed and sits beside her. 'Kiana told me,' she says softly. 'Before she wrapped the little one in blankets,' Katza smiles. Fenris looks at her with realization. He didn't know the sex of the child, though as he looked into the green eyes of his own blood; he knew it didn't matter. He passed the babe to Katza and kissed her on the head.

'I was so worried,' he admits as he holds her close. Makatza laughs a little and looks up at him.

'You're a father, you're going to be worried all the time,' she teases lightly. 'Especially when your little girl grows up,' she adds with light tears. Fenris smiles at her and looks at the child which had fallen asleep against her mother's chest.

'A girl? My little girl,' he says quietly as he reaches over to stroke her cheek. 'Our little girl,' he says feeling his eyes prick with unshed tears. 'I am a father,' he adds quietly. Makatza giggles and nods as she bites her lip again. Fenris kisses her lightly as she looks up at him and accepts the sleeping baby as she passes her over.

'Go show them, I know they're waiting and Kiana and Orana won't say anything,' she says softly. 'I'm just going to sleep a little,' Katza smiles. Fenris nods but before he can leave, Makatza lifts her hands and wipes the tears that had managed to fall onto his cheeks. 'Go show the world our treasure,' she says tiredly. Fenris kisses her sweetly, breathing in the scents that clung to her skin before walking over to the door, cradling their little girl in his arms. When Fenris got to the other room he found them all staring at him expectedly. He chuckles and feels his eyes fill with tears again. His friends and family, something that he thought he would have were waiting on him, with every breath. When he looked down at the small babe, he realised that it was all real and it was the greatest gift that Makatza had ever given him. He looked at them all, memorised their smiles as he chuckled.

'I am a father,' he said weakly, the last of his words were drowned out by the sudden screams of excitement from the women and the whooping from Garrett. He was a little concerned that she might wake up, but she was content to sleep in his arms. Isabela and Aveline ran over and practically fought to see the child's face. Before they could ask, he told them, 'it is a little girl,' he said proudly. 'I have a daughter,' he repeated to himself as Garrett, acting like a small child on their name day came bounding over.

'Fenris!' He exclaimed happily. 'You're a father!' He states the obvious. He asks for the bundle and his eyes widen as Fenris passes her over like fine china. 'Oh maker, I'm an Uncle,' he says proudly. 'Varric! I'm an Uncle!' He calls to the dwarf who laughs and toasts him. Fenris manages to get his daughter back after everyone had held her and he left the others to their celebrations as he went back into his bedroom to join his wife.

...x...

Makatza dropped the plate she was washing as she heard the scream. She looked at Elgon, who was now a bit grey around the collar. She raced out the back door and ran towards the forest. Halfway across the lawn she leapt and shape shifted into her wolf form, her claws digging up grass as she ran. She looked around for Fenris but he was nowhere to be seen. Elgon caught up with her easily and overtook her as he raced towards the trees, he had grown over the years and his long legs beat hers every time. Makatza felt her heart beating heavily as she followed him to the other clearing not far from their home. She halted suddenly as Elgon stopped. She managed to get a snoutful of fur as she collided with him.

'See, you have worried your mother,' Fenris said in a scolding voice. Makatza tilted her head and moved out from behind Elgon so she could see. There was the large apple tree she was fond of, Fenris standing at the base and Marie in the branches high above. Fenris shook his head as Marie began to scream and cry loudly. Makatza sighed and sat down, next to Elgon, trying to calm her breathing. She was terrified for a moment there. Her imagination went wild as she thought the worst. Elgon huffed, rolling his eyes, he licked his mother on the snout and wandered off into the forest to find his mate. Fenris rubbed his eyes and looked at Makatza who woofed happily. Her husband was topless and wearing a pair of leggings, he was watching their daughter Marie, while he chopped wood and she played.

'MAMA!' Marie sobbed holding onto the large tree trunk. She sat on the branch, her little feet dangling off the branch. Fenris shook his head again.

'She insisted on sitting on my shoulders as she picked the apples and then she tried to be clever and climb the tree; Now she will not climb down or jump into my arms,' Fenris says simply. Makatza wandered over and licked his hand as she looked up at her daughter. She barked at her, Marie crying and holding onto the tree.

'Dada, help me,' she pouted with a snotty nose. Makatza concentrated and shifted back into her original form, she was wearing one of Fenris' shirts and a pair of leggings. Her daughter had taken after her in many aspects, her hair was long and dark, she had her mother's face but her father's eyes. Her skin and ears were a wonderful blend from both parents. Makatza wound her arm around her husband's waist and looked up at her.

'Why haven't you climbed down darling? You won't fall,' she says smiling. Marie shook her head frantically and the tears began again. 'Maker she scared the life out of me,' Makatza said softly to Fenris who kissed her forehead in reply.

'Jump my Marie, I will catch you,' Fenris promises. Makatza pats him on the arm and motions him to pick her up. He sighs and lifts her from her hips. 'Your mother is coming to get you,' he says simply. Makatza grabs onto the lowest branch and pulls herself up onto it, she dodges the wayward apples and leaves, climbing up until she was on the same thick branch as Marie.

'Okay darling, I want you to get on my back, like you do with your Father when he goes climbing, remember?' Makatza says softly, holding out her arms as Marie nods and moves along the tree until she was in her mother's arms. Makatza kissed her cheek softly and wiped away her tears before helping her clamber onto her back, her slim arms around Makatza's shoulders and her legs around her waist. 'Hold on tight, munchkin,' Katza smiles as she begins to climb down. Fenris watches them both carefully and looks incredibly anxious. Makatza concentrates on climbing until she reaches the lowest branch which was still a good six foot from the ground. 'Fenris, I'm going to pass her down,' she says ignoring her daughter's attack of tears. She pulled the child from her back and held her tightly as she leant down and passed Marie to her father who firmly gripped her until she was in his arms.

'Dada!' Marie exclaimed in sobs as she hugged him. Fenris nodded and stroked his daughter's hair while looking up at Makatza who smiled down at them. After a few minutes, despite her protests he put her down and held out his arms for his wife. Makatza laughed as she slid down from the branch and into his embrace. Marie looked very worried as her father put Katza down and looked at her. 'Uh oh,' she said quietly.

'Uh oh, indeed young lady,' Makatza said kneeling down to her daughter's level. Marie looked at her with tear filled eyes. 'You scared the life out of me and your father.' She looked up at Fenris who had crossed his arms, frowning. 'Now, back to the house. We've got Aunty Kiana's birthday to prepare for.' She said simply as she lead their child away from Fenris, who sighed and picked up his axe that he had lent against the tree.

...x...

'Leto, ah, Leto, stop it,' Makatza laughed as she tried to dress the toddler. 'Come on darling,' she giggled as he waved his foot around. Marie was sitting next to her passing her mother clothing. She had been quiet since she got down from the tree. Makatza was aware that something was on her mind but she would talk about it when she was ready. Orana was pottering around downstairs. The young woman had stayed the night before in preparation for the days celebrations. She had looked after Leto all morning while Makatza got everything ready and had the small drama with her first born.

'Mama?' Marie said as she passed her mother a sock that she asked for.

'Yes, my heart?' Makatza said as she wrestled with her four year old to get ready. He was perfectly capable of dressing himself but was too excited and time was ticking on. She heard Fenris come in and fill the wood box while she dressed their son. Leto was his father's child; Like his sister, his skin was a beautiful mix of Makatza's porcelain tone and Fenris' dark mocha. His ears definitely hinted at his Elven heritage. He caught both his father's and mother's eyes. One was a dark mossy green and the other a bright sapphire blue. Orana had recently clipped his hair, though it was dark like Makatza's, it had Fenris' unruly sway to his locks.

'Is Dada angry at me?' The six year old enquired worriedly. Makatza put her brother down, who squealed in childish joy and ran from the bedroom missing a sock. She looked at Marie, holding out her arms for the young one.

'Of course not darling, what makes you say that?' She asks as she gives her daughter a tight hug and reassuring her.

'Cause he was all angry at me for getting stuck in the tree,' she mumbled into Makatza's shoulder.

'Oh, Marie,' Makatza says pulling away and looking in her daughter's eyes. 'What does your father tell you every night before you go to bed?' She asks simply.

Marie wiped her nose on the hem of her dress and sniffed. 'He tells me that, you are the sun and he is the moon. That Leto and me are stars in the sky and we are his lights. That he would be lost without us lighting the way,' she said in a voice that made it clear she was reciting it from memory.

'Exactly, now what does that tell you?' Makatza says smiling. She heard Fenris come up the stairs and he was standing in the doorway, Marie unable to see him as her back was to him. He had crossed his legs as he stood and replaced his shirt.

'That Dada loves me,' Marie said with a slight sniff. Makatza nodded and kissed her before turning her around. Fenris knelt as his daughter ran towards him, she hugged him tightly, without a slight hesitation he picked her up and held her close as she cried. Makatza picked up the spare sock and kissed her husband on the cheek as he silently comforted his daughter. It was going to be a busy afternoon. The celebrations weren't till this evening and Makatza was sure that the kids would be knackered out by at least nine. Luckily they were staying at the castle so they didn't have to worry a lot and simply have to put them to bed. Gathering the bags she had prepared the night before she took them downstairs. Marie wiped her nose on her father's shirt and pulled away. 'Tell me again,' she mumbled. 'Please Dada.' She asked playing with his hair.

Fenris chuckled and moved over to the window where they could see the sky. 'Very well, but I will not tell you again if you climb that tree and scare your mother like that,' he warns. Marie nods and leans her head against his shoulder as she twists his hair in her fingers. Fenris changes his hold so that she was sitting on his hip, one arm supporting her. 'In the sky there are the moon and the stars,' he says softly. 'During the day, there is only the sun and moon. Now, there is a link between all of these. Would you like to know what that is?' He asks. Marie nods and smiles. Fenris chuckles and smiles back, 'I am the moon. It is simple and you can see it during the day even. Your mother, she is the sun, the light of my life. Without the sun, you cannot see the moon. Even during the night, the sun shines on the moon and stars. Your mother is with me always even when she is not around. You, my daughter, are the stars, you and your brother. Your mother gives me life, the light, but you, without you I could not see my path.' He says softly as he motions to the sky and then to the forest. 'One day your mother and I will not be here,' he says simply. 'But, you simply need to remember, that as long as the sun shines, the moon glows and those stars glitter, we love you. I love you, and you are my world,' he says kissing her forehead. 'Armor est lux. Lumen vitae,' he says putting her down.

'Per omnia saecula semper,' Marie replied softly. 'I love you Dada,' she added.

'I love you too, my Marie,' he smiles taking her hand and leading her out the bedroom.

...x...

Garrett laughed as Isabela jumped onto Makatza as they entered the garden. Marie and Leto raced off to find Eleanor and Duncan as soon as their feet left the coach. Orana smiled at Fenris as she ignored the pair of happy squeaking women and joined Merrill at the table she was sitting at. Aveline and Donnic were talking to the King and Queen and Varric was reading Sebastian's latest letter. Isabela hugged Makatza tightly and jumped up and down a little.

'Oh you slattern, calm down,' Makatza laughed as she kissed her best friend's cheek. Isabela calmed down enough for Garrett to squeeze in between and hug his sister. Fenris nodded at Isabela and tried to avoid her, but failed as she grabbed him tightly in an embrace. 'Oh I've missed you both so much,' Makatza says as Garrett lets her go.

'You saw me like, five months ago for Leto's birthday,' he laughed. He reached out an arm and hooked his pirate around the waist, pulling her from the panicking elf. Fenris had never really learned how to cope with Isabela's affections. 'Admittedly it was a birthday I will never forget,' he laughs. 'I got cake in places I didn't think existed,' he grins. Isabela grabs Makatza by the hand and drags her off to see everyone else. She was passed from person to person, for what seemed like an age before she ended up in the arms of her husband.

'Oh god,-'

'Andraste,' Fenris corrects earning himself a glare. He laughed and ignored her as his son came running into his knees. The small child clung to him in tears. Makatza tilted her head and watched as Fenris picked up Leto. 'He is tired,' he states as he looks at her, Makatza nods.

'It's gotten late, would you like me to put him to bed?' She asks softly as she looks at her son. Fenris looks around and aware that people were watching him, he couldn't show his usual affections.

'No, I will do it,' he says simply as he presses his forehead against hers. Makatza nods and watches as he walks towards the castle, their son on his hip, one arm wrapped around him. Marie ran over and took her father's hand, he knelt down to see what she wanted. Makatza couldn't tell what they were talking about, but he managed to pick up his daughter as well.

'He's one hell of a father, huh,' Garrett said as he got closer. Makatza looked at him and smiled.

'That he is,' she agrees. 'You don't see it, but he doesn't hesitate to touch them, he never once let them know that their touch hurts his skin. He said that he didn't want them to know that poison inside. He does anything for them, I am lucky to have a man like him,' she muses to herself. Garrett wraps his arm around her.

'I still remember the day that we found you, the day that you two met, it's surprising to think that you jump ahead like ten years and you have a family. A husband, daughter, son,' he chuckles. 'I mean, I didn't think that would happen to anyone in my family to be honest,' he says softly. 'But, I am glad it happened to you. You've brought a lot of light into this world Makatza, you truly have made something of this life,' Garrett kisses her forehead. 'Now, I think that you should help your elf put your children to bed,' he smiles. Makatza hugs him tightly and hands him the glass that she had been holding.

...x...

Makatza stood in the doorway as she watched the love of her life tell their children, the same story he had told them every night. She felt her heart swell as he tucked them in and kissed them each. Fenris knew she was waiting for him at the door and as he blew out the candles he walked over an hugged her.

'Is everything alright?' He asks softly. Makatza looked at the two children slowly falling asleep and then back to the man that made her very soul feel whole.

'More than you can imagine,' Makatza said as she kissed him. 'More than I could have ever imagined.'

The end.

Well, what can I say? This story has been many years in the making and I have finally finished it. I am hoping that you don't feel like it's been rushed, (trust me, it's not.) This chapter alone has taken about a month to write. I hope to have wrapped up most things, I know there are probably a few things missed, I apologize. I apologize for my lousy update times and the terrible spelling and grammar, but I have found so many friends from those who were kind enough to message me. Thank you.

To anyone who has been kind enough to review/favorite/watch this fanfiction, all I can say is, thank you. Because of you all I have continued this and I hope it has been worth it. I know writing it has been a wonderful experience.

Please let me know what you think of this story, and again, to all of you reading this. Thank you. With all my heart.

Sabaine.